Pooja Rana vs State Of Haryana And Ors
- SCC(2012) 9 SCC 327
- Neutral2012 INSC 353
- SCR[2012] 7 SCR 905
Ratio decidendi
The rule this decision rests on
A writ petition for quashing an FIR will not be entertained where the impugned FIR itself has not been placed on record, as it is impossible to ascertain the reasons for the authority's action without the document itself. A writ petition seeking protection or relief for a person will not be entertained where that person is not impleaded as a party to the petition, either as petitioner or respondent. A writ petition will not be entertained where the necessary parties — including those against whom relief is sought — have not been impleaded, and the petitioner has made no attempt to obtain the document sought to be quashed or to lodge a counter-complaint through proper channels.
Written by Miss Lucy from the judgment below, not taken from a headnote.
Judgment
As delivered
Pooja Rana … Petitioner
Versus
State of Haryana & Ors. … Respondents
O R D E R
1. This petition has been filed for quashing the First Information Report No. 609 of 2012 under Sections 363, 366, 328 and 504 of Indian Penal Code, 1860 (hereinafter called ‘IPC’) registered at Police Station Hissar, (City) Haryana and for further direction to the State Authorities to register the criminal case against the petitioner’s father, mother and maternal uncle.
2. The writ petition has been filed alleging that the petitioner was born on 2.9.1993, thus she was major and has a right to choose a person with whom she wants to settle in her life. Petitioner married one Sachin Kumar Rana, resident of Sambhal, Moradabad, (U.P.) of her free will. However, her parents and maternal uncle had registered a criminal case against her husband and they are harassing him. Thus, the petition has been filed for the aforesaid reliefs.
3. The matter was heard at length on 24.8.2012 and Mr. Gaurav Kumar Bansal, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner was asked to explain as under what circumstances such a writ petition can be entertained as it suffers from following basic defects:
(i) The FIR sought to be quashed has not been placed on record.
(ii) The person who is to be granted protection i.e. Shri Sachin Kumar Rana is not a party as either petitioner or the respondent.
(iii) The complainant-persons who are harassing the petitioner’s husband Sachin Kumar Rana, namely Ashok Bansal-father, Sunita Bansal-
mother and Subhash Gupta-maternal uncle are not the parties before us.
4. As learned counsel for the petitioner was not able to provide proper assistance, we adjourned the case for today and also requested the learned Advocate-on-record who has signed the petition to remain present in the court so that he can explain as to whether such a petition is maintainable or ought to have been filed.
5. In Surinder Singh v. Central Government & Ors., AIR 1986 SC 2166, this Court dealt with an issue for quashing of order which had not been made part of the record and observed as under:
“…..In the absence of the impugned order it would not be possible to ascertain the reasons which may have impelled the authority to pass the order. It is therefore improper to quash an order which is not produced before the High Court in a proceeding under Art. 226 of the Constitution. The order of the High Court could be set aside for this reason…”
6. It is not the case of the petitioner that she had made any attempt to get the copy of the FIR and it was not made available to her. Nor there is any statement in her petition that she tried to lodge the FIR against her parents and uncle but it was not accepted. Learned counsel for the petitioner failed to explain as why the necessary parties, i.e. the complainants as well as the person for whom the protection is sought have not been impleaded.
7. While dealing with a similar situation, this Court in Re:
Sanjiv Datta, (1995) 3 SCC 619, held as under:
“…..Some members of the profession have been adopting perceptibly casual approach to the practice of the profession as is evident from their absence when the matters are called out, the filing of incomplete and inaccurate pleadings — many times even illegible and without personal check and verification, the non-payment of court fees and process fees, the failure to remove office objections, the failure to take steps to serve the parties, et al. They do not realise the seriousness of these acts and omissions. They not only amount to the contempt of the court but do positive disservice to the litigants and create embarrassing situation in the court leading to avoidable unpleasantness and delay in the disposal of matters. This augurs ill for the health of our judicial system……The lawyers took their profession seriously and practised it with dignity, deference and devotion. If the profession is to survive, the judicial system has to be vitalised. No service will be too small in making the system efficient, effective and credible….” (Emphasis added)
8. In view of the above, we are of the opinion that such a petition does not deserve to be entertained. It is accordingly dismissed. However, in the facts and circumstances of the case, the petitioner, if so advised, may move the High Court for appropriate relief by filing appropriate petition.
……………………………J. (Dr. B.S. CHAUHAN)
…………………………...J. (JAGDISH SINGH KHEHAR) New Delhi, August 27, 2012
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