Dinesh Chand Bansal v. State of Haryana and Another

o o CRM-M-72601-2025o o o o o o 1o o o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoATo CHANDIGARHo o o o o o ooooooCRM-M-72601-2025o DineshoChandoBansalooooo o o o o o ....Petitionero V/so StateoofoHaryanaoandoanotherooo o o ....Respondentso o DateoofoReserve:o21.01.2026o Dateoofodecision:o30.01.2026o DateoofoUploadingo:30.01.2026o CORAM:oo HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSUMEEToGOELo Present:oo Dr.oAnmoloRattanoSidhu,oSenioroAdvocateowithoo o o Mr.oPrathamoSethi,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioner.oo o o Ms.oMahimaoYashpaloSingla,oSenioroDAGoHaryana.oo o o Mr.oRohitoKaushik,oAdvocateoo o o fororespondentoNo.2/complainant.oo *****o SUMEEToGOEL,oJ.o

1.o o Theopetitionoinohandohasobeenopreferredobyotheopetitioneroundero Sectiono528oreadowithoSectiono447oofoBNSS,o2023olayingochallengeotootheo ordero datedo 08.08.2025o (hereinaftero referredo too aso impugnedo order)o video whichoanoapplicationopreferredobyotheopetitionero(herein)ounderoSectiono448o ofoBNSS,o2023o(erstwhileoSectiono408oofoCr.P.C.),o(hereinafteroreferredotooaso applicationoinoquestion)oforotransferoofohisocaseofromotheoCourtoofocurrento learnedoPresidingoJudicialoOfficer,ohasobeenodismissed.oo

2.o o Theorelevantofactualobackdropoofotheolisoinohandoisoadumbratedo thus:o o o

(i)o o Ao criminalo complainto undero Sectiono 500o IPCo waso filedo byo respondentoNo.2o(herein)obeforeoJudicialoMagistrate,oPanchkula,oHaryana.oo Theo essenceo ofo theo complaint,o aso seto outo ino theo petition,o iso thato theo complainanto (respondento No.2o herein)o iso ao well-knowno ando respectedo 2026.01.30g15:12 businessmanoinotheopharmaceuticaloandohealthcareosectoroandohasoalsooservedo o o CRM-M-72601-2025o o o o o o 2o o aso Districto Governoro ofo Rotaryo International,o Districto 3080o foro theo yearo 2017–18.o Theo complainanto waso unanimouslyo nominatedo foro theo posto ofo DistrictoGovernoroforotheoyearo2017–18oandowasodulyoappointedobyoRotaryo Internationaloafterotheonominationoprocessowasofoundotoobeovalid.oItohasobeeno allegedothatotheoaccusedo(petitioneroherein),owhoowasoaorivalocandidate,o&o waso dissatisfiedo witho hiso defeat,o startedo initiatingo repeatedo objections,o complaintso ando litigationo too challengeo theo selectiono ofo theo complainant.o DespiteomultipleoreviewsobyotheoRotaryoInternational,otheoaccusedo(petitionero herein)ocontinuedofilingocivilosuitsoandoappealsobeforeotheoCourts.oItohasobeeno furtheroallegedothatotheoactionsoofotheoaccusedo(petitioneroherein)owereofoundo too beo withouto merito ando severalo caseso wereo dismissedo witho adverseo observationsoagainstohim.oAsotheoaccusedo(petitioneroherein)ohadoapproachedo theoCourtsowithoutoexhaustingotheoRotaryoInternational'sointernaloremedies,o hisoRotaryoClubomembershipowasoeventuallyoterminatedoinoaccordanceowitho Rotaryo policy.o Subsequently,o theo accusedo (petitionero herein)o goto ano FIRo registeredothroughoanotheropersonoallegingotamperingoofoballots,oinowhichotheo complainantowasosummoned.oThereafter,otheocomplainantocompliedowithotheo directionsoofotheoCourtoandowasoextendedotheoconcessionoofobailoonotheosameo dayoasoperotheoordersoofotheoHon'bleoUttarakhandoHighoCourt.oFurthermore,o withotheointentionotooharmotheoreputationoofotheocomplainant,otheoaccusedo personso conspiredo togethero ando circulatedo ao misleadingo ando falseo lettero amongoRotaryomembersoandoWhatsAppogroups.oItohasobeenoallegedothereino thatotheocomplainantowasotakenointoocustodyoinoorderotoocreateoaofalseoando damagingo impression.o Ono theo accounto ofo theo same,o theo complainanto goto distressedo aso alsoo demandso foro clarificationo ando pressureo fromo Rotaryo officials.oItohasobeenofurtheroallegedoinotheocomplaintothatotheoaccusedohadonoo o o CRM-M-72601-2025o o o o o o 3o o authorityo oro locuso too circulateo sucho communicationo especiallyo wheno hiso Rotaryomembershipohadoalreadyobeenoterminated.oAsoperotheocomplainant,o theo deliberateo circulationo ofo falseo ando defamatoryo materialo hado causedo irreparableodamageotoohisoreputation,odignityoandostandingoinosocietyoasowello withinotheoRotaryoInternationalowhichonecessitatedohimotoofileotheoinstanto complaintoseekingoprosecutionoofotheoaccusedounderoSectiono500oIPCoando compensationoforotheolossosufferedodueotootheiromaliciousoandodefamatoryo acts.o

(ii)o o Theoapplicationoinoquestionowasofiledobyotheopetitionero(herein),o seekingotransferoofotrialoarisingooutoofotheoabove-saidocriminalocomplaint,o relevantowhereoforeadsothus:o o "5.o Thatotheoapplicantsoareomoreothano88oyearsooldoandosufferingofromo severaloailmentsoi.e.oknee,oliver,okidneyoandoheartoproblemsoandolivingo aroundo 250o KMo awayo fromo Panchkulao ato Dehraduno (UTTRAKHAND)o andoitotakeso5otoo6ohoursocontinuousotravellingofororeachingoPanchkula.oo Butotheopresidingoofficeroinoconnivanceowithotheocomplainantoandojustotoo harasso oro humiliateo fixingo theo matterso twiceo ino ao week.o o Thato theo LDo magistrateo haso dulyo beeno approachedo byo theo oppositeo partyo i.e.o complainant.oo o 6.o Thatotheocomplainantoisopubliclyoclaimingothatoheohasopaidoanohigho amountotootheoLdoJMICothroughohisocounselosh.oxxxxx,oAdvocateoandothato theoverdictoofotheoaboveosaidocomplaintowillocomeoinohisofavour.o o 7.o Thatotheopetitioners/applicantsocameotooknowothroughohisoknowno RotarianopastoDistrictoGovernoroxxxxxothatotheocomplainantohimselfotoldo himothatoheohadoapproachedotootheopresidingoofficerothroughohisoAdvocateo andotheopresidingoofficeroassuredotooconvictsotheobothoaccusedopersonsoi.e.o applicants.ooItoisoclearogroundowhichoshowsothatotheopresidingoofficeroiso biasedo ando cannoto expecto freeo ando fairo trialo fromo theo sameo presidingo officer.o o Theo petitionero nowo haveo clearo doubto ono theo authenticityo ando reliabilityoofotheopresidingoofficer.oo o 8.o Thatoduringotheocourseo ofotheotrialotheolearnedoMagistrateohado triedo severalo timeso too harasso ando madeo too stando ando kepto waitingotheo applicantsoforothreeotoofourohoursoinofrontoofotheocourt.ooItoisoalsoopertinento toomentionohereothatotheocomplainantoandohisocounselousuallyocomesoato 2026.01.30g15:12 courtoaftero12oPM.ooTheocounseloforotheoapplicantsobroughtothisoissueoino o o CRM-M-72601-2025o o o o o o 4o o theonoticeoofotheopresidingoofficerobutotheopresidingoofficeroneitheropaido anyoheedonorogaveoanyodirectionsotootheocounseloasowelloasocomplainantotoo comeoonoorobeforeotimeowhichogivesogroundsotoobelieveothatotheoCourtoiso prejudicedoagainstotheoPetitioners/applicants."o

(iii).o o Videotheoimpugnedoorder,otheolearnedoSessionsoJudgeodismissedo theotransferoapplication,orelevantowhereoforeadsothus:o o "Thisocaseopertainsotootheoyearo2019oandooneoamongotheocasesoundero actionoplano2024-2025.ooItoappearsofromotheocircumstances,othatoitoisotheo applicants/accusedowhooareotryingotoodelayotheoproceedingsoonotheooneooro theootheropretext.ooInocase,oanyoorderofavourableotootheoapplicants/accusedo hasonotobeenopassedobyotheoCourtoconcerned,otheyoareoatolibertyotooseeko theiro remedyo aso pero lawo ando theyo haveo alreadyo takeno theo appropriateo remedy.ooSimplyobyoexpressingoapprehensionothatojusticeowillonotobeodoneo tootheoapplicants/accused,oisonotoaosufficientogroundotootransferotheocase."oo

(iv)o o Itoisoinothisofactualobackdropothatotheopetitionoinohandohasocomeo upoforohearingobeforeothisoCourt.o Rivalosubmissionso

3.o o Learnedoseniorocounseloforotheopetitionerohasoiteratedothatotheo impugnedo ordero passedo byo theo Sessionso Court,o wherebyo applicationo ino questiono haso beeno dismissed,o iso illegal,o arbitraryo ando mechanicalo aso alsoo suffersofromocompleteonon-applicationoofomind.ooLearnedoseniorocounselohaso iteratedothatotheoSessionsoCourtohasofailedotooconsiderotheoage,ohealthoando peculiarocircumstancesoofotheopetitioneroandohasonotodealtowithotheospecifico groundsoraisedoseekingotransfer.oLearnedoseniorocounselohasoemphasizedothato theopetitioneroisoanooctogenarianoagedo89oyears,osufferingofromoage-relatedo ailmentso ando iso beingo compelledo too undergoo prolongedo ando oppressiveo criminaloproceedingsopendingosinceotheoyearo2019,owhich,obyoitself,oamountso too violationo ofo hiso fundamentalo righto too lifeo ando personalo libertyo undero Articleo21oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndia.ooLearnedoseniorocounselohasofurthero 2026.01.30g15:12 submittedothatotheopetitionerohasoaobonaofideoandoreasonableoapprehensiono o o CRM-M-72601-2025o o o o o o 5o o thatoheomayonotoreceiveofairojustice,owhichoisonotoimaginaryobutoisobasedo upono theo mannero ino whicho theo trialo haso progressed.o o Furthermore,o theo complaintoinoquestionopertainsotootheoyearo2019oandohasoremainedopendingo foro overo sixo yearso whicho causeso immenseo mental,o physicalo ando financialo harassmentotootheopetitioner.ooLearnedoseniorocounselohasocontendedothatotheo Courtobelowohasofailedotooexerciseotheojurisdictionovestedoinoitoinoaojudiciouso ando fairo mannero byo dismissingo theo transfero application.o o Theo refusalo too transferotheocaseohasoresultedoinomanifestoinjusticeotootheopetitioner.oOnotheo strengthoofotheseosubmissions,olearnedoseniorocounselohasoprayedoforosettingo asideoofotheoimpugnedoorderoandotootransferotheocomplaintocaseofromotheo CourtoofoJudicialoMagistrateoFirstoClass,oPanchkulaotooanyootherocompetento Court.ooo

4.o o Upono beingo calledo upon,o theo respondentso haveo causedo appearanceothroughocounsel.oo

4.1.o o Learnedo counselo appearingo foro theo Stateo ofo Haryanao haso submittedothatotheopetitionoinohandoarisesooutoofoaoprivateocriminalocomplainto and,othus,oStateohasonooeffectiveoroleoinoadjudicationothereof.oo

4.2.o o Ao writteno replyo haso beeno preferredo ono behalfo ofo respondento No.2.o o Whileo raisingo submissiono ino tandemo witho theo saido reply,o learnedo counselohasovehementlyoarguedothatotheopetitionoinohandoisomisconceivedoando anoabuseoofoprocessoofolawowhichohasobeenofiledoonlyowithoanointentionotoo delayotheotrialoofotheocomplaintocase,owhichohasoalreadyosufferedosubstantialo delay,o ono accounto ofo repeatedo applications/proceedingso initiatedo byo theo petitioner.ooLearnedocounselohasocontendedothatotheoimpugnedoorderoisoao well-reasonedooneoandohasobeenopassedoafterotakingointooconsiderationoallo relevantofactsoandocircumstances.ooAccordingotoolearnedocounsel,otheopowero o o CRM-M-72601-2025o o o o o o 6o o ofo transfero beingo discretionaryo ino nature,o theo Sessionso Courto haso rightlyo declinedotoointerfereoasonooexceptionaloorocompellingocircumstancesowereo madeo out.o o Learnedo counselo haso iteratedo thato mereo baldo allegationso oro apprehensiono ofo biaso cannoto beo groundo foro transfer.o o Furthermore,o theo petitionerohasofailedotooplaceoanyocogentomaterialoonorecordotoodemonstrateo anyocompellingoreasonothatowouldonecessitateotransferoofotheocomplaintotoo anotheroCourt.ooAccordingly,odismissaloofotheopetitionoinohandoisoentreatedo for.oo

5.o o Io haveo heardo learnedo counselo foro theo rivalo partieso ando haveo perusedotheorecord.oo PrimeoIssueo

6.o o Theoprimeoissueoforoconsiderationoinotheopetitionoinohandoisoasotoo whetherotheo trialoinoquestiono deservesotoo beotransferredo fromo theo currento learnedoPresidingoJudicialoOfficerotooanotheroCourtoofocompetentojurisdictiono inoSessionsoDivision,oPanchkula.oo o o Theoseminalolegaloissue,othatoarisesoforocogitationois,oasotoowhato areotheoparametersoforoconsiderationobyoaoSessionsoJudgeoforotransferoofoao criminalo trial/appealo undero Sectiono 408o ofo Cr.P.C/Sectiono 448o ofo BNSS,o 2023.oo

7.o o RelevantoStatutoryoprovisionso o o Theo Codeo ofo Criminalo Procedure,o 1973(hereinaftero too beo referredoaso'theoCr.P.C.)o o o Sectiono408oofoCr.P.C.,o1973oreadsoasunder:-o o "408.o Powero ofo Sessionso Judeo too transfero caseso ando appeals.o ––o

(1)WheneveroitoisomadeotooappearotooaoSessionsoJudgeothatoanoorderoundero thisoSub-Sectionoisoexpedientoforotheoendsoofojustice,oheomayoorderothatoanyo particularo caseo beo transferredo fromo oneo Criminalo Courto too anothero CriminaloCourtoinohisosessionsodivision.ooAJAYgKUMAR o o CRM-M-72601-2025o o o o o o 7o o o (2)o Theo Sessionso Judgeo mayo acto eithero ono theo reporto ofo theo lowero Court,ooroonotheoapplicationoofoaopartyointerestedooroonohisoownoinitiative.o o (3)o Theo provisionso ofo Sub-Sectionso (3),o (4),o (5),o (6),o (7),o ando 9o ofo sectiono407oshalloapplyoinorelationotooanoapplicationotootheoSessionsoJudgeo foro ano ordero undero Sub-Sectiono (1)o aso theyo applyo ino relationo too ano applicationotootheoHighoCourtoforoanoorderounderoSection-Sectiono(1)oofo sectiono407,oexceptothatoSub-Sectiono(7)oofothatosectionoshallosooapplyoasoifo forotheowordso"oneothousand"orupeesooccurringotherein,otheowordso"twoo hundredoandofiftyorupees"owereosubstituted."o o o TheoBharatiyaNagarikoSurakshaoSanhita,o2023o o o Sectiono448oofotheoBNSS,2023oreadsoasounder:o o "448.oPoweroofoSessionsoJudgeotootransferocasesoandoappeals.o––o(1)o WheneveroitoisomadeotooappearotooaoSessionsoJudgeothatoanoorderoundero thisosub-sectionoisoexpedientoforotheoendsoofojustice,oheomayoorderothatoanyo particularo caseo beo transferredo fromo oneo Criminalo Courto too anothero CriminaloCourtoinohisosessionsodivision.oo o (2)o Theo Sessionso Judgeo mayo acto eithero ono theo reporto ofo theo lowero Court,ooroonotheoapplicationoofoaopartyointerestedooroonohisoownoinitiative.o o (3)o Theo provisionso ofo Sub-Sectionso (3),o (4),o (5),o (6),o (7),o ando 9o ofo sectiono447oshalloapplyoinorelationotooanoapplicationotootheoSessionsoJudgeo foro ano ordero undero Sub-Sectiono (1)o aso theyo applyo ino relationo too ano applicationotootheoHighoCourtoforoanoorderounderoSection-Sectiono(1)oofo sectiono447,oexceptothatoSub-Sectiono(7)oofothatosectionoshallosooapplyoasoifo forotheowordso"sum"ooccurringotherein,otheowordso"notoexceedingoteno thousandorupees"owereosubstituted."o RelevantoCaseoLawo

8.oo o Theo precedents,o aproposo too theo matter(s)o ino issue,o areo aso follows:o

(i)o o Ino ao judgmento titledo aso Mrs.o Manekao Sanjayo Gandhio ando anotherovs.oMissoRanioJethmalani,o1979(4)oSCCo167,oaothreeoJudgeoBencho ofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtohasoheldoasounder:-o o "3.o Oneo ofo theo commono circumstanceso allegedo ino applicationso foro transferoisotheoavoidanceoofosubstantialoprejudiceotooaopartyoorowitnesseso ono accounto ofo logisticso oro likeo factors,o especiallyo wheno ano alternativeo venueo willo noto seriouslyo handicapo theo complainto ando willo mitigateo theoAJAYgKUMAR o o CRM-M-72601-2025o o o o o o 8o o seriouso difficultieso ofo theo accused.o Ino theo presento caseo theo petitionero claimsothatobothotheopartiesoresideoinoDelhioandosomeoformalowitnesseso belongotooDelhi;obutotheomeatoofotheomatter,oinoaocaseoofodefamation,oiso somethingodifferent.oTheomainowitnessesoareothoseowhoospeakotoohavingo reado theo offendingo mattero ando othero relevanto circumstanceso flowingo therefrom.oTheyobelongotooBombayoinothisocaseoandotheosuggestionoofotheo petitioner'socounselothatoDelhioreadersomayobeosubstituteowitnessoandotheo complainanto mayo contento herselfo witho examiningo sucho personso iso tooo presumptuousoforoseriousoconsideration.o o 4.o Nowotootheonextoground.oTheosophisticatedoprocessesoofoaocriminalo trialocertainlyorequireocompetentolegaloserviceotoopresentoaoparty'socase.oIfo anoaccusedoperson,oforoanyoparticularoreason,oisovirtuallyodeprivedoofothiso facility,oanoessentialoaidotoofairotrialofails.oIfoinoaocertainocourtotheowholeo Bar,ofororeasonsoofohostilityoorootherwise,orefusesotoodefendoanoaccusedo personanoextraordinaryosituationodifficultotooimagine,ohavingoregardotoo theoethicsoofotheoprofession-itomayowellobeoputoforwardoasoaogroundowhicho meritsothisoCourt'soattention.oPopularofrenzyooroofficialowrathoshallonoto deteroaomemberoofotheoBarofromoofferingohisoservicesotoothoseowhoowearo unpopularonamesoorounpalatableocausesoandotheoIndianoadvocateomayonoto failothisostandard.oCounselohasonarratedosomeoequivocaloepisodesowhicho seemotoosuggestothatotheoservicesoofoanoefficientoadvocateomayonotobeoeasyo tooprocureotoodefendoMrs.oManekaoGandhi.oSuchogliboallegationsowhicho involveoaoreflectionoonotheomembersoofotheoBaroinoBombayomayonotobeo easilyoacceptedowithoutoincontestibleotestimonyoinothatobehalf,oapartofromo theoipseodixitoofotheoparty.oThatoisoabsentohere.oItoisodifficultotoobelieveothato aopersonoof`otheopositionoofotheopetitionerowhooisotheodaughter-in-lawoofo theoformeroPrime.oMinister,owifeoofoaoconsequentialopersonoand,oinohero ownoright,oanoeditoroofoaopopularomagazine,oisounableotooengageoaolawyero toodefendoher,owhile,oasoaofact,osheoisoapparentlyorepresentedoinomanyo legaloproceedingsoquiteocompetently.o o 5.o Aomoreoseriousogroundowhichodisturbsousoinomoreowaysothanooneoiso theo allegedo absenceo ofo congenialo atmosphereo foro ao fairo ando impartialo trial.oItoisobecomingoaofrequentophenomenonoinoourocountryothatocourto proceedingsoareobeingodisturbedobyorudeohoodlumsoandounrulyocrowds,o jostling,o jeeringo oro cheeringo ando disruptingo theo judicialo hearingo witho menaces,onoisesoandoworse.oThisotendencyoofotoughsoandostreetoroughsotoo violateotheoserenityoofocourtoisoobstructiveoofotheocourseoofojusticeoandomusto surelyobeostampedoout.oLikewise,otheosafetyoofotheopersonoofoanoaccusedooro complainanto iso ano essentialo conditiono foro participationo ino ao trialo ando whereothatoisoputoinoperilobyocommotion,otumultoorothreatoonoaccountoofo 2026.01.30g15:12 pathologicaloconditionsoprevalentoinoaoparticularovenue,otheorequestoforoao o o CRM-M-72601-2025o o o o o o 9o o transferomayonotobeodismissedosummarily.oItocausesodisquietoandoconcerno too ao courto ofo justiceo ifo ao persono seekingo justiceo iso unableo too appear,o presentoone'socase,obringoone'sowitnessesooroadduceoevidence.oIndeed,oitoiso theodutyoofotheocourtotooassureopropitiousoconditionsowhichoconduceotoo comparativeo tranquillityo ato theo trial.o 'Turbulento conditionso puttingo theo accused'so lifeo ino dangero oro creatingo chaoso insideo theo courto hallo mayo jettisonopublicojustice.oIfothisoviceoisopeculiarotooaoparticularoplaceoandoiso persistentotheotransferoofotheocaseofromothatoplaceomayobecomeonecessary.o Likewise,oifothereoisogeneraloconsternationooroatmosphereoofotensionooro ragingomassesoofopeopleoinotheoentireoregionotakingosidesoandopollutingotheo climate,ovitiatingotheonecessaryoneutralityotooholdoaodetachedojudicialotrial,o theosituationomayobeosaidotoohaveodeterioratedotoosuchoanoextentoasotoo warrantotransfer."oo

(ii)o o InoaojudgmentotitledoasoAbduloNazaroMadaniovs.oStateoofoTamilo Naduoandoanother,o2000oAIRoSupremeoCourt,o2293,otheoHon'bleoSupremeo Courtohasoheldoasounder:-o o "7.oTheopurposeoofotheocriminalotrialoisotoodispenseofairoandoimpartialo justiceouninfluencedobyoextraneousoconsiderations.oWhenoitoisoshownothato publicoconfidenceoinotheofairnessoofoaotrialowouldobeoseriouslyoundermined,o anyopartyocanoseekotheotransferoofoaocaseowithinotheoStateounderoSectiono 407oandoanywhereoinotheocountryounderoSectiono406oofotheoCr.oP.C.oTheo apprehensiono ofo noto gettingo ao fairo ando impartialo inquiryo oro trialo iso requiredotoobeoreasonableoandonotoimaginaryobasedouponoconjecturesoando surmises.o Ifo ito appearso thato theo dispensationo ofo criminalo justiceo iso noto possibleo impartiallyo ando objectivelyo ando withouto anyo bias,o beforeo anyo Courtooroevenoatoanyoplace,otheoappropriateoCourtomayotransferotheocaseo tooanotheroCourtowhereoitofeelsothatoholdingoofofairoandoproperotrialoiso conducive.o Noo universalo oro hardo ando fasto ruleso cano beo prescribedo foro decidingoaotransferopetitionowhichohasoalwaysotoobeodecidedoonotheobasiso ofo theo factso ofo eacho case.o Convenienceo ofo theo partieso includingo theo witnessesotoobeoproducedoatotheotrialoisoalsooaorelevantoconsiderationoforo decidingotheotransferopetition.oTheoconvenienceoofotheopartiesodoesonoto necessarilyo meano theo convenienceo ofo theo petitionerso aloneo whoo approachedo theo courto ono misconceivedo notionso ofo apprehension.o Convenienceoforotheopurposesoofotransferomeansotheoconvenienceoofotheo prosecution,ootheroaccused,otheowitnessesoandotheolargerointerestoofotheo society."o o o CRM-M-72601-2025o o o o o o 10o o

(iii)o o Ao threeo Judgeo Bencho ofo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino ao judgmentotitledoasoCapt.oAmarinderoSinghovs.oPrakashoSinghoBadalo&Ors.o 2009(6)oSCCo260ohasoheldoasounder:o o"13)oAssuranceoofoaofairotrialoisotheofirstoimperativeoofotheodispensationoofo justice.oTheopurposeoofotheocriminalotrialoisotoodispenseofairoandoimpartialo justiceouninfluencedobyoextraneousoconsiderations.oWhenoitoisoshownothato theo publico confidenceo ino theo fairnesso ofo ao trialo wouldo beo seriouslyo undermined,otheoaggrievedopartyocanoseekotheotransferoofoaocaseowithinotheo Stateo undero Sectiono 407o ando anywhereo ino theo countryo underoSectiono 406oCr.P.C.oHowever,otheoapprehensionoofonotogettingoaofairoandoimpartialo inquiryoorotrialoisorequiredotoobeoreasonableoandonotoimaginary.oFreeoando fairotrialoisosineoquaononoofoArticleo21oofotheoConstitution.oIfotheocriminalo trialo iso noto freeo ando fairo ando ifo ito iso biased,o judicialo fairnesso ando theo criminalojusticeosystemowouldobeoatostake,oshakingotheoconfidenceoofotheo publicoinotheosystem.oTheoapprehensionomustoappearotootheoCourtotoobeoao reasonableoone."o

(iv)o o Ao threeo Judgeo Bencho ofo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino ao judgmentotitledoasoNaharoSinghoYadavoandoanotherovs.oUnionoofoIndiaoando others,o2011o(1)oRCRo(Criminal)o120,ohasoheldoasounder:o o "24.o Thus,oalthoughonoorigidoandoinflexibleoruleoorotestocouldobeolaido downotoodecideowhetherooronotopowerounderoSectiono406oofotheoCr.P.C.o shouldobeoexercised,oitoisomanifestofromoaobareoreadingoofosub-sectionso(2)o ando(3)oofotheosaidoSectionoandoonoanoanalysisoofotheodecisionsoofothiso Courtothatoanoorderoofotransferoofotrialoisonototoobeopassedoasoaomatteroofo routineo oro(2000)o 7o SCCo 129omerelyo becauseo ano interestedo partyo haso expressedosomeoapprehensionoaboutotheoproperoconductoofoaotrial.oThiso powerohasotoobeoexercisedocautiouslyoandoinoexceptionalosituations,owhereo itobecomesonecessaryotoodoosootooprovideocredibilityotootheotrial.oSomeoofo theo broado factorso whicho couldo beo kepto ino mindo whileo consideringo ano applicationoforotransferoofotheotrialoare:-o o (i)o wheno ito appearso thato theo Stateo machineryo oro prosecutiono iso actingohandoinogloveowithotheoaccused,oandothereoisolikelihoodoofo miscarriageo ofo justiceo dueo too theo lackadaisicalo attitudeo ofo theo prosecution;o o (ii)owhenothereoisomaterialotooshowothatotheoaccusedomayoinfluenceo theo prosecutiono witnesseso oro causeo physicalo harmo too theo 2026.01.30g15:12 complainant;o o o CRM-M-72601-2025o o o o o o 11o o o (iii)ocomparativeoinconvenienceoandohardshipsolikelyotoobeocausedo tootheoaccused,otheocomplainant/theoprosecutionoandotheowitnesses,o besidesotheoburdenotoobeoborneobyotheoStateoExchequeroinomakingo paymentoofotravellingoandootheroexpensesoofotheoofficialoandonon-officialowitnesses;o o (iv)oaocommunallyosurchargedoatmosphere,oindicatingosomeoproofo ofo inabilityo ofo holdingo fairo ando impartialo trialo becauseo ofo theo accusationsomadeoandotheonatureoofotheocrimeocommittedobyotheo accused;oando o (v)oexistenceoofosomeomaterialofromowhichoitocanobeoinferredothato theosomeopersonsoareosoohostileothatotheyoareointerferingoorareo likelyotoointerfereoeitherodirectlyooroindirectlyowithotheocourseoofo justice."o

(v)o o Ao threeo Judgeo Bencho ofo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino ao judgmento titledo aso Laluo Prasado @o Laluo Prasado Yadavo Vs.o Stateo ofo Jharkhand;o2013o(8)oSCCo593o,ohasoheldoasounder:o o "13.o xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.o Independenceo ofo judiciaryo iso theo basico featureoofotheoConstitution.oItodemandsothatoaoJudgeowhoopresidesooverotheo trial,otheoPublicoProsecutorowhoopresentsotheocaseoonobehalfoofotheoStateo andotheolawyerovis-a-visoamicusocuriaeowhoorepresentsotheoaccusedomusto workotogetheroinoharmonyoinotheopublicointerestoofojusticeouninfluencedobyo theopersonalityoofotheoaccusedoorothoseomanagingotheoaffairsoofotheoState.o Theyomustoensureothatotheiroworkingodoesonotoleadotoocreationoofoconflicto betweeno justiceo ando jurisprudence.o Ao persono whethero heo iso ao judicialo officerooroaoPublicoProsecutorooroaolawyerodefendingotheoaccusedoshouldo alwayso upholdo theo dignityo ofo theiro higho officeo witho ao fullo senseo ofo responsibilityoandoseeothatoitsovalueoinonoocircumstanceogetsodevalued.oTheo publico interesto demandso thato theo trialo shouldo beo conductedo ino ao fairo manneroandotheoadministrationoofojusticeowouldobeofairoandoindependent."o o

(vi)o o Ao twoo Judgeo Bencho ofo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino ao judgmento titledo aso Usmanganio Adambhaio Vahorao Vs.o Stateo ofo Gujarat,o 2016o(3)oSCCo370oohasoheldoasounder:o o "11.o xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.o Theo aforesaido passage,o aso weo perceive,o clearlyolaysoemphasisoonosustenanceoofomajestyoofolawobyoalloconcerned.o Seekingotransferoatotheodropoofoaohatoisoinconceivable.oAnoorderoofotransfero AJAYgKUMAR isonototoobeopassedoasoaomatterooforoutineooromerelyobecauseoanointerestedo o o CRM-M-72601-2025o o o o o o 12o o partyohasoexpressedosomeoapprehensionoaboutoproperoconductoofotheotrial.o Theopowerohasotoobeoexercisedocautiouslyoandoinoexceptionalosituations,o whereoitobecomesonecessaryotoodoosootooprovideocredibilityotootheotrial.o Thereohasotoobeoaorealoapprehensionothatothereowouldobeomiscarriageoofo justice.oxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"o o

(vii)o o Ao threeo Judgeo Bencho ofo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino ao judgmentotitledoasoSujathaoRavioKirano@oSujatasahuovs.oStateoofoKeralao &Ors.,o2016(3)oRCRo(Criminal)o465,ohasoheldoasounder:o o "6.o xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.o Theo Supremeo Courto willo transfero ao caseo fromooneoStateotooanotheroStateoonlyoifothereoisoaoreasonableoapprehensiono onotheopartoofoaopartyotooaocaseothatojusticeowillonotobeodone.oTheopetitionero hasopleadedothato"theoatmosphereoinoKeralaoisonotoconduciveoforotheocaseo tooprogressoandoreachoitsojudiciousoend".oTheopetitionerohasoonlyoallegedo thatotheoaccusedoareonavaloofficersoandoareoinfluential.oMereoapprehensiono thatotheoaccusedoareoinfluentialomayonotobeosufficientotootransferotheocase.o xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"o

(viii)o o Ino ao judgmento titledo aso Umesho Kumaro Sharmao vs.o Stateo ofo Uttarakhando&Ors.,o2021(12)oSCCo517,otheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtohaso heldoasounder:-o "20.oo Theoaboveolegaloenunciationsomakeoitoamplyoclearothatotransfero powero underosectiono 406oofo theo Codeo iso too beo invokedo sparingly.o Onlyo whenofairojusticeoisoinoperil,oaopleaoforotransferomightobeoconsidered.oTheo courtohoweverowillohaveotoobeofullyosatisfiedothatoimpartialotrialoisonoto possible.o Equallyo importanto iso too verifyo thato theo apprehensiono ofo noto gettingoaoleveloplayingofield,oisobasedoonosomeocredibleomaterialoandonoto justoconjecturesoandosurmises.o

21.oo Whileoassuranceoofoaofairotrialoneedsotoobeorespected,otheopleaoforo transfero ofo caseo shouldonoto beo entertainedo onomereo apprehensiono ofo ao hyperosensitiveoperson.oInohisopleadingsoandoarguments,otheopetitioneroino myoassessmentohasofailedotoodemonstrateothatobecauseoofowhatoheoenduredo ino2018,oitoisonotopossibleoforotheocourtsoinotheostateotoodispenseojusticeo objectivelyo ando withouto anyo bias.o Ito can'to alsoo beo overlookedo thato theo petitioneroisoinvolvedoinoseveralocasesoandothisoyearoitselfohasogeneratedo fewoonohisoownoinotheostateoofoUttarakhand.oTherefore,oitoisodifficultotoo acceptothatojusticeoforotheopetitionerocanoonlyobeoensuredobyotransferoofo Igattestgtogthegaccuracygand threeocasesomentionedoinotheseopetitions.o o o CRM-M-72601-2025o o o o o o 13o o

22.oo Whileoconsideringoaopleaoforotransfer,otheoconvenienceoofopartieso wouldobeoaorelevantoconsideration.oItocan'tojustobeotheoconvenienceoofotheo petitionero buto alsoo ofo theo Complainant,o theo Witnesses,o theo Prosecutiono besidesotheolargeroissueoofotrialobeingoconductedounderotheojurisdictionalo Court.o Wheno relativeo convenienceo ando difficultieso ofo allo theo partieso involvedo ino theo processo areo takeno intoo account,o ito iso clearo thato theo petitionerohasofailedotoomakeooutoaocredibleocaseoforotransferoofotrialotoo alternativeovenuesooutsideotheoState."o Analysiso(reolaw)o

9.o o Sectiono 408o ofo Cr.P.C.,o 1973o encapsulateso theo statutoryo provisionoregardingotheopoweroofotheoSessionsoCourtotootransferocasesoando appealsofromooneoCourtotooanotherowithinoitsojurisdiction.oAtothisojuncture,oito wouldobeogermaneotooreiterateothatotheoequivalentoprovisionocontainedoino Sectiono448oofoBNSS,o2023ois,oinoessence,oonosimilarolinesoinsofaroasotheo parametersoforotransferringoofocriminalocases/appealsoareoconcerned.oo

10.o o Anoelementaryoreadingoofotheoaboveoprovision(s)oreflectsothato theo legislatureo haso anchoredotheo Sessionso Court'so poweroofotransfero ofoao criminalo caseo upono theo singular,o broado spectrumo criteriono ofo beingo 'expedientoforotheoendsoofojustice'.oThisostatutoryophrase,obyoitsoveryonature,o iso ao termo thato eludeso ao rigido oro exhaustiveo definitiono ando oughto too beo interpretedoinolightoofotheospecificofactualomatrixoandopeculiarocircumstanceso ofo eacho individualo case.o Theo powero ofo transfero iso noto ano administrativeo routineobutoaodiscretionaryojudicialofunctionothatoremainsodormantounlessotheo factsoofotheocaseodemonstrablyowarrantosuchoanointervention.oTheopoweroofo transferofunctionsoasoaoresidualosafetyovalve,oinsulatingotheotrialoprocessofromo prejudice,obiasooroproceduralofairness.oByoprovidingotheoSessionsoCourtowitho necessaryo 'teeth'o too removeo ao caseo fromo ano environmento thato mayo compromiseo theo integrityo ofo judicialo process,o ito ensureso thato courto o o CRM-M-72601-2025o o o o o o 14o o proceedingsoareobeingoconductedowithoclinicalodetachmento&oimpartiality,oao fundamentalopillaroforoupholdingotheoconstitutionalomandateoofofairotrial.oo

10.1.o o Itoisoaofoundationalopostulateoofocriminalojurisprudenceothatoao fairotrialoconstitutesotheocardinalobedrockouponowhichotheoedificeoofojudicialo systemoisoconstructed.oThisorightoisonotomerelyostatutoryobutoisoanointrinsico elementoofotheorightotoolifeoandopersonalolibertyoasoenshrinedounderoarticleo21o ofotheoConstitutionoofoIndia.oNooproceduralocostoisodeemedotoooexorbitanto wheno theo objectiveo iso too shieldo theo invaluableo righto fromo erosion.o Theo quintessenceoofoaofairotrialoresidesoinotwoonon-negotiableoopillars:ofirstly,otheo mandateoofoaudioalteramopartem;oandosecondly,oanoadjudicatoryoprocessothato iso entirelyo insulatedo fromo eveno theo perceptiono ofo bias,o prejudiceo oro predisposition.oTheocredibilityoofojusticeoadministrationosystemoandojudicialo institutionsoisopremisedonotomerelyoonotheoeffectiveoenforcementoofotheoblacko letterolaw,obutoalsooonotheofactothatojudicialoprocessoisoinherentlyofairoandoiso devoido noto onlyo ofo anyo prejudice(s)/biaso buto alsoo ofo anyo perceptiono ofo prejudice(s)/bias.oThisophilosophyoisocapturedoinotheoimmortaloobservationoofo LordoChiefoJusticeoHewartoinotheolandmarkocaseoofoRov.oSussexoJusticesoexo parteoMcCarthy,o[1924]o1oKBo256o:o o o 'Justiceomustonotoonlyobeodone,obutomanifestlyoandoundoubtedlyobeoseenotoo o o beodone'o o o Theotrustoandofidelityoofocommonopopulaceoinotheofunctioningoofo judicialoinstitutionsoisotheonon-negotiableolifebloodoofotheojusticeodeliveryo system,osineo quao nonoforo whicho is,o thato theo adjudication/outcomeo iso perceptiblyo freeo fromo eveno ao shadowo ofo prejudice/bias.o Theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino theo threeo Judgeo Bencho judgmento ino caseo ofo Ranio JethMalanio(supra),oAbduloNazarMadanio(supra)oasoalsootheothreeoJudgeo Bencho judgmento ino caseo ofo Parkasho Singho Badalo (supra)o haso clearlyo o o CRM-M-72601-2025o o o o o o 15o o enunciatedothatoifotheocriminaloproceedingsoareonotofreeoasoalsoofairo&oifotheyo areobiasedothenotheojudicialofairnessoandotheocriminalojusticeosystemowouldobeo ato stakeo whicho wouldo shakeo theo confidenceo ofo publico ino theo justiceo dispensationosystem.oTherefore,otheonecessityotooaccordocredibilityotootheo criminalo proceedingso iso ano acuteo imperative.o o Thougho theo above-saido judgmentso pertaino too exerciseo ofo powero ofo Higho Courto undero transfero jurisdictionobutotheobasicoprinciplesoenunciatedothereinoindubitablyoapplyotoo transferojurisdictionovestedoinotheoSessionsoCourt.oPertinently,owhileodealingo witho theo powerso ofo transfero byo theo Sessionso Courto undero Sectiono 408o Cr.P.C.,otheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoLaluoPrasado(supra)ohasolaidogreato emphasisoonotheoobligationocastedouponotheojudicialoofficersoasowelloasotheo publicoprosecutorsoandotheolawyersotooupholdotheointegrityoofotheojudicialo institution.o

11.o o Whileotheorightotooanoimpartialotrialoisosacrosanct,oitoisoequallyo imperativeo too recognizeo ao disconcertingo emergingo trend,o whereo theo machineryoofotransferoisofrequentlyoweaponizedotooundermineotheojudicialo independence.o Litigantso ofteno misinterpreto ano adverseo oro unfavourableo judicialoorderoasoanoindicationoofoinherentobias,oleadingotooaoproliferationoofo unfoundedotransferoapplicationsothatothreatenotheoveryostabilityoofotheolegalo process.oItomustobeounderscoredothatoaoPresidingoOfficer/trialoJudgeohasotoo performohisodutyoandonototoosuccumbotootheopressureoputobyotheolitigant(s)obyo makingo callouso allegations.o Heo iso noto expectedo too showo unnecessaryo sensitivityotoosuchoallegationsoandorecuseohimselfofromotheocase.oJudicialo Officersooftenofunctionoandodischargeotheirodutiesoinoenvironmentowhichoiso overloadedowithovariousostakeholders,oliterallyoandofiguratively,obreathingo downotheironecks.ooTheyomay,oatotimes,oerr,oowingotootremendousostrain,o o o CRM-M-72601-2025o o o o o o 16o o whichocanobeoremediedoinomultipleoways.ooHowever,otoocastoaspersionsoonooro besmirchotheirojudicialoworkodueotooaodevelopment/order,ounacceptableooro unpalatableotooaolitigant,othereforeopleadingoforotransferoofotrialoetc.obyosucho litigantoisoplainlyosubterfuge.oIfothisocouldobeotheofoundationoinotransferoofoao case,o ito willo wello neigho yieldo anarchyo ino theo adjudicatoryo process.o Theo unscrupulouso litigantso willo indulgeo themselveso ino Court/forumo huntingo whichotendencyoneedsotoobeocurbedowithoanoironohand.oIfosucholatitudeoisotoo beoallowedotoolitigants,othatotheyoneedonotofaceotheotrialoinoaoCourtotheyodoo noto feelo comfortableo in,o ito wouldo leado too ano infiniteo regresso too findo ao conduciveoone.ooAnoageooldoadage,owhichometoapprovalofromotheoHon'bleo SupremeoCourt,oreadsothus:o o "…Itohasoalsootoobeorememberedothatotheolowerojudicialoofficersomostlyo worko undero ao chargedo atmosphereo ando areo constantlyo undero ao psychologicalopressureowithoallotheocontestantsoandotheirolawyersoalmosto breathingodownotheironecks-moreocorrectlyoupotootheironostrils.ooTheyodoo notohaveotheobenefitoofoaodetachedoatmosphereoofotheohigherocourtsotoothinko coollyo ando decideo patiently.o o Everyo error,o howevero grosso ito mayo look,o shouldonot,otherefore,obeoattributedotooimproperomotive."o o o Vexatiouso ando virulento attempt(s)o byo unscrupulouso elements,o aimedoatomisusingotheoprocessoofolawoandoCourts,ooughtotoobeodetested.oTheo sanctityoofotheojudicialoprocessowillobeoseriouslyoerodedoifosuchoattempt(s)oiso notorespondedowithofirmness.oAolitigantowhoomisusesotheoprocessoofolawooro takeo libertieso witho theo trutho shouldo beo lefto ino noo doubto abouto theo consequencesotoofollow.oOthersoshouldobeodiscouragedonototooventureoalongo theosameopathoinotheohopeooroonoaomisplacedoexpectationoofojudicialoleniencyo oro indulgence.o Exemplaryo costs,o ino sucho ao situationo areo inevitableo ando necessary,osooasotooensureothatoinolitigation,oasoinotheolawowhichoisorathero practicedoinoouroCountry,othereoisonoopremiumoonotheotruth.oSuchoplea(s)o o o CRM-M-72601-2025o o o o o o 17o o aproposotransferoofotrialoetc.,owhichoareodeficientoinoanyoreasonability,ohaveo toobeoconstruedoasotriflingowithotheoCourtsoandotheoprocessoofojustice.oo

12.o o ThisoCourtomustohastenotooaddoaowordoofocautionoherein.oTheo apprehensiono expressedo byo ao partyo too theo lis,o witnesseso etc.o musto beo reasonableoandonotoimaginary,obasedoonoconjecturesoandosurmises.oAopersono makingoaopleaoforotransferoisonotorequiredotoodemonstrateothatojusticeowillo inevitablyofailoifotrial/proceedingsoetc.oareonototransferred.oSuchoapplicantohaso too onlyo showo theo circumstanceso fromo whicho ito cano beo inferredo thato theo apprehensionoisoaoreasonableoone,oinotheofacts/circumstancesoofoaogivenocase.o However,omereoapprehensionooroimaginaryoanxietyoinotheomindsoofoaolitiganto doesonotoaffordoanooccasionoforotransferoofotheoproceedingsoandorather,otheo avermentso oughto too beo substantiatedo byo someo cogento material.o Thiso evidentiaryo thresholdo iso furthero underscoredo byo theo legislativeo mandateo undero Sectiono 408(3)o reado witho Sectiono 407(3)o ofo theo Cr.P.C.,o whicho requireso theo filingo ofo ao supportingo affidavit,o aso ao conditiono precedent.o Furthermore,o theo legislativeo intento too preserveo judicialo continuityo iso reinforcedobyocostoimpositionomechanismoasoprovidedounderoSectiono408(3)o readowithoSectiono407(7).oThus,otheolegislativeointentoisothatotheopoweroofo transferoisoneveroreducedotooaotooloforo'forumoshopping'obutoisoreservedoforo casesowhereotheoimpartialityoofotheotrialoisogenuinelyoimperiled.oAnoorderoofo transferooughtonotobeopassedoasoaomatterooforoutineooromerelyobecauseoano interestedopartyohasoexpressedosomeoapprehensionoaboutoproperoconductoofo trialoevenoonoaccountoofoaccusedobeingoinfluentialoperson(s)oasohasobeenoheldo byo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino caseo ofo Sujathao Ravio Kirano @o Sujatasahu(supra).o Thiso powero haso too beo exercisedo whereo ito becomeso necessaryoandoimperativeotooinstillocredibilityotootheotrialoproceedings.oTheo o o CRM-M-72601-2025o o o o o o 18o o Hon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheocaseoofoUmeshoKumaroSharmao(supra)ohaso heldothatotheopleaoforotransferoofoaocaseoshouldonotobeoentertainedoonomereo apprehensionoofoaohyperosensitiveopersonobutodiscernibleomaterialoinothiso regardo oughto too beo produced.o Theo Sessionso Court,o whileo exercisingo itso transfero jurisdiction,o musto acto witho cautiono ando onlyo ino exceptionalo circumstancesoasohasobeenocategoricallyoobservedobyotheotwoojudgeoBenchoofo theoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoUsmanganioAdambhaioVahorao(supra).o

12.1.o o Itogoesowithoutosayingothatoitoisoneitheropragmaticonorofeasibleo toolayoanyouniversaloexhaustiveoyardstickooroinexorableosetoofoguidelinesoforo adjudicationoofopleaoseekingotransferoofotrial/appealoetc.ooroasoeveryocaseohaso itsoownouniqueofactualoconspectus,owhichohasotoobeotakenointooaccountobyotheo Courtowhichoisoseisinoofotheomateroinoquestion.ooItowasosaidobyoLordoDenning,o anoobservationowhichometowithoapprovalobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourt,o that:o o "….Eachocaseodependsoonoitsoownofacts,oandoaocloseosimilarityobetweeno oneocaseoandoanotheroisonotoenough,obecauseoevenoaosingleosignificanto detailomayoalterotheoentireoaspect.ooInodecidingosuchocase,ooneoshouldo avoidotheotemptationotoodecideocaseo(AsosaidobyoCardozo)obyomatchingotheo colouroofooneocaseoagainstotheocolouroofoanother.ooToodecide,otherefore,oono whichosideoofotheolineoaocaseofalls,oitsobroadoresemblanceotooanotherocaseo isonotoallodecisive."o o o o o

13.o o Thereoisoyetoanotheroaspectonayovitaloaspectoofotheolisoinohando whichocravesoattentionoofothisoCourt.oThisocourtoisoacutelyocognizantoofoano increasinglyopervasiveoandodeleteriousotrendowhereinolitigants,oinoaobidotoo manipulateotheojudicialoprocess,ocastounfoundedoandoscurrilousoaspersionso upono learnedo counselo representingo theo rivalo side.o Sucho allegations,o frequentlyosuggestingoanountowardoinfluenceooverotheoCourtowithoutoaoshredo ofocogentoorocorroborativeomaterial,orepresentoanoassaultoonotheointegrityoofo AJAYgKUMAR judiciary.oItomustobeoemphasizedothatotheoIndianoJudicialoSystem,ooperatingo o o CRM-M-72601-2025o o o o o o 19o o primarilyoonoanoadversarialoframework,oinherentlyoreliesoonotheoadvocatesoofo rivalopartiesotoofacilitateotheoeffectiveoconductingoofojudicialoproceedings.o Thisosystemoentrusts;otheoresponsibilityoofopresentingofacts,oevidenceoando legalo arguments;o upono theo advocates,o whoo acto aso intermediarieso betweeno theiroclientsoandotheoCourt.ooTheoroleoofotheojudiciaryoisonotoconfinedotoo determiningo whicho partyo haso presentedo itso caseo moreo effectivelyo oro persuasively;orather,oitoisocommittedotootheohigheroobjectiveoofodispensingo justiceoinoaccordanceowitholaw,oequityoandotheoprinciplesoofofairness.ooThiso justice-orientedo approacho necessitateso thato theo Courto receiveso adequateo assistanceofromorivalosides,oenablingoitotooreachodecisionothatoalignsowithotheo endsoofojustice.ooAdvocatesoplayoaopivotaloroleoinothisoprocess,oactingoaso essentialoinstrumentsoinotheoadministrationoofojustice.ooAojudge,ooftenolikenedo tootheocharioteeroofojustice,orequiresotheosupportoofowell-informedoandolegallyo skilledoadvocatesowhoofunctionoasotheowheelsoofotheochariot,oensuringoitso smootho ando effectiveo movement.o o Withouto sucho assistance,o theo judicialo processorisksobeingoimpaired,oleavingotheoCourtoill-equippedotooaddressotheo complexitiesoofodisputesobroughtobeforeoit.oTheoadversarialojudicialosystemoino ourocountryoisofundamentallyodependentoonotheocompetence,ointegrityoando ethicaloconductoofoadvocates.oByoconferringotheonearlyoexclusiveorightotoo representopartiesoinoCourtouponoqualifiedoprofessionals,otheoAdvocatesoAct,o 1961oensuresothatotheojudiciaryoisosupportedobyoindividualsowhoopossessotheo requisiteo legalo knowledgeo ando professionalo commitment.o o Advocates,o aso officersoofotheoCourt,obridgeotheogapobetweenotheopartiesoandotheojudiciary,o providingotheoCourtowithotheoassistanceoitoneedsotoofulfilloitsoconstitutionalo mandateoofodeliveringojustice.oThisopartnershipobetweenotheobenchoandotheo baroformsotheobackboneoofotheojudicialoprocess,ofosteringoaosystemowhereo o o CRM-M-72601-2025o o o o o o 20o o justiceo prevails,o noto througho theo rhetoricalo prowesso ofo oneo partyo overo another,obutothroughoaofairoandoinformedoadjudicationoofodisputes.ooTheoroleo ofoadvocatesoinothisosystem,otherefore,otranscendsomereorepresentation;oitoiso integralotootheopreservationoofotheoruleoofolawoandotheorealizationoofojustice.o TheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheocaseoofoaojudgmentotitledoasoDr.oD.C.o Saxenaovs.oHon'bleotheoChiefoJusticeoofoIndia,o1996(5)oSCCo216,owhileo elucidatingotheosalutaryonayoindispensableoroleoofoAdvocatesoinoourojusticeo dispensationosystem;ohasoheldothus:o o "35.o Advocacyo toucheso ando assertso theo primaryo valueo ofo freedomo ofo expression.oItoisoaopracticalomanifestationoofotheoprincipleoofofreedomoofo speechowhichoholdsosoodearoinoaodemocracyoofoabilityotooexpressofreely.oo Freedomoofoexpressionoproducesotheobenefitoofotheotruthotooemerge.ooItoaidso theorevelationoofotheomistakesoorobiasooroatotimesoevenocorruption.ooIto assistsostabilityobyotemperedoarticulationoofogrievancesoandobyopromotingo peacefulo resolutiono ofo conflicts.o Freedomo ofo expressiono ino argumentso encourageso theo developmento ofo judicialo dignity,o forensico skillso ofo advocacyoandoenablesoprotectionoofofraternity,oequalityoandojustice.ooIto playsoitsopartoinohelpingotoosecureotheoprotectionoofootherofundamentalo humanorights.ooLegaloprocedureoilluminatesohowofreeospeechoofoexpressiono constitutesooneoofotheomostoessentialofoundationsoofodemocraticosociety.oo Freedomoofoexpression,otherefore,oisooneoofotheobasicoconditionsoforotheo progressoofoadvocyoandoforotheodevelopmentoofoeveryomanoincludingolegalo fraternityo practicingo theo professino ofo law.o o Freedomo ofo expression,o therefore,oisovitalotootheomaintenanceoofofreeosociety.ooItoisoessentialotootheo ruleo ofo lawo ando libertyo ofo theo citizens.o o Theo advocateo oro theo partyo appearingoinoperson,otherefore,oisogivenolibertyoofoexpression.ooAsostatedo hereinbeforeotheyoequallyooweocountervailingodutyotoomaintainodignity,o decorumoandoorderoinotheocourtoproceedingsoorojudicialoprocess.ooTheo libertyoofofreeoexpressionoisonototoobeoconfoundedooroconfusedowitholicenceo too makeo unfoundedo allegationso againsto anyo institution,o mucho lesso theo judiciary."o o o Anyo unsubstantiatedo attacko ono theo professionalo conducto ofo ao counsel,oparticularlyoinvolvingotheoCourt/judicialoofficer(s),ois,oinoessence,oano attacko ono theo majestyo ofo lawo itself.o Theo tendencyo too vilifyo counselo o o CRM-M-72601-2025o o o o o o 21o o representingotheoopposingoside,oasoaotacticalomanoeuvreotoosecureooaotransfer,o mustobeometowithoironohands.oTheoCourt(s)omustodetestoandodiscourageosucho practicesowithoutmostosincerityotooensureothatotheojudicialoprocessoisonotoheldo hostageotootheowhimsoofodisgruntledolitigants.o

14.o o Asoaosquitterotootheoaboveorumination,otheofollowingoprincipleso emerge:o

(i)o o TheoexerciseoofopowerounderoSectiono408oCr.P.C./448oBNSSoiso quintessentiallyo ao judicialo functiono ando musto beo exercisedo witho circumspectionoandoonlyowhereoaccentuatingocircumstancesoexistoandoendso ofojusticeowouldootherwiseobeodefeated.oo

(ii)o o Ano applicationo foro transfero cannoto beo allowedo upono ao mereo askingo orotheo subjectiveo whimso oro imaginaryo anxietieso ofo ao litigant.o Theo applicanto musto bringo fortho reasonableo ando non-illusoryo grounds,o substantiatedobyocogentomaterial,odemonstratingoaolegitimateothreatotootheo purityoofotheotrial.o

(iii)o o Judicialo erroro iso noto synonymouso witho judicialo partialityo ando henceomereopassingoofoanounfavourableoorder,ooroevenoanoorderosubsequentlyo setoasideobyoaosuperioroCourt,odoesonotoipsoofactooestablishoaofoundationoforo biasooroprejudice.o

(iv)o o Too prevento theo abuseo ofo processo ando theo practiceo ofo forumo shopping,otheoSessionsoCourtomustostrictlyoenforceotheoprovisionsoofoSectiono 408o (3)o Cr.P.C./448(3)o BNSS,o imposingo costso ono anyo partyo preferringo frivolousoorovexatiousotransferoapplication.o o o o(v)o o Noo universalo guidelineso oro parameterso cano possiblyo beo enumeratedoforoexerciseoofopoweroofotransferojurisdictionoofotheoSessionso Courtoasoeveryocaseohasoitsoownouniqueofactualoconspectus.oo o o CRM-M-72601-2025o o o o o o 22o o o o Analysiso(re:ofactsoofotheopresentocase)o

15.o o NowothisoCourtorevertsotootheofactualomilieuoofotheopetitionoino handotooratiocinatedothereupon.oTheotransferoofotheopresentoproceedingsoariseo outoofoComplaintoCaseoNo.oCOMI/84/2019,otitledo"TarsemoKumaroRubyovs.o D.C.o Bansalo &o Another",o filedo ono 07.08.2019o beforeo theo Courto ofo theo Judicialo Magistrateo Firsto Class,o Panchkula,o allegingo commissiono ofo ano offenceopunishableounderoSectiono500oIPC.oUponofilingoofotheocomplaint,otheo Courto below,o aftero preliminaryo consideration,o summonedo theo petitionero (herein)ovideoorderodatedo05.09.2019.oTheopetitioneroappearedobeforeotheo Courtoinocomplianceowithotheosaidoorderoandoono15.11.2019,otheopetitionero wasograntedotheoconcessionoofobailobyotheoJudicialoMagistrateoFirstoClass,o Panchkula.oTheoproceedingsothereafterocontinuedoinoaccordanceowitholaw.oIno theomeantime,otheopetitionerohasoapproachedothisoCourtobyofilingoCRM-M-47186-2019,o titledo "D.C.o Bansalo &o Anothero vs.o Stateo ofo Haryanao &o Another",o challengingo theo summoningo ordero ando theo proceedingso arisingo therefrom.ooAfterohearingotheolearnedocounseloforotheorivaloparties,otheosaido petitiono waso dismissedo video ordero datedo 20.05.2024.o o Thereafter,o ono

19.02.2025,otheopetitioner,ocitingolossoofoconfidenceoinotheofairnessoofotheo proceedingsoandoallegingoprejudice,ofiledoanoapplicationobeforeotheoDistricto Judge,oPanchkulaounderoSectiono448oBNSS,o2023o(correspondingotooSectiono 408o Cr.P.C.),o seekingo transfero ofo theo complainto caseo fromo theo Courto ofo Judicialo Magistrateo Firsto Class,o Panchkula,o too anothero competento Courto withinotheosameodistrict.oWhileotheosaidotransferoapplicationowasopendingo consideration,otheomatterowasolistedobeforeotheoCourtoofoJudicialoMagistrateo o o CRM-M-72601-2025o o o o o o 23o o FirstoClass,oPanchkulaoono24.02.2025.oOnothatodate,otheopetitionerofiledoano applicationoseekingoexemptionofromotheopersonaloappearance,osupportedobyoao medicaloreport,ostatingothatoheowasonotokeepingogoodohealth.oOnotheosameo date,oi.e.o24.02.2025,otheotrialoCourtoissuedonon-bailableowarrantsoagainstotheo petitioneroinotheocomplaintocase.oAggrievedobyotheoissuanceoofonon-bailableo warrants,o theo petitionero approachedo thiso Courto byo filingo CRM-M-12764-2025.oThisoCourt,ovideoorderodatedo20.11.2025,oquashedotheoorderowherebyo non-bailableowarrantsohadobeenoissuedoagainstotheopetitioner.oThereafter,otheo transfero applicationo filedo byo theo petitionero cameo too beo decidedo byo theo Sessionso Judge,o Panchkula,o who,o video impugnedo ordero dismissedo theo applicationo ino hand.o Aggrievedo byo theo dismissalo ofo theo saido transfero application,otheopetitionerohasoapproachedothisoCourtobyowayoofotheopresento petitiono seekingo settingo asideo ofo theo impugnedo ordero ando transfero ofo theo complainto caseotoo anothero competentocourto withino theo Sessionso Division,o Panchkula.o

16.o o Theopoweroofotransferoisoindubitablyodiscretionaryoinonatureoando isotoobeoexercisedosparinglyoandoonlyoinoexceptionalocircumstances.oTransfero ofo proceedingso cannoto beo orderedo ono theo basiso ofo mereo apprehension,o surmisesoorodissatisfactionoofoaopartyowithotheomanneroinowhichotheotrialoiso proceeding.oInotheopresentocase,otheopetitionerohasofailedotooplaceoonorecordo anyocogentomaterialotooestablishoanyolikelihoodoofobiasooroprejudiceoonotheo partoofotheoCourtobelow.oTheoallegationsoraisedobyotheopetitioneroareogeneralo inonatureo ando doo noto inspireo confidenceo soo aso too warrantotransfero ofotheo proceedings.oTheomereofactothatotheocomplaintohasobeenopendingosinceo2019o isoalsoonotosufficient,obyoitself,otoojustifyotransferoparticularlyowhenotheodelayo cannotobeoattributedosolelyotootheocomplainantoorotheotrialoCourt.oTherefore,o o o CRM-M-72601-2025o o o o o o 24o o fromotheototalityoofotheofactsoofotheocaseoinohand,onooperversity,oillegalityooro jurisdictionalo erroro haso beeno pointedo outo warrantingo interferenceo byo thiso Court.o

16.2.o o Theo unscrupulouso attempt,o byo theo petitioner,o ino castingo aspersionsoonotheolearnedotrialoJudgeoasoalsoolearnedooppositeocounsel,ointero alia,obyorelianceouponotheoorderodatedo02.08.2024odeservesotoobeodeprecatedo ando respondedo witho abhorrence.o Thiso Court,o however,o refrainso fromo imposingoexemplaryocostsouponotheopetitionerokeepingoinoview,ointeroalia,o theofactumoofotheopetitionerobeingoaomanoagedo83oyearsowithonooantecedentso regardingoraisingosuchoscandalousoissue(s)oearlier.oo Decisiono

17.oo o Itoisothus,odirectedothat:oo

(i)oo o Theo petitiono ino hand;o seekingo quashing/settingo asideo ofo theo impugnedoorderodatedo08.08.2025oseekingotransferoofocomplaintobearingoNo.o COMI/84/2019otitledoasoTarsemoKumaroRubyovs.oDCoBansaloandoanothero fromotheoCourtoofocurrentoPresidingoJudicialoMagistrateotooanotheroCourtoofo competentojurisdictionoatoPanchkula;oisodismissed.oo

(ii)o o Theo petitionero iso saddledo witho costso ofo Rs.50,000/-,o outo ofo whichoRs.25,000/-oshallobeodepositedobyohimowithotheoHaryanaoStateoLegalo ServicesoAuthority,oPanchkulaowithinotwooweeksofromotodayoandoremainingo Rs.25,000/-oshallobeodepositedobeforeotheoChiefoJudicialoMagistrateoCJM),o PanchkulaotoobeoremittedotoolearnedocounseloappearingofororespondentoNo.2o (herein)-complainantobeforeotheotrialoCourtowithinotwooweeksofromotoday.oIno case,otheosaidocostsoareonotodepositedobyotheopetitioneroasodirectedofor;otheo CJM,o Panchkulao iso directedo too intimateo theo Deputyo Commissioner,o Panchkulao whoo shallo haveo sucho costso recoveredo fromo theo petitionero o o CRM-M-72601-2025o o o o o o 25o o includingobutonotolimitedotooasoarrearsoofolandorevenueoandouponorealizationo thereof,o theo Deputyo Commissioner,o Panchkulao shallo haveo theo sameo submittedotooCJM,oPanchkula,oforofurtheroremittanceothereofotootheoquarter(s)o concerned.oAocomplianceoreportobeosentobyoCJM,oPanchkulaoasoalsooDeputyo Commissioner,oPanchkulaotoothisoCourtoaccordingly.oo

(iii)oo o Anyoobservationsomadeoand/orosubmissionsonotedohereinaboveo shallonotohaveoanyoeffectoonotheomeritsoofotheocaseoandotheotrialoCourtoshallo proceedo furthero expeditiously,o ino accordanceo witho law,o withouto beingo influencedowithothem.oo

(iv)oo o Pendingoapplications),oifoany,oshalloalsoostandodisposedoof.o o o o o o o o o o o oooooo(SUMEEToGOEL)o o o o o ooooJUDGEo o Januaryo30,o2026o Ajayo o o o o Whetherospeaking/reasoned:o o Yeso o Whetheroreportable:o o Yeso o