Summarize the following court judgment. iminal Appeal No. 62 of 1954. Appeal by special leave from the Judgment and 0rder dated the 10th June 1953 of the Punjab High Court at Simla in Criminal Revision No. 86 of 1953 arising out of the Judgment and Order dated the 7th January 1953 of the Court of Sessions Judge	 Karnal in Criminal Appeal No. 355 of 1952. N. C. Chatterjee	 (Vir Sen Sawhney and Rajinder Narain	 with him) for the appellant. Gopal Singh and P. G. Gokhale	 for the respondent. 1014 1955. November 24. The Judgment of the Court was delivered by VENKATARAMA AYYAR J. The appellant was a candidate for election to the House of the People from the Karnal Reserved Constituency during the last General Elections. The proviso to section 33(3) of the Representation of the People Act (XLIII of 1951)	 omitting what is not material	 enacts "that in a constituency where any seat is reserved for the Scheduled Castes	 no candidate shall be deemed to be qualified to be chosen to fill that seat unless his nomi nation paper is accompanied by a declaration verified in the prescribed manner that the candidate is a member of the Scheduled Castes for which the seat has been so reserved and the declaration specifies the particular caste of which the candidate is a member and also the area in relation to which such caste is one of the Scheduled Castes". Rule 6 of the Election Rules provides that the declaration referred to in the above proviso shall be verified by the candidate on oath or solemn affirmation before a Magistrate. Schedule If contains the form of nomination paper to be used	 with the terms in which the declaration is to be made by the candidate and verified by the Magistrate. On 5 11 1951 the appellant signed two nomination papers	 each containing the following declaration: "I hereby declare that I am a member of the Balmiki Caste which has been declared to be a Scheduled Caste in the State of Punjab". The Balmiki Caste is one of the castes declared to be a Scheduled Caste under the "Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order	 1950". The above declaration was made on solemn affirmation before the First Class Magistrate	 Karnal	 and the nomination paper& with the above declaration were filed before the District Magistrate	 Karnal	 who was the returning officer. One Jai Ram Sarup	 a member of the Chamar caste	 which is one of the Scheduled Castes	 was also a candidate for the seat	 and he raised the objection that the appellant was not a Balmiki by caste	 and that he was therefore not qualified to stand for election to the re served Constituency. Acting on the declaration afore 1015 said	 the returning officer overruled the objection	 and accepted the nomination paper of the appellant as valid. At the polling	 the appellant got the majority of votes	 and on 6 3 1952 he was declared duly elected. On 27 8 1952 Jai Ram Sarup filed the application out of which the present appeal arises	 under sections 476 and 195 of the Code of Criminal Procedure before the District Magistrate	 who functioned as the returning officer. He therein alleged that the declaration made by the appellant that he belonged to the Balmiki caste was false	 that	 in fact	 be was born a Muslim and had been converted to Hinduism	 and that therefore "in the interests of justice" and "for safeguarding the interests of the Scheduled Castes"	 proceedings should be taken for his prosecution. In his counter affidavit the appellant stated: "I am not a Muhammadan by birth. On the other hand	 I was born in Balmiki Hindu family. I am a Hindu". The District Magistrate held an enquiry in which one Prith Singh Azad	 President of the Depressed Classes	 Delhi	 gave evidence that the appellant was a Muslim of the name of Khaliq Sadiq	 that in 1938 he applied to the Suddhi Sabha to be converted to Hinduism	 that be was so converted	 and that thereafter he came to be known as Virindar Kumar. In cross examination	 he stated that the appellant bad admitted before him that he was a Muslim by birth. He added that he bad two Muslim wives living at the time of the conversion. The applicant	 Jai Ram Sarup	 also produced ten letters stated to be in the handwriting of the appellant in proof of the above facts. On 17 9 1952 the Magistrate passed an order that there was a prima facie case for taking action	 and on 29 9 1952 he filed a complaint before the First Class Magistrate	 Karnal	 charging the appellant with offences under sections 181	 182 and 193 of the Indian Penal Code. Against this order	 the appellant preferred an appeal to the Court of the Sessions Judge	 Karnal	 who dismissed the same on the ground that the returning officer was not a Court		 that the proceedings before 1016 him did not fall under section 476	 and that there fore no appeal lay under section 476 B. The appellant took the matter in revision before the High Court	 Punjab	 and that was heard by Harnam Singh	 J.	 who held	 differing from the Sessions Judge	 that the returning officer was a Court	 and that his order was therefore appealable. He	 however	 held that on the merits there was no case for interference	 and accordingly dismissed the revision. It is against this order that the present appeal by special leave is directed. On behalf of the appellant Mr. N. C. Chatterjee argues that having held that the order of the returning officer was appealable	 the learned Judge ought to have remanded the case for hearing by the Sessions Judge on the merits	 and that his own disposal of the matter was summary and perfunctory. The contention of Mr. Gopal Singh for the respondent is that the view of the Sessions Judge that the returning officer was not a court and that his order was not	 therefore	 appealable was correct '	 and that further the order of the High Court in revision declining to inter fere on the merits was not liable to be questioned in special appeal in this Court. The first question that arises for our decision is whether the order of the District Magistrate passed on 17 9 1952 as returning officer is open to appeal. The statutory provisions bearing on this point are sections 195	 476 and 476 B of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Section 195(1)(a) provides that no court shall take cognizance of any offence punishable under sections 172 to 188 of the Indian Penal Code except on the complaint in writing of the public officer concerned or of his superior. Section 195(1)(b) enacts that no Court shall take cognizance of the offences mentioned therein	 where such offence is committed in	 or in relation to	 any proceeding in any Court	 except on the complaint in writing of such Court or a Court to which it is subordinate. The offence under section 193 is one of those mentioned in section 195 (1) (b). Section 476 prescribes the procedure to be followed where a Court is moved to lay a complaint	 and that applies 1017 only to offences mentioned in sections 195(1) (b) and 195(1) (c) and not to those mentioned in section 195(1) (a). Section 476 B provides for an appeal from an order passed under section 476 to the appropriate Court. The result then is that if the complaint relates to offences mentioned in sections 195(1) (b) and 195(1) (c)	 an appeal would be competent	 but not if it relates to offences mentioned in section 195(1) (a). Now	 the order of the Magistrate dated 17 9 1952 directs that the appellant should be prosecuted for offences under sections 181	 182 and 193. There is no dispute that the order in so far as it relates to offences under sections 181 and 182 is not appealable	 as they fall directly under section 195(1) (a). The controversy is only as regards the charge under section 193. Section 193 makes it an offence to give false evidence whether it be in a judicial proceeding or not	 and it likewise makes it an offence to fabricate false evidence for use in a judicial proceeding or elsewhere. If the offence is not committed in a judicial proceeding	 then it will fall outside section 195(1)(b)	 which applies only when it is committed in or in relation to a proceeding in Court	 and there is in consequence no bar to a complaint being made in respect thereof unaffected by the restrictions contained in section 195(1) (b). But if the offence under section 193 is committed in or in relation to a proceeding in Court	 then it will fall under section 195 (1) (b)	 and the order directing prosecution under section 476 will be appealable under section 476 B. The point for decision therefore is whether the returning officer in deciding on the validity of a nomination paper under section 36 of the Act can be held to act as a Court. The question thus raised does not appear to be covered by authority	 and has to be decided on the true character of the functions of the returning officer and the nature and the extent of his powers. "There has been much difference of opinion as to the precise) character of the office of a returning officer	 viz.	 as to whether he is a judicial or ministerial officer"	 says Parker on Election Agent and Returning Officer	 Fifth Edition	 page 30. The true 1018 view	 according to him	 is that he partakes of both characters	 and that in determining objections to nomination papers	 he is a judicial officer. That is also the view taken in Indian decisions. But before we can hold that the proceedings before a returning officer resulting in the acceptance or rejection of a nomination paper fall within section 195(1)(b) of the Code of Criminal Procedure	 it must be shown not merely that they are judicial in character but that further he is acting as a Court in respect thereof. It is a familiar feature of modern legislation to set up bodies and tribunals	 and entrust to them work of a judicial character	 but they are not Courts in the accepted sense of that term	 though they may possess	 as observed by Lord Sankey	 L.C. in Shell Company of Australia vs Federal Commissioner of Taxation(1)	 some of the trappings of a Court. The distinction between Courts and tribunals exercising quasi judicial functions is well established	 though whether an authority constituted by a particular enactment falls within one category or the other may	 on the provisions of that enactment	 be open to argument. There has been considerable discussion in the Courts in England and Australia as to what are the essential characteristics of a Court as distinguished from a tribunal exercising quasi judicial functions. Vide Shell Company of Australia vs Federal Commissioner of Taxation(1)	 R. vs London County Council(2)	 Cooper vs Wilson(3)	 Huddart Parker and Co. vs Moorehead(4)	 and Rola Co. vs The Commonwealth(5). In this Court	 the question was considered in some fulness in Bharat Bank Ltd. vs Employees of Bharat Bank Ltd.(6). It is unnecessary to traverse the same ground once again. It may be stated broadly that what distinguishes a Court from a quasi judicial tribunal is that it is charged with a duty to decide disputes in a judicial manner and declare the rights of parties in a definitive judgment. To decide in a judicial manner involves that the parties are entitled as (1) 	296. (3) (5) ; (2) (4) ; (6) ; 1019 a matter of right to be heard in support of their claim and to adduce evidence in proof of it. And it also imports an obligation on the part of the authority to decide the matter on a consideration of the evidence adduced and in accordance with law. When a question therefore arises as to whether an authority created by an Act is a Court as distinguished from a quasi judicial tribunal	 what has to be decided is whether having regard to the provisions of the Act it possesses all the attributes of a Court. We have now to decide whether in view of the principles above stated and the functions and powers entrusted to the returning officer under the Act	 be is a court. The statutory provision bearing on this matter is section 36. Under section 36(2)	 the returning officer has to examine the nomination paper and decide all objections which may be made thereto. This power is undoubtedly judicial in character. But in exercising this power	 he is authorised to come to a decision "after such summary enquiry	 if any	 as he thinks necessary". That means that the parties have no right to insist on producing evidence which they may desire to adduce in support of their case. There is no machinery provided for summoning of witnesses	 or of compelling production of documents in an enquiry under section 36. The returning officer is entitled to act suo motu in the matter. When one compares this procedure with that prescribed for trial of election petitions by the Election Tribunal under sections 90 and 92 of the Act	 the difference between the two becomes marked. While the proceedings before the Election Tribunal approximate in all essential matters to proceedings in civil courts	 the proceedings under section 36 present a different picture. There is no lis	 in which persons with opposing claims are entitled to have their rights adjudicated in a judicial manner	 but an enquiry such as is usually conducted by an ad hoc tribunal entrusted with a quasi judicial power. In other words	 the function of the returning officer acting under section 36 is judicial in character	 but he is not to act judicially in discharging it. We are of opinion that the returning officer deciding on 129 1020 the validity of a nomination paper is not a Court for the purpose of section 195 (1) (b) of the Code of Criminal Procedure	 and the result is that even as regards the charge under section 193	 the order of the Magistrate was not appealable	 as the offence was not committed in or in relation to any proceeding in a Court. In this view	 the learned Sessions Judge was right in dismissing the appeal as incompetent	 and the question argued by Mr. N. C. Chatterjee that the learned Judge of the High Court ought to have remanded the case for hearing by the Sessions Judge on the merits does not arise. It was next argued for the appellant that as the application for initiating prosecution under section 193 was made under section 476 on the assumption that the returning officer was a court	 the order passed thereon must	 in the view that he was not a Court	 be quashed as without jurisdiction. But then	 it should be noted that the application was presented under section 195 also	 and it was necessary to move the returning officer under section 195(1)(a) with reference to the offences under sections 181 and 182	 and there could be no question of quashing the order as without jurisdiction. Even as regards section 193	 the position is this: It has no doubt been held that section 476 must be taken to be exhaustive of all the powers of a Court as such to Jay a complaint	 and that a complaint filed by it otherwise than under that section should not be entertained. But there is abundant authority that section 476 does not preclude the officer presiding over a Court from himself preferring a complaint	 and that the jurisdiction. of the Magistrate before whom the complaint is laid to try it like any other complaint is not taken away by that section. Vide Meher Singh vs Emperor(1) 	 Emperor vs Nanak Chand(2)	 Har Prasad vs Emperor(3) and Channu Lal vs Rex(4). There is thus no legal impediment to a returning officer filing a complaint under sections 181 and 182 as provided in section 195 (1) (a) and charging the accused therein with also an offence (1) A.I.R. 1933 Lah. 884. (3) A.I.R. 1947 All. 139. (2) A.I.R. 1943 Lah. 208. (4) 1021 under section 193. In this connection	 it should be mentioned that the appellant himself took the objection before the Magistrate that qua returning officer he was not a Court and that the proceedings under section 476 were incompetent	 and that that was overruled on the ground that it was an enabling section. There is	 therefore	 no ground for holding that the order dated 17 9 1952 was without jurisdiction. It was finally contended that the Magistrate was under a misapprehension in stating that the appellant had declared that he was born a Balmiki	 whereas	 in fact	 he only declared that he was a Balmiki by caste. But it was the appellant himself who pleaded in his counter affidavit that he was not a Muslim by birth	 and was born in a Balmiki Hindu family	 and the observation of the Magistrate has ob vious reference to what was pleaded and argued by the appellant. And it should also be noted that no objection was taken either in the grounds of appeal to the Sessions Court or in revision to the High Court with reference to the above remark. Moreover	 the charge as laid in the complaint is that the declaration of the appellant in the nomination paper that he "was a member of the Balmiki caste" was false. There is accordingly no substance in this contention. It must be emphasised that in the view that the order of the Magistrate dated 17 9 1952 was final	 this appeal being really directed against that order there must be exceptional grounds before we can interfere with it in special appeal	 and none such has been established. On the other hand	 whether action should be taken under section 195 is a matter primarily for the Court which hears the application	 and its discretion is not to be lightly interfered with in appeal	 even when that is competent. But where	 as here	 the legislature does not provide for an appeal	 it is preposterous on the part of the appellant to invite this Court to interfere in special appeal. This appeal is accordingly dismissed.

Held that a Returning Officer acting under se. 33 and 36 of the Representation of the People Act	 1951 and deciding on the validity or otherwise of a nomination paper is not a court within the meaning of sections 195(1)(b)	 476 and 476 B of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Shell Co. of Australia vs Federal Commissioner of Taxation ([1931] A.C. 275 at 296)	 B. vs London County Council ([1931] 2 K.B. 215)	 Cooper vs Wilson ([1937] 2 K.B. 309)	 Huddart Parker and Co. vs Moorehead ([1908] ; 	 Rola Co. vs The Commonwealth ([1944] ; 	 Bharat Bank Ltd. vs Employees of Bharat Bank Ltd. ([1950] S.C.R. 459)	 Mehar Singh vs Emperor	 (A.I.R. 	 Emperor vs Nanak Chand (A I.R. 	 Har Prasad vs Emperor	 (A.I.R. 1947 All. 139) and Channu Lal vs Rex ([1950] 	 referred to.