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Allahabad High Court · body

1977 DIGILAW 299 (ALL)

RAM KRISHNA v. YUNUS

1977-05-18

S.MALIK

body1977
JUDGEMENT This is a petition under S. 482 of the Cr. P. C. praying that the order dated 9-6-1976 of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Farrukhabad, directing the police to investigate into the allegations made in the complaint under S. 156 (3) of the Cr. P. C. and either to submit a charge-sheet or a final report, be quashed. 2. The relevant facts are that Yunus, respondent No. 1 filed a complaint before the Magistrate concerned making allegations which make out an offence punishable under S. 395 of the I. P. C. The learned Magistrate instead of proceeding with the case himself after taking cognizance thereof passed the impugned order under S. 156 (3) of the Cr. P. C. directing the police to investigate it as already mentioned. 3. It was argued on behalf of the applicants that the learned Magistrate acted illegally as he had no option but to take cognizance of the case in view of the language of S. 190 of the Cr. P. C. In support of this view the attention of the Court was drawn to the observations made by the Supreme Court in A. C. Agrawal v. Mst. Ram Kali, ( AIR 1968 SC 1 ) : (1968 Cri LJ 82). The relevant observations are in para 12 wherein the Supreme Court has observed (at p. 86 of 1968 Cri LJ):- "From the copies of the reports made in these cases to the Magistrate by the police-made available to us at the hearing of these appeals-it is clear that they disclose offences under S. 3 against the respondents. Therefore, the question is whether the Magistrate can choose to ignore the cognizable offence complained of and merely have recourse to S. 18 and thus deprive the parties proceeded against of the benefit of a regular trial as well as the right of appeal in the event of their conviction. Therefore, the question is whether the Magistrate can choose to ignore the cognizable offence complained of and merely have recourse to S. 18 and thus deprive the parties proceeded against of the benefit of a regular trial as well as the right of appeal in the event of their conviction. Bearing in mind the purpose of these provisions as well as the scheme of the Act and on a harmonious construction of the various provisions in the Act, we are of the opinion that in cases like those before us the Magistrate who is also a court as provided in S. 22 must at the first instance proceed against the persons complained against under the penal provisions in S. 3 or 7 as the case may be, and only after the disposal of those cases take action under S. 18 if there is occasion for it. Under S. 190 (1) (b) of the Cr. P. C. the Magistrate is bound to take cognizance of any cognizable offence brought to his notice." 4. The case before the Supreme Court was under Suppression of Immoral Traffic in Women and Girls Act, 1956 and while considering the facts of that case the Supreme Court was of the view that in case the Magistrate did not take cognizance of the complaint made before him by the police and instead proceeded under the said Act, it would result in injustice and in a stray sentence observed, "Under S. 190 (1) (b) of the Cr. P. C. the Magistrate is bound to take cognizance of any cognizable offence brought to his notice." The observations were specifically made in respect of S. 190 (1) (b) of the Cr. P. C. The facts of the instant case are different. Here in the complaint, no doubt respondent No. 1 has alleged that the applicants had committed a cognizable offence under S. 395 of the Indian Penal Code. From a perusal of the relevant provisions of the Cr. P. C. it is apparent that two courses were open to the Magistrate. He could either take cognizance of the case and proceed with it in accordance with law as laid down in S. 200 of the Cr. P. C. and onwards or direct the police to investigate the case under S. 156 (3) of the Cr. P. C. and completely divest himself of the case. He could either take cognizance of the case and proceed with it in accordance with law as laid down in S. 200 of the Cr. P. C. and onwards or direct the police to investigate the case under S. 156 (3) of the Cr. P. C. and completely divest himself of the case. In the instant case, the learned Magistrate has chosen to direct the police to investigate the case under S. 156 (3) of the Cr. P. C. Keeping in view the observations made by the Supreme Court in Gopal Das Sindhi v. State of Assam ( AIR 1961 SC 986 ). A perusal of the judgment of the Supreme Court in Gopal Das Sindhi v. State of Assam (supra) will show that it is almost on all fours with the instant case. 5. It was argued by the learned counsel for the applicants that in view of the provisions of S. 202 (1) (a) of the Cr. P. C. the Magistrate could not have ordered investigation by the police. This contention is obviously erroneous as in the instant case the Magistrate instead of proceeding with the case himself has taken recourse to S. 156 (3) of the Cr. P. C. S. 202 (1) (b) of the Cr. P. C. would have come into play if the Magistrate had chosen to proceed with the case himself. 6. Under the circumstances, I see no force in this petition and reject it. The stay order is hereby vacated. Petition dismissed.