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NOTES ON CHARGE (CrPC)

Q. What is a Charge? What are the contents of a Charge? Discuss the effects of errors in aCharge? How is a Charge different from FIR?

Charge As per Wharton's law Lexicon Char!e "eans to pre#er an ac$sation a!ainst so"e one% Tochar!e a person "eans to acc$se that person o# so"e o##ence% Howe&er char!e is not a "ereacc$sation "ae a co"plainant or an in#or"ant% A char!e is a #or"al reco!nition o# concreteacc$sations a "a!istrate or a co$rt ase $pon a co"plaint or in#or"ation a!ainst theacc$se% A char!e is rawn $p a co$rt onl when the co$rt is satis#ie the pri"a #aciee&ience a!ainst the acc$se% The asic iea ehin a char!e is to "a*e the acc$se $nerstan what exactl he is acc$se o# so that he can e#en hi"sel#% A char!e !i&es the

acc$se acc$rate an precise in#or"ation ao$t the acc$sation a!ainst hi"%A char!e is written inthe lan!$a!e o# the co$rt an the #act that the char!e is "ae "eans that e&er le!al conitionre+$ire law to constit$te the o##ence char!e is #$l#ille in the partic$lar case%

,t is a asic principle o# law that when a co$rt s$""ons a person to #ace a char!e the co$rt "$st e e+$ippe with at least pri"a #acie "aterial to show that the person ein! char!e is !$ilt o# the o##ences containe in the char!e% Th$s while #ra"in! a char!e the co$rt "$st appl its "in to the e&ience presente to it an "$st #ra"e a char!e onl i# it is satis#ie that a case existsa!ainst the acc$se% ,n the case o# State vs Ajit umar Saha !"##  the "aterial on recor i not show a pri"a #acie case $t the char!es were still #ra"e the "a!istrate% Since there wasno application o# "in the "a!istrate the orer #ra"in! the char!es was set asie the Hi!hCo$rt%

 Accorin! to Section -() o# Cr P C when a char!e contains "ore than one heas the hea o# char!es is also a char!e%

Contents of a ChargeSection $!! speci#ies the contents o# a Char!e as #ollows %&'DS()*  .(/) E&er char!e $ner this Coe shall state the o##ence with which the acc$se is char!e%(-) ,# the law that creates the o##ence !i&es it an speci#ic na"e the o##ence "a e escrie inthe char!e that na"e onl%(0) ,# the law that creates the o##ence oes not !i&e it an speci#ic na"e so "$ch o# the e#initiono# the o##ence "$st e state as to !i&e the acc$se notice o# the "atter with which he ischar!e%(1) The law an section o# the law a!ainst which the o##ence is sai to ha&e een co""itte shall e "entione in the char!e%(2) The #act that the char!e is "ae is e+$i&alent to a state"ent that e&er le!al conitionre+$ire law to constit$te the o##ence char!e was #$l#ille in the partic$lar case%(3) The char!e shall e written in the lan!$a!e o# the co$rt%(4) ,# the acc$se ha&in! een pre&io$sl con&icte o# an o##ence is liale reason o# s$ch

 pre&io$s con&iction to enhance p$nish"ent or to p$nish"ent o# a i##erent *in #or as$se+$ent o##ence an it is intene to pro&e s$ch pre&io$s con&iction #or the p$rpose o# a##ectin! the p$nish"ent which the co$rt "a thin* #it to awar #or the s$se+$ent o##ence the#act ate an place o# the pre&io$s con&iction shall e state in the char!e5 an i# s$chstate"ent has een o"itte the co$rt "a a it at an ti"e e#ore sentence is passe%

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 A char!e "$st list the o##ence with which the person is char!e% ,t "$st speci# the law an thesection a!ainst which that o##ence has een one% 6or exa"ple i# a person is char!e with7$rer the char!e "$st speci# Section 088 o# ,nian Penal Coe% ,# the law !i&es a na"e tothat o##ence the char!e "$st also speci# that na"e an i# the law oes not speci# an na"e #or that o##ence the char!e "$st speci# the etail o# the o##ence #ro" the e#inition o# the o##ence sothat the acc$se is !i&en a clear iea o# it%

,n "an cases on o##ener is !i&en a i!!er sentence #or s$se+$ent o##ence% ,n s$ch cases thechar!e "$st also state the ate an place o# pre&io$s con&iction so that a i!!er p$nish"ent "a e !i&en%

I++ustrations ,   

(a) A is char!e with the "$rer o# 9% This is e+$i&alent to a state"ent that A's act #ell within thee#inition o# "$rer !i&en in sections -:: an 088 o# the ,nian Penal Coe (12 o# /;38)5 that it i not #all within an o# the !eneral exceptions o# the sai Coe5 an that it i not #all within an o# the #i&e exceptions to section 088 or that i# it i #all within Exception / one or other o# thethree pro&isos to that exception applie to it%() A is char!e $ner section 0-3 o# the ,nian Penal Coe (12 o# /;38) with &ol$ntaril ca$sin! 

!rie&o$s h$rt to 9 "eans o# an instr$"ent #or shootin!% This is e+$i&alent to a state"ent that the case was not pro&ie #or section 002 o# the sai Coe an that the !eneral exceptionsi not appl to it%(c) A is acc$se o# "$rer cheatin! the#t extortion a$lter or cri"inal inti"iation or $sin! a#alse propert."ar*% The char!e "a state that A co""itte "$rer or cheatin! or the#t or extortion or a$lter or cri"inal inti"iation or that he $se a #alse propert."ar* witho$t re#erence to the e#inition o# those cri"es containe in the ,nian Penal Coe5 $t the sections$ner which the o##ence is p$nishale "$st in each instance e re#erre to in the char!e%() A is char!e $ner section /;1 o# the ,nian Penal Coe (12 o# /;38) with intentionall ostr$ctin! a sale o# propert o##ere #or sale the law#$l a$thorit o# a p$lic ser&ant% Thechar!e sho$l e in those wors%

-ime and )+ace of the offence

6$rther as per section $!$  the char!e "$st also speci# the essential #acts s$ch as ti"e placean person co"prisin! the o##ence% 6or exa"ple i# a person is char!e with 7$rer the char!e"$st speci# the na"e o# the &icti" an ate an place o# the "$rer% ,n case o# Shashidharauru vs /nion of India !""0 no partic$lars o# o##ence were state in the char!e% ,t was hel that the partic$lars o# o##ence are re+$ire to e state in the char!e so that the acc$se "a ta*e appropriate e#ence% Where this is not one an no opport$nit is a##ore to the acc$se toe#en his case the trial will e a in law #or ein! &iolati&e o# the principles o# nat$ral

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(a) A is acc$se o# the the#t o# a certain article at a certain ti"e an place the char!e nee not set o$t the "anner in which the the#t was e##ecte  () A is acc$se o# cheatin! 9 at a !i&en ti"e an place% The char!e "$st e set o$t the "anner in which A cheate 9%(c) A is acc$se o# !i&in! #alse e&ience at a !i&en ti"e an place% The char!e "$st set o$t that 

 portion o# the e&ience !i&en A which is alle!e to e #alse%() A is acc$se o# ostr$ctin! 9 a p$lic ser&ant in the ischar!e or his p$lic #$nctions at a!i&en ti"e an place% The char!e "$st set o$t the "anner ostr$cte 9 in the ischar!e o# his#$nctions%(e) A is acc$se o# the "$rer o# 9 at a !i&en ti"e an place% The char!e nee not state the"anner in which A "$rere 9%(#) A is acc$se o# isoein! a irection o# the law with intent to sa&e p$nish"ent% The char!e"$st set o$t the isoeience char!e an the law in#rin!e%

3ffects of errors in a Charge,n !eneral an error in a Char!e is not "aterial $nless it can e shown that the error "isle theacc$se or that the error ca$se in

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a co$rt o# appeal con#ir"ation or re&ision #in that a #ail$re o#

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Q. 3=+ain the rinci+e of searate charges for distinct offences. Are there an8 e=cetions? >sec $!#: $!": $$: $$!: $$2@.When can mu+ti+e offences 9e charged searate+8: when can the8 9e tried in the samedifferent tria+? What do 8ou understand 98 Boinder of charges?  

The initial re+$ire"ent in con$ctin! a #air trial in cri"inal cases is a precise state"ent o# thechar!es o# the acc$se% This re+$ire"ent is ens$re CrPC thro$!h Sections -// to -/1which e#ine the contents o# a char!e% Precise #or"$lation o# char!es will a"o$nt to nothin! i#  n$"ero$s $nconnecte char!es are cl$e to!ether an trie to!ether% To close this!ap Section $!#  en$nciates the asic principle that #or e&er istinct o##ence there sho$l e aseparate char!e an that e&er s$ch char!e "$st e trie separatel%

Section $!#   sas th$s .(/) 6or e&er istinct o##ence o# which an person is acc$se there shall e a separate char!ean e&er s$ch char!e shall e trie separatelBPro&ie that where the acc$se person an application in writin! so esires an the7a!istrate is o# opinion that s$ch person is not li*el to e pre

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o# the ter" transaction% Howe&er it is well accepte that a precise e#inition o# transaction is not  possile an e&en S$pre"e Co$rt has not atte"pte to e#ine it% ,n case o# State of A) vsCheema+aati $@,  >s$all the o##ence o# cri"inal reach o# tr$st or ishonest "isappropriation o# propert isco""itte with the help o# o##ence o# #alsi#ication o# acco$nts to conceal the "ain o##ence% Thissection allows s$ch o##ences to e char!e with an trie at one trial%

3=cetion 0 , Same act fa++ing under different definitions of offences , Section $$>2@ ,  ,# 

an act constit$tes an o##ence $ner two or "ore separate e#initions o# an law in #orce the person "a e char!e with an trie at one trial #or each o# the o##ences% 6or exa"ple Awron!#$ll stri*es 9 with a cane% This act constit$tes an o##ence as per Section 0-0 (ol$ntaril ca$sin! h$rt) as well as Section -2- (Ass$lt or cri"inal #orce otherthan on !ra&e pro&ocation)%Th$s the person "a e char!e with oth an trie #or oth the o##ences at the sa"e trial%

3=cetion 4 , Acts forming an offence: a+so constituting different offences when ta7ensearate+8 or in grous , Section $$>0@ ,  When se&eral acts to!ether constit$te an o##encean those acts which ta*en ini&i$all or in !ro$ps also constit$ne another o##ence or o##encesthe person co""ittin! those acts "a e e char!e with an trie at one trial% 6or exa"ple Aco""its roer on 9 an in oin! so &ol$ntaril ca$ses h$rt to hi"% A "a e separatel char!e with an con&icte o# o##ences $ner sections 0-0(ol$ntaril ca$sin! h$rt)0:-(Roer) an 0:1(ol$ntaril ca$sin! h$rt while co""ittin! roer) o# the ,nian Penal 

Coe% 3=cetion ; , Where it is dou9tfu+ what offence has 9een committed , Section $$! ,  ,# asin!le act or a series o# acts is o# s$ch nat$re that it is o$t#$l which o# the se&eral o##ence the#acts o# the case will constit$te the acc$se "a e char!e with ha&in! co""itte all or an o# s$ch o##ences an all or an o# s$ch char!es "a e trie at once% 6$rther in s$ch a sit$ationwhen a person is char!e with an o##ence $t accorin! to e&ience it appears that he co""itte another o##ence he "a e con&icte o# the o##ence which he is shown to ha&e co""itte e&en i# he is not char!e with that o##ence% 6or exa"ple A is acc$se o# an Act which "a a"o$nt tothe#t or recei&in! stolen propert or cri"inal reach o# tr$st or cheatin!% He "a e char!e withthe#t recei&in! stolen propert cri"inal reach o# tr$st an cheatin! or he "a e char!e withha&in! co""itte the#t or recei&in! stolen propert or cri"inal reach o# tr$st or cheatin!%6$rther in the sa"e case "entione lets sa A is onl char!e with the#t an it appears that he

co""itte the o##ence o# cri"inal reach o# tr$st or that o# recei&in! stolen !oos% He "a econ&icte o# cri"inal reach o# tr$st o# recei&in! stolen !oos (as the case "a e) tho$!h hewas not char!e with s$ch o##ence%

 Another ill$stration is as #ollows . A states on oath e#ore the 7a!istrate that he saw 9 hit C witha cl$% 9e#ore the Sessions Co$rt A states on oath that 9 ne&er hit C% A "a e char!e in thealternati&e an con&icte o# intentionall !i&in! #alse e&ience altho$!h it cannot to e pro&e which o# these contraictor state"ents was #alse%

3=cetion , Certain ersons ma8 9e charged joint+8 , Section $$2 , The #ollowin! persons

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"a e char!e an trie to!ether na"elB.(a) persons acc$se o# the sa"e o##ence co""itte in the co$rse o# the sa"e transaction5() persons acc$se o# an o##ence an persons acc$se o# aet"ent o# or atte"pt to co""its$ch o##ence5(c) persons acc$se o# "ore than one o##ence o# the sa"e *in within the "eanin! o# section-/: co""itte the"