(Per : HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE A.L.DAVE) This appeal arises out of the judgment and order rendered by City Civil Court, Ahmedabad on 13/10/2006 in Sessions Case No.244 of 2005. Both the appellants were tried before the trial Court for offences punishable under Sections 8 (c), 20 (b) and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (for short NDPS Act). Appellant No.1 - Mony s/o., Subaiya Mudliyar Telugu and appellant No.2 - Sadiq @ Sadi s/o., Haillo @ Aliya Gullolo (Golo) were accused Nos.1 and 2 before the trial Court. They both came to be convicted by the trial Court for offence punishable under Sections 20 (c) with Section 8 (c) read with Section 29 of the NDPS Act and were sentenced to undergo twelve years RI with a fine of Rs.1 Lac in default to undergo further RI of one year.
2. It is reported by Jail authorities that accused - appellant No.1 - Mony s/o., Subaiya Mudliyar Telugu expired on 25/10/2011, while he was in prison. The appeal in respect of him, therefore, stands abated.
3. So far as accused - appellant No.2 - Sadiq @ Sadi s/o., Haillo @ Aliya Gullolo (Golo) is concerned, he is represented by learned Advocate Ms.Sadhna Sagar. The State is represented by learned Additional Public Prosecutor, Mr.R C Kodekar.
4. The case of the prosecution in brief is that both the accused persons were found to be possessing Ganja weighing 16.80 Kilogram and 12..90 Kilogram respectively, when they were intercepted at about 15:30 hours on 15/06/2005 at Raipur, Bhut Ni Aambli, Hatkeshwar Road. Both the accused were intercepted, were offered search through another Gazetted Officer, which they denied and ultimately on searching the bag that they were carrying on their shoulder, the contraband was found. Weighing scale was called for but was not suitable for weighing the large quantity and, therefore, the entire team alongwith accused went to the nearby shop where weighment was done, samples were drawn and the contraband was seized after sealing. Thereafter, the team went to the Police Station and offence came to be registered. Upon investigation, charge-sheet came to be filed in the Metropolitan Magistrate Court, who in turn, committed the case to the Court of Sessions and Sessions Case No.244 of 2005 came to be registered. Charge was framed against the accused at Exh.1 to which both the accused pleaded not guilty and came to be tried. At the end of trial, both were found guilty and came to be convicted and sentenced as stated herein above and hence this appeal.
5. Learned Advocate Ms.Sagar has submitted that A-1 belonged to Merupalayam, Coimbatur, Tamil Nadu, whereas A-2 belonged to Vekantrapalli, Dist: Varangal, Andhra Pradesh. She submitted that during the entire course of trial, prosecution has not been able to establish any nexus between the two. There is no evidence to show that they had conspired together and in pursuant to that conspiracy, they were found to be in possession of contraband as is alleged. She submitted therefore that both Investigating Agency as well as trial Court erred in charging and finding guilty the accused persons for offence punishable under Section 29 of the NDPS Act.
5.1 Ms.Sagar then submitted that from the police investigation papers itself it is revealed that A-1 knew Hindi, Tamil and Telugu languages; whereas, A-2 knew only Telugu language. Ms.Sagar submitted that after being intercepted when the proceedings were conducted, it is recorded in the Panchnama that services of A-1 were taken as interpreter to explain the procedure undertaken by Investigating Agency against A-2. This was explained to A-2 in Telugu and A-1 in Hindi. Ms.Sagar submitted that obviously, therefore, A-1 knew Hindi and Telugu, whereas A-1 did not know Hindi. Neither of the accused knew Gujarati. Ms.Sagar submitted that entire investigation is carried out in Gujarati followed by trial in Gujarati.
5.2 Ms.Sagar would contend that A-1 could not have been used as an interpreter for A-2. That services ought to have been entrusted and taken from independent person. Therefore, the proceedings are vitiated.
5.2.1 Ms.Sagar submitted further that the trial Court proceedings have been recorded in Gujarati and there is no endorsement by the Court in any of the depositions that the contents were explained to the accused in a language known by him. The accused therefore, would not know what evidence is led against him, what defence is for him and what defence can he take, which is a serious prejudice caused to the interest of the accused. The trial also would, therefore, be vitiated.
5.2.2 Ms.Sagar submitted further that if evidence is seen and is accepted at face value, there is no specific reliable evidence led by the prosecution to show as to where the contraband was sealed and seized; whether it was at the place where the accused persons were intercepted; whether it was at the shop where the weighment was done or whether it was at the Police Station. This is not reliably proved by the prosecution.
5.3 Ms.Sagar submitted that the search, seizure and arrest was done in presence of two independent Panch Witnesses, one of whom has been examined as Prosecution Witness No.1. He has initially halfheartedly supported the case of prosecution, but then has turned hostile to the prosecution. As such, his evidence does not advance the prosecution case any further nor does it strengthen. On the contrary, it would weaken the prosecution case. Ms.Sagar submitted that the prosecution has failed to examine the second Panch. The Panchnama also does not clearly state as to where the sealing was done. The Police evidence is also not clear on the aspect of place of sealing and PW No.3-Dashrathbhai Jethalal (Exh.11), in terms, states that after the weighment was done, samples were drawn, everybody had left his shop and no sealing was done. According to Investigating Officer, that exercise was undertaken at the shop where weighment was done. The prosecution evidence on this aspect is, therefore, shaky and inconsistent. Ms.Sagar then submitted that this has caused great prejudice to the interest of the accused - appellant No.2. The trial would be vitiated and the appeal may, therefore, be allowed.
6. On the other hand learned Additional Public Prosecutor has opposed this appeal. According to him, the accused has not raised this plea at any stage before the trial Court. The accused has not been able to show prejudice to his interest on account of the trial being conducted in a language not known by the accused. He submitted that as has been held by the Apex Court, such a breach is only a procedural breach and no prejudice can be said to have been caused to the appellant No.2.
6.1 Learned Additional Public Prosecutor has submitted that in light of decision of Hon'ble Apex Court in case of Shivanarayana Kabra Vs. the State of Madras reported in 1967 SC 986 the lapse in investigation or trial may not be seriously considered to have prejudiced the accused - appellant and therefore the appeal may be dismissed.
7. We have examined record and proceedings in context of rival submissions.
8. As per the prosecution case, while the police was on patrolling, they noticed two persons at the time and place of incident walking on footpath with two bags and on seeing police, they both were taken aback and looking to their conduct the police intercepted. The Police interrogated and searched them and found a quantity of contraband as stated herein above. It is not in dispute that A-1 is from Tamil Nadu, whereas other one is from Andhra Pradesh and there is no evidence to establish any nexus between two except that they were walking together on a public place and on seeing Police they reacted.
9. It is also found that A-1 knew Hindi as well, whereas, A-2 knew only Telugu language and neither of them knew Gujarati. As a matter of fact, at the time of search and seizure, the proceedings that were undertaken were explained to A-2 with the help of A-1. As such, the work of interpretation was not undertaken by an independent and unbiased person. We have no material to know what was translated by A-1 to A-2 from Gujarati or Hindi to Telugu. We cannot even proceed on a premise that the translation was correct translation. A-2 is surviving appellant and, therefore, had no opportunity to defend himself at that stage when he was arrested and this can be said to have resulted in prejudice to the interest of A-2.
10. We also find that the trial Court, while framing charge and while recording further statements under Section 313, has put an endorsement that the contents were explained to the accused in Hindi and thereafter they were recorded in Gujarati. Now, if it emerges from the investigation papers that A-2 did not know Hindi, then whatever was put to him by the trial Court in Hindi while framing charge or recording statement under Section 313, would not have been understood by him and he is denied right of explaining circumstances against him as envisaged under Section 313 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Similarly, he is denied of knowing the charges for which he was being tried. This would also be a prejudice to the interest of accused.
11. We also notice that entire ocular evidence is recorded by the trial Court in Gujarati and there is not even a whisper about the same having been explained to the accused in a language known to him. This would cause serious prejudice to the interest of the accused, as he would be denied a right of knowing the proceedings taking place to his knowledge and understanding.
12. In this context we may refer to certain legal provisions viz., Sections 279 and 281 (4) of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
" 279.
Interpretation of evidence to accused or his pleader :-(1) Whenever any evidence is given in a language not understood by the accused, and he is present in Court in person, it shall be interpreted to him in open Court in a language understood by him.
If he appears by pleader and the evidence is given in a language other than the language of the Court, and not understood by the pleader, it shall be interpreted to such pleader in that language.
When documents are put for the purpose of formal proof, it shall be in the discretion of the Court to interpret as much thereof as appears necessary."
(4) The record shall be shown or read to the accused, or, if he does not understand the language in which it is written, shall be interpreted to him in a language which he understands, and he shall be at liberty to explain or add to his answers.
13. The above referred provisions would make it amply clear that the trial has to be conducted in a language known and understood by the accused. The philosophy behind this provision is of following the principles of natural justice. When charge is framed and the evidence is recorded by the Court in a language which is not known or understood by A-2, he would not know what charge he is facing, what evidence is there against him and how to explain the incriminating circumstances against him proposed to be used by the trial Court. This leaves no room for any imagination of prejudice. Prejudice is conspicuous.
13.1 In this context we may also refer to provisions of Section 465 (2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which run as under:
(2) In determining whether any error, omission or irregularity in any proceeding under this Code, or any error or irregularity in any sanction for the prosecution has occasioned a failure of justice, the Court shall have regard to the fact whether the objection could and should have been raised at an earlier stage in the proceedings.
13.2 In the instant case when the proceedings proceeded in a language not known to the accused, he would not know what was happening to his interest and in that circumstance, he cannot be expected to raise an objection at an earliest point of time, either before the Investigating Agency or the trial Court. The trial Court, therefore, erred in recording evidence in a language not known to the accused without getting it interpreted to the accused through interpreter,nor did the Court undertake that exercise itself and, as such, the evidence is recorded in a manner which can be considered not only as an irregularity but has caused prejudice to the interest of the accused and would therefore, vitiate the trial.
14. At this stage, we would like to deal with the merits of the prosecution case as well. The evidence of Panch Witness rules out that the Panchnama of search and seizure was drawn in presence of that Panch Witness and whatever he has deposed halfheartedly supporting the prosecution case cannot be believed, because he, in terms, has stated that whatever is recorded in Panchnama did not happen or occur in his presence. This witness is declared hostile. Second Panch is not examined. Independent Officer, in whose presence search and seizure took place, was an Officer from FSL, who has not been examined. There is no evidence to know the exact place where the sealing was done after drawl of samples and weighment.
14.1 It was sought to be argued by learned APP that an inference can be drawn that it was done at the shop. This inference, learned APP expects us to draw from the evidence of the Investigating Officer. However, this inference is not possible to be drawn for the reason that PW No.3-Dashrathbhai Jethalal (Exh.11), in his evidence, has deposed in clear terms that after drawing samples and putting them in the bag provided to the Police by them, the whole team went away and no sealing had taken place at his shop. Therefore, there is total lack of evidence to show the exact place where the sealing was done. It could have been anywhere except the place of weighment about which there is no evidence from independent witnesses, who would depose about the sealing having taken place in their presence. This would expose the prosecution case to a doubtful sealing and possibility of tampering.
15. The outcome of the foregoing discussion therefore, would be that prosecution case suffers from two defects. First is on its merits, that there is no evidence of reliable sealing of Muddamal and its seizure and the second is that the investigation as well as trial is conducted in a language not known to A-2 at all and no attempt is made to explain to him the proceedings in a language known or understood by him. This would cause prejudice to the interest of the accused and conviction based on such investigation, trial and evidence on merits, cannot be permitted to stand.
16. This leaves a last question to be answered by this Court, whether to acquit the accused - appellant No.2 after setting aside the conviction or to remand the matter for removing the defects. In this context, we may record that here is a case where the prosecution case is weak even on merits viz., the sealing part is not properly established and as many as six years and eleven months have gone since the appellant No.2 is in jail. Had it been a case where a prejudice is caused only at the trial because of a procedural defect, the case could have been sent back for removal of the defect. But, here in our opinion, no purpose is going to be served by remanding the matter to the trial Court after about six years and eleven months when the prejudice on merits of the case is obvious.
17. In the result, appeal deserves to be and is accordingly allowed. The judgment and order of conviction and sentence rendered in Sessions Case No.244 of 2005 on 13/10/2006 by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Fast Track Court No.1, City Sessions Court, Bhadra, Ahmedabad City is set aside. Appellant No.2 - Sadiq @ Sadi s/o., Haillo @ Aliya Gullolo (Golo) (Accused No.2) is acquitted of all the charges levelled against him. He would be set at liberty forthwith, if not required in any other case. Fine, if paid by him, is ordered to be refunded to him.
18. As the appellant No.1 - Mony s/o., Subaiya Mudliyar Telugu (Accused No.1) has expired during the pendency of this appeal, appeal against him stands abated.
(A L DAVE, J.) (N V ANJARIA, J.) sompura Top