Ran
Singh and ANR. Vs. State of Haryana and Anr.
[2008] Insc 115 (30
January 2008)
Dr.
Arijit Pasayat & P. Sathasivam
(Arising
out of SLP (Crl.) No.3089 of 2006) Dr. ARIJIT PASAYAT, J.
1.
Leave granted.
2.
Challenge in this appeal is to the order passed by a learned Single Judge of
the Punjab and Haryana High Court allowing the Revision Petition filed under
Section 401 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (in short the 'Code') which
was filed before it by Kurra Ram since deceased and represented by his daughter
i.e. respondent No.2 in the present appeal.
3.
Background facts in a nutshell are as follows:
A
complaint was filed by the aforesaid Kurra Ram alleging commission of offences
punishable under Sections 498-A, 406, 323, 506, 148 and 149 of the Indian Penal
Code, 1860 (in short the 'IPC') by Jaswant-son in law and husband of his
daughter-Saroj, Ran Singh and Raj Bala, the present appellants who were father
and mother of Jaswant and two others namely, Jai Singh and Suman, the brother
and married sister of Jaswant.
It was
stated in the complaint that Saroj got married to Jaswant on 14.4.1994 and that
she was harassed for dowry by the aforesaid accused persons. Learned Additional
Chief Judicial Magistrate, Hissar, after recording preliminary evidence of the
complainant, decided to proceed against all the accused persons for the alleged
offences. Separate Revision Petitions were filed by Jai Singh, Ran Singh and Suman
taking the stand that there is no offence made out so far as they are
concerned. Learned Additional Sessions Judge found that no case was made out
against aforesaid accused persons and directed that proceedings would continue
only against Jaswant. The order dated 4.11.2003 disposing of the revisions in
the aforesaid manner was challenged by Kurra Ram in the Revision Petition
before the High Court. It was held by High Court that there is no ground to
proceed against Jai Singh and Suman who may just be living in the house, but
may not be interfering in matrimonial problems of Saroj and Jaswant.
Therefore,
the order of the Additional Sessions Judge was upheld to that extent. But so
far as the present appellants are concerned the High Court inter alia observed
as follows:
"However,
when articles of dowry are handed over to elder members in the family that will
mean that those were handed over to Ran Singh and Raj Bala i.e. father and
mother of the husband who could misappropriate. It is they who can practice
cruelty for less dowry or otherwise."
(Underlined
for emphasis) The High Court noted that police had earlier registered a case
and had sent cancellation report and thereafter the complaint was filed by Kurra
Ram who appeared as PW-1, as his son Rajesh appeared as PW-2 and Saroj as PW-3.
4.
Learned counsel for the appellants submitted that the High Court failed to
notice that some customary articles were given to relatives of the bridegroom.
That cannot be covered by the expression 'dowry'. High Court noticed the fact
that the complainant tried to rope even a married sister who was living far
away and the brother, which shows the tendency to falsely implicate them.
Reference is also made to the following observations of the High Court:
"..They
are close relatives but the fact remains that an effort is made by the
complainant to implicate as many persons as possible, in such matters."
5.
Learned counsel for the respondent-State and the complainant submitted that it
is not a case where the Additional Sessions Judge should have interfered and
the High Court has therefore rightly set aside the order dated 4.11.2003 which
was impugned before it.
6.
Section 2 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 (in short 'Dowry Act') defines
"dowry" as under:- Section 2. Definition of 'dowry' In this Act,
'dowry' means any property or valuable security given or agreed to be given
either directly or indirectly
(a) by
one party to a marriage to the other party to the marriage; or
(b) by
the parents of either party to a marriage or by any other person, to either
party to the marriage or to any other person, at or before or any time after
the marriage in connection with the marriage of the said parties, but does not
include dower or mehr in the case of persons to whom the Muslim personal law (Shariat)
applies.
Explanation
I- For the removal
of doubts, it is hereby declared that any presents made at the time of a
marriage to either party to the marriage in the form of cash, ornaments,
clothes or other articles, shall not be deemed to be dowry within the meaning
of this section, unless they are made as consideration for the marriage of the
said parties.
Explanation
II- The expression
'valuable security' has the same meaning in Section 30 of the Indian Penal Code
(45 of 1860)."
7. The
word "dowry" is defined in Section 2 of the Dowry Act. Thus, there
are three occasions related to dowry. One is before the marriage, second is at
the time of marriage and the third "at any time" after the marriage.
The third occasion may appear to be unending period. But the crucial words are
"in connection with the marriage of the said parties". Other payments
which are customary payments e.g. given at the time of birth of a child or
other ceremonies as are prevalent in different societies are not covered by the
expression "dowry". (See Satvir Singh v. State of Punjab (2001 (8) SCC 633)) .
8. The
High Court has fallen in grave error while observing that present appellants
"could misappropriate" and "who can practice cruelty". The
conclusions to say the least are presumptuous. Learned Additional Sessions
Judge by a well reasoned order had held that there was no material to show that
demand for any dowry was made and an attempt was made to rope in many persons.
When the High Court was interfering with such conclusions arrived at on facts
it ought to have indicated the reasons necessitating such interference.
That
has not been done and on the contrary on presumptuous conclusions the order of
learned Additional Sessions Judge has been set aside.
9.
Reasons introduce clarity in an order. On plainest consideration of justice,
the High Court ought to have set forth its reasons, howsoever brief, in its
order indicative of an application of its mind. The absence of reasons has
rendered the High Court's judgment not sustainable.
10.
Even in respect of administrative orders Lord Denning M.R. in Breen v.
Amalgamated Engineering Union (1971 (1) All E.R. 1148) observed "The
giving of reasons is one of the fundamentals of good administration". In
Alexander Machinery (Dudley) Ltd. v. Crabtree (1974 LCR 120) it
was observed:
"Failure
to give reasons amounts to denial of justice". Reasons are live links
between the mind of the decision taker to the controversy in question and the
decision or conclusion arrived at". Reasons substitute subjectivity by
objectivity. The emphasis on recording reasons is that if the decision reveals
the "inscrutable face of the sphinx", it can, by its silence, render
it virtually impossible for the Courts to perform their appellate function or
exercise the power of judicial review in adjudging the validity of the decision.
Right to reason is an indispensable part of a sound judicial system, reasons at
least sufficient to indicate an application of mind to the matter before Court.
Another rationale is that the affected party can know why the decision has gone
against him. One of the salutary requirements of natural justice is spelling
out reasons for the order made, in other words, a speaking out. The
"inscrutable face of a sphinx" is ordinarily incongruous with a
judicial or quasi-judicial performance.
11. It
is to be noted that the High Court itself has held that there was an attempt to
rope in many persons and it did not find any merit or challenge to the
discharge of the married sister and the brother.
12.
Above being the position, the impugned order of the High Court cannot be
maintained and is set aside. We make it clear that we have not expressed any
opinion on merits so far as husband Jaswant is concerned.
13.
The appeal is allowed to the aforesaid extent.
Back
Pages: 1 2