IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD
OM PRAKASH TRIPATHI, J.
Sohan @ Radheshyam Ram And Another – Appellant
Versus
State of U.P. and Another – Respondent
APPLICATION U/S 482 No. -11244 of 2022
Decided on : 18-07-2022
Indian Penal Code, 1860 - Section 323 & 504 - Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 - Section 2-D, 482, 200 and 202 - Filthy Language - Beating by Stick - Sustained Injuries - Application has been filed by applicants with a prayer to quash charge sheet and cognizance & summoning order - When complainant was going towards his field, accused persons Chandan and Sohan came and stopped complainant and started using filthy language against him, when complainant objected to do the same, they started beating him by stick, kick and fist - When sister of complainant, tried to save, then all accused persons also beaten her due to which she has also sustained injuries – Held, On perusal of material brought on record, it transpires that charge sheet submitted by IO under Sections 323 & 504 IPC only with regard to non-cognizable case - This is a fit case in which inherent power should be exercised and there appears abuse of process of law - Application under Section 482 Cr.P.C. is allowed in part and impugned order by which, cognizance was taken is hereby quashed with a direction to proceed with matter as complaint case - Magistrate shall proceed with matter as complaint case as laid down in Explanation of Section-2(d) Cr.P.C - It is made clear that in such situation, statement of complainant under Section 200 and 202 Cr.P.C. is not required - No need to pass separate cognizance/summoning order but learned Magistrate should specify that said charge sheet shall be proceeded like a complaint case - Such principle is applicable in all cases relating to non-cognizance cases – Application allowed in part.
JUDGMENT :
1. Heard learned counsel for the applicants, learned A.G.A for the State and also perused the record.
2. This application under Section 482 Cr.P.C. has been filed by the applicants with a prayer to quash the charge sheet dated 12.09.2019 and cognizance & summoning order dated 07.11.2019 as well as entire proceedings of Case No.2282 of 2019 (State vs. Sohan @ Radheyshyam Ram and others) arising out of NCR No.156 of 2018, under Sections 323, 504 IPC, Police Station Baburi, District Chandauli, pending in the Court of Judicial Magistrate, Chakiya, District Chandauli.
3. Brief facts which are requisite to be stated for adjudication of this application are that complainant Santosh Kumar had moved a written complaint on 25.10.2018 before SO, Baburi, Chandauli with the allegations that on 25.10.2018 at about 05:00-06:00 pm, when the complainant was going towards his field, the accused persons Chandan and Sohan came and stopped the complainant and started using filthy language against him, when the complainant objected to do the same, they started beating him by stick, kick and fist. When the sister of the complainant, Gaytri tried to save, then all the accused persons also beaten her due to which she has also sustained injuries. On this application, NCR No.156 of 2018, under Section 323 & 504 IPC has been registered and after taking permission for investigation, Investigating Officer recorded the statement of the injured witnesses and submitted charge sheet no. NIL of 2019 in NCR No.156 of 2018 against the applicants under Sections 323, 504 IPC. On charge-sheet, Magistrate has taken cognizance on 07.11.2019 and issued summons to the applicants.
4. Feeling aggrieved, this application has been moved before this Court.
5. It is submitted by learned counsel for the applicants that matter relates to non-cognizance offence only and in such matters cognizance by the Magistrate should not be taken. The case should be treated as a complaint case, it should not be treated as a State case. The impugned order of the court below is an abuse of process of law and the same is liable to be quashed by this Court. Section 2-D Cr.P.C. lays down that :
Explanation: A report made by a police officer in a case which discloses, after investigation, the commission of a non-cognizable offence shall be deemed to be a complaint; and the police officer by whom such report is made shall be deemed to be the complainant.
6. The scope and ambit of power under section 482 Cr.P.C. has been examined by Hon'ble Apex Court in Union of India vs. Prakash P. Hinduja and another, AIR 2003 SC 2612 and observed as follows:
7. On perusal of material brought on record, it transpires that charge sheet submitted by the IO under Sections 323 & 504 IPC only with regard to non-cognizable case. Instead of treating as complaint, cognizance has been taken by the Magistrate as State case, which is not permissible under law. Although, Magistrate has not specifically mentio
Cognizance can be taken on the basis of charge-sheet for non-cognizable offences.
Cognizance of non-cognizable offences must follow complaint procedure, and any delay in cognizance is barred by limitation under the Code of Criminal Procedure.
The main legal point established in the judgment is that an investigation conducted without the prior permission of the Magistrate, as mandated under Section 155(2) of Cr.P.C., is illegal and renders....
The court affirmed the principle that the judicial process should not be abused by pursuing multiple proceedings based on the same facts, particularly when such actions are intended to harass the acc....
Police lack authority to investigate non-cognizable offences without a Magistrate's order, making subsequent FIR registrations invalid and procedural lapses inherently illegal.
Permission under Section 155(2) Cr.P.C. can be granted by the Magistrate upon application from the complainant, validating subsequent investigations. Procedural technicalities do not invalidate proce....
Recording complainant's sworn statement under Section 223 BNSS does not amount to taking cognizance; it is pre-cognizance material collection requiring accused hearing.
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