# 7 S.C.R. 420 RAJARAM PRASAD YADAV v. STATE OF BIHAR & ANR - **Citation:** [2013] 7 S.C.R. 420 - **Court:** Supreme Court of India - **Decided:** 2013-07-04 - **Case number:** Criminal Appeal No. 830 of 2013 - **Bench:** T.S. Thakur, Fakkir Mohamed Ibrahim Kalifulla - **Source:** https://unisonlegal.in/judgment/supreme-court-of-india/7-s-c-r-420-rajaram-prasad-yadav-v-state-of-bihar-anr-29228 - **Pages:** 26 ## Headnote CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, 1973: s.311 - Power of court to re-examine a witness - Principles to be followed while dealing with an application u/s 311 - Culled out - Held: In the instant case, the application of complainant for his re-examination has no bona tides -- Trial 0 court had the opportunity to observe the demeanour of complainant while tendering evidence which persuaded it to reach the conclusion and that deserves .more credence while examining the correctness of the order passed by it - Order of trial court did not call for any interference, in any event, E behind the back of appellant - The trial shall be completed expeditiously - Evidence Act, 1972 - s.138. The second respondent, filed a written complaint on 8.7.1999, alleging that on 07.07.1999, there arose a dispute between him and his brother over raising a construction F and t~at at the instance of his brother, latter's son (appellant), fired at him, whereafter he was taken to the hospital for treatment. A charge sheet was filed against the appellant and his father for the offences punishable u/ss. 324, 307 read with s. 34, IPC. In the trial, the second G respondent was examined as PW-9 on 16.3.2007 and the evidence of the prosecution was closed on 4.4.2007. In the meantime, yet another altercation took place as between the second respondent (PW9) and his son on the one side and the appellant and his father on the other. H 420 RAJARAM PRASAD YADAV v. STATE OF BIHAR & 421 ANR. In the said incident, the father of the appellant was stated A to have been beaten. This led to registration of FIR in case Crime No.78 of 2007. Thereafter the second respondent filed a petition dated 24.8.2007, u/s. 311 Cr.P.C. seeking permission for his re-examination. A similar petition was filed by the Additional Public B Prosecutor on 5.12.2007. The trial court dismissed both the applications. However, the High Court allowed the prayer of the second respondent. Allowing the appeal, the Court c HELD: 1.1 Under s. 311, Cr.P .C. widest of the powers have been invested with the courts when it comes to the question of summoning a witness or to recall or reexamine any witness already examined. This is clear from the expression "any" used as a pre-fix to "court", D "inquiry", "trial", "other proceeding", "person as a witness", "person in attendance though not summoned as a witness", and "person already examined". Section 138 of the Evidence Act, prescribes the order of examination of a witness in the court, which will have to E necessarily be in consonance with the prescription contained ins. 311 Cr.P.C. The power u/s. 311, Cr.P.C. can be exercised by any court at any stage in any inquiry or trial or other proceeding initiated under the Code for the purpose of summoning any person as a witness or F for examining any person in attendance, even though not summoned as witness or to recall or re-examine any person already examined. [Para 14) [431-B-C, E-H] 1.2 While dealing with an application u/s. 311 Cr.P.C. read along with s. 138 of the Evidence Act, the following G principles, as emerging from various decisions of this Court, will have to be borne in mind by the courts: (a) Whether the court is right in thinking that the new evidence is needed by it? Whether the H 422 A B c D E F G H SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2013) 7 S.C.R. evidence sought to be led in u/s. 311 is needed by the court for a just decision of a case? (b) The exercise of the widest discretionary power u/s. 311 Cr.P.C. should ensure that the judgment should not be rendered on inchoate, inconclusive or speculative presentation of facts, as thereby the ends of justice would be defeated. (c) If evidence of any witness appears to the court to be essential to the just decision of the case, it is the power of the court to summon and examine or recall and re-examine any such person. (d) The exercise of power u/s. 311 Cr.P.C. should be resorted to only with the object of finding out the truth or obtaining proper proof for such facts, whic ## Text _Characters 0–39,880 of 48,315. This is a partial read: ask again with offset=39880 for what follows._ A B c [2013) 7 S.C.R. 420 RAJARAM PRASAD YADAV v. STATE OF BIHAR & ANR. {Criminal Appeal No. 830 of 2013) JULY 04, 2013 [T.S. THAKUR AND FAKKIR MOHAMED IBRAHIM KALIFULLA, JJ.] CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, 1973: s.311 - Power of court to re-examine a witness - Principles to be followed while dealing with an application u/s 311 - Culled out - Held: In the instant case, the application of complainant for his re-examination has no bona tides -- Trial 0 court had the opportunity to observe the demeanour of complainant while tendering evidence which persuaded it to reach the conclusion and that deserves .more credence while examining the correctness of the order passed by it - Order of trial court did not call for any interference, in any event, E behind the back of appellant - The trial shall be completed expeditiously - Evidence Act, 1972 - s.138. The second respondent, filed a written complaint on 8.7.1999, alleging that on 07.07.1999, there arose a dispute between him and his brother over raising a construction F and t~at at the instance of his brother, latter's son (appellant), fired at him, whereafter he was taken to the hospital for treatment. A charge sheet was filed against the appellant and his father for the offences punishable u/ss. 324, 307 read with s. 34, IPC. In the trial, the second G respondent was examined as PW-9 on 16.3.2007 and the evidence of the prosecution was closed on 4.4.2007. In the meantime, yet another altercation took place as between the second respondent (PW9) and his son on the one side and the appellant and his father on the other. H 420 RAJARAM PRASAD YADAV v. STATE OF BIHAR & 421 ANR. In the said incident, the father of the appellant was stated A to have been beaten. This led to registration of FIR in case Crime No.78 of 2007. Thereafter the second respondent filed a petition dated 24.8.2007, u/s. 311 Cr.P.C. seeking permission for his re-examination. A similar petition was filed by the Additional Public B Prosecutor on 5.12.2007. The trial court dismissed both the applications. However, the High Court allowed the prayer of the second respondent. Allowing the appeal, the Court c HELD: 1.1 Under s. 311, Cr.P .C. widest of the powers have been invested with the courts when it comes to the question of summoning a witness or to recall or reexamine any witness already examined. This is clear from the expression "any" used as a pre-fix to "court", D "inquiry", "trial", "other proceeding", "person as a witness", "person in attendance though not summoned as a witness", and "person already examined". Section 138 of the Evidence Act, prescribes the order of examination of a witness in the court, which will have to E necessarily be in consonance with the prescription contained ins. 311 Cr.P.C. The power u/s. 311, Cr.P.C. can be exercised by any court at any stage in any inquiry or trial or other proceeding initiated under the Code for the purpose of summoning any person as a witness or F for examining any person in attendance, even though not summoned as witness or to recall or re-examine any person already examined. [Para 14) [431-B-C, E-H] 1.2 While dealing with an application u/s. 311 Cr.P.C. read along with s. 138 of the Evidence Act, the following G principles, as emerging from various decisions of this Court, will have to be borne in mind by the courts: (a) Whether the court is right in thinking that the new evidence is needed by it? Whether the H 422 A B c D E F G H SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2013) 7 S.C.R. evidence sought to be led in u/s. 311 is needed by the court for a just decision of a case? (b) The exercise of the widest discretionary power u/s. 311 Cr.P.C. should ensure that the judgment should not be rendered on inchoate, inconclusive or speculative presentation of facts, as thereby the ends of justice would be defeated. (c) If evidence of any witness appears to the court to be essential to the just decision of the case, it is the power of the court to summon and examine or recall and re-examine any such person. (d) The exercise of power u/s. 311 Cr.P.C. should be resorted to only with the object of finding out the truth or obtaining proper proof for such facts, which will lead to a just and correct decision of the case. (e) The exercise of the said power cannot be dubbed as filling in a lacuna in a prosecution case, unless the facts and circumstances of the case make it apparent that the exercise of power by the court would result in causing serious prejudice to the accused, resulting in miscarriage of justice. (f) The wide discretionary power should be exercised judiciously and not arbitrarily. (g) The court must satisfy itself that it was in every respect essential to examine such a witness or to recall him for further examination in order to arrive at a just decision of the case. (h) The object of s. 311 Cr.P.C. simultaneously RAJARAM PRASAD YADAV v. STATE OF BIHAR & 423 ANR. imposes a duty on the court to determine the A truth and to render a just decision. (i) The power u/s 311 Cr.PC should be exercised where the court arrives to the conclusion that additional evidence is necessary, not because it would be impossible to pronounce the 8 judgment without it, but ·because there would be a failure of justice without such evidence being considered. (j) Exigency of the situation, fair play and good c sense should be the safe guard, while exercising the discretion. The court should bear in mind that no party in a trial can be foreclosed from correcting errors and that if proper evidence was not adduced or a 0 relevant material was not brought on record due to any inadvertence, the court should be magnanimous in permitting such mistakes to be rectified. (k) The court should be conscious of the position E that after all the trial is basically for the prisoners and the court should afford an opportunity to them in the fairest manner possible. In that parity of reasoning, it would be safe to err in favour of the accused getting F an opportunity rather than protecting the prosecution against possible prejudice at the cost of the accused. The court should bear in mind that improper or capricious exercise of such a discretionary power, may lead to G undesirable results. (I) The additional evidence must not be received as a disguise or to change the nature of the case against any of the party. H A B c D 424 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2013] 7 S.C.R. (m) The power must be exercised keeping in mind that the evidence that is likely to be tendered, would be germane to the issue involved and also ensure that an opportunity of rebuttal is given to the other party. (n) The power u/s. 311 Cr.P.C. must therefore, be invoked by the court only in order to meet the ends of justice for strong and valid reasons and the same must be exercised with care, caution and circumspection. The court should bear in mind that fair trial entails the interest of the accused, the victim and the society and, therefore, the grant of fair and proper opportunities to the persons concerned, must be ensured being a constitutional goal, as well as a human right. [Para 23] [438-D-H; 439-A-H; 440-A-G] Jamatraj Kewalji Govani vs. State of Maharashtra 1967 SCR 4.15 = AIR 1968 SC 178; Mohan/a/ Shamji Soni vs. E Union of India and Another 1991 (1) SCR 712 = 1991 Suppl.(1) SCC 271; Raj Deo Sharma (II) vs. State of Bihar 1999 (3) Suppl. SCR 124 = 1999 (7) SCC 604; U. T. of Dadra and Nagar Have/i and Anr. vs. Fatehsinh Mohansinh Chauhan 2006 (4) Suppl. SCR 522 = 2006 (7) SCC 529; F lddar & Ors. vs. Aabida & Anr. 2007 (8} SCR 518 =AIR 2007 SC 3029; P. Sanjeeva Rao vs. State of A.P. 2012 (6) SCR 787 = AIR 2012 SC 2242; and Sheikh Jumman vs. State of Maharashtra (2012) 9 SCALE 80 - referred to. 1.3 In the case on hand, the High Court, while passing G the impugned order has completely ignored the principal objectives with which the provision u/s. 311 Cr.P.C. has been brought into the statute book. At the foremost, the appellant who was facing criminal trial was not impleaded as a party to the proceedings in the High Court. Further, H the High Court appears to have passed orders on the RAJARAM PRASAD YADAV v. STATE OF BIHAR & 425 ANR. .. involved. The order of the High Court does not reflect any A of the issues dealt with by the Sessions Judge while rejecting the application of the respondents in seeking to re-examine the second respondent. [Para 24] [440-H; 441A-D] 1.4 The trial Judge has recorded that contrary to the B complaint preferred by the second respondent on 8.7.1999 registered as case No. 71/1999, wherein offences u/ss. 324/307/34 IPC were reported alongwith s. 27 of the Arms Act, based on the report of the doctor, the chargesheet came to be filed u/ss. 324/307/34 IPC and no C charge u/s. 27 of the Arms Ac was laid. In the course of the trial, the turn of examination of PW-9, (second respondent) came on 16.3.2007, nearly after eight years from the date of occurrence and he categorically deposed that he never made any statement to the police nor was D he beaten on the date of occurrence, nor was he hit by any bullet shot. Further he made a clear statement that the injury sustained by him was due to the fall into the hole. He also made a categorical statement that his sons PWs-4 and 5 were not present at the place of occurrence. E [Para 25] [441-F-H; 442-A-B] 1.5 The application of the second respondent, seeking the permission of the court u/s. 311 Cr.P.C. for his re-examination has no bona fides. It was quite apparent that the complaint, which emanated at the instance of the appellant based on the subsequent incident, which took place on 30.5.2007 and resulted in F the registration of the FIR in case No.78/2001, seems to have weighed with the second respondent to present the application u/s. 311 Cr.P.c.; by way of an afterthought. G The trial court, had the opportunity to observe the demeanour of the second respondent, while tendering evidence which persuaded it to reach the conclusion and that deserves more credence while examining the correctness of the order passed by it. The order of the H 426 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2013] 7 S.C.R. A trial court did not call for any interference, in any event, behind the back of the appellant. The order of the High Court is set aside and that of the trial court restored. The trial shall be completed expeditiously. [Para 29-30] [444F-H; 445-A, F-G] B c D E F Case Law Reference: 1967 SCR 415 referred to para 15 1991 (1) SCR 712 referred to para 16 1999 (3) Suppl. SCR 124 referred to para 17 2006 (4) Suppl. SCR 522 referred to para 18 2007 (8) SCR 518 referred to para 19 2012 (6) SCR 787 referred to para 20 (2012) 9 SCALE 80 referred to para 21 CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Criminal Appeal No. 830 of 2013. From the Judgment and Order dated 09.12.2010 of the High Court of Judicature at Patna in Crl. Misc. No. 12454 of 2010. Mohit Kumar Shah for the Appellant. Gopal Singh, Anant Sharma, Amlan Kumar Ghosh for the Respondents. The Judgment of the Court was delivered by G FAKKIR MOHAMED IBRAHIM KALIFULLA, J. 1. Leave granted. · 2. This appeal is directed against the order of the High Court of Judicature at Patna, in Criminal Miscellaneous Petition H No. 12454 of 2010, dated 9.12.2010. RAJARAM PRASAD YADAV v. STATE OF BIHAR & 427 ANR. [FAKKIR MOHAMED IBRAHIM KALIFULLA, J.] 3. By a short order dated 18.11.09, passed in Sessions A Trial No. 425 of 2009, the trial Court disallowed the applications of the Respondents filed under Section 311 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Cr.P.C.), to re-examine PW-9, the informant. The High Court directed the trial Court to allow the 2nd Respondent to examine himself as a witness on a specified B date by its order dated 9.12.2010. 4. To narrate the brief facts, the 2nd Respondent (PW-9), herein filed a written complaint, alleging that on 07.07.1999, at about 5 p.m. in the evening, as regards the construction of a latrine in his land in front of his house, a dispute arose as C between him and his brother Bindeshwar Yadav and that at the instance of his brother Birideshwar Yadav, his son Rajaram Yadav, brought a country made pistol and fired· at the 2nd respondent (PW-9) on the left side of the back, whereafter he was taken to the hospital for treatment. D 5. At the instance of the second respondent, based on a complaint dated 8.7.1999, a case in Crime No. 71 of 1999 was registered in Khizersarai Police Station for the offences punishable under Sections 324, 307 read with Section 34 E Indian Penal Code, 1860 and also under Section 27 of the . Arms Act, 1959. Investigation was held and an injury report was brought on record, in which the doctor opined that the injury was caused by a hard blunt substance and was single in nature. It was stated that the second Respondent (PW-9) was able to F secure another report later on. 6. The appellant was enlarged on bail on 13.10.1999. A charge sheet bearing No. 127 of 1999, dated 31.10.1999 was filed against the appellant and the other accused for the offences under Sections 324, 307 read with 34 of IPC. G Significantly, there was no charge framed under Section 27 of the Arms Act. Cognizance was taken and the case was committed and after framing of the charges, the trial commenced. After the examination of the other witnesses, the 2nd Respondent was examined as PW-9 on 16.3.2007. H 428 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2013] 7 S.C.R. A 7. In his evidence, the 2nd Respondent (PW9), categorically stated that he never gave any statement to the police; that nobody beat him on the date of occurrence and that he was not hit by any bullet. He further stated in his evidence that he accidently fell into the hole of the latrine, while looking B into it and that some instrument, which was lying inside the hole, caused the injury on his body. As far as the evidence of PW-4 and PW-5, namely, his sons, Babloo and Munna Kumar was concerned, the 2nd Respondent (PW9) stated that they were not present at the place of occurrei'rce, since Babloo was . c staying in a hospital at Hulasganj and Munna Kumar was at Ranchi. The evidence of the prosecution was closed on · · 4.4.2007 and thereafter, the evidence of the defense side stated to have commenced. 8. In the meantime, it is stated that yet another altercation D took place as between, the 2nd Respondent (PW9), his son Babloo on the one side and the appellant and his father on the other side, regarding the flowing of water from the latrine, constructed by the 2nd Respondent into the field of the father E of the appellant. 9. Pursuant to the said issue, it is stated that the father of the appellant was beaten with bamboo sticks, injuring him seriously. In connection with the said incident, Bindeshwar Yadav filed a complaint before the police on 7.6.2007, leading F to the registration of the FIR on the same date in Khizersarai Police Station in case No.78 of 2007. Subsequently, the second respondent came forward with a petition dated 24.8.2007, under Section 311 Cr.P.C. and sought for permission for his re-examination. For the same purpose, the G Additional Public Prosecutor also filed a petition on 5.12.2007, in the above applications. The trial Court passed a common order on 18.1 f.2009, dismissing both the applications and posted the case for evidence of investigation officers and the doctors on 18.12.2009. The second respondent approached the High Court by filing the present Criminal Misc. Case H RAJARAM PRASAD YADAV v. STATE OF BIHAR & 429 ANR. [FAKKIR MOHAMED IBRAHIM KALIFULLA, J.] No.12454/2010, in which the impugned order was passed by A the High Court on 9.12.2010. 10. We heard Mr. Mohit Kumar Shah, learned counsel for the appellant and Mr. Gopal Singh, learned counsel for the first respondent and Mr. Amlan Kumar Ghosh, learned counsel for B the second respondent. We also perused the order impugned, as well as the order of the trial Court and other material papers placed on record. 11. Mr. Mohit Kumar Shah, learned counsel for the appellant in his submission contended that while the trial Court C passed a reasoned order after hearing both parties extensively, the Hon'ble High Court passed the impugned order in the absence of the appellant. According to the learned counsel, the second respondent even without impleading the appellant, persuaded the High Court to pass the impugned order, which D according to the learned counsel is on the face of it, not sustainable under Section 311 Cr.P.C. Learned counsel further contended that by permitting the second respondent to get himself re-examined, every attempt has been made to fill up the lacunae in the case of the prosecution, which the High Court E ought not to have permitted. According to the learned counsel, when the trial Court had examined the pros and cons, while dealing with the prayer of the second respondent, as well as the first respondent for re-examination of the second· respondent and gave well-founded reasons for rejecting the applications, F the High Court ought not to have interfered with the same by passing a cryptic order. Learned counsel further contended that the application, which came to be allowed by the High Court was vexatious and would only encourage the malicious designs of the second respondent to get over his own earlier version G deposed before the Court, which fully supported the case of the appellant. 12. As against the above submissions, learned counsel for the respondents contended that as enormous powers are vested in the Court under Section 311 Cr.P.C., in the matter of H 430 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2013] 7 S.C.R. A examination or re-examination of a witness in order to arrive at a just conclusion and the High Court having exercised its powers in pursuance of the said power, the order of the High Court does not call for interference. 8 13. Having heard the learned counsel for the respective parties and having bestowed our serious consideration. to the issue involved, we find force in the submission of the counsel for the appellant, as the same merits acceptance. In order to appreciate the stand of the appellant it will be worthwhile to refer C to Section 311 Cr.P.C., as well as Section 138 of the Evidence Act. The same are extracted hereunder: D E F G Section 311, Code of Criminal Procedure 311. Power to summon material witness, or examine person present: Any Court may, at any stage of any inquiry, trial or other proceeding under this Code, summon any person as a witness, or examine any person in attendance, though not summoned as a witness, or recall and re-examine any person already examined; and the Court shall summon and examine or recall and re-examine any such person if his evidence appears to it to be essential to the just decision of the case. Section 138, Evidence Act 138. Order of examinations- witnesses shall be first examined-in-chief, then (if the adverse party so desires) cross-examined, then (if the party calling him so desires) re-examined. The examination and cross-examination must relate to relevant facts, but the cross-examination need not be confined to the facts to which the witness testified on his examination-in-chief. Direction of re-examination- The re-examination shall be H directed to the explanation of matters referred to in cross- RAJARAM PRASAD YADAV v. STATE OF BIHAR & 431 ANR. [FAKKIR MOHAMED IBRAHIM KALIFULLA, J.] examination; and, if new matter is, by permission of the A Court, introduced in re-examination, the adverse party may further cross-examine upon that matter." 14. A conspicuous reading of Section 311 Cr.P.C. would show that widest of the powers have been invested with the Courts when it comes to the question of summoning a witness B or to recall or re-examine any witness already examined. A reading of the provision shows that the expression "any" has been used as a pre-fix to "court", "inquiry", "trial", "other proceeding", "person as a witness", "person in attendance C though not summoned as a witness", and "person already examined". By using the said expression "any" as a pre-fix to the various expressions mentioned above, it is ultimately stated that all that was required to be satisfied by the Court was only in relation to such evidence that appears to the Court to be essential for the just decision of the case. Section 138 of the D Evidence Act, prescribed the order of examination of a witness in the Court. Order of re-examination is also prescribed calling for such a witness so desired for such re-examination. Therefore, a reading of Section 311 Cr.P.C. and Section 138 Evidence Act, insofar as it comes to the question of a criminal trial, the order of re-examination at the desire of any person under Section 138, will have to necessarily be in consonance with the prescription contained in Section 311 Cr.P.C. It is, therefore, imperative that the invocation of Section 311 Cr.P.C. and its application in a particular case can be ordered by the Court, only by bearing in mind the object and purport of the said provision, namely, for achieving a just decision of the case as noted by us earlier. The power vested under the said provision E F is made available to any Court at any stage in any inquiry or trial or other proceeding initiated under the Code for the G purpose of summoning any person as a witness or for examining any person in attendance, even though not summoned as witness or to recall or re-examine any person already examined. Insofar as recalling and re-exarnination of any person already examined, the Court must necessarily H 432 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2013] 7 S.C.R. A consider and ensure that such recall and re-examination of any person, appears in the view of the Court to be essential for the just decision of the case. Therefore, the paramount requirement is just decision and for that purpose the essentiality of a person to be recalled and re-examined has to be ascertained. To put B it differently, while such a widest power is invested with the Court, it is needless to state that exercise of such power should be made judicially and also with extreme care and caution. 15. In this context, we also wish to make a reference to C certain decisions rendered by this Court on the interpretation of Section 311 Cr.P.C. where, this Court highlighted as to the basic principles which are to be borne in mind, while dealing with an application under Section 311 Cr.P.C. In the decision reported in Jamatraj Kewalji Govani vs. State of Maharashtra -AIR 1968 SC 178, this Court held as under in paragraph 14:- D E F G "14. It would appear that in our criminal jurisdiction, statutory law confers a power in absolute terms to be exercised at any stage of the trial to summon a witness or examine one present in court or to recall a witness already examined, and makes this the duty and obligation of the Court provided the just decision of the case. demands it. In other words, where the court exercises the power under the second part, the inquiry cannot be whether the accused has brought anything suddenly or unexpectedly but whether the court is right in thinking that the new evidence is needed by it for a just decision of the case. If the court has acted without the requirements of a just decision. the action is open to criticism but if the court's action is supportable as being in aid of a just decision the action cannot be regarded as exceeding the jurisdiction." (Emphasis added) 16. In the decision reported in Mohan/al Shamji Soni vs. H Union of India and Another - 1991 Suppl.(1) SCC 271, this RAJARAM PRASAD YADAV v. STATE OF BIHAR & 433 ANR. [FAKKIR MOHAMED IBRAHIM KALIFULLA, J.] Court again highlighted the importance of the power to be A exercised under Section 311 Cr.P.C. as under in paragraph 10:- B "10 .... In order to enable the court to find out the truth and render a just decision, the salutary provisions of Section 540 of the Code (Section 311 of the new Code) are enacted whereunder any court by exercising its discretionary authority at any stage of enquiry, trial or other proceeding can summon any person as a witness or examine any person in attendance though not summoned C as a witness or recall or re-examine any person in attendance though not summoned as a witness or recall and re-examine any person already examined who are expected to be able to throw light upon the matter in dispute; because if judgments happen to be rendered on inchoate, inconclusive and speculative presentation of D facts, the ends of justice wquld be defeated." 17. In the decision in Raj Deo Sharma (II) vs. State of Bihar- 1999 (7) SCC 604, the proposition has been reiterated as under in paragraph 9:- E "9. We may observe that the power of the court as envisaged in Section 311 of the Code of Criminal Procedure has not been curtailed by this Court. Neither in the decision of the five-Judge Bench in A.R. Antulay case nor in Kartar Singh case such power has been restricted F for achieving speedy trial. In other words, even if the prosecution evidence is closed in compliance with the directions contained in the main judgment it is still open to the prosecution to invoke the powers of the court under Section 311 of the Code. We make it clear that if G evidence of any witness appears to the court to be essential to the just decision of the case it is the duty of the court to summon and examine or recall and reexamine any such person." (Emphasis added) H 434 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2013] 7 S.C.R. A 18. In U. T. of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Anr. vs. Fatehsinh Mohansinh Chauhan - 2006 (7) SCC 529, the decision has been further elucidated as under in paragraph 15:- "15. A conspectus of authorities referred to above would B show that the principle is well settled that the exercise of power under Section 311 CrPC should be resorted to only with the object of finding out the truth or obtaining proper proof of such facts which lead to a just and correct decision of the case, this being the c primary duty of a criminal court. Calling a witness or reexamining a witness already examined for the purpose of finding out the truth in order to enable the court to arrive at a just decision of the case cannot be dubbed as "filling in a lacuna in the prosecution D case" unless the facts and circumstances of the case make it apparent that the exercise of power by the court would result in causing serious prejudice to the accused resulting in miscarriage of justice." E (Emphasis added) 19. In lddar & Ors. vs. Aabida & Anr. -AIR 2007 SC 3029, the object underlying under Section 311 Cr.P.C., has been stated as under in paragraph 11 :- F "11. The object underlying Section 311 of the Code is that there may not be failure of justice on account of mistake of either party in bringing the valuable evidence on record or leaving ambiguity in the statements of the witnesses examined from either side. The determinative factor is G whether it is essential to the just decision of the case. H The section is not limited only for the benefit of the accused, and it will not be an improper exercise of the powers of the court to summon a witness under the section merely because the evidence supports the case for the RAJARAM PRASAD YADAV v. STATE OF BIHAR & 435 ANR. [FAKKIR MOHAMED IBRAHIM KALIFULLA, J.] prosecution and not that of the accused. The section is a A general section which applies to all proceedings, enquiries and trials under the Code and empowers Magistrate to issue summons to any witness at any stage of such proceedings, trial or enquiry. In Section 311 the significant expression that occurs is 'at any stage of inquiry or trial or B other proceeding under this Code'. It is, however, to be borne in mind that whereas the section confers a very wide power on the court on summoning witnesses, the discretion conferred is to be exercised judiciously, as the wider the power the greater is the c necessity for application of judicial mind." (Emphasis added) 20. In P. Sanjeeva Rao vs. State of A.P.- AIR 2012 SC 2242, the scope of Section 311 Cr.P.C. has been highlighted by making reference to an earlier decision of this Court and also with particular reference to the case, which was dealt with in that decision in paragraphs 13 and 16, which are as under:- "13. Grant of fairest opportunity to the accused to prove his innocence was the object of every fair trial, observed this Court in Hoffman Andreas v. Inspector of Customs, Amritsar (2000) 10 SCC 430. The following passage is in this regard apposite: "In such circumstances, if the new counsel thought to have D E F the material witnesses further examined, the Court could adopt latitude and a liberal view in the interest of justice, particularly when the court has unbridled powers in the matter as enshrined in Section 311 of the Code. After all the trial is basically for the G prisoners and courts should afford the opportunity to them in the fairest manner possible." 16. We are conscious of the fact that recall of the witnesses is being directed nearly four years after they H A B c D 436 - SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2013) 7 S.C.R. were examined-in-chief about an incident that is nearly seven years old. Delay takes a heavy toll on the human~ memory apart from breeding cynicism about the efficacy of the judicial system to decide cases within a reasonably foreseeable time period. To that extent the apprehension expressed by Mr. Rawal, that the prosecution may suffer . prejudice on account of a belated recall, may not be wholly without any basis. Having said that, we are of the opinion that on a parity of reasoning and looking to the consequences of denial of opportunity to cross-examine the witnesses, we would prefer to err in favour of the appellant getting an opportunity rather than protecting the prosecution against a possible prejudice at his cost. Fairness of the trial is a virtue that is sacrosanct in our judicial system and no price is too heavy to protect that virtue. A possible prejudice to prosecution is not even a price, leave alone one that would justify denial of a fair opportunity to the accused to defend himself." (Emphasis added) E 21. In a recent decision of this Court in Sheikh Jumman vs. State of Maharashtra - (2012) 9 SCALE 80, the above referred to decisions were followed. 22. Again in an unreported decision rendered by this Court F dated 08.05.2013 in Natasha Singh vs. CBI (State) - Criminal Appeal No.709 of 2013, where one of us was a party, various other decisions of this Court were referred to and the position has been stated as under in paragraphs 14 and 15: "14. The scope and object of the provision is to enable the G Court to determine the truth and to render a just decision after discovering all relevant facts and obtaining proper proof of such facts, to arrive at a just decision of the case. Power must be exercised judiciously and not capriciously or arbitrarily, as any improper or capricious exercise of H such power may lead to undesirable results. An application RAJARAM PRASAD YADAV v. STATE OF BIHAR & 437 ANR. [FAKKIR MOHAMED IBRAHIM KALIFULLA, J.] under Section 311 Cr.P.C. must not be allowed only to fill A up a lacuna in the case of the prosecution, or of the defence,. or to the disadvantage of the accused, or to cause serious prejudice to the defence of the accused, or to give an unfair advantage to the opposite party. Further the additional evidence must not be received as a disguise B for retrial, or to change the nature of the case against either of the parties. Such a power must be exercised, provided that the evidence that is likely to be tendered by a witness, is germane to the issue involved. An opportunity of rebuttal, however, must be given to the other party. c The power conferred under. Section 311 Cr.P.C. must, therefore, be invoked by the Court only in order to meet the ends of justice, for strong and valid reasons, and the same must ~e exercised with great caution and circumspection. The very use of words such as 'any Court', 'at any stage', or 'or any enquiry', trial or other proceedings', 'any person' and 'any such person' clearly spells out that the provisions of this section have been expressed in the widest possible terms, and do not limit the discretion of the Court in any way. There is thus no escape if the fresh evidence to be obtained is essential to the just decision of the case. The determinative factor should, therefore, be whether the summoning/recalling of the said witness is in fact, essential to the just decision of the case. D· E F 15, Fair trial is the main object of criminal procedure, and it is the duty of the court to ensure that such fairness is not hampered or threatened in any manner. Fair trial entails the interests of the accused, the victim and of the society, G and therefore, fair trial includes the grant of fair and proper opportunities to the person concerned, and the same must be ensured as this is a constitutional, as well as a human right. Thus, under no circumstances can a person's right to fair trial be jeopardized. Adducing evidence in support H 438 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2013] 7 S.C.R. A of the defence is a valuable right. Denial of such right would amount to the denial of a fair trial. Thus, it is essential that the rules of procedure that have been designed to ensure justice are scrupulously followed, and the court must be zealous in ensuring that there is no B breach of the same. (Vide Ta/ab Haji Hussain v. Madhukar Purshottam Mondkar & Anr., AIR 1958 SC 376; Zahira Habibulla H. Sheikh & Anr. v. State of Gujarat & Ors. AIR 2004 SC 3114; Zahira Habibullah Sheikh & Anr. v. State of Gujarat & Ors., AIR 2006 SC 1367; c Ka/yani Baskar (Mrs.) v. M.S. Sampoomam (Mrs.) (2007) 2 SCC 258; Vijay Kumar v. State of UP. & Anr., (2011) 8 SCC 136; and Sudevanand v. State through C.B.I. c2012) 3 sec 387.)" 23. From a conspectus consideration of the above D decisions, while dealing with an application under Section 311 Cr.P.C. read along with Section 138 of the Evidence Act, we feel the following principles will have to be borne in mind by the Courts: E F G H (a) Whether the Court is right in thinking that the new 'evidence is needed by it? Whether the evidence sought to be led in under Section 311 is noted by the Court for a just decision of a case? (b) The exercise of the widest discretionary power under Section 311 Cr.P.C. should ensure that the judgment should not be rendered on inchoate, inconclusive speculative presentation of facts, as thereby the ends of justice would be defeated. (c) If evidence of any witness appears to the Court to be essential to the just decision of the case, it is the power of the Court to summon and examine or recall and re-examine any such person. RAJARAM PRASAD YADAV v. STATE OF BIHAR & 439 ANR. [FAKKIR MOHAMED IBRAHIM KALIFULLA, J.] (d) The exercise of power under Section 311 Cr.P.C. A should be resorted to only with the object of finding out the truth or obtaining proper proof for such facts, which will lead to a just and correct decision of the case. (e) The exercise of the said power cannot be dubbed B as filling in a lacuna in a prosecution case, unless the facts and circumstances of the case make it apparent that the exercise of power by the Court would result in causing serious prejudice to the c accused, resulting in miscarriage of justice. (f) The wide discretionary power should be exercised judiciously and not arbitrarily. (g) The Court must satisfy itself that it was in every D respect essential to examine such a witness or to recall him for further examination in order to arrive at a just decision of the case. (h) The object of Section 311 Cr.P.C. simultaneously E imposes a duty on the Court to determine the truth and to render a just decision. (i) The Court arrives at the conclusion that additional evidence is necessary, not because it would be impossible to pronounce the judgment without it, but F because there would be a failure of justice without such evidence being considered. Q) Exigency of the situation, fair play and good sense should be the safe guard, while exercising the G discretion. The Court should bear in mind that no party in a trial can be foreclosed from correcting errors and that if proper evidence was not adduced or a relevant material was not brought on record due to any inadvertence, the Court should be H 440 A s· c D E F G SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2013) 7 S.C.R. magnanimous in permitting such mistakes to be rectified. (k} The Court should be conscious of the position that after all the trial is basically for the prisoners and the Court should afford an opportunity to them in the fairest manner possible. In that parity of reasoning, it would be safe to err in favour of the accused getting an opportunity rather than protecting the prosecution against possible prejudice at the cost of the accused. The Court should bear in mind that improper or capricious ~xercise of such a discretionary power, may lead to undesirable results. (I) The additional evidence must not be received as a disguise or to change the nature of the case against any of the party. (m) The power must be exercised keeping in mind that the evidence that is likely to be tendered, would be germane to the issue involved and also ensure that an opportunity of rebuttal is given to the other party. (n) The power under Section 311 Cr.P.C. must therefore, be invoked by the Court only in order to meet the ends of justice for strong and valid reasons and the same must be exercised with care, caution and circumspection. The Court should bear in mind that fair trial entails the interest of the accused, the victim and the society and, therefore, the grant of fair and proper opportunities to the persons concerned, must be ensured being a constitutional goal, as well as a human right. 24. Keeping the above principles in mind, when we examine the case on hand, at the very outset, it will have to be H stated that the High Court, while passing the impugned order RAJARAM PRASAD YADAV v. STATE OF BIHAR & 441 ANR. [FAKKIR MOHAMED IBRAHIM KALIFULLA, J.] has completely ignored the principal objectives with which the A provision under Section 311 Cr.P.C. has been brought into the statute book. As rightly argued by the learned counsel for the appellant, at the foremost when the trial was very much in the grip of the trial Court, which had every opportunity to hear the appellant, the State, as well as the second respondent, had not B even bothered to verifywhether the appellant, who was facing criminal trial was impleaded as a party to the proceedings in the High Court. A perusal of the order discloses that the High Court appears to have .passed orders on the very first hearing date, unmindful of the consequences involved. The order does c not reflect any of the issues· dealt with by the Learned Sessions · Judge, while rejecting the application of the respondents in seeking to re-examine PW~9, the second respondent herein. Though orders could ha