CHAPTER I
ARREST AND INVESTIGATION
Article 22(2) of the Constitution of India requires that person arrested or detained
in custody should be produced before the nearest Magistrate within 24 hours of such
arrest excludidng the time necessary for the journey from the place of arrest to the
court of the Magistrate, and that no such person should be detained beyond such
period without the authority of the Magistrate. The Criminal procedure Code also
make a similar provision in respect of persons arrested without warrant. In case of
a complaint ,the Magistrate should check the time of arrest by questioning the persons
arrested, and see that this important constitutional safeguard for the personal liberty
of the subject is not violated.
Attempts are sometimes made to evade the law by describing custody or detention of any kind as ‘nazarkaid ’ or surveillance. Surveillance is one thing and
detention in any kind of custody is another. It is a mere evasion of the law to keep
a suspected person in any kind of custody and then by calling such detention ‘nazarkaid’ to say that he is not under arrest. The system is still more objectionable
when applied to witnesses.
If the Magistrate finds that any person has been unlawfully detained, he shall
report the matter to the Sessions Judge, who shall take appropriate action in the matter
Women accused of any offence, if arrested so soon after child birth that they can
not at once be taken before the Magistrate without personal suffering and risk to health
should not ordinarily be removed until they are in a proper condition to travel. They
should be allowed to remain under proper charge in the care of their relations, or be
sent to the nearest dispensary, and suffered to remain there until the officer in charge
of the dispensary certifies that they are sufficiently recovered. In such cases,sanction
must be obtained by the police from the nearest Magistrate for their dentention at
their homes, or in the dispensary, beyond the period of 24 hours allowed by section
57 of the code of criminal procedure,1973. The same procedure should be followed
in the case of other accused persons who are too ill to travel.
(1) If any allegations of ill-treatment is made by a prisoner, the Magistrate shall
then and there examine the prisoner’s body,if the prisoner consents, to see if there
are any marks of injuries as alleged, and shall place on record the result of his examination. If the prisoner refuses to permit such examination ,the refusal and the
reason therefor shall be recorded. If the Magistrate finds that there is reason to suspect
that the allegation is well founded, he shall at once record the complaint and cause
prisoner to be examined by a Medical Officer or registered Medical Practitioner as provided in section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure,1973 and shall make a report to the Sessions Judge. If he has not ht power to take up the necessary inquiry himself, he should forward the prisoner with the record to the Judicial Magistrate having Jurisdiction to investigate the case.
Attention of the Magistrate is invited to the provision of section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure,1973, which lays down that the Magistrate shall, at the request
of the arrested person, direct the examination of the body of such arrested person by a Registered Medical Practitioner in case of his allegation before him that such examination of his body will afford evidence which will disprove the commission by him of any offence or which will establish the commission by any other person of any offence against his body.
(2) (i) Medical Officer in charge of jails must carefully examine the body of every undertrial prisoner on the day of his arrival in jail or at least on the day following:
(ii) Similarly, in the case of third class subsidiary jails, if there is a Sub-Assistant Surgeon or other Medical Officer in local charge of the place, every undertrial prisoner should be examined by him ,if present at the station, within 24 hours of admission;
(iii) In the case of lockups and subsidiary jails at places where there is no Medical
officer or the Registered Medical Practitioner, as the case may be,the officer in charge in all suspicious cases should send undertrial prisoners in custody to the nearest Medical Officer or the Registered Medical Practitioner ,as the case may be for examination.
(iv) A Medical Officer or the Registered Medical Practitioner ,as the case may be,
to whom a person in police custody is brought for examination ,should examine the
person of the prisoner ,and even though no suspicious marks are found,should at
once report to the Magistrate authorising police custody that he has done so.
(3) In all such cases, the Medical Officer or the Registered Medical Practitioner,
as the case may be, should record the result of the examination.
(4) If any marks or symptoms at all indicative of recent violence or ill-treatment
are found, the Medical Officer or the Registered Medical Practitioner, as the case
may be, concerned,should immediately make a report to the appropriate Judicial
Magistrate and to the Sessions Judge. This report should specify the nature of the
injuries and their position, together with the opinion of the Medical Officer or the
Registered Medical Practitioner, as the case may be ,as to their causation, and should
state whether the prisoner makes any allegations in regard to them against the police
or others responsible for his arrest or custody, or state how else the prionser explains
them.
(5) If such allegations have been made, the Sessions Judge should arrange for
an immediate Magisterial investigation into the complaint through such Judicial
Magistrate as he may deem most convenient, unless he is satisfied by the Magistrate’s
report under Sub-paragraph(1) above, that adequate investigation is proceeding.
(6) The result of this investigation,so far as it refutes or establishes the truth of
the allegations made, must be communicated as soon as possible to the Court seized
of the substantive case If it considers it desirable or necessary , the Court may
summon the Medical Officer or the Registered Medical Practitioner, as the case may
be, to give evidence in the case.
Remand
4.(1) It is observed that Magistrates allow remand of the accused to custody
under section 167 of the Code of Criminal Procedure,1973, or allow remand under
section 309 of the Code of Criminal procedure,1973, without satisfying themselves
that there are reasonable grounds for such remand. The law requires that Magi -
strates should not allow remand in such cases without being satisfied that there are
really good grounds for it. Magistrates should not ,therefore, allow remand applica-
tions as a matter of course, but only after being satisfied that further time is really
necessary for the purpose of investigation. In this connection ,the attention of all
the Courts is invited to the rulings reported in A.I.R. 1975 S.C.1465 (Natabar Parida
Vs. State of Orissa) and 78 B.L.R.,page 411 (State of Maharashtra Vs. Tukaram
Shiva Patil).
In this connection ,attention of the Magistrates is drawn to the provisions of
section 167(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 which makes it obligatory
on the police to send copies of entries in the diary relating to the case when forwarding the accused for the purposes of remand. Magistrates should invariably
insist upon copies of such entries and other relevant material being produced by the police, and such entries and material should be carefully examined by the Magistrates in order to satisfy themselves that there are good grounds for remand.
5. while it is not intended to fetter the discretion of the Magistrates in matters of
remand, the following general principles are stated for their guidance :-
(i) A remand to police custody of an accused person should not ordinarily be
granted unless there is reason to believe that material and valuable information
would thereby be obtained, which cannot be obtained except by his remand to
police custody.
(ii) Where a remand is required merely for the purpose of verifying a statement
made by the accused, the Magistrate should ordinarily remand the accused person
to Magisterial custody.
(iii) If the Magistrate thinks that it is not necessary for purposes of investigation
to remand the accused to police custody, he should place the accused person in
Magisterial custody ; and in case he has no jurisdiction to try the offence charged,
he should issue orders for forwarding the accused person to a Magistrate having
Jurisdiction.
(iv)If the Magistrate thinks that the police not only require more time for their
investigation but that for some good reason they require the accused person to be
present with them in that investigation ,the Magistrate may remand him to police
custody ,but while doing so, he must record the reasons for his order.
6.When the accused person is remanded either to police custody or to some safe
custody for the purpose of further investigation by the police, it must be borne in
mind that ,however incomplete an investigation may be, an accused person in every
case must be produced before a Magistrate having jurisdiction within a maximum
period of 16 days ( 1 day allowed by the law if so much be necessary, and 15more days which may be allowed by a Magistrate on proper cause shown).
7.No order under section 167 for remand of an accused person should be made
unless the accused is produced before the Magistrate making the order,either in person or through the medium of electronic video linkage, and he has been heard on any objection he may have to offer to the proposed order of remand, unless the production of the accused is required to be dispensed with under paragraph 2 of this chapter.
Explanation.- For the purpose of Section 167 of the Criminal Procedure Code expression “Production of the accused before the Magistrate” shall include “his production through the medium of video linkage by interface. ”
unless the production of the accused is required to be dispensed with under paragraph
2 of this Chapter.
Facilities to Accused in police Custody or Jail to Interview Relatives and Legal
Advisers.
8.Complaints are sometimes made that accused persons in police custody are
not accorded necessary facilities to interview their relatives and legal advisers.
Article 22 of the Constitution of India provides as follows:-
Article 22- (1) No person who is arrested shall be detained in custody without
being informed, as soon as may be, of the grounds for such arrest nor shall he be
denied the right to consult, and to be defended by, a legal practitioner of his choice
Every person who is arrested and detained in custody shall be produced before
the nearest magistrate within a period of twenty-four hours of such arrest excluding the time necessary for the journey from the place of arrest to the court
of the magistrate and no such person shall be detained in custody beyond the said period without the authority of a magistrate.
(3) Nothing in clauses (1) and (2) shall apply:-
(a) to any person who for the time being is an enemy alien; or
(b) to any person who is arrested or detained under any law providing for
preventive detention.
(4) No law providing for preventive detention shall authorise the detention of
a person for a longer period than two months unless an Advisory Board constituted in accordance with the recommendations of the Chief Justice of the
appropriate High Court has reported before the expiration of the said period of two months that there is in its opinion sufficient cause for such detention:
Provided that an Advisory Board shall consist of a Chairman and not less than
two other members, and the Chairman shall be a serving Judge of the appropriate High Court and the other members shall be serving or retired Judges of any High Court ;
Provided further that nothing in this clause shall authorise the detention of any
person beyond the maximum period prescribed by any law made by parliament
under sub-clause (a) of clause (7).
Explanation---- In this clause, “ appropriate High Court ” means---
(i)in the case of the detention of a person in pursuance of an order of detention
made by the Government of India or an officer or authority subordinate to that
Government ,the High Court for the Union Territory of Delhi;
(ii) in the case of the detention of a person in pursuance of an order of detention
made by the Government of any state (Other than a Union territory), the High
Court for that State ; and
(iii) in the case of the detention of a person in pursuance of an order of
detention made by the administrator or a Union territory or an officer or
authority subordinate to such administrator, such High Court as may be specified
by or under any law made by parliament in this behalf.
When any person is detained in pursuance of an order made under any law
providing for preventive detention ,the authority making the order shall,as soon as
may be, communicate to such a person the grounds on which the order has been
made and shall afford him the earliest opportunity of making a representation
against the order.
Nothing in clause (5) shall require the authority making any such order as is
referred to in that clause to disclose facts which such authority considers to be
against the public interest to disclose.
Parliament may by law prescribe--
(a) the Maximum period for which any person may in any class or classes be
detained under any law providing for preventive detention ; and
(b) the procedure to be followed by an Advisory Board in an inquiry under
clause (4).
An accused person, who is remanded into police custody , has a right to claim
a reasonable opportunity of getting into communication with his legal advisor for the purpose of preparing his defence, and the police cannot legitimately claim that
in no circumstances should he be allowed to see his legal advisor until they choose
to permit it.
9.It has been observed that no uniform practice is followed in the criminal courts
with regard to giving intimation to an accused who is in jail in one case that he is
required to be produced for the trial in any other case.
The Magistrate or the judge should see that sufficient notice is given to the accused about the subsequent case so that he may get an opportunity of defending
himself. On the production of the accused from the jail, the magistrate or the judge
concerned should himself make sure whether in fact sufficient opportunity has been given to the accused to get in touch with his relatives or his lawyer and commence hearing only after he has had such opportunity.
10.Under Section 157 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 it is obligatory on the part of the officer in charge of a police station to sent report forthwith to
magistrate empowered to take cognizance of an offence on a police report regarding
information received by him about the commission of a cognizable offence. In case
the magistrates find that proper steps are not being taken by the police ,they may take
such action under section 159 of the code of Criminal Procedure,1973 as they may
deem fit.
Section 165(5) lays down that copies of any record made under sub-section (1)
or sub-section (3) of that section relating to search of places should be sent by the
Investigating Officer to the nearest magistrate empowered to take cognizance of the offence . This section further lays down that the owner or occupier of the places
searched shall,on application ,be furnished with a copy of the same free of cost by
the magistrate. This provision lays down a very salutary safeguard so far as the
right of a citizen is concerned. All such records shall be immediately transferred
to the case as soon as it is filed in the court.
Bail.
The power of admitting a person to bail is a matter of judicial discretion, and
not a ministerial act ; and the chief consideration in the exercise of that discretion
must be the likelihood of the person failing to appear at the trail. Other considerations to be borne in mind are the seriousness of the offence,previous convictions, if any, of the accused,abnormal conditions and necessity to take special precautions in particular cases. Interim Bail is, however,permissible ,but in serious cases the prosecution may, wherever possible,be heard. Bail should not be refused nor prohibitive bail insisted upon, merely on the ground that the police desire it, for such a decision may lead to grave injustice. The Court may, however,
take into consideration the information supplied and the reports made by the police.
In respect of anticipatory bail, provided by section 438 of the Code of Criminal
procedure 1973, the attention of the Sessions Courts is invited to the decision of the Supreme Court reported in A.I.R.,1977 ,S.C. Page 366 (Balchand Jain Vs. State of
Madhya Pradesh).
Practising Lawyers not to be accepted as Sureties
Practising lawyers shall not be accepted as sureties.
Verification of Solvency of Sureties
(1) The responsibility for accepting the surety as solvent for the required
amount is primarily that of the presiding Officer of the Court and in ordinary cases
he should discharge it himself by making such summary enquiry as in the circumstances of the case he may think fit.
(2) The production of a solvency certificate from the Revenue Authorities is not
always essential and may be insisted upon only in cases of doubt and cases involving large sums.
(3) For the purpose of determining whether the sureties are solvent, the Court
may, if it thinks fit, accept affidavits in proof of the facts contained therein relating
to the solvency of the sureties, or may make such further inquiry as it deems
necessary.
Insistence upon the possession of immovable property by sureties in bonds of
small amounts not exceeding Rs. 1,500 would cause serious inconvenience to the
accused in procuring a surety. The Judge or Magistrate may, therefore, in suitable
cases, where the amount of the bond does not exceed Rs. 1,500 assess the solvency
of the surety even upon the basis of his movable property and assets. The intendings surety should present his application for suretyship ink the model form
which is prescribed below for guidance. The Clerk of the Court in the Sessions Court or Nazir or Senior Clerk in the Magisterial Courts should check the proofs
accompanying the applications, and thereafter place the matter before the Judge
or Magistrate with his remarks. The Judge or Magistrate should consider the application in the light of the proofs produced and, if necessary, examine the surety
personally and may also call for further and better proof. The Judge or Magistrate
after holding a summary enquiry may pass an order either accepting the surety or
rejecting the application as he deems fit.
To facilitate checking one person standing surety in several cases, a declaration
form should be appended to the surety bond and intending surety should be asked
to sign a declaration stating whether he has stood surety in any other pending cases.
Such a declaration would enable the Police Officer or the Magistrate concerned to
decide whether the surety should be accepted or not. If the declaration thus signed
by a surety is found to be false subsequently, necessary action can be taken against
him for such a false declaration.
5A. To avoid abscondence of accused due to furnishing of bogus surety or surety, bond by a stock surety, in addition to the proof as mentioned in sub-clause 3 of the Format of Application of surety, the surety, in all cases under the NDPS Act, the cases in which offence is serious and sentence provided is more than 10 years imprisonment or the cases under the Special enactment like POTA/MOCCA etc.,
shall furnish atleast one of the document, amongst following :-
1) Passport.
2) Identity Card Issued by the Election Commission of India.
3) Permanent Account Number Card, i.e. PAN card issued by the Income-Tax
Department .
4)ATM/Debit Card, or Credit Card issued by any Nationalised or Private Bank on Standing at the National Level, having photograph of the holder thereon.
5) Identity Card issued by the Government Authorities or the Public Statutory Corporations.
6) Any such document, which is ordinarily issued by an Authority after due verification of the identity of the person and his address, which the Judge or the Magistrate may think just and proper, in the interest of justice, by recording specific reason.
5B. The Surety shall submit two copies of his latest passport size photograph which is not older than six months before the date of submission, of which one copy shall be retained in the court record and one copy to be retained by the concerned police station.
FORM
In the Court of the ..............................................Judge/Magistrate............................
Application No....................... of 19
(In re: Case No........................of 19
Remand Application of the ......................................................................Police Station)State ( Or as the case may be)..........................................................Complainant.
Vs.
................................................................................................................................Accused
I(Name of Surety ).................................................................................Solemnly affirm
and state as follows:-
I beg to offer myself as a Surety for Accused No..................................(full name
of the accused) ............................... Who is charged under section ...............................
and who has been ordered to be released on bail in the sum of Rs. (in words)..............
.................................................................with the .........................................................
Surety / Sureties in the like amount, by the ...............................................Court (or by
Your Honour ) on / / 19.
I give below certain particulars concerning myself :-
(A) Full name of the Surety :
Qualifications, if any :
Full residential Address :
period for which Surety has been
residing at the above address
Rent paid for the residence . .
Whether the rent bill of the residence
stands in the Surety’s name.
(B) Occupation or business . .
Full business address . .
Nature and extent of business,and
Surety’s share therein :
Rent paid for the place of business . .
Whether the rent bill of the place of
business stands in the Surety’s name .
© Name and address of the employer,
if the Surety is in service.
Full address of the place of service . .
Amount of monthly pay and allowances
drawn :
Length of service with the employer . .
Amount of provident Fund, if any,
at Surety’s credit.
(D) Full particulars of house-property
owned, if any, its location,rateable
value, and the Surety’s share or
interest therein ; and whether it is in
any way encumbered:
(E) Amount of income-tax paid during
each of the last three years:
Banking accounts, if any . .
Amounts now lying in each banking
account :
(F) Length of time for which the Surety
has known the Accused personally :
Whether the Surety is related to the
Accused; if so, how ?
Whether the Surety has stood surety
for any other person in the preceding
six months. If so, state the names
of the parties; the amount for which
the surety has stood for them : the
Court and the number of the cases
against those accused; and whether
the case or cases against those
persons are pending or have
concluded :
Whether the Surety has, at any time,
had his surety bond forfeited. If so,
give particulars:
Whether the Surety has, at any time,
made an application for suretyship
which was rejected; if so, give the
particulars thereof :
Whether the Surety is, (or has been)
involved in any civil litigation:
Whether the Surety himself has been
concerned in any case as an accused
person: if so, give particulars of the
case:
(G)Any other particulars in regard to the
status of the Surety, or his income
and assets, which the Surety may
desire to give :
I produce the following proof in support of my statement, and give particulars
of the same as below:--
(Rent bills of place of residence)
(Ration Card)
(Rent bills of place of business)
(Deed of partnership or other documents relating to business)
(Certificate from the employer)
(Certificate of amount in the provident Fund )
(Title deeds of properties)
(Municipal bill of the properties )
(Bank pass books)
(Income-tax payment receipts)
(Other proof) :
As per Sub-rule 5A of Rule 14, I have furnished one of the document mentioned below:-
1) Passport.
2) Identity Card Issued by the Election Commission of India.
3) Permanent Account Number Card, i.e. PAN card issued by the Income-Tax
Department .
4)ATM/Debit Card, or Credit Card issued by any Nationalised or Private Bank on Standing at the National Level, having photograph of the holder thereon.
5) Identity Card issued by the Government Authorities or the Public Statutory Corporations.
6) Any such document, which is ordinarily issued by an Authority after due verification of the identity of the person and his address, which the Judge or the Magistrate may think just and proper, in the interest of justice, by recording specific reason.
I pray that I may be accepted as a Surety for the abovementioned Accused in
the sum of Rs...................................(in words)
I hereby declare that I have not stood surety in any other pending case or cases.
Solemnly affirmed at
this day day of 19 ( Signature of Surety)
( Identified by .......................................................... Advocate)
Before me,
Judge /Magistrate,
Court
Attention of the Magistrates is drawn to the High Court Circular No. E-4110/
54,dated the 21st September 1955, which is reproduced verbatim below:
“Their Lordship are pleased to direct that all Criminal Courts should keep
a list of sureties in the proceeding that come up before them. A copy of this list,
alphabetically arranged,should be sent every month to the Sessions Court. From
these lists received from the subordinate Courts, the Sessions Court should prepare
a consolidated alphabetical list of sureties after adding to it the names of sureties
in the proceedings before itself. Additions will continue to be made to this list
every month as names will be received from the Subordinate Courts. This list
may be called list “A” for reference. Immediately a person is found to have
been surety for two different accused persons in two different matters in this list,
there would be a case for bringing his name on another consolidated list, which
may be called list “B” for reference,kept for the whole District so that his activi-
ties will be watched. Unless his name is brought on such a list and each Court
has got a copy of the list (List B), one Court would not know what the surety is
doing in other Courts and it would be a long time before the Courts come to know
that any person is, as a matter of fact,working as a professional surety . Each
Court should also be informed every month of the additions, if any ,made to this
list. Officers in charge of the work of accepting sureties should refer to this list
(List B) before accepting a surety ,and they are advised to reject the bail of any
person who, they feel ,is standing surety for an accused person ,for consideration.”
Both the lists “A” and “B”,as aforesaid ,should be maintained in the following
form:-
Date Name of Surety Criminal Case No.
1 2 3
Attention of the Magistrates is drawn to Section 446 read with section 421 of
the Code of Criminal Procedure ,1973 ,which does not provide for sentence of impri-
sonment in Civil Jail for non-payment of the forfeited bond amount if the same
cannot be recovered by attachement of property of the surety.
The following instructions are issued by Government regarding issue of
solvency certificate for production in Criminal Courts :--
Revenue Officers not below the rank of Naib-Tahsildar (exercising powers of
Tahsildar) are authorised to issue Certificate of Solvency to the parties for production in the Criminal Courts on payment of fees of Rs.. 2 per Certificate, for
which purpose the following limits are prescribed for the Revenue Officers in
exercising their powers in that behalf:--
(i) Naib Tahsildar (exercising powers of upto Rs.25,000
Tahsildars).
(ii) Tahsildars .... ..... ..... Above Rs.25,000 but not exceeding
Rs.1,00,000
(iii) Sub-Divisional Officers ... ...... Above Rs.1,00,000 but not exceeding
Rs. 5,00,000
(iv) Collectors .... .... .... Above Rs. 5,00,000
The said fees should be recovered in the shape of Court fee stamps.
Every application for a solvency certificate should be affixed with a Court fee stamp of 65 paise and accompanied by an affidavit showing reasons why the
certificate is sought and by the following documents,which should be obtained
by the parties at their costs from the officers concerned :-
(a) in the case of agricultural lands; Khata Utara and Extract from Records of
Rights.
(b) in the case of non-agricultural lands and immoveable properties : A state-
ment regarding the details of the property and its estimated price.
In the case of agricultural lands, the Revenue Officers should issue the Solvency
Certificate on the basis ofkl the Panch valuation of the land and such other enquiry as the Revenue Officer concerned may wish to make.
Revenue Officers concerned should,on receipt of the application ,issue the Certificate after holding necessary inquiry as expeditiously as possible.
(2) The Adivasis are exempted from the payment of prescribed fee of Rs.2 for
the issue of Solvency Certificate required for production in Criminal Courts and
also from the stamp duty chargeable on affidavits executed by them for the purpose of obtaining Solvency Certificates.
The term ‘Adivasis’ means and includes all the members belonging to the
Scheduled Tribes specified in Section II of the Schedule accompanying Government Resolution , Political and Services Department ,No. 490/46,dated the
1st November 1950 ,as amended from time to time.
Identification Parades
It is not desirable that Judicial Officers should associate themselves with
identification parades. All Civil Judges and Judicial Magistrates are,therefore,
directed that they should not participate in identification parades which are conducted by the police for investigation purposes. In this connection,order in
the Government Circular,Home Department ,No.MIS.1054/84588,dated the
22nd April 1955 ,is reproduced below for the information of the Civil Judges
and Judicial Magistrates:--
“In the Judgment delivered by the Supreme Court in Ramkishan Versus Bombay State (A.I.R.1955 S.C.104), it has been held that statements made before police Officers by witnesses at the time of identification parades are statements to the Police,and as such are hit by section 162 of the Code of Criminal Procedure,1898. In view of that ruling,it is necessary that such parades are not conducted in the presence of Police Officers. The alternative is to take the help of the Magistrates or leave the matter in the hands of panch
witnesses. There would be serious difficulties in panch witnesses conducting
parades successfully. In regard to Magistrates ,it is not feasible to associate Judicial Magistrates with such parades. The only Practicable course,therefore,
is to conduct the parades under Executive Magistrates and Honorary Magistrates (not doing judicial work). Government is accordingly pleased to direct that the Police Officers concerned should obtain the help of Executive
Magistrates and Honorary Magistrates in holding identification parades.”
The Magistrates holding identification parades should follow all the guidelines
given below which are illustrative and may not be exhaustive .Exercise of the discre -
tion of the Officer concerned would be the sole criterion. The following principles
enumerated by Archbold in his treatise“Criminal pleading,Evidence and practice ”
would mutatis mutandis apply to the identification parades,with suitable variations
consistent with our law and decided cases.
(a) The object of an identification parade is to make sure that the ability of the
witness to recognise the suspect has been fairly and adequately tested.
(b) It should be fair and seem to be fair and every precaution must be taken to
exclude any suspicion of unfairness or risk of erroneous identification through the l
witnesses attention being directed specially to the suspected persons instead of
equally to all the persons to be paraded.
© The Officer concerned with the case against the suspect, if present, must not
take part in conducting the parade.
(d) The parade should be arranged by an officer who is not police officer.
(e) After the commencement of the identification parade, every thing in respect
of it should take place in the presence and hearing of the suspect ,including any
instruction to the witnesses attending it as to the procedure that is to be adopted.
(f) All unauthorised persons should be strictly excluded from the place of
identification parade.
(g) The Witnesses should be prevented from seeing the suspect before he is
paraded with other persons,and witnesses who have previously seen a photograph
or description of the suspect should not be led into identifying the suspect by
reason of their recollection of the photograph or description,as for instance by
being shown the photograph or description shortly before the parade.
(h) The suspect should be placed among persons (if practicable eight or more )
who are as far as possible of the same age,height,general appearance (including
standard of dress and grooming) and position in life. Two suspects of roughly of
similar appearance should be paraded with atleast twelve other persons. Where,
however, the two suspects are not similar in appearance or where there are more
than two suspects, separate parades should be held using different persons on
each parade.
(i) All members of a group of suspects more than two should not be paraded
together. There should be more parades than one, each including not more than
two. Two suspects of obviously dissimilar appearance should not be included in
the same parade. Identification numbers should be concealed.
(j) The Suspect should be allowed to select his own position in the line and should
be expressly asked if he has any objection to the persons present with him or the
arrangements made. He should be informed that if he so desire ,he should have
his Advocate(or a friend) present at the identification parade.
(k) The witnesses should be introduced one by one and, on leaving ,should
not be allowed to communicate with witnesses waiting to see the persons paraded;
and the suspect should be informed that he is free to change his position after
each witness has left.
The witness should be asked whether the person he has come to identify
is on the parade . He should be told that if he cannot make a positive identification,
it is open for him to say so.
(m) Generally,a witness should be asked to touch any person whom he
purports to identify ,but if the witness is nervous at the prospect of having to do
that (in cases where the witness is a woman or a child who has been victim of
a sexual or violent assault or other frightening experience) and if prefers not to
touch the person ,identification by pointing out should be permitted.
(n) If a witness indicates someone,but is unable to identify him positively,this
fact should be carefully noted by the officer conducting the parade and every other
circumstance ,(Such as whether the suspect or any other person is identified or not ),
connected with it should be noted.
(o) If any request is made by a witness, for example to see the suspect with his
hat on or his hat off or to see the person walk or to hear the person speak and
there being no objection to the person paraded as asked for,the incident should
be recorded.
(p) Where a parade has to be held in prison,a prison officer should be present
throughout in-charge of the discipline of the prisoners who would take part.
Otherwise,the police officer unconnected with the case, ought to be responsible
for the parade. It must be ensured that the parade is conducted in the same way
as a parade outside prison.
(3) In order that the proceedings of the Identification parades are recorded properly
and in conformity with the judicial requirements, Government of Maharashtra ,
Home Department have issued Circular No. PRO -2460/16653-IX,dated the 16th
August 1963 ,and laid down the following procedure which includes the writing
up of a memorandum in the form given below.
Procedure for holding Identification parades
(i) An Executive Magistrate /Honorary Magistrate, if called upon for the purpose
of holding an Identification parade, should remember that he is the person who
conducts lthe parade ; he will be in full and sole charge of the entire proceedings.
(ii) The Executive Magistrate /Honoary Magistrate should first acquaint him -
self, very briefly,with the facts of the case and find out who is to be put in the
parade for identification and who are the witnesses to be called up for identification.
(iii) Two independent respectable persons (not being persons connected with
the police),should be first called up. The Police themselves will have normally
arranged to call up such persons; but the Executive Magistrate ./Honorary
Magistrate will question them and satisfy himself that they are independent and
fairly intelligent persons. In order that they may follow the proceedings intelligently,
the Executive Magistrate /Honorary Magistrate should acquaint them ,briefly,
with the facts of the case and as to who is sought to be identified and who are
to come for identification.
(iv) The parade should then be arranged in a room or place which is such
that the identifying witnesses, as well as the persons connected with the police,
should not be able to look into it.
(v) If there is only one accused person to be identified ,there should be at least
half a dozen persons placed in the parade. If two accused persons are to be
identified, then there should be about 10 or 12 persons in the parade . Not more
than two accused should be placed in any single identification parade.Normally,
the police themselves will have called up the persons to be put in the parade; but
the Executive Magistrate/Honorary Magistrate should see that they are persons
of more or less the same physical appearance, and approximately of the same
age, as the person to be identified . It is desirable that innocent persons to be
mixed should be different for each such parade.
J 4641—2
(vi) No person,other than the persons in the parade, and the two respectable
persons, should be allowed to remain in the room where the identification
proceedings are being held. In particular, all police officers and constables should
be asked to withdraw themselves complectly from the room. There is no objection
to any of them remaining outside the room or otherwise at hand,ready to be'
be called up in case the accused creates trouble,or in case of emergency. They
should ,however,not be visible from the room or the place where the parade is
being held.
(vii) After the parade is arranged, one of the two respectable persons should
be sent up to bring the accused from the lock-up . Care should be taken to see
that when the accused is being brought from the lock-up, the identifying witnesses
do not have an opportunity of seeing him. They shoud be kept in quite a different
room, out of sight of the lock-up.
(viii) At this stage, the Executive Magistrate/Honorary Magistrate should
commence to write the memorandum. It should include :--
(a) the place at which ,and the date on which ,the parade is being held and
the time at which it was commenced;
(b) the names,ages,occupations and the full addresses of the two respectable
persons;
© the names and the approximate ages of the persons standing in the parade,
mentioning clearly, one below the other ,in numerical order their positions in
the parade (which positions they should not be allowed afterwards to alter );
(d) the fact that no persons ,other than those,in the parade and the two
respectable persons,were allowed to remain in the room and that all police
officers and constables were asked to withdraw; and
(e) that respectable person so and so fetched the accused from the lock-up,
and that the identifying witnesses were in a different room, so that they could
not see him being brought from the lock-up to the identification room.
When the accused is brought,the Executive Magistrate/Honorary Magistrate
should ask him to take whatever place he likes in the parade. The place which
he selects should be noted in the memorandum. For example ,he may elect to
stand between numbers 3 and 4 in the parade;l and it should then be noted that
he took his position between Nos. 3 and 4 in the parade. The original numbering
of the persons in the parade should not be altered simply because the accused
has now joined in.
The accused should then be asked if he wants to make any alteration
in his dress. He may change his cap or coat, or he may decide to put on ( or remove)
a cap or a coat. He should be allowed to do this, and that fact should be noted
in the memorandum. If he does not wish to change his dress, then that fact,
too ,should be noted in the memorandum.
Then one of the respectable persons should be asked to fetch the first
identifying witness from the room in which he may be sitting . When the witenss
arrives, the Executive Magistrate/Honorary Magistrate should question him and
ascertain from him whether he had an opportunity to see the culprit at any time
subsequent to the offence or after the arrest. He may either record the statement
separately on make a reference to that statement in his memorandum. The
witness should then be asked to view the parade carefully and see whether he
would be able to identify the person, who ,for instance,stabbed him ,or whom
he saw firing a shot from a revolver,or whom he saw inside the flat in which
a burglary may have taken place ,or ,as the case may be . The identifying writness
will then go up and look closely at the parade. If he identifies any person,he
should be asked to go forward and touch that person, and not merely to point
him out from a distance. This is necessary in order that there may be no doubt
afterwards as to whom exactly he had identified. The fact that the identifying'
witness identified the accused,should be noted in the memorandum (along with
the name of the accused) and, of course, also if he failed to identify him or identified
a wrong person. It should further be noted whether the witness identified the
accused straightway or after some hesitation or after first pointing out a wrong
person and then correcting himself and pointing out the accused. When this is
over, the identifying witness should be asked to go away into a different room
and not to contact the remaining identifying witnesses. He may even be asked
to go away.
After he leaves the room, the accused should be asked once again ,whether
he desires to change his place in the parade. If he changes his place, it should
be noted in the memorandum,and, also if he declines to do so. He should be
asked, again, if he wants to change his dress; and dif he does so,or if he declines
to do so, that fact should also be noted in the memorandum.
Then one of the respectable persons should be asked to fetch the second
identifying witness. In regard to the identification by him also, the same procedure
should be gone through as in the case of the first identifying witness, the
memorandum being also written up side by side.
This procedure should be followed for each subsequent identifying witness.
After all the identifying witnesses have thus been exhausted one after the
other, the memorandum should be wound up by stating the time at which it was
concluded. Then the memorandum should be read over and explained to the
respectable persons in language which they understand. If the respectable persons
know English well,then they should be asked in addition, to read over the memo -
randum for themselves.
After the memorandum is completed, the Executive Magistrate/ Honorary
Magistrate should make the following endorsement at the end :---
“Identification parade was conducted by me personally with the help of the
two respectable witnesses,namely Shri.........................................................and
Shri..........................................................whose signature have been obtained
in token of what transpired in their presence”, and shall sign below this endorse-
ment and put the date below his signature. There shall be another endorsement
to the following effect:----
“We read above memorandum (or it was explained to us) and it depicts the
correct state of affairs as stated in the memorandum ”, and he shall obtain the
signature of the two respectable persons with whose help he held the
identification parade.
The Executive Magistrate/Honorary Magistrate himself should also sign
every sheet of the memorandum.
All corections and interlineations in the memorandum should be
initialled by the Executive Magistrate/Honorary Magistrate.
The memorandum should then be handed over to the police officer
concerned.
Care should be taken to see that at no stage of the proceedings police officer
or any police constable comes into the room in which the parade is being held.
The police should not be allowed to interfere with the proceedings, which are
entirely to be conducted by the Executive Magistrate/Honorary Magistrate. It
will be advisable to note in the memorandum itself that no police officer or consta-
ble was present at any time during the entire proceedings of the identification
parade.
The most important part of the memorandum will be the statements made
by the identifying witnesses. These should be very carefully recorded, alongwith
the questions asked to the identifying witnesses. (This recording need not be in the
question and answer form). For example,an identifying witness may be asked if
J 4641—2a
he is able to identify any one in the parade as the person who fired the shot, and the
identifying witness may point out the accused and may add that it was not the
accused who actually fired,but that the accused was standing by the side of the man
who had fired the shot. In that case, whatever the identifying witness states,should
be carefully noted, as far as possible in his words (translated into English).
If more than one accused are placed in parade, then in the memorandum
they should not be referred to as “Accused No.1” “Accused No.2” ,etc,but
they should be referred to by their full names.
The memorandum should be written in the language of the Court.
At the hearing of the case, the Executive Magistrate/Honorary Magistrate
who held the parade and wrote out the memorandum may be called upon to give
evidence. In that case, he should state exactly what happened. He has a right
to refresh his memory by referring to the memorandum which he had himself
prepared.
For the guidance of the Executive Magistrate /Honorary Magistrate l
a model form is attached herewith.
The Executive Magistrate/Honorary Magistate are requested to consult
the District Magistrate of the district concerned on any matter of doubt or difficulty
in regard to the holding of Identification parades.
MEMORANDUM
OF AN IDENTIFICATION PARADE HELD AT THE .............................................
POLICE STATION ON........................................THE............................19................
I,Shri.................................................................................Sub-Divisional/Taluka/
Honorary Magistrate, was called upon to hold an Identification parade and this is
the memorandum of what took place at that parade.
I,the undersigned Sub-Divisional Taluka/Honorary Magistate,held the Identi-
fication parade in the presence of the two respectable persons whose names and other
particulars are given as under :---
1.(name)................................................................(age) about......................... years
(Occupation)
(Full Address)
2.(name)...............................................................(age) about............................years
(Occupation)
(Full Address)
The parade was commenced at (time)
The following persons stood in the parade:--
(Name) (age) about
years.
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
No persons,other than those in the parade ,myself,the abovenamed two respectable
persons,remained in the room. All Police officers and constables were asked to
withdraw themselves completely from the room.
The Witnesses who had been called to identify the Accused were made to sit in
a separate room where from the place where the Identification parade lwas held,was
not visible to the witnesses :
Then I asked one of the two respectable persons above named,viz.....................to
fetch the Accused,(Name).................................................................from the lock-up.
Whilst being brought to the room, I took precaution to see that it was not possible
for the identifying witnesses to see the Accused when he was being taken from the
lock-up to the place of identfication and I also took precaution to see that the lock-up
was not visible from the room where the witnesses were made to sit.
The accused was then asked to take whatever place he liked in the parade. He
stood between numbers.............................and .................... in the parade.
He was then asked if he wanted to make any alterations in his dress. (Here state
whatever alterations he made. If he made no alteration,state “The accused declined
to make any change in his dress”
Then I asked one of the respectable person:,viz...........................................................
to fetch the identifying witnesses and accordingly he went to the room where the
witness was sitting and brought him to the place of identification . The name of this
witness is ....................................................................
I asked that witness to view the parade carefully ,to see whether he could identify
the person (who had stabbed him or as the case may be).
The identifying witness went round and looked closely at the parade and identified
the Accused,who gave name as ......................................................., as the person
who had stabbed him (with a knife), on the (date)............................................19
(or,who had held the witness ,hands whilst the Accused’s companion had stabbed
, the witness,or whatever else the identifying witness may have stated).
Or
(The identifying witness failed to identify any one in the parade ).
or
(The identifying witness pointed out a wrong person ,viz.number.................in,
the parade).
The identifying witness was then asked to go away (or to sit in a different room,
and I took precaution to see that he left the place and did not go towards the room
where other witnesses were sitting and who were still to identify the Accused.
I then asked the Accused to change his place in the parade if he liked. The
Accused changed his place and now stood between numbers .......and .........in
the parade ,(or,the accused declined to change his place in the parade.).
The Accused was also asked if he wanted to make any alteration in his dress.
(Here state whether he made any alterations ,and if so,what. If he made no
alteration,state “The Accused declined to make any change in his dress”).
Thereafter, I asked one of the respectable persons ,viz................................... to
fetch the second identifying witness ............................viz.................................
from the room where he was seated. Accordingly ,he brought the witness .........
...................................
I asked this witness to view the parade carefully,etc. ( as in the case of the first
Witness ).
. (If further witnesses are called up, similar note should be made as regards the
Accused changing (or not changing ) his place in the parade,or making (or not making)
any alteration in his dress, and as regards calling up the further identifying witnesses,
and narrating as to what happened when they were called up).
I took precaution to see that no police officer or constable was present in the
identification room at any time during the whole of the proceedings and I also took
precaution to see that no police officer or constable was present at the place of
identification in order to eliminate the possiblity of suggesting to the witnesses by
any sign or gesture whatever as to where the Accused had stood.
After the parade was concluded, the police officer concerned was called in, and
the Accused was handed over to him for being removed to the lock-up.
The parade concluded at (time)............................................................
The Identification parade was conducted by me personally with the help of the
two respectble witnesses,viz................................................and..................................
............................whose signatures have been obtained in token of what took place
in their presence. The identification parade has been held in a correct manner
without any tutoring of witnesses or any suggestions to them.
(Signature)..................................
Sub-Divisional /Taluka/Honorary Magistrate ,
(Full designation in the case of Executive
Magistrate ).
(Date)
We read the above memorandum (or it was explained to us) and it depicts the
correct state of affairs as stated in the memorandum.
(1 (Name)............................................................(Signature)...................................
(2 (Name).............................................................(Signature)...................................
(Date)
Confessions
Accused persons willing to make a confession should be taken for the purpose
before a judicial magistrate and ,whenever possible ,before the magistrate who will not eventually try the case.
Any Metropolitan Magistrate or Judicial Magistrate may ,whether or not he has
jurisdiction in the case,record any confession or statement made to him in the
course of an investigation under the code of Criminal Procedure ,1973 or any other
law for the time being in force ,or at any time afterwards before the commencement
of the inquiry or trial ,as required by Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973.
The following instructions are issued for the guidance of the Magistrate
recording confessions and statement under section 164 of the Code of Criminal
Procedure 1973. They are not intended to fetter the discretion given by the law to
Magistrates. The only object with which they are issued is to indicate generally the
manner in which the discretion may be exercised.:---
(i) In the absence of exceptional reasons,confessions should ordinarily be
recorded in open Court and during court hours.
(ii) The examination of the accused person immediately after the police bring
him into Court, is deprecated. When the accused is produced before the magistrate,
the police officers should be removed from the Court-room unless, in the opinion
of the magistrate, the duty of ensuring their safe custody cannot safely be left
to other attendants. In that case, only the minimum number of police officers
necessary to secure the safe custody of the accused person should be allowed to
remain in the court -room.
(iii) It should be impressed upon the accused that he is no longer in police
custody.
(iv) The magistrate should then question the accused whether he has any com --
plaint to make of ill -treatment against the police or others responsible for his
arrest or custody, and shall place on record the questions put and the answers
given.
(v) If the prisoner makes an allegation of ill -treatment ,the Magistrate shall
follow the same procedure as is laid down in paragraph 3(1) above.
(vi) If the accused does not complain of any ill-treatment or improper conduct
or inducement on the part of the police, or if inspite of the alleged ill-treatment,
misconduct or inducement, he adheres to his intention of making a confessional
statement ,the Magistrate should give the accused a warning that he is not bound
to make the confession and that ,if he does so,it will be taken down and may
thereafter be used as evidence against him. A note of the warning given to the
accused should be kept on record.
(vii) Thereafter ,the Magistrate should give the accused a reasonable time,which
should ordinarily not be less than 24 hours, for reflection in circumstances in
which he would be free from the influence of the police and any other person
interested in having the confession recorded.
(viii) After the accused is produced before the Magistrate again ,it should be
ascertained from him whether he is willing to make a confession. If he expresses
his desire to confess ,all police Officers should be removed from the Court-room,
unless ,in the opinion of the Magistrate, the duty of ensuring his safe custody
cannot safely be entrusted to other attendants. In that case, only the minimum
number of police Officers necessary to secure the safe custody of the accused
person should be allowed to remain in the Court-room. In any case it is not
desirable that the police Officer making the investigation should be present.
The Magistrate should then question the accused person as to the length
of time during which he has been in the custody of the police . It is not sufficient
to note the date and hour recited in the police papers, at which the accused person
is said to have been formally arrested.
The provisions of sections 163 and 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure ,
1973 ,should be carefully attended to. The first clause of section 163,taken with
section 24 of the Indian Evidence Act, provides that if a confession is caused
by any inducement ,threat or promise ,offered or made ,or caused to be offered
or made by any police Officer or person in authority in reference to the charge
against the accused person, then ,if in the opinion of the Court, the inducement
threat or promise was sufficient to give the accused person grounds ,which would
appear to him reasonable ,for supposing that by making the confession he would
gain any advantage or avoid any evil of a temporal nature in reference to the
proceedings against him and unless in the opinion of the Court lthe impression
caused by any such inducement , threat or promise ,has been fully removed ,such
confession is irrelevant, that is ,it cannot be used as evidence in any criminal
proceeding.
Under clause (2) of section 163 ,for a confession of an accused person made
in the course of a police investigation to have any value ,it must be one which
the accused person was disposed to make of his own free will. Before recording
any such confession,the Magistrate is bound to question the accused person,and
unless upon that questioning he has reason to believe that the confession is
voluntary ,he cannot make the memorandum at the foot of the record . He cannot
say “I believe that this confession was voluntarily made” unless he has questioned
the accused person ,and from that questioning has formed the belief not a doubtfull
attitude of mind, but a positive belief that the confession is a statement which
the accused person was disposed to make of his own free will.
Before recording a confession,the Magistrate should question the accused
with a view to ascertaining the exact circumstances in which his confession is
being made and the connection of the police with it under clauses (iv), (vi),(x)
and (xi) above. In particular, where more than one accused is involved in the
case, he should question the accused whether he has been induced to make a
confession by promises to make him an approver in the case. Anything in the
nature of cross-examination of the accused is to be deprecated. It should ,however,
be the endeavour of the Magistrate ,without having recourse to heckling or
attempts to entrap the accused, to record the statement with as much detail as
possible regarding the circumstances under which the confession was being made,
the extent to which the police had anything to do with the accused prior to his
offer to make a confession ,as well as the fullest possible particulars of the incidents
to which the confession relates. These details are important as they furnish the
material on which the value of the confession is to be estimated; and the greater
the detail,the greater the chances of a correct estimate . Every question and every
answer should be recorded in full.
The Magistrate should add to the certificate required by section 164
the Code of Criminal Procedure ,1973 a statement in his own hand,of the grounds
on which he believes that the confession is genuine ,the precautions which he
took to remove the accused from the influence of the police, and the time ,if any ,
given to the accused for reflection.
Attention of the Magistrates is drawn to Section 164(3) of the Code of
Criminal Procedure ,1973 which lays down that if the person appearing before
the Magistrate refused to make a confession ,the Magistrate shall not authorise
the detention of such person in police custody.
Attention of the Magistrates is invited to sections 281 and 318 of the Code
of Criminal Procedure ,1973, and to the following important observations made
by the Supreme Court in the decision reported in A.I.R.1957 S.C.637 (Sarwan
singh Rattan Singh versus State of Punjab) under the head (h):---
“(h) Duty of the Magistrate in recording statement under section 164(3)
of the Code of Criminal procedure ,1898 (Corresponding Section 164(2) of the
Code of Criminal Procedure ,1973).
The act of recording confessions under section 164 of the Code of Criminal
Procedure is a very solemn act and in discharging his duties under the said
section,the Magistrate must take care to see that the requirements of Sub-
section (3) of Section 164 are fully satisfied. It would of course be necessary in
every case to put the questions prescribed by the High Court...............................
but the questions intended to be put under Sub-section (3) of section 164 should
not be allowed to become a matter of mere mechanical inquiry. No element
of casualness should be allowed to creep in and the Magistrate should be fully
satisfied that the confessional statement which the accused wants to make is in
fact and in substance voluntary . The whole object of putting questions to
an accused person who offers to confess is to obtain an assurance of the fact that
the confession is not caused by any inducement ,threat or promise having
reference to the charge against the accused person as mentioned in section 24 of
the Evidence Act ”.
Before actually recording the confession in the prescribed form ,the follow-
ing Government instructions issued in Government Circular, Home Department ,
No. PRO .-2360/12501-IX-(1), dated the 16th March 1963 ,should also be followed
scrupulously:---
“(5) A duty is cast on the Magistrate to fully satisfy himself that no such
inducement ,threat or promise is given to the accused person. For that purpose,
when the accused is again produced bere the Magistrate after the time given
for reflection is over, the Magistrate has again to ascertain from the accused
whether he has any complaint to make of ill-treatment against the police or others
responsible for his arrest or custody and then he has to caution him again that
he is not bound to make confession and that if he does so it would be taken
down and may thereafter be used as evidence against him. He must ,by putting
questions, try to ascertain whether the accused has agreed to make the confession
because he is under the impression that he would gain any advantage and whether
such impression has been caused by an inducement ,threat or promise . Before
recording any such confession,the Magistrate is bound to question the accused
person, and unless upon such questioning he has reason to believe that confession
is voluntary, he cannot make a memorandum at the foot of the record to effect:--
“ I believe that this confession was voluntarily made.” Thus, a great responsi-
bility is thrown on the Magistrate while recording confession and it is not
desirable that he should observe the formalities only given in the printed form
but he should observe the spirit and for that purpose he should not be a hurry in
starting to record the confession but he should put forward every endeavour to
satisfy by fully questioning the accused as to whether he is making the confession
voluntarily. With this object in view ,he should put as many as questions as
possible and those questions will be of the following type:---
(1) Why do you want to make a confession ?
(2) Have you any complaint to make of ill-treatment against the police or
others responsible for your arrest or custody ?
(3) Has anybody impressed upon you that by making a confession you
would be set free or you would be given lesser punishment ?
(4) Has the police or any person in authority offered you any inducement for
making this confession ?
(5) Has the police or any person in authority given you any threat in conse-
quence of which you intend to make this confession ?
(6) Has the police or any person in authority given you any promise as
a result of which you want to make the confession ?
(7) I had given you time for reflection and do you feel that now you have
fully reflected and now you are prepared to make confession not because
somebody has asked you to do so, but because you have chosen to do so
voluntarily and of your own free-will ?
(8) Do you realise that in law you are not bound to make a confession and
that if you do so, I shall take it down and the same will be used as evidence
against you ?
(9) Do you realise that I am not a part and parcel of the police machinery
and that I am a Magistrate to whom you can explain your difficulties and
grievances freely before you finally make -up your mind to give the confession ?
(10) Do you want to open your heart and disclose to me your difficulties
and grievances ,if any ?
(11) Do you realise that I am not here to force you to make confession but
I am here to find out whether you want to make a confession of your own
free will and voluntarily ?
“(6) Thus, after fully satisfying himself that the accused wants to make
a confession voluntarily without any inducement, threat or promise ,the Magi-
strate should proceed to record the confession. Such statement should be
recorded as provided in section 164 read with section 364 of the Code of Criminal
procedure (vide Appendix II hereof ) and the Magistrate should see that each
and every requirement of these sections is scrupulosly met with. As far as
possible ,such statement should be recorded in the language of the accused and if
that is not practicable ,then in the language of the Court or in English ; and such
record shall be shown or read out to the accused or ,if he does not understand
the language in which it is written ,shall be interpreted to him in the language
in which he understands ,and he shall be at liberty to explain or add to his
answers. Every question put to the accused and every answer given by him
shall be recorded in full. In order to obtain clarification, the Magistrate may
put him relevant questions but such questions shall not be in the nature of
cross-examination. When the record is complete ,it shall be signed by the
accused and the Magistrate who shall certify under his own hand that the exami-
nation was taken in his presence and hearing and that record contains a full and
true account of the statements made by the accused. At the foot of such state-
ment ,the Magistrate shall make a memorandum to the following effect:---
“ I have explained to ....................................................................................that
he is not bound to make a confession and that,if he does so, any confession
he may make be used as evidence against him and I believe that this confession
was voluntarily made. It was taken in my presence and hearing ,and was read
over to the person making it and admitted by him to be correct , and it con-
tains a full and true account of the statement made by him.”
(7) The Magistrates should bear in mind that failure on their part to take
immediate steps towards recording the confession of the accused on receipt of
a “Yadi ” from the Investigating Officer often damages the prosecution case
and ,as such ,the priority should always be given to the recording of confessions”.
(xvii) The confession should be recorded in the following form :---
FORM OF RECORDING CONFESSION
Before Shri...................................................................................................................
Magistrate of the First Class,Taluka..............................District .................................
(1) The accused .......................................................................................s/o...............
age about.................years........................is brought by...............................................
Police Head Constable/Sub Inspector before me at my Court ...................................
at.....................a.m./p.m to have his confession recorded ,a letter/memo is given to
me dated...............................from the ......................................which is attached
to the record.
................................have ascertained that the offence was committed at (place)
........................................on .........................................................................(day)
at........................a.m./p.m.
The accused is placed in custody of my peon/Armed police Constable ..............
...........................................and the police (sub) Inspector /Head Constable is
directed to leave the premises. I have satisfied myself that there is no policeman
in the Court or in any place where the proceeding could be seen or heard except
such armed police,not concerned in the investigation of the crime, as are necessary to guard the accused.
N.B.---Every question and every answer should be recorded in full.
The signature or mark of the accused person must be affixed to the confession
The Magistrate must make the declaration at the foot of the record of the confession
required by section 164(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure ,1973 and clause
above.
The accused is informed that he is no longer in police custody ,and is asked
whether he has to make any complaint of ill-treatment ,against the police or others
responsible for his arrest or custody. He replies:---
PART I
Question No. 1 – I am a Magistrate and have no concern with the police. Have
you understood ?
Answer ---
Question No. 2 – You are now no longer in police custody . Have you under-
stood ?
Answer ----
Question No. 3 -- Have you any complaint of ill-treatment against the police or
other persons responsible for your arrest or custody ?
Answer ----
Question No. 4 -- I desire to examine your person. Do you consent to it ?
Answer ----
The result of the examination is this ,namely:---
Question No. 5 -- Do you wish to make any statement ?
Answer ------
Question No. 6 --- You are not bound to make a statement or there is no compul-
sion that you should make a statement . Have you under-
stood ?
Answer ----
Question No. 7. --- If you make a statement then it will be taken down and it may
be used against you as evidence . Have you understood this ?
Answer -----
Question No. 8. --Hereafter you will not be kept in the custody of the police .
Have you understood ?
Answer -----
Question No. 9. --- Have the police or any other person threatened you to make
a statement ?
Answer ------
Question No. 10. -- Have the police or any other person promised you that lesser
punishment will be awarded to you if you make a statement
or that you will be acquitted ?
Answer -------
Question No. 11.--- Have the police or any other person given you any allure-
ment to make statement ?
Answer ------
(In case there are other co-accused ).
Question No. 12. --- Have the police or any other person given you promise that
if you make a statement then you will be made witness for
the prosecution in the case ?
Answer ------
Question No. 13.--- Do you still desire to make a statement ?
Answer -------
Question No. 14. --- When did it first occur to you that you should make a confess --
ion and why did it occur to you ?
Answer -----
Question No. 15. ---- Why are you making a confession ?
Answer ----
Question No .16 --- Before you make any statement you are given 24 hours time
for reflection . You are kept in Magisterial custody and
you will not be kept in police custody. Have you under-
stood all this ?
Answer -------
The accused is informed that he jis given 24 hours time for reflection .
He is further informed that he is kept in Magisterial custody and
not in police custody, and is accordingly remanded to Magisterial
custody. He shall again be produced before me on ..................... at
a.m./p.m.
(Signature ),......................
Magistrate .
Dated
------------------
PART II
The accused is brought before me again on ..................................at..........................
a.m./p.m in custody of ............................
I have satisfied myself that there is no policeman in the Court or in any place
whence the proceedings could be heard or seen,except such armed police,not con -
cerned in the investigation ,as are necessary to guard the accused .
The accused is asked details as to the length of time during which and the place
where he has been in custody or surveillance of the police . He replies as follows:-
Question No. 1. -- When were you arrested by the police ?
Answer ------
Question No. 2 – At what place the police arrested you ?
Answer -----
Question No. 3 – Were you kept by the police under surveillance ? If yes ,since
when and where ?
Answer ------
Question No. 4 – Since when you are in the custody of the police ?
Answer ------
Question No. 5 -- At what places you were kept by the police ?
Answer ------
Under clauses (iv),(vi),(x) and (xi) of paragraph 18 of Chapter I of the Criminal
Manual ,the accused is examined as follows in order to ascertain whether ,he
is disposed to make a confession of his own free will :--
Question No. 6. -- Do you wish to make a statement ?
Answer -----
Question No. 7.-- You were given 24 hours time for reflection . Was it sufficient ?
Answer ----
Question No. 8 – You are not bound to make a statement and there is no com-
pulsion that you should make a statement . Have you
understood this ?
Answer -----
Question No. 9. -- If you make a statement then it will be recorded and the same
is likely to be used as evidence against you. Have you
understood ?
Answer ----
Question No. 10.-- Even if you refuse to make a statement you will not be kept in
police custody. Have you understood this ?
Answer ----
Question No. 11.-- Have the police or any other person threatened you to make
a statement ?
Answer -----
Question No. 12.-- Have the police or any other person promised you that lesser
punishment will be awarded to you or you will be acquitted
if you make a statement ?
Answer ----
Question No. 13 -- Have the police or any other person promised you that if
you make a statement you will be made a witness for the
prosecution ?
Answer -----
Question No. 14 -- Have the police or any other person given you any allurement
to make a statement ?
Answer ----
Question No. 15.-- Are you now willing to make a statement voluntarily and of
your own free-will ?
Answer ----
Question No. 16 – You can tell me your complaints or difficulties ,if any ,Have
you understood ?
Answer -----
Question No. 17.-- I am not here to record your statement by compulsion. I am
here to record your statement if you are willing to make it
voluntarily and of your own free-will. Have you under-
stood this ?
Answer -----
After satisfaction that the accused is making the statement voluntarily
and of his own free will, I have recorded it as follows :--
DO NOT ADMINISTER OATH.
Certificate I--(In the handwriting of the Magistrate )
“Certified that the above confession was recorded in my presence and hearing and
the record contains a full and true account of the statement made by the accused ”.
(Signature )......................
Magistrate
Dated:
Certificate II :---
“I have explained to ................(Name) that he is not bound to make
confession and that, if he does so ,any confession he may make may be used as
evidence against him and I believe that this confession was voluntarily made .It was
taken in my presence and hearing and was read over to the person making it and
admitted by him to be correct and it contains a full and true account of the statement
made by him.”
(Signature )......................
Magistrate
Dated:
Certificate III-- ( In the handwriting of the Magistrate ).
“I certify that on the following grounds ,I believe that the confession is genuine ;
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
I had taken the following precautions to remove the accused from the influence of
police :-
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
I had given the accused ............ hours time for reflection before recording
the confession.”
(Signature )..........................
Magistrate
Dated:
The accused after his confession has been recorded by me, is remanded to
Judicial Custody and forwarded to the Sub-Jail.
(Signature )....................
Magistrate
Dated :
(The above form does not fetter the discretion of the Magistrate to ask such other
questions as are considered necessary in a particular case, but incriminating questions
should never be asked)
After a prisoner has made a confession ,he should ordinarily be committed
to jail ,and the Magistrate should note on the warrant for the information of the
Superintendent of the Jail concerned, that the prisoner has made a confession.
It is not feasible absolutely to prohibit the return of a prisoner to police
custody after he has made a confession. An absolute prohibition of remands to
police custody in such cases is impracticable ,since the prisoner may be required to
identify persons or property ,to assist at the discovery of property or, generally to be present while his statement is being verified. But it is desirable that discretion should be used in the exercise of the power to remand,and the following principles are accordingly laid down for the guidance of the Magistrate :---
(a) A remand to police custody should not be made unless the officer making
the application is able to show good and satisfactory grounds for it ; a general
statement that the accused may be able to give further information should not be
accepted as being in itself a sufficient reason for remand.
(b) If the object of the remand is the verification of the prisoner’s statement ,
he should ordinarily be remanded to Magistrerial custody.
© The period of the remand should always be as short as possible .
(d) A prisoner who has been produced for the purpose of making a confession
and has made a statement ,which from the point of view of the prosecution ,is
unsatisfactory ,should in no circumstances be remanded to police custody.
The police may be permitted to take copies of confessions recorded by
Magistrates.
Any instance of misconduct or abuse of authority by a police Officer ,which
may come to the notice of a Mgistrate ,shall be reported to the Sessions Judge to
whom the Magistrate is subordinate . The Sessions Judge, on receipt of such a report ,should bring the matter to the notice of the District Magistrate for such action as he may deem fit. In cases of gross misconduct ,if the Sessions Judge finds
that appropriate action has not been taken against the Officer concerned, he may bring the matter to the notice of the High Court.
The following orders issued by Government are reproduced for the infor-
mation of the Magistrates:---
(1) Warrants issued by Criminal Courts against Railway servants should be
entrusted for execution to a police Officer of superior grade,who shall ,if he finds,
on proceeding to execute the warrant ,that the immediate arrest of the Railway
servant would occasion risk or inconvenience ,make all arrangements necessary to
prevent escape, and apply to the proper quarter to have the accused relieved ,
deferring his arrest until he is relieved.
(Vide Government of India Order, No. 3205,dated nil,issued under Resolution ,
No.3987-88,dated the 2nd July 1877).
(2) When an arrest is made under Section 132 of the Indian Railways Act,
1890 (IX of 1890), of a person who there is reason to believe will abscond, or whose
name and address are unknown and he refuses to give them, or ,when given ,are
reasonably believed to be incorrect, the case should be sent to the Magistrate, in
accordance with the provisions of Section 170 of the Code of Criminal Procedure,
as cognizable case within the definition in Section 2(c) of Criminal Procedure Code,
although the offence alleged against the accused be not itself cognizable.
(vide Government of Bombay ,Judicial Department ,Notification, No. 877,
dated the 14th Feburary 1890,published in Bombay Government Gazette, Part I,
dated the 20th Feburary 1890, at page 145).
Summaries of Final Orders
24. All the Courts of Session and the Magistrates are directed to specifically note
for guidance ,the following instructions for issue of summaries of final orders. In all
cases disposed of by them, they should comply with these instructions without
prejudice to their statutory powers and judicial discretion :----
(1) Each Magistrate shall,immediately after disposing of a cognizable case ,
forward through the police Station from which the case came, to the Superintendent
or Sub-Divisional Police Officer concerned ,a summary of a final order in Form E.
It should be sent in all cases,whether disposed of by trial or otherwise brought
to an end by the death,lunacy or escape of the accused or in any other way what-
soever. When a case has been tried by a Magistrate, he will issue the summary.
In cases tried by the Court of Session, the Magistrate concerned will forward
the required summary after the disposal of the case by that Court or by the High
Court. When the order of decision of the Magistrate is modified on appeal or
revision ,the Magistrate who sent the original summary will sent again a fresh
summary of such modified order or decision in Form F.
(2) If an accused in a case dies after a charge sheet has been sent up against him
but before any evidence is recorded by the Magistrate ,the Magistrate should issue
‘A’ summary .
(3) In cases not sent up for trial but disposed of on final reports by the
Magistrates, a Magistrate who is empowered to take cognizance of the offence
on a police report should issue the summaries.
(4) In cases in which investigation has been refused by the police under section
157 (1) (b) of the Code of Criminal Procedure ,1973 ,the Magistrate should enter
a remark or give a reply to the question No. 4 of the summary in Form ‘E’(given
below) to the effect that the case is “not investigated by the police acting under
Section 157(1) (b) of the Code of Criminal Procedure with Magistrate ’s approval .”
The Magistrate should also include in his summary the value of property alleged
to have been stolen in such cases. In cases wherein the investigation was refused
on the ground that the complaint was of a civil nature ,it is not necessary to include
the value of property in his summary.
(5) The Criminal cases should be classified as follows :---
Class ‘A’ cases—The cases which are (i) ‘TRUE’ and (ii) wherein an accused is
tried and in the absence of conclusive evidence ,is acquitted.
Class ‘B’ cases—Wherein no offence has been committed at all either by the
accused or by any one else, but wherein the complaint is found to be “false and
maliciously false.”
Class ‘C’cases---- Wherein no offence has been committed at all either by the
accused or by any one else, but wherein the case is found to be “neither true nor
false”or “false but not maliciously false .”
“Non—Cognizable ”cases---The cases, in which the accused are convicted for
non-cognizable offences, should be classed as “Non-cognizable ”. The cases ,
in which the police report discloses commission of only non-cognizable offences,
should also be classed as “Non-cognizable ”.
(6) In cases wherein offences have been compounded, it is not proper to
characterise the complaints as compounded , In such cases, the Magistrates
should enter remark against question No. 3 of the Summary in Form E to the effect
that the offence complained of has been compounded. Similarly, in cases wherein
the accused is reported to be dead, or suffering from lunacy or absconding , the
Magistrates should enter a remark to that effect against question No. 3 of the
Summary in Form E.
(7) In cases referred to the police for enquiry and report under Sections 156 &
and 202 of the Code of Criminal Procedure ,1973 ,the Magistrates should send
summaries of their final orders in the prescribed forms direct to the police Stations
concerned for their record.
(8) In cases in which the offences complained of are punishable (i) under Sections
161, 165 ar 165-A of Indian Penal Code or under Sub-section (2) of Section 5 of
the Prevention of Corrupiton Act, 1947 ; (ii) or any conspiracy to commit or any
attempt to commit or any abetment of any of the offences specified in clause (i),
and (iii) any other offence connected with any of the offences specified in (i) and
(ii) ,the Special Judges appointed under Section 6 of the Criminal Law Amendment
Act,1952 for trial of such offences,should send their Summaries of their final orders
to the police Station Officers or the Officers of the Anti- Corruption Bureau ,
who conducted the investigation and sent in their reports to him.
(9) The attention of the Magistrates is drawn to the decision of the Supreme
Court reported in (1970) 3- S.C.R. 716 (R.N. Chatterji Vs Havildar Kuer Singh),
wherein it is held that the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure ,1973
do not empower the Magistrates to ask the police to submit a chargesheet. If,
however ,the Magistrate is of opinion that the report submitted by the police
requires further investigation, the Magistrate may order investigation under
Section 156(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure ,1973 . Directing a further
investigation is entirely different from asking the police to submit a chargesheet.
Further more, Section 190(1) © of the Code of Criminal Procedure ,1973 ,empowers
the Magistrate to take cognizance of an offence notwithstanding a contrary
opinion of the Police.
----------------------------
FORM ‘E’
APPENDIX ‘E’
(Counter-foil of Form ‘E’ not typed as it is in Marathi)
Summary of Magistrate’s Final Order
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Police Station Number of case Complaint’s Magistrate’s Serial No of
as entered in sub- Name Case No. Summary
Inspector’s
Register.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Is the case cognizable or non-
cognizable ? If non-cognizable ,
the remaining portion of the
Form need not be filled up.
2. Section of Penal Code or other
enactment covering the case.
3. To which of the following three
classes does the complaint be-
long ? Viz. (a) true; (b) mali-
ciously false ; © not true and
not maliciously false.
4. was the case investigated by the
police or taken up and disposed
of by the Magistrate direct.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
J 4641—3
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Police Station Number of case Complaint ’s Magistrate ’s Seril No. of
as entered in Sub- Name Case No. summary
Inspector’s
Register .
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Number of Accused :--
(a) Arrested by the police (Dis-
strict or Village); suo-motu.
(b) Arrested otherwise than by
the police (District or Villa-
ge) ; suo-motu .
© Appearing before Magistrate
in answer to Summons.
6. Disposal of Accused and section
of the Code of Criminal Proce-
dure, 1973 under which dis-
posed of :--
(a) of those arrested by Convicted.
Police suo-motu. Acquitted
and Dis-
charged .
(b) Of those arrested Convicted .
Otherwise. Acquitted
and Dis-
charged.
© Died, escaped, transferred or
treated as lunatics.
7. Value of Property stolen ...
Value of Property recovered ....
Camp
Dated: 19 Magistrate, Class,
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Forwarded to the Superintendent of police, through Sub-Inspector ,Police Station .
NOTE ------If the accused is classified as a ‘Habitual Criminal ’in accordance with Government Resolution No. 3, dated January 3,1887 ,this should be noted in column 6 by
entering the letter ‘H’ against the accused concerned.”
APPENDIX F
Summary of Amendment of Final Order on Appeal or Revision
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Police Station Serial No.of Original Serial No. of Summary
Summary of Amendment
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Section of Penal Code or other enact-
ment covering the case.
2. Disposal of Accused and Section of
the Criminal Procedure Code under
which disposed of-----
(A) Of those arres- Convicted ....
ted by the police Acquitted and
Suo Motu discharged :
(B) Of those arres- Convicted ...
ted otherwise Acquitted or
discharged
© Of those appear - Convicted ....
ing on Sum- Acquitted or
mons discharged.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Camp
Dated 19 Magistrate ............................Class.
Forwarded to the Superintendent of Police through the Sub-Inspector, ...............
Police Station.
J 4641—3 a