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Lashkari Ram And Others v. Mast Ram Tanta And Another

Lashkari Ram And Others
v.
Mast Ram Tanta And Another

(Supreme Court Of India)

Criminal Appeal No. 226 Of 1983 | 01-09-1998


NANAVATI, J.

In this appeal, filed by some of the officers of the Himacahal Pradesh Government, what is called in question are the remarks made against them by the High Court, while disposing of Criminal Revision No. 56/82.

Respondent No.1 Mast Ram Tanta was tried by the Court of Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Theog for certain offences punishable under the Indian Penal Code and the Forest Act. Respondent No. 1 pleaded quilty and was sentenced to pay fine only. The High Courtfinding that the sentence imposed upon Respondent No. 1 was inadequate, in exercise of its sub moto powers, issued notice to him calling him to show cause why the sentence should not be enhanced. During those proceedings the High Court found that the whole trial was conducted in an unholy haste and there was plea bargaining. Therefore, instead of enhancing the sentence it thought it proper to quash the whole trial and remanded the case back to the trial court for conducting the trial afresh. While disposing of the Revision Application in that manner the High Court made certain observations against the present appellants.

Having gone through the judgment, we find that the said observations are part and parcel of the reasoning of the High Court and they have been made while appreciating the evidence on record. Those observations are a part of the reasoning of the High Court. They cannot be expunged because that will amount to removing the very foundation on which the High Court judgment is based.

We, therefore, dismiss this appeal.

Advocates List

For the Appearing Parties ----

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

Bench List

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE G. T. NANAVATI

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S. P. KURDUKAR

Eq Citation

AIR 1998 SC 3334

(1998) 6 SCC 666

1998 CRILJ 4602

1998 (3) CRIMES 230 (SC)

1998 6 AD (SC) 653

1998 (2) ALD (CRL) 649

JT 1998 (6) SC 195

1998 (5) SCALE 139

LQ/SC/1998/884

HeadNote

Constitution of India — Arts. 136 and 137 — Criminal Revision — Remarks made by High Court against appellants — Whether liable to be expunged — Held, observations made by High Court are part and parcel of reasoning of High Court and are made while appreciating evidence on record — They cannot be expunged because that will amount to removing very foundation on which High Court judgment is based — Hence, appeal dismissed — Penal Code, 1860, Ss. 279, 336 and 337 — Forest Act, 1927, Ss. 26(1) & (2)