SASHIKANT T MEHTA Vs. STATE OF WEST BENGAL

JUDGEMENT

(1.) It has been stated that on the 7th February, 1975 at about 2-15 P.M. a batch of Customs Officers searched the shop room of M/s. Thakorlal Hiralal and Co. at premises No. 9, B.B.D. Bag (East) Calcutta. Pursuant to that search some contraband primary gold and diamonds, for which proper account was not found to have maintained and whose possession could not be satisfactorily explained, were seized. The same were reasonably believed to be smuggled goods. The accused nos. 1 and 2 are the employees of the firm and the accused nos. 3 and 5 are its partners. On the footing of that complaint the petitioner was proceeded against under section 85 of the Gold Control Act and under section 135 of the Customs Act. Against the issue of process the present Rule was obtained by the petitioner, who is said to be one of the partners of that firm.

(2.) It has been contended on behalf of the petitioner that in the petition of complaint no necessary averment has been made so as to attract the provisions of section 140 of the Customs Act and section 85 of the Gold Control Act. The partners have been sought to be vicariously liable. Simply because the firm is said to be in possession of such gold and diamonds, the petitioner or partners have no vicarious liability. In this matter the company has not been made an accused. Hence for the alleged possession by the company, the petitioner cannot be vicariously made liable. There is no independent allegation against the petitioner and the partners. The case of State of Madras v. C. Earekh has been cited to show that the Manager and Director of a company cannot be convicted by applying section 10 of the Essential Commodities Act, because liability of the persons in charge can arise under that section only when contravention is by the company itself. It has thus been contended that the Rule should be made absolute.

(3.) The learned advocate appearing on behalf of the complainant opposite party has stated that the present prayer is premature. The court can take evidence and on the basis of the evidence adduced, frame charges against the alleged offenders. Necessary averment has been made against all the accused in paragraphs 9, 10 and other paragraphs of the petition of complaint. In paragraph 24 of the petition of complaint it has been stated that Messrs. Thakorlal Hiralal and Co., and its partners, that is, accused nos. 2, 3 and 5, by their act and omission are guilty and the accused nos. 1 and 2 aided and abetted the accused nos. 3 to 5 in their omissions and comissions and so all of them are liable to be penalised. The facts of the State of Madras case are different. Reference may be made to the decision of Amarnath v. State of Haryana - to show that Mr. Justice Fazal Ali has stated that when a matter has touched important rights or liabilities of a party, it is not an interlocutory order. An order to summon a person as accused is not an interlocutory order and so in a fit case the provisions of section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure can be applied.