Ravishankar Kurre vs State Of Chhattisgarh

Arvind Singh Chandel, J

The revision is listed for hearing on admission. With the consent of Learned Counsel appearing for the parties, the matter is heard finally.

This revision has been preferred against the order dated 10.1.2018 passed by the 3rd Additional Sessions Judge, Bilaspur in Special Sessions Trial

No.586 of 2016, whereby the Learned Additional Sessions Judge has rejected the application filed under Section 311 of the Code of Criminal

Procedure for recalling prosecution witnesses Karishma Kumari (PW1) and Badrikabai (PW2) for further cross-examination.

On the report of Kanshibai (PW3), a charge-sheet was filed against the present Applicant in the Special Court and a separate charge- sheet was

filed against juvenile co-accused before the Juvenile Justice Board. In the case which is pending before the Juvenile Justice Board, both the

prosecution witnesses Karishma Kumari and Badrikabai have been declared hostile. Prior to that, in the special case, i.e., the instant case, their

statements had been recorded. Thus, an application under Section 311 of the Code of Criminal Procedure was filed before the Trial Court for recalling

the prosecution witnesses Karishma Kumari and Badrikabai which has been rejected vide the impugned order.

It is submitted by Learned Counsel appearing for the Applicant that since the two prosecution witnesses Karishma Kumari and Badrikabai have

been declared hostile, their further cross- examination in the present case is essential to confront their statements recorded before the Juvenile Justice

Board.

Learned Counsel appearing for the State supported the impugned order and submitted that sufficient and proper opportunity has already been

afforded to the defence.

I have heard Learned Counsel appearing for the parties and perused the material available with due care.

Considering the fact that the prosecution witnesses Karishma Kumari and Badrikabai have been declared hostile in the case pending before the

Juvenile Justice Board and before that their statements had been recorded in the instant case, it is essential that their further cross-examination be

done in the present case to confront their statements recorded before the Juvenile Justice Board.

In the result, the revision is allowed. The application under Section 311 of the Code of Criminal Procedure is also allowed. The Trial Court is

directed to afford an opportunity to the Applicant to further re-cross examine the prosecution witnesses Karishma Kumari and Badrikabai in the

present case.