Rajasthan High Court - Jaipur
Manoj S/O Shri Kishanlal vs State Of Rajasthan on 4 November, 2020
(1 of 7) [CRLR-976/2020]
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN
BENCH AT JAIPUR
S.B. Criminal Revision Petition No. 976/2020
Manoj S/o Shri Kishanlal, R/o Sohaila Tehsil Peeplu Through
Power Of Attorney Holder Mustkim Khan S/o Alladin R/o Talab
Gaav Tehsil Hindoli Distt. Bundi Raj.
----Petitioner
Versus
State Of Rajasthan, Through P.p.
----Respondent
AND Other similar matters as per Schedule-A appended to this order This Order shall govern all the cases the particulars of which have been given in Schedule-A appended to this order.
For Petitioner(s) : Mr. Praveen Kumar Jain, Mr. Sumit Khandelwal, Mr. Moti lal Sharma, Mr. Sandeep Jain, Mr. Krishan Kant Sharma, Mr. Mahesh Kumar Tiwari, Mr. Dheeraj Singhal, Mr. Tanveer Ahamad, Ms. Chhavi Chaturvedi For Respondent(s) : Mr. F.R.Meena, PP HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJEEV PRAKASH SHARMA Order 04/11/2020 All these petitions have been filed by the petitioners praying for release of Dumper/Truck/Trailer, which were seized, while doing illegal mining. The details of the concerned vehicle are being (Downloaded on 11/11/2020 at 09:33:29 PM) (2 of 7) [CRLR-976/2020] shown in the annexed Schedule-"A" to this order as per their respective petitions.
The release of vehicle has been examined at length by the Supreme Court in the case of Sunderbhai Ambalal Desai & Ors.
Versus State of Gujarat: (2002) 10 SCC 283, which has been followed by this Court in Asharam Versus State of Rajasthan: S.B. Criminal Misc. Petition No.2723/2019 along with connected cases decided on 3.2.2020 and Nathulal Versus State of Rajasthan: S.B. Criminal Misc. Petition No.2755/2020 decided on 01.10.2020. In the case of Asharam (supra), the Court has held as under:
"11. In the aforesaid background, this Court finds that while it is true that a vehicle should not be allowed to get rusted in Police Station and the same ought to be released for its better maintenance and proper use. Several suggestions were given out by the Officers of the Transport Department as well as by the Mining Department for laying down the conditions before release of the seized tractors, trolleys and vehicles being used for illegal mining activities.
12. In Harun Versus State of Rajasthan: D.B. Criminal Misc. Petition No.76/2014 decided on 23.7.2015 along with connected matters by the Division Bench of this Court wherein it has been held that if a vehicle is found to be involved in committing violation of the Rajasthan Forest Act, 1953 and carrying forest produce, the same cannot be released during the pendency of trial on supurdgi to the registered owner of the vehicle, if proceedings of confiscation have already been initiated. Relying upon the law laid down in Harun (supra), a Coordinate Bench of this Court in Shoukat Khan Versus State of Rajasthan: S.B. Criminal Misc. (Petition) No.6307/2016, decided on (Downloaded on 11/11/2020 at 09:33:29 PM) (3 of 7) [CRLR-976/2020] 22.2.2017 has held that supurdginama can be given, if proceedings for confiscation have been initiated. In Laxman Versus State of Rajasthan: D.B. Criminal Misc. Petition No.60/2018 decided on 6.4.2018 along with connected matters by the Division Bench where a reference was made to the Division Bench on account of different opinion relating to the power of release of vehicles wherein the Division Bench has held as under:
"Most of the judgments cited by learned counsel appearing from the side of the petitioners have ruled in favour of the jurisdiction of the Magistrate to release the vehicles under the provisions of Section 451 and/or 457 of the Cr.P.C. A discordant note has however been sounded by Single Bench judgment in Ramswaroop's case, which was later followed in Mala Ram's, supra. These judgments, in view of the analysis of law which we have made herein-above, do not lay down correct law. In fact, the same Single Judge, who delivered the judgment in Ramswaroop's case on 28.08.2015, in his earlier judgment dated 26.10.2012 in Muknaram Vs. State of Rajasthan - S.B. Criminal Misc. Petition No.3285/2012, had held that in a case in which offence has already been compounded by the competent authority and an amount has been imposed as compounding fees and the same has not been paid or deposited by the person concerned, for the purpose of recovery or realization of the same, a condition can be imposed by the Court while ordering release of the vehicle to pay or deposit the same and the Court can refuse to release the seized vehicle even temporarily under Section 457 Cr.P.C., if such deposit is not made. In view of the above discussion, the referred questions are answered in the terms that once the Officer of the Mining Department, who seized the vehicle, has reported such seizure to his Superior Officer and to (Downloaded on 11/11/2020 at 09:33:29 PM) (4 of 7) [CRLR-976/2020] the Magistrate having jurisdiction, he shall cease to have the power to release the vehicle, and in that event, the Magistrate having jurisdiction would be empowered to release such vehicle, with or without the condition of deposit of compounding fee."
In view thereof, the power is vested with the concerned Magistrate for release of seized vehicle.
13. Keeping in view the above, as this Court notices that in none of the cases, the Mining Department has not initiated the confiscation proceedings, it was submitted that compounding fee must be charged from the petitioners before release of the vehicle. However, this Court is of the view that the compounding fee can only be charged, if it is adjudicated that the concerned vehicle was involved in the illegal activities, which can only be when trial is completed. A presumption in this regard cannot be taken at the present stage.
14. In view thereof, the impugned orders passed by the Courts below dated 30.3.2019, 21.10.2019, 3.10.2019, 10.10.2019, 8.11.2019, 25.4.2019 and 8.4.2019 in each of the case shall stand set aside and this Court directs as under:
a) The concerned Police Station shall release the tractor and trolley to the person, who is the registered owner of the vehicle alone.
b) The release of the tractor and trolley shall be subject to the condition that the concerned owner shall get both the tractor and the trolley registered with the transport authorities and also obtain due permit within a period of one month from the date of release and deposit the copy with the concerned Police Station.
c) A personal security of an amount of Rs.1,00,000/-
to the satisfaction of the concerned Court to which the concerned Police Station is attached, shall be submitted for the purpose of release of the vehicle.
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d) The petitioners shall keep the vehicle so released intact and shall not change its identification. The petitioners shall produce the vehicle as and when trial Court requires the same for proposed identification of the case property.
e) The petitioners shall furnish the photographs of the vehicle showing its number and colour etc.
f). At the time of release, the petitioners shall also give an undertaking to the effect that vehicle shall not be used for any illegal purpose and if so found, the concerned owner shall be personally liable."
In view of the above, all these petitions are allowed and the orders passed by the Court below are quashed and set aside, however, taking into consideration that the vehicle is a dumper/truck/trailer and not tractor as in Asharam (supra), the security amount is liable to be enhanced and following directions are passed:
a) The concerned Police Station shall release the Dumper/Truck/Trailer to the person(s), who is the registered owner of the vehicle alone.
b) The release of the Dumper/Truck/Trailer shall be subject to the condition that the concerned owner shall get Dumper/Truck/Trailer registered with the Transport Authorities and also obtain due permit within a period of one month from the date of release and deposit the copy with the concerned Police Station.
c) A personal security of an amount of Rs.5,00,000/- to the satisfaction of the concerned Court to which the concerned Police Station is attached, shall be submitted for the purpose of release of the vehicle.
d) The petitioners shall keep the vehicle so released intact and shall not change its identification. The petitioners shall produce the vehicle as and when trial (Downloaded on 11/11/2020 at 09:33:29 PM) (6 of 7) [CRLR-976/2020] Court requires the same for proposed identification of the case property.
e) The petitioners shall furnish the photographs of the vehicle showing its number and colour etc.
f). At the time of release, the petitioners shall also give an undertaking to the effect that vehicle shall not be used for any illegal purpose and if so found, the concerned owner shall be personally liable.
However, it is made clear that if vehicle(s) has been confiscated under the relevant provisions of the Act, then said vehicle(s) shall not be released by the concerned Magistrate.
Keeping in view of law laid down in the case of Laxman Versus State of Rajasthan: DB Criminal Misc. Petition No.60/2018 decided on 6.4.2018.
All the pending applications also stand disposed of.
(SANJEEV PRAKASH SHARMA),J
NITIN /
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SCHEDULE - "A"
Sr. No. Item No. in Case Type Case No. Vehicle Type Vehicle
cause list Registration
dt4.11.2020 Number
1 133 CRLR 976/2020 Truck RJ 20 GB 8111
2 134 CRLR 984/2020 Dumper RJ 08 GA 4796
3 135 CRLR 982/2020 Dumper RJ 08 GB 3704
4 136 CRLR 983/2020 Dumper RJ 20 GC 1433
5 137 CRLR 985/2020 Dumper RJ 08 GB 3656
6 140 CRLR 989/2020 Truck RJ 05 GA 7516
7 152 CRLMP 4777/2020 Truck RJ 26 GA 8746
Truck RJ 08 GB 0286
8 213 CRLMA 257/2020 Dumper RJ 14 GH 1468
9 221 CRLR 926/2020 Truck RJ 14 GC 8157
10 222 CRLR 1018/2020 Truck RJ 08 GA 0255
11 230 CRLR 1213/2020 Truck RJ 21 GB 1199
12 231 CRLR 1160/2020 Truck RJ 17 GA 3969
13 232 CRLR 1161/2020 Truck RJ 19 GD 9571
14 233 CRLR 1214/2020 Truck 1 RJ 08 GA 4636
Truck 2 RJ 26 GA 2731
15 250 CRLMP 5258/2020 Truck RJ 14 GF 2256
16 249 CRLMP 5256/2020 Truck RJ 11 GB 2832
17 253 CRLMP 5270/2020 Dumper RJ 01 GB 7652
18 259 CRLMP 5282/2020 Truck RJ 08 GA 0668
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