High Court of KeralaSingle JudgeThe petition is allowed; Annexure A1 is quashed...

Dilshan V. Bose v. State of Kerala

Case / Petition Number:CRL.M.C. No. 7911 of 2023

Case Details & Bench

Court
High Court of Kerala
Hon'ble Judges
  • P.V. Kunhikrishnan, J.
Judgment Date
2023-10-13
Court Decision / Holding
This Criminal Miscellaneous Case is allowed. All further proceedings against the petitioner based on Annexure A1 are quashed. However, the order will not stand in the way of the Sub Divisional Magistrate, Fort Kochi in proceeding against the petitioner in accordance with law, if there is any fresh cause of action.
Final Disposition
The petition is allowed; Annexure A1 is quashed; the proceedings under Annexure A1 are barred, though fresh lawful action may be taken if grounded on a proper basis under the CrPC.

Parties to the Case

Appellants / Petitioners

  • Dilshan V. Bose

Respondents

  • State of Kerala represented by Public Prosecutor

Legal Representation & Advocates

Counsels for Petitioners

  • • K.R.Vinod
  • • M.S.Letha
  • • Nabil Khader Mohammed Razali
  • • K.A

Counsels for Respondents

  • • Hrithwick C.S., Public Prosecutor

Case Synopsis & Summary

This is a Kerala High Court Criminal Miscellaneous Case (CRL.M.C. No. 7911 of 2023) filed by Dilshan V. Bose challenging Annexure A1 dated 12.07.2023 issued by the Sub Divisional Magistrate, Fort Kochi, under Section 107 r/w 111 CrPC. The notice purportedly required the petitioner to show cause why he should not be ordered to execute a bond with or without sureties for maintaining peace for up to one year, and the Magistrate’s satisfaction basis for invoking Section 107 is questioned. The petitioner contends Annexure A1 does not disclose the substance of the information received by the Magistrate, thereby failing to meet the mandatory requirement under Section 111 CrPC that the order set forth the information, bond amount, term, and the nature of sureties. The petitioner relies on this Court’s decisions in Girish P. v. State of Kerala, Santhosh M.V. v. State of Kerala, and Bejoy K.V. v. State of Kerala, to argue the necessity of a transparent, information-based order. The Court notes that Annexure A1 merely states that about 16 cases exist, without disclosing the information or basis for satisfaction. Consequently, the court holds Annexure A1 to be inconsistent with 107 r/w 111 CrPC, quashes the proceedings thereunder, and clarifies that future actions may proceed only if grounded on a proper, legally compliant basis under the CrPC.

Provisions of Law Cited

Section 107 Cr.P.C.Section 111 Cr.P.C.

Legal Doctrines & Maxims

  • Preservation of peace and public tranquillity is the objective of Section 107 Cr.P.C.
  • The order under Section 111 Cr.P.C must set forth the substance of the information received, the amount of the bond, the term, and the type/number of securities, if any, and must reflect the Magistrate's assessment of the information.
  • An order denying disclosure of the information or based solely on past conduct can stigmatize the individual without justification; due process requires sufficient information to enable defense.
  • The court relied on the principle from Moidu's case (Full Bench) that the spirit of Section 107 Cr.P.C. is preservation of peace, and a proper S.111/107 order must be explicit and informative.

Submissions & Arguments

Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners

The petitioner argued that Annexure A1 does not disclose the substance of the information received by the Sub Divisional Magistrate, nor does it spell out the basis of satisfaction under Sections 107 and 111 Cr.P.C. The notice fails to provide the precise information, resulting in a lack of opportunity to defend against the allegations and rendering the order unsustainable. The counsel relied on prior judgments (Girish P., Bejoy K.V., Santhosh M.V.) to emphasize the required disclosure and formulation of the order.

Contentions of Respondents

The State, through the Public Prosecutor, contended that Annexure A1 was issued under the proper framework of S.107 r/w S.111 Cr.PC and that the information, though not exhaustively detailed in the annexure, was sufficient for the proceedings under Section 107 to maintain public peace.

Cited Precedents (4)

Case NameCitationTreatmentExplanation
Girish P. and others v. State of Kerala and another2009 (4) KHC 929PositiveCited to emphasize the mandatory disclosure of the substance of information in an order under S.111 CrPC read with S.107 CrPC.
Santhosh M.V and others v. State of Kerala and others2014 KHC 522PositiveReferenced for the principle that orders under S.111 CrPC must contain the substance of information and be prepared with due diligence.
Bejoy K.V. v. State of Kerala and Another2015 (5) KHC 507PositiveCited to support mandatory factual disclosure in the order under S.111/107 CrPC and to caution against vague orders.
Moidu's case (Full Bench)—Mentioned OnlyMentioned to indicate the Full Bench discourse on the spirit of the CrPC provisions, but without a direct citation or binding rule cited here.

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Extracted Judgment Text

Exact text extracted from official judgment records.

# **IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM** ## **PRESENT** **THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN FRIDAY, THE 13[TH] DAY OF OCTOBER 2023 / 21ST ASWINA, 1945 CRL.MC NO. 7911 OF 2023** **AGAINST THE ORDER/JUDGMENT MC 315/2023 OF SUB DIVISIONAL COURT,FORT COCHIN** ## **PETITIONER/COUNTER PETITIONER:** DILSHAN V. BOSE AGED 34 YEARS S/O. BOSE VARGHESE, VECHUPADINJARETHIL VEEDU, MOOLEPPADAM BAGAM, THRIKKAKKARA NORTH VILLAGE, KALAMASSERY P.O, ERNAKULAM, PIN - 683104 BY ADVS. K.R.VINOD M.S.LETHA NABIL KHADER MOHAMMED RAZALI K.A ## **RESPONDENT/PETITIONER:** STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR,HIGH COURT OF KERALA, PIN – 682031 BY ADV. SRI.HRITHWICK C.S., PP THIS CRIMINAL MISC. CASE HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 13.10.2023, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY PASSED THE FOLLOWING: Crl.M.C.No.7911 of 2023 2 ## **P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN, J.** **-----------------------------Crl.M.C.No.7911 of 2023 ---------------------------------------------Dated this the 13[th] day of October, 2023** ## **ORDER** This Criminal Miscellaneous Case is filed to quash Annexure A1 order dated 12.07.2023 in M.C.No.315/2023 of the Sub Divisional Magistrate, Fort Kochi. The above case is initiated under Section 111 Cr.PC. It is the case of the petitioner that Annexure A1 notice issued by the Sub Divisional Magistrate does not contain the substances of the information received by the Magistrate for arriving at the satisfaction contemplated under Section 107 Cr.PC. The counsel relied the judgments of this Court in **Girish P. and others v. State of Kerala and another** (2009 (4) Crl.M.C.No.7911 of 2023 3 KHC 929), **Santhosh M.V and others vs. State of Kerala and others** (2014 KHC 522) and also **Bejoy K.V vs State of Kerala and Another** (2015 (5) KHC 507). 2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Public Prosecutor. 3. A perusal of Annexure A1 notice would not show that it is an order passed in tune with Section 107 r/w Section 111 Cr.PC. In **Girish P** ' case (supra), the mandate of Section 111 and Section 107 Cr.PC are mentioned. It will be better to extract the relevant paragraph, which reads as follows:- “5. S.107 of Code of Criminal Procedure enables an executive Magistrate on receiving information that a person is likely to commit breach of peace or disturb the public tranquillity or to do any wrongful act that may probably occasion a breach of the peace or disturb the public tranquillity and is of opinion that there is Crl.M.C.No.7911 of 2023 4 sufficient ground for proceeding, to require such person to show cause why he should not be ordered to execute a bond with or without sureties for keeping peace for such period not exceeding one year as the Magistrate thinks fit. S.111 mandates that when a Magistrate acting under S.107, deems it necessary to require any person to show cause, he shall make an order in writing setting forth the substance of the information received, the amount of the bond to be executed, the term for which it is to be in force, and the number, character and class of sureties, if any required, the necessity to setforth the substance of the information' in the order under S.111 is not an empty formality and is with a purpose. It is to enable the person against whom the order is passed, to appear and show cause before the Magistrate that the allegations are not correct. Unless that information is furnished to the person against whom the order is passed, he cannot defend the allegation as against him. 6. Annexure I order issued by the Sub Divisional Magistrate does not disclose the Crl.M.C.No.7911 of 2023 5 substance of the information received by the Sub Divisional Magistrate on which he was satisfied that proceedings under S.107 is to be initiated. The fact that petitioners are involved in Crime No. 207/2009 by itself is not a ground, to initiate proceedings, under S. 107. Though past conduct may be a guide to initiate proceedings, on that ground alone proceedings cannot be initiated unless as stated by the Full Bench in Moidu's case (supra) there is an imminent breach of peace warranting initiation of proceedings under S.107 of Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.” ## 4. In **Bejoy K.V** 's case (supra) also, this Court considered the same point and relevant paragraph is extracted hereunder:- “17. Therefore, it is mandatory that an order issued under S.111 CrPC by a Sub Divisional Magistrate exercising jurisdiction under S.107 CrPC, to set forth the substance of information received, the amount of the bond to be executed, the term for which it is to Crl.M.C.No.7911 of 2023 6 be in force and the number, character and type of securities, if any are required. The order must also reflect that the Magistrate has assessed the truth of the information and the need for taking action under S.107 CrPC for preservation of peace and that thereupon he has passed such an order. An order issued under S.111 CrPC calling upon the person to show cause against execution of bond without disclosing therein the substance of information received and upon which satisfaction was arrived at by him, will not sustain in the eye of law. The order must contain all particulars relevant and sufficient to inform him about the accusation against him. This is because, the party calling upon must have to explain the circumstances against him or defend the proceedings and only on sufficient and satisfactory information being furnished, he will be able to answer the same. Therefore, the Sub Divisional Magistrate empowered with the authority to exercise the authority under S.107 CrPC to initiate Crl.M.C.No.7911 of 2023 7 proceedings must be vigilant and conscious while exercising the power and should bear in mind that the spirit envisaged by the Section is preservation of peace and public tranquillity. The Sub Divisional Magistrate must see that the information supplied to him proposing action, was not one intended with a view to satisfy his personal vendetta. He must bear in mind that with the exercise of the power a man is called upon to execute a bond undertaking to preserve peace and tranquility for a period specified in the proceedings and therefore, it is likely to cast a stigma upon such a person that he was instrumental in breaching the peace or disturbing the public tranquility. If such a stigma is allowed to be fell upon an innocent person without any basis, that stigma cannot be removed later and the person would not be relegated to his real status of innocence, ultimately when such person was found irresponsible for any such alleged acts.” 5. In the light of the above dictum, I am of the Crl.M.C.No.7911 of 2023 8 considered opinion that Annexure A1 is not an order in tune with Section 111 Cr.PC and 107 Cr.PC. It is only stated that, about 16 cases are registered by the Kalamassery Police against the counter petitioner. The substances of information received and the details of the case are not narrated in the notice. Therefore, I am of the considered opinion that Annexure A1 proceedings is unsustainable. Therefore, this Criminal Miscellaneous case is allowed. All further proceedings against the petitioner based on Annexure A1 are quashed. But this order order will not stand in the way of the Sub Divisional Magistrate, Fort Kochi in proceeding against the petitioner in accordance with law, if there is any fresh cause of action. DM Sd/- **P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN JUDGE** Crl.M.C.No.7911 of 2023 9 ## **APPENDIX OF CRL.MC 7911/2023** PETITIONER ANNEXURES ANNEXURE A1 THE ORIGINAL OF THE ORDER DATED 12.07.2023 ISSUED BY THE SUB DIVISIONAL MAGISTRATE FORT KOCHI UNDER SEC.111 OF CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE RESPONDENTS EXHIBITS :NIL //TRUE COPY// PA TO JUDGE