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SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
P.B. Sawant & R.M. Sahai, JJ.
Dharam Pal & Others - Appellants
versus
Smt. Ramshri & Others - Respondents
Criminal Appeal No. 667 of 1980
Decided on 7.1.1993

IMPORTANT POINT
The determination of rights by the competent court of the parties spoken of in Section 146 Cr. P.C. has not necessarily to be a final determination, it may be even tentative at the interim stage when the competent court passes an order of interim injunction or appoints a receiver in respect of subject matter of dispute pending final decision in the suit.

Headnote:i) Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 - Section 397(2) & 482 - Order of withdrawal of attachment passed by Magistrate in proceedings under Section 145 & 146 Cr. P.C. - Revision against the order dismissed by Sessions Court - Application under Section 482 Cr. P.C. against the order of Sessions Court allowed by high court impugned order of High Court is liable to be set aside as High Court could not have utilized inherent powers for exercising the power expressly barred. (Para 4)

       ii) Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 Section 146 - Power of the magistrate to attach the subject of dispute 'Until the competent Court has determined the rights of the parties" Determination by a competent Court of the rights of parties has not necessarily to be a final determination - If may be at interim stage View of the High Court that the property continues to remain under attachment till the rights of the parties are finally determined by the competent court is not correct. (Para 5)

       Result: Appeal allowed.

       

JUDGMENT

Sawant, J. - The admitted facts in the present case are as follows. The suit property consists of - house No. 336 of village Khonda, District Mathura. The dispute with regard to the possession of the property arose between the appellants and the respondent-Ramshri. She filed an application under Section 145 of Criminal Procedure Code (Code) before the Sub Divisional Magistrate, Sadabad in which she claimed ownership of the suit property. On 31st May, 1976, the learned - Magistrate passed a preliminary order under Section 145 of the Code and thereafter on 22nd April, 1977 made an order of attachment under Section 146 directing that the attachment would continue till the competent civil Court determined the rights of the parties with regard to the said property. Against, this order, a Revision being Cr. Revision No. 27/1977 was filed by the Appellants before the Sessions Judge who by his interim order dated 23rd April, 1977 stayed operation of the learned Magistrate's order. However, before the interim stay order could be communicated, the attachment - had already been effected. The learned Sessions Judge, therefore, again, by another interim order dated 26th April, 1977 directed the police to restore the possession of the property to the appellants from whom allegedly the possession of the property was taken. The possession was restored to the appellants on 28th April, 1977. The said Revision application was dismissed on 18th August, 1977. Though, on - account of the dismissal of the Revision, the order of attachment passed by the Magistrate revived, the learned Magistrate passed a fresh order dated 31st January, 1978 under Section 146 attaching the property in dispute. Against the said order, once more a revision being Cr. R. No. 1911978 was preferred by the appellants the Sessions Judge who on 2nd February, 1978 passed an order staying the fresh order of attachment passed by the Magistrate.

2. Thereafter, the appellants filed a suit for permanent injunction against the 1st Respondent and her husband, and in that claimed an interim injunction against P.Ws. 1. The trial Court dismissed the application for interim injunction. Against the order of dismissal, the appellant filed an appeal to the District Court, and the appellate Court by its order dated 18th May, 1978, allowed the appeal and issued an interim injunction against 1st respondent and her husband. Thereafter Cr. Revision No. 1911978 preferred by the appellant before the Sessions Judge was dismissed on 15th June, 1978 also on the ground that the civil suit was preferred by the Appellant Again, although the order of attachment stood revived and the order of interim injunction by the Civil Court still continued, the Magistrate on 25th July. 1978 passed another order attaching the property. Against this third order of attachment passed by the Magistrate, a revision was filed by the Appellants before the Sessions Judge and the Sessions Judge by his order dated 26th July 1978 stayed the order of attachment issued on 25th July, 1978, upto 10th August, 1978. On 26th July, 1978, the appellant filed an - application before the Magistrate for withdrawal of attachment on the ground that there was no apprehension of a breach of the peace. On this application, on 17th October 1978, the Magistrate ordered withdrawal of attachment. Against this order, the 1st Respondent filed revision being Cr. R. No. 180/78 before the Sessions Judge who dismissed the same on 14th May 1979. Respondent No. 1 thereafter, preferred an application under Section 482 of the Code before the High Court for quashing the order withdrawing the attachment and directing the attachment to continue. The High Court by the impugned order took the view that it was not open to the learned Magistrate to withdraw the attachment till the competent Court had decided the matter finally and restored the attachment.

3. On these facts, two questions arise in this appeal viz. whether the High Court could entertain the s

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