Research › Search › Judgment

Karnataka High Court · body

2022 DIGILAW 311 (KAR)

High Court Of Karnataka v. State of Karnataka

2022-03-05

RITU RAJ AWASTHI

body2022
ORDER 1. Heard. 2. Mr. Aditya Sondhi, learned Amicus Curiae has drawn the attention of the Court towards the order of the Apex Court dated 10.08.2021 in W.P.(Civil) No.699/2016 (ASHWINI KUMAR UPADHYAY vs UNION OF INDIA AND ANOTHER), whereby the Apex Court has made the following observations: "At the commencement of hearing, Mr. Tushar Mehta, learned Solicitor General appearing on behalf of the Union of India seeks further time to comply with the directions passed by this Court on 10.09.2020, 16.09.2020, 06.10.2020 and 04.11.2020 regarding filing of Status Report regarding pending cases against the legislators (sitting or former). Finally, two weeks' time is granted to the learned Solicitor General to file response/affidavit in compliance of the directions given by this Court vide orders dated 10.09.2020, 16.09.2020, 06.10.2020 and 04.11.2020 with a copy in advance to the learned amicus curiae within ten days. We have heard Mr.Vijay Hansaria, learned amicus curiae, Mr.Tushar Mehta, learned Solicitor General as also the learned counsel for the parties. At the outset we may note that the learned Amicus has filed his 13th Report dated 09.08.2021. The Report, inter alia, addresses various concerns which are broadly indicated as under: (I) Misuse of the Prosecutor's power to withdraw cases under Section 321, Cr.P.C. (II) Continuity of tenure of Judicial Officers (III) Jurisdiction of Special Court (M.P./M.L.A.) to try cases against legislators elected from other States (IV) Jurisdiction of Special Courts with respect to cases triable by Magistrates (V) Trial of cases where an M.P./M.L.A. is the complainant (VI) Safe and secure witness examination facility. We are inclined to address the first two issues by this order as these issues are of immediate concern and may be easily disposed of. It may not be out of context to state that issues no. 3 and 4 give rise to substantive question of law which may require some elaborate arguments, which will be taken up on a subsequent date. Misuse of Prosecutor's Power u/s 321 of Cr.P.C. Learned amicus has drawn our attention to various instances across the country, wherein various State Governments have resorted to withdrawal of numerous criminal cases pending against M.P./M.L.A. by utilising the power vested under Section 321, Cr.P.C. It merits mentioning that the power under Section 321, Cr.P.C. is a responsibility which is to be utilized in public interest, and cannot be used for extraneous and political considerations. This power is required to be utilized with utmost good faith to serve the larger public interest. Recently, this Court in State of Kerala Vs. K. Ajith, (2021) SCC Online SC 510, held as under: "The principles which emerge from the decisions of this Court on the withdrawal of a prosecution under Section 321 of the CrPC can now be formulated: (i) Section 321 entrusts the decision to withdraw from a prosecution to the public prosecutor but the consent of the court is required for a withdrawal of the prosecution; (ii) The public prosecutor may withdraw from a prosecution not merely on the ground of paucity of evidence but also to further the broad ends of public justice; (iii) The public prosecutor must formulate an independent opinion before seeking the consent of the court to withdraw from the prosecution; (iv) While the mere fact that the initiative has come from the government will not vitiate an application for withdrawal, the court must make an effort to elicit the reasons for withdrawal so as to ensure that the public prosecutor was satisfied that the withdrawal of the prosecution is necessary for good and relevant reasons; (v) In deciding whether to grant its consent to a withdrawal, the court exercises a judicial function but it has been described to be supervisory in nature. Before deciding whether to grant its consent the court must be satisfied that: (a) The function of the public prosecutor has not been improperly exercised or that it is not an attempt to interfere with the normal course of justice for illegitimate reasons or purposes; (b) The application has been made in good faith, in the interest of public policy and justice, and not to thwart or stifle the process of law; (c) The application does not suffer from such improprieties or illegalities as would cause manifest injustice if consent were to be given; (d) The grant of consent subserves the administration of justice; and (e) The permission has not been sought with an ulterior purpose unconnected with the vindication of the law which the public prosecutor is duty bound to maintain; (vi) While determining whether the withdrawal of the prosecution subserves the administration of justice, the court would be justified in scrutinizing the nature and gravity of the offence and its impact upon public life especially where matters involving public funds and the discharge of a public trust are implicated; and (vii) In a situation where both the trial judge and the revisional court have concurred in granting or refusing consent, this Court while exercising its jurisdiction under Article 136 of the Constitution would exercise caution before disturbing concurrent findings. The Court may in exercise of the well-settled principles attached to the exercise of this jurisdiction, interfere in a case where there has been a failure of the trial judge or of the High Court to apply the correct principles in deciding whether to grant or withhold consent." In view of the law laid down by this Court, we deem it appropriate to direct that no prosecution against a sitting or former M.P./M.L.A. shall be withdrawn without the leave of the High Court in the respective suo-motu writ petitions registered in pursuance of our order dated 16.09.2020. The High Courts are requested to examine the withdrawals, whether pending or disposed of since 16.09.2020, in light of guidelines laid down by this Court. Continuity of Tenure for Judicial Officer. This Court vide order dated 16.09.2020 had recorded the submissions of the learned amicus curiae as under: - "The High Courts would designate a judicial officer for all such cases, who shall try these cases on priority basis. Continuity of Tenure for Judicial Officer. This Court vide order dated 16.09.2020 had recorded the submissions of the learned amicus curiae as under: - "The High Courts would designate a judicial officer for all such cases, who shall try these cases on priority basis. The judicial officer can be allotted other work depending on the workload, number and nature of criminal cases against MPs/MLAs. The judicial officer so designated shall have continuity of tenure for a minimum period of two years." It may be noticed that during the intervening period, we faced a pandemic which scuttled many Courts in effectively conducting trials, or recording evidence or hearing applications. In this context, the Registrar Generals of all High Courts are directed to furnish the following information in form of the following table : NAME OF THE JUDGE PLACE/ COURT OF POSTING DATE OF PRESENT POSTING NO. OF DAYS/ YEARS IN THE PRESENT POSTING NUMBER OF CASES DISPOSED DURING CURRENT POSTING NUMBER OF PENDING CASES BEFORE HIM/HER (DETAILS) STAGE OF PENDING CASES (DETAILS) DETAILS OF ORDERS/ JUDGMENTS RESERVED In the meanwhile, to ensure expeditious disposal of pending cases, it is necessary for this Court to direct the officers presiding over Special Courts or CBI Courts involving prosecution of MPs or MLAs to continue in their present posts until further orders. This direction, barring transfer of Judicial Officers, will be subject to their superannuation or death. If any further necessity or emergency arises, the Registrar General of the High Courts are at liberty to make an application before us for retention or to relieve those officers. List the matter on 25.08.2021 for arguments on other issues indicated above. In the meantime, the Registry is directed to serve copies of the IAs immediately to the learned amicus curiae, which have been filed recently and not been served to him. Liberty is granted to Ms. Kamini Jaiswal, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the applicant in I.A.Nos.51582/2021, 51586/2021 and 51587/2021 in WP(C) No.699/2016 to make request to the High Court of Gujarat to adjourn the case which is stated to be listed for hearing on 23.08.2021." 3. It is submitted that in this regard, the State Government has informed, by the affidavit dated 22.10.2021, that all information are gathered regarding withdrawal of the cases registered against MLAs, MLCs, MPs and Ministers from 16.09.2020 till date. It is submitted that in this regard, the State Government has informed, by the affidavit dated 22.10.2021, that all information are gathered regarding withdrawal of the cases registered against MLAs, MLCs, MPs and Ministers from 16.09.2020 till date. It has been found that four cases have been withdrawn after 16.09.2020 till date. The details of the said cases are given in Annexure-R.1. As per the said details, the information furnished in this regard is as under: Information regarding number of Criminal cases withdrawn registered against MLAs, MLCs, MPs and Ministers from 16.09.2020 to till today, Sl.no. Name of MLAs, Ministers and MPs. Govrnment Order No. and date Name of the Police Station Crime No. S.C/C.C/Sp.c. & Section Trial court Name Court Order Date Mvsuru Division 1. Prathap Simha, MP Mysur-Madikeri OE03MOHIBA2019, Dated:31.O8.2O2O Bilikere Police Station 3SO/2O17 C.C.No.177/2020, U/s 279,353,332 IPC Addl Civil Judge ANDJMPC Hunasur The case withdrawn Dated:Date:19.10.2 020 Davangere Division 2. M.P.Renukacharya MLA, Honnalli OE 12MOHIBA2019, Dated:05.05.2020 Nyamathi Police Station 94/2018 C.C.No.786/2018 U/s 171 H, 188 IPC Addl Civil Judge ANDJMFC Honnalli The case withdrawn Dated:19.11.2020 3. M.P.Renukacharya MLA, Honnalli OE 12 MOHIBA2019, Dated:O5.O5.2O2O Nyamathi Police Station 205/2018 C.C.No.1617/2019 U/sl43,341,427,353 r/w 149 IPC Addl Civil Judge ANDJMFC Honnalli The case withdrawn Dated:19.11.2020 4. M.P.Renukacharya MLA, Honnalli 01 1? MOHIBA2019, Dated:05.05.2O2O Nyamathi Police Station 206/2018 C.C.No.1618/2019 U/s 143,341,353 r/w 14'i IPC Add! Civil Judge ANDJMFC HOMII fill The case withdrawn Dated:19.11.2020 4. The statistical information furnished by the Registrar (Review & Statistics) does not appear to be proper and sufficient, particularly relating to withdrawal of cases by the State Government exercising power under Section 321 of Cr.P.C. or with respect to the cases where the application under Section 321 of Cr.P.C. is pending. 5. Learned Amicus Curiae submits that the memo dated 30.11.2021 submitted by the Registrar General only provides information of the number of cases moved and withdrawn by the State Government after 16.09.2020. The memo does not disclose information regarding the application filed by the State Government under Section 321 of Cr.P.C. that are still pending disposal before the Special Courts. 6. In view of the above, we hereby direct summoning of record of all the four cases whose details are noted above in paragraph 3. 7. The memo does not disclose information regarding the application filed by the State Government under Section 321 of Cr.P.C. that are still pending disposal before the Special Courts. 6. In view of the above, we hereby direct summoning of record of all the four cases whose details are noted above in paragraph 3. 7. We also direct the Registrar General to furnish fresh information regarding the cases in which the State Government has filed application under Section 321 of Cr.P.C. that are still pending disposal before the Special Courts on or after 16.09.2020.