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2019 Supreme(All) 952

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
Ram Krishna Gautam, J.
Afjal - Appellant
Vs.
State Of U.P. - Respondent
Criminal Appeal No. 5583 of 2016, 5847 of 2016
Decided On : 05-08-2019

Advocates Appeared:
Chandrakesh Mishra, Adv., D.S. Misra, Adv., Hemant Kumar, Adv., Pradeep Kumar Keshri, Adv., Raj Kumar Kesari, Adv., Tanweer Ahmed Siddiqui, Adv., Ramesh Kumar Shukla, Adv., Mahendra Singh Yadav, Adv.

JUDGMENT :

Ram Krishna Gautam, J.

Both Criminal Appeal No. 5583 of 2016, Smt. Afjal Vs. State of U.P. and Criminal Appeal No. 5847 of 2016, Smt. Kali Vs. State of U.P., have been filed against one and common judgment, passed by Court No. 3 of Additional Sessions Judge/ Special Judge [Uttar Pradesh Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act], Varanasi, in consolidated S.T. No. 161 of 2006, State of U.P. Vs. Mehtab and another connected with S.T. No. 284 of 2006, State of U.P. Vs. Smt. Kali, arising out of Case Crime No. 300 of 2005, u/s 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 14, 15 of Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956, P.S. Manduadeeh, District Varanasi, wherein a judgment of conviction for offence punishable, as above, and sentenced with two years R.I. with fine of Rs. 1000/- and in default three months additional imprisonment for offence punishable u/s 3 of Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956, [hereinafter referred to as the Act], seven years R.I. with fine of Rs. 2000/- and in default six months additional imprisonment for offence punishable u/s 4 of the Act, ten years R.I. with fine of Rs. 5000/- and in default one year's additional imprisonment for offence punishable u/s 5 of the Act, ten years R.I. with fine of Rs. 5000/- and in default one year's additional imprisonment for offence punishable u/s 6 of the Act and ten years R.I. with fine of Rs. 5000/- and in default one year's additional imprisonment for offence punishable u/s 9 of the Act, with direction for concurrent running of sentences, was awarded against convict appellants Smt. Afjal and Smt. Kali, u/s 374(2) of Code of Criminal Procedure. Thus, appeals by both of convict appellants, with a prayer for setting aside impugned judgment of conviction and sentence made therein; thereby acquitting from charges levelled against them. Hence both the appeals are being decided by common judgment.

2. In brief memo of appeal, filed by Smt. Afjal, contains that the trial court failed to appreciate facts and law placed before it and passed the impugned judgment of conviction. Prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. There was no independent impartial witness of occurrence. There was no compliance of section 15 of the Act. It was a false implication. After recording of statement u/s 313 Cr.P.C., for filling in lacunae in the prosecution case, PW11 Mala @ Vrinda @ Nargis was examined, upon behest of Ajit Singh and for her cross-examination the appellant was to deposit Rs. 7000/-. This was a discriminatory conduct of Trial Judge. Procedural irregularity was there. Application u/s 311 Cr.P.C. was moved by Ajit Singh, having no locus standi, because of him being proclaimed Chairperson of Guria Swayam Sevi Sansthan, Varanasi. He is neither independent nor natural witness. Rather he is of criminal repute and a partisan witness. His statement, u/s 161 Cr.P.C., was neither recorded nor was given to learned counsel for defence. Hence this was a development made in prosecution case. Dr. Krishna Yadav, Dr. Alka Singh and Dr. Manju Singh, PW8, PW9 and PW10, respectively, have specifically contended about non existence of any external or internal injury over person of victims, examined by them. According to them, Shabana was of 18 years, Mala @ Nargis was less than 18 years, Fatima @ Babli was more than 18 years, Pratima @ Shabnam and Shabana were of less than 18 years. Though none of the above witnesses have ever said that the victims, examined by them, were minors or juvenile. Rather on presumptive measure their age was determined and the learned trial judge has taken each of them as minor and on the basis of which judgment of conviction and sentence therein has been passed. Whereas, there are catena of judgments that two years either way in age determination may be possible and the fact in favour of the accused is to be given weight. But the trial court did not paid heed. Testimony of PW11 was full of material contradictions. She has categorically admitted about her misstatem

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