BABUBHAI JAMNADAS PATEL versus STATE OD GUJARAT & ORS.

Citation: [2009] 13 S.C.R. 1155 · Decided: 02-09-2009 · Supreme Court of India · Bench: ALTAMAS KABIR · Disposal: Dismissed

Judgment (excerpt)

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age!" CY 7. J-lf!/d::'"JVorme/!Y,-Po'!.r:t~ ::do .JJ..O~ ,!f'Jtf![fej~ 1 wi~J:I .c 
investigation - But, _it can monito_rdnvestigation where. it.is 
satisfied that eitl1er the' in\Jestigation 'ls 'not prbceedeii with or 
is being influenced lby interested.persons·,-:-..~On _facts, 
intefference ·by the-court was warranted to prevent. miscarriage 
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-The~ q'u'estion ,for consideration .. iil the 'present 
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appeals was whether the courts can monitor 
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investigations in respect of offences alleged to have been 
committe'd,-, whenAhe ,Jnvestigation had · .. a.I ready ,been :E 
commenced by·the investigat{ng<agency~ c~i••:' ~; .:r; 
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HEL0:·1. Normally investigation· of·offences"is· the 
t1'nction df th~··investigating agencies~and the.courts"&o .F 
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time~ the High Court is vested with such 'power$, 'though 
thJ same ~re invoked 6nty ir{ca'1s~iS'\vhere~'
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facts are imrolve.d, ·necessitating such monitoring' by the 
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. 2. In appropriate cases, the courts may monitor an 
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investigation into an offericEfwhen·it is satisfied thafeither 
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the mvestlgation 1s not bemg ~roceeded with br 1s 'being 
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1156 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2009] 13 (ADDL.) S.C.R. 
A influenced by interested persons. The Investigating 
Authorities are directed to proceed in the manner 
indi<:ated by the High Court in its impugned orders. 
[Paras 40 and 41] (1171-G-H; 1172-A] 
3. The courts, and in particular the High Courts and 
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the Supreme Court, are the sentinels of justice and have 
been vested with extraordinary powers of judicial review 
and supervision to ensure that the rights of the citizens 
are duly protected. The courts have to maintain a constant 
vigil against the inaction of the authorities in discharging 
C ,.. their duties and obligations in the interest of the citizens 
for whom they exist. (Para 37] [1170-E-F] 
4. Supreme Court, as also the High Courts, have had 
to issue appr.opriate writs and directions lrom time to time 
o. to ensure that the authorities per:formed at least such 
duties as they were required to perform under the ~rious 
stat-utes and· orders passed by the administration. [Para 
37] · (1170-F-G] 
5. In cases where it has been brought to tho notice 
E of the Courts that investigation into an offence was not 
being carried on in the manner in which it should have 
been carried on, directions 

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