JUDGMENT R.K. Rastogi, J.
1. This is an application under Section 482 Cr.P.C. to quash the order dated 21.2.2007 passed by Fast Track Court No. 5, Kanpur Nagar in Sessions Trial No. 177 of 2007, State v. Aftab and Ors. (case crime No. 182/05 of P.S. Bekan Ganj District Kanpur Nagar under Section 302 I.P.C.)
2. The facts relevant for disposal of this application are that the aforesaid case is pending in Fast Track Court No. 5, Kanpur Nagar for trial. Statement of P.W.1 Khalid Ahmad Khan was recorded in the court on 5.9.2006 and he was cross examined by the learned Counsel for the accused and then he was discharged. Thereafter statements of certain other prosecution witnesses were also recorded. On 21.2.2007 O.P. No. 2 Naushad moved an application for recalling P.W.1 Khalid Ahmad Khan for further cross examination in which he stated that on the date when the statement of Khalid Ahmad Khan was recorded, he was not the counsel for the accused Naushad and some other counsel had cross examined Khalid Ahmad and he has now been engaged by Naushad as his counsel, and after perusal of the statement of Khalid Ahmad Khan he was of the view that it was necessary to put some questions to Khalid Ahmad Khan and so Khalid Ahmad Khan should be recalled for cross examination. It was, therefore, prayed that P.W.1 Khalid Ahmad khan should be recalled for further cross examination and a date should be fixed for this purpose. This application was allowed by the learned Judge vide his order of the same date, i.e. 21.2.07. Aggrieved with that order P.W.1 Khalid Ahmad Khan has filed this application under Section 482 Cr.P.C.
3. I have heard learned Counsel for the revisionist, as well as the learned Counsel for O.P. No. 2 and the learned A.G.A. for the State.
4. It is to be seen that in this case statement in chief of Khalid Ahmad Khan P.W.1 was recorded on 5.9.2006 and he was cross examined at length on 9.9.2006. Typed copy of his statement has been filed as Annexure No. 3 to the affidavit filed in support of the application, which runs in twelve pages. The examination-in-chief was recorded in first four pages and thereafter his cross examination was recorded in the last eight pages. Thus, it is clear that he has been sufficiently cross examined by the then learned Counsel for the accused.
5. The application for further cross examination of the applicant was moved by his new counsel on 21.2.2007 in which he stated that some important questions could not be asked from P.W.1 and so he (P.W. 1) should be recalled for further cross examination. I am of the view that when the accused had sufficient opportunity to cross examine the witness and they had availed that opportunity the witness could not be recalled for further cross examination. At the most the learned Counsel for the accused, if he was of the view that certain important questions had not been put to P.W.1 during the course of cross examination, could have sought permission from the court to put those questions to the witness after specifying those questions in his application, but he did not do so. Under these circumstances, the prayer made by him for further cross examination of the witness who had already been sufficiently cross examined was not maintainable and the learned trial Court has legally erred by allowing that application.
6. The application under Section 482 Cr.P.C., therefore, deserves to be allowed and the order passed by the learned trial court on the application of the accused O.P. No. 2 for recall of the witness Khalid Ahmad Khan P.W.1 is set aside and that application is rejected. However, if the learned Counsel for the accused O.P. No. 2 in the present case is of the view that certain important questions have not been put to P.W.1, which have material bearing and are relevant and essential to be asked for just decision of the case, he may move fresh application specifying those questions and if any such application is moved by the learned Counsel for the accused then the learned Presiding Officer of the court after inviting objections from the prosecution on that application and after providing opportunity of hearing to both the parties on that application, pass suitable order taking into consideration the relevancy and requirement of putting those questions for just decision of the case.