High Court · 2025

1. Heard Sri Kashi Naresh Mishra, learned counsel appearing for the revisionist and learned Additional Government Advocate appearing for the State.

2. The instant criminal revision has been filed challenging therein, the order dated 11.2.2025 passed by the learned Additional District and Sessions Judge, P.O.C.S.O. Act, Court No. 3, Aligarh in Criminal Case No. 243 of 2017 (State Vs. Anil Kumar) whereby, the application filed by the revisionist under Section 311 Cr.P.C., had been rejected.

3. It has been contended on behalf of the revisionist that from bare perusal of the provisions made under Section 311 Cr.P.C., it is apparent that the legislature had made the said provisions so that if any relevant question could not be asked from any witness during his cross-examination, he may be recalled and the substantial justice in the matter may be done. It has further been contended that the revisionist in his application, filed under Section 311 Cr.P.C., had given the questions to be asked from P.W.-1 and P.W.- 2 and had also demonstrated the relevance of the said questions but the trial court, without considering the relevance of the said questions, straightaway had rejected the application on the ground that it had been filed only just to delay the trial.

4. Learned counsel appearing for the revisionist has argued that the order passed by the trial court reflects total non application of mind, as the relevance of the questions, sought to be asked from P.W.-1 and P.W.-2, has not been discussed at all.

5. Learned Additional Government Advocate appearing for the State though has opposed this criminal revision but could not indicate any reason on the basis of which, the trial court could have ignored to consider the relevance of the questions given by the revisionist in his application filed under Section 311 Cr.P.C.

6. I have considered the arguments advanced by the learned counsel appearing for the revisionist and I find that the revisionist, in his application filed under Section 311 Cr.P.C., had given the details of the questions to be asked from P.W.-1 and P.W.-2 and its relevance. For ready reference the relevant portion of the application filed under Section 311 Cr.P.C is extracted as under :- यह कक पप०डबलल०-1 नन पथम सलचनन ररपपरर अनय ननकमत अकभययकगणण कन "4- कवरद दरर करनयप थप उसमम अपनन हप गनगव कन यपगनश कय मनर व अकनल कय मनर कन दनरन पप०डबललए-1 कक बहन उक मयक‌दमन कक कथथत पपकडतन कप लन रनतन हहए दनखन रननन कन आधनर पर एफ०आई०आर० दरर करनयप गयप थप और बनद मम उसप यपगनश कय मनर शमनर कन दनरन दलसरन कथननक कनफक समय बनद बतनयन रननन कन आधनर पर पप०डबलल०-1 नन कथथत करतन हहए दलसरप तहरपर दनकर कववनचनन कक धनरन हप मपड दप और पनथर / अकभ० कप ननकमत करन कदयन। उक कबनदयओग पर थरसन कथथत चकयदशर अकभयपरन सनकप यपगनश कय मनर अथवन यपगनश कय मनर शमनर थरसन अकभयपरन दनरन सनकय हनतय मन० नयनयनलय मम पसतयत नहह ककयन, कवषय मम उसकक ननम कक कवसगगकत व अननयतन सथनकपत करनन हनतय पप०डबलल०-1 व पप०डबलल०-2 महतवपलणर सनकप हह। उनसन उक कवषय पर पकतपरपकन हपनन आवशयक हह थरनसन उक कन स कक वनसतकवक सचचनई पकर हप सकन गप। कन यह कक एक पहलल अग० धनरन-164 5- सप०आर०पप०सप० मम पपकडतन कन कथन मम अकभययक दनरन बयआ कन यहनग लन रननन कन उलनख ककयन गयन हह। इस कबनदय कन पप०डबलल०-1 व पप०डबलल0-2 कन दनरन सपष हपनन शनष हह। बयआ कन कथननक बनद मम बयनन गयन हह यकद इस तथय पर पकतपरपकन हपकर तथय और सपष हणगन थरनसन सतयतन पकर हप सकन गप रप नयनय कक सयगमतन व समयकचत कनणरय कन आधनर कनकमरत करमगप। यह कक आयर समनर मननदर कक शनदप अलपगढ मम हपनन व इलनहनबनद वककल कन पनस सन मपबनइल फपन कन समबनध मम व अनय तथयण सन पयनन पकतपरपकन मम उक तथयण कन गच कर हप असतयतन पकर हप 6- हनईकपरर रननन थरसमम यनतन व पप०डबलल०-2 पर समयकचत पकतपरपकन नहह हप सकक हह। पप०डबलल०-2 अथधक सपषतन सन अननवरण हपगन रप कक घरनन कक तह मम पहह सकन गप थरससन पनथप/ अकभ० वनसतकवक नयनय पन सकन गन। 7- यह कक अकभयपरन कथननक मम कथथत पपकडतन कप कथथत रप सन लन रनतन हहए दनखन रननन कन दनवन करनन वनलन चकयदशर सनकपगण अकभयपरन दनरन मन० नयनयनलय मम पसतयत कर उनकन सनकय नहह करनयन गयन, रबकक उनकन दनरन बतननन कप आधनर बननकर पप०डबलल०-1 नन मयकद‌मन पगरपकक त करनयन थरसमम उक मयकदमन कक कथथत पपकडतन कन गनयब हपनन कन अगलन कदन चकयदशर सनकप दनरन रनलवन सरनशन पर कनर मम दनखन रननन कन उलनख ककयन गयन हह उक कबनदयओग पर पप०डबलल०-1 उक तथयण पर पकतपरपकन कनतननत आवशयक हह थरससन अकभयपरन कथननक कक वनसतकवकतन कन कनरपण हप सकन । सन पकतपरपकन नहह हप सकक, व पप०डबलल०-2 8- यह कक रप अकभययक चकयदशर सनकप यपगनश कय मनर दनरन बतनयन रननन पर एफ०आई०आर० मम ननकमत ककयन गयन थन उनकन समबनध मम पप०डबलल०-1 सन पकतपरपकन मम पशन नहह पलछन रन सकन हह। उक कबनदय भप पकतपरपकन मम पलछन रननन सन छल र गयन हह। उन पर भप पकतपरपकन हपनन अपनककत हह।" व पप०डबलल०-2

7. This Court finds that the trial court had rejected the application filed by the revisionist under Section 311 Cr.P.C. only for the reason that the testimony of P.W.-1 and P.W.-2 had already been recorded and adequate opportunity had already been given to the accused to cross-examine them but nowhere in the impugned order, there is any discussion about the questions sought to be asked by the revisionist and its relevance.

8. This Court is of the view that the provisions under Section 311 Cr.P.C. for recall of any witness had been made only just to prevent the miscarriage of justice therefore, it is incumbent on the trial court to consider the questions sought to be asked from the witness and its relevance for deciding the application filed under Section 311 Cr.P.C. The impugned order dated 11.2.2025 passed by the trial court, in categorical terms, reflects that the questions given in the application filed under Section 311 Cr.P.C. and its relevance has not been considered by the trial court, at all.

9. In view of the aforesaid reasons, this criminal revision is allowed. The impugned order dated 11.2.2025, passed by the learned Additional District and Sessions Judge, P.O.C.S.O. Act, Court No. 3, Aligarh in Criminal Case No. 243 of 2017 (State Vs. Anil Kumar), is hereby set aside and the matter is remanded to the learned Additional District and Sessions Judge, P.O.C.S.O. Act, Court No. 3, Aligarh for considering and deciding the application filed by the revisionist under Section 311 Cr.P.C., afresh within a period of one month from the date of presentation of certified copy of this order. Order Date :- 21.7.2025 Gaurav GAURAV PATEL High Court of Judicature at Allahabad

1. Heard Sri Kashi Naresh Mishra, learned counsel appearing for the revisionist and learned Additional Government Advocate appearing for the State.

2. The instant criminal revision has been filed challenging therein, the order dated 11.2.2025 passed by the learned Additional District and Sessions Judge, P.O.C.S.O. Act, Court No. 3, Aligarh in Criminal Case No. 243 of 2017 (State Vs. Anil Kumar) whereby, the application filed by the revisionist under Section 311 Cr.P.C., had been rejected.

3. It has been contended on behalf of the revisionist that from bare perusal of the provisions made under Section 311 Cr.P.C., it is apparent that the legislature had made the said provisions so that if any relevant question could not be asked from any witness during his cross-examination, he may be recalled and the substantial justice in the matter may be done. It has further been contended that the revisionist in his application, filed under Section 311 Cr.P.C., had given the questions to be asked from P.W.-1 and P.W.- 2 and had also demonstrated the relevance of the said questions but the trial court, without considering the relevance of the said questions, straightaway had rejected the application on the ground that it had been filed only just to delay the trial.

4. Learned counsel appearing for the revisionist has argued that the order passed by the trial court reflects total non application of mind, as the relevance of the questions, sought to be asked from P.W.-1 and P.W.-2, has not been discussed at all.

5. Learned Additional Government Advocate appearing for the State though has opposed this criminal revision but could not indicate any reason on the basis of which, the trial court could have ignored to consider the relevance of the questions given by the revisionist in his application filed under Section 311 Cr.P.C.

6. I have considered the arguments advanced by the learned counsel appearing for the revisionist and I find that the revisionist, in his application filed under Section 311 Cr.P.C., had given the details of the questions to be asked from P.W.-1 and P.W.-2 and its relevance. For ready reference the relevant portion of the application filed under Section 311 Cr.P.C is extracted as under :- यह कक पप०डबलल०-1 नन पथम सलचनन ररपपरर अनय ननकमत अकभययकगणण कन "4- कवरद दरर करनयप थप उसमम अपनन हप गनगव कन यपगनश कय मनर व अकनल कय मनर कन दनरन पप०डबललए-1 कक बहन उक मयक‌दमन कक कथथत पपकडतन कप लन रनतन हहए दनखन रननन कन आधनर पर एफ०आई०आर० दरर करनयप गयप थप और बनद मम उसप यपगनश कय मनर शमनर कन दनरन दलसरन कथननक कनफक समय बनद बतनयन रननन कन आधनर पर पप०डबलल०-1 नन कथथत करतन हहए दलसरप तहरपर दनकर कववनचनन कक धनरन हप मपड दप और पनथर / अकभ० कप ननकमत करन कदयन। उक कबनदयओग पर थरसन कथथत चकयदशर अकभयपरन सनकप यपगनश कय मनर अथवन यपगनश कय मनर शमनर थरसन अकभयपरन दनरन सनकय हनतय मन० नयनयनलय मम पसतयत नहह ककयन, कवषय मम उसकक ननम कक कवसगगकत व अननयतन सथनकपत करनन हनतय पप०डबलल०-1 व पप०डबलल०-2 महतवपलणर सनकप हह। उनसन उक कवषय पर पकतपरपकन हपनन आवशयक हह थरनसन उक कन स कक वनसतकवक सचचनई पकर हप सकन गप। कन यह कक एक पहलल अग० धनरन-164 5- सप०आर०पप०सप० मम पपकडतन कन कथन मम अकभययक दनरन बयआ कन यहनग लन रननन कन उलनख ककयन गयन हह। इस कबनदय कन पप०डबलल०-1 व पप०डबलल0-2 कन दनरन सपष हपनन शनष हह। बयआ कन कथननक बनद मम बयनन गयन हह यकद इस तथय पर पकतपरपकन हपकर तथय और सपष हणगन थरनसन सतयतन पकर हप सकन गप रप नयनय कक सयगमतन व समयकचत कनणरय कन आधनर कनकमरत करमगप। यह कक आयर समनर मननदर कक शनदप अलपगढ मम हपनन व इलनहनबनद वककल कन पनस सन मपबनइल फपन कन समबनध मम व अनय तथयण सन पयनन पकतपरपकन मम उक तथयण कन गच कर हप असतयतन पकर हप 6- हनईकपरर रननन थरसमम यनतन व पप०डबलल०-2 पर समयकचत पकतपरपकन नहह हप सकक हह। पप०डबलल०-2 अथधक सपषतन सन अननवरण हपगन रप कक घरनन कक तह मम पहह सकन गप थरससन पनथप/ अकभ० वनसतकवक नयनय पन सकन गन। 7- यह कक अकभयपरन कथननक मम कथथत पपकडतन कप कथथत रप सन लन रनतन हहए दनखन रननन कन दनवन करनन वनलन चकयदशर सनकपगण अकभयपरन दनरन मन० नयनयनलय मम पसतयत कर उनकन सनकय नहह करनयन गयन, रबकक उनकन दनरन बतननन कप आधनर बननकर पप०डबलल०-1 नन मयकद‌मन पगरपकक त करनयन थरसमम उक मयकदमन कक कथथत पपकडतन कन गनयब हपनन कन अगलन कदन चकयदशर सनकप दनरन रनलवन सरनशन पर कनर मम दनखन रननन कन उलनख ककयन गयन हह उक कबनदयओग पर पप०डबलल०-1 उक तथयण पर पकतपरपकन कनतननत आवशयक हह थरससन अकभयपरन कथननक कक वनसतकवकतन कन कनरपण हप सकन । सन पकतपरपकन नहह हप सकक, व पप०डबलल०-2 8- यह कक रप अकभययक चकयदशर सनकप यपगनश कय मनर दनरन बतनयन रननन पर एफ०आई०आर० मम ननकमत ककयन गयन थन उनकन समबनध मम पप०डबलल०-1 सन पकतपरपकन मम पशन नहह पलछन रन सकन हह। उक कबनदय भप पकतपरपकन मम पलछन रननन सन छल र गयन हह। उन पर भप पकतपरपकन हपनन अपनककत हह।" व पप०डबलल०-2

7. This Court finds that the trial court had rejected the application filed by the revisionist under Section 311 Cr.P.C. only for the reason that the testimony of P.W.-1 and P.W.-2 had already been recorded and adequate opportunity had already been given to the accused to cross-examine them but nowhere in the impugned order, there is any discussion about the questions sought to be asked by the revisionist and its relevance.

8. This Court is of the view that the provisions under Section 311 Cr.P.C. for recall of any witness had been made only just to prevent the miscarriage of justice therefore, it is incumbent on the trial court to consider the questions sought to be asked from the witness and its relevance for deciding the application filed under Section 311 Cr.P.C. The impugned order dated 11.2.2025 passed by the trial court, in categorical terms, reflects that the questions given in the application filed under Section 311 Cr.P.C. and its relevance has not been considered by the trial court, at all.

9. In view of the aforesaid reasons, this criminal revision is allowed. The impugned order dated 11.2.2025, passed by the learned Additional District and Sessions Judge, P.O.C.S.O. Act, Court No. 3, Aligarh in Criminal Case No. 243 of 2017 (State Vs. Anil Kumar), is hereby set aside and the matter is remanded to the learned Additional District and Sessions Judge, P.O.C.S.O. Act, Court No. 3, Aligarh for considering and deciding the application filed by the revisionist under Section 311 Cr.P.C., afresh within a period of one month from the date of presentation of certified copy of this order. Order Date :- 21.7.2025 Gaurav GAURAV PATEL High Court of Judicature at Allahabad