Shila Devi vs State Of U.P. & 11 Others
2014 Latest Caselaw 1944 ALL

HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD
 
 

A  F   R
 
Court No. - 10
 

 
Case :- CRIMINAL MISC. WRIT PETITION No. - 24999 of 2013
 

 
Petitioner :- Shila Devi
 
Respondent :- State Of U.P. & 11 Others
 
Counsel for Petitioner :- P.K. Upadhyay
 
Counsel for Respondent :- Govt. Advocate
 

 
Hon'ble Arun Tandon,J.

Hon'ble Shashi Kant, J.

Heard P. K. Upadhyay, counsel for the petitioner and V. C. Mishra, Advocate General on behalf of the State as well as other respondent authorities.

Petitioner seeks quashing of the order dated 23.05.2013 passed by Principal Secretary, Home, Government of U. P., Lucknow whereby he has refused to grant sanction for prosecution of three police personnel in Case Crime No.829 of 2010 under Sections 306, 506, 323, 120 B IPC.

Facts in short as on record of the present writ petition are as follows :

FIR being Case Crime No.829 of 2010, under Sections 306, 506, 323, 120 B IPC, P. S.Kerakat, District-Jaunpur was registered on 20.10.2010, by Smt. Shila, mother of the deceased Yogendra Kumar. In the FIR it was mentioned that her son Yogendra Kumar was forced to commit suicide because of the undue pressures brought upon him by his accused wife as well as by constables Prabhu Nath Ram, Madhusudan Mishra and S.I., Vikas Pandey, In-Charge of the police outpost-Gaddi.

The case was investigated by civil police, a charge sheet was filed against the wife of the deceased only. The informant-mother filed Writ Petition No.23269 of 2010 alleging therein that the investigation has not been done in free and fair manner because of the involvement of the police officers as detailed above. The investigation had not been done in the right direction with specific reference to the suicide note recovered near the dead body of the deceased as well as in respect of the deceased being called at the police station and being asked to wait for long periods and being harassed by the police officers without making any mention of the same in the G.D.

The High Court after considering the facts pleaded by the mother and after affording opportunity to the prosecution and the State-respondents, it came to a conclusion vide order dated 22.07.2011 that the investigation has not been done by the Investigating Officer in right direction specifically with reference to the suicide note and summoning of the victim to the police outpost on 18.10.2010 and 20.10.2010 where he is alleged to have been tortured. The details of his being called to the police outpost were not mentioned in the G.D. of the respective dates. In the totality of the facts on record the High Court went on to pass following orders :

"The investigation has not been made by the I.O. on the basis of the suicide note but during the pendency of the writ petition the I.O. completed the investigation in which the charge sheet has been proposed only against Smt. Reena Devi, wife of the deceased, but this court has directed not to submit any police report before the court concerned till further order of this court, at this stage it is not proper to discuss all the facts and the allegations but the circumstances are of such nature in which for ensuring the fair investigation, the investigation of the above mentioned case is required to be done by the investigating agency other than the local police because the allegations have been made against three police personnel of the same police station where the alleged occurrence has taken place. Therefore, we direct that the investigation of case crime no.829 of 2010 under sections 306, 506, 323 and 120-B IPC, P.S.Kerakat, District-Jaunpur shall be done by the C.B.C.I.D. The S.P. Jaunpur is directed to ensure that shall be handed over to C.B.C.I.D. Forthwith, who shall submit the police report after completing the investigation before the court concerned.

Accordingly the writ petition is finally disposed of."

In terms of the order of the High Court C.B.C.I.D proceeded with the investigation. It prepared a draft police report. Thereafter, C.B.C.I.D made an application to the State Government vide letter dated 3 December 2012 for sanction being granted for the prosecution of the police officers. The said application was accompanied with the details of the investigation done by the C.B.C.I.D. On receipt of the said application it appears that the Principal Secretary, Home, U. P. Government, who was competent person to sanction prosecution, asked for a report from the Law Department of the State of U.P. Special Secretary (Law) & Addl. Legal Remembrances, Govt. of U.P., Lucknow submitted a report on 23.05.2013 i.e. after six months of the receipt of the application for sanction of the prosecution. On the basis of said legal opinion the Principal Secretary, Home has proceeded to pass the order dated 23.05.2013 impugned in the petition. He has refused to grant sanction for prosecution, the reason assigned in the order for the purpose reads as follows :

"bl leca/k esa eq>s dgus dk funsZ'k gqvk gS fd mijksDr nks"kh iqfyldfeZ;ksa ds fo:} vfHk;kstu Lohd`fr iznku fd;s tkus ds miyC/k lk{;ksa @ vfHkys[kksa ds vk/kkj ij lQyrk dh lEHkkouk {kh.k gksuk ik;s tkus ij 'kklu }kjk lE;d~ fopkjksijkUr mDr nks"kh iqfyldfeZ;ksa ds fo:} vfHk;kstu Lohd`fr iznku fd;s tkus dk vkSfpR; ugha ik;k x;k gSA"

Before we address ourselves to the report of the Special Secretary (Law) & Addl. Legal Remembrances it may be recorded that the order of the Principal Secretary, Home does not even refer to the report of the Special Secretary (Law) & Addl. Legal Remembrances.

It is settled law that the orders are to be judged for the reasons recorded therein. From the order of the State Government dated 23.05.2013 it is clear that the only reason disclosed is that on the basis of the evidence available on the records, the chances of offence being brought home against the police officers are minimal. Therefore, sanction for prosecution is being refused.

We may record that, from page 9 of the report of the C.B.C.I.D., which has been enclosed as Annexure No.1 along with the counter affidavit filed on behalf of the State, sufficient facts and materials have been disclosed for charge sheet being filed against the police officers and the matter being investigated against them also.

In paragraphs 10 (2) and 10(3) of the report of C.B.C.I.D., the explanation of the police officers, the reason for not accepting the same and the evidence relied upon in support of the conclusion drawn by the C.B.C.I.D. has specifically been mentioned along with the recommendation in the matter.

The relevant portion of the report of the C.B.C.I.D. is being quoted herein below :

"blds vfrfjDr LFkkuh; iqfyl ds tks izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ esa ukfer mifujh{kd izHkkjh pkSdh Fkkuk xn~nh Jh fodkl ik.Ms; iq= Lo0 jke fujatu ik.Ms; fuoklh lR;kuxat Fkkuk vgjkSjk fetkZiqj gky rSukrh lajk; iq[rk iqfyl pkSdh Fkkuk lnj dksrokyh tuin tkSuiqj vkj{kh 984 uk0iq0 e/kqlwnu feJk iq= Lo0 lq/khj feJk fu0 pks[kuk Fkkuk estk tuin bykgkckn gky irk Fkkuk cMslj tuin xkthiqj o vkj{kh 113 uk0 iq0 izHkw ukFk jke iq= Jh 'kadj jke fuoklh xzke pkspdiqj Fkkuk dj.Mk tuin xkthiqj gky irk Fkkuk dqjkao tuin bykgkckn ds fo:} e`rd ;ksxsUnz xqIrk dks vukf/kd`r :i ls iqfyl pkSdh Fkkuk xn~nh cqykdj iRuh ds lkeus izrkfMr ,oa viekfur fd;k x;k rFkk vfHk;qDr fot; dqekj xqIrk o e`rd ;ksxsUnz }kjk fn, x;s izkFkZuk i= dk u rks th0 Mh0 esa vken fd;k vkSj u gh cjoDr okilh vkSj u gh Jherh jhuk xqIrk dks ?kj ds vanj dejs esa can ik;s tkus dk rfLdjk th0 Mh0 esa vafdr fd;k tks fof/k fo:} gS vkSj vukf/kd`r :i ls okfnuh] okfnuh ds ifr fo'oukFk xqIrk] jkds'k xqIrk ,oa xkao ds lqjsUnz dsoV] lkew flag] f'ko dqekj xqIrk] yYyu ;knu o fnyhi dqekj flag vkfn ds dFkuks ,oa e`rd ds lqlkbV uksV ds vk/kkj ij e`rd ;ksxsUnz dks iqfyl us pkSdh Fkkuk xn~nh ij cSBk;s j[kk ,oa ljsvke viekfur fd;k ftlds dkj.k ;ksxsUnz us Xykfuo'k vkRegR;k dj yh tks /kkjk [email protected]@506 Hkk0 na0 fo0 ds varxZr izFke n`"V;k vijk/k dks izekf.kr gksuk ik;k x;k gSA

10 ¼2½ vfHk;qDrksa dk Li"Vhdj.k o cpko ds rdZ%&

Jherh xhrk xqIrk ds NksVs HkkbZ fot; xqIrk }kjk fnukad 12&10&10 dks iqfyl pkSdh Fkkuk xn~nh ds izHkkjh mifujh{kd fodkl ik.Ms; ds uke fn;s x;s f'kdk;rh izkFkZuki= ds vk/kkj ij e`rd ;ksxsUnz dks vkj{kh e/kqlwnu feJk ,oa vkj{kh izHkw ukFk jke }kjk iqfyl pkSdh pkSjkgs ij iwNrkN gsrq cqykdj yk;k x;k Fkk fdUrq rhuks iqfyldfeZ;ksa }kjk pkSjkgs ij ;ksxsUnz xqIrk dks ekjus ihVus] xkyh xykSt djus vFkok viekfur u fd;s tkus ds rdZ fn;s x;s gSSA

10 ¼3½ vfHk;qDrksa ds Li"Vhdj.k o cpko ds rdksZ dks u ekuus dk dkj.k%&

vfHk;qDrksa }kjk fd;k x;k dFku ek= vius cpko esa fn;k x;k gS tks ekuus ;ksX; ugha gSA vfHk;qDrksa ds fo:} U;k;ky; esa vkjksi i= izsf"kr fd;s tkus o U;k;ky; esa vfHk;ksftr fd;s tkus gsrq i;kZIr lk{; miyC/k gSA

10 ¼4½ lcwr i{k ,oa cpko i{k ds rF;ksa dk fo'ys"k.k%&

mifujhf{kd Jh fodkl ik.Ms; vkj{kh Jh e/kqlwnu feJk ,oa vkj{kh Jh izHkwukFk jke }kjk vafdr djk;k x;k dFku ek= vius vki dks cpkus dh fu;r ls fn;k x;k gSA

vijk/k 'kk[kk dh foospuk ls mijksDr vfHk;qDrx.k ds fo:} izFke n`"V;k vijk/k vUrxZr /kkjk [email protected]@506 Hkk0 na0 fo0 izekf.kr gSA

fu"d"kZ%&

foospuk ds e/; ladfyr ekSf[kd vfHkys[kh; ,oa ifjfLFkfrtU; lk{;ksa ds fo'ys"k.k ls f'kdk;rdrkZ Jh 'khyk nsoh }kjk fnukad 23&10&10 dks iathd`r djk;s x;s izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ esa fot; xqIrk] vt; dqekj xqIrk] gjh yky mi fujh0 fodkl ik.Ms; vkj{kh e/kqlwnu feJk ,oa vkj{kh izHkwukFk jke dks ukfer fd;k gS ftlesa ls vt; dqekj xqIrk] gjh yky xqIrk ds fo:} fdlh vijk/k dk izekf.kr gksuk ugha ik;k x;k gSA cfYd izFke lwpuk esa ukfer vfHk;qDr Jherh jhuk xqIrk iRuh e`rd ;ksxsUnz dqekj xqIrk ,oa vfHk;qDr fot; dqekj xqIrk iq= vxuw xqIrk ¼e`rd ;ksxsUnz dk lkyk½ ds }kjk thou;kiu o ngst mRihMu dks ysdj ,d i{kh; vnkyrh dk;Zokgh ,oa >waBk vfHk;ksx iathd`r djk;k x;k Fkk ftlds mRihMu ,oa vkfFkZd raxh ds dkj.k ;ksxsUnz xqIrk }kjk vius gh edku esa yxs lhfyax Qsu esa yqaxh ls Qank cukdj vkRegR;k dj fy;k x;kA lanfHkZr vfHk;ksx ds foospuk rRrdkyhu {ks=kf/kdkjh dsjkdr Jh us=iky flag }kjk dh x;h rFkk foospuksijkUr Jherh jhuk xqIrk }kjk vius ifr e`rd ;ksxsUnz dqekj xqIrk dks iw.kZ:is.k mRihfMr djus dk nks"kh ik;s tkus ij dsoy Jherh jhuk xqIrk iRuh e`rd ;ksxsUnz dqekjx xqIrk fuoklh [kxZlsuiqj ]Fkkuk dsjkdr tuin tkSuiqj gky irk xzke fVdjx< Fkkuk nsoxkao vktex< ds fo:} /kkjk 306 Hkk0na0 fo0 dk vijk/k l`ftr gksuk ik;k gS ] 'ks"k izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ esa ukfer vt; xqIrk iq=x.k vxuw] gjh yky vxuw o unuyky ds fo:} vijk/k dk l`ft gksuk ugha ik;k x;k gSA LFkkuh; iqfyl ds foospd }kjk Jherh jhuk xqIrk ds fo:} fnukad 31&3&11 dks vkjksi i= la[;k [email protected] /kkjk 306 Hkk0na0 fo0 izsf"kr fd;k x;k gS vijk/k 'kk[kk dh foospuk ls LFkkuh; iqfyl }kjk izsf"kr vkjksi i= esa fdlh ifjorZu dh vko';drk ugha gSA fot; dqekj xqIrk iq= vxuw xqIrk fuoklh fVdjx< Fkkuk nsoxkat tuin vktex< ds fo:} vijk/k la[;k dh xgu foospuk ls viuh cgu Jherh jhuk xqIrk ds lkFk lkFk e`rd ;ksxsUnz dks Qkalh yxkdj vkRegR;k fd;s tkus ds fy, mRrsftr djus ds dkj.k /kkjk [email protected]] Hkk0na0fo0 ds vijk/k dk nks"kh ik;k x;k gSA blds vfrfjdRk LFkkuh; iqfyl ds tks izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ esa ukfer mifujh{kd izHkkjh pkSdh Fkkuk xn~nh Jh fodl dqekj ik.Ms; iq= Lo0 jke fujatu ik.Ms; fuoklh lR;kuxat Fkkuk vgjkSjk fetkZiqj gky rSukrh lajk;iq[rk iqfyl pkSdh Fkkuk lnj dksrokyh tuin tkSuiqj vkj{kh 984 uk0 iq0 e/kqlwnu feJk iq= Lo0 lq/khj feJk fuoklh pks[kuk Fkkuk estk tuin bykgkckn gky irk Fkkuk cMslj tuin xkthiqj o vkj{kh 113 uk0 iq0 izHkwukFk jke iq= Jh 'kadj jke fuoklh xzke pkspyiqj Fkkuk dj.Mk tuin xkthiqj gky irk Fkkuk dqjkao tuin bykgkckn ds fo:} e`rd ;ksxsUnz xqIrk dks vukf/kd`r :i ls iqfyl pkSdh Fkkuk xn~nh cqykdj iRuh ds lkeus izrkfMr ,oa viekfur fd;k x;k rFkk vfHk;qDr fot; dqekj xqIrk o e`rd ;ksxsUnz }kjk fn, x;s izkFkZuki= dk u rks th0Mh0 esa vken fd;k vkSj u gh cjoDr okilh vkSj u gh Jherh jhuk xqIrk dks ?kj ds vanj dejs esa can ik;s tkus dk rkfLdjk th0Mh0 esa vafdr fd;kA tks fof/k fo:} gS vkSj vukf/kd`r :i ls okfnuh ds ifr fo'oukFk xqIrk] jkds'k xqIrk ,oa xkao ds lqjsUnz dsoV] lkew flag] f'ko dqekj xqIrk] yYyu ;kno o fnyhi dqekj flag vkfn ds dFkuksa ,oa e`rd ds lqlkbV uksV ds vk/kkj ij e`rd ;ksxsUnz dks iqfyl us pkSdh Fkkuk xn~nh ij cSBk;s j[kk ,oa ljsvke viekfur fd;k ftlds dkj.k ;ksxsUnz us xykfuo'k vkRegR;k dj yh tks /kkjk [email protected]@[email protected] ch] Hkk0 na0 fo0 ds vUrxZr izFke n`"V;k vijk/k dk izekf.kr gksuk ik;k x;k gSA

laLrqfr%&

vijk/k 'kk[kk dh lEiw.kZ foospuk ds e/; miyC/k vfHkys[kh;@ekSf[kd ,oa ifjfLFkfrtU; lk{; ds fo'ys"k.k ls vfHk;qDr Jherh jhuk xqIrk iRuh Lo0 ;ksxsUnz dqekj xqIrk ,oa vfHk;qDr fot; dqekj xqIrk iq= vxuw xqIrk ds fo:} /kkjk [email protected]] Hkk0 na0 fo0 dk vijk/k izekf.kr gksuk ik;k x;k gSA Jherh jhuk xqIrk ds fo:} tuinh; iqfyl ds foospd }kjk iwoZ esa vkjksi i= izsf"kr fd;k tk pqdk gS ftlesa fdlh cnyko dh vko';drk ugh gSA vr% vfHk;qDr fot; dqekj xqIrk ds fo:} /kkjk [email protected] ch0] Hkk0 na0 fo0 ds vUrxZr /kkjk 173 na0 ia0 la0 ds rgr iwjd vkjksi i= izsf"kr ,oa mi fujh{kd izHkkjh] pkSdh Fkkuk xn~nh Jh fodkl ik.Ms;] vkj{kh e/kqlwnu feJk o vkj{kh izHkwukFk jke ds fo:}

/kkjk [email protected]@[email protected]] Hkk0na0 fo0 dk vijk/k izFke n`"V;k izekf.kr ik;k x;k gSA ek0 U;k;ky; esa vfHk;ksx pyk;s tkus gsrq i;kZIr lk{; gSA vfHk;qDr jhuk xqIrk o vfHk;qDr fot; dqekj xqIrk ds fo:} vfHk;kstu Lohd`fr dh vko';drk ugha gS buds fo:} vkjksii= izsf"kr fd;k tk jgk gSA

vr% mifujh{[email protected] izHkkjh pkSdh Fkkuk xn~nh Jh fodkl ik.Ms; vkj{kh e/kqlwnu feJk o vkj{kh izHkwukFk jke mijksDr dks U;k;ky; esa vfHk;kstu fd;s tkus gsrq /kkjk 197 ¼2½ na0 iz0 la0 ds vUrxZr vfHk;kstu Lohd`fr ,oa /kkjk 45 ¼2½ na0 iz0 la0 ds vUrxZr fxjQrkj fd;s tkus dh vuqefr okafNr gSA lkFk gh lkFk ;g Hkh vuqjks/k gS fd vfHk;kstu Lohd`fr ds fy, frfFk fu/kkZfjr dj voxr djkus dh d`ik djs rkfd lecfU/kr foospd dks le; ls fopkj foe'kZ fd;s tkus gsrq Hkstk tk ldsA"

From the order of the State Government, it is apparently clear that there has been complete non application of mind to the facts disclosed in the report of the C.B.C.I.D. along with the evidence collected and reasons assigned for investigation being done against the police officers also.

Now turning to the Annexure-CA-2 of the counter affidavit i.e. report of the Special Secretary (Law) & Addl. Legal Remembrances, Govt. of U.P., Lucknow, which is alleged to be the basis for passing the order impugned. We may record that the report runs in two and half pages. The first two pages deals with the investigation done by the civil police, which was not accepted by the High Court as per its judgment dated 22.07.2011 referred to above and investigation was directed through C.B.C.I.D. The facts upto that stage are not of much relevance. The later part of the report contains the judgment of Supreme Court, which deals with protection to be provided to the officers. It is the law applicable.

The consideration of the report of the C.B.C.I.D is only in the last paragraph of the opinion of Rangnath Pandey, Special Secretary (Law) & Addl. Legal Remembrances, Govt. of U.P., Lucknow, which reads as follows :

"bl izdkj iz'kklfud foHkkx }kjk i`"B 18 ls 22 ij vafdr fVIIk.kh rFkk foospukf/kdkjh }kjk voxr djk;s x;s rF;ksa ,oa iqfyl v/kh{kd vijk/k 'kk[kk] vijk/k vuqla/kku foHkkx y[kuÅ ds i= fnukad 14&2&2012 ds lkFk layXu vfHkys[kh; ,oa ekSf[kd lk{;ksa ds izdk'k esa eqdnek vijk/k la[;k [email protected]] vUrxZr /kkjk 306]506] 323] 120ch] Hkk0 na0 fo0 Fkkuk dsjkdr tuin tkSuiqj ls lecfU/kr mifujh{kd fodkl ik.Ms; vkj{kh izHkwukFk vkSj vkj{kh e/kqlwnu ds fo:} vfHk;kstu Lohd`fr iznku fd;s tkus ij lQyrk dh lEHkkouk {kh.k izrhr gksrh gSA"

We have no hesitation to record that such reports, which do not even take into consideration as to what has been found and recorded by the C.B.C.I.D in its report seeking prosecution, is patently unjust. The opinion appears to be tailor-made to suit only the interest of the police officers involved. Even the order of the High Court dated 22.07.2011 and its impact has gone unnoticed in the report of Special Secretary (Law) & Addl. Legal Remembrances, Govt. of U.P., Lucknow.

From the records we find that for six months no action was taken in the matter of passing of the orders in respect of the application to sanction for prosecution made by the C.B.C.I.D. It was only when a contempt petition was filed before the High Court being Contempt Petition No.2689 of 2012 that the State Government got an opinion from the Special Secretary (Law) & Addl. Legal Remembrances noted above. Thereafter, the Special Secretary (Law) & Addl. Legal Remembrances, Govt. of U.P., Lucknow has proceeded to refuse the sanction for prosecution. We may record that the date fixed in the contempt proceedings for decision being taken on the request of the C.B.C.I.D was 27.05.2013.

In the aforesaid circumstances we feel it just and proper to quash the order dated 23.05.2013. It is ordered accordingly.

Having regard to the report of the C.B.C.I.D we direct the Principal Secretary, Home, Govt. of U. P., Lucknow to revisit the matter and act in accordance with law preferably within a period of two weeks of the receipt of a certified copy of this order. It may only to be noticed that the High Court in its order dated 22.07.2011 quoted above had specifically directed that the report shall be submitted by the C.B.C.I.D. to the Court concerned.

So far as Rangnath Pandey, Special Secretary (Law) & Addl. Legal Remembrances, Govt. of U. P., Lucknow is concerned, he is a judicial officer on deputation with the State Government. He is cautioned to be more careful in future.

Learned Additional Government Advocate has placed reliance upon the judgment in the case of State of Maharashtra Vs. Mahesh G. Jain reported in (2014) 1 Supreme Court Cases (Cri) 515.

We have gone through the judgment and we find that the same is clearly distinguishable in the facts of the case.

Writ petition is allowed with aforesaid observations.

Order Date : 22.05.2014

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