RAMENDRA@ RAMAN DHULDHUEversusSTATE OF MADHYA PRADESH
- Citation
- 2015 INSC 1041
- Decided
- 10 December 2015
- Disposal
- Dismissed
- Bench
- ANIL R DAVE
Holding
The Act cannot be applied retrospectively; the High Court’s view is upheld and the appeal is dismissed.
Summary
The appellant, a junior assistant in the Indore Regional Transport Office, was investigated for possessing property allegedly acquired through corrupt means under Section 13(1)(e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. After the Madhya Pradesh Vishesh Nyayalaya Adhiniyam, 2011 came into force, the Special Judge declared the appellant to be within the Act’s ambit under Section 5. The prosecution then sought confiscation of the property under Section 15(3) of the same Act. The appellant challenged the proceedings, arguing that the 2011 Act could not be applied retrospectively because it is a substantive law with penal consequences, and filed a petition under Section 482 of the CrPC for quashment. The High Court rejected the retrospective‑application plea, and the Supreme Court affirmed that view, relying on its earlier decision in Yogendra Kumar Jaiswal v. State of Bihar. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed for lack of merit.
Issues considered
- Whether the Madhya Pradesh Vishesh Nyayalaya Adhiniyam, 2011 can be given retrospective effect to proceedings under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
- Whether a law that is substantive and imposes penal consequences can be applied to acts committed before its commencement.
Legislation cited
- Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973s. 482
- Madhya Pradesh Vishesh Nyayalaya Adhiniyam, 2011s. 5
- Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988s. 13(1)(e), s. 15(3)
Subjects
Judgment
[2015] 14 S.C.R. 985
RAMENDRA@ RAMAN DHULDHUE A
v.
STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH
(Criminal Appeal No. 56 of 2013)
B
DECEMBER 10, 2015
[ANIL R. DAVE AND DIPAK MISRA, J.]
M.P. Vishesh Nyayalaya Adhiniyam, 2011 -
Retrospective applicability of - Discussed - Prevention of
CorruptionAct, 1988-s.13(1)(e). C
Yogendra Kumar Jaiswal Etc. v. State of Bihar and
Ors. 2016 (3) SCC 183 - referred to.
Case Law Reference
2016 (3) SCC 183 referred to. Para 5 D
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Criminal
Appeal No. 56 of 2013.
·From the Judgment and Order dated 03.07 .2012 of the
High Court of Madhya Pradesh Bench at Indore in M. Cr. C. E
No. 4045 of 2012.
Ashok Mathur, Adv., for the Appellant.
•
C. D. Singh, Adv., for the Responde"nt.
The Judgment of the Court was delivere.d by F
DIPAK MISRA, J. 1. The appellant was appointed on
the post of Assistant Grade Ill in the Regional Transport Office,
Indore.A search was conducted on the residential premises
of the appellant on the allegation that the property was acquired G
'from the ill-gotten money by criminal misconduct as per Section
13(1 )(e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
2. After M.P. Vishesh Nyayalaya Adhiniyam, 2011 (for
short, "the Act") came into force, the appellant was brought
H
985
986 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2015] 14S.C.R.
A within the ambit of that Act by declaration under Section 5 of
the Act.
3. As the factual matrix would reveal, after the declaration,
the prosecution filed an application under Section 13(1) for
confiscation of the property under Section 15(3). The appellant
B protested and filed application for his discharge, but the said
application met with non-success. The appellant approached
the High Court under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal
Procedure, 1973 for quashment of the order passed by the
Special Judge. It was contended before the High Court that
C the Act could not be made retrospectively applicable inasmuch
as it is a substantive law having penal consequence.
4. The High Court, as is manifest from the impugned order,
after analyzing the provisions and also keeping in view the
0 concept of confiscation, has not accepted the plea of
retrospective applicability of the Act.
5. In our considered opinion, the view expressed by the
High Court is infallible in view of the judgment pronounced by
us today in Civil Appeal Nos. 6448-6452 of 2011 titled
E Yogendra Kumar Jaiswal Etc. v. State of Bihar & Ors.
6. Resultantly, the appeal. being devoid of merit, stands
dismissed.
Bibhuti Bhushan Bose Appeal dismissed.
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