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2001 DIGILAW 1496 (RAJ)

Rajendra v. State of Rajasthan

2001-09-15

SUNIL KUMAR GARG

body2001
Honble GARG, J.–This revision petition has been filed by the accused petitioner against the order dated 17.8.2001 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge (Fast track), Nagaur in Sessions case No. 96/2001 whereby the learned Additional Sessions Judge has framed charges against the accused petitioner for offence under Sections 452, 323, 324, 325, 326 and Section 308 I.P.C. (2). It arises in the following circumstances : (i) On 12.2.99 a FIR, being FIR No. 15/99 was lodged by one Parsu Ram with the police Station Mundwa, Distt. Nagaur alleging inter alia that in the evening at about 6 p.m. the accused petitioner entered the house of injured Mega Ram and assaulted him on the ground by which he fell on the ground and became unconscious. He was taken to the hospital. (3). The injured Mega Ram was medically examined also and a Medical Board was also constituted for examination of his injuries and after usual investigation the police submitted a challan against the accused petitioner and the learned Additional Sessions Judge (Fast Tract) first ordered on 17.8.2001 that charges for the offence under Sections 323, 324, 325, 326, 308 and 452 I.P.C. be framed and thereafter he framed charges for the aforesaid offences on the same day. (4). Aggrieved from the order dated 17.8.2001, this revision petition has been filed by the petitioner. (5). In this revision petition it has been alleged on behalf of the petitioner that : (i) Order of framing charges for offence under Sections 323, 324, 325, 326, 308 and 452 I.P.C. is absolutely erroneous one as no prima facie case for the said charges is made out. (ii) Since the accused petitioner also received injuries, therefore, in these circumstances the complainant party should be held aggressor and the accused petitioner should not have been charged. (iii) In the present case, whole medical report has been manipulated by the brother of the complainant as he was doctor in Nagaur Hospital and in this connection the accused petitioner submits that the injuries which were described by the doctor as simple earlier, were reported grievous later on. (iii) In the present case, whole medical report has been manipulated by the brother of the complainant as he was doctor in Nagaur Hospital and in this connection the accused petitioner submits that the injuries which were described by the doctor as simple earlier, were reported grievous later on. (iv) Since medical board was constituted for examining the injuries of Megaram at Jodhpur after lapse of 2 days, therefore, opinion of the Board should not find favour at this stage as he was examined two days later at Jodhpur and between these two days there is possibility that he might have received injuries in some other occurrence. Hence, accused should have been discharged and order by which the learned Additional Sessions Judge framed charges should be set aside. (6). I have heard both. (7). In my opinion the submissions which have been raised by the learned counsel for the petitioner are not to be appreciated at this stage. The Judge is not obliged to consider in any detail and weigh in a sensitive balance whether the facts, if provided would be incompatible with the innocence of the accused or not. The Honble Supreme Court in the case of State of Bihar vs. Ramesh Singh (1), has given guidelines for High Court as well as Lower Court while dealing with the matters of framing charges and has held as under : ``Reading the two provisions in Sections 227 and 228 together, it would @ clear that, at the beginning and initial stage of the trial, the truth, veracity and effect of the evidence which the Prosecutor proposes to adduce are not to be meticulously judged. Nor is any weight to be attached to the probable defence of the accused. The judge is not obliged at that stage of the trial, to consider in any detail and weight in a sensitive balance whether the facts, if proved, would be incompatible with the innocence of the accused or not. The standard of test and judgment which is to be finally applied before recording a finding regarding the guilt or otherwise of the accused is not exactly to be applied at the stage of deciding the matter under Section 227 or Section 228. At that stage, the court is not to see whether there is sufficient ground for conviction of the accused or whether the trial is sure to end in conviction. At that stage, the court is not to see whether there is sufficient ground for conviction of the accused or whether the trial is sure to end in conviction. Strong suspicion against the accused, if the matter remains in the region of suspicion, cannot take the place of proof of his guilt at the conclusion of the trial. But at the initial stage, if there is a strong suspicion which leads the Court to think that there is ground for presuming that the accused has committed an offence then it is not open to the court to say that there is no sufficient ground for proceeding against the accused. The presumption of the guilt of the accused which is to be drawn at the initial stage is only for the purpose of deciding prima facie whether the Court should proceed with the trial or not. If the evidence, which the prosecutor proposes to adduce to prove the guilt of the accused even if fully accepted before it is challenged in cross-examination or rebutted by the defence evidence, if any, cannot show that the accused committed the offence, then there will be no sufficient ground for proceeding with the trial. An exhaustive list of the circumstances to indicate as to what will lead to one conclusion or the other is neither possible nor advisable. If the scales of pan as to the guilt or innocence of the accused are something like even at the conclusion of the trial, then, on the theory of benefit of doubt, the case is to end in his acquittal. But if on the other hand, it is so at the initial stage of making an order under Section 227 or Section 228, then in such a situation ordinarily and generally the order which will have to be made will be one under Section 228 and not under Section 227. (8). In the case of Supdt. and Remembrancer of Legal Affairs vs. Anil Kumar Bhunja (2), the Honble Supreme Court has held that the standard test, proof and judgment which is to be applied finally before finding the accused guilty or otherwise is not exactly to be applied at the stage of Section 227 or 228. (8). In the case of Supdt. and Remembrancer of Legal Affairs vs. Anil Kumar Bhunja (2), the Honble Supreme Court has held that the standard test, proof and judgment which is to be applied finally before finding the accused guilty or otherwise is not exactly to be applied at the stage of Section 227 or 228. At this stage, even a very strong `suspicion founded upon materials before the Magistrate, which leads him to form a presumptive opinion as to the existence of the factual ingredients constituting the offence alleged may justify the framing of charges against the accused in respect of the commission of that offence. (9). The cases cited by the learned counsel for the accused petitioner, namely, Rupa vs. State (3), Rania vs. State of Rajasthan (4), Lunkaran and Anr. vs. State of Rajasthan (5), would not be helpful as the law was laid down by this Court while deciding appeal and now before this Court the matter is whether the charges should have been framed against the accused petitioners or not and therefore, this matter stands distinguished totally from finally finding the accused guilty. (10). In the case of Union of India vs. Prafulla Kumar Samal (6), the Supreme Court has further held that under Section 228 the court has to see whether there is prima facie case against the accused petitioner or not and evidence has to be looked into for very limited purpose at the stage of charge. (11). In the case of Radhey Shyam vs. Kunj Behari (7), the Honble Supreme Court has held that at the stage of framing of charges, meticulous consideration of evidence is not required. (12). In the case of State of M.P. vs. S.B. Johari and Ors. (8), the Honble Supreme Court has held as under : ``It is settled law that at the stage of framing the charge, the Court has to prima facie consider whether there is sufficient ground for proceeding against the accused. The Court is not required to appreciate the evidence and arrive at the conclusion that the materials produced are sufficient or not for convicting the accused. If the Court is satisfied that a prima facie case is made out for proceeding further, than a charge has to be framed. The Court is not required to appreciate the evidence and arrive at the conclusion that the materials produced are sufficient or not for convicting the accused. If the Court is satisfied that a prima facie case is made out for proceeding further, than a charge has to be framed. The charge can be quashed if the evidence which the prosecutor proposes to adduce to prove the guilt of the accused, even if fully accepted before it is challenged by cross- examination or rebutted by defence evidence, if any, cannot show that the accused committed the particular offence. In such case, there would be no sufficient ground for proceeding with the trial. It is apparent that the entire approach of the High Court is illegal and erroneous. From the reasons recorded by the High Court, it appears that instead of considering the prima facie case, the High Court has appreciated and weighed the materials on record for coming to the conclusion that charge against the respondents could not have been framed. (13). In another case State of Delhi vs. Gyan Devi and Ors. (9), the Honble Supreme Court has held that High Courts power to quash the charge should not be exercised except for strong reasons to hold that in the interest of justice and in order to avoid the abuse of process of the Court the charge needed to be quashed. In that case, the Honble Supreme Court has further held that High Court should not sift the available medical evidence and quash the charge. (14). In another case Smt. Om Wati vs. State (10), Honble Supreme Court has held that observations and opinion incorporated in post mortem report cannot be ground to deprive the prosecution from proving that accused was guilty of offence and order discharging accused on that basis in respect of offence under Section 302 I.P.C. was found illegal. In that case, the Honble Supreme Court further held that High Court should not interfere at initial stage of framing of charges merely on hypothesis, imagination and far fetched reasons. (15). In another case Ram Kumar Laharia vs. State of Madhya Pradesh (11), the Honble Supreme Court held that at the stage of charge, evidence could not be weighed. (16). In that case, the Honble Supreme Court further held that High Court should not interfere at initial stage of framing of charges merely on hypothesis, imagination and far fetched reasons. (15). In another case Ram Kumar Laharia vs. State of Madhya Pradesh (11), the Honble Supreme Court held that at the stage of charge, evidence could not be weighed. (16). Thus, if the above principles of law as laid down by the Honble Supreme Court in catena of judgments are minutely observed, the submissions which have been raised by the learned counsel for the accused petitioner are not at all to be appreciated at this stage. (17). In the present case, there is medical evidence and the argument that the medical evidence has been fabricated by the complainant in conspiracy with doctor, can be appreciated at the time of trial and not at this stage. (18). Apart from that, revisional powers of the High Court should not be exercised unless there exists manifest illegality in the order or there is grave miscarriage of justice or there is glaring defect in the procedure or there is manifest error on the point of law etc. By perusing the order dated 17.8.2001, it does not appear that the order of the learned Additional Sessions Judge suffers from anyone of the infirmities just mentioned above. Therefore, the revision petition for quashing charges is liable to be dismissed. Accordingly, this revision petition is dismissed and the order dated 17.8.2001 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge (Fast Track), Nagaur is affirmed.