Rajender Singh
Pathania & Ors. Vs. State of N.C.T. of Delhi & Ors.
J U D G M E N T
Dr. B.S. CHAUHAN, J.
1.
Leave
granted in both the matters.
2.
These
appeals have been preferred against the same judgment and order dated 25.2.2008
passed by the High Court of Delhi in Writ Petition (Crl.) No.264 of 2007 by
which the High Court has quashed the criminal case registered against respondent
nos. 3 and 4; directed Central Bureau of Investigation (hereinafter called
`CBI') to investigate the case in respect of the allegations made by the said respondents
against the appellant nos. 2 to 4; and awarded a compensation of Rs.25,000/-
each to the said respondents for wrongful confinement.
3.
FACTS:
A. On 3.2.2007, Constable
Virender Kumar, Head Constable Krishan Singh and Constable Jai Kumar, appellant
nos. 2 to 4 respectively while patrolling in the area found that Sanjeev Kumar
Singh and Dalip Gupta, respondent nos.3 and 4 respectively were fighting with each
other in an intoxicated condition. The said appellants tried to pacify them but
in vein. After realising that they were in drunken condition the aforesaid
appellants took both the said respondents to the hospital for medical examination
wherein they misbehaved with the Doctor and other staff of the hospital. After
medical examination, it was opined that both the said respondents had taken
alcohol.
B. The said respondents
were booked under Sections 107/151 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (hereinafter
called `Cr.P.C.') and were produced before the Special Executive Magistrate (hereinafter
called `the Magistrate') on 4.2.2007. The Magistrate issued show 2cause notice
as to why they should not be ordered to execute personal bond of Rs.5,000/- each
with a surety in the like amount for maintaining peace for a period of one
year. The said respondents could not furnish the bonds and thus, the Magistrate
sent both of them to judicial custody. The said respondents furnished the bond of
Rs.15,000/- each on the next day, i.e., 5.2.2007 and were released.
C. The said respondents filed
Criminal Writ Petition No.264 of 2007 on 19.2.2007 before the High Court of
Delhi praying mainly for quashing of the proceedings under Sections 107/151 Cr.P.C.
and further asked to initiate criminal proceedings against the appellant nos.2
to 4 and award them compensation for illegal detention. The writ petition came for
hearing on 26.2.2007. The standing counsel appearing for the State took notice
on behalf of all the respondents in the writ petition. The High Court directed the
police authorities to submit the status report. The appellant no.1 after making
an inquiry in the case submitted the status report on 10.7.2007. The petition was
heard on 31.10.2007 and has been allowed vide judgment and order dated
25.2.2008. Hence, these appeals.
4.
Shri
P.P. Malhotra, learned Additional Solicitor General appearing for the State of
NCT Delhi and Shri Pradeep Gupta, learned counsel appearing for the appellants,
have submitted that both the said respondents had been under the influence of
liquor and were fighting with each other at a public place, thus, there was
danger of breach of peace and tranquillity. Appellant nos.2 to 4 tried to
pacify them but the said respondents did not pay any heed. They had been booked
under Sections 107/151 Cr.P.C. and produced before the Magistrate on the next day.
The Magistrate after completing legal formalities directed that they may be released
on furnishing the bonds to the tune of Rs.5,000/- each with a surety in the
like amount. The said respondents were not in a position to submit the bail bonds
on the said date and thus, could not be released on 4.2.2007. However, on the next
day, they submitted the bail bonds voluntarily for a sum of Rs.15,000/- each,
and thus, they were released. Factual averments made in the writ petition were
totally false. Appellants had not been served personal notices and had no
opportunity to defend themselves. The order impugned has been passed in flagrant
violation of the principle of natural justice. Such a petty matter does not require
to be investigated by the CBI. Token compensation to the tune of Rs.25,000/-
has been awarded to each of the said respondents without determining the factual
controversy. Hence, the appeals deserve to be allowed.
5.
On
the contrary, the learned counsel appearing for the respondent nos. 3 and 4 has
opposed the appeals contending that the appellants had violated fundamental rights
of the contesting respondents and detained them in jail without any justification,
therefore, the matter is required to be investigated by the CBI or some other independent
investigating agency. Token compensation has rightly been awarded by the High
Court. The appeals lack merit and are liable to be dismissed.
6.
We
have considered the rival submissions made by learned counsel for the parties
and perused the record.
7.
In
the writ petition, admittedly, altogether there were seven respondents, including
the present appellants and the Magistrate who had passed the order under Sections
107/151 Cr.P.C. Record of the case reveals that the matter was listed for the
first time on 26.2.2007 and the learned standing counsel for the State accepted
notice on behalf of all the seven respondents therein. Most of the respondents
before the writ court had been impleaded by name in personal capacity 5making allegations
of exceeding their powers and abusing their positions. There is nothing on
record to show that the standing counsel had any communication with persons
against whom allegations of mala fide had been alleged, particularly, appellant
nos. 2 to 4 and the learned Magistrate, respondent no.5 herein. Thus, none of them
had an opportunity of appearing before the High Court. We do not find any force
in the submission made by learned counsel appearing for the original writ petitioners
that as the State had been representing all of them, there was no need to hear each
and every individual. Undoubtedly, the judgment and order impugned in these appeals
has been passed in flagrant violation of the principles of natural justice and,
thus, liable to be set aside solely on this ground.
8.
The
status report had been submitted before the High Court after having proper investigation,
stating that the writ petitioners had been under the influence of alcohol and been
abusing, threatening and quarrelling each other at the public place. The police
personnel could not control them. When they were taken to the hospital for medical
checkup they were found intoxicated, and they misbehaved with the doctor and
staff of the hospital also. It had been brought to the notice of the High Court
that Sanjeev Kumar - respondent no. 3, had been 6threatening the police
officials that his cousin Shri Aushutosh Kumar was a Metropolitan Magistrate in
Tis Hazari Courts, Delhi and he would teach them a lesson for ever. It was
further pointed out that Shri Aushutosh Kumar, MM, Tis Hazari Courts, Delhi
from his mobile No. 9868932336 had a talk with appellant no.1-Rajender Singh Pathania,
SHO, PS Samaipur Badli, at 10.00 P.M. on his mobile No. 9810030663 for more
than three minutes on 3.2.2007. The Magistrate had passed the release order of the
said respondents, however, they could not be released because they failed to
furnish the personal bond with a surety in the like amount. The High Court while
passing the order did not consider it proper to have an investigation on the
material facts regarding demand of bribe to the tune of Rs.500 from the writ
petitioners or regarding the mis-behaviour of the said respondents with the doctor
and staff of the hospital. The medical report reveals that they were intoxicated.
The relevant part of the medical report dated 3.2.2007 made at 8.00 p.m. in
Babu Jagjivan Ram Memorial Hospital, Jahangirpuri, Delhi reads as under: "Smell
of alcohol ++ Patient had been irritating and misbehaving with the doctor and
staff"
9.
No
further investigation or inquiry had been conducted on the charge of abusing, threatening
and quarrelling by the writ petitioners with each other. Though the High Court
reached the conclusion that the said respondents had been kept behind the bar
for one day resulting into violation of their fundamental rights, without realising
that since they failed to furnish bonds, no other option was available and they
were sent to judicial custody in view of the order of the Magistrate. If the writ
petitioners were aggrieved of the same, they could have challenged the same by
filing appeal/revision. We failed to understand under what circumstances the writ
petition has been entertained for examining the issue of illegal detention,
particularly, in a case where there was a justification for keeping them in
judicial custody.
10.
The
High Court reached the conclusion that in spite of the fact that the Magistrate
passed the order to furnish the bonds of Rs.5,000/- each, the bonds had been
accepted for Rs.15,000/-. There is nothing on record to show that any of writ
petitioners had raised the grievance before the Magistrate enhancing the amount
of personal bonds. In fact, the said writ petitioners themselves voluntarily submitted
bonds for Rs.15,000/- and therefore, no illegality could be found on that
ground.
11.
The
judgment and order impugned herein shocked our judicial conscience as under what
circumstances such a petty incident was considered by the High Court to be a
fit case to be referred to the CBI for investigation.
12.
This
very Bench recently in Disha v. State of Gujarat & Ors., JT (2011) 7 SC 548,
while relying upon earlier judgments of this Court in Ashok Kumar Todi v.
Kishwar Jahan & Ors., JT (2011) 3 SC 50; and Narmada Bai v. State of
Gujarat, JT (2011) 4 SC 279, came to the conclusion that for directing the CBI to
hold the investigation the court must be satisfied that the opposite parties are
very powerful and influential persons or the State authorities like top police officials
are involved and the investigation has not proceeded with in proper direction
or it has been biased. In such an eventuality, in order to do complete justice a
direction to the CBI to investigate the case can be issued.
13.
In
the instant case, the grievance of the writ petitioners basically had been
against the two Constables and one Head Constable. It was not a case where it could
be held that the State authorities were interested or involved in the incident.
Thus, in our opinion, it was not a fit case where investigation could be handed
over to the CBI. It is not only in the instant case that the High Court has
directed CBI to investigate but it is evident from the other connected cases which
have been heard along with these appeals and are being disposed of by separate
order, that on the same day i.e. 25.2.2008 the same Hon'ble Judge directed CBI
enquiry in another paltry case under Sections 107/151 Cr.P.C. Further on 28.2.2008
CBI enquiry was directed in another case also under Sections 107/151 Cr.P.C.. Thus,
it is evident that the High Court has been passing such directions in a most casual
and cavalier manner considering that each and every investigation must be
carried out by some special investigating agency.
14.
The
object of the Sections 107/151 Cr.P.C. are of preventive justice and not
punitive. S.151 should only be invoked when there is imminent danger to peace or
likelihood of breach of peace under Section 107 Cr.P.C. An arrest under S.151
can be supported when the person to be arrested designs to commit a cognizable offence.
If a proceeding under Sections 107/151 appears to be absolutely necessary to deal
with the threatened apprehension of breach of peace, it is incumbent upon the authority
concerned to take prompt action. The jurisdiction vested in a Magistrate to act
under Section 107 is to be exercised in emergent situation.
15.
A
mere perusal of Section 151 of the Code of Criminal Procedure makes it clear that
the conditions under which a police officer may arrest a person without an order
from a Magistrate and without a warrant have been laid down in Section 151. He
can do so only if he has come to know of a design of the person concerned to commit
any cognizable offence. A further condition for the exercise of such power,
which must also be fulfilled, is that the arrest should be made only if it
appears to the police officer concerned that the commission of the offence cannot
be otherwise prevented. The Section, therefore, expressly lays down the requirements
for exercise of the power to arrest without an order from a Magistrate and
without warrant. If these conditions are not fulfilled and, a person is
arrested under Section 151 Cr.P.C., the arresting authority may be exposed to
proceedings under the law for violating the fundamental rights inherent in
Articles 21 and 22 of Constitution. (Vide: Ahmed Noormohmed Bhatti v. State of
Gujarat and Ors., AIR 2005 SC 2115). (See also: Joginder Kumar v. State of U.P.
and Ors., AIR 1994 SC 1349 , D.K. Basu v. State of West Bengal, AIR 1997 SC
610).
16.
In
the instant case the proceedings under Sections 107/151 Cr.P.C. were initiated
on 4.2.2007 and the High Court has quashed the proceedings. At such a belated stage,
correctness of the decision to that extent does not require consideration. Even
otherwise the issue regarding quashing of those proceedings at this stage remains
purely academic. So, we uphold the impugned judgment to that extent.
17.
The
issue of award of compensation in case of violation of fundamental rights of a
person has been considered by this Court time and again and it has consistently
been held that though the High Courts and this Court in exercise of their
jurisdictions under Articles 226 and 32 can award compensation for such violations
but such a power should not be lightly exercised. These Articles cannot be used
as a substitute for the enforcement of rights and obligations which could be
enforced efficaciously through the ordinary process of courts. Before awarding any
compensation there must be a proper enquiry on the question of facts alleged in
the complaint. The court may examine the report and determine the issue after giving
opportunity of filing 1objections to rebut the same and hearing to the other
side. Awarding of compensation is permissible in case the court reaches the same
conclusion on a re-appreciation of the evidence adduced at the enquiry. Award
of monetary compensation in such an eventuality is permissible "when that is
the only practicable mode of redress available for the contravention made by the
State or its servants in the purported exercise of their powers."(Vide:
Sebastian M. Hongray v. Union of India, AIR 1984 SC 1026; Bhim Singh, MLA v.
State of J&K & Ors., AIR 1986 SC 494; Smt. Nilabati Behera v. State of
Orissa & Ors., AIR 1993 SC 1960; D.K. Basu v. State of W.B.,AIR 1997 SC
610; Chairman, Railway Board & Ors. v. Mrs. Chandrima Das & Ors., AIR 2000
SC 988; and S.P.S. Rathore v. State of Haryana & Ors., (2005) 10 SCC 1).
18.
In
Sube Singh v. State of Haryana & Ors., AIR 2006 SC 1117, while dealing with
similar issue this Court held as under: "In cases where custodial death or
custodial torture or other violation of the rights guaranteed under Article 21 is
established, the courts may award compensation in a proceeding under Article 32
or 226. However, before awarding compensation, the Court will have to pose to
itself the following questions:
a. whether the violation
of Article 21 is patent and incontrovertible,
b. whether the violation
is gross and of a magnitude to shock the conscience of the court,
c. whether the custodial
torture alleged has resulted in death..... Where there are clear indications that
the allegations are false or exaggerated fully or in part, the courts may not
award compensation as a 1 public law remedy under Article 32 or 226, but relegate
the aggrieved party to the traditional remedies by way of appropriate civil/criminal
action."(See also: Munshi Singh Gautam (D) & Ors. v. State of M.P.,
AIR 2005 SC 402; and Bharat Amratlal Kothari v. Dosukhan Samadkhan Sindhi &
Ors., AIR 2010 SC 475).
19.
In
view of the above, we are of the considered opinion that the High Court erred
in awarding even token compensation to the tune of Rs.25,000/- each as the High
Court did not hold any enquiry and passed the order merely after considering
the status report submitted by the appellant no.1 without hearing any of the persons
against whom allegations of abuse of power had been made. Such an order is
liable to be set aside.
20.
In
view of the above, appeals succeed and are allowed. Judgment and order impugned
herein is set aside except to the extent that the proceedings under Sections 107/151
Cr.P.C. against the contesting respondents stood quashed.
...............................J.
(P. SATHASIVAM)
...............................J.
(Dr. B.S. CHAUHAN)
New
Delhi,
August
12, 2011
Back
Pages: 1 2
