Karnataka High Court
Chandramma vs State By on 23 February, 2024
Author: Shivashankar Amarannavar
Bench: Shivashankar Amarannavar
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NC: 2024:KHC:7615
CRL.A No. 317 of 2024
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 23RD DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2024
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE SHIVASHANKAR AMARANNAVAR
CRIMINAL APPEAL No. 317 OF 2024
BETWEEN:
CHANDRAMMA
W/O SHIVANNA
AGED ABOUT 60 YEARS
R/O GANGENAHALLI VILLAGE
SANTESHIVARA HOBLI
CHANNARAYAPATNA TALUK
HASSAN DISTRICT - 571 423.
...APPELLANT
(BY SRI K R NAGARAJA, ADVOCATE)
Digitally signed by
LAKSHMINARAYANA
MURTHY RAJASHRI
Location: HIGH
AND:
COURT OF
KARNATAKA
STATE BY
NUGGEHALLI POLICE STATION
REP. BY STATE PUBLIC PROCECUTOR
HIGH COURT BUILDING
BENGALURU - 560 001.
...RESPONDENT
(BY SRI CHANNAPPA ERAPPA, HCGP)
THIS CRL.A. IS FILED U/S.454 OF CR.P.C TO ALLOW THE
APPEAL AND SET ASIDE THE ORDER DATED 05.01.2023
CONFISCATING TRACTOR AND TAILOR WHICH IDENTIFIED AS
MO6 AND ORDER DATED 12.01.2024 REJECTING THE PETITION
OF APPELLANT MAINTAINED U/S.452 OF CRPC PASSED IN SC
No.91/2021 ON THE FIEL OF THE TRIAL COURT/IV
ADDITIONAL DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE HASSAN
SITTING AT CHANARAYAPATNA AND ETC.,
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CRL.A No. 317 of 2024
THIS APPEAL COMING ON FOR ADMISSION THIS DAY,
THE COURT DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
JUDGMENT
1. This appeal is filed challenging the order dated
05.01.2023, confiscating the Tractor and Trailer (MO.6)
passed in S.C.No.91/2021 and the order dated
12.01.2024, rejecting the application of the appellant /
applicant filed under Section 452 of Cr.P.C, by the learned
IV Additional District and Sessions Judge, Hassan, sitting
at Channarayapatna.
2. Heard learned counsel for the appellant and learned
High Court Government Pleader for the respondent -
State.
3. The appellant was an applicant and she is wife of one
Sri.Shivanna and she had filed an application under
Section 452 of Cr.P.C, seeking release of
Tractor - Trailer, bearing No.KA 44 / NT000720, Chassis
No.WSTE31419156417, Engine No.391354GD003259A.
The said Tractor and Trailer which is sought to be released
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by the appellant / applicant is marked as MO.6 in
S.C.No.91/2021. The said Tractor and Trailer has been
seized under mahazar dated 30.06.2020 (Ex.P8), stating
that it is used for committing the offence. Accused
Nos.1 to 4 were tried in S.C.No.91/2021 for the offence
under Sections 304, 201 r/w Section 34 of IPC, and they
came to be acquitted by judgment dated 05.01.2023.
Accused No.1 is son of this appellant and one
Sri.Shivanna. In the said judgment of acquittal, the Trial
Court has ordered confiscation of Tractor and Trailer
(MO.6) to the State. After disposal of the said case, the
appellant had filed an application under Section 452 of
Cr.P.C, seeking release of the Tractor and Trailer (MO.6).
The applicant who is the appellant herein, claimed release
of the Tractor and Trailer (MO.6), on the ground that the
Tractor and Trailer belongs to her husband Sri.Shivanna.
The Trial Court while rejecting the application of the
appellant, has observed as under;
"12. The applicant has produced temporary
registration certificate receipt for having paid amount
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for insurance, delivery note, copies of Aadhar card
and death certificate of owner of the tractor. A
perusal of temporary registration certificate, it
indicates the tractor was registered on 01.08.2017.
the registration validity was upto 31.08.2017 i.e.
only for one month. Thereafter the tractor was not
taken for permanent registration. Though the trailer
was also used along with tractor, the trailer was also
not registered. As per the prosecution case the
tractor and trailer were used for illegal sand
transporting. As could be seen from temporary
registration certificate the husband of the applicant is
shown as owner of the tractor. He did not get
permanent registration number after 31.08.2017.
The incident took place on 02.06.2020. Till
02.06.2020, neither permanent registration
certificate was obtained nor insurance was renewed
to the tractor. That indicates the owner of the tractor
was plying the tractor and trailer without any
registration number and without insurance that is in
complete violation of Motor Vehicles Act and Rules.
Therefore the owner of the tractor did not make any
claim either during the investigation or before the
committal court or before this court. Even before this
court neither the applicant nor her husband claimed
ownership of the tractor and trailer. Even the
accused persons did not say how they took the
tractor or while lifting the sand. The defence of the
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accused was silence during trial. This court while
disposing the case confiscated the tractor and trailer
by taking into consideration that the tractor was not
claimed by any persons. The aforesaid details clearly
indicate the husband of the applicant was using the
tractor by violating the Motor Vehicles Act and Rules
framed thereunder. The Tractor and Trailer were
used without getting the registration numbers and
without obtaining insurance. Therefore the applicant
is not entitled for release of tractor. Hence, I answer
point No.1 in the Negative."
4. The Trial Court by making the above observations,
has rejected the application of the appellant. The rejection
of the application of the appellant is not on the ground
that the Tractor and Trailer (MO.6) does not belong to
Sri.Shivanna, husband of the appellant / applicant. The
rejection of the application is on the ground that there are
violation of provisions of Motor Vehicles Act and Rules.
The release of the vehicle cannot be rejected on the
ground that there are violations of provisions of Motor
Vehicles Act and Rules. If there are any violations of
provisions of Motor Vehicles Act and Rules, then it is for
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the appropriate Authority, to take action against the
person who has violated the said provisions. The
documents produced by the appellant / applicant indicate
that Sri.Shivanna is the owner of the Tractor and Trailer
(MO.6). The death certificate of Sri.Shivanna indicates that
he died on 17.05.2021. The said death of Sri.Shivanna is
immediately after registration of the case in
S.C.No.91/2021. In the death certificate of Sri.Shivanna,
it is stated that name of his wife is Smt.Chandramma.
The appellant is Smt.Chandramma and she is the wife of
Sri.Shivanna. The appellant being one of the legal heir of
Sri.Shivanna, who is owner of the Tractor and Trailer
(MO6), is entitled for release of the said vehicle. The said
confiscation of Tractor and Trailer (MO6) as ordered by the
Trial Court in S.C.No.91/2021 as nobody had claimed
release of the said vehicle. There are no reasons assigned
for confiscating the said Tractor and Trailer (MO.6) in the
judgment / order passed in S.C.No.91/2021.
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5. Without considering all these aspects, the learned
Trial Judge has erred in rejecting the application of the
appellant filed under Section 452 of Cr.P.C. In the result,
the following;
ORDER
(i) The appeal is allowed. The order of
confiscation of the Tractor and Trailer (MO.6)
passed in S.C.No.91/2021 dated 05.01.2023 and
the order dated 12.01.2024, rejecting the
application of the appellant / applicant filed
under Section 452 of Cr.P.C are set-aside. The
application of the appellant / applicant filed
under Section 452 of Cr.P.C stands allowed. The
appellant / applicant is entitled for release of the
Tractor and Trailer (MO.6) in S.C.No.91/2021.
(ii) The Trial Court is directed to release the
Tractor and Trailer (MO.6) to the appellant /
applicant, on her executing the indemnity bond
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for a sum of Rs.3,50,000/- with one surety for
the likesum.
(iii) The Trial Court is at liberty to impose any
other conditions which are required for release of
the Tractor and Trailer (MO.6), to the appellant /
applicant.
In view of disposal of the appeal itself, I.A.No.2/2024
does not survive for consideration.
Sd/-
JUDGE
GH
