High Court
Case Details
Neutral Citation No. - 2024:AHC:140756 Court No. - 74 Case :- APPLICATION U/S 482 No. - 13775 of 2024 Applicant :- Farman And 6 Others Opposite Party :- State of U.P. and Another Counsel for Applicant :- Parvez Alam Counsel for Opposite Party :- G.A. Hon'ble Saurabh Shyam Shamshery,J.
Legal Reasoning
"38. The order of issuance of process is not an empty formality. The Magistrate is required to apply his mind as to whether sufficient ground for proceeding exists in the case or not. The formation of such an opinion is required to be stated in the order itself. The order is liable to be set aside if no reasons are given therein while coming to the conclusion that there is a prima facie case against the accused. No doubt, that the order need not contain detailed reasons. A reference in this respect could be made to the judgment of this Court in the case of Sunil Bharti Mittal v. Central Bureau of Investigation, (2015) 4 SCC 609 which reads thus: "51. On the other hand, Section 204 of the Code deals with the issue of process, if in the opinion of the Magistrate taking cognizance of an offence, there is sufficient ground for proceeding. This section relates to commencement of a criminal proceeding. If the Magistrate taking cognizance of a case (it may be the Magistrate receiving the complaint or to whom it has been transferred under Section 192), upon a consideration of the materials before him (i.e. the complaint, examination of the complainant and his witnesses, if present, or report of inquiry, if any), thinks that there is a prima facie case for proceeding in respect of an offence, he shall issue process against the accused. 52. A wide discretion has been given as to grant or refusal of process and it must be judicially exercised. A person ought not to be dragged into court merely because a complaint has been filed. If a prima facie case has been made out, the Magistrate ought to issue process and it cannot be refused merely because he thinks that it is unlikely to result in a conviction. 53. However, the words "sufficient ground for proceeding" appearing in Section 204 are of immense importance. It is these words which amply suggest that an opinion is to be formed only after due application of mind that there is sufficient basis for proceeding against the said accused and formation of such an opinion is to be stated in the order itself. The order is liable to be set aside if no reason is given therein while coming to the conclusion that there is prima facie case against the accused, though the order need not contain detailed reasons. A fortiori, the order would be bad in law if the reason given turns out to be ex facie incorrect." 5. In view of above discussion, I find that it is a fit case where inherent powers of this Court could be exercised. 6. Accordingly, impugned order dated 23.02.2024 passed by Additional District & Sessions Judge, Court No.12, District- Agra in Criminal Revision No.741 of 2023 as well as the summoning order dated 15.09.2023 passed by Additional Civil Judge (Junior Division), Court No.1/ J.M. Agra in Complaint Case No. 17883 of 2023 under Sections 147, 323, 342, 452, 504, 506 I.P.C., P.S.- Mantola, District- Agra are hereby set aside and matter is remitted back to learned Trial Court to pass a fresh order. 7. It is directed that District Judge, Agra will call an explanation from concerned officer who has passed above referred summoning order not only closing his judicial mind but his eyes also. 8. A copy of this order be sent to Hon'ble Administrative Judge, Agra in regard to nature of order passed by concerned Officer.
Arguments
1. Heard Sri Parvez Alam, learned counsel for applicants. 2. This Court has again encountered with an unreasoned impugned summoning order wherein neither facts nor date of occurrence nor contents of complaint nor contents of statements recorded are mentioned and still applicants are summoned as well as Revisional Court has also failed to consider the legal error as such legal error has been perpetuated. For reference, relevant part of impugned order dated 15.09.2023 is quoted below -: " ददिनननांक -15.09.2023 पतनवलली आदिदेशनरर पदेश हहई। पररिवनदिली कदे दवदनन अधधिवकन कको बहस तलवली परि पपूवर मम हली ससुनन जन चसुकन हहै। पररिवनदिली दनरिन पररिवनदिपत मम अदभिकधरत घटनन कदे सनांदिभिर मम दवपकलीगण इमरिनन आददि कको अनांतगरत धिनरिन 147,323,307,342,452,504,506 भिन०दि०सनां० मम तलब करि दिणणण्डित दकयदे जननदे ककी यनचनन ककी गयली हहै। पररिवनदिली दनरिन पररिवनदिपत कदे समररन मम धिनरिन 200 दि०प्र०सनां० कदे तहत स्वयनां कको परिलीदकत करिनयन गयन हहै तरन धिनरिन 202 दि०प्र०सनां० कदे अनांतगरत सनकलीगण पली०ण्डिब्लपू०-1 फईम व पली०ण्डिब्लपू०-2 ससुहदेल अनांसनरिली कको सशपर परिलीदकत करिनयन गयन हहै तरन अदभिलदेखलीय सनक्ष्य मम पसुधलस आयसुक आगरिन कको प्रदेदषित प्रनररननपत ककी छनयनप्रदत , ण्डिनक रिसलीदि कको दिनधखल दकयन हहै। ससुनन एवनां पतनवलली कन अवलकोकन दकयन। 'पररिवनदिली दनरिन पररिवनदिपत मम दकयदे गयदे करननों एवनां प्रस्तसुत दकयदे गयदे सनक्ष्यनों कदे अवलकोकन कदे पश्चनत न्यनयनलय ककी रिनय मम दवपकलीगण 1 लगनयत 7 इमरिनन, फरिमनन अहमदि, मसुनन, जनवदेदि, नपूरि व आदवदि कदे दनरिन अतगरत धिनरिन 147,323,342,452,504,506 भिन०दि०सनां० कन अपरिनधि प्ररम दृष्टन कनररित दकयन जननन प्रतलीत हकोतन हहै। अदभियसुकगण कको उपरिकोक धिनरिनओनां मम तलब करिनदे हदेतसु पयनरप्त सनक्ष्य पतनवलली परि उपलब्धि हहै। पतनवलली परि उपलब्धि सनक्ष्य कदे आधिनरि परि प्ररम दृष्टयन अन्य दकसली कदे दवरूद्ध ककोई मनमलन नहह बनतन हहै नहह अन्य ककोई मनमलन बनतन हहै। आदिदेश अदभियसुकगण इमरिनन, फरिमनन, अहमदि, मसुनन, जनवदेदि, नपूरि व आदवदि कको धिनरिन- 147,323,342,452,504,506 भिन०दि०सनां० कदे अन्तगरत अपरिनधि कदे दवचनरिण हदेतसु जररियदे सम्मन आहहत दकयन जनतन हहै। पररिवनदिली आवश्यक पहैरिवली अन्दिरि सप्तनह करिदे। सपूचली गवनहनन दिनधखल हको। पतनवलली वनस्तदे हनधजरिली ददिनननांक 17.10.2023 कको पदेश हको।" 3. This Court has already taken a serious note of similar summoning order passed in Bangali Rathore and 3 others vs. State of U.P. and another, 2024:AHC:118989. 4. A judgment of Supreme Court in Lalankumar Singh and another vs. State of Maharashtra, 2022 SCC Online SC 1383 is relevant on this issue and its relevant paragraphs are mentioned below -:
Decision
9. Application is, accordingly, disposed of. 10. Registrar (Compliance) to take steps. Order Date :- 31.8.2024 P. Pandey