FAKHRUZAMMA versus STATE OF JHARKHAND & ANR.

Leave granted.

p. 826, margin D

The question that has come up for consideration in this case is whether sanction under Section 197 Cr.P.C. is necessary from the State Government befom prosecuting the Appellant, though he was removed from service following the procedure laid down in Jharkhand Police Manual.

p. 826, margin D

The Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate, Giridih, in Complaint Case No.281 of 2003, T.R. No.835 OF 2006, took cognizance against the Appellant for various offences under Sections 456, 323, 504, 506, 342, 386, 201, 1208 and 304 IPC. That order was challenged by the Appellant before the High Court by filing Crl. M.P. No.1669 of 2006 under Section 482 Cr.P.C. stating that in the absence of previous sanction of the State Government, as per the provisions of Section 197 Cr.P.C., the learned Magistrate could not have taken cognizance of the offences against the appellant who was a Sub-Inspector of Police, since the act alleged was committed while discharging his official duty. The High Court rejected that contention by holding that since the competent authority had removed the Appellant from service, sanction to prosecute under Section 197 Cr.P.C. was not warranted. Aggrieved by A the same, this appeal has been preferred.

pp. 826–827, margin E

Shri S.K. Katriar, Senior Advocate, appearing for tile Appellant, submitted that the High Court has committed an error in holding that no sanction under Section 197(1) Cr.P.C. was B necessary before prosecuting the Appellant. The learned senior counsel submitted that the High Court failed to appreciate the ratio laid down by this Court in Sankaran Moitra v. Sadhna Das & Anr. (2006) 4 SCC 584] and Rakesh Kumar Mishra v. State of Bihar & Ors. ((2006) 1 SCC 557] and erroneously held that C no sanction was contemplated under Section 197 Cr.P.C. for prosecuting the Appellant.

p. 827

Shri Jayesh Gaurav, Advocate, appearing for the Respondents, on the other hand, contended that the Appellant is a Sub-Inspector of Police and hence governed by the D Jharkhand Police Manual and he can be removed from the service by the Inspector General of Police or the Deputy Inspector General of Police and for removal from service of a Sub-Inspector, no approval/sanction of the State Government is necessary and, hence, Section 197 Cr.P.C. would not apply E to case of the Appellant. Learned counsel also submitted that the issue raised in this case stands covered by the judgment of this Court in Nagraj v. State of ,Mysore [(1964) 3 SCR 671 =AIR 1964 SC 269].

p. 827

The Appellant's case is that he had arrested one Satyam Mirza (since deceased) for offences under Section 376(g) and 302 IPC. The case was registered at Police Station Gande where the Appellant was officiating as an office-in-cHarge. According to the Appellant, while returning from the spot led by G the deceased in search of desi katta, the deceased jumped out of the running police vehicle TATA 407 and disappeared in the dark night in a dense forest and could not be located. Later, on 13.1.2003, he was found dead in the deep forest. The wife of the deceased Satyam Mirza filed a complaint against H the Police stating that the deceased had died custody and to take appropriate action against concerned. The learned Sub-Divisional Judicial 4.7.2006, took cognizance of that complaint and case against the Appellant. As already stated, for quashing of that complaint, the Appellant approached the High ground that no sanction under Section 197 obtained before taking cognizance by the learned The scope of Section 197 Cr.P.C. has to be examined light of the Jharkhand Police Manual. Section extracted hereinbelow for an easy reference:- "197. Prosecution of Judges and servants. (1) When any person who is or was Magistrate or a public servant not removable save by or with the sanction of the Government of any offence alleged to have been committed while acting or purporting to act in the discharge of official duty, no Court shall take cognizance except with the previous sanction. (a) in the case of a person who is employed case may be, was at the time of commission alleged offence employed, in connection affairs of the Union, of the Central Government; (b) in the case of a person who is employed case may be, was at the time of commission alleged offence employed, in connection affairs of a State, of the State Government: Provided that where the alleged offence was by a person referred to in clause (b) during the Proclamation issued under clause (1) of Article Constitution was in force in a State, clause (b) for the expression "state Government" occurring expression "Central Government" were substituted. (2) No Court shall take cognizance of any offence alleged to have been committed by any member of the Armed Forces of the Union while acting or purporting to act in the discharge of his official duty, except with the previous sanction of the Central Government. (3) The State Government may, by notification, direct that the provisions of sub- section (2) shall apply to such class or category of the members of the Forces charged with the maintenance of public order as may be specified therein, wherever they may be serving, and thereupon the provisions of that sub- section will apply as if for the expression "Central Government" occurring therein, the expression" State Government" were substituted. (3A) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub- section (3), no court shall take cognizance of any offence, alleged to have been committed by any member of the Forces charged with the maintenance of public order in a State while acting or purporting to act in the discharge of his official duty during the period while a Proclamation issued under clause (1) of Article 356 of the Constitution was in force therein, except with the previous sanction of the Central Government. (3B) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Code or any other law, it is hereby declared that any sanction accorded by the State Government' or any cognizance taken by a court upon such sanction, during the period commencing on the 20th day of August, 1991 and ending with the date immediately preceding the date on which the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act, 1991, receives the assent of the President, with respect to an offence alleged to have been committed during the period while a Proclamation issued under clause (1) of Article 356 of the Constitution was in force in the State, shall be invalid and it shall be competent for the Central Government in such matter to accord sanction and for the court to take cognizance thereon. (4) The Central Government or the State Government, as the case may be, may determine the person by whom, the manner in which, and the offence or offences for which, the prosecution of such Judge, Magistrate or public servant is to be conducted, and may specify the Court before which the trial is to be held."

pp. 827–830

The above-mentioned provision clearly indicates that previous sanction is required for prosecuting only such public servants who could be removed by sanction of the Government. Rule 824 of the Jharkhand Police Manual prescribes different departmental punishments, including the punishment of dismissal and removal, to be inflicted upon the police officers up to the rank of Inspector of Police. The relevant Rule for our purpose is Rule 825, which is given below: "825. Officers empowered to impose punishment. - (a) No police officer shall be dismissed or compulsorily retired by an authority subordinate to that which appointed him. (b) The Inspector-General may award to any police officer below the rank of Deputy Superintendent any one or more of the punishments in rule 825. (c} xxx xxx xxx (d) A Superintendent may impose on any police officer subordinate to him and of and below the rank of Sub- Inspector any or more of the punishments in rule 824 except dismissal; removal and compulsory retirement in the case of Sub-Inspector or Assistant Sub-Inspector. It shall be kept in mind that if any enquiry has been initiated by the District Magistrate, a report of the result shall be sent to him for information. If required, the file of departmental proceeding A shall also be sent with it. (e) xxx (f) )()()( xxx."

pp. 830–831, margin B

Rule 825, clauses (a) and (b) confers power on the Inspector General of Police or the Deputy Inspector General of Police to pass orders for removal of police officers up to the rank of Inspector. Before passing the order of removal, the Inspector General of Police or the Deputy Inspector General of C Police need not obtain prior approval of the State Government. A similar issue came up for consideration before this Court in Nagrafs case (supra), wherein this Court was called upon to examine the scope of Section 197 Cr.P.C. read with Section 4(c), 8, 26(1) and 3 of the Mysore Police Act, 1908. Interpreting D the above-mentioned provisions, a Three-Judge Bench of this Court held that an Inspector General of Police can dismiss a Sub-Inspector and, therefore, no sanction of the State Government for prosecution of the appellant was necessary even if he had committed the offences alleged while acting or E purporting to act in discharge of this official duty.

p. 831

The judgment referred to by the Appellant, such as, Rakesh Kumar Mishra (supra) is not applicable to the case in hand. The question raised, in our view, is directly covered by F the judgment of this Court in Nagrafs case (supra) and the High Court was right in applying the ratio laid down in that case while interpreting the provisions of the Jharkhand Police Manual and we fully endorse the view of the High Court.

p. 831

In the circumstances, we find no merit in this Appeal G and the same stands dismissed. R.P. Appeal dismissed.

p. 831