S.Satish Raja v. The Forest Range Officer

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 05.06.2020

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.K.ILANTHIRAIYAN CRL.O.P.No.1127 of 2016 and Crl.MP.No.502 of 2016 1.S.Satish Raja 2.G.Prakash 3.N.S.Velusamy 4.M.Senthil Kumar ... Petitioners Vs.

The Forest Range Officer, Bhavani Sagar Reserve Forest, Bhavani Sagar, Erode Dist.

(W.L.O.R.No.5 of 2014) ... Respondent PRAYER: Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 of Cr.P.C. praying to call for the records of the Impugned report in W.L.O.R.No.5 of 2014 on the file of the Forest Range Officer, Bhavani Sagar and quash the same.

For Petitioners: Mr.A.M.Rahamath Ali For Respondent : Mr.M.Mohamed Riyaz Additional Public Prosecutor.

O R D E R

This petition has been filed to quash the impugned report in W.L.O.R.No.5 of 2014 on the file of the Forest Range Officer, Bhavani Sagar.

2.

The learned Counsel appearing for the petitioners would submit that the petitioners are innocent and they have not committed any offence as alleged by the prosecution. Without any base, the respondent has passed the impugned report in W.L.O.R.No.5 of 2014 on the file of the Forest Range Officer, Bhavani Sagar. Hence he prayed to quash the same. 3.

The learned Additional Public Prosecutor would submit that the investigation is almost completed and the respondent has only to file final report.

4.

Heard Mr.A.M.Rahamath Ali, learned counsel appearing for the petitioners and Mr.M.Mohamed Riyaz, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the respondent. 5.

It is seen from the impugned report in W.L.O.R.No.5 of 2014 on the file of the Forest Range Officer, Bhavani Sagar that there are specific allegations as against the petitioners to attract the offences, which has to be investigated in depth. Further, W.L.O.R.No.5 of 2014 is not an encyclopedia and it need not contain all facts and it cannot be quashed in the threshold. This Court finds that impugned report in W.L.O.R.No.5 of 2014 is closes prima facie commission of cognizable offence and as such this Court cannot interfere with the investigation. The investigating machinery has to step in to investigate, grab and unearth the crime in accordance with the procedures prescribed in the Code. 6.

It is relevant to rely upon the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India passed in Crl.A.No.255 of 2019 dated 12.02.2019 in the case of Sau. Kamal Shivaji Pokarnekar vs. the State of Maharashtra & ors., as follows:- "4. The only point that arises for our consideration in this case is whether the High Court was right in setting aside the order by which process was issued. It is settled law that the Magistrate, at the stage of taking cognizance and summoning, is required to apply his judicial mind only with a view to taking cognizance of the offence, or in other words, to find out whether a prima facie case has been made out for summoning the accused persons. The learned Magistrate is not required to evaluate the merits of the material or evidence in support of the complaint, because the Magistrate must not undertake the exercise to find out whether the materials would lead to a conviction or not.

5.

Quashing the criminal proceedings is called for only in a case where the complaint does not disclose any offence, or is frivolous, vexatious, or oppressive. If the allegations set out in the complaint do not constitute the offence of which cognizance has been taken by the Magistrate, it is open to the High Court to quash the same. It is not necessary that a meticulous analysis of the case should be done before the Trial to find out whether the case would

end in conviction or acquittal. If it appears on a reading of the complaint and consideration of the allegations therein, in the light of the statement made on oath that the ingredients of the offence are disclosed, there would be no justification for the High Court to interfere.

......................

9. Having heard the learned Senior Counsel and examined the material on record, we are of the considered view that the High Court ought not to have set aside the order passed by the Trial Court issuing summons to the Respondents. A perusal of the complaint discloses that prima facie, offences that are alleged against the Respondents.

The correctness or otherwise of the said allegations has to be decided only in the Trial. At the initial stage of issuance of process it is not open to the Courts to stifle the proceedings by entering into the merits of the contentions made on behalf of the accused. Criminal complaints cannot be quashed only on the ground that the allegations made therein appear to be of a civil nature. If the ingredients of the offence alleged against the accused are prima facie made out in the complaint, the criminal proceeding shall not be interdicted."

7.

In view of the above discussion, this Court is not inclined to quash the impugned report in W.L.O.R.No.5 of 2014 on the file of the Forest Range Officer, Bhavani Sagar. Accordingly, this Criminal Original Petition stands dismissed. However, considering the crime is of the year 2014, the respondent is directed to complete the investigation in W.L.O.R.No.5 of 2014 and file a final report within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of copy of this Order, before the jurisdiction Magistrate, if not already filed. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. Sd/- Assistant Registrar(CS-III) //True copy// Sub Assistant Registrar dm

To

1. The Forest Range Officer, Bhavani Sagar Reserve Forest, Bhavani Sagar, Erode Dist.

2. The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.

CRL.O.P.No.1127 of 2016 and Crl.MP.No.502 of 2016 RLD(CO) GMY(28/07/2020)