IPC 498A/506/323/504/114 Quashed-Abuse of Process of Law

CR.MA/8541/2003 3/3 JUDGMENT

IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION No. 8541 of 2003

With

CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION No. 8542 of 2003

For Approval and Signature:

HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE AKIL KURESHI

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1

Whether Reporters of Local Papers may be allowed to see the judgment ?

2

To be referred to the Reporter or not ?

3

Whether their Lordships wish to see the fair copy of the judgment ?

4

Whether this case involves a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of the constitution of India, 1950 or any order made thereunder ?

5

Whether it is to be circulated to the civil judge ?

=========================================================

VINODBHAI SUNDARJI RAICHURA & 1 – Applicant(s)

Versus

STATE OF GUJARAT & 1 – Respondent(s)

========================================================= Appearance :

MR PM THAKKAR, SR. ADV. WITH MR.SANJEEV KUMAR for M/S THAKKAR ASSOC. for Applicant(s) : 1 – 2.

MR KARTIK PANDYA, APP for Respondent(s) : 1, RULE SERVED for Respondent(s) : 2,

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CORAM :

HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE AKIL KURESHI

Date : 21/09/2010

ORAL JUDGMENT

Petitioners are common in both the petitions. Original complainant, respondent No.2 is also common. Petitioner No.1 is the brother of husband of respondent No.2 and petitioner No.2 is his wife. So far as the facts of Criminal Misc. Application No.8541 of 2003 is concerned, Respondent No.2 had lodged a complaint before Gandhigram police station alleging offence punishable under section 498A, 506, 323, 504 and 114 of the Indian Penal Code against the present petitioners and younger brother of the husband. Upon completion of investigation, police submitted its report dated 5.9.02 before the learned Magistrate and requested for grant of ‘B’ summary. The learned Magistrate, however, by the impugned order dated 29.9.03 ordered inquiry under section of the Criminal Procedure Code and permitted the complainant to produce her witnesses before the Court.

Similarly in Criminal Misc. Application No.8542 of 2003, the complainant had filed a complaint before the complaint dated 3.8.02, alleging offences punishable under section 324, 323 read with resection 114 of the IPC, in which also, the police filed a report for ‘B’ summary. The learned Magistrate, however, for similar reasons decided to hold inquiry under section 202 of the Criminal Procedure Code by the impugned order dated 29.9.03.

Though served, no one appears for respondent No.2.

Having heard the learned counsel for the petitioners and the learned APP for the State and having perused the documents on record, I find that the learned Magistrate has not recorded proper reasons for not accepting ‘B’ summary in both the cases. The reports of the police suggested that the complainant and her witnesses were not ready to give their statements though sufficient effort was made. I have also perused the nature of allegations made in the complaints and the police report. From the record it also emerges that the complainant had left the house of her husband nearly 14 years back and has been residing with her family separately.

Considering all these aspects and also considering that the complaints are of the year 2002, permitting further inquiry into such allegations would result into abuse of process of law. I am of the opinion that orders are required to be set aside.

Taking overall view of the matter, both the orders dated 29.9.2003 passed by the learned Magistrate in C.R.No.I-258/02 and C.R.No.I-266/02 registered at Gandhigram Police Station are quashed. Rule is made absolute accordingly.

(Akil Kureshi, J.)

(vjn)

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