MOOL CHAND Vs. STATE OF RAJASTHAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This petition filed under S.482. Cr. P.C. is against the order dated 25-11-94 passed by the learned Addl. Sessions Judge, Bikaner, whereby relying on the opinion of the Medical Board, he held that the petitioner was capable of facing trial and defending himself in the court and ordered for proceeding with the trial against him.

(2.) A case was registered against the petitioner for the offences under Ss. 302 and 452, I.P.C. for the alleged murder of Vishnu Acharya. After usual investigation, a challan was filed against the peti tioner for the offences under Ss. 452 and 302, I.P.C. before the learned Magistrate, who committed the case to the learned Sessions Judge. During trial, a plea was raised on behalf of the petitioner that he was suffering from mental disease and was not capable of defending himself. The learned trial Judge di rected the Superintendent, Psychiatric Center, Jaipur to examine the petitioner and submit his report, who vide his letter D/- 12-11-90 reported that the peti tioner was suffering from schizo affective psychosis and that after taking medication, he was feeling mentally fit and as such he was released from the Psychiatric Center. The learned Addl. Sessions Judge also examined Dr. A. K. Singhal, C. W. 1, who stated that the petitioner had never under his treatment and that he had not examined him about his mental condition. C. W. 2 Dr. Pramod Bhardwaj was also examined. Thereafter, the petitioner was hospitalised and kept under observation of the Medical Board consisting of Dr. G. B. Advani, Prof. and Head and Superintendent, Psychiatric Center, Dr. Shiv Gautam, Professor and Dr. Pradeep Sharma, Associate Pro fessor, who in their report D/- 29-10-94 have opined as under : -

(3.) Thus, the Medical Board has unanimously opined that though petitioner Mool Chand still has some persisting psychopathology but while being on treatment, he is capable of facing the trial and defending himself in the court of law.