The eighth part of our explainer series on criminal law deals with the exact connotation of being charged of an offence.
Previous parts: FIR | Refusal of police to register an FIR | Police investigation | Police officers’ power to search without search warrants | Default bail | Closure report and police case diary | Completion of investigation
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‘CHARGE’ is an intimation of the accusation for which the accused person would face trial and be liable to defend themself. However, the definition of ‘charge’ as given in Section 2(b) of the Criminal Procedure Code [CrPC] is quite ambiguous.
When is a charge framed?
The procedure of framing of charge arrives after the filing of the chargesheet, as noted in the previous part. The trial court, on reading the contents of the police report/chargesheet or the complaint, as the case may be, applies its judicial mind to arrive at a conclusion to decide the exact nature of accusation which constitutes the offence against the accused person, and thereafter intimates the accused of the details of such accusation in such a manner that the accused person would understand what they would be facing trial for.
The document through which this intimation is given to the accused is known as the Charge. Charge forms the essence and basis of a criminal trial before a court.
The previous parts dealt with the powers and Duties of the police to conduct investigation. However, after completion of investigation and filing of the police report, also known as chargesheet, or complaint, as the case may be, the case then comes within the realm and powers of the trial court.
Who can frame charge?
Charge is framed by the court which conducts the trial for that particular offence. Such a court, in common parlance, is known as a trial court. The trial court can either be the Court of Magistrate or the Sessions Court, depending upon the nature of offence. There is a specific categorization of offences as rriable by Magistrate, and those which are exclusively triable by a Sessions Court. The same can be seen from the First Schedule annexed to the CrPC, which gives a detailed account of offences which are bailable or non-bailable, and whether triable by Magistrate or Sessions Court.
Every accused, irrespective of the nature of the offence. is produced for the first time after arrest before the Court of Magistrate (except for offences under special statutes like, for instance, the Prevention of Money Laundering Act [PMLA]). Thereafter, depending upon the accusation and the nature of the offence, if the Court of Magistrate finds the same to be exclusively triable by a Sessions Court, the matter is committed to the Sessions Court of Sessions under Section 193 read with Section 209 of the CrPC. ‘Committed’ in this context means to transfer the case from the Court of Magistrate to the Court of Sessions. Section 209 enables the Court of Magistrate to commit the case to the Court of Sessions, and section 193 bars the Court of Sessions from taking cognizance of any offence as a court of original jurisdiction unless it is committed from the Court of Magistrate (except when otherwise provided under a special law, such as under the PMLA).
For instance, Maharashtra government minister and politician Nawab Malik, facing allegations for committing offences under the PMLA, was directly produced before the Court of Sessions instead of Court of Magistrate, since the Statute provided so.
Therefore, in any event of committal to the Sessions Court or in the case of an offence triable by Magistrate, after filing of the Chargesheet or the Complaint, as the case may be, the respective court shall then frame charges after reading the accusation as raised by the prosecution and applying its own judicial mind to arrive at a conclusion as to what offences, if any, are prima facie made out against the accused person. Charge forms a separate chapter under the CrPC, spanning across Sections 211-224.
Form of charge
The document, that is, charge. needs to state the exact name and/or section of the offence for which the accused shall be facing a trial. The purpose of framing a charge is to give notice to the accused of the exact nature of accusation against him so as to enable them to properly set up their defense.
The law and the particular section of the law against which the offence is alleged to have been committed shall be mentioned in the charge; when there are more than one offences committed under one or more than one law, the names of every such law and the sections thereunder shall be mentioned in the charge.
For instance, if the allegation against the accused person is that they were found in possession of a contraband drug and also a revolver without a valid license, the Charge shall read for commission of an offence punishable under the relevant section of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 and for commission of an offence punishable under the Arms Act, 1959.
Previous conviction
Further, if the accused person has been convicted for any offence previously which makes them liable for an enhanced punishment or a different kind of punishment for a subsequent conviction, the charge for the subsequent case shall mention the date and place of previous conviction, along with the nature of the offence for which the accused was previously convicted.
However, if there is an error of omission of such statement of previous conviction to be included in the charge during framing of charge, the trial court is empowered to include such statement at any time before the final order, judgment or the sentence is passed, which marks the conclusion of trial.
As provided in Section 212 of the CrPC, the charge must contain details of the time and place of the alleged offence and the name of the person against whom, or the thing against which, such offence has been alleged to have been committed. Every such detail shall be mentioned in such a way so as to be reasonably sufficient to give notice to the accused of the nature of accusation and the matter with which they are charged.
It must be noted that there shall be a separate charge for a distinct offence, and every such charge shall be tried separately. However, an accused may move an application for all such charges to be tried together at the same trial by the trial court, and the trial court, upon considering the same, if it deems fit that no prejudice shall be caused to the accused, allow for the same.
More than one offence of similar kind
When an accused person has allegedly committed offences of the same kind more than once, up to three times within a span of 12 months starting from the first offence till the last, such an accused person may be charged with and tried at the same trial. However, the said number of offences tried at the same trial will not be more than three
Offences of same kind in the context of Section 219 of the CrPC connote offences punishable with same punishment under the same section of the Indian Penal Code [IPC] or any other special or local law.
Such offences as referred above of similar kind may or may not be committed in respect of the same person or thing.
Series of acts constituting offences
When a series of acts is allegedly committed by the accused person, which are so closely connected to one another as to form a part of single transaction, such an accused person may be charged with and tried at the same trial for every such offence.
However, when such acts independently constitute separate offences, but when combined together, constitute a single different offence, then in such a case charge can be framed against the accused for such different offence constituted by combining the alleged acts and also for offences constituted by the individual acts.
One act constituting offences under more than one law
When one act alleged against an accused person constitutes two or more offences under different laws, a charge against the accused person can be framed and tried in one single trial for both the offences under every such different law.
Take the example of an allegation for committing the offence of rape on a minor. Such an act constitutes an offence punishable under Section 376 of the IPC as well as an offence under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences [POCSO] Act. In such a case, charge will be framed under both the IPC and the POCSO Act.
If there arises any doubt with regards to an act or a series of acts alleged against an accused person as to exactly which of the several possible offences have been made out, then charge can be framed for all of such offences or any one of them. If at the conclusion of trial in which the accused is charged only for one of such several offences, but evidence led at the trial suggests the commission of one or more of such other possible offences for which the accused person might have been charged, then the accused person shall be convicted for such other offences, even though not specifically charged therefor.
For example, if the facts of the case suggest an offence of cheating, criminal breach of trust and theft have been committed but the trial court frames charge only for theft, at the conclusion of the trial, if the trial court arrives at a conclusion on the basis of the evidence led that the offence of criminal breach of trust is made out, the accused person shall be convicted for criminal breach of trust, even though specific charge for the same was not framed.
Several acts constituting several offences
When the charge is framed for several offences containing several particulars and a specific combination of some particulars constitute a minor offence, if such a combination is proved during evidence but the rest of the particulars are not proved, then the accused shall be convicted for such combination which constituted the minor offence without being specifically charged for the same.
Joinder of charge
The CrPC has divided the chapter of Charge into two parts. The first part (sections 211-217) deals with the form and contents of charge, and the second (sections 218-224), with the joinder of charge.
Section 223 of the CrPC makes a provision for two or more persons to be charged and tried jointly in a single trial.
The categorization of such persons as referred above are persons who are accused of:
– Committing the same offence in the same transaction.
– Committing different offences in the same transaction.
– Committing more than one offence of the same kind, jointly within a period of 12 months (as provided under section 219 of the CrPC)
– Committing the offence and abetment of that offence.
– Theft, extortion, cheating or criminal breach of trust, and receiving, retaining or assisting in disposing stolen property.
– Persons charged with separate offences and falling under none of the aforesaid categories, on an application preferred in writing before the Court of Magistrate or Sessions Court, when such application is allowed in the interest of justice and on the ground that no prejudice would be caused to the accused.
Withdrawal of charges
When a Charge is framed for one or more offences, and the evidence led at the trial leads to conviction of the accused for one or more of such offences but not all of the offences charged for, the prosecutor conducting the prosecution, or the complainant, as the case may be, with the consent of the trial court, or the Trial Court suo motu, may stay the inquiry into, or trial of, such charge or charges. Such withdrawal shall have the effect of an acquittal on such charge or charges.
However, if the conviction so awarded is set aside by the appellate court, then subject to the order of the appellate court setting aside the order of conviction, the trial court may proceed with the inquiry into, or trial of, the charge or charges so withdrawn.
Errors in framing of charge
Unless any prejudice has been caused to the accused person which has occasioned injustice, no error or omission in mentioning the particulars required to be stated in the charge shall be considered as material, and the trial court has the power to correct or even alter a charge at any time before pronouncement of judgment.
For instance, consider A being charged with murdering B on January 20, and C, who tried to arrest him for that murder, on January 21. When charged for the murder of B, A was tried for the murder of C. The witnesses present in his defence were witnesses in the case of B’s murder. The court may infer from this that A was misled, and that the error was material.
Alteration/addition of charge:
The trial court can alter/add charges at any time before pronouncement of judgment; however, every such altered/added charge must be read and explained to the cccused person.
If such alteration or addition of charge will cause prejudice to the prosecution or the accused to proceed with the trial immediately, then the trial court can direct for a new trial or grant an adjournment for such sufficient period of time as it deems fit. However, if such alteration or addition of charge, in the opinion of the trial court, would not cause any prejudice either to the prosecution or to the accused person, the trial court shall proceed with the trial as if such altered charge was originally framed.
If the alteration of charges changes the nature of the offence such that a previous sanction to prosecute the accused is mandatory, then the trial court shall not proceed with the trial until and unless such sanction from such authority is obtained.
Recalling of witnesses
When an alteration or addition of charge is made after the trial has commenced, the prosecution and accused both are at liberty to apply to the trial court for re-issuing summons or re-calling of witnesses for the purpose of examining them in respect of the altered or added charge only. The trial court has the power to reject such application for re-calling or re-issuing summons to such witness if, in the opinion of the trial court, such an application is moved solely for the purpose of causing a delay in the trial.
The prosecution and accused can make an application to call such other witness apart from the one examined earlier which the trial court thinks material in view of the altered or added charge.
Discharge
Before framing of charge, the accused can apply for discharge on the basis of the material produced by the prosecution in its final report, also known as chargesheet, if on perusal of the chargesheet, no offence prima facie seems to have been made out against the accused.
Discharge shall be dealt with in detail in the next part.
