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2025 Supreme(Pat) 190

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
JITENDRA KUMAR, J.
Criminal Miscellaneous No.41314 of 2016
(28.1.2025)
Ram Padarath Singh & Ors. ... Petitioners
vs.
State of Bihar & Anr. ... Opp. Parties

Advocates:
For the Petitioners: M/s Sanjay Kumar, Jay Prakash Singh.
For the State : Mr. Sanjay Kumar Pandey, APP.
For the O.P. No.2 : M/s P. N. Shahi, Sr. Adv., Manish Kumar No.2, Aryan Singh, Ram Kumar.

Headnote:

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 – Sections 145 and 146 – Dispute concerning land or water, likely to cause breach of peace – Attachment of property under dispute – The inquiry under Section 145 Cr.PC is limited to the question as to who was in actual possession on the date of the report or information, irrespective of the title to the property and right to possess the same – The purpose of the provisions is to provide a speedy and summary remedy so as to prevent a breach of peace by submitting the dispute to the Executive Magistrate for solution as between the parties disputing the question of possession over the property – The condition precedent for initiating proceeding under Section 145 Cr.PC is satisfaction of the Executive Magistrate regarding apprehension of breach of peace on account of dispute relating to the actual possession of the subject property, as per report or information received by the Executive Magistrate – The base reading of Section 146 (1) Cr.PC shows that order under Section 146 Cr.PC passed by the Executive Magistrate is dependent upon the preliminary order passed under Section 145 (1) Cr.PC – Hence, defects in the preliminary order passed under Section 145 (1) Cr.PC would make a subsequent proceeding including the order passed under Section 146 (1) Cr.PC without jurisdiction and erroneous in law – the remedy for dispute in regard to title and right to possession lies in the Civil Law and parties concerned are required to move Civil Court for the adjudication of their civil rights and interest – They may also get interim order for protecting the subject property by way of injunction or appointment of receiver – In view of the facts and circumstances of the case, there was no occasion for the learned Executive Magistrate to continue the proceeding under Section 145 Cr.PC after report of the Circle Officer – He should have Court for adjudication of their rights and title – There was no question for passing order under Section 146 (1) Cr.PC attaching the subject property – Accordingly present petition allowed – Proceeding under Sections 145 and 146 (1) Cr.PC attaching the property pending in the Court of learned Executive Magistrate quashed – The revisional order also quashed.

Jitendra Kumar, J. – The present petition, under Section 482 Cr.PC, has been preferred by the petitioners against the impugned order dated 16.05.2016, passed by learned Additional Sessions Judge- III, Nawada in Criminal Revision No. 44 of 2015 / 16 of 2016, whereby learned Sessions Court had dismissed the revision petition finding no illegality in the order dated 27.10.2014 passed by learned Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Rajauli, District- Nawada in proceeding bearing No. 1M of 2014, whereby learned Executive Magistrate has attached the subject landed property.

2. The factual background of this case is that the opposite party No.2 herein, Sarojani Devi, filed one petition bearing Proceeding No. 50M of 2013 before learned Sub Divisional Magistrate for initiating proceeding under Section 144 Cr.PC and thereupon, the proceeding under Section 144 Cr.PC was initiated. However, after hearing both the parties, learned Executive Magistrate closed the proceeding under Section 144 Cr.PC and advised the parties to prefer Title Suit before Civil Court, if so advised.

3. Subsequently, the said Sarojani Devi filed one petition under Section 145 Cr.PC, before learned Sub-Divisional Magistrate on 07.12.2013 against the petitioners herein in regard to landed property measuring 1 Acre 37 decimal bearing Khata No. 135 and Plot No. 1544, 1546, 1546/2249, alleging that the petitioners herein were bent upon to forcibly dispossess her which might lead to breach of peace. In pursuance of this petition, learned Executive Magistrate called for report from Officer-in-charge and Circle Officer within a week. Subsequently, Circle Officer submitted his report stating that the purchasers of the lands are in possession, but there is dispute among the parties in regard to title to the property. However, he reported that on account of the dispute, there is apprehension of breach of peace.

4. On the basis of the said report of the circle officer, learned Executive Magistrate passed the impugned order dated 28.01.2014, initiating proceeding under Section 145 Cr.PC observing that on the basis of the report of the Circle Officer, there is dispute between the parties in regard to possession which may lead to breach of peace. The parties were also directed to be informed about the proceeding.

5. Later on, the O.P. No.2 herein, Sarojani Devi, moved an application dated 22.10.2014 before learned Executive Magistrate for attachment of the subject landed property, stating that paddy crop is standing on the land and the petitioners herein were bent upon to harvest the same, which may lead to bloody occurrence. Subsequently, learned Executive Magistrate passed the impugned order dated 27.10.2014, attaching the subject landed property under Section 146(1) Cr.PC and appointing the Officer-in-charge of the local Police Station as the receiver, observing that from perusal of the application, it appeared that there was tension between the parties and the possibility of breach of peace could not be ruled out. He also observed in the impugned order that there was confusion regarding the possession over the land and there was possibility of breach of public peace.

6. The order of attachment dated 27.10.2014 was challenged by the petitioners herein in Criminal Revision bearing No. 44 of 2015/ 16 of 2016 before Sessions Court. However, Revision petition was dismissed and the order of attachment was upheld. Hence, the present petition.

7. It also transpires from the record that Sarojani Devi, O.P. No. 2 herein, has also filed one Civil Suit bearing Title Suit No. 05 of 2014 in the Court of learned Sub Judge-I, Nawada on 02.01.2014 for confirmation of the possession of the subject landed property in regard to 28½ decimal of the land bearing Khata No. 135 and Plot No. 1544, 1546, 1546/2249, which is pending consideration of the Court.

8. I heard learned counsel for the petitioners, learned APP for the State and learned Senior counsel for the Opposite Party No.2.

9. Learned counsel for the petiti

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