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2024 DIGILAW 429 (AP)

P. Appalaraju S/o Late Gurumurthy v. State of Andhra Pradesh

2024-04-04

K.MANMADHA RAO

body2024
ORDER : 1. This writ petition is filed declaring the impugned action of the respondents in registering the impugned Crime No. 86 of 2015 dated 3.8.2015 on the file of 7th respondent, as illegal and arbitrary. 2. The facts of the case are that the petitioner herein is a Post Graduate in M.Sc and also possessed B.Ed qualification on the basis of which the petitioner was selected as School Assistant (Maths) in DSC-2012 and working as such till date. He hails from Scheduled Tribe family. On 3.11.2011 the 3rd respondent has issued Notification for the posts of Stipendiary Cadet Trainee Su Inspector (Civil) and in Armed Reserve/APSC. The petitioner appeared for selection with Hall Ticket No. 656892 as a local candidate from Zone-I, the age qualification has been prescribed as 25 years maximum for O.Cs with the five years relaxation for Schedule Caste and Scheduled Tribe candidates. The petitioner earlier applied for caste certificate and upon detailed enquiry community certificate was issued by the 6th respondent vide Certificate No. 654/2011 dated 09.08.2011. Accordingly, the petitioner approached the office of Deputy Inspector General and submitted the caste certificate issued vide Certificate No. 654/2011 dated 9.8.2011 and also certificate with serial No. 270/2011dated 20.10.2011. Later the petitioner in fact approached the 4th respondent for confirmation of the social status of the petitioner by making representations upon which the District Collector directed the 6th respondent to conduct enquiry with regard to community certificate accordingly the 6th respondent conducted enquiry and submitted report vide proceedings Rc No. 259/2014/JA, dated 17.01.2015 certifying the genuineness of the social status of the petitioner and the certificate issued vide SR No. 654/2011. Upon which, the petitioner had submitted a copy of the same to the 3rd respondent through representation dated 2.6.2015. However without considering the same, the 3rd respondent straightaway issued proceedings vide Rc No. 314/R&T/GENL.1/2014 dated 8.7.2015 cancelling the selection of the petitioner on the only ground that the 6th respondent has not certified the genuinety of the case certificate with S. No. 270/2011 dated 20.10.2011 the 3rd respondent thereby concluded that the petitioner has produced fake caste certificate and further directed 5th respondent to initiate criminal action. Aggrieved by the same, the petitioner approached the A.P. Administrative Tribunal by way of filing OA No. 4439 of 2015, dated 22.07.2015 and the Tribunal directed learned Government Pleader to get instructions. Aggrieved by the same, the petitioner approached the A.P. Administrative Tribunal by way of filing OA No. 4439 of 2015, dated 22.07.2015 and the Tribunal directed learned Government Pleader to get instructions. Apart from cancelling the selection of the petitioner, the DIG of police straight away directed for initiating criminal action, upon which the 3rd respondent lodged a complaint before the 2nd respondent and a case in Crime No. 86/2015 has been registered under Sections 419, 420, 466, 468, 471 and 198 IPC. Challenging the same, the present writ petition came to be filed. 3. Heard Sri G.V. Shivaji, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and learned Assistant Government Pleader for Home appearing for the respondents. 4. On hearing, learned counsel for the petitioner while reiterating the averments made in the petition submits that the petitioner having come to know about the objection as to the genuiness of the certificate dated 20.10.2011, the petitioner himself approached the office of the District Collector and produced the earlier community certificate with S. No. 654/2011 JA dated 9.8.2011 which was also issued by the 4th respondent and upon thorough enquiry conducted, the 4th respondent submitted report dated 17.1.2015 to the District Collector certifying the genuiness of the social status of the petitioner. Though the petitioner made representation dated 2.6.2015 enclosing the said report, the action of the authorities in registering the impugned crime without considering the material placed by the petition, is illegal and the registration of impugned crime on mere technical reason is nothing but abuse of process of law. He further submits that the impugned complaint does not show fulfilment of ingredients for attracting the offences under which the crime is registered and that the alleged offences under Sections 419 & 420 are not at all attracted in the instant case. 5. On perusing the material available on record, it is observed that the whole proceedings are based on the information addressed by the District Collector that the 4th respondent submitted a verification report stating that the caste certificate issued in favour of the petitioner vide S. No. 270/11 dated 20.11.2011 is registered in the name of some other person namely one G. Junnu. It would show that only on the basis of clerical verification, the impugned complaint has been registered against the petitioner. It would show that only on the basis of clerical verification, the impugned complaint has been registered against the petitioner. It is also observed that though the petitioner made a representation dated 2.6.2015 enclosing the said report, the action of the authorities in registering the impugned crime without considering the material placed by the petitioner is illegal and the registration of impugned crime on mere technical reason is nothing but abuse of process of law. Even prima facie view on the basis of material placed by the petitioner before the complainant/authorities, no offence under section 198, 471 IPC are made out as the petitioner has not used the certificate dated 20.10.2011 knowing it be a false one. 6. Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, it is observed that, whatever the objections raised by the petitioner, they have to challenge before the competent criminal court. It is not possible to issue a direction to the respondent concerned as this Court has no jurisdiction to entertain the issue, it has to be decided in the trial Court only. 7. Accordingly, the petitioner is at liberty to raise his objections before the competent criminal court. The respondent police are also directed to complete the investigation and file charge sheet as expeditiously as possible. Till filing of the charge sheet, the respondent police concerned are directed not to arrest the petitioner. 8. With the above observation, the Writ Petition is disposed of. No costs. As a sequel, interlocutory applications, if any pending, shall stand closed.