Deep Appreciation Of Facts Not Required At Stage Of Framing Charges
Case: Mashooq Ahmad Beigh V Union Territory Of J&K & Ors
Coram: Justice Sanjay Dhar
Case No.: CRM(M) No.99/2022
Court Observation: “It is a settled law that while considering the case for charge or discharge of an accused, the court is not required to enter into deeper appreciation of the facts. The evidence and the material available before the trial court is not to be scanned and evaluated in the manner as if the court has to find whether the accused has committed the offence or he is innocent. At the stage of framing of charge, the court has only to consider the material for framing opinion as to whether prima facie offence is committed which would require the accused to be put on trial. A strong suspicion is enough to suggest commission of offence by an accused. At the stage of framing of charge, the court has to merely sift the evidence in order to find out whether or not there are sufficient grounds for proceeding against the accused. A meticulous examination of the record, in order to find whether the accused can be held guilty on the basis of the said material, is not to be undertaken.”
In this background the Court observed, a confessional statement made by an accused in the custody of police which leads to discovery of a fact is admissible in evidence. Thus, the statement of the co-accused Suresh Kumar, to the extent it relates to the recovery of charas that had been concealed inside the truck, is definitely admissible in evidence. There is also material on record which substantiates the fact that the petitioner happens to be the owner of the truck in question.
“there is sufficient material on record of the challan to connect the petitioner with the alleged crime. The trial court was, therefore, justified in framing the charge against the petitioner and putting him to trial. The jurisdiction of this court to interfere with an order of framing of charge is very limited and in the absence of any grave illegality or perversity in the order framing charge against the petitioner, this Court would be reluctant to interfere with the said order.”
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Keywords
Deep Appreciation Of Facts, Framing Charges
