Del HC | Recalling of material witness allowed even where accused held to have not exercised due diligence in defending themselves

Delhi High Court: Sunil Gaur, J., while putting petitioners to terms, allowed their application filed under Section 311 CrPC to recall three prosecution witnesses for cross-examination.

Earlier, the trial court had dismissed the petitioner’s application for recall of prosecution witnesses. Dinesh Sah and Rajeev Rajan, Advocates appearing for petitioners submitted that the witnesses sought to be recalled were material witnesses who could not be cross-examined due to the negligence of the previous counsel. It was submitted that petitioners may be put to terms for their negligence, however, recalling of prosecution witnesses was essential. Per contra, Izhar Ahmad, Additional Public Prosecutor supported the trial court’s order.

On perusal of the record, the High Court found that the petitioners did not exercise due diligence in defending themselves before the trial court and the blame was sought to be put on the previous counsel, whose name was not disclosed. Be that as it may, the Court was of the view that cross-examination of prosecution witnesses was necessary for a just decision of the case. Deeming it appropriate that petitioners be put to terms, the Court allowed their application filed under Section 311 while inflicting a cost of Rs 30,000 to be deposited with Prime Minister’s Relief Fund. [Ashok v. State, 2019 SCC OnLine Del 7059, dated 04-02-2019]