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Case Number

Criminal Confirmation Case No. 4 of 1963 (with Criminal Appeals Nos. 933, 934, 1094, 1095 and 1120 of 1963 with Criminal Revn. Appln. No. 504 of 1963)

Attorney(S)

A.D. Desai
Assistant Govt. Pleader
D.C. Trivedi and H.N. Jhala
for Respondents Nos. 1
2
3
6 and 7
N.C. Trivedi
appointed
for Respondents Nos. 4 and 5

Judges

Hon'ble Mr. Justice Jayantilal Bapalal Mehta
Hon'ble Mr. Justice Bipinchandra Jivanlal Divan

Acts

provisions of Section 145 of the Indian Evidence Act
provision of the Indian Evidence Act as Section 145
provisions of the Indian Evidence Act. Section 145
SECTION 145 EVIDENCE ACT
report. Section 145 of the Indian Evidence Act
Section 145 of the Indian Evidence. Act
provisions ot Section 288, Cr. p. C.
provisions of Section 288 Cr. P. C.
SECTION 157 EVIDENCE ACT
Section 146. Section 145
Section 288 Cr. P. C.
Section 154, Cr. P. C.

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Smart Summary

Structured Summary of the Opinion (Divan, J.)

Factual and Procedural Background

This judgment arises from a trial in which discrepancies and divergences were observed between the oral evidence given by a witness named Vaikunthlal and the first information report (FIR) recorded under Section 154, Cr. P. C. The record shows that Vaikunthlal's attention was not drawn, while he was giving evidence in the trial Court, to the parts of the FIR said to be inconsistent with his testimony. The issue for determination in the passages provided is the correct legal position regarding the use of a first information report (and other previous statements) to contradict or corroborate witnesses when the witness has not been confronted with the relevant parts of that previous statement in the manner required by the law.

Legal Issues Presented

What is the correct legal position regarding the use of a first information report (recorded under Section 154, Cr. P. C.) to contradict a witness at trial when the witness's attention was not drawn to the relevant parts of that report as required by Section 145 of the Indian Evidence Act?
Can the contents of a first information report be used to contradict or discredit other witnesses (i.e., persons who were not the makers of that first information report)?
What is the effect of various precedents (including Privy Council and Supreme Court decisions) on the admissibility and proper use of previous statements and depositions brought on record under provisions such as Section 288 Cr. P. C.?

Arguments of the Parties

Defence's Arguments (as recorded)

The defence (represented by Mr. D. C. Trivedi) sought to use the contents of the first information report (Ex. 9) to contradict and thereby discredit the testimony of Vaikunthlal, despite the fact that the witness had not been confronted in Court with the specific parts of the FIR relied upon.
Mr. Trivedi additionally argued that the first information report, being the case as first presented to the authorities by eyewitnesses and others, could be used to challenge and test the testimony of other witnesses in the case, i.e., that the FIR should inform the assessment of all other witnesses' evidence.

The opinion does not contain a detailed account of any counter-arguments by the prosecution in the passages provided.

Table of Precedents Cited

Precedent	Rule or Principle Cited For	Application by the Court
Bal Gangadhar Tilah v. Shriniwas Pandit, 42 Ind App 135 : AIR 1915 PC 7	Interprets Section 145, Evidence Act: a previous written statement may be used to contradict a witness only after his attention has been drawn to the relevant parts; emphasizes fair procedure and opportunity to explain.	Cited as authoritative Privy Council support for the proposition that a witness must be confronted with parts of a previous statement to be contradicted; used to criticise any procedure that contradicts a witness by reference to documents without first calling the witness's attention to those parts.
Awadh Singh v. Emperor, AIR 1947 Pat 23	Held that where there is inconsistency between a fard bayan (attached to FIR) and trial evidence, prosecution witnesses should be asked to explain in examination-in-chief; defence is not obliged to fill lacuna by cross-examination.	The Court noted this view but declined to accept it as authoritative in the present context, because the Patna Division Bench did not have the Privy Council decision (Bal Gangadhar Tilah) before it; thus the opinion in Awadh Singh was not followed over the Privy Council authority.
Tara Singh v. State, AIR 1951 SC 441	Where previous deposition (e.g., before committing Magistrate and brought in under Section 288 Cr. P. C.) is used, Section 145 Evidence Act requires the witness to be confronted with the prior statement before it can be used to contradict; otherwise inadmissible.	Applied to show that even when a previous statement is on a higher footing (deposition under Section 288), Section 145 still applies; supports requirement to confront witness with previous statements intended for contradiction.
Bhagwan Singh v. State of Punjab, AIR 1952 SC 214	Distinguished Tara Singh: where a witness makes two contradictory statements in the course of trial testimony, a former statement can be used to corroborate one of them; Section 157 and Section 288 interplay discussed; Section 145 applies when witness denies making former statement.	Court analysed distinction and concluded that because in the present case the dispute is between a trial deposition and a prior written FIR (not two inconsistent in-court statements), Section 145 would still govern the use of the FIR to contradict the witness.
Ram Bilas Singh v. State of Bihar, Criminal Appeal No. 73 of 1961 : 1964 (1) Cri L J 573 (opinion dated Jan 29, 1963)	Addresses whether High Court properly decided questions about the composition/size of an alleged unlawful assembly and the use of first information report to determine how many persons were involved; discusses role of High Court in considering oral and documentary evidence.	The Court observed that this authority does not aid the procedural question of how a witness should be confronted with a prior statement under Section 145; Ram Bilas Singh was therefore not relied upon to decide the Section 145 issue in the present case.
Mohan Singh v. State of Punjab, AIR 1963 SC 174	Permits a High Court to look into entire evidence (oral and documentary) in some contexts (cited in Ram Bilas Singh).	Referenced within the exposition of Ram Bilas Singh; only cited for the proposition that a High Court may examine entire evidence in appropriate circumstances; not applied to alter Section 145 requirements in the present opinion.
Abdul Gani v. State of M. P., AIR 1954 SC 31	Discusses that a sketchy first information report should not be ignored altogether and that FIR was not used as substantive evidence by the High Court in that case; FIR can be used to corroborate eyewitnesses (as used by High Court in that case).	The Court notes the passage cited but observes that the head-note in Abdul Gani may be misleading; the present Court reads the judgment as not supporting use of FIR as substantive evidence and thus does not accept an expansive reading that would conflict with Section 145 requirements.
Nisar Ali v. State of U. P., AIR 1957 SC 366	Holds that a first information report is not substantive evidence; it can be used to corroborate the maker under Section 157 or to contradict him under Section 145, but it cannot be used against the maker if he becomes an accused, nor to corroborate or contradict other witnesses who are not the makers.	The Court follows the ratio in Nisar Ali and applies it directly: the FIR (Ex. 9) made by Vaikunthlal cannot be used to contradict other witnesses; the FIR is a previous statement of its maker and its use is limited as per Nisar Ali.

Court's Reasoning and Analysis

Step-by-step, the Court's analysis in the provided text proceeds as follows:

Identification of the factual problem: The trial record shows discrepancies between Vaikunthlal's oral evidence and his first information report (FIR), but Vaikunthlal was not confronted in Court with the parts of the FIR now said to contradict his testimony.
Statement of legal principle: The Court reiterates the settled principle that a first information report under Section 154, Cr. P. C. is not substantive evidence but is a previous written statement of its maker. Section 145 of the Indian Evidence Act allows a witness to be cross-examined about prior written statements relevant to matters in question, but if the prior writing is to be used to contradict the witness, the witness's attention must first be called to the relevant parts before the writing can be proved.
Reliance on authorities: The Court relies on Bal Gangadhar Tilah v. Shriniwas Pandit (Privy Council) to emphasize the procedural fairness requirement—where documents or prior statements are to be used against a witness, that witness must be given the opportunity to explain. The opinion treats the Privy Council authority as binding guidance on the interpretation and application of Section 145.
Comparison and distinction of decisions: The Court considers Awadh Singh (Patna High Court) but does not accept its conclusions to the extent that they conflict with the Privy Council decision. The Court examines Tara Singh (Supreme Court) and Bhagwan Singh (Supreme Court) to clarify when Section 145 applies and when earlier statements may be used as corroboration under Section 157. The Court explains that Bhagwan Singh allows the use of a former statement to corroborate in the specific context where a witness makes two inconsistent in-court statements, but that principle does not apply to the facts at hand.
Practical application to the present facts: Given that Vaikunthlal was not confronted with the parts of the FIR used to contradict him, Section 145's procedural requirement was not satisfied. The Court emphasizes that the prior statement (the FIR) cannot be used to contradict Vaikunthlal in the absence of having first put the relevant portions to him in Court.
On use of FIR against other witnesses: Applying Nisar Ali v. State of U. P., the Court reasons that a person cannot be contradicted by a previous statement for which he is not responsible; thus an FIR made by Vaikunthlal cannot be used to contradict other witnesses who did not make that FIR.
Administrative admonition and remedial direction: The Court remarks on a reported practice in subordinate courts where presiding judges or magistrates discourage questions aimed at contradicting the maker of the FIR. The Court deplores such a practice (if it exists) and directs that presiding judges should draw attention to the statutory requirements of Section 145, particularly where court-appointed or less experienced counsel conduct the defence, so that witnesses receive a fair opportunity to explain prior statements.

Holding and Implications

Holding: The Court refused to accept the defence contention that the statements in the first information report (Ex. 9) could be used to contradict Vaikunthlal or to discredit other witnesses when Vaikunthlal was not confronted, in Court, with the specific parts of the FIR relied upon. In particular, following Nisar Ali v. State of U.P., the Court held that a first information report is not substantive evidence and cannot be used to contradict persons other than its maker.

Core Ruling (emphasized): The first information report cannot be used to contradict a witness unless the witness's attention has been drawn, in the manner required by Section 145 of the Evidence Act, to the parts relied upon; and a first information report made by a witness cannot be used to contradict other witnesses who are not its makers.

Immediate Consequences and Practical Implications

Direct effect on the parties: The defence's attempt to rely on the FIR (Ex. 9) to contradict Vaikunthlal and to impeach other witnesses was rejected on the ground that the procedural safeguards of Section 145 were not complied with.
Procedure for trial courts: The Court underscores the duty of presiding judges to ensure the requirements of Section 145 are explained and followed, especially where court-appointed or inexperienced counsel are conducting defence, so that witnesses get the opportunity to explain prior statements.
On precedent and evidentiary law: The Court follows and applies the principle from Nisar Ali and the Privy Council decision in Bal Gangadhar Tilah to restrict the use of FIRs and prior statements for contradiction absent proper confrontation of the witness; it declines to follow inconsistent formulations (e.g., from Awadh Singh) that conflict with those authorities.

If any section above could not be fully populated because the provided passages did not contain additional material (for example, a detailed prosecution argument or an explicit final sentence disposing of the appeal), only the information expressly present in the supplied opinion has been summarized and no inference beyond the text has been made.

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State Of Gujarat And Others v. Hiralal Devji And Others

JUDGMENT Divan, J.

1-54. (After stating facts and discussing the evidence, the judgment continues as under) :

It is no doubt true that these discrepancies and divergences between the evidence given by Vaihunthlal in Court and his first information report do appear on record. However, the attention of Vaikunthlal was not drawn to any of these discrepancies or divergences or contradictions at the time when he was giving evidence before the trial Court. Therefore, it becomes necessary to examine as to what is the correct legal position regarding the use to be made of the first information report under such circumstances.

55. It is well settled law that the first information report recorded tinder Section 154 Cr. P. C. by an officer in charge of a Police Station is not substantive evidence but is a previous statement in writing of the maker of that document and can be used to corroborate or contradict the maker of lhat first information report. Section 145 of the Indian Evidence Act provides that a witness may be cross-examined as to previous statements made by him in writing or reduced into writing, and relevant to matters In question, without such writing being shown to him or being proved; but, if it is intended to contradict him by the writing, his attention must, before the writing can be proved, be called to those parts of it which are to be ased for the purpose of contradicting him. In the instant ease we may emphasize once again that the attention of Vaikunthlal was not drawn to those parts of the first information report which are sought to be used for the purpose of contradicting Vaikunthlal's testimony in Court. In the case of Bal Gangadhar Tilah v. Shriniwas Pandit, 42 Ind App 135 : (AIR 1915 PC 7), the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council considered the effect of the provisions of Section 145 of the Indian Evidence Act. There whet happened was that the High Court had considered the effect of certain documents which were brought on record as substantive evidence and the High Court disbelieved the oral testimony of the witnesses in the light of those documents on record. Lord Shaw of Dunfermline, delivering the judgment of the Privy Council observed at page 146 of the report (!nd App.) : (at p. 11 of AIR) as fOllOWS:-

"A further mischance in point of procedure must now be mentioned. As already stated, the testimony of the plaintiffs' witnesses is not contradicted orally, and is Internally a consistent body of evidence. But various minutes and documents are the subject of minute analysis, observation, and comment by the learned judges of the High Court with a view to rebutting It. Their Lordships think it right to observe that, in view of the serious nature of the verdict of the High Court, they have considered it within their province themselves to peruse the documents. Having done so, they are of the opinion that, taken together, they completely confirm the case made in the wit-ness-box, and that there is no ground, in fact, for the conclusion that they either contradict the testimony or cast any reasonable doubt upon It.

But they must also record their dissent from the view that the use made of these documents in this case was justified by law. On general principles it would appear to be sound that if a witness is under cross-examination on oath he should be given tne opportunity, if documents are to be used against him, to tender his explanation and to clear up the particular point of ambiguity on dispute. This is a general, salutary and intelligible rule, and where a witness's reputation and character are at stake the duty of enforcing this rule would appear to be singularly clear. Fortunately the law of India pronounces no uncertain sound upon the same matter."

Then the provisions of Section 145 of the Indian Evidence Act are set out and the judgment proceeds further as follows:-

"Their Lordships have observed with regret and with surprise that the general principle and the specific statutory provisions have not been followed. The verdict of the High Court is an inferential verdict -- none the less sweeping on that account--but an Inferential verdict actually of perjury."

56. In the case of Awadh Singh v. Emperor, AIR 1947 Pat 23, a Division Bench of the Patna High Court considered the effect of an inconsistency between the first information report and the evidence at the trial and it was held by the Division Bench as follows:-

"The lack of any cross-examination of the prosecu-tion witnesses as to a fact within their knowledge, which the defence seek to establish, is properly a matter of comment and inference; but there is no obligation on the defence, by cross-examination, to fill in a lacuna In the case for the prosecution.

When there is an inconsistency between the fard bayan attached to the first information report made and signed by the complainant and his evidence given at the trial it is a matter which the prosecution witnesses should be asked to explain in examination-in-chief and no great weight can be attached to the failure of the defence to cross-examine the complainant on the point."

The relevant passage in this connection is at page 25, para 5; but it does not appear from the report that the decision of the Privy Council in Bal Gangadhar Tilak's case, 42 Ind App 135 : (AIR 1915 PC 7) (supra) was cited before the learned Judges of the Patna High Court; and in view of the authoritative pronouncement of the Privy Council it is not possible for us to accept the view expressed by the Division Bench of the Patna High Court in Awadh Singh's case, AIR 1947 Pat 23.

57. In the case of Tara Singh v. Slate, AIR 1951 SC 441, the question before the Supreme Court was of the effect of deposition before the committing Magistrate having been brought on record under the provisions of Section 288 Cr. P. C. What happened in that case before the Supreme Court was that two out of the three eyewitnesses, whose depositions before the committing Magistrate were brought on the record of the Sessions Court, were not confronted in the manner required by Section 145 of the Indian Evidence. Act and what happened was that when they were asked something about their previous statements, they replied that they were made under coercion. Aftsr setting out the provisions of Section 145 of the Indian Evidence Act, at page 446 it was observed as follows:

"Now, it is evident that one of the main purposes of using the previous statements was to contradict and displace the evidence given before the Sessions Court because until that evidence was contradicted and displaced, there was no room in this case for permitting the pre-vious statements to be brought on record and used under Section 288. Therefore, as these statements were not put to these witnesses and as their attention was not drawn to them in the manner required by Section 145, Evidence Act, they were not admissible in evidence. The observations ot the Privy Council in 42 Ind App. 135, at P. "147 : (AIR 1915 PC 7 at p. 11) are relevant here."

58. It was also observed as follows:-

"There is no reason why Section 145, Evidence Act, should be excluded when Section 288 slates that the previous statements are to be subject to the provisions of the Indian Evidence Act. Section 145 falls fairly and quarely within the plain meaning of these words. More than that. This is a fair and proper provision and is in accord with the sense of fairplay to which Courts are accustomed. On giving effect to the plain meaning ol these words, therefore, the evidence in the Committal Court cannot be used in the Sessions Court unless the witness is confronted with his previous statement as required by Section 145, Evidence Act. If the prosecution wishes to use the previous testimony to the contrary as substantive evidence, then it must confront the witness with those parts of it which are to be used for the purpose of contradicting him. Then only can the matter be brought in as substantive evidence under Section 288."

It may be pointed out that in Tara Singh's case, AIR 1951 S C 441, the Supreme Court was considering the effect of not drawing the attention of the witness to the state-ment brought on record under Section 288 Cr. P. C. It is well settled law that when the previous deposition be-fore the committing Magistrate is brought on record under the provisions ot Section 288, Cr. p. C. that deposition, becomes substantive evidence and thus the document in Tara Singh's case, AIR 1951 SC 441 stood on a higher footing than the first information report with which we are concerned in the instant case. Even then the Supreme Court said that unless the attention of the witness had been drawn to those parts of the previous deposition, with which It was proposed to contradict the witness, the document was not admissible in evidence at all.

59. This decision of the Supreme Court came up for consideration before the Supreme Court in the case of Bhagwan Singh v. State of Punjab, AIR 1952 S C 214. At page 217, para 24, Tara Singh's case, AIR 1951 SC 441 was distinguished. Bhagwan Singh's case, AIR 1952 SC 214 dealt with a case where in the course of the testimony, a witness made two contradictory state-ments. In such a situation, according to the decision in Bhagwan Singh's case, AIR 1952 SC 214, the deposition before the committing Magistrate can be used to corroborate one of the two statements made before the Sessions Court. It was pointed out in Bhagwan Singh's case, AIR 1952 SC 214 that Section 157 is as much a provision of the Indian Evidence Act as Section 145 end if the former statement can be brought In under Section 157, it can be transmuted into substantive evidence by the application of Section 288. It is true that in para 22 at page 217 Bose, J. gave an illustration and observed as foIlows :-

"Now, the former statement could not be used as substantive evidence. It could only be used as corrobo-ration of the evidence in chief under Section 157 of the Evidence Act or to shake the witness's credit or test his veracity under Section 146. Section 145 is not called into play at all in such a case. Resort to Section 145 would only be necessary if the witness 'denies' that he made the former statement. In that event, it would be necessary to prove that he did, and 'if the former statement was reduced to writing', then Section 145 requires that his attention must be drawn to those parts which are to be used for contradiction. But that position does not arise when the witness admits the former statement. In such a case all that is necessary is to look to the former statement of which no further proof is necessary, because of the admission that it was made."

In our opinion, in the light of the distinction between Tara Singh's case, AIR 1951 SC 441 and Bhagwan Singn's case, AIR 1952 SC 214, pointed out above, the question whether the previous statement can be used for the purpose of testing the veracity of the witness does not arise so far as the facts of the instant case are concerned. In the instant case, we are not dealing with two contradictory statements made by Vaikunthlal in the course of the same testimony but we are concerned with a situation where the defence wants to contradict and challenge- the testimony of VaiKunthlal with reference to the previous statement of Vaikunthlal reduced to writing viz., Ex. 9, the first information report, Under these circumstances, the provisions of Section 145 of the Evidence Act, even according to the ratio decidendi in Bhagwan Singh's case, AIR 1952 S C 214, would come into play. We may point cut that the judgments in both the cases referred to above were delivered by Bose, J. and Fazl All and Bose, JJ. were parties to both the judgments but in Tara Singh's case, AIR 1951 SC 441, besides Fazl All and Bose, JJ., Patanjal Sastri and S. R. Das, JJ. were also parties; whereas Bhagwan Singh's case, AIR 1952 S C 214, was decided by Fazl Ali and Bose, JJ. In our view, so far as the facts of Ihe present ease are concerned, the provisions of Section 145, Evidence Act would come into play even on the basis of the decision in Bhagwan Singh's case, AIR 1952 S C 214.

60. Our attention was drawn also to the judgment of the Supreme Court in the case of Ram Bilas Singh v. State of Bihar, Criminal Appeal No. 73 of 1961, decided by the Supreme Court on January 29, 1963 : (1964 (1) Cri L J 573). The judgment of the Supreme Court was delivered by Mudholkar, J. At page 9 of the blue print of the judgment of the Supreme Court, it is staled as follows :

"Applying the law as set out above, we must find out whether what the High Court has done in this case Is right. In the first place, though it was vaguely stated by some of the witnesses examined in the case that 40 or 50 persons took part in the incident including the 7 persons mentioned in the first information report and the charge sheet, the prosecution case throughout has been that only seven named persons took part in the incident. Even the first Information report of Deva Singh (P.W. 2), one of the injured persons, mentions only the seven persons who were, placed for trial and no other. There, is no suggestion therein that any other persons took part in. the incident. The Court of Session, however, without discussing the point and without finding as to how many persons were members thereof, has come to the conclusion that there was an unlawful assembly, the common object of which was to dismantle the Dochara and assault Laldeo Singh and Deva Singh. The High Court has proceeded move or less on the assumption that there was an unlawful assembly, only some members of which were put up for trial, four of whom were acquitted and three convicted. It was necessary for 1he High Court to consider whether the statements of some of the witnesses that the unlawful assembly consisted of many more than seven persons are true or whether they should be rejected in view of the fact that the first information report shows that only seven persons who were named therein, committed the offence. It had also to consider the further question of prejudice by reason of the defect in the charge. Upon the law as stated by this Court in Mohan Singh v. Stats of Punjab, AIR 1963 SC 174, and in other cases it would have been competent to the High Court to look into the entire evidence in the case; oral and documentary, and consider whether there was an unlawful assembly or not. But it has not done so. Had the High' Court come to a reasoned conclusion that there was an unlawful assembly consisting of more than five persons. Including the appellants and some other persons who were unidentified and convicted the appellants under Section 147 and, with the aid of Section 149, also of some other offence committed by a member or members of the unlawful assembly other than the acquitted persons the matter would have siood on a different footing. But it has not done so."

It may be pointed out that In that case, the Supreme Court set aside the, judgment and sent bach the case to the High Court for deciding it afresh after determining the question which it was essential for the High Court to determine. In bur view, in this case before the Supreme Court, the witnesses were not disbelieved, on the ground of contradiction between the first information report and the depositions of the witnesses before the trial Court. All that the Supreme Court was pointing out was that the High Court had not decided the question which should have been determined by the High Court in the light of the fact that the prosecution case from the beginning was that only seven named persons had constituted the unlawful assembly and not that 40 or 50 persons had taken part in the incident. Under these circumstances, it cannot be said that this judgment of Supreme Court in the case of Cri. Appeal No. 73 of 1961, D/- 21-1-1953 : [1964 (1) Cri LJ 573 S,C), can help us in deciding the question of procedure to be followed when a witness is sought to be contradicted by reference to his statement before the police or by reference to his first information report.

61. We are informed by Mr. D. C. Trivedi, the learn-ed Advocate appearing on behalf of the defence, that in many Courts subordinate to this High Court, the practice of the Presiding Judges and Magistrates is to discourage questjons seeking to contradict the maker of the first information report, with reference to the statements set out in the first information report itself. We do not know whether any; such practice In fact prevails or not but if such a practice does prevail, then it is to be deprecated. The clear provisions of Section 145 of the Indian Evidence Act and the decisions in 42 Ind App. 135 : (AIR 1915 PC 7) and AIR 1951 SC 441 go to show that the previous statement of a witness either made by him in writing or reduced to writing cannot be used for' the purpose of contradicting him unless his attention has first been drawn to those parts of previous statements in writing or redirced to writing by which it is proposed to contradict him. As has been pointed out in the decisions which we have discussed until now, it is a principle of fair play that such an opportunity should be given to the witness when he is before the trial Court. We also wish to emphasize that in many sessions cases when an advocate appointed by the Court appears and particularly when a junior advocate, who has not much experience of the procedure of the Court, has been appointed to conduct the defence of an 'accused person, it is the duty of the Presiding judge to draw his attention to the statutory provisions of Section 145 of the Indian Evidence Act, as explained in 42 Ind App 135 : '(AIR 1913 PC 7) and AIR 1951 SC 441 and no Court should allow a witness to be contradicted by reference to the previous statement in writing or reduced to writing unless the procedure set out in Section 145 has been followed. It is possible that if the attention of the witness is drawn to these portions with reference to which it is proposed to contradict him,) he may be able to give a perfectly satisfactory explanation; and in that event the portion in the previous statement which would otherwise be contradictory would no longer go to contradict or challenge the testimony of the witness. In the light of this legal position, we are unable to accept Mr. Trivedi's contention on behalf of the accused that the statements in the first information report should be considered for the purpose of contradicting the testimony of Vaikunlhla! and thereby discrediting him as an untruthful witness.

62. Mr. Trivedi also wanted to use the contents of the first information report for the purpose of challenging the testimony of other witnesses who have been examined in this case. His contention was that the first information sets out tha case with which the eye-witnesses and others first approached the authorities and in the light of that first information the evidence of all other witnesses can be considered. In the case of Abdul Gani v. State of M. P., AIR 1954 SC 31, In para 13 at page 36, it was observed as follows :

"It was then urged that the first information report was a sketchy document and was intentionally kept in this state in order to leave enough scope for fabrication and that no reliance should have been placed upon it.

So far as we have been able to see, the first information report has not been used as substantive evidence in the case at all by the High Court but has been used only to corroborate the statements of the eye-witnesses. It is not possible to accept the suggestion that because this report was not as full as it could have been, it should be ignored altogether. There is no warrant for doing

50."

We may point out that the head-note (c) in this case is rather misleading. The head-note purports to say that though the first information is not as full as it could be, it cannot be ignored altogether and it could be used to corroborate the statements of the eye-witnesses. We are unable to read para 13 of the judgment of the Supreme Court in the manner in which it has been summarized in head-note (c) because the Supreme Court has not in fact used the first information report to corroborate. All, that it pointed out was that the High Court had not used it as substantive evidence, and there was no warrant for saying that it was used as substantive evidence.

63. In our opinion, the correct legal position regard ing the first information report and the use to be made of it has been set out in the judgment of the Supreme Court in the case of Nisar Ali v. State of U. P., (S) AIR 1957 SC 366, and there Kapur, J.-considering the effect of the first information report recorded under Section 154, Cr. P. C. stated as follows:

"A first information report is not a substantive piece of evidence and can only be used to corroborate the statement of the maker under Section 157, Evidence Act, or to contradict it under section 145 of that act. It cannot be vised as evidence against the maker at the trial if he himself becomes an accused,-nor to corroborate or contradict other witnesses."

With respect we follow this ratio of the decision of the Supreme. Court in Nisar Ali's, case, (S) AIR 1957 SC 366, because it is obvious that a person other than the maker of the first information report cannot be sought to be con tradicted by a statement set out in the first information report when he himself is not responsible for making that previous statement which has been recorded as a first information report. It is a sound principle of the law relating to the appreciation of evidence that a man can be contradicted by his own previous statemeht and if the provisions of !aw permitted can be corroborated by his own previous statement made at or about the time of occurrence or otherwise as contemplated by Section 157 of the Evidence Act but a man cannot be contradicted by something for which he himself is not responsible and, therefore, we are unable to accept the contention of Mr. Trivedi that the first information report, Ex. 9, made by Vaikunthla] can be used to contradict the statements made by other witnesses.

State Of Gujarat And Others v. Hiralal Devji And Others

Structured Summary of the Opinion (Divan, J.)

Factual and Procedural Background

Legal Issues Presented

Arguments of the Parties

Defence's Arguments (as recorded)

Table of Precedents Cited

Court's Reasoning and Analysis

Holding and Implications

Immediate Consequences and Practical Implications

State Of Gujarat And Others v. Hiralal Devji And Others

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