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1957 Supreme(Pat) 140

PATNA HIGH COURT
K.Dayal, J.
Baburam Rajeshwari Prasad Ojha
Versus
Deo Narain Sao
Decided On : JUNE 06, 1957

A second proceeding under Sec.145 of the Code of Criminal Procedure cannot be initiated between the same parties and over the same subject-matter as a previous proceeding in which the possession of one of the parties has been declared.

Headnote:

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE - SECTION 145 - SECOND PROCEEDING BETWEEN SAME PARTIES AND OVER SAME SUBJECT-MATTER - NOT SUSTAINABLE IN LAW.

Fact of the Case:

In 1951, there was a proceeding under Sec.145 of the Code of Criminal Procedure between the petitioners and the opposite party in which the petitioners were declared to be in possession of the disputed land. This order was upheld by the District Magistrate in 1953. In 1955, the opposite party again started creating trouble in the peaceful possession of the petitioners. On the 9th March 1956, the Sub-divisional Officer, Jehanabad, initiated a second proceeding under Sec.145 of the Code of Criminal Procedure between the same parties and over the same subject-matter.

Finding of the Court:

The court held that the second proceeding under Sec.145 of the Code of Criminal Procedure was not sustainable in law as it was between the same parties and over the same subject-matter as the previous proceeding in which the petitioners had been declared to be in possession of the disputed land.

Issues: Whether a second proceeding under Sec.145 of the Code of Criminal Procedure can be initiated between the same parties and over the same subject-matter as a previous proceeding in which the possession of one of the parties has been declared.

Ratio Decidendi: The court relied on several decisions of the Patna High Court which held that the possession of the successful party in a proceeding under Sec.145 of the Code of Criminal Procedure cannot be put an end to by the unsuccessful party by mere violence or surreptitious invasion. The court also held that the object of the Legislature will be frustrated if the party who has been forbidden to disturb the possession of the successful party is allowed to interfere with the possession of the successful party and to plead once more that he is still in possession or has been able to regain possession by force.

Final Decision: The court accepted the reference and quashed the second proceeding under Sec.145 of the Code of Criminal Procedure initiated by the Sub-divisional Officer, Jehanabad.

Judgment

K.Dayal, J.

1. Criminal Reference No 111 of 1956 is a reference under Sec. 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure by the Additional Sessions Judge, First Court, Gaya. The learned Judge has recommended that the order of the learned Sub-divisional Officer, Jehanabad, dated the 9th March 1956 be set aside and the proceedings under Sec.145 of the Code of Criminal Procedure initiated under that order be quashed.

2. The relevant facts are these : The lands covered under the proceeding measure 68.37 acres in village Lodipore appertaining to Tauzi No. 63S8. These lands were settled with the wife of one Ram Rajeshwari before 1951. In 1951, there was a proceeding under Sec.145 of the Code of Criminal Procedure between the petitioners who were the first party and the opposite party who there the second party in the proceeding. On the 3Dth October, 1952, the learned Magistrate declared the possession of the first party petitioners.

It was urged in the court below that, in the said proceeding, the parties were the same as in the present proceeding and the lands were also the same. This statement of fact was not challenged In the court below as incorrect. This order of the Magistrate in favour of the first party petitioners, passed on the 30th October 1952, was upheld by the learned District Magistrate by his order: dated the 20th July 1953. On the 30th October 1955, the second party again started creating trouble in the peaceful possession of the first party]

On the 12th November 1955, a proceeding under Sec.107 of the Code of Criminal Procedure was drawn by actainst the members of the second partyi (opposite party") by the Sub-divisional Officer, Jehanabad. This matter is the subject-matter of Criminal Revision No, 1306 of 1956 and. in view of the Criminal Reference (No, 111 of 1956), further proceedings in the Sec.107 matter have been stayed on the ground that simultaneously two proceedings between the same parties in respect of the same land, one under Sec.107 and the other under Sec.145 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, were illegal and improper.

3. On the 30th December 1955, a proceeding; under Sec.144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure was also drawn up and the same was converted into a proceeding under Sec.145 of the Code by the Sub-divisional Officer, Jehanabad, by his order dated the 9th March 1956. It has been laid down in several decisions of this Court e.g., Ambika Thakur V/s. Emperor A.I.R. 1939 Pat 611 (A), Raghunandan Pandey V/s. Kishin Mohan Singh, 10 Pat LT 685 : A.I.R. 1922 Pat 210 (B), Jainath Pati V/s. Ramlakhan Prasad, 10 Pat LT 689 : A.I.R. 1925 Pat 505 (C), and Syed Mohammad Anzar Hussain V/s. Parmeshwar Mahto, Cri. Ref. No, 24 of 1956, decided by Das, C.J., On 23-4-1956 (Pat) (D), that the possession of the successful party in a proceeding under Sec.145 of the Code of Criminal Procedure cannot be put an end to by the unsuccessful party by mere violence of surreptitious Invasion.

It has also been laid down in those cases that the object of the Legislature will be frustrated if the party who has, on the finding that he is not in possession, been forbidden to disturb the possession of the successful party until evicted in due-course of law, is allowed to interfere with the possession of the successful party and to plead once more that whatever the order might have been, he Is still in possession or has been able to regain possession by force. The principles laid down in those cases clearly show that the preliminary order of the learned Sub-divisional Officer, Jehanabad, initiating a proceeding under Sec.145, Code of Criminal Procedure, for the second, time between the same parties and over the same subject-matter was not sustainable in law.

4. Mrs. Dharma Shila Lall, appearing against the reference, has contended that the court below has proceeded on a wrong assumption of facts She has contended that the parties were not the same and, therefore, this case cannot be governed by the principles laid down in the dec




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