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1923 DIGILAW 135 (CAL)

Abdul Rashid Sheikh v. Momtaz Sheikh

1923-03-07

body1923
JUDGMENT 1. This rule is directed against the order passed by the Sessions Judge of Murshidabad directing further enquiry u/s 437, Criminal Procedure Code, into the case in which the petitioners were discharged u/s 253, Criminal Procedure Code. The order of the learned Sessions Judge directing further enquiry is based solely on the ground that he gives less weight to the discrepancies in the evidence than has been given by the trying Magistrate. On the authority of the Full Bench ruling in the case of Hari Dass Sanyal v. Saritulla [1888] 15 Cal. 608, the Sessions Judge acted within his power in directing a reconsideration of the evidence. But we think that on the facts of the present case he did not exercise his discretion properly. The trying Magistrate in his judgment has discussed the evidence carefully, and has given reasons which in our opinion are sufficient to justify his conclusion that the evidence of the prosecution witnesses was insufficient to support the charge of rioting. In cases like the present where no fresh evidence is likely to be produced on further enquiry we think the superior Court should hesitate before exercising its powers u/s 437, Criminal Procedure Code, unless there are more palpable errors in the decision of the lower Court than there are in the present case. We do not think that further enquiry will serve any useful purpose. Taking this view of the case we make this Rule absolute and set aside the order of the Sessions Judge dated 18th November, 1922 directing further enquiry into the case against the petitioners who have been discharged.