DAYARAM GARIA Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) IN this case the accused was prosecuted on a charge under Section 414 of the Indian Penal Code. On 6 -5 -1977, the arguments were heard and a date fixed for delivery of judgment. Ultimately the judgment was not delivered. On 17 -5 -1977, the learned 7th Court of the Metropolitan Magistrate passed an order that the evidence of P. W. 1 Tarun Dasgupta was ambiguous on a particular point. He also considered that the examination of A. Dasgupta, Chief Security Officer, Vigilance Office of the Commissioners, Port of Calcutta, was essential for a just decision of the case. So he issued urgent summons for that purpose. Against that order the present Rule has been obtained.

(2.) THE learned Advocate appearing on behalf of the accused petitioner has contended that on 6 -5 -1977 the arguments were heard and judgment reserved till 14 -5 -1977. On that date the judgment was not delivered and 17 -5 -1977 was fixed for delivery of judgment. On that date also the learned Magistrate did not deliver the judgment. He stated that there was some obscurity and ambiguity in the evidence of P. W. 1, Tarun Dasgupta, on a particular point. He also thought that the examination of Shri A. Dasgupta was essential for a just decision of the case. The learned Magistrate gave vent to his feelings and wanted to plug the loopholes in the prosecution case. Of course, under Section 540 of the old Criminal Procedure Code the Magistrate has a wide discretion to exercise such power. Since such power is very wide, the learned Magistrate should have been cautious to exercise the same. The case of Natabar Ghosh v. Adyanath in (1923) 27 Cal WN 675 at p. 676 : 24 Cri LJ 957 has been cited to show that where after both the sides had closed their respective cases and the arguments had been heard and a date fixed for delivery of judgment, the two witnesses, who were named by the prosecution were examined before the Magistrate, the Magistrate having exercised his powers under Section 540 of the Code, the accused can rightly complain that the procedure adopted was unjustified. Hence the conviction passed in that case was set aside. It has been contended that in view of the facts of the case the Court should set aside the order passed for summoning those two witnesses.

(3.) REFERENCE may be made to the observations of Mr. Justice Hidayatullah in the case of Jamatraj v. State of Maharashtra in : 1968CriLJ231 that according to the provisions of Section 540 of the Criminal Procedure Code the court can exercise its power at any time. There is no limitation on the court's power when it is bona fide of opinion that for a just decision of the case, such exercise of power is necessary and such power can be exercised for the benefit of the accused and also of the prosecution.