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Allahabad High Court · body

1978 DIGILAW 741 (ALL)

G. D. Mukerji v. Shyam Lal Tewari

1978-08-02

P.N.BAKSHI

body1978
Judgment P.N. Bakshi, J. 1. THESE are four connected matters arising out of proceedings u/S. 145 Cr. P.C. 2. THE relevant facts are that an application u/S. 145 Cr. P.C. was moved by Sri G.D. Mukerji on 2-8-1976. These proceedings were ultimately dropped by the order of the magistrate on 13-8- 1976. Another report was submitted by the police on 22-9-1976 for taking action u/S. 145 Cr. P.C.. THE Court, however, proceeded u/Ss. 107/117 Cr. P.C. on 28-4-1977. Sri G.D. Mukerji applied for the conversion of the proceedings u/S. 107/117 Cr. P.C., to one under Section 145 Cr. P.C. On 7-5-1977 the Magistrate concerned converted the said proceedings into one u/S. 145 Cr. P.C.. He directed the parties concerned, namely G.D. Mukerji, the 1st party and Shyam Lal Tewari, Jwala Prasad and Amrit Lal, the second party to appear before the Court and to file their written statements. THE dispute centers round the premises no. 91, Sohbatia Bagh Road, Allahabad with its appurtenant land and out houses, numbered as 91-A Sohbatia Bagh Road, Allahabad. Aggrieved by the order of conversion dated 7-5-1977 Jwala Prasad filed Criminal Misc. Application no. 280 of 1977 before this Court which was eventually dismissed on 2-9-1977. Shyam Lal and Amrit Lal also filed a revision against the aforesaid order converting the proceedings to one u/S. 145 Cr. P.C. before the Sessions Judge, Allahabad vide Criminal Revision no. 4 of 1977 and Criminal Revision No. 170 of 1977. Both these revisions were dismissed by the Sessions Judge, Allahabed vide his orders dated 21-9-1977 and 29-10-1977. It appears that on receipt of the record, the City Magistrate, Allahabad summoned the parties to appear in his Court on 28-10-1977. In the meantime, an affidavit was filed by the Ist party, Sri G.D. Mukerji on 30-9-1977 praying for attachment of the property. The Magistrate called for a report of the Station Officer P.S. Daraganj which is dated 7-10-1977 and was received in Court on 13-10-1977. The S.O. Police Station Daraganj, recommended an immediate attachment of the property in dispute. On 13-10-1977 Jwala Prasad filed an application before the City Magistrate, Allahabad for dropping the proceedings on ground interalia that civil litigation was pending between the parties before the Prescribed Authority, Allahabad. The S.O. Police Station Daraganj, recommended an immediate attachment of the property in dispute. On 13-10-1977 Jwala Prasad filed an application before the City Magistrate, Allahabad for dropping the proceedings on ground interalia that civil litigation was pending between the parties before the Prescribed Authority, Allahabad. On 1-11-1977 Sri G.D. Mukerji filed another affidavit detailing facts therein to show that there was imminent danger of apprehension of breach of peace and praying for attachment of the property u/S. 146 Cr. P.C.. On 4-11-1977 Shyam Lal filed his written statement denying the allegation made by Sri G D. Mukerji and also denying in paragraph 13 of the written statement, the existence of any apprehension of breach of peace on 5-11-1976. The Addl. City Magistrate If, Allahabad passed the impugned order whereby he attached the disputed property mentioned in the preliminary order dated 7-5-1977 and directing the Inspector Incharge P. S. Daraganj to give the attached property in the Supardgi of an independent person . Aggrieved thereby Criminal [Revision no. 1930 of 1977 has been filed in this Court by Shyam Lal, Criminal Revision no. 336 of 1978 has been filed by Amrit Lal, Criminal Revision No. 813 of 1978 has been filed by Jwala Prasad and Cr. Misc. Application No. 6800 of 1977 u/S. 482 Cr. P.C. has also been filed by Shyam Lal. All these four connected matters are being disposed of by this common judgment. 3. I have heard the learned counsel for the parties at considerable length. I had been taken through the various documents on record and as also the orders which have been passed from time to time. I have also carefully considered the arguments raised by the counsel for the parties. The only argument which has impressed me and requires consideration on behalf of the counsel for the applicants in these revisions is that a question regarding the non-existence of apprehension of breach of peace was raised by Shyam Lal but the same has not been decided by the Magistrate before passing the impugned order. On the other hand, an argument worth consideration on behalf of the respondent's counsel is that the impugned order is an interlocutory order and as such it cannot be interfered with u/S. 397 (2) Cr. P.C. 1973. 4. On the other hand, an argument worth consideration on behalf of the respondent's counsel is that the impugned order is an interlocutory order and as such it cannot be interfered with u/S. 397 (2) Cr. P.C. 1973. 4. AS regards the first question mentioned above, it may be observed that on 7-5-1977, the Magistrate converted the proceedings under Sections 107/117 Cr. P.C. to one under Section 145 Cr. P.C. and he passed the preliminary order. This order of the Magistrate has now become final between the parties inasmuch as it has been upheld by the Sessions Judge, Allahabad as well as by the High Court in their respective orders referred to above. Parties have been summoned by the City Magistrate, Allahabad and directed to file their written statements in support of their respective claims. During the course of these proceedings Sri G.D. Mukerji filed an application supported by an affidavit on 3-10-1977 praying for attachment of the property. The report of the Station Officer dated 7-10-77 also indicated that immediate attachment of the property was necessary as the case was one of emergency. On 1-11-77 Sri G.D. Mukerji filed another affidavit in which he complained of a criminal assault hawing been made upon him on 1-10-1977 by Shyam Lal Tewari and his associates. In this affidavit he states that a situation has arisen and there is imminent danger to his life and property. He has prayed for attachment under Section 145 Cr. P.C. On 4-11-1977 Shym Lal filed his written statement, in para 13 of which he alleged that there was no apprehension of breach of peace, ft may be mentioned here that the preliminary order was passed as far back as on 7-5-1977. The applications, affidavits and written statements above mentioned have all been filed in Court thereafter. About six months have passed since the passing of the preliminary order. AS is obvious Sri G. D. Mukerji was alleging a case of apprehension and imminent danger of breach of peace which was supported by the report of the Station Officer. On the other hand, Shyam Lal asserted on 4-11-1977 that there was no apprehension of breach of peace. About six months have passed since the passing of the preliminary order. AS is obvious Sri G. D. Mukerji was alleging a case of apprehension and imminent danger of breach of peace which was supported by the report of the Station Officer. On the other hand, Shyam Lal asserted on 4-11-1977 that there was no apprehension of breach of peace. There can be no doubt that in the face of these allegations and counter allegations with regard to the existence or otherwise of apprehension of breach of peace, it was incumbent upon the Magistrate to have decided this question before proceeding further. The applicants' counsel has contended that this question has not been decided in the impugned order. The respondent's counsel has contended that the question has been decided in the impugned order. Thus the short point for consideration is whether this question has or has not been decided in the impugned order. On a fair reading of the entire order passed by the City Magistrate, Allahabad dt. 5-11-1977, it cannot be said that the question of the existence of apprehension of breach of peace has not been considered. The Magistrate has detailed all the facts in his impugned order. He has made reference to the affidavit tiled by G. D. Mukerji, the report of the police and the written statement filed by Shyam Lal. Having gone through the entire record, the Magistrate came to the conclusion that there was an imminent apprehension of breach of peace. AS such he has passed the order of attachment of the property in dispute. In my opinion, therefore, the order of the Magistrate cannot be assailed on the ground that he has failed to determine this question and hence committed a breach of procedure. Having come to the conclusion that there did exist an apprehension of breach of peace, it was well within the competence of the Magistrate to pass an order attaching the property under Section 146 Cr. P.C. since he considered the case as one of emergency. With regard to the second question, the position appears to be very clear that under Section 397 (2) Cr. P.C., a Court of revision has no powers to interfere with an interlocutory order passed in any appeal, enquiry, trial or other proceedings. There can be no dispute that the impugned order is an interlocutory order. The proceedings under Section 145 Cr. P.C., a Court of revision has no powers to interfere with an interlocutory order passed in any appeal, enquiry, trial or other proceedings. There can be no dispute that the impugned order is an interlocutory order. The proceedings under Section 145 Cr. P.C. are still pending before the City Magistrate. They have not been concluded yet. As such in my revisional powers it is not open to me to interfere with the order of the City Magistrate dated 5-11-1977. 5. BUT as I have mentioned above, Shyam Lal has also filed an application No. 6800 of 1977 u/S. 482 Cr. P.C. before this Court, u/S 482 Cr. P.C., the inherent powers of this Court are not limited by any such fetter as has been imposed upon its power of revision. Nothing in the Code of Criminal Procedure limits the inherent power of the High Court to pass such orders as may be necessary to secure the ends of justice. As I have mentioned above, the City Magistrate considered the case as one of emergency. This was purely his satisfaction with which I am not concerned Having held so, it was open to him to attach the property in dispute under Section 146 (1) Cr. P.C. It is not disputed that no order had been passed by any Civil Court for appointing a Receiver or making such arrangement as may be considered necessary for looking after the property by any Civil Court till the date of the passing of the impugned order by the Magistrate. As such u/S. 146 (2) Cr. P.C., the Magistrate had jurisdiction to pass such orders as he might think fit for a proper arrangement of the property in dispute or to appoint a Receiver for taking charge of the property subject to his direct control. I find that the City Magistrate has authorised the Inspector Incharge of Police Station Daraganj to execute his order on the spot and to give the attached property in the Supardgi of an independent person. In doing so, the City Magistrate has shirked his legal duty to make suitable arrangement of the property in dispute. In fact he has abdicated his powers to the Inspector Incharge P. S. Daraganj which is wholly uncalled for, irregular and illegal. The City Magistrate concerned, should have himself passed suitable orders for making adequate arrangements with regard to the disputed property. In fact he has abdicated his powers to the Inspector Incharge P. S. Daraganj which is wholly uncalled for, irregular and illegal. The City Magistrate concerned, should have himself passed suitable orders for making adequate arrangements with regard to the disputed property. As such it has become necessary, in the interest of justice to quash the direction of the City Magistrate, Allahabad given in the impugned order authorising the Inspector Incharge, P. S. Daraganj to hand over the attached property in the supardgi of an independent person. The City Magistrate Allahabad is directed to himself go into this question, and after giving an opportunity to the parties, to pass appropriate orders in accordance with law with respect to the property in dispute. 6. IN the result, therefore, Criminal Revision Nos. 1930/77, 736/78 and 813/ 78 are dismissed as not maintainable. Criminal Misc. Application No. 6800 of 1977 is allowed to the limited extent mentioned above. Record of the case shall be sent down to the Court of the City Magistrate, Allahabad within 5 days from the date of this order to enable him to proceed in accordance with law in the light of the directions which I have made above. Ordered accordingly.