Smt. Bijendri vs State of U.P. and Another

Bala Krishna Narayana, J.—Heard learned Counsel for the applicants and learned A.G.A.

The present 482 Cr.P.C. Petition has been filed for quashing the summoning order dated 21.11.2008 in Complaint Case No. 1497 of 2008 under Sections 344, 346, 498, 120-B, 506 IPC (Sahdev Singh v. Suresh and Ors.) P.S. Baghpat, District Baghpat, whereby the learned Magistrate has summoned the applicant to face trial.

The contention of the counsel for the applicant is that no offence against the applicant is disclosed and the present prosecution has been instituted with a malafide intention for the purposes of harassment. He pointed out certain documents and statements in support of his contention.

From the perusal of the material on record and looking into the facts of the case at this stage it cannot be said that no offence is made out against the applicant. The submissions made at the Bar relates to the disputed questions of fact which cannot be adjudicated upon by this Court u/s 482 Cr.P.C. At this stage only prima facie case is to be seen in the light of the law laid down by Supreme Court in cases of R.P. Kapur Vs. The State of Punjab, State of Haryana v. Bhajan Lal 1992 SCC (Cr.) 426, State of Bihar v. P.P. Sharma 1992 SCC (Cr.) 192 and lastly Zandu Pharmaceutical Works Ltd. v. Mohd. Saraful Haq and Anr. (Para-10) 2005 SCC (Cr.) 283. The disputed defence of the accused cannot be considered at this stage. Moreover, the applicant has got right of discharge u/s 239 or 227/228, Cr.P.C. as the case may be through a proper application for the said purpose and he is free to take all the submissions in the said discharge application before the Trial Court.

The prayer for quashing the summoning order is refused.

However, it is directed that the applicant shall appears and surrenders before the court below within 30 days from today, and apply for bail, her prayer for bail shall be considered and decided expeditiously, if possible, on same day, in view of the settled law laid by this Court in the case of Amrawati and Anr. v. State of U.P. reported in 2004 (57) ALR 290 as well as judgment passed by Hon''ble Apex Court reported in 2009 (3) ADJ 322 (SC) Lal Kamlendra Pratap Singh v. State of U.P. For a period of 30 days from today or till the disposal of the application for grant of bail, whichever is earlier, no coercive action shall be taken against the applicant. However, in case, the applicant does not appear before the Court below within the aforesaid period, coercive action shall be taken against her.

With the aforesaid directions, this application is finally disposed off.