High Court of KeralaSingle JudgeAllowed; Annexure-A1 order quashed; further pro...

Dilshan V. Bose v. State of Kerala

Case / Petition Number:Crl.M.C. No. 6192 of 2021

Case Details & Bench

Court
High Court of Kerala
Hon'ble Judges
  • P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN
Judgment Date
2023-10-19
Court Decision / Holding
This Criminal Miscellaneous Case is allowed. All further proceedings against the petitioner based on Annexure-A1 are quashed.
Final Disposition
Allowed; Annexure-A1 order quashed; further proceedings under Annexure-A1 are quashed.

Parties to the Case

Appellants / Petitioners

  • DILSHAN V.BOSE

Respondents

  • STATE OF KERALA represented by the Public Prosecutor, HIGH COURT OF KERALA, KOCHI-682031.

Legal Representation & Advocates

Counsels for Petitioners

  • • K.R.VINOD
  • • K.S.SREEREKHA
  • • JOHN TONY AKKARA
  • • JOSEPH N.A.
  • • PAUL P. MATHEW
  • • M.S.LETHA

Case Synopsis & Summary

This is a Kerala High Court Criminal Miscellaneous Case (Crl.M.C. No.6192 of 2021) filed by Dilshan V. Bose challenging Annexure-A1 issued by the Sub Divisional Magistrate, Fort Kochi, in MC No.548/2021, under Sections 107 and 111 CrPC. The petitioner contends that Annexure-A1 does not disclose the substance of the information received by the Magistrate as required to justify action under Section 107 CrPC, and thus fails the right to show cause under Section 111 CrPC. The petitioner relies on earlier judgments including Girish P. and others v. State of Kerala and another (2009 (4) KHC 929), Santhosh M.V. and others v. State of Kerala and others (2014 KHC 522), and Bejoy K.V v State of Kerala and Another (2015 (5) KHC 507). The court extracts the pertinent discussion from Girish P. regarding the mandate of Sections 107 and 111 CrPC, emphasizing that Section 111 cannot be an empty formality and must set forth the substance of the information, the bond terms, and the necessity to enable the person to defend himself. It notes that Annexure-A1 fails to disclose the information or reflect the basis of satisfaction for initiating proceedings, and that mere past conduct or the existence of a case registered is not enough. Citing Bejoy K.V, Santhosh M.V, and Ahammad Kabir, the court holds that the order is deficient and that the proceedings must be quashed. Consequently, the Criminal Miscellaneous Case is allowed and Annexure-A1 proceedings are quashed.

Provisions of Law Cited

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

Legal Doctrines & Maxims

  • S.111 CrPC is not an empty formality and must disclose the substance of information received, enabling the person to show cause and defend himself.
  • The objective of Section 107 Cr.P.C. is preservation of peace and public tranquillity; a bond to be executed and the necessity of the information must be clearly stated.

Submissions & Arguments

Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners

The applicant contends Annexure-A1 does not disclose the substance of the information received by the Sub Divisional Magistrate and hence violates the requirements of Sections 107/111 CrPC; reliance on the cited Kerala High Court judgments to press the need for precise disclosure and proper formulation of the order.

Contentions of Respondents

The respondents contend that Annexure-A1 is an order under Sections 107/111 CrPC, and the information and the basis for satisfaction are implicit in the proceedings; the arguments emphasize the legal framework allowing action under those sections.

Cited Precedents (5)

Case NameCitationTreatmentExplanation
Girish P. and others v. State of Kerala and another2009 (4) KHC 929PositiveCourt cites Girish P. to emphasize that 111 CrPC must disclose the substance of the information and the basis for satisfaction; not an empty formality.
Santhosh M.V and others v State of Kerala and others2014 KHC 522PositiveUsed to support that mere accusation in one case is insufficient to initiate 107 Cr.P.C. proceedings.
Bejoy K.V v State of Kerala and Another2015 (5) KHC 507PositiveBejoy K.V. is cited for the principle that the order must disclose substance and be capable of informing the person about the accusation.
Moidu's case (supra)—PositiveFull Bench in Moidu's case is referenced for the requirement of imminent breach to justify 107 CrPC action.
Ahammad Kabir v. State of Kerala and Another2014 KHC 186PositiveAffirms that mere registration of a crime is not by itself a ground to initiate 107 Cr.P.C. proceedings.

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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 THURSDAY, THE 19[TH] DAY OF OCTOBER 2023 / 27TH ASWINA, 1945 CRL.MC NO. 6192 OF 2021 ``` ``` MC 548/2021 OF SUB DIVISIONAL COURT,FORT COCHIN ``` ## **`PETITIONER/COUNTER PETITIONER:`** ``` DILSHAN V.BOSE AGED 32 YEARS S/O.BOSE VARGHESE, VECHUPADINJARETHIL VEEDU, MOOLEPPADAM BAGAM, THRIKKAKKARA NORTH VILLAGE, KALAMASSERY P.O., ERNAKULAM. BY ADVS. K.R.VINOD K.S.SREEREKHA JOHN TONY AKKARA JOSEPH N.A. PAUL P. MATHEW M.S.LETHA ``` ## **`RESPONDENT/PETITIONER:`** ``` STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KERALA, KOCHI-682031. ``` ## **`OTHER PRESENT:`** ``` SRI.M.P.PRASANTH, PP ``` ``` THIS CRIMINAL MISC. CASE HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 19.10.2023, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY PASSED THE FOLLOWING: ``` CrlM.C..No.6192/2021 **2** ## **P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN, J. -------------------------------Crl.M.C. No.6192 of 2021 ---------------------------------------------Dated this the 19[th] day of October, 2023** ## **ORDER** This Criminal Miscellaneous Case is filed to quash Annexure-A1 order passed by the Sub Divisional Magistrate Court, Fort Kochi, in M.C.No.548/2021. 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 Sub Divisional 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) 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 CrlM.C..No.6192/2021 **3** ## 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 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 CrlM.C..No.6192/2021 **4** 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 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 CrlM.C..No.6192/2021 **5** 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 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 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 CrlM.C..No.6192/2021 **6** 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. Moreover, in **Santhosh M.V’s case** (supra), it is observed that merely because the counter petitioner was made an accused in one case alone is not sufficient to intitiate proceedings against him under Section 107 Cr.P.C. Similarly, in **Ahammad Kabir v. State of Kerala and Another** [2014 KHC 186] this Court observed that merely because a crime is registered is not a ground to initiate the proceedings under Section 107 Cr.P.C. A perusal of Annexure-A1 shows that only CrlM.C..No.6192/2021 **7** one case is registered. Therefore, this Criminal Miscellaneous case is allowed. All further proceedings against the petitioner based on Annexure-A1 are quashed. JV sd/- **P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN JUDGE** CrlM.C..No.6192/2021 **8** ## **`APPENDIX OF CRL.MC 6192/2021`** ``` PETITIONER ANNEXURES Annexure A1THE ORIGINAL OF THE ORDER DATED 22.11.2021 ISSUED BY THE SUB DIVISIONAL MAGISTRATE FORT KOCHI. ```