POLUR REDDI Vs. MUNUSAMI REDDI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This case comes before us on a reference made by our learned brother Jackson, J.

(2.) The facts of the case are that a complaint was made against eight persons on a charge of dacoity and came before the Second Class Sub-Magistrate of Tirupattur. The Sub-Magistrate thought that there was no basis for that charge; but as of the eight persons accused before him one was alleged to have been armed with a stick and a deadly weapon, he thought that the charge was one under Section 148 of the Indian Penal Code, namely, rioting armed with deadly weapons and accordingly sent the case on under Section 346(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code to the Joint First Class Magistrate for disposal. The Joint First Class Magistrate after going into the case differed from the view taken by the Second Class Sub-Magistrate and thought that the evidence disclosed that the accused might be guilty of some lesser offence. In dealing with the matter he pointed out that the fifth accused, who was the only accused stated to have been there armed with deadly weapons and having taken part in the riot, was merely a spectator and took no part whatever in the rioting, and dismissed the complaint against" him. He referred the case back, under Section 346(2), Criminal Procedure Code, to the Second Class Magistrate on the 30 of May, 1929. The complainant in the case feeling aggrieved at this order preferred a revision petition to the District Magistrate and he dismissed it as he came to the conclusion that the case had been properly dealt with by the Joint Magistrate. Against this order the complainant presented a revision petition to the High Court. Jackson, J., before whom it came, whilst strongly holding the view that the Joint First Class Magistrate was acting within his jurisdiction when he referred the case back to the Second Class Sub-Magistrate, felt himself very much embarrassed by a decision in In re Kottur Hampanna (1922) I.L.R. 45 M. 846. This decision he took to be one holding that the question of jurisdiction is irrevocably fixed by the Lower Court when it submits the case under Section 346(1) to the superior Magistrate. Section 346(2) reads as follows: The Magistrate to whom the case is submitted may, if so empowered, either try the case himself, or refer it to any Magistrate subordinate to him having jurisdiction, or commit the accused for trial.

(3.) If our learned brother Jackson, J., is right in his interpretation of the judgment in In re Kottur Hampanna (1922) I.L.R. 45 M. 846 then we are clearly of the view that that case was wrongly decided. But, first of all, we have got to see whether the interpretation placed upon that judgment by our learned brother is correct or not. He has taken the last paragraph of that judgment on page 848 to mean that the Magistrate therein referred to is the Magistrate who makes the submission under Section 346(1) and not the Magistrate who refers the case under Section 346(2). In that view of the judgment, that case does decide that it is the charge which the Magistrate who submits the case under Section 346(1) thinks is the right one that the Magistrate to whom he submits the case has to deal with and that charge alone. He has got to try it and dispose of it himself or commit the accused for trial. If that is the correct understanding of that judgment, then as before stated, we are clearly of the opinion that that judgment is wrong. Sub- section (2) to Section 346 is perfectly clear, definite and wide and the Magistrate to whom the case is submitted has ,got to do three things. He has either got to try the case himself, or after having heard it to a certain point, refer it to any Magistrate subordinate to him who has got jurisdiction to try the case or to commit the accused for trial. We think that that is really what was meant in In re Kottur Hampanna (1922) I.L.R. 45 M. 846 and that the Magistrate therein referred to is the Magistrate making a reference under Section 346(2). Although the section alone is referred to and no sub-sections are referred to, we think, having regard to the facts of the case and the observations made at page 847, that the Magistrate to whom the case has been submitted was intended to be referred to. At page 847 it is stated as follows: It may be urged that the Sub-Magistrate, who sent up the case, was subordinate to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate and that his order was in effect a reference to him. If so, the reference should have been made explicitly and with some distinct indication of what action the Sub- Magistrate was to take, not with an obscure injunction, which could afford no real guidance.