Magistrate Cannot Suo Motu Direct Further Investigation After Discharging The Accused: SC

It has to be said right at the outset that in a significant and latest decision delivered on April 16, 2019, the Supreme Court in Bikash Ranjan Rout v. State through the Secretary (Home), Government of NCT of Delhi, New Delhi in Criminal Appeal No. 687 of 2019 (Arising out of SLP (Cri.) No. 297 of 2015) has laid down clearly, categorically and convincingly that a Magistrate has no jurisdiction to suo motu pass an order for further investigation/reinvestigation after he discharges the accused. There should be no doubt now on this. This noteworthy judgment was authored by Justice MR Shah for himself and Justice L Nageswara Rao.

First and foremost, it is pointed out in para 1 that, 'Leave granted'. Para 2 then states that, 'Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied with the impugned judgment and order dated 20.08.2014 passed by the High Court of Delhi in Criminal M.C. No. 3386 of 2013 by which the High Court has dismissed the said petition and has confirmed the order passed by the learned Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (West) Delhi dated 05.02.2013, by which the learned Magistrate ordered further investigation, the original accused has preferred the present appeal.'

To recapitulate, it is then pointed out in para 3 that, 'That the FIR was lodged against the appellant herein- original accused on 28.09.2007 being FIR No. 426/2007 at Police Station Janakpuri, Delhi for the offences under Sections 420, 468 and 471 of the IPC. That on completion of the investigation, the investigating officer filed the charge-sheet against the accused-appellant for the offences under Sections 420, 468 and 471 of the IPC. That at the time of framing of the charge and considering the charge-sheet papers, the learned Magistrate discharged the appellant-original accused vide order dated 05.02.2013. However, while discharging the accused and/or after the accused was discharged, in the same order, the learned Magistrate directed the Additional Commissioner of Police (West) Delhi to make appreciation of quality of the investigation done in the case and to analyse the process of efficacy of sending any charge sheet before the prosecution branch for the purpose of scrutiny. Learned Magistrate also observed and directed that the case requires further investigation to reach a logical conclusion and the same be done responsibly and the report be filed on 11.04.2012 (sic).'

Furthermore, it is then pointed out in para 3.1 that, 'Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied with that part of the order passed by the learned Magistrate dated 05.02.2013 by which the learned Magistrate directed further investigation and to submit the report, the appellant-original accused approached the High Court by way of Criminal Miscellaneous Case No. 3386 of 2013. In the meantime, following the directions issued by the learned Magistrate vide order dated 05.02.2013, the District Investigating Unit, West District, Police Post MIG Flats, J-Block, Rajouri Garden, New Delhi issued summons dated 22.04.2013 under Section 160 of the CrPC. The appellant also challenged the said notice/summon issued under Section 160 of the CrPC. Basically, the appellant herein challenged that part of the order dated 05.02.2013 passed by the learned Magistrate, by which the learned Magistrate observed and directed further investigation and also directed the investigating officer to submit the report. That by the impugned judgment and order, the High Court has dismissed the said petition and has refused to interfere with the order dated 05.02.2013 passed by the learned Magistrate directing further investigation by observing that the investigation was a faulty investigation and/or no proper investigation was carried out on certain aspects and, therefore, the learned Magistrate was justified in inquiring further investigation to reach to a logical conclusion. Consequently, the High Court has dismissed the said petition. Hence, the appellant-original accused is before the Court.'

On one hand, it is brought out in para 4 that, 'Mr. Mrinal Kanti Mandal, learned Advocate appearing on behalf of the appellant-original accused, has vehemently submitted that, in the facts and circumstances of the case, the High Court has committed a grave error in confirming the order dated 05.02.2013 passed by the learned Magistrate for further investigation.'

On the other hand, it is then brought out in para 4.1 that, 'Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the appellant-original accused has vehemently submitted that the High Court has not properly appreciated the fact that after the accused was discharged by the learned Magistrate, thereafter he has no jurisdiction to pass any order for further investigation under Section 173(8) of the CrPC.'

What we then notice is that it is stated in para 4.2 that, 'It is further submitted by the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the appellant-original accused that once the accused is discharged by the learned Magistrate after considering the charge-sheet and the material on record, thereafter the learned Magistrate becomes functus officio and has no jurisdiction to order further investigation even under Section 173(8) of the CrPC.' Para 4.3 then states that, 'It is further submitted by the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the appellant-original accused that the order passed by the learned Magistrate for further investigation after the accused is discharged is even hit by Section 167(2) of the CrPC.'

Of course, para 4.4 then further points out that, 'Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the appellant-original accused has vehemently submitted that while passing the impugned judgment and order confirming the order passed by the learned Magistrate for further investigation after the accused was discharged, the High Court has not properly appreciated and/or considered the distinction between the powers to be exercised by the learned Magistrate at pre-cognizance stage and post-cognizance stage. It is submitted that the powers which may be available to the Magistrate at pre-cognizance stage cannot be exercised at post-cognizance stage.'

To be sure, it is then stated in para 4.5 that, 'In support of his above submissions, the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the appellant-original accused has heavily relied upon the decisions of this Court in the case of Bhagwant Singh . Commissioner of Police (1985) 2 SCC 537 as well as in the case of Reeta Nag . State of West Bengal (2009) 9 SCC 129. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the appellant-original accused has further relied upon the decisions of this Court in the cases of inay Tyagi . Irshad Ali @ Deepak (2013) 5 SCC 762; Vasanti Dubey v. State of Madhya Pradesh (2012) 2 SCC 731; Amit Kapoor . Ramesh Chander (2012) 9 SCC 460 and Randhir Singh Rana v. State (Delhi Administration) (1997) 1 SCC 361.'

What's more, para 4.6 then brings out that, 'Relying upon the afore-stated decisions of this Court, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the appellant-original accused has vehemently submitted that the order passed by the learned Magistrate and confirmed by the High Court, ordering further investigation after the accused was discharged was wholly impermissible. Therefore, it is prayed to allow the present appeal and quash and set aside the impugned judgment and order passed by the High Court as well as the order passed by the learned Magistrate ordering further investigation.'

On the contrary, we then see that para 5 discloses that, 'Ms. Vibha Datta Makhija, learned Senior Advocate appearing on behalf of the respondent-State, has vehemently opposed the present appeal. It is submitted by the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the respondent-State that as rightly observed by the learned Magistrate and even the High Court that on certain aspects there was no investigation carried out at all and no evidence was collected, which will go to the root of the matter and therefore having not been satisfied with the manner in which the investigation was carried out and the charge-sheet was submitted and thereafter when the learned Magistrate ordered further investigation, the same is rightly not interfered with by the High Court.'

Going forward, para 5.1 further discloses that, 'It is further submitted by the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the respondent-State that, as such, the learned Magistrate is vested with the power to order further investigation if he comes to the conclusion that the investigation was not proper and/or the investigation was made in perfunctory manner and the benefit would go to the accused. It is further submitted that the powers of the Magistrate to order further investigation has been recognized by law under Section 173(8) of the CrPC as well as by this Court in a catena of decisions, including the decisions of this Court in Bhagwant Singh (supra) and even in Reeta Nag (supra). It is submitted that therefore, in the facts and circumstances of the case, the learned Magistrate was justified in ordering further investigation.'

Moving on, we then see that it is then stated in para 5.2 that, 'Relying upon the decision of this Court in Kishan Lal v. Dharmendra Bafna (2009) 7 SCC 685, it is submitted by the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the respondent-State that, as observed and held by this Court, learned Magistrate can take cognizance on the basis of the materials placed on record by the investigating agency. It is also observed that it is also permissible for the Magistrate to direct further investigation. It is submitted that, as observed by this Court, the Magistrate has a duty to see that the investigation is carried out in a fair manner. It is submitted that, as observed by this Court, the Magistrate has a duty to see that the investigation is carried out in a fair manner. It is submitted that an order of further investigation can be made at various stages including the stage of the trial, that is even after taking cognizance of the offence.'

As it turned out, it is then pointed out in para 5.3 that, 'Relying upon the decision of this Court in Hemant Dhasmana v. Central Bureau of Investigation (2001) 7 SCC 536, it is further submitted that when the learned Magistrate passed an order of further investigation for the ends of justice, the same is not required to be interfered with by the High Court in the exercise of its revisional jurisdiction.'

Not stopping here, it is then stipulated in para 5.4 that, 'Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the respondent State has also heavily relied upon the decision of this Court in Sajjan Kumar v. Central Bureau of Investigation (2010) 9 SCC 368. It is submitted that even after the charge-sheet is filed, still the Magistrate is free to direct the accused to appear and try the offence, even at the stage of Sections 227 and 228 of the CrPC.'

Above all, para 5.5 then envisages that, 'Making the above submissions and relying upon the above decisions of this Court, it is prayed to dismiss the present appeal.'

Having said this, it is then envisaged in para 6 that, 'Heard learned counsel appearing on behalf of the respective parties at length. At the outset, it is required to be noted that the challenge in the present appeal is to the order passed by the High Court, confirming the order passed by the learned Magistrate of further investigation passed at the time/after the accused was discharged by the learned Magistrate. It is required to be noted that, in the present case, the investigating officer after concluding the investigation, submitted the report/charge-sheet before the learned Magistrate. Thereafter, the matter before the learned Magistrate was at the stage of framing of the charge, as provided under Sections 227 and 228 of the CrPC. After considering the material on record submitted along with the charge-sheet, the learned Magistrate at the first instance discharged the accused. However, simultaneously, while discharging the accused, learned Magistrate also passed an order for further investigation and directed the investigating officer to further investigate in the matter and submit the report. That part of the order, by which the learned Magistrate ordered further investigation is the subject matter of dispute. Therefore, the short question which is posed for consideration by this Court is whether once the learned Magistrate passes an order of discharge of the accused, whether thereafter it is permissible for the Magistrate to order further investigation and direct the investigating officer to submit the report?'

Most significantly, it is then underscored in para 7 that, 'Considering the law laid down by this Court in the aforesaid decisions and even considering the relevant provisions of the CrPC, namely Sections 167(2), 173, 227 and 228 of the CrPC, what is emerging is that after the investigation is concluded and the report is forwarded by the police to the Magistrate under Section 173(2)(i) of the CrPC, the learned Magistrate may either (1) accept the report and take cognizance of the offence and issue process, or (2) may disagree with the report and drop the proceedings, or (3) may direct further investigation under Section 156(3) and require the police to make a further report. If the Magistrate disagrees with the report and drops the proceedings, the informant is required to be given an opportunity to submit the protest application and thereafter, after giving an opportunity to submit the informant, the Magistrate may take a further decision whether to drop the proceedings against the accused or not. If the learned Magistrate accepts the objections, in that case, he may issue process and/or even frame the charges against the accused. As observed hereinabove, having not been satisfied with the investigation on considering the report forwarded by the police under Section 173(2)(i) of the CrPC, the Magistrate may, at that stage, direct further investigation and require the police to make a further report. However, it is required to be noted that all the aforesaid is required to be done at the pre-cognizance stage. Once the learned Magistrate takes the cognizance and, considering the materials on record submitted along with the report forwarded by the police under Section 173(2)(i) of the CrPC, learned Magistrate in exercise of the powers under Section 227 of the CrPC discharges the accused, thereafter, it will not be open for the Magistrate to suo moto order for further investigation and direct the investigating officer to submit the report. Such an order after discharging the accused can be said to be made at the post-cognizance stage. There is a distinction and/or difference between the pre-cognizance stage and post-cognizance stage and the powers to be exercised by the Magistrate for further investigation at the pre-cognizance stage and post-cognizance stage. The power to order further investigation which may be available to the Magistrate at the pre-cognizance stage may not be available to the Magistrate at the post-cognizance stage, more particularly, when the accused is discharged by him. As observed hereinabove, if the Magistrate was not satisfied with the investigation carried out by the investigating officer and the report submitted by the investigating officer under Section 173(2)(i) of the CrPC, as observed by this Court in catena of decisions and as observed hereinabove, it was always open/permissible for the Magistrate to direct the investigating agency for further investigation and may postpone even the framing of the charge and/or taking any final decision on the report at that stage. However, once the learned Magistrate, on the basis of the report and the materials placed along with the report, discharges the accused, we are afraid that thereafter the Magistrate can suo moto order the further investigation by the investigating agency. Once the order of discharge is passed, thereafter the Magistrate has no jurisdiction to suo moto direct the investigating officer for further investigation and submit the report. In such a situation, only two remedies are available: (i) a revision application can be filed against the discharge or (ii) the Court has to wait till the stage of Section 319 of the CrPC. However, at the same time, considering the provisions of Section 173(8) of the CrPC, it is always open for the investigating agency to file an application for further investigation and thereafter to submit the fresh report and the Court may, on the application submitted by the investigating agency, permit further investigation and permit the investigating officer to file a fresh report and the same may be considered by the learned Magistrate thereafter in accordance with law. The Magistrate cannot suo moto direct for further investigation under Section 173(8) of the CrPC or direct the re-investigation into a case at the post-cognizance stage, more particularly when, in exercise of powers under Section 227 of the CrPC, the Magistrate discharges the accused. However, Section 173(8) of the CrPC confers power upon the officer-in-charge of the police station to further investigate and submit evidence, oral or documentary, after forwarding the report under sub-section (2) of Section 173 of the CrPC. Therefore, it is always open for the investigating officer to apply for further investigation, even after forwarding the report under sub-section (2) of Section 173 and even after the discharge of the accused. However, the aforesaid shall be at the instance of the investigating officer/police officer-in-charge and the Magistrate has no jurisdiction to suo moto pass an order for further investigation/reinvestigation after he discharges the accused.'

To put it succinctly, it is then held very clearly and convincingly in para 7.1 that, 'In the instant case, the investigating authority did not apply for further investigation and that the learned Magistrate suo motu passed an order for further investigation and directed the investigating officer to further investigate and submit the report, which is impermissible under the law. Such a course of action is beyond the jurisdictional competence of the Magistrate. Therefore, that part of the order passed by the learned Magistrate ordering further investigation after he discharges the accused cannot be sustained and the same deserves to be quashed and set aside. Consequently, the impugned judgment and order passed by the High Court confirming such an order passed by the learned Magistrate also deserves to be quashed and set aside. At the same time, it will always be open for the investigating officer to file an appropriate application for further investigation and submit a further report in exercise of powers under Section 173(8) of the CrPC.'

Now turning to para 8, it is herein illustrated that, 'In view of the above and for the reasons stated above, the present appeal succeeds. The impugned judgment and order dated 20.08.2014 as well as that part of the order dated 05.02.2013 passed by the learned Magistrate directing the investigating officer for further investigation and submit the report, is hereby quashed and set aside.'

Needless to say, it is then clarified in para 8.1 that, 'However, considering the observations made by the learned Magistrate and the deficiency in the investigation pointed out by the learned Magistrate and the ultimate goal is to book and/or punish the real culprit, it will be open for the investigating officer to submit a proper application before the learned Magistrate for further investigation and conduct fresh investigation and submit the further report in exercise of powers under Section 173(8) of the CrPC and thereafter the learned Magistrate to consider the same in accordance with law and on its own merits.' Lastly, para 9 concludes this notable and worthy judgment by holding that, 'The present appeal is allowed with the above observations and the liberty reserved in favour of the investigating officer, as above.'

In closing, it can well be said clearly and convincingly that this latest, landmark and laudable judgment leaves no room of doubt whatsoever that the power to order further investigation which may be available to the Magistrate at the precognizance stage may not be available to the Magistrate at the post-cognizance stage, more particularly, when the accused is discharged by him. So the Magistrate must be always very careful and consider all options before discharging the accused. This is where the nub of this noteworthy judgment lies also as we have seen so clearly for ourselves!