Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973: s.482 – Quashing of criminal proceedings against respondent no.1 under the Electricity Act – The Electricity Department inspected the premises of consumerrespondent no.1 and found meter tampered – The said meter was replaced with another meter and earlier meter sent for examination which on examination was found to be tampered – Loss assessed at Rs.6.28 lacs – Case of appellant that offence committed by respondent no.1 was second offence and the first offence registered against respondent no.1 was compounded – Complaint registered under s.135 of 2003 Act – Special Court took cognizance of case under s.151 of the 2003 Act – Petition for quashing the proceedings filed on the ground that the Special Court took cognizance without any order of committal and the same was in violation of s.193 Cr.P.C. – High Court allowed the petition and quashed the proceedings – On appeal, held: Second proviso to s.151 of the 2003 Act specially empowers the Special Court constituted under s.153 of the 2003 Act to take cognizance of an offence without the accused being committed – In view of the specific provision under s.151 of the 2003 Act, Special Court is empowered to take cognizance without there being an order of committal as contemplated under s.193, Cr.P.C. – High Court did not consider the said proviso to s.151 while passing the impugned order – The impugned order is set aside – Electricity Act, 2003 – s.151 and its proviso, s.193. Allowing the appeal, the Court
HELD : It is true that as per the procedure under Section
193 Cr.P.C., no Court of Session shall take cognizance of any offence as a Court of original jurisdiction unless the case has been committed to it by a Magistrate except as otherwise expressly provided by the Code, or any other law for the time being in force. Section 151 of the Electricity Act, 2003 is altogether a new provision. Section 151 of the Act provides that no court shall take cognizance of an offence punishable under the Act except upon a complaint in writing made by the Appropriate Government or Appropriate Commission or any of their officer authorised by them or a Chief Electrical Inspector or an Electrical Inspector or licensee or the generating company, as the case may be, for this purpose. Second proviso to Section
151 of the Electricity Act, 2003, specially empowers the Special Court constituted under Section 153 of the Electricity Act, 2003, to take cognizance of an offence without the accused being committed. In view of the specific provision under Section 151 of the Electricity Act, 2003, Special Court is empowered to take cognizance without there being an order of committal as contemplated under Section 193 Cr.P.C. When there is express provision in the Special Act empowering the Special Court to take cognizance of an offence without the accused being committed, it cannot be said that taking cognizance of offence by Special Court is in violation of Section 193 Cr.P.C. The High Court did not consider the said proviso to Section 151 and passed the impugned order. The order impugned is liable to be set aside. [Paras 10, 11] [701-A, B, D-G]
State of Andhra Pradesh, represented by its Public Prosecutor v. M/s. Shalini Steels Private Limited, Bollaram, Medak District 2011 CrlLJ 67 ; Gangula Ashok & another v. State of Andhra Pradesh (2000) 2 SCC 504 : [2000] 1 SCR 468 – referred to.
As published in the Supreme Court Reports, Supreme Court of India. Text from the Indian Supreme Court Judgments open data set (Dattam Labs), CC BY 4.0.
This page is for informational and research purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a qualified advocate for advice specific to your situation.