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Reportable
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.1331 OF 201
!Ar"#"$% o&t o' S.L.P. !Cr"("$al) No. 1*+* o' 2013)
,-&a$ Mo-a$ S"$%- / Appella$t
er#
Mee$a Or#. /Re#po$e$t
J U D G M E N T
Dipak Misra, J.
Leae %ra$te.
2. T-e to "##&e# t-at pro$o&$4el5 e(a$ate "$ t-"#
appeal b5 #pe4"al leae are -et-er t-e Fa("l5 Co&rt
-"le e4""$% a$ appl"4at"o$ &$er Se4t"o$ 6 o' t-e
Fa("l5 Co&rt A4t7 189 !'or bre"t57 :t-e A4t;) -"4-
"$4l&e# eter("$at"o$ o' %ra$t o' (a"$te$a$4e to t-e
per#o$# a# e$t"tle &$er t-at pro"#"o$7 #-o&l allo
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aeep"$% t-e "$o# o' "#o( 4lo#e a$ t-e #e$#e o'
"$ o'
"$""&al $ot"o$. ,ot- t-e approa4-e#7 a# e per4e"e7
$ot o$l5 e'eat t-e 4o((a$ o' t-e le%"#lat&re b&t al#o
'rtrate t-e -ope o' "'e a$ 4-"lre$ -o are epr"e
o' ae?&ate l"el"-oo a$ -o#e a#p"rat"o$# per"#- l">e
(-roo( a$ po##"bl5 t-e br"e' 4a$le o' #te$a$4e
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-&(a$ r"%-t# b&t al#o a%a"$#t t-e ba#"4 e(bo"(e$t o'
"%$"t5 o' a$ "$""&al.
3. ,e "t "$%e("$ate t-at Se4t"o$ 12* o' t-e Coe o'
Cr"("$al Pro4e&re !'or #-ort :t-e Coe;) a# 4o$4e"e
to a(el"orate t-e a%o$57 a$%&"#-7 '"$a$4"al #&''er"$% o' a
o(a$ -o le't -er (atr"(o$"al -o(e 'or t-e rea#o$#
pro"e "$ t-e pro"#"o$ #o t-at #o(e #&"table
arra$%e(e$t# 4a$ be (ae b5 t-e Co&rt a$ #-e 4a$
#ta"$ -er#el' a$ al#o -er 4-"lre$ "' t-e5 are "t- -er.
T-e 4o$4ept o' #te$a$4e oe# $ot $e4e##ar"l5 (ea$ to
lea t-e l"'e o' a$ a$"(al7 'eel l">e a$ &$per#o$ to be
t-ro$ aa5 'ro( %ra4e a$ roa( 'or -er ba#"4
(a"$te$a$4e #o(e-ere el#e. S-e "# e$t"tle "$ la to
lea a l"'e "$ t-e #"("lar (a$$er a# #-e o&l -ae l"e "$
t-e -oe o' -er -ba$. T-at "# -ere t-e #tat a$
#trata 4o(e "$to pla57 a$ t-at "# -ere t-e obl"%at"o$# o'
t-e -ba$7 "$ 4a#e o' a "'e7 be4o(e a pro("$e$t o$e.
I$ a pro4ee"$% o' t-"# $at&re7 t-e -ba$ 4a$$ot ta>e
#&bter'&%e# to epr"e -er o' t-e be$e'"t o' l""$% "t-
"%$"t5. Re%ar be"$% -a to t-e #ole($ ple%e at t-e
t"(e o' (arr"a%e a$ al#o "$ 4o$#o$a$4e "t- t-e
3
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#tat&tor5 la t-at %oer$# t-e '"el7 "t "# t-e obl"%at"o$ o'
t-e -ba$ to #ee t-at t-e "'e oe# $ot be4o(e a
e#t"t&te7 a be%%ar. A #"t&at"o$ "# $ot to be (alaro"tl5
4reate -ere&$er #-e "# 4o(pelle to re#"%$ to -er 'ate
a$ t-"$> o' l"'e :t &$to t;. It "# totall5
"(per("##"ble. I$ 'a4t7 "t "# t-e #a4ro#a$4t &t5 to re$er
t-e '"$a$4"al #&pport ee$ "' t-e -ba$ "# re?&"re to
ear$ (o$e5 "t- p-5#"4al labo&r7 "' -e "# able bo"e.
T-ere "# $o e#4ape ro&te &$le## t-ere "# a$ orer 'ro( t-e
Co&rt t-at t-e "'e "# $ot e$t"tle to %et (a"$te$a$4e 'ro(
t-e -ba$ o$ a$5 le%all5 per("##"ble %ro&$#.
. Pre#e$tl5 to t-e 'a4t# -"4- l"e "$ a$ e=tre(el5
#(all 4o(pa##. T-e (arr"a%e betee$ t-e appella$t a$
t-e -ba$ a# #ole($"@e o$ 26.11.1886 a# per H"$&
r"te# a$ r"t&al7 a$ "$ t-e elo4> a #o$ a# bor$ o$
1+.12.1889. T-e re#po$e$t7 &$er 4erta"$
4"r4&(#ta$4e#7 -a to leae t-e (ar"tal -o(e a$
t-erea'ter '"le a$ appl"4at"o$ o$ 29.9.2002 &$er Se4t"o$
12* o' t-e Coe "$ t-e Fa("l5 Co&rt7 Ja"p&r7 Ra
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aar"$% (o$t-l5 (a"$te$a$4e o' R#.2*00B to t-e
re#po$e$tB"'e a$ R#.1*00B to t-e #e4o$ re#po$e$tB
#o$. ,e "t #tate7 &r"$% t-e 4o$t"$&a$4e o' t-e Fa("l5
Co&rt pro4ee"$%#7 $&(ber o' ae$ b5 t-e -ba$ a$ #o(e b5 t-e "'e. T-e
lear$e Fa("l5 J&%e be"$% "##at"#'"e "t- t-e (ater"al
bro&%-t o$ re4or 4a(e to -ol t-at t-e re#po$e$tB"'e
a# e$t"tle to (a"$te$a$4e a$7 a44or"$%l57 '"=e t-e
?&a$t&( a$ "re4te t-at t-e (a"$te$a$4e to be pa"
'ro( t-e ate o' t-e orer.
*. ,e"$% "##at"#'"e "t- t-e a'ore#a" orer t-e
re#po$e$tB"'e pre'erre S.,. Cr"("$al Re"#"o$ Pet"t"o$
No. 1*2+ o' 2011 be'ore t-e H"%- Co&rt o' J&"4at&re at
Ra
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+. Cr"t"4"@"$% t-e a'ore#a" orer7 "t "# #&b("tte Mr.
Ja5 "#-or S"$%- lear$e 4o&$#el 'or t-e appella$t t-at
-e$ $&(ber o' ae
aa$ta%e o' -er o$ ro$%.
6. M#. R&4-" o-l"7 lear$e 4o&$#el 'or t-e
re#po$e$t# o&l #&b("t t-at t-e Fa("l5 Co&rt a pla4e be4ae o' $o$B4ooperat"o$ o' t-e -ba$ "$
t-e pro4ee"$%# a$7 t-ere'ore7 t-e "'e -o a#
4o(pelle to #ta"$ -er#el' a$ -er #o$ "t- "((e$#e
"''"4<5 #-o&l $ot be alloe to #&''er. It "# propo$e b5
-er t-at t-e H"%- Co&rt b5 (o"'5"$% t-e orer a$
"re4t"$% t-at t-e (a"$te$a$4e #-o&l be %ra$te 'ro(
t-e ate o' '"l"$% o' t-e appl"4at"o$ -a# $ot 4o(("tte a$5
le%al "$'"r("t5 a$ -e$4e7 t-e orer "# "$e=4ept"o$able.
9. At t-e o&t#et7 e are obl"%e to re"terate t-e
pr"$4"ple o' la -o a pro4ee"$% &$er Se4t"o$ 12* o' t-e
Coe -a# to be ealt "t- b5 t-e 4o&rt7 a$ -at "# t-e
+
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&t5 o' a Fa("l5 Co&rt a'ter e#tabl"#-(e$t o' #&4- 4o&rt#
b5 t-e Fa("l5 Co&rt# A4t7 189. I$ Smt. Dukhtar Jahan
v. Mohammed Farooq1
7 t-e Co&rt op"$e t-at
pro4ee"$%# &$er Se4t"o$ 12* o' t-e Coe7 "t (t be
re(e(bere7 are o' a #&((ar5 $at&re a$ are "$te$e
to e$able e#t"t&te "e# a$ 4-"lre$7 t-e latter -et-er
t-e5 are le%"t"(ate or "lle%"t"(ate7 to %et (a"$te$a$4e "$ a
#pee5 (a$$er.
8. A t-reeBJ&%e ,e$4- "$ Vimla (K.) v.
Veeraswamy (K.)27 -"le "#4#"$% abo&t t-e ba#"4
p&rpo#e &$er Se4t"o$ 12* o' t-e Coe7 op"$e t-at
Se4t"o$ 12* o' t-e Coe "# (ea$t to a4-"ee a #o4"al
p&rpo#e. T-e ob
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:-"le eal"$% "t- t-e a(b"t a$ #4ope o' t-epro"#"o$ 4o$ta"$e "$ Se4t"o$ 12* o' t-e Coe7"t -a# to be bor$e "$ ("$ t-at t-e o("$a$ta$ pr"(ar5 ob
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Se4t"o$ 12* o' t-e Coe. It "# &$'ort&$ate t-at t-e 4a#e
4o$t"$&e 'or $"$e 5ear# be'ore t-e Fa("l5 Co&rt. It -a#
4o(e to t-e $ot"4e o' t-e Co&rt t-at o$ 4erta"$ o44a#"o$#
t-e Fa("l5 Co&rt# -ae bee$ %ra$t"$% aable a$ Eere#t"$e b"tter$e##. It lea# to t-e 4ol
re'r"%erat"o$ o' t-e -"e$ 'eel"$%#7 "' #t"ll le't. T-e
el"$eat"o$ o' t-e l"# b5 t-e Fa("l5 J&%e (t reeal t-e
10
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aare$e## a$ bala$4e. D"lator5 ta4t"4# b5 a$5 o' t-e
part"e# -a# to be #ter$l5 ealt "t-7 'or t-e Fa("l5 Co&rt
J&%e -a# to be al"e to t-e 'a4t t-at t-e l"# be'ore -"(
perta"$# to e(ot"o$al 'ra%(e$tat"o$ a$ ela5 4a$ 'ee "t
to %ro. e -ope a$ trt t-at t-e Fa("l5 Co&rt J&%e#
#-all re(a"$ alert to t-"# a$ e4"e t-e (atter# a#
e=pe"t"ol5 a# po##"ble >eep"$% "$ "e t-e ob
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'ro( t-e ate o' appl"4at"o$. T-e Co&rt re'erre to t-e
e4"#"o$ "$ Krishna Jain v. Dharam a! Jain1-ere"$ "t
-a# bee$ #tate t-at to -ol t-at7 $or(all5 (a"$te$a$4e
#-o&l be (ae pa5able 'ro( t-e ate o' t-e orer a$
$ot 'ro( t-e ate o' t-e appl"4at"o$ &$le## #&4- orer "#
ba4>e b5 rea#o$# o&l a(o&$t to "$#ert"$% #o(et-"$%
(ore "$ t-e #&bB#e4t"o$ -"4- t-e le%"#lat&re $eer
"$te$e. T-e H"%- Co&rt -a ob#ere t-at "t a# &$able
to rea "$ #&bB#e4t"o$ !2) la5"$% o$ a$5 r&le to aar
(a"$te$a$4e 'ro( t-e ate o' t-e orer or t-at t-e %ra$t
'ro( t-e ate o' t-e appl"4at"o$ "# a$ e=4ept"o$. T-e H"%-
Co&rt -a al#o op"$e t-at -et-er (a"$te$a$4e "#
%ra$te 'ro( t-e ate o' t-e orer or 'ro( t-e ate o'
appl"4at"o$7 t-e Co&rt "# re?&"re to re4or rea#o$# a#
re?&"re &$er #&bB#e4t"o$ !+) o' Se4t"o$ 3* o' t-e Coe.
A'ter re'err"$% to t-e e4"#"o$ "$ Krishna Jain!#&pra)7 t-e
Co&rt aerte to t-e e4"#"o$ o' t-e H"%- Co&rt o' A$-ra
Prae#- "$ K. Siaram v. K. Manalam$a11-ere"$ "t
-a# bee$ r&le t-at t-e (a"$te$a$4e o&l be aare
'ro( t-e ate o' t-e orer a$ #&4- (a"$te$a$4e 4o&l be
101882 Cr" LJ 1029 !MP)111880 Cr" LJ 1990 !AP)
12
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%ra$te 'ro( t-e ate o' t-e appl"4at"o$ o$l5 b5 re4or"$%
#pe4"al rea#o$#. T-e "e o' t-e lear$e #"$%le J&%e o'
t-e H"%- Co&rt o' A$-ra Prae#- #tat"$% t-at "t "# a
$or(al r&le t-at t-e Ma%"#trate #-o&l %ra$t (a"$te$a$4e
o$l5 'ro( t-e ate o' t-e orer a$ $ot 'ro( t-e ate o'
t-e appl"4at"o$ 'or (a"$te$a$4e a# $ot a44epte b5 t-"#
Co&rt. Ee$t&all57 t-e Co&rt r&le t- B
:43.e7 t-ere'ore7 -ol t-at -"le e4""$% a$appl"4at"o$ &$er Se4t"o$ 12* o' t-e Coe7 aMa%"#trate "# re?&"re to re4or rea#o$# 'or%ra$t"$% or re'"$% to %ra$t (a"$te$a$4e to"e#7 4-"lre$ or pare$t#. S&4- (a"$te$a$4e4a$ be aare 'ro( t-e ate o' t-e orer7 or7 "'#o orere7 'ro( t-e ate o' t-e appl"4at"o$ 'or(a"$te$a$4e7 a# t-e 4a#e (a5 be. For aar"$%
(a"$te$a$4e 'ro( t-e ate o' t-e appl"4at"o$7e=pre## orer "# $e4e##ar5. No #pe4"al rea#o$#7-oeer7 are re?&"re to be re4ore b5 t-e4o&rt. I$ o&r
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5ear#. T-e 4"r4&(#ta$4e#7 "$ o&r 4o$#"ere op"$"o$7
re?&"re %ra$t o' (a"$te$a$4e 'ro( t-e ate o'
appl"4at"o$ a$ b5 #o %ra$t"$% t-e H"%- Co&rt -a# $ot
4o(("tte a$5 le%al "$'"r("t5. He$4e7 e 4o$4&r "t- t-e
orer o' t-e H"%- Co&rt. Hoeer7 e "re4t7 a# pra5e b5
t-e lear$e 4o&$#el 'or t-e re#po$e$t7 t-at -e (a5 be
alloe to pa5 t-e arrear# alo$% "t- t-e (a"$te$a$4e
aare at pre#e$t "$ a p-a#e (a$$er. Lear$e 4o&$#el
'or t-e appella$t " $ot ob
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. opala oaG
Ne Del-"
J&l5 1*7 201.
1*
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