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IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 1305 OF 2010 (Arising out of SLP(Crl.)No.3700 of 2008)

RAJESH RANGARAJAN ... APPELLANT(S)

VERSUS

M/S.CROP CARE FED. OF INDIA & ANR. ... RESPONDENT(S)

O R D E R

Heard learned counsel for the parties.

Leave granted. This  appeal is  directed against  the judgment  and order  

dated 13.12.2007 passed by the High Court of Judicature of Andhra  

Pradesh  in  Criminal  Petition  No.,4155  of  2006.  Mr.Raj  Panjwani,  

learned senior counsel appearing for the appellant has drawn our  

attention to Annexure P-1, which is the Report of the Fact Finding  

Committee  which  deals  with  Farmers  Death  Due  to  Exposure  to  

Pesticides in Warangal District of Andhra Pradesh.  

We have carefully perused the Report.   The relevant page  

of  the  report,  which  is  at  Page  40  of  the  paper  book,  clearly  

indicate that the  Fact Finding Committee  was not aimed at doing  

health  study  or  in-depth  scientific  investigation,  but  to  do  an  

indicative study which would lead to a larger health study. The  

general tenor of the report indicates that the report meant to focus  

the harmful effects of exposure to pesticides. It is quite evident  

from the report that it was not meant to harm, hurt or defame any  

individual  or  the  manufacturing  company.   Mr.Panjwani,  learned

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senior counsel appearing for the appellant also fairly  submitted  

that the report was not intended to harm or defame any individual or  

manufacturers  of  pesticides.   In  our  considered  opinion,  the  

complaint filed under  Sections 120(B), 34, 500, 501 & 502 of the  

Indian Penal Code lack basic ingredients.  According to our view, no  

useful purpose would be served in permitting the trial Court to  

proceed  with  the  complaint  which  lacks  the  basic  ingredients  of  

aforementioned Sections.  Consequently, we quash the complaint.

Since the complaint itself has been quashed, therefore,  

the appeal is allowed and the impugned judgment is set aside.  

...................J. (DALVEER BHANDARI)

...................J. (DEEPAK VERMA)

NEW DELHI; 20TH JULY, 2010