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Judgment
Holmood and Imam, JJ.—This Rule must be made absolute on the ground on which it was issued. We are surprised to find that the learned Sub-divisional Officer should so misapprehend the provision of the law u/s 263, Criminal Procedure Code. That section does not excuse the Magistrate from hearing the evidence of all witnesses. It excuses him from recording the evidence of any of the witnesses. But it is an elementary point that recording evidence is not the same as hearing evidence. In all criminal, cases if the accused denies the charge, the complainant and such witnesses as he may produce must be examined, and the case must be decided upon the effect of their evidence. The order of acquittal is, therefore, clearly without jurisdiction having been made without evidence having been heard.
The order of the lower Court is set aside, and there will be a re-trial before any Magistrate the District Magistrate may direct.