Section 482 CrPC: The Supreme Court Cannot Make Adverse Orders or Observations Against a Third Party Who Isn't Before It

The Supreme Court has held that the High Court, in a quashing petition filed by the accused under section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code, cannot issue directions for proceeding against a third party who was not before the Court and was not given any opportunity before the decision was passed. The bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar and CT Ravikumar was deliberating a special leave petition challenging the Punjab and Haryana High Court's order dated November 20, 2018, in which the High Court directed the appellant (Principal of School at relevant time) to be prosecuted in connection with an offence registered by Police Station, Chandigarh ("impugned judgement").