Harjit Singh v. State NCT Of Delhi & ORS.

$~33 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + HARJIT SINGH ..... Petitioner Represented by:

Mr.Satvinder Singh, Advocate versus STATE OF NCT OF DELHI & ORS.

..... Respondent Represented by:

Mr.Rajesh Mahajan, ASC for the State with SI Mahesh, PS IGI Airport R-3 in person

CORAM:

HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE MUKTA GUPTA

O R D E R

% 06.12.2018 1.

By the present petition, the petitioner seeks quashing of FIR No. 129/2018 registered at PS IGI Airport, New Delhi under Section 25 Arms Act, 1959 and the proceedings emanating therefrom. 2.

The allegations against the petitioner are that on 21st March 2018, at about 12:02 A.M. when he was travelling from Delhi to London his baggage was referred for physical check wherein one ammunition and two empty shells were recovered. Since the petitioner could not produce any valid license for the ammunition, the present FIR was registered. The cartridges were sent to FSL and as per the report one recovered cartridge was a live one and could be fired through .32 bore firearm while the other two were fired empty cartridges.

3.

During interrogation, the petitioner disclosed that he had valid license for the State of Punjab and the recovered cartridge and shell belonged to his younger brother Sandeep Singh. He had borrowed his brother's bag to carry with him during travel.

The Arms Licence number 011500/DM/ASR/PS/Khalchain/Jan-2016 belonging to the petitioner and

Arms License number 010486/DM/ASR/PS/Khalchain/Jan-2015 belonging to the petitioner's brother were verified from the office of District Magistrate, Punjab and the same were found to be genuine. The purchase of the recovered ammunition was also verified from H.B. Singh Gun House and were found to be issued against the said Arms License. 4.

Supreme Court in its decision reported as (1972) 2 SCC 194 Gunwantlal v. State of Madhya Pradesh held:

"The possession of a firearm under the Arms Act must have, firstly the element of consciousness or knowledge of that possession in the person charged with such offence and secondly, where he has not the actual physical possession, he has nonetheless a power or control over that weapon so that his possession thereon continues besides physical possession being in someone else. The first pre-condition for an offence under Section 25(1)(a) is the element of intention, consciousness or knowledge with which a person possessed the firearm before it can be said to constitute an offence and secondly that possession need not be physical possession but can be constructive, having power and control over the gun, while the person to whom physical possession is given holds it subject to that power and control.

In any disputed question of possession, specific facts admitted or proved alone will establish the existence of the de facto relation of control or the dominion of the person over it necessary to determine whether that person was or was not in possession of the thing in question. In this view it is difficult to postulate as to what the evidence will be. If the possession of the appellant includes the constructive possession of the firearm in question then even though he had parted with physical possession on the date when it was recovered, he will nonetheless be deemed to be in possession of that firearm.

5.

It is trite law that the power of the High Court under Section 482 Cr.P.C. is required to be exercised ex debito justitiae to prevent abuse of process of the Court but should not be exercised to stifle legitimate

prosecution and the High Court cannot assume the role of a Trial Court and embark upon an enquiry as to the reliability of evidence and sustainability of accusation on a reasonable appreciation of such evidence. However, if on the face of the charge-sheet the ingredients of the offences are not disclosed, the High Court would be within its power to quash a frivolous proceedings. [See State of A.P. v. Golconda Linga Swamy & Anr. (2004) 6 SCC 522] 6.

The Division Bench of this Court in Gaganjot Singh v. State W.P.(CRL.) 1169/2014 decided on 01.12.2014 in a case of recovery of a solitary live cartridge found from the possession of the petitioner therein, who expressed his lack of awareness as the bag recovered belonged to his uncle and held that the possession of the petitioner therein was not conscious and quashed the proceedings.

7.

Similar view was expressed by this Court in Juan Manuel Sanchez Rosas v. State through NCT Delhi & Anr., Crl.M.C.2642/2014; Jaswinder Singh v. State Govt. of NCT of Delhi & Anr., Crl.M.C. 4207/2014 and Sonam Chaudhary v. The State (Govt. of NCT Delhi) Crl.M.C.471/2015. 8.

As is evident from the material on record, the petitioner and his brother hold valid Arms licenses and inadvertently cartridges were recovered from the bag which he was carrying. Thus, there is no material to form a prima-facie opinion that the petitioner was in conscious possession of the cartridges without a license.

9.

In view of the discussion aforesaid, FIR No. 129/2018 under Section 25 Arms Act registered at PS IGI Airport, New Delhi and the proceedings emanating therefrom are hereby quashed.

10.

Petition is disposed of.

MUKTA GUPTA, J.

DECEMBER 06, 2018 mamta