Patna High Court
Mahatma Pandey vs The State Of Bihar & Ors on 21 August, 2018
Author: Ashwani Kumar Singh
Bench: Ashwani Kumar Singh
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Criminal Miscellaneous No.11018 of 2018
Arising Out of PS.Case No. -47 Year- 1996 Thana -VIJAYPUR District- GOPALGANJ
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Mahatma Pandey, S/o Late Indrashan Pandey, Resident of Village- Sudamachak
(Durga Mandir), P.S.- Vijayipur, District- Gopalganj.
.... .... Petitioner
Versus
1. The State of Bihar.
2. Ramadhar Pandey, S/o Jata Shankar Pandey,
3. Rakesh Pandey, S/o Ramadhar Pandey,
4. Budhdeo Gond, S/o Bhigurashan Gond,
5. Shiv Nath Gond, S/o Shyambahal Gond,
All resident of Village- Sudama Chak, P.S.- Vijayipur, Dist- Gopalganj.
.... .... Opposite Parties
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Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Uday Pratap Singh, Advocate
For the Opposite Party/s : Mr. Jharkhandi Upadhyay, APP
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CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ASHWANI KUMAR SINGH
ORAL JUDGMENT
Date: 21-08-2018
Defects pointed out by the Registry are ignored.
2. This application under Section 482 of the Code of
Criminal Procedure has been filed by the petitioner for quashing the
order dated 15.11.2017 passed by the Fast Track Court-II,
Gopalganj in Session Trial No.65 of 1998 arising out of Vijayipur
P.S. Case No.47 of 1996 whereby and whereunder he has rejected
the application filed under Section 311 of the Code of Criminal
Patna High Court Cr.M isc. No.11018 of 2018 dt.21-08-2018
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Procedure (for short 'CrPC').
3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that
the order impugned has been passed in an illegal manner. According
to him, investigating officer of the case is a material witness and his
examination was essential for the just decision in the case. He
pleaded that though notices were issued to the investigation officer
for getting evidence, but for one reason or the other, he could not be
examined. He argued that the non-examination of the investigating
officer will prejudice the case of the prosecution.
4. On the other hand, learned counsel for the State
submitted that there is no illegality in the order impugned. The case
is quite old and despite lapse of about 22 years from the date of
institution of the case, the investigating officer did not appear for
his evidence and thus, the Court has rightly rejected the prayer
made by the petitioner for summoning the investigating officer of
the case.
5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and
carefully perused the record.
6. The petitioner is informant of Vijayipur P.S. Case
No.47 of 1996 registered for the offences punishable under Sections
323, 324 and 435 of the Indian Penal Code. On completion of
investigation, charge-sheet was submitted in the court under
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Sections 323 and 436 of the Indian Penal Code vide Charge-sheet
No.43 of 1996 dated 31.08.1996 and cognizance was also taken of
the said offences. Since the offence punishable under Section 436 of
the Indian Penal Code is triable by the Court of Session, the case
was committed to the court of session on 04.09.2000 by the court of
Magistrate. After framing of charges under Sections 436 and 323 of
the Indian Penal Code, the first witness was examined on
22.07.2002in the Sessions Court and the last witness was examined on 01.04.2013. Though, summonses were issued to the investigating officer of the case, he failed to appear before the court. Under such circumstance, vide order dated 25.04.2013, the prosecution evidence was closed and statements of the accused persons were recorded. Thereafter, evidence on behalf of the defence was closed on 21.06.2013. On 06.10.2017, arguments were also advanced on behalf of the parties. Thereafter, when the case was fixed for judgment, the informant of the case filed an application for summoning the investigating officer of the case, which has been rejected by the court below vide impugned order dated 15.11.2017.
7. The power conferred under Section 311 of the Cr.P.C. in a court is discretionary one. The discretionary power has to be exercised not only from the point of view of the prosecution or the accused but also from the point of view of the society. While Patna High Court Cr.M isc. No.11018 of 2018 dt.21-08-2018 4/4 exercising such power, the court has to balance several factors which may be peculiar in each case. One of the factors is right to speedy trial. The accused in the present case is facing trial since more than two decades. The prosecution has not been able to examine the investigating officer and at a belated stage when the arguments were over and the case was fixed for judgment, the application under Section 311 Cr.P.C. was filed by the petitioner. Even at the time of filing the application, the investigating officer was not in attendance. Under such circumstances, if the court below has rejected the application, no fault can be found with the impugned order.
8. Resultantly, the application is dismissed.
(Ashwani Kumar Singh, J.) Sanjeet/-
AFR/NAFR NAFR CAV DATE NA Uploading Date 28.08.2018 Transmission 28.08.2018 Date