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Rajasthan High Court · body

1998 DIGILAW 1203 (RAJ)

Ram Karan v. State of Rajasthan

1998-11-13

ARUN MADAN, M.A.A.KHAN

body1998
Honble MADAN, J.–(1). The allegations made in this Habeas Corpus Petition against the respondents are that on 7.8.1998, respondents No. 5 to 14 came in a jeep in the late night hour at about 1.00 a.m. with arms and forcibly kidnapped Mst. Chando daughter of Shri Ramkaran, by intruding in the petitioners premises. It has further been contended in the petition that soon after the solemnisation of marriage of petitioners daughter, there were dowry demands by her in-laws. Thereafter, the petitioner lodged a report with the police vide FIR No. 248/1998 with Police Station, Nangal Rajasthan, District Dausa, registered for offence under Sections 147, 366 and 498-A IPC that her daughter has unlawfully kidnapped by the accused respondents and is in their custody. The petitioner also filed a complaint before the learned ACJM Dausa, on 18.8.1998, against the accused respondents No.5 to 14, for offence, under Secs. 147, 149, 363,379,354 and 498-A, IPC. The said complaint was forwarded by the learned Addl. Chief Judl. Magistrate, Dausa, to Police Station,Dausa, for investigation as per the requirement of Sec. 156 (3) Cr. P.C. on the basis of which respondent No. 4, lodged first information report No. 248/1998, on 22.8.1998, as re-ferred to above. It has also been brought to our notice during the course of hearing that pursuant to the investigation in the above matter, the statement of Mst. Chando, was recorded by the learned Magistrate, Dausa, before whom she was produced on 24.9.1998, under Sec. 164, Cr.P.C. In the said statement, she had deposed voluntarily that she had gone to join the society of her husband Hemraj, respondent No.10, entirely of her consent and free will and there was no pressure or undue influence in this regard from anyone else. (2). In this matter the relevant aspect to be considered is as to whether the requirements of Sec. 164 Cr.P.C. were complied with by the learned Magistrate, Dausa, while recording the statement of Mst. Chando. Sec. 164 Cr. (2). In this matter the relevant aspect to be considered is as to whether the requirements of Sec. 164 Cr.P.C. were complied with by the learned Magistrate, Dausa, while recording the statement of Mst. Chando. Sec. 164 Cr. P.C. mandates as under: ``Sec. 164–(1) Any Metropolitan Magistrate or Judicial Magistrate may whether or not he has jurisdiction in the case, record any confession or statement made to him in the course of investigation under this Chapter or under any other law for the time being in force, or at any time afterwards before the commencement of the enquiry or trial– Provided that no confession shall be recorded by a Police Officer, on whom any power of Magistrate has been conferred under any law for the time being in force. (2) The Magistrate shall, before recording any such confession, explain to the person making it that he is not bound to make a confession and that, if he does so, it may be used as evidence against him, and the Magistrate shall not record any such confession unless, upon questioning the person making it, he has reason to believe that it is being made voluntarily. (3). If any time before the confession is recorded the person appearing before the Magistrate states that he is not willing to make the confession, the Magistrate shall not authorise the detention of such person in police custody. (4) Any such confession shall be recorded in the manner provided in Sec. 281, for recording the examination of an accused person and shall be signed by the person making the confession, and the Magistrate shall make a memorandum at the foot of such record to the following effect- ``I have explained to (name) that he is not bound to make a confes-sion and that, if he does so, any confession he may make may be used as evidence against him and I believe that this confession was voluntarily made. It was taken in my presence and herein, and was read over to the person making it and admitted by him to be correct, and it contains a full and true account of the statement made by him. (Signed) A.B. Magistrate. It was taken in my presence and herein, and was read over to the person making it and admitted by him to be correct, and it contains a full and true account of the statement made by him. (Signed) A.B. Magistrate. (5) Any statement (other than a confession) made under Sub section (1), shall be recorded in such manner hereinafter provided for the recording of evidence as in, the opinion of the Magistrate,, best fitted to the circumstances of the case, and the Magistrate shall have power to administer oath to the person whose statement is so, recorded. (6) The Magistrate recording a confession or statement under this Section shall forward it to the Magistrate by whom the case is to be enquired into or tried. (3). As per the requirement of Sec. 164 Cr.P.C. as referred to above, what is expected of a learned Magistrate, is to see that when the statement is recorded it should be the free and voluntary act of the person appearing before the Magistrate and if that person states that he/she is willing to make the confession, the learned Magistrate, before recording any such confession or explanation of the person ma-king it should administer warning to that person that it is not obligatory to make a confession and if in spite of this the statement is made by said person before the Court, it may be used as evidence against him provided it was recorded in presence and hearing of the person making the confessional statement as referred to above and admitted by him to be true and correct. (4). During the course of hearing, nothing incriminating has been brought to our notice which may indicate that Mst. Chando, was induced, coerced or threatened by the accused petitioner by any one else when her statement was made and recorded by the trial Court under Sec. 164 Cr.P.C. Hence, in absence of this, no inference can be drawn to the contrary that she was forced to make the said state-ment before the trial court. (5). Keeping in view the circumstances of the case and the evidence on record, it is clearly apparent that Mst. (5). Keeping in view the circumstances of the case and the evidence on record, it is clearly apparent that Mst. Chando, had voluntarily gone to join the society of her husband Hemraj, the respondent No. 10, at her in laws place after her `muklawa ceremony and hence, it cannot be said by any stretch of imagination that she was kidnapped or detained unlawfully by the respondents. However, these observations are made only with regard to the statement made by Mst. Chando, before the learned Magistrate under Sec. 164 Cr.P.C. and the same shall not prejudice the trial of the accused before the concerned Court. (6). There is no merit in this Habeas Corpus Petition and therefore, the same is dismissed as not maintainable. _