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1990 DIGILAW 182 (CAL)

GANESH PRASAD KSHETRY v. CHANCHAL KUMAR ROY

1990-04-24

J.N.HORE

body1990
J. N. HORE,J, J. ( 1 ) THIS revisional application at the instance of the complainant petitioner is against the order dated 20/9/1984 passed by the learned Metropolitan Magistrate, 8th Court, Calcutta in Case No. C/94 of 1984 discharging the accused opposite patty Nos. 1 and 2 under Section, 430 of the Indian Penal Code. ( 2 ) COMPLAINANT petitioner filed a petition of complaint in the Court of the learned Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Calcutta on 7/3/1983 alleging commission of an offence under Section 430 of the Indian Penal code against the accused opposite parties. The allegation in the said petition of complaint inter alia are that the complainant petitioner is a tenant under one Amiya Kumar Roy in respect of the back portion of a three storeyed building being premises no. 255a, Chittaranjan Avenue, P. S. Jorasanko, Calcutta-6 consisting of 7 rooms one kitchen and one bath-room in each floor since 1950 and he has been enjoying all facilities including water, electricity etc. in respect of the said tenancy. The complainant petitioner used to get water supply in an the floors by water pipe lines throughout the whole day and night. The previous landlord of the complainant petitioner, the grand father of the present landlord, constructed one pucca reservoir in, the ground floor of the front portion of the said building and water used to be pumped up in the overhead tank which is situate on the front portion of the top floor of the said building which is now under the possession and control of the accused opposite party and landlord Amiya Kumar Roy and from the said overhead tank of the top floor of the front portion water used to be supplied to the petitioner through pipe lines. The further allegation is that on 23-21983 at about 7. 00 A. M. the accused opposite parties totally stopped the supply of water to the petitioner tenant without-any rhyme or reason. The complainant lodged a diary with the Jorasanko P. S. being G. D. No. 2385 dated 23/2/1983 and after intervention of local people the landlord supplied water on 24-2-1983 and onwards. On 2/3/1983 at about 9. 00 A. M. the accused opposite parties totally stopped the supply of water to the petitioner tenant without-any rhyme or reason. The complainant lodged a diary with the Jorasanko P. S. being G. D. No. 2385 dated 23/2/1983 and after intervention of local people the landlord supplied water on 24-2-1983 and onwards. On 2/3/1983 at about 9. 00 P. M. the complainant petitioner again noticed that there was no water in the tap and he asked the accused opposite parties to supply water when the accused opposite parties abused the petitioner in filthy and abusive language and stated that they had already fixed stop-cock on the water pipe line and they would not supply water any more. The petitioner lodged a diary regarding the said incident. The accused opposite parties have thus C9mmiltedan offence under Section 430 of the Indian Penal Code. ( 3 ) ON receipt of the said petition of complaint the learned Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Calcutta took cognizance of the alleged offence and referred the matter to the police for enquiry and report and transferred the case to the learned Metropolitan Magistrate, 8ih Court, Calcutta. After enquiry police submitted a report and upon a perusal of the said report the learned Magistrate issued process against the accused opposite parties under Section 430 of the Indian Penal Code. On receipt of the summons the accused opposite parties appeared before the learned Magistrate and after commencement of the trial the complainant petitioner examined 5 witnesses to prove his case. Thereafter on 15/9/1984 the accused opposite parties filed a petition under Section 245 (1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure praying for discharge of the accused opposite parties and the learned Magistrate after hearing the parties passed the impugned order of discharge under Section 245 (1) on the ground that the accused persons are not the landlords liable to supply water to supply water to the complaint petitioner. The learned Magistrate seems to be of the opinion that as the accused persons are not landlords, the petition of complaint by the tenant under Section 430, Indian Penal Code is misconceived and not maintainable. In that view of the matter the learned Magistrate discharged the accused opposite parties under Section 245 (1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The learned Magistrate seems to be of the opinion that as the accused persons are not landlords, the petition of complaint by the tenant under Section 430, Indian Penal Code is misconceived and not maintainable. In that view of the matter the learned Magistrate discharged the accused opposite parties under Section 245 (1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure. ( 4 ) BEING aggrieved by the said order of discharge the Petitioner complainant has moved this court in revision und obtained the present Rule. ( 5 ) MR. Moitra learned Advocate for the petitioner has contended that Section 430 of the Indian Penal Code envisages that whoever violates the provisions thereof will be liable and, does not confine the liability to the landlord only and the learned Magistrate has committed an error of law in discharging the accused opposite parties. The contention merits acceptance. Section 430 envisages that whoever commits mischief by doing any act causing a diminution of the supply of water for agricultural purposes, or for food or drink for human beings or for animals etc. shall be punishable under the Section. It is true that for a conviction under the Section, there must be some infringement of right resting in someone by the act of the accused. There is no dispute that the petitioner Complainant being tenant is entitled to supply of water. Stop age or diminution of the supply of water to the tenant/complainant as alleged would constitute an offence under Section 430 irrespective of the question whether the mischief was committed by the landlord or other persons. Section 430 does not confine the liability to the landlord alone. Whoever in firings the right of the complainant is liable. Even Section 31 of the West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act, 1956 which was brought on the statute book to regularize be relationship between the landlord and tenant only is applicable to anyone who violates the provisions thereof and not the landlord only. In Smt. Mrinalini Ghosh and others v. Shibnalh Bhadra1, Monoj Kumar Mukherjee, J. has held that Section 31 of the Act envisages that whoever violates the provisions thereof will be liable and does not confine the liability to the landlord alone in that case O. P. filed a complaint under Section 31 of the West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act, 1956 before the Rent Controller against the petitioner for stop age of supply of water. It was contended that a complainant under Section 31 of the Act would lie against the landlord only and not against any other person. Rejecting this contention it was observed as follows:while primarily the object of the statute is to protect the interest of the tenant vis-a-vis the landlord some of provisions of the Act seek to protect the rights and 1. 1980 (1) C. L. J. 86. privileges of a person qua-tenant the against the landlord or any other person who may intrude upon such rights and privileges. A cursory glance of the different provisions of the statue appearing in Chapter-VII of the Act, which includes Section 31, will make the position abundantly clear. Section 31 envisages that whoever violates the provisions thereof will be liable and does not confine the liability to the landlord alone. I am, therefore, unable to hold that Section 31 does not provide for filing a complaint against any person other than the landlord. Section 430, Indian Penal Code also envisages that whoever violates the provisions thereof will be liable and the liability is not con tined to the landlord only. The learned Magistrate was, therefore wrong in holding that the complaint against the accused opposite parties who are not landlords is not maintainable. ( 6 ) MR. Bhose, learned Advocate appearing for the opposite party has not disputed the above. proposition of law but he has contended that the evidence adduced on behalf of the petitioner complainant does not primafacie make out a case under Section 430, Indian Penal Code. I have perused the depositions of the witnesses and I am satisfied that there are sufficient materials for proceeding against the two accused persons. ( 7 ) THE revisional application is, therefore, allowed and the Rule is made absolute. The impugned order of discharge is set aside. The learned Magistrate will frame charge under Section 430, Indian Penal Code against the accused opposite parties and proceed with the trial of the case in accordance with law. The lower court records be sent down at once.