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2005 Supreme(Raj) 2944

RAJASTHAN HIGH COURT
H.R.Panwar, J.
Lalu Ram - Appellant
Versus
Ramuram & Ors. - Respondent
S.R.Criminal Misc. Petition No. 80 of 2003.
Decided On : 16-02-2005

Advocates:
For the Petitioner:Mr. G.R. Punia, Advocate.
For the Respondents:Mr. A.K. Acharya, Advocate.

Headnote:A. Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 – S. 133 – The court here held that for initiating proceedings under – S. 133 there must be proof showing that any public place, way, river or channel, which can be used by public, has been unlawfully obstructed or nuisance has been created with regard to the same – further held, use of public is imperative for – S. 133 to be set into action.

       B. Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 – S. 133, 142 and 482 – The present case relates to the dispute over the right of way – the respondents claim that they used the way over the Govt. land as a passage and the same has been blocked by a fencing wall – the petitioners claim that the alleged way is a private way and this dispute is already pending before the civil court – held, civil court will eventually determine the rights of the parties and the proceedings under – S. 133 and 142 Criminal Procedure Code are not sustainable since there is no allegation of a public way or a way which may be lawfully used by public being obstructed.

JUDGMENT

1. - By this Criminal Misc. Petition under Section 482 Cr.P.C, the petitioner has challenged the order dated 9.12.2002 passed by Additional Sessions Judge, Parbatsar (for short 'the Revisional Court') in Criminal Revision No.8/2000 whereby the Revisional Court dismissed the revision petition filed by the petitioner against the order dated 1 1.5.2000 passed by Sub Divisional Magistrate, Parbatsar (for short, 'the Executive Magistrate') on an application fired by respondent Ramuram under Sections 133 and 142 Cr.P.C. Aggrieved by the orders of the courts below, the petitioner has filed the instant criminal misc. petition.

2. The facts and circumstances giving rise to the instant petition are that the respondents No. 1 to 3 filed an application before the Executive Magistrate under Sections 133 and 142 Cr.P.C., inter alia alleging therein that the way which is being used by the petitioner through Govt. land has been blocked by erecting fencing-wall. On notice being served on the petitioner and others, a reply to the application was filed denying the respondents to way. It was also stated that the alleged way which is being claimed by the respondents No.1 to 3 is a private way and the provisions of Sections 133 and 142 Cr.P.C. relate to the removal of public nuisance. Without considering this aspect of the matter, the Executive Magistrate vide order dated 11.5.2000, directed to remove the obstruction with the help of police. This order came to be challenged by the petitioner before the Revisional Court. The Revisional Court refused to interfere with the order passed by the Executive Magistrate.

3. I have heard learned counsel for the parties. I have carefully perused the application filed by the respondents under Sections 133, 142 Cr.P.C.

4. Section 133 Cr.P.C. provides that "whenever a District Magistrate or a Sub-Divisional Magistrate or any other Executive Magistrate specially empowered in this behalf by the State Govt., on receiving the report of a police officer or other information and on taking such evidence (if any), as he thinks fit, considers-

"(a) that any unlawful obstruction or nuisance should be removed form any public place or from any way, river or channel which is or may be lawfully used by the public; or........

5. Thus, by this provision, a procedure has been provided to remove the nuisance. The very essential requirement for application of provision of section 133 is that there must be evidence showing, that any unlawful obstruction or nuisance has been created in a public place, way, River or Channel which may be lawfully used by the public. The user by public is a condition precedent for initiating the proceeding under Section 133 Cr.P.C. In the instant case, there is no such allegation that the petitioner obstructed any public way or the way which is lawfully used by the public.

6. Learned counsel for the parties submit that a civil suit has been filed by the respondents No. 1 to 3 before the Civil judge (Senior Division), Makrana seeking declaration of way with respect to the land in question which his yet pending. Since the lis is pending before the Civil Court and ultimately the right of the parties are to be determined by the Civil Court and the fact that there being no allegation of obstructing public way or the way which may be lawfully used by public, the proceeding under Section 133 Cr.P.C. as also under Section 142 Cr.P.C. are not maintainable fora private dispute.

7. Consequently, the criminal misc. petition is allowed. The order passed by the Revisional Court as well as the Executive Magistrate dated 9.12.02 and 11.5.2000 respectively are set aside. The proceeding pending before the Executive Magistrate is quashed.Petition allowed.

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