2012 Supreme(MP) 122

2012(2) JLJ 128
(SUPREME COURT)
Dalveer Bhandari, T.S. Thakur and Dipak Misra, JJ.
Rattiram v. State of M.P.
Criminal Appeals No.223 and 458 of 2008; Decided on 17.2.2012.

Headnote:(1) Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 -- S.3(1)(x) -- Criminal P.C., 1973 -- Ss.193 and 207 -- Penal Code, 1860 -- Ss.147, 148, 302 and 149 -- charge-sheet filed under section 3(1)(x) of the Act before Court of Sessions -- charges framed under sections 147, 148, 302 and 149 of IPC -- no objection taken at trial stage or before -- accused convicted by competent Court -- objection about non-compliance of procedure prescribed under section 193 of CrPC raised in appeal -- no failure of justice or miscarriage of justice -- merely on ground that cognizance taken directly without following procedure under section 193 of CrPC -- conviction cannot be set aside and retrial also cannot be directed.

       (2) Criminal P.C., 1973 -- Ss.193, 207 and 209 -- Penal Code, 1860 -- Ss.147, 148, 302 and 149 -- Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 -- S.3(1)(x) -- charge-sheet filed under section 3(1)(x) of the Act before Court of Sessions -- charges framed under sections 147, 148, 302 and 149 of IPC -- no objection taken at trial stage or before -- accused convicted by competent Court -- objection about non-compliance of procedure prescribed under section 193 of CrPC raised in appeal -- no failure of justice or miscarriage of justice -- merely on ground that cognizance taken directly without following procedure under section 193 of CrPC -- conviction cannot be set aside and retrial also cannot be directed.

       Perceiving divergent and contradictory views as regards the effect and impact of not committing an accused in terms of section 193 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (for short ‘the Code‘) in cases where charge-sheet is filed under section 3(1)(x) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (for brevity ‘the Act‘) and cognizance is directly taken by the Special Judge under the Act, a two-Judge Bench thought it apposite to refer the matter to a larger Bench and on the basis of the said reference, the matter has been placed before us. At this juncture, it is requisite to clarify that the real conflict or discord is manifest in Moly v. State of Kerala [AIR 2004 SC 1890], and Vidyadharan v. State of Kerala [(2004)1 SCC 215], on one hand wherein it has been held that the conviction by the Special Court is not sustainable if it has suo motu entertained and taken cognizance of the complaint directly without the case being committed to it and, therefore, there should be retrial or total setting aside of the conviction, as the case may be, and the other in State of M.P. v. Bhooraji [2001(2) JLJ 321], wherein, taking aid of section 465(1) of the Code, it has been opined that when a trial has been conducted by the Court of competent jurisdiction and a conviction has been recorded on proper appreciation of evidence, the same cannot be erased or effaced merely on the ground that there had been no committal proceeding and cognizance was taken by the Special Court inasmuch as the same does not give rise to failure of justice.

       The questions that emanate, as a natural corollary, for consideration are whether the Special Court as constituted under the Act is a Court of Session; and whether there is any special provision in the Act enabling the said Court to take cognizance.

        [Para 6

       Held : After careful perusal of the aforesaid decisions, we have no scintilla of doubt that the view expressed which has a base of commonality is absolutely correct and there is no necessity to dwell upon the same more so when there is no cavil or conflict in this regard and there has been no reference on the said score. Additionally, no doubt has been expressed relating to the exposition of the said view, and irrefragably correctly so.

       It is seemly to note that the decision in Bhooraji (supra), was possibly not brought to the notice of their Lordships who have decided the cases in Moly (supra), and Viyadharan (supra). In Moly (supra), later two-Judge Bench set aside the judgment of conviction and remitted the matter as cognizance was directly taken by the Special Court. In Vidyadharan (supra), the Bench held thus.

       Presently, we shall proceed to address which view should be accepted as just and flawless. The centripodal issue, as we understand, is whether non-compliance of the interdict as envisaged and engrafted under section 193 of the Code nullifies the final verdict after the trial and warrants its total extinction resulting in retrial, or it is incumbent on the part of the convict to exposit and satisfy that such guillotining of the interdict has occasioned in ‘failure of justice‘ or culminated in causation of prejudice to him for the purpose of declaring that the trial was vitiated.

       Judged from these spectrums and analysed on the aforesaid premises, we come to the irresistible conclusion that the objection relating to non-compliance of section 193 of the Code, which eventually has resulted in directly entertaining and taking cognizance by the Special Judge under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, does not vitiate the trial and on the said ground alone, the conviction cannot be set aside or there cannot be a direction of retrial and, therefore, the decision rendered in Bhooraji (supra), lays down the correct law inasmuch as there is no failure of justice or no prejudice is caused to the accused.The decisions rendered in Moly (supra), and Vidyadharan (supra), have not noted the decision in Bhooraji (supra), a binding precedent, and hence they are per incuriam and further, the law laid down therein, whereby the conviction is set aside or matter is remanded after setting aside the conviction for fresh trial, does not expound the correct proposition of law and, accordingly, they are hereby, to that extent, overruled.

       (3) Precedent -- earlier judgment -- is binding -- later decisions without noticing it -- such decisions are per incuriam -- decision is not binding. 2001(2) JLJ 321 (SC), AIR 2004 SC 1890, (2004)1 SCC 215, (1989)2 SCC 754, AIR 1977 SC 308, AIR 1980 SC 541, AIR 1985 SC 339, 2003 SCC (L and S) 827, (1990)3 SCC 682 and (1991)4 SCC 139 discussed. [Paras 16 to 28

       (4) Criminal P.C., 1973 -- S.193 -- procedure prescribed under -- non-compliance of -- effect of -- no failure of justice or miscarriage of justice -- such non-compliance does not vitiate the trial. [Paras 32 to 40

       ¼1½ vuqlwfpr tkfr;k¡ vkSj vuqlwfpr tutkfr;k¡ ¼vR;kpkj fuokj.k½ vf/kfu;e] 1989 && /kkjk 3¼1½(x) && naM izfØ;k lafgrk] 1973 && /kkjk 193 rFkk 207 && naM lafgrk] 1860 && /kkjk 147] 148] 302 rFkk 149 && l= U;k;ky; ds le{k vf/kfu;e dh /kkjk 3¼1½(x) ds v/khu vkjksi&i= izLrqr fd;k && Hkk-na-la- dh /kkjk 147] 148] 302 rFkk 149 ds v/khu vkjksi fojfpr && fopkj.k izØe ij vFkok mlds iwoZ dksbZ vkifRrÙk ugha dh xbZ && l{ke U;k;ky; }kjk vfHk;qDr nks"kh Bgjk, x, && na-iz-la- dh /kkjk 193 ds v/khu fofgr izfØ;k ds vuuqikyu ds fo"k; esa vihy esa vkifRrÙk mBkbZ xbZ && U;k; dk u gks ikuk vFkok U;k; dh gkfu ugha && ek= bl vk/kkj ij fd na-iz-la- dh /kkjk 193 dh v/khu izfØ;k dk ikyu fd, fcuk izR;{k jhfr ls laKku fy;k x;k && nks"kflf) vikLr ugha dh tk ldrh rFkk iqufoZpkj.k ds fy, Hkh funsf‘kr ugha fd;k tk ldrkA

       ¼2½ naM izfØ;k lafgrk] 1973 && /kkjk 193] 207 rFkk 209 && naM lafgrk] 1860 && /kkjk 147] 148] 302 rFkk 149 && vuqlwfpr tkfr;k¡ rFkk vuqlwfpr tutkfr;k¡ ¼vR;kpkj fuokj.k½ vf/kfu;e] 1989 && /kkjk 3¼1½(x) && l= U;k;ky; ds le{k vf/kfu;e dh /kkjk 3¼1½(x) ds v/khu vkjksi&i= izLrqr fd;k && Hkk-na-la- dh /kkjk 147] 148] 302 rFkk 149 ds v/khu vkjksi fojfpr && fopkj.k izØe ij vFkok mlls iwoZ dksbZ vkifRrÙk ugha dh xbZ && vfHk;qDr l{ke U;k;ky; }kjk nks"kh Bgjk, x, && na-iz-la- dh /kkjk 193 ds v/khu fofgr izfØ;k ds vuuqikyu ds fo"k; esa vihy esa vkifRrÙk mBkbZ xbZ && U;k; dk u gks ikuk vFkok U;k; dh gkfu ugha && ek= bl vk/kkj ij fd na-iz-la- dh /kkj k193 ds v/khu izfØ;k dk ikyu fd, fcuk izR;{k jhfr ls laKku fy;k x;k && nks"kflf) vikLr ugha dh tk ldrh rFkk iqufoZpkj.k ds fy, Hkh funsf‘kr ugha fd;k tk ldrkA

       naM izfØ;k lafgrk ¼laf{kIr esa lafgrk½ dh /kkjk 193 ds fuca/ku esa vfHk;qDr dks lqiqnZ u djus ds izHkko rFkk la?kVd ds laca/k esa ,sls izdj.kksa esa tgk¡ vuqlwfpr tkfr;k¡ rFkk vuqlwfpr tutkfr;k¡ ¼vR;kpkj fuokj.k½ vf/kfu;e] 1989 ¼la{ksi esa vf/kfu;e½ dh /kkjk 3¼1½(x) ds v/khu vkjksi&i= izLrqr fd;k tkrk gS rFkk fo‘ks"k U;k;ky; }kjk vf/kfu;e ds v/khu lh/ks laKku fy;k tkrk gS] fHkUu rFkk ijLij fojks/kh er eglwl djrs gq, };&Uk;k/kh‘k U;k;ihB us ekeys dks c`gn~ U;k;ihB dks funsZ‘k djuk mi;qDr le>k rFkkdfFkr funsZ‘k ds vk/kkj ij gekjs le{k j[kk x;kA bl ifjfLFkfr esa] ekSyh rFkk ,d vU; fo- dsjy jkT; ¼, vkb vkj 2004 ,l lh 1890½ rFkk fo|k/kju fo- dsjy jkT; ¼¼2004½1 ,l lh lh 215½] esa okLrfod fojks/k gksuk ;k folaxfr gksuk izdV gS] bls Li"V djuk vko‘;d gSA tgk¡ ,d vksj ;g vfHkfu/kkZfjr fd;k x;k gS fd fo‘ks"k U;k;ky; }kjk dh xbZ nks"kflf) fLFkj j[kus ;ksX; ugha gS ;fn ;g Loizsj.kk ls xzg.k fd;k gS rFkk bls izdj.k lqiqnZ fd, fcuk ifjokn ds vk/kkj ij lh/kk laKku fy;k x;k gS rFkk] blfy,] iqufoZpkj.k ;k laiw.kZ nks"kflf) vikLr dh tkuk pkfg,] tSlh Hkh fLFkfr gks] rFkk nwljh vksj e-iz- jkT; fo- Hkwjkth rFkk vU; ¼2001¼2½ ts ,y ts 321 ¼mPpre U;k-½½] esa tgk¡] lafgrk dh /kkjk 465¼1½ dh lgk;rk ysrs gq,] ;g jk; O;Dr dh gS fd tc l{ke vf/kdkfjrk ds U;k;ky; }kjk fopkj.k lapkfyr fdk tk pqdk gS rFkk lk{; ds leqfpr foospu ij nks"kflf) vfHkfyf[kr dh tk pqdh gS] ogh ek= bl vk/kkj ij yqIr ;k izHkkfor ugha dh tk ldrh fd lqiqnZxh ij dk;Zokgh ugha Fkh rFkk fo‘ks"k U;k;ky; }kjk lh/kk laKku fy;k x;k FkkA blds vfrfjDr U;k; dk u gks ikuk mRiUu ugha djrkA

       iz‘u tks izdV gksrs gSa] LokHkkfod mifl)kar ds :i esa] fopkjk/khu gSa fd D;k fo‘ks"k U;k;ky; tSlk fd vf/kfu;e ds varxZr xfBr gS ,d l= U;k;ky; gS] rFkk D;k vf/kfu;e esa dksbZ ,slk mica/k gS tks mi;qZDr U;k;ky; dks laKku ysus dk vf/kdkj nsrk gSA

       vfHkfu/kkZfjr % mi;qZDr fu.kZ;ksa dk /;kuiwoZd voyksdu djus ds i‘pkr~ gedks jÙkhHkj Hkh lansg ugha gs fd O;Dr er tks tu&lk/kkj.k dk vk/kkj gS vkR;kafrd lgh gS rFkk ml ij vf/kd fopkj djus dh vko‘;d ugha gS blfy, bl laca/k esa tc uqDrkphuh vFkok fojks/k ugha djuk gS rFkkdfFkr fo"k; ij dksbZ funsZ‘k ugha gSA rn~uqlkj] mi;qZDr er dh O;k[;k ds laca/k esa dksbZ lansg O;Dr ugha fd;k gS rFkk blfy, vdkV~; :i ls ugha gSA

       ;g /;ku djuk mfpr fd Hkwjkth ¼iwoksZDr½] esa fu.kZ; laHkor% U;k;k/kh‘kx.k dh tkudkjh esa ugha yk;k x;k Fkk ftUgksaus ekSyh ¼iwoksZDr½ rFkk fo|k/kju ¼iwoksZDr½] ds izdj.k fu.khZr fd, gSaA ekSyh ¼iwoksZDr½ esa] ckn dh };&Uk;k/kh‘k U;k;ihB us nks"kflf) dk fu.kZ; vikLr fd;k gS rFkk ekeyk izfrizsf"kr fd;k x;k D;ksafd fo‘ks"k U;k;ky; }kjk lh/ks laKku fy;k x;k FkkA fo|k/kju ¼iwoksZDr½ esa U;k;ihB us bl izdkj vfHkfu/kkZfjr fd;k gSA

       bl izdj.k esa gesa ;g lacksf/kr djus ds fy, vxzlj gksuk gksxk fd dkSu&lk er U;k;ksfpr rFkk ifjiw.kZ gksuk Lohdkj fd;k tkuk pkfg,A dsanzLFk fook|d] tSlk ge le>rs gSa] ;g gS fd D;k fu"ks/kkns‘k dk vuuqikyu tSlk fd lafgrk dh /kkjk 193 ds v/khu fopkj rFkk vkjksfir fd;k x;k gS fopkj.k ds i‘pkr~ vafre vf/ker dks vd`r djrk gS rFkk bldk iw.kZ foyksiu ifj.kker% iqufoZpkj.k dk vf/kdkj nsrk gS ;k nks"kh dh vksj ls bl iznf‘kZr rFkk larq"V djuk vko‘;d gS fd fu"ks/kkns‘k dk ,slk dÙkZu djuk U;k; u gks ikus dk dkj.k curk gS ;k ;g ?kksf"kr djkus ds mn~ns‘; ds fy, fd fopkj.k nwf"kr Fkk mls izfrdwy :i ls izHkkfor djus ds dkj.kkRo dh ijkdk"Bk gSA

       mi;qZDr dfFkr vk/kkj okD;ksa dk buLiSDVªel ls fopkj rFkk fo‘ys"k.k djus ij] ge vizfrjks/; fu"d"kZ ij vkrs gSa fd lafgrk dh /kkjk 193 ds vuuqikyu ds laca/k esa vkifRrÙk] tks vuqlwfpr tkfr;k¡ rFkk vuqlwfpr tutkfr;k¡ ¼vR;kpkj fuokj.k½ vf/kfu;e] 1989 ds varxZr fo‘ks"k U;k;k/kh‘k }kjk rqjar lh/ks xzg.k djuk rFkk laKku ysuk ifj.kkfer gS] fopkj.k nwf"kr ugha djrh rFkk ,dek= dfFkr vk/kkj ij] nks"kflf) vikLr ugha dh tk ldrh vFkok iqufoZpkj.k dk funs‘k ugha fn;k tk ldrk vkSj] blfy,] Hkwjkth ¼iwoksZDr½] esa fn;k x;k fu.kZ; lgh fof/k vf/kdfFkr djrk gS blds vfrfjDr ogk¡ fu.kZ; ugha gks ikuk ugha gS ;k vfHk;qDr izfrdwy :i ls izHkkfor ugha gSA ekSyh ¼iwoksZDr½] rFkk fo|k/kj.k ¼iwoksZDr½] esa Hkwjkth ¼iwoksZDr½] esa fu.kZ; vkc)dj iwoZ fu.kZ; dk /;ku ugha fd;k x;k gS] rFkk vkxs] muesa vf/kdfFkr fof/k] ftlds }kjk nks"kflf) vikLr dh xbZ gS ;k ekeyk nks"kflf) djus ds i‘pkr~ iqufoZpkj.k ds fy, izfrizsf"kr fd;k x;k gS] fof/k dh lgh O;k[;k izfrikfnr ugha djrk vkSj] rn~uqlkj] ,rn~}kjk os ml lhek rd mYVs tkrs gSaA

       ¼3½ iw.kZ fu.kZ; && iwoZ dk fu.kZ; && vkc)dj gS && bl ij /;ku fn, fcuk okn ds fu.kZ; && ,sls fu.kZ; vuo/kkurk ds dkj.k gSa && fu.kZ; vkc)dj ugha gSA 2001¼2½ ts ,y ts 321 ¼mPpre U;k-½] , vkb vkj 2004 ,l lh 1890] ¼2004½1 ,l lh lh 215] ¼1989½2 ,l lh lh 754] , vkb vkj 1977 ,l lh 308] , vkb vkj 1980 ,l lh 541] , vkb vkj 1985 ,l lh 339] 2003 ,l lh lh ¼,y rFkk ,l½ 827] ¼1990½3 ,l lh lh 682 rFkk ¼1991½4 ,l lh lh 139 foosfprA ¼iSjk 16 ls 28

       ¼4½ naM izfØ;k lafgrk] 1973 && /kkjk 193 && mica/k ds v/khu fofgr izfØ;k && dk vuuqikyu dk izHkko && U;k; dk u gks ikuk ugha ;k U;k; dh gkfu ugha && ,slh vuuqikyu fopkj.k nwf"kr ugha djrkA ¼iSjk 32 ls 40