Amar Nath Vs State of Haryana

482 - Scope - Where particular order expressly barred under Section 397(2) and cannot provisions of under Section 482 not applicable to such case - Inherent powers of court exercisable where express provision on the subject not existing - Existence of express provision barring the court from exercising inherent powers-

order compelling applicants to face trial without proper application of mind not interlocutory matter

harmonious construction of sections 397 and 482 would lead to the irresistible conclusion that where a particular order is expressly barred under S. 397(2) and cannot be the subject of revision by the High Court, then to such a case the provisions of S. 482 would not apply. It is well settled that the inherent powers of the Court can ordinarily be exercised when there is no express provision on the subject-matter. Where there is an express provision, barring a particular remedy, the Court cannot resort to the exercise of inherent powers- 

No limitation and restriction on the powers of the High Court were placed. But this Court as also the various High Courts in India, by a long course of decisions, confined the exercise of revisional powers only to cases where the impugned order suffered from any error of law or any legal infirmity causing injustice or prejudice to the accused or was manifestly foolish or perverse. These restrictions were placed by the case law, merely as a rule of prudence rather than a rule of law and in suitable cases the High Courts had the undoubted power to interfere with the impugned order even on facts-

The concept of an interlocutory order qua the revisional jurisdiction of the High Court, therefore, was completely foreign to the earlier Code. Subsequently it appears that there had been large number of arrears and the High Courts were flooded with revisions of all kinds against interim or interlocutory orders which led to enormous delay in the disposal of cases and exploitation of the poor accused by the affluent prosecutors. Some times interlocutory orders caused harassment to the accused by unnecessarily protracting the trials. It was in the background of these facts that the Law Commission dwelt on this aspect of the matter and in the 14th and 41st Reports submitted by the Commission which formed the basis of the 1973 Code the said Commission suggested revolutionary changes to be made in the powers of the High Courts. The recommendations of the Commission were examined carefully by the Government, keeping in view, the following basic considerations : (i) an accused person should get a fair trial in accordance with the accepted principles of natural justice; (ii) every effort should be made to avoid delay in investigation and trial which is harmful not only to the individuals involved but also to society; and[…]

Amar Nath Vs State of Haryana