MOKA RAM Vs. STATE OF RAJASTHAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS petition under Section 482, O.P.C is directed against the order dated 27.4.1995 made by learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Jalore in Crl. Case No. 129/95/F.R. No. 2/94 under Sections 306 and 304 -B, I.P.C. By this impugned order the learned Chief Judicial Magistrate allowed the protest petition dated 11.4.1994 filed by the complainant Ami Chand s/o Devi Chand Jain r/o Balwada for taking cognizance against the petitioners for the offences under Section 302, I.P.C. in the alternative 304 -B, 306 and 498 -A, I.P.C. on the final report submitted by the SHO, P.S. Jalore after investigation in F.I.R. No. 60 dated 17.3.1995. The learned Chief Judicial Magistrate rejected the final report and took cognizance against the petitioner under Sections 498 -B, 304 -B, 306, I.P.C.

(2.) I have heard the learned Counsel for the parties and learned Public Prosecutor. I have perused the record pertaining to the police investigation, Learned Counsel for the petitioner has raised the arguments :

(3.) I have seriously considered the rival contentions and particularly perused the statements of the above three witnesses on the basis of which cognizance has been taken against the petitioners. The statements have been recorded by Dy. SP, Jaisalmer but I am constrained to observe that the statements have not been properly recorded to avoid all sorts of vagueness and confusion. The Investigation Officer Dy. SP, Jaisalmer has not tried to take clear statements regarding the allegations if any specifically against each of the petitioners by the witnesses. In their statements the demand of dowry has been alleged particularly the inadequate articles in the 'Aana' ceremony against all the members of the family of 'Sasural Walas'. On this allegation it was the duty of the Dy. SP, Investigation Officer to interrogate the witnesses and to clarify that against whom specifically they were alleging the demand of dowry. In my view, the learned Trial Court has not considered the statements from this angle and has passed an omnibus order of taking cognizance against all the petitioners be that a servant or a neighbour. It is a controversy between the parties whether the petitioner No. 2 Mohan Lal is related to the husband of the deceased or he is simply a neighbour, but it is an admitted position that the petitioner No. 1 Moka Ram is a servant of the other petitioners. Obviously cognizance could not have been taken against Moka Ram for the offence under Sections 498 -A and 304 -B, I.P.C. However, it was open for the Court to take the cognizance for the offence under Section 306, I.P.C.