IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALAAT ERNAKULAM PRESENT: THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE [ENTITY] WEDNESDAY, THE 18TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2015/27TH KARTHIKA, 1937 OP(Crl.).No. 359 of 2015 (Q) CMP.4829/2015 of J.M.F.C., OTTAPPALAM PETITIONER(S): STANLY VARGHESE, S/O.KARATHARA VEETTIL VARGHESE KODASSERY VILLAGE, KANAKAMALA DESOM CHALAKUDY TALUK, THRISSUR DISTRICT. BY ADV. SRI.T.N.MANOJ RESPONDENT(S): 1. MOHAMMED HANEEF S/O.PUTHENPEEDIKKAL MOHAMMED, KOTHAKURISSY DESOM OTTAPPALAM TALUK, CHERPULASSERY VILLAGE PALAKKAD DISTRICT. 678105 2. SAUDA, W/O.MOHAMMED HANEEF KOTHAKURISSY DESOM, OTTAPPALAM TALUK CHERPULASSERY VILLAGE, PALAKKAD DISTRICT.678105 THIS OP (CRIMINAL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 18-11-2015, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: OP(Crl.).No. 359 of 2015 (Q) APPENDIX PETITIONER(S)' EXHIBITS P1 - TRUE COPY OF THE COMPLAINT CMP 4829/15 PENDING ON THE FILES OF THE JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE OF 1ST CLASS AT OTTAPPALAM. RESPONDENT(S)' EXHIBITS : NIL True Copy PA to Judge [CR] B. KEMAL PASHA, J. O.P.(Crl.) No.359 of 2015 Q Dated this the 18th day of November, 2015 J U D G M E N T
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ (1) At what stage, the court of a Magistrate is taking cognizance of the offences in a private complaint?
(2) Can the court of a Magistrate proceed to the stage of [SECTION] [ACT], in a case covered by [SECTION] [ACT]?
(3) Is a private complaint, in which the only relief sought for is the one under [SECTION] [ACT], maintainable? (4) What is the course of action that can be taken by the court of a Magistrate, in a case covered by [SECTION] [ACT]? [CASE NUMBER]
2. The petitioner and the respondents were doing business in Sharjah. It is alleged that, while in Sharjah, the respondents had induced the petitioner to part with UAE Dirhams equivalent to 35 lakhs of Indian money to the respondents on 13.11.2013 at the residence of the respondents at Sharjah, by promising the reconstitution of a partnership deed and the induction of the petitioner also as partner in the business of that firm. After taking away the money, nothing was heard about it from the respondents. When the petitioner approached the respondents, the 1st respondent handed over a cheque for an amount of 1,60,000 UAE Dirhams in favour of the petitioner drawn on Sharjah Main Branch of the ADC Bank. The said cheque, on presentation, returned dishonoured for insufficiency of funds. According to the petitioner, even through the original transaction, he was deliberately cheated and defrauded and hence, the complaint.
3. Petitioner filed the private complaint as CMP [CASE NUMBER] before the Judicial First Class Magistrate's Court, Ottappalam alleging offences punishable under [SECTION] and [SECTION] [ACT], against respondents 1 and 2 as accused. It is true that the relief sought for in the complaint before the court below was for forwarding the complaint for investigation to the police under [SECTION] [ACT] At the same time, specific allegations have been raised by the petitioner in the complaint and it is discernible from the complaint that there are specific allegations constituting the offences alleged.
4. Even though the complainant has prayed before the court below for getting the complaint forwarded to the police for investigation under [SECTION] [ACT], instead of granting such a relief, the court below has chosen to proceed with the matter under [SECTION] [ACT], and directed the petitioner to be present before the court below with witnesses for examination. The same is under challenge herein, at the instance of the complainant. [CASE NUMBER]
5. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner Sri. [ENTITY]. According to him, the matter is squarely hit by [SECTION] [ACT], and the course adopted by the learned Magistrate is not legally sustainable. Further according to him, when the offence was allegedly committed abroad, it will not be possible for the petitioner to produce sufficient evidence before the learned Magistrate, and a proper investigating machinery alone will be able to collect sufficient evidence in a case of this nature.
6. The learned counsel for the petitioner has invited the attention of this Court to the decision of the Apex Court in [PRECEDENT], wherein it was held:
"He could direct the police to register an FIR and investigate the matter. Even if the scope of investigation is limited as noticed in the said decision, the Magistrate has powers under [SECTION] of the [ACT] to direct investigation and in the meanwhile he may [CASE NUMBER] postpone issue of process against the accused by adopting any one of the courses mentioned in [SECTION]."
7. In the 3 Judge Bench decision of the Apex Court in [PRECEDENT], it was held that the expression "cognizance" is not defined in the Code but, it is a word of indefinite import. The Apex Court has also relied on the decision in [PRECEDENT], wherein it was held:
"7. What is 'taking cognizance' has not been defined in the [ACT], and I have no desire now to attempt to define it. It seems to me clear, however, that before it can be said that any Magistrate has taken cognizance of any offence under [SECTION] [ACT], he must not only have applied his mind to the contents of the petition, but he must have done so for the purpose of proceeding in a particular way as indicated in the subsequent provisions of this [CASE NUMBER] Chapter, proceeding under [SECTION], and thereafter sending it for enquiry and report under [SECTION]. When the Magistrate applies his mind not for the purpose of proceeding under the subsequent sections of this Chapter, but for taking action of some other kind e.g. ordering investigation under [SECTION], or issuing a search warrant for the purpose of the investigation, he cannot be said to have taken cognizance of the offence."
8. In [PRECEDENT] (supra), it was held that it is neither practicable nor desirable to precisely define as to what is meant by the term "taking cognizance". Whether the Magistrate has or has not taken cognizance of the offence will depend upon the circumstances of the particular case, including the mode in which the case is sought to be instituted and the nature of the preliminary action. At the same time, in the decision in [PRECEDENT] (supra) relied on by the Apex Court in [PRECEDENT] (supra), it has been [CASE NUMBER] clearly indicated that apart from the application of mind on the contents of the petition, the Magistrate must have done something for the purpose of proceeding in a particular way as indicated in the subsequent provisions in the [ACT] namely, by proceeding under [SECTION] [ACT] and thereafter, proceeding with it under [SECTION] [ACT], for the taking of cognizance of the offence.
9. It was further held in [PRECEDENT] (supra) in paragraph 17:
"Nevertheless, it is well settled that before a Magistrate can be said to have taken cognizance of an offence, it is imperative that he must have taken notice of the accusations and applied his mind to the allegations made in the complaint or in the police report or the information received from a source other than a police report, as the case may be, and the material filed therewith. It needs little emphasis that it is only when the Magistrate applies his mind and is satisfied that the allegations, if proved, would constitute an [CASE NUMBER] offence and decides to initiate proceedings against the alleged offender, that it can be positively stated that he has taken cognizance of the offence. Cognizance is in regard to the offence and not the offender."
10. In [PRECEDENT] (supra), the Apex Court has relied on the decision in [PRECEDENT], wherein it was held:
" 'Cognizance' has no estoeric or mystic significance in criminal law. It merely means 'becomes aware of' and when used with reference to a Court or a Judge, it connotes 'to take notice of judicially'. It indicates the point when a Court or a Magistrate takes judicial notice of an offence with a view to initiating proceedings in respect of such offence said to have been committed by someone. 'Taking cognizance' does not involve any formal action of any kind. It occurs as soon as a Magistrate applies his mind to the suspected commission of an offence. Cognizance is taken prior to [CASE NUMBER] commencement of criminal proceedings. Taking of cognizance is thus a sine qua non or condition precedent for holding a valid trial. Cognizance is taken of an offence and not of an offender."
11. It is not discernible that so far, the court below has taken cognizance of the offences involved. For forwarding a complaint under [SECTION] [ACT] for investigation, the court is not taking cognizance of the offences. In a 3 Judge Bench decision of the Apex Court in [PRECEDENT], it was held:
"The expression, "taking cognizance of an offence" by the Magistrate has not been defined in the Code. The ways in which such cognizance can be taken are set out in [SECTION]. Whether the Magistrate has or has not taken cognizance of the offence will depend on the [CASE NUMBER] circumstances of the particular case including the mode in which the case is sought to be instituted, and the nature of the preliminary action, if any, taken by the Magistrate. Broadly speaking, when on receiving a complaint, the Magistrate applies his mind for the purposes of proceeding under [SECTION] and the succeeding sections in [SECTION] of the [ACT], he is said to have taken cognizance of the offence within the meaning of [SECTION]. If, instead of proceeding under [SECTION], he, has in the judicial exercise of his discretion, taken action of some other kind, such as issuing a search warrant for the purpose of investigation or ordering investigation by the police under [SECTION], he cannot be said to have taken cognizance of any offence."
12. It was further held in [PRECEDENT] (supra) that the power to order investigation by police under [SECTION] [ACT] is different from the power to direct investigation conferred by [CASE NUMBER] [SECTION] [ACT] The two operate in distinct spheres at different stages. The first is exercisable at the pre-cognizance stage, whereas, the second is at the post-cognizance stage when the Magistrate is in seisin of the case. It was held therein that if once the Magistrate takes such cognizance and embarks upon the procedure embodied in [SECTION], he is not competent to go back to the pre-cognizance stage and avail of [SECTION] [ACT]
13. When the court is proceeding through [SECTION] [ACT], in some cases, the court is taking cognizance of the offences even when there is an order under [SECTION] [ACT] for investigation by the police. For invoking such a power of investigation through the police for collecting evidence during inquiry, as per the mandate of [SECTION] [ACT] is a condition precedent that the court has to examine on oath, the complainant and the witnesses, if any present, under [SECTION] [ACT] Here, in this particular case, so far, the complainant or the [CASE NUMBER] witnesses have not been examined by the court below on oath under [SECTION] [ACT] Therefore, still, the court below has not proceeded through [SECTION] [ACT], and has not taken cognizance of the offences involved. It is trite law that for taking cognizance of the offences, the court has to apply its mind. It cannot be said that cognizance of the offences has been taken on a mere decision by the court to proceed to the stage of [SECTION] [ACT], without applying its mind in the matter.
14. On going through the provisions, it seems that when the Magistrate decides to issue process, definitely, the Magistrate takes cognizance of the offences. Even prior to that, in some cases, it can be said that cognizance has been taken. In a case wherein the Magistrate has applied his mind on the offences on examining the complainant, even then it can be said that cognizance has been taken. Even in such case, the Magistrate is competent to have an investigation in the matter through police on the strength of [CASE NUMBER] [SECTION] [ACT]
15. It seems that the court below wants to proceed under [SECTION] [ACT] and in such case, definitely, the attempt of the court below is to have an inquiry. When the offences are allegedly committed abroad, in such a case, the provisions under [SECTION] [ACT] will come into play. As per [SECTION] [ACT], when the offence is committed abroad, no such offence shall be inquired into or tried in India, except with the previous sanction of the Central Government.
16. The sanction contemplated under the proviso to [SECTION] [ACT] is not for taking cognizance of the offences, whereas, such a sanction is required for the inquiry or trial. There is no quarrel with regard to the proposition that the stage contemplated under [SECTION] and [SECTION] [ACT] is also the stage of inquiry. In such case, the court below cannot conduct an inquiry in the matter, except with the previous sanction of the Central Government [CASE NUMBER] in this particular case.
17. The learned counsel for the petitioner has invited the attention of this Court to [PRECEDENT]] wherein an identical situation was dealt with. It was held therein:
"Learned Magistrate has, without referring to [SECTION] of the [ACT], posted the complaint for an enquiry as contemplated under [SECTION] of the [ACT] Obviously, this is clearly wrong, as an enquiry by a Court into an offence committed outside India can only be with the sanction of the Central Government."
18. When the learned Magistrate has bypassed the provisions contained under [SECTION] [ACT] in this particular case, even if the court wants to have an investigation for the purpose of taking cognizance of the offences through police, it is not possible as an inquiry is also barred without the previous sanction of the Central [CASE NUMBER] Government. It cannot be said that still, the court below has taken cognizance of the offences. Here, the learned Magistrate has committed a grave error in deciding to have an inquiry when an inquiry is not possible, without the previous sanction of the Central Government as per [SECTION] [ACT]
19. It is true that the relief sought for in the complaint is for a direction to the police under [SECTION] [ACT] for conducting investigation in the case. Simply from the fact that such a relief alone has been sought for in the complaint, it cannot be said that it does not constitute a complaint within the meaning of [SECTION] [ACT] As per [SECTION] [ACT];
" "Complaint" means any allegation made orally or in writing to a Magistrate, with a view to his taking action under this Code, that some person, whether known or unknown, has committed an offence, but does not include a police report."
[CASE NUMBER]
20. The learned counsel for the petitioner has invited the attention of this Court to the decision of the three Judge Bench of the Apex Court in [PRECEDENT], wherein it was held in paragraph 6:
"The word 'complaint' has a wide meaning since it includes even an oral allegation. It may, therefore, be assumed that no form is prescribed which the complaint must take. It may only be said that there must be an allegation which prima facie discloses the commission of an offence with the necessary facts for the Magistrate to take action. [SECTION] makes it necessary that the alleged facts must disclose the commission of an offence."
Therefore, going by [SECTION] or [SECTION] [ACT], when it prima facie discloses an offence, it has to be treated as a complaint.
21. Even a complaint can be preferred orally. It does [CASE NUMBER] not matter as to what is the relief sought for in the complaint. What has to be looked into is whether the complaint is filed before a Magistrate with a view to his taking action under the Code, that the person against whom it is filed has committed an offence. If the complaint reveals an offence, then, it constitutes a complaint even if the relief sought for is simply a direction to the police to investigate the matter under [SECTION] [ACT] In a matter covered by [SECTION] [ACT], the only possible relief that can be sought for by the complainant is nothing but the relief contemplated under [SECTION] [ACT] alone. In such a private complaint, the court cannot grant any other relief.
22. In such a case wherein the averments in the complaint do not reveal any offence or the offence alleged, the learned Magistrate shall reject the complaint. In this particular case, the court below ought to have directed the police to conduct an investigation in the matter, as per [SECTION] [ACT] So far, the inquiry has not been [CASE NUMBER] commenced before the court below. At the same time, the court below has decided to have an inquiry. The said decision taken by the court below is not in accordance with law, and therefore, the same is liable to be set aside.
In the result, this O.P.(Crl.) is allowed. The decision taken by the court below to proceed with the matter under [SECTION] [ACT], is quashed. The court below is directed to proceed with the complaint in accordance with law, in the light of the observations made above. When the said decision taken by the court below stands quashed, it is open to the court below, once again to rely on the provisions contained in [SECTION] [ACT]
([ENTITY], JUDGE) aks/19/11 True Copy PA to Judge