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IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH
Atul Sreedharan, J.
Rambahor Saket v. State of M. P.
Miscellaneous Criminal Cases No. 32718, 25031 and
17896 of 2018 (Jabalpur); Decided on 4.12.2018
(2) Criminal Trial -- Delay -- at stage of prosecution evidence -- can play havoc with rights of accused to speedy trial and render futile the very intent and purpose of criminal justice system. [Para 5
(3) Justice -- cannot mean attribution of overbearing and unrealistic importance to well-being of society at cost of individual's liberty -- justice can only be served if a practical balance between both is achieved. [Para 10
(4) Criminal Trial -- Delay -- duty of Court -- not sufficient to be merely cognizant that undertrials languish inordinately in jail on account of delay in trial -- it is the responsibility of trial Court to secure presence of prosecution witnesses at the earliest and record their statements within shortest time possible. [Para 28
(5) Criminal P. C., 1973 -- S.439 -- applicant in judicial custody -- not a single prosecution witness examined -- inordinate delay in recording statements of witnesses -- application allowed. [Para 30
(6) Criminal Trial -- broad guidelines laid down -- trial Court must make all efforts to follow mutatis mutandis, tailoring them to special circumstances that a particular case may present -- guidelines not exhaustive -- are illustrative.
Held : (1) After framing of charges against the accused, summons be issued to the eye witnesses or, if it s a case where there are no eye witnesses, then to those witnesses who are most material to prove the case of the prosecution.
(2) If summons are returned unserved for whatever reasons, instead of wasting further time by resorting to the same process time and again, the next summons must be served through the office of Superintendent of Police to the witnesses where the trial Court is situated in the District Headquarters and through the office of the SDOP, in the Tahsil Courts. If those summons are also not served, the report of the police must reflect the reasons why they have not been served.
(3) If the reasons given by the police in the report returning the summons unserved, reflect that the witnesses are unreachable/untraceable and that service cannot be effected on them on account of their non-availability and there is no prospect of them being found within reasonable time, then the trial Court must skip those witnesses and proceed to the next set of witnesses by issuing summons to them. The trial Court must realise that the case of the prosecution is actually the case of the State through the police, against the accused persons. It is the duty of the police to produce their witnesses before the trial Court. By skipping a set of witnesses, the Court is not closing their evidence but merely keeping them in abeyance, to be recorded as and when they are found by the police or appear on their own before the trial Court at any stage before the conclusion of the trial. In such a case, skipping of such witnesses would necessarily need the consent of counsel for the defence and if opposed by the defence counsel, for whatever strategic reasons the defence may have, then the Court may issue fresh summons to the same set of witnesses. However, in such a situation, the delay in conduct of trial would then be on account of the conduct of the defence for which accused cannot claim violation of the right to a speedy trial at a later point of time.
(4) If material witnesses cannot be procured without delay, the Court must explore the possibility of examining formal witnesses and expert witnesses if any and conclude the same. Thereafter, the remaining witnesses for the prosecution who have not been examined on account of the inability of the police to produce them for reasons reflected in the report of the police, the Court must close the case of the prosecution and proceed to the next stage of the case. However, if any of the prosecution witnesses appears at a subsequent stage, before passing of the judgment by the trial Court, the Court shall be free to exercise its jurisdiction under section 311, CrPC and record their statements in the interest of justice after considering opposition of the defence counsel, if any.
(5) The police on its part, must secure the mobile number and E-mails ids of all witnesses, if they possess the same. This must be retained by them in the inner case diary to be used for transmitting the summons or messaging the witness regarding their date and time of appearance before the trial Court to testify. The police must take care that the aforementioned details are NOT disclosed in the charge-sheet in order to ensure that the access of the accused to the witnesses is minimised to the greatest extent possible.
(6) The trial Court must also resort to the option of delivering summons through SMS and Email in addition to the conventional process, wherever possible. The purpose of the endeavour must be to secure the presence of the witnesses in the shortest possible time to complete the trial. The Courts must be bear in mind that as long as the trial is in progress, presumption is always of innocence and not of guilt.
(7) It shall not be open to the police to put forward reasons of law and order work or any other of their functions as excuses for not complying with the order of the trial Court to secure the presence of their witness. Such non-compliance on the part of the police may constitute contempt of the trial Court's order, and the trial Court shall be at liberty to initiate such proceedings against the police if it is not satisfied with the reply of the police for not complying with the order passed by it.
¼1½ naM izfØ;k lafgrk] 1973 && /kkjk 437] 438 rFkk 439 && tekur dh vf/kdkfjrk] lekt dk fgr vkSj 'kh?kz fopkj.k dk vfHk;qä dk vf/kdkj larqfyr djrs gq,] U;k;lEer :i ls iz;qDr dh tkuk pkfg,A¼iSjk 4
¼2½ nkafMd fopkj.k && foyac && vfHk;kstu lk{; ds izØe ij && 'kh?kz fopkj.k dk vfHk;qDr dk vf/kdkj vR;f/kd izfrdwyr% izHkkfor gks ldrk gS rFkk nkafMd U;k; iz.kkyh ds vk'k; vkSj mís'; dks gh fujFkZd cuk ldrk gSA ¼iSjk 5
¼3½ U;k; && dk vFkZ O;fä dh Lora=rk dh dher ij lekt dh HkykbZ dks fujadq'k vkSj vokLrfod egRo nsuk ugha gks ldrk && U;k; fgr dk lk/ku rc gh gks ldrk gS tc nksuksa ds e/; O;kogkfjd larqyu cSBk;k tk,A¼iSjk 10
¼4½ nkafMd fopkj.k && foyac && U;k;ky; dk drZO; && bl ckr ls voxrek= gksuk i;kZIr ugha fd fopkj.k esa foyac ds dkj.k fopkjk/khu O;fä;ksa dks tsy esa cgqr vf/kd fnu dkVuk iM+rs gSa && mudk drZO; gS fd vfHk;kstui{k ds lkf{k;ksa dh mifLFkfr 'kh?kzre volj ij lqfuf'pr djsa rFkk ;Fkk laHko de ls de le; esa muds dFku vfHkfyf[kr djsaA¼iSjk 28
¼5½ naM izfØ;k lafgrk] 1973 && /kkjk 439 && vkosnd U;kf;d vfHkj{kk esa && ,d Hkh vfHk;kstu lk{kh ijhf{kr ugha && lkf{k;ksa ds dFku vfHkfyf[kr djus esa vR;f/kd foyac && vkosnu eatwjA¼iSjk 30
¼6½ nkafMd fopkj.k && eq[; ekxZn'kZd fl)kar vf/kdfFkr && fopkj.k U;k;ky; }kjk] fdlh fof'k"V ekeys esa izLrqr gksus okyh fo'ks"k ifjfLFkfr;ksa ds vuq:i] ;Fkko';d ifjorZu lfgr vuqlj.k djus dk gj laHko iz;kl fd;k tk, && ekxZn'kZd fl)kar foLr`r ugha && n`"Vkar Lo:i gSaA
vfHkfu/kkZfjr % ¼1½ vfHk;qä ds fo#) vkjksi fojfpr gksus ds i'pkr~ izR;{kn'khZ lk{khx.k dks vFkok] ;fn og ,slk ekeyk gS ftlesa izR;{kn'khZ lk{kh ugha gSa rks] mu lk{khx.k dks tks vfHk;kstu i{kdFku lkfcr djus ds fy, lcls egRoiw.kZ gSa] leu tkjh fd, tk,¡A
¼2½ ;fn leu fdlh Hkh dkj.ko'k vne rkehy okil ykSVrs gSa rks] ckj&ckj mlh izfØ;k dk vkJ; ysdj vkSj vf/kd le; u"V djus ds ctk;] lk{khx.k dks vxys leu] tgk¡ fopkj.k U;k;ky; ftyk eq[;ky; esa fLFkr gS ogk¡ iqfyl vèkh{kd dk;kZy; ds ek/;e ls rFkk rglhy U;k;ky;ksa esa iqfyl mi[kaM vfèkdkjh ds ek/;e ls rkehy djk, tk,¡A ;fn mu leuksa dks Hkh rkehy ugha gks rks iqfyl ds izfrosnu ls nf'kZr gksuk vko';d gS fd fdu dkj.kksa ls rkehy ugha gqbZA
¼3½ leu vne rkehy ykSVkus ds iqfyl izfrosnu esa fn, x, dkj.kksa ls ;fn nf'kZr gksrk gS fd lk{khx.k igq¡p ls ckgj gSa vFkok mudk irk ugha yxk;k tk ldk rFkk mudh vuqiyC/krk ds dkj.k mu ij rkehy ugha djkbZ tk ldrh vkSj ;qfä;qä le; ds Hkhrj muds ik, tkus dh dksbZ vk'kk ugha gS] rks fopkj.k U;k;ky; dks mu lkf{k;ksa dks NksM+dj lk{khx.k ds vxys xqV dks leu tkjh dj vkxs c<+uk gksxkA fopkj.k U;k;ky; dks le>uk gksxk fd vfHk;kstui{k dk ekeyk okLro esa vfHk;qDr O;fDr;ksa ds fo#)] iqfyl ds ek/;e ls jkT; dk ekeyk gSA fopkj.k U;k;ky; ds le{k vius lk{kh is'k djuk iqfyl dk drZO; gSA lk{khx.k dk ,d xqV NksM+dj] U;k;ky; mudk lk{; lekIr ugha dj jgk vfirq mls vkLFkfxr j[ks gS rkfd fopkj.k dh lekfIr ds iwoZ fdlh Hkh izØe ij] tc Hkh vkSj tSls Hkh og iqfyl }kjk ik, tk,¡ ;k Lo;a fopkj.k U;k;ky; ds le{k mifLFkr gksa rc mudk lk{; vfHkfyf[kr fd;k tk ldsA ,slh n'kk esa] ,sls lkf{k;ksa dks NksM+us ds fy, izfrj{kk ds dkmUlsy dh lgefr vko';dr% visf{kr gksxh vkSj ;fn izfrj{kk dkmUlsy }kjk] izfrj{kki{k ds fdUgha Hkh ;qfäiw.kZ dkj.kksa ls] fojks/k fd;k tk, tks U;k;ky; lk{khx.k ds mlh xqV dks u, fljs leu tkjh dj ldsxkA rFkkfi] ,slh ifjfLFkfr esa] rc fopkj.k ds lapkyu esa foyac izfrj{kk ds vkpj.k ds dkj.k gksxk ftlds fy, vfHk;qDr i'pkr~orhZ fdlh le;&fcanq ij] 'kh?kz fopkj.k ds vf/kdkj ds vfrØe.k dk nkok ugha dj ldsxkA
¼4½ ;fn egRoiw.kZ lk{kh fcuk foyac ds miyC/k ugha gks ldrs rks U;k;ky; dks vkSipkfjd lkf{k;ksa vkSj fo'ks"kK lkf{k;ksa dh] ;fn gksa rks] ijh{kk dh laHkkouk dks VVksyuk gksxk rFkk mls laiw.kZ djuk gksxkA rRi'pkr~ vfHk;kstui{k ds ftu 'ks"k lk{khx.k dh ijh{kk iqfyl ds izfrosnu esa n'kkZ, x, dkj.kksa ls is'k djus esa iqfyl dh vleFkZrk ds dkj.k ugha dh xbZ ¼mUgsa NksM+rs gq,½] U;k;ky; dks vfHk;sktu i{kdFku lekIr djuk gksxk vkSj ekeys ds vxys izØe dh vksj vxzlj gksuk gksxkA rFkkfi] ;fn fopkj.k U;k;ky; }kjk fu.kZ; ikfjr fd, tkus ds iwoZ] fdlh Hkh i'pkr~orhZ izØe ij vfHk;kstu lkf{k;ksa esa ls dksbZ Hkh mifLFkr gksrk gS rks U;k;ky; naM izfØ;k lafgrk dh /kkjk 311 ds v/khu viuh vfèkdkfjrk iz;qä djus vkSj izfrj{kk ds dkmUlsy ds fojks/k ij] ;fn gks] rks fopkj djus ds mijkar U;k; fgr esa muds dFku vfHkfyf[kr djus dks Lora= gksxkA
¼5½ iqfyl dks viuh vksj ls] leLr lkf{k;ksa ds eksckby uacj vkSj bZesy dks irs] ;fn muds ikl gksa rks] izkIr djuk vko';d gSA ;g muds }kjk leu izsf"kr djus ;k lk{; nsus ds fy, fopkj.k U;k;ky; ds le{k mudh mifLFkfr ds fnukad vkSj le; ds laca/k esa lk{khx.k dks lans'k izsf"kr djus gsrq mi;ksx esa yk, tkus ds fy, Hkhrjh dsl Mk;jh esa j[ks tk,¡xsA iqfyl dks /;ku j[kuk gksxk fd iwoksZä fof'k"V;k¡ vkjksii= esa izdV ugha dh tk,¡ rkfd lqfuf'pr gks fd lk{khx.k rd vfHk;qDr dh igq¡p ;Fkk laHko U;wure lhek rd jgsA
¼6½ fopkj.k U;k;ky; dks ikjaifjd izfØ;k ds vfrfjDr] tgk¡ Hkh laHko gks] leu laf{kIr lans'k ¼,l ,e ,l½ rFkk bZesy ds ek/;e ls ifjnÙk djus ds fodYi dk vkJ; ysuk Hkh vko';d gSA bl iz;kl dk iz;kstu] fopkj.k iw.kZ djus ds fy, ;Fkk laHko vYire le; esa lk{khx.k dh mifLFkfr lqfuf'pr djuk gksxkA fopkj.k U;k;ky; dks /;ku esa j[kuk gksxk fd tc fd fopkj.k py jgk gS] mièkkj.kk funksZf"krk dh gh gksxh] nksf"krk dh ughaA
¼7½ iqfyl vius lkf{k;ksa dh mifLFkfr lqfuf'pr djus gsrq fopkj.k U;k;ky; ds vkns'k dk vuqikyu ugha djus ds fy, fof/k&OoLFkk ds dk;Z vFkok muds vU; fdUgha Hkh ÑR;ksa ds dkj.kksa dk cgkuk ugha cuk ldsxhA iqfyl dh vksj ls ,slk vuuqikyu fopkj.k U;k;ky; ds vkns'k dh voekuuk gksxk rFkk fopkj.k U;k;ky;] ;fn mlds }kjk ikfjr vkns'k dk vuqikyu ugha djus ds fy, iqfyl }kjk fn, x, mÙkj ls mldk lekèkku ugha gksrk rks] iqfyl ds fo#) voekuuk dk;Zokgh vkjaHk djus dks Lora= gksxkA ¼iSjk 29
1. MCrC No. 32718/2018 is the third application for grant of bail under section 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 moved by the applicant Rambahor Saket who is in judicial custody in connection with Crime No. 285/2017, for offences punishable under sections 376 and 342 of the Indian Penal Code and also under section 3/4 of the POCSO Act, registered at P.S Gadh, Rewa (M.P). The first bail application was dismissed as withdrawn vide order dated 3.1.2018 passed in MCrC No. 18626/2017, with liberty to file afresh after the statement of the prosecutrix is recorded before the trial Court. Thereafter, the second application was also dismissed for want of prosecution vide order dated 18.5.2018 passed in MCrC No. 7786/2018. The Applicant is in Judicial Custody since 31.8.2017. Till the date of filing of the bail application before this Court, not a single witness for the prosecution has been examined.
2. M.Cr.C.No.25031/2018 has been filed for grant of bail under section 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 by the applicant Balwan @ Balman Singh herein who is in judicial custody in connection with Crime No. 356/2016 for offences punishable under sections 363, 366, 344, 376-D/34 of IPC and section 5/6 of POCSO Act registered at P.S. Madhav Nagar, District-Katni (M.P). The Applicant is in Judicial Custody since 26.12.2017. Till the date of filing of the bail application before this Court, not a single witness for the prosecution has been examined.
3. MCrC No. 17896/2018 is the second application for grant of bail under section 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 by the applicant Aleem @ Annu Khan who is in judicial custody in connection with Crime No. 356/2016 for offences punishable under sections 363, 366, 344, 376-D/34 of IPC and section 5/6 of POCSO Act registered at Police Station Madhav Nagar, District Katni (M.P). The Applicant is in Judicial Custody since 26.12.2017. Till the date of filing of the bail application before this Court, not a single witness for the prosecution has been examined.
4. These bail applications under judgement present a disturbing picture with regard to the status of under trials who may languish in judicial custody interminably during the process of protracted trials. It goes without saying that the jurisdiction of bail which is vested equally before the Court of the Judicial Magistrate First Class under section 437 CrPC and before the Court of Sessions and High Courts under sections 438 and 439 of CrPC must be exercised judiciously, balancing both the interest of the society and the right of the accused to a speedy trial. Though both the factors are equally important, but facts of a case may tip the scale in favour of the accused giving due regard to his right to a speedy trial. Time and again the High Courts and the Supreme Court have emphasised the importance of an expeditious trial.
5. The stages of a criminal proceedings are (1) Investigation (2) filing of the charge sheet (3) taking cognizance and summoning the accused (where the accused is not in custody) (4) committal of the accused where the offence is triable by the Court of Sessions (5) framing of charges (6) EVIDENCE FOR THE PROSECUTION (7) statement of the accused under section 313 CrPC (8) Evidence for the Defence (9) Final Arguments and (10) Judgement. Though delay can take place at almost all the aforementioned stages, experience shows that the two stages where delay is most apparent is at the stage of investigation, and the stage of evidence for the prosecution. Of the two, delay on account of a lengthy investigation can be redressed by providing succour to an incarcerated accused in the form of a statutory bail under section 167(2) CrPC or a regular bail under section 437 or 439 CrPC. But delay at the stage of evidence for the prosecution can play havoc with the rights of the accused to a speedy trial and render futile the very intent and purpose of the criminal justice system.
6. Delay in securing the presence of
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