Page 1 REPORTABLE

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1577 OF 2012

(Arising out of SLP (Crl.) No. 446 of 2007)

Manharibhai Muljibhai Kakadia & Anr. …. Appellants

Versus

Shaileshbhai Mohanbhai Patel & Ors. ….Respondents

JUDGMENT

R.M. Lodha, J.

Leave granted.

2. The sole question for consideration is, whether a suspect is

entitled to hearing by the revisional court in a revision preferred by the

complainant challenging an order of the Magistrate dismissing the

complaint under Section 203 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (for

short ‘Code’).

1

Page 2 3. It is not necessary to set out the facts in detail. Suffice it to

say that Shaileshbhai Mohanbhai Patel, respondent no. 1, filed a criminal

complaint on 15.5.2004 in the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Surat

(for short ‘CJM’) against Manharibhai Muljibhai Kakadia and Paresh

Lavjibhai Patel, appellants, alleging that they had pre-planned a

conspiracy; created forged documents bearing signatures of the

complainant, his father and uncle, two sons of his uncle and his elder

brother and have used the said documents as true and genuine by

producing the same before the District Registrar, Cooperative Society,

Nanpura, and by making false representation obtained registration of

Indoregency Cooperative Housing Society Limited and by doing so the

accused (appellants) have caused financial loss and physical and mental

agony to the complainant and his family members and have deceived the

complainant and his family members by obtaining huge financial

advantage by taking possession of the complainant’s property. It was,

thus, alleged that the appellants have committed offences punishable

under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B, IPC.

4. The CJM in exercise of his power under Section 202 of the

Code by his order dated 18.6.2004 directed the enquiry to be made by the

Police Inspector, Umra Police Station, into the allegations made in the

complaint and submit his report within thirty days therefrom.

2

Page 3 5. The Investigating Officer investigated into the matter and

submitted ‘C’ Summary Report. In the opinion of the Investigating Officer,

the disputes between the parties were of civil nature and no offence was

made out.

6. The CJM on 16.4.2005 accepted the ‘C’ Summary Report

submitted by the Investigating Officer. That order has been challenged by

the Complainant in a criminal revision application filed under Section 397

read with Section 401 of the Code in the Gujarat High Court.

7. The appellants having come to know of the above criminal

revision application made an application for joining them as party

respondents so that they can be heard in the matter.

8. On 5.8.2005, the Single Judge of the Gujarat High Court

dismissed the application made by the appellants. It is from this order

that present appeal has arisen.

9. We have heard Mr. Shyam Divan, learned senior counsel for

the appellants and Ms. Meenakshi Arora, learned counsel for respondent

no. 1.

10. Mr. Shyam Divan, learned senior counsel for the appellants

argued that the plain language of Section 401(2) of the Code entitles the

appellants to be heard in the criminal revision application filed by the

respondent no. 1 challenging the order of the CJM. According to learned

senior counsel, appellants have a right to be heard in the revision

3

Page 4 application filed by the complainant as no order could be made to the

prejudice of the accused or the other person unless he has had an

opportunity of being heard under Section 401(2) of the Code. It was

argued on behalf of the appellants that the result of acceptance of the ‘C’

Summary Report is that criminal proceedings launched by the

complainant have come to an end and if the revision application preferred

by the complainant is accepted, that would have the effect of revival of the

complaint and setting the criminal process back in motion which would be

definitely prejudicial to the appellants and before any such prejudicial

order is passed, the appellants ought to be heard. In support of the

above contentions, learned senior counsel relied upon decisions of this

Court in P. Sundarrajan and others v. R. Vidhya Sekar

1

, Raghu Raj Singh

Rousha v. Shivam Sundaram Promoters Private Limited and another

2

and

A. N. Santhanam v. K. Elangovan

3

.

11. Mr. Shyam Divan, learned senior counsel would also argue

that expression, “in his own defence” in Section 401 (2) is a

comprehensive expression which also means ‘in defence of the order’

under challenge in revisional jurisdiction. Learned senior counsel

submitted that “prejudice” may cover wide range of situations and must be

considered in wider sense. Section 401 does not make any distinction

1

(2004) 13 SCC 472

2

(2009) 2 SCC 363

3

2011 (2) JCC 720 (SC)

4

Page 5 between pre-process stage and post-process stage. Sub-section (2) of

Section 401 is applicable regardless and whether or not process has

been issued under Section 204 of the Code.

12. It was also submitted on behalf of the appellants that

cognizance had been taken by the CJM. Cognizance is not equivalent to

issuance of process; it is taken prior to issuance of process. Cognizance

is taken at the initial stage when the Magistrate applies his judicial mind to

the facts mentioned in the complaint or to the police report or upon

information received from any other person that an offence has been

committed. In this regard, reliance was placed on Jamuna Singh and

others v. Bhadai Sah

4

, Kishun Singh and others v. State of Bihar

5

and

State of Karnataka and another v. Pastor P. Raju

6

.

13. Ms. Meenakshi Arora, learned counsel for the respondent no.

1, on the other hand, stoutly defended the order of the High Court. She

would argue that since CJM had not taken cognizance of the offence,

the appellants have no role to play at any stage prior to issuance of

process. She referred to certain provisions, including Chapters XIV, XV

and XVI, and also Sections 156, 173, 190 and 202 of the Code. Learned

counsel for the respondent no. 1 argued that since the subject revision

petition had been filed by the respondent no. 1 against the dismissal of

4

(1964) 5 SCR 37

5

(1993) 2 SCC 16

6

(2006) 6 SCC 728

5

Page 6 the complaint at a pre-cognizance stage, the appellants do not have any

right of hearing under the provisions of Section 401(2) of the Code. In this

regard, the learned counsel placed reliance on Chandra Deo Singh v.

Prokash Chandra Bose and another

7

, Smt. Nagawwa v. Veeranna

Shivalingappa Konjalgi and others

8

, Adalat Prasad v. Rooplal Jindal and

others

9

and Mohd. Yousuf v. Afaq Jahan (Smt.) and another

10

.

14. Learned counsel for the respondent no.1 also relied upon

decisions of Punjab and Haryana High Court, Madhya Pradesh High

Court and Gujarat High Court in support of her submission that accused

has no right of hearing under Section 401(2) in a revision against an order

by which a complaint has been dismissed by the Magistrate under

Section 203 of the Code. She relied upon Gurdeep Singh v. State of

Haryana

11

, Panatar Arvindbhai Ratilal v. State of Gujarat and others

12

,

Ratanlal Soni v. Kailash Narayan Arjariya

13

. She also relied upon a

decision of Delhi High Court in Tata Motors Limited v. State (Criminal

Revision Petition No. 16/2008 and Criminal LPA 4301/2008) decided on

12.2.2009 wherein decision of this Court in Raghu Raj Singh Rousha

2

has been distinguished.

7

1964 (1) SCR 639

8

(1976) 3 SCC 736

9

(2004) 7 SCC 338

10

(2006) 1 SCC 627

11

ILR 2001 (2) P & H 388

12

1991 (1) Vol. 32 GLR 451

13

1998 (2) MPLJ 321

6

Page 7 15. Learned counsel for the respondent no. 1 would submit that

decision of this Court in P. Sundarrajan

1

was not applicable to the fact

situation of the present case inasmuch as in that case, the accused were

party in the revision petition whereas in the subject revision the appellants

have not been allowed to be impleaded as party respondents and the

impugned order has been passed on the application for impleadment.

While referring to A. N. Santhanam

3

, learned counsel for the respondent

no. 1 submitted that this case too was not applicable to the facts of the

present case as in that case the complainants were examined under

Section 200 of the Code whereas in the present case the CJM has

accepted the ‘C’ Summary Report under Section 173 after the

investigation was done by the police.

16. In order to appreciate the rival submissions, some of the

provisions of the Code need to be referred to. Section 156 deals with

Police Officer’s power to investigate cognizable case. It reads as follows:

“S. 156. Police Officer’s power to investigate

cognizable case. – (1) Any officer in charge of a

police station may, without the order of a Magistrate,

investigate any cognizable case which a Court having

jurisdiction over the local area within the limits of such

station would have power to inquire into or try under

the provisions of Chapter XIII.

(2) No proceeding of a police officer in any such case

shall at any stage be called in question on the ground

that the case was one which such officer was not

empowered under this section to investigate.

7

Page 8 (3) Any Magistrate empowered under Section 190

may order such an investigation as above

mentioned.”

17. Section 190 falls in Chapter XIV and reads as under:

“S. 190. Cognizance of offences by Magistrates. - (1)

Subject to the provisions of this Chapter, any

Magistrate of the first class, and any Magistrate of the

second class specially empowered in this behalf

under sub- section (2), may take cognizance of any

offence-

(a) upon receiving a complaint of facts which

constitute such offence;

(b) upon a police report of such facts;

(c) upon information received from any person other

than a police officer, or upon his own knowledge, that

such offence has been committed.

(2) The Chief Judicial Magistrate may empower any

Magistrate of the second class to take cognizance

under sub-section (1) of such offences as are within

his competence to inquire into or try.”

18. Chapter XV of the Code deals with the complaints to

Magistrates. It has four Sections, 200 to 203, which read as under :

“S. - 200. Examination of Complainant.-- A

Magistrate taking cognizance of an offence on

complaint shall examine upon oath the complainant

and the witnesses present, if any, and the substance

of such examination shall be reduced to writing and

shall be signed by the complainant and the

witnesses, and also by the Magistrate:

Provided that, when the complaint is made in writing,

the Magistrate need not examine the complainant

and the witnesses-

8

Page 9 (a) If a public servant acting or purporting to act in

the discharge of his official duties or a court has

made the complaint; or

(b) If the Magistrate makes over the case for inquiry,

or trial to another Magistrate under section 192:

Provided further that if the Magistrate makes over

the case to another Magistrate under section 192

after examining the complainant and the witnesses,

the latter Magistrate need not re-examine them.

S. 201. Procedure by Magistrate not competent to

take cognizance of the case.- If the complaint is

made to a Magistrate who is not competent to take

cognizance of the offence, he shall, -

(a) If the complaint is in writing, return it for

presentation to the proper court with an

endorsement to that effect;

(b) If the complaint is not in writing, direct the

complainant to the proper court.

S. 202. Postponement of issue of process.-- (1) Any

Magistrate, on receipt of a complaint of an offence of

which he is authorised to take cognizance or which

has been made over to him under Section 192, may,

if he thinks fit, and shall, in a case where the

accused is residing at a place beyond the area in

which he exercises his jurisdiction postpone the

issue of process against the accused, and either

inquire into the case himself or direct an

investigation to be made by a police officer or by

such other person as he thinks fit, for the purpose of

deciding whether or not there is sufficient ground for

proceeding:

Provided that no such direction for investigation

shall be made—

(a) Where it appears to the Magistrate that the

offence complained of is triable exclusively by the

Court of Sessions; or

(b) Where the complaint has not been made by a

Court, unless the complainant and the witnesses

9

Page 10 present (if any) have been examined on oath under

section 200.

(2) In an inquiry under sub-section (1), the

Magistrate may, if he thinks fit, take evidence of

witness on oath:

Provided that if it appears to the Magistrate that the

offence complained of is triable exclusively by the

Court of Session, he shall call upon the complainant

to produce all his witnesses and examine them on

oath.

(3) If an investigation under sub-section (1) is made

by a person not being a police officer, he shall have

for that investigation all the powers conferred by this

Code on an officer in charge of a police station

except the power to arrest without warrant.

S. 203. Dismissal of complaint.—If, after considering

the statements on oath (if any) of the complainant

and of the witnesses and the result of the inquiry or

investigation (if any) under Section 202, the

Magistrate is of opinion that there is no sufficient

ground for proceeding, he shall dismiss the

complaint, and in every such case he shall briefly

record his reasons for so doing.”

19. Chapter XVI of the Code has Sections 204 to 210. Section

204 deals with the issuance of process by the Magistrate. The process is

issued by the Magistrate if in his opinion there is sufficient ground for

proceeding.

20. Section 210 provides for procedure to be followed when

there is complaint case and police investigation in respect of the same

offence. It reads as under:

“S. 210. Procedure to be followed when there is a

complaint case and police investigation in respect of

1

Page 11 the same offence.—(1) When in a case instituted

otherwise than on a police report (hereinafter referred

to as a complaint case), it is made to appear to the

Magistrate, during the course of the inquiry or trial

held by him, that an investigation by the police is in

progress in relation to the offence which is the

subject-matter of the inquiry or trial held by him, the

Magistrate shall stay the proceedings of such inquiry

or trial and call for a report on the matter from the

police officer conducting the investigation.

(2) If a report is made by the investigating police

officer under Section 173 and on such report

cognizance of any offence is taken by the Magistrate

against any person who is an accused in the

complaint case, the Magistrate shall inquire into or try

together the complaint case and the case arising out

of the police report as if both the cases were instituted

on a police report.

(3) If the police report does not relate to any accused

in the complaint case or if the Magistrate does not

take cognizance of any offence on the police report,

he shall proceed with the inquiry or trial, which was

stayed by him, in accordance with the provisions of

this Code.”

21. Section 397 of the Code empowers the High Court or the

Sessions Judge to call for and examine the record of any proceeding

before any inferior court situate within its or his local jurisdiction for the

purpose of satisfying itself or himself as to the correctness, legality or

propriety, inter alia, of any order passed by such inferior court. The

powers of revision are concurrent with the High Court and the Sessions

Judge. By virtue of Section 399, the Sessions Judge may exercise all or

any of the powers which may be exercised by the High Court under sub-

section (1) of Section 401 and while doing so the provisions of sub-

1

Page 12 sections (2),(3),(4) and (5) of Section 401 apply to such power as far as

possible. Section 401 deals with High Court’s power of revision and it

reads as follows :

“S. 401. High Court’s powers of revision.—(1) In the

case of any proceeding the record of which has been

called for by itself or which otherwise comes to its

knowledge, the High Court may, in its discretion,

exercise any of the powers conferred on a Court of

Appeal by sections 386, 389, 390 and 391 or on a

Court of Session by section 307 and, when the

Judges composing the Court of revision are equally

divided in opinion, the case shall be disposed of in

the manner provided by section 392.

(2)No order under this section shall be made to

the prejudice of the accused or other person unless

he has had an opportunity of being heard either

personally or by pleader in his own defence.

(3)Nothing in this section shall be deemed to

authorise a High Court to convert a finding of

acquittal into one of conviction.

(4)Where under this Code an appeal lies and no

appeal is brought, no proceeding by way of revision

shall be entertained at the instance of the party who

could have appealed.

(5)Where under this Code an appeal lies but an

application for revision has been made to the High

Court by any person and the High Court is satisfied

that such application was made under the erroneous

belief that no appeal lies thereto and that it is

necessary in the interests of justice so to do, the

High Court may treat the application for revision as a

petition of appeal and deal with the same

accordingly.”

22. In light of the above provisions, the question for consideration

before us is to be examined.

1

Page 13 23. Section 202 of the Code has twin objects; one, to enable the

Magistrate to scrutinize carefully the allegations made in the complaint

with a view to prevent a person named therein as accused from being

called upon to face an unnecessary, frivolous or meritless complaint and

the other, to find out whether there is some material to support the

allegations made in the complaint. The Magistrate has a duty to elicit all

facts having regard to the interest of an absent accused person and also

to bring to book a person or persons against whom the allegations have

been made. To find out the above, the Magistrate himself may hold an

inquiry under Section 202 of the Code or direct an investigation to be

made by a police officer. The dismissal of the complaint under Section

203 is without doubt a pre-issuance of process stage. The Code does not

permit an accused person to intervene in the course of inquiry by the

Magistrate under Section 202. The legal position is no more res integra in

this regard. More than five decades back, this Court in Vadilal Panchal v.

Dattatraya Dulaji Ghadigaonker and another

14

with reference to Section

202 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1898 (corresponding to Section 202

of the present Code) held that the inquiry under Section 202 was for the

purpose of ascertaining the truth or falsehood of the complaint, i.e., for

ascertaining whether there was evidence in support of the complaint so

14

(1961) 1 SCR 1

1

Page 14 as to justify the issuance of process and commencement of proceedings

against the person concerned.

24. In Chandra Deo Singh

7

, a four-Judge Bench of this Court had

an occasion to consider Section 202 of the old Code. The Court referred

to the earlier decision of this Court in Vadilal Panchal

14

and few previous

decisions, namely, Parmanand Brahmachari v. Emperor

15

, Radha Kishun

Sao v. S.K. Misra and Anr.

16

, Ramkisto Sahu v. The State of Bihar

17

,

Emperor v. J.A. Finan

18

, Baidya Nath Singh v. Muspratt and others

19

and it

was held that the object of provisions of Section 202 (corresponding to

present Section 202 of the Code) was to enable the Magistrate to form an

opinion as to whether process should be issued or not and to remove

from his mind any hesitation that he may have felt upon the mere perusal

of the complaint and the consideration of the complainant’s evidence on

oath. It was further held that an accused person does not come into the

picture at all till process is issued.

25. In Smt. Nagawwa

8

, this Court had an occasion to consider

the scope of the inquiry by the Magistrate under Section 202 of the old

Code. This Court referred to the earlier two decisions in Vadilal Panchal

14

and Chandra Deo Singh

7

and in para 4 of the Report held as under:

15

AIR (1930) Patna 30

16

AIR (1949) Patna 36

17

AIR (1952) Patna 125

18

AIR (1931) Bom 524

19

ILR (1886) XIV Cal 141

1

Page 15 “4. It would thus be clear from the two decisions of

this Court that the scope of the inquiry under Section

202 of the Code of Criminal Procedure is extremely

limited — limited only to the ascertainment of the truth

or falsehood of the allegations made in the complaint

— (i) on the materials placed by the complainant

before the court; (ii) for the limited purpose of finding

out whether a prima facie case for issue of process

has been made out; and (iii) for deciding the question

purely from the point of view of the complainant

without at all adverting to any defence that the

accused may have. In fact it is well settled that in

proceedings under Section 202 the accused has got

absolutely no locus standi and is not entitled to be

heard on the question whether the process should be

issued against him or not.”

26. In Adalat Prasad

9

, a three-Judge Bench of this Court had an

occasion to consider Sections 200, 202 and 204 of the Code. The

scheme of the above provisions was explained in the following manner:

“12. Section 200 contemplates a Magistrate taking

cognizance of an offence on complaint to examine

the complaint and examine upon oath the

complainant and the witnesses present, if any. If on

such examination of the complaint and the

witnesses, if any, the Magistrate if he does not want

to postpone the issuance of process has to dismiss

the complaint under Section 203 if he comes to the

conclusion that the complaint, the statement of the

complainant and the witnesses have not made out

sufficient ground for proceeding. Per contra, if he is

satisfied that there is no need for further inquiry and

the complaint, the evidence adduced at that stage

have materials to proceed, he can proceed to issue

process under Section 204 of the Code.

13. Section 202 contemplates “postponement of

issue of process”. It provides that if the Magistrate on

receipt of a complaint, if he thinks fit, to postpone the

issuance of process against the accused and desires

further inquiry into the case either by himself or

directs an investigation to be made by a police

1

Page 16 officer or by such other person as he thinks fit for the

purpose of deciding whether or not there is sufficient

ground for proceeding, he may do so. In that process

if he thinks it fit he may even take evidence of

witnesses on oath, and after such investigation,

inquiry and the report of the police if sought for by

the Magistrate and if he finds no sufficient ground for

proceeding he can dismiss the complaint by

recording briefly the reasons for doing so as

contemplated under Section 203 of the Code.

14. But after taking cognizance of the complaint and

examining the complainant and the witnesses if he is

satisfied that there is sufficient ground to proceed

with the complaint he can issue process by way of

summons under Section 204 of the Code. Therefore,

what is necessary or a condition precedent for

issuing process under Section 204 is the satisfaction

of the Magistrate either by examination of the

complainant and the witnesses or by the inquiry

contemplated under Section 202 that there is

sufficient ground for proceeding with the complaint

hence issue the process under Section 204 of the

Code. In none of these stages the Code has

provided for hearing the summoned accused, for

obvious reasons because this is only a preliminary

stage and the stage of hearing of the accused would

only arise at a subsequent stage provided for in the

latter provision in the Code. It is true as held by this

Court in Mathew case [(1992) 1 SCC 217] that

before issuance of summons the Magistrate should

be satisfied that there is sufficient ground for

proceeding with the complaint but that satisfaction is

to be arrived at by the inquiry conducted by him as

contemplated under Sections 200 and 202, and the

only stage of dismissal of the complaint arises under

Section 203 of the Code at which stage the accused

has no role to play, therefore, the question of the

accused on receipt of summons approaching the

court and making an application for dismissal of the

complaint under Section 203 of the Code on a

reconsideration of the material available on record is

impermissible because by then Section 203 is

already over and the Magistrate has proceeded

further to Section 204 stage.

1

Page 17 15. It is true that if a Magistrate takes cognizance of

an offence, issues process without there being any

allegation against the accused or any material

implicating the accused or in contravention of

provisions of Sections 200 and 202, the order of the

Magistrate may be vitiated, but then the relief an

aggrieved accused can obtain at that stage is not by

invoking Section 203 of the Code because the

Criminal Procedure Code does not contemplate a

review of an order. Hence in the absence of any

review power or inherent power with the subordinate

criminal courts, the remedy lies in invoking Section

482 of the Code.”

27. The procedural scheme in respect of the complaints made to

Magistrates is provided in Chapter XV of the Code. On a complaint being

made to a Magistrate taking cognizance of an offence, he is required to

examine the complainant on oath and the witnesses, if any, and then on

considering the complaint and the statements on oath, if he is of the

opinion that there is no sufficient ground for proceeding, the complaint

shall be dismissed after recording brief reasons. The Magistrate may also

on receipt of a complaint of which he is authorised to take cognizance

proceed with further inquiry into the allegations made in the complaint

either himself or direct an investigation into the allegations in the

complaint to be made by a police officer or by such other person as he

thinks fit for the purpose of deciding whether or not there is sufficient

ground for proceeding. In that event, the Magistrate in fact postpones the

issue of process. On conclusion of the inquiry by himself or on receipt of

report from the police officer or from such other person who has been

1

Page 18 directed to investigate into the allegations, if, in the opinion of Magistrate

taking cognizance of an offence there is no sufficient ground for

proceeding, complaint is dismissed under Section 203 or where the

Magistrate is of the opinion that there is sufficient ground for proceeding,

then a process is issued. In a summons case, summons for the

attendance of the accused is issued and in a warrant case the Magistrate

may either issue a warrant or a summons for causing the accused to be

brought or to appear before him.

28. Pertinently, Chapter XV uses the expression, “taking

cognizance of an offence” at various places. Although the expression is

not defined in the Code, but it has acquired definite meaning for the

purposes of the Code.

29. In R.R. Chari v. The State of Uttar Pradesh

20

, this Court

stated that taking cognizance did not involve any formal action or indeed

action of any kind but it takes place no sooner a Magistrate applies his

mind to the suspected commission of an offence.

30. In Narayandas Bhagwandas Madhavdas v. The State of

West Bengal

21

, this Court considered the expression, “take cognizance of

offence” with reference to Sections 190(1)(a), 200 and 202 and held as

under :

20

(1951) SCR 312

21

AIR (1959) SC 1118

1

Page 19 “……As to when cognizance is taken of an offence

will depend upon the facts and circumstances of

each case and it is impossible to attempt to define

what is meant by taking cognizance. Issuing of a

search warrant for the purpose of an investigation or

of a warrant of arrest for that purpose cannot by

themselves be regarded as acts by which

cognizance was taken of an offence. Obviously, it is

only when a Magistrate applies his mind for the

purpose of proceeding under S. 200 and subsequent

sections of Ch. XVI of the Code of Criminal

Procedure or under S. 204 of Ch. XVII of the Code

that it can be positively stated that he had applied his

mind and therefore had taken cognizance.”

31. In Darshan Singh Ram Kishan v. State of Maharashtra

22

, the

Court reiterated what was stated in R.R. Chari

20

. It was further explained

that cognizance takes place at a point when a Magistrate first takes

judicial notice of an offence on a complaint, or a police report, or upon

information of a person other than a police officer.

32. In Kishun Singh

5

, while dealing with the expression “taking

cognizance of an offence” the Court said that cognizance can be said to

be taken by a Magistrate when he takes notice of the accusations and

applies his mind to the allegations made in the complaint or police report

or information and on being satisfied that the allegations, if proved, would

constitute an offence, decides to initiate judicial proceedings against the

alleged offender.

22

(1971) 2 SCC 654

1

Page 20 33. In State of West Bengal and another v. Mohd. Khalid and

others

23

, the expression, “taking cognizance of an offence” has been

explained in paragraph 43 of the Report which reads as follows:

“43. Similarly, when Section 20-A(2) of TADA makes

sanction necessary for taking cognizance — it is only

to prevent abuse of power by authorities concerned. It

requires to be noted that this provision of Section 20-

A came to be inserted by Act 43 of 1993. Then, the

question is as to the meaning of taking cognizance.

Section 190 of the Code talks of cognizance of

offences by Magistrates. This expression has not

been defined in the Code. In its broad and literal

sense, it means taking notice of an offence. This

would include the intention of initiating judicial

proceedings against the offender in respect of that

offence or taking steps to see whether there is any

basis for initiating judicial proceedings or for other

purposes. The word ‘cognizance’ indicates the point

when a Magistrate or a Judge first takes judicial

notice of an offence. It is entirely a different thing from

initiation of proceedings; rather it is the condition

precedent to the initiation of proceedings by the

Magistrate or the Judge. Cognizance is taken of

cases and not of persons.”

34. The above cases where the expression, “taking cognizance

of an offence” for the purposes of the Code (old as well as new) has been

explained have been noted by a two-Judge Bench of this Court in Pastor

P. Raju

6

. The Court in para 13 of the Report referred to the distinction

between “taking cognizance of an offence” and “issuance of process” and

observed as under:

23

(1995) 1 SCC 684

2

Page 21 “13. ……..Cognizance is taken at the initial stage

when the Magistrate applies his judicial mind to the

facts mentioned in a complaint or to a police report or

upon information received from any other person that

an offence has been committed. The issuance of

process is at a subsequent stage when after

considering the material placed before it the court

decides to proceed against the offenders against

whom a prima facie case is made out.”

35. On behalf of the appellants, it was submitted that the

direction by the CJM to the Police Officer to investigate into the

allegations made in the complaint amounts to taking cognizance of an

offence and the dismissal of the complaint by the CJM under Section

203 of the Code was after he had taken cognizance of the offence. On the

other hand, on behalf of the respondent no. 1, it was vehemently

contended that dismissal of complaint by the CJM under Section 203 of

the Code was at a pre-cognizance stage. The submission on behalf of the

respondent no. 1 is that no cognizance has been taken by the CJM while

directing the Police Officer to investigate into the allegations of the

complaint.

36. We shall immediately advert to the aspect whether or not

CJM had taken cognizance of the offence and whether the dismissal of

the complaint under Section 203 in the matter was post-taking

cognizance.

37. The word, “cognizance” occurring in various Sections in the

Code is a word of wide import. It embraces within itself all powers and

2

Page 22 authority in exercise of jurisdiction and taking of authoritative notice of the

allegations made in the complaint or a police report or any information

received that offence has been committed. In the context of Sections 200,

202 and 203, the expression `taking cognizance’ has been used in the

sense of taking notice of the complaint or the first information report or

the information that offence has been committed on application of judicial

mind. It does not necessarily mean issuance of process.

38. Having regard to the above legal position, if the order of the

CJM passed on 18.6.2004 is seen, it becomes apparent that he had

applied judicial mind on the complaint that day. The order records, “on

perusing the complaint and the accompanying documents, in the said

matter it is necessary to take into custody the documents mentioned in

the complaint. It is necessary to find out the persons who have forged

signatures on such documents, and record their statements, and to

compare the said signatures with the signatures of the family members of

the complainant, and in this regard obtain the opinion from the

Handwriting Expert, in view of all this such investigations cannot be done

by the Court, in view of this fact below Section 156(3) of Cr.P.C. in the

matter of the said complaint for police investigations it is hereby ordered

to send the said inquiry to the P.I., Umra, Police Station. And, he is

ordered to investigate thoroughly in this matter and within 30 days present

the report before this Court”.

2

Page 23 39. From the above order passed by the CJM, there remains no

doubt that on 18.06.2004, he had taken cognizance although he

postponed issue of process by directing an investigation to be made by

Police Officer. The submission of the learned counsel for the respondent

no.1 that the CJM had not taken cognizance in the matter and the

complaint was dismissed under Section 203 at the pre-cognizance stage

has no substance and is rejected.

40. The question now is, in a matter of this nature where

complaint has been dismissed by the Magistrate under Section 203 post-

cognizance stage and pre-issuance of process, whether on challenge to

the legality of the order of dismissal of complaint being laid by the

complainant in a revision application before the High Court, the persons

who are arraigned as accused in the complaint have a right to be heard.

41. Before we deal with the above question further, some of the

decisions of the High Courts upon which heavy reliance was placed by

the counsel for the respondent no. 1 may be noticed. In Panatar

Arvindbhai Ratilal

12

, a Single Judge of the Gujarat High Court had an

occasion to consider locus standi of the suspects at the stage of grant of

‘C’ Summary. That was a case where the police did not initiate any

investigation for quite some time in respect of an offence registered with

the police station. The complainant approached the CJM wherein

direction for investigation by the police was made. The police after

2

Page 24 investigation submitted report and sought ‘C’ Summary. The complainant

objected to the report submitted by the police as to ‘C’ Summary. The

Magistrate allowed the suspects to be heard against which the

complainant filed the criminal revision before the Sessions Judge. The

Sessions Judge agreed with the complainant and overruled the order of

the Magistrate allowing the accused to make submission. There were

seven accused in the complaint and two of them approached the High

Court against the order of the Sessions Judge. The Single Judge of the

High Court confirmed the order of Sessions Judge. The Magistrate

thereafter heard the complainant and granted ‘C’ Summary. Against that

order, the complainant filed a revision before the Sessions Judge. Two

accused who had earlier challenged the order of the Sessions Judge

before the High Court applied to the Sessions Judge for permission to

make submission in support of the order of the Magistrate. The Sessions

Judge allowed the application made by the accused against which order

the complainant filed criminal revision before the High Court. The High

Court noted the provisions contained in Sections 397(2) and 403 of the

Code and then held that allowing the suspects to be heard at this stage

would amount to permitting them to have their say at the stage which is

not contemplated by the Code and it would be giving a premature hearing

to the accused. The High Court was persuaded by the submission of the

2

Page 25 complainant that an accused cannot be given pre-trial hearing. The High

Court observed as follows :

“6. The views consistently expressed by this Court as

well as by the Supreme Court about the hearing of the

suspects at the stage of granting of 'C’ summary or

not is clearly to the effect that they have no locus

standi.

7. In this background we turn to the submission made

under Section 403 of the Code of Criminal Procedure,

by learned Advocate Shri J.R. Nanavati. There again

at first sight it might appear that party referred to in

the said section could be a party other than one

arrayed before the Court on either side, but when we

realise that the matter to be dealt with under Chapter

30 of the Code of Criminal Procedure wherein occurs

Section 403 power is that of a Revision and it being

the power exercised by the Court, a party may or may

not be heard as the Court may decide and this alone

would explain the inclusion of Section 403 in that

Chapter.

8. Otherwise all the procedural laws have as its

foundation the maxim Audi Alterem Partem and at all

stages wherever the need be there are provision for

issuance of notice and making sure that the party

against whom the orders are being sought is heard.

Therefore, there was no need of inclusion of Section

403 at the place where we find it and we can

appreciate it only and only if bearing in mind the fact

that it being a chapter dealing with revisional

jurisdiction which is expressly privilege of the Court

realising the order of subordinate Court that there

might be an occasion, the party need not be or may

not be heard, and therefore, there is a specific

provision in that behalf.

9. Once we appreciate the aforesaid section in this

light of submissions made by learned Advocate Shri

Nanavati pertaining to the aforesaid decision of the

Gujarat High Court as well as that of the Supreme

Court on hearing of the suspects at the stage of

granting of 'C' summary, can also be understood

2

Page 26 because the same principle will apply whether the

accused are being dealt with under Chapter 13 or 17

of the Code of Criminal Procedure or under Chapter

30 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, as the case

may be, the principle will not alter and more so when

we appreciate the inclusion of Section 403 of the

Code of Criminal Procedure, it becomes quite clear

that the principle on the contrary would be reinforced.”

42. The Madhya Pradesh High Court in Ratanlal Soni

13

was

concerned with the legality of an order passed by Additional Sessions

Judge without notice to the accused persons who were arrayed as non-

applicants therein. The Single Judge of that Court referred to two

decisions of this Court in Chandra Deo Singh

7

and Smt. Nagawwa

8

and

couple of decisions of the High Court and stated in paragraph 6 of the

Report as under :

“6. In view of the aforesaid enunciation of law it is

luminously clear that the accused-has no locus standi

to appear and participate before the process is

issued. This being the accepted position of law it can

safely be concluded that when a revision is filed

challenging the order refusing to take cognizance the

accused has no locus standi to contest. He is not a

necessary party. The determination is to be made by

the Court to find out the approach of the Court below

and to scrutinise the justifiability of the order refusing

to take cognizance. This being the position of law

disposal of revision by the revisional Court without

issuing notice to the non-applicant is not infirm or

pregnable. Once it has been held that the accused

persons have no role to play before process is issued

the revision at their instance challenging the order of

the revisional Court directing the Magistrate to

reconsider the matter is not tenable as they cannot

raise grievance in regard to the same as yet there is

no direction for issuance of process.”

2

Page 27 43. A Single Judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court in

Gurdeep Singh

11

was concerned with a petition under Section 482 of the

Code filed by the accused seeking quashment of the order passed by the

Sessions Judge setting aside the order of the CJM whereby the complaint

was dismissed for want of prosecution. The dismissal of complaint by the

CJM for want of prosecution was at the initial stage. The challenge to the

order of the Sessions Judge by the accused was on the ground that the

Sessions Judge while allowing the revision application had infringed the

provisions of Section 401(2) of the Code inasmuch as no opportunity of

being heard was given to the accused although the complaint was

dismissed for want of prosecution. The Single Judge of that Court took

the view as follows :

“14. …….By no stretch of imagination, in my opinion,

the accused can seek the setting aside of the order

passed by the Sessions Judge on the ground that

the said order was passed by the Sessions Judge

without issuing notice to the accused. As referred to

above, the accused petitioner cannot take benefit of

provisions of Section 401(2) Cr.P.C. as it could not

be said that any order to the prejudice or against the

petitioner had been passed by the learned Sessions

Judge. On the other hand, the order, - vide which the

complaint was dismissed for want of prosecution

was set aside by the learned Sessions Judge. If the

case of the accused petitioner was not covered

under Section 401(2) Cr.P.C., it was not at all

necessary for the learned Sessions Judge to have

heard the accused petitioner while setting aside the

order of the learned Magistrate in view of the

provisions of Section 403 Cr.P.C. Even otherwise in

view of the proviso to Section 398 Cr.P.C. only the

person who was discharged had a right to be heard

2

Page 28 before the order of discharge could be set aside in

revision by the Court of Sessions in exercise of its

revisional jurisdiction. In this view of the matter, in

my opinion, the contention of the learned counsel for

the accused petitioner that the order passed by the

learned Sessions Judge was liable to be set aside

only on the ground that the accused petitioner was

not heard, could not be sustained.”

44. In Tata Motors Limited, Single Judge of the High Court was

concerned with controversy arising out of complaint which was dismissed

by the Metropolitan Magistrate under Section 203 of the Code in limine. In

the revision petition filed under Section 397 read with Section 401 and

Section 482 of the Code, it was contended on behalf of the complainant

that the Metropolitan Magistrate erred in taking into consideration possible

defence of the accused instead of ascertaining whether on a

consideration of the complaint and the pre-summoning evidence, a prima

facie case had been made out for summoning the accused for the offence

mentioned in the complaint. It was also argued on behalf of the

complainant before the High Court that the accused persons have not yet

been summoned and even cognizance of the case has not been taken by

the Metropolitan Magistrate and, therefore, there was no occasion at all

for the accused persons to be heard. It was also argued on behalf of the

complainant that at the pre-cognizance stage, there was no question of

the accused being given an opportunity even in a revision petition filed by

the complainant against the order of dismissal of complaint. On the

contrary, on behalf of the accused persons it was argued that under

2

Page 29 Section 401(2) of the Code, if adverse order is going to be passed in

revision petition which might prejudice either the accused or any other

person then such a person has to be mandatorily given an opportunity of

being heard either personally or by pleader in defence. The Single Judge

of that Court on consideration of the submissions of the parties and the

decisions cited before him culled out the legal position as follows :

“20.xxxxxxxxx

(1)There is a distinction to be drawn between the

criminal complaint cases which are at the pre-

cognizance stage and those at the post-

cognizance stage. There is a further distinction

to be drawn between the cases at the post-

cognizance but pre-summoning stage and

those at the post-summoning stage.

(2)It is only at the post-summoning stage that the

respondents in a criminal complaint would answer the

description of an ‘accused’. Till then they are like any

other member of the public. Therefore at the pre-

summoning stage the question of their right to be

heard in a revision petition by the complainant in their

capacity as “accused” in terms of Section 401(2)

CrPC does not arise.

(3) At the post-cognizance but pre-summoning

stage, a person against whom the complaint is

filed might have a right to be heard under the

rubric of ‘other person’ under Section 401(2)

CrPC. If the learned MM has not taken the

cognizance of the offence then no right

whatsoever accrues to such “other person” to be

heard in a revision petition.

(4) Further, it is not that in every revision petition

filed by the complainant under Section 401(2) CrPC, a

right of hearing has to be given to such “other person”

or the accused against whom the criminal complaint

has been filed. The right accrues only if the order to

2

Page 30 be passed in the revision petition is prejudicial to such

person or the accused. An order giving a specific

direction to the learned MM to either proceed with the

case either at the post-cognizance or post-

summoning stage or a direction to register an FIR

with a direction to the learned MM to proceed

thereafter might be orders prejudicial to the

respondents in a criminal complaint which would

therefore require them to be heard prior, to the

passing of such order.”

45. On facts obtaining in the case, the Single Judge observed

that the Metropolitan Magistrate had not even taken cognizance of the

offences and, therefore, there was no question of the applicants being

heard at the stage of revision application.

46. The above decision of the Delhi High Court in Tata Motors

Limited came up for consideration of that Court in Prakash Devi and

others v. State of Delhi and another [Criminal Miscellaneous Case No.

2626/2009 decided on February 5, 2010]. The Single Judge, on facts of

the case which were under consideration before him, observed that the

Magistrate had dismissed the complaint filed by the complainant after

taking into consideration the status report filed by the police. The

Magistrate had not examined the complainant and other witnesses under

Section 202 of the Code and in the revision filed by the complainant the

revisional court had remanded the matter to the Magistrate to grant

another opportunity to the complainant to lead pre-summoning evidence

and to proceed in the matter in accordance with law and, therefore, there

3

Page 31 was no occasion for the Sessions Judge to accord hearing to the accused

persons. The High Court held as under:

“16. …….As already discussed above, the character

of the petitioner was still not that of an accused as

the complaint filed by the respondent was dismissed

under Section 203 Cr.P.C. and since the matter was

remanded back to the Magistrate to grant

opportunity to the complainant to lead pre-

summoning evidence, therefore, the said order does

not cause any prejudice to the rights of the

petitioner. Even after the said remand, the fate of the

complaint case could either be dismissal under

Section 203 or under 204 Cr.P.C., if the Court with

the fresh material before it, comes to the conclusion

to proceed against the respondent. Since in the

present case the process was not yet issued against

the petitioner and the complaint was dismissed

under S. 203 of Cr.P.C., therefore, preceding the

said stage, the petitioner had no right to seek

opportunity of hearing before the Revisional Court in

the light of the legal position discussed above.”

47. It may not be out of place to refer to an earlier decision of the

Delhi High Court in A.S. Puri v. K.L. Ahuja

24

. In that case, inter alia, the

question before the High Court was whether Additional Sessions Judge

had committed an error in hearing the arguments of the accused’s

counsel to whom he had not ordered notice of the revision petition filed

before him by the complainant. The Single Judge of that Court dealt with

the question as under :

“25. …..This question need not detain us because the

learned Additional Sessions Judge had invited the

24

AIR 1970 Delhi 214

3

Page 32 counsel for Mr. Puri to address arguments, when he

was present in Court at the time of the hearing of the

revision petition. It appears that notice of the revision

petition did go to Mr. Puri but as it appears from the

docket the learned Additional Sessions Judge had

only ordered notice to the respondent, which was the

State. If even by any error committed by the Officer of

the learned Magistrate, notice had also gone to Mr.

Puri nothing prevented the learned Additional

Sessions Judge from hearing Mr. Puri for it was his

discretion to hear him. A Full Bench of the Calcutta

High Court, consisting of eight Judges, pointed out in

Hari Dass Sanyal v. Saritulla, (1888) ILR 15 Cal 608

(FB), that while no notice to an accused person was

necessary in point of law before disposing of a

revision petition directed against the order of

dismissal under Section 203, Criminal Procedure

Code and ordering a further enquiry as a matter of

discretion it was proper that such a notice was given.

In spite of that the learned Additional Sessions Judge

had set aside the order of dismissal. In this situation

the complainant cannot make any further grievance of

this.”

48. The legal position is fairly well-settled that in the proceedings

under Section 202 of the Code the accused/suspect is not entitled to be

heard on the question whether the process should be issued against him

or not. As a matter of law, upto the stage of issuance of process, the

accused cannot claim any right of hearing. Section 202 contemplates

postponement of issue of process where the Magistrate is of an opinion

that further inquiry into the complaint either by himself is required and he

proceeds with the further inquiry or directs an investigation to be made by

a Police Officer or by such other person as he thinks fit for the purpose of

deciding whether or not there is sufficient ground for proceeding. If the

3

Page 33 Magistrate finds that there is no sufficient ground for proceeding with the

complaint and dismisses the complaint under Section 203 of the Code,

the question is whether a person accused of crime in the complaint can

claim right of hearing in a revision application preferred by the

complainant against the order of the dismissal of the complaint. The

Parliament being alive to the legal position that the accused/suspects are

not entitled to be heard at any stage of the proceedings until issuance of

process under Section 204, yet in Section 401(2) of the Code provided

that no order in exercise of the power of the revision shall be made by the

Sessions Judge or the High Court, as the case may be, to the prejudice

of the accused or the other person unless he had an opportunity of being

heard either personally or by pleader in his own defence. Three

expressions, “prejudice”, “other person” and “in his own defence” in

Section 401(2) are significant for understanding their true scope, ambit

and width. Black’s Law Dictionary [Eighth Edition] explains “prejudice” to

mean damage or detriment to one’s legal rights or claims. Concise Oxford

English Dictionary [Tenth Edition, Revised] defines “prejudice” as under :

“1. Preconceived opinion that is not based on reason

or actual experience. > unjust behaviour formed on

such a basis. 2. harm or injury that results or may

result from some action or judgment. v.1 give rise to

prejudice in (someone); make biased. 2. cause harm

to (a state of affairs)”.

3

Page 34 49. Webster Comprehensive Dictionary [International Edition]

explains “prejudice” to mean (i) a judgment or opinion, favourable or

unfavourable, formed beforehand or without due examination …….;

detriment arising from a hasty and unfair judgment; injury; harm.

50. P. Ramanatha Aiyar; the Law Lexicon [The Encyclopaedic

Law Dictionary] explains “prejudice” to mean injurious effect, injury to or

impairment of a right, claim, statement etc.

51. “Prejudice” is generally defined as meaning “to the harm, to

the injury, to the disadvantage of someone”. It also means injury or loss.

52. The expression “other person” in the context of Section

401(2) means a person other than accused. It includes suspects or the

persons alleged in the complaint to have been involved in an offence

although they may not be termed as accused at a stage before issuance

of process.

53. The expression “in his own defence” comprehends, inter alia,

for the purposes of Section 401(2), in defence of the order which is under

challenge in revision before the Sessions Judge or the High Court.

54. In a case where the complaint has been dismissed by the

Magistrate under Section 203 of the Code either at the stage of Section

3

Page 35 200 itself or on completion of inquiry by the Magistrate under Section 202

or on receipt of the report from the police or from any person to whom the

direction was issued by the Magistrate to investigate into the allegations

in the complaint, the effect of such dismissal is termination of complaint

proceedings. On a plain reading of sub-section (2) of Section 401, it

cannot be said that the person against whom the allegations of having

committed offence have been made in the complaint and the complaint

has been dismissed by the Magistrate under Section 203, has no right to

be heard because no process has been issued. The dismissal of

complaint by the Magistrate under Section 203 – although it is at

preliminary stage – nevertheless results in termination of proceedings in a

complaint against the persons who are alleged to have committed crime.

Once a challenge is laid to such order at the instance of the complainant

in a revision petition before the High Court or Sessions Judge, by virtue of

Section 401(2) of the Code, the suspects get right of hearing before

revisional court although such order was passed without their

participation. The right given to “accused” or “the other person” under

Section 401(2) of being heard before the revisional court to defend an

order which operates in his favour should not be confused with the

proceedings before a Magistrate under Sections 200, 202, 203 and 204.

In the revision petition before the High Court or the Sessions Judge at

the instance of complainant challenging the order of dismissal of

3

Page 36 complaint, one of the things that could happen is reversal of the order of

the Magistrate and revival of the complaint. It is in this view of the matter

that the accused or other person cannot be deprived of hearing on the

face of express provision contained in Section 401(2) of the Code. The

stage is not important whether it is pre-process stage or post process

stage.

55. In P. Sundarrajan

1

, a two-Judge Bench of this Court was

concerned with a case where a complaint under Section 420 IPC came to

be dismissed by the Judicial Magistrate. Against the order of dismissal of

the complaint, the complainant preferred revision petition before the High

Court. The High Court was of the view that no notice was necessary to

the suspects for disposal of the revision and set aside the order of the

Magistrate and directed the Magistrate to proceed with the complaint

afresh in accordance with law. Against the order of the High Court, the

suspects approached this Court under Article 136. The Court granted

leave and allowed the appeal, set aside the order of the High Court and

sent the matter back to the High Court with a direction to issue proper

notice to the persons accused of the crime in the complaint and proceed

with the revision petition after affording them a reasonable opportunity of

hearing. This Court in paragraphs 5 and 6 of the Report (Pg. 472 and

473) held as under:

3

Page 37 “5. In our opinion, this order of the High Court is ex

facie unsustainable in law by not giving an opportunity

to the appellant herein to defend his case that the

learned Judge violated all principles of natural justice

as also the requirement of law of hearing a party

before passing an adverse order.

6. We have, therefore, no hesitation in allowing this

appeal, setting aside the impugned judgment and

remanding the matter to the High Court to issue

proper notice to the appellant herein who is the

respondent in the criminal revision petition before it

and afford him a reasonable opportunity of hearing

and to pass appropriate orders. The appeal is

allowed.”

56. In Raghu Raj Singh Rousha

2

, a two-Judge Bench of this

Court was faced with a question whether, in the facts and circumstances

of the case, the High Court in exercise of its jurisdiction under Sections

397 and 401 of the Code was justified in passing an order in the absence

of the accused persons. That was a case where a complaint was filed

under Section 200 of the Code in respect of offences punishable under

Sections 323, 382, 420, 465, 468, 471, 120-B, 506 and 34 of IPC. Along

with the complaint, an application under Section 156(3) was also made.

The Metropolitan Magistrate passed an order refusing to direct

investigation under Section 156(3) and the complainant was asked to lead

pre-summoning evidence. The complainant aggrieved by the order of the

Metropolitan Magistrate filed a revision petition before the High Court. The

High Court with the consent of the APP appearing for the State set aside

the order of the Metropolitan Magistrate with a direction to him to examine

3

Page 38 the matter afresh after calling for a report from the police authorities. It is

from this order that the matter reached this Court at the instance of the

suspect/accused. The Court observed that if the Metropolitan Magistrate

had taken cognizance of the offence and issuance of summons upon the

accused persons had been merely postponed, in a criminal revision filed

on behalf of complainant, the accused was entitled to be heard before the

High Court. Sections 397, 399 and 401 were noticed by this Court and so

also few earlier decisions including Chandra Deo Singh

7

, Vadilal

Panchal

14

, P. Sundarrajan

1

and then in paragraphs 22 and 23 (Pg. 369)

of the Report, the Court held as under :

“22. Here, however, the learned Magistrate had

taken cognizance. He had applied his mind. He

refused to exercise his jurisdiction under Section

156(3) of the Code. He arrived at a conclusion that

the dispute is a private dispute in relation to an

immovable property and, thus, police investigation is

not necessary. It was only with that intent in view, he

directed examination of the complainant and his

witnesses so as to initiate and complete the

procedure laid down under Chapter XV of the Code.

23. We, therefore, are of the opinion that the

impugned judgment cannot be sustained and is set

aside accordingly. The High Court shall implead the

appellant as a party in the criminal revision

application, hear the matter afresh and pass an

appropriate order.”

57. In a comparatively recent order in A. N. Santhanam

3

, a two-

Judge Bench of this Court was concerned with a question, whether the

3

Page 39 High Court committed an error in disposing of the criminal revision petition

filed by the complainant without any notice to the accused. On behalf of

the accused/suspect, it was argued that the High Court committed the

error in disposing of the criminal revision without any notice to him. On the

other hand, on behalf of the complainant it was argued that no notice as

such was required to be issued to the accused as it was at the stage of

taking cognizance. The Court considered Section 401, particularly, sub-

section (2) thereof and held as under :

“A plain reading of Clause (2) of the said provision

makes it abundantly clear that the High Court in

exercise of its revisional power cannot pass any

order which may cause prejudice to the accused or

other persons unless he has an opportunity of being

heard either personally or by pleader in his own

defence.

In the instant case it cannot be said that the rights of

the appellant have not been affected by the order of

revision. The complaint filed by the respondent

which was rejected for whatsoever reasons has

been resurrected with a direction to the Magistrate to

proceed with the complaint. Undoubtedly, whether

the appellant herein was an accused or not but his

right has been affected and the impugned order has

resulted in causing prejudice to him.

In the circumstances, we are of the view that the

decision cited by the learned counsel for the

respondent has no application whatsoever to the

facts situation. In fact the decision of this Court was

in a case where the complaint was taken cognizance

and not a case where the compliant was rejected. In

the circumstances, we hold that the High Court

committed an error in allowing the revision filed by

the respondent herein without any notice to the

appellant.

3

Page 40 For the aforesaid reasons, the impugned order is

set aside and the Criminal Revision Case No. 1045

of 2003 shall stand restored to its file for hearing and

disposal on merits after notice to the appellant

herein.”

58. We are in complete agreement with the view expressed by

this Court in P. Sundarrajan

1

, Raghu Raj Singh Rousha

2

and A. N.

Santhanam

3

. We hold, as it must be, that in a revision petition preferred

by complainant before the High Court or the Sessions Judge challenging

an order of the Magistrate dismissing the complaint under Section 203 of

the Code at the stage under Section 200 or after following the process

contemplated under Section 202 of the Code, the accused or a person

who is suspected to have committed crime is entitled to hearing by the

revisional court. In other words, where complaint has been dismissed by

the Magistrate under Section 203 of the Code, upon challenge to the

legality of the said order being laid by the complainant in a revision

petition before the High Court or the Sessions Judge, the persons who

are arraigned as accused in the complaint have a right to be heard in

such revision petition. This is a plain requirement of Section 401(2) of the

Code. If the revisional court overturns the order of the Magistrate

dismissing the complaint and the complaint is restored to the file of the

Magistrate and it is sent back for fresh consideration, the persons who

are alleged in the complaint to have committed crime have, however, no

right to participate in the proceedings nor they are entitled to any hearing

4

Page 41 of any sort whatsoever by the Magistrate until the consideration of the

matter by the Magistrate for issuance of process. We answer the question

accordingly. The judgments of the High Courts to the contrary are

overruled.

59. In view of the above position, the impugned order dated

5.8.2005 cannot be sustained and is liable to be set aside and, is set

aside. The appellants’ application for impleadment in the criminal

revision petition stands allowed. High Court shall now hear the matter

and dispose of the criminal revision petition in accordance with law. The

appeal is allowed as above.

………..…………… .J.

(R.M. Lodha)

………… .…………………… .J.

(Chandramauli Kr. Prasad)

…………………………………… .J.

(Sudhansu Jyoti Mukhopadhaya)

NEW DELHI.

OCTOBER 1, 2012.

4