Hasanbhai
Valibhai Qureshi Vs. State of Gujarat & Ors [2004] Insc 223 (5 April 2004)
Doraiswamy
Raju & Arijit Pasayat.
(Arising
out of SLP(Crl.) No. 472/2004) ARIJIT PASAYAT,J
Leave
granted.
The
appellant who is the original complainant in the case relating to FIR NO.
134/2003 in the police station, Sub District, Veraval, district Junagadh calls
in question legality of the judgment rendered by a learned Single Judge of the
Gujarat High Court, Ahmedabad dismissing the writ petition filed by the
appellant.
Main
prayer in the writ petition was for issuance of appropriate writ for
re-investigation by an independent agency. The prayer was made alleging that
the local police had succumbed to the pressure exercised by local MLA and the
investigation was not carried out in a straight forward manner. It was alleged
that on 23.9.2003 around 12.30
a.m. persons belonging
to a particular community carried deadly weapons and combustible materials and
pursuant to the common object of an unlawful assembly caused destruction of
shops belonging to persons of another community, by breaking them open and
setting them ablaze. There was also large scale looting of articles. About 53
persons were arrested.
Initially,
in the FIR various offences including Sections 395 and 120B of the Indian Penal
Code, 1860 (in short the 'IPC') and Section 135 of the Bombay Police Act were
noted and mentioned by the police officials. But strangely after a few hours of
the registration of the FIR wherein the aforesaid offences were mentioned, Sections
395 and 120B were deleted by the prosecuting agency and because of such
deletion the accused persons managed to get bail. The prayer in the aforesaid
circumstances was for investigation by an independent investigating agency. It
was brought to the notice of the High Court that a bare perusal of the
statements clearly indicate the applicability of those provisions and
commission of such offences, contrary to what has been stated by the
prosecuting agency.
The
High Court noted that specific allegations were made regarding the biased
approach of the police officials under the influence of local MLA. The petition
was resisted on the ground that on detailed investigation it was noticed that
the offences relatable to Sections 395 and 120B IPC were not made out and,
therefore, were deleted. Such a course is permissible in law. The High Court
was of the view that if further investigation is necessary the remedy is
available in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (in short the 'Code') and
further investigation can be carried out under the supervision of the trial
Court. Moreover, it was held the police was not the ultimate authority who can
decide as to which sections are applicable. Appropriate steps can be taken by
the complainant along with the prosecuting agency before the trial Court. Since
such remedy was available under the Code, the petition under Article 226 of the
Constitution of India, 1950 (in short the 'Constitution') was not entertained.
In
support of the appeal, learned counsel for the appellant submitted that the
role of the prosecuting agency from the beginning is tainted with suspicion and
visible leaning in favour of the accused persons. There was no urgency to seek
deletion of Sections 395 and 120B IPC without full and complete investigation. It
cannot be left to the ipse dixit of the investigating officer. That the
complainant could approach the trial Court is no reason to gloss over partisan
approach and attitude of the prosecuting agency, which was obliged to act
independently and ensure that the guilty are brought before Court for
appropriate offences though it is for the Court ultimately to find whether they
are guilty or not. The High Court has failed to notice that the prosecuting
agency was showing unusual interest in protecting the accused persons and,
therefore, the scope of the complainant moving the trial Court along with the
prosecuting agency is a remote possibility. The prosecuting agency in the
circumstances cannot expected to be reasonable or co-operate, fairly and just
in order to effectively enforce and maintain law and order.
The
respondents supported the judgment of the High Court stating that no infirmity
exists in the view taken by the High Court to warrant interference.
By
order dated 19.3.2004 direction was given to the Director General of Police, Gujarat to submit a report as to whether
the action taken by the investigating officer was proper and whether there was
need for further investigation.
In the
report submitted by the Director General of Police, it has been fairly accepted
that the deletion of Section 120B IPC does not appear to be proper. In any
event the Court of Additional Sessions Judge of the 10th Fast-track Court at Veraval has framed charge in
Sessions Case No.64/2003 on 22.3.2004 against three of the accused persons
under Section 120B IPC. It has been stated that though retention of Section
120B IPC was desirable, but nothing more is required to be done in view of the
fact that the Sessions Judge has already framed charge under the section.
It has
been stated that there were few lapses in investigation and inquiry is being
caused against the investigation officer with a view to initiate suitable
departmental action. So far as the desirability of further investigation is
concerned, it is stated that the case has been fixed for day-to-day hearing
from 5.4.2004 to 15.4.2004 and if further investigation is done, it would prove
infructuous and would only delay process of trial unnecessarily.
Section
228 of the Code in Chapter XVII and Section 240 in Chapter XIX deal with
framing of the charge during trial before a Court of Sessions and trial of
Warrant -cases by Magistrates respectively. There is a scope of alteration of
the charge during trial on the basis of materials brought on record. Section
216 of the Code appearing in Chapter XVII clearly stipulates that any court may
alter or add to any charge at any time before judgment is pronounced. Whenever
such alteration or addition is made the same is to be read out and informed to
the accused.
In Kantilal
Chandulal Mehta v. State of Maharashtra (AIR 1970 SC 359) it was held that the
Code gives ample power to the Courts to alter or amend a charge whether by the
Trial Court or by the Appellate Court provided that the accused has not to face
a charge for a new offence or is not prejudiced either by keeping him in the
dark about the charge or in not giving him a full opportunity of meeting it and
putting forward any defence open to him on the charge finally preferred against
him. Section 217 deals with recall, if necessary of witnesses when the charge
is altered.
Therefore,
if during trial the trial Court on a consideration of broad probabilities of
the case based upon total effect of the evidence and documents produced is
satisfied that any addition or alteration of the charge is necessary, it is
free to do so, and there can be no legal bar to appropriately act as the
exigencies of the case warrant or necessitate.
Coming
to the question whether a further investigation is warranted, the hands of the
investigating agency or the Court should not be tied down on the ground that
further investigation may delay the trial, as the ultimate object is to arrive
at the truth.
Sub-section
(8) of Section 173 of the Code permits further investigation, and even dehors
any direction from the Court as such, it is open to the police to conduct
proper investigation, even after the Court took cognizance of any offence on
the strength of a police report earlier submitted. All the more so, if as in
this case, the Head of the Police Department also was not satisfied of the
propriety or the manner and nature of investigation already conducted.
In Om Prakash Narang and Anr. v State (Delhi Admn.) (AIR
1979 SC 1791) it was observed by this Court that further investigation is not
altogether ruled out merely because cognizance has been taken by the Court.
When defective investigation comes to light during course of trial, it may be
cured by further investigation if circumstances so permitted. It would
ordinarily be desirable and all the more so in this case, that police should
inform the Court and seek formal permission to make further investigation when
fresh facts come to light instead of being silent over the matter keeping in
view only the need for an early trial since an effective trial for real or
actual offences found during course of proper investigation is as much
relevant, desirable and necessary as an expeditious disposal of the mater by
the Courts. In view of the aforesaid position in law if there is necessity for
further investigation the same can certainly be done as prescribed by law. The
mere fact that there may be further delay in concluding the trial should not
stand on the way of further investigation if that would help the Court in
arriving at the truth and do real and substantial as well as effective justice.
We make it clear that we have not expressed any final opinion on the merits of
the case.
The
appeal is accordingly finally disposed of, on the above terms.
Back
Pages: 1 2