@JUDGMENTTAG-ORDER
R. Basant, J.@mdashCan there be a criminal offence involving no moral turpitude at all? Is the offence u/s 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act one such offence? Is a person accused of an offence, in which moral contumaciousness is not significant, entitled to a more humane and less onerous trial procedure? Should an accused facing indictment u/s 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act be compelled to endure the tedium and trauma of a regular elaborate criminal trial? Is it possible for the system to simplify procedure and achieve the legislative goals without inflicting such unnecessary inconvenience and difficulties on the indictee atleast in such less serious crimes? These questions are thrown up in this case where the Petitioner, a woman, laments that she, who faces indictment u/s 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, is entitled to a fairer deal from the system.
2. The Petitioner, a woman in her late forties, a housewife who has her husband employed abroad having two children-a son and a daughter studying for the engineering course and the B. A.M.S. course, and a permanent resident of Alappuzha has received summons from the Judicial Magistrate of the First Class, Hosdurg wherein she has been called upon to appear in person to face the indictment. She submits that she is innocent. The cheque has been misused. The Petitioner complains that she is unable to proceed all the way to that distant Court. She prays that she may be exempted from personal appearance and her counsel may be permitted to represent her and conduct the case. The counsel on her behalf submits that there is urgent need of general directions under Sections 482 or 483 of the Code of Criminal Procedure to save the Petitioner as well as others similarly placed, from their predicament of being compelled to appear in person before Court, getting enlarged on bail, executing bonds with sureties, personal appearance on all dates of posting, appearance for examination u/s 313 Code of Criminal Procedure and ultimately to receive judgment. The counsel contends that it is not necessary for a humane and user friendly system to resort to such cumbersome procedure. It is prayed that directions may be issued which will help the Petitioner as well as many others similarly placed facing identical predicament to save them of the unnecessary pain inflicted on them by such mindless injustice-of beaten track procedural hassles, trammels and trappings.
3. The contentions raised did appear to me to be impressive. Detailed arguments were heard in identical cases also in which the same question had arisen for consideration. Adv. Sri. G. Priyadarsan Thampi appearing for the Petitioner has advanced this contention with conviction. Sri N. Ratheesh who appears in a similar matter W.P.C. 20721/2007 has also advanced his arguments. Perceiving the need for assistance of an amicus curiae Sri. S. Rajeev, a promising young counsel was requested to assist the Court. Detailed arguments have been advanced. All counsel pray that directions may be issued which shall bind all Courts so that procedure in the trial of 138 (and similar) cases in the State can be simplified and indictees can be saved of the unnecessary and avoidable trauma and tedium.
4. First of all the learned Counsel have drawn my attention to various precedents having a bearing on the question. I shall advert to them specifically later if and when necessary. But it must now be stated that my attention has been drawn to the following binding precedents.
1. M/s Bhaskar Industries Ltd. v. M/s Bhiwani Denim and Apparels Ltd. and Ors. 2001(3) KLT 307 S.C.
2. Helen Rubber Industries and Ors. v. State of Kerala and Ors. 1972 KLT 794
3. Dinesan v. Baby 1981 KLT 65 Case No.120
4. Mathew v. State of Kerala 1986 KLT 128
5. Bhanujan v. Jayabhanu 1993 (2) KLT 889
6. Raman Nair v. State of Kerala 1999 (3) KLT 714
7. Alice George v. Deputy Superintendent of Police 2003 (1) KLT 339
8. Sasikumar v. State of Kerala 2007 (3) KLT 48 (C.No.64)
5. The learned Counsel submit that there is urgent necessity to clarify that the very fact that the offence is one u/s 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act must itself be reckoned as sufficient reason by the Magistrate to dispense with the personal attendance of the accused. The learned Counsel rely on Section 205 Code of Criminal which reads as follows:
205. Magistrate may dispense with personal attendance of accused.- (1) Whenever a Magistrate issues a summons, he may, if he sees reason so to do, dispense with the personal attendance of the accused and permit him to appear by his pleader.
(2) But the Magistrate inquiring into or trying the case may, in his discretion, at any stage of the proceedings, direct the personal attendance of the accused, and, if necessary, enforce such attendance in the manner hereinbefore provided.
(emphasis supplied)
6. The learned Counsel submit that the line of decisions referred above make it clear that powers u/s 205 Code of Criminal Procedure to exempt an accused from personal appearance are to be invoked by a Magistrate when the offence alleged is technical in nature or does not involve moral turpitude. The learned Counsel thereupon relies on the two decisions of this Court to contend that the offence u/s 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act is definitely one involving no moral turpitude. They are Saseendran Nair v. General Manager 1996 (2) KLT 482 and
7. The crux or the gravamen of the offence u/s 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act is the dishonour of the cheque on the ground of insufficiency of funds. But the right to prosecute would accrue only if a demand made for payment does not result in payment of the amount within the stipulated time. In this view of the matter, it is a technical offence and virtually the core of the liability to be prosecuted for the offence is the inability/refusal of a person to make payment when the demand is made consequent to dishonour. In this view of the matter, I am satisfied that the offence u/s 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act is both technical as also one involving no moral turpitude.
8. Crimes traditionally are more serious indiscretions in human behaviour committed by individuals which the sovereign wants to avoid, eliminate and deter by infliction of punishment. The sovereign prerogative of infliction of punishment-of deprivation of life, liberty and property (and infliction of pain in some crude systems), is to be resorted to only when the indiscretion alleged is grossly contumacious and culpable. It is in this view of the matter that traditional criminal law insisted that mens rea-a guilty mind, must be there in all crimes. Crimes of yester years could never be innocent and guilt free infractions of the expected ideal Code of human behaviour. One needed no knowledge of the laws in the past to ensure that he does not trespass into the zone of crime. Inherent and entrenched human concepts of righteousness in the past ensured that a person shall not commit the traditional crimes. He did not have to open law books to know that he should not murder another; that he should not maim another; that he should not deceive another, that he should not thieve another''s property or that he shall not commit adultery. Traditional law making insisted that the graver indiscretions alone can be declared to be crimes and they alone can attract punishment. In democratic law making also public opinion-norms prevalent among the polity, should reckon the conduct as so abhorrent and offensive before such conduct can be held to amount to and be declared a crime and worthy of the consequence of punishment-of deprivation of life, liberty and property.
9. Every criminal of yester years was undoubtedly a moral offender. He was treated with disdain and contempt. He was assumed to be a gross deviant. Society had to be protected from him. His place was prison-whether as an under trial or later. If he were to come out he was likely to be a menace to society. He therefore must offer bail. He must be personally present before Court on all dates. An attitude of distrust, doubt and suspicion against him was always there which essentially arose from the gravity of the deviant behaviour-crime, which was alleged against him. This negative attitude against the criminal can be seen in all criminal law systems-native and alien, of the past.
10. But modem societies have changed their attitudes to the offender. ''Hate the crime and not the criminal'' is the axiom of the modern criminal jurisprudence. Attitude of the law and system to the criminal is changing. The justice delivery system and the Courts are adopting a more humane, reasonable and compassionate attitude to even the traditional criminal-both in substantive and procedural aspects.
11. There is one more important reason why the attitude of the system, the law, the Courts and the society to the criminal must change. Crimes today-the statutory crimes, are qualitatively different indiscretions. Modern societies in their quest to ensure change of societal attitudes, behaviour and culture have been freely resorting to the tool of the penal law for social engineering. Not only to prevent grossly abhorrent behaviour but also to bring about future healthy changes of human attitudes and behaviour in societies, modern sovereigns have been making use of the laws-even the penal law. Law is a powerful tool of social engineering and societal transformation. The impatient elite in society who dream of ideal refined human behaviour in the polity have been insisting on conduct being made culpable even before that norm of behaviour is wholly accepted and entrenched in society. There is consequent diffidence among the polity. My inherent sense of morality acceptable to the society around me is not at times sufficient to keep me away from the zone of crime. I must read the law books and update myself on the statutes and rules so that I do not become a criminal. It may be inevitable; but the plight of the morally innocent individual caught in the dilemma cannot be ignored by the system.
12. Non-maintenance of registers in employment, disposal of waste in non-specified areas, giving your child in marriage before attainment of a specific age, inability/refusal to pay money due under a dishonoured cheque, unnecessary and uncharitable reference to the caste of an individual in the course of conversation in public view and a host of other pieces of conduct which till yesterday was not even morally wrong or was only an innocent indiscretion is today made a criminal offence exposing the citizen to the risk of being branded a criminal. Consequently he is exposed to unfriendly and hostile procedural wrangles. This is unjust. This is unfair. This is unreasonable. Correct the deviant conduct by imposing the punishment stipulated by law. But avoid the tedium and trauma of an oppressive procedure against the "innocent criminal". Be humane to him atleast in the manner in which he is treated before he is punished or exonerated. Do not oblige him to be in the same bracket as the morally deviant-ordinary traditional criminal. Just, fair and reasonable procedure, a procedure which is not capricious, unreasonable, arbitrary and oppressive may be followed. Right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India must oblige the Courts also to follow a procedure which is just, fair and reasonable while dealing with such criminals. If that is accepted, the unnecessary insistence on personal appearance before Courts, entering on bail, executing bond with sureties, non-bailable warrants chasing him if he does not appear on all dates of posting, the personal appearance for 313 examination, appearance to receive judgments etc. can and must be avoided, submit the learned Counsel.
13. I find the submissions to be absolutely justified. There is great need for rationalising, humanising and simplifying the procedure in criminal Courts with particular emphasis on the attitude to the "criminal with no moral turpitude" or the criminal allegedly guilty only of a technical offence. Without any hesitation I include Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act in that category of offences.
14. The question then to be considered is whether dispensing with the personal appearance of an accused throughout the trial in a prosecution u/s 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act (a summons trial) would create any difficulties in the progress of the cases and would render a just, fair, expeditious and efficient trial difficult or impossible. I shall consider the progress of a 138 prosecution from the moment of cognizance to the execution of the sentence in an attempt to find out whether a direction to dispense with the presence of an indictee in a 138 proceedings would create any difficulties or insurmountable obstruction to the trial.
15. Cognizance is to be taken in a private complaint under Chapter 15 when complaints are made to Magistrates. After examination of the complainant and his witnesses, if any, present u/s 200 Code of Criminal Procedure or after proceeding to the enquiry u/s 202 Code of Criminal Procedure, a decision is to be taken u/s 203 Code of Criminal Procedure whether there is sufficient ground for proceeding. If there is no sufficient ground for proceeding, the complaint entails dismissal u/s 203 Code of Criminal Procedure But if there are sufficient grounds for proceeding, issue of process results u/s 204 Code of Criminal Procedure u/s 204 Code of Criminal Procedure in a summons case, a summons alone shall be issued for procuring the attendance of the accused. It is at this stage that Section 205 Code of Criminal Procedure comes into play. A Magistrate, after taking cognizance, when he chooses to issue summons in a prosecution u/s 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, must u/s 204(1)(a) Code of Criminal Procedure choose to issue only a summons and at that stage Section 205 Code of Criminal Procedure comes into play. Instead of issuing a summons obliging the accused to appear in person, the Magistrate can, "if he sees reasons so to do", dispense with the personal attendance of the accused and permit him to appear by his pleader. At the stage of issue of summons in all prosecutions u/s 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, Section 205 Code of Criminal Procedure can certainly be followed by the learned Magistrates in their discretion. There is no impediment whatsoever for a fair and efficient trial if only a summons u/s 205 Code of Criminal Procedure is issued in all prosecutions u/s 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act.
16. Even assuming that a normal summons was issued u/s 204 Code of Criminal Procedure, it is by now trite that at any later stage before actual appearance of the accused before the learned Magistrate or after such appearance, powers u/s 205 Code of Criminal Procedure can be invoked. If there be any doubt on this aspect, it is only necessary to consider paragraph 3 of the decision rendered by Hon''ble Mr. Justice K.V. Sankaranarayanan in Raman Nair v. State of Kerala 1999 (3) KLT 714 which I extract below.
It is contended by learned Counsel for the Petitioner that this right to exempt must be exercised by the Magistrate when the summons is issued. If summons is already issued, the accused has necessarily to appear and then seek bail. But there is nothing in Section 205(1) to indicate that the power to grant exemption from personal attendance cannot be exercised after issuance of summons. The Section only means that in cases where the Magistrate issues a summons, he can dispense with the personal attendance of the accused. Such exemption is not expected in cases where the Magistrate decides to issue warrant. The decisions on the point indicate that the right can be exercised on an application. Such applications can be filed only when summons is issued and not earlier. Some decisions even go to the extent that warrants issued can be withdrawn and exemption granted u/s 205 Code of Criminal Procedure on application of the accused.
(emphasis supplied)
17. It is thus very clear that at the time of issuing summons or at any time thereafter either before or after the personal physical appearance of the accused before the Court and even when a warrant of arrest had earlier been issued powers u/s 205 Code of Criminal Procedure can be invoked.
18. We now proceed to the next stage. The accused has to enter appearance through counsel in response to the summons issued u/s 205 Code of Criminal Procedure After the accused enters appearance, particulars of offence must be read over to the accused u/s 251 Code of Criminal Procedure and his plea has to be recorded. The plea can be either one of guilty or one of not guilty. The next question is whether personal presence of the accused is invariably necessary for recording the plea of the accused.
19. This question does not also admit of any doubt now in the light of the decision of this Court in Noorjahan v. Moideen 2000 (2) KLT 756. The Honourable Mr. Justice R. Rajendra Babu, after adverting to the precedents on the point, had categorically held in paragraph 8 that even when the plea is one of guilty, such plea of an accused exempted u/s 205 Code of Criminal Procedure , advanced on his behalf by the counsel can be taken. The principle is stated in the following words.
8. I am in full agreement with the above view taken by the Calcutta and Delhi High Courts. The above decisions would make it clear that in summons cases when the personal attendance of the accused is exempted u/s 205 Code of Criminal Procedure, the plea of the counsel can be taken for and on behalf of the accused even if the plea is one of guilty.
(emphasis supplied)
20. There can hence be no doubt that the plea of an accused exempted u/s 205 Code of Criminal Procedure in a prosecution u/s 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act (a summons case) can be recorded through his counsel. There can be no semblance of doubt on this aspect of the matter in the light of the above said binding precedent.
21. We then come to the stage of recording evidence. Section 273 Code of Criminal Procedure mandates that evidence must be recorded in the presence of the accused. But the Section itself hastens to add that when his personal attendance is dispensed with, such evidence can be recorded in the presence of his pleader. Obviously, the reference was to dispensation of the personal presence of the accused u/s 205 Code of Criminal Procedure or Section 317 Code of Criminal Procedure as the case may be. For clarity on this aspect, I extract Section 273 Code of Criminal Procedure below:
273. Evidence to be taken in presence of accused.-Except as otherwise expressly provided, all evidence taken in the course of the trial or other proceeding shall be taken in the presence of the accused, or, when his personal attendance is dispensed with, in the presence of his pleader.
(emphasis supplied)
22. In a case where personal appearance is dispensed with u/s 205 Code of Criminal Procedure, it is not normally necessary to go to Section 317 Code of Criminal Procedure and I am hence not adverting to the provisions of Section 317 Code of Criminal Procedure in any greater detail. In a prosecution u/s 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act ordinarily and normally a dispute regarding identity of the indictee is not likely to arise. His personal presence for the purpose of identification will normally be unnecessary. In an exceptional case where such dispute of identification is posed, appropriate direction u/s 205(2) Code of Criminal Procedure can always be issued by the Court.
23. It is now evident that the plea can be recorded and the evidence can be introduced in the absence of the accused and in the presence of his counsel, if he is exempted u/s 205 Code of Criminal Procedure We then come to the next stage-of examination u/s 313(1)(b) Code of Criminal Procedure The Section obliges that in every enquiry or trial, for the purpose of enabling the accused personally to explain any circumstances appearing in the evidence against him, the Courts shall, after the witnesses of the prosecution have been examined and before he is called on for his defence, question him generally on the case. Precedents mandate that this is an invariable requirement in all cases; but the proviso to Section 313(1) Code of Criminal Procedure adds that in a case where the presence of the accused has already been dispensed with, the Court may also dispense with his examination under Clause (b). I extract below Section 313(1) and its proviso.
313. Power to examine the accused.-(1) In every inquiry or trial, for the purpose of enabling the accused personally to explain any circumstances appearing in the evidence against him, the Court
(a) may at any stage, without previously warning the accused put such questions to him as the Court considers necessary;
(b) shall, after the witnesses for the prosecution have been examined and before he is called on for his defence, question him generally on the case:
Provided that in a summons case, where the Court has dispensed with the personal attendance of the accused, it may also dispense with his examination under Clause (b).
(emphasis supplied)
24. It therefore is evident that in a prosecution u/s 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act where personal appearance of the accused has been dispensed with u/s 205 Code of Criminal Procedure, his examination u/s 313(1)(b) Code of Criminal Procedure can also be dispensed with. While exercising the discretion under the proviso, the Magistrate may direct or permit the filing of a statement, if any, by the accused to enable the accused to explain the circumstances against him. The interests of justice can be eminently satisfied by resort to such a course.
25. At the stage of defence evidence, there is absolutely no obligation for the accused to personally appear. Section 273 Code of Criminal Procedure will not apply at the stage of defence evidence as such evidence is not against the accused. At any rate, Section 273 Code of Criminal Procedure permits exemption of the accused while evidence is recorded.
26. We then come to the stage of pronouncement of judgment. Section 353 Code of Criminal Procedure in Chapter 27 of the Code of Criminal Procedure deals with procedure to be followed for the pronouncement of judgment. Section 353(5) declares that if the accused is in custody, he shall be brought up before Court for the pronouncement of judgment. Sub-section 6 which I extract below deals with the situation where the accused is not in custody.
353. judgment.-(6) If the accused is not in custody, he shall be required by the Court to attend to hear the judgment pronounced, except where his personal attendance during the trial has been dispensed with and the sentence is one of fine only or he is acquitted:
(emphasis supplied)
27. It is evident from Section 353(6) Code of Criminal Procedure that in a case where the judgment is one of acquittal or of a fine only, it is not necessary to insist on the personal presence of the accused to receive judgment. Of course, if the sentence is one of imprisonment (substantive), personal presence of the accused may have to be insisted as the word used is "and" and not "or". Here again, Section 353(7) Code of Criminal Procedure makes it clear that pronouncement of the judgment in the absence of the accused does not vitiate trial at all. Moreover, in the light of the first proviso to Section 143(1) of the Negotiable Instruments Act, the Magistrate is entitled to impose a sentence of fine exceeding Rs. 5,000 notwithstanding Section 29 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and I must assume that, except in an exceptional case, it may not now be necessary for a Magistrate to contemplate imposition of a substantive sentence of imprisonment for an offence u/s 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. If the sentence is one of substantive imprisonment the accused can certainly be directed u/s 205(2) Code of Criminal Procedure to personally appear for receiving judgment.
28. If a judgment of conviction and sentence, even if it be fine only, were to be pronounced in the absence of the accused, how is the sentence to be executed? In the absence of the accused, even a sentence of fine or the default sentence cannot be executed and will not that create an impediment in the proper completion of trial? This question is raised by some counsel. The same question appears to have been raised before and considered by Hon''ble Justice V. Khalid in Helen Rubber Industries and Ors. v. State of Kerala and Ors. 1972 KLT 794 in paragraph 20.I extract the same below:
20. The learned Magistrate has observed in one or two cases under review that it will not be possible to collect the fine imposed if the accused are exempted from personal attendance. The arms of law are long enough to get at an accused. The Magistrate should not forget that there are wide powers in his armoury to reach at the accused.
29. It is pointed out that there may be an objection that without any bond having been executed and the Petitioner having not appeared before the Court at any stage, there will be no sureties and the Court would find it very difficult to secure the presence of the accused at the stage of pronouncement of judgment where a sentence of imprisonment is to be imposed or later where a sentence of fine alone is imposed. At the initial stage of issue of process, if an accused does not appear in response to an ordinary summons now the Courts do not appear to be powerless and even without a bond, their presence is being secured by Courts by issue of processes at its command. I will not lightly assume that such processes will be unequal to the task of securing the presence of the accused later for pronouncement of judgment or after the judgment is pronounced. That worry does not also persuade me to hold that the presence of the accused throughout in a 13 8 prosecution cannot be dispensed with u/s 205 Code of Criminal Procedure.
30. If the accused is not on bail, execution of the sentence cannot be suspended u/s 389(3) Code of Criminal Procedure to enable an accused to prefer an appeal. The Courts will be obliged to straight away execute the sentence. This may amount to denial of the right of an accused to get the sentence suspended to enable him to prefer an appeal, it is apprehended by some counsel. I find no merit in this apprehension. In a case where the accused is exempted u/s 205 Code of Criminal Procedure and the judgment of conviction is pronounced in his absence just, reasonable and orderly procedure mandates that the Court must direct the accused to appear before Court on a specified day for execution of sentence. Imbibing the mandate of Section 389(3) Code of Criminal Procedure, any reasonable Magistrate must post the case for appearance of the accused only on such a date, which will ensure that the accused gets reasonable time to prefer an appeal in the meantime. Further, I am unable to accept the contention that the language of Section 389(3) Code of Criminal Procedure would bar the suspension of sentence in a 138 prosecution, when the presence of the accused is exempted u/s 205 Code of Criminal Procedure u/s 389(3) Code of Criminal Procedure when the accused is on bail, the sentence can be suspended. It will be succumbing to the tyranny of linguistic technicality to assume that when a Court has chosen to exempt an accused from personal appearance and the obligation to seek bail, he will not be entitled to the benefit or advantage to which a person released on bail will be entitled to. The expressions "being on bail" and "is on bail" appearing in Section 389(3)(i) and (ii) Code of Criminal Procedure must be read and understood reasonably to include an accused from whom bail has not been demanded at all and who enjoys his freedom. A judicial functionary who is unable to find space to extend the benefit of Section 389(3) Code of Criminal Procedure to an accused who enjoys his freedom, who is not in custody, who has not been directed even to offer bail and who has been exempted from personal appearance u/s 205 Code of Criminal Procedure is definitely missing the woods for the trees. He lacks orientation in human rights jurisprudence and does lack the training to jump over insignificant fences. Sentence imposed on an exempted accused, in whose absence judgment is pronounced need not be executed till the next date of posting. On such next date he must be directed to appear in person or produce order of suspension if any from the appellate Court. An exempted accused who has been directed only to appear to receive judgment must be held to be a person to whom the benefit of Section 389(3) Code of Criminal Procedure is available, he having been exempted already from the obligation to appear and offer bail. This apprehension is thus found to be without substance.
31. Another anxiety is expressed-that if the Counsel do not appear before Courts on behalf of the accused, whose presence is dispensed with, it would impede the proper progress of the case. The learned Judges of the Supreme Court in M/s Bhaskar Industries Ltd. v. M/s Bhiwani Denim and Apparels Ltd. and Ors. 2001 (3) KLT 307 S.C. appear to have considered and answered this very question in the following words:
18. A question could legitimately be asked-what might happen if the counsel engaged by the accused (whose personal appearance is dispensed with) does not appear or that the counsel does not co-operate in proceeding with the case? We may point out that the legislature has taken care for such eventualities. Section 205(2) says that the Magistrate can in his discretion direct the personal attendance of the accused at any stage of the proceedings. The last limb of Section 317(1) confers a discretion on the Magistrate to direct the personal attendance of the accused at any subsequent stage of the proceedings. He can even resort to other steps for enforcing such attendance.
32. I will not lightly assume that in the competitive profession of law a counsel who initially offers to represent an accused will later not choose to appear for him and cause embarrassment to his client and the Court to the detriment of orderly procedure. Any counsel who does it would do so only at his peril. The organised professional disciplinary body will certainly take him to task if such irresponsibility were shown by him. I need not discuss the options in law which will be available for the client in the wake of such irresponsible behaviour on the part of the counsel. This aspect has been adverted to in detail by Hon''ble Justice Khalid in paragraph 19 of the decision in Helen Rubber Industries''s case (supra).
33. I am afraid, the question is one basically of attitudes and mind sets. Traditional criminal Courts would shudder at the thought of a criminal trial being held without the personal presence of the accused from the stage of cognizance to the stage of pronouncement of judgment. It is essential that Courts have to be cognizant of the changing times and to the new breezes which which sweep through the system of administration of justice. The new generation Court will not and should not cause any avoidable inconvenience to any party, litigant or witness. The system exists not for the lawyer or the Judge but for the litigants-the seekers of justice. Their interest shall be primary and uppermost in the mind of the Courts and merely because it is more convenient for the Judge or the lawyer, undeserved trauma cannot be inflicted on the litigant. The mandate of Article 21 of the Constitution of India that procedural law must also be fair, reasonable and just and should not be arbitrary, capricious or oppressive will have to be borne in mind while considering and contemplating procedures advantageous to the litigant.
34. I find that practically there can be no doubt on the question whether an accused person can be exempted from appearance throughout the criminal trial and that aspect appears to have received the attention of the Judges of the Supreme Court in M/s Bhaskar Industries''s case (supra). Their Lordships observed thus in paragraph 19 in the following words:
19. The position therefore boils down to this. It is within the powers of a Magistrate and in his judicial discretion to dispense with the personal appearance of an accused either throughout or at any particular stage of such proceedings in a summons case if the Magistrate finds that insistence of his personal presence would itself inflict enormous suffering or tribulations to him, and the comparative advantage would be less.
(emphasis supplied)
35. Of course, it has been stated that such discretion need be exercised only in rare instances. The learned Counsel contend that the fact that the prosecution is one u/s 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, can itself be regarded as sufficient reason to invoke this discretion. The fact that it is a technical offence and the fact that it is an offence which involves no moral turpitude in the commonly accepted meaning of the term are sufficient to mandate that in a prosecution u/s 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act the discretion u/s 205 Code of Criminal Procedure must be conceded in favour of the accused. I am in complete agreement with that submission of the counsel. In paragraph 15 of the decision in M/s Bhaskar Industries''s caase (supra), Their Lordships have adverted to the tribulations and hardships faced by accused persons facing prosecutions u/s 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act.
36. There are more reasons that should persuade the Courts to adopt such a course. The corridors of the criminal Courts in the State are thronged unnecessarily by the litigants and not a day passes in this Court in this jurisdiction u/s 482 Code of Criminal Procedure without accused persons coming to lament before this Court that they could not wade their way through the crowd and reach the Magistrate in time when the case was called. By then, their absence is noted and warrants of arrest are issued against them. Deplorable is the infrastructure available in the subordinate Courts in the State and every effort must be taken by the system to liquidate and dissolve the unnecessary crowds that throng the corridors of the criminal Courts. For orderly functioning and to maintain a business like work ambience in the Courts, such active efforts to eliminate unnecessary thronging of Courts is absolutely essential. After the introduction of Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, the major portion of the time of the criminal Courts in the State is consumed by such cases. I am, in these circumstances, satisfied that the need of the hour is to freely invoke the discretion u/s 205 Code of Criminal Procedure -unless in the facts of a given case there is reason not to extend the benefit to the accused. I am satisfied, in these circumstances that directions for observance generally by subordinate Courts deserve to be issued on this aspect.
37. The following rules of guidance can and must certainly be followed by the Court below in the instant case as also all criminal Courts which are called upon to deal with trials u/s 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. I enumerate them below:
(i) Hereafter in all 138 prosecutions, the very fact that the prosecution is one u/s 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act shall be reckoned as sufficient reason by all criminal Courts to invoke the discretion u/s 205 Code of Criminal Procedure and only a summons u/s 205 Code of Criminal Procedure shall be issued by the criminal Courts at the first instance. In all pending 138 cases also applications u/s 205 Code of Criminal Procedure shall be allowed and the accused shall be permitted to appear through their counsel.
(ii) The plea whether of guilty or of innocence can be recorded through counsel duly-appointed and for that purpose personal presence of the accused shall not be insisted.
(iii) Evidence can be recorded in a trial u/s 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act in the presence of the counsel as enabled by Section 273 Code of Criminal Procedure when the accused is exempted from personal appearance and for that purpose, the personal presence of the accused shall not be insisted.
(iv) Examination u/s 313(b) Code of Criminal Procedure can be dispensed with under the proviso to Section 313(1) and if the accused files a statement explaining his stand, the same can be received by the Court notwithstanding the absence of a provision similar to Sections 233 and 243 Code of Criminal Procedure in the procedure for trial in a summons case. The power and the obligation to question the accused to enable him to explain the circumstances appearing in evidence against him must oblige the Court in such situation to accept and consider the written statement made by the accused.
(v) To receive the judgment also, it is not necessary or essential to insist on the personal presence of the accused if the sentence is one of fine or the judgment is one of acquittal. After the pronouncement of judgment, the case can be posted to a specific date with directions to the accused to appear in person to undergo the sentence. By that date, it shall, of course, be open to the accused to get the order of suspension of the superior Court produced before Court.
(vi) Where warrants are to be issued in a 138 prosecution, ordinarily a bailable warrant u/s 88 Code of Criminal Procedure must be issued at the first instance before a non-bailable warrant without any stipulations u/s 87 Code of Criminal Procedure is issued.
(vii) The above stipulations can only be reckoned as applicable in the ordinary circumstances and are not intended to fetter the discretions of the Court to follow any different procedure if there be compelling need. In such event, the orders/directions of die Magistrate shall clearly show the specific reasons as to why deviations are resorted to.
(viii) Needless to say, any person having a grievance that the above procedure has not been followed unjustifiably shall always have the option of approaching this Court for directions u/s 482 Code of Criminal Procedure The Sessions Judges and the Chief Judicial Magistrates must also ensure that these directions are followed in letter and spirit by the subordinate Courts. Commitment to human rights and the yearning to ensure that Courts are user friendly are assets to a modem judicial personality and assessment of judicial performance by the superiors must make note of such commitments of a judicial officer.
(ix) Even though the above directions are issued with specific reference to prosecutions u/s 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, they must be followed in all other cases also where the offence alleged is technical and involves no moral turpitude.
38. A very relevant question can be posed. If the system can be so understanding towards an indictee, should the complainant in a 138 prosecution be obliged to appear before Court on all dates of posting. It has time and again been repeated that the mere absence of a complainant does not entail the consequences u/s 256 Code of Criminal Procedure and the presence of the complainant need also be insisted only if the progress of the case demands such appearance. On all other dates from the date of filing of complaint to the date of judgment he can also be permitted to be represented by his counsel.
39. Should such general directions be issued by this Court in a specific case? Will it not be more proper and prudent to leave it to the legislature or rule making authority? This question does worry me. But I am satisfied that until such functionaries are moved into action there is urgent necessity to rationalise and simplify the procedure followed. The amount of trauma and tedium endured by the litigants and the amount of unnecessary litigation in this Bench in the High Court, as perceived by me in my long experience while dealing with the jurisdictions of bail and u/s 482 Code of Criminal Procedure persuade me to feel that it will be dereliction of duty if the subordinate judiciary is not guided and goaded to adopt user friendly procedure in criminal trial of offenders who have no moral turpitude and who are allegedly guilty of only technical offences.
40. Coming to the specific facts of this case, I am satisfied that the Petitioner/accused is entitled to the advantage of all the directions issued above. The Petitioner can appear through counsel before the Court below and claim exemption u/s 205 Code of Criminal Procedure No further directions appear to be necessary.
41. This Crl. M.C. is accordingly allowed.
42. I place on record my appreciation for the good work done by the learned Counsel for the Petitioner Sri. Priyadarshan Thampi and Adv. Sri. S. Rajeev who rendered assistance to the Court as Amicus curiae.
43. Communicate copy of this order to all criminal Courts in the State for guidance and compliance.
