Friday, 11 January 2013

Dismissal of Private Complaint

  Citation Name  : 2012  PCrLJ  1595     PESHAWAR-HIGH-COURT-NWFP
  Side Appellant : HAKEEM FAZAL ELLAHI
  Side Opponent : MUHAMMAD DIN
Ss. 249-A, 203 & 417---Shariah Nizam-e-Adl Regulation, 2009, para. 10(1)---Penal Code (XLV of 1860)---S. 427---Mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees---Appeal against acquittal---dismissal of private complaint for non-prosecution ---Time frame for deciding criminal cases under Nizam-e-Adl Regulation, 2009---Allegation against the accused persons (respondents) was that they had cut trees in the property of the complainant (appellant), the value of which was approximately Rs.100,000---Trial Court dismissed the complaint against the accused persons for non-prosecution and acquitted them under S.249-A, Cr.P.C.--- Contentions of the complainant were that impugned order was patently illegal as same had been passed because of non-appearance of the complainant; that the Trial Court had ignored the principles of criminal jurisprudence that case should be decided on the basis of evidence produced by the parties and no one should be deprived of his valuable right on technical grounds; that Shariah Nizam-e-Adl Regulation, 2009, did provide time frame for deciding criminal cases but it never empowered the courts to dismiss the suit or complaint for non-prosecution ---Validity---Perusal of impugned order clearly showed that the Trial Court did not follow the legal procedure---No charge was framed against the accused persons and the Trial Court acted in haste in acquitting the accused under S.249-A, Cr.P.C., at a very initial stage without affor ding an opportunity to the complainant to prove his allegations against the accused persons---Appeal against acquittal was allowed, impugned order of Trial Court was set aside and the case was remanded to the Trial Court for deciding the private complaint strictly in accordance with law after recording evidence. 
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