11/9/2016

Appealagainstorderofacquittal(Section378ofCrPc)

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Appeal against order of

acquittal (Section 378
of CrPc)
ArticlesharedbyApilKhanal
Legalprovisionsregardingappealagainstorderofacquittal
undersection378oftheCodeofCriminalProcedure,1973.
Section378oftheCodeofCriminalProcedurecontainsthe
followingprovisionsrelatingappealincaseofacquittal:
(1)Saveasotherwiseprovidedinsubsection(2),andsubject
totheprovisionsofsubsections(3)and(5)

ImageSource:emsaac.org

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Appealagainstorderofacquittal(Section378ofCrPc)

(a)TheDistrictMagistratemay,inanycase,directthePublic
ProsecutortopresentanappealtotheCourtofSessionfrom
anorderofacquittalpassedbyaMagistrateinrespectofa
cognizableandnonbailableoffence
(b)TheStateGovernmentmay,inanycase,directthePublic
ProsecutortopresentanappealtotheHighCourtnotbeingan
orderunderclause(a)fromanoriginalorappellateorderof
acquittalpassedbyanyCourtotherthanaHighCourt,oran
orderofacquittalpassedbytheCourtofSessioninrevision.
(2)Ifsuchanorderofacquittalispassedinanycaseinwhich
theoffencehasbeeninvestigatedbytheDelhiSpecialPolice
EstablishmentconstitutedundertheDelhiSpecialPolice
EstablishmentAct,1946,orbyanyotheragencyempoweredto
makeinvestigationintoanoffenceunderanyCentralActother
thanthisCode,theCentralGovernmentmay,subjecttothe
provisionsofsubsection(3),alsodirectthePublicProsecutor
topresentanappeal:
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Appealagainstorderofacquittal(Section378ofCrPc)

(a)TotheCourtofSessionfromanorderofacquittalpassedby
aMagistrateinrespectofacognizableandnonbailable
offence
(b)TotheHighCourtfromanoriginalorappellateorderofan
acquittalpassedbyanyCourtotherthanaHighCourtnot
beinganorderunderclause(a)oranorderofacquittalpassed
bytheCourtofSessioninrevision.
(3)NoappealtotheHighCourtundersubsection(1)orsub
section
(2)ShallbeentertainedexceptwiththeleaveoftheHighCourt.
ADVERTISEMENTS:

(4)Ifsuchanorderofacquittalispassedinanycaseinstituted
uponcomplaintandtheHighCourt,onanapplicationmadeto
itbythecomplainantinthisbehalf,grantsspecialleaveto
appealfromtheorderofacquittal,thecomplainantmaypresent
suchanappealtotheHighCourt.
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Appealagainstorderofacquittal(Section378ofCrPc)

(5)Noapplicationundersubsection(4)forthegrantofspecial
leavetoappealfromanorderofacquittalshallbeentertained
bytheHighCourtaftertheexpiryofsixmonths,wherethe
complainantisapublicservant,andsixtydaysineveryother
case,computedfromthedateofthatorderofacquittal.
(6)If,inanycase,theapplicationofthecomplaintforgrantof
suchspecialleavetoappealfromanorderofacquittalis
refused,noappealfromtheorderofacquittalshalllieevenat
theinstanceofanyGovernmentwhatsoeverundersubsection
(1)orundersubsection(2)ofSection378oftheCode.
UnderArticles132,134and136oftheConstitutionofIndia,it
maybepossibletopresentanappealtotheSupremeCourt
againsttheorderofacquittalpassedbytheHighCourt.
Anappealfromanorderofacquittalmustbefiledwithinthe
periodoflimitationprescribedbyArticle114oftheScheduleof
theLimitationAct,1963.Fortheextensionoftheperiodof
limitation,andforexclusionoftimeincomputingtheperiodof
limitation,Sections5and12oftheLimitationAct,1963would
beuseful.
Appealagainstanorderofacquittalisanextraordinaryremedy.
InexercisingthispowertheHighCourtshouldgiveproper
weightandconsiderationto
(i)Theviewsofthetrialjudgeastothecredibilityofwitnesses
(ii)Presumptionofinnocenceinfavourofthepersonaccused
incriminalcasesandthatpresumptionisonlystrengthenedby
theacquittal
(iii)Rightoftheaccusedtothebenefitofreasonabledoubt
regardinganyguiltand
(iv)SlownessoftheappellateCourtindisturbingafindingof
factarrivedatbyajudgewhohadtheadvantageofseeingthe
witnesses.
TheHighCourthasgotfulljudiciousdiscretiontograntornot
tograntleavetoappealagainstacquittal.Therestrictionson
thepreferringofanappealagainstacquittaltotheHighCourt
areintendedtosafeguardtheinterestsoftheaccusedperson
andtosavehimfrompersonalvindictiveness.
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Appealagainstorderofacquittal(Section378ofCrPc)

TheSupremeCourtstatedasfollowsthegeneralprinciples
regardingpowerofappellateCourtwhiledealingwithappeal
againstanorderofacquittal:
(1)AnappellateCourthasfullpowertoreview,reappreciate
andreconsidertheevidenceuponwhichtheorderofacquittal
isfounded.
(2)CriminalProcedureCodeputsnolimitation,restrictionor
conditiononexerciseofsuchpowerandanappellatecourton
theevidencebeforeitmayreachitsownconclusion,bothon
questionsoffactandoflaw.
(3)Variousexpressions,suchassubstantialandcompelling
reasons,goodandsufficientgrounds,verystrong
circumstances,distortedconclusions,glaringmistake,etc.
arenotintendedtocurtailextensivepowersofanappellate
courtinanappealagainstacquittal.Suchphraseologiesare
moreinthenatureofflourishesoflanguagetoemphasizethe
reluctanceofanappellateCourttointerferewithacquittalthan
tocurtailthepoweroftheCourttoreviewtheevidenceandto
cometoitsownconclusion.
(4)AnappellateCourthowevermustbearinmindthatincase
ofacquittal,thereisdoublepresumptioninfavourofthe
accused.
Firstly,thepresumptionofinnocenceisavailabletohimunder
thefundamentalprincipleofcriminaljurisprudencethatevery
personshallbepresumedtobeinnocentunlessheisproved
guiltybyacompetentCourtoflaw.Secondly,theaccused
havingsecuredhisacquittal,thepresumptionofhisinnocence
isfartherreinforced,reaffirmedandstrengthenedbytrialCourt.
(5)Iftworeasonableconclusionsarepossibleonthebasisof
theevidenceonrecord,theappellatecourtshouldnotdisturb
thefindingofacquittalrecordedbythetrialcourt.
Inthecaseofappealagainstacquittal,ifonsameevidencetwo
viewsarepossible,theoneinfavourofaccusedmustbe
preferred.
LeavetoappealSummarilyrejectionofapplicationby
HighCourtnotproper:
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Appealagainstorderofacquittal(Section378ofCrPc)

TheHighCourtwasnotjustifiedinsummarilyrejectingthe
applicationforgrantofleave.Itwasadutytoindicatereasons
whenitrefusestograntleave.Anycasualorsummarydisposal
wouldnotbeproper.
Refusalofleavetoappealagainstacquittalbythenon
speakingorderimproper:
Section378oftheCodedealswiththepoweroftheHighCourt
tograntleaveincaseofacquittal.Subsections(1)and(3)of
Section378.ThetrialCourtwasrequiredtocarefullyappraise
theentireevidenceandthencometoaconclusion.Ifthetrial
CourtwasatlapseinthisregardtheHighCourtwasobligedto
undertakesuchanexercisebyentertainingtheappeal.
ThetrialCourtonthefactsofthiscasedidnotperformits
duties,aswasenjoinedonitbylaw.TheHighCourtoughtto
haveinsuchcircumstancesgrantedleaveandthereafterasa
firstCourtofappeal,reappreciatedtheentireevidenceonthe
recordindependentlyandreturneditsfindingsobjectivelyas
regardsguiltorotherwiseoftheaccused.
Ithadfailedtodoso.Onplainestconsiderationofjustice,the
HighCourtoughttohavesetforthitsreasons,howsoeverbrief
initsorder,indicativeofanapplicationofitsmindallthemore
whenitsorderisamenabletofurtheravenueofchallenge.The
absenceofreasonshasrenderedtheHighCourtordernot
sustainable.
Acquittalofaccusedpersonsgivingthembenefitofdoubts
proper:
Whereinamurdercaseprosecutioncasewasthataccused
personsincompanyofmainaccusedhadcometotheplaceof
incidentarmedwithsticksandassaulteddeceased.Inthepost
mortemreportitwasnotstatedthatdeceasedhadsustained
injuriesbystickblows.Held,thatasnoinfirmitywasfoundin
appreciationofabsenceofevidenceregardingtheinjuries
causedbytheaccusedpersonshence,theiracquittalbygiving
thembenefitofdoubtwasproper.
AppealagainstjudgmentParamountconsiderationof
Courtistoensuretopreventmiscarriageofjustice:

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Appealagainstorderofacquittal(Section378ofCrPc)

ThereisnoembargoontheappellateCourtreviewingthe
evidenceuponwhichanorderofacquittalisbased.Generally,
theorderofacquittalshallnotbeinterferedwithbecausethe
presumptionofinnocenceoftheaccusedisfurther
strengthenedbyacquittal.Thegoldenthreadwhichruns
throughthewebofadministrationofjusticeincriminalcasesis
thatiftwoviewsarepossibleontheevidenceadducedinthe
case,onepointingtotheguiltoftheaccusedandtheotherto
hisinnocence,theviewwhichisfavourabletotheaccused
shouldbeadopted.
TheparamountconsiderationoftheCourtistoensurethat
miscarriageofjusticeisprevented.Amiscarriageofjustice
whichmayarisefromacquittaloftheguiltyisnolessthanfrom
theconvictionofaninnocent.Inacasewhereadmissible
evidenceisignored,adutyiscastupontheappellateCourtto
reappreciatetheevidencewheretheaccusedhasbeen
acquitted,forthepurposeofascertainingastowhetheranyof
theaccusedreallycommittedanyoffenceornot.
Appealcondonedwithdismissalofappeal:
Wheretherewasappealacquittalandapplicationtocondone
delaywasalsofiled.Held,thataspectofdelayaswellasmerits
ofthecaseweretobeexaminedbecausetherewasno
sufficientevidencetoconflicttheaccused,hence,appeal
appearedweakonmerits.Therecouldbenointerferencewith
theorderofacquittal.However,delaywascondonedbutmain
appealwasdismissedonmerits.
AppealagainstacquittalPermissibilityofinterferenceby
appellateCourt:
ThereisnoembargoontheappellateCourtreviewingthe
evidenceuponwhichanorderofacquittalisbased.Generally,
theorderofacquittalshallnotbeinterferedwithbecausethe
presumptionofinnocenceoftheaccusedisfurther
strengthenedbyacquittal.Thegoldenthreadwhichruns
throughthewebofadministrationofjusticeincriminalcasesis
thatiftwoviewsarepossibleontheevidenceadducedinthe
case,onepointingtotheguiltoftheaccusedandtheotherto
hisinnocence,theviewwhichisfavourabletotheaccused
shouldbeadopted.TheparamountconsiderationoftheCourt
istoensurethatmiscarriageofjusticeisprevented.
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Appealagainstorderofacquittal(Section378ofCrPc)

Amiscarriageofjusticewhichmayarisefromacquittalofthe
guiltyisnolessthanfromtheconvictionofaninnocent.The
principletobefollowedbyappellateCourtconsideringthe
appealagainstthejudgmentofacquittalistointerfereonly
whentherearecompellingandsubstantialreasonsfordoing
so.Iftheimpugnedjudgmentisclearlyunreasonableand
relevantandconvincingmaterialshavebeenunjustifiably
eliminatedintheprocess.
Appealagainstacquittalwheretwoviewsreasonably
possibleonthebasisofevidence:
Itiswellsettledthatwheretwoviewsarereasonablypossible
onthebasisoftheevidenceonrecord,theonethatfavoursthe
accusedmustbeaccepted.Inanyeventinacaseofacquittalif
theviewofthetrialCourtisapossiblereasonableviewofthe
evidenceonrecord,interferencebytheHighCourtmaynotbe
justified.
Retrialcouldnotbeorderedforlapsescommittedby
Court:
WheretrialwasconductedbyMagistratehimselfwithout
appointingPublicProsecutorinbreachofprinciplesof
procedure.Accusedwasacquittedongroundofsuch
proceduralirregularity.Held,thatretrialcouldnotbeorderedfor
lapsescommittedbyCourt.Itwasmoresobecauseordering
retrialatappellatestageinHighCourtwouldalsodefeat
doctrineofspeedytrialunderArticle21oftheConstitution.
PowersofHighCourtforhearingofappealagainst
acquittal:
WhereorderofacquittalhadbeenpassedbythetrialJudge.
SpecialleavepetitionagainstitwasfiledbyNationalHuman
RightCommission(NHRC)beforetheSupremeCourt.Held,
thatmerependencyofcasebeforeSupremeCourtwouldnot
byitselfdebarHighCourtfromhearinganddecidingthesaid
appeal.
PowerofHighCourtinappealagainstacquittal:
WheretheacquittalbytrialCourtwasfoundonthebasisof
unwarrantedassumptionsandmanifestlyerroneous
appreciationofevidencebyignoringvaluableandcredible
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Appealagainstorderofacquittal(Section378ofCrPc)

evidenceresultinginseriousandsubstantialmiscarriageof
justice.Held,thatHighCourtcouldnotbefoundfaultwithforits
wellmeritedinterference.
Scopeofappealagainstacquittal:
Appealagainstacquittaliscircumscribedbylimitationbecause
onlyapproachoflowerCourttoconsiderationofevidencehad
beenvitiatedbymanifestillegalityorconclusionarrivedatby
lowerCourtwasperverse,nointerferencewithorderof
acquittalwaspermissible.Therefore,orderofacquittalmadeon
properappreciationofevidencecouldnotnormallybe
interfered.
Filingofappealsagainstacquittaltobetakenduescrutiny
andsuchappealswithoutmeritstobecheckedfrombeing
filed:
Whererespondentaccusedinchargeofdrawingthebills,
collectingtheamountsanddisbursingsalarieswasallegedto
bemisappropriatedanamountofRs.6301/.Evidencefound
wasinsufficientforrecordingconvictionandappealwaswithout
merit.Solutionforsuchseriousoffencesofmisappropriationof
fundsofCooperativeSocietywasthatprosecutorsintrial
Courtshouldbevigilanttoensurespecificevidence
establishingtheguiltoftheaccusedwhowasbroughton
record.DirectorofProsecutionswasorderedtotakethe
correctivestepsandfilingofappealsalsotobetakendue
scrutinyandsuchappealswithoutmeritswerecheckedfrom
beingfiled.
LeavetoappealagainstacquittalRecordingofreasons
mustforrefusaltograntleave:
Theemphasisonrecordingreasonsisthatifthedecision
revealstheinscrutablefaceofthesphinx,itcan,byits
silence,renderitvirtuallyimpossiblefortheCourtstoperform
theirappellatefunctionorexercisethepowerofjudicialreview
inadjudgingthevalidityofthedecision.Righttoreasonisan
indispensablepartofasoundjudicialsystem,reasonsatleast
sufficienttoindicateanapplicationofmindtothematterbefore
Court.

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Appealagainstorderofacquittal(Section378ofCrPc)

Anotherrationaleisthattheaffectedpartycanknowwhythe
decisionhasgoneagainsthim.Oneofthesalutary
requirementsofnaturaljusticeisspellingoutreasonsforthe
ordermade,inotherwords,aspeakingout.Theinscrutable
faceofasphinxisordinarilyincongruouswithajudicialor
quasijudicialperformance.
LeavetoStatetofileappealagainstacquittalgranted:
WheretrialCourthadacquittedrespondentaccusedofcharge
underSection18NDPSAct,holdingthatintheabsenceof
independentpublicwitness,testimonyofpoliceofficialswasnot
acceptable.
LeavetoappealwasdeclinedbyHighCourtwiththeimpugned
orderHeard,Nomerit.Dismissed.Held,thatabsenceof
reasonshadrenderedtheimpugnedorderunsustainableand
wasliabletobesetaside.Hence,leavetoStatetofileagainst
appealagainstacquittalwasgranted.
MakingofstrongremarksbyHighCourtcastigatingPolice
andsubordinatejudiciarynotproper:
ItwouldhavebeendesirablethattheHighCourtdidnotmake
suchstrongremarkscastigatingthepoliceandthesubordinate
judiciary,whenthesituationdidnotwarrantsuchcastigation.
JudicialrestraintshouldhavedissuadedtheHighCourtfrom
makingsuchunnecessarycastigation.
AppealtoHighCourtagainstoriginalorappellateorderof
acquittalsubjecttoleaveoftheHighCourt:
TrialCourtwasrequiredtocarefullyappraisetheentire
evidencebeforecomingtoaconclusion.Iftherewaslapseon
partofHighCourtinthisregard.HighCourtwasunder
obligationtoentertainsuchanexercisebyentertainingthe
appeal.
HighCourtundersuchcircumstancesshouldgrantleaveto
appealandentertaintheappeal.Intheinstantcase,accused
respondentwasacquittedbyTrialCourtforoffencesunder
Section27(1)(a)ofOrissaForestAct,1972.
HighCourtwasnotjustifiedinrefusingtograntleavetoappeal,
becauseeffectofadmissionofaccusedinthebackgroundof
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Appealagainstorderofacquittal(Section378ofCrPc)

testimonyofofficialwitnessesneededadjudicationinappeal.
Asquestionsinvolvedwerenottrivial,hence,rejectionof
applicationforleavetoappealbyacrypticnonspeakingone
lineorderwasimproper.Impugnedorderwassetasideand
leavewasgrantedtoStatetofileappeal.

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