ALLAHABAD HIGH COURT
C. D. Parek, J.
BUDHU AHIR AND OTHERS
VERSUS
ISHWAR CHAND PANDEY AND OTHERS
Criminal Revn. No. 1079 of 1970 (Against judgment of Shri Om Prakash, 1st Addl. S.J., Ballia, D/- 6-5-1970),
Decided On : February 24, 1972
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE - SECTION 145 - POSSESSION - BURDEN OF PROOF - REVENUE RECORDS - PRESUMPTION OF GENUINENESS - JURISDICTION - BOUNDARIES BETWEEN STATES - ALTERATION - ACT XXIV OF 1968.
Fact of the Case:
Dispute over possession of land between two parties, Ishwar Chand Pande and others (first party) and Budhhoo and others (second party), in village Shahpur Dighwara, which was claimed to be situated on the bank of river Ganga, forming the boundary between Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The magistrate, after considering the evidence and documents, declared the first party to be in possession and restrained the second party from interfering with their possession. The second party filed a revision petition challenging the magistrate's order.
Finding of the Court:
The court held that the magistrate erred in finding that the first party was in possession of the disputed land. The court found that the second party was in possession of the land on the relevant date and for two months prior to the passing of the preliminary order. The court also held that the magistrate erred in rejecting the documentary evidence filed by the second party, which showed their possession of the land. The court further held that the magistrate had jurisdiction to decide the case under Section 145 of the Criminal Procedure Code, as the land in dispute was situated in the district of Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, as per the Deep Stream Verification Map prepared by the officers of both Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Issues: 1. Whether the magistrate erred in finding that the first party was in possession of the disputed land? 2. Whether the magistrate erred in rejecting the documentary evidence filed by the second party? 3. Whether the magistrate had jurisdiction to decide the case under Section 145 of the Criminal Procedure Code?
Ratio Decidendi: 1. The court held that the magistrate erred in finding that the first party was in possession of the disputed land because: - The sale deed executed by the Maharaja of Dumraon in favor of the first party was not sufficient to prove their possession, as it was a document of title and not of possession. - The revenue records maintained by the Bihar Government showed that the second party was in possession of the land. - The oral evidence filed by the first party was not reliable, as the witnesses were residents of a different village and their testimony contradicted the documentary evidence. 2. The court held that the magistrate erred in rejecting the documentary evidence filed by the second party because: - The revenue records maintained by the Bihar Government were genuine and showed the possession of the second party. - The receipts issued by the Karamchari of the Bihar Government were also genuine and showed that the second party had paid rent and revenue for the land. 3. The court held that the magistrate had jurisdiction to decide the case under Section 145 of the Criminal Procedure Code because: - The land in dispute was situated in the district of Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, as per the Deep Stream Verification Map prepared by the officers of both Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. - The Bihar and Uttar Pradesh Alteration of Boundaries Act, 1968, which came into force after the passing of the preliminary order, settled the alteration of boundaries between the two states.
Final Decision: The court allowed the revision petition, set aside the orders of the magistrate and the Sessions Judge, and directed the magistrate to deliver possession of the disputed land and the attached crop or sale proceeds thereof to the second party.
The revision arises out of the order dated 20th February, 1970, passed by Shri R. S. Mishra S.D.M. Ballia in proceedings under S. 145 Criminal Procedure Code in the Criminal Case No. 1 of 1967 Ishwar Chand Pande and others v. Budhhoo and other P.S. Kotwali district Ballia. The magistrate declared the first party i.e. Ishwar Chand Pande and others to be in possession of the disputed property and restrained Budhhoo and others from interfering with the possession of Ishwar Chand Pande and others till they were evicted in due course of law. The magistrate has further directed that the property in question which was under attachment be delivered to Ishwar Chand Pande and others.
2. Briefly stated the facts of the case are that on 30th January, 1965 police report was made from P.S. Kotwali stating that there was apprehension of breach of peace between Ishwar Chand and others on the one hand and Budhhoo and others on the other regarding the land of village Shahpur Dighwara lying within the jurisdiction of P.S. Kotwali Ballia. A preliminary order was passed on 29-1-1967 by the magistrate and both the parties were called upon to file their written statements, affidavits and documents in support of their respective claims. After perusal of the written statements and the affidavits and documents on 28th February, 1967 the then Sub-Divisional Magistrate declared Buddhoo and others to be in possession of the plots and ordered delivery of possession to them and Ishwar Chand and others were restrained from interfering with the possession of Budhhoo and others till they were evicted in due course of law. Ishwar Chand and others were aggrieved by that order and filed revision before the ADM (J). Ballia, who held that the proceedings were void ab initio and recommended to this Court for setting aside the order dated 28-2-1967 passed by the then S.D.M. This Court accepted the reference and returned back the record with the observation that the question of jurisdiction should be decided first and if it is found that village Shahpur Dighwara lies in the district of Ballia, the magistrate should further decide the case under Section 145 Cr.P.C. and decide the proceedings according to law.
After the case was received before the magistrate 56 persons other than those who were parties along with Budhoo made an application to be impleaded as parties in the case and they are also parties in the case. They have filed written statements and their affidavits. The magistrate by the order under revision has held that village Shahpur Dighwara lies in the district Ballia. He has also held that Ishwar Chand Pandey and others were in actual possession of the disputed land on the relevant date and has restrained Budhoo and others from interfering with his possession till they be evicted in due course of law and has directed that the property attached be delivered to Ishwar Chand Pande and others. Budhoo and others filed revision before the Sessions Judge and the Additional Sessions Judge, Ballia by order dated 6th of May 1970 rejected the revision application and upheld the order passed by the magistrate. Against this order Budhoo and others have preferred this revision.
3. It was contended before me by the learned counsel for the applicant that the magistrate should have decide the question of jurisdiction first whether the disputed land lies within the district of Ballia or not and thereafter he should have decided the question of possession. According to the learned counsel the magistrate has not followed the directions of this court in deciding the case after remand. I have gone through the order passed by this Court and in my opinion the order remanding the case to the magistrate does not direct that the case be decided in two parts. In my opinion the magistrate has been given direction to decide the question of jurisdiction and also to decide the question of possession provided he comes to the conclusion that the land lies in the district of Ballia. I
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