Nand Lal v. State of U.P. Thru. Prin. Secy. Home Lko. and 11 Others

Court No. - 13 Case :- CRIMINAL APPEAL No. - 1428 of 2024 Appellant :- Nand Lal Respondent :- State Of U.P. Thru. Prin. Secy. Home Lko. And 11 Others Counsel for Appellant :- Vikas Verma Counsel for Respondent :- G.A. Hon'ble Saurabh Lavania,J.

¶1Heard learned counsel for the appellant, learned AGA for the State and perused the record.

¶2By means of instant appeal preferred under Section 14-A(1) of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (in short "SC/ST Act"), the appellant has assailed the order dated 29.02.2024 passed by the Special Judge SC/ST Act, Ambedkar Nagar (in short "trial court"), whereby, the trial court rejected the protest petition filed by the appellant against the final report dated 12.10.2010, in Warrant or Summons Criminal Case No. 52 of 2021 arising out of Case Crime No. 446 of 2010, under Sections-147, 352, 434, 447, 427, 506 IPC and Sections-3(1)X SC/ST Act, Police Station-Jaitpur, District-Ambedkar Nagar. The appellant has also prayed that Investigating Officer concerned be directed to re-investigate the Case Crime No. 446 of 2010.

¶3Brief facts of the case are to the effect that on 04.06.2006 in compliance of order passed by the Consolidation Officer, Jalalpur, the possession of plot nos. 501, 493, 493/1, 493/2, 495, 496, situated at Shahpur village Shahpur, was provided to the complainant/appellant after carrying out the measurement by the concerned Kanoongo and Lekhpal and in the presence of Police Inspector concerned and his team and thereafter 11 persons namely Shri Deo Yadav, Indresh, Ram Surat, Ram Chet, Budhai, Tribhuwan, Mahendra, Trishuldhari, Jiyalal, Kiskaul and Harinath, disturbed the possession provided by the revenue officials and also assaulted the complainant/appellant and his family members and made casteist remarks and also used abusive language, however the FIR was not lodged by the concerned police officer. Thereafter, the complainant/appellant preferred an application under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C. (in short 'complaint') before the competent court of jurisdiction (in short 'trial court').

¶4Before the trial court the statement of complainant was recorded, as required under Section 200 Cr.P.C., which is on record as Annexure No. 4. The statement of complainant dated

19.08.2016 reads as under:- "xokg uUnyky iq= Hkxsyw mez 68&69 o"kZ fuoklh xzke 'kkgiqj Fkkuk tSriqj ftyk vEcsMdjuxj us Lo;a mifLFkr gksdj cgyQ c;ku fd;k fd& iSekÃ'k gqà FkhA iSekb'k esa [kwaVk xM+k FkkA esjs xkao ds Jhnso] bUæs'k] jkelwjr] gfjukFk] f='kwyèkkjh ft;kyky fdudkSy] f=Hkqou] egsUæ] jkepsr] cqfèkjke ;s yksx [kwaVk m[kkM+dj Qsd fn;sA esM+ fxjk fn;sA ?kVuk dk lEcUèk esa eSus ijxukfèkdkjh dks çkå i= fn;sA ijxukfèkdkjh vkns'kkuqlkj eSa Fkkukè;{k tSriqj dks çkå iå fn;sA ogka ls dksà lquokà ugÈ gqÃA blds ckn iqfyl vèkh{kd vEcsMdjuxj dks çkå i= fn;kA dksà dk;Zokgh ugÈ gqÃA iqu% rhljh ckj ,låihå lkgc ds ;gka çkå i= fn;kA muds vkns'k ij ,QvkÃvkjå ntZ gqÃA ijUrq fMIVh ,låihå egksn; us ml i{k ls çHkkfor gksdj ,Qåvkjå yxk fn;sA mlds ckn Hkh oks yksx gesa tkfr lwpd 'kCnksa ls xkyh nsrs gSaA c;ku lqudj rLnhd fd;kA esjs }kjk Lo;a c;ku fy[kk x;kA"

¶5A perusal of the statement of complainant indicates that complainant has not supported the allegations levelled in the complaint including the allegations attracting the provisions of SC/ST Act of 1989.

¶6Before the trial court the statements of witnesses/namely Ranjeet and Jagjeet both sons of complainant/appellant as required under Section 202 Cr.P.C., were also recorded, wherein they also not supported the allegations as levelled in the complaint.

¶7It would be appropriate to take note of the fact that 11 persons assaulted the complainant/appellant and his family members but no one sustained injury.

¶8The trial court after considering the facts on records as also the statement recorded before it in terms of Sections 200 Cr.P.C. and 202 Cr.P.C., observed that it appears that to a civil dispute the complainant/appellant wants to cloak of criminal offence and also that there are discrepancies between the statements made by the complainant as also the witnesses of the complainant and no independent witness was produced before the trial court, and thereafter rejected the complaint in exercise of power vested under Section 203 Cr.P.C.

¶9In the aforesaid background of the case, the present application has been filed.

¶10It is stated by learned Counsel for the appellant that trial court has wrongly rejected the application preferred by the complainant. It is for the reason that before the trial court the case was established by the witnesses produced by the complainant/appellant. However, he could not dispute that complainant/appellant himself not supported the entire facts as indicated in the complaint i.e. application preferred under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C., in his statement made before the trial court in terms of Section 200 Cr.P.C.

¶11Learned A.G.A., opposing the present appeal submitted that in the facts of the case particularly the observation made by the trial court in the order impugned dated 29.02.2024 no interference is required and the appeal is liable to be dismissed at admission stage.

¶12Considered the submissions of learned Counsel for the parties and perused the records.

¶13From the aforesaid, it appears that trial court rejected the application of complainant/appellant preferred under Section 156(3) Cr.P.C. on two grounds. First ground relates to changing the nature of dispute which as per trial court was essentially civil dispute and Second ground relates to discrepancies, in the statements as appears from the impugned order dated

29.02.2024, which reads as under:- "1-i=koyh vkns'k gsrq fu;r gSA cgl rych ds Lrj ij izkFkhZ ds fo}ku vf/koDrk dks lquk tk pqdk gSA 2-i=koyh ds voyksdu ls fofnr gksrk gS fd izLrqr izdj.k esa izkFkhZ }kjk iqfyl v/kh{kd dks fn;s x;s izkFkZuk i= ds vk/kkj ij Fkkuk tykyiqj esa eqti vti lati 446@2010 /kkjk&147] 352] 434] 447] 427] 506 Hkktinatilati o /kkjk&3¼1½X ,llh@,lVh ,DV iathd`r fd;k x;kA mDr izdj.k esa foospd }kjk foospuksijkar vfUre vk[;k iszf"kr fd;k x;kA vfUre vk[;k ds fo:} oknh eqdnek }kjk izksVsLV izkFkZuki= izLrqr fd;k x;k ftl ij lquokbZ ds mijkar U;k;ky; }kjk vfUre fjiksVZ dks fujLr dj izdj.k dks ifjokn ds :i esa ntZ djus dk vkns'k ikfjr fd;kA izkFkhZ }kjk vius dFkuksa ds leFkZu esa Lo;a dks /kkjk&200 n-iz-la-o /kkjk&202 n-iz-la-ds rgr lk{kh ih0MCyw01 ds :i esa txthr o ih0MCywti&2 ds :i esa jathr dks ijhf{kr djk;k x;k gSA 3-i=koyh dk lE;d voyksdu fd;kA izLrqr izdj.k esa izkFkhZ uanyky ds dFkukuqlkj pdcanh vf/kdkjh tykyiqj ds vkns'k fnukad 04-06-2006 ds vuqikyu esa dkuwuxks] ys[kiky ,oa rglhy tykyiqj ds ys[kiky] Fkkuk/;{k dh iwjh Vhe ,oa efgyk iqfyl dh mifLFkfr esa Hkwfe la[;k&501] 493] 493@1]493@2]495]496 dh iSekb'k djds fu'kknsgh o dCtk fnukad 22-07-2010 dks fnyk;k x;k FkkA mijksDr deZpkfj;ksa ds pys tkus ds i'pkr foi{khx.k ftudh 11 dh la[;k izkFkhZ }kjk crk;k x;k gS ds }kjk uktk;t etek dk;e djds Hkwfe dh iSekb'k esa yxs gq, [kwaVs dks m[kkM+ fn;k x;k] esM+ fxjk fn;k] tku ls ekjus dh /kedh nh x;h] ljdkjh dk;Z esa ck/kk mRiUu fd;k vkSj izkFkhZ o mlds ifjokj ij geykoj gks x;sA mijksDr ds laca/k esa izkFkhZ uanyky }kjk vius c;ku varxZr /kkjk&200 n-iz-la esa ;g vfHkdFku fd;k x;k fd leLr foi{khx.k us feydj [kwaVk m[kkM+ dj Qsad fn, rFkk esM+ fxjk fn;sA ?kVuk ds laca/k esa izkFkhZ us ijxukf/kdkjh o Fkkuk/;{k dks izkFkZuk i= fn;k Fkk ijUrq dksbZ dk;Zokgh ugha gqbZA blds i'pkr iqfyl v/kh{kd dks izkFkZuk i= fn;k x;k rc Hkh dksbZ dk;Zokgh ugha gqbZ vkSj iqu% tc rhljh ckj mlus iqfyl v/kh{kd dks izkFkZuk i= fn;k rc muds vkns'k ij izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ ntZ gqbZ ijUrq foi{khx.k ds izHkko esa vfUre fjiksVZ yxk nh x;hA izkFkhZ }kjk /kkjk&202 n-iz-la-ds varxZr vius iq=x.k txthr o jathr dks ijhf{kr djk;k x;k gS ftuds dFkukuqlkj xkVk la[;k& 501] 493] 493@ 1]493@ 2]495]496 dh fu'kknsgh djds dCtk izkFkhZx.k dks fnukad 22-07-2010 dks djk fn;k x;k Fkk ijUrq deZpkfj;ksa@vf/kdkfj;ksa ds pys tkus ds i'pkr leLr foi{khx.k us feydj Hkwfe esa yxs gq, [kwaVs dks m[kkM+ fn;k] isM+ fxjk fn;k] tkfrlwpd 'kCnksa dk iz;ksx dj xkfy;ka fn;k] tku ls ekjus dh /kedh nh vkSj ekjus ds fy, geykoj gks x;sA bl izdkj izkFkhZ ds dFku o leLr c;kuksa ds vuqlkj foi{khx.k tks 11 dh la[;k esa Fks os izkFkhZ o mlds ifjokj ij geykoj gks x;s vkSj mUgsa ekjus ds fy, VwV iM+sA i=koyh ij izkFkhZ o izkFkhZ ds ifjokj ds fdlh lnL; dh dksbZ fpfdRlh; vk[;k layXu ugha gSA ;fn izkFkhZ ds dFkukuqlkj 11 dh la[;k esa yksx geykoj gks x;s Fks rks ,slh fLFkfr esa lk/kkj.k vFkok xEHkhj pksV vkuk LokHkkfod gS ijUrq i=koyh ij izkFkhZ i{k dh vksj ls dksbZ Hkh fpfdRlh; izi= izLrqr u djuk izkFkhZ ds dFku ij lansg mRiUu djrk gSA izLrqr izdj.k esa izkFkhZ dk dFku gS fd foi{khx.k }kjk ljdkjh dk;Z esa ck/kk mRiUu dh x;h vkSj iSekb'k esa yxs gq, [kwaVk dks m[kkM+ fn;k x;k vkSj esM+ dks u"V djfn;k x;kA ;fn izkFkhZ ds dFkukuqlkj iSekb'k dk dk;Z iw.kZ gksus ds i'pkr foi{khx.k }kjk iSekb'k esa yxs gq, [kwaVk vkfn u"V fd;k x;k vkSj ljdkjh dk;Z esa ck/kk mRiUu dh x;h rks ,slh fLFkfr esa ;g Hkh mYYks[kuh; gS fd mijksDr ljdkjh dEkZpkfj;ksa esa ls fdlh ds Hkh }kjk dksbZ izkFkZuk i= o f'kdk;r fdlh l{ke vf/kdkjh ds le{k izLrqr ugha fd;k x;kA xokgksa ds c;ku esa ;g rF; vk;k gS fd foi{khx.k }kjk dbZ yksxksa ds [ksrks esa cus gq, esM+ dks fxjk fn;k x;k rFkk [kwaVk vkfn u"V dj fn;k x;k ijUrq izLrqr eqdnek esa ek= izkFkhZ o mlds iq=x.k gh ijhf{kr gq, gSA ftl xkao dk ekeyk izkFkhZ crk jgk gS vkSj ftu yksxksa ds [ksrksa esa cus gq, esM+ vkfn dks u"V fd, tkus dk vfHkdFku fd;k x;k gS ml xkao ds fdlh Hkh O;fDr dks izLrqr eqdnek esa ijhf{kr ugha djk;k x;k gSA ;fn xkao esa ekStwn vU; yksx Hkh bl ?kVuk ls izHkkfor gks jgs Fks vkSj foi{khx.k }kjk mu yksxksa ds [ksrksa esa Hkh esM+ vkfn u"V fd;k x;k Fkk rks fuf'pr gh izkFkhZ dks mu yksxksa dks U;k;ky; ds le{k ijhf{kr djkuk pkfg, Fkk ijUrq izLrqr izdj.k esa izkFkhZ }kjk ,slk ugha fd;k x;k gSA izkFkhZ }kjk ek= Lo;a dks rFkk vius iq=x.k dks ijhf{kr djk;k rFkk fdlh Hkh Lora= lk{kh dks ijhf{kr u djkuk Hkh izkFkhZ ds dFku ij lansg mRiUu djrk gSA izLrqr izdj.k esa izkFkhZ }kjk vius izkFkZuk i= esa foIk{khx.k }kjk [kwaVk vkfn u"V djus] tku ls ekjus dh /kedh nsus] foi{khx.k }kjk geykoj gksus] tkfrlwpd 'kCnksa dk iz;ksx dj xkfy;ka nsus o ljdkjh dk;Z esa ck/kk mRiUu djus dk dFku fd;k x;k gS ijUrq vius c;ku varxZr /kkjk&200 n-iz-la-esa ek= foi{khx.k }kjk [kwaVk o esM+ dks u"V djus dk c;ku fn;k x;k gSA vU; rF; ds laca/k esa izkFkhZ }kjk ,slk dksbZ Hkh c;ku U;k;ky; ds le{k ugha fn;k x;k gSA tcfd izkFkhZ ds iq=x.k }kjk foi{khx.k }kjk tkgfrlwpd 'kCnksa dk iz;ksx djus] xkyh nsus vkfn dk o.kZUk fd;k x;k gSA ,slh fLFkfr esa lk{khx.k ds c;ku esa ijLij fojks/kkHkk"k ifjyf{kr gksrk gSA ;gka ;g Hkh mYYks[kuh; gS fd izkFkhZ }kjk foi{khx.k ds fo:) izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ /kkjk&147] 352] 434] 447] 427] 506 Hkk-na-la o /kkjk&3¼1½X ,llh @ ,lVh ,DV ds varxZRk iathd`r djk;k x;k FkkA foospuksijkar foospd }kjk xokgku dk c;ku] fujh{k.k ?kVuk LFky] o lebZ lk{kh ds c;ku ls vijk/k dk gksuk ugh ik;k x;k vkSj vfUre fjiksVZ iszf"kr dh x;hA foospd }kjk oknh uanyky dk c;ku] mlds Hkrhts iUukyky] iq=x.k taxthr o jathr rFkk lebZ lk{kh ds :i esa jkenkSj o pUnzHkku fu"kkn dk c;ku ntZ fd;k x;kA lHkh xokgksa ds c;ku ds vuqlkj fnukad 03-10-2010 ,oa 05-10-2010 dks pdcanh foHkkx ds vf/kdkjhx.k ,oa miftykf/kdkjh ,oa mudh Vhe }kjk Hkwfe dh iSekb'k djk;h x;h ,oa fnukad 05-10-2010 dks lHkh i{kdkjksa dks dCtk fnyk fn;k x;kA lHkh i{kdkjksa dh tehu ij esM+canh djds vius&vius fgLls ij dkfct gks pqds gS vkSj fdlh izdkj dk dksbZ fookn ugha gSA mijksDr vk/kkj ij foospd }kjk Hkh vijk/k dk ?kfVRk gksuk ugha ik;k x;k vkSj bl vk/kkj ij vfUre fjiksVZ iszf"kr dh x;hA cgl ds nkSjku izkFkhZ dh vksj ls lwph 15c ls lR; izfrfyfi vkns'k milapkyd pdcanh vf/kdkjh dkxt la[;k 16c@1 rk 16c@2 nkf[ky fd;k x;k gS ftlds voyksdu ls Li"V gksrk gS fd izkFkhZ }kjk pdcanh U;k;ky; esa y[kiURkh vkfn ds fo:) okn ;ksftr fd;k gS tks vHkh fopkjk/khu gS ftlesa vfxze frfFk 05-03-2024 cgl gsrq fu;r gSA izkFkhZ ds dFkukuqlkj xkVk la[;k & 501]493] 493@ 1]493@ 2]495]496 ds laca/k esa pdcanh vf/kdkjh ds vkns'k ls fu'kknsgh o dCtk mls iznku fd;k x;k Fkk ijUrq xkVk la[;k&494 dh iSekb'k ds laca/k esa mls dksbZ tkudkjh ugh gSA izi=ksa ds voyksdu ls Li"V gksrk gS fd ;g ekeyk iw.kZr% nhokuh izd`fr dk gSA izk;% ;g ns[kk tkrk gS fd flfoy izd`fr ds oknksa dks dsoy vkijkf/kd oknksa dk jax nsus ds fy, izkFkZuk i= izLrqr fd;k tkrk gSA ekuuh; mPpre U;k;ky; }kjk M/S Indian Oil Corporation vs M/S Nepc India Ltd.,& Ors, 2006 (6) SCC 736 esa ;g fl)kar izfrikfnr fd;k x;k gS fd "There is also an impression that if a person could somehow be entangled in a criminal prosecution, there is a likelihood of imminent settlement. Any effort to settle civil disputes and claims, which do not involve any criminal offence, by applying pressure though criminal prosecution should be depricated and discouraged. In G. Sagar Suri vs. State of UP [2000(2) SCC 636], this Court observed: "It is to be seen if a matter, which is essentially of civil nature, has been given a cloak of criminal offence. Criminal proceedings are not a short cut of other remedies available in law. Before issuing process a criminal court has to exercise a great deal of caution. For, the accused it is a serious matter. This Court has laid certain principles on the basis of which High Court is to exercise its jurisdiction under Section 482 of the Code. Jurisdiction under this Section has to be exercised to prevent abuse of the process of any court or otherwise to secure the ends of justice." ekuuh; mPpre U;k;ky; }kjk Sri Gulam Mustafa vs The State of Karnataka 2003 SCC Online SC 603 esa ;g fl)kar izfrikfnr fd;k x;k gS ** 36. What is evincible from the extant case-law is that this Court has been consistent in interfering in such matters where purely civil disputes, more often than not, relating to land and/or money are given the colour of criminality, only for the purposes of, exerting extra-judicial pressure on the party concerned, which we reiterate, is nothing but abuse of the process of the court." blizdkj izLrqr izdj.k esa ;g Li"V gS fd nhokuh izd`fr ds okn dks ek= vkijkf/kd jax nsus gsrq rFkk vfrfjDRk U;kf;d ncko Mkyus ds mn~ns'; ls izkFkZuk i= izLrqr fd;k x;k gS tks vnkyr dh izfdz;k ds nq:i;ksx ds vfrfjDr vkSj dqN ugha gSA mijksDr leLr fo'ys"k.k ls ;g Li"V gksrk gS fd izkFkhZ vius dFkkud dks lkfcr djus esa izFken`"V;k vlQy jgk gSA izkFkhZ }kjk vius izkFkZuki= esa fd, x, dFku dk iw.kZ:i ls leFkZu ugha fd;k x;k gSA izkFkhZ ds c;ku varxZRk /kkjk&200 n-iz-la-rFkk xokgksa ds c;ku varxZr /kkjk&202 n-iz-la-esa egRoiw.kZ rF;ksa esa fojks/kkHkkl Li"V gSA izLrqr izdj.k esa fdlh Hkh Lora= xokg dks ijhf{kr ugha djk;k x;k gS rFkk nhokuh izd`fr ds okn ds laca/k esa izkFkhZ }kjk izLrqr izkFkZuk i= ek= QkStnkjh jax nsus gsrq izLrqr fd;k tkuk izrhr gksrk gSA vRk% ekeys ds leLr rF; ifjfLFkfr;ksa dks ns[krs gq, foi{khx.k dks ryc fd;s tkus dk izFken`"V;k i;kZIr lk{; i=koyh ij miyC/k ugha gSA vr% ifjokn fujLr fd;s tkus ;ksX; gSA vkns'k mijksDrkuqlkj ifjoknh dk ifjokn varxZr /kkjk&203 n-iz-la-fujLr fd;k tkrk gSA i=koyh fu;ekuqlkj nkf[ky nQ~rj gksA"

¶14Upon due consideration of aforesaid, it is apparent that essentially the dispute between the parties is of a civil nature and as such this court is of the view that observations/findings of the trial court which is to the effect that to a civil dispute complainant/ appellant wants to cloak of criminal offence, are just and proper. Further, observations/findings regarding discrepancies between the statements has also not been disputed by learned Counsel for the appellant obviously it could not be as it is evident from the statements on record and moreover the complainant/appellant himself has not deposed before the trial court in support of his case set up in the complaint.

¶15As such the findings/observations of the trial court are just and proper and for the reasons aforesaid as also for the reason that the complainant/ appellant by means of instituting criminal proceedings wants to use the state machinery for resolving a dispute of civil nature, which is nothing but an abuse of process of law, this Court is not inclined to entertain the present appeal. It is accordingly dismissed. Cost made easy. Order Date :- 26.04.2024 Jyoti/- High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, Lucknow Bench