Citation : 2020 Latest Caselaw 765 Del
Judgement Date : 5 February, 2020
* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
% Judgment Reserved On: 31.10.2019
Judgment Pronounced On: 05.02.2020
+ TR.P.(CRL.) 8/2019 & Crl.M.A. 39395/2019.
KAPILA BHUDHIRAJA ..... Petitioner
Through Mr. Kunal Kalra, Advocate
versus
DEEPAK BHUDHIRAJA & ANR. ..... Respondent
Through Mr. Ravinder Kumar,
Advocate for R-1.
Mr. R.K.Gupta, Advocate for
R-2.
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE BRIJESH SETHI
JUDGMENT
BRIJESH SETHI, J
1. This is a petition for transfer of case titled Kapila Bhudhiraja
v. Deepak Budhiraja & Anr. bearing no. 2311/2017 pending before
the court of Ms. Riya Gua, Ld. M.M.-Rohini Courts, Delhi to any
other District Court.
2. Ld. Counsel for the petitioner has submitted that petitioner
has filed a complaint under Section 12 read with Section 17 and 23
of the Domestic Violence Act against the respondents. Petitioner is
residing in her matrimonial home i.e. property bearing No. 138, FF,
Gupta Colony, New Kalyan Vihar, Delhi, since her marriage with
the respondents purchased by the joint funds/income after selling
another ancestral property. Petitioner is taking care of her two
daughters independently without any support from the respondent
No.2. The elder daughter of the petitioner is in 4th class and younger
daughter is hardly about months old.
3. Ld. MM on her complaint under the domestic Violence Act
has appointed Protection Officer and also issued notice to the
respondents. The Protection Officer has filed his report dated
17.03.2017 wherein it is reported that petitioner is residing in the
suit property. Vide order dated 21.03.2017, Ld. MM has refrained
the respondents from committing any physical violence against the
petitioner and her minor children and the respondents were
restrained from dispossessing the complainant/petitioner and her
two children from the suit property till the disposal of the case.
4. It is further submitted that respondent No.1, in connivance
with Respondent No. 2, has filed a suit for mandatory injunction and
for recovery of mesne profit against the petitioner wherein the
respondent No.1 has sought a decree of mandatory injunction
directing the petitioner and respondent No. 2 to remove themselves
and their belongings from the suit property. It is submitted that
under the garb of mandatory injunction, the respondent No. 1 has
sought possession of the suit property. The order dated 21.03.2017,
passed by the learned MM has attained finality as the respondents
have not challenged the said order within the stipulated period of
limitation. It is further submitted that respondent No. 2 stealthily
challenged the said order dated 12.07.2017 before learned Addl.
Session Judge presenting misleading facts that the learned trial court
has passed an order restraining the respondents from dispossessing
the petitioner and her children on 12.07.2017 instead of 21.3.2017 in
order to make her appeal within the stipulated period of limitation.
The learned ASJ has allowed the appeal and has set aside the order
dated 12.7.2017 and has vacated the restrain order dated 21.3.2017,
which was never challenged by the respondent.
5. It is further alleged that on 01.09.2018 around 1:50 p.m. when
cousin brother of petitioner namely Mr. Ajay Chopra had gone to
attend the matter of the petitioner, pending in the court of Ms. Riya
Gua, MM Rohini Court, Mr. Rohit Khera Advocate, Rajesh
Kaushik, Deepak Bhudhiraja and other 2-3 lawyers started beating
him outside the washroom. Mr. Rohit Khera in the meanwhile had
taken out some sharp/pointed weapon and hit Ajay Chopra as a
result of which, he received abrasions below elbow. They further
threatened Ajay Chopra to impress petitioner to withdraw the case
failing which they would kill Ajay Chopra and his entire family.
Due to continuous punches and slaps, Ajay Chopra suffered
grievous injury. All the accused persons on the instruction of Rohit
Khera also snatched mobile phone of Ajay Chopra and there after
they went away with the same.
6. Ajay Chopra called the police on 100 number from the mobile
phone of Mr. Kunal Kalra Advocate. Due to severe beating Ajay
Chopra was not able to hear from the left ear. Police arrived at
Court Room number 104 and took Ajay Chopra to Dr. Baba Sahib
Ambedkar Hospital. MLC of Ajay Chopra was prepared and after
check-up, he was informed by the Doctor that his left Ear Drum has
got damaged due to blows.
7. Ajay Chopra filed a written complaint before Chowki
Incharge, Rohini Court, Delhi and when he along with his son Ankit
and Rahul were sitting outside the chowki, Rohini Court, the above
named accused persons with 15-20 lawyers had come near chowki
and started beating Ajay, Ankit and Rahul brutally with belts, danda
and pipes in order to kill them. They were beaten in the court
premises and also near the gate of Chowki and in front of police
officers who stood as mute spectator. Another complaint was also
filed narrating the aforesaid facts. The police assured the petitioner
that strict action would be taken against the accused persons.
However, an FIR was registered only under 323/341/506/34 IPC i.e.
Sections of IPC which are bailable in nature. It is further alleged
that main accused persons are Rohini based lawyers and all of them
have threatened that they would not allow the petitioner and his
family members to enter Rohini Court.
8. It is next submitted that since relatives of the petitioner were
beaten blue black in front of the police chowki, therefore, there is no
question that petitioner can visit Rohini Court for her matters. In
these circumstances, it is prayed that in the interest of justice case
titled „Kapila Bhudiraja Vs. Deepak Bhudiraja‟ may be transfered to
any other District Court from Rohini Courts so that petitioner can
pursue her case.
9. Assailing the allegations of petitioner, respondent no. 1 and 2
have filed their respective reply. In his reply, respondent no. 1
stated that on the alleged date of incident, petitioner, her counsel as
well as respondent no. 1 were absent, thus, there is no question of
any kind of fight or altercation as alleged by the petitioner. It is
further submitted that petitioner has concocted a false and frivolous
story only to mislead and misguide the court.
10. In her reply, respondent no. 2 has stated that she is an old
lady aged about 70 years, suffering from various old age ailments.
It is further submitted that Rohini Courts is just one kilometre from
her residence and hence it would be very difficult for her to attend
hearing in any other court as she is unable to walk property without
stick and also suffers from low vision.
11. I have considered the rival submissions. Admittedly with
regard to the incident dated, 01.09.2018, alleged to have happened
in the precincts of Rohini Courts Complex, an FIR bearing no.
419/2018 was registered in PS Prashant Vihar under Section
323/341/506/34 IPC. The said FIR runs as under:-
"Complainant on behalf of Mr.Ajay Chopra against Mr. Rohit Khera advocate, Rajesh Kaushik advocate and Deepak Budhi Raja for badly beating me and causing me grievous hurt and also snatching my mobile phone make MI. PRO. The complainant is a law abiding citizen of the country and is resident of Q-4. Malka Ganj Market Delhi 110007. Today, around 1:50 pm when I have reached to attend a matter of my cousin sister Kapila Budhi Raja which is pending in the court of Ms. Riya Gua, MM, Rohini Court titled Kapila Buhdhiraja V/S Deebak Budhiraja. Complai9nant went to the washrom and he came out from the washroom, Mr. Rohit Khera, Advocate, Rajesh Kaushik, Deepak Budhiraja and other 2-3 lawyers has started beating me by slapping me outside the washroom which is opposite to room no. 104 and continuously beating me by slapping and punching me. Mr.Rohini Khera, in the mean time took some sharp/pointed weapon and hit me and the result where of I received abrasions below my elbow. Mr. Rohini Khera and Deepak Budhiraja have threatened me to ask Kapila to withdraw the case, failing which he will kill me and my entire family. That Rohit Khera and Deepak Budhiraja caught hold my collar and continued to punch and slap me on my face and the result where of complainant has received grievous hurt. All the accused persons on the instruction of Rohit Khera continued with illegal act and they snatched my mobile phone and there after they went away with my mobile. At around 2 O‟ clock when
Kapila‟s advocate Kunal Kalra came to attend the hearing and he was informed about the aforesaid incident and complainant has been made 100 number call from mobile phone of Mr. Kunal Kalra advocate. Due to severe beating, complainant is not able to hear from left ear and when police man arrived at court room number 104 on my call he took me to Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar hospital and MLC was prepared and further after cheek-up, it was informed by the doctor that the left ear drum of complainant got damaged due to blows and the result where of complainant is not able to hear from the said ear. The copy of the emergency registration card is attached here with. You are requested to immediately register an FIR against the aforesaid accused person in accordance with law and in interest of justice."
12. The main grievance of the petitioner is that due to the incident
which has occurred within the premises of the Rohini Court
Complex on 01.09.2018, wherein cousin of the petitioner namely
Ajay Chopra was mercilessly assaulted by some persons including
some practicing advocates, it is not possible for her to attend the
hearing of the matter pending in the court of Ms. Riya Gua, Ld.
M.M.-Rohini Courts, Delhi as there is an apprehension of threat to
her life. Ld. Counsel for the petitioner has also placed on record
copy of order dated 16.10.2019 passed in W.P. Crl. 3493/2018 filed
by Ajay Chopra for invoking of appropriate provisions against the
accused persons in accordance with law. As per the above order,
Section 325 IPC has been invoked in the FIR bearing no. 419/2018,
registered at PS Prashant Vihar on the basis of medical opinion and
accused Deepak Budhiraja, Rohit Khera and Rajesh Kaushik,
Advocates have joined investigations and are being examined. In
the said order, it is also submitted by Bar Council of Delhi that
proceedings have been initiated against the delinquent advocates and
necessary action would be taken in accordance with law. Though
Ld. Counsel for the respondents stated that petitioner has concocted
a false and frivolous story only to mislead and misguide the court
but this court is of the view whether the incident dated 01.09.2018 is
true or false cannot be decided at this stage. Moreover this fact also
cannot be ignored that qua the incident dated 01.09.2018, an FIR
bearing no. 419/2018 has been registered with PS Prashant Vihar
wherein some practicing advocates are also named. Therefore,
keeping in view the facts and circumstances of the case, this court
finds substance in the submission of Ld. Counsel for the petitioner
that she has apprehension of threat to her life and limb as well as to
the persons/relatives accompanying her in case she appears in the
hearing of the case titled „Kapila Bhudhiraja v. Deepak Budhiraja &
Anr. bearing no. 2311/2017‟ pending before the court of Ms. Riya
Gua, Ld. M.M.-Rohini Courts, Delhi and she will not be able to
pursue her case in a fair and proper manner and will not be able to
get justice.
13. So far as contention of respondent no. 2 that she is an old lady
of about 70 years, suffering from various old age ailments and
,therefore, it would be very difficult for her to attend hearing in any
other court is concerned, this court is of the view that respondent no.
2 may request the court for her exemption on medical grounds, if so
required, through her counsel and the court will no doubt consider
the same in accordance with law if there is truth in her submission
after examining the medical documents.
14. In view of above discussion, the petition is allowed. District
& Sessions Judge, North District is directed to transfer the case
titled „Kapila` Bhudhiraja v. Deepak Budhiraja & Anr. bearing no.
2311/2017‟ pending before the court of Ms. Riya Gua, Ld. M.M.-
Rohini Courts, Delhi to the Ld. District & Sessions Judge, Central
District, Tis Hazari Courts for assigning the same to a court of
competent jurisdiction. The parties are directed to appear before the
Ld. District & Sessions Judge, Central District, Tis Hazari Courts,
Delhi on 28.02.2020.
15. It was informed by Ld. Counsel for the petitioner that
protection was provided to the petitioner by the order of the Co-
ordinate Bench in W.P.(Crl.) 3493/2018. Since the case stands
transferred to Central District at Tis Hazari Courts, DCP Central
District is directed to carry out threat assessment and if required
adequate security be provided to the petitioner while appearing in
the court. A copy of the order be also sent to DCP Central District
for information and necessary action.
16. Transfer petition stands disposed of accordingly.
BRIJESH SETHI, J FEBRUARY 5, 2020 AK
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