Dismissed

Ashish Kumar Maurya v. State of U.P. Thru. Prin. Secy. Home Lko. and Another

Allahabad HC2 May 2024A482/4030/2024

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The Allahabad High Court dismissed an application under Section 482 CrPC seeking quashing of trial court orders that allowed recall of a witness and filing of additional evidence. The bench held the trial court acted judiciously to ensure justice.

What did the court decide?

Petition under Section 482 CrPC was dismissed finding no illegality in the impugned orders of the trial court.

Ashish Kumar Maurya vs State of U.P. Thru. Prin. Secy… — Cheque Dishonour | Allahabad HC (2024)

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Neutral Citation No. - 2024:AHC-LKO:55209

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RESERVED ON 23.5.2024

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DELIVERED ON 12.8.2024

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Court No. - 14

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Case :- APPLICATION U/S 482 No. - 4030 of 2024

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Applicant :- Ashish Kumar Maurya Opposite Party :- State Of U.P. Thru. Prin. Secy. Home Lko. And Another Counsel for Applicant :- Jag Prasad Yadav Counsel for Opposite Party :- G.A.,Gyanendra Singh,Manish Singh Chauhan

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Hon'ble Karunesh Singh Pawar,J.

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1.The petition has been filed under Section 482 CrPC for quashing orders dated 27.2.2024, passed by Presiding Officer, Additional Court No.08, Lucknow (Annexures 2 and 3) in Complaint Case No.43423 of 2020 Mahendra Pratap Singh versus Ashish Kumar Maurya.

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By first order dated 27.2.2024, application for taking affidavit on record has been allowed with a cost of Rs.300/-.

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By other other order of the same date, The application under section 311 CrPC moved by the complainant has been allowed and the P.W.2 Rananjay Singh has been recalled, also on the cost of Rs.300/-.

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2.Heard Mr. Jag Prasad Yadav, learned counsel

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for the petitioner, learned A.G.A. for the State as well as Mr. Manish Singh Chauhan, learned counsel for respondent No.2.

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3.Briefly stated, the facts of the case are that a complaint case was field by the complainant/respondent No.2 under section 138 Negotiable Instruments Act on 21.10.2020 alleging that the complainant gave Rs.4,50,000/to the accused for doing business, on 18.6.2019. On 16.3.2020, the accused gave cheque No.225733 dated 14.9.2020 drawn at Canara Bank, Branch Ram Nagar, Barabanki from his account number. The cheque was deposited in the account of the complainant at Union Bank of India, Clork Awadh Branch, Lucknow on 16.9.2020. The cheque was dishonoured on 18.9.2020 for insufficient balance. A notice dated 23.9.2020 was sent through Registered Post to the accused which was received by him on 25.9.2020. Still, the amount was not paid by him. Thus, complaint was filed.

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4.Statement under Section 251 CrPC was recorded by the trial court. P.W.1 and P.W.2 were examined and cross-examined. Statement under

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Section 313 CrPC of the accused was recorded on 20.8.2022 by the Court below. Thereafter, examination of D.W.1, D.W.2 and D.W.3 was concluded. After arguments were partly heard and complainant filed his written arguments, the complainant/ respondent No.2 filed two applications on 6.1.2024, one was for taking affidavit on record and the other for recalling P.W.2 Rananjay Singh. Objections to these applications were filed by the petitioner on 3.2.2024. Applications were heard and vide impugned orders dated 27.2.2024, both the applications were allowed. The trial Court while allowing the first application for taking affidavit given by the complainant has passed the following order :

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"ददिनननांक-27-02-2024

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आदिदेश पनररननपत्र बनबत ललिए जननदे शपरपत्र पत्रनवलिली पर ददिनननांदकत 06-01-2024

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पसनवलिली आदिदेश हदेततु पदेश। पनररननपत्र ददिनननांदकत 06-01-2024 सनांलिग्न शपरपत्र मम उदल् ल िखित, तथ्यय, कनरणय एवनां पररससरदतयय कको दृदष्टिगत रखितदे हहए सनांलिग्न शपरपत्र कको पत्रनवलिली पर ललिए जननम हदेततु ददियन गयन हहै। सनांलिग्न शपरपत्र मम मतुख्य रूप सदे यह करन दकयन गयन हहै दक पररवनदिली दनरन दवपकली ककी मननांग पर दवपकली कको अपनदे लिखिनऊ ससरत आवनस पर रू० 4,50,000/- व्यवसनय करनदे हदेततु ददियन रन। उपरकोक्त रूपए शपरली नदे दवपकली कको अपनदे बनग व ककदषि ककी वषिर 2018-2019 सदे पनप्त हहए धन मम सदे ददियन रन। शपरली ककी पहैत क सनांपलत्ति मम आम ककी बनग जको लिगभग 40 बलीघदे कदे हहै एवनां ककदषि यकोग्य भभूदम गनम-मकोहनरली, परगनन-फतदेहपतुर तहसलीलि रनमनगर लजलिन-बनरनबनांककी मम ससरत हहै। खिततौनली ककी सत्यनदणन पदतयननां सनांलिग्नक सनांख्यन-01 व 02 कदे रूप मम सनांलिग्न हहै।

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अदभयतुक्त ककी तरफ सदे आपलत्ति पत्र सनांलिग्न शपरपत्र मम वदणरत तथ्यय , कनरणय एवनां पररससरदतयय कदे आधनर पर पररवनदिली कदे पनररननपत्र कको असवलीकनर करनदे हदेततु ददियन गयन हहै। सनांलिग्न शपरपत्र मम अदभयतुक्त ककी तरफ सदे मतुख्य रूप सदे वदणरत दकयन गयन हहै दक पनररननपत्र एवनां शपरपत्र ककी अनांतरवसततु बलिपभूवरक इनांकनर हहै , गलित, झभूठ तरन दमथ्यन हहै। सनक्ष्य, पररवनदि मम उदल् ल िखित तथ्यय कदे सनांबनांध मम पसत त ु कदेयन जन सकतन हहै , जको शपरपत्र पररवनदिली दिदेनन चनहत हहै. उसकदे सनांबनांध मम पररवनदि मम तथ्य उदल् ल िखित नहहीं हहै। पनररनन पत्र असवलीकनर दकए जननदे यकोग्य हहै।

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उभय पक कदे दवदनन अलधवक्तनगण ककी बहस सतुनली जन चतुककी हहै। पत्रनवलिली कन सम्यक रूप सदे अवलिकोकन दकयन।

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पररवनदिली पसत त ु मनमलिदे मम अदभयतुक्त कको ददिए गए रु० 4,50,000/- उधनर कदे सनांबनांध मम, आय कदे सकोत कदे सनांबनांध मम शपरपत्र मय सनांलिग्नक खिततौनली पसत त ु करनन चनहतन हहै। आय कदे सकोत कदे सनांबनांध मम अदभयतुक्त दनरन धनरन -251 दिनां०प०सनां० कदे पयनन कदे सतर पर ककोई पश्न नहहीं उठनयन गयन। पररवनदिली ककी गवनहली कदे सतर पर लजरह मम भली आय कदे सकोत कदे सनांबनांध मम ककोई पश्न नहहीं उठनयन गयन। बहस कदे सतर पर दितौरनन बहस आय कदे सकोत कदे सनांबनांध मम पश्न उठनतदे हहए तकर पसत त ु दकयन गयन हहै , लजसकदे बनदि पररवनदिली दनरन यह शपरपत्र मय खिततौनली पसत त ु दकयन जन रहन हहै , जको आय कदे सकोत कदे सनांबनांध मम हहै। आय कदे सकोत कदे सनांबनांध मम पश्नगत शपरपत्र व खिततौनली पत्रनवलिली मम लिदेकर अनांदतम दनणरय करनदे मम मदिदि दमलिदेगली। उक्त शपरपत्र मय खिततौनली कको पत्रनवलिली पर * ललियन जननन दवलधसनांगत एवनां न्यनयकोदचत हहै। जहननां तक दवलिनांब कन सवनलि हहै, इस सनांबनांध मम समतुदचत

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हजनर लिगनयन जन सकतन हहै।

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पनररननपत्र उदचत हजर पर सवलीकनर दकए जननदे यकोग्य हहै। पनररननपत्र रू० 300/- हजर पर सवलीकनर दकयन जनतन हहै। शपरपत्र सबखिततौनली पत्रनवलिली मम ललियन जनए। हजनर ददिनननांक दनयत तक अदिन हको ।

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While passing the order, above extracted, the trial Court has noticed that regarding the source of income of the complainant, the accused petitioner has not raised any objection at the stage of evidence under section 251 CrPC. At the stage of cross examination of the complainant also, source of income was not disputed by the accused.

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During the course of argument, this question was raised for the first time by him. Thereafter, the complainant has filed application along with Khatauni to show his source of income. The trial Court has allowed the application on these grounds with a further reasoning that it will help in final disposal of the matter.

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5.Likewise, on the same date, i.e. on 27.2.2024, another application filed by the complainant for recalling witness P.W. 2 Rananjay Singh has also been allowed on cost of Rs.300/-. It has been stated in the application that in the affidavit of Rananjay Singh, due to typographical error, date of giving cheque to the accused has wrongly been mentioned and reliance has been placed by the complainant on a judgment dated 30.7.2008 passed by Supreme Court in Godrej Pacific Tech. Limited versus Computer Joint India Limited Criminal Appeal No.1181 of 2008. The Court held that for just disposal of the case, recalling P.W.2 appears to be necessary and thus has allowed the application filed by the complainant. The order dated 27.2.2024 is extracted below :

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" ददिनननांक-27-02-2024

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आदिदेश पनररननपत्र अन्तगरत धनरन-311 दिनां०प०सनां० वनसतदे ररककॉलि करनदे पली०डब्लि०-02 रणनांजय लसनांह ददिनननांदकत 06-01-2024

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पररवनदिली दनरन पनररननपत्र सनांलिग्नक शपरपत्र मम वदणरत तथ्यय कनरणय एवनां पररससरदतयय कको दृदष्टिगत रखितदे हहए पली०डब्लि०-02 रणनांजय लसनांह कको बयनन कदे ललिए पतुननः बतुलिनए जननदे कन आदिदेश पनररत करनदे हदेततु ददियन गयन हहै। सनांलिग्नक शपरपतत्ानर मम मतुख्य रूप सदे आधनर वदणरत दकयन गयन हहै दक पली०डब्लि०-02 रणनांजय लसनांह दनरन शपरपत्र सनक्ष्य मम दिनलखिलि दकयन गयन हहै, लजसमम टनइदपसट ककी एक्लिली सदे अदभयतुक्त कदे दनरन पररवनदिली कको चदेक दिदेनदे ककी वनसतदवक दतलर 16-03-2020 कदे सरनन पर त्रतुदटवश चदेक दिदेनदे ककी दतलर टनइप करतदे समय पररवनदि पत्र कदे पहैरन-02 मम उदल् ल िखित दतलर 18-06-2019 कको गलितली सदे चदेक दिदेनदे ककी तनरलीखि (16-03-2020) ललिखिनदे कदे सरनन पर ददिनननांक 18-06-2019 ललिखि ददियन। उपरकोक्त भभूलि कमन यकोग्य हहै तरन पररवनदि ककी ककोई कमली ककी पभूदतर करनदे जहैसन नहहीं हहै।

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अदभयतुक्त ककी तरफ सदे आपलत्ति पत्र मय शपरपत्र दिनलखिलि दकयन गयन हहै तरन मतुख्य रूप सदे शपरपत्र मम करन दकयन गयन हहै। दक पनररननपत्र एटट शपरपत्र ककी अनांतरवसततु बलिपभूवरक इनांकनर हहै. गलित झभूठ तरन दमथ्यन हहै। पररवनदि पत्र असवलीकनर दकए जननदे यकोग्य कहन गयन हहै।

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अभय पक कदे दवदनन अलधवक्तनगण ककी बहस सतुनली जन चतुककी हहै। पत्रनवलिली कन सम्यक रूप सदे अवलिकोकन दकयन।

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पररवनदिली दनरन पली०डब्लि० -02 रणनांजय लसनांह कको पतुननः सनक्ष्य मम कको जननदे हदेततु गरननपत्र ददियन गयन हहै। पली०डब्लि०-02 रणनांजय लसनांह कदे शपरपत्र सनक्ष्य मम टनइदपसट ककी गलितली कदे कनरण चदेक दिदेनदे ककी दतलर गलित टनइप दकयन जननन कहन गयन हहै। पररवनदिली ककी तरफ सदे गकोदिरदेज, पहैसलीदफक ललिदमटदेड बननम कनांप्यभूटर ज्वनइनांट इसणडयन ललिदमटदेड दक्रि० अपलीलि सनांख्यन-1181/2008 दनणर्णीत ददिनननांदकत 30-07-2008 मन० उच्चतम न्यनयनलिय व सतुदमत्रन दिदेवली बननम कपभूर चन्द्र मन० उच्च न्यनयनलिय दहमनचलि पदिदेश, 2023 लिकॉ सभूट (एच०पली०) 223 दनणरय दवलध दिनलखिलि ककी गई। उक्त दनणरय दवलधयय मम धनरन -311 दिनां०प०सनां० कदे सनांबनांध मम जको लसदननांत पदतपनददित दकयन गयन हहै , उसकदे पकनश मम पसत त ु भनमलिदे कदे न्यनयसनांगत ददिदनश्चय कदे ललिए पली०डब्लि०-02 रणनांजय लसनांह कको पतुननः परलीकन हदेततु बतुलिनए जननदे हदेततु आवश्यक पतलीत हकोतन हहै। पली०डब्लि० -02 रुणनांजय लसनांह कको पतुननः परलीकन हदेततु बतुलिनयन जननन दवलधसनांगत एवनां पयनरप्त आधनर हहै। पनररननपत्र उदचत हजर पर सवलीकनर हकोनदे यकोग्य हहै। पनररननपत्र रू० 300 हरजर पर सवलीकनर दकयन जनतन हहै। पली०डब्लि०-02 रणनांजय लसनांह कको पतुननः परलीकन हदेततु ररकनलि दकयन जनतन हहै। पली०डब्लि० -02 रणनांजय लसनांह ककी पतुननः परलीकन मम शपरपत्र सनक्ष्य पसत त ु दकयन जनए। पत्रनवलिली वनसतदे पतुननः परलीकन शपरपत्र सनक्ष्य पर ददिनननांक 13-03-2024 कको पदेश हको। हजनर ददिनननांक दनयत तक अदिन हको। "

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6.Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the trial court has failed to consider the fact that the evidence of respondent No.2 is closed way back and the complainant has not explained the reason for moving the application under Section 311 CrPC at belated stage. In this context, learned counsel has relied on Swapan Kumar Chatterjee versus Central Bureau of Investigation Criminal appeal No.15 of 2019 (Arising out of S.L.P. (Cri) No.7748 of 2017) (relevant paras 12 and 13).

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7.A perusal of provisions of Section 311 CrPC shows that the Court has power under Section 311 CrPC to recall and re-examine any person already examined if his evidence appears to it to be essential to the just decision of the case. Since there was a typographical error in the affidavit of Rananjay Singh regarding date of providing the cheque to the accused, on this reason, the learned court was competent enough to recall P.W.2 Rananjay Singh for his re-examination under the Code of Criminal Procedure to arrive at a just decision.

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In the case of Swapan Kumar Chatterjee (supra),

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law has been reiterated that in the interest of justice and to meet the ends of justice, power conferred under section 311 CrPC should be invoked by the Court. In the case in hand, learned trial Court has given adequate reasons while relying on judgment of Supreme Court in Godrej Pacific Tech. Limited (supra).

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8.Likewise, as regards other application, the complainant has been permitted to take on record the affidavit along with Khatauni filed by the complainant for the reason that for the first time, during arguments, the accused raised this objection that the complainant is not having any source of income. He did not raise any objection at the stage of statement under section 251 CrPC or at the stage of evidence of the complainant regarding his source of income. Since he raised it for the first time during the course of argument, therefore, for this reason, this application has also been allowed. Both the applications have been allowed on the cost of Rs.300/-. The learned trial court has relied on the case of Godrej Pacific Tech. Limited (supra). Supreme Court in the said case while introducing section 311 CrPC has held in paras 6, 7, 8 and 9 as under :

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"6. In this context, reference may be made to Section 311 of the Criminal Procedure Code which reads as follows:

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"311. Power to summon material witness, or examine person present.-Any court may, at any stage of any inquiry, trial or other proceeding under this Code, summon any person as a witness, or examine any person in attendance, though not summoned as a witness, or recall and re-examine any person already examined; and the court shall summon and examine or recall and re- examine any such person if his evidence appears to it to be essential to the just decision of the case."

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The section is manifestly in two parts. Whereas the word used in the first part is "may", the second part uses "shall". In consequence, the first part gives purely discretionary authority to a criminal court and enables it at any stage of an enquiry, trial or proceeding under the Code (a) to summon anyone as a witness, or (b) to examine any person present in the court, or (c) to recall and re-examine any person whose evidence has already been recorded. On the other hand, the second part is mandatory and compels the court to take any of the aforementioned steps if the new evidence appears to it essential to the just decision of the case. This is a supplementary provision enabling, and in certain circumstances imposing on the court the duty of examining a material witness who would not be otherwise brought before it. It is couched in the widest possible terms and calls for no limitation, either with regard to the stage at which the powers of the court should be exercised, or with regard to the manner in which it should be exercised. It is not only the prerogative but also the plain duty of a court to examine such of those witnesses as it considers absolutely necessary for doing justice between the State and the subject. There is a duty cast upon the court to arrive at the truth by all lawful means and one of such means is the examination of witnesses of its own accord when for certain obvious reasons either party is not prepared to call witnesses who are known to be in a position to speak important relevant facts.

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The object underlying Section 311 of the Code is that there may not be failure of justice on account of mistake of either party in bringing the valuable evidence on record or leaving ambiguity in the statements of the witnesses examined from either side. The determinative factor is whether it is essential to the just decision of the case. The section is not limited only for the benefit of the accused, and it will not be an improper exercise of the powers of the court to summon a witness under the section merely because the evidence supports the case of the prosecution and not that of the accused. The section is a general section which applies to all proceedings, enquiries and trials under the Code and empowers the Magistrate to issue summons to any witness at any stage of such proceedings, trial or enquiry. In Section 311 the significant expression that occurs is "at any stage of any inquiry or trial or other proceeding under this Code". It is, however, to be borne in mind that whereas the section confers a very wide power on the court on summoning witnesses, the discretion conferred is to be exercised judiciously, as the wider the power the greater is the necessity for application of judicial mind.

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As indicated above, the section is wholly discretionary. The second part of it imposes upon the Magistrate an obligation: it is, that the court shall summon and examine all persons whose evidence appears to be essential to the just decision of the case. It is a cardinal rule in the law of evidence that the best available evidence should be brought before the court.

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Sections 60, 64 and 91 of the Evidence Act, 1872 (in short "the Evidence Act") are based on this rule. The court is not empowered under the provisions of the Code to compel either the prosecution or the defence to examine any particular witness or witnesses on their side. This must be left to the parties. But in weighing the evidence, the court can take note of the fact that the best available evidence has not been given, and can draw an adverse inference. The court will often have to depend on intercepted allegations made by the parties, or on inconclusive inference from facts elicited in the evidence. In such cases, the court has to act under the second part of the section. Sometimes the examination of witnesses as directed by the court may result in what is thought to be "filling of loopholes". That is purely a subsidiary factor and cannot be taken into account. Whether the new evidence is essential or not must of course depend on the facts of each case, and has to be determined by the Presiding Judge."

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Supreme Court has held that the first part of the section is discretionary. Second part of section 311 CrPC imposes upon the Magistrate an obligation and cast a duty upon the Court to recall and re-examine any person whose evidence has already been recorded and whose evidence appears to be essential for arriving a just decision in the case.

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Law is settled in this regard. The best evidence available should be brought before the Court. It has been held that the Court will often have to depend on intercepted allegations made by the parties, or on inconclusive inference from facts elicited in the evidence. In such cases, the court has to act under the second part of the section which is mandatory.

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9.Considering the argument advanced, perusal of

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the record, reasons assigned in the impugned orders as also the judgment(s) referred to above, I find no illegality in the orders impugned. The petition, being devoid of merit, is dismissed.

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Order Date :- 12.8.2024 kkb/

¶49

Digitally signed by :- KRISHNA KUMAR BARANWAL High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, Lucknow Bench

Ashish Kumar Maurya v. State of U.P. Thru. Prin. Secy. Home Lko. and Another

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Ashish Kumar Maurya v. State of U.P. Thru. Prin. Secy. Home Lko. and Another

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