Equivalent Citation: AIR1989SC598, 1989CriLJ986, 1989(1)Crimes343(SC), JT1988(4)SC715, 1988(2)SCALE1578, 1989Supp(2)SCC770, [1988 Supp3SCR1093, 1989(1)!

J394(SC)

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Criminal Appeal No. 640 of 1988 Decided On: 16.12.1988 Appellants: State (Delhi Administration) Vs Respondent: !a"#it Sin"h Hon$%le !&d"es' B.C. Ra and N.D. O!"a# $$. Co&nsels' %or Appellant&'etitioner&'laintiff: B. Datta# Additional (olicitor )eneral# *itt (+."as"ini# Ad/s. %or Respondents&Defendant: 0arde/ (in-" and R.*. A-niotri# Ad/s. S&%#e(t' Criminal A(ts)R&les)Orders' Criminal 'roced+re Code 1Cr'C2# 1934 5 (ections 406 and 4086 Criminal 'roced+re Code 1Cr'C2# 1898 5 (ections 443 and 4496 Constit+tion of 7ndia 5 Article 21426 8/idence Act# 1832 5 (ection 142 Cases Re*erred' (tate /. *artar (in-" Naran- etc.6 A.$. 'eiris /. (tate of ,adras# ,AN9&(C&01:3&19:46 Prior Histor+' %rom t"e $+d-ment and Order dated 23.4.1983 of t"e Del"i 0i-" Co+rt in Crl. Re/. No. 221 of 1986 Dis,osition' Appeal allo;ed Citin" Re*eren(e' (tate /. *artar (in-" Naran- etc. Disc+ssed 8mperor /. ("andino D"aniparto Disc+ssed A.$. 'eiris /. (tate of ,adras Disc+ssed <a=mipat C"oraria and Ors. /. (tate of ,a"aras"tra Disc+ssed !UD-MENT . C Ra+/ ! 1. (pecial lea/e -ranted. 0eard learned Co+nsel for t"e parties. 2. >"e prosec+tion case# in s"ort# is t"at to create fear and terror# to commit m+rder and to a--ra/ate tense sit+ation some persons "atc"ed a conspirac to massacre t"e -eneral p+.lic . placin- transistor .om.s at p+.lic places and also . placin- t"em in p+.lic transports as trains# .+ses etc. ,an e=plosions too? place in ,a 198: in Del"i and parts of 9ttar 'rades" in conse@+ence ;"ereof man persons ;ere ?illed in Del"i and some places in 9ttar 'rades". (e/eral cases ;ere re-istered in different police stations of Ali-ar"# )"aAia.ad# ,eer+t and *"e?ra etc. 7n Del"i %.7.R. No. 248 of 198: ;as re-istered i.e. (tate /. *artar (in-" Naran- etc. ;"erein all t"e acc+sed persons named t"erein ;ere arrested e=cept one )+rdeep (in-" (e"-al ;"o ;as declared as a proclaimed offender. >"e acc+sed $a-!it (in-" and )+r/inder (in-" t+rned appro/ers and t"e ;ere -ranted pardon +nder (ection 408 of t"e Cr'C# 1934. >"e ;ere e=amined as '.B. 1 and '.B. 2 in t"e committal case proceedin- in t"e co+rt of C"ief ,etropolitan ,a-istrate on Decem.er 24# 198:. Bot" t"ese appro/ers resiled from t"eir statements in t"e co+rt of t"e Committin1

*+mar ,an-alam and A.

,a-istrate. >"e acc+sed persons ;ere committed to t"e Co+rt of (essions to stand t"eir trial for offences +nder (ections 121# 121A# 1:4# 1:4A# 402 and 403 7.'.C. and (ections 4# : and 6 of 8=plosi/es (+.stances Act. 4. On %e.r+ar 23# 1986# (+r!it *a+r# anot"er acc+sed in t"e >ransistor Bom. Case# a-ainst ;"om cases ;ere pendin- in t"e ,eer+t# )"aAia.ad and Ali-ar" Districts of 9.'.# mo/ed an application +nder (ection 406 of t"e Cr'C .efore t"is Co+rt for transfer of criminal case pendin- in t"e co+rt of ,eer+t to a co+rt in Del"i. >"is Co+rt after "earin- Co+nsel for t"e (tate of 9ttar 'rades" "as directed t"at criminal cases referred to at (erial Nos. 1# 2# 4 and : in para-rap" 2 of t"e transfer petition stand transferred to t"e Co+rt of t"e C"ief ,etropolitan ,a-istrate# Del"i and s"all .e tried alon- ;it" t"e case instit+ted in t"e Co+rt of t"e C"ief ,etropolitan ,a-istrate# Del"i arisin- o+t of %.7.R. No. 248 of 198: of 'olice (tation# 'atel Na-ar# Ne; Del"i. B"en t"e matter ;as ta?en +p in t"e Co+rt of (essions# t"e respondent# $a-!it (in-"# t"e appro/er mo/ed an application t"at "e cannot .e e=amined as a ;itness as "e "ad not accepted t"e pardon and did not s+pport t"e prosec+tion /ersion and "e ;as forced to ma?e a ;ron- statement . t"e police .efore t"e ,etropolitan ,a-istrate. >"e application ;as re!ected . t"e >rial $+d-e after "earin- t"e ar-+ments of t"e parties on ,arc" 1# 1986. 4. A-ainst t"is order# a Criminal Re/ision 'etition No. 92 of 1986 ;as filed . t"e respondent# $a-!it (in-" in t"e 0i-" Co+rt at Del"i. >"is application ;as "eard . $a-dis" C"andra# $ ;"o dismissed t"e petition on A+-+st 12# 1986 "oldin- t"at t"e mandate of t"e la; re@+irin- t"at t"e appro/er s"all .e e=amined .ot" .efore t"e Committin- ,a-istrate as ;ell as d+rin- trial as a ;itness# is .indin- not onl on t"e trial co+rt and t"e prosec+tion .+t also on t"e appro/er as ;ell. :. >"ereafter# one of t"e acc+sed persons ;"o ;as a proclaimed offender ;as arrested and a s+pplementar c"allan ;as filed in t"e Co+rt of ,etropolitan ,a-istrate# Del"i. >"e respondent# $a-!it (in-" ;as so+-"t to .e e=amined as an appro/er . t"e prosec+tion# in t"e said s+pplementar committal proceedin- in %.7.R. No. 248 of 198:. >"e respondent o.!ected to "is .ein- s+mmoned as an appro/er on t"e -ro+nd inter alia t"at "e cannot .e e=amined as a ;itness in a case t"o+-" "e is fi-+rin- as an acc+sed person in ot"er fi/e cases on t"e same facts and circ+mstances ;"ic" are .ein- !ointl tried. >"e C"ief ,etropolitan ,a-istrate# Del"i dismissed t"e application . "is order dated Octo.er 6# 1986. A-ainst t"is order t"e respondent# $a-!it (in-" filed Criminal Re/ision 'etition No. 221 of 1986. ,.*. C"a;la# $ after "earin- t"e parties allo;ed t"e Re/ision 'etition and directed t"e (tate not to e=amine t"e respondent5 appro/er as an appro/er in case %.7.R. No. 248 of 198:. 6. A--rie/ed . t"is order t"is appeal . special lea/e "as .een filed . (tate. 3. 7t "as .een +r-ed t"at t"e statement recorded +nder (ection 164 of t"e Cr'C ;as not made . t"e respondent# $a-!it (in-" /ol+ntaril .+t it ;as o.tained +nder coercion . t"e police. 7t "as also .een contended t"at "e resiled from "is statements in t"e co+rt of t"e Committin- ,a-istrate and "e "as not accepted t"e pardon -ranted to "im . t"e ,a-istrate. 0e s"o+ld .e arra ed as an acc+sed in t"e case %.7.R. No. 248&8: and s"o+ld .e tried as an acc+sed alon- ;it" ot"er acc+sed in t"e said case. >"is contention is not tena.le in as m+c" as t"e pardon -ranted to t"e respondent# $a-!it (in-" ;as accepted . "im and ot"er appro/er# )+r/inder (in-" ;"o ;ere e=amined as '.B. 1 and '.B. 2 in t"e co+rt of t"e Committin- ,a-istrate. >"ese appro/ers# of co+rse# resiled from t"eir statement in t"e co+rt of t"e Committin- ,a-istrate. 7t "as t"erefore# .een s+.mitted t"at t"e prosec+tion cannot e=amine "im as a ;itness in t"e said case as "e "as cast a;a t"e pardon -ranted to "im. >"is s+.mission# in o+r considered opinion# is not tena.le in as m+c" as (+.5section 142 of (ection 406 of Cr'C clearl en!oins t"at a person acceptin- a tender of pardon "as to .e e=amined as a ;itness in t"e co+rt of t"e ,a-istrate ta?inco-niAance of t"e offence and in t"e s+.se@+ent trial# if an . 7t is t"erefore# a mandate of t"e pro/isions of t"e said Act to t"e prosec+tion to e=amine t"e appro/er to ;"om pardon "as .een -ranted as a ;itness .ot" in t"e Committin- Co+rt as ;ell as in t"e trial co+rt. 7t does not matter ;"et"er t"e appro/er "as resiled from "is statement and "as not made a f+ll and tr+e disclos+re of ;"ole of t"e circ+mstances ;it"in "is ?no;led-e relatin- to t"e offence so lon- as t"e '+.lic 'rosec+tor does not certif t"at in "is opinion t"e appro/er "as eit"er ;ilf+ll concealed an t"in- essential or "as -i/en false e/idence contrar to t"e condition on ;"ic" t"e tender of pardon ;as made. 8. 7t "as .een ne=t contended t"at t"e -rant of pardon is in t"e nat+re of a contract .et;een t"e (tate -rantin- t"e pardon on t"e one "and and t"e person acceptin- t"e pardon on t"e ot"er "and. As t"e (tate "as t"e po;er to re/o?e t"e pardon at an time t"e appro/er "as also -ot t"e reciprocal ri-"t to cast a;a t"e pardon -ranted to "im. >"is s+.mission is also not tena.le. >"e po;er to -rant pardon carries ;it" it t"e ri-"t to impose a condition limitin- t"e operation of s+c" a pardon. 0ence a pardonin- po;er can attac" an condition# precedent or s+.se@+ent so lon- as it is not ille-al# immoral or impossi.le of performance. (ection
2

406 clearl en!oins t"at t"e appro/er ;"o ;as -ranted pardon "ad to compl ;it" t"e condition of ma?in- a f+ll and tr+e disclos+re of t"e ;"ole of t"e circ+mstances ;it"in "is ?no;led-e relati/e to t"e offence and to e/er ot"er concerned ;"et"er as principal or a.ettor# in t"e commission t"ereof. 7t is .eca+se of t"is mandate# t"e (tate cannot ;it"dra; t"e pardon from t"e appro/er nor t"e appro/er can cast a;a t"e pardon -ranted to "im till "e is e=amined as a ;itness . t"e prosec+tion .ot" in t"e Committin- Co+rt as ;ell as in t"e trial co+rt. >"e appro/er ma "a/e resiled from t"e statement made .efore t"e ,a-istrate in t"e Committin- Co+rt and ma not "a/e complied ;it" t"e condition on ;"ic" pardon ;as -ranted to "im# still t"e prosec+tion "as to e=amine "im as a ;itness in t"e trial co+rt. 7t is onl ;"en t"e '+.lic 'rosec+tor certifies t"at t"e appro/er "as not complied ;it" t"e conditions on ;"ic" t"e tender ;as made . ;ilf+ll concealin- an t"in- essential or . -i/in- false e/idence# "e ma .e tried +nder (ection 408 of t"e Cr'C not onl for t"e offence in respect of ;"ic" pardon ;as -ranted .+t also in respect of ot"er offences. 7n t"ese circ+mstances# t"e @+estion of castin- a;a t"e pardon -ranted to an appro/er and "is claim not to .e e=amined . t"e prosec+tion as a ;itness .efore t"e trial co+rt is ;it"o+t an s+.stance. 7t "as .een s+.mitted in t"is connection . citin- a decision 7n re Ar+sami )o+ndan A7R 19:9 1,ad2 234 t"at t"e accomplice ;"o "as .een tendered a pardon if at an sta-e eit"er ;ilf+ll conceals material partic+lars or -i/es false e/idence and t"ere. fails to compl ;it" t"e conditions on ;"ic" pardon ;as tendered to "im and t"ere. inc+rs its forfeit+re "e s"o+ld not .e compelled . t"e prosec+tion to .e e=amined as a ;itness .efore t"e trial co+rt. 7t "as .een o.ser/ed e/en in t"e said case t"at t"e pro/isions of (ection 443122 of t"e old Cr'C# 1898 1: of 18982 pro/ide t"at t"e appro/er ;"o "as .een tendered pardon m+st .e e=amined .ot" in t"e Committin- Co+rt and t"e Co+rt of (essions. 7t "as .een "eld t"at: >"e o.li-ation to ma?e a f+ll and tr+e disclos+re ;o+ld arise ;"ene/er t"e appro/er is la;f+ll called +pon to -i/e e/idence to+c"in- t"e matter6 it ma .e in t"e Committin- co+rt# or# it ma .e in t"e (essions Co+rt. B+t# t"e o.li-ation to ma?e a f+ll and tr+e disclos+re rests on t"e appro/er at e/er sta-e at ;"ic" "e can .e la;f+ll re@+ired to -i/e e/idence. 7f at an sta-e "e eit"er ;ilf+ll conceals material partic+lars or -i/es false e/idence "e ;o+ld "a/e failed to compl ;it" t"e conditions on ;"ic" t"e pardon ;as tendered to "im and t"ere. inc+rred its forfeit+re. Neit"er as a matter of reason or lo-ic# nor as a matter of stat+tor interpretation can it .e said t"at (ection 449112 is dependent on or connected ;it" (ection 443122 in t"e sense t"at t"e appro/er m+st .e e=amined .ot" in t"e Committin- Co+rt and t"e (essions Co+rt .efore it can .e "eld t"at "e "as forfeited "is pardon. 7t is s+fficient if "e fails to conform to t"e conditions on ;"ic" t"e pardon "as .een -ranted to "im at eit"er sta-e. 9. >"is decision "as .een considered in 8mperor /. ("andino D"aniparto A7R 1940 1(ind2 114 ;"erein it "as .een "eld t"at: B"en an acc+sed after acceptin- pardon denies all ?no;led-e of facts .efore t"e Committin- ,a-istrate and t"e case is committed to (essions Co+rt t"e pardon cannot .e forfeited .efore t"e acc+sed is e=amined in t"e (essions Co+rt. Once a pardon is tendered and accepted# (ection 443122 renders it o.li-ator for t"e prosec+tion to e=amine t"e appro/er .ot" in t"e Committin- ,a-istrateCs Co+rt and in t"e (essions Co+rt s"o+ld t"e case .e committed. %ail+re of t"e prosec+tion to e=amine t"e appro/er in t"e (essions Co+rt /itiates t"e trial. 10. >"e pro/isions of (ections 443 and 449 of t"e old Cr'C are almost in identical terms ;it" t"e pro/isions of (ections 406 and 408 of t"e Cr'C# 1934. >"is s+.mission on a plain readin- of t"ese sections# cannot .e s+stained. 11. 7t "as .een +r-ed ;it" -reat /e"emence t"at t"e appellant# $a-!it (in-" ;as -ranted pardon ;it" re-ard to case %.7.R. No. 248 of 198: ;"ereas "is name appears as an acc+sed in t"e ot"er fo+r cases ;"ic" "a/e .een directed to .e tried alon- ;it" a.o/e case ;"erein t"e facts are almost similar. >"e appellant5appro/er in s+c" circ+mstances s"o+ld not .e e=amined . t"e prosec+tion as a ;itness in as m+c" as "is e/idence ma .e +sed in t"e ot"er criminal cases ;"erein "e fi-+res as an acc+sed. >"is is a-ainst t"e protection -i/en . Article 2142 of t"e Constit+tion of 7ndia. 7t "as# t"erefore# .een s+.mitted t"at t"e order dated April 23# 1983 passed in Re/ision 'etition No. 221 of 1986 directin- t"e (tate not to e=amine t"e appro/er as a ;itness s"o+ld not .e set aside. >"is contention is also not tena.le in as m+c" as once an acc+sed is -ranted pardon +nder (ection 406 of t"e Cr'C# "e ceases to .e an acc+sed and .ecomes a ;itness for t"e prosec+tion. >"e onl condition imposed . t"e pro/isions of t"e Act is t"at t"e appro/er m+st ma?e a f+ll and tr+e disclos+re of t"e ;"ole of t"e circ+mstances ;it"in "is ?no;led-e relatin- to t"e offence and to e/er ot"er concerned# ;"et"er as principal or a.ettor# in t"e commission t"ereof. (o lon- as t"e 'rosec+tion does not certif t"at "e "as failed to do so "e contin+es to .e a ;itness and t"e prosec+tion is +nder o.li-ation to e=amine "im as a ;itness .ot" in t"e Committin- Co+rt as ;ell as in t"e trial co+rt. >"is
4

"as .een made /er clear . t"is Co+rt in t"e case of A.$. 'eiris /. (tate of ,adras ,AN9&(C&01:3&19:4 ;"erein it "as .een o.ser/ed t"at: ...Be t"in? t"at t"e moment t"e pardon ;as tendered to t"e acc+sed "e m+st .e pres+med to "a/e .een disc"ar-ed ;"ere+pon "e ceased to .e an acc+sed and .ecame a ;itness. 12. Be "a/e alread "eld "erein.efore t"at (+.5section 4 of (ection 406 casts an o.li-ation on t"e prosec+tion to e=amine t"e appro/er .ot" in t"e Committin- Co+rt as ;ell as in t"e trial co+rt. (o t"e appellant ;"o "as .een -ranted pardon in case %.7.R. No. 248&8: "as to .e e=amined . t"e prosec+tion in t"e trial co+rt no matter t"at "e "as resiled from "is earlier statement and tried to conceal ;"at ;as ;it"in "is ?no;led-e ;it" re-ard to t"e offence in @+estion. 7t ;ill .e pertinent to mention "ere (ection 142 of t"e 7ndian 8/idence Act# 1832 ;"ic" la s do;n t"at: A ;itness s"all not .e e=c+sed from ans;erin- an @+estion as to an matter rele/ant to t"e matter in iss+e in an s+it or in an ci/il or criminal proceedin-s# +pon t"e -ro+nd t"at t"e ans;er to s+c" @+estion ;ill criminate# or ma tend directl or indirectl to criminate# s+c" ;itness# or t"at it ;ill e=pose# or tend directl or indirectl to e=pose# s+c" ;itness to a penalt or forfeit+re of an ?ind. 'ro/iso5'ro/ided t"at no s+c" ans;er# ;"ic" a ;itness s"all .e compelled to -i/e# s"all s+.!ect "im to an arrest or prosec+tion# or .e a-ainst "im in an criminal proceedin-# e=cept a prosec+tion for -i/in- false e/idence . s+c" ans;er. 14. >"erefore# a ;itness is le-all .o+nd to ans;er an @+estion ;"ic" is rele/ant to t"e matter in iss+e e/en if t"e ans;er to s+c" @+estion is li?el to criminate "im directl or indirectl . 'ro/iso to (ection 142 e=pressl pro/ides t"at s+c" ans;er ;"ic" a ;itness is compelled to -i/e s"all not s+.!ect "im to an arrest or prosec+tion nor t"e same can .e pro/ed a-ainst "im in an criminal proceedin- e=cept a prosec+tion for -i/in- false e/idence . s+c" ans;er. >"e pro/isions of pro/iso to (ection 142 of t"e 7ndian 8/idence Act clearl protect a ;itness from .ein- prosec+ted on t"e .asis of t"e ans;ers -i/en . "im in a criminal proceedin- ;"ic" tend to criminate "im directl or indirectl . 7n /ie; of t"is pro/ision# t"e appre"ension of t"e respondent t"at "is e/idence as appro/er ;ill .e +sed a-ainst "im in t"e ot"er fo+r criminal cases ;"ere "e fi-+res as an acc+sed is ;it"o+t an .asis. On t"e ot"er "and# "e is a.sol+tel protected from criminal prosec+tion on t"e .asis of t"e e/idence to .e -i/en . "im ;"en e=amined . t"e prosec+tion as an appro/er in t"e said case. >"is s+.mission of t"e respondent is# t"erefore# not tena.le. 7t is pertinent to refer in t"is connection t"e decision of t"is Co+rt in <a=mipat C"oraria and Ors. /. (tate of ,a"aras"tra D1968E 2 (CR 626 ;"erein it "as .een o.ser/ed . 0ida at+lla"# $ as "e t"en ;as t"at: ...9nder (ection 142 a ;itness s"all not .e e=c+sed from ans;erin- an @+estion as to an matter rele/ant to t"e matter in iss+e in an criminal proceedin- 1amon- ot"ers2 +pon t"e -ro+nd t"at t"e ans;er to s+c" @+estion ;ill incriminate or ma tend directl or indirectl to e=pose "im to a penalt or forfeit+re of an ?ind. >"e safe-+ard to t"is comp+lsion is t"at no s+c" ans;er ;"ic" t"e ;itness is compelled to -i/e e=poses "im to an arrest or prosec+tion or can it .e pro/ed a-ainst "im in an criminal proceedin- e=cept a prosec+tion for -i/in- false e/idence . s+c" ans;er. 14. (o (ection 142 of t"e 8/idence Act s+fficientl protects "im since "is testimon does not -o a-ainst "im. 1:. %or t"e reasons aforesaid# t"e appeal is allo;ed. >"e !+d-ment and order dated April 23# 1983 passed in Re/ision 'etition No. 221 of 1986 is "ere. set aside.