*IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + % CRL.REV.P.No._____/2017 (to be numbered) COURT ON ITS OWN MOTION .....
... Petitioner1. DHANPAT Through : Nemo versus s/o ARJUN SINGH r/o F/539, RAJ NAGAR, DELHI2 VED PARKASH s/o ARJUN SINGH r/o F/540, RAJ NAGAR, DELHI3 SHIV CHARAN s/o BALLU RAM r/o RZF/1475, RAJ NAGAR, DELHI4 RAMJI LAL SHARMA s/o RAMPAT r/o RZF/419, RAJ NAGAR, DELHI (Address of private respondents as per the composite final report dated 25th March, 1985) 5. STATE (GOVT OF NCT DELHI) 6. SMT. SWARAN KAUR (Complainant) w/o LATE S. HARBHAJAN SINGH (address to be ascertained by the State) Through : Nemo .....
... RESPONDENTS (Regarding : SC No.11/86) Re: SC No.
Page 1 of 81 CORAM: HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE GITA MITTAL HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE ANU MALHOTRA % 1. While ORDER2903.2017 hearing Crl.A.Nos.715/2013, 753/2013, 831/2013, 851/2013, 861/2013, 1099/2013 and 710/2014 (challenging the judgment dated 30th April, 2013 in Sessions Case No.
arising out of RC242005-SIU-I/SIC- 1/CBI/ND) ld. counsels for the private parties have relied upon judgments in Sessions Case No.
dated 29th April, 1986; Sessions Case No.
dated 17th May, 1986; Sessions Case No.
dated 28th May, 1986; Sessions Case No.
dated 15th July, 1986 and Sessions Case No.
dated 4th October, 1986 shocking our judicial conscience and compelling us to invoke our jurisdiction under Section 401 of the Cr.P.C. Without opining on the merits of any of the submissions made therein or the veracity of the evidence led in SC No.
or on the legal merits of the prosecutions, trials and judgments in SC Nos.31/86, 32/86, 11/86,
and 33/86, we set out some essential facts, statutory provisions and legal principles which have compelled us to make the present order. Factual narration 2. Post the assassination of Smt. Indira Gandhi, Late Prime Minister of India, in the riots with erupted in Delhi, FIR No.4
was registered at P.S. Delhi Cantt. on 4th Re: SC No.
Page 2 of 81 November, 1984 on the basis of a statement given to the police by Smt. Baljit Kaur, daughter of Late Shri Avtar Singh.
3. Several other complaints pertaining to deaths and other offences in the Raj Nagar area of Delhi Cantt. were received during investigation of FIR No.4
and clubbed in the same FIR. These included complaints on 15th November, 1984 by Jagir Kaur (subject matter of SC No.31/86); on 18th November, 1984 by Sampuran Kaur (subject matter of SC No.32/86); on 15th November, 1984 by Swaran Kaur (subject matter of SC No.11/86); on 19th November, 1984 by Daljit Kaur (subject matter of SC No.10/86). The complaint made on 4th November, 1984 by Baljit Kaur (registered as FIR No.416/84) was the subject matter of SC No.33/86). These complaints related to murders of Sikh men and violence to their property in the riots which erupted in the Raj Nagar area (under the jurisdiction of Police Post Palam Colony, Police Station Delhi Cantt.) post the assassination on the 31st October, 1984 of the then Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi. We note that these were five out of several such complaints received at the Police Post Palam.
4. Concerned with inter alia the progress of the investigation and the cause into the large scale violence in 1984, the Government of India appointed several commissions including, inter alia Marwah Commission, 1984; Justice Ranganath Misra Commission of Enquiry, 1985; Dhillon Committee, 1985; Ahuja Committee, 1985; Kapur Mittal Re: SC No.
Page 3 of 81 Committee, 1987; Jain Banerjee Committee, 1987; Potti Rosha Committee, 1990; Jain Aggarwal Committee, 1990 and the Narula Committee, 1993 to examine different aspects of the matter.
5. Vide Notification No.441(E) dated 8th May, 2000 of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Government of India had appointed a Commission of Inquiry under the Chairmanship of Mr. Justice G.T. Nanavati with the following terms of the reference : “2. The terms of reference assigned to the Commission were as follows : (a) to inquire into the causes and course of the criminal violence and riots targeting members of the Sikh community which took place in the NCT of Delhi and other parts of the country on 31st October, 1984 and thereafter. (b) the sequence of the events leading to and all the facts relating to such violence and riots; (c) whether these heinous crimes could have been averted and whether there were any lapses or dereliction of duty in this regard on the part of any of the responsible authorities/individuals; (d) to enquire in the adequacy of the administrative measures taken to prevent and do deal with the said violence and riots; (e) to recommend measures which may be adopted to meet the ends of the injustice; (f) to consider such matters as may be found relevant in the course of the inquiry.” Re: SC No.
Page 4 of 81 6. On 9th February, 2005, the Nanavati Commission presented its report to the Union Home Minister.
7. In a discussion in the Lok Sabha on the 10th of August 2005 and the Rajya Sabha on the 11th of August 2005 regarding the report of the Justice Nanavati Commission of Inquiry into 1984 Anti-Sikh riots in Delhi, the then Prime Minister and Home Minister had given an assurance that wherever the Commission has named any specific individuals as needing further examination or re-opening of case, the government will take all possible steps to do so within the ambit of law. The assurance was thus restricted only to cases where certain individuals had been named in the report of the Justice Nanavati Commission.
8. After examination of the matter, a communication dated 24th October, 2005, (exhibited as Ex.PW8/A before the trial court trying SC2610), was issued by the then Special Secretary (H), Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India inter alia directing as follows : The matter has accordingly been examined and “2. it is observed that the Report of Justice Nanavati Commission, inter alia, contains recommendations regarding investigation/reinvestigation of the cases against (a) Shri Dharam Das Shastri, (b) Shri Jagdish Tytler, and (c) Shri Sajjan Kumar. I am enclosing a copy of the Report of Justice Nanavati Commission alongwith the relevant extracts of the Report against these three persons. Re: SC No.
Page 5 of 81 of further conducting 3. It has been decided by the Government that the work investigation/re- investigation against (a) Shri Dharam Das Shastri, (b) Shri Jagdish Tytler, and (c) Shri Sajjan Kumar as per the recommendations of the Justice Nanavati Commission should be entrusted to the CBI.” 9. The Government of India had also decided that the work of conducting the investigation/re-investigation as per the recommendations of the Justice Nanavati Commission be entrusted to the CBI. The relevant records, as available with the Ministry, were forwarded to the CBI with the direction that additional records and information required in connection with the investigation, be obtained from the Delhi Police.
10. The CBI registered the FIR No.RC24/2005-SIU-I/SIC- 1/CBI/ND and investigated the same. Chargesheet No.1/10 dated 13th January, 2001 was filed against eight accused persons, namely, Sajjan Kumar, Balwan Khokhar, Mahender Yadav Capt. Bhagmal (Retd.), Girdhari Lal, Krishan Khokhar, Maha Singh and Santosh Rani @ Janta Hawaldarni. It appears that some other accused persons, namely, Ishwar Chand Gaur @ Chand Sharabi, Dharamveer Singh Solanki, Balidan Singh and Raj Kumar @ Raja Ram had died before the trial. The case was registered as SC No.26/10.
11. By the order dated 24th May, 2010, charges were framed under different provisions of the IPC against six of the surviving accused persons, as Maha Singh and Santosh Rani @ Janta Hawaldarni had also died prior to framing of the charge. Re: SC No.
Page 6 of 81 So far as the allegations are concerned, the charges related to commission of offences committed on the 1st and 2nd of November, 1984, more specifically detailed as hereunder : S.No Date/Time Details of Incident I. II. 01.11.1984 Morning 7 am onwards 01.11.1984 1.30 – 2pm III. 01.11.1984 10-11pm IV. 02.11.1984 6.30-7 am V. 02.11.1984 after 9 am Attack on Gurudwara, Raj Nagar. Damage to Gurudwara. Murder of Nirmal Singh. Survey/reprimand Attack on house of Jagdish Kaur. Murder of husband Kehar Singh, son Gurpreet Singh and other offences. Visit of A1 Sajjan Kumar to affected area in Raj Nagar. and instructions by him to the members of the mob. Capture and murder of Narenderpal, Raghuvender and Kuldeep Singh. Attack on house of Jasbir Kaur and murder of her husband, mother-in-law and father-in-law. Sajjan and instigated/instructed a gathering near police post Palam Chowk. Kumar addressed 12. By the judgment dated 30th April, 2013 passed by the Additional District and Sessions Judge, the trial court acquitted Sh. Sajjan Kumar of the charges while convicting the other five accused persons for commission of different offences. The order on sentence against the convicted persons was passed on the 9th of May 2013.
13. As a result, the following appeals came to be filed in this court challenging the convictions : (i) Crl.A.No.715/2013 (ii) Crl.A.No.753/20
Mahender Yadav v. CBI : Krishan Khokar v. CBI Re: SC No.
Page 7 of 81 (iii) Crl.A.No.851/2013 (iv) Crl.A.No.861/2013 (v) Crl.A.No.710/2014 (vi) Crl.A.No.831/20
Capt. Bhagmal Retd. v. CBI. : Balwan Khokhar v. CBI : Girdhari Lal v. State Thr. CBI. : Jagdish Kaur & Anr. v. Balwan Khokhar & Ors.
14. The CBI had also filed Crl.L.P.No.385/2013 seeking leave to assail the acquittal of one of the accused person. Leave was granted on 27th August, 2013 and the matter came to be registered as Crl.A.No.1099/2013.
15. During the course of hearing of these appeals, Mr. R.N. Sharma, ld. counsel for the appellant (in Crl.A.Nos.851/2013) and Mr. Anil Kumar Sharma, ld. counsel for the respondent no.1 (in Crl.A.No.1099/2013) drew our attention to five trial court judgments placing heavy reliance thereon, detailed as below : Sr.No Case No.Parties name Result of the trial Details of complaint (i) SC No.
State v. Vidyanand, Balwan Khokhar, Mahender Singh Acquittal by judgment Dated 15.11.1984 by Jagir Kaur (widow) Yadav (ii) SC No.
State v. Dhanraj, Mahender Singh, Balwan Khokhar, Mahender Singh Yadav (iii) SC No.
State v. Dhanpat, Ved dated 29.04.1986 Acquittal by judgment dated 17.05.1986 Acquittal by Parkash, Shiv Charan, Ramji judgment Lal Sharma (iv) SC No.
State v. Balwan Khokhar dated 28.05.1986 Acquittal by judgment dated 15.07.1986 Dated 18.11.1984 by Sampuran Kaur (widow) Dated 15.11.1984 by Swaran Kaur (widow) Dated 19.11.1984 by Daljit Kaur Re: SC No.
Page 8 of 81 (v) SC No.
State v. Mahender Singh, Acquittal by Ram Kumar judgment dated 04.10.1986 Dated 4.11.1984 by Baljit Kaur (daughter) (registered as FIR41684) 16. So far as the above cases are concerned, Mr. R.S. Cheema, ld. Senior Counsel for CBI has pointed out that Sh. Ashok Kumar Saxena was the investigating officer in FIR No.416/84. He filed a composite challan i.e. police report u/s 173 Cr.P.C. dated 25th March, 1985 along with five separate list of witnesses in what were captioned as Challan I, II, III, IV and V. Therefore, on the composite challan, five different cases were registered as SC Nos.10/86, 11/86, 31/86,
and 33/86.
17. This final report provides the nature of allegations against the accused as well as the investigations conducted thereon and is necessary to be carefully read. We extract the same highlighting the investigation undertaken thereon : / 436 / 427 04- 11- 84 मरतबा SI अशोक कु मार गुज़ाररश है की संक्षिप्त हालात मुकदमा हजा इस प्रकार है की ददनांक को कु मारी बलजीत कौर के बयान पर मुकदमा हजा u/s 3 07 / IPC दजज रजजस्टर हुआ था दौरान तफ्तीश ददनांक को (illegible) बलजीत कौर ने बहाज़री चौकी आ कर अपना बयान तहरीर कराया कक ' मैं अपने पररवार के साथ पता बाला पर रहती ह ूँ और तारीख 400 आदमीयों कक ग्रुप हमारे मकान पर आया और खखड़की दरवाज़े तोड़ बजे ददन करीब को करीब 04-11-84 01-11-84 / 147 / 148 3.30 149 500 / Re: SC No.
Page 9 of 81 02- 11-84 कर आग लगा दी और मेरे पपताजी को व मेरी माताजी को ईंटें मारी जो मेरे पपताजी बेहोश हो कर गगर गए जो हमने कहा कक वह मर गए तो वे लोग चले गए इसके बाद मेरे पपताजी को होश आ गया और उनको हमने बाथरूम में छिपा ददया I जो अगले रोज़ को घर पर पांच िः दफा आये और देख कर चले गए सातवी दफा कफर आये और मेरे पपताजी को देख ललया I उन्हें मौना बना ददया गया था जजसको देख कर कु ि लोगों ने कहा कक दहन्द हो गया है िोड़ दो, लेककन एक आदमी महेन्रा शराबी जो कक हमारे पड़ोस में रहता है उसने कहा कक वह है तोह सरदार ही और हाथ में ललया फरसा सबसे पहले मेरे पपताजी के पेट में मारा उसके बाद और लोगों ने भी मारा और मेरे पपताजी का ददमाग बहार आ गया और सांस चल रहा था तो उन लोगों ने मेरे पपताजी के ऊपर पेट्रोल डाल कर आग लगा दी जजससे मेरे पपताजी के ऊपर चारपाई बबस्तर वगेहरा डाल ददए और पानी कक हथी उतार ले गए ताकक आग बुझा ना सके I जजससे बबलकु ल जलकर भस्म हो गए मेरे पपताजी AIRFORCE में central account office में बतोर UDC धौला कु आूँ सुब्रोतो पाकज में काम करते थे जो मैं और मेरे भाई भाग कर सुब्रोतो पाकज के AIR FORCE में पहु ूँच गए और आज AIR FORCE के अफसरान के साथ हाजजर चौकी आई ह ूँ I जो( illegible) से SI राम छनवास चौकी पालम कालोनी ने मामला सरेदस्त स तज प वज जुमज 147/ IPC का होना पाकर मुकदमा हजा दजज रजजस्टर कराया और तफतीश अमल में लाई मुलाहजा ककया बक्शा और मौना बनाया और WA - illegible) के आँगन में से जली हुई हड्डियाां राख को हस्व 10( (illegible) पुललस को लाया I आइन्दा की तफतीश बजररये दीगर SI अजीत( illegible) द्वारा अमल में लाई गई 149 / 436 / 427 302 / Re: SC No.
Page 10 of 81 22- 12- 84 ददनांक को श्रीमती सुरजीत कौर W /O अवतार लसंह का बयान भी हालसल ककया जजन्होंने अपनी लड़की बलजीत कौर के बयान की ही बात को बताते हुए महेंर शराबी के अलावा बलवाइयों में जगपवरा व एक नाई जजसकी दुकान बैंक वाली गली में है और बाद में नाम राजकु मार बतलाया को भी शालमल बताया I राम कु मार ने अवतार लसंह को लसर के भाला मारा I सुरजीत कौर ने अपना बयान में यह भी बताया कक बलवाई घर का सारा सामान ल ट कर ले गए । मुकदमा में कब्ज़ा में ककए गए Exhibits को C.F.S.L. बराये opinion (illegible) और मौका के फोटो कराये गए । तफतीश से मुसामीयान महेन्र लसांह @ शराबी, राम कु मार @ नाई के खखलाफ सबूत काबबले गगरफ्तार गुजरने पर हर दोनों को मुकदमा में गगरफ्तार ककया गया जो बर जमानत अदालत ररहा है । काफी कोलशश के बावजूद भी जगबीरा के full particulars नहीां लमल सके जजसकी वजह से उसकी गगरफ़्तारी नहीां हो सकी .C.F.S.L से result मुकदमा में मौजूद हो चूका है । अब तक की तफतीश हालात व बयानात गवाहान से हर दोनों मुलजमान उपरोक्त के खखलाफ मुकदमा में सबूत ( illegible) चालान गुजर चुके हैं ललहाजा हर दोनों मुलजमान के खखलाफ चालान नo I अलग मुरतब ककया गया । दौराने तफतीश ददनांक 11-11-84 के Smt. Sampuran Kaur मुदई ने एक तहरीर दी जजसको मुकदमा हजा में ददनांक 18 -11-84 को u/s 161 CrPc examine ककया गया जजसकी दरख्वास्त व बयान के मुताबबक ददनांक 1-11-84 को वह उसके पछत सरदार छनमजल लसंह अपने बच्चों के साथ घर पर ही थे । श्रीमती इन्रा गाूँधी की हत्या के बाद सरदारों को मारने के ललए हज म घ म रहा था की 9. 30 AM पर उन लोगों ने गुरुद्वारा राज नगर को आग लगा दी और द सरी गली में चले गए करीब एक घंटे के बाद वही करीब 500 बलवाई उनके घर पर आये और पथराव Re: SC No.
Page 11 of 81 करने लगे और मकान को आग लगाने लगे । उस वक्त बलवाइयों की अगवाई महेन्र लसंह यादव बगडोला वाला व बलवान खोकर कर रहे थे । जो उसके पछत छनमजल लसंह बाहर आये और बोले कक हम लोगों को क्यों मार रहे हो जो बलवाई उस वक्त वहाूँ से चल ददए । थोड़ी देर बाद ही बलवान खोकर आया और उसके पछत को यह कहकर कक Compromise करा देते हैं उसके पछत छनमजल लसंह को अपनी मोटर साइककल पर बैठा कर सामने ही धनराज की दुकान पर ले गया जहाूँ वह बलवाई खड़े हुए थे । बलवान खोखर ने उसके पछत छनमजल लसंह को बलवाइयों के हवाले कर ददया जो वह और उसकी लड़की उनकी तरफ दौड़े तभी बलवाइयों में से धनराज ने छनमजल लसंह को रस्सी से बाूँध ददया और महेन्र शराबी व दीगर बलवाइयों ने सरदार छनमजल लसंह के ऊपर लमटटी का तेल डालकर आग लगा दी और कफर उसके मकान को भी ल ट कर आग लगा दी । बलवाई 20 तोले सोने के जेवर, पन्रह हजार रुपया नकद व बाकी House Hold articles को ल ट ले गए और बकाया सामान को आग लगा दी जजसमे उसका कु ल करीब पांच लाख रुपया का माल ल टा व जलाया गया । दौराने तफतीश मुलाहजा मौका करके नक्शा मौका तैयार ककया गया । मौका के फोटो कराये गए । मुकदमा में मुजजजमान धनराज, महेन्र लसांह( illegible), बलवान खोखर व महेन्र लसांह यादव मुलजमान उपरोक्त को सबूत काबबले गगरफ्तारी गुजरने पर मुकदमा हहजा में हस्ब जाब्ता गगरफ्तार ककया गया जो हर बारी मुलजमान बर जमानत अदालत ररहा है । अब तक की तफतीश, हालात व ब्यानात गवाहान से हर चारों मुलजमान उपरोक्त के खखलाफ सबूत काबबले चालान गुजर चुकी है । ललहाजा हर चारों मुलजमान के खखलाफ चालान नo II अलग से मुरतब ककया गया । दौराने तफतीश( illegible) ददनांक 15-11-84 को श्रीमती जागीर कौर Complainant उपरोक्त की एक दरख्वास्त मौज द हुई जजसकी तफतीश भी मुकदमा हजा के साथ ही अमल में लाते हुए ददनांक 22-11-83 को Re: SC No.
Page 12 of 81 श्रीमती जागीर कौर को मुकदमा हजा में u/s 161 CrPc examine ककया गया जो दरख्वास्त व बयान के अनुसार ददनांक 1-11-84 को करीब 1000/5000 आदमी करीब 5.30 PM पर एक Mob ने जजनमे से वह बलवान खोखर , पवघानन्द गुप्ता व महेन्र लसंह R/o गाूँव बगडोला को अच्िी तरह पहचानती थी ने उनके घर पर हमला बोला और उसके पछत सरदार जोगा लसंह के घर से बाहर छनकल कर ईंट व पाइप से जो कक बलवाई हाथ में ललए हुए थे से मारा और कफर लमट्टी का तेल डाल कर जला ददया । और घर का सामान करीब 25000/- रूपये की कीमत का ल ट कर ले गए । दौराने तफतीश मुलाहजा मौका ककया, नक्शा मौका तैयार ककया गया । फोटो कराये गए और (illegible) ववद्यानांद गुप्ता , बलवान खोखर व महेन्र लसांह मुलजमान उपरोक्त को मुकदमा हजा में गगरफ्तार ककया गया जो बर जमानत अदालत ररहा है ।अब तक की तफतीश हालात व बयानात से हर तीनो मुलजमान उपरोक्त के खखलाफ सबूत काबबले चालान गुजर चुके हैं । ललहाजा हर तीनो मुलजमान उपरोक्त का मुकदमा हजा में चालान नांo III अलग से मुरतब ककया गया । दौराने तफतीश ददनांक 15-11-84 को मुसामान स्वरन कौर Complainant की एक तहरीर मौस क हुई जजसकी तफतीश भी मुकदमा हजा के साथ ही अमल में लाई गई जो दौरान तफतीश ददनांक को मुसामान स्वरन कौर का बयान u/s 161 CrPc तहरीर ककया गया जो दरख्वास्त व बयान के मुताबबक ददनांक 1-11-84 को शाम करीब ददन के 10 बजे जब वह अपने पछत सरदार हरभजन लसंह के साथ अपने मकान RZ -439F राज नगर मौज द थी तो दंगाइयों का एक हज म जजसमे करीब 2000/2500 आदमी थे हाथों में लाठी सररये वगैरह ललए कालोनी में सरदारों को ल टते , मारते जलाते आये और उनका मकान से भी जेवरात पांच तोला, नकदी दो हज़ार रुपया, घड़ी बतजन टी .वी .आदद ल ट ललए । और मकान को जला ददया और उसका पछत साथ ही के Re: SC No.
Page 13 of 81 को ददया िोटा भाई । दंगाइयों ने जला उसका तेल डाल कर लाशों व ंढ कर पकड़ ललया और मकान में िु पे हुए थे जो कफर सरदार जी को भी ढ लाठी, दण्डी, सररया से मार मार कर ख़त्म कर ददया और उन पर लमट्टी का लशवचरण, घनपत कु म्हार गोपाल , रामजीलाल शमाज, बाल ककशन राजस्थानी हवलदार और सुरेन्र गाूँव बगडोला को अच्िी तरह से पहले से जानती है शालमल थे उसके (illegible) के लसर में और दंगाईयों को मारने व ल टने के ललए उकसाया था । जो दौराने तफतीश मुलाहजा मौका करके नक्शा मौका तैयार ककया गया और मुजजजमान लशवचरण, घनपत, वेद प्रकाश व रामजीलाल शमाज को मुकदमा हहजा में गगरफ्तार ककया गया । गोपाल व दूसरे एक लांबे लड़के के बारे में पूछ ताछ व दरयाफ्त से कोई सुराग नही चला । मुजस्म बालककशन जो मुकदमा में मतलूब है मुलाकी नहीां हो सका है । बाल ककशन (illegible) Army में active service में मुलाजजम है जो हदनाांक 1-11-84 से 10-11-84 तक लगातार अपनी Regiment में हाजजर रहा है । मुजस्म सुरेन्र को गगरफ्तार करने की काफी कोलशश की गई जो अब तक अपनी गगरफ़्तारी से बच कर छु पा हुआ है । ललहाजा गगरफ्तार नही ककया जा सका है । अब तक की तफ्तीश हालात व बयान से मुसलमयान लशव चरण, घनपत , वेद प्रकाश, रामजीलाल व सुरेन्र के खखलाफ सबूत काबबले चालान गुजर चुका है । ललहाजा सुरेन्र को खाना नांo 2 व बकाया मुलजमान गगरफ्तार शुदा को चालान हजा में उपरोक्त मुलजमान का चालान नांo 4 अलग से तैयार ककया गया । जजसमे मुजस्म सुरेन्र लसांह के खखलाफ u/s 82/ 83 CrPc की request भी की गई । दौराने तफतीश ददनांक 19-11-84 को श्रीमती दलजीत कौर w/o अवतार लसंह R/o RZ241/ D राज नगर की एक Complaint मौस ल हुई जजसकी तफतीश भी मुकदमा हजा के साथ ही अमल में लाते हुए ददनांक 29-11-84 को (illegible)को u/s 161 CrPc examine ककया Re: SC No.
Page 14 of 81 गया जजसकी दरख्वास्त व बयान के मुताबबक वह अपने पछत सरदार अवतार लसंह व लड़के सुखपवंदर लसंह के साथ RZ241D राज नगर में रहती थी ददनांक 1-11-84 को दंगो के दौरान करीब 500/ 600 लोगों के एक mob ने आकर जजनके पास लादठयां व सररये थे उनके मकान पर हमला बोला और उनके पछत अवतार लसंह को घर के बाहर खींचकर लादठयों व सररयों से जान से मार डाला और कफर घर के अंदर खड़े स्क टर में से पेट्रोल लेकर लाश को जला ददया । बलवाइयों में से बलवान खोखर को वह अच्िी तरह पहचानती है । जजसने उसके पछत को मरवाया व जलवाया उसका लड़का सुखपवंदर लसंह अपनी जान बचाकर भाग गया जो बाद में और पता चला की उसको भी दंगाइयों ने जान से मार डाला । बलवाइयों ने उनके घर में से 20 तोले सोने के जेवर, स्क टर, T.V. , Friz , को ल ट कर बाकी घर को आग लगा दी जजसमे उनका सारा समान जल गया । दौराने तफतीश मुलाहजा मौका ककया, नक्शा मौका तैयार ककया गया फोटो कराये गए । काफी कोलशश के बावजूद भी यह मालूम नहीां हो सका कक सुखववांदर उपरोक्त को कहाँ मारा गया । मुकदमा में मुजस्म बलवान खोखर को गगरफ्तार ककया गया । जो बर जमानत अदालत ररहा है । अब तक की तफतीश हालात व बयान से मुलाजजम बलवान खोखर के खखलाफज सबूत काबबले चालान गुजर चुके हैं । ललहाजा मुलजम के खखलाफ चालान नांo 5 अलग से मुतजब ककया गया है (Emphasis by us) 18. The above five judgments placed before us note that the investigating officer Shri Ashok Kumar Saxena was examined as a witness in SC No.
as PW-4; in SC No.
as PW- 3; in SC No.
as PW-2 and in SC No.
as PW-3. In Re: SC No.
Page 15 of 81 SC No.26/10, he stands examined as a defence witness and has testified as DW-4. We propose to consider the judgments individually.
19. SC No.
relates to a complaint dated 15th November, 1984 made by Swaran Kaur (widow of Late Harbhajan Singh) resident of RZ-439F, Raj Nagar to the effect that on 1st November, 1984 at about 10:00 am, her husband Harbhajan Singh and she were attacked in the house which was set on fire and her husband was burnt alive. The complainant had stated that she knew some of the persons who had participated in the incident and was in a position to recognize them. She gave the names of Shiv Charan, Dhanpat Kumar and his brother, one Goel residing on the backside of her house, Ramji Lal Sharma, Bal Kishan, Surinder of Village Bagdola and others. She also gave the details of the articles and ornaments lying in her house.
20. The complaint was investigated by S.I. Arjun Singh who, on 25th January, 1985, claims to have recorded the statement of Swaran Kaur and thereafter the investigation was taken up by S.I. Ashok Kumar Saxena.
21. The accused persons were arrested on 1st March, 1985.
22. The composite report regarding five complaints was filed on 25th March, 1985 (extracted hereinabove). So far as the case arising out of the said complaint of Swaran Kaur was concerned, it was against Dhanpat, Ved Prakash, Shiv Charan and Ramji Lal Sharma under Section 173 of the Cr.P.C. in the Re: SC No.
Page 16 of 81 court of Metropolitan Magistrate who committed the same by an order dated 31st January, 1986 to the Sessions Court where it was registered as SC No.
23. A prima facie case under Sections
read with Section 149, 302 IPC read with Sections 149, 436 read with Sections 149, 201 read with Sections 149 and 392 read with Section 149 was made out against the accused persons. Charges were framed on 21st March, 1986. The accused persons pleaded not guilty and claimed trial.
24. In support of its case, the prosecution examined five witnesses including Swaran Kaur as PW-2. The incriminating circumstances were denied by the accused persons under Section 313 of the Cr.P.C. claiming that it was a false case against them.
25. After considering the matter by the judgment dated 28th May, 1986, the trial court acquitted the accused persons of the charges framed against them. We extract hereunder some portions of the discussion by trial court in paras 9 and 6 (wrongly so numbered) which read as follows : “9. It is the admitted case of the prosecution that this incident took place on 1-11-84 at about 10.11 a.m. Smt. Swaran Kaur PW2 has claimed that on 1.11.84 at about 10.11 a.m. she alongwith her husband and children was present in her house No.439F Raj Nagar, Palam Colony, New Delhi when a mob of about 2000/2500 came. She went on to state that she alongwith her husband and children went to Re: SC No.
Page 17 of 81 the neighbouring house of one Thakur for protection and her house was set on fire by them. She went on to state that the mob broke open the doors of the house where they took protection and after giving a push to her and to her children, they blackened the face of her husband and he was set on fire after cutting his heirs. She went on to state that beatings were also given to her husband with lathi and thereafter the dead body of her husband was taken away by the mob. She has claimed that one Goel was the main person in the crowd and that she know Ramji Lal, Shiv Charan, Dhanpat and brother of Dhanpat and they all inflicted lathi blows to her husband. She identified all the accused persons and pointed out Ved Prakash as the brother of Dhanpat. She went on to state that after this incident, she shifted to relief camp and thereafter went to Chandigarh and that one application was sent by her to the police from the camp. She claimed that application ExPW2/A was got written by her which she signed at point A and sent it to the police. During cross examination, she has claimed that all the four accused persons used to visit her husband at their house in connection with meetings of Samiti and sometimes there used to be quarrels between her husband and the accused persons over some accounts though she has thereafter claimed that there were no quarrels between them in her presence. According to her, the wife of Thakur was present at the time of this incident when many persons entered her house. She has claimed that in the evening of the same day, she was removed by an Air Force Officer to the Camp at Sadar Bazar Delhi Cantt. in which, she remained for about
days and then she was shifted to the Gurdwara at Moti Bagh. She has also stated that she made no attempt to lodge a report with the police earlier. She has admitted that she did not inform anyone in the Sadar Camp about the names of the Re: SC No.
Page 18 of 81 persons who inflicted injuries to her husband and killed him. She has denied that the accused persons did not participate in this incident or that she has falsely implicated them. She has also denied that Thakur was present in the house at the time of this incident.
6. Ex.PW2/A is the complaint dated 13.11.84 of Smt. Swaran Kaur. Inspector Sita Ram PW5 has claimed that one complaint register was regularly maintained at police station Delhi Cantt. and that in the complaint register, there was an entry no.1260 dated 15.11.85 relating to the receipt of a complaint from Swaran Kaur r/o RZ/439 F, Raj Nagar, Palam Colony, about the death of one person and that this entry was made by Constable Kishan Chand who was at that time working under him as his Reader. During cross examination, he has stated that he did not know if Smt. Swaran Kaur came personally to the police station to deliver this complaint or it was delivered there by some one also and that there was nothing in the record of police station Delhi Cantt to show about death of Harbhajan Singh on 1.11.84. Smt. Swaran Kaur has admitted that she had not gone to the police station herself and the complaint was sent to the police station through someone. A bare reading of the complaint Ex.PW2/A indicates that the claim by Smt. Swaran Kaur was that this incident took place at her own house. However, in her statement in court as PW2 she has claimed that this incident had taken place at the adjacent house of Thakur. SI A.K. Saxena, PW3 has claimed that he made enquiry from persons residing in the adjacent house but did not know if one Thakur used to reside in the neighbouring house or not. He has also admitted having made no enquiry to find out as to whether one Thakur was actually residing in the neighbourhood of Smt. Swaran Kaur or not. ASI Arjun Singh has denied that he made enquiries from Re: SC No.
Page 19 of 81 Thakur and others and none corroborated the statement of Smt. Swaran Kaur and claimed that Thakur and his wife were not available. It was a case of murder and there has not been any witness to corroborate the testimony of Swaran Kaur. There has been a delay of 15 days in reporting the matter to the police and it is not known as to who wrote this complaint Ex PW2/A and who had actually delivered it at the police station. SI A.K. Saxena PW3 made no enquiry to find out if Thakur and his wife were residing in the neighbourhood while according to SI Arjun Singh, they were not available. It is really un- fortunate that one life has been lost in this incident besides loss of property but this ground could not be sufficient to fasten liability on the accused persons. Smt. Swaran Kaur has admitted that there used to be quarrels between her husband and the accused over the accounts of the Mohalla Samiti at her house which the accused used to visit. Considering all this evidence, I am clearly of the view that prosecution has not been able to bring home the guilt against the accused persons beyond reasonable doubt and so they are entitled to be acquitted.” (Emphasis by us) Prima facie observations 6. So far as the complaint of Swaran Kaur dated 13th November, 1984 is concerned, the same was proved on record as Ex.PW2/A. The contents of the complaint are extracted in para 2 of the judgment.
7. The judgment dated 28th of May 1986 notes that in her testimony, the witness Swaran Kaur (examined as PW-2) has given a graphic description of the unfolding of the events on Re: SC No.
Page 20 of 81 the 1st of November 1984; her sufferings; burning of her house as well as of her husband. She even stated that the dead body of her husband was taken away by the mob.
8. So far as the identification of the accused persons is concerned, the trial court has noted in the judgment dated 28th May, 1986 that Swaran Kaur (PW-2) had stated that one Goel was the main person in the crowd; that she knew Ramji Lal, Shiv Charan, Dhanpat and brother of Dhanpat and that they all inflicted lathi blows to her husband. The witness identified all the accused persons and pointed out Ved Prakash as the brother of Dhanpat in the court.
9. The judgment dated 28th May, 1986 notes that Swaran Kaur (PW-2) has rendered an explanation for the delay in lodging the complaint stating that after the incident, she had shifted to the relief camp and thereafter gone to Chandigarh. She stated that one application (Ex.PW2/A) which she got written was sent by her to the police from the camp. She stated that she was barely educated up to 4th/5th Class.
10. In para 6 (wrongly so numbered after para
9) of the judgment dated 28th May, 1986, the ld. Additional Sessions Judge has concluded that there was a contradiction between the application of Swaran Kaur (Ex.PW2/A) and her oral testimony observing that in the complaint, Swaran Kaur (PW-
2) had indicated that the incident took place at her own house whereas in her testimony, she stated that the incident had taken Re: SC No.
Page 21 of 81 place at the adjacent house of one Thakur where they had taken shelter. Is this conclusion legally correct?.
11. On the issue of inconsistencies with previous statements, we may usefully refer to the pronouncement of this court in Crl.A.No.741/2008, Vishal Yadav v. State of U.P. dated 2nd April, 2014 in which one of us (Gita Mittal, J) had the occasion to discuss the applicable law: “358. In (2001) 10 SCC6titled Majid v. State of Haryana, the issue was whether the evidence of PW- 6 Hasham could be contradicted with the evidence of DW-1 Jamaluddin unless at least the attention of PW-6 has been drawn to the fact that he had stated such inconsistent version to DW1?. The court held as follows: ― 14. If the former statement was in writing or was reduced to writing, Section 145 of the Act requires that attention of the witness must be called to those parts of it which are used for the purpose of contradicting him. Here the statement allegedly made by PW6to DW1was not in writing, nor was it reduced to writing. Nonetheless, if the object of examining DW1as a witness was to discredit PW6 it is only fair to insist that PW6himself should have been given an opportunity to explain it. Without PW6being asked about that aspect, it is unreasonable to expect PW6to explain about it. Hence it is immaterial that the statement claimed by DW1as made to him by PW6was not reduced to writing.
359. It is contended on behalf of the appellants that testimony of Nilam Katara in court contains material improvements over her statement recorded in the First Information Report as well as her two Re: SC No.
Page 22 of 81 statements (Ex.PW30/DA and Ex.PW30/DB). The learned Trial Judge has rejected this contention and concluded that the facts which she narrated in court are only explanations and elaboration of what she had informed to police in the FIR and her statements under Section 161 of the Cr.P.C.
360. Some of the precedents which shed valuable light on similar objections deserve to be considered and are considered hereinafter. So far as the contents of FIR are concerned, in a judgment of the Supreme Court reported at (2006) 10 SCC163S. Sudershan Reddy and Ors. v. State of Andhra Pradesh, the court laid down the following:-
"― 18. …It is well settled that FIR is not an encyclopaedia of the facts concerning the crime merely because of minutest details of occurrence were not mentioned in the FIR the same cannot make the prosecution case doubtful. It is not necessary that minutest details should be stated in the FIR. It is sufficient if a broad picture is presented and the FIR contains the broad features. For lodging FIR, in a criminal case and more particularly in a murder case, the stress must be on prompt lodging of the FIR….
361. On the same aspect, we find that the Trial Court in its judgment has referred to the judgment of the Allahabad High Court reported at 1998 Cri.L.J.
2064 Dharmendra Singh v. State of U.P., which also noted the requirement of details in the statement under Section 161 Cr.P.C. in the following terms:-
"28…The F.I.R. and the statement recorded under Section 161, Cr.P.C. are not encyclopaedia, to give each and every minute Re: SC No.
Page 23 of 81 details which had come into light during the deposition in the Court. Sometime witnesses do not think it proper to get it mentioned in the F.I.R. or in their statements recorded under Section 161, Cr. P.C. but it does not mean that the facts do not exist.
362. The Supreme Court had occasion to compare a deposition in court as against a statement under Section 161 of the Cr.P.C. by a witness in the judgment reported at (2000) 8 SCC457 Narayan Chetanram Chaudhary v. State of Maharashtra, which reads as follows:-
"― 43. On an analysis of the statement of PW2(which is part of Vol. 4 of the paper-book), his statement under Section 161 Cr.P.C. and the deposition made by him on 15-10-1984 during investigation (which is part of Vol. 3 of the paper-book) we have come to a conclusion that there is no material improvement, much less contradiction in the deposition made by him before the trial court after being granted pardon. The so-called improvements are in fact the details of the narrations extracted by the Public Prosecutor and the defence counsel in the course of his examination-in-chief and cross examination.” 12. It is trite that in case the defence seeks to rely on any part of the testimony of a witness which is contradictory with a previous statement made by him, his attention has to be drawn to the inconsistent version and the witness would be required to have given an opportunity to explain the same. Prima facie Re: SC No.
Page 24 of 81 such opportunity does not seem to have been afforded to Swaran Kaur (PW-2).
13. The other reason for the acquittal of the accused was the observation of the trial court that there was no other witness to corroborate the testimony of Swaran Kaur (PW-2). In this regard, it was for the prosecution to examine other witnesses. The evidence of Swaran Kaur (PW-2) would show that her children were present with her. One Thakur was also been named as the person who afforded them protection. No effort has been made by the prosecution to ascertain the facts from the children of the deceased; the competence of these children to make the deposition or to ascertain the availability of Thakur or any other neighbours with regard to the gruesome offence.
14. The ld. Trial Court has also proceeded in the matter as if delay in lodging the complaint would ipso facto require the same to be rejected irrespective of the explanation of the witness. The explanation tendered by the witness regarding her circumstances finds no consideration in the judgment.
15. We also find that the trial court notes it is in the testimony of the witness Swaran Kaur that the complaint (Ex.PW2/A) was not scribed by the witness herself. As noted in para 5 of the judgment dated 28th May, 1986, the application (Ex.PW2/A) was got written by her which she signed at point ‘A’ and sent to the police. Re: SC No.
Page 25 of 81 The trial court has not discussed the value of this complaint.
16. We find that the first date of hearing before the Sessions Court was 11th of February 1986. Charges were framed in the case on 21st of March 1986. Evidence was recorded in four dates i.e. 19th April, 1986, 14th May, 1986, 15th May, 1986 and 16th May, 1986 i.e. in less than a month. The final judgment was pronounced on 28th May, 1986. The entire proceedings were thus completed within a period of four months.
17. So far as the investigation is concerned, the investigating officer S.I. Ashok Kumar Saxena (appearing as PW-3) states in his cross-examination that he prepared a rough site plan “on his own observations” without pointing out of anyone. Whether this court has any jurisdiction to intervene in the judgments bearing SC No.
dated 29th April, 1986; SC No.
dated 17th May, 1986; SC No.
dated 28th May, 1986; SC No.
dated 15th July, 1986 and SC No.
dated 4th October, 1986 26. The judgments in SC Nos.10/86, 11/86, 31/86,
and
have come to our knowledge while hearing appeals being Crl.Appeal Nos.715, 753, 831, 851, 861, 1099/2013 & 710/2014, in exercise of our jurisdiction under Section 386 of the Cr.P.C. Prima facie the judgments reflect a very perfunctory and hasty disposal of the cases which has deeply troubled our judicial conscience. Would it be permissible for this court to shut its eyes in the matter or does the available Re: SC No.
Page 26 of 81 statutory regime and law make available any possible option for intervention at this stage?. We are conscious that no order adverse to the interest of an accused person (who stands acquitted) or a victim can be passed without hearing him/her or behind his/her back. However, to exercise judicial power, a prima facie view has to be recorded to ensure whether such intervention could be justified and appropriate. For this reason, prior to issuance of notice, we have undertaken a prima facie examination of the statutory provisions as well as judicial precedents which, we set out hereunder. Statutory scheme 27. Mr. R.S. Cheema, ld. Senior Counsel appearing for the CBI in Crl.A.No.715/2013 and the clubbed appeals, has drawn our attention to the scheme of the Code of Criminal Procedure. We find that Chapter XXX of the Cr.P.C. headed “Reference and Revision” contains Sections 395 to 405 which manifests the power of superintendence conferred on the High Courts over trials.
28. A perusal of Section 397 of the Cr.P.C. would show that, statutorily, concurrent power of revision is conferred on the Court of Session as well as the High Court to call for and examine the record of any proceeding before any inferior Criminal Court situated within its or his local jurisdiction.
29. The legislature has also enacted an important piece of legislation by way of Section 401 of the Cr.P.C. conferring a Re: SC No.
Page 27 of 81 plenary power on the High Court, the contours whereof we propose to consider hereafter. In this regard, first and foremost, we extract hereunder the provisions of Section 401 of the Cr.P.C. which suggests conferment, inter alia, of additional powers on the court of appeal while exercising jurisdiction under Sections 386, 389, 390 and 391 of the Cr.P.C. This statutory provision reads thus : “401. High Court's Powers of revisions. (1) In the case of any proceeding the record of which has been called for by itself or which otherwise comes to its knowledge, the High Court may, in its discretion, exercise any of the powers conferred on a Court of Appeal by sections 386, 389, 390 and 391 or on a Court of Session by section 307 and, when the Judges composing the Court of revision are equally divided in opinion, the case shall be disposed of in the manner provided by section 392. (2) No order under this section shall be made to the prejudice of the accused or other person unless he has had an opportunity of being heard either personally or by pleader in his own defence. (3) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to authorise a High Court to convert a finding of acquittal into one of conviction. (4) Where under this Code an appeal lies and no appeal is brought, no proceeding by way of revision shall be entertained at the instance of the party who could have appealed. (5) Where under this Code an appeal lies but an application for revision has been made to the High Court by any person and the High Court Is satisfied Re: SC No.
Page 28 of 81 that such application was made under the erroneous belief that no appeal lies thereto and that it is necessary in the interests of justice so to do, the High Court may treat the application for revision as a petition of appeal and deal with the same accordingly.” (Emphasis supplied) 30. It is important to note that the discretion to exercise the power under Section 401 of the Cr.P.C. is conferred on the High Court which is exercising powers conferred on the “Court of Appeal” by virtue of Sections 386, 389, 390 and 391 of the Cr.P.C. We may therefore, also usefully extract the provisions of Section 386 of the Cr.P.C. which provides for powers of the Appellate Court and reads thus : “386. Power of the Appellate Court.- After perusing such record and hearing the appellant or his pleader, if he appears, and the Public Prosecutor if he appears, and in case of an appeal under section 377 or section 378, the accused, if he appears, the Appellate Court may, if it considers that there is no sufficient ground for interfering, dismiss the appeal, or may- (a) in an appeal from an order or acquittal, reverse such order and direct that further inquiry be made, or that the accused be re- tried or committed for trial, as the case may be, or find him guilty and pass sentence on him according to law; (b) in an appeal from a conviction- (i) reverse the finding and sentence and acquit or discharge the accused, or order him to be re- tried by Re: SC No.
Page 29 of 81 a Court of competent jurisdiction subordinate to such Appellate Court or committed for trial, or (ii) alter the finding, maintaining the sentence, or (iii) with or without altering the finding, alter the nature or the extent, or the nature and extent, of the sentence, but not so as to enhance the Same; (c) in an appeal for enhancement of sentence- (i) reverse the finding and sentence and acquit or discharge the accused or order him to be re- tried by a Court competent to try the offence, or (ii) alter the finding maintaining the sentence, or (iii) with or without altering the finding, alter the nature or the extent, or the nature and extent, of the sentence, so as to enhance or reduce the same; (d) in an appeal from any other order, alter or reverse such order; (e) make any amendment or any consequential or incidental order that may be just or proper; Provided that the sentence shall not be enhanced unless the accused has had an opportunity of showing cause against such enhancement: Provided further that the Appellate Court shall not inflict greater punishment for the offence which in its opinion the accused has committed, than might have been inflicted for that offence by the Court passing the order or sentence under appeal.” (Emphasis supplied) Exercise of discretion under Section 401 of Cr.P.C. – which is the court competent to do so 31. This court hearing Crl.A.Nos.715/2013, 753/2013, the 831/2013, 851/2013, 861/2013 and 710/2014 is exercising Re: SC No.
Page 30 of 81 powers as a Court of Appeal under Section 386 of the Cr.P.C. The judgments of the sessions trials in SC Nos.10/86, 11/86, 31/86,
and
have been brought to our notice during the hearings in these appeals. We find that on a bare reading of sub-section (1) of Section 401 of the Cr.P.C., discretion stands vested on this court to exercise any of the powers conferred on a Court of Appeal in respect thereof by Sections 386, 389, 390 and 391 or on a court of session by virtue of Section 307 of the Cr.P.C.
32. It is also noteworthy that the offences for which the persons were tried in the above Sessions cases included commission of the offences under Section 302 of the IPC which is punishable with life imprisonment or death penalty. In accordance with Rule 1(xx) in Part B of Chapter 3 titled “Jurisdiction” in Volume V of the Delhi High Court Rules, 1967 such appeals would have to mandatorily be heard by a bench comprising of more than one judge.
33. Crl.A.No.1099/2013 has been filed by the CBI challenging the judgment of acquittal of the accused in SC No.26/10. So far as an appeal against acquittal is concerned, it would also have to be heard by a bench comprising of more than one judge, in accordance with the Delhi High Court Rules.
34. Therefore, in the present case, this Division Bench hearing the Crl.A.Nos.715/2013, 753/2013, 831/2013, 851/2013, 861/2013, 1099/2013 and 710/2014 appears to stand Re: SC No.
Page 31 of 81 empowered to exercise the power under Section 401 of the Cr.P.C. so far as the judgments in SC No.
dated 29th April, 1986; SC No.
dated 17th May, 1986; SC No.
dated 28th May, 1986; SC No.
dated 15th July, 1986 and SC No.
dated 4th October, 1986 are concerned.
35. There is yet another reason supporting this. So far as the outcome of SC Nos.10/86, 11/86, 31/86,
and
are concerned, the trials have culminated in judgments of acquittals of the accused persons. By virtue of the operation of the statutory provisions as well as Delhi High Court Rules also, if the appeals would have been filed by the State assailing these judgments, such appeals would also have to be laid before the Division Bench.
36. We are also supported the view we have taken on the question of the jurisdiction to invoke Section 401 of the Cr.P.C. from the scheme of sub-section 1 of the said Section which states thus : “401. High Court' s Powers of revisions. (1) … the Judges composing the Court of revision are equally divided in opinion, the case shall be disposed of in the manner provided by section 392. …” (Emphasis by us) The legislature has therefore, contemplated exercise of this revisional power under Section 401 of the Cr.P.C. by a bench “equally divided” i.e. consisting of more than one judge. Re: SC No.
Page 32 of 81 Clearly, revisional power under Section 401 is exercisable by a Bench of the High Court consisting of two judges.
37. It is noteworthy that sub-section 4 of Section 401 of the Cr.P.C. prohibits a revision at the instance of a party who could have filed an appeal also suggesting that the power under Section 401 be exercised suo motu by the court.
38. By virtue of sub-section 5 of Section 401 of the Cr.P.C., in case an application for revision is made to the High Court by any person under an erroneous belief that no appeal lay thereto, and it is found necessary in the interest of justice so to do, the High Court may treat the application for revision as a petition for appeal and deal with the same.
39. Prima facie, it therefore, appears that the present Division Bench hearing Crl.A.Nos.715/2013, 753/2013, 831/2013, 851/2013, 861/2013, 1099/2013 and 710/2014 is competent to exercise revisional jurisdiction under Section 401 of the Cr.P.C. in respect of the judgments being SC No.
dated 29th April, 1986; SC No.
dated 17th May, 1986; SC No.
dated 28th May, 1986; SC No.
dated 15th July, 1986 and SC No.
dated 4th October, 1986, the same having been brought to our knowledge. This matter has thus to be heard by the Division Bench.
40. While recording this prima facie view, we make it clear that it shall be open to the persons effected hereby to raise jurisdictional objections. A final view shall be taken after hearing all concerned. Re: SC No.
Page 33 of 81 Procedure for taking suo motu cognizance 41. So what would be the procedure for exercise of the High Court’s power?. So far as the manner in which the High Court would exercise the power under Section 401 of the Cr.P.C. is concerned, the manner is provided in the statute itself. Sub- section 2 thereof clearly lays down that no order would be made to the prejudice of the accused or other person unless he has had an opportunity of being heard either personally or by his pleader in his own defence. Therefore, the first and foremost step which has to be taken by the court would be to issue notice to all the necessary parties, especially, the person accused of the offence.
42. So far as the present case is concerned, prior to making an order permitting revision of an order, it is necessary to issue notice to the persons who have stood trial and afford them a reasonable opportunity of hearing either personally or by a pleader in accordance with sub-section (2) of Section 401 of the Cr.P.C.
43. Sub-section (3) of the statute clearly stipulates that the High Court has no power to convert a finding of acquittal into one of conviction. When is the court to exercise jurisdiction under Section 401 of the Cr.P.C.?.
44. So what are the contours of exercise of jurisdiction under Section 401 of the Cr.P.C.?. Light is thrown on this issue Re: SC No.
Page 34 of 81 in the pronouncement reported at (2013) 14 SCC207 Venkatesan v. Rani & Anr. wherein the Supreme Court has observed thus : the decisions Narayana chronologically, “7. To answer the questions that have arisen in the present case, as noticed at the very outset, the extent and ambit of the revisional jurisdiction of the High Court, particularly in the context of exercise thereof in respect of a judgment of acquittal, may be briefly noticed. The law in this regard is well settled by a catena of decisions of this Court. Illustratively, as rendered also in Pakalapati Gajapathi Raju v. Bonapalli Peda Appadu [(1975) 4 SCC477:
1975. SCC (Cri) 543]., Akalu Ahir v. Ramdeo Ram [(1973) 2 SCC583:
1973. SCC (Cri) 903]., Mahendra Pratap Singh v. Sarju Singh [AIR1968SC707:
1968. Cri LJ865 , K. Chinnaswamy Reddy v. State of A.P. [AIR1962SC1788: (1963) 1 Cri LJ8 and Logendranath Jha v. Polai Lal Biswas [AIR1951SC316: (1951) 52 Cri LJ1248 may be referred to.
8. Specifically and for the purpose of a detailed illumination on the subject, the contents of paras 8 and 10 of the judgment in Akalu Ahir v. Ramdeo Ram [(1973) 2 SCC583:
1973. SCC (Cri) 903]. may be usefully extracted below: (SCC pp. 587-88) “8. … This Court, however, by way of illustration, indicated the following categories of cases which would justify the High Court in interfering with a finding of acquittal in revision: (i) Where the trial court has no jurisdiction to try the case, but has still acquitted the accused; (ii) where the trial court has wrongly shut out evidence which the prosecution wished to produce; Re: SC No.
Page 35 of 81 (iii) where the appellate court has wrongly held the evidence which was admitted by the trial court to be inadmissible; (iv) where the material evidence has been overlooked only (either) by the trial court or by the appellate court; and (v) where the acquittal is based on the compounding of the offence which is invalid under the law. categories were, however, merely These illustrative and it was clarified that other cases of similar nature can also be properly held to be of exceptional nature where the High Court can justifiably interfere with the order of acquittal. *** 10. No doubt, the appraisal of evidence by the trial Judge in the case in hand is not perfect or free from flaw and a court of appeal may well have felt justified in disagreeing with its conclusion, but from this it does not follow that on revision by a private complainant, the High Court is entitled to reappraise the evidence for itself as if it is acting as a court of appeal and then order a retrial. It is unfortunate that a serious offence inspired by rivalry and jealousy in the matter of election to the office of village Mukhia, should go unpunished. But that can scarcely be a valid ground for ignoring or for not strictly following the law as enunciated by this Court.” in para observations 9. The in Vimal Singh v. Khuman Singh [(1998) 7 SCC223:
1998. SCC (Cri) 1574]. would also be apt for recapitulation and, therefore, are being extracted below: (SCC pp. 226-27) 9 “9. Coming to the ambit of power of the High Court under Section 401 of the Code, the High Court in its revisional power does not ordinarily Re: SC No.
Page 36 of 81 interfere with judgments of acquittal passed by the trial court unless there has been manifest error of law or procedure. The interference with the order of acquittal passed by the trial court is limited only to exceptional cases when it is found that the order under revision suffers from glaring illegality or has caused miscarriage of justice or when it is found that the trial court has no jurisdiction to try the case or where the trial court has illegally shut out the evidence which otherwise ought to have been considered or where the material evidence which clinches the issue has been overlooked. These are the instances where the High Court would be justified in interfering with the order of acquittal. Sub- section (3) of Section 401 mandates that the High Court shall not convert a finding of acquittal into one of conviction. Thus, the High Court would not be justified in substituting an order of acquittal into one of conviction even if it is convinced that the accused deserves conviction. No doubt, the High Court in exercise of its revisional power can set aside an order of acquittal if it comes within the ambit of exceptional cases enumerated above, but it cannot convert an order of acquittal into an order of conviction. The only course left to the High Court in such exceptional cases is to order retrial.” 10. The above consideration would go to show that the revisional jurisdiction of the High Courts while examining an order of acquittal is extremely narrow and ought to be exercised only in cases where the trial court had committed a manifest error of law or procedure or had overlooked and ignored relevant and material evidence thereby causing miscarriage of justice. The reappreciation of evidence is an exercise that the High Court must refrain from while examining an order of acquittal in the exercise of its Re: SC No.
Page 37 of 81 revisional jurisdiction under the Code. Needless to say, if within the limited parameters, interference of the High Court is justified the only course of action that can be adopted is to order a retrial after setting aside the acquittal. As the language of Section 401 of the Code makes it amply clear there is no power vested in the High Court to convert a finding of acquittal into one of conviction.” (Emphasis by us) It needs no further elaboration that the above principles would guide the court’s scrutiny of a case while considering whether discretion under Section 401 of the Cr.P.C. ought to be exercised or not. Meaning and purpose of a ‘Fair Trial’ 45. In as much as jurisdiction under Section 401 Cr.P.C. must be invoked if there has not been a fair trial and miscarriage of justice has resulted, it becomes necessary to examine the legal principles laid down by the Supreme Court on the meaning of a “fair trial” and functioning of a prosecutor and the duties of the court to ensure the fair trial. Reference may been made to the pronouncement of the Supreme Court reported at (2004) 4 SCC158 Zahira Habibulla H. Sheikh & Anr. v. State of Gujarat & Ors., commonly known as “Best Bakery Case” in this regard. The case relates to the incidents of violence which occurred between 8:30 pm on the 1st of March 2002 and 11:00 am of the 2nd of March 2002. During this period, an unruly mob of large people burnt out a business Re: SC No.
Page 38 of 81 concern known as the Best Bakery at Vadodara. In this incident, 14 persons were killed. The attacks were alleged to be part of retaliatory action to avenge the killing of 56 persons who had been burnt to death in the Sabarmati Express. Zahira was the main eye-witness who lost two family members including women and children in this incident. Several other persons were also eye-witnesses to the violence. The perpetrators were arrayed as accused persons in the chargesheet which was filed in June, 2002.
46. During the trial, the persons examined as eye-witnesses, resiled from their previous statements recorded during investigation. Additionally, faulted and biased investigation as well as a “perfunctory trial” were said to have marred the sanctity of the process undertaken to bring the culprits guilty of the heinous offences to book. On the 27th of June 2003, the trial court acquitted the accused persons of commission of offences with which they were charged.
47. Zahira made a complaint before the National Human Rights Commission wherein she had stated that she had been threatened by powerful politicians not to depose against the accused persons. The State filed an appeal on 7th of August 2003 against the judgment of the trial court which the Supreme Court observed, was not up to the mark and not in conformity with the required care. The NHRC moved the Supreme Court and its special leave petition was directed to be treated as writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution of India. Re: SC No.
Page 39 of 81 Additionally, Zahira along with an organization – Citizens for Justice and Peace filed a Crl.Rev.No.583/2003 before the High Court of Gujarat questioning the legality of the trial court judgment.
48. The State of Gujarat additionally filed applications under Sections 391 and 311 of the Cr.P.C. seeking permission to adduce additional evidence as well as for examination of certain persons. Another application was filed to bring on record a document and to treat the same as corroborative piece of evidence. By an order dated 27th June, 2003, the Gujarat High Court upheld the judgment of the trial court and also rejected the prayers made in the two applications. This order was the subject matter of the challenge before the Supreme Court.
49. One of the main grounds urged by the State and Zahira in support of the prayer for fresh trial before the High Court was that when a large number of witnesses have turned hostile, it should have raised a reasonable suspicion in the mind of the court that the witnesses were being threatened or coerced; that the public prosecutor did not take step to protect the star witness who was to be examined on 17th May, 2003 specially when four out of all the injured witnesses had resiled on 9th May, 2003 from their previous statements made during investigation; that Zahira, the main witness had specifically stated on affidavit about the threat given to her and the reason for her not coming out with the truth during her examination Re: SC No.
Page 40 of 81 before the court on 17th May, 2003. It was further contended that the public prosecutor had not acted in a manner befitting the position held by him and that he did not request the trial court for holding the trial in camera when a large number of witnesses were resiling from their statements made during investigation.
50. It was also contended that failure to exercise powers under Section 311 of the Cr.P.C. to recall and re-examine the witnesses as their evidence was essential to arrive at the truth and just decision in the case as well as power under Section 165 of the Indian Evidence Act, had led to miscarriage of justice.
51. The judgment of the Supreme Court notes the manner in which one eye-witness, whose statement was recorded by the policeman on 4th March, 2002 disclosing the names of the accused persons, was sought to be examined before the trial court. Summons were issued to this eye-witness on 27th April, 2003 for examination on 9th May, 2003 which could not be served on the ground that he had left for his native place in Uttar Pradesh. Therefore, summons were issued on 9th June, 2003 for recording his evidence on 10th June, 2003 giving only one day’s time to him to appear. When these could not be served, summons were issued on 13th June, 2003 for him to remain present before the court on 16th June, 2003. This could also not be served for the same reasons. Ultimately, the public Re: SC No.
Page 41 of 81 prosecutor prayed for dropping him as a witness which was granted by the trial court.
52. Another important witness, namely, Sahejad Khan Hasankhan was not examined by the prosecutor on the ground that he was of unsound mind. Though the witness was present, the public prosecutor dropped him on the ground that he was not mentally fit to depose. The Supreme Court had observed that when such an application was made by the prosecution for dropping him on the ground of mental deficiency, it was the duty of the ld. trial court to at least make some minimum efforts to find out as to whether he was actually of unsound mind or not by getting him examined by a Civil Surgeon or a doctor from psychiatric department. It was observed that this witness was injured and was unconscious between 2nd to 6th March, 2002. However, when he regained consciousness, his statement was recorded on 6th March, 2002 in which he gave names of four accused persons i.e. A-5, A-6, A-8 and A-11. It is noteworthy that this witness filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court in a pending matter narrating the whole incident.
53. In the case of yet another witness, namely, Shailun Hasankhan Pathan summons were issued on 9th June, 2003 requiring his presence on 10th June, 2003, one day later, which could not be served upon him. He disclosed the names of three accused persons i.e. A-6, A-8 and A-11. This witness was also treated of deficient mind without any material and without taking any effort to ascertain the truth or otherwise of such Re: SC No.
Page 42 of 81 serious claims. Other injured eye-witnesses were similarly not examined before the trial court. These different witnesses filed affidavits before the Supreme Court highlighting as to how and why they have been unfairly kept out of trial.
54. Before the Supreme Court, Zahira had contended that there was “no fair trial and the entire effort during trial and at all relevant times before also was to see that the accused persons got acquitted”.
55. In para 11 of Zahira Habibulla H. Sheikh, the Supreme Court notes that this shows that “both the public prosecutor as well as the court were not only oblivious but also failed to discharge their duties”. On a consideration of these petitions, in para 18 of Zahira Habibulla H. Sheikh, the Supreme Court observed thus : “18. ... When the investigating agency helps the accused, the witnesses are threatened to depose falsely and the prosecutor acts in a manner as if he was defending the accused, and the court was acting merely as an onlooker and when there is no fair trial at all, justice becomes the victim.” (Emphasis by us) In paras 30 to 33 of Zahira Habibulla H. Sheikh, it was 56. held thus : “30. Right from the inception of the judicial system it has been accepted that discovery, vindication and establishment of truth are the main purposes underlying existence of courts of justice. The operating principles for a fair trial permeate the common law in both civil and criminal contexts. Re: SC No.
Page 43 of 81 interests Application of these principles involves a delicate judicial balancing of competing in a criminal trial, the interests of the accused and the public and to a great extent that of the victim have to be weighed not losing sight of the public interest involved in the prosecution of persons who commit offences.
31. In 1846, in a judgment which Lord Chancellor Selborne would later describe as “one of the ablest judgments of one of the ablest judges who ever sat in this court”, Vice-Chancellor Knight Bruce said [Pearse v. Pearse(1846), 1 De G&Sm.
16 L.J.
Ch. 1
63 ER950:
18. Digest (Repl.) 91, 74
and vindication “The and discovery establishment of truth are main purposes certainly of the existence of courts of justice; still, for the obtaining of these objects, which, however valuable and important, cannot be usefully pursued without moderation, cannot be either usefully or creditably pursued unfairly or gained by unfair means, not every channel is or ought to be open to them. The practical inefficacy of torture is not, I suppose, the most weighty objection to that mode of examination… Truth, like all other good things, may be loved unwisely — may be pursued too keenly — may cost too much.” The Vice-Chancellor went on to refer to paying “too great a price … for truth”. This is a formulation which has subsequently been frequently invoked, including by Sir Gerard Brennan. On another occasion, in a joint judgment of the High Court, a more expansive formulation of the proposition was advanced in the following terms: “The evidence has been obtained at a price which is unacceptable having community standards.” the prevailing regard to Re: SC No.
Page 44 of 81 32. Restraints on the processes for determining the truth are multifaceted. They have emerged in numerous different ways, at different times and affect different areas of the conduct of legal proceedings. By the traditional common law method of induction there has emerged in our jurisprudence the principle of a fair trial. Oliver Wendell Holmes described the process: It first and determines “It is the merit of the common law that it decides the case the principle afterwards…. is only after a series of determination on the same subject-matter, that it becomes necessary to ‘reconcile the cases’, as it is called, that is, by a true induction to state the principle which has until then been obscurely felt. And this statement is often modified more than once by new decisions before the abstracted general rule takes its final shape. A well-settled legal doctrine embodies the work of many minds, and has been tested in form as well as substance by trained critics whose practical interest is to resist it at every step.” 33. The principle of fair trial now informs and energises many areas of the law. It is reflected in numerous rules and practices. It is a constant, ongoing development process continually adapted to new and changing circumstances, and exigencies of the situation — peculiar at times and related to the nature of crime, persons involved — directly or operating behind, social impact and societal needs and even so many powerful balancing factors which may come in the way of administration of criminal justice system.” (Emphasis by us) 57. On a consideration of the above facts and circumstances, in (2004) 4 SCC158 Zahira Habibullah, the Supreme Court Re: SC No.
Page 45 of 81 directed a de novo trial of the whole case and appointment of a special prosecutor with the consultation of the victims in the following terms : “73. ... This appears to be a case where the truth has become a casualty in the trial. We are satisfied that it is a fit and proper case, in the background of the nature of additional evidence sought to be adduced and the perfunctory manner of trial conducted on the basis of tainted investigation a retrial is a must and essentially called for in order to save and preserve the justice-delivery system unsullied and unscathed by vested interests. We should not be understood to have held that whenever additional evidence is accepted, retrial is a necessary corollary. The case on hand is without parallel and comparison to any of the cases where even such grievances were sought to be made. It stands on its own as an exemplary one, special of its kind, necessary to prevent its recurrence. It is normally for the appellate court to decide whether the adjudication itself by taking into account the additional evidence would be proper or it would be appropriate to direct a fresh trial, though, on the facts of this case, the direction for retrial becomes inevitable. xxx xxx xxx 75. Keeping in view the peculiar circumstances of the case, and the ample evidence on record, glaringly demonstrating subversion of justice delivery system with no congenial and conducive atmosphere still prevailing, we direct that the retrial shall be done by a court under the jurisdiction of the Bombay High Court. The Chief Justice of the said High Court is requested to fix up a court of competent jurisdiction.” (Emphasis supplied) Re: SC No.
Page 46 of 81 58. The principles laid down in Zahira Habibulla H. Sheikh were reiterated by the Supreme Court in (2005) 1 SCC115 Satyajit Banerjee & Ors. v. State of W.B. & Ors. it has been held that exercise of revisional jurisdiction for retrial at the instance of the complainant and direction for retrial should not be made in all or every case where acquittal of the accused is for want of adequate evidence. In the Best Bakery Case, the first trial was found to be a farce and was described as “mock trial”. Therefore, the direction for retrial was, in fact, for a real trial. In this regard, the observation of the Supreme Court in paras 25 to 27 deserve to be considered in extenso and read thus : “25. Since strong reliance has been placed on Best Bakery case [(2004) 4 SCC158:
2004. SCC (Cri) 999]. (Gujarat riots case) it is necessary to record a note of caution. That was an extraordinary case in which this Court was convinced that the entire prosecution machinery was trying to shield the accused i.e. the rioters. It was also found that the entire trial was a farce. The witnesses were terrified and intimidated to keep them away from the court. It is in the aforesaid extraordinary circumstances that the court not only directed a de novo trial of the whole case but made further directions for appointment of the new prosecutor with due consultation of the victims. Retrial was directed to be held out of the State of Gujarat.
26. The law laid down in Best Bakery case [(2004) 4 SCC158:
2004. SCC (Cri) 999]. in the aforesaid extraordinary circumstances, cannot be applied to all cases against the established principles of criminal for retrial jurisprudence. Direction Re: SC No.
Page 47 of 81 should not be made in all or every case where acquittal of accused is for want of adequate or reliable evidence. In Best Bakery case [(2004) 4 SCC158:
2004. SCC (Cri) 999]. the first trial was found to be a farce and is described as “mock trial”. Therefore, the direction for retrial was in fact, for a real trial. Such extraordinary situation alone can justify the directions as made by this Court in Best Bakery case[(2004) 4 SCC158:
2004. SCC (Cri) 999]. .
27. So far as the position of law is concerned we are very clear that even if a retrial is directed in exercise of revisional powers by the High Court, the evidence already recorded at the initial trial cannot be erased or wiped out from the record of the case. The trial Judge has to decide the case on the basis of the evidence already on record and the additional evidence which would be recorded on retrial.” (Emphasis by us) 59. It has therefore, been stated that while exercising revisional power by the High Court, evidence already on record as well as additional evidence recorded on the retrial has to be read. However, in extraordinary and extreme cases as illustrated by the Best Bakery Case, (2004) 4 SCC158 if the first trial is found to a farce and a “mock trial”, directions for a complete retrial, which would be the real trial, can be made.
60. The following observation of the Supreme Court in the three Judge Bench pronouncement reported at (2012) 4 SCC516 Ratti Ram & Ors. v. State of Madhya Pradesh are also illuminating : Re: SC No.
Page 48 of 81 “39. ... Fundamentally, a fair and impartial trial has a sacrosanct purpose. It has a demonstrable object that the accused should not be prejudiced. A fair trial is required to be conducted in such a manner which would totally ostracise injustice, prejudice, dishonesty and favouritism. xxx xxx xxx 62. ... Decidedly, there has to be a fair trial and no miscarriage of justice and under no circumstances, prejudice should be caused to the accused but, a pregnant one, every procedural lapse or every interdict that has been acceded to and not objected at the appropriate stage would not get the trial dented or make it unfair. Treating it to be unfair would amount to an undesirable state of pink of perfection in procedure. An absolute apple-pie order in carrying out the adjective law, would only be sound and fury signifying nothing.” (Emphasis by us) 61. The Supreme Court has extensively discussed the law on the subject including the above precedents in the judgment reported at (2015) 8 SCC787 Bablu Kumar & Ors. v. State of Bihar & Anr. In this case, the informant had lodged an FIR on 29th November, 2004 at police station Tikari at 8:00 pm that the accused persons came armed with various weapons and took away her husband Brahamdeo Yadav, the deceased, and threatened the family members not to come out from their house. The deceased was taken towards the house of Krishna Yadav and he was found dead the next morning having several injuries. So far as motive for committing the crime was concerned, it was alleged that litigation between the two sides Re: SC No.
Page 49 of 81 was the cause of the offence. The investigating officer submitted a chargesheet for commission of offences under Sections 147, 148, 149, 341, 342 and 302 of the IPC. The chargesheet was registered as Sessions Trial No.350/2006. Charges were framed on the 10th of August 2007 against the accused persons. Summons were issued to the witnesses on 17th August, 2007. As even the informant did not appear on 5th December, 2007, non-bailable warrants were issued against her. The ld. trial judge recorded on various dates that the witnesses were not present. Finally, an order dated 17th May, 2008 was passed directing the matter to be posted on 23rd May, 2008 for orders under Section 232 of the Cr.P.C. On this date, the court recorded the judgment of acquittal.
62. Against this judgment, the informant preferred a revision petition being Crl.Rev.No.919/2008. Noting that there was no service report or report of execution of warrant of arrest against the informant; no service report on record showing service of summons on other witnesses or execution of the bailable or non-bailable warrants against the witnesses, it was observed that the police had not taken steps to produce the evidence and that the ld. trial judge had also not taken effective steps for production of the witnesses and tried to conclude the trial without being alive to the duties of the trial court.
63. The ld. Single Judge of the High Court opined that there has been no fair trial and consequently remanded the matter for re-trial by the High Court. This judgment was assailed before Re: SC No.
Page 50 of 81 the Supreme Court of India and culminated in the judgment reported as above.
64. We find that in Bablu Kumar, the Supreme Court has placed reliance on further precedents with regard to the concept of fair trial and summed up the principles thus : “19. In this regard, it is apt to reproduce a passage from Natasha Singh v. CBI[(2013) 5 SCC741: (2013) 4 SCC (Cri) 828]. wherein it has been laid down: (SCC p. 749, para
16) “16. Fair trial is the main object of criminal procedure, and it is the duty of the court to ensure that such fairness is not hampered or threatened in any manner. Fair trial entails the interests of the accused, the victim and of the society, and therefore, fair trial includes the grant of fair and proper opportunities to the person concerned, and the same must be ensured as this is a constitutional, as well as a human right. Thus, under no circumstances can a person's right to fair trial be jeopardised.” 20. In J.
Jayalalithaa v. State of Karnataka [(2014) 2 SCC401: (2014) 1 SCC (Cri) 824]. the Court dealing with the concept of a fair trial has opined that: (SCC pp. 414-15, para
29) “29. Denial of a fair trial is as much injustice to the accused as is to the victim and the society. It necessarily requires a trial before an impartial Judge, a fair prosecutor and an atmosphere of judicial calm. Since the object of the trial is to mete out justice and to convict the guilty and protect the innocent, the trial should be a search for the truth and not a bout over technicalities and must be conducted under such rules as will protect the innocent and punish the guilty. Justice should not only be done but should be seem to have been done. Therefore, free and fair Re: SC No.
Page 51 of 81 trial is a sine qua non of Article 21 of the Constitution.” same principle has also been 21. The stated in NHRC v. State of Gujarat [(2009) 6 SCC767: (2009) 3 SCC (Cri) 44]. , State of Karnataka v. K. Yarappa Reddy[(1999) 8 SCC715:
2000. SCC (Cri) 61]. , Ram Bali v. State of U.P. [(2004) 10 SCC598:
2004. SCC (Cri) 2045]. , Karnel Singh v. State of M.P. [(1995) 5 SCC518(Cri) 977]. and Dayal Singh v. State of Uttaranchal [(2012) 8 SCC263: (2012) 4 SCC (Civ) 4
(2012) 3 SCC (Cri) 8
(2012) 2 SCC (L&S) 583]..” :
1995. SCC (Emphasis by us) 65. These statutory principles have to guide our consideration. Duty of the court 66. At the same time, the Supreme Court has repeatedly commented on the duty of the court. We extract two illuminating judicial precedents hereafter.
67. In (2015) 8 SCC787 Bablu Kumar & Ors. v. State of Bihar & Anr., the Supreme Court has stated as follows : “22 Keeping in view the concept of fair trial, the obligation of the prosecution, the interest of the community and the duty of the court, it can irrefragably be stated that the court cannot be a silent spectator or a mute observer when it presides over a trial. It is the duty of the court to see that neither the prosecution nor the accused play truancy with the criminal trial or corrode the sanctity of the proceeding. They cannot the community expropriate or hijack interest by themselves in such a manner as a conducting Re: SC No.
Page 52 of 81 consequence of which the trial becomes a farcical one. The law does not countenance a “mock trial”. It is a serious concern of society. Every member of the collective has an inherent interest in such a trial. No one can be allowed to create a dent in the same. The court is duty-bound to see that neither the prosecution nor the defence takes unnecessary adjournments and take the trial under their control. The court is under the legal obligation to see that the witnesses who have been cited by the prosecution are produced by it or if summons are issued, they are actually served on the witnesses. If the court is of the opinion that the material witnesses have not been examined, it should not allow the prosecution to close the evidence. There can be no doubt that the prosecution may not examine all the material witnesses but that does not necessarily mean that the prosecution can choose not to examine any witness and convey to the court that it does not intend to cite the witnesses. The Public Prosecutor who conducts the trial has a statutory duty to perform. He cannot afford to take things in a light manner. The court also is not expected to accept the version of the prosecution as if it is sacred. It has to apply its mind on every occasion. Non-application of mind by the trial court has the potentiality to lead to the paralysis of the conception of fair trial.
23. In the case at hand, it is luculent that the High Court upon perusal of the record has come to hold that the notices were not served on the witnesses. The agonised widow of the deceased was compelled to invoke the revisional jurisdiction of the High Court against the judgment of acquittal as the trial was closed after examining a formal witness. The order passed by the High Court by no stretch of imagination can be regarded as faulty. That being the position, we have no speck of doubt in our mind that the whole trial is nothing but comparable to an experimentation conducted by a child in a laboratory. It is neither permissible nor allowable. Re: SC No.
Page 53 of 81 Therefore, we unhesitatingly affirm the order passed by the High Court as we treat the view expressed by it as unexceptionable, for by its order it has annulled an order which was replete with glaring defects that had led to the miscarriage of justice.” (Emphasis by us) 68. In paras 38 to 40 of the judgment reported at (2004) 4 SCC158 Zahira Habibulla H. Sheikh & Anr. v. State of Gujarat & Ors., also the Supreme Court held thus : “38. A criminal trial is a judicial examination of the issues in the case and its purpose is to arrive at a judgment on an issue as to a fact or relevant facts which may lead to the discovery of the fact issue and obtain proof of such facts at which the prosecution and the accused have arrived by their pleadings; the controlling question being the guilt or innocence of the accused. Since the object is to mete out justice and to convict the guilty and protect the innocent, the trial should be a search for the truth and not a bout over technicalities, and must be conducted under such rules as will protect the innocent, and punish the guilty. The proof of charge which has to be beyond reasonable doubt must depend upon judicial evaluation of the totality of the evidence, oral and circumstantial, and not by an isolated scrutiny.
39. Failure to accord fair hearing either to the accused or the prosecution violates even minimum standards of due process of law. It is inherent in the concept of due process of law, that condemnation should be rendered only after the trial in which the hearing is a real one, not sham or a mere farce and pretence. Since the fair hearing requires an opportunity to preserve the process, it may be Re: SC No.
Page 54 of 81 vitiated and violated by an overhasty, stage- managed, tailored and partisan trial.
40. The fair trial for a criminal offence consists not only in technical observance of the frame and forms of law, but also in recognition and just application of its principles in substance, to find out the truth and prevent miscarriage of justice.” (Emphasis by us) 69. On the aspect of duty of the court, the relevant paras of the judgment of the Supreme Court reported at (2004) 4 SCC158 Zahira Habibulla H. Sheikh & Anr. v. State of Gujarat & Ors. are reproduced thus : illegitimately affect “42. Legislative measures to emphasise prohibition against tampering with witness, victim or informant have become the imminent and inevitable need of the day. Conducts which the presentation of evidence in proceedings before the courts have to be seriously and sternly dealt with. There should not be any undue anxiety to only protect the interest of the accused. That would be unfair as noted above to the needs of the society. On the contrary, the efforts should be to ensure fair trial where the accused and the prosecution both get a fair proper administration of justice must be given as much importance, if not more, as the interests of the individual accused. In this courts have a vital role to play.
43. The courts have to take a participatory role in a trial. They are not expected to be tape recorders to record whatever is being stated by the witnesses. Section 311 of the Code and Section 165 of the Evidence Act confer vast and wide powers on presiding officers of court to elicit all necessary deal. Public interest in the Re: SC No.
Page 55 of 81 is not relevant, to monitor materials by playing an active role in the evidence- collecting process. They have the proceedings in aid of justice in a manner that something, which is not unnecessarily brought into record. Even if the prosecutor is remiss in some ways, it can control the proceedings effectively so that the ultimate objective i.e. truth is arrived at. This becomes more necessary where the court has reasons to believe that the prosecuting agency or the prosecutor is not acting in the requisite manner. The court cannot afford to be wishfully or pretend to be blissfully ignorant or oblivious to such serious pitfalls or dereliction of duty on the part of the prosecuting agency. The prosecutor who does not act fairly and acts more like a counsel for the defence is a liability to the fair judicial system, and courts could not also play into the hands of such prosecuting agency showing indifference or adopting an attitude of total aloofness.
44. The power of the court under Section 165 of the Evidence Act is in a way complementary to its power under Section 311 of the Code. The section consists of two parts i.e.: (i) giving a discretion to the court to examine the witness at any stage, and (ii) the mandatory portion which compels the court to examine a witness if his evidence appears to be essential to the just decision of the court. Though the discretion given to the court is very wide, the very width caution. In Mohanlal v. Union of India [1991 Supp (1) SCC271:
1991. SCC (Cri) 595]. this Court has observed, while considering the scope and ambit of Section 311, that the very usage of the words such as, “any court”, “at any stage”, or “any enquiry or trial or other proceedings”, “any person” and “any such person” clearly spells out that the section has expressed in the widest-possible terms and do not corresponding requires a Re: SC No.
Page 56 of 81 limit the discretion of the court in any way. However, as noted above, the very width requires a corresponding caution that the discretionary powers should be invoked as the exigencies of justice require and exercised judicially with circumspection and consistently with the provisions of the Code. The second part of the section does not allow any discretion but obligates and binds the court to take necessary steps if the fresh evidence to be obtained is essential to the just decision of the case, “essential” to an active and alert mind and not to one which is bent to abandon or abdicate. Object of the section is to enable the court to arrive at the truth irrespective of the fact that the prosecution or the defence has failed to produce some evidence which is necessary for a just and proper disposal of the case. The power is exercised and the evidence is examined neither to help the prosecution nor the defence, if the court feels that there is necessity to act in terms of Section 311 but only to subserve the cause of justice and public interest. It is done with an object of getting the evidence in aid of a just decision and to uphold the truth.
45. It is not that in every case where the witness who had given evidence before court wants to change his mind and is prepared to speak differently, that the court concerned should readily accede to such request by lending its assistance. If the witness who deposed one way earlier comes before the appellate court with a prayer that he is prepared to give evidence which is materially different from what he has given earlier at the trial with the reasons for the earlier lapse, the court can consider the genuineness of the prayer in the context as to whether the party concerned had a fair opportunity to speak the truth earlier and in an appropriate case, accept it. It is not that the power is to be exercised in a routine manner, but being an exception to the ordinary rule Re: SC No.
Page 57 of 81 telltale imprint of of disposal of appeal on the basis of records received in exceptional cases or extraordinary situation the court can neither feel powerless nor abdicate its duty to arrive at the truth and satisfy the ends of justice. The court can certainly be guided by the metaphor, separate the grain from the chaff, and in a case which has reasonableness and genuineness in the prayer, the same has to be accepted, at least to consider the worth, credibility and the acceptability of the same on merits of the material sought to be brought in.
46. Ultimately, as noted above, ad nauseam the duty of the court is to arrive at the truth and subserve the ends of justice. Section 311 of the Code does not confer on any party any right to examine, cross- examine and re-examine any witness. This is a power given to the court not to be merely exercised at the bidding of any one party/person but the powers conferred and discretion vested are to prevent any irretrievable or immeasurable damage to the cause of society, public interest and miscarriage of justice. Recourse may be had by courts to power under this section only for the purpose of discovering relevant facts or obtaining proper proof of such facts as are necessary to arrive at a just decision in the case. xxx xxx xxx 54. Though justice is depicted to be blindfolded, as popularly said, it is only a veil not to see who the party before it is while pronouncing judgment on the cause brought before it by enforcing law and administer justice and not to ignore or turn the mind/attention of the court away from the truth of the cause or lis before it, in disregard of its duty to prevent miscarriage of justice. When an ordinary citizen makes a grievance against the mighty administration, any indifference, inaction or lethargy shown in protecting his right guaranteed in law will tend to paralyse by such inaction or lethargic action Re: SC No.
Page 58 of 81 of courts and erode in stages the faith inbuilt in the judicial system ultimately destroying the very justice- delivery system of the country itself. Doing justice is the paramount consideration and that duty cannot be abdicated or diluted and diverted by manipulative red herrings.
55. The courts, at the expense of repetition we may state, exist for doing justice to the persons who are affected. The trial/first appellate courts cannot get swayed by abstract technicalities and close their eyes to factors which need to be positively probed and noticed. The court is not merely to act as a tape recorder recording evidence, overlooking the object of trial i.e. to get at the truth. It cannot be oblivious to the active role to be played for which there is not only ample scope, but sufficient powers conferred under the Code. It has a greater duty and responsibility i.e. to render justice, in a case where the role of the prosecuting agency itself is put in issue and is said to be hand in glove with the accused, parading a mock fight and making a mockery of the criminal justice administration itself.
56. As pithily stated in Jennison v. Baker [(1972) 1 All ER997: (1972) 2 QB52: (1972) 2 WLR429(CA)]. : (All ER p. 1006d) “The law should not be seen to sit by limply, while those who defy it go free, and those who seek its protection lose hope.” Courts have to ensure that accused persons are punished and that the might or authority of the State are not used to shield themselves or their men. It should be ensured that they do not wield such powers which under the Constitution has to be held only in trust for the public and society at large. If deficiency in investigation or prosecution is visible or can be perceived by lifting the veil trying to hide the realities or covering the obvious deficiencies, courts have to deal with the same with an iron hand Re: SC No.
Page 59 of 81 appropriately within the framework of law. It is as much the duty of the prosecutor as of the court to ensure that full and material facts are brought on record so that there might not be miscarriage of justice. (See Shakila Abdul Gafar Khan v. Vasant Raghunath Dhoble [(2003) 7 SCC749:
2003. SCC (Cri) 1918]. .) xxx xxx xxx lapse or omission 61. In the case of a defective investigation the court has to be circumspect in evaluating the evidence and may have to adopt an active and analytical role to ensure that truth is found by having recourse to Section 311 or at a later stage also resorting to Section 391 instead of throwing hands in the air in despair. It would not be right in acquitting an accused person solely on account of the defect; to do so would tantamount to playing into the hands of the investigating officer if the investigation is designedly defective. (See Karnel Singh v. State of M.P. [(1995) 5 SCC518:
1995. SCC (Cri) 977]. ) 62. In Paras Yadav v. State of Bihar [(1999) 2 SCC126:
1999. SCC (Cri) 104 (para 8)]. it was held that if the the investigating agency designedly or because of negligence, the prosecution evidence is required to be examined dehors such omissions to find out whether the said evidence is reliable or not. The contaminated conduct of officials should not stand in the way of courts getting at the truth by having recourse to Sections 311, 391 of the Code and Section 165 of the Evidence Act at the appropriate and relevant stages and evaluating the entire evidence; otherwise the designed mischief would be perpetuated with a premium to the offenders and justice would not only be denied to the complainant party but also made an ultimate casualty.
63. As was observed in Ram Bihari Yadav v. State of Bihar [(1998) 4 SCC517:
1998. SCC (Cri) 1085]. if is committed by Re: SC No.
Page 60 of 81 primacy is given to such designed or negligent investigation, to the omission or lapses by perfunctory investigation or omissions, the faith and confidence of the people would be shaken not only in the law- enforcing agency but also in the administration of justice in the hands of courts. The view was again reiterated in Amar Singh v. Balwinder Singh [(2003) 2 SCC518:
2003. SCC (Cri) 641]..” (Emphasis by us) 70. So far as analysis of the manner in which the trial court in Zahira Habibullah (2004) 4 SCC158had proceeded in issuing summons one day before the date of hearing and thereby making it must for witnesses to depose and also overlooking the pressure created leading to witnesses turning hostile before the trial court are concerned, the following observations of the Supreme Court are extremely important which read thus : “68. If one even cursorily glances through the records of the case, one gets a feeling that the justice- delivery system was being taken for a ride and literally allowed to be abused, misused and mutilated by subterfuge. The investigation appears to be perfunctory and anything but impartial without any definite object of finding out the truth and bringing to book those who were responsible for the crime. The Public Prosecutor appears to have acted more as a defence counsel than one whose duty was to present the truth before the Court. The Court in turn appeared to be a silent spectator, mute to the manipulations and preferred to be indifferent to sacrilege being committed to justice. The role of the State Government also leaves much to be desired. One gets a there was really no feeling that Re: SC No.
Page 61 of 81 that too after this Court expressed seriousness in the State's approach in assailing the trial court's judgment. This is clearly indicated by the fact that the first memorandum of appeal filed was an apology for the grounds. A second amendment was done, its unhappiness over the perfunctory manner in which the appeal was presented and the challenge made. That also was not the end of the matter. There was a subsequent petition for amendment. All this sadly reflects on the quality of determination exhibited by the State and the nature of seriousness shown to pursue the appeal. Criminal trials should not be reduced to be mock trials or shadow-boxing or fixed trials. Judicial criminal administration system must be kept clean and beyond the reach of whimsical political wills or agendas and properly insulated from discriminatory standards or yardsticks of the type prohibited by the mandate of the Constitution.
69. Those who are responsible for protecting life and properties and ensuring that investigation is fair and proper seem to have shown no real anxiety. Large number of people had lost their lives. Whether the accused persons were really assailants or not could have been established by a fair and impartial investigation. The modern-day “Neros” were looking elsewhere when Best Bakery and innocent children and helpless women were burning, and were probably deliberating how the perpetrators of the crime can be saved or protected. Law and justice become flies in the hands of these “wanton boys”. When fences start to swallow the crops, no scope will be left for survival of law and order or truth and justice. Public order as well as public interest become martyrs and monuments.
70. In the background of principles underlying Section 311 and Section 391 of the Code and Section 165 of the Evidence Act, it has to be seen as to whether the High Court's approach is correct and Re: SC No.
Page 62 of 81 whether it had acted justly, reasonably and fairly in placing premiums on the serious lapses of grave magnitude by the prosecuting agencies and the trial court, as well. There are several infirmities which are telltale even to the naked eye of even an ordinary common man. The High Court has come to a definite conclusion that the investigation carried out by the police was dishonest and faulty. That was and should have been per se sufficient justification to direct a retrial of the case. There was no reason for the High Court to come to further conclusion of its own about false implication without concrete basis and that too merely on conjectures. On the other hand, the possibility of the investigating agency trying to shield the accused persons keeping in view the methodology adopted and out-turn of events can equally be not ruled out. When the investigation is dishonest and faulty, it cannot be only with the purpose of false implication. It may also be noted at this stage that the High Court has even gone to the extent of holding that the FIR was manipulated. There was no basis for such a presumptive remark or arbitrary conclusion.” (Emphasis by us) 71. The Supreme Court also criticised the High Court in Zahira Habibullah for its finding that some of the witnesses were not present and, therefore, question of their statement being recorded by the police did not arise and that the statements under Section 161 of the Code were recorded in Gujarati language though the witnesses did not know Gujarati. The Supreme Court has also faulted the finding of the High Court that the witnesses were not present for the reason that their statements under Section 161 did not exist. In this regard, Re: SC No.
Page 63 of 81 the following observations of the Supreme Court shed valuable light on the similar issue under consideration : it “71. …The reasoning is erroneous for more reasons than one. There was no material before the High Court for coming to a finding that the persons did not know Gujarati since there may be a person who could converse fluently in a language though not a literate to read and write. Additionally, is not a requirement in law that the statement under Section 161 of the Code has to be recorded in the language known to the person giving the statement. As a matter of fact, the person giving the statement is not required to sign the statement as is mandated in Section 162 of the Code. Sub-section (1) of Section 161 of the Code provides that the competent police officer may examine orally any person supposed to be acquainted with the facts and circumstances of the case. Requirement is the examination by the police officer concerned. Sub-section (3) is relevant, and it requires the police officer to reduce to writing any statement made to him in the course of an examination under this section; and if he does so, he shall make a separate and true record of the statement of each such person whose statement he records. Statement made by a witness to the police officer during investigation may be reduced to writing. It is not obligatory on the part of the police officer to record any statement made to him. He may do so if he feels it necessary. What is enjoined by the section is a truthful disclosure by the person who is examined. In the above circumstances the conclusion of the High Court holding that the persons were not present is untenable. The reasons indicated by the High Court to justify non-examination of the eyewitnesses is also not sustainable. In respect of one it has been said that whereabouts of the witness may not be known. There is nothing on record to Re: SC No.
Page 64 of 81 show that the efforts were made by the prosecution to produce the witness for tendering evidence and yet the net result was “untraceable”. In other words, the evidence which should have been brought before the Court was not done with any meticulous care or seriousness. It is true that the prosecution is not bound to examine each and every person who has been named as witness. A person named as a witness may be given up when there is material to show that he has been gained over or that there is no likelihood of the witness speaking the truth in the court. There was no such material brought to the notice of justify non- examination. The materials on record are totally silent on this aspect. …” the courts below to (Emphasis by us) 72. So far as the role of the prosecutor is concerned, in para 71 of Zahira Habibulla H. Sheikh & Anr. v. State of Gujarat & Ors. (2004) 4 SCC158 the Supreme Court has made the following observations : “71. ... Role of the Public Prosecutor was also not in line with what is expected of him. Though a Public Prosecutor is not supposed to be a persecutor, yet the minimum that was required to be done to fairly present the case of the prosecution was not done. Time and again, this Court stressed upon the need of the investigating officer being present during trial unless compelling reasons exist for a departure. In the instant case, this does not appear to have been done, and there is no explanation whatsoever why it was not done. Even the Public Prosecutor does not appear to have taken note of this desirability. In Shailendra Kumar v. State of Bihar [(2002) 1 SCC655:
2002. SCC (Cri) 2
(2001) 8 Supreme 13]. it was observed as under: (SCC pp. 657- 58, para
9) Re: SC No.
Page 65 of 81 “9. In our view, in a murder trial it is sordid and repulsive matter that without informing the police station officer-in-charge, the matters are proceeded by the court and by the APP and tried to be disposed of as if the prosecution has not led any evidence. From the facts stated above, it appears that the accused wants to frustrate the prosecution by unjustified means and it appears that by one way or the other the Additional Sessions Judge as well as the APP have not taken any interest in discharge of their duties. It was the duty of the Sessions Judge to issue summons to the investigating officer if he failed to remain present at the time of trial of the case. The presence of investigating officer at the time of trial is must. It is his duty to keep the witnesses present. If there is failure on the part of any witness to remain present, it is the duty of the court to take appropriate of bailable/non-bailable warrants as the case may be. It should be well understood that prosecution cannot be frustrated by such methods and victims of the crime cannot be left in a lurch.” including action issuance (Emphasis by us) 73. So far as the affidavit regarding threat from powerful persons meriting re-examination of the witnesses in Zahira Habibullah is concerned, the uniqueness of the circumstances and the trial have been discussed in para 73 of the judgment in the following terms : “73. So far as non-examination of some injured relatives is concerned, the High Court has held that in the absence of any medical report, it appears that they were not present and, therefore, held that the prosecutor might have decided not to examine Yasminbanu because there was no injury. This is Re: SC No.
Page 66 of 81 nothing but a wishful conclusion based on presumption. It is true that merely because the affidavit has been filed stating that the witnesses were threatened, as a matter of routine, additional evidence should not be permitted. But when the circumstances as in this case clearly indicate that there is some truth or prima facie substance in the grievance made, having regard to the background of events as happened, the appropriate course for the courts would be to admit additional evidence for final adjudication so that the acceptability or otherwise of evidence tendered by way of additional evidence can be tested properly and legally tested in the context of probative value of the two versions. There cannot be a straitjacket formula or rule of universal application when alone it can be done and when, not. As the provisions under Section 391 of the Code are by way of an exception, the court has to carefully consider the need for and desirability to accept additional evidence. We do not think it necessary to highlight all the infirmities in the judgment of the High Court or the approach of the trial court lest nothing credible or worth mentioning would remain in the process. This appears to be a case where the truth has become a casualty in the trial. We are satisfied that it is a fit and proper case, in the background of the nature of additional evidence sought to be adduced and the perfunctory manner of trial conducted on the basis of tainted investigation a retrial is a must and essentially called for in order to save and preserve the justice-delivery system unsullied and unscathed by vested interests. We should not be understood to have held that whenever additional evidence is accepted, retrial is a necessary corollary. The case on hand is without parallel and comparison to any of the cases where even such grievances were sought to be made. It stands on its own as an exemplary one, special of its kind, Re: SC No.
Page 67 of 81 necessary to prevent its recurrence. It is normally for the appellate court to decide whether the adjudication itself by taking into account the additional evidence would be proper or it would be appropriate to direct a fresh trial, though, on the facts of this case, the direction for retrial becomes inevitable.” (Emphasis by us) 74. In para 9 of the judgment of the Supreme Court reported at (1984) 4 SCC533 Sunil Kumar Pal v. Phota Sheikh, it was held thus : “9. … It is imperative that in order that people may not lose faith in the administration of criminal justice, no one should be allowed to subvert the legal process. No citizen should go away with the feeling that he could not get justice from the court because the other side was socially, economically or politically powerful and could manipulate the legal process. That would be subversive of the rule of law.” 75. In (2006) 3 SCC374Zahira Habibullah Sheikh (5) & Anr. v. State of Gujarat & Ors., the Supreme Court has succinctly stated the principles on which the conduct of trial must be evaluated thus : “38. Failure to accord fair hearing either to the accused or the prosecution violates even minimum standards of due process of law. It is inherent in the concept of due process of law, that condemnation should be rendered only after the trial in which the hearing is a real one, not sham or a mere farce and pretence. Since fair hearing requires an opportunity to preserve the process, it may be the Re: SC No.
Page 68 of 81 vitiated and violated by an over hasty stage- managed, tailored and partisan trial.
39. The fair trial for a criminal offence consists not only in technical observance of the frame, and forms of law, but also in recognition and just application of its principles in substance, to find out the truth and prevent miscarriage of justice.” (Emphasis supplied) 76. So far failure to produce vital witnesses by prosecution adversely impacting the outcome of trials is concerned, in (2006) 3 SCC374Zahira Habibullah Sheikh (5) & Anr. v. State of Gujarat & Ors., the Supreme Court has observed thus: “40. “Witnesses” as Bentham said: are the eyes and ears of justice. Hence, the importance and primacy of the quality of trial process. If the witness himself is incapacitated from acting as eyes and ears of justice, the trial gets putrefied and paralysed, and it no longer can constitute a fair trial. The incapacitation may be due to several factors, like the witness being not in a position for reasons beyond control to speak the truth in the court or due to negligence or ignorance or some corrupt collusion. Time has become ripe to act on account of numerous experiences faced by the courts on account of frequent turning of witnesses as hostile, either due to threats, coercion, lures and monetary considerations at the instance of those in power, their henchmen and hirelings, political clouts and patronage and innumerable other corrupt practices ingeniously adopted to smother and stifle the truth and realities coming out to surface rendering truth and justice, to become ultimate casualties. Broader public and societal interests require that the victims of the crime who are not ordinarily parties to prosecution and the Re: SC No.
Page 69 of 81 interests of the State represented by their prosecuting agencies do not suffer even in slow process but irreversibly and irretrievably, which if allowed would undermine and destroy public confidence in the administration of justice, which may ultimately pave way for anarchy, oppression and injustice resulting in complete breakdown and collapse of the edifice of rule of law, enshrined and jealously guarded and protected by the Constitution. There comes the need for protecting the witness. Time has come when serious and undiluted thoughts are to be bestowed for protecting witnesses so that the ultimate truth is presented before the court and justice triumphs and that the trial is not reduced to a mockery. Doubts are raised about the roles of investigating agencies. Consequences of defective investigation have been elaborated in Dhanaj Singh v. State of Punjab [(2004) 3 SCC654:
2004. SCC (Cri) 8
JT (2004) 3 SC380 . It was observed as follows: (SCC p. 657, paras 5-7) the if investigating officer “5. In the case of a defective investigation the court has to be circumspect in evaluating the evidence. But it would not be right in acquitting an accused person solely on account of the defect; to do so would tantamount to playing into the hands of the investigation is designedly defective. (See Karnel Singh v. State of M.P. [(1995) 5 SCC518:
1995. SCC (Cri) 977]. ) 6. In Paras Yadav v. State of Bihar [(1999) 2 SCC126:
1999. SCC (Cri) 104]. it was held that if the lapse or omission the investigating agency or because of negligence the prosecution evidence is required to be examined dehors such omissions to find out whether the said evidence is reliable or not, the contaminated conduct of officials should not stand in the way of evaluating the evidence by the courts; otherwise is committed by Re: SC No.
Page 70 of 81 the designed mischief would be perpetuated and justice would be denied to the complainant party.
7. As was observed in Ram Bihari Yadav v. State of Bihar [(1998) 4 SCC517:
1998. SCC (Cri) 1085]. if primacy is given to such designed or negligent investigation, to the omission or lapses by perfunctory investigation or omissions, the faith and confidence of the people would be shaken not only in the law-enforcing agency but also in the administration of justice. The view was again reiterated in Amar Singh v. Balwinder Singh [(2003) 2 SCC518:
2003. SCC (Cri) 641]..” 77. A prima facie consideration of the composite challan dated 25th March, 1985 indicates lip service to the duty to investigate while the judgments in SC Nos.10/86, 11/86, 31/86,
and
reflect no steps or compliance with Sections 62, 64, 65, 87 and 311 of the Cr.P.C. as well as Section 165 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 and haste to scuttle prosecutions and close trials.
78. The complaints which were the basis of the trials in SC Nos.10/86, 11/86, 31/86,
and 33/86, refer to the incidents on 1st and 2nd November, 1984, all in the Raj Nagar referable to the police post Palam Colony under Police Station Delhi Cantt. They were investigated by the same police officials. A consolidated final report dated 25th March, 1985 under Section 173 of the Code of Criminal Procedure was filed in court. It is undisputed that after committals and framing of charges, the trials in these cases culminated within a short Re: SC No.
Page 71 of 81 period of three to four months and the final outcome was acquittal of the accused persons from the charges.
79. Even if each complaint could be examined as a standalone crime, it is undisputed that each of them relates to the very serious offence of commission of murder. Some of the accused persons are implicated for commission of more than one such offence. Would these crimes fall in the category where truth has become a casualty at the hands of investigator, prosecutor and in the trial?. Passage of time – whether could impact exercise of revisional powers of the High Court under Section 397 of the Cr.P.C.
80. In (1981) 2 SCC758 Municipal Corporation of Delhi v. Girdharilal Sapuru & Ors., the magistrate acquitted the respondent accused in a food adulteration case relying upon a Supreme Court decision. The MCD preferred a revision petition to the High Court of Delhi. By the time, the High Court heard the matter, the decision which had been relied upon by the High Courts stood overruled by the Supreme Court. However, the High Court was of the view that the revision petition which had been filed by the MCD was barred by the limitation on account of delay in refiling after removing the objections of the Registry. The Supreme Court held that the High Court was in error in dismissing the revision petition filed by the MCD. The Supreme Court observed that even Re: SC No.
Page 72 of 81 under Section 397 of the Cr.P.C., the High Court was enabled to exercise the power of revision suo motu.
81. So far as the restriction of exercise of power on a technical ground of delay or limitation is concerned, we extract hereunder the observations of the Supreme Court in para 5 of (1981) 2 SCC758 Municipal Corporation of Delhi v. Girdharilal Sapuru & Ors., which shed valuable light on the consideration of the scope and contours of exercise of revisional jurisdiction thus : the petition as time barred the “5. ... Without going into the nicety of this too technical contention, we may notice that Section 397 of the Code of Criminal Procedure enables the High Court to exercise power of revision suo motu and when the attention of the High Court was drawn to a clear illegality the High Court could not have rejected thereby perpetuating illegality and miscarriage of justice. The question whether a discharge order is interlocutory or otherwise need not detain us because it is settled by a decision of this Court that the discharge order terminates the proceeding and, therefore it is revisable under Section 397(1), CrPC and Section 397(1) in terms confers power of suo motu revision on the High Court, and if the High Court exercises suo motu revision power the same cannot be denied on the ground that there is some limitation prescribed for the exercise of the power because none such is prescribed. If in such a situation the suo motu power is not exercised what a glaring be demonstrably established by this case itself. We, however, do not propose to say a single word on the merits of the cause because there should not be even a whimper of prejudice to the accused who in view of goes unnoticed illegality can Re: SC No.
Page 73 of 81 this judgment would have to face the trial before the learned Magistrate.” (Emphasis by us) 82. A very interesting question arose for consideration before the High Court in the judgment reported at AIR1962SC1530 State of Kerala v. Narayani Amma Kamala Devi & Ors. The accused stood convicted on a charge of theft by the magistrate and his appeal to the Sessions Court was unsuccessful. Unfortunately, the accused Gobindankutty Nair died within a few hours of the pronouncement of the judgment. His widow and two minor sons presented an application under Section 439 (presently Section 401 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973) in the High Court of Judicature of Kerala against the Sessions Court judgment praying that the order recording the sale proceeds of the car of the accused which had been seized during investigation be set aside. The High Court rejected the application for revision as not maintainable, the accused having died, however, granting a certificate under Article 134(1)(c) of the Constitution certifying that the case was fit for appeal. The Supreme Court considered the distinction between the provisions of the Cr.P.C., as applicable to a criminal appeal, and the revisional jurisdiction under the Cr.P.C. It was observed that so far as an appeal is concerned, upon the death of the convicted person, by virtue of Section 431 of the Cr.P.C. (presently Section 394 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973), the appeal abates on the death of Re: SC No.
Page 74 of 81 the appellant. However, there was no such provision guiding consideration of the revision which was an important distinction between the exercise of appeal and revisonal jurisdiction.
83. It was noted in para 6 of Narayani Amma Kamala Devi that the appeal must be preferred by a convicted person which was a condition for exercise of the power. This condition was conspicuous by its absence so far as the exercise of revisional power is concerned as Section 439 of the Cr.P.C. mandates that in case of any proceedings, the record of which has been called for by itself or which has been reported for orders or which otherwise comes to its knowledge, the “revisional jurisdiction can be exercised by the High Court by being moved either by the convicted person himself or by any other person or suo motu, on the basis of its own knowledge derived from any source whatsoever without being moved by any person at all. All that is necessary to bring the High Court's powers of revision into operation is: such information as makes the High Court think that an order made by a subordinate court is fit for the exercise of its powers of revision”.
84. In para 7, it was clearly laid down that in a proper case, the High Court can exercise its power of revision of an order made against an accused person even after his death. Re: SC No.
Page 75 of 81 It is therefore, well settled that revisional jurisdiction of this court is exceptional and wide and would be exercised to secure ends of justice. Investigation – whether any undertaken 85. A perusal of the above composite chargesheet/final report under Section 173 of the Cr.P.C. dated 25th March, 1985 would show that the bare essential requirements of an investigation into any of the complaints do not appear to have been carried out before its filing. It is not disclosed as to on whose instance the site plan was prepared and what were the photographs taken of?. No effort has been made to trace out either the dead bodies or the stolen materials. No statement of the eye-witnesses, including relatives or any other neighbours or other public persons who may have been present has been recorded. To say the least, the bare notions of investigation do not seem to have been carried out before the challan has been filed.
86. What to say of investigation, the complaints which disclosed commission of the heinous and serious offence like murder, have not even been registered.
87. The prosecutors also appear to have completely abdicated their duties and have not assisted the trial courts nor ensured that the truth was brought out, guilty convicted and serious crimes punished. The prosecutions were launched Re: SC No.
Page 76 of 81 without any effort at ensuring that investigations were honestly complete and that culpability could be fixed.
88. During the course of hearing Crl.A.Nos.715/2013, 753/2013, 831/2013, 851/201, 861/2013, 1099/2013 and 710/2014, we have repeatedly queried counsels as to who was killed, or even how many died in the violence which erupted after the 31st of October, 1984?. We have got no firm answer at all. The complaints in SC No.
(lodged by Daljit Kaur);
(lodged by Swaran Kaur –widow);
(lodged by Jagir Kaur – widow);
(lodged by Sampuran Kaur – widow) and
(lodged by Baljit Kaur – daughter) show that only adult male members of families of one community were killed. The complaints disclose horrifying crimes against humanity. The complaints also point out that male members of one community were singled out for elimination. This suggests that these were no ordinary crimes, or ‘simple’ murders (if ever a murder could be termed as ‘simple’). Treated as individual cases, while the culprits got away scot free, everybody else, the police, the prosecutors, even the courts, appear to have failed the victims, and, most importantly society. Perhaps, had these terrible offences in 1984 been punished and the offenders brought to book, the history of crime in this country, may have been different. We are of the view that if we fail to take action even now, we would be miserably failing in our constitutional duty as well as in discharging judicial function. Re: SC No.
Page 77 of 81 89. We have crafted this order with care and circumspection merely noting bare facts, proceedings and orders brought to our knowledge, as well as statutory provisions and judicial precedents, conscious of the first principle that no person can be “condemned” unheard. However, this order under Section 401 of the Cr.P.C. must show that we have applied our mind and prima facie found that material and circumstances as well as the law mandates invocation of our revisional jurisdiction under Section 401 of the Cr.P.C. before issuance of notice. We have abided by this discipline required by law. We, therefore, make it clear that all our observations hereinabove are a prima facie consideration. Nothing herein contained is a final view in the matter which would be taken after hearing the respondents.
90. Given the manner in which the Delhi Police appears to have conducted itself and the failure of the prosecution in performing its basic functions, we are of the view that independent assistance is needed by this court for consideration of the case. Whether the victim and complainant should be heard 91. In the present case, the composite final report dated 25th March, 1985 admits that it commenced intervention only on complaints made by relatives of deceased who were also victims of the violence. They had complained of having faced threats and their property being stolen or destroyed. We have extracted hereinabove the composite final report under Section Re: SC No.
Page 78 of 81 173 of the Cr.P.C. regarding the five complaints setting out the nature of investigation undertaken on their complaints and the final judgments after the trials which suggest insufficient effort, if any made, to ensure the appearance of the complainants before the court.
92. In this background, would it not be appropriate to array the complainants as party respondents and give them an opportunity of being heard on the notice which we are proposing to issue?. We are of the view that interests of justice merit that these complainants would have a right to be heard ought to be afforded an opportunity of hearing in these revisions. We have consequently arrayed the complainant in SC No.
as party respondent no.6 hereinabove. Upon appearance, it shall be ascertained as to whether the complainant – respondent no.6 deserves to be assigned counsel by the Delhi High Court Legal Services Committee to ensure effective representation. In case, the other private respondents have an objection to the representation of the complainant in the present matter, we shall hear them on such objections as well. Directions 93. We accordingly direct as follows : (i) Let this order be registered as a petition under Section 401 of the Cr.P.C. Re: SC No.
Page 79 of 81 (ii) Issue notice without process fee to the private respondent nos. 1 to 4 as well as the State – respondent no.5 to show cause as to why the judgment dated 28th May, 1986 in SC No.
premised on the composite chargesheet dated 25th March, 1985 based inter alia on the complaint dated 15th November, 1984 of Smt. Swaran Kaur (clubbed with FIR No.416/84, P.S. Delhi Cantt.), be not set aside and a retrial/fresh trial be directed by this court in exercise of its revisional powers under Section 401 of the Cr.P.C. (iii) Issue notice without process fee to private respondent nos. 1 to 4 as well as the State – respondent no.5 to show cause as to why this court not direct fresh/further investigation into the complaint of Smt. Swaran Kaur by an independent agency as the Central Bureau of Investigation. (iv) The address of the complainant – respondent No.6 shall be ascertained by the State within two weeks from today and the same shall be filed in the registry. (v) Subject to the compliance with the above directions, court notice without process fee shall be issued for the service of complainant – respondent No.6. (vi) Compliance with the above directions shall be got ensured by the Commissioner, Delhi Police. (vii) A copy of the composite final report dated 25th March, 1985 filed by the Delhi Police in SC Nos.10/86, 11/86, 31/86,
and
(placed by CBI on the record of Crl.A.No.1099/2013) and a copy of the judgment dated 28th Re: SC No.
Page 80 of 81 May, 1986 in SC No.
shall be placed in the file along with the present order. (viii) For the reasons set out above, we appoint Mr. Vivek Sood, Sr. Advocate as Amicus Curiae in this matter. (ix) The Registry shall ensure that a complete paper book is made available to the Amicus Curiae. (x) It shall be the responsibility of the Delhi High Court Legal Services Committee to pay the fees of the Amicus Curiae which are quantified at `50,000/-. (xi) All notices shall be returnable on 20th April, 2017. GITA MITTAL, J ANU MALHOTRA, J MARCH29 2017 aj Re: SC No.
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