Rajan Abraham v. State of Kerala and others

## **`IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM`** ## **`PRESENT`** ``` THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN THURSDAY, THE 16[TH] DAY OF NOVEMBER 2023 / 25TH KARTHIKA, 1945 ``` ``` CRL.MC NO. 9403 OF 2022 ``` ``` MC 79/2022 OF SUB DIVISIONAL MAGISTRATE COURT,THIRUVALLA ``` ## **`PETITIONER/RESPONDENT:`** ``` RAJAN ABRAHAM AGED 62 YEARS S/O P.J. ABRAHAM, ELANJIMOOTTIL HOUSE, KAVUMBHAGOM P.O, THIRUVALLA- PIN- 689102 BY ADVS.T.P.PRADEEP P.K.SATHEES KUMAR MINIKUMARY M.V. R.K.PRASANTH JIJO JOSEPH ``` ## **`RESPONDENTS/PETITIONER & STATE:`** ``` 1STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KERALA, ERNAKULAM PIN - 682031 2R.D.O/ SUB DIVISIONAL MAGISTRATE REVENUE DIVISIONAL OFFICE, THIRUVALLA - 689101 3INSPECTOR OF POLICE THIRUVALLA POLICE STATION, THIRUVALLA - 689101 ADDL.R4M.C. JACOB S/O M.C CHACKO, RESIDING AT MANAKANDATHIL, KAVUMBHAGOM P.O., THIRUVALLA, PATHANAMTHITTA – 689 102 IS IMPLEADED AS ADDL.R4 AS PER ORDER DATED 16.11.2023 IN CRL.M.A.1/2023 BY ADVS.C R REGHUNATHAN B.HARRYLAL U.RESHMA GOPAN R.BALAKRISHNAN SMT SREEJA V, PP ``` ## **`THIS CRIMINAL MISC. CASE HAVING COME UP FOR`** ``` ADMISSION ON 16.11.2023, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY PASSED THE FOLLOWING: ``` CrlM.C..No.9403/2022 **2** ## **P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN, J. -------------------------------Crl.M.C. No.9403 of 2022 ---------------------------------------------Dated this the 16[th] day of November, 2023** ## **ORDER** Petitioner is aggrieved by Annexure-A4 order passed by the Sub Divisional Magistrate, Thiruvalla, in M.C.No.79/2022. The above case is initiated under Section 111 Cr.P.C. It is the case of the petitioner that Annexure-A4 notice issued by the Sub Divisional Magistrate does not contain the substances of the information received 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 the learned Public Prosecutor. 3. A perusal of Annexure-A4 notice would not show that it is an order passed in tune with Section 107 r/w Section CrlM.C..No.9403/2022 **3** 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 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 CrlM.C..No.9403/2022 **4** 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 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 CrlM.C..No.9403/2022 **5** 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 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 CrlM.C..No.9403/2022 **6** 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 considered opinion that Annexure-A4 is not an order in tune with Section 111 Cr.PC and 107 Cr.PC. It is only stated that crime number is registered at Thiruvalla Police Station. 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-A4 proceedings is unsustainable. Therefore, this Criminal Miscellaneous case is allowed. All further proceedings against the petitioner based on Annexure-A4 are quashed. But I make it clear that, Sub Divisional Magistrate, Thiruvalla is free to issue CrlM.C..No.9403/2022 **7** fresh proceedings in accordance with law, if it is necessary in the facts and circumstances of the case. sd/- **P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN JUDGE** JV CrlM.C..No.9403/2022 **8** ## **`APPENDIX OF CRL.MC 9403/2022`** ``` PETITIONER ANNEXURES Annexure-1TRUE COPY OF OS NO. 456/2018 ON THE FILES OF MUNSIFF'S COURT, THIRUVALLA Annexure-2TRUE COPY OF THE F.I.R NO. 392/2022 OF THIRUVALLA POLICE STATION Annexure-3TRUE COPY OF THE F.I.R NO. 391/2002 OF THIRUVALLA POLICE STATION Annexure-4TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER IN MC 79/2022 DATED 17.11.2022 RESPONDENT ANNEXURES AnnexureR4(a)TRUE COPY OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN ON FEBRUARY 2022 AnnexureR4(b)TRUE COPY OF THE FIR NO. 391/2022 REGISTERED ON 17.03.2022 OF THIRUVALLA POLICE STATION ```