[CASE NUMBER] ORDER IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD SPECIAL CRIMINAL APPLICATION (DIRECTION - TO LODGE FIR/COMPLAINT) NO. 2328 of 2017 [ENTITY] Applicant(s) Versus [ENTITY] & 2 Respondent(s) Appearance: MR [ENTITY], ADVOCATE WITH MR. [ENTITY], ADVOCATE for the Applicant(s) No. 1 MS [ENTITY], APP for the Respondent(s) No. 1 CORAM: HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE [ENTITY] Date : 25/04/2017 ORAL ORDER
1 Thelearnedcounselappearingforthewritapplicantispermitted toimpleadtheDirectorGeneralofPolice,StateofGujarat,astheparty respondentNo.4.Thecausetitlebeamendedaccordingly.
2 BythiswritapplicationunderArticle226oftheConstitutionof India,thewritapplicanthasprayedforthefollowingreliefs:
"9(A) Your Lordships may be pleased to admit this Special Criminal Application.
(B)Your Lordships maybepleased toallow thispetition byissuing an appropriatewrit,orderordirectioninteraliaquashingandsettingaside theimpugnedreportdated16.091.2017aswellascommunicationdated 13.02.2017 and further be pleased to direct the respondent no.2 to registertheFirstInformationReportasthesamedisclosescommissionofa cognizableoffenceasprayedforthebythepetitionerincomplaintinthe interestofjustice.
[CASE NUMBER] Page 1 of 7 Created On Wed Apr 26 00:17:34 IST 2017 [CASE NUMBER] ORDER (C)Your Lordshipsmaybepleased toallow thispetition byissuing an appropriatewrit,orderordirectioninteraliadirectingtherespondentno.3 toregistertheFirstInformationReportasthesamedisclosescommission ofacognizable offence asprayed forthebythepetitioner incomplaint dated08.11.2016(AnnexureG)intheinterestofjustice.
(D)YourLordshipsmaybepleased toallowthispetitionbyissuing an appropriate writ, order or direction interalia directing the concerned SuperintendentofPolice,VadodaraRuralorthePoliceInspector,Karjan PoliceStationtoprovideappropriatesecuritytothelifeandpropertyof thepresentpetitionerintheinterestofjustice.
(E)Grantsuchotherandfurtherrelief(s)asdeemedjustandproperby thisHon'bleCourtintheinterestofjustice."
3 [ENTITY],thewritapplicantwasherebeforethis CourtbyfilingtheSpecialCriminalApplicationNo.1051of2017.The saidwritapplication cametobedisposedofbythis Courtvideorder dated8thFebruary2017.Theorderreadsthus:
"BythiswritapplicationunderArticle226oftheConstitutionofIndia, thewritapplicanthasprayedforthefollowingreliefs:
(A)YourLordshipsmaybepleasedtoadmitthisSpecialCriminal Application.
(B) YOUR LORDSHIPS may be pleased toallow this petition by issuinganappropriatewrit,orderordirectioninteraliadirecting the concerned Superintendent of Police, Vadodara Rural or the Police Inspector, Karjan Police Station to provide appropriate security to the life and property of the present petitioner in the interestofjustice.
(C) YOUR LORDSHIPS may be pleased toallow this petition by issuing an appropriate writ, order or direction seeking enquiry againsttheconcernedPoliceOfficialsfortheirconnivancewiththe proposedaccusedpersonsincommittingtheoffenceasnarratedin thecomplainant(AnnexureA)dated30.01.2017intheinterestof justice.
(D) YOUR LORDSHIPS may be pleased toallow this petition by issuinganappropriatewrit,orderordirectioninteraliadirecting [CASE NUMBER] Page 2 of 7 Created On Wed Apr 26 00:17:34 IST 2017 [CASE NUMBER] ORDER therespondentno.2toregistertheFirstInformationReportasthe samedisclosedcommissionofacognizableoffenceasprayedforthe bythepetitionerinrepresentation/complaintatAnnexuxeAinthe interestofjustice.
(E) Grant such other and further relief(s) as deemed just and properbythisHonbleCourtintheinterestofjustice.
Having heardthelearned counselappearing forthepartiesandhaving consideredthematerialsonrecord,Iamoftheviewthattherespondent no.3SuperintendentofPolice,Vadodara(Rural),shouldimmediatelylook into the matter and take an appropriate decision in this regard in accordancewithlawattheearliest.
Letthiswritapplicationbetreated asarepresentation addressed tothe Superintendent of Police, Vadodara (Rural), who shall consider the documentswhichareonrecordandproceedinaccordancewithlaw.
Withtheabove,thiswritapplicationisdisposedof.
Ifthereisanythreattothelifeorpropertyofthewritapplicantherein, theSuperintendentofPoliceshallconsiderprovidingproperprotectionin thisregardinaccordancewithlaw."
4 Pursuant to the order passed by this Court, it appears that a preliminaryinquirywas conducted bythe Police SubInspectorof the Karjan Police Station. It appears that the Police SubInspector, on conclusionoftheinquiry,forwardedareporttotheSuperintendentof Policedated16th January2017.ThesaidreportissignedbythePolice InspectoralsooftheKarjanPoliceStation.Thematterhasbeenclosed. AccordingtothePoliceSubInspector,whoconductedthepreliminary inquiry,nocaseworththenameismadeoutbythewritapplicantfor theregistrationoftheF.I.R.Insuchcircumstances,thewritapplicantis onceagainbeforethis Courtpraying forthereliefsnotedabove.The followinghasbeenaverredinthewritapplication:
"3.16 It is respectfully submitted that the present petitioner made numerousrequesttopolicestaffofKarjanPoliceStationfornotmisusing thepowersofthepoliceandofferunduefavourtotheproposedaccused personsbutsaidrequestdidnotyieldanyresults.Onthecontrary,the [CASE NUMBER] Page 3 of 7 Created On Wed Apr 26 00:17:34 IST 2017 [CASE NUMBER] ORDER policestaffofKarjanPoliceStationhasthreatenedthepresentpetitioner togoawayfromthesaidlandotherwisethepresentpetitionerwouldbe implicated in a false offence to harass and pressurize the present petitioner.Itishumblysubmittedthepresentpetitionerearlieralsomade a phone call upon the police control no. from my own mobile no. i.e. 8347502308ataround12.07P.M.to12.26P.M.on7occasionsbutthe police control room didn't pick the call of the present petitioner and therefore, the presentpetitioner made acallfromhisbrother [ENTITY] register the complaint. Further, in the evening also, at around
5.51P.M., the present petitioner tried to make a phone call to police controlroomwhentheproposedaccusedpersonsalongwithKarjanPolice Stationstaffencroacheduponthelandofthepresentpetitionerbutthe samewasnotreceivedandtherefore,anotherphonecallwasmadeat5.52 P.M. which was picked and thereafter, the complaint of the present [ENTITY].
3.17 Itisrespectfullysubmittedthattheproposedaccusedpersonshave encroacheduponthelandofthepresentpetitionerwiththehelpofKarjan PoliceStationstaffandatpresenttheyaresittingoutsidewithdangerous weapons withaviewtodisturbthepeacefulpossessionoftheaforesaid land. Further, there isaserious threat upon the life and liberty ofthe present petitioner from the proposed accused persons and therefore, an application/complaintwasaddressedtotheCommissionerofPolice,Dist:
Vadodara as well as Superintendent of Police, Dist: Vadodara on 30.01.2017 with regard to aforesaid unfortunate incident. At this juncture,thecopyofcomplaintdated30.01.2017isannexedherewithand markedasAnnexureIcollytothepresentpetition.
3.18 Itisrespectfullysubmittedthatthepresentpetitionerwithaviewto get justice approached the Inspector General of Police, Vadodara on 01.02.2017ataround1.30P.M.wherein,thepresentpetitionerexplained the entire episode of creation of forged documents by the present petitioners to cheat and harass the present petitioner as well as the encroachment made by the proposed accused persons with the help of Karjan Police Station staff illegally. It is humbly submitted that the present petitioner was shocked and surprised to see that the present petitioner was in fact threatened by the Inspector of General of Police, Vadodara himself toleave the aforesaid parcel ofland as the proposed accusedpersonswhohavecreatedtheforgedsaledeedshowingthemselves as purchaser of land are also belonging from Haryana and Inspector GeneralofPolice,VadodaraisalsobelongingfromHaryanaandtherefore, unduefavourhavebeenextendedtotheproposedaccusedpersonsbyhim.
Moreover, the present petitioner was also threatened that he would be falselyimplicatedinoffenceandhewouldhavetoloosehislife.
3.19 Itisrespectfullysubmittedthatthepresentpetitionerapproached [CASE NUMBER] Page 4 of 7 Created On Wed Apr 26 00:17:34 IST 2017 [CASE NUMBER] ORDER
hisHon'ble Court against the highhanded acts ofthe respondents and therefore, the present petitioner preferred [CASE NUMBER] was pleased to direct the respondent no.3 - Superintendent of Police, Vadodaratoimmediatelylook intothematter ofthepresent petitioner andifthereisanythreattothelifeandpropertyofthepresentpetitioner, then the Superintendent of Police shall consider the provide police protectioninthisregardinaccordancewithlaw.Atthisjuncture,thecopy oforderpassedinSpecialCriminalApplicationNo.1051 of2017 dated 08.02.2017isannexedherewithandmarkedasAnnexureJtothepresent petition.
3.20 It is respectfully submitted that pursuant to the aforesaid order passedbythisHon'bleCourt,theapplicanthereingotthecopyofthesaid orderon09.02.2017. Further,thepresentapplicantimmediatelyvisited theofficeoftheSuperintendentofPolice,Vadodara(Rural)-respondent no.3hereinintheeveninghoursof09.02.2017itselfwithacopyofthe saidorder.Itishumblysubmittedthatthepresentapplicanthereinmet the respondent no.3 herein and served the copy of the said order on 09.02.2017andalsorequestedforprovidingappropriatepoliceprotection asthereisseverethreattothelifeandpropertyofthepresentapplicant.At this juncture, it is humbly submitted that the respondent no.3 herein didn't took the request of the present applicant seriously and told the present petitioner to casually give the copy of the said order in his department.Further,thepresentpetitionerhereintriedtoexplainhiscase along with the copy of the memo of the captioned Special Criminal ApplicationstatingthattheGoonsareattemptingtoencroachuponthe propertyofthepresentpetitionerwiththehelpofpolicestaffofKarjan PoliceStationillegallyandtherefore,thereisaseverethreattothelifeand property of the present applicant from the hands of the said persons. However,theSuperintendentofPolice,Vadodara(Rural)didn'tpaidheed to the request of the present petitioner and very casually informed the present petitioner to go to the Karjan Police Station if there is any grievanceofthepresentpetitioner."
5 Iamnotconvincedwiththemannerinwhichtheinquiryhasbeen conductedandthematterisclosed.Theallegationslevelledarequite serious.Whethertheyaretrueorfalse,thesamecouldhavebeenlooked intoinaccordancewithlawaftertheregistrationoftheF.I.R.Inarecent decisionoftheSupremeCourtinthecaseoftheStateofTelanganavs. HabibAbdullahJeelaniandothers[(2017)2SCC779],theSupreme Courtobservedinpara8asunder:
[CASE NUMBER] Page 5 of 7 Created On Wed Apr 26 00:17:34 IST 2017 [CASE NUMBER] ORDER "8.Theexceptionsthatwerecarvedoutpertaintomedicalnegligencecases ashasbeenstatedinJacobMathewv.StateofPunjab[(2005)6SCC 1].TheCourtalsoreferredtotheauthoritiesinP.Sirajuddinv.Stateof Madras[(1970)1SCC595]and CBIv.TapanKumarSingh[(2003)
6 SCC 175] and finally held that what is necessary is only that the information given to the police must disclose the commission of a cognizable offence. In such a situation, registration of an FIR is mandatory. However, if no cognizable offence is made out in the information given,thentheFIRneednotberegisteredimmediatelyand perhapsthepolicecanconductasortofpreliminaryverificationorinquiry forthelimitedpurposeofascertainingastowhetheracognizableoffence has been committed. But, ifthe information given clearly mentions the commissionofacognizableoffence,thereisnootheroptionbuttoregister anFIRforthwith. Other considerations are not relevant atthe stage of registration of FIR, such as, whether the information is falsely given, whethertheinformationisgenuine,whethertheinformationiscredible, etc.AtthestageofregistrationofFIR,whatistobeseenismerelywhether the information given exfacie discloses the commission ofacognizable offence."
6 Thus,themessageconveyedbythe SupremeCourtisloudand clear. If the information given clearly mentions the commission of a cognizable offence, there is no other option but to register an F.I.R. forthwith.Theofficerconcernedcannotatthestageofregistrationofthe F.I.R. go into the issue whether the information is false, genuine, credible, etc, or not. What is to be seen is merely whether the informationgivendisclosescommissionofacognizableoffence.Iwas inclined to ask a higher authority i.e. the respondent No.3 the SuperintendentofPolicetoonceagainlookintothematter,but,inthe wake of what has been averred in para 3.18, I deem fit to ask the DirectorGeneralofPolice,StateofGujarattolookintothematterand seetoitthatanappropriateinquiryisconductedinaccordancewithlaw. Thiswritapplicationisdisposedofwithoutexpressinganyopinionon meritsotherwise.Letthisexercisebeundertakenattheearliest.
7 With the above, this writ application is disposed of. Direct service is permitted.
[CASE NUMBER] Page 6 of 7 Created On Wed Apr 26 00:17:34 IST 2017 [CASE NUMBER] ORDER ([ENTITY], J.) chandresh [CASE NUMBER] Page 7 of 7 Created On Wed Apr 26 00:17:34 IST 2017