K. Narayanaswami Reddiar v. T. Kolandaivelu Chettiar
1969-09-24
B.S.SOMASUNDARAM
body1969
DigiLaw.ai
The Court delivered the following pondent No. 1, Kolandaivelu Chettiar, who had already advanced amounts was short of money on a particular date and he advanced only Rs. 17,500. The appellant who was then present offered to pay the balance of Rs. 7,500 to the second respondent and for that purpose he requested the first respondent to execute a promissory note in favour of one Krishnaswamy Reddiar his nominee for Rs. 7,500. Believing his representations the promissory note was executed, but the amount was not paid. The promissory note was also not returned. Respondent No. 1 filed the complaint against the present appellant for cheating within the meaning of section 420, Indian Penal Code, and deposed to these facts as P.W. 1. P.W. 2 Vallinayagam stated that the amount was not paid to him. The appellant, in defence, pleaded that the promissory note said to have been executed by the said first respondent to Krishnaswamy Reddiar had nothing to do with the production of the picture “ Anbulla Athan,” and added, that he did not know as to why P.W. 1 executed a promissory note. He further stated that no promissory note was executed by P.W. 1 to anyone at any time at his instance. Observing that the evidence adduced on the side of the complainant was not altogether satisfactory and holding that at the worst the matter would amount only to a breach of promise, the learned Magistrate, discharged the appellant under section 253 (1), Criminal Procedure. Code. This was on the 10th of March, 1967. Thereupon, on 6th April, 1967, the appellant filed a petition under section 476, Criminal Procedure Code, before the learned Magistrate requesting him to file a complaint against the present respondents for having filed a false complaint and given false evidence in Court. The petitioner was absent on 28th August, 1967, and the learned Magistrate dismissed the application stating that there was no ground for sanctioning the prosecution. The correctness of this order is now canvassed in the present appeal. Under section 476, clause (1) of the Criminal Procedure Code.
The petitioner was absent on 28th August, 1967, and the learned Magistrate dismissed the application stating that there was no ground for sanctioning the prosecution. The correctness of this order is now canvassed in the present appeal. Under section 476, clause (1) of the Criminal Procedure Code. “ When any Court................is of opinion that it is expedient in the interests of justice that an inquiry should he made into any offence referred to in section 195, sub-section (1) clause(b)or clause (c), which appears to have been committed in or in relation to a proceeding in that Court, such Court may, after such preliminary inquiry, if any, as it thinks necessary record a finding to that effect and make a complaint thereof in writing signed by the presiding officer of the Court.” Under section 479-A, Criminal Procedure Code, where a witness has intentionally given false evidence injudicial proceedings, if the Court feels, that for the eradication of the evils of perjury and in the interests of justice, it is expedient that such witness should be prosecuted, the Court shall, at the time of the delivery of the judgment, record a finding to that effect stating its reasons therefor and if it so thinks fit, after giving him an opportunity, to make a complaint thereof, in writing, and forward the same to a Magistrate of the First Class. The Magistrate, who tried this case, had all the materials before him, when he passed the order of discharge under section 253 (1) Criminal Procedure Code. Obviously, he did not consider it necessary or expedient to launch proceedings against the respondents for preferring any false complaint or for perjury. Where after the judgment, documents, which would establish the falsity of the evidence of the witness, are brought to the notice of the Court, section 479-A, Criminal Procedure Code, will not apply and sub-section 6 of the section will not operate as a bar for proceeding under sections 476 to 479, Criminal Procedure Code, (vide Kasi Thevar v. Chinniah Konar1 and Kuppa Goundan v. M.S. P. Rajesh2. No material was placed subsequently by the appellant to show that the complaint, which was filed, was false or the evidence, which was given amounted to perjury. The materials were there even at the time when the learned Magistrate passed the order of discharge.
No material was placed subsequently by the appellant to show that the complaint, which was filed, was false or the evidence, which was given amounted to perjury. The materials were there even at the time when the learned Magistrate passed the order of discharge. Petitioner does not base his claim for launching proceedings against the respondents on any new material, but only on the materials available from the evidence of P.W. 1 and P.W. 2 and the documents already filed. Therefore in these circumstances, the bar under section 479-A, Clause 6, Criminal Procedure Code, would come into operation. Even otherwise this is not a c?.se where a complaint should be filed in the interests of justice. The matter relates to the execution of a promissory note. The executant says that he executed it believing certain representations. The appellant avers that he had nothing to do with the promissory note. It is said that suits were instituted on the promissory note and that they are pending. To say that the complainant has not proved his case under section 420, Indian Penal Code, is not always the same as saying that it has been proved that the complaint given by him was false. “ The bare fact that subsequently it was noticed that false evidence was given in a proceeding, by itself, will not be sufficient for concluding the expediency of prosecution. Before launching prosecution, one has to bear in mind that hundreds of actions are tried yearly in which the Court finds the evidence irreconcilably conflicting and therein one or the other side must have wilfully and deliberately perjured. The Courts do often pronounce on the falsity of evidence, when coming to findings. If prosecution has to be launched in every case, and particularly at the instance of the opposite party, then there will be no limit to litigation between the parties. This aspect of the matter must make the Court pause and consider the expediency of prosecution in a particular case with reference to its facts and to launch prosecution at the instance of parties in every case where perjury is discovered.” Rangaswamy Reddiar v. Gunnammal1. The learned Magistrate has correctly dismissed the petition stating that there was no sufficient ground for taking any action against the respondents. The appeal fails and the same is dismissed. V.K. ------------- Appeal dismissed.