Concurrent sentences under criminal procedure can be ordered through inherent powers where lower courts failed to exercise discretion properly.

Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 preserves the High Court's inherent power to make orders necessary to give effect to the Code, prevent abuse of process, and secure the ends of justice. In the context of Section 427, sentences ordinarily run consecutively, but the court retains discretion to direct concurrency where justice requires it. If the trial, appellate, or revisional court fails to consider that discretion, or exercises it improperly, causing injustice, the High Court may intervene under Section 482 to correct the omission and order that sentences in different cases run concurrently.

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Issues: Whether the High Court, in exercise of its inherent powers under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, can direct that sentences awarded in two different cases shall run concurrently under Section 427 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.

Analysis: Section 482 preserves the inherent powers of the High Court to make orders necessary to give effect to orders under the Code, to prevent abuse of the process of any court, and to secure the ends of justice. The power is wide, but it is to be exercised sparingly and with caution, depending on the facts of each case. The scheme of Section 427 ordinarily contemplates consecutive sentences, but discretion exists to direct concurrency where justice so requires. If the trial court, appellate court, or revisional court has failed to consider or properly exercise that discretion, and the omission results in injustice, the High Court may intervene under Section 482 to rectify the error.

Conclusion: The High Court can invoke Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 to direct concurrency of sentences under Section 427 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 where the lower court has failed to exercise or has improperly exercised the discretion and intervention is necessary to secure the ends of justice.

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