Pakistan Case Law
2008 P Cr. L J 126

CHIRAGH DIN vs MUMTAZ ALI and another

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Citation2008 P Cr. L J 126
CourtLahore High Court
Case No.Criminal Appeal No,258 of 2007
Date2007-09-26
Judge(s)M. Bilal Khan and Tariq Shamim
ResultAppeal dismissed
AI Summary — generated from this judgment; read the full text below and verify before relying on it.

This criminal appeal was filed under Section 417(2-A) of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 by the complainant challenging the acquittal of the respondents in a murder case under Section 302/34 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860. The acquittal was granted by the trial court on the basis of a compromise between the parties. The appellant contended that the compromise was obtained under coercion and that he had not voluntarily appeared or recorded his statement before the trial court. The High Court, upon examining the record, found that the appellant had indeed appeared, was identified by his counsel, and his identity card was verified by the trial court. The High Court held that judicial records and the statements of a judge regarding court proceedings import absolute verity and cannot be contradicted by affidavits or other external evidence. Consequently, finding no illegality in the trial court's proceedings, the High Court dismissed the appeal in limine.

Questions settled in this judgment
  • Whether a party can contradict the judicial record of a trial court regarding their appearance and statement by asserting coercion or impersonation?
  • What is the evidentiary status and sanctity attached to the judicial record and statements of a trial judge regarding proceedings conducted before them?
  • Can an appeal against acquittal based on a compromise be sustained if the record shows the complainant was duly identified and verified by the trial court?
Laws & provisions referred
  • Section 302/34, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
  • Section 417(2-A), Code of Criminal Procedure 1898
  • Section 345, Code of Criminal Procedure 1898
  • Section 421, Code of Criminal Procedure 1898
acquittalcompromisejudicial recordabsolute veritymurderappeal against acquittal

ORDER

' Chiragh Din son of Main Eida, the appellant (complainant of case F.I.R. No,556/2005, registered with Police Station Kahna Nau, District Lahore for an offence under section 302/34, P.P.C.) by filing this appeal under section 417(2-A), Cr.P.C. Has called in question the judgment of acquittal of respondents Nos.1 and 2, namely, Mumtaz Ali. Son of Chiragh Din and Maqsood Ali son of Mumtaz Ali of the charge of murder of Akhtar Ali deceased passed on 15-1-2007 by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Lahore, on the basis of compromise arrived at between the parties.

2. It has been argued by the learned counsel for the appellant that the impugned judgment was illegal and unlawful because neither the appellant as also the other legal heirs of the deceased, namely, Mst. Sakina Bibi and Mst. Bushra Bibi, his mother and widow, respectively, had entered into compromise with the respondents nor had they voluntarily made application under section 345, Cr.P.C. Or got recorded their statements before the learned trial Court, however, it was all done under coercion and that the compromise under coercion or threat was no compromise/agreement in the eyes of law

3. After hearing the learned counsel as also the appellant, who is present in person, it has been observed that there is contradiction between the grounds urged by the learned counsel and the assertion of the appellant that he had never appeared before the learned trial Court and somebody else was produced before it because the statement made by the appellant before the learned trial Court on 11-1-2007 clearly reveals that he had appeared before the learned trial Court and got recorded his statement acknowledging compromise arrived at between him and the accused party. He was duly identified by his counsel Muhammad Raza, Advocate and the learned trial Court while recording statement of the appellant had clearly mentioned therein that a copy of his N.I.C. No,35200-1567064-3 was produced, whereas original whereof was seen and returned.

Perusal of the impugned judgment as also the record available on the file reveals that there was no illegality in the proceedings initiated by the learned trial Court and sanctity is attached thereto.

There is no reason to disbelieve the learned trial Court.

4. The superior Courts have consistently held that the judicial record and the statement of the Judge should be regarded as conclusive, and that neither the affidavits of bystanders or counsel, nor any other evidence can be admissible to contradict the judicial record and the statement of the Judge. In Reg. v. Pestanji Dinsha and another (1873) 10 Bombay H.C.R. 75, it was inter alia held that statement of the Judge must be considered as absolute verity and his statement ought to be taken precisely as a record and must be acted upon in the same manner as on a record of Court, which of itself imports absolute verity. It was further observed in the said report that the law has made the Judge the final authority as to what takes place before him at a trial; and that authority must be recognized.

5. Resultantly, there being no merit in this appeal, the same is dismissed in limine under section 421, Cr.P.C.

Cited by 5 cases

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