S.482 CrPC Empowers High Court To Entertain Applications Not Contemplated In CrPC If Required To Meet Ends Of Justice: Punjab & Haryana HC

[27 May 2022] The Punjab and Haryana High Court recently observed that Section 482 of CrPC confers extraordinary powers on High Court and empowers it to entertain applications not contemplated in the Code of Criminal Procedure, in case the ends of justice require. “This section gives the power to this Court to entertain applications which are not contemplated in the Code of Criminal Procedure, in the event, it is felt that the ends of justice will require that the Court can invoke the extraordinary powers which are to be exercised with restraint and not lightly.” The bench comprising Justice Vivek Puri further held that when the Court is satisfied that its interference under inherent powers is required to meet the ends of justice, it ought to exercise such powers. The Court further added that inherent power vested under Section 482 should not be invoked as a matter of routine and it should only be invoked to prevent the abuse of the process of the Court and to secure the ends of justice.