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1998 DIGILAW 250 (PAT)

Nirmal Kumar Ghosh v. State of Bihar

1998-03-23

S.K.CHATTOPADHYAYA

body1998
ORDER Heard Mr. Chandra for the petitioner, Mr. Anil Kumar for opposite party No.2 and Mr. Dubey on behalf of the State. 2. The petitioner has impugned the very initiation of the proceedings under Section 107 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (shortly Cr. P.C.) against him on the ground that when the police report does not show any overt act by the petitioner, the proceedings could not have been initiated. 3. The facts of the case lie in a narrow compass. At the instance of opposite party No.2 the police submitted a report requesting the Magistrate for drawing up a proceeding under Section 107, Cr. RC. From the police report as contained in Annexure 2, it appears that according to the opposite party No.2, 1st party, the petitioner 2nd party was his tenant in respect of a rented house. Whenever the petitioner was asked to pay rent he refused to pay the same and on being asked to vacate the premises, he was always bent upon to assault. The statement of the petitioner before the police was that he was tenant under one Bhajan Singh Bhowra who resides in foreign country. The said premises was being looked after by one Darshan Singh Bhowra. In 1991 when his water and electricity connections were disconnected, he got it restored through Court in HRC case Nos. 25/93 and 35/91. He also stated that he deposited rent per month in the Court. His allegation was that opposite party No.2 always insisted on him to vacate the premises and for that he used to harass him. The police on enquiry, found that the petitioner is residing as tenant with his sister in the house concerned. The second party petitioner want to grab the house because his owner is residing in foreign country. The first party-opposite party No.2 purchased the said house in January, 1997 from Bhajan Singh Bhowra and resides in the said house with is family members. As the condition of the house has become deteriorated, it requires repair. It was also found that the petitioner always filed application even though electric and water connections have not been disconnected. In this background, the police was of the view that there was tension between the parties and, as such, requested the Magistrate to issue notice under Section 107, Cr. P.C. so that peace may be maintained. 4. It was also found that the petitioner always filed application even though electric and water connections have not been disconnected. In this background, the police was of the view that there was tension between the parties and, as such, requested the Magistrate to issue notice under Section 107, Cr. P.C. so that peace may be maintained. 4. This report was submitted by the police on 17-7-1997 and on that date the learned Magistrate stayed the proceeding under Section 107, Cr. PC taking into consideration the fact that the petitioner tenant has been depositing rent in the treasury and also that a case is going on the ,question of ownership of the disputed house. The matter was adjourned to 21-7-1997 and on 14-8-1997, after hearing the parties, the learned Magistrate directed the parties to appear before him on 28-8-1997 to file their show causes as to why they should not execute a bond of Rs.3,000/- for maintaining peace. This order was impugned by the petitioner before the third Additional Sessions Judge, Jamshedpur in Cr. Revision No. 104/97 but without any success. 5. Mr. Anil Kumar has raised a preliminary objection regarding maintainability of this application under Section 482, Cr. PC by submitting that the instant application is not maintainable as it is in the garb of second revision. On merits, learned counsel submitted that when the police report indicates that there was chance of apprehension of breach of peace, issuance of notice by the Magistrate to both the parties cannot be said to be illegal 6. Learned counsel for the petitioner, however, strongly contended that if this Court finds that, on the facts and circumstances, the initiation of the proceedings was bad in law, it can exercise its power under Section 482, Cr. PC irrespective of the fact that the revision filed by the petitioner was dismissed by the Court below. On merits it has been argued that the proceedings under this Section cannot be initiated unless it is absolutely necessary to prevent any immediate breach of peace. In support of his contention learned counsel has relied an a decision in the case of Kuldip Singh Chawla v. State of Bihar and others, reported in 1988 BLT 325 and In the case of Md. Saquib Ahsan and others v. State• of Bihar, reported in 1997 (1) BLJR 471; 1997(1) BLJ 446 . 7. In support of his contention learned counsel has relied an a decision in the case of Kuldip Singh Chawla v. State of Bihar and others, reported in 1988 BLT 325 and In the case of Md. Saquib Ahsan and others v. State• of Bihar, reported in 1997 (1) BLJR 471; 1997(1) BLJ 446 . 7. Though in the case of Deepti alias Arati Rai v. Akhil Rai and others, reported in 1995(5) SCC 751 ; 1995 BCCR (SC) 2 their Lordships have held that second revision, after dismissal of first one by the Sessions Court is not maintainable and that inherent power under Section 482, Cr. PC cannot be utilised for exercising powers which are- expressly barred by the Code, but subsequently in the case of Krishna arid another v. Krishnaveni and another, reported in 1997 (4) SCC 241 : 1997 BCCR (SC) 299 their Lordships observed that though second revision before the High Court in subsection (1) of section 397 of the Code is prohibited by sub-section (3) thereof, inherent power of the High Court is still available under Section 482 of the Code and as it has paramount power of continuous superintendence under Section 483, Cr. PC the High Court is justified in interfering with the order leading to miscarriage of justice and set aside the order of the Courts below. 8. Thus it is clear that if the High Court finds that to prevent miscarriage of justice the impugned order should be interfered with, it can exercise its power under Section 482, Cr.PC irrespective of the bar of second revision as contemplated in the Code. I, therefore, hold that in the facts and circumstances, this application is maintainable. 9. Under what circumstances the proceedings under Section 107, Cr. PC can be drawn by the Magistrate, has been laid down by this Court in the case of Kuldip Singh Chalwa (Supra). This Court has held "it is the fundamental requirement of law that there must be some material to show that the petitioner had committed any overt act or any wrong. So that reasonable apprehension of breach of peace can be prevented at the instance of any of the petitioners and for that purpose specific overt act must be assigned against each individual person who is proceeded against under section 107, Cr. So that reasonable apprehension of breach of peace can be prevented at the instance of any of the petitioners and for that purpose specific overt act must be assigned against each individual person who is proceeded against under section 107, Cr. PC and if it is not done drawing up a proceeding against that person for want of specific overt act or wrong done, cannot be sustained in law." 10. Recently in the case of Md. Saquib Ahsan (supra) this Court has noticed that the proceeding under-Chapter VII of the Code particularly proceedings under Section 107, Cr. PC are conducted by the Magistrate in a most lethar-gical manner causing harassment to the public for no fault, it was held that the Magistrate, therefore, exercing powers under section 107, Cr. PC or Sec. 116 Cr. PC - must apply their minds and must record the substance of accusation and substance of information in its order initiating the proceedings under the aforesaid sections. 11. In this background, if the police report and the order of the Magistrate are considered, it will appear that there is a dispute over the disputed property and a case is pending before a Court of law regarding its ownership. The Magistrate, on 17-7-1997, was satisfied with the fact that the petitioner being a tenant was depositing rent in the treasury and a case was pending regarding ownership of the property. Being satisfied he stayed the proceedings under Section 107, Cr. PC. awaiting the report of the police. The police report nowhere reveals that the petitioner has taken the law in his own hand and committed any overt act which may lead to breach of peace. In this circumstance, in any view, the Magistrate has failed to exercise his jurisdiction vested in him under law by initiating the proceedings and issuing notice to the parties. 12. The opposite party No.2, if really aggrieved, can approach the Court below where the suit is pending between the parties and under this situation the initiation of the proceedings will only amount to miscarriage of justice. 13. In the result, this application is allowed and the entire proceeding initiated under Section 107, Cr. PC including the order date 14-8-1997 are hereby quashed. Revision Allowed.