Allahabad High Court
Miss X (Victm /Complainant In Crime No. … vs State Of U.P. Thru. Prin. Secy. Home Lko. … on 16 January, 2025
Author: Rajeev Singh
Bench: Rajeev Singh
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD, LUCKNOW BENCH Neutral Citation No. - 2025:AHC-LKO:2570 Reserved on:- 25.11.2024 Delivered on:- 16.01.2025 Court No. - 13 Case :- TRANSFER APPLICATION (CRIMINAL) No. - 66 of 2024 Applicant :- Miss X (Victm /Complainant In Crime No. 205/2021) Thru. Grandmother Mrs. Siddheshwari Mishra Opposite Party :- State Of U.P. Thru. Prin. Secy. Home Lko. And Others Counsel for Applicant :- Vivek Kumar Rai,Gopal Narain Misra,Pratul Pratap Singh,Surya Nath Singh Counsel for Opposite Party :- G.A.,Dwijendra Mishra,Lalta Prasad Misra Hon'ble Rajeev Singh,J.
1. Heard.
2. The instant transfer application has been filed by the applicant with a prayer to transfer the Sessions Trial No. 2126 of 2021 arising out of Case Crime No. 205 of 2021 u/s 376, 323, 109 I.P.C. and Section 5/6/16 of P.O.C.S.O. Act, Police Station- Aliganj, District- Lucknow tilted as ‘State Vs. Rajesh Dutt Bajpai and Anr.‘ from the Court of Special Judge, P.O.C.S.O. Act, Lucknow to the Special Judge, P.O.C.S.O. Act, Court No.2, Lucknow (as transferred by the Sessions Judge, Lucknow vide order dated 17.05.2024) or before any other Special Judge, P.O.C.S.O. Act, in any other District other than Lucknow.
3. Learned counsel for the applicant submitted that on 29.08.2020, mother and brother of the applicant, namely, Malini Dutt Bajpai, aged about 42 years and Sharv Dutt Bajpai, aged about 17 years, were killed at Bunglow No.1, Vivekanand Marg, Bandariyabagh, Lucknow. As a result, F.I.R. No. 61 of 2020 u/s 302 I.P.C., Police Station- Gautam Palli, Lucknow was lodged by respondent no.3 on 29.08.2020 at 23:57 hours against unknown persons. Thereafter, the applicant was arrested on 30.08.2020 and she was sent for medico legal examination before Five Members’ Board of K.G.M.U. The said Board submitted its report on 25.09.2020. The applicant was enlarged on bail vide order dated 30.09.2020 passed by Sessions Judge, Lucknow by giving her custody to her father/respondent no.3. The charge-sheet dated 12.02.2021 was submitted by the Investigating Officer against the applicant, which was submitted before Juvenile Justice Board, on which, cognizance was taken on 10.08.2021.
It has further been submitted that on 28.08.2021, the victim was allowed to join the association of her maternal grandfather, then she narrated to him about her victimization done by her father/respondent no.3. As a result, on 23.09.2021, the F.I.R. of the case in question i.e. Case Crime No. 205 of 2021 u/s 376, 323 I.P.C. and 3/4 of P.O.C.S.O. Act was lodged against respondent nos.2 & 3. On 10.12.2021, charge-sheet was submitted by Investigating Officer against respondent nos.2 & 3 in the Special Court and cognizance was taken by the Court concerned and summon was issued. The cognizance order was challenged before this Court in Application u/s 482 Cr.P.C. No. 208 of 2022, but the Court declined to quash the charge-sheet as well as the cognizance order, and a direction was issued that if respondent nos.2 & 3 surrender and furnish personal bond and two sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of Court concerned by 18.08.2022, they should be released on bail on the very same day, and after they were admitted to bail, they might move application for discharge, and learned trial Court would consider the same in accordance with law expeditiously.
4. The order dated 10.08.2022 passed by this Court in Application u/s 482 Cr.P.C. No. 208 of 2022 is as under:-
“1. Heard Mr. Lalta Prasad Misra and Mr. Dwijendra Mishra, learned counsels appearing for the applicants, as well as Mr. S.P. Singh, Ms. Aishwarya Mishra and Mr. Rao Narendra Singh, A.G.A., for respondents, and gone through the record.
2. By way of this application under Section 482 CrPC, the applicants have prayed for quashing of charge-sheet dated 09.12.2021 filed in Crime/FIR No. 0205 of 2021, under Sections 376 and 323 IPC read with Sections 5 and 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act lodged at Police Station Aliganj, District Lucknow, for quashing of the consequential proceedings initiated at the learned Special Additional Sessions Judge notified under the POCSO Act at the learned Sessions Court, District Lucknow under Sections 376, 323 and 109 IPC read with Sections 5, 6 and 16 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act on 09.12.2021 and for quashing of the order dated 10.12.2021 passed by the learned Special Judge (POCSO Act), Lucknow.
3. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case and statements of the complainant/victim recorded under Sections 161 and 164 CrPC, I do not find this case to be one where the impugned proceedings can be quashed in exercise of the powers under Section 482 CrPC. However, considering relationship between the applicants and the prosecutrix and the fact that wife and son of applicant no. 1, mother and brother of the complainant, were killed, this Court is of the opinion that if the applicants surrender and furnish personal bonds and two sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of the Court concerned by 18.08.2022, they shall be released on bail on the very same day. After the applicants are admitted to bail, they may move application for discharge, and the learned trial Court will consider the same in accordance with law expeditiously.
4. With the aforesaid direction/liberty the application stands disposed of.”
5. Learned counsel for the applicant has next submitted that respondent nos.2 & 3 filed Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.) No. 8312 of 2022 before Hon’ble Supreme Court challenging the order dated 10.08.2022. The said Special Leave Petition was dismissed vide order dated 12.09.2022 with the observation that it was made clear that the trial Court might proceed with the matter independently on its own merits in accordance with law.
6. The order dated 12.09.2022 passed by Hon’ble Supreme Court in Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.) No. 8312 of 2022 is as under:-
“After we have heard learned counsel for the petitioners find no reason to interfere in the judgment impugned dated 10.08.2022. The Special Leave Petition is, accordingly, dismissed.
Learned counsel for the petitioners informs that the petitioners are apprehending that because of the later order passed by the Registrar General of the High Court, communicating the order of the High Court pursuant to which the trial court has to proceed on day-to-day basis may cause prejudice to the petitioners while facing trial.
We make it clear that let the Trial Court may proceed with the matter independently on its own merits in accordance with law without being influenced by the observations made by the High Court under the impugned judgment/order, if any. The adequate opportunity shall be provided to the petitioner to place their defence.
Pending application(s), if any, shall stand disposed of.”
7. Learned counsel for the applicant has submitted that the respondent nos.2 & 3 were not cooperating in the proceeding pending before learned trial Court, and discharge application filed by them was dismissed on 05.09.2022 and the matter was posted on 06.09.2022 for framing of charge against them. Further, as they did not appear on the date fixed then non bailable warrants were issued against them on 09.09.2022 which were canceled by learned trial Court vide order dated 14.09.2022 on their application and charges were framed against them on 14.09.2022. The statements of P.W.-1, namely, Vijay Kumar Mishra (maternal grandfather/nana of the applicant) were recorded from 19.09.2022 to 23.09.2022 by learned Special Judge, P.O.C.S.O. Act, Lucknow.
It has further been submitted that due to some incident, the applicant found it difficult to get justice from earlier Court, then she filed transfer application before District and Sessions Judge, Lucknow, which was registered as Crl. Misc. Case No. 934 of 2022 with request to transfer the case to any other Court having competent jurisdiction, but the said application was rejected on 06.10.2022.
8. The order dated 06.10.2022 passed by District and Sessions Judge, Lucknow in Crl. Misc. Case No. 934 of 2022 is as under:-
“1. पत्रावली आज आदेश हेतु नियत है।
2. विशेष न्यायाधीश (पॉक्सो ऐक्ट), लखनऊ के न्यायालय में लम्बित सत्र परीक्षण सं०: 2126/2021 (मु०अ०सं०: 205/2021 अन्तर्गत भा०दं०सं० की धारा 376, 323 व लैंगिक अपराधों से बालकों को संरक्षण अधिनियम 2012 (जिसे एतद्पश्चात् पॉक्सो ऐक्ट कहा जायेगा) की धारा 5/6, थाना अलीगंज, जिला लखनऊ) राज्य बनाम राजेश दत्त बाजपेयी के प्रकरण को उक्त न्यायालय से किसी अन्य न्यायालय में अन्तरित कराने हेतु संदर्भित प्रकरण की पीड़िता की ओर से उसकी नानी द्वारा यह स्थानान्तरण आवेदन पत्र प्रस्तुत किया गया है।
स्थानान्तरण आवेदन पत्र में मुख्य आधार यह लिया गया है कि विशेष न्यायाधीश द्वारा दिनांक 10.12.2021 को प्रकरण का प्रसंज्ञान लिये जाने के बाद भी अभियुक्त के विरूद्ध मात्र समन ही जारी किये गये तथा अभियुक्त के अन्ततः दिनांक 17.08.2022 को उपस्थित होने पर उसे उसी दिन जमानत पर रिहा कर दिया गया। जमानत आवेदन पत्र की कोई सूचना आवेदिका को नहीं दी गयी। यह भी कहा गया है कि पॉक्सो ऐक्ट में विहित प्रावधानों के अधीन पीड़िता का बयान एक महीने के भीतर हो जाना चाहिए, लेकिन निर्धारित उक्त सीमावधि में पीड़िता का बयान अंकित नहीं किया गया। पॉक्सो ऐक्ट के अधीन यथासंभव विचारण एक वर्ष के भीतर पूर्ण हो जाना चाहिए, लेकिन निर्धारित समयावधि के भीतर उसका विचारण भी पूरा नहीं किया गया गया। अन्ततः, यह कहा गया है कि उपरोक्त परिस्थितियों में न्यायहित में प्रकरण के निष्पक्ष विचारण हेतु सत्र परीक्षण किसी अन्य न्यायालय में अन्तरित किया जाए।
3. स्थानान्तरण आवेदन पत्र के संदर्भ में संदर्भित विशेष न्यायाधीश की आख्या आहूत की गयी। संदर्भित विशेष न्यायाधीश द्वारा अपनी आख्या में यह स्पष्ट किया गया है कि प्रकरण के अभियुक्तगण की गिरफ्तारी पर दौरान विवेचना रोक लगायी गयी थी और अभियुक्तगण को जमानत माननीय उच्च न्यायालय द्वारा दण्ड प्रक्रिया संहिता की धारा 482 के अधीन प्रार्थना पत्र सं०: 208/2022 में पारित आदेश दिनांकित 10.08.2022 द्वारा प्रदान की गयी थी, जिसमें यह निर्देशित किया गया था कि अगर अभियुक्तगण दिनांक 18.08.2022 तक न्यायालय में आत्म समर्पण करते हैं, तो उन्हें उसी दिन जमानत पर रिहा किया जाए। यह कहा गया है कि माननीय उच्च न्यायालय के आदेशों के क्रम में ही दिनांक 17.08.2022 को अभियुक्तगण के प्रतिभूगण की धनराशि सुनिश्चित किये जाते समय अभियुक्तगण को जमानत पर रिहा किया गया यह भी कथन किया गया कि अभियुक्तगण की जमानतें माननीय उच्च न्यायालय के आदेश के क्रम में की गयी थीं। विशेष न्यायाधीश ने अपनी आख्या में यह भी स्पष्ट किया है कि माननीय उच्च न्यायालय द्वारा प्रकरण की शीघ्र सुनवायी के आदेश किये जाने पर प्रकरण में न्यायालय द्वारा सम्यक प्रयास किया जा रहा है और अन्ततः यह कहा गया है कि यदि प्रकरण किसी अन्य न्यायालय में अन्तरित किया जाता है,तो उन्हें कोई आपत्ति नहीं है।
4. प्रस्तुत स्थानान्तरण आवेदन पत्र पर तर्क प्रस्तुत करने हेतु पूर्व नियत तिथि में आवेदिका की ओर से कोई उपस्थित नहीं हुआ। सदैव विपक्षी की ओर से जिला शासकीय अधिवक्ता, फौजदारी को सुना। मैने पत्रावली का सम्यक अवलोकन किया।
5. पीठासीन अधिकारी की आख्या व पत्रावली पर आवेदिका की ओर से ही उपलब्ध करायी गयी दण्ड प्रक्रिया संहिता की धारा 482 के अधीन केस नं०:208/2022 के अवलोकन से प्रकट होता है कि माननीय उच्च न्यायालय द्वारा अन्ततः यह आदेश पारित किया गया कि “…….. this Court is of the opinion that if the applicants surrender and furnish personal bonds and two sureties each in the like amount to the satisfaction of the Court concerned by 18.08.2022, they shall be released on bail on the very same day. After the applicants are admitted to bail, they may move application for discharge, and the learned trial Court will consider the same in accordance with law expeditiously……”
वस्तुतः उपरोक्त पीठासीन अधिकारी द्वारा अपनी आख्या में स्पष्ट किया गया है कि उपरोक्त आदेश के क्रम में ही प्रतिभू की धनराशि उनके द्वारा सुनिश्चित की गयी। पत्रावली पर माननीय उच्च न्यायालय का पत्रांक सं०: 8545/ एडमिन (ई-2) सेक्शन/ इलाहाबाद दिनांकित 15.07.2022 भी आवेदिका द्वारा उपलब्ध कराया गया है, जिसमें माननीय उच्च न्यायालय के द्वारा पारित आदेश का संदर्भ लिया गया ह, जिसमें यह उल्लिखित किया गया है कि “….. The Ld. District & Sessions Judge Lucknow be directed to impress upon the concerned Presiding Officer to conduct day to day hearing of the trial of Case Crime No. 205 of 2021, Criminal Case No. 170 of 2021, Sessions trial No. 2126 of 2021 u/s 376, 323, 109 IPC and Sections 5, 6, 16 of the POCSO Act and decide the case expeditiously in the light of directions issued by Hon’ble Court vide letter No. 11904/ Admin E-2 Section/ Allahabad/ dated 27.09.2021 and letter No. 9162/ Admin E-2 Section/ Allahabad / dated 15.10.2020…”
उपरोक्त समस्त तथ्यों के आलोक में स्थानान्तरण आवेदन पत्र में प्रस्तुत आधार पर्याप्त नहीं है। स्थानान्तरण आवेदन पत्र तदैव निरस्त होने योग्य है।
आदेश
स्थानान्तरण आवेदन पत्र निरस्त किया जाता है। सम्बन्धित पीठासीन अधिकारी से अपेक्षित है कि माननीय उच्च न्यायालय द्वारा पारित आदेश व विहित विधि एवं नियमों के अधीन प्रकरण का यथाशीघ्र निस्तारण करना सुनिश्चित करें।”
9. Learned counsel for the applicant has submitted that that deposition of the applicant was recorded before learned trial Court as P.W.-2 on 30.09.2022 and she was cross-examined on 01.10.2022, 06.10.2022, 07.10.2022 and 3.11.2022.
It has further been submitted that thereafter, earlier Presiding Officer was transferred in the first week of December, 2022 and then remaining cross-examination of the victim was conducted on 05.01.2023 and 12.01.2023. Further, statements of other witnesses i.e. P.W.-3 (Smt. Siddheshwari Mishra/nani), P.W.-4 (Ms. Renu, Police Constable), P.W.-5 (Investigating Officer, namely, Smt. Sakeena Khan) were also recorded on 17.10.2023. However, respondent nos.2 & 3 were regularly creating hindrance in the trial by filing frivolous applications.
It has next been submitted that as per the provisions of Section 35 of P.O.C.S.O. Act, the trial is to be concluded within a period of one year from the date of taking cognizance, but more than two and a half years have already been passed. The respondent nos.2 & 3 were pressurising the applicant to withdraw the prosecution of the case in question, but as she refused for the same, respondent no.3 lodged an F.I.R. bearing Case Crime No. 401 of 2023 u/s 193, 419, 420, 467, 468, 471, 120-B I.P.C. on 01.07.2023 at Police Station- Gomti Nagar, District- Lucknow against the applicant, her maternal grandfather/nana, her maternal grandmother/nani and her aunt/mausi.
10. Relevant portion of the F.I.R. No. 401 of 2023 (supra) is as under:-
“नकल तहरीर हिन्दी वादी टाइपशुदा.. सेवा में, श्रीमान पुलिस उप आयुक्त (पूर्वी) पुलिस कमिशनरेट लखनऊ। महोदय, निवेदन है कि मैं राजेश दत्त बाजपेई पुत्र स्व रावेन्द्र दत्त बाजपेई नि0 TV-16, रेल्वे आफिसर्स एनक्लेव, सैन मार्टिन मार्ग, चाणक्यपुरी, नई दिल्ली का हूँ। मेरी अवयस्क पुत्री दीर्घाक्षी दत्त बाजपेई उर्फ शर्वांगी बाजपेई जिसकी उम्र लगभग 16 वर्ष है। मेरी उपरोक्त पुत्री ने अपनी माँ यानि मेरी पत्नी मालिनी दत्त बाजपेई एवं अपने भाई यानि कि मेरे पुत्र शर्व दत्त बाजपेई की दिनांक 29.08.2020 को हत्या कर दी थी जिसकी FIR उसी दिन मैंने थाना गौतमपल्ली में लिखाई थी जो कि मुकदमा अपराध संख्या 61/2020 है एवं वर्तमान में, उपरोक्त मुकदमा माननीय न्यायालय में विचाराधीन है। इस मुकदमे में मेरी बेटी इकलौती अभियुक्त है और पुलिस ने इस मुकदमे में उसके खिलाफ आरोप पत्र न्यायालय में दाखिल कर दिया है। मेरी बेटी मुकदमे में गिरफ्तार हुई थी एवं माननीय न्यायालय से उसकी जमानत में मैंने पैरोकारी की और मैंने ही उसकी जमानत पर शपथ पत्र दिया एवं माननीय न्यायालय ने कुछ शर्तों के साथ एवं कुछ निर्देशों के साथ मेरी कस्टडी में मेरी पुत्री को रिहा किया था। मेरी बेटी के रिहा होने के पश्चात मेरी बेटी के नाना विजय कुमार मिश्रा एवं नानी सिद्धेश्वरी मिश्रा (निवासी गण 105, एल्डिको ग्रीन्स, फन माल के समीप, गोमती नगर, लखनऊ एवं 2/7, त्रिवेणी नगर, लखनऊ मोबाइल न0 9457623272 एवं 7985044040) जरूरत से ज्यादा मेरी बेटी से नजदीकी बढ़ाने लगे और उसको मेरे खिलाफ बरगलाने लगे। इन लोगों ने मेरे ऊपर काफी दबाव बनाया कि बेटी का पासपोर्ट नए नाम से बन जाए लेकिन मेरे मना करने पर कि अभी इसके ऊपर हत्या का मुकदमा है इसलिए पासपोर्ट नहीं बन सकता जिस पर ये लोग प्रार्थी से काफी नाराज भी हुए। उसके पश्चात वे लोग कुछ समय के लिए मेरी बेटी को अपने पास रखने के लिए दिल्ली से त्रिवेणी नगर, लखनऊ स्थित घर ले गए जहाँ उनकी बड़ी बेटी यानि मेरी पुत्री की मौसी शालिनी दीक्षित जो कि अमेरिका में रहती है पर अक्सर इंडिया आती जाती रहती है वह भी आकर मेरी बेटी को मेरे सास-ससुर के साथ मिलकर मेरे खिलाफ बरगलाने लगी और उसको बहला फुसला कर मेरे ऊपर गलत और झूठे आरोप लगवा कर उसको अपने साथ रख लिया। मेरी बेटी का आधार कार्ड नंबर 494309075664 है जो कि दिल्ली के पते का है जिसमे मेरा मो0न0 9564660000 दर्ज है और मेरी बेटी का पासपोर्ट जिसका नंबर S5429712 है जो कि मेरे पास सुरक्षित है। अभी कुछ दिन पहले मुझे पता चला कि मेरी बेटी के नाना विजय कुमार मिश्रा, नानी सिद्देश्वरी मिश्रा एवं मेरी बेटी की मौसी शालिनी दीक्षित ने मिलकर कुछ कूट रचित दस्तावेज तैयार कराये फिर उन्होंने मेरी बेटी के आधार कार्ड के पुराने पते और मोबाइल नम्बर को बदल कर डुप्लीकेट आधार कार्ड बनवाया तथा उस आधार कार्ड के चलते उन्होंने पासपोर्ट आफिस लखनऊ पर एक नया पासपोर्ट अप्लाई किया और उस पासपोर्ट में उन्होंने बेटी द्वारा किए गए दोहरे हत्याकांड की जानकारी को जानबूझकर छुपाया तथा गलत और झूठे कागज लगाकर के मेरी बेटी का एक नया पासपोर्ट बनवा लिया है जिसका नंबर W 0163344 है। यह नया पासपोर्ट इसलिए हासिल किया गया कि किसी तरह मेरी बेटी इस पासपोर्ट के जरिए भारत से भाग जाए और उसके ऊपर जो मुकदमा अपनी मां और भाई की हत्या का चल रहा है उसका वह सामना ना करे और सजा से बच जाए। इस पूरे प्रकरण में मेरी बेटी के नाना विजय कुमार मिश्रा, उनकी पत्नी सिद्धेश्वरी मिश्रा और मेरी बेटी की मौसी शालिनी दीक्षित पूरी तरह से शामिल है इन्हीं तीनों ने झूठे, गलत और कूट रचित दस्तावेज तैयार करके मेरी बेटी का नया फर्जी आधार कार्ड बनवाया एवं पहला वैध पासपोर्ट उपलब्ध होने के बावजूद भी उसको छुपाते हुए पासपोर्ट आवेदन फार्म मे गलत तथा झूठे तथ्य लिख करके नया पासपोर्ट हासिल किया। उस पासपोर्ट आवेदन पत्र में मेरी बेटी के ऊपर अपनी मां और भाई की हत्या का जो मुकदमा चल रहा है इसके बारे में जानकारी पूर्णतः छुपाई गई और किसी तरह पुलिस वेरिफिकेशन को बचाते हुए नया पासपोर्ट बनवा लिया गया है। अतः श्रीमान जी से प्रार्थना है कि सिद्देश्वरी मिश्रा, शालिनी दीक्षित एवं विजय कुमार मिश्रा को झूठे एवं गलत तथ्य के आधार पर कूट रचित दस्तावेज तैयार करने एवं पासपोर्ट फार्म में दोहरे हत्याकांड की जानकारी छुपाने के जुर्म में सुसंगत धाराओं में मुकदमा दर्ज कर उपरोक्त के विरुद्ध विधिसंगत त्वरित कार्यवाही करने का कष्ट करें ताकि दीर्घाक्षी दत्त बाजपेई उर्फ शर्वांगी बाजपेई विदेश पलायन कर दोहरे हत्याकांड के प्रकरण की कार्यवाही से बच न सके । महान कृपा होगी। दिनांक 19.05-2023 प्रार्थी ह० अपठनीय राजेश दत्त बाजपेई पुत्र स्व. रावेन्द्र दत्त बाजपेई नि0- TV-16, रेल्वे आफिसर्स एनक्लेव, सैन मार्टिन मार्ग, चाणक्यपुरी, नई दिल्ली मो०-9717641277 | CA/DCP(E)/23- 374/ सीधे प्राप्त । (266/23) DCPE, SHO गोमतीनगर कृ० परिक्षण कर आवश्यक विधिक प्रक्रिया अनुसार कार्यवाही सुनिश्चित करे । ह0 DCP E 19/05/23, SI श्री मन्दीप सिंह कृ जांच कर आ० प्रेषित करें, Sd SHO 20/5/23 । नोट : म0का0 866 मनीषा भारती थाना गोमतीनगर लखनऊ दिनांक 01.07.2023 |”
11. Further, learned counsel for the applicant has submitted that the applicant preferred a petition i.e. Matters under Article 227 No. 5402 of 2023, which was disposed of on 19.10.2023 with direction to learned trial Court to conclude the trial of the case in question within a period of one year from the date of certified copy of the order.
12. The order dated 19.10.2023 passed by this Court in Petition under Article 227 No. 5402 of 2023 is as under:-
“1. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri Rajiv Kumar Verma, learned A.G.A for the State.
2. Present petition has been filed with the following prayer:
“To direct the Court of Ld. Special Judge, POCSO Act, Lucknow to expeditiously decide the proceedings of Special Trial No. 2126/2021 pending before the Court of Special Judge, POCSO Act, Lucknow pertaining to Case Crime No. 205 of 2021, under Sections-376, 323, 109 I.P.C. and Section 5, 6 and 16 of the POCSO Act, P.S.-Aliganj, District Lucknow.”
3. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, this petition is disposed of with a direction to Special Judge, POCSO Act, Lucknow to decide the aforesaid case in accordance with law, maximum within a period of one year, from the date of production of a certified copy of this order and after providing opportunity of hearing to all concerned without granting any unnecessary adjournment to either of the parties. In case of adjournment, Court shall record reason for the same and also impose cost.”
13. Learned counsel for the applicant has submitted that P.W.-6 (Hari Prakash Srivastava) was examined on 16.11.2023 and trial of the case in question was listed on 05.12.2023 for recording statement of accused u/s 313 Cr.P.C. In that regard, the accused persons appeared on the date fixed, but their statements u/s 313 Cr.P.C. were not recorded by the Court. Later on, their statements were recorded on 11.12.2023 and the case was listed for defense evidence.
It has further been submitted that respondent no.3 is an influential person who has been released on personal bond in such a heinous offense of P.O.C.S.O. Act. During the course of recording the statement of accused persons u/s 313 Cr.P.C., it appears in the mind of applicant that fair trial would not be secured in the Court of learned Special Judge, P.O.C.S.O. Act, Lucknow. The respondent nos.2 & 3 were regularly trying to affect the proceeding of trial by moving frivolous and false applications before learned trial Court. In the same sequences, respondent no.3 moved an application to summon several government officers and defense witness on 09.01.2024 with the intention to delay the proceeding of trial. The said application was partly allowed by learned trial Court vide order dated 09.01.2024 after recording the statement of defense witness. The respondent no.3 filed voluminous documents before learned trial Court, which have no relevancy with the instant case and he was trying to compel learned trial Court to exhibit the said documents without any legal authority on 25.04.2024, which is still pending and the trial of the instant case could not be decided even after lapse of about 3 years.
14. It has next been submitted by learned counsel for the applicant that in the meantime, learned Special Judge, P.O.C.S.O. Act has requested to learned District and Sessions Judge, Lucknow to transfer 150 cases to different learned Special Judge, P.O.C.S.O. Courts. In this connection, a list was given by learned Special Judge, P.O.C.S.O. Act to Sessions Judge. The case in question was at serial no.99, and by way of administrative order, learned Sessions Judge ordered for transferring the case, hence, the case in question was transferred to learned Special Judge, P.O.C.S.O. Act, Court No.2, Lucknow.
It has also been submitted that respondent nos.2 & 3 filed a transfer application u/s 408 Cr.P.C. before the Court of learned Sessions Judge, Lucknow, which was registered as Crl. Misc. Case No. 637 of 2024 (Pinki Tiwari and Anr. Vs. State of U.P. and Ors.) seeking transfer of S.T. No. 2126 of 2021 arising out of Case Crime No. 205 of 2021 u/s 376, 323, 109 I.P.C. and 5/6/16 of P.O.C.S.O. Act, Police Station- Aliganj, District- Lucknow (State Vs. Rajesh Dutt Bajpai and Anr.) from the Court of learned Special Judge, P.O.C.S.O. Act, Court No.2, Lucknow to Special Judge, P.O.C.S.O. Act, Lucknow on 29.05.2024. Further, the applicant filed her objection in that transfer application, but the said application was allowed by learned Sessions Judge, Lucknow without considering the objections of the applicant as also learned Sessions Judge committed error in sending back the trial to learned Special Judge, P.O.C.S.O. Court.
Learned counsel for the applicant has placed reliance on the decision of the Kerala High Court in the case of T.S. Surendra Kumar Vs. K. Vijayan & Anr. reported in 2005 SCC OnLine Kerala 476 and on the decision of the Madhya Pradesh High Court in the case of Radhey Shyam vs. State of U.P. reported in 1984 (10) ALR 418, and has requested for indulgence of this Court.
15. Learned counsel for the complainant as well as learned A.G.A. has vehemently opposed the prayer of the applicant and has submitted that there is no illegality in the order passed by learned trial Court. They have jointly submitted that it is admitted case of the applicant that the trial of the case in question was going on, but no application was ever moved for transfer of the case from the Court of learned Special Judge, P.O.C.S.O. Act to any other Court. Being a main Court of the charge-sheet under the provisions of P.O.C.S.O. Act, the charge-sheets under P.O.C.S.O. Act were being regularly filed in the said Court and as it was overburdened, a request was made as a matter of routine to learned Sessions Judge for transfer of 150 cases to learned Special Judge, P.O.C.S.O. Act, Court No.1, learned Special Judge, P.O.C.S.O. Act, Court No.2 and learned Special Judge, P.O.C.S.O. Act, Court No.3. In the said list, the instant case was at serial no. 99, and thereafter, by way of administrative order dated 17.05.2024, learned District and Sessions Judge, Lucknow ordered for transfer of 150 cases and the instant case was transferred to learned Special Judge, P.O.C.S.O. Act, Court No.2.
16. The order dated 17.05.2024 passed by learned District and Sessions Judge, Lucknow is as under:-
“अवलोकित।
पीठासीन अधिकारी, न्यायालय विशेष न्यायाधीश पॉक्सो एक्ट, लखनऊ द्वारा प्रेषित पत्र दिनांक-16.05.2024 के साथ संलग्न सूची में वर्णित सत्र परीक्षण क्रम सं०-1 लगायत क्रम सं०-150 तक की पत्रावलियां न्यायलय विशेष न्यायाधीश पॉक्सो एक्ट लखनऊ से विधिनुसार सुनवाई एवं निस्तारण हेतु क्रमश:-
क्रम सं०-1 लगायत क्रम सं०-50 तक की पत्रावलियां न्यायालय अपर जिला एवं सत्र न्यायाधीश /पॉक्सो एक्ट, कोर्ट नं०-1, लखनऊ में अंतरित की जाती हैं।
क्रम सं०-51 लगायत क्रम सं०-100 तक की पत्रावलियां न्यायालय अपर जिला एवं सत्र न्यायाधीश /पॉक्सो एक्ट, कोर्ट नं०-2, लखनऊ में अंतरित की जाती हैं।
क्रम सं०-101 लगायत क्रम सं०-150 तक की पत्रावलियां न्यायालय अपर जिला एवं सत्र न्यायाधीश /पॉक्सो एक्ट, कोर्ट नं०-3, लखनऊ में अंतरित की जाती हैं।”
17. Learned counsel for the complainant has next submitted that the transfer application was filed by the applicant merely on the basis of presumption and suspicion. He has also submitted that judgment relied by learned counsel for the applicant are wrongly interpreted and also submitted that the Section 409(2) Cr.P.C. clearly provides that part-heard trial should not be withdrawn and transferred.
Relying on the decisions of this Court passed in the case of Punjab Singh and others Vs. State of U.P. reported in 1982 SCC OnLine All 993 and Radhey Shyam and Anr. Vs. State of U.P. reported in 1984 SCC OnLine All 365, and on the decision of the Chhattisgarh High Court in the case of Toman Lal Yadav Vs. State of Chhattisgarh and Ors. reported in Transfer Petition (Crl.) No. 35 of 2022, learned counsel for the complainant has submitted that ground for transfer of trial should be reasonable not imaginary as only based on conjecture and surmises.
Further, relying on the decisions of Hon’ble Apex Court passed in the cases of Usman Gani Adambhai Vahora Vs. State of Gujarat and Anr. reported in (2016) 3 SCC 370, Gurcharan Dass Chadha Vs. State of Rajasthan reported in 1965 SCC OnLine SC 341, learned counsel for the complainant has also submitted that in a case of criminal trial, the case should be decided by a Judge who has heard the whole of it.
Next, relying on the provisions of Section 326 Cr.P.C., learned counsel for the complainant has vehemently submitted that the present application is misconceived and is liable to be dismissed.
18. Considering the submissions of learned counsel for the parties and going through the contents of the application as well as other relevant documents, it is admitted case of the applicant in the entire application that trial of the case in question is going on for recording the statement of defense witnesses. It is evident that certain witnesses have already been examined and certain documents were filed on 25.04.2024. Admittedly, four Special Courts of P.O.C.S.O. Act are functioning in Lucknow Judgeship. The case in question was being tried before Special Judge, P.O.C.S.O. Court, which is main court as well as registering court of charge-sheet in P.O.C.S.O. Act cases. After being overburdened, a request was made by learned Special Judge, P.O.C.S.O. Act to learned Sessions Judge vide its letter dated 16.05.2024 for transferring 150 cases related to P.O.C.S.O. Act to Special Judge, P.O.C.S.O. Act, Court No.1, Special Judge, P.O.C.S.O. Act, Court No.2 and Special Judge, P.O.C.S.O. Act, Court No.3 respectively. Thereafter, considering the request of the Special Judge, P.O.C.S.O. Act, an administrative order dated 17.05.2024 was passed by learned Sessions Judge, Lucknow and transferred the cases serially. The instant case was transferred to Special Judge, P.O.C.S.O. Act, Court No.2 and then this fact was apprised to the Sessions Court by the private respondent by moving transfer application that almost the trial of the case is concluded and the case is being listed for recording the defense evidence, thereafter, it was wrongly transferred by way of administrative order and requested for sending back. Moreover, after considering the objections of the applicant, the transfer application was allowed and the trial of case in question was sent back to the Special Judge, P.O.C.S.O. Act. This petition/application is filed merely on the basis of conjecture and surmises. It is also evident from the record that the trial is at the last stage and most of the evidence has been recorded by the Special Judge, P.O.C.S.O. Act. Therefore, the Sessions Judge, Lucknow has rightly sent back the trial, which was transferred to Special Judge, P.O.C.S.O. Act, Court No.2, Lucknow by way of passing administrative order dated 17.05.2024.
19. In view of above, the present application is misconceived and the same stands dismissed.
Order Date :- January 16, 2025
Arpan