Neutral Citation No. - 2025:AHC:115813 Court No. - 77 Case :- APPLICATION U/S 528 BNSS No. - 23062 of 2025 Applicant :- Rajesh Yadav Opposite Party :- State of U.P. and Another Counsel for Applicant :- Raj Nath Pandey Counsel for Opposite Party :- G.A. Hon'ble Saurabh Srivastava,J. 1. Heard learned counsel for applicant and learned AGA for State. 2. Present application has been preferred with the prayer to quash the impugned charge sheet dated 09.07.2023, cognizance/summoning order dated 12.09.2023 as well as the entire proceedings of Case No.8102 of 2023 (State vs. Rajesh Yadav) under sections 411, 413 I.P.C. and section 21(4) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 and sections 3, 72(6) of U.P. Minerals Rule, 2021 arising out of Case Crime no.294 of 2023, PS- Bairia, District- Ballia, pending before learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Ballia. 3. Learned counsel for applicant submitted that FIR has been lodged by opposite party no.2 against the applicant for the offence under sections 4/21 of the Mines and Minerals Act, 1957 and section 41 ,411 I.P.C.. After concluding the investigation, concerned Investigating Officer submitted impugned charge sheet dated 09.07.2023 under sections 411, 413 I.P.C. and section 21(4) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 and sections 3, 72(6) of U.P. Minerals Rule, 2021, whereupon learned Magistrate concerned took cognizance vide impugned order dated 12.09.2023 opining therein that from perusal of case diary there is sufficient ground for taking cognizance under sections 411, 413 I.P.C. and section 21(4) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 and sections 3, 72(6) of U.P. Minerals Rule, 2021. 4. Learned counsel for applicant challenged the entire proceeding on the ground that admittedly the Act of 1957 is special act and Section 22 of the said Act clearly provides that in respect of any offence punishable under the Act or any rules made thereunder, no court shall take cognizance except upon complaint made in writing by a person authorized in this behalf by Central Government or State Government. For substantiating his argument, learned counsel for applicant relied upon judgment rendered by Hon'ble Apex Court in case of Jayant and others vs. State of Madhya Pradesh reported in (2021) 2 SCC 670, wherein it has been observed that even if the charge sheet is filed by the police after the investigation then for the offence under the Indian Penal Code, learned Magistrate can take cognizance but for the offence under the Act, 1957, learned Magistrate cannot take cognizance on the basis of that charge sheet and it is further observed that the Magistrate can take cognizance only when the complaint is filed by the authorized officer along with that charge sheet for the offence under the Act, 1957. He also relied upon judgment rendered by co-ordinate Bench of this Court passed on dated 14.05.2024 in Application u/s 482 no. 11544 of 2019 (Ajay Kumar vs. State of U.P. and Anr.). 5. Per contra, learned AGA vehemently opposed the prayer sought through the instant petition. 6. After hearing the rival submissions extended by learned counsels for the parties and perusing the records, it transpires that in pursuance to judgment rendered by Hon'ble Apex Court in case of Jayant and others (supra) as well as by this Court in Ajay Kumar (supra) since it is apparent that over the charge sheet the cognizance has been taken up by learned concerned court in pursuance to Section 4/21 of Mines and Minerals Act, 1957 also on dated 12.09.2023 itself and as such the same is not permissible in the eye of law as enunciated in the case of Jayant and others (supra). 7. Since the instant matter has been argued by learned counsel appearing for applicant only on the basis of legal issues, especially relying upon the judgment of Hon'ble Apex Court, there is no occasion available with the prosecution to continue and pursue the matter arising out of Case Crime no. 294 of 2023 and the impugned cognizance order dated 12.09.2023 is hereby quashed and consequential proceeding in pursuance to the above cognizance order dated 12.09.2023 is also quashed. 8. The instant petition stands allowed accordingly. 9. However, it is made clear that above mentioned direction will not preclude the authorities concerned to proceed afresh against the applicant, if required in pursuance to procedure available at law. Order Date :- 17.7.2025/Saif Digitally signed by :- SHAIKH SAIF ABDIN High Court of Judicature at Allahabad