Ashfaq Khan and Anr. v. State of U.P. and Ors.

Judgment

CRIMINALAPPELLATE JURISDICTION : Criminal Appeal No. 230 of 2008 . From the Judgment and final Order dated 2.3.2006 of the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad in Crl. M.W.P. No. 2590/ 2006. Siddhartha Dave and Vibha Datta Makhija for the 8 Appellants. Shail Kumar Dwivedi, A.A.G., Abhishek Choudhry, Manoj Kr. Dwivedi, Vandana Mishra, Vibha, G. Venkateswara Rao and Kamlendra Mishra for the Respondents. The Judgment of the Court was delivered by Dr. ARIJIT PASAYAT, J.

1Leave granted.

2Challenge in this appeal is to the order of a Division Bench of the Allahabad High Court dismissing the Writ Petition filed by the appellant.

3The facts in a nutshell are as follows: A Writ Petition was filed before the High Court for quashing the First Information Report (in short the 'FIR') lodged for alleged commission of offences punishable under Sections 420 and 424 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (in short the 'IPC') and Sections 2 and 3 of the U. P. Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 1986 (in short the 'Prevention Act'). The stand in the writ petition was that even if the Fl R is taken at its face value, there is no scope for holding that the appellants committed cheating or an offence punishable under the Prevention Act. At the most it may make out a case for evasion of tax for which action is permissible under the concerned Trade Tax Act.

4Learned counsel for the respondents on the other hand submitted that in the cases referred to, a Division Bench of the High Court had disposed of large number of cases involving more or less similar prayers to quash the FIR in each case. It is pointed out that the High Court had categorised different type of cases and one of such categories was where no previous case was pending under any other law prior to initiation of investigation under the Prevention Act. It is also submitted that 1'--· ASHFAQ KHAN AND ANR. v. STATE OF U.P. AND ORS. [PASAYAT, J.] If...__~ the appellants' case falls within the following parameters and A guidelines formulated by the High Court: "(a) It is expected that the investigation will be completed by the police within the prescribed limit under the general law i.e. Section 167 of Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 B by filing the charge-sheet or final report, if the accus~d is #'t". in custody within that period;. (b)

It is expected that the Special Court will conclude the hearing of the cases, where rate of crime is not so higher by applying a summary procedure preferably within a c' period of 3-6 months from the date of filing the chargesheet before the Court depending upon the facts and circumstances of each case; (c) In case of pendency of Appeal/Revision/Review by an accused, Special Court will be empowered to split up the D file in respect of other co-accused to avoid delay in hearing the case; (d) If any person applied or surrendered or produced before the Court in connection with the matters where rate of crime is not higher, the Special Court expeditiously dispose E It of following the principles as laid down in Smt. Amarawati and Anr. vs. State of U.P (e) In case the Special Court found that the crime case is not so negligible nor the rate of crime is lower in nature, F it will proc.eed strictly in accordance with law; (f)

It will be solemn duty of the Special Courts and the police authorities-to follow the guidelines for the sake of investigation viz-a-viz personal liberties."

5The order of the High Court does not show as to how G the ratio of the decision in a batch of writ petitions disposed of had any application or relevance so far as the present case is concerned .

6In the aforesaid circumstances, we set aside the H A impugned order of the High Court and remit the matter to it to consider as to how the facts involved in Writ Petition No.10500 of 2005 and/or the ratio of that decision had any relevance so far as the present dispute is concerned. We make it clear that we have not expressed any opinion on the merits of the case.

7The appeal is allowed. K.K.T. Appeal allowed.