IN THE HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
SURENDRA SINGH-I, J.
Vishwanath – Revisionist
Versus
State Of U.P. And Others - Opposite Parties
Criminal Revision No. 185 of 2023
Decided On : 20-03-2024
Forgery - Criminal Revision - Section 156 (3) Cr.P.C. - 195. Prosecution for contempt of lawful authority of public servants, for offences against public justice and for offences relating to documents given in evidence.---(1) No Court shall take cognizance - (b)(i) of any offence punishable under any of the following sections of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860), namely, sections 193 to 196 (both inclusive), 199, 200, 205 to 211 (both inclusive) and 228, when such offence is alleged to have been committed in, or in relation to, any proceeding in any Court, or (ii) of any offence described in section 463, or punishable under section 471, section 475 or section 476 of the said Code, when such offence is alleged to have been committed in respect of a document produced or given in evidence in a proceeding in any Court, or (iii) of any criminal conspiracy to commit, or attempt to commit, or the abetment of, any offence specified in sub-clause (i) or sub-clause (ii), except on the complaint in writing of that Court or by such officer of the Court as that Court may authorise in writing in this behalf, or of some other Court to which that Court is subordinate.]
Fact of the Case:
The revisionist filed an application under Section 156 (3) Cr.P.C. alleging forgery and fraud against the opposite party No.2. The trial Court rejected the application, citing that the registration of FIR regarding filing of forged documents in a Court proceeding is barred under Section 195 (1) (b) (i) Cr.P.C.
Finding of the Court:
The Magistrate has wrongly held that Section 195 (1) (b) Cr.P.C. bars registration of FIR even in a case where alleged forgery has been committed in the document outside the Court and thereafter, it has been filed in a judicial proceeding in a case pending in a Court. The Magistrate has committed illegality and has not exercised the jurisdiction vested in him, in accordance with law.
Issues: The main issue was whether the Magistrate's rejection of the application under Section 156 (3) Cr.P.C. was legal based on the provisions of Section 195 (1) (b) Cr.P.C.
Ratio Decidendi: The Court held that Section 195 (1) (b) Cr.P.C. does not bar registration of a criminal case relating to forged documents if the forgery was committed outside the Court and then filed in a judicial proceeding. The Magistrate's rejection of the application was deemed illegal.
Final Decision: The criminal revision is allowed, and the impugned order is set aside. The Magistrate concerned is directed to pass a fresh order on the application under Section 156 (3) Cr.P.C. after giving an opportunity of hearing to the revisionist/applicant.
JUDGMENT :
This criminal revision has been filed for challenging the impugned judgement and order dated 20.10.2022 passed by the Civil Judge (Senior Division), FTC, Basti in Criminal Misc. Application No.462/2012/2022 (Vishwanath vs. Shivnath), under Section 156 (3) Cr.P.C., Police Station Kotwali, District Basti.
2. By the impugned order, trial Court has rejected the application of the revisionist filed under Section 156 (3) Cr.P.C. for directing the Station House Officer, Police Station Kotwali, District Basti to register and investigate the criminal case against the opposite party No.2.
3. Learned counsel for the revisionist submitted that revisionist has filed an application under Section 156 (3) Cr.P.C. alleging that his younger brother, namely, Shivnath (opposite party No.2) committed forgery and obtained the registered will deed by his father-Drigpal on 16.05.1994. He further submitted that revisionist had filed Civil Suit before the Civil Judge (Senior Division), Basti, which was registered as Suit No.202 of 1995. In the aforesaid suit, revisionist had challenged the will deed dated 16.05.1994, which was executed in favour of opposite party No.2 (Shivnath). This suit has been decreed in favour of the revisionist vide order dated 04.04.1995 and will deed executed in favour of the opposite party No.2 has been cancelled. After ten months of the decree of the aforesaid suit, opposite party No.2 instituted Original Suit No.127 of 1995 for cancellation of the aforesaid order dated 04.04.1995 passed in Original Suit No.202 of 1995. The aforesaid suit instituted by the opposite party no.2 was rejected by Civil Judge (Senior Division), Basti on 25.01.1997. Against the order dated 25.01.1997 passed by Civil Judge (Senior Division), opposite party No.2 filed revision i.e. Revision No.23 of 1997 before District Judge, Basti, which was also rejected vide order dated 12.11.1998. Against the aforesaid order of the Revisional Court, opposite party No.2 also filed a writ petitioner bearing Writ-C No.189 of 1999 before this Hon’ble Court, which was dismissed on merit vide order dated 08.01.1999. The opposite party No.2 after concealment of earlier order passed by competent Court cancelling the will deed, filed mutation proceedings with false affidavit and forged cancelled will dated 16.05.1994 before Tehsildar-Sadar, District Basti on the basis of aforesaid affidavit and will deed, the Court concerned passed order in favour of opposite party No.2 on 23.07.2007 and directed the Revenue Authority to record the name of opposite party No.2 in place of his father-Digpal on the basis of aforesaid will deed. After knowledge of the aforesaid order dated 23.07.2007, the revisionist filed recall application along with relevant details, Tahsildar, Sadar, District Basti vide order dated 04.02.2009 allowed the recall application of the revisionist and directed to record the name of revisionist and his real brother in place of their father in revenue record. Against the aforesaid order, opposite party No.2 also filed an appeal before the Sub Divisional Magistrate, Sadar, Basti under Section 210 of Land Revenue Act, which was rejected vide order dated 30.03.2010. Subsequently, the opposite party No.2 concealing the earlier proceedings initiated before the authority concerned, instituted the further mutation proceedings under Section 34 of Land Revenue Act 1901 for recording his name over the property of his father, but it was rejected vide order dated 06.09.2022.
4. Learned counsel for the revisionist has submitted that from the averments made in the application under Section 156 (3) Cr.P.C. and affidavit filed in support thereof, prima facie offence under Sections 420, 467, 478 I.P.C. was made out against the opposite party No.2, but without considering the facts and evidence given therein, Magistrate concerned illegally rejected the application of the revisionist filed under Section 156 (3) Cr.P.C. and the same is liable to be quashed.
5. Per contra, le
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The main legal point established in the judgment is the restriction imposed by Section 195 of Cr.P.C. on the power of the Court to take cognizance of certain offences, and the interpretation of 'fals....
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