KRISHAN KUMARversusTHE STATE OF RAJASTHAN & ANR.
- Citation
- 2018 INSC 756
- Decided
- 28 August 2018
- Disposal
- Disposed off
- Bench
- R BANUMATHI
Holding
The High Court's order setting aside the acquittal was invalid as the appellant was not afforded an opportunity of hearing, and the matter must be remitted for fresh consideration.
Summary
The Supreme Court heard an appeal by Krishan Kumar challenging a High Court order that set aside his acquittal and remitted the case for a de novo trial on the ground that the prosecutrix had not been examined before the trial court. The appellant contended that the High Court decided the matter while hearing a bail application of an unrelated person, without issuing any notice to him and without affording him a chance to be heard. The Court observed that the principles of natural justice require that a party whose order is being altered must be given an opportunity to present his case. Consequently, the High Court's order was held to be vitiated for lack of hearing. The Supreme Court set aside the impugned order and remitted the matter to the High Court for fresh consideration with a direction to afford the appellant sufficient opportunity of hearing. The appeal was disposed of.
Issues considered
- Whether the High Court could set aside an order of acquittal without granting the appellant a chance of hearing.
- Whether the High Court's decision, made while considering an unrelated bail application, violated principles of natural justice.
Subjects
Judgment
[2018] 10 S.C.R. 869 869
KRISHAN KUMAR A
v.
THE STATE OF RAJASTHAN & ANR.
(Criminal Appeal No. 1088 of 2018)
AUGUST 28, 2018
B
[R. BANUMATHI AND VINEET SARAN, JJ.]
Criminal Law – By impugned order, High Court set aside the
order of acquittal of appellant and remitted the matter to trial court
for denovo trial only on the ground that the prosecutrix was not
examined before the trial court – Grievance of appellant was that
the impugned order was passed by High Court while considering C
bail application by another person and that too without issuing
notice to the appellant – Held: Since no opportunity of hearing
was afforded to the appellant, the impugned order is set aside and
matter is remitted to High Court for fresh consideration – Appeal
disposed of. D
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Criminal Appeal
No. 1088 of 2018.
From the Judgment and Order dated 24.08.2015 of the High Court
of Judicature for Rajasthan at Jaipur Bench in S.B. Criminal Misc. Bail
Application No. 3953 of 2015. E
Vikrant Yadav, Tripurari Rai, Piyush Kant Roy, M. C. Dhingra,
Anish Maheshwari, Yunus Malik, Milind Kumar, Abhishek Gupta, Advs.
for the appearing parties.
The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
BANUMATHI, J. 1. Leave granted. F
2. This appeal arises out of an order dated 24.08.2015 of the High
Court of Rajasthan at Jaipur in S.B. Criminal Misc. Bail Application
No.3953 of 2015 in which the High Court has set aside the order of
acquittal of the appellant and remitted the matter back to the trial court
for de novo trial only on the ground that the prosecutrix was not examined
G
before the trial court.
3. We have heard Mr. Tripurari Rai, learned counsel appearing
for the appellant, Mr. Abhishek Gupta, learned counsel for the applicant-
prosecutrix and Mr. Anish Maheshwari, learned counsel for the
respondent-State.
H
869
870 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2018] 10 S.C.R.
A 4. Learned counsel for the appellant has submitted that the High
Court while considering the bail application in S.B. Criminal Misc. Bail
Application No.3953 of 2015 filed by one Satish, even without issuing
notice to the appellant herein who was acquitted by the trial court on the
ground of absence of evidence, chose to set aside the order of acquittal.
It was further submitted that order of acquittal was recorded by the trial
B
court after a full-fledged trial and while so setting aside the acquittal the
High Court should have given an opportunity of hearing to the appellant.
5. We find force in the submission of learned counsel for the
appellant. At this juncture, Mr. Abhishek Gupta, learned counsel
appearing for the applicant-prosecutrix, has submitted that against the
C order of acquittal of the appellant, the prosecutrix has also filed an appeal
i.e. S.B. Crl. Misc. Application NO.198 of 2016 in S.B. Criminal Appeal
No.802 of 2016 which is stated to be pending before the High Court.
6. In such view of the matter and since opportunity has not been
afforded to the appellant, the impugned order is set aside and the matter
D is remitted to the High Court for fresh consideration. The appeal is
accordingly disposed of.
7. We request the High Court to afford sufficient opportunity to
the appellant herein in S.B. Crl. Appeal No.802 of 2016 and to the
prosecutrix while considering the matter afresh and decide the same
E expeditiously in accordance with law.
Devika Gujral Appeal disposed of.
F
G
H
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