Power to stop proceedings in certain cases
Full Text
In any summons-case instituted otherwise than upon complaint, a Magistrate of the first class or, with the previous sanction of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, any other Judicial Magistrate, may, for reasons to be recorded by him, stop the proceedings at any stage without pronouncing any judgment and where such stoppage of proceedings is made after the evidence of the principal witnesses has been recorded, pronounce a judgment of acquittal, and in any other case, release the accused, and such release shall have the effect of discharge.
Plain English Summary
Grants Magistrates the power to terminate summons-cases initiated by police reports at any stage, with the effect being acquittal or discharge based on evidence status.
Key Legal Elements
- Specific to summons-cases NOT instituted upon complaint (e.g., police report cases)
- Magistrate of the first class (or others with CJM sanction) can stop proceedings at any stage
- No judgment needs to be pronounced
- If evidence of principal witnesses was recorded: Stoppage = Acquittal
- In any other case: Stoppage = Release (effect of Discharge)
Practical Note
This section gives the Magistrate a broad power to terminate a summons case (like those based on police reports) when it's clear the case shouldn't continue. The timing of the stoppage determines if it's an 'Acquittal' or a 'Discharge'.
हिंदी पाठ
परिवाद (complaint) के अलावा किसी अन्य आधार पर संस्थित किसी भी समन-मामले में, प्रथम श्रेणी का मजिस्ट्रेट या मुख्य न्यायिक मजिस्ट्रेट की पूर्व मंजूरी के साथ कोई अन्य न्यायिक मजिस्ट्रेट, अपने द्वारा दर्ज किए जाने वाले कारणों से, बिना कोई निर्णय सुनाए किसी भी चरण में कार्यवाही रोक सकता है और जहाँ कार्यवाही को इस प्रकार रोकना मुख्य साक्षियों का साक्ष्य दर्ज होने के बाद किया जाता है, वहां दोषमुक्ति (acquittal) का निर्णय सुना सकता है, और किसी भी अन्य मामले में, अभियुक्त को छोड़ सकता है, और ऐसे छोड़े जाने का प्रभाव उन्मोचन (discharge) का होगा।