Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
COMPETITION, 2016
BEFORE
THE SUPREME COURT OF INDRADHWAJA
V.
V.
STATE OF PANCHTARA
UNION OF INDIA
RESPONDENT
V.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
S.NO HEADING NO.
1.
TABLE OF CONTENTS I
2.
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES
STATUTES III
DICTIONARIES IV
WEBSITES IV
CASE LAWS IV
3.
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS VII
4.
STATEMENT OF JURISDICTION VIII
5.
STATEMENT OF FACTS IX
6.
ISSUES RAISED X
7.
SUMMARY OF ARGUMENTS XI
8. ARGUMENTS ADVANCED
I. WHETHER THE F.I.R. NO. 219/1998 REGISTERED IN STATE OF
HANSA WAS ILLEGAL AS THE ACTS FORMED PART OF SAME 1
TRANSACTION PURPORTED TO BE INVESTIGATED IN OFFENCES
REGISTERED UNDER F.I.R. NO. 298/1998?
A. No same transaction
A.1. Separate Trial is a Rule, Joint trial an exception
A.2. Supreme Court is not a Fact-finding court
A.3. Two distinct offences were committed
B. Offences committed in pursuance of criminal conspiracy
constitute different offence
C. F.I.R. no.- 219/1998 is not illegal
9.
THE PRAYER XIII
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES
STATUTORY COMPILATIONS:
BOOKS REFERRED:
1. Basu, Dr. Durga Das, The Indian Constitutional Law (3rd Ed Kamal Law House, 2011).
2. Gaur, KD, Criminal Law: Cases and Materials (6th Ed. LexisNexis 2013).
3. Gour, Hari Singh, Penal Law of India (11th Ed. Law Publishers (India) Pvt. Ltd. 2011).
5. Jethmalan, Ram, The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973(1st Ed Thomson Reuters, 2015).
6. Kelkar, R.V, Criminal Procedure (5th Ed. Eastern Book Company 2014).
7. Lal, Batuk, The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (5th Ed Orient Publishing Co., 2010).
9. Misra, S.N., Indian Penal Code (19th Ed. Central Law Publishing 2013).
11. Rao, Mamta, Public Interest Litigation in India – a Renaissance in Social Justice (2nd Ed
12. Ratanlal and Dhirajlal, The Indian Penal Code (33rd Ed. Central Law Agency 2011).
2010).
14. Sarkar, S.C., The Indian Penal Code,1860 (3rd Ed Dwivedi Law Agency 2011).
15. Sarvaria, SK., Indian Penal Code (10th Edition LexisNexis 2009).
16. Sathe, S.P., Judicial Activism in India (Oxford University Press, 2002).
17. Sen, D.N., The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Premier Publishing Co., 2008)
18. Sohoni, Vishwas Shridhar, Criminal Referencer (2nd Ed Orient Publishing Company,
2008).
DICTIONARIES:
WEBSITES:
1. www.manupatra.com
2. www.judis.nic.in
3. www.supremecourtcaselaw.com
4. www.scconline.com
5. www.lawstudentshelpline.com
CASES REFERRED:
CASE PAGE
Lalu Prasad @ Lalu Prasad Yadav vs State Through C.B.I., 2003 Cri 4
LJ 4452
Shyokaran and Ors. v State Of Rajasthan and Ors; 2008 CriLJ 1265 19
State (Government of NCT of Delhi) vs. Prem Raj, (2003) 7 SCC 121 16
State of Punjab and others vs. Joginder Singh and others AIR 1990 5
SC 1396
Upkar Singh vs. Ved Prakash & Ors. (2004) 13 SCC 292 4
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
§ Section
A.I.R. All India Reporter
B.P.C Indradhwaja Penal Code
Cal Calcutta High Court
Cri LJ Criminal Law Journal
CrPC Code of Criminal Procedure
E.R. England Reporter
Ed. Edition
F.I.R. First Information Report
Hon’ble Honourable
I.P.C. Indradhwaja Penal Code
K.B. Kings Bench
Ltd. Limited
M.P. Madhya Pradesh
Mad Madras High Court
P&H Punjab & Haryana Court
Raj Rajasthan High Court
S.C. Supreme Court
S.C.C. Supreme Court Cases
S.C.R. Supreme Court Reporter
Vs Versus
W.B. West Bengal
W.P. Writ Petition
STATEMENT OF JURISDICTION
The Petitioners have filed separate petitions in the Hon’ble Supreme Court Of Indradhwaja
The Petitioner State of Hansa has approached the Hon’ble court under Article 131 clause (c)-
Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the Supreme Court shall, to the exclusion of any
(c) between two or more States, if and in so far as the dispute involves any question (whether
The petitioner NGO-Help has approached the Hon’ble court under Article 32(2)-
(2) The Supreme Court shall have power to issue directions or orders or writs, including
writs in the nature of habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, quo warranto and certiorari,
whichever may be appropriate, for the enforcement of any of the rights conferred by this
Part.’
The petitioner Union Of India has approached the Hon’ble court under Article 137-
Subject to the provisions of any law made by Parliament or any rules made under Article
145, the Supreme Court shall have power to review any judgment pronounced or order made
by it.’
Accordingly the Petitioners invoke the jurisdiction of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of
STATEMENT OF FACTS
1. Political Setup
Majority of the population (60%) follows ‘Pihu’ religion while ‘Soham’ religion
constitutes about 25% of the population and the rest belong to different religions. The
On August 2, 1998, the religious leader of Pihu’s was killed by two persons identified as
Rimpo and Hardo belonging to Soham religion in Panchtara. An FIR No. 298/1998 was
registered under various statutes against 12 persons. The case was handed over to FBI.
Supreme Court confirmed death sentence of Special Court in October 2005. Governor
rejected their mercy petition and thereafter the President rejected it in April 2014. The SC
commuted it into life imprisonment on grounds of delay. Panchtara wrote a letter for
Following the assassination, riots broke out in state of Hansa and 3000 people died. The
communal hatred. An FIR No. 219/1998 was registered against 7 persons including
Rimpo and Hardo. Supreme Court confirmed their conviction and passed an order to
Review filed by Union of Indradhwaja challenging SC’s decision under FIR 219/1998,
Petition filed by Hansa to stay remission of convicts and PIL filed by an NGO to grant
remission are clubbed and are to be decided by 7 judge bench of the SC of Indradhwaja.
ISSUES RAISED
ISSUE-I
Whether F.I.R. No. 219/1998 Registered In Hansa State Was Illegal As The Acts Formed
ISSUE- II
What Is The Duration Of Life Imprisonment When Sentence Of Death Has Been Commuted
Into Sentence Of Life? Whether The Imprisonment For Life Means Till The End Of
Convict's Life?
ISSUE- III
Whether After The Refusal Of The President To Grant Pardon/Remission To The Convicts
Of F.I.R. No. 298/1998, The Provisions Of Criminal Procedure Code Of Indradhwaja Can Be
Used To Grant Remissions And Can The Union Give Consent It?
ISSUE-IV
Whether The Supreme Court Order Creating Special Category Of Sentence And Putting That
SUMMARY OF ARGUMENTS
I. WHETHER F.I.R. NO. 219/1998 REGISTERED IN HANSA STATE WAS ILLEGAL AS THE
ACTS FORMED PART OF THE SAME TRANSACTION WHICH WERE PURPORTED TO BE
INVESTIGATED IN OFFENCES REGISTERED UNDER F.I.R NO. 298/1998 OF
PANCHATARA STATE?
The charge of conspiracy is only an allied charge and that the main charges are in respect
The second FIR lies where the first FIR does not contain allegations of conspiracy.
II. WHAT IS THE DURATION OF LIFE IMPRISONMENT WHEN SENTENCE OF DEATH HAS
BEEN COMMUTED INTO SENTENCE OF LIFE? WHETHER THE IMPRISONMENT FOR LIFE
MEANS TILL THE END OF CONVICT'S LIFE?
Convict has to pass the remainder of his life in person, but for remission and
The legal position is that if a person is sentenced to imprisonment for life, he may be
detained for life in the prison but court cannot interfere on the ground of remission.
The president and the Governor while functioning as the Executive Head of the respective
bodies, only have to act based on the advice of the Council of Ministers of the Union or
the State. While exercising power under Section 432, it is to be exercised by the same
ministers.
The court may interfere if the authority, which purported to have exercised the power had
no jurisdiction to exercise it or when the impugned order went beyond the power
IV. WHETHER THE SUPREME COURT ORDER CREATING SPECIAL CATEGORY OF SENTENCE
AND PUTTING THAT CATEGORY BEYOND REMISSION IS ILLEGAL AND
UNCONSTITUTIONAL?
Judicial review is strictly judicial and thus quite different from the policy-making
functions of the executive and legislative branches. In performing their duties, judges
must take care not to intrude upon the domain of the other branches of government.
These prisons or correctional homes as they are termed humanly treat the inmates and
release them as soon as they feel that they are fit to mix up with the other members of the
community.
BODY OF PLEADINGS
UNDER ORIGINAL JURISDICTION-02 /2016
I. WHETHER FIR NO. 219/1998 REGISTERED IN HANSA STATE WAS ILLEGAL AS THE
ACTS FORMED PART OF THE SAME TRANSACTION WHICH WERE PURPORTED TO BE
INVESTIGATED IN OFFENCES REGISTERED UNDER FIR NO. 298/1998 OF PANCHATARA
STATE?
1. It is humbly submitted before the Hon’ble Bench that the FIR No. 219/1998 registered in
Hansa against the spreading of communal hatred leading to riots, was not illegal as the act
of assassination of Sasha, registered under FIR no. 298/1998 of Panchatara State did not
A. NO SAME TRANSACTION
2. Sir James Stephen defines transaction “as a group of facts so connected as to be referred
to by a single name, as a crime, a contract, a wrong or any other subject of enquiry which
may be in issue.”1 The connections between a series of acts are the essential ingredients
for those acts to constitute a same transaction and if some of them stand out
independently, they would not form part of the same transaction but would constitute
3. Where in case different persons were alleged to had been defrauded by accused, such act
could not be regarded as constituting a single series of transaction as each offence was a
distinct one. Therefore, such cases would not be covered under Section 2203 of Code of
1
Batuk Lal, “Commentary on The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973-1213”(3rd Ed Orient Publishing
Company, 2005)
2
State of A.P. v. Ganeswara Rao, AIR 1963 SC 1850 ; State v. M. Balakrishna, 1980 Cri Lj 1145 (Kant)
3
220.Trial for more than one offence.-
(1) If, in one series of acts so connected together as to form the same transaction, more offences than one are
committed by the same person, he may be charged with, and tried at one trial for, every such offence.
(2) xxx
4
State of Punjab v. Rajesh Syal, AIR 2002 SC 3687
should be recorded separately and clubbing of the several cases together should be
avoided.5
no illegality is committed where the court choose, to try different offences committed in a
series of acts, separately.7 The word ‘may’ at the beginning of the section does not make
it obligatory to hold a joint trial, even if the conditions of the section are satisfied.8
6. The Court may, in the exercise of its discretion, refuse a joint trial where, owing to the
number of persons involved and the long period covered by a conspiracy, a joint trial
would- (a) prolong the trial, or (b) cause unnecessary waste of judicial time, or (c)
confuse or cause prejudice to those accused who had taken part only in some minor
offence.
7. Where three charge-sheets were filed by the police and the magistrate passed three
separate orders of commitment for trial by the Court of Session, it was held that joint trial
5
H.S. Sadasiva v. M.S. Muthappa, 1992 CrLJ 2424 (Kant) DB
6
223.What persons may be charged jointly.
The following persons may be charged and tried together, namely:-
(a) xxx
(b) xxx
(c) xxx
(d) persons accused of different offences committed in the course of the same transaction;
(e) xxx
(f) xxx
(g) xxx
7
Mohinder Singh v. State of Punjab, (1998) 7 SCC 390
8
Bhagwan v. Delhi Admn., AIR 1975 SC 1309
9
Kanwari v State of UP, AIR 1962 SC 1198
conditions of any of the clauses of this section10 have been fulfilled or not is the time
when the accusation is made and not when the trial is concluded and the result known,
and in making this determination, the Court should examine the nature of the accusation.
9. Where the versions of the prosecution in two cases are diametrically opposite and
mutually exclusive, merely because five accused persons of one case are common in the
subsequent case, both the trials could not be consolidated and be tried together more so,
when the role attributed to those five accused persons was also different.12
10. It is submitted that in the present case, offence committed in State of Hansa did not form
the part of the offence committed in State of Panchtara. Both being distinct offences
committed at distinct places and reported under two different FIRs viz. No. 219/1998 and
No. 298/1998 were rightly investigated and tried by the States separately. Hence, no
11. Criminal Conspiracy is a separate offence under Section-120B, distinct from the offences
10
Supra Note 3
11
Kadiri Kunhahammad v. State of Madras, AIR 1960 SC 661
12
Avinash Singh v. State, 2006 Cr LJ 4152 (Chhatisgarh)
13
State of A.P. v. Kandimalla Subbaiah, AIR 1961 SC 1241; Bakhshish Singh Dhaliwal v. State of Punjab, AIR
Prevention of Corruption Act) are in respect of separate and distinct acts, i.e. money
siphoned out of different treasuries at different times, these cases could not be
amalgamated.14
13. The principle that was laid down with regard to the bar of filing of the second FIR was
only in respect of the same incident or occurrence. The court held that whether the
offences are distinct or same would necessarily have to be examined in the facts and
14. The court in the case of Babubhai vs. State of Gujarat16, held that in case the contrary is
proved, where the version in the second FIR is different and is in respect of the two
15. In the case of Nirmal Singh Kahlon vs. State of Punjab17 court has carved out an
exception for filing a second FIR. As per the exception carved out in the said case, the
second FIR lies in a case where the first FIR does not contain any allegations of criminal
conspiracy.
16. Thus, in the light of above arguments, it is humbly submitted that the investigation and
trial conducted under F.I.R No. 219/1998 is legal and justified in the eyes of law.
14
Lalu Prasad @ Lalu Prasad Yadav vs State Through C.B.I., 2003 Cri LJ 4452
15
T.T.Anthony vs. State of Kerala (2001) 6 SCC 181
16
(2010) 12 SCC 254
17
(2009) 1 SCC 441; Upkar Singh vs. Ved Prakash & Ors. (2004) 13 SCC 292
II. WHAT IS THE DURATION OF LIFE IMPRISONMENT WHEN SENTENCE OF DEATH HAS BEEN
COMMUTED INTO SENTENCE OF LIFE? WHETHER THE IMPRISONMENT FOR LIFE MEANS
TILL THE END OF CONVICT'S LIFE?
17. It is humbly submitted before the Hon’ble Bench that there has been no specific mention
of maximum duration of life imprisonment in either of the Indradhwaja Penal Code or the
Code of Criminal Procedure. The only limit prescribed is that of the minimum duration of
life imprisonment in case it has been commuted from death sentence to that of life
18. Here it is pertinent to refer to Section-433A of the CrPC which says that-
for life is imposed on conviction of a person for an offence for which death is one of the
punishments provided by law, or where a sentence of death imposed on a person has been
commuted under section 433 into one of imprisonment for life, such person shall not be
released from prison unless he had served at least fourteen years of imprisonment.
19. In State of Punjab and others vs. Joginder Singh and others18, this Court held that
Remission schemes have been introduced to ensure prison discipline and good behaviour
and not to upset sentences. If the sentence is of imprisonment for life, ordinarily the
convict has to pass the remainder of his life in person, but for remission and
commutations granted in exercise of the aforesaid powers. Even in such cases, Section
433-A of the Code of Criminal Procedure do not insist that the convict pass the remainder
18
AIR 1990 SC 1396; Ram Raj v State of Chattisgarh AIR 2010 SC 420
20. The Parliament in its wisdom chose to act in order to prevent criminals committing
heinous crimes from being released through easy remissions or substituted form of
years which may in fact act as a sufficient deterrent which may prevent criminals from
committing offences.19
21. On a conjoint reading of Sections 4520 and 5321 of the Indian Penal Code and Sections
432, 433 and 433A Cr.P.C., it is now well established that a convict awarded life sentence
has to undergo imprisonment for at least 14 years. While Sections 432 and 433 empowers
sentence of death and life imprisonment, a fetter has been imposed by the legislature on
22. In State of M.P. v. Ratan Singh23, this Court has held that “A sentence of imprisonment
for life means a sentence for the entire life of the prisoner unless the Appropriate
Government chooses to exercise its discretion to remit either the whole or a part of the
19
Maru Ram Etc. Etc vs Union Of Lndia & Anr, AIR 1980 SC 2147
20
45. "Life"
The word "life" denotes the life of a human being, unless the contrary appears from the context
21
53. Punishment
The punishments to which offenders are liable under the provisions of this Code are-
First- Death;
39
[Secondly- Imprisonment for life;]
40
[***]
Fourthly- imprisonment, which is of two descriptions, namely:-
(1) Rigorous, that is, with hard labor;
(2) Simple,
Fifthly- Forfeiture of property;
Sixthly- Fine
22
Ramraj @ Nanhoo @ Bihnu Vs. State of Chhattisgarh, AIR 2010 SC 420
23
AIR 1976 SC 1552
23. In yet another case, the court by following Gopal Vinayak Godse vs The State Of
Maharashtra24 held that to hold that imprisonment for life lasts until the last breath, and
whatever the length of remissions earned, the prisoner can claim release only if the
24. In Shri Bhagwan v. State of Rajasthan26, court held that “....therefore, in the interest of
justice, we commute the death sentence imposed on the appellant and direct that the
appellant should undergo the sentence for imprisonment for life. We further direct that the
appellant should not be released from the prison unless she had served out atleast 20 years
25. In the above case, the hon’ble Supreme Court has expressly provided that the convicts
must undergo a period of 20 years imprisonment incarceration creating a bar on the power
of the executive to grant remission till 20 years. After that the executive can exercise its
power after the said period of 20 years. Hence, nowhere it is assumed that he should be in
26. The legal position is that if a person is sentenced to imprisonment for life, he may be
detained for life in the prison but the court cannot interfere on the ground of earning
remission.28
27. The Hon'ble Apex Court in Mohamudul Hassan v. Union of India and Ors29 while
24
AIR 1961 SC 600
25
Subash Chander v. Krishan Lal and others, AIR 2001 SC 1903
26
AIR 2001 SC 2342
27
See also Prakash Dhawal Khairnar v. State of Maharashtra, AIR 2002 SC 340
28
Sambha Ji Krishan Ji. v. State of Maharashtra, AIR 1974 SC 147
29
AIR 2011 SC 165
before the State and the option lies before the State to exercise the same in appropriate
case. This is a judicial Court and hence this Court has no power which the executive has
under Section 432, Cr.P.C. or which the Governor has under Article 161 of the
Constitution.
28. In order to check all arbitrary remissions, the Code itself provides several conditions
under subsections-(2) to (5) of Sections 432 of the Code laying down basic procedure for
29. The Constitution has identified equal status of all the three institutions that means to say
the judiciary, the executive, and the legislative but by prescribing check and balance
theory, certain powers have exclusively been vested to be exercised by the sovereign
authority even having finality on the score of judicial pronouncement. Article 72 and
Article 161 vest exclusive powers of pardon with President and Governors, respectively.
In likewise manner the executive machinery has also been vested with power to issue
such administrative circulars under the guise of different enactments. The theme of short
C. TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE
30. Life without liberty is ‘lasting’ but not ‘living’ as liberty is a lifeline of every human
being. It is therefore not a matter of surprise that liberty is considered one of the most
cherished and precious possession of every human being. No one likes fetters on his
personal liberty.
31. The courts usually held it a salutary principle that ‘to shut up a man in prison longer than
30
Most. Sudama Devi v. State of Bihar, AIR 2013 SC 388
31
Ibid
32. Heinousness of crime is a factor to be considered while awarding the sentence however it
is not relevant in deciding the case of premature release.33 Premature release, of a prisoner
33. Modern trends in the field of ‘penology’ are reflected in the object of punishment which
is the correction of the wrongdoer and not wrecking gratuitous punitive vengeance on the
criminal whose so called criminal act, in many cases, may be mere manifestation of a
number of ways. Also, the court has said that the gap of 14 years between the date of
crime and the application for consideration of premature release is much more a sufficient
32
Kuljeet Singh v. Lt. Governor (famous Ranga-Billa Case), AIR 1982 SC 774
33
(1990) All Cri. LR 342 (343) (P & H)
34
Jarnail Singh v. State of Punjab & Others, 1990 CriLJ 2310
35
Dhula v. State of Rajasthan, AIR 2004 SC 423
34. It is contended that once the power of commutation/remission has been exercised in a
particular case of a convict by a Constitutional forum particularly this Court, then there
commuting/remitting the sentence of the said convict in the same case by invoking
35. In Maru Ram v. Union of India36, it was held that power under Article 72 and 161 of the
Constitution can be exercised by the Central and State Governments and not by the
President or Governor on their own. The advice of the appropriate government binds the
Head of the State. The court observed that considerations for exercise of power under Ar.
72 and 161 may be myriad and their occasions protean and are left to the appropriate
discriminatory or malafide.
36. Reading the above provisions, it is clear that the president of the Union and the Governor
of the State while functioning as the Executive Head of the respective bodies, only have
to act based on the advice of the Council of Ministers of the Union or the State. Mutatis
mutandis the power of governor. While so, when we look into the statutory prescription
contained in Sections 432 and 433 of the Code of Criminal Procedure though the exercise
of the power under both the provisions vests with the Appropriate Government either
State or the Centre, it can only be exercised by the Executive Authorities headed by the
36
AIR 1980 SC 2147
37. That the provisions regarding remission contained in CrPC, 1974 are ancillary37 to the
powers conferred on the President of India and Governors of States by Article 72 and
161, respectively.38
38. The passage in Maru Ram’s case39 to the effect that: “since Sections 432 and 433(a) are
39. While commuting the death sentence to that of imprisonment for life, on account of delay
in disposal of the mercy petition, this Court in its jurisdiction under Article 32
40. The conclusion drawn in Ashok kumar v Union of India41 was that remissions have a limited
scope. They have no significance till the exercise of power under Section 432 of the
CrPC. It was held, in the following words: "It will thus be seen from the ratio laid down
in the aforesaid two cases that where a person has been sentenced to imprisonment for life
the remissions earned by him during his internment in prison under the relevant remission
rules have a limited scope and must be confined to the scope and ambit of the said rules
and do not acquire significance until the sentence is remitted under Section 432, in which
case the remission would be subject to limitation of Section 433-A of the Code, or
constitutional power has been exercised under Article 72/161 of the Constitution.'
37
State of Haryana v. Jagdish, AIR 2010 SC 1690
38
See, 41st Report, p.248, para. 29.1
39
AIR 1980 SC 2147
40
Shatrughan Chauhan and another v. Union of India and others, (2014) 3 SCC 1
41
AIR 1991 SC 1792
power of remission under Section-432 of CrPC, 1974 is illegal and without jurisdiction
for the reason that The State Government is not the ‘appropriate Government’ in the
present case.
B.1. Express Power Given To Union By Virtue Of Proviso To Article 162(2) Of The
Constitution of Indradhwaja
(7) In this section and in section 433, the expression "appropriate Government" means,-
(a) in cases where the sentence is for an offence against, or the order referred to in
sub-section (6) is passed under, any law relating to a matter to which the executive
(b) in other cases, the Government of the State within which the offender is sentenced
43. In the recent judgement of Union of India v. V. Sriharan @ Murugan & Ors42, with similar
facts, the Hon’ble Supreme Court gave interpretation to different Constitutional provisions along
with provisions of IPC and CrPC and concluded the primacy of power of Union over the power of
43
State. It has been held that the proviso to Article 73 and 16244 contemplates that the
executive power of the State may be overcome by the executive power of the Union
through the provisions of the Constitution or any other law made by the Parliament. The
Code is, therefore, one avenue through which this may be done and has been exercised
through Section 432(7) to give primacy to the executive power of the Union.
42
WRIT PETITION NO. 48 of 2014
43
73. Extent of executive power of the Union.-
Provided that the executive power referred to in sub-clause (a) shall not, save as expressly provided in this
constitution or in any law made by Parliament, extend in any State to matters with respect in which the
Legislature of the State has also power to make laws.
44
162.Extent of executive power of State.-
Provided that in any matter with respect to which the Legislature of a State and Parliament have power to make
laws, the executive power of the State shall be subject to, and limited by, the executive power expressly
conferred by the Constitution or by any law made by Parliament upon the Union or authorities thereof.
Articles 73 and 162 read with Section 432(7) of the Code, the “appropriate Government”
in the present case would be the Central Government, as the Indian Penal Code falls
under the concurrent List, to which the executive power of the Union also extends. The
petitioner further pointed out that Articles 73 and 162 must also be read subject to Article
254 of the Constitution, which gives primacy to the law made by the Parliament.
45. In the case of G.V. Ramanaiah v. The Superintendent of Central Jail, Rajahmundry and
others45, this Court noted that though the offences fell under the provisions of the Penal
Code, which law was covered by Entry 1 of List III of the Seventh Schedule, having
regard to the special feature in that case, wherein, currency notes and bank notes to which
the offences related, were all matters falling under Entries 36 and 93 of the Union List of
the Seventh Schedule, it was held that the power of remission fell exclusively within the
46. It is further contended that when the conviction and sentence is under Section 302 I.P.C.,
alongwith the aid of TADA or any other Central Act, Central Government gets
B.2. Court’s Power To Interfere In The Grant Of Remission If Outside The Jurisdiction
Of Granting Authority
47. The court may interfere if the authority, which purported to have exercised the power had
no jurisdiction to exercise it48 or when the impugned order went beyond the power
conferred by the law upon the authority who made it, or the order was obtained by fraud
or by suppression of material facts, or the exercise of power has been malafide, e.g.
45
AIR 1974 SC 31
46
See also State Of Kerala v. Soma Thomas, 2004 Cri LJ 2222 at 2224 (Ker).
47
Union of India v. V. Sriharan @ Murugan & Ors., WRIT PETITION (CRL.) NO. 48 OF 2014
48
Swaran Singh v. State of U.P., AIR 1998 SC 2026
48. In this context, it will be worthwhile to make reference to what Dr. Ambedkar explained,
when some of the Members of the Assembly moved certain amendments to enhance the
powers of the State with particular reference to Article 60 of the Draft Constitution which
corresponds to Article 73 as was ultimately passed. In the words of Dr. Ambedkar himself
it was said: “The proposition which the proviso lays down is that if in any particular case
Parliament thinks that in passing the law which relates to the concurrent field the
execution ought to be retained by the Central Government, Parliament shall have the
power to do so…..It is only in exceptional cases that the Centre may prescribe that the
49. Thus, the State of Panchtara is not ‘an appropriate government’ under Section 432 to
sentence under Sections 432 and 433 Code of Criminal Procedure should not be exercised
except after due ‘Consultation’ with the Central Government. Since the expression ‘shall’
is used in the said sub-section, it is mandatory for the State Government to resort to the
49
Hukam Singh v. State of Punjab, AIR 1975 P & H 148
50
Constituent Assembly Debates, Volume II.
51
435. State Government to act after consultation with Central Government in certain cases.
(1) The powers conferred by sections 432 and 433 upon the State Government to remit or commute a sentence,
in any case where the sentence Is for an offence-
(2) No order of suspension, remission or commutation of sentences passed by the State Government in relation
to a person, who has been convicted of offences, some of which relate to matters to which the executive power of
the Union extends, and who has been sentenced to separate terms of imprisonment which are to run
concurrently, shall have effect unless an order for the suspension, remission or commutation, as the case may
be, of such sentences has also been made by the Central Government in relation to the offences committed by
such person with regard to matters to which the executive power of the Union extends.
51. If a convict is sentenced under more than one offence, one or some relating to the
executive power of the State Government and the other relating to the Executive Power of
52. The Nine-Judge Constitution Bench of this Court reported in Supreme Court Advocates
on Record Association and ors. v. Union of India52, the court said that the phraseology
used in Article-124 indicates that giving absolute discretion or the power of veto to the
Chief Justice of India as an individual in the matter of appointments was not considered
desirable, so that there should remain some power with the executive to be exercised as a
check, whenever necessary. It was for this reason that the word ‘‘Consultation’’ instead
53. Again in a recent decision of this Court reported in State of Gujarat and Anr. v. Justice
R.A. Mehta (Retired) and ors.53, the court said that the meaning of “Consultation” varies
from case to case, depending upon its fact situation and the context of the statute as well
as the object it seeks to achieve. Ordinarily, ‘Consultation’ means a free and fair
discussion on a particular subject, revealing all material that the parties possess in relation
to each other and then arriving at a decision. However, in a situation where one of the
consultees has primacy of opinion under the statute, either specifically contained in a
52
(1993) 4 SCC 441
53
(2013) 3 SCC 1
IV. WHETHER THE SUPREME COURT ORDER CREATING SPECIAL CATEGORY OF SENTENCE
AND PUTTING THAT CATEGORY BEYOND REMISSION IS ILLEGAL AND
UNCONSTITUTIONAL?
A. JUDICIAL ACTIVISM
54. While giving the punishment of life imprisonment beyond remission, suspending the
government from discharging its statutory function and legislating a new category of
offenders, Judiciary has encroached upon the powers of Executive and Legislature
respectively.54
55. It was contended that giving punishment for an offence was indeed a judicial function but
once the judgment was pronounced and punishment awarded the matter no longer
remained in the hands of the Court.55 The execution of the punishment passed into the
hands of the executive and under the scheme of the statute the Court had no control over
the execution.56
56. Broadly, Section- 432 of CrPC statutorily empowers the appropriate Government to
suspend the execution of a sentence or to remit the whole or any part of the punishment of
a convict.57 But, the statute also provides for some inherent procedural and substantive
checks on the arbitrary exercise of this power.58 It appears to us that an exercise of power
by the appropriate Government under sub-section (1) of Section 432 of the Cr.P.C. cannot
54
C.J.I. Hon’ble Mr. K.G. Balakrishnan ,‘Judicial Activism Under The Indian Constitution’ (Paper presented at
Trinity College Dublin, Ireland – October 14, 2009)
55
Sarat Chandra Rabha v. Khagendranath Nath, AIR 1961 SC 334
56
State (Government of NCT of Delhi) vs. Prem Raj, (2003) 7 SCC 121.
57
Section 432(1) of CrPC
58
Supra Note 19
57. Courts cannot create rights where none exists nor can they go on making orders which are
view to see that judicial activism does not become judicial adventurism, the courts must
58. Judicial review is strictly judicial and thus quite different from the policy-making
functions of the executive and legislative branches. In performing their duties, judges
must take care not to intrude upon the domain of the other branches of government.60
59. In England, the legislature itself has, by enacting Murder (Abolition of Death Penalty)
Act 1965, suspended the death penalty in England, Wales and Scotland and introduced a
60. In the present case, the judiciary has encroached upon the legislative function as the term
‘punishment for life imprisonment till the end of natural life’ has not been categorically
defined either in IPC or CrPC. The legislature expressly provided for such punishment by
the Amendment of 2013 in the IPC for offences relating to women u/s 376-A and 376-E
of I.P.C. It is an established rule that without any express provision the judiciary cannot
take the matter in their own hands and legislate by imposing such a sentence of life
61. Reformative theory forms a crucial part of the theory of criminal justice. It aims at
59
Divisional Manager, Aravali Golf Course v. Chander Haas (2008) 1 SCC 683
60
Prof James Bradley Thayer , 'The Origin and Scope of the American Doctrine of Constitutional Law' Harvard
Law Review in 1893
institutions can lead a life like a normal citizen. These prisons or correctional homes as
they are termed humanly treat the inmates and release them as soon as they feel that they
62. The court in the case of Most. Sudama Devi vs The State Of Bihar & Ors said that- graver the
crime, longer the sentence and, longer the sentence, grater the need for set-offs and
63. Here it is pertinent to refer to Article 10(3) of International Covenant on Civil and
The penitentiary system shall comprise treatment of prisoners the essential aim of which
segregated from adults and be accorded treatment appropriate to their age and legal
status.
64. The system of remission, if executed properly, works wonders in the field of reformation,
can have a detrimental effect on the faith of prisoners if applied arbitrarily by corrupt
elements. It is desirable to extend the scope of remissions and to allow a great number of
days by way of remission, as that would stimulate the desire for harder work and good
behaviour. Moreover, it would help to lessen the overcrowding that otherwise becomes a
65. In State of Haryana v. Jagdish 64, the court said,” It is true that a convict undergoing a
61
Bishnu Dayal v State Of West Bengal; AIR 1979 SC 964
62
AIR 2013 SC 388
63
M.J. Sethana, Society and the Criminal, N.M. Tripathi; 4th edition (1980), pg.- 339
64
2010) 4 SCC 216 ; State of Haryana v. Mahender Singh,(2007) 13 SCC 606
66. Reformation seeks to bring about a change in the offender’s character itself so as to
reclaim him as a useful member of society. Increasing weight has been attached to this
aspect. Less frequent use of imprisonment, the abandonment of short sentences, the
attempt to use prison as training rather than a pure punishment, and the greater
employment of probation, parole and suspended sentences are evidence of this general
trend.65
67. A crime is committed as a result of the conflict between the character and the motive of
the criminal. One may commit a crime either because the temptation of the motive is
stronger or because the restrain imposed by character is weaker. The reformative theory
seems to strengthen the character of the man so that he may not become victim of his own
function of medicine.66
68. The legal maxim, “Veniae facilitas incentivum est delinquendi”, is a caveat to the exercise
69. The two dissenting judges, however, reasoned that a life convict so deprived of the
benefit of remission would be in a far worse situation than a death-row convict, who
65
P.J. Fitzgerald, Salmond on Jurisprudence, Universal Law Publishing Co., 12th Edition
66
Shyokaran and Ors. v State Of Rajasthan and Ors; 2008 CriLJ 1265
67
Report of the Indian Jail Committee (1999-20) Vol. I Para 248
68
Union of India v. Sriharan@Murgan, WRIT PETITION (CRL.) NO. 48 OF 2014
In the light of the issues raised, authorities cited and arguments advanced, it is humbly
a. That the F.I.R No. 219/1998 registered at State of Hansa is not illegal.
b. That this court in the interest of justice, issue orders to Union Government not to consent
for grant of remission to the persons convicted under F.I.R No. 219/1998.
c. That the convicts be transferred to State of Hansa for serving rest of their sentence.
a. That the convicts Rimpo and Hardo be released from jail as they have already suffered 16
years of incarceration.
a. That the order of Supreme Court under F.I.R No. 219/1998 be declared as illegal and
unconstitutional.
And any other relief that this Hon‟ble Court may be pleased to grant in the interest of justice,
And for this act of kindness Your Lordships petitioners shall as duty bound ever pray.
S.D./-