Abdul Gani vs State of Uttaranchal and Others

J.C.S. Rawat, J.—The petition u/s 482 Code of Criminal Procedure has been filed for setting aside the impugned order dated 11-9-2003 passed by the Sessions Judge, Haridwar in criminal revision No. 98/2002. It was further prayed to uphold the summoning order dated 23-1-2002 passed by the Judicial Magistrate, Roorkee in criminal case No. 852/2001.

Brief facts of the case are that on 10-2-1997 at about 11:30 p.m. an FIR was lodged at police station Laksar, District Dehradun by one-Roda, Chowkidar of the village Nagla Khurd alleging therein that the brother of the Applicant Akbar @ Madu was trying to extort the money illegally from one Gani on the same day at about 5:30 p.m. It was further alleged that Akbar @ Madu armed with a country made pistol came to the house of Ghulam Rasool and fired at Gulam Rasool and other persons. The villagers chased Akbar @ Madu and apprehended him by using necessary force by which Akbar sustained the injuries. The villagers tried to save him and while bringing him to hospital he succumbed to his injuries. On the basis of the written report, the case was registered as case crime No. 20/1997 under Sections 385/307 I.P.C. The police investigated the matter and submitted the final report on 15-2-1997. Feeling aggrieved by the final report, the Applicant filed a protest petition before the Magistrate. But, the Magistrate rejected the same and accepted the final report vide its order dated 13-05-1936. Feeling aggrieved by the said order, the Applicant preferred a revision before the 1st Addl. Sessions Judge, Haridwar. The 1st Addl. Sessions Judge remanded back the matter and directed the Magistrate to pass a reasoned order after going through the statements recorded under Sections 200 and 202 Code of Criminal Procedure, postmortem report, panchayatnama and other submission of the protest petition. Thereafter, the Magistrate rejected the final report and took cognizance vide order dated 23-01-2002.

Feeling aggrieved by the said order, the Respondent Nos. 2 and 3 (Gani and Abbas) preferred a revision before the Sessions Judge. On 11-9-2003 the Sessions Judge has allowed the revision and set aside the order dated 23-01-2002 by which the Magistrate has rejected the final report. Feeling aggrieved by the order dated 11-9-2003, the present petition has been filed.

Heard Sri Vivek Shukla, learned Counsel for the Applicant and Sri Rajeev Mohan learned A.G.A. None appeared for the Respondent Nos. 2 and 3 despite service.

It is well settled position of law that when the final report is submitted before the Magistrate, the Magistrate can either to summon the accused on the basis of the investigation report or to accept the final report. Before taking cognizance on the basis of the final report, the Magistrate must have satisfied himself that there is sufficient evidence against the accused. The learned Magistrate has another option, if he feels that if he requires further evidence it can be taken up as a complaint case, the court can proceed under Sections 200 and 202 Code of Criminal Procedure. Instead of going through the statement recorded u/s 161 Code of Criminal Procedure, the Magistrate decided to treat the protest petition as a compliant case. The Magistrate took cognizance after going through the judgment of the Sessions Judge. It is pertinent to mention here that while taking cognizance the Magistrate had not to examine the prosecution evidence meticulously. The Magistrate had to see whether there is a prima facie case against the accused or not. He has to satisfy himself that whether the witnesses are genuine or not. The Magistrate or the revisional court has no power to assess the evidence as if they are sitting as a trial court. It is not required for the learned Magistrate and the revisional court that they will discuss the evidence as they are concluding a trial and after evaluation of the evidence, recording the conviction and acquittal.

The learned Sessions Judge has entered into the controversy and has weighed the evidence as if he is sitting as a trial judge. The 1st Addl. Sessions Judge has also assessed the evidence meticulously and he has taken the aspect as to whether it is a case of self-defence or not. The Magistrate took cognizance on the basis of the order passed by the 1st Addl. Sessions Judge and the Magistrate was influenced with the order of the 1st Addl. Sessions Judge. The 1st Addl. Sessions Judge has observed that the theory of self-defence was not in accordance with law. Though this power does not vest with the 1st Addl. Sessions Judge. In view of the foregoing discussion, it would be just and proper to direct the court below to examine the matter afresh and take its own decision with regard to the cognizance without influencing the order of the revisional court.

The impugned order dated 11-9-2003 passed by the Sessions Judge, Haridwar in criminal revision No. 98/2002 and the summoning order dated 23-1-2002 passed by the Judicial Magistrate, Roorkee in criminal case No. 852/2001 are set aside. Therefore, the matter is remanded back to the Magistrate. The Magistrate is directed to decide the matter afresh without influencing the order of the revisional courts.

The petition is disposed of accordingly.