High Court of KeralaSingle JudgeAllowed; All further proceedings against the pe...

RASAQ KK @ MARAVAN RASAQ v. STATE OF KERALA AND THE SUB DIVISIONAL MAGISTRATE, THALASSERY

Case / Petition Number:CRL.MC No. 2756 of 2022
Neutral Citation:/null

Case Details & Bench

Court
High Court of Kerala
Hon'ble Judges
  • P. V. Kunhikrishnan, J.
Judgment Date
2023-09-27
Court Decision / Holding
This Criminal Miscellaneous Case is allowed. All further proceedings against the petitioner based on Annexure-A1 are quashed.
Final Disposition
Allowed; All further proceedings against the petitioner based on Annexure-A1 are quashed.

Parties to the Case

Appellants / Petitioners

  • RASAQ KK @ MARAVAN RASAQ

Respondents

  • State of Kerala
  • The Sub Divisional Magistrate, Thalassery

Legal Representation & Advocates

Counsels for Petitioners

  • • Rosin Joseph
  • • Amrita Arun

Counsels for Respondents

  • • Public Prosecutor, High Court of Kerala

Case Synopsis & Summary

This is a Criminal Miscellaneous Case (CRL.MC No. 2756 of 2022) filed by Rasaq KK @ Maravan Rasaq challenging Annexure-A1 issued by the Sub Divisional Magistrate, Thalassery in Crime No. 220/2021 (State). The petitioner contends that Annexure A1 does not contain the substances of the information received or the basis for satisfaction under Section 107 Cr.P.C. The matter was admitted on 27.09.2023 and the court examined the mandatory requirements of Section 107 read with Section 111 Cr.P.C. and the need for a clear disclosure of information in the order under Section 111 to enable the respondent to defend; the court relied on earlier Kerala High Court decisions including Girish P. and others v. State of Kerala; Santhosh M.V. and others v. State of Kerala; Bejoy K.V v. State of Kerala; and Ahammad Kabir v. State of Kerala to evaluate the formal sufficiency of Annexure-A1 and the rationale behind initiating proceedings under 107 Cr.P.C. The court concluded that Annexure-I (Annexure-A1) failed to disclose the substance of the information and that past conduct alone does not justify initiation under Section 107 Cr.P.C., referencing the Moidu Full Bench principle. Consequently, the Criminal Miscellaneous Case is allowed and all further proceedings against the petitioner based on Annexure-A1 are quashed.

Provisions of Law Cited

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

Legal Doctrines & Maxims

  • Preservation of peace and public tranquillity (spirit of Section 107 Cr.P.C.)
  • Mandatory disclosure of information in an order under Section 111 Cr.P.C. to enable the respondent to defend against the allegations

Submissions & Arguments

Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners

The Annexure-A1 notice does not disclose the substance of the information on which the Sub Divisional Magistrate purportedly based his satisfaction for initiating proceedings under Ss. 107/111 Cr.P.C. The petitioner relies on Girish P. and others v. State of Kerala, Santhosh M.V. and others v. State of Kerala, Bejoy K.V. v. State of Kerala and Ahammad Kabir v. State of Kerala to contend that the order must recite the information received and that merely past conduct or a case number is not enough; without disclosure, the respondent cannot defend the allegations.

Contentions of Respondents

Not explicitly elaborated in the provided excerpt; the court notes the respondents’ assertions were presented through the Public Prosecutor but does not provide a detailed counter-argument within the excerpt. The core issue analyzed is whether Annexure-A1 satisfies the statutory requirements under Ss. 107 and 111 Cr.P.C.

Cited Precedents (5)

Case NameCitationTreatmentExplanation
Girish P. and others v. State of Kerala and another2009 (4) KHC 929Mentioned OnlyCited to describe the mandate of Sections 107/111 Cr.P.C.; used as a reference point for the required content of orders under Section 111.
Santhosh M.V. and others v. State of Kerala and others2014 KHC 522Mentioned OnlyCited to support the view that mere accusation in one case does not by itself justify initiation of proceedings under Section 107 Cr.P.C.
Bejoy K.V. v. State of Kerala and Another2015 (5) KHC 507Mentioned OnlyCited regarding the necessity that an order under Section 111 must disclose the substance of information received and the basis of satisfaction.
Ahammad Kabir v. State of Kerala and Another2014 KHC 186Mentioned OnlyCited for the principle that mere registration of a crime is not a ground to initiate proceedings under Section 107 Cr.P.C.
Moidu's Case (Full Bench)Moidu's case (supra)Mentioned OnlyCited as the Full Bench authority underscoring the need for proper information and the correct framing of orders under Ss. 107/111 Cr.P.C.

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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 ``` ``` WEDNESDAY, THE 27[TH] DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2023 / 5TH ASWINA, 1945 ``` ``` CRL.MC NO. 2756 OF 2022 ``` ``` MC 47/2022 OF SUB DIVISIONAL MAGISTRATE,THALASSERY ``` ## **`PETITIONER/COUNTER PETITIONER:`** ``` RASAQ KK @ MARAVAN RASAQ AGED 42 YEARS S/O USMAN KARUVADAN KANDIYIL HOUSE, CHERUVANCHERI AMSOM, CHERUVANCHERI, KANNUR DISTRICT-, PIN - 670650 BY ADVS. ROSIN JOSEPH AMRITA ARUN ``` ## **`RESPONDENT/PETITIONER:`** ``` 1STATE OF KERALA THROUGH SUB INSPECTOR OF POLICE KANNAVAM POLICE STATION (CRIME NO.220/2021), REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KERALA, PIN - 682031 2THE SUB DIVISIONAL MAGISTRATE COURT, THALASSERY, PIN - 670101 ``` ## **`OTHER PRESENT:`** ``` SREEJA. V PP ``` ``` THIS CRIMINAL MISC. CASE HAVING COME UP FOR ``` ``` ADMISSION ON 27.09.2023, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY PASSED THE FOLLOWING: ``` CrlM.C..No.2756/2023 **2** ## **P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN, J. -------------------------------Crl.M.C. No.2756 of 2022** ## **---------------------------------------------Dated this the 27[th] day of September, 2023** ## **ORDER** This Criminal Miscellaneous Case is filed to quash the proceedings in M.C.No.47/2022 on the file of the Sub Divisional Magistrate Court, Thalassery. Annexure-A1 is the notice issued by the 2[nd] respondent. The above case is initiated under Section 111 Cr.PC. It is the case of the petitioner that Annexure A1 notice issued by the 2[nd] respondent does not contain the substances of the information received by the 2[nd] respondent 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-A1 notice would not show CrlM.C..No.2756/2023 **3** 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 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 CrlM.C..No.2756/2023 **4** 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 under S.111 CrPC by a Sub Divisional Magistrate exercising jurisdiction under S.107 CrPC, to set forth the substance of information received, the CrlM.C..No.2756/2023 **5** 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 tranquillity. The Sub Divisional Magistrate must see that the information supplied to him proposing action, was not one intended with a view to satisfy CrlM.C..No.2756/2023 **6** 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 one case is registered. Therefore, this Criminal Miscellaneous case is allowed. CrlM.C..No.2756/2023 **7** All further proceedings against the petitioner based on Annexure-A1 are quashed. sd/- **P.V.KUNHIKRISHNAN JUDGE** JV CrlM.C..No.2756/2023 **8** ## **`APPENDIX OF CRL.MC 2756/2022`** ``` PETITIONER ANNEXURES Annexure1THE TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 21.03.2022 IN M.C.NO.47/2022 ```