JUDGMENT Jayachandra Reddy, J.-This Criminal Miscellaneous petition has come up before us by way of a reference made by our learned brother Muktadar, J. The question which is of general importance that arise for consideration in this petition is whether the criminal Court has jurisdiction to initiate proceedings under section 145, Criminal Procedure Code, in respect of immovable property which is the subject-matter of pending civil litigation, and if so, whether an order of the civil Court on the question of possession, even for the purpose of giving an interim relief, is binding on the criminal Court. 2. The facts that gave rise to this question are as follows: The lands in dispute are situated in Gupta Village, Nizamabad District. In respect of these lands, the petitioner filed O.S. No. 371 of 1978 in the Court of the District Munsif, Nizamabad claiming the relief of perpetual injunction; and an interim injunction was granted in I.A.No. 913 of 1978 and the same was made absolute on 2nd December, 1978. While so, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Nizamabad first initiated proceedings under section 107, Criminal Procedure Code, by his order dated 16th December, 1978 and the same is said to be pending. Again on 4th January, 1979, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate initiated proceedings under section 145 , Criminal Procedure Code, which was numbered as A4/15656 of 1978 and summons were issued under section 145, Criminal Procedure Code, to both the parties. In the said summons it is stated that from the information laid before him the Sub-Divisional Magistrate was satisfied that a dispute likely to cause breach of the peace exists between the parties regarding the possession of these lands. These proceedings are sought to be quashed in this criminal miscellaneous petition filed on 20th February, 1979. It may be mentioned here that the respondents filed an appeal in the District Court against the order of the District Munsif granting injunction but the same was dismissed and a civil revision petition filed in this Court against the said order is said to be pending. The fact however remains that there is an injunction order in force in favour of the petitioners restraining the respondents from interfering with the possession of the petitioners. The fact however remains that there is an injunction order in force in favour of the petitioners restraining the respondents from interfering with the possession of the petitioners. Both the learned Counsel stated before us that the learned Sub-Divisional Magistrate has also ordered attachment of the properties but all the proceedings before him are stayed by an order of this Court, pending this petition for quashing the proceedings initiated under section 145, Criminal Procedure Code. 3. The learned Counsel for the petitioner contends that the initiation of the proceedings under section 145, Criminal Procedure Code, is illegal and without jurisdiction when the matter is subjustice before the civil Court and when there is an order of injunction in favour of the petitioner and that the injunction order is binding on the criminal Court. The learned Counsel for the respondents on the other hand contends that the proceedings initiated by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate under section 145, Criminal Procedure Code, are not illegal or without jurisdiction and the injunction issued by the civil Court does not preclude the criminal Court to its own conclusion. Both the learned Counsel have cited decisions of the Supreme Court and various High Courts in support of these rival contentions. 4. We shall now examine the first aspect of the question viz., whether the criminal Court has jurisdiction to initiate proceedings under section 145, Criminal Procedure Code, in respect of immovable property which is the subject-mattter of a pending civil litigation. The object of section 145, Criminal Procedure Code, is to prevent a breach of the peace by maintaining one or other of the parties in possession. This provision enables the Magistrate to intervene and pass an order in regard to the possession of the property in dispute having effect until the actual right of one of the parties is determined by a competent civil Court. But when a dispute about the immovable property is pending before a civil Court and if one of the parties to the suit moves a Magistrate to take proceedings under section 145, Criminal Procedure Code, about the same property involved in the suit, can it be said that the criminal Court has no jurisdiction to proceed even if it is satisfied that there is likelihood of a breach of the peace? A Full Bench of the Rajasthan High Court in Tikuda v. State1 has considered this question and held: “It may be observed that if a dispute about a certain immovable, property is pending before a revenue or a civil Court and if one of the parties to that suit moves a Magistrate to take proceedings under section 145 of the Criminal Procedure Code, about the same immovable property which is involved in the suit, the Magistrate should not lightly proceed in the matter. He should weigh and consider whether there is a real apprehension of the breach of the peace and even if there is such an apprehension, whether the same cannot be averted by proceeding under section 107, Criminal Procedure Code. For instance in a case like that a Rugga where a suit for declaration and injunction is pending in a revenue Court or if a similar case is pending in a civil Court, and if a temporary injunction against one party has already been given by that Court, then it is evident that The said Court, has already considered that party in possession of the immovable property in whose favour the injunction has been granted and if in spite of that temporary injunction the other party is bent upon dispossessing the first party a breach of peace is imminent then the proper course is to bind down the party which is not in possession of the property, to keep peace for the requisite period. This does not, however, mean that the jurisdiction of the Magistrate to proceed under section 145, Criminal Procedure Code, is ousted simply because a suit about the same immovable property is already in a revenue or civil Court. What we only mean to say is, that in such cases the Magistrate must proceed with care and caution, after ascertaining full facts from the party which moves the application under section 145, Criminal Procedure Code”. 5. We are of the opinion at the outset that the Full Bench of the Rajasthan High Court has approached the problem from the proper angle and the view ultimately taken by the Rajasthan High Court is just and expedient. We shall however consider the decision of the other High Courts. 5. We are of the opinion at the outset that the Full Bench of the Rajasthan High Court has approached the problem from the proper angle and the view ultimately taken by the Rajasthan High Court is just and expedient. We shall however consider the decision of the other High Courts. In Ruber Padhan v. Chaturbhuja Kuar2 a learned Judge of the Orissa High Court held that it is well-settled that mere institution of a civil suit does not take away the jurisdiction of a Magistrate to institute a proceeding under section 145 , Criminal Procedure Code, and unless there is an interim arrangement made by the civil Court in the matter of possession, the Magistrate has jurisdiction to continue the proceeding under section 145, Criminal Procedure Code. In Iqbal Mohd. v. State of Madhya Pradesh3 the High Court of Madhya Pradesh took a similar view and held that the jurisdiction of the Magistrate to deal with the application under section 145, Criminal Procedure Code, is not taken away only because in the meanwhile the civil Court has passed an interim injunction in favour of a party. In Kalapadin v. State4 a Division Bench of the Allahabad High Court held that if a Magistrate is satisfied that a dispute relating to immovable property giving raise to apprehension of breach of peace exists, he can take action under section 145, Criminal Procedure Code, even when a civil suit relating to the same property and between the same parties is pending in a Court of competent jurisdiction. Our learned brother Chennakesav Reddy, J. in B. Kondayya v. Sub Divisional Magistrate, Amalapuram5 referred to some of these decisions and held that if the Magistrate is satisfied otherwise, he can initiate proceedings under section 145 , Criminal Procedure Code, and the mere existence of any pending civil suit between the parties cannot bar the initiation of proceedings under section 145, Criminal Procedure Code. 6. It can thus be seen that various High Courts have consistently taken the view, with which we are in agreement, viz., that mere pendency of the civil suit does not take away the jurisdiction of a criminal Court to initiate proceedings under section 145, Criminal Procedure Code, if it is satisfied that there exists a dispute which is likely to result in the breach of the peace. It must also be remembered that many a time a criminal Court may not even be aware of the pendency of the civil suit or any orders passed by the civil Court in regard to the possession. Therefore, the submission that the mere pendency of the civil suit bars the criminal Court to initiate, proceedings under section 145, Criminal Procedure Code, has to be rejected. 7. The next question is whether an order of the civil Court on the question of possession even for the purpose of giving an interim relief, is binding on the criminal Court. As already mentioned, the proceedings under section 145, Criminal Procedure Code, are intended to prevent a breach of the peace by maintaining one or other of the parties in possession, and it is ultimately the decision of the civil Court that determines the rights of the parties. It, therefore, stands to reason that when there is an order of a civil Court in respect of the possession even while giving a temporary relief and if the same is brought to the notice of the criminal Court, the criminal Court should respect such an order of the civil Court. On this aspect the Full Bench of the Rajasthan High Court in Tikudds case1, observed that the criminal Court should not lightly proceed in the matter when the same is the subject-matter of the civil suit. The Full Bench further observed that if a temporary injunction against one party has already been given by the civil Court, then it is evident that the civil Court had considered that party in possession of the immovable property in whose favour the injunction has been granted, and inspite of the injunction order if there is an apprehension of the breach of the peace, the criminal Court should consider whether the same cannot be averted by proceeding under section 107, Criminal Procedure Code. In Mirza Mohd. In Mirza Mohd. Aziz v. Safdar Hussain2 a single Judge of the Allahabad High Court held that where a party against whom an order has been passed in a case under section 145, Criminal Procedure Code, files a suit in a competent civil Court for the decision of the dispute and the civil Court issues a temporary injunction stopping the other party from taking possession of the property in dispute according to the order of the Magistrate, the order of the criminal Court although valid cannot be enforced so long as the injunction is in force. In Iqbal Mohd. v. State of Madhya Pradesh3 the Madhya Pradesh High Court, while holding that the jurisdiction of the criminal Court to deal with an application under section 145, Criminal Procedure Code, is not taken away only because in the meanwhile the civil Court has passed an order of injunction in favour of a party, further observed that the effect of the order of injunction of the civil Court is that if the Magistrate comes to the conclusion that the party in whose favour the order of injunction was issued was not, in fact, in possession of the property on the relevant date, the Magistrate cannot in pursuance of his order direct delivery of the property to the successful party if the party in whose favour the injunction order was passed has somehow managed to come in possession thereof. The Madhya Pradesh High Court also referred to a decision of the Supreme Court in Sajjan Singh v. Sajjan Singh4. That was a case where an interim injunction was granted in favour of one property by the civil Court, after the criminal Court initiated proceedings under section 145 , Criminal Procedure Code and the question considered was whether the jurisdiction of the criminal Court acting under section 145, Criminal Procedure Code, was taken away only because an order of temporary injunction was passed by the civil Court subsequently, and the Supreme Court, under those circumstances observed thus: “In our opinion this case must go back to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate for decision of the proceedings before him. Those proceedings commenced as far back as 1967 and the question whether there is or there is not any apprehension of breach of peace will certainly have to be decided in the light of the happenings in the civil Court. Those proceedings commenced as far back as 1967 and the question whether there is or there is not any apprehension of breach of peace will certainly have to be decided in the light of the happenings in the civil Court. In the meantime we do not see any reason to order the setting aside the order of the High Court. It will be open to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate to consider whether the Receiver should be continued or not, but in any event, he shall not disturb the possession of Sajjan Singh (the appellant before their Lordships) so long as the temporary injunction is outstanding and pending the decision of the proceedings under section 145 of the Code of Criminal Procedure with a view to handing over the possession to the other side. With these remarks, we dismiss the appeal.” The principle underlying this decision is that when there is an order of the civil Court in regard to the possession even by way of a temporary injunction, the same should be respected by the criminal Court while conducting an enquiry under section 145, Criminal Procedure Code. 8. We shall now examine the decisions cited by the learned Counsel for the petitioner in support of his contention that the proceedings under section 145, Criminal Procedure Code, are unnecessary when the matter is subjudice before the civil Court. In Usharani Bej v. Mongol Mundra1 a single Judge of the Calcutta High Court held that when there is a civil suit pending and when an order of injunction by the civil Court is issued, that would be sufficient step to prevent the breach of the peace and simultaneous proceedings under section 145, Criminal Procedure Code, may induce conflict of decisions and therefore they have to be quashed. In Malkappa v. Padmamma2 Narayana Pai, J., of the Mysore High Court held that if the parties had already gone to a civil Court and if the criminal Court should start parallel proceedings in respect of the same lands, it will have the effect of undetermining the authority of the civil Court and that the Magistrate can proceed under section 107, Criminal Procedure Code, to bind over the parties. In Puran Singh v. Labhu Ram3 a single Judge of the Himachal Pradesh High Court observed that the essence behind the proceedings under section 145, Criminal Procedure Code, is the fear of breach, of peace which is likely to result when one party attempts to dispossess the other and if the civil Court is seized of the matter and temporary injunctions have been obtained, there is hardly any necessity for duplication of proceedings before the criminal Court and therefore they are liable to be quashed. In Yeshwant Ganapati Khot v. Anusuyabai4 Jahagirdar, J., of the Bombay High Court held thus: “Magistrates exercising their jurisdiction? under section 145 should respect that deci-Code would always do well to take note of the orders passed by the civil Courts and’ do respect them in so far as they are consistent with their duties under section 145.” The learned Judge further observed: “If a civil Court decides the question of possession even for the purpose of giving an interim relief, the Magistrate acting under section 145 should respect that decision as well.” The view taken by the Mysore and Bombay High Courts lays down the correct guidelines for the criminal Courts while conducting an enquiry under section 145, Criminal Procedure Code, in a case where the matter is also pending in the civil Court and when certain orders are passed by the civil Court in regard to the possession. We are however unable to subscribe to the view that mere pendency of the civil proceedings is a ground to quash the proceedings initiated under section 145, Criminal Procedure Code. 9. The learned Counsel for the respondents reliefs on B. Kondayya v. Sub-Divisional Officer5 and contended that it was also a case where an interim injunction was granted and yet the learned Judge held that the criminal Court can proceed with the enquiry under section 145 , Criminal Procedure Code, and therefore the proceedings under section 145, Criminal Procedure Code, in the instant case cannot he quashed. We have carefully examined the above decision and our learned brother has nowhere pointed out that the criminal Court need not consider the order of interim injunction granted by the civil Court. On the other hand, towards the end of the judgment it is observed thus: “The duty of the Magistrate is to uphold the decree of the civil Court for possession in respect of the disputed lands. On the other hand, towards the end of the judgment it is observed thus: “The duty of the Magistrate is to uphold the decree of the civil Court for possession in respect of the disputed lands. He cannot go behind the decision of the civil Court in the matter. It is, therefore, open to the petitioners to bring to the notice of the criminal Court if there is any decision of the civil Court.” With these observations the petition was dismissed. It can, therefore, be seen that the learned Judge having held that the pendency of the civil suit does not take away the jurisdiction of the criminal Court to initiate proceedings under section 145, Criminal Procedure Code, however observed that the parties can bring to the notice of the criminal Court if there is any decision of the civil Court. The learned Judge at no stage indicated that the criminal Court can ignore an order of interim injunction. 10. In view of the above discussion the following findings can be arrived at: 1. The pendency of a civil suit between the parties in respect of the disputed land does not take away the jurisdiction of the criminal Court to initiate proceedings under section 145, Criminal Procedure Code, if the criminal Court is satisfied that the dispute is likely to result in the breach of peace. The Magistrate however should not lightly proceed in the matter, when the same is pending in a civil Court. 2. During the enquiry under section 145 , Criminal Procedure Code, if it is brought to the notice of the criminal Court that there is an order of the civil Court in regard to the possession even by way of interim injunction, the same should be given due weight and it is expedient that the criminal Court should uphold the order of the civil Court, and it makes no difference whether the order of the civil Court was passed before or after the initiation of the proceedings under section 145, Criminal Procedure Code. The criminal Court should better drop the proceedings initiated under section 145 , when there is such an order of injunction issued by the civil Court in regard to the possession, and if necessary may initiate proceedings under section 107, Criminal Procedure Code. 3. The criminal Court should better drop the proceedings initiated under section 145 , when there is such an order of injunction issued by the civil Court in regard to the possession, and if necessary may initiate proceedings under section 107, Criminal Procedure Code. 3. If the civil Court has not issued any order with regard to the possession even by way of temporary relief, or where such order is vacated, or kept in abeyance by higher Courts, that is to say, when such order is not in force, and the criminal Court is satisfied that there is apprehension of imminent breach of the peace, it can proceed with the enquiry under section 145, Criminal Procedure Code and pass appropriate orders, despite the pendency of the civil suit. 11. In the instant case the interim injunction granted by the civil Court is made absolute and the same was confirmed by the appellate Court also. It is also admitted that the criminal Court has also initiated proceedings under section 107, Criminal Procedure Code. That being so, we think it is unnecessary to allow the proceedings under section 145 to continue, and they are accordingly quashed, and the criminal miscellaneous petition is allowed. C.V.N. ----- Crl. Misc. petition allowed.