GHULAM RASOOL and 3 others vs THE STATE
This criminal application sought the quashment of proceedings arising from an F.I.R. registered under Section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860, concerning the alleged violation of a prohibitory order issued under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898. The core legal question was whether the trial court could take cognizance of an offence under Section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 based on an F.I.R. lodged by a subordinate official, rather than a formal complaint by the public servant who promulgated the prohibitory order. The Sindh High Court held that the proceedings were legally flawed. The Court ruled that, pursuant to Section 195(1)(a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898, cognizance of offences under Sections 172 to 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 can only be taken upon a complaint in writing by the public servant concerned or their superior. Since the F.I.R. was filed by a supervising Tapedar rather than the District Magistrate who issued the order, the proceedings constituted an abuse of process and were consequently quashed.
- Can a court take cognizance of an offence under Section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 based on an F.I.R. filed by a subordinate official?
- Who is authorized to initiate legal proceedings for the violation of an order promulgated under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898?
- Does the requirement of a formal complaint under Section 195(1)(a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 apply to offences under Section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860?
- Section 188, Pakistan Penal Code 1860
- Section 144, Code of Criminal Procedure 1898
- Section 195(1)(a), Code of Criminal Procedure 1898
- Section 4(h), Code of Criminal Procedure 1898
ORDER
1. ' The applicant/accused have applied for quashment of proceedings of case arising of F.I.R. No,41 of 1995 of Police Station Chachro registered under section 188, P.P.C. Pending in the Court of S.D.M.
2. Chachro. The brief facts of the prosecution case are that complainant Shoukat Ali is supervising Tapedar in Circle Tardos. Deputy Commissioner Tharparkar vide his Order No,J/B 1483, dated 16-7- 1995 had issued a prohibitory order under section 144, Cr.P.C. For not cultivating Estate land under Goucher (Pasture) area. During rainy season applicants/accused cultivated Goucher (Pasture) land. One Muhammad Ramzan made an application to the Mukhtiarkar Chachro questioning the cultivation raised by above said persqns. This application was endorsed by Mukhtiarkar to complainant for making enquiry. He went at the site and found that the concerned person had actually cultivated the pasture area. He accordingly submitted such report to Mukhtiarkar who ordered for initiating proceedings for disobedience of 144, Cr.P.C. Order and as per such order he lodged the F.I.R. And after usual investigation applicants/accused were sent up under section 188, P.P.C. In the Court of S.D.M. Chachro to stand trial. I have heard Mr. Hemraj, Advocate for the applicants/accused and Mr. Bahadur Ali Baloch appearing on behalf of the State. Mr. Hemraj has argued that as laid down under section 195-1(a), Cr.P.C. No Court can take cognizance of the offences punishable under sections 172 to 188, P.P.C. Except on the complaint as defined under section 4(H), Cr.P.C. Of the Public Servant who promulgated section 144, Cr.P.C. And present F.I.R. Is not lodged by the concerned District Magistrate, therefore, proceedings are bad in law and may be quashed. He has placed reliance on 1997 PCr.LJ page 589 (Kar.).
3. ' Mr. Bahadur Ali Baloch appearing on behalf of the State supports the counsel for the applicants/accused and states that the proceedings are abuse of the process of Court and be quashed.
4. In case of violation of an order passed by District Magistrate, within the meaning of section 144, Cr.P.C. The machinery of law can only be moved by filing complaint by order of such public servant who promulgated real order or by his superior as envisaged under section 195(1)(a), Cr.P.C. In the present case, there ought to have been a complaint as envisaged under section 4(h), Cr.P.C. By the District Magistrate, Tharparkar himself or by his superior i,e, Home Secretary and under no circumstances, supervising Tapedar at the dictates of Mukhtiarkar who is subordinate to District Magistrate could file F.I.R. Under these circumstances and reasons recorded supra I quash the proceedings pending before S.D.M. Chachro arising out of the F.I.R. No,41 of 1995 of Police Station Chachro District Tharparkar under section 188, P.P.C. Application stands allowed.
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