ALLAHABAD HIGH COURT
Shri Kant Tripathi, J.
Sarvesh -Appellant
Versus
State of U.P. & Anr. -Respondent
Criminal Misc. Case No. 2508 of 2010
Decided On : 27-05-2010
Section 319 CrPC - Summoning Order - 420, 467, 468, 471 IPC - 319 CrPC, 420 IPC, 467 IPC, 468 IPC, 471 IPC - The court discussed the ambit and scope of section 319 CrPC and referred to various judgments to establish the principles for summoning an additional accused. The court emphasized that the power under section 319 CrPC is an extraordinary power to be used sparingly and only if there are compelling reasons for taking cognizance against the person sought to be summoned. The court also highlighted the requirement for evidence that, if uncontroverted, would reasonably lead to the conviction of the person sought to be summoned.
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner was summoned to face trial in a criminal case under sections 420, 467, 468, and 471 IPC. The petitioner challenged the summoning order, arguing that the lower court did not record any satisfaction of the possibility of conviction based on the evidence adduced.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the lower court did not specifically determine whether the evidence, if unrebutted, would be sufficient to convict the petitioner. As a result, the impugned order was set aside, and the matter was remanded to the lower court for reconsideration.
Issues: The issues revolved around the sufficiency of evidence for summoning an additional accused under section 319 CrPC and the requirement for the court to determine whether the evidence, if uncontroverted, would lead to a conviction.
Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized that the power under section 319 CrPC is to be used sparingly and only if there are compelling reasons for taking cognizance against the person sought to be summoned. The court also highlighted the requirement for evidence that, if uncontroverted, would reasonably lead to the conviction of the person sought to be summoned.
Final Decision: The petition under section 482 CrPC was allowed, the impugned order was set aside, and the matter was remanded to the lower court for reconsideration.
2. With the consent of the learned counsel for the parties, this petition is being disposed of finally at the stage of admission.
3. It appears that the petitioner Sarvesh has been summoned under section 319 CrPC to face trial in regard to the offences under sections 420, 467, 468 and 471 IPC, police station Wazirganj, district Lucknow in criminal case No. 1869/2009 State vs. Kallu & others, vide the order dated 28.1.2010 passed by the Special Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, CBI (Ayo.Pra.), Lucknow.
4. During the trial, PW-1 Mohd. Akram was examined, who has deposed in regard to complicity of the petitioner along with the charge-sheeted accused. The learned lower court placing reliance on the statement of the witness, has passed the impugned order summoning the petitioner.
5. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the learned Special Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, has not recorded any satisfaction that on the basis of the evidence adduced, there was a possibility of conviction of the petitioner, therefore, the summoning order is bad.
6. The learned Magistrate has passed the summoning order only on the basis of the statement of only one witness, without examining other witnesses and getting the cross-examination done.
7. In Joginder Singh v. State of Punjab (1979) 1 SCC 345: (AIR 1979 SC 339), the Apex Court while dealing with the ambit and scope of section 319 CrPC, held that the court has power to add any person as accused if there is sufficient evidence indicating his involvement in the offence.
8. In Municipal Corporation of Delhi v. Ram Kishan Rohtagi (1983 (1) SCC 1) : (AIR 1983 SC 67) the Apex Court after referring to the decision of Joginder Singh's case (supra) observed that the power under section 319 CrPC is an extra ordinary power, which should be used very sparingly only if compelling reasons exists for taking cognizance against the other person against whom some action has not been taken.
9. In the case of Rakesh & another vs. State of Hariyana, 2001 SCC (Crl) 1090 : (AIR 2001 SC 2521) the Apex Court extended the meaning of the term 'evidence' used in section 319 CrPC to include not only the evidence given during the inquiry or trial but also the evidence collected during the investigation and forming part of the case diary. The Apex Court overruled the submission that the term 'evidence' used in section 319 CrPC would mean "evidence which is tested by cross- examination' by holding that the question of testing the evidence by cross-examination would arise only after addition of the accused.
10. But in the case of Mohd. Shafi v. Mohd. Rafiq & Anr., (2007) 4 SCR 1023 : (2007) 4 All LJ 317) the Apex Court expressed a contrary opinion and propounded that the trial judge in terms of Section 319 CrPC was required to arrive at his satisfaction only after the cross-examination of the witnesses is over with no exception.
11. Another Division Bench of the Apex Court in the case of Hardeep Singh vs. State of and Punjab and another 2008 (16) SCALE 276, doubted the correctness of the judgment rendered in the case of Mohd. Shafi v. Mohd. Rafiq & another (2007) 4 All LJ 317) (supra) and referred the following two questions to a Larger Bench:
(i) When the power under sub-section (1) of section 319 of the Code of addition of accused can be exercised by a Court? Whether application under section 319 is not maintainable unless the cross-examination of the witness is complete?
(ii) What is the test and what are the guidelines of exercising power under sub-section (1) of section 319 of the Code? Whether such power can be exercised only if the Court is satisfied that the accused summoned in all likelihood would be convicted?
12. However, in Hardeep Singh's case (supra) the Apex Court held that at the stage of issuing summons or process, a court has to see whether there is a prima facie ca
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