2009 Supreme(Gau) 554
IN THE HIGH COURT OF GAUHATI
T. NANDAKUMAR SINGH, J.
Rajani Goswami – Appellant
Vs.
Anil Chandra Haloi – Respondent
Decided On : 11.08.2009
Headnote:
Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 - Section 145 , 146 , 401 , 482 , 483 , 397(3) , 386, 389 and 391 - Disputed land - Possession of land - Illegal encroachment - Petitioner came into possession of land measuring 2 Bighas covered by Dag No. 147 at No. 4 and on petitioner acquired possessory right fromby paying compensatory expenses to him vide deed dated signed by owner - As petitioner suffered from serious illness and for arrangement of his expenditure, he relinquished a part of said land, i.e., disputed land measuring 1 Katha 10 Lechas in North West portion in favour of opposite party-respondent and as a result, petitioner was left with 1 Bigha, 3 Kathas, 2 Lechas - When petitioner protested against said illegal encroachment and wanted to enter into land opposite party-respondent violently resisted and threatened with dire consequences and forcefully disposed petitioner from disputed land - Petitioner filed an application for drawing up a proceeding in respect of disputed land against opposite party-respondent and also for declaring possession of disputed land in favour of petitioner in the Court of Sub-Divisional Magistrate – Held, It is well settled that object of introduction of Sub-section (3) in Section 397 was to prevent a second revision so as to avoid frivolous litigation, but at same time doors of the High Court to a litigant who had lost before the Sessions Judge were not completely closed and in special cases the bar under Section 397(3) could be lifted - In other words, power of High Court to entertain a petition under Section 482 was not subject to the prohibition under Sub-section (3) of Section 397 of Code, and was capable of being invoked in appropriate cases - Prevent miscarriage of justice or to correct irregularities of procedure to mete out justice inasmuch as in the given case there has been failure of justice or misuse of judicial mechanism in passing the impugned order dated by learned Executive Magistrate and also impugned order dated - Accordingly, impugned orders are set aside - Case No. 56 of 2007 under Section 145 Cr.P.C, is remanded to learned Executive Magistrate for de novo trial in accordance with law and learned Executive Magistrate on receipt of record shall issue notice to both the parties for de novo trial of case - Criminal petition is allowed
T. Nandakumar Singh, J.
1. By this criminal petition under Section 482 read with Section 483 and Section 401 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (for short Cr.P.C), the petitioner is challenging the order of the learned Sessions Judge, Tinsukia dated 27.11.2008 passed in Criminal Revision No. 25(2) of 2008, dismissing the revision petition filed by the petitioner and upholding the order of the learned Executive Magistrate, Margherita dated 16.05.2008 in Case No. 56 of 2007.
2. Mr. P. Bora, learned Counsel appearing for the opposite party-respondent, at the outset, contended that the present criminal petition being the second revision petition, filed by the petitioner against the judgment of the learned Sessions Judge, i.e., impugned judgment dated 27.11.2008, upholding the order of the learned Executive Magistrate, Margherita dated 16.05.2008, is liable to be rejected at the threshold inasmuch as under Section 397(3) of the Cr.P.C. the present petitioner, who had already filed a revision petition against the order of the learned Executive Magistrate dated 16.05.2008 before the learned Sessions Judge and the learned Sessions Judge also upheld the said order of the learned Executive Magistrate by the impugned order, cannot file the second revision petition before this Court.
3. Heard Mr. P. Kakati, learned Counsel appearing for the petitioner as well as Mr. P. Bora, learned Counsel appearing for the opposite party-respondent.
4. The fact of the petitioner's case, tersely put up in the present petition, by neglecting the unnecessary details, is recapitulated.
The petitioner came into possession of the land measuring 2 Bighas covered by Dag No. 147 at No. 4 Makum Pathar, Mouja-Makum, District-Tinsukia, Assam and on 3.12.2000 the petitioner acquired the possessory right from Sri Atul Sharma, S/o. Late Tikeswar Sharma of Margherita T.E. by paying compensatory expenses to him vide deed dated 3.12.2000 signed by the owner. As the petitioner suffered from serious illness and for arrangement of his expenditure, he relinquished a part of the said land, i.e., the disputed land, measuring 1 Katha 10 Lechas in the North West portion in favour of the opposite party-respondent and as a result, the petitioner was left with 1 Bigha, 3 Kathas, 2 Lechas. When the petitioner visited the land on 17.6.2007, he found that his land was undisturbed and the fencing was in intact. However, on 17.7.2007 when he visited his land again he found that opposite party-respondent encroached the said land (hereinafter referred to as "disputed land') belonging to the petitioner by removing the fencing. When the petitioner protested against the said illegal encroachment and wanted to enter into land, the opposite party-respondent violently resisted and threatened with dire consequences and forcefully disposed the petitioner from the disputed land. The petitioner filed an application for drawing up a proceeding under Section 145 of Cr.P.C. in respect of the disputed land against the opposite party-respondent and also for declaring possession of the disputed land in favour of the petitioner in the Court of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Margherita.
5. The learned Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Margherita Called the report from the concerned O/C, i.e., the O/C of Margherita Police Station, as to whether there was eminent breach of peace as a result of the dispute in possession of the disputed land and the police submitted the report dated 22.7.2007 to the learned Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Margherita. The relevant portion of the report, which would be pertinent for deciding the present petition, is quoted hereunder: -
During enquiry, visited P.O. and found that one bamboo fencing north side of the house of 2nd party member which is allegedly entrance of 1st party member. During enquiry, examined the 2nd party member who stated that the disputed land is under his occupation last eight years and paying revenue regularly. The 2nd party member also stated that, he purchased