{"id":372460,"date":"2026-01-13T12:00:22","date_gmt":"2026-01-13T06:30:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/?p=372460"},"modified":"2026-01-15T10:46:07","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T05:16:07","slug":"del-hc-magistrates-power-to-discharge-at-section-251-stage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/post\/2026\/01\/13\/del-hc-magistrates-power-to-discharge-at-section-251-stage\/","title":{"rendered":"Magistrate can&#8217;t discharge accused at Section 251 CrPC stage in Summons Case after issuance of summons: Delhi High Court"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>\n.animate-charcter{background-image: linear-gradient(-225deg, #231557 0%, #44107a 29%, #ff1361 67%, #fff800 100%); background-size: 200% auto; -webkit-background-clip: text; -webkit-text-fill-color: transparent; animation: textclip 0s linear infinite;}\n@keyframes textclip {to {background-position: 200% center;}}\n<\/style>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">Disclaimer: This has been reported after the availability of the order of the Court and not on media reports so as to give an accurate report to our readers.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Delhi High Court:<\/span> In a criminal revision petition filed under Sections <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001519685\" target=\"_blank\">397<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001519791\" target=\"_blank\">482<\/a> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726935\" target=\"_blank\">Criminal Procedure Code, 1973<\/a> (CrPC) challenging the discharge order dated 06-02-2023, in a summons case at the stage of Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001519506\" target=\"_blank\">251<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726935\" target=\"_blank\">CrPC<\/a>, a Single-Judge Bench of <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Amit Mahajan, J.<\/span>, set aside the discharge order and remitted the matter to the Magistrate for further proceedings. The Court held that &#8212;<\/p>\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: disc;\">\n<li>\n<p>Magistrates cannot recall summons in complaint-based summons cases.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Magistrate can&#8217;t discharge accused at Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001519506\" target=\"_blank\">251<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726935\" target=\"_blank\">CrPC<\/a> stage<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Discharge under Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001519492\" target=\"_blank\">239<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726935\" target=\"_blank\">CrPC<\/a> is impermissible in summons trials.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001519506\" target=\"_blank\">251<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726935\" target=\"_blank\">CrPC<\/a> is not a stage for adjudicating the sufficiency of evidence.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Factual Matrix<\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The complainant-petitioner company was incorporated on 21-022013 for setting up a multispecialty hospital near Sonipat, Haryana. The accounts of the petitioner company were maintained from Saxena Hospital (Block B) which also functioned as a back office.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">Between 2013 and 2019, the respondents drew substantial consultant fees and directors&#8217; remuneration. In 2019, disputes arose after Respondent No.1 incorporated a separate hospital entity and began diverting his professional time.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The respondents resigned as directors on 04-06-2019. Thereafter, they declined to transfer their shareholding and allegedly usurped Saxena Hospital (Block B), denied access to the complainant company, and unlawfully retained books of accounts, TALLY records and valuable diagnostic and surgical machines valued at approximately &#8377;1.47 crores.<\/p>\n<h3>Procedural History<\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The petitioner company filed a criminal complaint under Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001537694\" target=\"_blank\">452<\/a> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002766251\" target=\"_blank\">Companies Act, 2013<\/a> read with Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001519450\" target=\"_blank\">200<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726935\" target=\"_blank\">CrPC<\/a>. Magistrate took cognizance and issued summons on 18-11-2020. The summoning order was challenged before the Delhi High Court and withdrawn on 03-05-2021. At the stage of Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001519506\" target=\"_blank\">251<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726935\" target=\"_blank\">CrPC<\/a>, the Magistrate discharged the accused by applying Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001519492\" target=\"_blank\">239<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726935\" target=\"_blank\">CrPC<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">Aggrieved, the petitioner company filed a revision petition under Sections <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001519685\" target=\"_blank\">397<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001519791\" target=\"_blank\">482<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726935\" target=\"_blank\">CrPC<\/a> challenging the discharge order dated 06-02-2023.<\/p>\n<h3>Moot Point<\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">Whether a Magistrate can discharge an accused in a summons case at the stage of Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001519506\" target=\"_blank\">251<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726935\" target=\"_blank\">CrPC<\/a> after cognizance has been taken and summons have been issued?<\/p>\n<h3>Parties&#8217; Contentions<\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The petitioner contended that the Magistrate acted in disregard of binding precedent. It was stated that in a summons trial governed by Chapter XX <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726935\" target=\"_blank\">CrPC<\/a>, there is no stage of discharge and Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001519492\" target=\"_blank\">239<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726935\" target=\"_blank\">CrPC<\/a> applies only to warrant cases under Chapter XIX. It was contended that the Magistrate had no power to recall or review the summoning order. It was argued that the Magistrate&#8217;s reliance on <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">Bhushan Kumar<\/span> v. <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">State (NCT of Delhi<\/span>), <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0000047737\" target=\"_blank\">(2012) 5 SCC 424<\/a> was misplaced and per incuriam in light of larger bench decisions.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">On the other hand, the respondents contended that the Magistrate rightly applied Bhushan Kumar (Supra). IT was argued that at the Section 251 stage, the Magistrate must examine whether any offence is disclosed and if no offence is made out, the accused can be discharged.<\/p>\n<h3>Court&#8217;s Analysis<\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court examined the scope of Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001519506\" target=\"_blank\">251<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726935\" target=\"_blank\">CrPC<\/a> and reiterated that<span style=\"font-weight: bold;\"> &#8220;a bare reading of the aforesaid provision shows that the provision only contemplates that the particulars of the alleged offence be stated to the accused and does not empower the Magistrate to conduct a mini-trial.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">Relying upon <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">Subramanium Sethuraman<\/span> v. <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">State of Maharashtra<\/span>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0000034053\" target=\"_blank\">(2004) 13 SCC 324<\/a>; <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">Adalat Prasad<\/span> v. <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">Roopal Jindal<\/span>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0000034920\" target=\"_blank\">(2004) 7 SCC 338<\/a> <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">and In Re: Expeditious Trial of Cases under Section 138 NI Act<\/span>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink\/7M9rwrm9\" target=\"_blank\">2021 SCC Online SC 325<\/a>, the Court held that &#8220;a summons case is covered under Chapter XX of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726935\" target=\"_blank\">CrPC<\/a> which does not contemplate a stage of discharge like Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001519492\" target=\"_blank\">239<\/a> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726935\" target=\"_blank\">CrPC<\/a> which provides for discharge in a warrant case.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court further held that the Magistrate has no power to recall summons once issued. The Court stated that <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">&#8220;the Trial Court cannot be conferred with inherent power either to review or recall the order of issuance of process.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">On the reliance placed on <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">Bhushan Kumar<\/span> (Supra), the Court applied the &#8220;inversion test&#8221; and held that the observation regarding discharge at the Section 251 stage was merely a passing reference and not the ratio decidendi.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court asserted that <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">&#8220;Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001519506\" target=\"_blank\">251<\/a> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726935\" target=\"_blank\">CrPC<\/a> contemplates only that the particulars of the offence be explained to the accused and it does not empower the Magistrate to undertake a mini-trial or to evaluate defence on merits.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Court&#8217;s Decision<\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court held that the Magistrate can&#8217;t discharge accused at Section 251 stage in a summons case after cognizance has been taken and summons have been issued. The Court further held that the discharging the accused at Section 251 stage amounts to a recall of process with is impermissible in law.<\/p>\n<p class=\"animate-charcter\" style=\"margin-left: 36pt; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 3%;\">&#8220;The Magistrate is not empowered to discharge an accused in a summons trial at the stage of Section <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0001519506\" target=\"_blank\">251<\/a> of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink.aspx?q=JTXT-0002726935\" target=\"_blank\">CrPC<\/a> after having taken cognizance of an offence and issued summons to the accused. The same would amount to recalling of summons by the Magistrate which as noted in a catena of judgments is impermissible in law.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">The Court allowed revision petition, set aside the impugned discharge order and remitted the matter to the Magistrate for further proceedings. The Court clarified that it had not examined the merits of the complaint.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\">[<span style=\"font-weight: bold; color: #632423;\"><span style=\"font-style: italic;\">Tulip Multispecialty Hospital (P) Ltd.<\/span> v. <span style=\"font-style: italic;\">Akhil Saxena<\/span>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.scconline.com\/DocumentLink\/U8bU14ex\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2026 SCC OnLine Del 63<\/a>, Decided on 05-01-2026<\/span>]<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<p>Advocates who appeared in this case:<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-left: 18pt;\">Mr. Tanveer Ahmed Mir, Ms. Pooja Mehra Saigal, Senior Advocates with Mr. Tanmay Mehta, Mr. Simrat Singh Pasay, Mr. Ankit Mittal, Ms. Ariana Ahluwalia and Ms. Yashodhara Singh, Counsel for the Petitioner<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-left: 18pt;\">Mr. Vikram Singh Panwar, Mr. Abhimanyu Singh, Mr. Haresh Nair, Mr. Yash Kadyan and Mr. Yash Luthra, Counsel for the Respondents<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"color: #000080;\">Buy Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 &nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ebcwebstore.com\/product_info.php?products_id=1031\" target=\"_blank\">HERE<\/a><\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 3%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ebcwebstore.com\/product_info.php?products_id=1031\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/code-of-criminal-procedure-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Code of Criminal Procedure\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-294422\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/code-of-criminal-procedure-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/code-of-criminal-procedure-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/code-of-criminal-procedure-440x293.jpg 440w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/code-of-criminal-procedure-650x433.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/code-of-criminal-procedure.jpg 886w, https:\/\/www.scconline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/code-of-criminal-procedure-60x40.jpg 60w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p style=\"font-style: italic;\">&#8220;Magistrate erred in discharging the respondents of the offence under Section 452 of the Companies Act at the stage of consideration on the aspect of service of notice of accusation under Section 251 of the CrPC.&#8221;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":67514,"featured_media":372461,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,10],"tags":[96702,96701,23344,2543,33983,73066,44299,96700,96698,96699],"class_list":["post-372460","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-casebriefs","category-highcourts","tag-cognizance-and-summons","tag-companies-act-section-452","tag-criminal-procedure","tag-Delhi_High_Court","tag-discharge-of-accused","tag-justice-amit-mahajan","tag-magistrate-powers","tag-recall-of-summons","tag-section-251-crpc","tag-summons-case-procedure"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.4 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>CrPC| Del HC on Magistrate&#039;s power to discharge at Section 251 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