Holding

The order taking cognizance was bad in law because the complaint was filed beyond the statutory limitation and no sanction under s.197 CrPC had been obtained, rendering the proceedings jurisdictionally infirm.

Summary

The appellant, a Commandant of the 48 BRTF (GREF), was alleged to have committed offences under IPC sections 166 and 167 between 5 January 1989 and 11 February 1992. A complaint petition was filed only in November 2000, based on a 1996 report, and the Judicial Magistrate took cognizance on 7 November 2000. The appellant sought quash of the proceedings under s.482 CrPC, but the High Court dismissed the application. The Supreme Court examined whether the cognizance was barred by the limitation period prescribed in s.468 CrPC and whether a sanction under s.197 CrPC was mandatory for a public servant, even after retirement, despite the respondent’s reliance on the Army Act. The Court held that the delay was not properly condoned, no sanction had been obtained, and therefore the magistrate lacked jurisdiction. Consequently, the High Court’s order was set aside and the appeal was allowed.

Issues considered

Whether the Judicial Magistrate could take cognizance of offences under IPC 166 and 167 when the complaint petition was filed beyond the three‑year limitation period under s.468 CrPC.
Whether a sanction under s.197 CrPC is required for prosecution of a public servant for offences under IPC 166/167, notwithstanding the appellant’s status as a member of the Armed Forces and the applicability of the Army Act, 1950.
Whether the delay in filing the complaint could be condoned without giving the appellant an opportunity of being heard.

Legislation cited

Army Act, 1950s. 125, s. 126
Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973s. 190, s. 197, s. 468, s. 473, s. 482
Indian Penal Code, 1860s. 166, s. 167

Subjects

limitation periodsanction under s.197public servant offenceIPC 166IPC 167armed forcescourt martialcognizancequash petitioncriminal procedure

Judgment

[2008] 4 S.C.R. 976

A P.K. CHOUDHURY
II.
COMMANDER, 48 BRTF (GREF)
(Criminal Appeal No. 480 of 2008)
MARCH 13, 2008
B
[S.B. SINHA AND V.S. SIRPURKAR, JJ.]

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973:
s. 190 - Delay in filing complaint petition - Not condoned
C - Cognizance of offence after expiry of period of /imitation -
Held: Is bad in law - Penal Code, 1860 - ss. 166, 167.
s. 197 - Sanction under - Requirement of - Commission
of offence under ss. 166 and 167 /PC by member of Armed
D Forces - Cognizance of, without obtaining sanction of
competent authority - Held: Is bad in law - Penal Code, 1860
- SS. 166, 167.

The prosecution case was that during the relevant
period, the appellant was a member of Armed Forces. He
E committed offences under ss. 166 and 167 IPC during the
period 5.1.1989 to 11.2.1992 . A complaint was filed in
November, 2000 on the basis of report dated 20.12.1996.
The Magistrate took cognizance of the offences against
the appellant.
F Appellant filed application under s.482 Cr.P.C. for
quashing the proceedings, which was dismissed by the
High Court.
In appeal to this court, the appellant contended that
G the order taking cognizance was bad in law as the same
was filed beyond the prescribed period of limitation and
also was not preceded by a valid order of sanction of the
competent authority as envisaged under s.197 Cr.P.C.
Respondents contended that no sanction under
H 976
P.K. CHOUDHURY v. COMMANDER, 48 BRTF (GREF) 977

... s.197 Cr.P.C. was required to be taken as the appellant A
would be governed by the provisions of ss.125 and 126
__, of the Army Act, 1950.
I
':( Allowing the appeal, the Court
'!
HELD: 1.1 Whereas s.166 IPC prescribes a sentence B
of simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to
one year; the sentence which can be imposed under s.167
) IPC is one of either description for a term which may extend
to three years or with fine or with both. [Para 6] [980-D]
1.2. S.468 Cr.P.C. specifies the period of limitation c
within which the cognizance of an offence can be taken.
Clause (c) of Sub-section (2) of s.468 specifies the period
of limitation to be three years if the offence is punishable
with imprisonment for a term exceeding one year but not
exceeding three years. There is no doubt or dispute that D
the Court has the power to condone the delay. No order
.J..
condoning the delay has however, been passed by the
Judicial Magistrate in this case. [Paras 7, 8] [980-E, F]
1.3. The Judicial Magistrate did not apply his mind
on the said averments. It did not is.sue any notice upon E
the appellant to show cause as to why the delay should
not be condoned. Before condoning the delay, the
appellant was not heard. Appellant was entitled to get an
! opportunity of being heard before the delay could be
..., condoned. [Paras 9-10] [981-B-H] F

State of Maharashtra v. Sharadchandra Vinayak Dongre
and Ors. (1995) 1 SCC 42 - referred to.
2. Appellant admittedly is a public servant. He is said
to have misused his position as a public servant. S.197 G
Cr.P.C. lays down requirements for obtaining an order of
sanction from the competent authority, if in committing
the offence, a public servant acted or purported to act in
discharge of his official duty. As the offences under ss.166
and 167 IPC have direct nexus with commission of a H
'·'

978 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008] 4 S.C.R.

A criminal misconduct on the part of a public servant,
indisputably an order of sanction was pre-requisite before
the Judicial Magistrate could issue summons upon the
appellant. [Para 11] [982-A-C]
3.1. The provisions of ss.125 and 126 of the Army Act,
B 1950 have no application whatsoever. [Para 12] [982-D]
3.2. S.1.25 of the Army Act postulates a choice of the
competent authority to try an accused either by a criminal
court or any court or proceedings for court martial. S.126
c provides for the power of the Criminal Court to require
delivery of offende·r. [Para 13) [982-E]
3.3. As an option to get the appellant tried in ordinary
criminal court had been exercised by the respondent, there
cannot be any doubt whatsoever that all the pre-requisites
D therefor in regard to the period of limitation as also the
necessity to obtain the order of sanction were required
).. I
to be complied with. [Para 14] [982-F-G]
4.1. A Court of law cannot take cognizance of an
offence, if it is barred by limitation. Delay in filing a
E complaint petition th_erefore has to be condoned. If the
delay is not condoned, the court will have no jurisdiction
to take cognizance. Similarly unless it is held that a
sanction was not required to be obtained, the court's
jurisdiction will be barred. [Para 14) [982-G-H; 983-A]
F
4.2. S. 197 C r.P.C. unlike the provisions of the
Prevention of Corruption Act postulates obtaining of an
order of sanction even in a case where public servant
has ceased to hold office. The issues raised by the
G appellant were jurisdictional ones. The same should have
been adverted to by the High Court. [Para 15, 17] [983-B;
984-8]
S.K. Zutshi and Anr. v. Bimal Debnath and Anr. (2004) 8
SCC 31; State of Orissa through Kumar Raghvendra Singh
H and Ors. V. Ganesh Chandra Jew (2004) 8 sec 40; Raghunath
... P.K. CHOUDHURY v. COMMANDER, 48 BRTF (GREF) 979
. [S.B. SINHA, J.]

Anant Govilkar v State of Maharashtra and Ors. 2008 (2) A
SCALE 303 - relied on.
CRIMINALAPPELUffE JURISDICTION : Criminal Appeal
No. 480 of 2008

~
From the final Judgment and Order dated 21.03.2006 of 8
the High Court of Gauhati, Itanagar Bench in Criminal Revision
No. 1 (AP) 2006

Nagendra Rai, D. Bharat Kumar, Anand, M. lndrani and
Abhijit Sengupta for the Appellant.
c
R.G. Padia, Savitri Pandey and D.S. Mahra for the
Respondent.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
S.B. SINHA, J. Leave granted. D
1. Appellant herein is aggrieved by and dissatisfied with a
judgment and order dated 21st March, 2006 passed by a
learned Single Judge of the Gauhati High Court.
2. Indisputably, Appellant at all material times was a E
Commandant of 48 BRTF (GREF) as a member of the Armed
Forces. While he was acting in the said capacity, allegations
were made against him for commission of offences under
Section 166 and 167 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

3. The period during which the said offences are said to F
.., have been committed is 5.1.1989 to 11.2.1992. A complaint
petition was filed in November, 2000 purported to be on the
basis of a report dated 20.12.1996 of the then Commander, 48
BRTF atTezu on 20.12.1996.

The Judicial Magistrate, First Class, Tezu took cognizance G
of the said offences against the appellant by an Order dated
7.11.2000.

4. The application filed by the appellant under Section 482
of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 for quashing the.said H
I --

!.......
980 SUPREME COl.JRT REPORTS [2008] 4 S.C.R.

-r--
A proceedings has been dismissed by the Gauhati High Court by
reason of the impugned judgment.· r-·

5. Mr. Nagendra Rai, the learned senior counsel appearing
on behalf of the appellant would submit that the order taking "
cognizance is bad in law as the same was filed beyond the
B prescribed period of limitation and in any event was not· - ,_
preceded by a valid order of sanction of the competent authority
as envisaged under Section 197 of the Code of Criminal
Procedure. ~

c 6. Section 166 and 167 of the Indian Penal Code provides
for an offence by a public servant.
Whereas Section 166 prescribes a sentence of simple
imprisonment for a term which may extend. to one year; the
sentence which can be imposed under Section 167 is one of
D either description for a term which may extend to three years or
with fine or with both.
7. Section 468 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
specifies the period of limitation within which the cognizance of
an offence can be taken. Clause (c) of Sub-section (2) of Section
E 468 specifies the period of limitation to be three years if the
offence is punishable with imprisonment for a term exceeding
;_r
one year but not exceeding thr.ee years. f
8. There is no doubt or dispute that the Court has the power
I ·-
I
F to condone the delay. No order condoning the delay has ),

however, been passed by the learned Judicial Magistrate in this .,..
case.
The ground taken for condonation of delay in the said
complaint petition of the complainant is as under:-
G
"8. That a Court of Inquiry was held by the Department
against the irregularities in Supply Orders and thereafter
the case was under consideration by Army HQ. The Central
Vigilance Commission also investigated the matter since )>-.

20 Dec. 1996 and on the completion of investigation by
H
., -
P.K. CHOUDHURY v. COMMANDER, 48 BRTF (GREF) 981
[S.B. SINHA, J.]

" eve, the matter was barred by limitation for taking action A
under the Army Act against the accused. Hence the delay
--:.i
in filing this complaint in the Court and the delay may
be condoned under Section 473 Cr.P.C. as the delay
was not intentional but inevitable in holding Court of
Inquiry." B
9. The learned Judicial Magistrate did not apply his mind
~ on the said averments. It did not issue any notice upon the
appellant to show cause as to why the delay shall not be
condoned. Before condoning the delay the appellant was not
heard. In State .of Maharashtra Vs. Sharadchandra Vinayak c
Dongre and Others [(1995) 1 SCC 42] this Court held;
"5. In our view, the High Court was perfectly justified in
holding that the delay, if any, for launching the prosecution,
could not have been condoned without notice to the D
respondents and behind their back and without recording
any reasons for condonation of the delay. However, having
come- to that conclusion, it would have been appropriate
for the High Court, without going into the merits of the
case to have remitted the case to the trial court, with a
E
direction to decide the application for condonation of delay
.
afresh after hearing .both sides. The High Court however,
did not adopt that course and proceeded further to hold
that the trial court could not have taken cognizance of
~ ... the offence in view of the application filed by the
prosecution seeking permission of the Court to file a F
' "'I

"supplementary charge-sheet" on the basis of an
"incomplete charge-sheet" and quashed the order of the
CJM dated 21-11-1986 on this ground also. This view of
the High Court, in the facts and circumstances of the ca.se
is patently erroneous." G

10. In view of the aforesaid decision, there cannot be
...._
any doubt whatsoever that appellant was entitled to get an
opportunity of being heard before the delay could be
condoned. H
_,,..,,__

982 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008) 4 S.C.R.
"
,,
A 11. Far more important however, is the question of non-
grant of sanction. Appellant admittedly is a public servant. He is
I \
~
said to have misused his position as a public servant.

Section 197 of the Code of Criminal Procedure lays down
requirements for obtaining an order of sanction from the
B
competent authority, if in committing the offence, a public servant
acted or purported to act in discharge of his official duty. As the
offences under Section 166 and 167 of the lndi~n Penal Code
f

have a direct nexus with commission of a criminal/misconduct
on the part of a public servant, indisputably an order of sanction
c was pre-requisite before the learned Judicial Magistrate could
issue summons upon the appellant.

12. Respondents in their counter affidavit, however, would
contend that no such sanction was required to be taken as the
D appellant would be governed by the provisions of Section 125
and 126 of the Army Act, 1950. The said provisions in our
considered opinion have no application whatsoever.

13. Section 125 of the Act postulates a choice -of the
competent authority to try an accused either by a criminal court
E
or any court or proceedings for court martial. Section 126
provides for the power of the Criminal Court to require delivery
of offender.

14. As an option to get the appellant tried in a ordinary ;-F=
r
F criminal court had been exercised by the. respondent, there
cannot be any doubt whatsoever that all the pre-requisites
l
therefor in regard to the period of limitation as also the necessity
to obtain the order of sanction were required to be complied
with. ,t ·:

G
A Court of law cannot take cognizance of an offence, if it is
barred by limitation. Delay in filing a complaint petition therefore
...
has to be condoned. If the delay is not condoned, the court will
have no jurisdiction to take cognizance. Sii;nilarly unless it is
held that a sanction was not required to be obtained, the court's
H
. .ii:

P.K. CHOUDHURY v. COMMANDER, 48 BRTF (GREF) 983
[S.B. SINHA, J.]
...
jurisdiction will be barred. A
,'
15. Section 197 of the Code unlike the provisions of the
Prevention of Corruption Act postulates obtaining of an order of .
sanction even in a case where public servant has ceased to
hold office. The requirements to obtain a valid order of sanction ·
have. been highlighted by this Court in a large number of cases.
8
In S.K.. Zutshi and Another Vs. Bimal Debnath and Another
'r
[(2004) 8 SCC 31], this Court held;
"11. The correct legal position, therefore, is that an accused
facing prosecution for offences under the old Act or the c
new Act cannot claim any immunity on the ground of want
of sanction, if he ceased to be a public servant on the date
when the court took cognizance of the said offences. But
the position is different in cases where Section 197 of
the Code has application." D
A
(Emphasis adduced)
See also State of Orissa through Kumar Raghvendra
Singh and Others Vs. Ganesh Chandra Jew [(2004) 8 SCC
40].
E
Recently in Raghunath Anant Govilkar Vs. State of ·
Maharashtra and Ors. [2008 (2) SCALE 303], having regard
to the 41st Report of the Law Commission, this Court
observed;
"""' ....,, "24. It was in pursuance of this observation that the
F
expression "was" came to be employed after the
expression "is" to make the need for sanction applicable
even in cases where a retired public servant is sought to
be prosecuted."
G
It was furthermore held;
"26. The High Court, therefore, was in error in observing
that sanction was not necessary becau·se the expression
used is "was".
H

!
.·t.
984 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008] 4 S.C.R.

A 16. The High Court, therefore, in our opinion committed a~. f
:,
manifest error in passing
~ . .
the impugned judgment.
'
. . . . -. .
.17. The issues raised by the appellant were jurisdictional ''
ones. The same should have been adverted to by the High ~·
'
Court..·
B ...
Fdrthe'reasons aforementioned, the Impugned judgment
. cannot be sustained. It is set aside accordingly. Appeal is
allowed.No costs. l
l

Appeal allowe9. \
j

,,
..•

).
A-
r ;
I

...i