ORDER

This petition had been filed to call for the records in C.C.No.153 of 2010 pending on the file of the Judicial Magistrate Court No.V, Coimbatore and quash the same as illegal and without jurisdiction.

2. When the case was taken up for hearing on 19.04.2022, this Court passed the following order, based on the submission of the learned Counsel for the Petitioners.

“Today, when the case is taken up for the hearing, the learned Counsel for the Petitioners invited the attention of this Court stating that one of the charges framed against the Petitioners is under Section 295(A) of IPC, for which, prior sanction has to be obtained from the Government. At that stage, this Court had sought remarks from the learned Judicial Magistrate No.V, Coimbatore. Further, the learned Counsel for the Petitioners stated that on that ground, the case was adjourned.

2. On verification of records, it is found that remarks had been offered by the Judicial Magistrate No.V, Coimbatore, vide his letter bearing D.No.508/2022, dated 08.04.2022. As per his remarks, interim stay was granted in Crl.M.P.No.4387 of 2019 in Crl.O.P.No.8121 of 2019 staying all further proceedings as against the Petitioners in C.C.No.153 of 2010. Till such date, the learned Judicial Magistrate had proceeded with the trial and had examined 11 witnesses who have been examined by the Prosecution upto P.W.11 and the witnesses are to be cross-examined.

3. At that stage, the Accused had filed this Criminal Original Petition seeking to quash the charge sheet.

4. The Petitioners are Accused 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 9. As per the grounds raised in the Petition to quash the charge sheet, before filing the final report the Prosecution should obtain sanction either from the Central Government or State Government to prosecute the Accused as one of the offences alleged is under 295(A) of IPC which had to be prosecuted only after obtaining sanction either from the Central Government or State Government as per Section 196(1) (a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure Code. Therefore, the learned Counsel for the Petitioners seeks clarification from the learned Judicial Magistrate concerned.

Therefore, the Registry is directed to call for the remarks from the learned Judicial Magistrate No.V, Coimbatore, as to whether sanction had been obtained either from the Central Government or State Government before taking cognizance of the charge sheet by the learned Judicial Magistrate as per Section 196(1) (a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure for the offences alleged against the Accused under Section 295(A) of IPC.

Call the case on 21.04.2022.”

3. As per the submission of the learned Counsel for the Petitioners, the Petitioners have been arrayed as Accused Nos.1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 9. The offence alleged against the Petitioners are under Sections 143, 295(A) and 341 of IPC. Regarding the offence under Section 295(A) the prosecution ought to have obtained prior sanction, either from the Central Government or from the State Government. In this case, the final report of the investigation laid before the Court without obtaining sanction, the trial proceed before the trial Court. The learned Judicial Magistrate No.V, Coimbatore, having taken cognizance and trial commenced. The Accused Nos.1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 9 approached this Court by filing this Crl.O.P.No.8121 of 2019 seeking to quash the charge sheet in C.C.No.153 of 2010, pending on the file of the learned Judicial Magistrate No.V, Coimbatore, on the ground that prior sanction had not been obtained. Therefore, this Court sought remarks from the Judicial Magistrate No.V, Coimbatore. The learned Judicial Magistrate No.V, Coimbatore, had offered his remarks, in which, he had stated that the final report in Crime No.203 of 2010 under Sections 143, 341 and 295(A) IPC filed before the learned Judicial Magistrate No.V, Coimbatore. On perusal of the case records, it is seen that the learned Judicial Magistrate No.V, Coimbatore, had taken cognizance of the offence only under Sections 14