KUNJUKUTTY Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) An interesting question arises for consideration in this case. Petitioner wanted to have her statement recorded by a Magistrate under S. 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, for short the Code. For the said purpose she filed a petition before the Magistrate who rejected the same stating "it is not expedient to record her statement at this stage, as she can very well avail the opportunity to disclose the facts known to her, at the trial stage, if she desires." This order is under challenge.

(2.) S.164(1) of the Code reads : Any Metropolitan Magistrate or Judicial Magistrate may, whether or not he has jurisdiction in the case, record any confession or statement made to him in the course of an investigation under this chapter or under any other law for the time being in force, or at any time afterwards before the commencement of the inquiry or trial: Provided that no confession shall be recorded by a police officer on whom any power of a Magistrate has been conferred under any law for the time being in force." A reading of the above provision would show that it is competent for a Magistrate to record a statement even though the investigating police have not taken any initiative to request the Magistrate to record the statement. It is not necessary that the Magistrate should be moved by the police to record the statement. There may be instances where police may not desire to have the statement of a witness recorded. Even in such a case nothing prevents a person from going to a Magistrate with the request to have the statement recorded. If the Magistrate records the statement he has to forward it to the Magistrate by whom the case is to be enquired into or tried.

(3.) Ordinarily, during investigations made by a police officer persons acquainted with the facts or circumstances of the offence would be questioned by him, especially so when that person presents himself for such an interrogation. There can be exceptional cases where the police, for their own reasons, may refrain from recording the statements of such a person. What is the remedy of such a person who is anxious to have his version brought on record. If S.164(1) of the Code is read in that perspective, it can be seen that the Magistrate has the power to record the statement of such a person. When a person, without being initiated by the police seeks to invoke the powers of the Magistrate under S. 164 of the Code the Magistrate has wide discretion to record his statement or refuse to record the same. This discretion has to be exercised judicially.