Sukandri Devi and Another v. State of U.P. and Another

Court No. - 86 Case :- APPLICATION U/S 482 No. - 42214 of 2023 Applicant :- Sukandri Devi And Another Opposite Party :- State of U.P. and Another Counsel for Applicant :- Jitendra Kumar Counsel for Opposite Party :- G.A. Hon'ble Rajiv Gupta,J.

¶1Heard learned counsel for the applicants, learned A.G.A. for the State and perused the material available on record.

¶2This application under Section 482 Cr.P.C. has been filed by the applicants with the prayer to quash the charge-sheet dated

19.8.2023 and cognizance order dated 5.10.2023 as well as entire proceedings of Case Crime No. 129 of 2023 (State Vs. Sukandri Devi and another), under Section 504 IPC, P.S. Jarcha, District-Gautam Budh Nagar, pending in the court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate-I, Gautam Budh Nagar.

¶3It is contended by learned counsel for the applicants that charged section is non-cognizable section and the learned Magistrate may pass an order taking cognizance, if he so desires, by proceeding under Chapter XV of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Reliance has been placed to explanation 2(d) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which reads as follows:- "Explanation-- A report made by a police officer in a case which discloses, after investigation, the commission of a non-cognizable offence shall be deemed to be a complaint, and the police officer by whom such report is made shall be deemed to be the complainant."

¶4Learned A.G.A. has stated that no useful purpose would be served in issuing notice to the opposite party no.2 as it will only delay the proceedings of the present case.

¶5Therefore, on the basis of aforesaid Explanation which has been interpreted in a Single Judge decision of this Court passed in Application u/s 482 No.45609 of 2018 (Santosh Kumar and 2 others vs. State of U.P. and others), decided on 31.1.2019, where it has been held that when the charge-sheet is only of non-cognizable offence, in view of the aforesaid provision, the charge sheet should be treated as a complaint. The argument is well founded and the order taking cognizance is set aside. Now the Magistrate may pass an order taking cognizance if, he so chooses, by proceeding in this matter as a complaint case under Chapter XV of the Code of Criminal Procedure. He can also keep in mind Proviso (a) to Section 200 Cr.P.C., which reads as follows:- "Provided that, when the complaint is made in writing, the Magistrate need not examine the complainant and the witnesses."

(a) If a public servant acting or purporting to act in discharge of his official duties or a Court has made the complaint;"

¶6With these observations, this application under Section 482 CrPC is partly allowed. Order Date :- 11.12.2023 KU High Court of Judicature at Allahabad