Raji Joshi Alias Reji Joshi vs State Of Kerala on 27 March, 2026

    0
    38
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Kerala High Court

    Raji Joshi Alias Reji Joshi vs State Of Kerala on 27 March, 2026

                                                         2026:KER:27895
    
             IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
    
                                   PRESENT
    
             THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE A. BADHARUDEEN
    
      FRIDAY, THE 27TH DAY OF MARCH 2026 / 6TH CHAITHRA,
    
                                     1948
    
                          CRL.A NO. 1822 OF 2024
    
         AGAINST      THE    ORDER        DATED    08.05.2015    IN   M.C.
    
    2/2014    IN   OPMV    NO.1701    OF    2007    OF   MOTOR   ACCIDENT
    
    CLAIMS TRIBUNAL ,PERUMBAVOOR
    
    APPELLANT/RESPONDENT:
    
               RAJI JOSHI ALIAS REJI JOSHI,
               AGED 45 YEARS,
               W/O. JOSHI, PUTHENKUDY HOUSE, OKKAL KARA,
               OKKAL P.O , ERNAKULAM DISTRICT, PIN - 683550.
    
               BY ADV SRI.R.SURENDRAN
    
    
    RESPONDENT/:
    
               STATE OF KERALA
               REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR,
               HIGH COURT OF KERALA, PIN - 682031.
    
               SENIOR PUBLIC PROSECUTOR SRI RENJIT GEORGE.
    
    
         THIS CRIMINAL APPEAL HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON
    05.03.2026,     THE    COURT     ON    27.03.2026    DELIVERED     THE
    FOLLOWING:
                                                                  2026:KER:27895
    Crl.Appeal No.1822/2024               2
    
                                                                        "C.R"
    
                         A. BADHARUDEEN, J.
                ================================
                       Crl.Appeal No.1822 of 2024
              ================================
                   Dated this the 27th day of March, 2026
    
    
                                 JUDGMENT
    

    This appeal has been filed under Section 380 of Bharatiya

    Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (`BNSS’ for short hereafter) challenging

    SPONSORED

    the order dated 08.05.2015 in M.C.No.2/2014 arising out of O.P(MV)

    No.1701/2007 on the files of the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal

    (`MACT’ for short hereafter), Perumbavoor. The respondent herein is the

    State of Kerala.

    2. Heard the learned counsel for the appellant/respondent as

    well as the learned Public Prosecutor in detail. Perused the order

    impugned as well as the relevant documents, including the decisions

    placed by the learned counsel for the appellant.

    3. On the facts of this case, the appellant herein is the 1 st

    respondent in O.P(MV).No.1701/2007 on the files of the MACT,
    2026:KER:27895
    Crl.Appeal No.1822/2024 3

    Perumbavoor. M.C.No.2/2014 was suo motu registered by the Tribunal

    when it found that Ext.B2 driving licence produced by the appellant herein

    before the court on receipt of I.A.No.3505/2009 in OP(MV).No.1701/2007

    was fake and forged and it was detected when the insurer filed a petition to

    cause production of the driving licence particulars and its production. It

    was found by the Tribunal that Ext.B2 driving licence bearing

    No.7361/1998 was actually issued from Assistant Licensing Authority,

    Meenambakkam in favour of one Raghavendra B Sirsi and not in favour of

    the appellant. In the M.C.No.2/2014, while forwarding the order to the

    JFCM, Perumbavoor, which led to registration of C.C.No.923/2015

    pending before the JFCM-I, Perumbavoor, the Tribunal observed in

    paragraphs 10 to 14 as under:

    “10. So the only possible conclusion is that the
    respondent/R1 had offered Ext:B2 which is a falsely created
    document for using the same in evidence before this forum to avoid
    the legal consequences against her, that are likely to follow on it
    being revealed that she was not having a licence to drive the kinetic
    honda at the time of the accident.

    11. The contention of respondent/R1 that the entries
    in the records maintained at the office of the licensing authority could
    be a mistaken entry cannot be accepted, owing to the presumption u/s
    2026:KER:27895
    Crl.Appeal No.1822/2024 4

    114(e) of the Evidence Act given to official records. It is also
    contended by the respondent /R1 that she had been handed over the
    licence by the driving school authorities who had given her lessons in
    driving.

    12. How far the said version of respondent/R1 is true
    is a matter to be decided by the competent authority, after
    investigation in the matter. However the fact remains that the
    respondent/RI had offered a document which prima facie appears to
    be a fabricate record, and is not relating to the vehicle driven by her.
    As stated above no objections are raised by the respondent/R1 to the
    version of the Licensing authority who is stated to have issued the
    Ext:B1 licence to her, that no such licence is issued to her in the
    licence number shown in Ext:BL

    13. So the only conclusion is that a document which
    appears to be bogus had been produced by respondent/R1 stating to
    be issued to her by the Licencing authority which is seen denied by
    the said authority as per the Ext:B2 letter, to be used in the
    proceedings as OP(MV) 1701/07 so as to bring out that she was
    having the licence to drive the offending vehicle at the time of the
    accident, as an attempt to avoid the recovery right against her.

    14. So the only course now open to this forum is to
    forward this order to the Judicial First Class Magistrate
    Perumbavoor requesting appropriate action against the
    respondent/R1 in OP(MV)1701/07 under the relevant provisions of
    Chapter XI of the Indian Penal Code, which provides penalty for
    fabricating false evidence.”

    4. The prime contention raised by the learned counsel for
    2026:KER:27895
    Crl.Appeal No.1822/2024 5

    the appellant is based on the Constitution Bench decision reported in [AIR

    2005 SC 2119], Iqbal Singh Marwah v. Meenakshi etc., with reference to

    paragraph 18 of the judgment. In paragraph 18, the Apex Court observed

    as under:

    “18. In view of the language used in Section 340 Cr.P.C.
    the Court is not bound to make a complaint regarding commission of
    an offence referred to in Section 195(1)(b), as the Section is
    conditioned by the words “Court is of opinion that it is expedient in
    the interest of justice.” This shows that such a course will be
    adopted only if the interest of justice requires and not in every case.
    Before filing of the complaint, the Court may hold a preliminary
    enquiry and record a finding to the effect that it is expedient in the
    interests of justice that enquiry should be made into any of the
    offences referred to in Section 195(i)(b). This expediency will
    normally be judged by the Court by weighing not the magnitude of
    injury suffered by the person affected by such forgery or forged
    document, but having regard to the effect or impact, such
    commission of offence has upon administration of justice. It is
    possible that such forged document or forgery may cause a very
    serious or substantial injury to a person in the sense that it may
    deprive him of a very valuable property or status or the like, but
    such document may be just a piece of evidence produced or given in
    evidence in Court, where voluminous evidence may have been
    adduced and the effect of such piece of evidence on the broad
    concept of administration of justice may be minimal. In such
    circumstances, the Court may not consider it expedient in the
    2026:KER:27895
    Crl.Appeal No.1822/2024 6

    interest of justice to make a complaint. The broad view of clause (b)

    (ii), as canvassed by learned counsel for the appellants, would
    render the victim of such forgery or forged document remedyless.

    Any interpretation which leads to a situation where a victim of a
    crime is rendered remedyless, has to be discarded.”

    5. Apart from the said decision, the learned counsel for the

    appellant relied on a 3 Judge Bench decision of the Apex Court reported in

    [2002(1) SCC 253 : AIR 2002 SC 236], Pritish v. State of Maharashtra

    and Others, where the Apex Court observed as under:

    “19. We therefore agree with the impugned judgment that
    the appellant cannot complain that he was not heard during the
    preliminary inquiry conducted by the Reference Court under Section 340
    of the Code. In the result we dismiss this appeal.”

    6. According to the learned counsel for the appellant, on

    scrutiny of the order impugned, the learned Tribunal failed to form an

    opinion that “it is expedient in the interest of justice’ to lodge a complaint

    against the appellant herein and, therefore, the order impugned is against

    the ratio laid down by the Apex Court in the decision in Pritish v. State of

    Maharashtra and Others‘ case (supra).

    7. For the above reasons, the learned counsel for the

    appellant sought interference of the order impugned.

    2026:KER:27895
    Crl.Appeal No.1822/2024 7

    8. Per contra, the learned Public Prosecutor supported the

    order while conceding that even though the specific words ‘it is expedient

    in the interest of justice’ were not used in the order, in toto, the said

    finding can still be gathered from the order, and therefore no interference

    with the order is necessary.

    9. In the decision in Iqbal Singh Marwah v. Meenakshi

    etc.’s case (supra) the Constitution Bench considered a case where a

    forged Will was produced before the court while the other side moved an

    application under Section 340 of the Code of Criminal Procedure

    (`Cr.P.C‘ for short) requesting the court to file a criminal complaint to

    prosecute appellant No.1 therein, who produced the document. The Apex

    Court considered the conflict of opinions between 2 decisions of the Apex

    Court rendered by a 3 Judge Bench reported in [(1996) 3 SCC 533], Surjit

    Singh v. Balbir Singh and [(1998) 2 SCC 493], Sachida Nand Singh v.

    State of Bihar regarding interpretation of Section 195(1)(b)(i) and (ii) of

    Cr.P.C.

    10. In this connection, it is relevant to refer Section 340 of

    Cr.P.C which reads as under:

    2026:KER:27895
    Crl.Appeal No.1822/2024 8

    “340. Procedure in cases mentioned in section 195.

    (1) When, upon an application made to it in this behalf or
    otherwise, any Court is of opinion that it is expedient in the interests of
    Justice that an inquiry should be made into any offence referred to in clause

    (b) of sub-section (1) of section 195, which appears to have been committed
    in or in relation to a proceeding in that Court or, as the case may be, in
    respect of a document produced or given in evidence in a proceeding in that
    Court, such Court may, after such preliminary inquiry, if any, as it thinks
    necessary,—

    (a) record a finding to that effect;

    (b) make a complaint thereof in writing;

    (c) send it to a Magistrate of the first class having
    jurisdiction;

    (d) take sufficient security for the appearance of the
    accused before such Magistrate, or if the alleged offence is non-

    bailable and the Court thinks it necessary so to do, send the accused
    in custody to such Magistrate; and

    (e) bind over any person to appear and give evidence
    before such Magistrate.

    (2) The power conferred on a Court by sub-section (1) in respect of
    an offence may, in any case where that Court has neither made a complaint
    under sub-section (1) in respect of that offence nor rejected an application for
    the making of such complaint, be exercised by the Court to which such former
    Court is subordinate within the meaning of sub-section (4) of section 195.

    (3) A complaint made under this section shall be signed,–

    (a) where the Court making the complaint is a High Court,
    by such officer of the Court as the Court may appoint;

    [(b) in any other case, by the presiding officer of the Court
    or by such officer of the Court as the Court may authorise in writing
    in this behalf.]
    (4) In this section, “Court” has the same meaning as in section 195.”

    11. In this connection, paragraphs 19 to 21, 23, 24 to 26 of

    the decision in Iqbal Singh Marwah v. Meenakshi etc.’s case (supra) are

    relevant and the same are extracted hereunder:

    2026:KER:27895
    Crl.Appeal No.1822/2024 9

    “19. There is another consideration which has to be
    kept in mind. Sub- section (1) of Section 340 Cr.P.C. contemplates
    holding of a preliminary enquiry. Normally, a direction for filing of a
    complaint is not made during the pendency of the proceeding before the
    Court and this is done at the stage when the proceeding is concluded
    and the final judgment is rendered. Section 341 provides for an appeal
    against an order directing filing of the complaint. The hearing and
    ultimate decision of the appeal is bound to take time. Section 343(2)
    confers a discretion upon a Court trying the complaint to adjourn the
    hearing of the case if it is brought to its notice that an appeal is
    pending against the decision arrived at in the judicial proceeding out of
    which the matter has arisen. In view of these provisions, the complaint
    case may not proceed at all for decades specially in matters arising out
    of civil suits where decisions are challenged in successive appellate for
    a which are time consuming. It is also to be noticed that there is no
    provision of appeal against an order passed under Section 343(2),
    whereby hearing of the case is adjourned until the decision of the
    appeal. These provisions show that, in reality, the procedure prescribed
    for filing a complaint by the Court is such that it may not fructify in the
    actual trial of the offender for an unusually long period. Delay in
    prosecution of a guilty person comes to his advantage as witnesses
    become reluctant to give evidence and the evidence gets lost. This
    important consideration dissuades us from accepting the broad
    interpretation sought to be placed upon clause (b)(ii).

    20. An enlarged interpretation to Section 195(1)(b)(ii),
    whereby the bar created by the said provision would also operate
    where after commission of an act of forgery the document is
    2026:KER:27895
    Crl.Appeal No.1822/2024 10

    subsequently produced in Court, is capable of great misuse. As pointed
    out in Sachida Nand Singh, after preparing a forged document or
    committing an act of forgery, a person may manage to get a proceeding
    instituted in any civil, criminal or revenue court, either by himself or
    through someone set up by him and simply file the document in the said
    proceeding. He would thus be protected from prosecution, either at the
    instance of a private party or the police until the Court, where the
    document has been filed, itself chooses to file a complaint. The
    litigation may be a prolonged one due to which the actual trial of such
    a person may be delayed indefinitely. Such an interpretation would he
    highly detrimental to the interest of society at large.

    21. Judicial notice can be taken of the fact that the
    Courts are normally reluctant to direct filing of a criminal complaint
    and such a course is rarely adopted. It will not be fair and proper to
    give an interpretation which leads to a situation where a person
    alleged to have committed an offence of the type enumerated in clause

    (b)(ii) is either not placed for trial on account of non-filing of a
    complaint or if a complaint is filed, the same does not come to its
    logical end. Judging from such an angle will be in consonance with the
    principle that an unworkable or impracticable result should be
    avoided. In Statutory Interpretation by Francis Bennion (Third ed.)
    para 313, the principle has been stated in the following manner :

    “The court seeks to avoid a construction of an enactment
    that produces an unworkable or impracticable result,
    since this is unlikely to have been intended by Parliament.
    Sometimes however, there are overriding reasons for
    2026:KER:27895
    Crl.Appeal No.1822/2024 11

    applying such a construction, for example where it
    appears that Parliament really intended it or the literal
    meaning is too strong.”

    The learned author has referred to Sheffield City Council v.
    Yorkshire Water Services Ltd. (1991) 1 WLR 58, where it was held as
    under :

    “Parliament is taken not to intend the carrying out of its
    enactments to be unworkable or impracticable, so the
    court will be slow to find in favour of a construction that
    leads to these consequences. This follows the path taken
    by judges in developing the common law. ‘… the common
    law of England has not always developed on strictly
    logical lines, and where the logic leads down a path that
    is beset with practical difficulties the courts have not
    been frightened to turn aside and seek the pragmatic
    solution that will best serve the needs of society.”

    In S.J. Grange Ltd. v. Customs and Excise Commissioners (1979)
    2 All ER 91, while interpreting a provision in the Finance Act, 1972,
    Lord Denning observed that if the literal construction leads to
    impracticable results, it would be necessary to do little adjustment so
    as to make the section workable. Therefore, in order that a victim of a
    crime of forgery, namely, the person aggrieved is able to exercise his
    right conferred by law to initiate prosecution of the offender, it is
    necessary to place a restrictive interpretation on clause (b)(ii).

    23. That apart, the section which we are required to
    interpret is not a penal provision but is part of a procedural law,
    namely, Code of Criminal Procedure which elaborately gives the
    2026:KER:27895
    Crl.Appeal No.1822/2024 12

    procedure for trial of criminal cases. The provision only creates a bar
    against taking cognizance of an offence in certain specified situations
    except upon complaint by Court. A penal statute is one upon which an
    action for penalties can be brought by a public officer or by a person
    aggrieved and a penal act in its wider sense includes every statute
    creating an offence against the State, whatever is the character of the
    penalty for the offence. The principle that a penal statute should be
    strictly construed, as projected by the learned counsel for the appellants
    can, therefore, have no application here.

    24. Coming to the last contention that an effort should
    be made to avoid conflict of findings between the civil and criminal
    Courts, it is necessary to point out that the standard of proof required in
    the two proceedings are entirely different. Civil cases are decided on
    the basis of preponderance of evidence while in a criminal case the
    entire burden lies on the prosecution and proof beyond reasonable
    doubt has to be given. There is neither any statutory provision nor any
    legal principle that the findings recorded in one proceeding may be
    treated as final or binding in the other, as both the cases have to be
    decided on the basis of the evidence adduced therein. While examining
    a similar contention in an appeal against an order directing filing of a
    complaint under Section 476 of old Code, the following observations
    made by a Constitution Bench in M.S. Sheriff v. State of Madras
    AIR[1954]1SCR1144 give a complete answer to the problem posed :

    “(15) As between the civil and the criminal proceedings we
    are of the opinion that the criminal matters should be given
    precedence. There is some difference of opinion in the High
    Courts of India on this point. No hard and fast rule can be
    2026:KER:27895
    Crl.Appeal No.1822/2024 13

    laid down but we do not consider that the possibility of
    conflicting decisions in the civil and criminal Courts is a
    relevant consideration. The law envisages such an
    eventuality when it expressly refrains from making the
    decision of one Court binding on the other, or even relevant,
    except for certain limited purposes, such as sentence or
    damages. The only relevant consideration here is the
    likelihood of embarrassment.

    (16) Another factor which weighs with us is that a civil suit
    often drags on for years and it is undesirable that a criminal
    prosecution should wait till everybody concerned has
    forgotten all about the crime. The public interests demand
    that criminal justice should be swift and sure; that the guilty
    should be punished while the events are still fresh in the
    public mind and that the innocent should be absolved as
    early as is consistent with a fair and impartial trial. Another
    reason is that it is undesirable to let things slide till
    memories have grown too dim to trust.

    This, however, is not a hard and fast rule. Special
    considerations obtaining in any particular case might make
    some other course more expedient and just. For example, the
    civil case or the other criminal proceeding may be so near
    its end as to make it inexpedient to stay it in order to give
    precedence to a prosecution ordered under S. 476. But in
    this case we are of the view that the civil suits should be
    stayed till the criminal proceedings have finished.”

    25. In view of the discussion made above, we are of the
    opinion that Sachida Nand Singh has been correctly decided and the
    2026:KER:27895
    Crl.Appeal No.1822/2024 14

    view taken therein is the correct view. Section 195(1)(b)(ii) Cr.P.C.
    would be attracted only when the offences enumerated in the said
    provision have been committed with respect to a document after it has
    been produced or given in evidence in a proceeding in any Court i.e.
    during the time when the document was in custodia legis.

    26. In the present case, the will has been produced in the
    Court subsequently. It is nobody’s case that any offence as enumerated in
    Section 195(b)(ii) was committed in respect to the said will after it had
    been produced or filed in the Court of District Judge. Therefore, the bar
    created by Section 195(1)(b)(ii) Cr.P.C. would not come into play and
    there is no embargo on the power of the Court to take cognizance of the
    offence on the basis of the complaint filed by the respondents. The view
    taken by the learned Additional Sessions Judge and the High Court is
    perfectly correct and calls for no interference.”
    Thus in Iqbal Singh Marwah v. Meenakshi etc.
    ‘s case (supra), the Apex

    Court affirmed the view taken by the Apex Court in Sachida Nand Singh

    v. State of Bihar‘s case (supra) and held that Section 195(1)(b)(ii) of

    Cr.P.C would be attracted only when the offences enumerated in the said

    provision have been committed with respect to a document after it has

    been produced or given in evidence in a proceedings in any court with

    custodia legis.

    12. In the instant case, the driving licence alleged to be

    forged was produced before the court, and thus the forgery of the same
    2026:KER:27895
    Crl.Appeal No.1822/2024 15

    was not committed when the document was in the custody of the court. In

    the decision reported in [2023 KHC OnLine 7196 : 2023(9) SCC 539 :

    2023 SCC OnLine SC 973 : AIR OnLine 2023 SC 1262], Ashok

    Gulabrao Bondre v. Vilas Madhukarrao Deshmukh, the Apex Court

    considered a question when it considered a complaint filed by the

    complainant against the accused therein, alleging commission of offences

    punishable under Sections 191, 192, 196, 463, 464, 465, 467, 470 and 471

    r/w Section 34 of the IPC, on the allegation that one of the accused therein

    had prepared false and forged documents, namely, personal recognizance

    bond and surety bond in criminal case. But the complaint was dismissed

    by the learned Magistrate. When the said order was challenged before the

    Additional Sessions Judge, the Additional Sessions Judge took the view

    that the Magistrate should conduct an enquiry under Section 340 of Cr.P.C

    in the said case. The said finding was confirmed by the High Court also.

    In the said case, the question considered by the Apex Court was whether

    the embargo under Section 195 of Cr.P.C would be applicable when the

    allegation that the documents which are sought to be used as evidence

    were already fabricated and forged prior to filing of evidence. Notifying
    2026:KER:27895
    Crl.Appeal No.1822/2024 16

    the said decision, the Apex Court, after referring Surjit Singh v. Balbir

    Singh‘s case (supra) and Sachida Nand Singh v. State of Bihar’s case

    (supra), held that the bar contained in Section 195(1)(b)(ii) of Cr.P.C is

    not applicable to a case where forgery of the document was committed

    before the document was produced in a court, i.e during the time when the

    document is custodia legis. In another decision reported in [2024 KHC

    OnLine 8379 : 2024 LiveLaw (SC) 717], Arockiasamy v. State of Tamil

    Nadu, the Apex Court took the view that there is no embargo under

    Section 195(1)(b)(ii) to examine the criminal allegation of forgery of

    documents filed in Court, when such forgery is committed before its

    production in Court. In the said case, the allegation was that the accused

    therein fraudulently had obtained stamp paper and prepared an

    unregistered sale agreement. Thereafter the suit was filed by the accused

    seeking certain reliefs and in the suit the forged document was filed. Thus

    the allegation would not show that the documents were forged when the

    matter was sub-judice before the court and it was held therein that the bar

    under Section 195(1)(b)(ii) would not attract.

    13. The facts of the case in the decision reported in [2025
    2026:KER:27895
    Crl.Appeal No.1822/2024 17

    KHC OnLine 6715 : 2025 INSC 1009 : 2025 SCC OnLine SC 1753 : 2025

    KLT OnLine 2815], Devendra Kumar v. State of NCT, Delhi is as under:

    “A process server employed in the District Court was
    allegedly abused, detained, and humiliated by the petitioner,
    then a police officer, when he attempted to serve court summons
    and warrants at a police station, leading to a complaint being
    filed through the Administrative Civil Judge under S.195 CrPC,
    upon which the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate directed
    registration of an FIR under S.186 and S.341 IPC; this order
    was upheld by the Sessions Court and later affirmed by the High
    Court on the ground that prima facie obstruction of a public
    servant was disclosed. The question that arose for consideration
    was whether the registration of an FIR and investigation under
    S.156(3) CrPC for offences under S.186 IPC was valid in view of
    the bar under S.195 CrPC and whether the acts complained of
    constituted obstruction within the meaning of S.186 IPC and
    whether the Magistrate erred in directing police investigation
    under S.156(3) when a complaint under S.195 CrPC was filed,
    instead of directly taking cognizance and issuing process under
    S.204 Cr.P.C.”

    14. In Devendra Kumar v. State of NCT, Delhi‘s case

    (supra), the Apex Court held that, asking the police to investigate the

    complaint under Section 156(3) is a very serious error and the Chief
    2026:KER:27895
    Crl.Appeal No.1822/2024 18

    Metropolitan Magistrate should have straightaway taken cognizance upon

    the complaint and issued process under Section 204 as there was no need

    to involve the police in a complaint lodged by a Civil Judge for offences

    punishable under Sections 186 and 341 of IPC.

    15. It is not in dispute that in cases where proceedings under

    Section 340 of the Cr.P.C would apply, the court has to record a finding

    that `it is expedient in the interest of justice to initiate proceedings against

    the delinquent’. Here, on a perusal of the records, it could be seen that,

    pursuant to the complaint filed by the Sheristadar, Motor Accident Claims

    Tribunal, Perumbavoor, before the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court-I,

    Perumbavoor, based on the impugned order, the learned Magistrate took

    cognizance alleging commission of an offence punishable under Section

    193 of IPC by the accused and when the case was about to be taken up for

    trial, this Criminal Appeal has been filed and further proceedings got

    stayed. On perusal of paragraphs 13 and 14 of the impugned order, which

    are extracted above, the Tribunal narrated the reasons for passing the

    order.

    16. Coming back, when the offences enumerated in Section
    2026:KER:27895
    Crl.Appeal No.1822/2024 19

    195 of Cr.P.C or under Section 215 of BNSS are committed before

    production of the documents before the court, Section 195(1)(b)(ii) of

    Cr.P.C or Section 215(1)(b)(ii) of BNSS would not apply. At the same

    time, some of the offences enumerated therein if committed after the

    production of the document in court or in the course of tendering the same

    in evidence or such a document is tendered in evidence before the court,

    then Section 195(1)(b)(ii) of Cr.P.C or Section 215(1)(b)(ii) of BNSS

    would apply, necessitating proceedings under Section 340 of Cr.P.C or

    under Section 379 of BNSS.

    17. Here, on receiving the complaint given by the

    Sheristadar of M.A.C.T, Perumbavoor, based on the impugned order

    passed by the Tribunal, the learned Magistrate took cognizance of the

    offence under Section 193 of IPC and it has been provided that, whoever

    intentionally gives false evidence in any of a judicial proceeding, or

    fabricates false evidence for the purpose of being used in any stage of a

    judicial proceeding, shall be punished with imprisonment of either

    description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be

    liable to fine; and whoever intentionally gives or fabricates false evidence
    2026:KER:27895
    Crl.Appeal No.1822/2024 20

    in any other case, shall be punished with imprisonment of either

    description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also

    be liable to fine.

    18. Here as could be discernible from the impugned order,

    the forged licence was tendered in evidence and marked as Ext.B2. If so,

    in this case the bar under Section 195 of the Cr.P.C would attract for

    registering a case by the police and the court should opt for the

    procedure contemplated under Section 340 of Cr.P.C and thus the Tribunal

    rightly stepped into it. When a forged driving licence is tendered in

    evidence, the offence under Section 193 of IPC, ie., intentionally giving

    false evidence in a judicial proceedings, would occur and the same is

    punishable. Such an offence to be proceeded under Section 340 of Cr.P.C or

    under Section 379 of BNSS. In the instant case, even though the impugned

    order doesn’t specifically refer the words that “it is expedient in the

    interest of justice that an enquiry should be made into any of the

    offences referred to in Section 195(1)(b)(ii) of Cr.P.C”, the

    impugned order in toto would satisfy the said requirement. If so,

    the challenge against the impugned order is found to be meritless and is
    2026:KER:27895
    Crl.Appeal No.1822/2024 21

    liable to be dismissed.

    19. In the result, this appeal fails and is dismissed with

    direction to the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court-I, Perumbavoor, to

    proceed with trial of the case.

    20. The interim order shall stand vacated.

    Registry is directed to forward a copy of this judgment to the

    jurisdictional court for compliance and further steps.

    Sd/-

    A. BADHARUDEEN, JUDGE
    rtr/
    2026:KER:27895
    Crl.Appeal No.1822/2024 22

    APPENDIX OF CRL.A NO. 1822 OF 2024

    APPELLANT’S ANNEXURES

    Annexure A1 TRUE COPY OF THE SUMMONS DATED 24-5-2016
    ISSUED TO THE ACCUSED IN C.C NO.923 OF 2015
    BEFORE THE JUDICIAL FIRST CLASS MAGISTRATE-1,
    PERUMBAVOOR.

    Annexure A2 TRUE CERTIFIED COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 10-9-
    2024 IN CRL.M.C NO.7329 OF 2017 OF THIS
    COURT.



    Source link

    LEAVE A REPLY

    Please enter your comment!
    Please enter your name here