M. Mohan Vs The State
Represented by The Deputy Superintendent of Police
Velmurugan & ANR.
Vs The State Represented by The Deputy Superintendent of Police
J U D G M E N T
Dalveer Bhandari, J.
1.
Leave
granted in both the matters.
2.
Since
the facts of both the appeals are common, therefore, these appeals are decided
by a common judgment.
3.
We
deem it proper to take the facts of Criminal Appeal arising out of SLP (Crl.)No.2687
of 2010 filed by Velmurugan, Accused No.4 and Anna Lakshmi, Accused No.5 (for
short 'A-4 and A-5' respectively). This appeal emanates from the judgment and order
dated 22.02.2010 delivered by the Madurai Bench of the High Court of Judicature
at Madras in Criminal Original Petition (MD) No.94 of 2006.
4.
Brief
facts which are necessary to dispose of this appeal are recapitulated as under:
5.
One
Kamatchi (deceased), daughter of Duraipandi Nadar (complainant) was married to Anandraj
(A-1), son of Mahalinga Nadar on 6.9.2001. Mahalinga Nadar and his wife Anna Lakshmi
(A-5) had three sons whose names are shown as under : Mahalinga Nadar -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Son(A-1) Son(A-2) Son(A-4) | | | Anandraj M. Mohan Velmurugan Husband of married
deceased to Kamatchi Easwari (A-3) 3Anandraj (A-1) even after marriage with Kamatchi
(the deceased)stayed with his two brothers and parents in the joint family. Kamatchi
delivered a female child on 7.1.2003.
Accused Anandraj's
elder brother, M. Mohan (A-2) and his wife Easwari (A-3) owned a Qualis car. On
the date of Pongal, i.e., on 14.01.2005, Kamatchi's in-laws family planned a visit
to the Theme Park at Madurai from Karaikudi. Deceased Kamatchi, her husband Anandraj
(A-1) were denied the use of the said family car. Other members of the family
had gone to the Theme Park in the family car whereas the deceased Kamatchi and her
husband Anandraj (A-1) were told by Easwari (A-3) to reach the destination by public
bus who is alleged to have said to Kamatchi that "if you want to go by a car,
you have to bring a car from your family".
6.
Kamatchi
along with her husband Anandraj and a child, took a public transport(bus) from
Karaikudi to Madurai for reaching the said Theme Park and returned to her matrimonial
home in a bus. Kamatchi was deeply hurt by the taunting statement of Easwari
(A-3) regarding denial of the use of family car.
7.
Immediately
thereafter, Kamatchi demanded a car from her father for personal use and after four
days, i.e., on 18.1.2005 at 4 about 1.30 p.m. she committed suicide by hanging herself
in her bedroom using her sari.
8.
On
receipt of the information, the father of the deceased Kamatchi reached Karaikudi
and filed a complaint with the Karaikudi Police Station (South) at about 5.00 p.m.
alleging that his son-in-law Anandraj (A-1) and his elder brother's wife Easwari
(A-3) were responsible for his daughter's suicide. On receipt of the said complaint,
the Sub-Inspector of Police, Karaikudi (South) Police Station registered a case
under Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Code (for short 'Cr.P.C.') by
assigning Crime No.13/2005 on 18.01.2005.
9.
The
Sub Inspector of Police forwarded a copy of the First Information Report (for short
'F.I.R.') to the Revenue Divisional Officer (for short 'R.D.O.') to hold an
inquest and also a copy to the Deputy Superintendent of Police (for short 'D.S.P.'),
Karaikudi, for further investigation, who commenced inquiry on the same day as Kamatchi
had committed suicide within three and a half years of her marriage.
10.
The
D.S.P., Karaikudi on receipt of the F.I.R. from the Karaikudi South Police Station,
took up the complaint for investigation and filed an Alteration Report on
19.1.2005 before the Jurisdictional Magistrate, Karaikudi under Sections 498-A
and 306 I.P.C. against Anandraj (A-1) and Easwari (A-3) respectively.
11.
The
R.D.O. commenced enquiry on 18.1.2005 and examined many witnesses and on 3rd February,
2005 a report was sent by him to the D.S.P. in which he had categorically stated
that there was no dowry harassment in the suicide case, especially in view of the
fact that even the parents of the deceased had not informed him about the
harassment of dowry. The parents of the deceased had specifically stated before
the R.D.O. that because of the taunts made by Easwari (A-3) their daughter had
committed suicide. The D.S.P., in addition to the inquest held by the R.D.O.,
proceeded to investigate the case and filed a Charge Sheet on 29.4.2005 not
only against Anandraj (A-1), the deceased's husband and M. Mohan (A- 2), her
brother-in-law and his wife, Easwari (A-3), but also against the appellants
herein who are elder brother of the husband of the deceased and the mother of appellant
No.1 respectively under Sections 304-B, 498-A and 306 of the Indian Penal Code
(for short 'I.P.C.'). A copy of the charge sheet dated 29.4.2005 was filed
before the learned Judicial Magistrate, Karaikudi.
12.
The
learned Magistrate, on perusing the final report, took the 6 same on file by assigning
P.R.C.No.11/2005 and summoned the accused to furnish copies before committing
the case to the Court of Sessions for trial.
13.
The
appellants, aggrieved by the vexatious prosecution initiated at the behest of
the respondent approached the High Court of Judicature at Madras for quashing
the proceedings against them under Section 482 Cr.P.C. The learned Single Judge,
while quashing the charges under Sections 498-A and 304-B I.P.C. against the appellants,
partly allowed their petition and held that they have to face trial for the offence
under Section 306 I.P.C. insofar as challenge to Section 306 I.P.C. was
concerned.
14.
The
High Court in the impugned judgment observed that in the F.I.R. lodged by the complainant,
no whisper of demand for dowry has been made against the appellants. A perusal of
the F.I.R. would reveal that Anandraj (A-1) and Easwari, A-3 were torturing the
deceased on some pretext or the other especially in connection with getting a car
from her father. The deceased was denied use of the car for going to the Theme
Park near Madurai on 14.01.2005. The deceased was also abused by Anandraj (A-1)
in this regard. They had to go to the Theme Park at Madurai by bus. After returning,
the deceased contacted her father on phone and narrated the entire incident and
on 18.1.2005 at around 1.30 p.m., Kamatchi committed suicide by hanging
herself.
On registration of the
case under Section 174 Cr.P.C., the complainant and his wife and others were
examined. Even in the statement, the complainant had not made a whisper about
the demand of dowry on the part of the appellants but harped upon the ill
treatment to his daughter at the hands of Anandraj (A-1) and Easwari (A-3). Even
at the inquest conducted by the R.D.O., the complainant has not even whispered with
regard to the demand of dowry on the part of the appellants.
The statement of
witnesses including that of the complainant were recorded on 27.01.2005. The relevant
portion of the exact version given in the F.I.R. reads as under : ".....My
eldest daughter is aged about 21 years. She was given in marriage by me to one Anandaraj
son of Mahalinga Nadar of Karaikudi 3 years ago in the year 2002, and next daughter
was given in marriage at Coimbatore and other two daughters are yet to be married.
At the time of marriage of my daughter Kamatchi, to Anandraj, I gave them one Kilo
of Gold, Diamonds and jewels, and other utensils and articles. They were living
along with his elder brother Mohan as joint family. They possess one Qualis car
of their own.
The said car was
purchased in the name of Easwari my son-in-law's brother's wife. My daughter felt
very hurt when she was not allowed to use the said car and was taunted by my son-in-law
Anandraj and Mohan's wife Easwari to get a car from her parental home if she wished
to go by a car. When she disclosed this matter to me I was ready to give her a
car. At this junction, during last Pongal festival, her family had gone to Madurai
('Athisayam') in the said Qualis car. They refused to take my daughter along with
them in the said car, and they have also teased and insulted her and told her
to come in the bus and also said 'do you want to use a car then why you did not
get a car'.
My daughter informed
about this incident to me over the phone and before I could get a car ready for
her today on 18.1.2005, at about 1.30 hours, my son-in-law, Anandraj, informed over
phone that my daughter had hanged herself and is dead. My son-in- law Anandraj
and Mohan's wife Easwari who were cause for my daughter's death....." The above
quoted portion of the F.I.R. also indicates that all allegations are confined to
Anandraj (A-1), the husband of the deceased and his sister-in-law, Easwari (A-3).
According to the appellants, from the entire material available on record, by no
stretch of imagination, an offence under Section 306 I.P.C. was made out
against the appellants and the impugned judgment of the High Court is contrary to
the law as has been laid down by this court in a series of judgments.
15.
According
to the appellants, the High Court in the impugned judgment has seriously erred in
not quashing the charge under Section 306 I.P.C. despite the fact that there is
absolutely no material on record to proceed against the appellants either for cruelty
or for dowry harassment.
16.
The
appellants contended that the learned Single Judge, 9 after examining the F.I.R.,
R.D.O. report and Statements of the Witnesses under Section 161 Cr.P.C. found that
there were no allegations against the appellants herein from the inception either
by the complainant or by the mother of the deceased and has further held that
there was no element of dowry related harassment and/or any cruelty meted out
to the deceased by her sister-in-law or for that matter by any of the accused. In
view of the above categorical findings, the learned Single Judge quashed the
charges under Sections 304-B and 498-A I.P.C.
However, the learned
Single Judge failed to appreciate that on the basis of the material available on
record and in the absence of any allegation, if no offence is made out against the
appellants under Sections 304-B and 498-A, then the appellants cannot be convicted
under Section 306 I.P.C. It is stated that to attract the provisions of Section
306 I.P.C., the allegations as to the existence of cruelty, dowry harassment and
abetment to suicide are all integrated. In absence of any allegations under Sections
498-A and 304-B I.P.C. provisions of Section 306 I.P.C. cannot be attracted.
17.
The
appellants submitted that this Court in the case of Gangula Mohan Reddy V. State
of Andhra Pradesh one of us, Dalveer Bhandari, J. was the author of the
judgment), reported in 1 (2010)(1) SCC 750, while interpreting Section 306 I.P.C.
held that abetment involves a mental process of instigating a person or intentionally
aiding a person in doing of a thing and without a positive act on the part of the
accused to instigate or aid in committing suicide, there cannot be any
conviction. It was further held that to attract Section 306 I.P.C. there has to
be a clear mens rea to commit the offence. It is further stated that the
present case is squarely covered by the above decision as even if the case of
the prosecution is taken to be true and the finding of the High Court that there
are no elements of cruelty or dowry related harassment and that the witnesses
have improved upon their earlier statements is ignored, then also Section 306
I.P.C.. is not attracted in the facts of the present case.
18.
According
to the appellants, the present case is a fit case wherein the charges under Section
306 I.P.C. are liable to be quashed for the following sequence of events and
reasons: "On 06.09.2002, Kamatchi, (the deceased in the case) got married
to Anandaraj (A-1). After the marriage they lived with two other brothers of
the AI and the parent in laws jointly. Deceased is stated to have had cordial
relations with every member of the family. On 7.1.2003, Anandaraj (A-1) and
Kamatchi were blessed with one female child. The child was christened as Nithyasree.
On 14.1.2005, the entire family decided to go to 'Adisayam' a Theme park at Madurai
to celebrate and enjoy the Pongal Holidays. Kamatchi was prevented from
travelling in a Qualis car by Easwari (A-3) and is alleged to have taunted
Kamatchi, "if you want to travel by a car please get a car from your parents".
Thereafter, leaving
Anandaraj, Kamatchi and their child, they proceeded to Madurai to visit the Theme
Park 'Adisayam' by a Qualis car. Anandaraj and his family also proceeded to Madurai
to visit the Theme Park and after their visit they returned to their native Karaikudi.
Both to and fro, the family traveled by bus. On 18.01.2005 at about 1.30 p.m. Kamatchi
committed suicide at her matrimonial home, using her sari to hang herself. At about
5.00 p.m. Mr.Duraipandi Nadar, the father of the deceased Kamatchi lodged a complaint
before Karaikudi South Police Station. It is the specific allegation in the
complaint that A1 and A3 alone are the cause of the suicide of his daughter. The
Sub Inspector of Police, Under Section 174 of Cr.P.C. Registered the said complaint
by assigning Cr.No.13/2005. At about 6.00 p.m. R.D.O. conducted an enqury and
prepared and Mahazar and seized the diary of the deceased, a letter and the sari
which was used by her commit suicide. D.S.P. Karaikudi, examined
S.V.Duraipandi, the father of the deceased (L.W.1) and recorded his statement. D.S.P.
Karaikudi examined Mrs.Tamil Selvi, the mother of the deceased (L.W.2). On
19.01.2005 alteration report filed by the D.S.P. under Section 306 and 498 A
IPC against A-1 and A-3 alone. On 3.2.2005 RDO who commenced enquiry from the
date of incident itself and examined the records and the statements of various
witnesses.
He filed a report
with a recommendation from the D.S.P. to conduct further investigation to
determine the real reasons for the suicide with a specific finding that the
suicide death is not due to any dowry harassment. R.D.O. has also recorded the statement
of the de facto complainant and the mother of the deceased to the effect that
the deceased was having a very cordial relationship with every one in the family
including the husband except the A-3 the second daughter in law".
19.
All
these facts would clearly show and demonstrate that neither at the time of
inquest nor during the R.D.O. enquiry or at the time of the complaint by the complainant,
who is also the father of the deceased, any allegation was attributed against the
appellants and, on the contrary, it was the case of the complainant that
allegedly Easwari (A-3) alone was responsible for the suicide of the deceased
and this formed the basis of the learned Single Judge to come to the conclusion
that Sections 304-B and 498-A-I.P.C. are not attracted.
20.
The
appellants submitted that there is no allegation against the appellants
Velmurugan and Anna Lakshmi, who are arrayed as Accused 4 and 5 respectively in
the final report either at the time of lodging of the complaint and
registration of FIR or at the time of inquest enquiry or even in the statements
before the R.D.O. On the contrary the complainant has alleged that it is only Easwari
(A-3) 1 who is the cause of the suicide. It may be relevant to extract certain portions
of the F.I.R., R.D.O. Report and the Alteration Report filed by the respondent.
21.
In
the R.D.O. Report dated 3.2.2005, the following statement of the complainant is
extracted : "My son-in-law Thiru M.Anandraj is running a provision shop at
Karaikudi of his own. In that his brother Mohan is also having a share. My son-in-law
looked after my daughter in good manner. All of them in their house treated my daughter
in a good way. He informed that Smt.Eswari, wife of Mohan alone used to quarrel
with my daughter often. Due to her torture alone my daughter might have hanged
herself and committed suicide. In the death, apart from Smt.Eswari, he informed
that no other is having any part. He has also stated that there is no dowry
harassment in the death. (emphasis added)"
22.
Again
in the said Report the R.D.O. concludes as under : "From the inquest it
can be found that the death did not happen due to dowry harassment. The reason is
that even the father and mother of the deceased girl said the death has not happened
due to dowry harassment. Therefore, I inform that the death is not caused due to
dowry harassment. Further, the father and mother of the deceased girl said that
the death is caused due to the torture of Smt.Easwari. Therefore, the police may
take up the case for investigation and on proper investigation the cause for
the death may be found out."
23.
Again
in the Alteration Report by 'D.S.P.', the following is recorded : "It is found
that the deceased Kamatchi committed suicide only due to the harassment by her husband
Anandaraj and his elder brother's wife Eswari often demanding car as dowry from
her parents."
24.
Again
in the F.I.R. the only allegation is that: "My son-in-law Anandraj and Easwari,
wife of Mohan have abetted my daughter Kamatchi to commit suicide. They are
responsible for my daughter's death. Therefore, I request that action may be taken
against Anandaraj and Easwari alone for the death of my daughter."
25.
The
appellants also submitted that the entire case of the prosecution does not reveal
even remote connection of the appellants with the commission of an offence punishable
under Section 306 I.P.C.
26.
The
case of the prosecution is that on 14th January,2005, the deceased wanted to
use the family car to go to the Theme Park at Madurai from Karaikudi along with
other family members but she was denied the permission to use the car. At that
juncture Easwari (A-3) taunted the deceased that if she wanted to go around in
a car, she has to get a car from her parents. These words deeply hurt the deceased
and she had committed suicide on 18th January,2005 at 1.30 p.m. at her
matrimonial home.
27.
The
appellants submitted that even if the prosecution story that she was denied permission
to use the car on 14th January, 2005 and the suicide had taken place on 18th January,
2005 is believed, it cannot be said that the suicide by the deceased was the direct
result of the expressions exchanged between the deceased and Easwari (A-3) on
14th January, 2005. Viewed from the aforesaid circumstances independently,
still the ingredients of the "abetment" are totally absent in the case
at hand. In these facts and circumstances, to compel the appellants to face the
rigmarole of a trial would be an abuse of law.
28.
The
appellants also submitted that there is no material on record to proceed
against the appellants for an offence punishable under Section 306 I.P.C. No
conviction can be recorded in absence of legal evidence. According to the appellants,
any further proceeding in this case will be an abuse of the process. According
to them, this is a fit case warranting interference by this Court.
29.
The
appellants contended that the genesis of the prosecution is on the basis of the
complaint preferred by the father of the deceased Kamatchi. He had categorically
stated that his daughter had committed suicide due to the taunts of Easwari (A-3).
According to the complainant, his son-in-law, Anandraj (A-1) and 1 the said Easwari
(A-3) alone were responsible for the death of his daughter.
30.
The
appellants also contended that in pursuance to that complaint, the R.D.O. held
an inquest by examining few witnesses including the father, the mother and the brother-in-law
(sister's husband) of the deceased and others. In their statements, none of them
had stated any dowry harassment against the accused or any other member of the
family of the accused. On the contrary, they have categorically stated that there
was no dowry harassment suffered by the deceased in her in-law's house. Thus, the
requirement to bring home the ingredient of the offence Under Section 304-B
I.P.C., namely, the 'dowry' demand as found by the learned Single Judge was absent
in the prosecution case. They contended that the High Court has held that no
allegation of cruelty against the appellants were found from the very inception
and the charge under Section 498-A was liable to be quashed. In this background,
by no stretch of imagination, the appellants can ever be convicted under
Section 306 IPC.
31.
The
appellants submitted that the summoning of an accused in a criminal case is a
serious matter. Criminal law cannot be set into motion as a matter of course. It
is not that the complainant 1 has to bring only two witnesses to support allegations
in the complaint to have the criminal law set into motion. The order of the Magistrate
summoning the accused must reflect that he has applied his mind to the facts of
the case and the law applicable thereto. He has to examine the nature of the allegations
made in the complaint and the evidence, both oral and documentary, in support
thereof and would that be sufficient for the complainant to succeed in bringing
home the charge against the accused? It is not that the Magistrate is a silent
spectator at the time of recording of preliminary evidence before the summoning
of the accused. The Magistrate has to carefully scrutinize the evidence brought
on record and may even himself put questions to the complainant and his witnesses
to elicit answers to point out the truthfulness of the allegations or otherwise
and then examine if any offence is prima facie committed by all or any of the
accused.
32.
The
appellants submitted that the prosecution must produce evidence before the Court,
which is capable of being converted into legal evidence after the charges are
framed. In this case admittedly, there is no legal evidence connecting the
appellants with any crime, much less the offences alleged, as the materials are
not capable of being converted into legal evidence. Hence, in the absence of any
1 material which can be converted into legal evidence, the proceedings as against
the appellants under Section 306 IPC are also liable to be quashed.
33.
The
appellants has placed reliance on a judgment of this Court in Mahendra Singh &
Another v. State of M.P. 1995 Supp. (3) SCC 731. In this case the allegations levelled
were as under:- "My mother-in-law and husband and sister-in-law (husband's
elder brother's wife) harassed me. They beat me and abused me. My husband
Mahendra wants to marry a second time. He has illicit connections with my sister-in-
law. Because of these reasons and being harassed I want to die by burning.
34.
"34.
This Court while acquitting the appellant observed that neither of the ingredients
of abetment are attracted on the statement of the deceased.
35.
In
the instant case, what to talk of existence of instances or illustrations of
instigation, there are no specific allegations levelled against the appellants.
On a careful perusal of the entire material on record, no offence under Section
306 IPC can be made out against the appellants, in view of our clear and
definite finding that 1 there is no material whatsoever against the appellants much
less positive act on the part of the appellants to instigate or aid in committing
the suicide.
36.
The
main substantial questions of law which arise in this appeal are whether the conviction
of the appellants under Section 306 I.P.C. is sustainable and whether in the facts
and circumstances of this case, the High Court was justified in not quashing
the proceedings against the appellants under its inherent powers.
37.
We
would like to deal with the concept of 'abetment'. Section 306 of the Code deals
with 'abetment of suicide' which reads as under: "306. Abetment of suicide
- If any person commits suicide, whoever abets the commission of such suicide, shall
be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extent
to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine."
38.
The
word 'suicide' in itself is nowhere defined in the Indian Penal Code, however, its
meaning and import is well known and requires no explanation. `Sui' means
`self' and `cide' means `killing', thus implying an act of self-killing. In short
a person committing suicide must commit it by himself, irrespective of the means
2 employed by him in achieving his object of killing himself.
39.
In
our country, while suicide itself is not an offence considering that the
successful offender is beyond the reach of law, attempt to suicide is an
offence under section 309 of I.P.C.
40.
`Abetment
of a thing' has been defined under section 107 of the Code. We deem it
appropriate to reproduce section 107, which reads as under: "107. Abetment
of a thing - A person abets the doing of a thing, who - First - Instigates any
person to do that thing; or Secondly - Engages with one or more other person or
persons in any conspiracy for the doing of that thing, if an act or illegal omission
takes places in pursuance of that conspiracy, and in order to the doing of that
thing; or Thirdly - Intentionally aides, by any act or illegal omission, the
doing of that thing. Explanation 2 which has been inserted along with section
107 reads as under: "Explanation 2 - Whoever, either prior to or at the time
of the commission of an act, does anything in order to facilitate the commission
of that act, and thereby facilitate the commission thereof, is said to aid the
doing of that act."
41.
Learned
counsel also placed reliance on yet another 2 judgment of this court in Ramesh Kumar
v. State of Chhattisgarh (2001) 9 SCC 618, in which a three-Judge Bench of this
court had an occasion to deal with the case of a similar nature. In a dispute
between the husband and wife, the appellant husband uttered "you are free to
do whatever you wish and go wherever you like". Thereafter, the wife of the
appellant Ramesh Kumar committed suicide. This Court in paragraph 20 has examined
different shades of the meaning of "instigation'. Para 20 reads as under: "20.
Instigation is to goad, urge forward, provoke, incite or encourage to do "an
act". To satisfy the requirement of instigation though it is not necessary
that actual words must be used to that effect. or what constitutes instigation must
necessarily and specifically be suggestive of the consequence. Yet a reasonable
certainty to incite the consequence must be capable of being spelt out. the
present one is not a case where the accused had by his acts or omission or by a
continued course of conduct created such circumstances that the deceased was left
with no other option except to commit suicide in which case an instigation may
have been inferred. A word uttered in the fit of anger or emotion without intending
the consequences to actually follow cannot be said to be instigation."
42.
In
the said case this court came to the conclusion that there is no evidence and material
available on record wherefrom an inference of the accused-appellant having abetted
commission of 2 suicide by Seema (appellant's wife therein) may necessarily be drawn.
43.
In
State of West Bengal v. Orilal Jaiswal & Another (1994) 1 SCC 73, this Court
has cautioned that the Court should be extremely careful in assessing the facts
and circumstances of each case and the evidence adduced in the trial for the
purpose of finding whether the cruelty meted out to the victim had in fact induced
her to end the life by committing suicide. If it appears to the Court that a victim
committing suicide was hypersensitive to ordinary petulance, discord and difference
in domestic life, quite common to the society, to which the victim belonged and
such petulance, discord and difference were not expected to induce a similarly circumstanced
individual in a given society to commit suicide, the conscience of the Court should
not be satisfied for basing a finding that the accused charged of abetting the
offence of suicide should be found guilty.
44.
This
court in Chitresh Kumar Chopra v. State (Govt. of NCT of Delhi) 2009 (16) SCC
605, had an occasion to deal with this aspect of abetment. The court dealt with
the dictionary meaning of the word "instigation" and
"goading". The court opined that there should be intention to provoke,
incite or encourage the 2 doing of an act by the latter. Each person's
suicidability pattern is different from the others. Each person has his own idea
of self- esteem and self-respect. Therefore, it is impossible to lay down any straight-jacket
formula in dealing with such cases. Each case has to be decided on the basis of
its own facts and circumstances.
45.
Abetment
involves a mental process of instigating a person or intentionally aiding a person
in doing of a thing. Without a positive act on the part of the accused to instigate
or aid in committing suicide, conviction cannot be sustained.
46.
The
intention of the Legislature and the ratio of the cases decided by this court are
clear that in order to convict a person under section 306 IPC there has to be a
clear mens rea to commit the offence. It also requires an active act or direct
act which led the deceased to commit suicide seeing no option and this act must
have been intended to push the deceased into such a position that he/she
committed suicide.
47.
In
V.P. Shrivastava v. Indian Explosives Limited and Others (2010) 10 SCC 361, this
court has held that when prima facie no case is made out against the accused,
then the High Court ought to have exercised the jurisdiction under section 482 of
the 2 Cr.P.C. and quashed the complaint.
48.
In
a recent judgment of this Court in the case of Madan Mohan Singh v. State of Gujarat
and Anr. (2010 ) 8 SCC 628, this Court quashed the conviction under Section 306
IPC on the ground that the allegations were irrelevant and baseless and observed
that the High Court was in error in not quashing the proceedings.
49.
In
the instant case, what to talk of instances of instigation, there are even no
allegations against the appellants. There is also no proximate link between the
incident of 14.1.2005 when the deceased was denied permission to use the Qualis
car with the factum of suicide which had taken place on 18.1.2005.
50.
Undoubtedly,
the deceased had died because of hanging. The deceased was undoubtedly hyper-sensitive
to ordinary petulance, discord and differences which happen in our day-to-day life.
In a joint family, instances of this kind are not very uncommon. Human sensitivity
of each individual differs from person to person. Each individual has his own
idea of self-esteem and self-respect. Different people behave differently in the
same situation. It is unfortunate that such an episode of suicide had 2 taken
place in the family. But the question remains to be answered is whether the appellants
can be connected with that unfortunate incident in any manner?
51.
On
a careful perusal of the entire material on record and the law, which has been
declared by this Court, we can safely arrive at the conclusion that the
appellants are not even remotely connected with the offence under Section 306
of the I.P.C.. It may be relevant to mention that criminal proceedings against husband
of the deceased Anandraj (A-1) and Easwari (A-3) are pending adjudication.
52.
Next
question which arises in this case is that in view of the settled legal position
whether the High Court ought to have quashed the proceedings under its inherent
power under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code in the facts and
circumstances of this case?
53.
This
Court had an occasion to examine the legal position in a large number of cases.
In R.P. Kapur v. S tate of Punjab AIR 1960 SC 866, this Court summarized some categories
of cases where the High Court in its inherent power can and should 2 exercise
to quash the proceedings:
i.
where
it manifestly appears that there is a legal bar against the institution or
continuance of the proceedings;
ii.
where
the allegations in the first information report or complaint taken at their face
value and accepted in their entirety do not constitute the offence alleged;
iii.
where
the allegations constitute an offence, but there is no legal evidence adduced or
the evidence adduced clearly or manifestly fails to prove the charge.
54.
In
Smt. Nagawwa v. Veeranna Shivalingappa Konjalgi and Others (1976) 3 SCC 736,
according to the court, the process against the accused can be quashed or set
aside : "(1) where the allegations made in the complaint or the statements
of the witnesses recorded in support of the same taken at their face value make
out absolutely no case against the accused or the complaint does not disclose the
essential ingredients of an offence which is alleged against the accused; (2) where
the allegations made in the complaint are patently absurd and inherently improbable
so that no prudent person can ever reach a conclusion that there is sufficient
ground for proceeding against the accused; (3) where the discretion exercised
by the Magistrate in issuing process is capricious and arbitrary having been based
either on no evidence or on materials which are wholly irrelevant or
inadmissible; and 2 (4) where the complaint suffers from fundamental legal defects,
such as, want of sanction, or absence of a complaint by legally competent authority
and the like".
55.
This
court in State of Karnataka v. L. Muniswamy & Others (1977) 2 SCC 699, observed
that the wholesome power under section 482 Cr.P.C. entitles the High Court to quash
a proceeding when it comes to the conclusion that allowing the proceedings to continue
would be an abuse of the process of the court or that the ends of justice requires
that the proceedings ought to be quashed. The High Courts have been invested with
inherent powers, both in civil and criminal matters, to achieve a salutary public
purpose. A Court proceeding ought not to be permitted to degenerate into a weapon
of harassment or persecution. In this case, the court observed that ends of justice
are higher than the ends of mere law though justice must be administered
according to laws made by the Legislature. This case has been followed in a large
number of subsequent cases of this court and other courts.
56.
In
Madhu Limaye v. The State of Maharashtra (1977) 4 SCC 551, a three-Judge Bench
of this court held as under:- ".....In case the impugned order clearly brings
out a situation which is an abuse of the process of the court, or for the
purpose of securing the ends of justice 2 interference by the High Court is
absolutely necessary, then nothing contained in Section 397(2) can limit or affect
the exercise of the inherent power by the High Court. Such cases would necessarily
be few and far between. One such case would be the desirability of the quashing
of a criminal proceeding initiated illegally, vexatiously or as being without jurisdiction.
The present case would undoubtedly fall for exercise of the power of the High
Court in accordance with Section 482 of the 1973 Code, even assuming, that the
invoking of the revisional power of the High Court is impermissible."
57.
This
court in Madhavrao Jiwajirao Scindia & Others v. Sambhajirao Chandrojirao Angre
& Others (1988) 1 SCC 692, observed in para 7 as under: "The legal position
is well settled that when a prosecution at the initial stage is asked to be quashed,
the test to be applied by the court is as to whether the uncontroverted allegations
as made prima facie establish the offence. It is also for the court to take into
consideration any special features which appear in a particular case to
consider whether it is expedient and in the interest of justice to permit a
prosecution to continue. This is so on the basis that the court cannot be utilized
for any oblique purpose and where in the opinion of the court chances of an ultimate
conviction is bleak and, therefore, no useful purpose is likely to be served by
allowing a criminal prosecution to continue, the court may while taking into consideration
the special facts of a case also quash the proceeding even though it may be at
a preliminary stage."
58.
In
Janta Dal v. H.S. Chowdhary and Others (1992) 4 SCC 2 305 the court observed as
under : "131. Section 482 which corresponds to Section 561-A of the old Code
and to Section 151 of the Civil Procedure Code proceeds on the same principle and
deals with the inherent powers of the High Court. The rule of inherent powers has
its source in the maxim "Quadolex aliquid alicui concedit, concedere videtur
id sine quo ipsa, ess uon potest" which means that when the law gives anything
to anyone, it gives also all those things without which the thing itself could
not exist. 132. The criminal courts are clothed with inherent power to make
such orders as may be necessary for the ends of justice. Such power though unrestricted
and undefined should not be capriciously or arbitrarily exercised, but should be
exercised in appropriate cases, ex debito justitiae to do real and substantial justice
for the administration of which alone the courts exist. The powers possessed by
the High Court under Section 482 of the Code are very wide and the very plenitude
of the power requires great caution in its exercise. Courts must be careful to see
that its decision in exercise of this power is based on sound principles."
59.
In
Emperor v. Khwaja Nazir Ahmad AIR 1945 PC 18 and Lala Jairam Das v. Emperor AIR
1945 PC 94 the Judicial Committee has taken the view that Section 561-A of the old
Code which is equivalent to Section 482 of the Cr.P.C. gave no new powers but
only provided that already inherently possessed should be preserved. This view
holds the field till date.
60.
In
Dr Raghubir Sharan v. State of Bihar (1964) 2 SCR 336, this court observed as
under 3 "... [E]very High Court as the highest court exercising criminal jurisdiction
in a State has inherent power to make any order for the purpose of securing the
ends of justice .... Being an extraordinary power it will, however, not be
pressed in aid except for remedying a flagrant abuse by a subordinate court of
its powers ...."
61.
In
the said case, the court also observed that the inherent powers can be
exercised under this section by the High Court (1) to give effect to any order
passed under the Code; (2) to prevent abuse of the process of the court; (3) otherwise
to secure the ends of justice.
62.
In
Connelly v. Director of Public Prosecutions 1964 AC 1254, Lord Ried at page 1296
expressed his view "there must always be a residual discretion to prevent
anything which savours of abuse of process" with which view all the
members of the House of Lords agreed but differed as to whether this entitled a
Court to stay a lawful prosecution.
63.
In
Kurukshetra University and Another v. State of Haryana and Another (1977) 4 SCC
451, this court observed as under: "Inherent powers do not confer an arbitrary
jurisdiction on the High Court to act according to whim or caprice. That
statutory power has to be exercised sparingly, with circumspection and in the
rarest of rare cases. Thus, the High Court in exercise of inherent powers under
Section 482, Criminal Procedure Code cannot quash a first information report
more so when the police had not even commenced the investigation and no
proceeding at all is pending in any Court in pursuance of the said FIR."
64.
In
State of Haryana & Others v. Bhajan Lal & Others reported in (1992)
Suppl.1 SCC p.335, this court had an occasion to examine the scope of the inherent
power of the High Court in interfering with the investigation of an offence by
the police and laid down the following rule: [SCC pp. 364-65, para 60: SCC (Cri)
p. 456, para 60]. "The sum and substance of the above deliberation results
in a conclusion that the investigation of an offence is the field exclusively reserved
for the police officers whose powers in that field are unfettered so long as
the power to investigate into the cognizable offences is legitimately exercised
in strict compliance with the provisions falling under Chapter XII of the Code and
the courts are not justified in obliterating the track of investigation when the
investigating agencies are well within their legal bounds as aforementioned. Indeed,
a noticeable feature of the scheme under Chapter XIV of the Code is that a Magistrate
is kept in the picture at all stages of the police investigation but he is not authorised
to interfere with the actual investigation or to direct the police how that investigation
is to be conducted. But if a police officer transgresses the circumscribed limits
and improperly and illegally exercises his investigatory powers in breach of any
statutory provision causing serious prejudice to the personal liberty and also property
of a citizen, then the court on being approached by the person aggrieved for the
redress of any grievance, has to consider the nature and extent of the breach and
pass appropriate orders as may be called for without leaving the citizens to the
mercy of police echelons since human dignity is a dear value of our
Constitution."
65.
In
State of Haryana & Others v. Bhajan Lal & Others (supra), this court in
the backdrop of interpretation of various relevant provisions of the Code of Criminal
Procedure under 3 Chapter XIV and of the principles of law enunciated by this
court in a series of decisions relating to the exercise of the extraordinary power
under Article 226 of the Constitution of India or the inherent powers under
Section 482 Cr.P.C., gave the following categories of cases by way of
illustration wherein such power could be exercised either to prevent abuse of
the process of the court or otherwise to secure the ends of justice. Thus, this
court made it clear that it may not be possible to lay down any precise, clearly
defined and sufficiently channelised and inflexible guidelines or rigid formulae
and to give an exhaustive list to myriad kinds of cases wherein such power
should be exercised:
a. Where the allegations
made in the first information report or the complaint, even if they are taken at
their face value and accepted in their entirety do not prima facie constitute any
offence or make out a case against the accused.
b. Where the allegations
in the first information report and other materials, if any, accompanying the
FIR do not disclose a cognizable offence, justifying an investigation by police
officers under Section 156(1) of the Code except under an order of a Magistrate
within the purview of Section 155 (2) of the Code.
a.
b.
a.
b.
c. Where the
uncontroverted allegations made in the FIR or complaint and the evidence
collected in support of the same do not disclose the commission of any offence
and make out a case against the accused.
d. Where, the
allegations in the FIR do not constitute a cognizable offence but constitute only
a non-cognizable offence, on investigation is permitted by a police officer without
an order of a Magistrate as contemplated under Section 155(2) of the Code.
e. Where the allegations
made in the FIR or complaint are so absurd and inherently improbable on the
basis of which no prudent person can ever reach a just conclusion that there is
sufficient grounds for proceeding against the accused.
f. Where there is an
express legal bar engrafted in any of the provisions of the Code or the concerned
Act (under which a criminal proceedings is instituted) to the institution and continuance
of the proceedings and/or where there is a specific provision in the Code or the
concerned Act, providing efficacious redress for the grievance of the aggrieved
party.
g. Where a criminal proceeding
is manifestly attended with mala fide and/or where the proceeding is maliciously
instituted with an ulterior motive for wreaking vengeance on the accused and with
a view to spite him due to private and personal grudge."
66.
In
G. Sagar Suri & Another v. State of UP & Others (2000) 2 SCC 636, this Court
observed that it is the duty and obligation of the criminal court to exercise a
great deal of caution in issuing the process particularly when matters are essentially
of civil in nature.
67.
In
State of A.P. v. Golconda Linga Swamy and Another (2004) 6 SCC 522, this court
observed as under:- "Exercise of power under Section 482 of the Code in a case
of this nature is the exception and not the rule. The 3 section does not confer
any new powers on the High Court. It only saves the inherent power which the
Court possessed before the enactment of the Code. It envisages three circumstances
under which the inherent jurisdiction may be exercised, namely: (i) to give
effect to an order under the Code, (ii) to prevent abuse of the process of
court, and (iii) to otherwise secure the ends of justice. It is neither possible
nor desirable to lay down any inflexible rule which would govern the exercise of
inherent jurisdiction. No legislative enactment dealing with procedure can provide
for all cases that may possibly arise. Courts, therefore, have inherent powers
apart from express provisions of law which are necessary for proper discharge of
functions and duties imposed upon them by law.
That is the doctrine which
finds expression in the section which merely recognizes and preserves inherent
powers of the High Courts. All courts, whether civil or criminal, possess in the
absence of any express provision, as inherent in their constitution, all such
powers as are necessary to do the right and to undo a wrong in course of administration
of justice on the principle quando lex aliquid alique concedit, conceditur et id
sine quo res ipsa esse non potest (when the law gives a person anything, it gives
him that without which it cannot exist). While exercising powers under the
section, the Court does not function as a court of appeal or revision. Inherent
jurisdiction under the section though wide has to be exercised sparingly, carefully
and with caution and only when such exercise is justified by the tests
specifically laid down in the section itself. It is to be exercised ex debito justitiae
to do real and substantial justice for the administration of which alone courts
exist. Authority of the court exists for advancement of justice and if any
attempt is made to abuse that authority so as to produce injustice, the court
has power to prevent such abuse.
It would be an abuse
of the process of the court to allow any action which would result in injustice
and prevent promotion of justice. In exercise of the powers court would be justified
to quash any proceeding if it finds that initiation or continuance of it amounts
to abuse of the process of court or quashing of these proceedings would otherwise
serve the ends of justice. When no offence is disclosed by the complaint, the
court 3 may examine the question of fact. When a complaint is sought to be quashed,
it is permissible to look into the materials to assess what the complainant has
alleged and whether any offence is made out even if the allegations are
accepted in toto.
68.
This
court in Zandu Pharmaceutical Works Ltd. & Others v. Mohd. Sharaful Haque
& Another (2005) 1 SCC 122, observed thus:- "It would be an abuse of
process of the court to allow any action which would result in injustice and
prevent promotion of justice. In exercise of the powers, court would be justified
to quash any proceeding if it finds that initiation/ continuance of it amounts to
abuse of the process of court or quashing of these proceedings would otherwise serve
the ends of justice. When no offence is disclosed by the complaint, the court may
examine the question of fact. When a complaint is sought to be quashed, it is
permissible to look into the materials to assess what the complainant has alleged
and whether any offence is made out even if the allegations are accepted in
toto."
69.
In
Devendra and Others v. State of Uttar Pradesh and Another (2009) 7 SCC 495,
this court observed as under:- "There is no dispute with regard to the aforementioned
propositions of law. However, it is now well settled that the High Court ordinarily
would exercise its jurisdiction under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure
if the allegations made in the first information report, even if given face value
and taken to be correct in their entirety, do not make out any offence. When the
allegations made in the first information report or the evidences collected
during investigation do not satisfy the ingredients of an offence, the superior
courts would not encourage harassment of a person in a criminal court for 3 nothing."
70.
In
State of A.P. v. Gourishetty Mahesh and Others 2010 (11) SCC 226, this court
observed that the power under section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure is
vide and they require care and caution in its exercise. The interference must
be on sound principle and the inherent power should not be exercised to stifle the
legitimate prosecution. The court further observed that if the allegations set
out in the complaint do not constitute the offence of which cognizance has been
taken by the Magistrate, it is up to the High Court to quash the same in exercise
of its inherent power under section 482 of the Code.
71.
In
the light of the settled legal position, in our considered opinion, the High Court
was not justified in rejecting the petition filed by the appellants under Section
482 of the Cr.P.C. for quashing the charges under Section 306 I.P.C. against
them. The High Court ought to have quashed the proceedings so that the appellants
who were not remotely connected with the offence under Section 306 I.P.C. should
not have been compelled to face the rigmaroles of a criminal trial.
72.
As
a result, the charges under Section 306 I.P.C. against the 3 appellants are
quashed.
73.
Consequently,
the impugned judgment is set aside and the appeal arising out of Special Leave Petition
(Crl.) No.2687 of 2010 filed by the appellants is allowed and disposed of. Crl.Appeal
No. 611 of 2011 (arising out of SLP Crl.) No.2550/2010)
74.
In
view of the decision in Criminal Appeal arising out of Special Leave Petition (Crl.)
No.2687 of 2010, this appeal is also allowed and disposed of.
...........................................J
(DALVEER BHANDARI)
...........................................J
(SURINDER SINGH NIJJAR)
New
Delhi;
March
1, 2011
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