{"id":234446,"date":"2011-05-20T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2011-05-19T18:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/ranhku-dutta-r-k-dutta-vs-state-of-assam-on-20-may-2011"},"modified":"2017-10-10T18:32:13","modified_gmt":"2017-10-10T13:02:13","slug":"ranhku-dutta-r-k-dutta-vs-state-of-assam-on-20-may-2011","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/ranhku-dutta-r-k-dutta-vs-state-of-assam-on-20-may-2011","title":{"rendered":"Ranhku Dutta @ R.K.Dutta vs State Of Assam on 20 May, 2011"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"docsource_main\">Supreme Court of India<\/div>\n<div class=\"doc_title\">Ranhku Dutta @ R.K.Dutta vs State Of Assam on 20 May, 2011<\/div>\n<div class=\"doc_author\">Author: Ganguly<\/div>\n<div class=\"doc_bench\">Bench: Asok Kumar Ganguly, Deepak Verma<\/div>\n<pre>                                                                        REPORTABLE\n\n                          IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA\n\n                          CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION\n\n                    CRIMINAL APPEAL NO(s). 2307 OF 2009\n\n\n\n  RANGKU DUTTA @ RANJAN KUMAR DUTTA               Appellant (s)\n\n                 VERSUS\n\n  STATE OF ASSAM                                   Respondent(s)\n\n\n\n                                   J U D G M E N T\n<\/pre>\n<p>Ganguly, J.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>          Heard learned counsel for the parties.\n<\/p>\n<p>          This is a statutory appeal under Section 19 of Terrorist <\/p>\n<p>and   Disruptive   Activities   (Prevention)   Act,   1987   (hereinafter <\/p>\n<p>referred   to   as   &#8220;the   said   Act&#8221;)   impugning   an   order   dated <\/p>\n<p>10.9.2009   passed   by   the   Designated   Court   TADA.     The   learned <\/p>\n<p>counsel   appearing   for   the   sole   appellant   has   impugned   the <\/p>\n<p>judgment of the designated court (TADA) on various grounds but <\/p>\n<p>at   the   time   of   arguments,   he   made   emphasis   on   a   particular <\/p>\n<p>ground,   namely,   that   in   the   instant   case,   the   FIR   has   been <\/p>\n<p>recorded   in   clear   violation   of   the   provisions   contained   under <\/p>\n<p>Section   20(A)(1)   of   the   said   Act,   as   a   result   whereof,   the <\/p>\n<p>entire proceeding subsequent thereto has been vitiated and this <\/p>\n<p>has   also   vitiated   the   judgment   and   order   of   the   designated <\/p>\n<p>court.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>        The material facts of the facts are these.\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                   -2-<\/span><\/p>\n<p>        That FIR was lodged on 6.11.1993 by one Ajit Kumar Sarma, <\/p>\n<p>Office-in-Charge   of   Bihpuria   Police   Station   against   several <\/p>\n<p>persons including the appellant.   Of the four accused persons, <\/p>\n<p>no charges were framed against Moni Pathak.  In so far as Bhaben <\/p>\n<p>Gogoi @ Bikram was concerned, he was acquitted by the designated <\/p>\n<p>court   and   Indreswar   Hazarika   @   Babul   Handique   died   during   the <\/p>\n<p>pendency of the proceedings before the designated court.   Only <\/p>\n<p>Rangku   Dutta   @   Ranjan   Kumar   Dutta   was   convicted   and   is   the <\/p>\n<p>appellant before us.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>        The   FIR   which   has   been   lodged   on   6.11.1993   runs   as <\/p>\n<p>follows:-\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>              &#8220;I beg to report that on 5.11.93 at 2150 hrs.<br \/>\n     while SI AQM Zahingir I\/C Dholpur O.P. along with the<br \/>\n     PSO   Hav.   Loknath   Konwar   and   other   police   personnel<br \/>\n     were   informed   law   and   order   duty   in   connection   with<br \/>\n     Debraj Theatre show at Dhalpur circle in open place by<br \/>\n     the side of Hill, some ULFA extremist fired at SI AQM<br \/>\n     Zahingir   and   PSO   Hav.   Loknath   under   simultaneously<br \/>\n     from a close range behind them and as a result both of<br \/>\n     them succumbed to injuries.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>              Earlier   of   this   incident   on   5.10.93   an<br \/>\n     encounter   took   place   between   the   ULFA   with   Dhalpur<br \/>\n     O.P. Place and under the leadership of SI AQM Zahangir<br \/>\n     I\/C Dhalpur O.P. where Lakhimpur Dist. ULFA commander<br \/>\n     Jogen   Gogoi   killed   and   since   them   the   banned   ULFA<br \/>\n     activists associates of Jogen Gogoi were planning with<br \/>\n     criminals conspiracy to liquidate SI AQM Zahingir.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>                 On 5.11.93 evening the said ULFA activists with<br \/>\n     the   help   of   Sri   ranku   Dutta   got   identified   SI   AQM<br \/>\n     Zahingir   and   then   ULFA   extremist   namely   (1)   Sri<br \/>\n     Indreswar   Hazarika   @   Babul   Handique   (2)   Sri   Nobel<br \/>\n     Gogoi @ Bikram under the leadership of Sri Moni Pathak<br \/>\n     @   Debo   Pathak   taking   advantage   of   darkness   attacks<br \/>\n     simultaneously   with   fire   arms   and   killed   SI   AQM<br \/>\n     Zahingir and PSO Hav. Loknath Knowar.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                            -3-<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>                 So   I   request   to   register   a   case   under   Section<br \/>\n     120(B)\/302 IPC R\/W 3\/4\/5 TADA(P) Act, 1987 against the<br \/>\n     (illegible)   ULFA   activist   and   four   others   associates,<br \/>\n     I have already taken up the investigation of the case.&#8221;\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>           On   the   basis   of   the   FIR,   a   case   being   Bihpuria   Police <\/p>\n<p>Station   Case   No.   497   of   1993,   was   initiated   under   Section <\/p>\n<p>120B\/302 IPC read with Section 3 \/ 4 and 5 TADA (P) Act and the <\/p>\n<p>designated   court   vide   order   dated   31st  October,   2002   framed <\/p>\n<p>charges   against   the   appellant,   inter   alia,   under   Section <\/p>\n<p>120(B)\/302 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 3(2)(1) of the <\/p>\n<p>said Act.  Thereafter, the designated court by impugned judgment <\/p>\n<p>dated 10th  September, 2009 passed in TADA Sessions Case No. 116 <\/p>\n<p>of 2000 found the appellant guilty of offences punishable under <\/p>\n<p>Section 120B\/302 IPC read with Section 3(2)(1) of the said Act <\/p>\n<p>and sentenced him to undergo imprisonment for life and to pay a <\/p>\n<p>fine   of   Rs.   2000\/-,   in   default   further   imprisonment   for   two <\/p>\n<p>months.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>           Learned counsel appearing for the appellant urged that in <\/p>\n<p>accordance with the provisions contained under Section 20(A)(1) <\/p>\n<p>of   the   said   Act,   no   information   about   the   commission   of   any <\/p>\n<p>offence   under   the   said   Act   shall   be   recorded   by   the   Police <\/p>\n<p>without prior approval of the District Superintendent of Police. <\/p>\n<p>          Learned   Counsel   submitted   that   the   said   provision   under <\/p>\n<p>Section   20(A)(1)   was   incorporated   by   way   of   an   amendment   vide <\/p>\n<p>Section   9   of   Act   43   of   1993.     The   said   amendment   came   into <\/p>\n<p>effect on 23.5.1993 and the FIR was recorded on 6.11.1993. <\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                      -4-<\/span><\/p>\n<p> Therefore, at the time when the FIR was recorded, the provision <\/p>\n<p>of Section 20(A)(1) was clearly attracted.<\/p>\n<p>          It   will   be   in   the   fitness   of   things   that   to   appreciate <\/p>\n<p>the   points   urged   by   the   appellant,   Section   20(A)   is   set   out <\/p>\n<p>below:\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>          20-A     Cognizance of offence &#8211; (1) Notwithstanding<br \/>\n          anything contained in the Code, no information about<br \/>\n          the commission of an offence under this Act shall be<br \/>\n          recorded by the police without the prior approval of<br \/>\n          the District Superintendent of Police.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>   (2)No   court   shall   take   cognizance   of   any   offence   under<br \/>\n      this   Act   without   the   previous   sanction   of   the<br \/>\n      Inspector-General   of   Police,   or   as   the   case   may   be,<br \/>\n      Commissioner of Police.\n<\/p>\n<p>          Relying on the said section, the learned Counsel for the <\/p>\n<p>appellant submitted that from the evidence of PW 15 Ajit Kumar <\/p>\n<p>Sarma who recorded the FIR, it is clear that he did not take the <\/p>\n<p>approval   of   the   Superintendent   of   Police   before   recording   the <\/p>\n<p>FIR.  In his cross-examination, PW 15 clearly stated &#8220;I did not <\/p>\n<p>obtain   the   approval   from   the   concerned   SP   for   registering   the <\/p>\n<p>case.&#8221;     From   the   evidence   of   PW   11,   who   is   one   Sanjit   Sekhar <\/p>\n<p>Roy, learned counsel stated that the said PW 11 was working on <\/p>\n<p>22.6.2000 as DSP Headquarter at North Lakhimpur.   In his cross-<\/p>\n<p>examination,   he   stated   that   the   occurrence   took   place   on <\/p>\n<p>6.11.1993   and   prior   to   the   filing   of   the   Ejahar   which   is   the <\/p>\n<p>FIR, the written approval of the SP concerned was not obtained <\/p>\n<p>and   in   the   Ejahar   itself,   There   is   no   approval   of   SP,   North <\/p>\n<p>Lakhimpur.\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                              -5-<\/span><\/p>\n<p>         We   have   looked   into   the   original   FIR   Exhibit   P-12.     In <\/p>\n<p>the original FIR, the following endorsement which has been made <\/p>\n<p>by Ajit Kumar Sarma is quoted below:-\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>                   &#8220;Received   and   registered   Bihpuria   PS   Case<br \/>\n      no.   0497\/93   u\/s   120(B)\/302   I.P.C.   R\/W   3\/4\/5   TADA   (P)<br \/>\n      Act, 1987 with the approval of SP(I) NL.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>         It is an admitted position in this case that even though <\/p>\n<p>the aforesaid endorsement has been made in the FIR, the SP(I), <\/p>\n<p>North Lakhimpur, whose approval is alleged to have been taken by <\/p>\n<p>PW 15 Ajit Kumar Sarma has not been examined by the prosecution. <\/p>\n<p>Apart from that, in the substantive evidence before the Court, <\/p>\n<p>PW 15, Ajit Kumar Sarma has categorically stated that he has not <\/p>\n<p>obtained approval of SP before registering the case.   He rather <\/p>\n<p>said   that   he   registered   the   case   and   himself   took   up   the <\/p>\n<p>investigation   of   the   case,   prepared   the   seizure   list   and <\/p>\n<p>recorded the statement of witnesses and at that point of time, <\/p>\n<p>the rank of Ajit Kumar Sarma was that of SI of police.<\/p>\n<p>         We have already referred to the evidence of PW 11 who has <\/p>\n<p>also deposed that written approval of SP was not obtained.<\/p>\n<p>         In the background of these facts, the question is whether <\/p>\n<p>in this case the mandatory requirement of Section 20(A)(1) was <\/p>\n<p>complied   with.     Attention   of   this   Court   has   been   drawn   to <\/p>\n<p>certain decisions of the Court where from it appears that there <\/p>\n<p>was a controversy and divergence of judicial view as to whether<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                             -6-<\/span><\/p>\n<p>  written   approval   or   oral   approval   is   required.     The   said <\/p>\n<p>divergence of judicial view has been set at rest by the judgment <\/p>\n<p>of   a   three-Judge   Bench   of   this   Court   in  State   of   A.P.  Vs.  A. <\/p>\n<p>Satyanarayana and Others 2001(10) SCC 597.<\/p>\n<p>         A   Three-Judge   Bench   of   this   Court   setting   out   the <\/p>\n<p>controversy in this matter ultimately came to hold as follows in <\/p>\n<p>paragraph 8:-\n<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>               &#8220;Having   applied   our   mind   to   the   aforesaid   two<br \/>\n      judgments   of   this   Court,   we   are   in   approval   of   the<br \/>\n      latter   judgment   and   we   hold   that   it   is   not   the<br \/>\n      requirement   under   Section   20-A(1)   to   have   the   prior <\/p>\n<p>      approval   only   in   writing.     Prior   approval   is   a<br \/>\n      condition precedent for registering a case, but it may<br \/>\n      be   either   in   writing   or   oral   also,   as   has   been<br \/>\n      observed   by   this   Court   in  Kalpanath   Rai   case  1997(8)<br \/>\n      SCC   732   and,   therefore,   in   the   case   in   hand,   the<br \/>\n      learned   Designated   Judge   was   wholly   in   error   in<br \/>\n      refusing   to   register   the   case   under   Sections   4   and   5<br \/>\n      of TADA.   We, therefore, set aside the impugned order<br \/>\n      of   the   learned   Designated   Judge   and   direct   that   the<br \/>\n      matter   should   be   proceeded   with   in   accordance   with<br \/>\n      law.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>         It   is,   therefore,   clear   that   approval   has   to   be   taken, <\/p>\n<p>even   if   it   is   an   oral   approval.     Attention   of   this   Court   has <\/p>\n<p>also been drawn to a decision rendered in Hitendra Vishnu Thakur  <\/p>\n<p>and Others Vs. State of Maharashtra and Others 1994(4)SCC 602 as <\/p>\n<p>to   the   requirement   of   the   provision   of   Section   20(A)(1).     The <\/p>\n<p>learned   Judges   of   this   Court   after   considering   various <\/p>\n<p>provisions of the said Act held that the requirement of Section <\/p>\n<p>20(A)(1)   of   TADA   was   introduced   by   way   of   an   amendment   with   a <\/p>\n<p>view to prevent abuse of the provisions of TADA.  We, therefore, <\/p>\n<p>reiterate the principles laid down by this Court in paragraph 12 <\/p>\n<p>by   Justice   Dr.   A.S.   Anand(as   His   Lordship   then   was),   which   is <\/p>\n<p>set out below:-\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                     -7-<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>               &#8220;Of late, we have come across some cases where<br \/>\n      the   Designated   Courts   have   charge-sheeted   and\/or<br \/>\n      convicted   an   accused   person   under   TADA   even   though<br \/>\n      there   is   not   even   an   iota   of   evidence   from   which   it<br \/>\n      could   be   inferred,   even   prima   facie,   let   alone<br \/>\n      conclusively,   that   the   crime   was   committed   with   the<br \/>\n      intention   as   contemplated   by   the   provisions   of   TADA,<br \/>\n      merely on the statement of the investigating agency to<br \/>\n      the   effect   that   the   consequence   of   the   criminal   act<br \/>\n      resulted in causing panic or terror in the society or<br \/>\n      in   a   section   thereof.     Such   orders   result   in   the<br \/>\n      misuse   of   TADA   Parliament,   through   Section   20-A   of <\/p>\n<p>      TADA has clearly manifested its intention to treat the<br \/>\n      offences   under   TADA   seriously   inasmuch   as   under<br \/>\n      Section 20-A(1), notwithstanding anything contained in<br \/>\n      the   Code   of   Criminal   Procedure,   no   information   about<br \/>\n      the commission of an offence under TADA shall even be<br \/>\n      recorded   without   the   prior   approval   of   the   District<br \/>\n      Superintendent of Police and under Section 20-A(2), no<br \/>\n      court shall take congisance of any offence under TADA<br \/>\n      without   the   previous   sanction   of   the   authorities<br \/>\n      prescribed therein.   Section 20-A was thus introduced<br \/>\n      in   the   Act   with   a   view   to   prevent   the   abuse   of   the<br \/>\n      provisions of TADA.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>         Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the State wanted <\/p>\n<p>to   urge   that   in   the   instant   case,   the   requirement   of   Section <\/p>\n<p>20(A)(1)   has   been   complied   with   and   in   support   of   her <\/p>\n<p>submissions, the learned counsel has drawn the attention of this <\/p>\n<p>Court to the evidence of PW 4 and PW 6.   In his evidence, PW 4 <\/p>\n<p>Nitul Gogoi has said that on 21.10.94 he was working as D.S.P. <\/p>\n<p>H.Q. at Lakhimpur.  On that day, the S.P. Lakhimpur handed over <\/p>\n<p>the   CD   of   this   case   to   him   to   hold   &#8220;remaining   part   of <\/p>\n<p>investigation of the case.&#8221;\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>         PW 6 Nirmal Dr. Das also deposed that on 25.9.99, he was <\/p>\n<p>working   as   Head   Quarter   DSP   at   North   Lakhimpur.     On   that   day, <\/p>\n<p>S.P.   Lakhimpur   entrusted   the   investigation   of   the   case   in   his <\/p>\n<p>name and accordingly, he got the CD from R.S.I.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                     -8-<\/span><\/p>\n<p>         Relying on the aforesaid deposition of PW 4 and PW 6, the <\/p>\n<p>learned   counsel   urged   that   in   the   instant   case,   the <\/p>\n<p>investigation   was   conducted   by   the   DSP,   therefore,   the <\/p>\n<p>requirement of section 20(A)(1) has been complied with.   We are <\/p>\n<p>unable to appreciate the aforesaid submission.<\/p>\n<p>        It   is   obvious   that   Section   20(A)(1)   is   a   mandatory <\/p>\n<p>requirement of law.   First, it starts with an overriding clause <\/p>\n<p>and, thereafter, to emphasise its mandatory nature, it uses the <\/p>\n<p>expression   &#8220;No&#8221;   after   the   overriding   clause.     Whenever   the <\/p>\n<p>intent of a statute is mandatory, it is clothed with a negative <\/p>\n<p>command.     Reference   in   this   connection   can   be   made   to   G.P. <\/p>\n<p>Singh&#8217;s Principles of Statutory Interpretation, 12th Edition.  At <\/p>\n<p>page 404, the learned author has stated:\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>              &#8220;As   stated   by   CRAWFORD:   &#8220;Prohibitive   or<br \/>\n     negative words can rarely, if ever, be directory.  And<br \/>\n     this is so even though the statute provides no penalty<br \/>\n     for   disobedience.     As   observed   by   SUBBARAO,   J.:<br \/>\n     &#8220;Negative   words   are   clearly   prohibitory   and   are<br \/>\n     ordinarily   used   as   a   legislative   device   to   make   a<br \/>\n     statute   imperative&#8221;.     Section   80   and   Section   87-B   of<br \/>\n     the  Code of  Civil Procedure,  1908, section  77 of  the<br \/>\n     Railways Act, 1890; section 15 of the Bombay Rent Act,<br \/>\n     1947; section 213 of the Succession Act, 1925; section<br \/>\n     5-A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947; section<br \/>\n     7 of the Stamp Act, 1899; section 108 of the Companies<br \/>\n     Act,   1956;   section   20(1)   of   the   Prevention   of   Food<br \/>\n     Adulteration   Act,   1954;   section   55   of   the   Wild   Life<br \/>\n     Protection Act, 1972, the proviso to section 33(2)(b)<br \/>\n     of   the   Industrial   Disputes   Act,   1947   (as   amended   in<br \/>\n     1956);   section   10A   of   Medical   Council   Act,   1956   (as<br \/>\n     amended   in   1993),   and   similar   other   provisions   have<br \/>\n     therefore,   been   construed   as   mandatory.     A   provision<br \/>\n     requiring   &#8216;not   les   than   three   months&#8217;   notice   is   also<br \/>\n     for the same reason mandatory.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                   -9-<\/span><\/p>\n<p>        We   are   in   respectful   agreement   with   the   aforesaid <\/p>\n<p>statement of law by the learned author.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>         So   there   can   be   no   doubt   about   the   mandatory   nature   of <\/p>\n<p>the   requirement   of   this   Section.     Apart   from   that,   since   the <\/p>\n<p>said section has been amended in order to prevent the abuse of <\/p>\n<p>the provisions of TADA,  this Court while examining the question <\/p>\n<p>of complying with the said provision must examine it strictly.<\/p>\n<p>         Going by the aforesaid principles, this Court finds that <\/p>\n<p>no information about the commission of an offence under the said <\/p>\n<p>Act can be recorded by the Police without the prior approval of <\/p>\n<p>the   District   Superintendent   of   Police.     Therefore,   the <\/p>\n<p>requirement of prior approval must be satisfied at the time of <\/p>\n<p>recording   the   information.     If   a   subsequent   investigation   is <\/p>\n<p>carried on without a proper recording of the information by the <\/p>\n<p>DSP   in   terms   of   Section   20(A)(1),   that   does   not   cure   the <\/p>\n<p>inherent   defect   of   recording   the   information   without   the   prior <\/p>\n<p>approval of the District Superintendent of Police.   Whether the <\/p>\n<p>Deputy Superintendent of Police is a District Superintendent of <\/p>\n<p>Police or not is a different question which we need not decide <\/p>\n<p>in  this case.   But  one thing  is clear  that the  requirement of <\/p>\n<p>approval   must   be   made   at   the   initial   stage   of   recording   the <\/p>\n<p>information.     If   there   is   absence   of   approval   at   the   stage   of <\/p>\n<p>recording   the   information,   the   same   cannot   be   cured   by <\/p>\n<p>subsequent   carrying   on   of   the   investigation   by   the   DSP. <\/p>\n<p>Reference in this connection is made to the principles laid down<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                     -10-<\/span><\/p>\n<p>  by   Lord   Denning   speaking   for   the   Judicial   Committee   of   Privy <\/p>\n<p>Council in Benjamin Leonard MacFoy Versus United Africa Co. Ltd. <\/p>\n<p>[1961(3) Weekly Law Reports 1405].   Lord Denning, speaking for <\/p>\n<p>the unanimous Bench, pointed out the effect of an act which is <\/p>\n<p>void so succintly that I better quote him:\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>               &#8220;If   an   act   is   void,   then   it   is   in   law   a<br \/>\n      nullity.     It   is   not   only   bad,   but   incurably   bad.<br \/>\n      There is no need for an order of the court to set it<br \/>\n      aside.  It is automatically null and void without more<br \/>\n      ado,   though   it   is   sometimes   convenient   to   have   the<br \/>\n      court declare it to be so.  And every proceeding which<br \/>\n      is founded on it is also bad and incurably bad.   You<br \/>\n      cannot put something on nothing and expect it to stay<br \/>\n      there.  It will collapse.&#8221;\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>         We are in respectful agreement with the aforesaid view.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>         Therefore, the evidence of PW 4 and PW 6 do not come to <\/p>\n<p>any aid of the State Counsel in the facts of the present case.<\/p>\n<p>           We are, however, surprised to find that the Designated <\/p>\n<p>Court in the impugned judgment has come to a finding that there <\/p>\n<p>has been verbal approval from the Superintendent of Police even <\/p>\n<p>after noting that the I.O. In this case (PW 15) admitted that he <\/p>\n<p>did   not   obtain   approval.     It   is   nobody&#8217;s   case   that   PW   15   was <\/p>\n<p>confronted   with   the   FIR   while   he   was   giving   his   evidence. <\/p>\n<p>Therefore, the prosecution in this case has failed to bring on <\/p>\n<p>record that verbal approval was obtained.   It may be noted that <\/p>\n<p>PW 15 has not been declared hostile.\n<\/p>\n<p>\n<span class=\"hidden_text\">                                    -11-<\/span><\/p>\n<p>         Therefore, having regard to the clear evidence of PW 15, <\/p>\n<p>this Court is constrained to hold that even verbal approval of <\/p>\n<p>the   concerned   authority   was   not   obtained   in   the   case   before <\/p>\n<p>recording the information.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>         Therefore,   the   entire   proceeding   right   from   the <\/p>\n<p>reigstering   of   the   FIR,   filing   of   the   charge-sheet   and   the <\/p>\n<p>subsequent trial is vitiated by a legal infirmity and there is a <\/p>\n<p>total miscarriage of justice in holding the trial, ignoring the <\/p>\n<p>vital requirement of law.   We have, therefore, no hesitation in <\/p>\n<p>setting aside the impugned judgment of the Designated Court.<\/p>\n<p>         The appeal is, therefore, allowed.   The appellant who is <\/p>\n<p>in   jail   must   be   set   at   liberty   forthwith,   if   not   required   in <\/p>\n<p>connection with any other case.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>                                              &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;..J.\n<\/p>\n<p>                                              (ASOK KUMAR GANGULY)<\/p>\n<p>                                              &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;.J.\n<\/p>\n<p>                                              (DEEPAK VERMA)<\/p>\n<p>NEW DELHI<br \/>\nMAY 20, 2011<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Supreme Court of India Ranhku Dutta @ R.K.Dutta vs State Of Assam on 20 May, 2011 Author: Ganguly Bench: Asok Kumar Ganguly, Deepak Verma REPORTABLE IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL APPEAL NO(s). 2307 OF 2009 RANGKU DUTTA @ RANJAN KUMAR DUTTA Appellant (s) VERSUS STATE OF ASSAM Respondent(s) J U [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-234446","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-supreme-court-of-india"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Ranhku Dutta @ R.K.Dutta vs State Of Assam on 20 May, 2011 - Free Judgements of Supreme Court &amp; 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