A.E.Rani Vs. V.S.R.Sarma & Ors.
EmailAppeal: Criminal Appeal No.092 Of 1994
(Arising out of S.L.P. (Crl. No.149/94 )
(Arising out of S.L.P. (Crl. No.149/94 )
Petitioner: A.E.Rani
Respondent: V.S.R.Sarma & Ors.
Apeal: Criminal Appeal No.092 Of 1994
(Arising out of S.L.P. (Crl. No.149/94 )
(Arising out of S.L.P. (Crl. No.149/94 )
Judges: S.C. AGRAWAL & G.N. RAY , JJ.
Date of Judgment: Dec 14, 1994
Head Note:
CRIMINAL LAW
Indian Penal Code 1860:
Section 395 read with Code of Criminal Procedure, Section 173, 156(3), 190, 200, 202 , 482. Held that High Court has proceeded on an erroneous assumption and quashed the case ignoring the fact that magistrate had taken cognizance on re- exami-nation of complainant and her witnesses – Further held that the complaint is not liable to he quashed in limine by treating it stale or having been filed at belated stage – Held further that the complaint is not an abuse of the process of law and the Magistrate is directed to process with complaint expeditiously.
Held:
We are, however, unable to accept the submissions made by the learned counsel for the respondents. In our view, Mr. Krishnamani is justified in contending that the question of a civil dispute regarding the claim of share in immovable property has nothing to do for consideration of the complaint made by the appellant about forcible removal of movable articles belonging to the husband of the appellant. It appears to us that the learned magistrate, merely on the basis of the complaint did not take cognizance of the witnesses and consideration of the evidence. After examination of the witnesses and consideration of the evidence, such cognizance has been taken by the learned Metropolitan Magistrate. The High Court has proceeded on an erroneous assumption that on the basis of old depositions, the learned Magistrate took cognizance of the complaint and registered the case for the second times. The learned Magistrate, as a matter or fact, has taken such cognizance on
re-examination of the complainant and her witnesses. (Para 11)
re-examination of the complainant and her witnesses. (Para 11)
It appears to us that the appellant previously made complaint against the respondents by alleging that they forcibly took away valuable articles belonging to her husband and herself. When the police submitted a final report, the appellant has again filed a complaint before the learned Metropolitan Magistrate XIth court for initiating criminal case. In the aforesaid facts, we are not inclined to hold that on the score of lodging complaint at a belated stage, the complaint is liable to be quashed in limine by treating it stale. We may indicate here that the application for discharging the respondents on the ground of delay was dismissed by the learned Magistrate. In the aforesaid facts, it cannot reasonably be contended that the same is an abuse of the process of law and for ends of justice, such complaint is required to be quashed. Even, the High Court has not come to such finding. We, therefor, allow this appeal, set aside the impugned orders of the High Court. (Paras 12 & 13)
JUDGEMENT:
G.N.RAY. J.:
1. Leave granted. Heard learned counsel for the parties.
2. This appeal is directed against the judgment of the Andhra Pradesh High Court dated October 14,1993 in Crl.M.P. No.1572 of 1993. By the aforesaid order, the Andhra Pradesh High Court, in exercise of the power under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, quashed the proceedings issued in Cri.M.P. No.1626 of 1993 before the Metropolitan Magistrate XIth Court Secunderabad.
3. The relevant facts of the case of the appellant are that the appellant was married to one Sri V.Raja Rao under the Special Marriage Act on March 18.1983 and the appellant and her husband lived together upto November 16,1983. Thereafter, the husband of the appellant went to Saudi Arabia and was working there. He returned in February 1986, but on the ill-advice of the respondents, the husband’s attitude towards the appellant changed and the said husband started consuming liquor heavily. The husband of the appellant thereafter went to Dubai and returned to India some time in September, 1986 and after a short stay for about seven days, he again left for Saudi Arabia and returned to India in January,1989. The husband of the appellant on every occasion of his return from the Gulf countries brought valuable articles including house hold items and ornaments. The respondents used to take away most of those items from the petitioner’s husband forcibly. On November 15 1989 the appellant’s husband attempted to commit suicide and ultimately died on November 19,1989. After the death of the husband of the appellant, the respondents took away all the articles belonging to the appellant and her husband by breaking open the lock of the door. The appellant filed a complaint on June 12, 1990 under Section 200 of the Code of Criminal Procedure in the XIth Court of Metropolitan Magistrate Secunderabad. The said complaint was lodged under Section 395 I.P.C. and also under Section 6 of the Dowry Act against 6 persons including the respondents. The learned Metropolitan Magistrate XIth Court forwarded the said complaint for investigation and report by the police under Section 156 (3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
4. On such direction the Station House Officer, Police, Station, Bowenoally, Secunderabad, registered F.I.R. No. 106 of 1990 on June 18,1990 and commenced investigation. The police conducted a search at the residences of Sri V.Chalabathy Rao, father of the appellant’s husband and Smt. B.Sarojini Devi and sized certain articles found in their houses. Another search was conducted by the police at the residence of Sri V. Srihari, but no article was seized. The police, however, submitted a final report before the learned Metropolitan Magistrate XIth Court to the effect that no offence under Section 395 I.P.C. had been committed and the articles alleged in the complaint were not the dowry articles. On February 11,1991, the appellant filed a complaint under Section 173 and Section 156(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure read with Section 190 of the Code of Criminal Procedure contending that the police had not properly investigated the case. The learned Metropolitan Magistrate ordered to post the said complaint for enquiry under Section 202 Cr.P.C. The appellant’s case is that during the course of investigation, it was revealed that the husband of the petitioner, while working at Saudi Arabia had purchased various articles during the span of six years. Because of the ill-treatment and harassment of the appellant in the hands of respondents, the husband of the petitioner became frustrated and attempted to commit suicide and ultimately died. After the death of the husband, the respondent broke open the lock and took away all the valuable articles mentioned in the complaint petition from the house where thee appellant used to live with the deceased husband. The learned Metropolitan Magistrate on the basis of the facts raveled from the inves-tigation, prima facie found that A-1 to A-6 have committed offence under Section 395 I.P.C. Accordingly, a criminal case was ordered to be registered.
5. Such order was challenged by the appellant before the learned Metropolitan Sessions Judge. On May 4 1992, the Additional Metropolitan Session Judge IInd Court, set aside the order passed by the Metropolitan Magistrate XIth Court, by allowing the Criminal Revision Petition. The learned Additional Sessions Judge directed that the witnesses cited by the appellant should be examined and thereafter or taking into consideration of the depositions, the learned Magistrate would proceed further.
6. On May 4, 1993 the respondents filed an application before the learned Metropolitan Magistrate XIth Court inter alia praying for discharging the respondents alleging enormous delay in registering the complaint. Such application was, however, dismissed by the learned Metropolitan Magistrate XIth Court on June 28,1993.
7. The learned Metropolitan Magistrate XIth Court thereafter re-examined the complaint and her witnesses and after taking into consideration of such deposition, he again registered the case under Section 360.P.C. against accused Nos. A-2 to A-4.
8. The respondents moved the High Court under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code for quashing the proceedings issued in Criminal Misc. Petition No. 1626 of 1993 registering the complaint filed by the appellant. The High Court by the impugned Judgment dated October 14,1993, allowed the said application under Section 482 code of Criminal Procedure in Crl. Misc. Petition No. 1572 of 1993 and quashed the said criminal proceedings arising out of the complaint made by the appellant before the learned Metropolitan Magistrate XIth Court.
9. Mr. Krishnamani, learned senior advocate appearing for the appellant has contended that the High Court has quashed the said criminal proceedings entirely on erroneous premises inasmuch as the High Court wrongly assumed that though, the order of the learned Magistrate taking cognizance of the complaint and registering the same without examining all the witnesses of the complainant was set aside and he was directed to consider the question of registering the case after examination of the prosecution witnesses, the learned Magistrate again took cognizance of the complaint and registered the same on consideration of the earlier depositions. Such finding is factually erroneous. Mr. Krishnamani has submitted that after the matter was sent back to the learned Metropolitan Magistrate, the complainant and the witnesses were examined and on consideration of such evidence the complaint was registered by the learned Metropolitan Magistrate. Mr. Krishnamani has also submitted that for quashing the said criminal proceedings, the High Court has considered irrelevant facts. One of the reasons indicated by the High Court for quashing the criminal case is that the appellant had issued a notice demanding partition of properties to which the respondents replied by denying the appellant’s right for partition. The high Court has held that even if the allegations of the appellant are held to be true., the dispute is of a civil nature and there was no requisite mensrea for committing an offence under Section 389 I.P.C. Mr. Krishnamani has submitted that the dispute relating to claim for partition of the immovable properties held by the such dispute has nothing to do with the complaint made by the appellant about forcible taking away the movables belonging to the husband and the appellant by breaking open the lock of the room in her absence, after the death of the husband. The learned counsel has submitted that such consideration of the dispute regarding claim for partition of immovable properties was wholly extraneous to the consideration of maintainability the criminal case for the offences as alleged by the complainant.
10. The learned counsel for the respondent has however, submitted that the respondents are respectable person held esteem in the society. The said complaint was made at a belated stage only for the purpose of maligning them and to create pressure on them for some material gain. He has submitted that the appellant may seek declaration of her alleged share as an alleged heir of her husband in a civil court but institution of a false complaint of forcibly taking away valuable articles belonging to her and her husband in order to bring disrepute to the respondents, is an abuse of the process of Court and the High Court is justified in quashing such false criminal case instituted with malice and in gross abuse of the judicial process. As such false criminal case instituted with malice and in gross abuse of the Judicial process. As such criminal proceeding is liable to be quashed for ends of justice even if some of the findings of the High Court may be open to criticism, no interference against the judgment is called for by this court.
11. We are, however, unable to accept the submissions made by the learned counsel for the respondents. In our view, Mr. Krishnamani is justified in contending that the question of a civil dispute regarding the claim of share in immovable property has nothing to do for consideration of the complaint made by the appellant about forcible removal of movable articles belonging to the husband of the appellant. It appears to us that the learned magistrate, merely on the basis of the complaint did not take cognizance of the witnesses and consideration of the evidence. After examination of the witnesses and consideration of the evidence, such cognizance has been taken by the learned Metropolitan Magistrate. The High Court has proceeded on an erroneous assumption that on the basis of old depositions, the learned Magistrate took cognizance of the complaint and registered the case for the second times. The learned Magistrate, as a matter or fact, has taken such cognizance on re-examination of the complainant and her witnesses.
12. The submission of learned counsel for the respondents that the complaint is also liable to be quashed as the same was made at a belated stage and the same has resulted in the abuse of the process of law should not be accepted. It appears to us that the appellant previously made complaint against the respondents by alleging that they forcibly took away valuable articles belonging to her husband and herself. When the police submitted a final report, the appellant has again filed a complaint before the learned Metropolitan Magistrate XIth court for initiating criminal case. In the aforesaid facts, we are not inclined to hold that on the score of lodging complaint at a belated stage, the complaint is liable to be quashed in limine by treating it stale. We may indicate here that the application for discharging the respondents on the ground of delay was dismissed by the learned Magistrate. It is not necessary at this stage to consider whether the complaint made by the appellant is likely to be upheld on trial. The learned Magistrate after examining the appellant and her witnesses has become prima facie satisfied about the complainant’s case and has registered the same for proceeding further in accordance with law. In the aforesaid facts, it cannot reasonably be contended that the same is an abuse of the process of law and for ends of justice, such complaint is required to be quashed. Even, the High Court has not come to such finding.
13. We, therefor, allow this appeal, set aside the impugned orders of the High Court. The learned Metropolitan Magistrate is directed to proceed with the criminal case and conclude the same as expeditiously as practicable.
1. Leave granted. Heard learned counsel for the parties.
2. This appeal is directed against the judgment of the Andhra Pradesh High Court dated October 14,1993 in Crl.M.P. No.1572 of 1993. By the aforesaid order, the Andhra Pradesh High Court, in exercise of the power under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, quashed the proceedings issued in Cri.M.P. No.1626 of 1993 before the Metropolitan Magistrate XIth Court Secunderabad.
3. The relevant facts of the case of the appellant are that the appellant was married to one Sri V.Raja Rao under the Special Marriage Act on March 18.1983 and the appellant and her husband lived together upto November 16,1983. Thereafter, the husband of the appellant went to Saudi Arabia and was working there. He returned in February 1986, but on the ill-advice of the respondents, the husband’s attitude towards the appellant changed and the said husband started consuming liquor heavily. The husband of the appellant thereafter went to Dubai and returned to India some time in September, 1986 and after a short stay for about seven days, he again left for Saudi Arabia and returned to India in January,1989. The husband of the appellant on every occasion of his return from the Gulf countries brought valuable articles including house hold items and ornaments. The respondents used to take away most of those items from the petitioner’s husband forcibly. On November 15 1989 the appellant’s husband attempted to commit suicide and ultimately died on November 19,1989. After the death of the husband of the appellant, the respondents took away all the articles belonging to the appellant and her husband by breaking open the lock of the door. The appellant filed a complaint on June 12, 1990 under Section 200 of the Code of Criminal Procedure in the XIth Court of Metropolitan Magistrate Secunderabad. The said complaint was lodged under Section 395 I.P.C. and also under Section 6 of the Dowry Act against 6 persons including the respondents. The learned Metropolitan Magistrate XIth Court forwarded the said complaint for investigation and report by the police under Section 156 (3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
4. On such direction the Station House Officer, Police, Station, Bowenoally, Secunderabad, registered F.I.R. No. 106 of 1990 on June 18,1990 and commenced investigation. The police conducted a search at the residences of Sri V.Chalabathy Rao, father of the appellant’s husband and Smt. B.Sarojini Devi and sized certain articles found in their houses. Another search was conducted by the police at the residence of Sri V. Srihari, but no article was seized. The police, however, submitted a final report before the learned Metropolitan Magistrate XIth Court to the effect that no offence under Section 395 I.P.C. had been committed and the articles alleged in the complaint were not the dowry articles. On February 11,1991, the appellant filed a complaint under Section 173 and Section 156(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure read with Section 190 of the Code of Criminal Procedure contending that the police had not properly investigated the case. The learned Metropolitan Magistrate ordered to post the said complaint for enquiry under Section 202 Cr.P.C. The appellant’s case is that during the course of investigation, it was revealed that the husband of the petitioner, while working at Saudi Arabia had purchased various articles during the span of six years. Because of the ill-treatment and harassment of the appellant in the hands of respondents, the husband of the petitioner became frustrated and attempted to commit suicide and ultimately died. After the death of the husband, the respondent broke open the lock and took away all the valuable articles mentioned in the complaint petition from the house where thee appellant used to live with the deceased husband. The learned Metropolitan Magistrate on the basis of the facts raveled from the inves-tigation, prima facie found that A-1 to A-6 have committed offence under Section 395 I.P.C. Accordingly, a criminal case was ordered to be registered.
5. Such order was challenged by the appellant before the learned Metropolitan Sessions Judge. On May 4 1992, the Additional Metropolitan Session Judge IInd Court, set aside the order passed by the Metropolitan Magistrate XIth Court, by allowing the Criminal Revision Petition. The learned Additional Sessions Judge directed that the witnesses cited by the appellant should be examined and thereafter or taking into consideration of the depositions, the learned Magistrate would proceed further.
6. On May 4, 1993 the respondents filed an application before the learned Metropolitan Magistrate XIth Court inter alia praying for discharging the respondents alleging enormous delay in registering the complaint. Such application was, however, dismissed by the learned Metropolitan Magistrate XIth Court on June 28,1993.
7. The learned Metropolitan Magistrate XIth Court thereafter re-examined the complaint and her witnesses and after taking into consideration of such deposition, he again registered the case under Section 360.P.C. against accused Nos. A-2 to A-4.
8. The respondents moved the High Court under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code for quashing the proceedings issued in Criminal Misc. Petition No. 1626 of 1993 registering the complaint filed by the appellant. The High Court by the impugned Judgment dated October 14,1993, allowed the said application under Section 482 code of Criminal Procedure in Crl. Misc. Petition No. 1572 of 1993 and quashed the said criminal proceedings arising out of the complaint made by the appellant before the learned Metropolitan Magistrate XIth Court.
9. Mr. Krishnamani, learned senior advocate appearing for the appellant has contended that the High Court has quashed the said criminal proceedings entirely on erroneous premises inasmuch as the High Court wrongly assumed that though, the order of the learned Magistrate taking cognizance of the complaint and registering the same without examining all the witnesses of the complainant was set aside and he was directed to consider the question of registering the case after examination of the prosecution witnesses, the learned Magistrate again took cognizance of the complaint and registered the same on consideration of the earlier depositions. Such finding is factually erroneous. Mr. Krishnamani has submitted that after the matter was sent back to the learned Metropolitan Magistrate, the complainant and the witnesses were examined and on consideration of such evidence the complaint was registered by the learned Metropolitan Magistrate. Mr. Krishnamani has also submitted that for quashing the said criminal proceedings, the High Court has considered irrelevant facts. One of the reasons indicated by the High Court for quashing the criminal case is that the appellant had issued a notice demanding partition of properties to which the respondents replied by denying the appellant’s right for partition. The high Court has held that even if the allegations of the appellant are held to be true., the dispute is of a civil nature and there was no requisite mensrea for committing an offence under Section 389 I.P.C. Mr. Krishnamani has submitted that the dispute relating to claim for partition of the immovable properties held by the such dispute has nothing to do with the complaint made by the appellant about forcible taking away the movables belonging to the husband and the appellant by breaking open the lock of the room in her absence, after the death of the husband. The learned counsel has submitted that such consideration of the dispute regarding claim for partition of immovable properties was wholly extraneous to the consideration of maintainability the criminal case for the offences as alleged by the complainant.
10. The learned counsel for the respondent has however, submitted that the respondents are respectable person held esteem in the society. The said complaint was made at a belated stage only for the purpose of maligning them and to create pressure on them for some material gain. He has submitted that the appellant may seek declaration of her alleged share as an alleged heir of her husband in a civil court but institution of a false complaint of forcibly taking away valuable articles belonging to her and her husband in order to bring disrepute to the respondents, is an abuse of the process of Court and the High Court is justified in quashing such false criminal case instituted with malice and in gross abuse of the judicial process. As such false criminal case instituted with malice and in gross abuse of the Judicial process. As such criminal proceeding is liable to be quashed for ends of justice even if some of the findings of the High Court may be open to criticism, no interference against the judgment is called for by this court.
11. We are, however, unable to accept the submissions made by the learned counsel for the respondents. In our view, Mr. Krishnamani is justified in contending that the question of a civil dispute regarding the claim of share in immovable property has nothing to do for consideration of the complaint made by the appellant about forcible removal of movable articles belonging to the husband of the appellant. It appears to us that the learned magistrate, merely on the basis of the complaint did not take cognizance of the witnesses and consideration of the evidence. After examination of the witnesses and consideration of the evidence, such cognizance has been taken by the learned Metropolitan Magistrate. The High Court has proceeded on an erroneous assumption that on the basis of old depositions, the learned Magistrate took cognizance of the complaint and registered the case for the second times. The learned Magistrate, as a matter or fact, has taken such cognizance on re-examination of the complainant and her witnesses.
12. The submission of learned counsel for the respondents that the complaint is also liable to be quashed as the same was made at a belated stage and the same has resulted in the abuse of the process of law should not be accepted. It appears to us that the appellant previously made complaint against the respondents by alleging that they forcibly took away valuable articles belonging to her husband and herself. When the police submitted a final report, the appellant has again filed a complaint before the learned Metropolitan Magistrate XIth court for initiating criminal case. In the aforesaid facts, we are not inclined to hold that on the score of lodging complaint at a belated stage, the complaint is liable to be quashed in limine by treating it stale. We may indicate here that the application for discharging the respondents on the ground of delay was dismissed by the learned Magistrate. It is not necessary at this stage to consider whether the complaint made by the appellant is likely to be upheld on trial. The learned Magistrate after examining the appellant and her witnesses has become prima facie satisfied about the complainant’s case and has registered the same for proceeding further in accordance with law. In the aforesaid facts, it cannot reasonably be contended that the same is an abuse of the process of law and for ends of justice, such complaint is required to be quashed. Even, the High Court has not come to such finding.
13. We, therefor, allow this appeal, set aside the impugned orders of the High Court. The learned Metropolitan Magistrate is directed to proceed with the criminal case and conclude the same as expeditiously as practicable.
