THE STATE OF KARNATAKA v. SAVITHRI @ USHA

2. Heard Sri B.N.Jagadeesha, learned Additional State Public Prosecutor for the petitioner - State.

3. The respondent – accused gets embroiled in a crime for offences punishable under 143, 147, 148, 447, 435, 506 r/w. 149 of the IPC, Sections 3 and 25 of the Indian Arms Act and Section 10(b) and 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in crime No.74/2013. On completion of investigation, the police file a charge sheet and the matter is pending in C.C.No.2605/2018 as the case is committed to the Court of Sessions. The prosecution on 23.06.2022 files an application seeking body warrant of the accused who was absconding in the charge sheet but was then lodged in a Central Jail, Thrissur, - 3 - NC: 2024:KHC:46996 CRL.P No. 51 of 2023 Kerala State. The application comes to be rejected by the concerned Court on the ground that the case is committed to the Court of Sessions and therefore, an order seeking body warrant cannot be issued. This order has driven the petitioner – State to this Court in the subject petition.

4. Learned Additional State Public Prosecutor appearing for the petitioner submits that a serious issue is treated trivially by the concerned Court as mere filing of a charge sheet will not close the proceedings. The prosecution has always got a right to file an supplementary charge sheet under Section 173(8) of the Cr.P.C. The issue in the lis is with regard to the naxalite activities in the area. Learned Additional State Public Prosecutor would succinctly submit that the crime is registered on a complaint of one K. Ramachandra Bhat, a resident of Kukkuje cross, Kuthluru village, Belthangady taluk, alleging that some of the naxalites have trespassed into his house, damages his bike and car and raised slogans against the police and the government and fled away from the scene. - 4 - NC: 2024:KHC:46996 CRL.P No. 51 of 2023

5. The issue in the lis is not with regard to the merit of the matter. In the pending proceedings, the petitioner - State files an application under Section 267 of the Cr.P.C. seeking an order for body warrant to secure the respondent who was then in the Central Jail at Thrissur. This comes to be rejected. Therefore, it becomes germane to notice the requisition and the order impugned dated 23.06.2022. They read as follows: ““ಈ ಪ(cid:4)ಕರಣದ ತ(cid:10)(cid:11)ಾ ಸಮಯ ಆ(cid:17)ೋ(cid:21)ತರುಗ(cid:24)ಾದ (cid:25)ಕ(cid:4)ಂ (cid:27)ೌಡ, (cid:30)ಾ(cid:25)(cid:31)(cid:4), ಸುಂದ , (cid:25)ಜ", ಜಯಣ# ಮತು$ ಇತರ ಅಪ ’ತ 20 ಂದ 25 ಜನ )ೕ*ೆ ಆ(cid:17)ೋಪ (cid:30)ಾ+ೕ,ಾ-ದು., ಆ /ೈ1 ದಸ$- 2ಾದ ಆ(cid:17)ೋ(cid:21)ತ ರ)ೕ4 @ 5ೆ(cid:10)6 ರ)ೕ4 ಎಂ8ಾತನ (cid:25)ರುದ9 :ೋ;ಾ(cid:17)ೋಪ<ಾ ¥ÀnÖAiÀÄ£ÀÄß vÀAiÀiÁj¹zÀÄÝ, G½zÀ ಆ(cid:17)ೋ=ತರಗಳ? ತ*ೆಮ(cid:17)ೆ@Aೊಂಡ ಆ(cid:17)ೋ(cid:21)ತರುಗ(cid:24)ೆಂದು ಪ ಗB@ zÉÆõÁgÉÆÃ¥ÀuÁ ಪತ(cid:4)ದ Aಾಲಂ 12 ರ°è ನಮೂDಸುವ ಬದಲು Aಾಲಂ ನಂಬ(cid:4) 13 ರGH ನಮೂDಸ*ಾ-:ೆ. ಅಲH:ೆ ಈ ಬ(cid:27)ೆI :ೋ;ಾ(cid:17)ೋಪ<ಾ ಪJKAiÀÄ Aಾಲಂ 17 ರGH ದಸ$- (cid:27)ೆ ಲಭMNಾಗದ, ಸD(cid:4) ಪ(cid:4)ಕರಣದGH ತ*ೆ ಮ(cid:17)ೆ@AೊಂOರುವ ಆ(cid:17)ೋ(cid:21)ಗ(cid:24)ಾದ (cid:25)ಕ(cid:4)ಮ (cid:27)ೌಡ, (cid:30)ಾ(cid:25)(cid:31)(cid:4), ಸುಂದ , (cid:25)ಜ", ಜಯಣ# ಮತು$ ಇತರ ಅಪ ’ತ 20 ಂದ 25 ಜನರು ನಕPQ ಚಟುವJAೆಯGH ,ೊಡ-AೊಂOದು., 2ಾವT:ೇ (cid:10)ಖರNಾದ ಸVಳದGH Nಾಸ(cid:25)ರ:ೆ WಾXೕNಾD ಸಂಘಟZೆಗಳGH Aಾ2ಾ[ಚರ<ೆ WಾOAೊಂಡು ಅಂತ(cid:17)ಾಜMದ Aಾಡು ಪ(cid:4):ೇಶಗಳGH ಅ*ೆ:ಾಡುವ ದುಷ^_[ಗ(cid:24)ಾ-ದು., ಮುಂದAೆ^ ಈ ಆ(cid:17)ೋ(cid:21)ಗಳ? ಪ,ೆ$2ಾದGH ಅವರ (cid:25)ರುದ9 ‘ೆಚುaವ :ೋ;ಾ(cid:17)ೋಪ<ಾ ಪತ(cid:4)ವನು6 WಾನM ZಾM2ಾಲಯAೆ^ ಸGHಸ*ಾಗುವTದು ಎಂದು ಷ(cid:17)ಾ ನಮೂDಸ*ಾ-:ೆ. ಈ ಪ(cid:4)ಕರಣವT ಪ(cid:4)ಸು$ತ WಾನM b*ಾH (cid:30)ೆಷcP ZಾM2ಾಲಯದGH ಎd.@. ನಂಬ(cid:4) 38/2019 ರಂ,ೆ (cid:25)5ಾರ<ೆಯGHರುತ$:ೆ. Dದುದ ಂದ WಾನM ZಾM2ಾಲಯದGH (cid:10)NೇD@Aೊಳ?eವT:ೇZೆಂದ(cid:17)ೆ ಪ(cid:4)ಸಕ$ :ೋ;ಾ(cid:17)ೋಪ<ಾ ¥ÀnÖAiÀÄ Aಾಲಂ 12 ರGH ದಸ$- (cid:27)ೆ ಲಭMNಾದ ರ)ೕ4 2ಾZೆ 5ೆ(cid:10)6ರ)ೕ4 ‘ೆಸರನು6 Wಾತ(cid:4)ವಲH:ೇ zÀ¸ÀÛVjUÉ ®¨sÀåªÁUÀzÀ, ¸À¢æ ಪ(cid:4)ಕರಣದGH ತ*ೆ ಮ(cid:17)ೆ@AೊಂOರುವ ಆ(cid:17)ೋ(cid:21)ಗ(cid:24)ಾದ (cid:25)fರಮ (cid:27)ೌಡ, (cid:30)ಾ(cid:25)(cid:31)(cid:4), ¸ÀÄAzÀj «dAiÀiï ಜಯಣ# gÀªÀgÀ ºÉ¸ÀgÀ£ÀÄß ಕೂgಾ ಪ ಗBಸ8ೇAಾ- WಾನM ZಾM2ಾಲಯದGH ಅ Aೆ. - 5 - NC: 2024:KHC:46996 CRL.P No. 51 of 2023 ಈ ಪ(cid:4)ಕರಣದGH hಾ-2ಾದ ಮತು$ ಸD(cid:4) ನಕPQ ಸಂಘಟZೆಯGH ,ೊಡ- ಭೂಗತNಾ- ತ*ೆ ಮ(cid:17)ೆ@AೊಂOದ., ಆ(cid:17)ೋ(cid:21)ತರುಗಳ /ೈ1 (cid:30)ಾ(cid:25)(cid:31)(cid:4) @ ಉ;ಾ, jc: D. *ೋಕಪk (cid:27)ೌಡ, Nಾಸ: ಜ ಮZೆ, ಅಲವಹme ಅಂ5ೆ ಕಸ8ಾ ‘ೋಬm, ಮೂO(cid:27)ೆ(cid:17)ೆ ,ಾಲೂಕು, ’ಕ^ಮಗಳnರು b*ೆH ಎಂ8ಾAೆಯನು6 Aೇರಳ ¥ÉưøÀgÀÄ zÀ¸ÀÛVj ಪO@ WಾನM ZಾM2ಾಲಯದ ಮುಂ:ೆ ‘ಾಜರುಪO@ದು., ಸD(cid:4) ಆ(cid:17)ೋ(cid:21)ತಳ?. Aೇರಳ gÁdåzÀ°è Kerala State, Thrissur District Viyyur Central Jail High Security Prison RP No-101/21 (Vanitha Prison) gÀ°è (cid:25)5ಾರ<ಾoೕನ (cid:11)ೈD2ಾ-ರು,ಾ$(cid:24)ೆ. ಪO@ «ZÁgÀuÉUÉ ಪ(cid:4)ಕರಣದGH ಅ(cid:17)ೋ(cid:21)ತ(cid:24)ಾದ (cid:30)ಾ(cid:25)(cid:31)(cid:4) @ ಉ;ಾ ಎಂ8ಾAೆಯನು6 ಈ ಪ(cid:4)ಕರಣದGH (cid:30)ಾqಾrsಾರಗಳನು6 ದಸ$- ಸಂಗ(cid:4)tಸ8ೇAಾ-ರುವTದ ಂದ, WಾನM ZಾM2ಾಲಯವT ಆ(cid:17)ೋ(cid:21)ತ (cid:30)ಾ(cid:25)(cid:31)(cid:4) @ ಉ;ಾ ಎಂ8ಾAೆಯನು6 "8ಾO Nಾರಂಟನು6 ªÀÄÆ®PÀ ºÁdgÀÄ¥Àr¸ÀĪÀAvÉ DzÉò¹ ¨Ár ªÁgÉAlzÀ ‘ೊರOಸ8ೇAಾ- ಘನ ZಾM2ಾಲಯದGH /ಾ(cid:4)ಥ[Zೆ.” ಒಳಪO@ ‘ೆ’aನ The impugned order is as follows: ““23.06.2022 ¸ÀºÁAiÀÄPÀ ¥Éưøï C¢üÃPÀëPÀgÀÄ §AmÁé¼À G¥À«¨sÁUÀ EªÀgÀÄ ªÉÃtÆgÀÄ ¥Éưøï oÁuÁ C.PÀæ.74/13 gÀ°è DgÉÆævÀ¼ÁVgÀĪÀ ¸Á«wæ @ GµÁ «gÀÄzÀÞ ¨ÁrªÁgÉAmï ºÉÆgÀr¸À¨ÁPÁV ¤ªÉÃzÀ£É ¸À°è¹gÀÄvÁÛgÉ. O/N:- ªÉÃtÆgÀÄ C,PÀæ. 74/13 gÀ°è FUÁUÀ¯Éà F £ÁåAiÀiÁ®AiÀÄzÀ°è C.C2605/2018 gÀAvÉ zÁR¯ÁV ¢£ÁAPÀ 25.01.2019 gÀAzÀÄ ªÀiÁ£Àå f¯Áè committal DV ¸ÀvÀæ ªÀÄvÀÄÛ ªÀUÁðªÀuÉAiÀiÁVgÀÄvÀÛzÉ. £ÁåAiÀiÁ®AiÀÄ ªÀÄAUÀ¼ÀÆgÀÄ E°èUÉ ªÀÄÄA¢£À DzÉñÀPÁÌV- ಸ‘ಾಯಕ vGೕd ಅoೕwಕರು ಪ(cid:4)ಸು$ತ (cid:10)NೇದZೆಯನು6 ZಾM2ಾಲಯದ vGೕd @ಬxಂD ಮೂಲಕ ಸGH@ ಪ(cid:4)ಸು$ತ ಪ(cid:4)ಕರಣದGH ಆ(cid:17)ೋ(cid:21),ೆ2ಾ-ರುವ (cid:30)ಾ(cid:25)(cid:31)(cid:4) ಅG2ಾd ಉ;ಾ ಎಂ8ಾAೆಯ (cid:25)ರುದ. 8ಾO Nಾರಂy (cid:10)ೕಡುವಂ,ೆ Aೋ (cid:10)NೇದZೆ ಸGH@ರು,ಾ$(cid:17)ೆ. ತ(cid:10)(cid:11)ಾoAಾ ಯ (cid:10)NೇದZೆಯನು6 ಪ zೕGಸ*ಾ- ಪ(cid:4)ಸು$ತ ಪ(cid:4)ಕರಣದ ಕಲಂ ನಂ 12 ರGH ದಸ$- (cid:27)ೆ ಲಭM(cid:25)ದ. ಆ(cid:17)ೋ(cid:21)ಯ ‘ೆಸರನು6 Wಾತ(cid:4)ವಲH:ೇ ತ*ೆಮ(cid:17)ೆ@AೊಂOರುವ ಆ(cid:17)ೋ(cid:21)ಗ(cid:24)ಾದ (cid:25)ಕ(cid:4)ಂ (cid:27)ೌಡ, (cid:30)ಾ(cid:25)(cid:31)(cid:4), ಸುಂದ , (cid:25)ಜ", ಜಯಣ#ರವರ ‘ೆಸರನು6 ಕೂಡ - 6 - NC: 2024:KHC:46996 CRL.P No. 51 of 2023 ಪ ಗBಸ8ೇAೆಂದು (cid:10)NೇದZೆ ಸGH@ (cid:30)ಾ(cid:25)(cid:31)(cid:4) ಅG2ಾd ಉ;ಾ ಎಂಬುವವರ (cid:25)ರುದ9 8ಾO Nಾರಂಟನು6 ‘ೊರOಸುವಂ,ೆ (cid:10)NೇದZೆ ಸGH@ರುವTದು ಕಂಡುಬಂDರುತ$:ೆ. ಕ5ೇ ಯವರು ಆ:ೇಶ ‘ಾ(cid:24)ೆಯGH ಬ(cid:17)ೆDರುವ Zೋಟನು6 ಗಮ(cid:10)@:ಾಗ ಪ(cid:4)ಸು$ತ ಪ(cid:4)ಕರಣ ಈ(cid:27)ಾಗ*ೇ WಾನM b*ಾH ಮತು$ ಸತ(cid:4) ZಾM2ಾಲಯ ದ.ಕ ಇGH(cid:27)ೆ D:14.2.2019 ರಂದು ಕ_ಟQ WಾOರು,ಾ$(cid:17)ೆ ಎಂದು (cid:31)m@ರುವTದು ಕಂಡು ಬಂDರುತ$:ೆ. ಅಲH:ೇ ಅದAೆ^ ಲಗ,ಾ$- ಪ{ರಕ :ಾಖ*ೆಯನು6 ಸಹ ‘ಾಜರು ಪO@ರು,ಾ$(cid:17)ೆ. ಈ(cid:27)ಾಗ*ೇ ಕ_ಟQ ಆ-ರುವ ಪ(cid:4)ಕರಣದGH ಸಂಬಂಧ ಪಟK ZಾM2ಾಲಯದGH (cid:10)NೇದZೆ ಸGHಸ:ೇ ಪ(cid:4)ಸು$ತ ZಾM2ಾಲಯದGH (cid:10)NೇದZೆ ಸGH@ರುವTದು ಊb[ತNಾ-ರುವTDಲH ‘ಾಗೂ ಪ(cid:4)ಸು$ತ ZಾM2ಾಲಯದGH ಪ(cid:4)ಕರಣದ 2ಾವT:ೇ ಕಡತಗಳ? ಲಭM(cid:25)ಲHದ Aಾರಣ ಈ Aೆಳಕಂಡಂ,ೆ ಆ:ೇಶ Wಾಡ*ಾ-:ೆ. ಸ‘ಾಯಕ vGೕd ಅoೕwಕರು ಸGH@ರುವ (cid:10)NೇದZೆಯನು6 (cid:31)ರಸ^ ಸ*ಾ-:ೆ. ಆ:ೇಶ ¸À»/- ಪ(cid:4)hಾರ ‘ೆಚುaವ @(cid:25)Q ZಾM2ಾoೕಶರು ಮತು$ ಪ(cid:4).ದ.ZಾMದಂ, 8ೆಳ$ಂಗO.” All that the concerned Court reason out for the rejection of the application is that, the case is committed before the Sessions Court on filing of the charge sheet and nothing is pending before it. The rejection of the application seeking body warrant appears to be erroneous as the right of the prosecution to file the charge sheet would always be available and the application has been preferred appropriately before the concerned Court. Since the respondent was shown to be absconding at the time of filing of the charge sheet and later found to be housed in the Central Jail at Thrissur, Kerala, the - 7 - NC: 2024:KHC:46996 CRL.P No. 51 of 2023 application requires to be reconsidered owing to Section 267 of the Cr.P.C.

6. In that light, I deem it appropriate to remit the matter back to the concerned Court with a direction to consider the application seeking body warrant under Section 267 of the Cr.P.C. filed by the prosecution and pass necessary orders in accordance with law.

7. For the aforesaid reasons, the following: ORDER a. The criminal petition is allowed. b. The order dated 23.06.2022, passed by the Court of Additional Civil Judge and JMFC, Belthangady, D.K., in Crime No.74/2013 (C.C.No.2605/2018) on application filed under Section 267 of the Cr.P.C., by the State, stands quashed. c. The matter is remanded to the concerned Court to reconsider the application filed by the State and pass - 8 - NC: 2024:KHC:46996 CRL.P No. 51 of 2023 necessary order in accordance with law bearing in mind the observations made in the course of the order. Ordered accordingly. Sd/- (M.NAGAPRASANNA) JUDGE NVJ List No.: 1 Sl No.: 11 CT:SS