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1998 DIGILAW 424 (ORI)

AMBICA PATEL v. BIMSEN PATI

1998-11-30

P.K.TRIPATHY

body1998
JUDGMENT : P.K. Tripathy, J. - Common order dt.24.11.1997 passed in Criminal Misc. Case No. 298/97 and Criminal Misc. Case No. 303/97, both u/s 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (hereinafter referred to as 'the Code') of the Court of Shri B. Majhi, Executive Magistrate, Bargarh is under challenge in this revision. 2. Criminal Misc. Case No. 298/97 was initiated at the instance of the opposite patty No. 4, namely, Sibnarayan Pati whereas Criminal Misc. Case No. 303/97 was initiated at the instance of the present Petitioner, namely, Mr. Ambica Patel. Learned Counsel for the Petitioner has filed series of documents which includes the record of right of the case land, certified copy of the judgments and decrees in Title Suit Nos. 17/71, 59/74,19/75 and 30/81 besides the judgment in Criminal Revision No. 494 of 1974 and Settlement Appeal No. 96 of 1997. It is not necessary to go into details of the subject-matter of dispute and the decisions in the aforesaid civil, revenue and criminal proceedings. It is sufficient to indicate here, in that respect, that the aforesaid series of litigations between the parties or their co-owners or predecessors in interest relates to the disputed holding under which the disputed case land has been recorded. Learned Executive Magistrate without making proper appreciation of acts and evidence and in a haphazard manner dealing with the contention of both the parties decided the factum of possession against the Petitioner and accordingly restrained her u/s 144 of the Code to not to enter into the case land "until and otherwise this order is reversed." 3. It is conceded at the bar that the impugned order which was passed on 24.11.1997 u/s 144 of the Code has died due to afflux of time and the same is not enforceable any more. Learned Counsel for the Petitioner, however, argued that the aforesaid finding on fact, which is non-sustainable, if allowed to continue on the aforesaid ground of afflux of time, it may result in confusion in future relating to the factum of possession and for that reason the impugned order which has already become non-consequential, may be set aside. Learned Counsel appearing for the opposite parties, on the other hand, argued that there is no necessity to interfering with an infraction order. 4. Learned Counsel appearing for the opposite parties, on the other hand, argued that there is no necessity to interfering with an infraction order. 4. As noted above, after going through the impugned order this Court finds that learned Executive Magistrate has not at all applied his mind to the facts and the circumstances available in the case and mechanically he accepted the latest decision of the Civil Court Le. the decree in Title Suit No. 30/81 and that is how declared the factum of possession against the Petitioner. That decree goes to show that opp.party No. 4 has 14th interest over the lands recorded under the disputed holding. Apart from that, learned Magistrate if found that there is a dispute between the parties relating to possession of land resulting in apprehension of breach of peace, he should have undertaken an enquiry u/s 145 of the Code after drawing preliminary order and affording opportunity of filing written statement and adducing evidence by the parties. On the other hand, if the learned Magistrate was of the opinion that the factum of ownership and possession has become conclusively in favour of any of the parties and it is supported with a recent Civil Court decree, he should have initiated proceeding u/s 107 to prevent apprehension of breach of peace as against the trespassers/aggressors. A proceeding u/s 144 of the Code under such circumstance is a poor substitute when a dispute of the aforesaid nature exists/occurs. 5. The order u/s 144 of the Code is being pastel to prevent the imminent breach of peace and at that stage the right, title, interest and possession over a land or a house is never a determining factor. Thereafter, after the expiry of period of two months from the date of prohibitory order such an order is not allowed to continue any further. In other words, the prohibitory order passed u/s 144 of the Code has no legal sanction to accept the same as a document in proof of possession. As it is felt, the aforesaid clarifications relating to the scope and ambit of Section 144 vis-a-vis the maintainability of a proceeding u/s 144 when there is a mere dispute for possession over the land or water is, sufficient to safeguard the interest of both the parties, as it exists in their respective favours. As it is felt, the aforesaid clarifications relating to the scope and ambit of Section 144 vis-a-vis the maintainability of a proceeding u/s 144 when there is a mere dispute for possession over the land or water is, sufficient to safeguard the interest of both the parties, as it exists in their respective favours. So far as the impugned order is concerned, the same have been passed without due application of mind is liable to be set aside and accordingly set aside.