COMRADE MAKHAN SINGH Vs. RANJIT SINGH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) MAKHAN Singh Petitioner who is being prosecuted under Section 182, Indian Penal Code, in the Court of Shri H. L. Mehra, Magistrate 1st Class, Amritsar, has moved! this Court under Section 526, Criminal Procedure Code, for the transfer of his case to the Court of the Sessions Judge, Amritsar, alleging that the subject-matter of the complaint relates to the death of one Sita Ram in the custody of the police of Police Station Jandiala, District Amritsar, that several organisations including Congress, Jan Sangh, Akalis andl Communists, and also individuals brought the death of Sita Ram to the notice of higher authorities and demanded action against the police officials responsible for his death after high level judicial enquiry, that under the public pressure an, inquiry was ordered into the death of Sita Ram. At the first instance the Deputy Superintendent of Police was deputed to go into the matter, whose inquiry according to the petitioner was only one sided. On the agitation by the public and the action committee consisting of representatives of all political parties including Congress, Jan Sangh and Akalis that the inquiry should be conducted' by a person of the status of a High Court Judge or a Sessions Judge, the enquiry was then entrusted to the Additional District Magistrate, Amritsar, and that officer has submitted his report. It is alleged that the inquiry held by the Additional District Magistrate was irregular and in utter disregard of the principles of natural justice. It is also alleged that the petitioner was one of the agitators in the above matter and it was for this reason and for his rivalry with the Chief Minister, Punjab, that a complaint has been made against him under Section 182, Indian Penal Code, by Shri Ranjit Singh, Senior Superintendent, of Police, Amritsar. It is further alleged that now the case has been entrusted to Shri H. L. Mehara, Magistrate 1st Class, and if is feared that he will not go against the view taken by his superior, i. e. the Additional District Magistrate, who has already submitted his report.

(2.) IT is needless for us to go into other matters. The fact, however, remains that Shri H. L. Mehra is only a First Class Magistrate and the Additional District Magistrate who conducted the inquiry earlier -happens to be senior to him. Under the circumstances the petitioner has reason to believe that Shri H. L. Mehra would not go against the findings of the Additional District Magistrate in this case. The learned counsel for the petitioner has cited Emperor v. Adambhai Abdullabhai, 44 Cr. LJ 71 : (AIR 1942 Bom 316 (1), which lays down that