Allowed

State of Karnataka v. Gangojirao

Karnataka HC5 Jul 2021WP/46825/2016

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The High Court of Karnataka quashed the order of reference of a trial court and the subsequent award of a Lok Adalat. The Court held that Lok Adalats lack jurisdiction to adjudicate non-compoundable offences under the Legal Services Authorities Act, rendering the reference and conviction illegal.

What did the court decide?

The order of reference and the Lok Adalat award were quashed. C.C.No.151/2013 was restored to the trial court's file for adjudication.

State of Karnataka Vs Gangojirao — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2021)

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W.P.No.46825/2016

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

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DATED THIS THE 5^TH DAY OF JULY 2021

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BEFORE

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THE HON’BLE MRS. JUSTICE K.S.MUDAGAL

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WRIT PETITION No.46825/2016 (GM-RES)

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BETWEEN :

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STATE OF KARNATAKA BY AKKUR POLICE STATION CHANNAPATNA TALUK RAMANAGARA DISTRICT – 571 201 …PETITIONER

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(BY SMT.NAMITHA MAHESH B.G. HCGP)

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AND :

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GANGOJIRAO S/O MADHAVARAO AGED ABOUT 71 YEARS R/AT JAGADAPURA VILLAGE CHANNAPATNA TALUK RAMANAGARA DISTRICT – 571 201 …RESPONDENT

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(BY SRI MANJUNATH.B.R. ADVOCATE)

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THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA READ WITH SECTION 482 OF CR.P.C. PRAYING TO QUASH THE ORDER DATED 10.04.2014 (ANNEXURE-C) PASSED BY THE SENIOR CIVIL JUDGE AND JMFC, CHANNAPATNA IN C.C.NO.151/2013 ARISING OUT OF CRIME NO.84/2010 REGISTERED BY AKKUR POLICE STATION, CHANNAPATNA TALUK, RAMANAGARA DISTRICT FOR THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTIONS 32 AND 34 OF KARNATAKA EXCISE ACT, 1965.

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THIS WRIT PETITION COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING IN ‘B’ GROUP THIS DAY, THE COURT THROUGH VIDEO CONFERENCE MADE THE FOLLOWING:

W.P.No.46825/2016

O R D E R

“Whether the Court can refer a case relating to noncompoundable offence to Lok Adalat and Lok Adalat has jurisdiction to determine such case”? are the questions involved in this case.

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The respondent was being prosecuted before the trial Court in C.C.No.151/2013 on the basis of the charge sheet filed by Akkur Police for the offences punishable under Sections 32 and 34 of the Karnataka Excise Act, 1965 (‘the Excise Act’ for short).

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For the purpose of convenience, the respondent will be referred to as accused henceforth. The allegation against the accused was that he was illegally possessing and selling the liquor worth Rs.1,620/-.

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On 10.04.2014, the trial Court by the impugned order referred the case to Lok Adalat. The Lok Adalat by the impugned award dated 10.04.2014 determined the said case holding that the accused has admitted the guilt. Further the Lok Adalat by the impugned award convicted the accused for the offences punishable under Sections 32 and 34 of the Excise Act and released

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W.P.No.46825/2016

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him on probation of maintaining good conduct for two years.

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Aggrieved by the said order, the State preferred Crl.A.No.22/2014 before the Principal District and Sessions Judge, Ramanagar contending that the order of reference of the trial Court and the impugned order of the Lok Adalat were contrary to Sections 20 and 19 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 (‘the Act’ for short).

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The learned Sessions Judge though held that the order of reference and the impugned award are unsustainable dismissed the appeal on the ground that Section 21(2) of the Act bars such appeal. Aggrieved by the said judgment, the State has preferred this petition.

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Reiterating the grounds of the petition, Smt.Namitha Mahesh B.G, learned HCGP submits that the impugned order and award are violative of Sections 19 and 20 of the Act. In support of her contentions, she relies upon the following judgments:

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(i) United India Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Ajay Sinha¹

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(ii) Urmila Masomat v. State of Bihar²

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1 (2008) 7 SCC 454

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2 2016 SCC Online Pat 4706

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W.P.No.46825/2016

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Sri Manjunath.B.R, learned Counsel for the respondent submits that even though Lok Adalat has no jurisdiction to determine non-compoundable offence, the alleged admission of guilt before Lok Adalat shall not prejudice the defence of the accused in trial. He further submits that the trial Court shall not be biased by the alleged admission.

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Which matter can be referred to Lok Adalat and the Lok Adalat has jurisdiction over which matters is enumerated in Sections 19 and 20 of the Act. For the purpose of this petition, Sections 19(1) and 19(5) of the Act are relevant.

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“19. Organization of Lok Adalats.― (1) Every State Authority or District Authority or the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee or every High Court Legal Services Committee or, as the case may be, Taluk Legal Services Committee may organise Lok Adalats at such intervals and places and for exercising such jurisdiction and for such areas as it thinks fit.

(2) ………………..

(3) ………………..

(4) ………..……….

(5) A Lok Adalat shall have jurisdiction to determine and to arrive at a compromise or settlement between the parties to a dispute in respect of―

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(i) Any case pending before; or

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(ii) Any matter which is falling within the jurisdiction of, and is not brought before, any court for which the Lok Adalat is organized:

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Provided that the Lok Adalat shall have no jurisdiction in respect of any case or matter relating to an offence not compoundable under any law.”

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Reading of the above provisions makes it clear

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that Lok Adalat has no jurisdiction in respect of a case relating to non compoundable offence.

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Section 20 of the Act speaks about cognizance

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of the cases by Lok Adalats and cases which are fit for reference. For the purpose of this case, Section 20(1)(ii) of the Act is relevant which read as follows:

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“20. Cognizance of Cases by Lok Adalats.― (1) Where in any case referred to in clause (i) of sub-section (5) of Section 19―

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(i) (a) …………………………………………………………

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(b) …………………………………………………………

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(ii) The court is satisfied that the matter is an appropriate one to be taken cognizance of by the Lok Adalat, the court shall refer the case to the Lok Adalat:

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Provided that no case shall be referred to the Lok Adalat under sub-clause (b) of clause (i) or clause (ii) by such court except after giving a reasonable opportunity of being heard to the parties.”

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Reading of Section 20(1)(ii) of the Act and the

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proviso to the said section makes it clear that Court can

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W.P.No.46825/2016

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refer a case to Lok Adalat only if the same is appropriate .

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Again what is appropriate case depends on the fact whether Lok Adalat can take cognizance of such offences and has jurisdiction to decide the same. Proviso to Section 19(5) of the Act bars the jurisdiction of Lok Adalat over a case relating to a non compoundable offence. Therefore the logic of the law is that a case involving non compoundable offence is inappropriate for reference to Lok Adalat.

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The Hon'ble Supreme Court in para 40 of the judgment in United India Insurance Co. Ltd.’s case referred to supra held that the offence which is noncompoundable in nature falls outside the jurisdiction of permanent Lok Adalat.

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In Urmila Masomat’s case referred to supra

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the Patna High Court held that the Lok Adalat constituted under Sections 20 and 22 of the Act has no jurisdiction in respect of any matter relating to the offence which is noncompoundable under any law. Therefore the Court cannot refer such cases to Lok Adalat.

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In this case, admittedly, the offences under Sections 32 and 34 of the Act are non compoundable. Therefore, the order of reference and determination of the same by the Lok Adalat are contrary to Sections 19 and 20 of the Act.

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The minimum prescribed punishment for the offence under Section 32 of the Excise Act is rigorous imprisonment not less than one year and fine not less than Rs.10,000/- which is extendable upto five years and Rs.50,000/-.

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The minimum prescribed punishment for the offence under Section 34 of the Excise Act is imprisonment not less than one year and fine not less than Rs.10,000/which is extendable upto four years and Rs.50,000/-. The Lok Adalat released him on probation of good conduct. That shows how lightly the Lok Adalat dealt with the matter.

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Neither the trial Court nor the Lok Adalat have recorded the admission of the plea of the guilt of the

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W.P.No.46825/2016

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accused as required under the Criminal Procedure Code. Since Lok Adalat has no jurisdiction to take cognizance, the alleged plea of guilt before the Lok Adalat has no sanctity in the eye of law.

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For the aforesaid reasons, the petition is allowed. The impugned order of reference dated 10.04.2014 in C.C.No.151/2013 passed by the trial Court and the award of the Lok Adalat as per Annexure-C are hereby quashed.

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C.C.No.151/2013 is restored to the file of the trial Court. The trial Court shall secure the presence of the accused and adjudicate the matter in accordance with law.

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The trial Court shall not be biased by the alleged admission of guilt or plea of guilt of the accused.

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Sd/JUDGE

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KSR

State of Karnataka v. Gangojirao

Case brief

What is this about?

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State of Karnataka v. Gangojirao

Case brief

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