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2022 DIGILAW 2831 (MAD)

Sundar, M. D. , DM (Cardio), Professor of Cardiology Madras Medical College Cardiologist – Government General Hospital, Chennai (Retired) v. State Represented by Inspector of Police, Chennai

2022-08-18

SATHI KUMAR SUKUMARA KURUP

body2022
JUDGMENT (Prayer: Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, to call for the entire records in C.C.No.18953 of 2005 on the file of the Metropolitan Magistrate Court No.V, Egmore, Chennai and set aside the order dated 06.10.2021 made in Crl.M.P.No.19511 of 2021 in so far as declining to admit the documents S.Nos.1 to 16 is concerned.) 1. This petition had been filed to call for the entire records in C.C.No.18953 of 2005 on the file of the Metropolitan Magistrate Court No.V, Egmore, Chennai and set aside the order dated 06.10.2021 made in Crl.M.P.No.19511 of 2021 in so far as declining to admit the documents S.Nos.1 to 16 is concerned. 2. The Learned Counsel for the Petitioner submitted that the Petitioner had filed this petition seeking to set aside the order passed by the Learned V Metropolitan Magistrate, Egmore, Chennai, in Crl.M.P.No.19511 of 2021 in C.C.No.18953 of 2005. 3. It is the submission of the Learned Counsel for the Petitioner that the Respondent had initiated a case against the Petitioner, who is practising as a Cardiologist. The case, which registered based on the complaint of the defacto complainant, is nothing but malicious Prosecution. The defacto Complainant examined himself as PW1. After the evidence of the Prosecution witnesses, the Petitioner has to let in evidence. At this juncture, the Petitioner had filed a petition under Section 294 Cr.P.C., seeking permission of the Court for marking certain documents with regard to the dispute between the defacto Complainant and the Petitioner herein before the Rent Control Authority. 4. The Learned Assistant Public Prosecutor before the Metropolitan Magistrate vehemently objected the petition filed by the Petitioner herein stating that the petition has been filed only to protract the proceedings and a counter was also filed. After conducting due enquiry, the Learned Metropolitan Magistrate had dismissed the petition filed in Crl.M.P.No.19511 of 2021. Aggrieved by the same, the Accused before the trial Court has filed this petition seeking to set aside the order in Crl.M.P.No.19511 of 2021. 5. The Learned Counsel for the Petitioner referred to the provisions of Section 294 of Cr.P.C., Sections 79 & 80 of the Evidence Act and also he relied on the judgment reported in CDJ 2009 MHC 2683 in the case of Rakkappan Vs State rep. by The Inspector of Police, Cherambadi Police Station, Uthagamandalam District. 6. 5. The Learned Counsel for the Petitioner referred to the provisions of Section 294 of Cr.P.C., Sections 79 & 80 of the Evidence Act and also he relied on the judgment reported in CDJ 2009 MHC 2683 in the case of Rakkappan Vs State rep. by The Inspector of Police, Cherambadi Police Station, Uthagamandalam District. 6. It is the contention of the Learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) that the proceedings under Section 313 Cr.P.C have been completed and the evidence of the prosecution also has been completed. 7. Considering the fact that the Petitioner is arrayed as Accused on the complaint given by the Tenant of the Petitioner, the Respondent Police had conducted investigation and laid final report against the Petitioner herein. Thereafter, the trial commenced. After closing of the evidence of the Prosecution, the petitioner wanted to mark the documents relied upon by him. Hence, he had filed Crl.M.P.No.19511 of 2011 seeking to mark certain documents relied upon by him. However, the Miscellaneous Petition was dismissed on the objection by the Learned Assistant Public Prosecutor before the Learned V Metropolitan Magistrate, Egmore, Chennai. 8. On perusal of the ruling itself, it is found that the petition moved by the Accused seeking marking of documents can be considered by the Court regarding admissibility after production of the documents by the Petitioner, who is the Accused before the trial Court. By preventing him from producing the documents amounts to miscarriage of justice. Therefore, the order of the Learned V Metropolitan Magistrate, Egmore, Chennai, in dismissing the Crl.M.P.No.19511 of 2021, filed by the Petitioner herein seeking marking of documents is found unacceptable and unreasonable. Therefore, as rightly contended by the Learned Counsel for the Petitioner and in the light of the reported rulings of the Judgment of the High Court in Rakkappan Vs. State, rep.by the Inspector of Police, Cherambadi Police Station, Uthagamandalam District, reported in CDJ 2009 MHC 2683, this petition is allowed. 9. The arguments of the Learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) that the documents filed by the Petitioner will not help to decide the criminal case cannot be considered by this Court. It is for the trial Court to decide at the conclusion of the trial as to whether the documents sought for by the Petitioner, who was the Accused before the trial Court, are necessary or not. 10. It is for the trial Court to decide at the conclusion of the trial as to whether the documents sought for by the Petitioner, who was the Accused before the trial Court, are necessary or not. 10. Therefore, as rightly contended by the Learned Counsel for the Respondent and in the light of the reported rulings of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Shamsher Singh Verma Vs. State of Haryana (24.11.2015-SC) : MANU/SC/1345/2015, it is for the trial Court to consider whether the documents are relevant to the facts in issue involved in the case. Hence, the dismissal of the application filed by the Petitioner, it is treated as denial of the principles of fair trial to the Accused, which is guaranteed as the right of the Accused by the Constitution of India to the citizen of India. By merely procuring the documents cannot be considered, it is to be marked as per the reported rulings cited by both the parties without marking those documents, the Court cannot consider the documents relied by the Accused. 11. In the light of the above discussion, the petition in Crl.M.P.No.19511 of 2021 being dismissed by the Learned V Metropolitan Magistrate, Egmore, Chennai, based on the objection by the Learned Assistant Public Prosecutor is found unacceptable. Therefore, the order passed by the Learned V Metropolitan Magistrate, Egmore, Chennai, in Crl.M.P.No.19511 of 2021 dated 06.10.2021 is set aside. The Learned V Metropolitan Magistrate, Egmore, Chennai, is directed to proceed with the trial granting permission to the Accused to move the petition procuring the documents, in support of his contention and also offer an opportunity to the Petitioner/Accused to mark the same. 12. In the result, this Criminal Original Petition is allowed. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed.