Tanguturi Sriramitlu And Ors. vs Nalam Krishna Row And Ors. on 25 August, 1914

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60
Madras High Court
Tanguturi Sriramitlu And Ors. vs Nalam Krishna Row And Ors. on 25 August, 1914
Equivalent citations: 25 Ind Cas 1001
Author: Ayling
Bench: Ayling, Tyabji


ORDER

Ayling, J.

1. We are asked to revise an order of the District Magistrate of Grodaveri, which directs under Section 437 of the Criminal Procedure Code further inquiry into a case of defamation in which the Joint Magistrate of Rajahmundry, Mr. Stewart, had passed what “purports to be an order of discharge under Section 253 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

2. Mr. Rosario, on behalf of the petitioners, argues that Mr. Stewart’s order was, in effect, an order of acquittal under Section 258 of the Criminal Procedure Code. If this is so, the District Magistrate undoubtedly had no power to order farther inquiry under Section 437 and his order must be set aside as ultra vires. The facts are these. The case against petitioners was first heard by Mr. Bardswell, Mr. Stewart’s predecessor-in-office. He heard the prosecution witnesses and framed a charge under Section 254 of the Criminal Procedure Code, to which petitioners pleaded not guilty. He was then transferred. Mr. Stewart re-commenced the inquiry under Section 350 of the Criminal Procedure Code, examined the complainant as Prosecution Witness No. 1 and then passed an order of discharge under Section 253 (2).

3. Mr. Rosario contends that a charge having once been framed, it is not cancelled by reason of the re-commencement of inquiry and the only course open to Mr. Stewart was either to record an order of acquittal or to convict (vide Section 258 of the Criminal Procedure Code).

4. The only question is whether the re-commencement of a trial” under Section 350 of the Criminal Procedure Code implies the cancellation of a charge framed by the first Magistrate. There appears to be no direct authority of this or any other High Court on the point, though the Punjab Chief Court has considered a precisely similar case and arrived at the conclusion that the charge remains in force and the subsequent order must be treated as one of acquittal and not of discharge vide Emperor v. Nathu 14 P.R. 1903 Cr : 175 P.L.R. 1903 .

5. The interpretation of Section 350 is by no means free from doubt: but on the whole I. am inclined to agree with the view taken by the learned Judges of the Punjab Chief Court. The only object of the substantive portion of Clause (1), Section 350, seems to be to leave it to the discretion of the Magistrate to either act on evidence recorded by his predecessor or to hear it over again for himself. The discretion is somewhat restricted by proviso (a), and proviso (b) gives the superior Courts special powers of interference. Subject to these provisos the discretion is absolute. It is not clear why this should involve the cancellation of the charge or the transformation of the proceedings from a trial” back into an inquiry.” As far as this Court is concerned, it is settled law that the proceedings before a Magistrate in a warrant case under Chapter XXI of the Criminal Procedure Code are only an inquiry” until a charge is framed and on a charge being framed become a trial: vide Palaniandy Gounden v. Emperor 1 Ind. Cas. 54 : 32 M. 218 : 5 M.L.T. 218 : 9 Cr.L.J. 146 and Narayanaswamy Naidu v. Emperor 1 Ind. Cas. 228 : 32 M. 220 (F.B.) : 5 M.L.T. 233 : 9 Cr.L.J. 192 : 192 : 19 M.L.J. 157. Bearing this distinction in mind, it would seem to follow that where the proceedings re-commenced under Section 350 are only an inquiry, they are re-commenced as an inquiry. Where they have developed into the trial stage they are re-commenced as a trial, i.e., a proceeding in which a charge has been framed. The second Magistrate cannot ignore the charge framed by his predecessor and his position is practically the same as that of his predecessor would have been if, after framing a charge, he had heard further cross-examination of the prosecution witnesses under Section 256 (1) and on a consideration thereof, become satisfied that the charge was not well founded. It may not be altogether out of place to refer to Sadagopacharyar v. Raghavacharyar 9 M. 282 : 2 Weir 243 wherein it was held that the re-commencement of an inquiry under Section 350 did not cover a reference to the Police under Section 202 of the Criminal Procedure Code. I do not press the analogy, hut it is consistent with this to hold that a Magistrate who re-commences an inquiry or trial does not thereby modify its nature or the stage at which it has arrived.

6. Mr. Stewart’s order must, in my opinion, be received as one of acquittal and the District Magistrate’s order for further inquiry must be set aside.

Tyabji, J.

7. Section 350 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Code provides for the re-summoning and re-hearing of the witnesses and the re-commencement of the inquiry or trial by the Magistrate who succeeds after his predecessor has already heard the evidence. The section is silent on the question whether or not on such re-hearing any charge that may have been already framed after the first hearing must subsist. In purporting to interpret Section 350, therefore, we have really to decide what would have been provided in the section had the point been explicitly dealt with.

8. It does not appear that the point can be considered to have been dealt with by some necessary implication in that which is expressly laid down. On the other hand, if it is assumed in this connection that the charge already framed should be considered to be wiped out, the assumption involves that the Legislature has also overlooked the point that the succeeding Magistrate ought in that case to be empowered to frame a fresh charge or to adopt the charge already framed with or without alterations.

9. I am not prepared to say, therefore, that the interpretation put upon the section by the Chief Court of the Punjab is not the most reasonable one.

10. The petitioners ought, therefore, to have been acquitted instead of being discharged and the District Magistrate had no power to order further inquiry. His order to that effect must consequently be set aside.

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