Dhruv Kumar @ Alok and Ors v. State of Haryana

CRM-5914-2023oin/andoCRR-363-2023 ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-1-INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoAT CHANDIGARH oooooooooo ooo o ooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooCRM-5914-2023oin/and CRR-363-2023oo Dateoofodecisiono:o13.03.2023 DHRUVoKUMARo@oALOKoANDoORSo ...oPetitioners Versus STATEoOFoHARYANAo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ...Respondent CORAM:o HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEooJASJIToSINGHoBEDI Present: Mr.oArpandeepoNarula,oAdvocateowitho Mr.oRajoMohanoSingh,oAdvocateoando Ms.oUpsanaoGandhi,oAdvocateo forotheopetitioner(s). Mr.oNeerajoPoswal,oAsst.oA.G.,oHaryana. **** JASJIToSINGHoBEDI,oJ.o Theopresentorevisionopetitionohasobeenopreferredoagainstothe orderodatedo10.06.2022opassedobyotheoAdditionaloSessionso oJudge, Fatehabadowherebyotheoapplicationodatedo25.05.2022ofiledobyotheoPolice officialsoofoCrimeoBranch,oFatehabadothroughotheoPublicoProsecutor seekingotimeoforofurnishingotheofinaloreportoinocaseoFIRoNo.447odated

07.12.2021oregisteredounderoSectionso21(c)oando27-AoofotheoNDPS,oAct, 1985oatoPoliceoStationoSadaroFatehabad,oDistrictoFatehabadohasobeen allowed.

¶2TheobriefofactsoofotheocaseoareothatoFIRoNo.447odated

07.12.2021oregisteredounderoSectionso21(c)oando27-AoofotheoNDPS,oAct, 1985oatoPoliceoStationoSadaroFatehabad,oDistrictoFatehabadocameotoobe registeredoagainstotheopetitionersowhenotheyowereofoundoinopossessionoof CRM-5914-2023oin/andoCRR-363-2023 ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-2-400ogramsoofoheroin.oTheocopyoofotheoFIRoisoattachedoasoAnnexureoP-1oto theopetition.

¶3Thereafter,oonotheoarrestoofotheopetitionersoono17.12.2021,oan applicationowasomovedobyotheoInvestigatingoOfficeroseekingoextensionoof timeoforopresentationoofoaoreportounderoSectiono173oCr.P.C.oTheocopyoof theosaidoapplicationodatedo25.05.2022oisoattachedoasoAnnexureoP-2otoothe petition.oTheoperiodoofo180odaysotoopresentotheoreportounderoSectiono173 Cr.P.C.owasotoobeocompletedoono04.06.2022.o

¶4Theoaccused/petitionersomovedoanoapplicationounderoSection 167(2)oCr.P.C.oforotheograntoofodefaultobailoono06.06.2022.oHowever,ovide impugnedoorder,otheoextensionosoughtobyotheoInvestigatingoAgencyofor presentationoofochallanowasoallowedowhereasotheoprayeroforodefaultobail wasodeclined.oTheocopyoofotheoimpugnedoorderoextendingotheoperiodofor completionoofoinvestigationobyo90odaysodatedo10.06.2022oisotheoorder impugnedoinotheopresentopetition.o

¶5Theolearnedocounseloforotheopetitionersocontendsothatothe prosecution o had o not o moved o any o application o seeking o of o time o in accordanceowitholaw.oTherefore,otheopetitioners'orightotooseekodefaultobail underoSectiono167(2)oCr.P.C.ohadoaccrued.oAoperusaloofotheoapplication datedo25.05.2022owouldorevealothatoitowasomovedobyotheoPoliceoofficials ofotheoCrimeoBranch,oFatehabad,othoughoitohasobeenoforwardedothrough the o Public o Prosecutor. oThe o Trial o Court o had, o without o applying o its judiciousomindoextendedotheoperiodoforocompletionoofoinvestigationobyo90 daysowhichowasoinoviolationoofotheomandatoryoprocedureoasolaidodownoin Sectiono36A(4)oofotheoNDPSoAct,o1985.oAsotheoextensionohasobeen 2023.05.11 04:50 allowedoillegally,otheobailoapplicationomovedobyotheopetitionersounder CRM-5914-2023oin/andoCRR-363-2023 ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-3-Sectiono167(2)oCr.P.C.owasoalsoodismissedovideoorderoofotheoevenodate datedo10.06.2022owhichoorderoisoimpugnedoinoaoseparateopetition. Relianceoisoplacedobyotheolearnedocounseloforotheopetitioneroonothe judgmentsoinoSanjayoKumaroKediao@oSanjayoKediaoVersusoIntelligence Officer,oNarcoticoControloBureauo&oAnother,o2010(1)oRCRo(Criminal) 942, oJoginder o Singh o Versus o State o of o Haryana, o CRR-1314-2021, decidedoono11.02.2022, oRohtasho@oRajuoVersusoStateoofoHaryana, CRR-933-2022,odecidedoono01.06.2022oandoHitendraoVishnuoThakur VersusoStateoofoMaharashtra,o1994(3)oR.C.Ro(Criminal)o156.

¶6Aoreplyodatedo01.03.2023obyowayoofoanoaffidavitoofoAjaib Singh,oHPS,oDeputyoSuperintendentoofoPolice,oFatehabadohasobeenofiled onobehalfoofotheoStateobyotheolearnedocounseloforotheoState.oTheosameois taken o on o record. o He o contends o that o since o commercial o quantity o of contrabandohadobeenorecoveredofromotheopetitioners,otheyowereonot entitledotootheograntoofobail.oTheoapplicationoforoextensionohadobeen movedoinoaccordanceowitholawoandotherefore,otheoextensionoofo90odays forocompletionoofoinvestigationohadorightlyobeenograntedoconsequentoto whichotheiroprayeroforograntoofodefaultobailounderoSectionso167(2)oCr.P.C. hadobeenodismissed.oPetitioneroNos.2oando3owereohabitualocriminalsoand wereoinvolvedoinootherocasesoasowell.oEvenootherwise,otheoRFSLoreport hadobeenoobtainedoasowasoapparentofromoAnnexureoR-5oofotheoStateoreply.

¶7Iohaveoheardotheolearnedocounseloforotheoparties.

¶8Beforeoproceedingofurther,oitowouldobeoappositeotooreferoto theorelevantoprovisionsoofolaw.oTheosameoareoenumeratedohereinbelow:-Sectiono36Ao(4)oofotheoNDPSoAct,oreadsoasounder:-CRM-5914-2023oin/andoCRR-363-2023 ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-4-[36A. o Offences o triable o by o Special o Courts.-o(1) NotwithstandingoanythingocontainedoinotheoCodeoof CriminaloProcedure,o1973o(2oofo1974), -

(a)oallooffencesounderothisoActowhichoareopunishable withoimprisonmentoforoaotermoofomoreothanothree yearsoshallobeotriableoonlyobyotheoSpecialoCourt constitutedoforotheoareaoinowhichotheooffenceohas beenocommittedoorowhereothereoareomoreoSpeical Courtsothanooneoforosuchoarea,obyosuchooneoofothem as o may o be o specified o in o this o behalf o by o the Government;o

(b)owhereoaopersonoaccusedoofoorosuspectedoofothe commission o of o an o offence o under o this o Act o is forwardedotooaoMagistrateounderosub-sectiono(2)oor sub-sectiono(2A)oofosectiono167oofotheoCodeoof Criminal o Procedure, o 1973 o (2 o of o 1974), o such Magistrateomayoauthoriseotheodetentionoofosuch personoinosuchocustodyoasoheothinksofitoforoaoperiod notoexceedingofifteenodaysoinotheowholeowhereosuch MagistrateoisoaoJudicialoMagistrateoandosevenodays inotheowholeowhereosuchoMagistrateoisoanoExecutive Magistrate:o o ooProvidedothatoinocasesowhichoareotriableobyothe SpecialoCourtowhereosuchoMagistrateoconsiders -

(i)owhen o such o person o is o forwarded o to o him o as aforesaid;ooro

(ii)ouponooroatoanyotimeobeforeotheoexpiryoofotheoperiod ofodetentionoauthorisedobyohim,othatotheodetentionoof suchopersonoisounnecessary,oheoshalloorderosuchoperson to o be o forwarded o to o the o Special o Court o having jurisdiction;

(c)otheoSpecialoCourtomayoexercise,oinorelationotoothe personoforwardedotooitounderoclauseo(b),otheosameopower whichoaoMagistrateohavingojurisdictionotootryoaocaseomay exerciseounderosectiono167oofotheoCodeoofoCriminal CRM-5914-2023oin/andoCRR-363-2023 ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-5-Procedure,o1973o(2oofo1974),oinorelationotooanoaccused personoinosuchocaseowhoohasobeenoforwardedotoohim underothatosection;o

(d)oaoSpecialoCourtomay,ouponoperusaloofopoliceoreportoof theofactsoconstitutingoanooffencounderothisoActooroupon complaintomadeobyoanoofficeroofotheoCentraloGovernment oroaoStateoGovernmentoauthorisedoinohisobehalf,otake cognizanceoofothatooffenceowithoutotheoaccusedobeing committedotooitoforotrial.o

(2)oWhenotryingoanooffenceounderothisoAct,oaoSpecial Courtomayoalsootryoanooffenceootherothanoanooffence underothisoActowithowhichotheoaccusedomay,ounderothe CodeoofoCriminalo Procedure,o1973o(2oofo1974),obe chargedoatotheosameotrial.o

(3)oNothingocontainedoinothisosectionoshallobeodeemedoto affectotheospecialopowersoofotheoHighoCourtoregarding bail o under o section o 439 o of o the o Code o of o Criminal Procedure,o1973o(2oofo1974),oandotheoHighoCourtomay exerciseosuchopowersoincludingotheopowerounderocluase

(b)oofosub-sectiono(1)oofothatosectionoasoifotheoreferenceoto "Magistrate"oinothatosectionoincludedoalsooaoreferenceoto ao"SpecialoCourt"oconstitutedounderosectiono36.o

(4)oInorespectoofopersonsoaccusedoofoanooffenceopunishable underosectiono19oorosectiono24oorosectiono27Aoorofor offencesoinvolvingocommercialoquantityotheoreferencesoin sub-sectiono(2)oofosectiono167oofotheoCodeoofoCriminal Procedure,o1973o(2oofo1974),othereofotoo"ninetyodays", whereotheyooccur,oshallobeoconstruedoasoreferenceotoo"one hundredoandoeightyodays":o Providedothat,oifoitoisonotopossibleotoocompleteothe investigationowithinotheosaidoperiodoofooneohundredoand eightyodays,otheoSpecialoCourtomayoextendotheosaidoperiod upotoooneoyearoonotheoreportoofotheoPublicoProsecutor indicating o the o progress o of o the o investigation o and o the specificoreasonsoforotheo etentionoofotheoaccuse obeyon theosai operio oofooneohun re oan oei!htyo ays.o

(9)oNotwithstan in!oanythin!ocontaine oinotheoCo eoof Cri"inal o #roce ure$ o 1%&3 o (' o of o 1%&()$ o the o offences punishableoun erothisoActowithoi"prison"entoforoaoter"oof noto"oreothanothreeoyearso"ayobeotrie osu""arily.:o 0&)%i'no167627o'(o%8&oC1+P+C+5o1&ad*oa*o2nd&1:-

¶167Procedure when investigation cannot be completed in twenty four hours.- (1) Whenever any person is arrested and detained in custody and it appears that the investigation cannot be completed within the period of twenty-four hours fixed by section 57, and there are grounds for believing that the accusation or information is well-founded, the officer in charge of the police station or the police officer making the investigation, if he is not below the rank of sub-inspector, shall forthwith transmit to the nearest Judicial Magistrate a copy of the entries in the diary hereinafter prescribed relating to the case, and shall at the same time forward the accused to such Magistrate.

(2) The Magistrate to whom an accused person is forwarded under this section may, whether he has or has not jurisdiction to try the case, from time to time, authorise the detention of the accused in such custody as such Magistrate thinks fit, for a term not exceeding fifteen days in the whole; and if he has no jurisdiction to try the case or commit it for trial, and considers further detention unnecessary, he may order the accused to be forwarded to a Magistrate having such jurisdiction: Provided that-

(a) the Magistrate may authorise the detention of the accused person, otherwise than in the custody of the police, beyond the period of fifteen days; if he is satisfied JITESH LAL that adequate grounds exist for doing so, but no Magistrate shall authorise the detention of the accused person in custody under this paragraph for a total period exceeding,-

(i) ninety days, where the investigation relates to an offence punishable with death, imprisonment for life or imprisonment for a term of not less than ten years;

(ii) sixty days, where the investigation relates to any other offence, and, on the expiry of the said period of ninety days, or sixty days, as the case may be, the accused person shall be released on bail if he is prepared to and does furnish bail, and every person released on bail under this sub-section shall be deemed to be so released under the provisions of Chapter XXXIII for the purposes of that Chapter;] [(b) no Magistrate shall authorise detention of the accused in custody of the police under this section unless the accused is produced before him in person for the first time and subsequently every time till the accused remains in the custody of the police, but the Magistrate may extend in any custody under further detention in judicial custody on production of the accused either in person or through the medium of electronic video linkage;]

(c) no Magistrate of the second class, not specially empowered in this behalf by the High Court, shall authorise detention in the custody of the police."

¶7%heorelevantojudg/entsoofotheo"on=&leoSupre/eo.ourtoand thiso.ourtoareoasounder:5 %heo"on=&leoSupre/eo.ourtoin oSanjayoKumaroKediao@ SanjayoKediao supra!oheldoasounder:5 1;. o <he o "a.i"u" o perio o of o %; o ays o fi.e o un er Sectiono16&o(')oofotheoCo eohasobeenoincrease otoo1=; aysoforose*eralocate!oriesoofooffencesoun erotheoActobut JITESH LAL theopro*isooauthori3esoaoyetofurtheroperio oofo etention CRM-5914-2023oin/andoCRR-363-2023 ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-8-which o may o in o totalo go o upto o one o year, o provided o the stringentoconditionsoprovidedothereinoareosatisfiedoandoare compliedowith.oTheoconditionsoprovidedoareo:

(1)oaoreportoofotheopublicoprosecutor,

(2)owhichoindicatesotheoprogressoofotheoinvestigation, and

(3)ospecifiesotheocompellingoreasonsoforoseekingothe detentionoofotheoaccusedobeyondotheoperiodoofo180 days,oand

(4)oafteronoticeotootheoaccused.

11.oTheoquestionotoobeonoticedoatothisostageoisoasoto whetherotheotwooapplicationsoforoextensionothatohadobeen filedobyotheopublicoprosecutoroseekingoanoextensionobeyond 180odaysometotheonecessaryoconditions.oWeofindothatothe matteroneedonotodetainousoasoitoisonoolongeroresointegraoand isocompletelyocoveredobyotheojudgmentoofothisoCourtoin HitendraoVishnu'socaseo(supra).oInothisocase,otheoBench wasodealingowithotheoprovisooinsertedoasoclauseo(bb)oin Sub-section o (4) o of o Sectiono20oof o TADA, o which o is parimateria o with o the o proviso o to o Sub-Section o (4) o of Sectiono36AoofotheoAct.oThisoCourtoacceptedotheoargument ofotheoaccusedothatoanoextensionobeyondo180odaysocouldobe grantedobutolaidoaoriderothatoitocouldobeosooafterocertain conditionsowereosatisfied.oItowasoobservedo: "oItoisotrueothatoneitheroclauseo(b)onoroclauseo(bb)oof sub-section o (4) o of o Sectiono20oTADA o specifically provideoforotheoissuanceoofosuchoaonoticeobutoinoour opinionotheoissuanceoofosuchoaonoticeomustobeoread into o these o provisions o both o in o the o interesto of o the accusedoandotheoprosecutionoasowelloasoforodoing complete o justice o between o the o parties. o This o is o a requirementoofotheoprinciplesoofonaturalojusticeoand theoissuanceoofonoticeotootheoaccusedoorotheopublic prosecutor,oasotheocaseomayobe,owouldoaccordowith fairoplayoinoaction,owhichotheocourtsohaveoalwaysJITESH LAL CRM-5914-2023oin/andoCRR-363-2023 ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-9-encouragedoandoevenoinsistedoupon.oItowouldoalso strikeoaojustobalanceobetweenotheointerestoofotheoliberty ofoanoaccusedoonotheooneohandoandotheosocietyoat largeothroughotheoprosecutingoagencyoonotheoother hand.oThereoisonooprohibitionotootheoissuanceoofosuchoa noticeotootheoaccusedoorotheopublicoprosecutoroinothe schemeoofotheoActoandonooprejudiceowhatsoeverocanobe causedobyotheoissuanceoofosuchoaonoticeotooanyoparty. Mr. o Lalit, o has o further o contended o that o the o two applicationsoforoextensionoofotimeocouldonot,obyoany stretchoofoimagination,obeosaidotoobeoreportsoofothe publicoprosecutoroasoenvisagedounderoSectiono36Ao(4) andohasoagainoreferredousotootheocaseoibidemo: Aopublicoprosecutoroisoanoimportantoofficeroofothe StateoGovernmentoandoisoappointedobyotheoState underotheoCodeoofoCriminaloProcedure.oHeoisonotoa part o of o the o investigating o agency. o He o is o an independent o statutory o authority. o The o public prosecutoroisoexpectedotooindependentlyoapplyohis mindotootheorequestoofotheoinvestigatingoagency before o submitting o a o report o to o the o court o for extension o of o time o with o a o view o to o enable o the investigatingoagencyotoocompleteotheoinvestigation. Heoisonotomerelyoaopostoofficeooroaoforwarding agency.oAopublicoprosecutoromayooromayonotoagree withotheoreasonsogivenobyotheoinvestigatingoofficer foroseekingoextensionoofotimeoandomayofindothatothe investigationohadonotoprogressedoinotheoproper manner o or o that o there o has o been o unnecessary, deliberateooroavoidableodelayoinocompletingothe investigation.oInothatoevent,oheomayonotosubmitoany reportotootheocourtounderoclauseo(bb)otooseek extensionoofotime.oThus,oforoseekingoextensionoof timeounderoclauseo(bb),otheopublicoprosecutoroafter anoindependentoapplicationoofohisomindotootheJITESH LAL CRM-5914-2023oin/andoCRR-363-2023 ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-10-requestoofotheoinvestigatingoagencyoisorequiredoto makeoaoreportotootheoDesignatedoCourtoindicating therein o the o progress o of o the o investigation o and disclosingojustificationoforokeepingotheoaccusedoin furtherocustodyotooenableotheoinvestigatingoagency to o complete o the o investigation. o The o public prosecutor o may o attach o the o request o of o the investigatingoofficeroalongowithothisorequestoor applicationoandoreport,obutohisoreport,oasoenvisaged underoclauseo(bb),omustodiscloseoonotheofaceoofoit thatoheohasoappliedohisomindoandowasosatisfiedowith theoprogressoofotheoinvestigationoandoconsidered grantoofofurtherotimeotoocompleteotheoinvestigation necessary.oTheouseoofotheoexpressiono"onotheoreport ofotheopublicoprosecutoroindicatingotheoprogressoof theoinvestigationoandotheospecificoreasonsoforothe detentionoofotheoaccusedobeyondotheosaidoperiod" asooccurringoinoclauseo(bb)oinosub-sectiono(2)oof Sectiono167oas o amended o by o Sectiono20(4) o are importantoandoindicativeoofotheolegislativeointent nototookeepoanoaccusedoinocustodyounreasonably andotoograntoextensionoonlyoonotheoreportoofothe public o prosecutor. o The o report o of o the o public prosecutor,otherefore,oisonotomerelyoaoformalityobut aoveryovitaloreport,obecauseotheoconsequenceoofoits acceptanceoaffectsotheolibertyoofoanoaccusedoandoit must, o therefore, o strictly o comply o with o the requirementso asocontainedo ino clauseo (bb).o The requestoofoanoinvestigatingoofficeroforoextensionoof timeoisonoosubstituteoforotheoreportoofotheopublic prosecutor.

12.oTheocourtofurtherowentoonotoosayothatoevenoifothe applicationo foro extensionoofotimeowasoeither orooted throughotheopublicoprosecutoroorosupportedobyohim CRM-5914-2023oin/andoCRR-363-2023 ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-11-wouldonotomakeotheosaidoapplicationoaoreportoofothe publicoprosecutor.

13.oMr.oBhattacharjeeohas,ohowever,opointedooutothatothe applicationsoforoextensionofiledobyotheopublicoprosecutor Sectiono36Ao(4) o of o the o Act o did o satisfy o the o aforesaid conditionsoandomerelyobecauseoanoindependentoreport hadonotobeenotenderedowouldonotochangeotheonatureoofothe application.oWeoreproduceohereinotheoapplicationodated 2ndoAugust,o2007oforoextensionoofotimeoinoextensoo:

1.oThat,otheoaforesaidopersonowasoarrestedoon

12.02.2007oinoconnectionowithoillegalodistribution ofopsychotropicosubstancesoexternallyothroughothe internet.

2.oThatoheowasoproducedobeforeoyourohonouroon

12.02.2007oandothereafteroheowasoremandedoto judicialocustodyoinoDumoDumoCorrectionaloHome.

3.oThatotheoinvestigationoofotheocaseoisostilloon.

¶4o That o a o connected/related o case o against o the associatesoofotheopresentoaccusedopersonoisobeing investigated o by o the o Drug o Enforcement Administrationo(DEA),oUSAoandotheoinvestigation report/collected o documents o are o highly relevant/essentialoinoprovingotheocase.oInothisoregard necessaryosteps,osendingolettersotoothatocompetent authority,ohasoalreadyobeenotaken.

5.oThat,otheoServers,oLaptop,oCDsoetc.oasoseizedoin connectionowithothisocase,owhichohasoalreadyobeen reportedobeforeoYouroHonouroearlier,owereoalso been o sent o to o the o Central o Forensic o Science Laboratoryo(CFSL)oforodecipheringotheodataoon

20.2.07oandoseveraloremindersohaveobeenosentofor obtainingotheoreports,obutotillodateosameocouldonot beoreceived.oItoisopertinentotoomentionothatoaoletter fromotheoendoofoCFSLohasobeenoreceivedobyoNCB, CRM-5914-2023oin/andoCRR-363-2023 ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-12-whereinotheyoinformedothatoinoaoshortotimeoitoisonot possibleotoosendotheoreport.

6.oThat,oconsideringotheoexigenciesoofotheoreportoof CFSLoinoprovingotheocaseoagainstotheoaccused personotheoprosecutionohasotooprayoforofurther extensionoofotime.

7.oThat,oasoperotheoprovisionoofoSectiono36AoClause

(4) o proviso o the o prosecution o is o submitting o this petitionoforoextensionoofotimeoforofiling.oComplaint afterocompletingotheoinvestigationoacceptingothe reportoofotheoprosecutionokeptoinotheocaseofile submittedoherewithoshowingothatotheodetentionoof theoaforesaidoaccusedoisofurtheronecessary. Inotheoabovementionedocircumstances,oitoisohereby prayedobeforeoyouroHonourothat, Aofurtheroperiodoofo6omonthsomayokindlyobeogiven forotheocompletionoofoinvestigationoandofilingoof complaint. o And o the o accused o person o may o be remandedoinojudicialocustodyoforofurtheroperiod. Andoforothisoactoofokindness,otheopetitioneroasoisoduty boundoshalloeveropray.

14.oAobareoperusaloofothisoapplicationoshowsothatoitohas beenofiledobyotheoinvestigatingoofficerooforespondent No.1 o and o does o not o indicate o even o remotely o any applicationoofomindoonotheopartoofotheopublicoprosecutor. It o further o does o not o indicate o the o progress o of o the investigation, o nor o the o compelling o reasons o which requiredoanoextensionoofocustodyobeyondo180odays.oThis applicationowasoallowedobyotheoSpecialoJudgeoono2nd August,o2007oi.e.oonotheodayoonowhichoitowasofiledowhich alsoorevealsothatonoonoticeohadobeenoissuedotoothe accusedoandoheowasonotoevenopresentoinoCourtoonothat CRM-5914-2023oin/andoCRR-363-2023 ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-13-

15.oTheosecondoapplicationodatedo30thoJanuary,o2008ois evenomoreoincomprehensible.oWeoreproduceotheosame hereinbelowo: INoTHEoCOURToOFoLD.JUDGE-SPECIALoCOURT NDPSoACToKOLKATAoAToBARASAToNORTHo24oPGS CASEoNO.N-23/2007 UnionoofoIndia Versus SanjayoKediao..AccusedoPerson Theohumbleopetitionoonobehalfoofotheoprosecution. MOSToRESPECTFULLYoSTATES;

1.oThatotodayoisotheodateofixedoforosubmissionoof theocomplaint.

2.oThatoasotheoprosecutionoisonotoinoaopositionoto submit o the o complaint o today o hence o prays o for further o timeo for o theo same.o Under o theo above circumstancesoitoisoprayedothatoaoshortodateomay kindlyoallowedoforotheosameoforoendsoofojustice AND Forothisoactoofokindnessoshalloeveroprayoyour petitioneroasoisodutyoshalloeveropray." A o bare o perusal o of o this o unsigned o application would orevealothatoito doesonoto eveno remotely satisfyotheotestsolaidodownoinoVishnuoThakur's case.oTheoSpecialoJudgeoallowedothisoapplication asowelloonotheodayoitowasofiledobyoaocrypticoorder and o without o notice o to o the o accused o in o the followingotermso: "Accd.oSanjayoKediaoisoproducedofromoJ/C.oAccd. Filedoaovakalatnama.oProsecutorofilesoHazira. Prosecutionoalsoofilesoaopetitionoprayingoforotime. Considered o prayer o for o time o is o allowed o to

13.2.2008oforoproductionoofotheoaccdo&oreport fromoI.O." CRM-5914-2023oin/andoCRR-363-2023 ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-14-

16.oWeoare,otherefore,oofotheoopinionothatotheoextensions granted o to o the o investigating o department o under o the provisootooSectiono36Ao(4)odidonotosatisfyotheoconditions laidodownothereinoandobothotheoextensions,otherefore, beingocontraryotoolaw,omustobeostruckodownoaccordingly. [Emphasisosupplied] ThisoCourtoinoJoginderoSingh,o(supra)oheldoasounder:- "AoPublicoProsecutoroisoanoimportantoofficeroofothe StateoGovernmentoandoisoappointedobyotheoStateounder theoCodeoofoCriminaloProcedure.oHeoisoanoindependent statutoryoauthority.oTheoPublicoProsecutoroisoexpected tooindependentlyoapplyohisomindotootheorequestoofothe investigatingoagencyobeforeosubmittingoaoreportotoothe courtoforoinvestigation.oHeoisonotomerelyoaopostoofficeoor aoforwardingoagency.oAoPublicoProsecutoromayooromay notoagreeowithotheoreasonsogivenobyotheoinvestigating officeroforoseekingoextensionoofotimeoandomayofindothat theoinvestigationohadonotoprogressedoinotheoproper mannerooothatothereohasobeenounnecessary,odeliberateoor avoidableodelayoinocompletingotheoinvestigation.oThus, for oseekingoextensionoofotime,otheoPublicoProsecutor afteroanoindependentoapplicationoofomindotootheorequest ofotheoinvestigatingoagency,oisorequiredotoomakeoaoreport tootheocourtoindicatingothereinotheoprogressoofothe investigationoandodisclosingojustificationoforokeepingothe accusedoinofurtherocustodyotooenableotheoinvestigating agency o to o complete o the o investigation. o The o Public Prosecutoromayoattachotheorequestoofotheoinvestigating officeroalongwithohisorequestoonoapplicationoandoreport, butohisoreportomustodiscloseoonotheofaceoofoit,othatoheohas appliedohisomindoandowasosatisfiedowithotheoprogressoof theoinvestigationoandoconsideredograntoofofurtherotimeoto completeotheoinvestigation.oTheoreportoofotheoPublic Prosecutor,otherefore,oisonotomerelyoaoformalityobutoa very vital report because the consequence of its acceptance affects the liberty of an accused and it must, therefore, strictly comply with the requirements of Section 36A(4) of the NDPS Act. The contents of the report to be submitted by the Public Prosecutor, after proper application of his mind, are designed to assist the court to independently decide whether or not extension should be granted in a given case. Keeping in view the consequences of the grant of extension i.e. keeping an accused in further custody, the court must be satisfied for the justification, from the report of the Public Prosecutor, to grant extension of time to complete the investigation. In the case in hand, the application for extension signed by the Investigating Officer cannot be construed as a report of the Public Prosecutor as envisaged in Proviso to sub section (4) of Section 36A of the NDPS Act for the reason that Public Prosecutor had only appended his signatures at the bottom of the page, that too, without even making an endorsement that he had perused the grounds and that, he was satisfied about the progress of investigation and reasons set out for extension of time to complete the investigation. Further, the report did not disclose the progress of investigation. It is a settle proposition of law that report is not a mere formality but requires due application of mind as to the ground for delay in filing challan and the reasons for further detention of accused. In the considered view of this Court, the application/report filed by the prosecution did not meet the aforesaid requirements envisaged in Proviso to Section 36A(4) of the NDPS Act. It can safely be held that the application for seeking extension of time was nothing but a JITESH LAL transmission of request of an Investigating Officer. The CRM-5914-2023oin/andoCRR-363-2023 ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-16-reportodidonotoreflectotheostepsotakenoforoobtainingoFSL reportoduringotheoperiodoofofirsto180odays." [Emphasisosupplied] InoRohtasho@oRajuo(supra)oheldoasounder:- "Asoperoprosecution,otheopresentocaseoisowith regard o to o recovery o of o commercial o quantity o of contrabandoandotheopetitionerowasosentotoocustodyoon

23.09.2021.oTheopoliceopresentedochallanoagainstothe petitioneroono17.03.2022,owithoutoFSLoreport.oAlong withotheochallanoSHOoofotheoconcernedopoliceostation filedoanoapplicationo(Annx.oP-2)ounderoSectiono36A(4) NDPSoActoseekingoextensionoofotime.oAdmittedly,othe said o application o was o noto forwarded o by o the o public prosecutorooroadditionalopublicoprosecutor.oTheolaw requiresothatosuchoanoapplicationoshouldobeosupported byoaoreportoofopublicoprosecutor,owhichoindicatesothe progressoofotheoinvestigationoandofurtherospecifyothe compellingoreasonsoforoseekingotheodetentionoofothe accusedobeyondotheoperiodoofo180odays.oInothisocontext reference o be o made o to o Sanjay o Kumar o Kedia o Vs. NarcoticsoControloBureauo(2009)o17oSCCo631.oInothe caseoinohandonoosuchoreportoofopublicoprosecutorowas filedoalongowithotheoapplicationomovedounderoSection 36A(4)oofoNDPSoAct.oSo,otheoaforesaidorequestofor extensionoofotimeomadeobyotheoprosecutionoagencyowas notoinoaccordanceowitholaw.oThus,otheoorderodated

31.03.2022,oAnnexureoP-1,opassedobyotheotrialoCourtois notosustainableoinotheoeyesoofolaw.o TheoreportoofotheoFSLogoesotootheorootoofotheocase andoisoaomaterialodocumentoandoasosuch,ofilingoof challan o without othe o same o is o noto to o be o treated o as completeochallan,oasohasobeenoheldobyotheocoordinate BenchoofothisoCourtoinoJagvinderoSinghocaseo(supra) andoAjaiboSingh'socaseo(supra).oTheosimilaroviewohas 2023.05.11 04:50 beenotakenobyotheocoordinateoBenchoofothisoCourtoin CRM-5914-2023oin/andoCRR-363-2023 ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-17-CriminaloRevisionoNo.1314oofo2021,oJoginderoSinghoVs. StateoofoHaryana,odecidedoono11.02.2022.oEvenothe Hon'ble o Apex o Court o in o SLP o (Criminal) o No.8164-8166/2021oMohammadoArbazoandoothersoVs.oStateoof NCToandoDelhi,oalsoograntedoreliefotootheoaccused, underotheosimilarocircumstances.o Inotheolightoofotheoabove,otheoimpugnedoorder datedo24.03.2022orejectingodefaultobailotootheopetitioner isoherebyosetoasideoandoheoisoorderedotoobeoreleasedoon defaultobailoonofurnishingorequisiteobailobondsotoothe satisfaction o of o concerned o trialo Court/Specialo Judge

(Duty)." TheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheocaseoofoHitendraoVishnu Thakuro(supra)oheldoasounder:- "22.oWeomay,oatothisostage,oalsooonoaoplainoreadingoof clauseo(bb)oofosub-sectiono4oofoSectiono20opointooutothat theolegislatureohasoprovidedoforoseekingoextensionoof timeoforocompletionoofoinvestigationoonoaoreportoofothe publicoprosecutor.oTheolegislatureodidonotopurposely leave o it o to o an o Investigating o Officer o to o make o an applicationoforoseekingoextensionoofotimeofromotheocourt. Thisoprovisionoisoinotuneowithotheolegislativeointentoto haveotheoinvestigationsocompletedoexpeditiouslyoandonot tooallowoanoaccusedotoobeokeptoinocontinuedodetention during o unnecessary o prolonged o investigation o at o the whimsoofotheopolice.oTheolegislatureoexpectsothatothe investigation o must o be o completed o with o utmost promptitudeobutowhereoitobecomesonecessaryotooseek someomoreotimeoforocompletionoofotheoinvestigation,othe investigatingoagencyomustosubmitoitselfotootheoscrutinyoof theoPublicoProsecutoroinotheofirstoinstanceoandosatisfy himoaboutotheoprogressoonotheoinvestigationoandofurnish reasonsoforoseekingofurtherocustodyoofoanoaccused.oA PublicoProsecutoroisoanoimportantoofficeroofotheoState CRM-5914-2023oin/andoCRR-363-2023 ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-18-Govt.oandoisoappointedobyotheoStateounderotheoCodeoof Criminal o Procedure. o He o is o not o a o part o of o the investigatingoagency.oHeoisoanoindependentostatutory authority. o The o Public o Prosecutor o is o expected o to independentlyoapplyohisomindotootheorequestoofothe investigatingoagencyobeforeosubmittingoaoreportotoothe courtoforoextensionoofotimeowithoaoviewotooenableothe investigatingoagencyotoocompleteotheoinvestigation.oHe isonotomerelyoaopostoofficeooroaoforwardingoagency.oA PublicoProsecutoromayooromayonotoagreeowithothe reasonsogivenobyotheoinvestigatingoofficeroforoseeking extensionoofotimeoandomayofindothatotheoinvestigation hadonotoprogressedoinotheoproperomanneroorothatothere hasobeenounnecessary,odeliberateooroavoidableodelayoin completingotheoinvestigation.oInothatoevent,oheomayonot submitoanyoreportotootheocourtounderoclauseo(bb)otooseek extensionoofotime.oThusoforoseekingoextensionoofotime under o clause o (bb) o the o Public o Prosecutor o after o an independentoapplicationoofohisomindotootheorequestoof theoinvestigatingoagency,oisorequiredotoomakeoaoreportoto theoDesignatedoCourtoindicatingothereinotheoprogressoof theoinvestigationoandodisclosingojustificationoforokeeping the o accused o in o further o custody o to o enable o the investigatingoagencyotoocompleteotheoinvestigation.oThe Public o Prosecutor o may o attach o the o request o of o the investigating o officer o alongwith o his o request o or applicationoandoreport,obutohisoreport,oanoenvisaged underoclauseo(bb),omustodiscloseoonotheofaceoofoit,othat heohasoappliedohisomindoandowasosatisfiedowithothe progressoofotheoinvestigationoandoconsideredograntoof furtherotimeotoocompleteotheoinvestigationonecessary. Theouseoofotheoexpressiono"onotheoreportoofotheoPublic Prosecutoroindicatingotheoprogressoofotheoinvestigation andotheospecificoreasonsoforotheodetentionoofotheoaccused beyondotheosaidoperiod"oasooccurringoinoclauseo(bb)oinJITESH LAL CRM-5914-2023oin/andoCRR-363-2023 ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-19-sub-section o (2) o of o Sectiono167oas o amended o by Sectiono20(4) o are o important o and o indicative o of o the legislativeointentonototookeepoanoaccusedoinocustody unreasonablyoandotoograntoextensionoonlyoonotheoreport ofotheoPublicoProsecutor.oTheoreportoofotheoPublic Prosecutor,otherefore,oisonotomerelyoaoformalityobutoa very o vital o report o because o the o consequence o of o its acceptanceoaffectsotheolibertyoofoanoaccusedoandoitomust, therefore, o strictly o comply o with o the o requirements o as contained o in o clause o (bb). o The o request o of o an investigating o officer o for o extension o of o time o is o no substituteoforotheoreportoofotheoPublicoProsecutor.oWhere eitheronooreportoasoisoenvisagedobyoclauseo(bb)oisofiled orotheoreportofiledobyotheoPublicoProsecutoroisonot acceptedobyotheoDesignatedoCourt,osinceotheograntoof extension o of o time o under o clause o (bb) o is o neither o a formalityonoroautomatic,otheonecessaryocorollaryowould beothatoanoaccusedowouldobeoentitledotooseekobailoand theocourto"shall"oreleaseohimoonobailoifoheofurnishesobail asorequiredobyotheoDesignatedoCourt.oItoisonotomerelyothe questionoofoformoinowhichotheorequestoforoextension underoclauseo(bb)oisomadeobutooneoofosubstance.oThe contentsoofotheoreportotoobeosubmittedobyotheoPublic Prosecutor,oafteroproperoapplicationoofohisomind,oare designed o to o assist o the o Designated o Court o to independentlyodecideowhetherooronotoextensionoshould beo grantedo ino ao giveno case.o Keepingo ino viewo the consequencesoofotheograntoofoextensionoi.eokeepingoan accusedoinofurtherocustody,otheoDesignatedoCourtomust beosatisfiedoforotheojustification,ofromotheoreportoofothe Public o Prosecutor, o to o grant o extension o of o time o to completeotheoinvestigation.oWhereotheoDesignatedoCourt declinesotoograntosuchoanoextension,otheorightotoobe releasedoonobailoonoaccountoofotheo'default'oofothe prosecution o becomes o indefeasible o and o cannot o beJITESH LAL CRM-5914-2023oin/andoCRR-363-2023 ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-20-defeatedobyoreasonsootherothanothoseocontemplatedoby sub-sectiono(4)oofoSectiono20,oasodiscussedoinotheoearlier partoofothisojudgment.oWeoareounableotooagreeowithoMr. MadhavaoReddyoorotheoAdditionaloSolicitoroGeneraloMr. Tulsi,othatoevenoifotheoPublicoProsecutoro'presents'othe requestoofotheoinvestigatingoofficerotootheocourt,oor 'forwards'otheorequestoofotheoinvestigatingoofficerotoothe court,oitoshouldobeoconstruedotoobeotheoreportoofothe Public o Prosecutor. o There o is o no o scope o for o such o a construction,owhenoweoareodealingowithotheolibertyoofoa citizen.oTheocourtsoareoexpectedotoojealouslyosafeguard hisoliberty.oClauseo(bb)ohasotoobeoreadoandointerpreted onoitsoplainolanguageowithoutoaddingoorosubstitutionoof anyoexpressionoinoit.oWeohaveoalreadyodealtowithothe importanceoofotheoreportoofotheoPublicoProsecutoroand emphasisedothatoheoisoneitheroao'postooffice'oofothe investigatingoagencyonoroitso'forwardingoagency'obutois chargedowithoaostatutoryoduty.oHeomustoapplyohisomind tootheofactsoandocircumstancesoofotheocaseoandohisoreport mustodiscloseoonotheofaceoofoitothatoheohadoappliedohis mindotootheotwinoconditionsocontainedoinoclauseo(bb)oof sub-sectiono(4)oofoSectiono20.oSince,otheolaworequires himotoosubmitotheoreportoasoenvisagedobyotheosection,ohe mustoactoinotheomanneroasoprovidedobyotheoSectionoand inonoootheromanner.oAoDesignatedoCourtowhichoover-looksoandoignoresotheorequirementsoofoaovalidoreport failsoinotheoperformanceoofooneoofoitsoessentialoduties andorendersoitsoorderounderoclauseo(bb)ovulnerable. WhetherotheoPublicoProsecutorolabelohisoreportoasoa reportooroasoanoapplicationoforoextension,owouldonotobe ofomuchoconsequenceosoolongoasoitodemonstratesoonothe factoofoit,othatoheohasoappliedohisomindoandoisosatisfied withotheoprogressoofotheoinvestigationoandogenuineness ofotheoreasonsoforograntoofoextensionotookeepoanoaccused inofurtherocustodyoasoenvisagedobyoclauseo(bb)o(supra).JITESH LAL CRM-5914-2023oin/andoCRR-363-2023 ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-21-Even o the o mere o reproduction o of o the o application o or request o of o the o investigating o officer o by o the o Public Prosecutoroinohisoreport,owithoutodemonstrationoofothe applicationoofomindoandorecordingohisoownosatisfaction, wouldonotorenderohisoreportoasotheooneoenvisagedoby clauseo(bb)oandoitowouldonotobeoaoproperoreportotooseek extensionoofotime.oInotheoabsenceoofoanoappropriate reportotheoDesignatedoCourtowouldohaveonoojurisdiction toodenyotooanoaccusedohisoindefeasibleorightotoobe releasedoonobailoonoaccountoofotheodefaultoofothe prosecutionotoofileotheochallanowithinotheoprescribed timeoifoanoaccusedoseeksoandoisopreparedotoofurnishothe bailoboundsoasodirectedobyotheocourt.oMoreover,ono extensionocanobeograntedotookeepoanoaccusedoinocustody beyondotheoprescribedoperiodoexceptotooenableothe investigationotoobeocompletedoandoasoalreadyostated beforeoanyoextensionoisograntedounderoclauseo(bb),othe accusedomustobeoputoononoticeoandopermittedotoohaveohis sayosooasotoobeoableotooobjectotootheograntoofoextension." [Emphasis supplied]

¶10Foroaoproperoappreciationoofotheofacts,oaotabulatedochartoof theorelevantodatesoisoreproducedohereinbelow:-

¶1DateoofoFIR/arrest 07.12.2021 AnnexureoP-1

¶2Applicationoforoextension 25.05.2022 AnnexureoP-2/R-1

¶3180oDaysocompletiono 04.06.2022 --

¶4ApplicationoU/so167(2)oCr.P.C. 06.06.2022 --

¶5Orderowherebyoextensionoofo90 10.06.2022 Impugnedoorder/ daysogranted. AnnexureoR-3

¶6Orderoofodismissaloofobail 10.06.2022 AnnexureoR-4. applicationoU/so167o(2) Cr.P.C.).

¶7Challanopresentedo 10.08.2022 --

¶11Aoperusaloofotheolawoquotedohereinaboveowouldoshowothat JITESH LAL mereofilingoofoanoapplicationoforoextensionodoesonotoipsoofactooempower CRM-5914-2023oin/andoCRR-363-2023 ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-22-theoCourtotooextendotheostipulatedoperiodoforofilingotheoreportounder Sectiono173(2)oCr.P.C.oAoperusaloofotheoapplicationodoesonotoshowoany applicationoofomindoonotheopartoofotheoPublicoProsecutoroasotoowhyohe feelsothatotheoperiodotoopresentotheoreportounderoSectiono173oCr.P.C.oought toobeoextended.oInofact,oheohasoactedolikeoaopostoofficeooroaoforwarding agency. oAo Public o Prosecutor o is o an o important o officer o of o the o State Governmentoandoindependentostatutoryoauthority.oHeoisoexpectedoto independentlyoappliesohisomindotootheorequestoofotheoInvestigating AgencyobeforeosubmittingoaoreportotootheoCourtoasotoowhyoextensionoof timeoforocompletionoofoinvestigationoisosoughtoandothatoheowasosatisfied asotootheoprogressoofotheoinvestigation.oHeoisonotomerelyoaopostoofficeooroa forwardingoagency.oQuiteotootheocontrary,oaoPublicoProsecutoromayoor mayonotoagreeowithotheoreasonsoassignedobyotheoInvestigatingoOfficer.oHe mayoalsoocomeotootheoconclusionothatothereohasobeenounnecessary, deliberateooroavoidableodelayoinotheocompletionoofotheoinvestigation. Therefore,oforoseekingoextensionoofotimeotheoPublicoProsecutor,oafteroan independentoapplicationoofomindotootheorequestoofotheoInvestigating AgencyoisorequiredotoomakeoaoreportotootheoCourtoindicatingothereinothe progressoofotheoinvestigationoandodisclosingojustificationoforokeepingothe accused oin o furthero custodyo to o enableo theo Investigating oAgencyoto completeoinvestigation.oInofact,otheoreportoofotheoPublicoProsecutoroisonot anoemptyoformalityobutoaovitaloreportobecauseotheoconsequencesoofoits acceptancesoaffectsotheolibertyoofoanoaccusedoandoitomust,otherefore, strictlyocomplyowithotheorequirementsoofoSectiono36Ao(4)oofotheoNDPS Act.oInotheoinstantocase,oaoperusaloofoAnnexureoP-2oi.e.otheoapplication 2023.05.11 04:50 seekingoextensionoofotheoperiodoforopresentingochallanowouldoshowothat CRM-5914-2023oin/andoCRR-363-2023 ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-23-the o Public o Prosecutor o simply o forwarded o the o same o without o any independentoapplicationoofomind.o

¶12Keepingoinoviewotheoaforementionedodiscussion,otheopresent revisionopetitionoisoallowedoandotheoimpugnedoorderodatedo10.06.2022 passedobyotheoAdditionaloSessionsoJudge,oFatehabad,owherebyotheoperiod forocompletionoofoinvestigationohasobeenoextendedobyo90odaysostands quashed.oo oo (JASJIToSINGHoBEDI) oJUDGE

13.03.2023 JITESHo Whetherospeaking/reasoned:-oYes/No Whetheroreportable:- oooooooooooYes/No