(1.) This is a reference by the Second Additional Sessions Judge of Patna in respect of an order passed by the learned Sub-divisional Magistrate of Dinapure, dated 4 March 1948, in two criminal cases, one bearing No. 1580 and the other 159 c of 1947. The facts leading up to the order under reference are shortly stated below. The petitioner before the learned Sessions Judge was Ramnarayan Chaubey, an employee of one Haroon Taj Mohammad. For the sake of convenience I shall refer to him as the petitioner. The opposite party, Mr. P.C. Jain, is a Factory Manager of the Jagdishpur Zamindary Company, Ltd. The South Bihar Sugar Mills, Ltd., Bihta leased out the sugar section of their Mills to the Jagdishpore Zamindary Company Ltd., but the old stock of molasses was leased to Haroon Taj Mohammad. On 7 May 1947, the opposite party gave a first information to the officer in charge of Bihta Police Station alleging that the petitioner and another person called Ram Chandar were seen running away when some men deputed by the Jagdishpur Zamindary Company were watching the tanks from which some 9000 mds of molasses had been previously stolen. Before the local police could submit a report as a result of the investigation into the allegations made in the first information, the opposite party filed two petitions of complaint on 16 May 1947. In one of the petitions of complaint the allegations were the same as the first information. In the other petition of complaint, it was alleged that the petitioner and two other persons had committed theft of molasses worth Rs. 4500. In the first petition of complaint in which the allegations were the same as in the first information, a prayer was made for taking action against the accused for offences under Secs.426 and 457, Indian Penal Code. In second petition of complaint a prayer was made for taking action against the accused persons for offences under Secs.379 and 411, Indian Penal Code. The first petition of complaint gave rise to case No. 1580, and the second petition gave rise to case No. 1590 of 1947. The learned Sub-divisional Magistrate after examining the complainant in both the cases, directed the Sub-Inspector of Police, Bihta, to investigate into the allegations made and submit a, report thereon. On "18 May 1947, the local police submitted a final report stating that the allegations were maliciously false and making a prayer that the complainant should be prosecuted for making a false complaint. This final report came up for consideration by the learned Sub- divisional Magistrate in case No. 158C, on a 1 June 1947. Before that date the complainant had filed a protest petition on 16 June 1947. On. 21 June 1947, the learned Sub-divisional Magistrate accepted the final report submitted by the (police and dismissed the complaint in case No. 158C under the provisions of Section 203, Criminal P.C: Apparently, no order was passed on the protest petition filed by the complainant on 16 June 1947. In case No. 1590 the final report of the police was put up on a much later date, and on 27 August 1947, the learned Sub-divisional Magistrate passed the following order: Final report maliciously false received under Section 379/411, Indian Penal Code; Complainant will show cause for his prosecution under Section 211, Indian Penal Code. On 13 September 1947, as a report for prosecution under Section 211, Indian Penal Code hag also been received. In case No. 1B9C also the complainant had filed certain petitions from time (to time?) for taking necessary action in respect of the sample of molasses. The order dated 27 August 1947, passed in Case No. 159C, to which I have already made a reference, was passed by Mr. A.J. Khan. Mr. Khan was transferred and was succeeded by Mr. Huda, who was also transferred. The matter was then put up before Mr. Ghosh, the present Sub-divisional Magistrate of Dinapore. On 1 November 1947, the petitioner filed a petition praying for an enquiry under Section 476, Cr. P.C. and making a complaint against the opposite party for an offence under Section 211, Indian Penal Code. The present Sub-divisional Magistrate dealt with both the cases together and on 4 March 1948, he passed the following order: It will appear from the records that the complaint filed on 16 May 1947 was dismissed, after considering the final report (the case having been sent to the Police) on 21 June 1947. But the complainant had filed a protest petition on 16 June 1947 which has not yet been disposed of. Therefore, the question of revival and the necessary law points do not arise. I have gone through the police reports and also heard lawyers. I consider that a regular trial in Court is the only means of finding out in this case whether the complainant made a maliciously false complaint and if that be the finding in Court, he could of course, be prosecuted under Section 211, Indian Penal Code. Cognizance is therefore taken. Summon the accused to 21 March 1948. This disposes of the points arising from Case No. 158C of 1947. As regards Case No, 159C of 1947, no action was taken either under Section 203, or under Section 204, Criminal P.C. On perusal of the order sheet of Case No. 159C it appears that before the complaint was dismissed a show cause notice was issued to the complainant. Complainant had already filed protest petition in Case No. 1580. As I have noted above after considering the police reports and hearing the lawyers of the parties, I deem it necessary to get the paints thrashed out in Court and it is only then it will appear whether the complaint in Case No. 1590 of 1947 was maliciously false, and if that be the finding, the complainant, of course, will be prosecuted under Section 211, Indian Penal Code. Cognizance is therefore taken. Summon the accused.
(2.) It is against the aforesaid order of the learned Sub-divisional Magistrate that the present reference has been made. We have heard learned Counsel for the petitioner as well as for the opposite party. Two main questions arise for consideration. The first question is if the learned Sub-divisional Magistrate had jurisdiction to revive the two complaints and take cognizance thereon, when his predecessor in office had already dismissed one of the complainants by an express order and the other complaint by implication. The second question is not one of jurisdiction but of propriety. Assuming that the learned Sub-divisional Magistrate had jurisdiction to revive the old complaints and take cognizance thereon, was it proper for him to do so in the circumstances of the present case? Learned Counsel for the parties have addressed us on both these questions.
(3.) Mr. S.N. Sahay appearing for the petitioner has put his argument on the first question in a restricted form. His contention is that the Magistrate can take cognizance on a fresh complaint, even though an earlier complaint on the same facts has been dismissed; but in the absence of a fresh complaint, the Magistrate has no jurisdiction to revive an old complaint and take cognizance thereon. He has argued with some vehemence that a Magistrate cannot go on changing his mind, dismissing the complaint once and reviving it again at his own sweet will, According to his view, the first complaint is finished and disposed of by the order of dismisal, and any further action, if desired to be taken, must be on a fresh complaint. The question has been the subject of several decisions including a decision of this Court. The question was considered at great length by a Full Bench of the Madras High Court in Emperor V/s. Chinna Kalipa Goundan and Anr. 29 Mad. 126. It was pointed out there that an order under Section 203, Criminal P.C., was not a judgment to which the provisions of Section 369 would apply; nor will the principle of autrefois acquit apply as there is no trial when the complaint is dismissed under Section 203, Criminal P.C. The leading judgment was given by Sir Arnold White C.J. who specifically dealt with the question of a fresh complaint and said as follows: I do not think that in substance with reference to the question of jurisdiction any distinction can be drawn between entertaining a fresh complaint and rehearing the original complaint. The argument that the Magistrate having made the order of dismissal, is functus officio applies equally to both cases, and the formality of putting in a fresh complaint cannot be said to create a jurisdiction, which without such formality, a Magistrate would not have possessed. If I may say so with respect, the view expressed above is correct. In Jyotindra Nath Daw V/s. Hem Chandra Daw 36 Cal. 415, it was observed as follows: There is no doubt that the Deputy Magistrate who had dismissed the complaint under Section 203, Criminal P.C, could legally revive it after dismissal under Section 203, Criminal P.C. In that case the complainant had filed a petition before the Magistrate who had dismissed the complaint praying for revival of the case. But the decision of their Lordships was not based on the facts that a petition had been filed praying for revival of the case. The observation of their Lordships, which I have quoted above, shows that they took the view that the Magistrate who had dismissed the complaint under Rule 203, Criminal P.C., could legally revive it after dismissal under Section 203. This decision was approved in Janakdhari Singh V/s. King-Emperor A.I.R.1929 Pat. 469, a decision of this Court. Though the facts of that case were different, their Lordships approved of the principle laid down in Jyotindra Nath Daw V/s. Hem Chandra Daw 36 cal. 415. They stated that the Subordinate Court had jurisdiction, even apart from the revisional order of the Sessions Judge, to revive a complaint, which had been dismissed under Section 203, Indian Penal Code. The same view has been expressed in other decisions, as well, which I need not examine in detail. I do not think that the jurisdiction of the Magistrate necessarily depends on the filing of a fresh complaint, and the Magistrate has jurisdiction to revive the old complaint dismissed under Section 203, Criminal P.C., In the case before us the question of jurisdiction depending on a fresh complaint is of academic interest only. As a matter of fact, there was a protest petition which could be treated as a fresh complaint and the Magistrate could take cognizance on it. I do not, therefore, think that there was any absence of jurisdiction in the present case, and the order of the learned Sub-divisional Magistrate cannot be attackted on that ground.