IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH
Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari, J.
Ghanshyam Das Gupta – Appellant
Versus
State of Madhya Pradesh & Ors. – Respondents
Writ Petition No. 18196 of 2022
Decided On : 14-10-2022
FIR Registration - Alternative Remedy - Section 156(3) Cr.P.C. - Sakiri Vasu vs State Of U.P. And Others ((2008)2 SCC 409), M.Subramaniam Vs. S. Janaki (Cr.A. No.102 of 2011), Sudhir Bhaskarrao Tambe v. Hent Dhage mant Yashwaand Others ((2016)6 SCC 277), Shweta Bhadoriya Vs. State of M.P. & others (2017 (1) MPLJ (Cri) 338)
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner sought the court to conduct a fair enquiry into a complaint and take action against the respondents. The petitioner was aggrieved by the inaction of the police in not registering the FIR against the respondents.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the petitioner had an alternative efficacious remedy of filing a complaint before the Magistrate under section 156(3) of the Cr.P.C. The court dismissed the petition as the petitioner had not availed the alternative remedy.
Issues: The main issue was whether the court should entertain the petition when an alternative efficacious remedy was available to the petitioner.
Ratio Decidendi: The court relied on the legal position established in Sakiri Vasu vs State Of U.P. And Others, M.Subramaniam Vs. S. Janaki, Sudhir Bhaskarrao Tambe v. Hent Dhage mant Yashwaand Others, and Shweta Bhadoriya Vs. State of M.P. & others, emphasizing that the petitioner should avail the alternative remedy under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C. before approaching the court.
Final Decision: The court dismissed the petition, directing the petitioner to approach the Magistrate concerned under the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
JUDGMENT
1. The present petition, under Article 226 of the Constitution of India has been preferred by the petitioner seeking the following reliefs:-
'(A) It is, therefore, prayed that this Hon'ble Court may kindly be pleased to conduct the fair, impartial and proper enquiry into the complaint made by the petitioner and take strong action against the Respondent No.5-10 and further be please to issue the appropriate direction to the respondents police to register the FIR against the responsible persons/Respondent No.5-10.
(B) It is, therefore, prayed that this Hon'ble Court may kindly be pleased to direct the Respondents to decide/consider the representation of the petitioner.
(C) Any other relief as deemed fit and proper in the circumstances of this case, along with the cost of this writ petition be also awarded.'
2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that petitioner is aggrieved by the inaction of respondents No.3 and 4 in not registering the FIR against respondents No.5 to 10. In this regard, petitioner has preferred several written complaints before respondent No.4- SHO, Police Station Waidhan, District Singrauli (M.P.) but no action whatsoever has been taken thereupon. As such, the instant petition has been filed.
3. Per contra learned Government Advocate for the respondents/State contends that the relief prayed in this petition cannot be granted to the petitioner in view of the fact that petitioner is having an alternative efficacious remedy of filing complaint before the Magistrate under section 156(3) of the Cr.P.C. He further submits that it is well settled that disputed questions of fact cannot be looked into by this Court in Article 226 of the Constitution of India. As such, the present petition is liable to dismissed at the threshold.
4. Heard the learned counsel for the parties.
5. In the case of Sakiri Vasu vs State Of U.P. And Others ((2008)2 SCC 409) has held as under:-
11. In this connection we would like to state that if a person has a grievance that the police station is not registering his FIR under Section 154 Cr.P.C., then he can approach the Superintendent of Police under Section 154(3) Cr.P.C. by an application in writing.
Even if that does not yield any satisfactory result in the sense that either the FIR is still not registered, or that even after registering it no proper investigation is held, it is open to the aggrieved person to file an application under Section 156 (3) Cr.P.C. before the learned Magistrate concerned. If such an application under Section 156 (3) is filed before the Magistrate, the Magistrate can direct the FIR to be registered and also can direct a proper investigation to be made, in a case where, according to the aggrieved person, no proper investigation was made. The Magistrate can also under the same provision monitor the investigation to ensure a proper investigation.
13. The same view was taken by this Court in Dilawar Singh vs. State of Delhi JT 2007 (10) SC 585 (vide para 17). We would further clarify that even if an FIR has been registered and even if the police has made the investigation, or is actually making the investigation, which the aggrieved person feels is not proper, such a person can approach the Magistrate under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C., and if the Magistrate is satisfied he can order a proper investigation and take other suitable steps and pass such order orders as he thinks necessary for ensuring a proper investigation.
All these powers a Magistrate enjoys under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C.
14. Section 156 (3) states:
'Any Magistrate empowered under Section 190 may order such an investigation as abovementioned.'
The words as abovementioned obviously refer to Section 156 (1), which contemplates investigation by the officer in charge of the Police Station.
15. Section 156(3) provides for a check by the Magistrate on the police performing its duties under Chapter XII Cr.P.C. In cases where the Magistrate finds that the police has not done its duty of investigating the case at all
Dilawar Singh vs. State of Delhi 2007 (10) JT 585
Sakiri Vasu vs State Of U.P. And Others ((2008)2 SCC 409
Shweta Bhadoriya Vs. State of M.P. & others (2017 (1) MPLJ (Cri) 338)
State of Bihar vs. A.C. Saldanna AIR 1980 SC 326
Sudhir Bhaskarrao Tambe v. Hent Dhage mant Yashwaand Others ((2016)6 SCC 277
The main legal principle established is that when an alternative efficacious remedy is available to the petitioner under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C., the court should not entertain the petition.
The main legal principle established in the judgment is that the remedy for aggrieved persons seeking FIR registration lies under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C. before the concerned Magistrate, and not throu....
The main legal point established in the judgment is that the remedy for aggrieved persons seeking the registration of an FIR is to approach the Magistrate under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C. and not to file....
Availability of alternative efficacious remedy under section 156(3) of the Cr.P.C. for seeking the registration of an FIR.
The main legal point established in the judgment is that when a person has a grievance regarding the lodging of an FIR or the conduct of a proper investigation, the remedy lies in approaching the Mag....
The main legal point established in the judgment is that the remedy for FIR registration lies under section 156(3) of the Cr.P.C. and not through a writ petition.
The petitioner should avail the alternative efficacious remedy under Section 156(3) of the Cr.P.C. before seeking relief from the High Court.
The petitioner should avail the alternative efficacious remedy under the Cr.P.C. before approaching the High Court with a writ petition.
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