@JUDGMENTTAG-ORDER
R. Basant, J.@mdashThe petitioner/accused faces indictment u/s 12(1)(b) of the Indian Passport Act. To cut a long story short, the gist of the
allegations against him is that he applied for a fresh passport in the name of his uncle K.K. Gopalan affixing his photograph. This was allegedly
done by him with dishonest and questionable intentions. The First Information Report was registered on 13.1.1998. The charge sheet was filed on
18.1.2002. The offence u/s 12(1)(b) of the Indian Passport Act carries the maximum punishment of imprisonment of two years and fine.
2. After investigation, the charge sheet was filed on 18.1.2002 and the learned Magistrate took cognizance of the offence. The accused, after
entering appearance, claimed that the proceedings against him may be discontinued. He filed Crl.M.P. No. 15840/03 requesting the Court to
consider his plea to discontinue proceedings on the ground that cognizance was taken against him ignoring, overlooking and in violation of Section
468(2)(c) of the Crl.P.C. Notice was given. The rival contestants were heard. It is thereafter that the impugned order was passed. The learned
Magistrate took the view that at the time of taking cognizance, his predecessor had impliedly condoned the delay u/s 473 of the Crl.P.C, though
there is nothing to show actual application of mind to the question u/s 473 of the Cr.P.C. whether the delay has been properly explained or that
taking cognizance notwithstanding the bar u/s 468(2)(c) of the Cr.P.C. was necessary in the interests of justice.
3. The learned counsel for the revision petitioner and the learned Public Prosecutor have advanced their arguments before me. Various precedents
have been cited at the Bar. I am of the opinion that the law is too well settled to require any specific reference to precedents.
4. That Section 468(2)(c) of the Cr.P.C. applies to the prosecution in the instant case is not disputed. That cognizance was taken beyond the
period prescribed u/s 468(2)(c) of the Cr.P.C. is also evident and is not disputed. That the investigating officer had not filed any application
explaining the circumstances under which there happened to be a delay in filing the charge sheet is also conceded. That the learned Magistrate had
not passed any order specifically adverting to and answering the question whether extension of the period of limitation u/s 473 is at all necessary is
also concerned. It is in this facts scenario that the contention raised before to be considered.
5. There can be no dispute that most ideally notice must be given to the accused in every case where the powers of the criminal court u/s 473 of
the Crl. P.C. is invoked and cognizance is taken notwithstanding the interdiction against belated cognizance u/s 468 of the Crl.P.C. But in many
cases it is seen that cognizance is taken invoking the powers u/s 473 of the Cr.P.C. even when the Court has entertained such satisfaction, ex parte
- without giving notice to and without hearing the accused. In such cases, it would be unreasonable and improper to conclude that the accused
does not thereafter have any right to raise objections against the belated cognizance in violation of Section 468 of the Crl.P.C. In all such cases it
would be open to the accused, after appearing before the Court, to raise the objection that powers u/s 473 of the Cr.P.C. cannot and should not
be invoked against him. In such cases, the ex parte satisfaction entertained by the criminal court to invoke its powers u/s 473 of the Crl.P.C. must
certainly be held to be ad hoc, subject to further consideration and confirmation/revocation at a later stage after giving an opportunity to the most
affected party - the accused, to make his submissions on the relevant aspects.
6. In this view of the matter, even assuming that the learned Magistrate at the stage of taking cognizance had entertained the impression that
cognizance can be taken notwithstanding Section 468 of the Cr.P.C. (by invoking the powers u/s 473 of the Cr.P.C.) such ad hoc satisfaction can
be challenged by an accused after he enters appearance. In these circumstances, the learned Magistrate was certainly obliged to consider the
obligation raised by the accused after his appearance that powers u/s 473 of the Cr.P.C. should not have been invoked to take cognizance against
him and to proceed with, the case after such cognizance. When such an objection is raised, it certainly is the duty of the learned Magistrate to
consider the crucial question u/s 473 of the Cr.P.C. - Whether the delay has been properly explained or that it is necessary to take cognizance
notwithstanding the bar u/s 468 of the Cr.P.C. in the interests of justice. The learned Magistrate was certainly wrong in passing the impugned order
by simply assuming that the learned Magistrate who took cognizance had by necessary implication chosen to invoke his powers u/s 473 of the
Cr.P.C. The learned Magistrate was obliged to consider the crucial question u/s 473 of the Crl.P.C. when the accused raised an objection after
entering appearance.
7. Less said about the theory of implied condonation, the better. There is nothing admittedly in the order passed by the learned Magistrate taking
cognizance or in the final reports submitted by the police, which would indicate that the power u/s 473 of the Crl.P.C, was actually invoked or
deserved to be invoked. From the mere fact that cognizance has been taken, it cannot lightly be assumed that the learned Magistrate had applied
his mind to the relevant facts and had chosen to invoke the powers u/s 473 of the Cr.P.C. That theory cannot certainly be accepted. If the learned
Magistrate had applied his mind to the relevant facts and had chosen to invoke the powers u/s 473 of the Cr.P.C., such application of mind must
certainly be reflected in the order. The mandate of the rule of natural justice that there must be a speaking order must certainly be complied with by
a court while choosing to invoke its powers u/s 473 of the Cr.P.C. Admittedly no such speaking order has been passed. There is nothing to
indicate application of mind to the relevant facts u/s 473 of the Crl.P.C.
8. I am inclined to agree that the learned Magistrate was, at the later stage when the objection was raised against cognizance, entitled to consider
whether the circumstances do exist to satisfy himself that the delay has been properly explained or that it is necessary to take belated cognizance in
the interests of justice. The learned Public Prosecutor was requested to explain the circumstances, if any, which can induce the requisite
satisfaction. Except that, there is a good and convincing prima facie case against the accused and that inevitable delay had crept in on account of
exigencies of work of the police force, no other reasons are advanced. Cognizance has been taken well beyond the period of limitation as can be
ascertained from the dates already referred above and I am in these circumstances satisfied that there is no material available even now before the
Court to satisfy itself that the delay has been properly explained or that it is necessary in the facts and circumstances of this case to take
cognizance, notwithstanding the bar u/s 468 of the Cr.P.C., in the interests of justice.
9. I am in these circumstances satisfied that the impugned order does, at any rate, warrant interference. The challenge succeeds.
10. In the result:
(a) This revision petition is allowed.
(b) The impugned order is set aside.
11. It is held that cognizance taken by the learned Magistrate, in violation of the specific bar u/s 468 of the Cr.P.C., is not justified and that there
are no circumstances to justify the taking of cognizance u/s 473 of the Cr.P.C. ignoring/overlooking the interdiction u/s 468 of the Cr.P.C.
12. Consequently, further proceedings against the accused are stopped u/s 258 of the Crl.P.C. and the accused is set at liberty.