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1963 DIGILAW 491 (MAD)

B. Jayarama Mudaliar, Chairman, Tindivanam Municipality v. Bhoomi Ammal

1963-12-05

M.ANANTANARAYANAN

body1963
Order.- This revision proceeding by the 1st Respondent in M.C. No. 72 of 1962 before the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Villupuram will have to be allowed on the short point that the learned Magistrate, in deciding this question of a dispute concerning user of immovable property under section 147, Criminal Procedure Code, has acted upon the evidence of affidavits, which does not appear to be warranted by the terms of the section. The learned Magistrate apparently thought upon the analogy in the specific provision in section 145 (1), Criminal Procedure Code, and the employment of the words, “ and the provisions of section 145 shall as far as may be, be applicable” in section 147 (1-A), Criminal Procedure Code, that he could receive affidavit evidence even in proceedings under the latter section. The very point came up before a single Judge of the Patna High Court in Manik Chand v. Bhubneshwar1. The learned Judge pointed out that sub-section (1) of the section 145 makes specific provision that the parties should be called upon to adduce evidence by affidavits, while sub-section (1-A) of section 147 is in very different terms that the Magistrate shall receive all such evidence as may be produced by the respective parties. The learned Judge then proceeded to express his view that the Magistrate had no jurisdiction, in the light of the circumscribed scope of section 147 (1-A) contrasted to section 145, Criminal Procedure Code to call upon parties to file affidavits in a proceeding under section 147, Criminal Procedure Code or to accept and act upon such affidavit evidence. It appears to me that this view of the respective scope of the two sections is justified, for, had the Legislature intended that even in proceedings under section 147, Criminal Procedure Code affidavit evidence could be competently received, the necessary words, would have been introduced in section 147 (1-A), Criminal Procedure Code, which is not the case. Under the circumstances, since the Magistrate has received and acted upon evidence, which could not be legally received, within the scope of the proceeding before him, I am constrained to permit the revision proceeding, to quash the order of the learned Magistrate, and to remit the proceeding for further disposal according to law. The learned Magistrate must now hear the evidence adduced by the parties and not affidavit evidence and not according to the tenor of section 147, Criminal Procedure Code. The learned Magistrate must now hear the evidence adduced by the parties and not affidavit evidence and not according to the tenor of section 147, Criminal Procedure Code. Ordered accordingly. K.S. ------ Petition allowed.