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2016 Supreme(Manipur) 120

IN THE HIGH COURT OF MANIPUR AT IMPHAL
RAKESH RANJAN PRASAD, J.
The State of Manipur – Petitioner
Versus
Timothy L. Changsan – Respondent
Cril. Revision Petition Nos. 19 & 22 of 2015
Decided On : 01-08-2016

Advocates Appeared:
For the Petitioner: Mr. R.S. Reisang, Sr. G.A.
For the Respondent:Mr. M.I. Sharma, Advocate.

At the stage of framing of charge, the trial court is not required to examine in detail the materials placed on record by the prosecution to find out sufficiency of the materials to establish the offences alleged against the accused persons.

Headnote:

POCSO Act - Discharge of Accused - Sections 227, 228 of the Cr.PC - State of Orissa vs. Debendra Nath Padhi (2005) 1 SCC 568, Soma Chakravarty vs. State through CBI (2007) 5 SCC 403, Sanghi Brothers (Indore) Private Ltd. vs. Sanjay Choudhary & Ors. (2008) 10 SCC 681, Amit Kapoor vs. Ramesh Chander & Anr. (2012) 9 SCC 460 - The court discussed the provisions of Sections 227 and 228 of the Cr.PC and emphasized that at the stage of framing of charge, the court is not required to examine in detail the materials placed on record by the prosecution to find out sufficiency of the materials to establish the offences alleged against the accused persons. The court also highlighted the importance of evaluating the material and documents on record to determine if the facts emerging therefrom disclose the existence of all the ingredients constituting the alleged offence.

Fact of the Case:

The case involved a victim, aged about 15 years, who alleged that the accused, an administrator of a children's home, had sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions. The accused was discharged by the trial court, leading to the filing of Criminal Revision Applications.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the trial court had committed gross illegality in discharging the accused, as it had made a roving enquiry and held a mini trial to find out the trustworthiness of the victim, which was not permissible under the law. The court emphasized that the trial court should have framed charges first and proceeded with the trial by recording evidence of the witnesses afresh.

Issues: The issues involved the discharge of the accused by the trial court, the legality of the court's approach in evaluating the evidence, and the adherence to the provisions of the Cr.PC.

Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized that at the stage of framing of charge, the trial court is not required to examine in detail the materials placed on record by the prosecution to find out sufficiency of the materials to establish the offences alleged against the accused persons. It also highlighted the importance of evaluating the material and documents on record to determine if the facts emerging therefrom disclose the existence of all the ingredients constituting the alleged offence.

Final Decision: The order of discharge was quashed, and the matter was remanded so that the court may proceed with the trial after framing charges. The court also directed that the trial be concluded within nine months of the date of receipt of the order.

JUDGMENT & ORDER :

1. Both the Criminal Revision Applications are directed against the order dated 15.10.2015 passed by Special Judge (POKSO) Churachandpur in Sessions Trial Case No. 1/2015 (arising out of Churachandpur WPS Case No. 2(2) 2015 registered u/s 354/376(C)/506 IPC and also under section 6/8/10/POCSO Act) whereby the learned Special Judge discharged the accused respondent from the accusation. A Criminal Revision Petition No. 19/15 has been registered upon an application filed on behalf of the State whereas Criminal Petition No. 22/15 has been registered when the Court sou motto took cognizance of the matter relating to discharge of the petitioner.

2. Facts giving rise to these applications are that one victim, aged about 15 years submitted a written report to the SP/Churachandpur stating therein that she has been staying in North Eastern Children Home (NECH) since her childhood where she had been brought by the accused respondent, an administrator of the said Home, whom she used to call Dady. It has been alleged that the accused, before outraging her modesty, used to purchase things like clothes, lotion and shampooetc for her. She would accept all these things from the accused as she used to treat him like a father. Sometime in the month of December, 2014 she asked the accused to buy a sleeper for her. Upon it, the accused told her that if she wants a sleeper for her, then she will have to hug him. When she hugged him the accused tried to touch her breast. Later on, the accused asked her to have sex with him. When she said ‘No’ to him, the accused asked her as to whether she does not love his father. The accused always insisted on her to have sex with him. Ultimately she succumbed to his pressure and subjected herself to the lust of the accused. Thereupon the accused went on having sex with her at number of occasions. Subsequently, she started resisting his desire and then the accused told her that one day she would be his wife. The accused went on having sex with her forcibly despite she did not like it.

Further case is that on the other day, she disclosed all these things to her home mates. When the accused came to know about this, he treated her badly and wanted to have sex with her to which she refused. Thereupon the accused told her that she is refusing to have sex with him as she does have boyfriend. According to prosecutrix she had disclosed about the misdeeds of the accused to her boyfriend and inmates of Home who also stated her not to succumb to the pressure of the accused. On such written report, a case was registered as Churachandpur WPS PS Case No. 2 (2)15 u/s 354/376(C)/506 of IPC and also u/s 6/8/10 of the POCSO Act.

3. The matter was taken upfor investigation during which the I.O. got statement of the victim recorded u/s 164 Cr.PC wherein she narrated about the incident as she had disclosed in the written report. She was examined by the Doctor. At the same time the accused was also examined by the Doctor. On completion of the investigation, charge sheet was submitted and thereupon court took cognizance of the offence as aforesaid against the accused on 26.6.2015. Much thereafter on 7.8.2015 an oral prayer was made on behalf of the accused for discharging him on the ground that the list of exhibit/documents submitted by the Prosecution do not establish the offences under which cognizance has been taken. Thereupon the Court observed that the accused may file an application u/s 227 of the IPC. At the same time, the Court passed an order for summoning the I.O. to be examined as Court witness. On 10.8.2015 an application u/s 227 of the Cr.PC was filed. The Court, without disposing of the application for discharge, examined the I.O. on the same day as CW-1 and directed the I.O. to produce two Doctors who had examined the victim as well as the accused. On 23.9.2015 both the Doctors were examined as court witnesses and cross examined. Thereupon, on 9.10.2015 the Court heard the learned counsel appearing for the





















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