Holding

The trial is deemed to have commenced on 25 February 1987 when the General Court‑Martial first assembled, thus satisfying the six‑month limitation and rendering the limitation defence inapplicable.

Summary

Major General Madan Lal Yadav, a retired officer, was charged under Section 123 of the Army Act, 1950 for dereliction of duty in local purchases. After his retirement on 31 August 1986, he was kept under open arrest and a charge‑sheet was issued. A General Court‑Martial (GCM) was convened on 25 February 1987, but Yadav escaped custody and was re‑arrested on 1 March 1987, leading to adjournments. The Bombay High Court held that the trial had not commenced within the six‑month limitation prescribed by s.123(2) and set aside the GCM proceedings. On appeal, the Supreme Court ruled that the trial is deemed to have commenced when the GCM first assembled on 25 February 1987, which is within the statutory period, and that Yadav cannot invoke the limitation bar after absconding. Consequently, the High Court order was set aside and the writ dismissed.

Issues considered

When does a trial commence under s.123(2) of the Army Act, 1950 for an officer who has ceased to be subject to the Act?
Whether the six‑month limitation period for commencing trial was violated in this case?
Can the respondent rely on the limitation bar after escaping from lawful military custody?
Did the General Court‑Martial have jurisdiction to try the respondent despite his retirement?

Legislation cited

Army Act, 1950s. 122, s. 123
Army Rules, 1954s. 41, s. 45, s. 48, s. 49, s. 50, s. 51, s. 52, s. 53, s. 54, s. 56, s. 57, s. 58, s. 59, s. 60, s. 61, s. 62, s. 63, s. 64, s. 65, s. 66, s. 67

Subjects

Army ActCourt MartialLimitation periodTrial commencementJurisdictionMilitary lawLegal maximEstoppel

Judgment

UNION OF INDIA AND ORS. A
v.
MAJOR GENERAL MADAN LAL YADAV (RETD.)

MARCH 22, 1996

[K. RAMASWAMY, S. SAGHIR AHMAD B
AND G.B. PATTANAIK, JJ]

Anny Act, 1950/Anny Rules, 1954 :

S.123(2)/Rule 45-Liabi/ity of offender ceased to be subject to C
Act-Constitution of general Court Martiai-Trial-Commenceme11t
of-Held, trial commences the ·moment general Court Martial assembles to
consider the charge-Membe1~ of Court-Martial 011 nomination get jurisdic-
tion to t1y the offender for offence under the Act.

Legal Maxims: D
'nullus commodum capere potest de injuria sua propriaL..applied.

'frustra legis auxilium quoerit in legem committi '-<:ited.

Words and Phrases : E
'Trial' 'Contmence'--Meaning of-explained.

Action under s.123 of Army Act, 1950 was initiated against the
respondent for dereliction of duty in respect of local purchases sanctioned
by him while he was working as Major General, Army Ordinance Corps, F
Southern Command, Pone and was incharge of purchases. He was ordered
to retire. He challenged the order before the High Court by tiling a writ
petition, which was dismissed. Thereafter the respondent was kept under
open arrest from 30.8.1986 and retired from service on 31.8.1986. A charge
sheet was issued to him and recording of evidence commenced. The respon-
dent refused to cross-examine the witnesses examined at preliminary G
enquiry and sought adjournments. He filed a habeas corpus petition which
was dismissed. Ultimately, on completion of the preliminary inquiry,
general Court Marital (GCM) was ordered ou 24.2.1987. The GCM as-
sembled on 25.2.1987 and, on perusal of the record, opined that the
respondent should be tried for the offence. The respondent was directed H
785
I
786 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1996] 3 S.C.R.

A to be produced on 26.2.1987, but it was found that he had escaped military
custody in the night between February 15 and 16, 1987. Warrant was issued
for his arrest and the case was adjourned. The respondent surrendered on t
1.3.1987 and the Court Martial again assembled on 2.3.1987.

Meanwhile the respondent filed a writ petition before the Bombay
B High Court challenging the jurisdiction of the Court Martial to try him.
The High Court allowed the writ petition holding the trial of the respon·
dent by the Court Martial as illegal since the trial had not commenced
within six months of the respondent ceasing to be subject to the Act as
envisaged by sub-section (2) of s.123 of the Act. Aggrieved, the Union of
C India filed the present appeal.

Allowing the appeal, this Court

HELD : 1.1. TI1e trial of the respondent commenced on 25.2.1987 on
which date the general Court-Martial assembled, i.e. within six months
D after the respondent had ceased to be subject to the Army Act, 1950 on his
retirement on 31.8.1986, as by prescription of six months' limitation under
sub-section (2) of s.123 of the Act the trial was to commence before
February 28, 1987. [789-H; 790-H; 791-A)

1.2. 'Trial' means act of proving or Judi~!,¢! i;xamination or deter-
E mination of the issues including its own jurisdlctien or autl1ority in accord-
ance with law or adjudging guilt or innocence of the accnsed including all
steps necessary thereto. The trial commences with performance of the first
act or steps necessary or essential to proceed with trial. [797-FJ

Om Prablta Jai1t v. Gian Chand & Anr., AIR (1969) SC 837, relied on.
F
Collins English Dictionary, Ballentine's Law Dictionary (2nd Edn.)
Black's Law Dictionary, Webster's Comprehensive Dictio1tary Intemational
Ed1t. 'Words and Phrases' (Penna1tent Editio1t), Vol. 42A, referred to.

1.3. Two views would be possible while considering as to when the
G trial commences. The broader view is that trial commences the moment
the GCM assembles for proceeding with the trial, consideration of the
charge and arraignment of the accused to proceed further with the trial
including all preliminaries like objections to the inclusion of the members
of the Court Martial, reading out the charge/charges, amendment thereof
H etc. The narrow view is that trial commences with the actual administra-
U.0.1.v. MAJORGENERALM.L. YADAV 787

tion of oath to the members etc. and the prosecution is called upon to A
examine the witnesses when the accused pleads not guilty. From a conspec-
tus of the scheme of the Act and the Army Rules, 1954, the broader view
appears to be more conducive to and consistent with the scheme of the Act
and the Rules. [798-C-E)

1.4. Constitution of court-martial for trial of an offence under the B
Act is a pre-condition for commencement of trial. Members of the court-
martial and the presiding officer on nomination get jurisdiction to try the
person for offence under the Act and the same ends with the close of the
particular case. Though Rule 45 insists on administration of oath in the
prescribed manner, the occasion to take oath as per the procedure for C
GCM and the right of the members of the GCM arise with their empanel-
ment as GCM and they get power to try the accused the moment they
assemble and commence examination of the case, i.e., charge-sheet and the
record. The trial, therefore, must be deemed to have commenced the
moment the GCM assembles and examination of the charge sheet is
under-taken, for framing of charge. [797-G-H; 799-B-D] D
Barish Chandra Baijapi &Anr. v. Triloki Singh &Anr., AIR (1957) SC
444, relied on.

2.1. Even if narrow interpretation is plausible, in the instant case, E
the trial began on February 25, 1987 on which date the Court-martial
assembled, considered the charge and the prosecution undertook to
produce the respondent who was found escaped from the open detention,
before the Court. The respondent having escaped from the open military
detention caused adjournment of the trial beyond February 28, 1987 to
secure the presence and arraignment of the respondent at the trial by F
GCM, and until his presence was secured, it became difficult, may impos-
sible, to proceed the trial. (804-B; E-F]

2.2. The respondent is estopped from pleading bar of limitation con-
tained in s.123(2) of the Act. The High Court has recorded the finding that
the respondent had absconded from open military detention. From the G
narration of the facts it is clear that the respondent was bent upon protract-
ing preliminary investigation. When the GCM was constituted he chal-
lenged his detention order. When he was unsuccessful and the trial was to
begin he escaped the detention to frustrate the commencement of the trial
and pleaded bar of limitation on and from March 1, 1987. The respondent H
I
788 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1996] 3 S.C.R.

A having escaped from lawful military cnstody and prevented the trial from
being proceeded with in accordance with law, the maxim nul/us conunodum
capere protest de injuria sua propria (no man can take advantage of his own
wrong) squarely applies to the case and he having done the wrong, cannot
take advantage of his own wrong and plead bar oflimitation to frustrate the
lawful trial by a competent GCM. Therefore, even on the narrow interpreta-
B tion, continuation of trial from March 2, 1987 which commenced on
February 25, 1987 is not a bar and it is a valid trial. [805-E-G]

Broom's Legal Maxims (10th Edn.) p.161, referred to.

Perry v. Fitzhowe, 8 Q.B. 757, cited.
c
2.3. The respondent having frustrated the trial by escaping from
detention, his plea that trial at this distance of time is not jnsticiable
cannot be accepted. (806-D]

D Devi Lal Anr. v. The State of Rajasthan, (1971] 3 SCC 471, held in
applicable.

Guiab Nath Singh v. T71e Chief of the Anny Staff, (1974) Assam LR
260, disapproved.

E CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Criminal Appeal No.
230 of 1988.

From the Judgment and Order dated 28.4.87 of the Bombay High
Court in W.P. (Cr!.) No. 301 of 1987.

P.P. Malhotra and A.K. Srivastava for P. Parmeswaran for the Ap-
F
pellants.

V.A. Bobde and Mukul Mudgal for the Respondents.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered.by
G K. RAMASWAMY, J. This appeal on reference to this Bench raises
an interesting question of law. The respondent while working as Major .
General, Army Ordnance Corps., Southern Command, Pone between
December, 1, 1982 and July 7, 1985 was in-charge of purchase. The
Controller General of Defence Accounts in special audit on the local
H purchases sanctioned by the respondent prima facie found that respondent
U.0.1.v. MAJOR GENERALM.L. YADAV [K RAMASWAMY, J.] 789

had derelicted his duty and action under the Act was initiated against him. A
At that time, the respondent was attached to College of Military Engineer-
ing, Pune and was promoted as Major General. After initiation of the
proceedings he was ordered to retire which he had challenged by filing
Writ Petition No. 3189 of 1986 in the Bombay High Court which stood
dismissed on August 29, 1986.
B
On August 30, 1986, action was initiated against the respondent
under Section 123 of the Army Act, 1950 (for short, the 'Act'). He was
kept under open arrest from that date onwards and retired from service
on August 31, 1986 as Major General. On September 22, 1986, the respon- .
dent was issued a charge-sheet and recording of the summary ~dence C
commenced on September 25, 1986. The respondent filed habeas corpus
petition in this Court under Article 32 of the Constitution on September
26, 1986 and refused to cross-examine witnesses examined at preliminary
enquiry between October 20 and 25, 1986. He sought for, and the proceed-
ings were adjourned to November 3, 1986, on the ground that his lawyer D
from Delhi was to come to Pune for cross-examination of the witnesses.
Due to non-ayailment of the opportunity given to the respondent to cross-
examine the witnesses between November 20, 1986, and December 8, 1986
the case was closed for prosecution on November 20, 1986. The respondent
sought 14 days' time to prepare his case which was duly allowed. However,
the respondent did not give list of his defence witnesses till November 30, E
1986. Consequent upon it, on December 26, 1986, the Controller General
of Defence Accounts directed the Controller, Defence Accounts, Southern
Command to carry out special audit for the period in question. The
respondent had sought permission to go to Delhi in connection with his
writ petition which was granted between December 16 and 18, 1986. The F
writ petition was dismissed by this Court on December 18, 1986, against
which he filed special leave petition. On January 3, 1987, the recording of
summary evidence against the respondent was concluded. He sought per-
mission to go to Delhi in connection which his special leave petition which
was granted between January 12 and February 5, 1987. The summary G
evidence was considered and GOC in Command, Southern Command
submitted his report on February 2, 1987. The special leave petition came
to be dismissed by this Court on February 5, 1987. Pursuant thereto,
general Court-martial (for short, 'GCM') was ordered on February 24,
1987; the GCM assembled to try the respondent on February 25, 1987. On
perusal of the report, it was found that the respondent should be tried for H
I
~

790 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1996)3 S.C.R.

A the offence. He was directed to be produced on February 26, 1987 but it
transpired that the respondent had escaped lawful military custody on the
intervening night of February 15 and 16, 1987. Warrant was issued for his
arrest. The respondent voluntarily surrendered on March 1, 1987 and was
placed under closed arrest w.e.f. 2130 hours on the said day. The Court·
martial assembled on March 2, 1987 but it appears that the respondent
B had, in the meanwhile, filed writ petition in the Bombay High Court
challenging the jurisdiction of the Court-martial to try him. In W.P. No.
301 of 1987, invoking the provisions of Section 123(2) of the Act, the
Division Bench had held that the trial of the accused had not commenced
within six months of his ceasing to be subject to the Act. The trial by the
C Court-martial was, therefore, held to be illegal and accordingly writ was
issued. Calling in question this order, this appeal has been filed.

It is undisputably clear that the respondent has retired from service
on August 31, 1986. ·He was kept under open arrest from August 26, 1986
D and had escaped from lawful military custody on the intervening night of
February 15 and 16, 1987 and voluntarily surrendered on March 1, 1987.
Though the respondent has pleaded in the High Court that he had gone
with prior permission of the authorities, the same has been denied by the
officer concerned. The High Court has recorded, a.s a fact, that the
respondent had absconded himself. Section 123 of the Act fastens cul-
E pability of the offender who ceased to be subject to the provisions of the
Act. Sub-section (1) postulates that where an offence under the Act had
been committed by any person while subject to the Act, and he has ceased
to be so subject, he may be taken into and hpt in military custody, and
tried and punished for such offence as if he continued to be so subject.
F Sub-section (2) which stands amended by Army Act (Amendment) Act, 37
of 1992, prescribed limitation on such action, at the relevant time, that no
such person shall be tried for an offence, unless his trial commences within
six months after he had ceased to be subject to the Ac(. The amended
sub-section (2) is not relevant for our purpose since the offence in question
was indisputably committed prior to the Amendment came into existence.
G The proviso and other sub-sections are also n,ot relevant for our purpose.

The question, therefore, is; on which date did the trial of the respon-
dent commence ? In other words, whether the trial of the respondent
commenced within six months from the date of his retirement, viz., August
H 31, 1986 ? By prescription of six months' lirnttation under sub-section (2),
U.0.1.v. MAJORGENERALM.L. YADAV{K.RAMASWAMY,J.] 791

the trial of the respondent was to commence before February 28, 1987. A
Consequently, the question, therefore, is : what is the meaning of the words
t "trial commenced" as used in sub-section (2) of Section 123 and as to when
it commences ?

It is contended by Shri Malhotra, learned counsel for the ~ppellants, B
that the word 'commenced' must be understood and considered in the
setting and scenario of the operation of relevant provisions of the Act and
the rules framed thereunder, viz., the Army Rules, 1954 (for short, the
'Rules'). Their conjoint reading would indicate that the moment the Court-
martial assembles, takes cognisance of the offence and directs to proceed
f
further, the trial must be deemed to have been commenced, as all the steps C
from that stage are integrally connected with the trial. When Court-martial
assembled on February 25, 1987 and found prima facie case against the
respondent to proceed with the trial and directed to secure his presence,
it was discovered that the respondent had escaped the lawful open military
custody and made himself'unavailable. Consequently, Court-martial could D
not proceed with the trial of the respondent until he was arrested and
brought before the Court-martial or. he himself surrendered. Since
presence and participation by the respcrndent in the trial was a condition
precedent, due to non-availability of the respondent, the Court-martial
could not be proceeded with. After re-appearance of the respondent on
March 1, 1987, further steps were taken to conduct the trial by the E
Court-martial. The trial, therefore, was not barred by operation of sub-sec-
tion (2) of Section 123. Shri Bobde, appearing for the respondent, on the
other hand, contended that Section 122(3) provides for exclusion of time
during which the accused avoided arrest after the commission of the
offence. Similar provision, preceding amendment to sub-section (2) of F
Section 123 is not expressly made available on statute. The offence being
of criminal nature, having regard to the provisions of Section 123 limitation
should strictly be construed, particularly when it involves liberty of the
citizen. He argues that the legislature had made a dichotomy of Sections
122 and 123 of the Act. The time during which the accused was not
available cannot, therefore, be excluded in computation of six months' G
period prescribed in sub-section (2) of Section 123.

It is further contended that the trial commenced only when the
Court-martial assembled, took oath in terms of Rule 45; applied their mind
under Rule 41 to proceed further under Rule 43. The oath envisages thus: H
J
792 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1996] 3 S.C.R.

A "... I will well and truly try the accused before the Court according to the
evidence and that I will duly administer justice according to the Army Act
without partiality, favour or affection and of any doubt shall arise, then, i
according to my conscience, the best of my understanding and the customs
of war and ....". The scheme would indicate that there is a distinction
between inquiry and trial and the trial commences only when the Court-
B martial arraigns the accused on the charge against him under Rule 48
whereby the accused shall be required to plead separately to each charge.
Since the above procedure had not been follow,d, the trial did not com-
mence. It is further argued that the accused has a valuable right under Rule
48 to object to the charge. If the objection is sustained, the charge is
C required to be amended under Rule 50. He has also right to object to the
members of the Court-martial empanelled. He is also entitled under Rule
51 to object to the jurisdiction of the Court-martial. Until the Court-martial
assembles to proceed further, the trial cannot be said to have commenced.
The question, therefore, is : as to when the trial commences within the
D meaning of Section 123 (2) ? With a view to appreciate the rival contentions
it is necessary to grasp the relevant provisions of the Act and the Rules.

Article 33 of the Constitrilion empowers the Parliament to modify
the fundamental rights enshrined in Part III ir1 their application to the
members of the Armed Forces or members of the Force charged with the
E maintenance of the public order etc. The Act was made to regulate the
governance 6f the regular Army. Under Section 2(1)(a), officers shall be
subject to the Act wherever they may be. Under Section 3, unless the
context otherwise requires, "active service" as applied to a person subject
to this Act, means the time during which such person is attached to, or
F forms part of, a force which is engaged in operations against any enemy,
or. .. ". "Court-martial" under sub-section (vii) means a court-martial held
under the Act. "Military custody" under sub-section (xiii) means the arrest
or confinement of a person according to the usages of the service and
includes naval or air force custody.

G "Offence" has been.defined under sub-sectiion (xvii) to mean "any act
or omission punishable" under the Act and "includes a civil offence as
hereinbefore defined". Chapter IX deals with "arrest and proceedings
before trial". Section 101 enables custody of offenders. Under sub-section
(1) thereof, any person subject to the Act who is charged with an offence
H may be taken into military custody. Under sub-section (3) thereof, an
\
U.0.1.v. MAJOR GENERALM.L. YADAV[K.RAMASWAMY,J.] 793

officer may order into military custody of any "officer", though he may be A
•
of a higher rank, engaged in a quarre~ affray or disorder. Chapter X deals
with "Court-martial". The details thereof are not material for the purpose
of this case since the admitted position is that G.C.M. was ordered against
the respondent which is not under challenge. Section 122 deals with "period
of limitation for trial" of "any person" subject to the Act. As stated earlier, B
sub-section (3) thereof make provision for exclusion of time, in computa-
tion of the prescribed period, i.e. of any time spent by such person as a
prisoner of war, or in enemy territory, or in evading arrest after the
commission of the offence. Section 123 deals with liability of offenders who
cease to be subject to the provisions of the Act. Sub-section (1) thereof
envisages that where an offence under the Act had been committed by any C
person while subject to the Act, and he has ceased to be so subject, he may
be taken into and kept in military custody, and tried and punished for such
offence as if he continued to be so subject. In other words, though the
officer governed by the proVisions of Act ceases to be the person governed
by the provisions of the Act, no trial for an offence under the Act shall be D
proceeded with and no such person shall be tried for an offence unless the
trial commences within six months of his ceasing to be subject to the Act.

Chapter V of the Rules relates to investigation of the charge and trial
by court martial. Rule 22 deals with hearing of charge. Sub-rule (1)
provides the procedure to deal with the charge in the presence of the E
accused who shall have full liberty to cross-examine any witness examined
against him and he may call any witness and make any statement in his
defence. Rule 23 provides procedure for taking down the summary of
evidence. Rule 24 empowers remand of the accused. Rule 25 prescribes
procedure on charge against officer. Rule 26 provides procedure for F
summary disposal of the charge against the officers. If delay occasions in
disposal, under Rule 27, it is required to be reported. Rule 28 deals with
framing of charge-sheet containing the details and issue or issues to be
tried by a Court-martial. The charge-sheet may contain one charge or
several charges. Rule 29 deals with commencement of the charge-sheet.
Rule 30 contains contents of the charge. Rule 33 provides procedure for G
preparation of defence by the accused. Rule 34 enjoins that before the
accused is arraigned for an offence, he shall be informed by an officer of
every charge for which he is to be tried and also that on his giving the
names of the witnesses whom he desires lo call in his defence, reasonable
steps will be taken for procuring their attendance etc. Rule 35 deal' with H
794 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1996] 3 S.C.R.

A joint-trial of several accused persons. Due to military exigencies or on
grounds of necessity of discipline, Rule 36 empowers the suspension of
rules.

In Section 2 of the Rules dealing with Gen.era] and District Courts-
martial, convening the Court-martial has been envisaged. Under Rule 38,
B Court-martial may be adjourned if before arraigning the accused insuffi-
cient number of officers of the Court-martial are noticed. Rule 39 speaks
of disqualification and ineligibility of officers for Court-martial. Rule 40
envisages composition of the GCM. Rule 41 pre.icribes procedure to be
followed at trial and constitution of Court-martial which is relevant for the
C purposes of this Court. The rule reads as under :

"41. Inquiry by court as to legal constitution. (1) On the court-as-
sembling, the order convening the court shall be laid before it
together with the charge sheet and the summary of evidence or a
true copy thereof, and also the ranks, names, and corps of the
D officers appointed to serve on the court; and the court shall satisfy
itself that it is legally constituted; that is to say -

(a) that, so far as the court can ascertain, the court has been
convened in accordance with the provisions of the Act and these
rules;
E
(b) that the court consists of a number of officers, not less than
the minimum required by law and, save as mentioned in rule 38,
not less than the number detailed;

(c) that each of the officers so assembled is eligible and not
F
disqualified for serving on that court-martial; and
'
(d) that in the case of general court-martia:I, the offices are of the
required rank.

(2) The court shall, further, if it is a general or district court-martial
G
to which a judge-advocate has been appointed, ascertain that the
judge-advocate is duly appointed and is not disqualified for sitting
on that court-martial.

(3) The court, if not satisfied with regard to the compliance with
H the aforesaid provisions, shall report its opinion to the convening
\

U.0.1.v. MAJORGENERALM.L. YADAV[K.RAMASWAMY,J.] 795

authority, and may adjourn for that purpose." A

Rule 43 prescribes procedure of trial-challenge and swearing. If the
court has satisfied itself that the provisions of Rule 41 and 42 have been
complied with, it shall cause the accused to be brought before the court
and the prosecutor, who must be a person subject to the Act, shall take his B
due place in the court. As seen, under Rule 45, oath is to be administered
to the members of the Court-martial etc. They are required to swear by
Almighty God or affirmation to "well and truly try the accused". Similar
oath may be administered to Judge-Advocate and other officers under
Rules 46 and 47. Rule 48 speaks of "arraignment of accused". It envisages
that "after the members of the Court-martial and other persons are sworn C
or affirmed as above mentioned, the accused shall be arraigned on the
charges against him which shall be read out and, if necessary, translated to
him in his mother tongue, and he shall be required to plead separately to
each charge. Rule 49 deals with objection by the accused to the charge
and Rules 50 allows amendment of the charge, if necessary. Rule 51 gives D
him right to take a special plea on the jurisdiction of GCM and under Rule
52 he can plead guilty or not guilty. Rule 53 deals with "plea in bar" and
Rule 54 with "procedure after plea of guilty''. Rule 56 deals with plea of
lr not guilty, application and adduction of evidence by the prosecution. Rule
57 deals with plea of no case and Rule 58 with "close of case for the
prosecution and procedure for defence where accused does not call wit- E
ness". Rule 59 deals with the "defence where the accused calls witnesses"
and Rule 60 with "summing up of the case by the judge-advocate". Rule 61
deals with "consideration of finding" and Rule 62 with "form, record and
announcement of finding". Rule 63 concerns "procedure on acquittal" and
Rule 64 "procedure on conviction". Rule 65 gives power to the Court-mar- F
tial to impose sentence and Rule 66 deals with recommendation to mercy.
Rule 67 deals with "announcement of sentence and signing and transmis-
sion of proceedings".

It is true, as rightly contended by Shri Bahde that on administration
of oath to the members of the Court-martial, the members swear to try the G
accused according to the provisions of Act and Rules etc. and to administer
• justice according to the Act without partiality, favour or affection. Under
Rule 44, names of the members of the Court and presiding officer will be
read over to the accused. He shall be asked, under Section 130, of his
objections, if any, for trial \\y any officer sitting on the court. Any such H
796 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1996] 3 S.C.R.

A objection shall be disposed of according to the Rules. The presence and
participation by the accused, therefore, is an indispensable pre-condition.
Rule 42 enjoins the court to be satisfied that the requirements of Rule 41
have been complied with. It shall, further, satisfy iitself in respect of the
charge brought before it and then proceed further. If he pleads ''guilty', the
B procedure contemplated in Rule 54 is to be followed and if he pleads "not
guilty", the procedure contemplated in Rule 56 shall be proceeded with
and evidence recorded etc.

The words "trial commences" employed in Section 123(2) shall be
required to be understood in the light of the scheme of the Act and the
C Rules. The question is : as to when the trial is said to commence ? The
word 'trial' according to Collins English Dictionary means : •

"the act or an instance of trying or proving; test or experiment...
Law. a. the judicial. examination of the issues in a civil or criminal
cause by a competent tribunal and the determination of these
D issues in accordance with the law of the land. b. the determination
of an accused person's guilty or innocence after hearing evidence
for the prosecution and for the accused and the judicial examina-
tion of the issues involved".

According to Ballentine's Law Dictionary (2nd ed.} 'trial' means :
E
"an examination before a competent tribunal, according to the law
of the land, of the facts or law put in issue in a cause, for the
purpose of determining ~uch issue. When a court hears and deter-
mines any issue of fact or law for the purpose of determining the
right of the parties, it may be considered a trial".
F
In Black's Law Dictionary (Sixth Edition) Centennial Edition, the
word 'trial' is defined thus :

"A judicial examination and determination of issues between par-
ties to action, whether they be issues of law or of fact, before a
G
court that has jurisdiction... A judicial examination, in accordance
with law of the land, of a cause, either civil or criminal, of the
issues between the parties, whether of law or facts, before a court
that has proper jurisdiction".

H In Webster's Comprehensive Dictionary - International Edition, at
U.0.1. v. MAJOR GENERAL M.L. YADAY [K. RAMASWAMY, J.] 797

page 1339, the word 'trial' is defined thus : A
"...The examination, before a tribunal having assigned jurisdiction,
of the facts or law involved in an issue in order to determine that
issue. A former method of determining guilt or innocence by
subjecting the accused to physical tests of endurance, as by ordeal
or by combat with his accuser. .. In the process of being tried or B
tested ... Made or performed in the course of trying or testing... ".

The word 'commence' is defined in Collins English Dictionary to
mean "to start or begin; come or cause to come into being, operation etc."
In Black's Law Dictionary, it is defined to mean : C

"to initiate by performing the first act or step. To begin, institute
or start. Civil action in most jurisdictions is commenced by filing
a complaint with the court.... Criminal action is commenced within
·statute of limitations at time preliminary complaint or information
is filed with magistrate in good faith and a warrant issued thereon... D
A criminal prosecution is "commenced" (1) when information ·is
laid before magistrate charging commission of crime, and a warrant
of arrest is issued, or (2) when grand jury has returned an indict-
ment11.

In the "Words and Phrases" (Permanent Edition) Vol. 42A, at page
E
171, under the head "Commencement'', it is stated that "A 'trial' commences
at least from the time when work of empanelling of a jury begins".

It would, therefore, be clear that trial means act of proving or judicial
examination or determination of the issues including its own jurisdiction or F
authority in accordance with law or adjudging guilt or innocence of the
accused including all steps necessary thereto. The trial commences with
performance of the first act or steps necessary or essential to proceed with
trial.

It would be seen from the scheme of the Act and the Rules that G
constitution of court-martial for trial of an offence under the Act is a
pre-condition for commencement of trial. Members of the court-martial
and the presiding officer on nomination get jurisdiction to try the person
for offence under the Act. On their assembly, the accused has the right to
object to the nomination of any or some of the members of the court-mar- H
798 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1996) 3 S.C.R.

A tial or even the presiding officer. On the objection(s) so raised, it is to be
dealt with and thereafter the preliminary report recorded after summary
trial and the charge framed would be considered. The charge is required,
if need be or asked by the accused to be read over and could be objected
by the accused and found tenable, to be amended. Thereafter, the accused
would be arraigned and in his presence the trial would begin. The accused
B
may plead guilty or not guilty. If he pleads guilty, the procedure prescribed
under Rule 54 should be followed and if he pleads not guilty, procedure
prescribed under Ruic 56 is to be followed. Before actual trial begins, oath
would be administered to the members of the court-martial, the Judge-Ad-
vocate and the staff. The regular trial begins and ends with recording the
C proceedings either convicting and sentencing or acquitting the accused.
Thus two views would be possible while considering as to when the trial •
commences. The broader view is that the trial commences the moment the
GCM assembles for proceeding with the trial, consideration of the charge
and arraignment of the accused to proceed further with the trial including
D all preliminaries like objections to the inclusion of the members of the
Court-martial, reading out the charge/charges, amendment thereof etc. The
narrow view is that trial commences with the actual administration of oath
to the members etc. and to the prosecution to examine the witnesses when
the accused pleads not guilty. The question then emerges : which of the
two views would be consistent with and conducive to a fair trial in accord-
E ance with the Act and the Rules ?

It is true that the legislature has made a distinction between Section
122(3) and Section 123(2). While in the former, power to exclude time
taken in specified contingencie~ is given, in the latter, no such provision is
F made for exclusion of the time since the accused will be kept under
detention after he ceased to be governed by the Act. lt is equally settled
law that penal provisions would be construed strictly. As posed earlier,
which of the two views -broader or narrow - would subserve the object and
purpose of the Act is the question. We are of the consid.,red view that from
a conspectus of the scheme of the Act and Rules, the broader view appears
G to be more conducive to and consistent with the scheme of the Act and
the Rules. As soon as GCM assembles the members ar•o charged with the
duty to examine the charge/charges framed in summa1y trial, to give an
opportunity to the accused to exercise his right to object to the empanel-
ment of member/members of the GCM, to amend the charge and the right
H to plead guilty or not guilty. These procedural steps are integral and
U.0.1.v. MAJORGENERALM.L. YADAV[K.RAMASWAMY,J.] 799

inseparable parts of trial. If the accused pleads guilty, further trial by A
' adducing evidence by the prosecution is obviated. The need for adducion
of evidence ari&es only where the accused pleads "not guilty". In that
situation, the members are required to take oath or affirmation according
to Rule 45. It is to remember that the members get right, power and duty
to try an accused only on appointment and the same ends with the close B
of the particular case. Therefore, Rule 45 insists on administration of oath
in the prescribed rnanner. For a judicial officer, the act of appointment
gives power to try the offender under Criminal Procedure Code; warrant
of appointment by the President of India and the oath taken as per the
form prescribed in Schedule III of the Constitution empowers the High
Court/Supreme Court Judges to hear the petition or appeals. For them, C
need to take oath on each occasion of trial or hearing is obviated. There-
fore, the occasion to take oath as per the procedure for GCM and the right
of the members of the GCM arises with their empanelment as GCM and
they get power to try the accused the moment they assemble and com-
mence examination of the case, i.e., charge-sheet and the record. The trial, D
therefore, must be deemed to have commenced the moment the GCM
assembles and examination of the charge is undertaken.

Our view gets fortified by two decisions of this Court in Harish
Chandra Baijapi & Anr. v. Triloki Singh & Anr., AIR (1957) SC 444 wherein
the question was : as to when the trial begins in an election dispute under E
the provisions of· the Representation of the People Act, 1951 ? The
respondents had filed election petitions against the appellant under Section
81 of that Act alleging that the appellant had committed number of corrupt
practices and the respondents prayed for declaration that the appellant's
election was void. After trial, the election was set aside against which the F
appeal came to be filed ultimately in this Court. One of the questions was:
whether the particulars of the corrupt practices and amendment thereof is
valid in law and whether they are maintainable in appeal ? In that context,
the question arose : as to when the trial began ? It was contended therein
that the order amending pleadings under Order 6 Rule 17, CPC was not
part of the trial and, therefore, it could not be subject of consideration in G
appeal. Considering the above question, this Court held that :

"Taking the first contention, the point for decision is as to what
the word 'trial' in s.90(2) means. According to the appellants, it
must be understood in a limited sense, as meaning the final hearing H
800 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1996] 3 S.C.R.

A of the petition consisting of examination of witnesses, filing docu-
ments and addressing arguments. According to the respondent, it •
connotes the entire proceedings before the Tribunal from the time
that the petition is transferred to it under s.86 of the Act until the
pronouncement of the award. While the word 'trial' standing by
itself is susceptible of both the narrow and the wider senses
B indicated above, the question is, what meanimg attaches to it in
s.90(2), and to decide that, we must have regard to the context and
the setting of the enactment. Now, the provisions of the Act leave
us in no doubt as to in what sense the word :is used in s.90(2). It
occurs in Chapter III which is headed "Trial of election petitions".
c Section 86(4) provides that if during the course of the trial any
member of a Tribunal is unable to perform his functions, the
Election Commission is to appoint another members, and there-
upon the trial is to be continued. This provision must apply to
retirement or relinquishment by a member, even before the hearing
commences, and the expression "during the course of trial" must
D therefore include the stages prior to the hearing. Section 88 again
provides that the trial is to be held at such places as the Election
Commission may appoint. The trial here must necessarily include
the matters preliminary to the hearing such as the settlement of
issues, issuing direction and the like. After tlte petition is trans-
ferred to the Election Tribunal under s.8.6, various steps have to
E
be taken before the stage can be set for hearing it. The respondent
has to file his written statement; issues have to be settled. If 'trial'
for the purpose of s.90(2) is to be interpreted as meaning only the
hearing, then what is the provision of law under which the
Tribunals to call for written statements and settle issues ? Section
F 90(4) enacts that when an election petition does not comply with
the provisions s.81, s.83 or s.117 the Tribunal may dismiss it. But
if it does not dismiss it, it must necessarily have the powers to
order rectification of the defects arising by reason of non-com-
pliance with the requirements of s.81, s.83 or s.117. That not being
a power expressly conferred on it under s.92 can only be sought
G under s.90(2), and resort to that section can be had only if trial is
nnderstood as including proceedings prior to hearing. Section 92
enacts that the Tribunal shall have powers in respect of various
matters which are vested in a court under the Civil Procedure Code
when trying a suit, and among the matters 5,et out therein are
H discovery and inspection, enforcing attendance of witnesses and
\
U.0.1.v. MAJOR GENERALM.L. YADAV[K. RAMASWAMY,J.] Sjll

compelling the production of documents, which clearly do not form A
' part of the hearing but precede it. In our opinion, the provisions
. of Chapter III read as a whole, clearly show that 'trial' is used as
meaning the entire proceedings before the Tribunal from the time
when the petition is transferred to it under s.86 until the pronoun-
cement of the award."
B
In Om Prabha Jain v. Gian Chand & Anr., AIR (1959) SC 837, it was
held that the word 'trial' clearly means entire proceedings before tribunal
from the reference to it by the Election Commission to the conclusion. This
Court found no reason to attribute a restricted meaning to the word 'trial'
in Section 98 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
c
In the light of the above discussion, we hold that the trial commences
the moment GCM assembles to consider the charge and examines whether
they would proceed with the trial. The preceding preliminary investigation
is only part of the process of investigation to find whether a charge could
be framed and placed before the competent authority to constitute GCM. D
On February 25, 1987, the GCM assembled and recorded the proceedings
as under:

"Trial of Shri Yadava, Madan Lal formerly IC- 512ZN Lt. Gen
(Substantive Maj Gen] Yadava, Madan Lal of Army Ordnance
Corps, School, Jabalpur, attached to National Defence Academy, E
Khadakwasla.

The Order convening the court, the charge-sheet and the sum-
mary of evidence are laid before the Court."

"The court satisfy themselves as provided by Army Rules 41 F
and 42.

I have satisfied myself, that no Court of Inquiry was held_
respecting the matters forming the subject of the charge before
this court martial. . . G

At this stage, the court observe that the Prosecutor and the
Defending Officer have taken their respective places but the ac-
cused is not present before the court. The Prosecutor submits that
the accused Shri Madan Lal Yadava formerly Lt. Gen (Substantive
Maj Gen) Madan Lal Yadava of Army Ordnance Corps School, H
802 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1996) 3 S.C.R.
•
A Jabalpur retired from service with effect from 31 August 86 (AN).
He has been subjected to the provisions of Section 123 of the AA •
with effect from the same date and put under open arrest with
effect from 1200 h on 30 August 1986. According to a note dated
15 February 1987, found in his room the accused had proceeded
to Bombay to engage a suitable counsel. Though he had stated
B
therein that he would keep the Comdt, NDA Khadakwasla, in-
formed about his whereabouts, they are not yet known. Vigorous
efforts are being made to trace him out and produce him before
the Court. In view of this, he requests that the Court be adjourned
till 1100 h 26 February 1987.
c
The Defending Officer, IC-6727F Maj Gen Yadav Yitendra
Kumar, who is present in the court submits in reply that he too
had no opportunity to get in touch with the accused and as such
has no information regarding whereabouts of the accused".

D . ''Advice by the Judge Advocate

Gentlemen, you have heard the subm:1ssion made by the
Prosecutor with regard to the absence of the accused as also reply
of the learned Defending Officer. The Prosecutor has given the
detailed circumstances in which the accused had escaped from
E military custody. He further submitted before you that vigorous
efforts were being made to secure his presence before you to stand
the trial and to this effect, prayed for the adjournment of the Court
until 1100 h on 26 Feb 87. In view of the foresaid submission made
by the Prosecutor, I advise you to consider granting him suitable
F adjournment to secure the presence of the accused. The Court
decide to adjourn 1100 h 26th Feb 1987. The above decision is
announced in the court".

On February 26, 1987 when it again assembled, the GCM was
G informed by the prosecutor that despite their diligent steps taken to have
the accused traced and produced before the court they were unable to do
that and a request for adjourning the proceedings to the next day was made
and the defence counsel also had expressed his inability to know the
whereabouts of the respondent. On advice by the Judge-Advocate, the
court adjourned the case to February 27, 1987. Similarly, the case was
H adjourned to February 28, .1987 on which date when it assembled the
U .0.1. v. MAJOR GENERAL M.L. Y ADAV [K. RAMASWAMY, J.] 803

proceedings were recorded as under : A
"At 1000 h on 28 February 1987, the Court re-assemble, pur-
suant to the adjournment; present the same members and the
Judge-Advocate as on 27 February 1987.

The Court observe that the accused is still not present before B
the court.

The Prosecutor submits that despite the best efforts including
taking help from the various civil agencies to locate the. accused
h~ has not yet been able to find out his whereabouts and as such
unable to produce him before the court. It is, however, earnestly c
hoped that he would be able to get some clue about his
whereabouts by 01 March 1987. In that event he would be able to
produce him before the court on 02 March 1987. He therefore,
prays that an adjournment until 1000 h 02 March 1987 be granted.
He further gives an undertaking that he will seek. no further D
adjournment on this account and if he is not in a position to
produce the accused by that date, will seek sine die adjournment
of the Court.

The learned Defending Officer submits that he too has so far
no information about the accused. E

Advice by the Judge Advocate

Gentlemen, you have heard the submission of the Prosecutor
• and the learned Defending Officer. The Prosecutor submitted
before you that he would be in a position to produce the accused F
on 02 March 1987 and that he would not seek any further adjourn-
ment of the Court on this account in case he failed to secure his
presence on or before that date. In the interest of the justice, you
may therefore, consider granting him yet ,another adjournment to
help secure the presence of the accused. G
The Co~t decide to adjourn until 0900 h on 2 March 1987."

Accordingly, on March 2, 1987 when the court re-assembled the
accused was. present, the charge was handed over to him and he asked for
adjournmeni'for 15 days and on advice it was adjourned to March 18, 1987 H
804 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1996] 3 S.C.R.

A on which day the respondent informed the court of his filing the writ
petition and the assurance given by the counsel appearing for the appel- •
!ants in the High Court not to proceed with the trial. Accordingly, it was
adjourned pending Writ Petition No. 301 of 1987, the subject of this appeal.
It would thus be clear that the respondent having escaped from the open
military detention caused adjournment of the trial beyond February 28,
B 1987 to secure the presence and arraignment of the respondent at the trial
byGCM.

Our conclusion further gets fortified by the scheme of the trial of
criminal case under the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, viz., Chapter
c XIV "Conditions requisite for initiation of proceedings" containing Section •
190 to 210. Chapter XVIII containing Sections 225 to 235 and dealing with
"trial before a Court of Sessions" pursuant to committal order under Section
209 and in Chapter XIX "trial of warrant-case by Magistrates' containing
Sections 238 to 250 etc. It is settled law that under the said Code trial com-
mences the moment cognisance of the offence is taken and process is issued
D to the accused for his appearance etc. Equally, at a Sessions trial, the court
considers the committal order under Section 209 by the Magistrate and
proceeds further. It takes cognisance of the offence from that stage and
proceeds with the trial. The trial begins with the taking of the cognisance of
the offence and taking further steps to conduct the trial.

E Even if narrow interpretation is plausible, on the facts in this case,
we have no hesitation to conclude that the trial beg.an on February 25, 1987
on which date the Court-martial assembled, considered the charge and the
prosecution undertook to produce the respondent who was found escaped
from the open detention, before the Court. It is an admitted position that
F GCM assembled on February 25, 1987. ,
On consideration of the charge, the proceedings were adjourned from day
to day till the respondent appeared on March 2, 1987. It is obvious that
the respondent had avoided trial to see that the trial would not get
commenced. Under the scheme of the Act and th; Rules, presence of the
G accused is a pre-condition for commencement of trial. In his absence and
until his presence was secured, it became difficult, nay impossible, to
proceed with the trial of the respondent-accused. In this behalf, the maxim
11ul/us commodum capere protest de i11juria sua propria - meaning no man
can take advantage of his own wrong - squarely stands in the way of
H avoidance by the respondent and he is estopped to plead bar of limitation
\'
U.0.1.v.MAJOR GENERALM.I.. YADAV [K. RAMASWAMY, J.] 805
•. . ' .:
contained .in Section 123(2). In Broom's Legal Maximum (10th Edn.) at A
_,
page 19l it is stated "it is a maxim oflaw, recognised and e~tablished, that
no man shail take advantage of his own wro~g; and thi.~ ih'aiim, which' is
based on ele~entary principles, is. fully recognised in Cou;ts ·of iaw and of
. equity, and, indeed, adl]lits' 0f illustration from every bran~h of legal·
.procedllre. The ie~sonablc~es~ of.the rllle being-manifeSt, we· pro'ceed at
once to show its application by'referenc'i to decided cases .. It' was note'd B
therein that ~ man shall not take advantage of his own Wrong to gain 'the
favourable intei-pretati9n of the' law. In support ther~of, ihe' autlior has
placed reliance on another mmmfmstra legis auxi/iuni quoe[it qui iii legem
committit, He relies on Pe,,Y v. Fitzhowe, (8 Q.B. 757). Ai page 192, if is
stated that if a ma~ be bound to appear. on a certain day, and befor~ that c
. day the obligee put him in person, the bond is void. At page 193, .it is' stated
a
that "it is moreover a sound principle that h~ who pie~ents thing from
lieing don~ shall not avail himself 'of the non-performance' he has~c
casioned". At page 195, it is further stated that "a wrong doer ought not to
be permitted to ~a:ke a profit out of his own ~~ng". At page 199 it is C
obse~ed th~t "the rule. applies to ihe extent of undoing the ~dvarifage
gained where that can.be done and not 'to the extent oftak.ing aw;ay a. right
previously possessed".

, .The DiVision Bench ~f the High Court has recorded the finding that l
the respondent has absconded from open military de.tention. From. the E
narration of the facts it is clear that the respondent was bent upon protract·
ing preliminary investigation. Ultimately, when the GCM. was constituted,
he had challenged his detention order When he was unsuccessful and ihe
trial was to begin he escaped the detention to frustrate the commencement
of the trial and pleaded bar of .limitation on and from March 1, 1987. ·The F
respondent haVing escaped from lawful military custody and prevented the
trial from being proceeded with in accordance with law, the maxim nullus
tommodum capere potest de injuria ;ua propria' squarely applies to the case
and he haVing done the wrong, cannot·take advantage of his· own wrong
and plead bar of limitation to frustrate the lawful trial· by a competent
GCM. Therefore, even on the.narrow interpretation, we· hold ·that con- G .
.tintiation ·of trial from March 2; 1987 which commenced on February 25,
1987 is. not a bar and it is a valid trial. "

1t' is next contended that trial of the respondent at this distance of
time is not justiciable. Jn support of this contention, reliance is placed by H
I
1

806 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1996] 3 S.C.R.

A Shri Bobde on Devi Lal & Ame v. The State of Rajastha11, (1971] 3 SCC 471
wherein the High Court had confirmed the conviction under Section 302
read with Section 34, IPC and sentence for imprisonment for life. This
Court found that the prosecution had not proved as to which of the two
persons had opened the fire as found by the Sessions Court and the
B distinction between Section 149 and 34, !PC was not clearly noticed by the
Sessions Court and the High Court. When retrial was sought for by the
prosecution, this Court rejected the contention on the ground that retrial
at such a belaied stage was not justifiable. The ratio has no application to
the facts in this case. Therein, the trial was proceeded with and when the
accused was convicted by the Sessions Court and confirmed by the High
C Court, this Court found that the prosecution had not established the case
in accordance with law and had not proved the guilt beyond reasonable
doubt. Under those circumstances, this Court had rightly declined to order
retrial. But the ratio does not fit into the facts of this case. It is seen that
the respondent had frustrated the trial by escaping from detention and
D reappeared after the limitation for trial of the offence was barred. There-
fore, acceptance of the contentions would amount to putting a premium
on.avoidance.

We find ourselves unable to agree with the view expressed by the
Assam High Court in Guiab Nath Si11gh v. The Chief of the A1my Staff,
E (1974) Assam LR 260.

·: It is next contended that since the respondent had surrendered
himself, trial could be conducted by GCM at Delhi. We find no equity in
this behalf. The witnesses are at Pune; records are at Pone, and the offence
has taken place at Pune. Therefore, the GCM shoul.d be conducted at
F Pone. We find no justification in shifting the trial to Delhi.

The appeal is accordingly allowed. The judgment of the High Court
is set aside. The writ petition stands dismissed. The appellants are at liberty
to secure the presence of the respondent; it would be open to the respon-
G dent to surrende1 himself to closed military detention; and the appellant
would keep him in detention and conduct the trial as expeditiously as -~
possible.

R.P. Appeal allowed.