Smt. Asha Devi vs State of U.P. and Others

Amitava Lala, J.—In the present case, the Petitioner wanted to get an order of quashing the F.I.R. dated 10th October, 2005, lodged as Case Crime No. 374 of 2005, u/s 3/7 of Essential Commodities Act, Police Station Sikarara, district Jaunpur. We are not inclined to do so because of various reasons reflected from the writ petition and other materials. We do not want to express our view to pass such negative order because the same may ultimately affect the investigation and trial, if any.

We have special justice delivery system in our State under the writ jurisdiction in connection with the criminal and quasi-criminal matters. There is a reason behind introduction of such jurisdiction. No provision of anticipatory bail is available in this State. Therefore, in discharging judicial function in this jurisdiction this Court not only considered the ratio of the judgment in State of Haryana and others Vs. Ch. Bhajan Lal and others, whereunder the Supreme Court framed certain guidelines in respect of quashing the F.I.R. in exercise of extraordinary powers of the High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution or inherent powers u/s 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, but also ratio of the other judgments relevant for the purpose other than quashing of F.I.R. In Joginder Kumar v. State of U. P. and Ors. 1994 ACC 431, a three Judges Bench of the Supreme Court held as follows :

A person is not liable to arrest merely on the suspicion of complicity in an offence. There must be some reasonable justification in the opinion of the Officer effecting the arrest that such arrest is necessary and justified. Except in heinous offences, an arrest must be avoided if a police officer issues notice to person to attend the Station House and not to leave Station without permission would do.

At the time of delivery of aforementioned judgment the Supreme Court has proceeded even to the extent of rights and personal liberties of the citizens under Articles 21 and 22(1) of the Constitution of India in connection with arrest. Similar question of personal liberties in the cases of victims was also considered by the Supreme Court even upto the extent of grant of interim compensation as in Shri Bodhisattwa Gautam Vs. Miss Subhra Chakraborty,

In Mahendra Lal Das v. State of Bihar and Ors. 2001 (3) ACR 2610 (SC): 2002 SCC 110, the Supreme Court held as follows :

It is true that interference by the Court at the investigation stage is not called for. However, it is equally true that the investigating agency cannot be given the latitude of protracting the conclusion of the investigation without any limit of time.

Therefore, what would be the analogy?

The analogy is that the Court in the restraint manner consider the individual cases and pass appropriate discretionary order/s, where it will be able to find justiciable. At the time of passing order the Court will also remember the distinguishable features in between quashing of F.I.R. and/or other reliefs and grounds for not to arrest to suffice the real purpose of the unique jurisdiction of this High Court.

The real purpose will be subserved, if this Court passes a conditional order of stay in a limited manner along with time bound programme for investigation. Conditions are as follows :

(1) This stay of arrest will operate only if certified copy of this order along with one self-attested copy of the writ petition is served upon the Investigating Officer within fifteen days from today.

(2) The Petitioner will not be arrested in respect of the said crime number during the pendency of the investigation, provided he/she cooperates with the investigation.

(3) The Investigating Officer will make all possible efforts to conclude the investigation within three months of the date, on which a certified copy of this order is served upon him.

(4) The stay of arrest will cease to operate, if it is decided to submit a charge-sheet after investigation.

(5) If the Investigating Officer and/or informant found himself aggrieved due to falsification, misstatement, fraud, non-cooperation with the Investigating Officer or any other reasons whatsoever relevant for the purpose, he/ she/they is/are at liberty to apply for recalling/variation/ vacating/modification of the order.

The writ petition is, thus, disposed of.

However, no order is passed as to cost.

Amar Saran, J.

I agree.