Chandra Kanta Kanjilal v. Emperor on the Complaint of Parbati Sarkar
1916-05-18
CHITTY, WALMSLEY
body1916
DigiLaw.ai
JUDGMENT 1. We have heard the learned Deputy Legal Remembrancer who shows cause in this case on behalf of the Magistrate; bat we think that the proceedings now commenced u/s 188, Indian Penal Code, are defective for more than one reason. In the first place, the order as made u/s 144, Criminal Procedure Code, by the Sub-Divisional Officer on 9th December 1915 ought never to have been made. A servant of the first party presented a petition to the Sub-Divisional Officer, in which he complained that the second party had made arrangements to construct a pucca drain obliterating a pathway and for that purpose they had collected a large number of sirdars and lathials and that if the defendants obliterated the said pathway or constructed a drain there and if the first party opposed them, then there would be a likelihood of a serious breach of the peace. The Magistrate took no evidence and had nothing before him in which to make the necessary record of the material facts of the case, but on that petition alone he passed an injunction against the second party u/s 144, Criminal Procedure Code. This appears to us to be wholly irregular. The threat of a breach of the peace was from the first party and the Magistrate might well have on that petition said to the person who presented it that he would bind him down u/s 107. The proceedings were pushed through with great haste; the order is said to have been served at 9 P.M. on that day. On the 10th, on the complaint of the same man, Parbati Sarkar, the same Sub Divisional Officer passed the following order: "Summon Chandra Kanta Kanjilal, Debendra Nath Ganguli, Khider Sarkar and Chandra Lal Singh u/s 188, Indian Penal Code, for 9th January 1916." As we read this order it can only mean that the Sub-Divisional Officer was taking cognizance of the offence u/s 188, which he had clearly no power to do. There would have to be either action by him u/s 476 or an application for sanction u/s 195. It is now suggested that that order should be taken to be an order u/s 476, because on 22nd March, a long time after, the Sub-Divisional Officer transferred the case to the file of another Magistrate for trial.
There would have to be either action by him u/s 476 or an application for sanction u/s 195. It is now suggested that that order should be taken to be an order u/s 476, because on 22nd March, a long time after, the Sub-Divisional Officer transferred the case to the file of another Magistrate for trial. It may be noted in passing that the Magistrate to whom he then purported to transfer it had no jurisdiction to try the case, if the order was u/s 476. We think that the whole proceedings were irregular. The Rule must be made absolute. The order u/s 144, Criminal Procedure Code, has expired, but it is set aside as being the foundation for the proceedings u/s 186, Indian Penal Code, which are also quashed.