CRLP/10145/2021 of Tanneru Guna Prasad and 3 others Vs The State of Telangana and another on 31 December 2021

ORDER:

This Criminal Petition, under Section 482 of the Code ofCriminal Procedure, L973 [(for ]short, ['Cr.P.C.'), ][is ][filed ][by ][the]petitioners/A.1 to A.4 seeking to quash the proceedings againstthem in c.c.No.7597 0f 2019 0n the file of learned [XIII]Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Hyderabad, whereincognizance was taken for the offences [punishable ]under [Sections]498-4 and 406 of I.P.C. and Sections 4 and 6 of the DowryProhibition Act.

2. Heard the learned counsel for the [petitioners/4,1 ]to A.4,the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor representing therespondent No.l/State and perused the record.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioners/A.7 lo A.4 wouldsubmit that there are no sufficient [grounds ]or allegations toconstitute the offences alleged against the petitioners/A.1 to A.4.The Court below erroneously took cognizance against thepetitioners/A.1 to A.4 for the offences under Sections 498-A and406 of I.P.C. and Sections 4 and 6 of the Dowry Prohibition Actand therefore, continuation of [proceedings ]against thepetitioners/A.1 to A.4 is abuse of process of law, unsustainableand ultimately, prayed to allow the petition, as [prayed ]for.

4. On the other hand, learned Assistant Public ProsecutorQpposed [the ][relief ][sought by ][the ][petitioners ][and contended ][that]

the allegations made against the [petitioners/A.1 ][to ][A.4]constitute the offence under [Section 498-A ][of ][I.P.C ][and ][it ][is ][not]a fit case to [quash ]the [proceedings ][against ][them and ][ultimately,]prayed to dismiss the criminal [petition']

5. As seen from the Remand [Case ][diary, there ][are allegations]of the petitioners/A.1 to A.4 [harassing ][the ][respondent ][No'z/de]Facto complainant [physically ]and [mentally ][besides ][demanding]additional dowry. [Therefore, continuation ][of ][proceedings ][against]the [petitioners/A.1 ]to A.4 cannot [be held as abuse ][of ][process ][of]law.

6. In the course of submissions, [it ][is ][brought ][to the ][notice ][of]this Court by both sides that [charges ][are not ][yet ][framed by ][the]trial Court in the subject [C.C.]

7. It is [pertinent ]to state [that ][since ][charges ][are not ][yet]framed by the trial Court in the [subject ][C.C. ][and ][a ][hearing ][is]contemplated before charges [are framed, ][the ][petitioners/A'1 ][to]A.4 are entitled to raise all [the ][grounds ][that ][are ][proposed ][to ][be]raised herein, before the trial Court' [According ][to ][Sections ][239]and 240 Cr.P.C., if the [Magistrate, upon considering ][the ][police]report and the documents sent [with ][it ][under Section 173 ][and]making such examination, if [any, ][of ][the ][accused ][as he ][thinks]necessary and after [giving ]the [prosecution ][and ][the ][accused ][an]opportunity of being [heard, ][considers ][the ][charge against ][the]accused to be [groundless, ][he shall ][discharge ][the ][accused, ][and]

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record his reasons [for ][so ][doing. ][Conversely, ][if ][the ][Magistrate]finds that there [is ][a ][ground ][for ][presuming ][that ][the.accused ][has]committed the [offence ][triable ][by ][him, ][shall ][frame ][charge ][in]writing against [the accused. ][Therefore, ][the ][petitioners/A ][1 ][to]A.4 can file a [comprehensive application ][under ][Section ][239]Cr.P.C. before [the ][trial ][Court ][raising ][the ][grounds ][to ][terminate]the [proceedings, ][if they ][choose ][to do ][so' ][If ][there ][are ][no grounds]to frame charges, [the ][petitioners/A' ][1 ][to ][A'4 ][are entitled ][for]in [accordance ][with ][law' ][It ][is ][for ][the ][trial ][Court ][to]discharge, record a finding [to that ][effect. ][The ][Hon'ble Apex ][Court ][has time]and again deprecated [the ][practice ][of ][invoking ][the ][inherent]jurisdiction by the High Court [under ][Section ][482 ][Cr'P ][C'' ][when]an effective [and ][efficacious ][remedy ][is ][available ][to ][the ][accused]before the trial [Court. ][The power under ][Section ][482 ][Cr'P'C ][is]required to bi exercised [with ][abundant caution and ][care' ][In ][the]given circumstances of the [case, ][when ][an ][effective ][and]efficacious remedy [is ][available ][to ][the ][petitioners/A' ][1 to ][A 4]under a [particular ][provision ][of ][law, ][it ][is ][not ][appropriate to]exercise the [inherent ][jurisdiction ][of ][this ][Court under Section ][482]Cr.P.C. In the [event of ][petitioners/A' ][1 ][to A'4 filing ][an application]before the trial [Court, ][the ][trial ][Court ][shall ][dispose ][of the ][same']on [merits, ][in ][accordance ][with ][law' ][It ][is ][made]independently, clear that no opinion [is ][expressed ][with ][regard ][to ][merits ][or]demerits of the [case.]

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8. With the above observations, [this ][Criminal Petition ][is]dismissed.Miscellaneous Petitions, if any, [pending ][in ][this ][Criminal]Petition shall stand closed.Sd/-K.ONESIMASSISTANT REGISTRAR//IRUE COPY//t:tr)SECTION OFFICERTo1. The Xllt Additional Chiel [Metropolitan ][l\4agisttate, at Nampally, Hyderabad.]2. The Station House Officer, [WPS, CCS, ][DD, Hyderabad.]3. One CC to Sri S.Bhaskaran, [Advocate ][(OPUC)]4. One CC to Sri S.Someswar [Rao, Advocate ][(OPUC)]S. iwo CCs to [puUlic ][Prosecutor, ][High Court for the State ][of ][Telangana, ][Hyderabad](our)6. Two CD Copies7. One Spare CopyKl,t,r'n L

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,)HIGH COURTDATED:311'|.212021

1\4[E ][5lr{rc]oA.qJoi?s[Juil 2022 ]i'_)* DssgalORDERCRLP.No.10145 of 2021

DISMISSING THE CRL.P.@