Inherent powers under Section 482 CrPC cannot block disclosure of relied-upon documents where a fair trial requires supply.

In a customs prosecution under Sections 132 and 135(1)(a) of the Customs Act, the High Court held that its inherent power under Section 482 CrPC is extraordinary and must be used sparingly, only to prevent abuse of process or secure the ends of justice. Because Section 173(4) CrPC applies to police report cases and not complaint cases, the complainant's objection to supplying relied-upon documents did not justify interference. No abuse of process or miscarriage of justice was shown, while refusal of copies would hinder a fair and expeditious trial. The order directing supply of documents was therefore left undisturbed.

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Issues: Whether the High Court should invoke its inherent powers under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 to set aside an order directing supply of copies of documents relied upon in a customs prosecution.

Analysis: The prosecution was launched for offences under Sections 132 and 135(1)(a) of the Customs Act, 1962. The Court noted that Section 173(4) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 applies to police report cases and not to complaint cases, so the complainant's technical objection to supply of documents could not by itself justify interference. The Court emphasized that the inherent power under Section 482 is extraordinary, to be exercised sparingly, only to prevent abuse of process or to secure the ends of justice. On the facts, no abuse of process or miscarriage of justice was shown. On the contrary, denial of copies would impede a fair and expeditious trial.

Conclusion: The order directing supply of documents was not liable to be interfered with under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.

Final Conclusion: The complaint-side challenge to the supply of relied-upon documents failed, and the proceedings were allowed to continue on the basis of a fair trial.

Ratio Decidendi: Inherent powers under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 cannot be invoked to frustrate a fair trial or to shield the basis of a complaint from disclosure unless a clear abuse of process or failure of justice is shown.

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