Friday 10 September 2021

Whether the court can reject the application for summoning of witnesses U/S 311 of CRPC on the ground that the High court makes the case time-bound?

 An FIR came to be lodged against the petitioner and her father for an incident that took place on 1.1.2008 wherein it was alleged that the petitioner herein had administered poison/chemical to the complainant (husband in the present proceedings). On the basis of the FIR that was lodged a divorce decree was granted to the husband on the ground of cruelty which order has been affirmed upto the Hon'ble Supreme Court. The petitioner herein has been able to lay hands on the opinion of the Medical Board as to the nature of the poison that was allegedly administered and the opinion of the Board has become relevant to establish the fact whether a false complaint was registered against the petitioner and her father and whether lodging of such false complaint would or would not tantamount to cruelty. Therefore, rejecting the application under Section 311 Cr.P.C. without going into the crux of the matter , rejecting the said application solely on the ground that trial has to be completed within a period of two months is not a ground that is sustainable in the eye of law . The concept of fair trial as has been held in various judgments particularly in Ram 12 of 13 Mehar and others's case (supra) would necessitate that adequate opportunity is given to the parties in order to enable the court to arrive at a just and fair final decision.

For the reasons afore-stated, the present petition is allowed, impugned order is set aside and the application filed by the petitioner under Section 311 Cr.PC. for leading additional evidence is allowed and the petitioner is hereby given two effective opportunity to lead additional evidence on the date to be fixed by the trial court to be concluded within a week.

Punjab-Haryana High Court
Sonia vs State Of Haryana And Others on 9 January, 2017
Crl. Misc. M 44082 of 2016
CORAM: HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE JAISHREE THAKUR
Read full Judgment here: Click here

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