Rubt Three: This Dakshinamoorthy & Ors is a case arising under 313 of Cr.P.C. I raised legal issues having far reaching consequence on the fundamental rights of an Accused under the Constitutional of India. The Madras High Court rejected my stand that the Accused is not entitled to be furnished in advance the questionnaire under Section 313 Cr.P.C.
by
Sekar Reporter
·
April 24, 2020
[4/24, 22:00] Rubt Three: This Dakshinamoorthy & Ors is a case arising under 313 of Cr.P.C. I raised legal issues having far reaching consequence on the fundamental rights of an Accused under the Constitutional of India. The Madras High Court rejected my stand that the Accused is not entitled to be furnished in advance the questionnaire under Section 313 Cr.P.C. My contention was accepted by the Supreme Court 15 years later in another case from Manipur High Court The questions were: i) During the proceedings under Section 313 of Cr.P.C., whether the accused is entitled to secure consultancy and advice from his counsel as to what type of answer he should give personally. If it is not, will it not be violative of his fundamental right as contemplated under Articles 21 and 22(1) of the Constitution of India. (ii) Whether an accused is entitled to be furnished with the questionnaire under Section 313 of Cr.P.C in advance for reflection of mind, time and reasonable opportunity to understand it and to make an effective personal explanation to the trial court. If not, will it not be violative of Articles 14, 19(1)(a) and 21 of the Constitution of India. (iii) When there is no specific bar in Section 313 of Cr.P.C., (1) that an accused cannot secure consultancy and advice from his counsel; (2) that he should not be furnished with copy of the questionnaire and (3) that he is not entitled for reflection of mind, time and opportunity and if he is denied of such rights, will it not be violative of the fundamental rights of an accused as contemplated under Articles 14, 19(1)(a), 21 and 22(1) of the Constitution of India and the principles of natural justice. My stand for the petitioners was that the fundamental right of the accused to consult and secure advice of his counsel as contemplated under Article 22(1) of the Constitution of India continues till the termination the trial and it cannot be interrupted or suspended at the time of proceedings under Section 313 of Cr.P.C and Section 313 does not place a bar on the accused from securing legal advice and consultancy at that stage and the accused is entitled to be furnished in writing all those circumstances appearing in the evidence against him and he is entitled sufficient time for reflection of mind answering the questions in consultancy and failure works to great prejudice and disadvantage particularly when Section 313(4) of Cr.P.C contemplates that the answer given by an accused either under Section 313(1)(a) or (b) can be taken into consideration against him for any other offence when such answers may tend to show he has committed and to relieve him from such hardship, the Court has to supply the questionnaire in advance. It was further contended by me that the accused after being supplied with the copies of police report and other documents under Section 207 Cr.P.C. and is given enough time to answer the charge against him and likewise the accused is given enough time in proceedings under Sections 164 and 306 Cr.P.C and in the same way the accused is entitled for time for reflection of mind for answering the questions under Section 313 Cr.P.C and the word “personally to explain” in Section 313(1) has to be interpreted as personal explanation after securing legal consultancy and advice. The refusal to furnish the questionnaire to accused well in advance to answer them in consultancy and advice with his Counsel in proceedings under Section 313 of the Code amounts to violation of fundamental right contemplated under Articles 21 and 22(1) of the Constitution of India. The Supreme Court held that Accused is entitled to copy of the questionnaire under Section 313 of Cr.P.C. [4/24, 22:19] Sekarreporter: 🙏🏽🙏🏽 [4/24, 22:27] Sekarreporter: இப்போ பதிவிட்ட வழக்கு 313 குற்றவியல் சட்டத்தில் நீதி மன்றம் எதிரியை கேள்வி கேட்கும் முன் நீதி மன்றம் எழுத்து மூலம் முன்னதாக கொடுக்க வேண்டும் குற்றவாளி அதை தன் வழக்குரைஞரிடம் ஆலோசித்து பதில் கொடுக்க வேண்ம் அது குற்றவாளியின் உரிமை என்று வாதித்ததை சென்னை நீதி மன்றம் நிராகரித்தது. 15 ஆண்டு பொறுத்து உச்ச நீதி மன்றம் நான் வாதித்தித்தது சரி என்று மணிப்பூர் உயர் நீதி மன்றே தீர்ப்பில் சொன்னது. 32 ஆண்டுகள் பொறுத்து சபாநாயகர செயலை நீதிமன்றத்தில் கேட்கலாம் என்றனர் அதே போல 15 வருடம் பொறுத்து இந்த தீர்ப்பு [4/24, 22:27] Sekarreporter: 🌹