1995 (8) TMI 325

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....lms obtained from the laboratory at Bombay and were arranged for exhibition in Roopak Cinema, Patna. It is the case of Shiv Prakash, the complainant on behalf of M/s. Ajgevinath Films, that the first accused, namely, M/s. Sapna Enterprises, had contracted on June 22, 1988 to take the film, exhibit the same and account for the proceeds in terms of the contract. Pursuant thereto, M/s. Sapna Enterprises was entrusted with the second copy of the film for exhibition and they exhibited the film from July 1, 1988. But the first accused had not returned the print to the complainant-second respondent with ulterior and dishonest intention to make wrongful gain and to cause wrongful loss to the second respondent. Subsequently, it came to the knowledge....

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....pellant and another. The question, therefore is whether the complainant-second respondent made a prima facie case to take cognizance of the offence and issue process to the appellant and others. It is contended for the appellant that the Chief Judicial Magistrate, having entertained the complaint, was required to examine other witnesses, take cognizance and then could have transferred the case, if he so desired, to a competent Magistrate subordinate to him as envisaged by s/92(1) of the Code. But, in this case without taking cognizance, the Chief Judicial Magistrate committed manifest jurisdictional error in transferring the complaint to the Magistrate who took further action therein. We find no force in the contention. Though the Cod....

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....ministrative functions also to perform. A Magistrate who receives the case on transfer and takes cognizance would not become incompetent to do so merely because the sanction of transfer of the case to his file is not in accordance with law. The power to take cognizance has been conferred on a Magistrate by s.190(1) of the Code, and he would not be denuded of this power because the case has come to his file pursuant to some illegal order of the Chief Judicial Magistrate. The former would be excercising his power of taking cognizance even in such a case, because of his having received a complaint constituting the offence. It would not be material, for this purpose, as to how he came to receive the complaint - directly or on transfer from the ....