Departmental action can be taken against the erring concerned investigating/prosecuting official(s) responsible for acquittal, if the lapse is blame worthy -Hon'ble Supreme Court's Judgment-

‘REPORTABLE’

                        IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

                       CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

                      CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1485 OF 2008

State of Gujarat                                   … Appellant

                                   Versus

Kishanbhai Etc.                                    … Respondents

                               J U D G M E N T

Jagdish Singh Khehar, J.

Paras 21 to 24 of the Judgment 

21.   On the culmination of a criminal  case  in  acquittal,  the  concerned

investigating/prosecuting official(s) responsible for  such  acquittal  must

necessarily be identified.  A finding needs to be  recorded  in  each  case,

whether the lapse was innocent or blameworthy.   Each  erring  officer  must

suffer the consequences of his lapse, by  appropriate  departmental  action,

whenever called for.  Taking  into  consideration  the  seriousness  of  the

matter,  the  concerned  official  may  be  withdrawn   from   investigative

responsibilities,  permanently  or  temporarily,  depending  purely  on  his

culpability.  We also  feel  compelled  to  require  the  adoption  of  some

indispensable measures, which may reduce the malady suffered by  parties  on

both  sides  of  criminal  litigation.   Accordingly  we  direct,  the  Home

Department of every State Government, to formulate a  procedure  for  taking

action  against  all  erring  investigating/prosecuting  officials/officers.

All such erring officials/officers identified, as  responsible  for  failure

of a prosecution  case,  on  account  of  sheer  negligence  or  because  of

culpable lapses, must  suffer  departmental  action.   The  above  mechanism

formulated would infuse seriousness in the performance of investigating  and

prosecuting duties, and would ensure that investigation and prosecution  are

purposeful and decisive.  The instant direction shall also be  given  effect

to within 6 months.

22.   A copy of the instant judgment shall be transmitted  by  the  Registry

of this Court, to the Home Secretaries of all State  Governments  and  Union

Territories, within one week.  All the  concerned  Home  Secretaries,  shall

ensure  compliance  of  the  directions  recorded  above.   The  records  of

consideration, in compliance with the above direction, shall be maintained.

23.   We hope and trust the Home Department of the State  of  Gujarat,  will

identify the erring officers in the instant case, and will take  appropriate

departmental action against them,  as  may  be  considered  appropriate,  in

accordance with law.

24.   The instant criminal appeal is accordingly disposed of.

                                       …………………………….J.

                                        (C.K. Prasad)

                                        …………………………….J.

                                        (Jagdish Singh Khehar)

New Delhi;

January 7, 2014