CR.MA/2515/2002 1/17 JUDGMENT IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD CRIMINAL MISC.APPLICATION No. 2515 of 2002 For Approval and Signature: HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE J.C.UPADHYAYA ========================================= = 1 Whether Reporters of Local Papers may be allowed to see the judgment ? 2 To be referred to the Reporter or not ? 3 Whether their Lordships wish to see the fair copy of the judgment ? 4 Whether this case involves a substantial question of law as to the interpretation of the constitution of India, 1950 or any order made thereunder ? 5 Whether it is to be circulated to the civil judge ? ========================================= = CHAUDHARY PARTHIBHAI JETHABHAI & others Versus STATE OF GUJARAT & 1 another ========================================= = Appearance : MR PRAKASH K JANI for Petitioners MR LB DABHI APP for Respondent No.1 MR DR BHATT for Respondent No.2 ========================================= = CORAM : HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE J.C.UPADHYAYA Date : 27/08/2008 CR.MA/2515/2002 2/17 JUDGMENT ORAL JUDGMENT [1] The present petition has been filed by the petitioners under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code (for short “Cr.P.C.) to quash and set aside the proceedings of the First Information Report being C.R. No.II-73/2002, lodged with Kheralu Police Station by the respondent No.2 against the present petitioners. [2] The facts leading to this petition in nutshell are as under: [2.1] It is stated in the petition that the petitioners are the residents of Village : Nani Hirvani, Taluka : Kheralu, District : Mehsana. All the petitioners are brothers. It is stated by the petitioners that in their village, there is a Cooperative Society known as “Shri Nani Hirvani Milk Produces Cooperative Society Limited” (for short “the Society”). The bye-laws are framed governing the functioning of the Society. The society was prompted by petitioner No.1 and at the relevant time, he was the Chairman of the Society. Then as per the bye-laws, each and every member of the Society was required to supply milk to the Society. However, some of the members were not strictly following the said bye-laws. Therefore, in the meeting of the Managing Committee of the Society CR.MA/2515/2002 3/17 JUDGMENT dated 20.11.2001, it was resolved that those members who are not suppling the milk to the Society are incurring disqualification under the bye-law No.10(4) of the bye-laws and, therefore, notices were required to be issued to those defaulting members. Out of those persons, the present respondent No.2 was also a defaulting member. Thereafter, again the Managing Committee met on 04.01.2002 wherein it was resolved to remove those members who did not rectify their omissions in spite of the fact that they were having cattle and were members of the Society. Accordingly on 04.01.2002, a resolution came to be passed for removing those defaulting members under bye-law No.19(4). Thereafter, in the meeting held on 20.03.2002, it was decided that their share capital be taken over and the same be transferred into the reserve funds and they may be removed as such. That among the defaulting members, respondent No.2 (the first informant of the FIR in question) was one of them and he came to be removed by the said resolution. That on 26.04.2002, the respondent No.2 along with 19 persons came to the office of the Society, and at that time, when the members of the Society had come to give milk, they were armed with deadly weapons and in presence of other members created riotous situation and in connection with that, FIR came to be lodged on 27.04.2002 before the Kheralu Police Station bearing C.R.No.53/2002 for the offences punishable under Sections 323, 506(2), 143, 427 and 294 of the Indian Penal Code. That as a counterblast to this incident, the present respondent No.2 lodged CR.MA/2515/2002 4/17 JUDGMENT the FIR in question bearing C.R.No.II-73/2002 before Kheralu Police Station for the offences punishable under Section 506(2) r/w. Section 114 of the Indian Penal Code, under Section 3(1)(10) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (for short “the Atrocities Act”) and under Section 135 of the Bombay Police Act, 1951. That the very object behind filing of such FIR was the removal of respondent No.2 from membership of the Society. And, therefore, to tarnish the image of petitioners, respondent No.2 alleged a serious offence under the provision of the Atrocities Act and hence, the present petition is filed by the petitioners. [3] Learned advocate Mr.Y.M.Thakore for learned advocate Mr.P.K.Jani for the petitioners has submitted that in support of the facts narrated in the petition regarding the various resolutions passed by the Managing Committee of the Society, petitioners have produced necessary copies of the said resolutions along with this petition. That considering the copy of the resolution of the meeting dated 20.11.2001, it clearly transpires that it came to the notice of the office bearers of the Society that some of the members were not supplying the milk to the Society and thereby they were committing the breach of bye-law No.10(4) of the Bye-laws framed by the Society and, therefore, it was resolved to issue show-cause notices to such defaulting members. It is submitted that considering the copy of said resolution, along with other defaulting members, the CR.MA/2515/2002 5/17 JUDGMENT name of respondent No.2 also appeared. It is submitted that accordingly, along with other defaulting members, the show-cause notice also was issued to respondent No.2. That thereafter, the meeting of the Managing Committee was convened on 04.01.2002, and the resolution came to be passed. In the said resolution, it was resolved to remove those members who were not complying with the bye-laws and were making default in supplying the milk to the Society. That resolution was passed subject to further approval to be obtained of the General Body of the Society. It is submitted that the meeting of the General Body of the Society was convened on 20.03.2002 and it was resolved by the General Body of the Society that the defaulting members to whom the show-cause notices were issued, in spite of that they were not complying with the mandate and the bye-laws, it was resolved to remove those members from the membership of the Society, as well as it was resolved that their share capital be taken over and the same be transferred in reserve funds of the Society. That in the said resolution, the names of the members who are removed were mentioned and one of them, was respondent No.2. It is submitted that keeping this grudge in the mind, on 26.04.2002, between 18.00 Hours to 20.00 Hours in the evening, the present respondent No.2 along with other persons armed with deadly weapon and forming unlawful assembly came to the office of the Society and committed various offences punishable under Sections 323, 506(2), 143, 427 and 294 of the Indian Penal Code. And, therefore, the present petitioner No.1 lodged the FIR CR.MA/2515/2002 6/17 JUDGMENT before Kheralu Police Station bearing C.R.No.53/2002 against the present respondent No.2 and other persons. It is submitted that realizing such situation that in connection with the said offences, the office bearers of the Society would definitely file police complaint, as a counterblast, respondent No.2 filed the FIR in question bearing C.R.No.II-73/2002 before Kheralu Police Station for the offences punishable under Section 506(2) r/w. Section 114 of the Indian Penal Code, under Section 3(1)(10) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 against petitioners. It is submitted that so far as the allegation levelled by respondent No.2 in his FIR against the petitioners pertaining to the offence punishable under Section 3(1)(10) of the Atrocities Act is concerned, it is admitted fact that during the course of the investigation, the said allegation prima faice turned to be false and police dropped that charge from the FIR. That therefore, now the only allegation which remains in the FIR is about alleged offence punishable under Section 506(2) of the Indian Penal Code. That considering the FIR as it is, it is alleged that two separate incidents occurred on 26.04.2002, namely the first incident at 7.00 p.m. wherein it is alleged that petitioners armed with dharia in their hands quarreled with respondent No.2 - first informant of the FIR, to sign some declaration. That it is stated in the FIR that thereafter, at 9.00 p.m. on the same day, the petitioners came to meet respondent No.2 and his family members and at that time one Senma Shankarbhai Bhikhabhai tried to intervene and the CR.MA/2515/2002 7/17 JUDGMENT petitioners abused Senma Shankarbhai Bhikhabhai by his caste and threatened him to kill. That therefore, even considering the FIR as it is and after deletion of the offence punishable under the provision of the Atrocities Act, it can be said that FIR was lodged with malicious intention by the respondent No.2. Therefore, it is submitted that the petition be allowed. [4] On behalf of respondent No.2 – original informant, learned advocate Mr.Ravish Bhatt for learned advocate Mr.D.R.Bhatt has submitted that while exercising the powers vested under Section 482 of the Cr.P.C., the averments made by the complainant in his FIR are required to be considered, and considering the allegations levelled in the FIR, on its face value, it becomes clear that serious offences are made out in the FIR. It is submitted that there is no immediate nexus between the fact of removal of respondent No.2 from the membership of the Society and the incidents in question. That between the two events, there is a gap of more than one month. Therefore, it cannot be even inferred that for a period of one month after removal from the membership of the Society, respondent No.2 sat silent, just keeping so-called grudge in his mind and, thereafter, filed the FIR only with mala fide motive. It is submitted by learned advocate Mr.Bhatt that on the record of this petition, the FIR filed by petitioner No.1 against respondent No.2 herein and other persons and the FIR filed by respondent No.2 herein against the petitioners are produced along with this petition CR.MA/2515/2002 8/17 JUDGMENT and perusing the FIR in question which is filed by respondent No.2 against the present petitioners, the same was registered at 22.15 hours on 26.04.2002, whereas considering the copy of FIR which was filed by petitioner No.1 against respondent No.2 and others, the said FIR was registered at 0.10 hours on 27.04.2002. Thus, the FIR in question lodged by respondent No.2 is clearly first in point of time and, there is no reason to presume that respondent No.2 filed the FIR only as a counterblast to the FIR lodged by petitioner No.1. However, learned advocate for respondent No.2 accepted the situation that in FIR of respondent No.2, the charge levelled by respondent No.2 against the petitioners for the offence punishable under Section 3(1)(10) of the Atrocities Act has been dropped by the police. It is submitted that thereby it cannot be said that the remaining allegations levelled by respondent No.2 in his FIR against petitioners, can be branded as false allegations. That even keeping aside the charge for the offence under the provision of the Atrocities Act, the remaining offences still requires to be considered, which are the offences punishable under Section 506(2) r/w. Section 114 of the Indian Penal Code and under Section 135 of the Bombay Police Act. Therefore, it cannot be said that the complaint discloses no offence whatsoever. Therefore, it is submitted that there is no reason whatsoever for this Court to entertain the petition and to grant the same under Section 482 of the Cr.P.C. and it is requested to dismiss the petition. CR.MA/2515/2002 9/17 JUDGMENT [5] On behalf of respondent No.1 – State, learned APP Mr.L.B.Dabhi has submitted that despite the fact that in the FIR in question, the charge for the offence punishable under Section 3(1) (10) of the Atrocities Act has been dropped yet, the FIR survives. So far as the serious charge for the offences punishable under Section 506(2) r/w. Section 114 of the Indian Penal Code is concerned, there is no reason whatsoever at this stage to quash the entire FIR. That the fact emerges from the record that two cross complaints were filed, one by petitioner No.1 and another by respondent No.2 re-suspices the fact that some incident had happened. When such is the situation, it would not be just and proper to quash the FIR in question. Therefore, it is submitted that the present petition be dismissed. [6] Considering the copy of the FIR in question produced along with this petition at page-73, there is no dispute that respondent No.2 lodged the FIR against the present petitioners. In nutshell, in the FIR, it is stated that on 26.04.2001, at about 7.00 p.m., the petitioners (accused persons in the FIR) armed with dharia in their hands came near the office of the milk society of their village and started quarreling with respondent No.2 (complainant). It is stated that the complainant, respondent No.2 herein was asked to sign one declaration to which he refused. It is further stated in the FIR that thereafter, at 9.00 p.m. on the same day the petitioners came to meet respondent No.2 and his family members CR.MA/2515/2002 10/17 JUDGMENT and thereupon, respondent No.2 and others shouted. Thereupon, one Senma Shankarbhai Bhikhabhai intervened and the petitioners abused said Senma Shankarbhai Bhikhabhai by his caste and the petitioners threatened to kill him. The police registered the FIR at 22.15 Hours on 26.04.2002 for the offences punishable under Section 506(2) r/w. Section 114 of the Indian Penal Code, under Section 135 of the Bombay Police Act and under Section 3(1)(10) of the Atrocities Act. [7] However, there is no dispute that so far as the allegation levelled by the respondent No.2 against the petitioners for the offence punishable under Section 3(1)(10) of the Atrocities Act is concerned, the Investigating Officer dropped that charge. It will be useful to consider the order passed by this Court in this matter on 08.05.2002. According to the said order dated 08.05.2002, learned APP who was in-charge of this case on behalf of respondent No.1, on the basis of instructions from the Investigating Officer, stated at the Bar that the offence under the provision of the Atrocities Act has been dropped and, therefore, the matter was being investigated by the Investigating Officer with respect of the remaining offence. When such is the situation, FIR, as it is, now required to be considered regarding the allegations made in it for the offences punishable under Section 506(2) r/w. Section 114 of the Indian Penal Code and under Section 135 of the Bombay Police Act. CR.MA/2515/2002 11/17 JUDGMENT [8] At this stage, it would be necessary to consider certain resolutions passed prior to the filing of the FIR, by the Society. There is no dispute that as per the bye-laws of the Society, the members of the Society were supposed to supply the milk to the Society. It came to the notice of the office bearers of the Society that some of the members were not supplying milk to the Society and, thereupon, a meeting of the Managing Committee of the Society was convened on 20.11.2001, and in the meeting it was resolved to issue show-cause notices to the defaulting members and considering the copy of the resolution produced along with the petition, amongst the defaulting members, the name of respondent No.2 is also there. Therefore, show-cause notice along with other defaulting members was issued to respondent No.2. Thereafter, it transpires that a meeting of the Managing Committee of the Society was again convened on 04.01.2002 and in the said meeting, it was resolved that subject to the approval of the General Body of the Society, the defaulting members be removed from the membership of the Society. The copy of the said resolution is produced on record of this petition. It transpires that thereafter, meeting of the General Body of the Society was convened on 20.03.2002, and in the said meeting, the General Body resolved to remove the defaulting members from the membership of the Society. It was further resolved that their share capital be taken over and the same be transferred in the reserve funds of the Society. Considering the copy of the resolution produced along with the petition, the names of the CR.MA/2515/2002 12/17 JUDGMENT members who were resolved to be removed from the membership of the society are mentioned and one of them was the present respondent No.2. Thus, the General Body of the society approved the removal of respondent No.2 from the membership of the society in the meeting dated 20.03.2002. Considering the copy of the FIR produced by the petitioners in this petition in connection with C.R.No.53/2002, it is alleged that the present respondent No.2 along with 18 to 20 other persons came to the office of the Society on 26.04.2002 between 18.00 hours to 20.00 hours, armed with deadly weapons in their hands and formed unlawful assembly for damaging the property of the Society and thereby committed the offences punishable under Sections 323, 506(2), 143 and 427 of the Indian Penal Code and under Section 135 of the Bombay Police Act. However, the said FIR was registered by the police at 0.10 hours on 27.04.2002. The place of offence stated in the said FIR filed by petitioner No.1 against the respondent No.2 and others was the office of the Society in their Village : Nani Hirvani. Now as per the FIR in question lodged by the respondent No.2 against the present petitioners, it transpires that the FIR contained two different incidents, first occurred at 7.00 p.m on 26.04.2002 near the office of the society and the second incident contained in the FIR occurred at 9.00 p.m on the same day. However, in the FIR, the exact place of the second incident is nowhere mentioned, but it is stated that at 9.00 p.m., petitioners came to meet respondent No.2 (complainant) and his family members. Therefore, it becomes clear CR.MA/2515/2002 13/17 JUDGMENT that the second incident did not occur near the office of the Society and as per FIR, it is the second incident during which the offence alleged against the petitioners had taken placed. Therefore, considering the fact that as per the FIR filed by petitioner No.1 against respondent No.2 and others, the place of the incident and the scene of offence was the office of the Society whereas as per the FIR in question lodged by respondent No.2 against petitioners, so far as the incident alleged to have been occurred at 9.00 p.m on the same day, there is a reason to believe that the place of incident was near the house of respondent No.2 because it is alleged that at 9.00 p.m, the petitioners came to meet respondent No.2 and his family members. Thus, it cannot be said that the incidents narrated in both the FIRs i.e. one filed by petitioner No.1 and the another filed by the respondent No.2, occurred at the same place. [9] Coming back to the FIR in question filed by respondent No.2 so far as the incident took place at 7.00 p.m is concerned which took place near the office of the Society, at that time it was alleged that the petitioners were armed with weapons like Dharia in their hands. However, about 7.00 p.m. incident, nothing has been alleged that at that time any threat was given by any of the petitioners to the respondent No.2. It is only alleged that at that time, some quarrel took place. Now about the second incident, which took place at 9.00 p.m., as stated earlier, incident did not take place near the office of the Society. As discussed above, the CR.MA/2515/2002 14/17 JUDGMENT incident might have taken, place, as per the FIR, near the house of respondent No.2 and it is alleged that the petitioners abused Senma Shankarbhai Bhikhabhai by his caste and that the petitioners threatened them. As per the FIR, the threat was given to kill, however, it is not certain from the FIR as to whether respondent No.2 was threatened by the petitioners that he will be killed. However, Senma Shankarbhai Bhikhabhai was threatened by the petitioners that he will be killed. Significance of the matter is about 9.00 p.m. Incident. It is not specifically alleged in the FIR that at that time, the petitioners were armed with any weapons. As stated above, as regards comparatively serious offence being the offence under Section 3(1)(10) of the Atrocities Act, the charge about the said offence has been dropped by the Investigating Agency. This aspect is relevant so far as the credibility of the allegations levelled in the FIR is concerned. However, the matter does not rest here. In the above background, if the resolution passed by the Society prior to the date of incident, as discussed above in detail is considered, it is clear that along with defaulting members of the Society, the show-cause notice was issued to respondent No.2, as to why he should not be removed from the membership of the Society. Thereafter, subject to approval of the General Body of the Society, the Managing Committee of the Society resolved to remove the defaulting members, including respondent No.2. And by the resolution passed by the General Body of the Society dated 20.03.2002 along with defaulting members, not only the respondent CR.MA/2515/2002 15/17 JUDGMENT No.2 was removed from the membership of the Society, but it was further resolved that their share capital be taken over and the same be transferred to the reserve funds of the Society. In that background, if it is considered that serious allegation, levelled by the respondent No.2 in the FIR regarding the offence under Section 3(1)(10) of the Atrocities Act was found to be false by the Investigating Officer and in the FIR, the respondent No.2 attempted to involve the petitioners for such serious offence which was ultimately found to be false by the Investigating Officer and ultimately, that part of the charge was required to be dropped, it can safely be believed that respondent No.2 intended to involve the petitioners for criminal offences. [10] On behalf of the petitioners, reliance was placed upon the decision of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in case of Anjani Kumar Vs. State of Bihar and others reported in (2008) 2 SCC (Criminal) 582, wherein in a matter arising under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code, the Hon'ble Apex Court has discussed in the facts of the said case that a complaint was filed against the government official is a counterblast to action taken by him in his official capacity and the factual scenario further revealed that complaint was an afterthought to rope in appellant on account of action taken by him against respondent No.2 therein. It was held that the said case was of the nature mentioned at Category (7) of Bhajan Lal's case. It was observed that continuance of proceeding CR.MA/2515/2002 16/17 JUDGMENT against appellant would amount to abuse of process of law and, therefore, criminal proceedings were quashed. [11] In case of State of Haryana and Others Vs. Bhajanlal and Others reported in 1992 Supp (1) SCC 335, the Hon'ble Apex Court illustrated seven categories wherein the extraordinary power under Article 226 or the inherent powers under Section 482 of the Cr.P.C. can be exercised by the High Court either to prevent abuse of process of any court or otherwise to secure the ends of justice. Category No.(7) reads as under. “(7) Where a criminal proceeding is manifestly attended with mala fide and/or where the proceedings is maliciously instituted with an ulterior motive for wreaking vengeance on the accused and with a view to spite him due to private and personal grudge.” [12] In the light of the admitted factual matrix discussed hereinabove, in this judgment, pertaining to the instant case, it becomes clear that the ratio laid down in the above ruling applies to the facts and circumstances of this case. Under such circumstances, I am of the opinion that this is a fit case to exercise the power vested under Section 482 of the Cr.P.C. The