IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
CRL.A.No. 1122 of 2007(A)
1. ACHANKUNJU, C.NO.1622, C.P., TRIVANDRUM
... Petitioner
Vs
1. STATE OF KERALA
... Respondent
For Petitioner :SRI.SRI.BABU .P.C.(SB)
For Respondent :PUBLIC PROSECUTOR
The Hon'ble the Acting Chief Justice MR.J.B.KOSHY
The Hon'ble MR. Justice V.GIRI
Dated :05/03/2009
O R D E R
J.B. Koshy,Ag.C.J. & V.Giri, J.
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Crl.Appeal No.1122 of 2007
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Dated this the 5th day of March, 2009
Judgment
Koshy, Ag.C.J.
This case was referred by a learned single Judge in view of the
difference of opinion expressed in Sabu v. State of Kerala (2007 (3) KLJ 157 =
2007 (4 KLT 169) and Vikraman v. State of Kerala (2007 (1) KLT 1010). A
Division Bench of this Court in Subash v. State of Kerala (2008 (2) KLT 1047)
upheld the decision reported in Vikraman’s case and held that the Magistrate
can take cognizance of offence only if an abkari officer files the report and
since in that case the abkari officer did not file the report, but, only by an
Assistant Sub Inspector of Police who is not an abkari officer, the proceedings
were set aside. In this case, it is seen from paragraph 7 of the impugned
judgment that PW1 Sub Inspector of Police, Nallamunda Police Station
conducted investigation and laid charge even though Assistant Sub Inspector
of Police has detected the offence. Since the dispute between the two
decisions reported in Sabu v. State of Kerala (2007 (3) KLJ 157 = 2007 (4)
KLT 169) and Vikraman v. State of Kerala (2007 (1) KLT 1010) are upheld.
We send back this case to the learned single Judge for a decision in Criminal
Appeal on merit.
J.B.Koshy
Acting Chief Justice
V. Giri
Judge
vaa