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Ahmad Umar Saeed Sheikh v. State Of U P

Ahmad Umar Saeed Sheikh
v.
State Of U P

(Supreme Court Of India)

Criminal Appeal No. 680 Of 1996 | 21-11-1996


1. The instant appeal has been filed by the appellant for quashing the charges that have been framed against him by the Designated Judge, Meerut under Sections 307, 332 and 427 IPC, Section 14 of the Foreigners Act and Sections 3 and 4 of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987 (TADA for short).

2. Mr Ramaswamy, the learned counsel for the appellant, submitted that the entire proceedings initiated against the appellant, including the charges, were liable to be quashed as the first information report, which ultimately culminated in the impugned proceedings against the appellant, was lodged in utter breach of Section 20-A(1) of TADA, which provides that no information about the commission of an offence under TADA shall be recorded by the police without the prior approval of the District Superintendent of Police. To bring home his contention he has drawn our attention to the FIR that was recorded on the complaint of a Sub-Inspector of Police for offences punishable under Sections 332, 307 and 427 IPC, Section 7 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act and Sections 3 and 4 of TADA.

3. After having given our anxious consideration to the above contention of Mr Ramaswamy we are unable to accept the same. It is of course true what when the above FIR was recorded no prior approval of the Superintendent of Police was obtained as required under Section 20-A(1) but, as noticed above, the FIR was recorded not only for offences under TADA but also for offences under the Indian Penal Code for commission of which the police officer concerned was competent to lodge an FIR without such approval. The absence of approval of District Superintendent of Police as required under Section 20-A(1) of TADA at that stage only disentitled the investigating agency to investigate into the offences relating to TADA but it had a statutory right to investigate into the other offences alleged in the FIR. If the FIR was lodged only for commission of offences under TADA we might have persuaded ourselves to accept the contention of Mr Ramaswamy, but there being allegation of other offences therein it cannot be said that the FIR, so far as it sought investigation of these offences, was non est4. There are certain other facts which are required to be noticed at this stage. After the FIR was lodged, the investigating agency made a prayer before the Superintendent of Police, Ghaziabad on 21-11-1994 seeking his approval to add Sections 3 of 4 of TADA on the ground that during investigation the involvement of the appellant in commission of such offences was revealed. The approval sought for was granted and thereafter on completion of investigation charge-sheet was submitted with the sanction of the authority concerned as required under Section 20-A(2) of TADA. Since the above steps taken by the investigating agency are in conformity with the provisions of both sub-sections (1) and (2) of Section 20-A of TADA the impugned charges are not liable to be quashed on the grounds agitated by Mr Ramaswamy.
4. As no other point was raised in support of this appeal we dismiss the same.

Advocates List

For

For Petitioner
  • Shekhar Naphade
  • Mahesh Agrawal
  • Tarun Dua
For Respondent
  • S. Vani
  • B. Sunita Rao
  • Sushil Kumar Pathak

Bench List

HON'BLE JUSTICE M. K. MUKHERJEE

HON'BLE JUSTICE S. P. KURDUKAR

Eq Citation

1996 (4) CRIMES 209 (SC)

(1996) 11 SCC 61

1996 8 AD (SC) 609

1997 (1) ALD (CRL) 230

[1996] (SUPPL.) 9 SCR 53

1996 (8) SCALE 503

JT 1996 (10) SC 792

LQ/SC/1996/1997

HeadNote

Criminal Trial — Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987 — Ss. 20-A(1) r/w S. 20-A(2) — FIR — Validity of — If FIR recorded for offences under TADA and other offences — In such a case, if the FIR was lodged only for commission of offences under TADA, the FIR, so far as it sought investigation of these offences, was non est — But if the FIR was lodged for commission of offences under TADA and other offences, the absence of approval of District Superintendent of Police as required under S. 20-A(1) of TADA at that stage only disentitled the investigating agency to investigate into the offences relating to TADA but it had a statutory right to investigate into the other offences alleged in the FIR — Constitution of India — Arts. 136 and 142 — Appeal — Appeal against framing of charges — Quashing of charges — When justified — Penal Code, 1860 — Ss. 307, 332 and 427 — Foreigners Act, 1946, S. 14 — Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987, Ss. 3 and 4 (Para 3)