BASANAGOUDA PATIL (YATNAL) v. MANJUNATH KALABURGI

MANJUNATH KALABURGI S/O SUBASHCHANDRA AGED ABOUT 30 YEARS ASST. ENGINEER OFFICE OF THE PLANNING SUB-DIVISION (FST) OFFICER, GADAG – 582 101 REPRESENTED BY SPP HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA DHARWAD. (BY SRI JAGADEESHA B. N., ADDL. SPP) …RESPONDENT THIS CRIMINAL PETITION IS FILED U/SEC. 482 OF CR.P.C. SEEKING TO SET ASIDE THE ORDER OF COGNIZANCE AND QUASH THE PRIVATE COMPLAINT AND ITS FURTHER - 2 - NC: 2024:KHC:33810 CRL.P No. 12996 of 2023 PROCEEDINGS FILED AGAINST THE PETITIONER IN CC NO. 573/2023 FOR THE ALLEGED OFFENCE U/SEC. 188 OF IPC, PENDING BEFORE THE I ADDL. CIVIL JUDGE AND JMFC COURT, AT GADAG. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA ORAL ORDER Petitioner is before this Court calling in question the proceedings in C.C.No.573 of 2023 registered for offence punishable under Section 188 of the IPC.

2. Heard Sri Venkatesh P Dalwai, learned counsel appearing for petitioner and Sri B N Jagadeesha, learned Additional State Public Prosecutor appearing respondent.

3. The petitioner was campaigning for a candidate belonging to local constituency at Gadag. It transpires that the 2nd respondent, the Flying Squad, found that the petitioner during the campaigning process was interviewed and the same - 3 - NC: 2024:KHC:33810 CRL.P No. 12996 of 2023 was video graphed in which he had made certain statements, which according to the complaint would become an offence under Section 188 of the IPC. The concerned Court takes cognizance of the offence by its order dated 11-05-2023 and issues summons to the petitioner. The petitioner being aggrieved by the said order of taking of cognizance and issuing of summons is before this Court in this subject petition.

4. Learned counsel Sri.Venkatesh P Dalwai appearing for petitioner would submit that that a perusal of the complaint or the order of taking cognizance nowhere would meet the ingredients of Section 188 of the IPC and therefore, would seek quashment of the entire proceedings pending before the concerned Court for the aforesaid offence.

5. Learned Additional State Public Prosecutor would submit that the issue would be whether a code of conduct notified under Article 324 of the Constitution of India would become applicable to an offence under Section 188 of the IPC which would be disobedience to an order duly promulgated by a public servant. He would submit that the petitioner is guilty of - 4 - NC: 2024:KHC:33810 CRL.P No. 12996 of 2023 the offence and would require him to come out clean in a full blown trial. He would seek dismissal of the petition.

6. I have given my anxious consideration to the submissions made by the respective learned counsel and have perused the material on record.

7. The afore-narrated facts are not in dispute. The entire issue has now triggered from the registration of the complaint. The complaint so registered by the respondent reads as follows: “ಆ(cid:4)ೋ(cid:8): (cid:9)(cid:10)ೕ. ಬಸನ(cid:15)ೌಡ ಆ(cid:18). (cid:19)ಾ(cid:21)ೕಲ (ಯ(cid:24)ಾ(cid:25)ಳ), ವ(cid:28)ಾ: 59 ವಷ(cid:30), (cid:31)ಾ : !ಂದೂ $ಂ(cid:15)ಾಯತ, ಉ’ೊ(ೕಗ: ಸ*ಾಜ ,ೇ-ೆ, ,ಾ: ಗದಗ (cid:24)ಾ: .: ಗದಗ :: ದಂಡದಂಡದಂಡದಂಡ ಪ(cid:10)0(cid:10)(cid:28)ಾಪ(cid:10)0(cid:10)(cid:28)ಾಪ(cid:10)0(cid:10)(cid:28)ಾಪ(cid:10)0(cid:10)(cid:28)ಾ ಸಂ!(cid:24)ೆಸಂ!(cid:24)ೆಸಂ!(cid:24)ೆಸಂ!(cid:24)ೆ ಕಲಂಕಲಂಕಲಂಕಲಂ ರರರರ ಅ4ಯ$5 ಅ4ಯ$5 ಅ4ಯ$5 ಅ4ಯ$5 6(cid:28)ಾ(cid:30)76(cid:28)ಾ(cid:30)76(cid:28)ಾ(cid:30)76(cid:28)ಾ(cid:30)7 200 :: ಈ ಮೂಲಕ *ಾನ( :ಾ((cid:28)ಾಲಯ;ೆ< ,ಾದರಪ4ಸುವ 6(cid:28)ಾ(cid:30)7 ಏ:ೆಂದ(cid:4)ೆ ನನ(cid:15)ೆ ಮುಂಬರುವ ?@ಾನಸAಾ ಚು:ಾವCೆ ಪ(cid:10)ಯುಕD 66-ಗದಗ ಮತEೇತ(cid:10)ದ -ಾ((cid:8)D(cid:15)ೆ ಬರುವ ಗದಗ (cid:24)ಾಲೂ0ನ ಶಹರದ$5 ನHೆಯುವ ಚು:ಾವCಾ ಚಟುವಟು;ೆಗಳ JೕKೆ L(cid:15)ಾವ!ಸಲು ¥sÉèöÊMಂಗ ,ಾ<NO ತಂಡ :ೇPQದುR, ನನ(cid:15)ೆ Sೆಂ(cid:15)ಾವKಾT ಗದಗ ಶಹರ Uೕ$V WಾCೆಯ ಸXಾಯಕ Uೕ$V ಉಪLYೕZಕರು (cid:9)(cid:10)ೕ. ಎV. 4. ಚ-ಾ\ಣ ಇವY(cid:15)ೆ :ೇಮಕ *ಾ4ದುR ಇರುತD’ೆ. ನಮ_ ತಂಡ;ೆ< ;ಾಯ(cid:30)L-ಾ(cid:30)ಹಕ ಅ‘ಯಂತರರು, aೕಜ:ಾ ?Aಾಗ, ಗದಗ ಇವರ ;ಾ(cid:28)ಾ(cid:30)ಲಯದ Qbcd 4(cid:31)ಾಯ(cid:18) -ಾಹನ ಸಂeೆ(: ;ೆಎ 26 f 2736 :ೇದRನು(cid:25) ಪg(cid:4)ೈQದುR ಅದ;ೆ< (cid:9)(cid:10)ೕ. ಮXೇಶ ;ೋi-ಾಡ ಇವರನು(cid:25) Xೊರ ಗು D(cid:15)ೆ ಆ@ಾರದ JೕKೆ -ಾಹನ jಾಲಕ(cid:4)ಾT :ೇPQದುR ಇರುತD’ೆ. - 5 - NC: 2024:KHC:33810 CRL.P No. 12996 of 2023 ಎKಾ5ಎKಾ5ಎKಾ5ಎKಾ5 Sಾ(cid:28)ಾ<ಟ Sಾ(cid:28)ಾ<ಟ Sಾ(cid:28)ಾ<ಟ Sಾ(cid:28)ಾ<ಟ !ಂದೂಗಳp !ಂದೂಗಳp !ಂದೂಗಳp !ಂದೂಗಳp :ಾವk ನಮ(cid:15)ೆ :ೇPQದ ಕತ(cid:30)ವ(ವನು(cid:25) Lವ(cid:30)!ಸು(cid:24)ಾD ಇ’ಾRಗ, ಗದಗ ನಗರದ$5 f(cid:31)ೆ(cid:8) ಅಭ(m(cid:30) JಣQನ;ಾM ಪರ ಚು:ಾವCಾ ಪ(cid:10)jಾರದ ಬiಕ *ಾಧ(ಮಗಳ ಪ(cid:10) Loಗಳ " ಅಂತ (cid:9)(cid:10)ೕ. ಬಸನ(cid:15)ೌಡ ಆ(cid:18). (cid:19)ಾ(cid:21)ೕಲ (cid:31)ೊ(cid:24)ೆ " *ಾಡ ೕ?*ಾಡ ೕ?*ಾಡ ೕ?*ಾಡ ೕ? (ಯ(cid:24)ಾ(cid:25)ಳ) ಇವರು ಗ4:ಾಡ ;ಾ(cid:10)ಂ ಯೂಟುq jಾ:ೆrನ$5 Xೇi;ೆ Lೕ4ರುವ ಕುYತು ಪY(cid:9)ೕಲ:ೆ ನHೆಸಲು *ಾನ( ಚು:ಾವ:ಾo;ಾYಗಳp, 66-ಗದಗ ?@ಾನಸAಾ Eೇತ(cid:10) ಗದಗ ಇವರ ;ಾ(cid:28)ಾ(cid:30)ಲಯ7ಂದ ಚು:ಾವCಾ *ಾದY Lೕ ಸಂ!(cid:24)ೆ ಉಲ5ಂಘ:ೆ ಆTರುವkದು ಕಂಡು ಬಂ7ದRYಂದ ಸದY ಪ(cid:10)ಕರಣದ ಬ(cid:15)ೆt ದೂರು ’ಾಖ$ಸಲು ಸೂvQರು(cid:24)ಾD(cid:4)ೆ. ಸದY ಪ(cid:10)ಕರಣದ ಬ(cid:15)ೆt ಪY(cid:9)ೕ$ಸKಾT 7: 02/05/2023 ರಂದು ನHೆದ ಗದಗ ನಗರದ$5 f(cid:31)ೆ(cid:8) ಅಭ(m(cid:30) JಣQನ;ಾM ಪರ (cid:4)ೊO wೆxೕ ಬiಕ *ಾಧ(ಮಗಳ (cid:31)ೊ(cid:24)ೆ *ಾತ:ಾ4ದ ಅವರು PೕಸKಾ ?jಾರ-ಾT ;ೇiದ ಪ(cid:10)wೆ(cid:25)(cid:15)ೆ ಈ ಉತDರ Lೕ4ರು(cid:24)ಾD(cid:4)ೆ, ಯೂಟುq aೕaೕ jಾ:ೆrನ ಒಟುd 1:45 LPಷದ ?4aೕದ$5 1:11 Yಂದ 1:15 LPಷದ ಅವoಯ$5 ಈ Xೇi;ೆಯನು(cid:25) Lೕ4ರು(cid:24)ಾD(cid:4)ೆ. ಈ Jೕ$ನ ಎKಾ5 ಅಂಶಗi(cid:15)ೆ ಸಂಬಂoQದಂ(cid:24)ೆ ಸದY ಪ(cid:10)ಕರಣವನು(cid:25) Aಾರ ೕಯ ದಂಡ ಸಂ!(cid:24)ೆ 188 ಕಲಂ ಅ4ಯ$5 ’ಾಖಲು *ಾ4;ೊಳzಲು ಈ ಮೂಲಕ *ಾನ(ರ$5 (cid:15)ೌರವ ಪgವ(cid:30)ಕ-ಾT ?ನಂ ಸKಾT’ೆ. ¸ÀܼÀ: UÀzÀUÀ ¢: 08/05/2023 vÀªÀÄä «±Áé¹ ¸À»/- ªÀÄAdÄ£ÁxÀ ¸ÀĨsÁ¸ÀZÀAzÀæ PÀ®§ÄVð (¸ÀºÁAiÀÄPÀ C©üAiÀÄAvÀgÀgÀÄ, AiÉÆÃd£Á G¥À«¨sÁUÀ UÀzÀUÀ ºÁUÀÆ 66-UÀzÀUÀ ªÀÄvÀPÉëÃvÀæ J¥sï. J¸ï. n. UÀzÀUÀ ±ÀºÀgÀ C¢üPÁj)” The concerned Court takes cognizance of the offence and issues summons to the petitioner. The order of taking of cognizance reads as follows: “Perused the complaint, and the documents along with it. - 6 - NC: 2024:KHC:33810 CRL.P No. 12996 of 2023 The complainant Sri. Manjunath Kalburgi, Assistant Engineer PMGSY, Gadag being the Flying Squad officer has filed the present private complaint U/sec 200 of Cr.P.C alleging commission of offence by the accused U/sec 188 of IPC. It is alleged that the accused by name Sri. Basanagouda R. Patil (Yatnal) after his election campaign held at Gadag town in support of the party candidate has made a statement saying that all the Hindus would boycott the Congress party, thereby violating the election model code of conduct. It is stated that the video clip of the said statement made by the accused has been uploaded in the youtube. It is alleged that the accused having violated the model code of conduct has committed the offence punishable U/sec 188 of IPC. The complainant has also produced a CD containing the video clip of the alleged statement made by the accused along with certificate U/sec 65B of the Indian Evidence Act. Since the complainant being a public servant has filed the complaint in writing the discharge of his official duty, the statement U/sec 200 of Cr.P.C is dispensed with. In view of the averments of the complaint and the documents produced by the complainant, this court is of the opinion that, there is sufficient ground to proceed against the accused for the offence punishable U/sec 188 of IPC. Hence, this court proceeds to pass the following: -: ORDER:- Cognizance of offence U/sec 188 of IPC is taken. Office to register criminal case against the accused for the offence punishable under section 188 of IPC and issue summons to the accused. R/by: 7-07-2023.” - 7 - NC: 2024:KHC:33810 CRL.P No. 12996 of 2023 The offence for which cognizance is taken and summons issued is the one punishable under Section 188 of the IPC. Section 188 of the IPC reads as follows: “188. Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant.—Whoever, knowing that, by an order promulgated by a public servant lawfully empowered to promulgate such order, he is directed to abstain from a certain act, or to take certain order with certain property in his possession or under his management, disobeys such direction, shall, if such disobedience causes or tends to cause obstruction, annoyance or injury, or risk of obstruction, annoyance or injury, to any persons lawfully employed, be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month or with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees, or with both: and if such disobedience causes or tends to cause danger to human life, health or safety, or causes or tends to cause a riot or affray, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both. Explanation.—It is not necessary that the offender should intend to produce harm, or contemplate his disobedience as likely to produce harm. It is sufficient that he knows of the order which he disobeys, and that his disobedience produces, or is likely to produce, harm.” Section 188 of the IPC does not stop at a disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant, the consequences of which forms the soul of the provision. It mandates that such disobedience should cause obstruction, annoyance or injury, or risk of obstruction, annoyance or injury to any persons lawfully - 8 - NC: 2024:KHC:33810 CRL.P No. 12996 of 2023 employed or it must tend to cause danger to human life, riot or affray. None of these things have happened in the case at hand, as it is an interview given to the you tube channel is what is made the subject matter of complaint. The risk of obstruction or disobedience of an order duly promulgated cannot even be imagined in the case at hand. The explanation would indicate that it is not necessary that the offender should intend to produce harm or contemplates his disobedience which is likely to result in some harm, but it is sufficient that, he knows of the order which he disobeys that is likely to produce harm. A perusal at the complaint or the summary of the charge sheet would not even meet the explanation in the case at hand. In that light permitting further proceedings qua the petitioner would become an abuse of the process of law and result in miscarriage of justice.

8. For the aforesaid reasons, the following: ORDER (i) Criminal Petition is allowed. - 9 - NC: 2024:KHC:33810 CRL.P No. 12996 of 2023 (ii) Impugned proceedings in C.C.No.573 of 2023 pending before the I Additional Civil Judge and JMFC Court, Gadag stands quashed. Sd/- (M.NAGAPRASANNA) JUDGE BKP List No.: 1 Sl No.: 28 CT:SS