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  • Section 41-A Cr.P.C,
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  • Section 41-A Cr.P.C,
Smart Summary

Factual and Procedural Background

These Criminal Petitions (No.6444 and No.6463 of 2022) challenge a common order of the VI Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Nampally, Hyderabad, in Crl.M.P.No.282/2022 and Crl.M.P.No.283/2022 arising from Crime No.160 of 2022 of Humayun Nagar Police Station. Crl.M.P.No.282 was filed by "People for Animals, Hyderabad, Secunderabad" seeking interim custody of two puppies (case property). Crl.M.P.No.283 was filed by Respondent No.2 claiming ownership and seeking interim custody. The Magistrate granted interim custody to Respondent No.2 conditionally: execution of a personal bond for Rs.80,000 with one surety, production of the puppies as and when required, and a direction not to sell or alienate them. The petitioner sought interference contending the puppies had been placed in the custody of People for Animals by the police and that custody to Respondent No.2 was unjustifiable and would risk the puppies' welfare. Respondent No.2 claimed lawful ownership, purchase for Rs.80,000, transport from Bangalore to Hyderabad, and compliance with the Magistrate's conditions. The Assistant Public Prosecutor supported the impugned order.

Legal Issues Presented

  1. Whether the interim custody of the two puppies (case property) should be vested in Respondent No.2 (claiming to be the lawful owner) or in the petitioner People for Animals.
  2. Whether the impugned interim custody order of the VI Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate requires interference by this Court.

Arguments of the Parties

Petitioner's Arguments (People for Animals)

  • The petitioner is an organisation tasked with taking proper care of pet animals and the police had granted custody of the puppies to People for Animals after seizure.
  • Granting custody to Respondent No.2 via the impugned order was unjustifiable.
  • If custody continues with Respondent No.2 the puppies would die of starvation.

Respondent No.2's Arguments

  • Respondent No.2 is the lawful owner, having purchased the puppies for Rs.80,000 and transported them from Bangalore to Hyderabad with care.
  • A case was registered only against the vehicle owner on grounds of ventilation/space, not against Respondent No.2's ownership.
  • Respondent No.2 executed the required personal bond (Rs.80,000), assured production of the puppies as required, and undertook not to sell or alienate them; thus the impugned order should be confirmed.

Respondent No.1 / Assistant Public Prosecutor

  • The Assistant Public Prosecutor submitted that the Magistrate's observations are well reasoned and the conditions (production as required; prohibition on sale/alienation) render the order not liable for interference.

Table of Precedents Cited

Precedent Rule or Principle Cited For Application by the Court
Arnesh Kumar Vs. State of Bihar The opinion states "The guidelines issued by the Hon'ble Apex Court in Arnesh Kumar Vs. State of Bihar shall be followed." The Court directed adherence to those guidelines by the Station House Officer / Investigating Officer (as reflected in the related proceeding portion of the document).
1 (2014) 8 SCC 273 Not specified in the provided opinion. Not described in the provided opinion.

Court's Reasoning and Analysis

The Court agreed with the Assistant Public Prosecutor that the Magistrate's order is well reasoned. It noted that interim custody was granted to Respondent No.2 subject to conditions (personal bond, production of the puppies when required, and prohibition on sale/alienation), which impose an obligation on Respondent No.2 to take good care of the puppies. The Court found the petitioner's apprehension of harm to the puppies misconceived. It held that the fact that the police had earlier given interim custody to the petitioner for a limited period did not by itself justify continuation of custody against the interests of a lawful owner. The Court found no justifiable grounds to transfer custody to the petitioner and no other reasons to interfere with the Magistrate's order.

Holding and Implications

Both Criminal Petitions (No.6444 and No.6463 of 2022) are dismissed.

Direct effect: The interim custody of the two puppies as ordered by the VI Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate remains with Respondent No.2 under the stipulated conditions (personal bond, production as required, no sale/alienation). Miscellaneous petitions, if any, stand closed. The opinion does not state any broader precedent being established beyond the decision in these petitions.

    PEOPLE FOR ANIMALS HYDERABAD AND SECUNDERABAD v. STATE OF TELANGANA and another

    THE HON'BLE Dr.JUSTICE CHILLAKUR SUMALATHA CRIMINAL PETITION No.6444 OF 2022

    AND

    CRIMINAL PETITION No.6463 OF 2022

    COMMON ORDER:-

    1. Heard the submission of the learned counsel for the petitioner, the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor representing Respondent No.1-State and the learned counsel appearing for the Respondent No.2.

    2. Challenge in these Criminal Petitions is the common order that is rendered by the Court of VI Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Nampally, Hyderabad, in Crl.M.P.No.282 of 2022 and Crl.M.P.No.283 of 2022 in Crime No.160 of 2022 of Humayun Nagar Police Station.

    3. Crl.M.P.No.282 of 2022 was filed by an organization by name 'People for Animals, Hyderabad, Secunderabad', seeking interim custody of the two puppies which is the case property in Crime No.160 of 2022 of Humayun Nagar Police Station.

    4. Crl.M.P.No.283 of 2022 was filed by the 2nd respondent herein claiming to be the owner of the said puppies and seeking interim custody of those two puppies.

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    5. The Court, on hearing both sides, came to a conclusion that the puppies are liable to be handed over to the 2ndrespondent herein. Accordingly, interim custody was granted conditionally. The 2ndrespondent was directed to execute a personal bond for Rs.80,000/- with one surety and he was also directed to produced the two puppies as and when required. He was also directed not to sell or alienate the said puppies.

    6. On this day, the learned counsel for the petitioner contends that the petitioner i.e. People for Animals, Hyderabad and Secunderabad, is meant to take proper care of pet animals and the concerned Police after seizing the puppies in question, granted custody of the puppies to the People for Animals and the puppies were in the custody of People for Animals. Learned counsel also states that through the impugned order, custody was given to the 2nd respondent which is unjustifiable. Learned counsel also states that in case the custody continues with the 2nd respondent, the puppies would die of starvation.

    7. Vehemently opposing the said submission, the learned counsel for the 2ndrespondent submits that the 2nd

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    respondent is the lawful owner of the said puppies and he purchased the said puppies spending huge amount of Rs.80,000/- and indeed, the puppies were transported from Bangalore to Hyderabad taking proper care. But only on the ground that there was no ventilation and sufficient space for movement in the vehicle in which puppies were transported, a case was registered against the owner of the vehicle. Learned counsel also states that the 2nd respondent executed a personal bond for Rs.80,000/- and he gave an assurance that he will not sell or alienate the puppies. By stating so, learned counsel seeks to confirm the impugned order.

    8. The learned Assistant Public Prosecutor states that the observations of the learned Judge in the impugned order are well reasoned and it was clearly ordered that the 2ndrespondent shall produce the puppies as and when required and it was further ordered that the 2ndrespondent shall not sell or alienate the said puppies and hence, order requires no interference.

    9. This Court is in full agreement with the submission of the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor. As the puppies

    3

    were given to the interim custody of the 2ndrespondent with required conditions laid, the 2ndrespondent is under obligation to take good care of the puppies. Therefore, the apprehension of the petitioner is misconceived. This Court does not find any grounds, more so, justifiable grounds to transfer the custody of the puppies to the petitioner. Only because the interim custody was given for a limited period by the concerned Police, it does not mean that the custody should be continued that too against the interests of the lawful owner. No other grounds are found so as to interfere with the order of the learned Judge which is well reasoned. Therefore, this Court is of the view that both the Criminal petitions lacks merits.

    10. Resultantly, both the Criminal Petitions are dismissed.

    11. As a sequel thereto, miscellaneous petitions pending, if any, shall stand closed.

    ________________________________________

    Dr.JUSTICE CHILLAKUR SUMALATHA Dt.16.08.2022

    ysk

    4

    THE HON'BLE Dr.JUSTICE CHILLAKUR SUMALATHA CRIMINAL PETITION No.6444 OF 2022

    AND

    CRIMINAL PETITION No.6463 OF 2022 Dt.16.08.2022

    ysk

    5

    HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA AT HYDERABAD

    MAIN CASE No:CRL.P.No.7182 of 2022

    PROCEEDING SHEET

    Sl. No. DATE ORDER OFFICE NOTE
    1. 10.08.2022 Dr.CSL,J CRL.P.No.7114 of 2022 Heard the submission of the learned counsel for the petitioners. Learned counsel for the petitioners submit that despite of an order from this Court in W.P.No.31142 of 2022 and registration of deed of adoption, a false case is registered against the petitioners and therefore, the petitioners approached this Court for quash of proceedings. In the light of the said submission, the Criminal Petition is admitted. Learned Assistant Public Prosecutor waives notice for Respondent No.1 Issue notice to Respondent No.2 through Court process. List on 19.10.2022. _________ Dr.CSL,J I.A.No.1 of 2022 This is an application filed seeking the Court Tr. to IO folder before corrs.

    1 (2014) 8 SCC 273

    6

    to stay all further proceedings in Crime No.132 of 2022 of Veenavanka Police Station, Karimnagar District.

    contd…2 -2-

    Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the child in question was given in adoption through valid means. But a false case is foisted against the petitioners and in case the petitioners are arrested, the petitioners would be put to serious hardship.

    Learned counsel seeks indulgence of this Court to direct the police to follow the procedure established under law.

    Learned Assistant Public Prosecutor did not raise any objection.

    Therefore, the present Interlocutory

    Application is disposed of with the following directions:-

    (1) The Station House Officer, Veenavanka Police Station, shall not effect arrest of the petitioners/Accused Nos.1 to 3 without following the procedure established by law.

    (2) The Station House Officer, Veenavanka Police Station/Investigating Officer shall adhere to the requirement to follow Section 41-A Cr.P.C, except under the circumstances mentioned under Sections 41(1) and 41-A (4) Cr.P.C.

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    (3) The guidelines issued by the Hon'ble Apex Court in Arnesh Kumar Vs. State of Bihar1shall be followed.

    (4) The Station House Officer/Investigating Officer shall not insist upon the personal appearance of the petitioners/Accused Nos.1 to 3 during the

    contd…3

    -3- course of investigation, except where their personal appearance is required.

    (5) In case the personal appearance of the petitioners/Accused Nos.1 to 3 is required, the same shall be communicated to them in writing indicating the reasons for which their personal appearance is sought.

    (6) However, it is made clear that the Investigation may go on.

    (7) That the petitioners/Accused Nos.1 to 3 shall cooperate with the police during the process of investigation.

    _________

    Dr.CSL,J

    ysk

    8

    9

    Heard the submission of the learned counsel for the petitioner as well as the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor representing the respondent No.1‐State. In the light of the limited request made, issuance of notice to the Respondent No.2 is felt not required.

    The present Criminal Petition is filed seeking the Court to quash the proceedings that are pending against the petitioners who are arrayed as Accused Nos. 1 to 3 in Crime NO.232 of 2022 of Humayun nagar Police Station. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that basing on a pure civil

    dispute, a false case was foisted against the 2 ndrespondent taking advantage of the and the petitioners have not committed any offences what so ever. Learned counsel further submits that there was exchange of notices between both the parties prior to the date of registration of the case. Learned counsel also states that the petitioner gave a complaint to police against the 2 ndrespondent and a case

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    was registered and therefore as a counter blast to the said case, the 2ndrespondent went to police staion and basing on the false averments, got registered a false case against the eptitioenrs. However, learned counsel also submits that

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    PEOPLE FOR ANIMALS HYDERABAD AND SECUNDERABAD v. STATE OF TELANGANA and another
    (Aug 16, 2022)