RAGHBIR SINGH versus STATE OF HARYANA

VENKATARAMIAH, J. The short question which arises for deci sion in this petition under Article 32 of the Constitution is whetherit is open to a person who is undergoing imprisonment on being convicted of an offence committed by him to claim that the period occupied by the investigation or inquiry carried on and the trial held while he was undergoing imprisonment in respect of another offence alleged to have been committed by him should be set off against the term of imprisonment imposed on him on being convicted of the latter offence, under section 428 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Code'). '

p. 725, margin F

The facts relevant for the purpose of this case are these: The petitioner was convicted of an offence punishable under section 3 07 of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for seven years and to pay a fine of Rs. 100/- in a Sessions Case on February I, 1980 by the Addi. Sessions Judge, Karna!. In the same case, he was also convicted of an offence punishable under section 459 of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for five years and to pay a fine of Rs. JOO/-. Both the sentences of imprisonment were directed to run concurrently. The petitioner was in judicial custody with effect from January 11, 1980 in another case F.I.R. No. 315/78 under sections 457/380/411 of the Indian Penal Code before a Metropolitan Magistrate at Delhi. That case ended in his conviction on February 16, 1981 for an offence punishable·under section 457 of the Indian Penal (ode and he was sentenced to undergo imprisonment for one year and to pay a fine of Rs. 200/-. In the same case he was convicted of an offence punishable under section 380 of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for four months and to pay fine. The two sentences of imprisonment imposed in this case were directed to run concurrently. In this case it was further ordered that the petitioner was entitled to the set off as provided by section 428 of the Code. It is not necessary to refer to the other case or cases in which he has also been convicted in order to decide the issue involved in this case.

p. 726

The petitioner is undergoing rigorous imprisonment for seven years as directed by the Add]. Sessions Judge, Karna! in the Sessions case from February I, 1980 at the District Jail at Rohtak. The sentences of imprisonment imposed by the Metropolitan Magistrate, Delhi will commence to run at the expiration of the imprisonment imposed by the Addi. Sessions Judge, Karna! as prescribed by section 427 of the Code since the court has not directed that the subsequent sentence shall run concurrently with the previous sentence. The petitioner. however, contends that since he was in judicial cnstody from Jannary II, 1980 in connection with the investigation and trial of the case which ended in his conviction by the Metropolitan Magistrate on February 16, 1981, the whole of the peri11d between January 11, 1980 and February 16, 1981 should be set off against the sentence of imprisonment imposed by the Metropolitan Magistrate, Delhi. This claim of the petitioner is contested by the State Government of 1-laryana. It is urged on behalf of the State Government that_ while the petitioner is entitled to set off under section 428 of the Code, the period between January II, 1980 and February I, 1980 on which date he was sentenced to imprisonment for seven years by the Add!. Sessions Judge, Karna! against the sentence of imprisonment imposed by the Metropolitan Magistrate, Delhi, the period between February l, 1980 and Ferbuary 16, 1981 on which date the petitioner was convicted by the Metropoliton Magistrate, Delhi cannot be set off since during that period the petitioner was actually undergoing imprisonment imposed on him in the Sessions case. The State Government has relied in support of its contention on the instruction issued by the High Court of Punjab and Haryana in No. 29442 Rules VI.V.38 dated November 29, 1975, the relevant part of which reads thus:

pp. 726–727, margin E

"The period of detention undergone by a convict in execution of sentence of imprisonment imposed on him by a court of law while facing inquiry or trial in some other case(s) should not be set off against the term of imprisonment imposed on him on conviction in such other case(s)."

p. 727, margin C

We are concerned in the present case with the correctness of the above instruction.

p. 727, margin D

Section 428 of the Code reads thus: "428. Period of detention undergone by the accused to be set off against the sentence of imprisonment-Where an accused person has, on conviction, been sentenced to imprisonment for a term not being imprisonment in default of payment of fine, the period of detention, if any, undergone by him during the investigation, inquiry or trial of the same case and before the date of such conviction, shall be set off against the term of imprisonment imposed on him on such conviction, and the liability of such person to undergo imprisonment on such conviction shall be restricted to the remainder, if any, of the term of imprisonment imposed on him."

p. 727, margin D

There was no provision corresponding to section 428 of the Code in the Code: of Criminal Procedure, 1898 which was repealed and replaced by the present Code. It was introduced with the object of remedyin.g the unsatisfactory state of affairs that was prevailing when the former Code was in force. It was then found that many persons were being detained in prison at the pre-conviction stage for unduly Jong periods, many times for periods longer than the actual sentence of imprisonment that could be imposed on them on conviction. In order to remedy the above situation, section 428 of the Code was enacted. It provides for the setting off of the period of detention as an under trial prisoner against the sentence of imprisonment imposed on him. Hence in order to secure the benefit of section 428 of the Code, the prisoner should show that he had been detained in prison for the purpose of investigation, inquiry or trial of the case in which he is later on convicted and sentenced. It follows that if a person is undergoing the sentence of imprisonment imposed by a court of law on being convicted of an offence in one case during the period of investigation, inquiry or trial of some other case, he cannot claim that the period occupied by such investigation, inquiry or trial should be set off against the sentence of imprisonment to be imposed in the latter case even though he was under detention during such period. In such a case the period of detention is really a part of the period of imprisonment which he is undergoing having been sentenced earlier for another offence. It is not the period of detention undergone by him during the investigation, inquiry or trial of the same case in which he is later on convicted and sentenced to undergo imprisonment. He cannot claim a double benefit under section 428 of the Code i.e. the same period being counted as part of the period of imprisonment imposed for committing the former offence and also being set off against the period of imprisonment imposed for committing the latter offence as well. The instruction issued by the High Court in this regard is unexceptionable. The stand of the State Government has, therefore, to be upheld.

pp. 727–728, margin F

The petitioner is not, therefore, entitled to claim that the period between February 1, 1980 on which date he was convicted in the Sessions case and February 16, 1981 on which date he was conviced by the Metropolitan Magistrate, Delhi when he was undergoing imprisonment imposed on him in the Sessions case should be set off against the term of imprisonment imposed by the Metropolitan Magistrate, Delhi. That period should be counted as part of the imprisonment undergone by the petitioner as directed in the Sessions case.

p. 728, margin C

No other contention is urged.

p. 728, margin G

In the result the petition is dismissed. S.R. Petition dismissed.

p. 728, margin G