1990 Supreme(MP) 191
High Court Of Madhya Pradesh
GULAB C. GUPTA
T.PARATHASARATHY - Appellant
Versus
MADHU SANGAL - Respondents
M. CRI. C. 2216 Of 1989
Decided On : 04/05/1990
ANUP CHOUDHARY, H.S.DUBEY
Headnote:(1) Criminal P. C., 1973-8. 204-magistrate finding sufficient ground -he is bound to issue process against the accused-sufficient ground is equivalent to prima facie case-of accused need not be considered at this stage. AIR 1976 SC 1947, AIR 1980 SC 1780, AIR 1972 SC 2639 and AIR 1963 SC 1430 followed. [ Para 21
(2) Criminal P. C., 1973-S. 203,202 and 190-cognizance of offence on complaint-enquiry contemplated is for ascertaining truth or falsehood-in case prima facie case is made out against accused, process shall be issued-no sufficient ground for conviction need be made out. AIR 1958 SC 97, AIR 1960 SC 1113 and AIR 1903 SC 1430 relied on. [ Para 7
(3) Cantonments Act, 1924 -S. 256-notice for demolition of unauthorised construction not comp lied with-further notice for taking action under this provision is necessary. [ Para 8
(4) Cantonments Act, 1924-Ss. 181, 185 and 256-refusal to sanction construction under S. 181-does not amount notice of demolition of construction already made-construction made without sanction- may be compounded by the Board-provisions wider S. 185 confer quasi-judicial powers in the Board-provisions under S. 256 cannot be invoked in absence of any order under S. 185. [ Para 9
(5) Cantonments Act, 1924-S.181 (6)-inaction of the Boara for requisite period-gives rise to deemed sanction for construction-subsequent reminder cannot nullify the same. [Para 10
(6) Cantonments Act, 1924-S. 272-protection under-is available only for the acts done under the Act or rules or bye. laws-acts done in good faith also protected. [ Para 11
(7) General Clauses Act, 1897-S.3 (22)- good faith-requires honesty -it does not require logical infallibility. AIR 1966 SC 57 relied on. [ Para 11
( 1 ) THE applicants, who are officers of the Cantonment Boad, Jabalpur, (hereinafter referred to as the Board) a statutory authority constituted under the provisions of the Cantonments Act, 1924 (hereinafter referred to as the Act), feel aggrieved by issue of process against them by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Jabalpur by Order dated 2-6-1989 passed in Criminal Case No. 2887/89 and pray for quashing those proceedings by filing this application under Section 482, Cr. P. C.
( 2 ) THIS order shall also govern disposal of Misc. Cr. , Case No. 2334/ 89 wherein a similar process has been issued by the same learned Magistrate by his order dated 16-6-1989, in Criminal Case No. 2963/89. The non-applicant, in these cases, are husband and wife and the dispute between the parties is about house No. 8, Theatre Road, Cantonment, Jabalpur, which is admittedly owned by Shri R. P. Sangal, the non-applicant in the other case and the husband of the non-applicant in this case.
( 3 ) IT appears that Shri Sangal wanted to construct a shopping complex in the compound of aforesaid bungalow and hence applied for sanction of the Board under Section 179 of the Act on 22-12-1986 and submitted map and other details of the new construction as required by law. The said non-applicant did not receive any sanction from the applicants and, therefore, sent reminders on 12-2-1987 and 11-3-1987. The Board, however, informed him on 26-3-1987 that the matter has been referred to the Defence Estate Officer for his report. The Defence Estate Officer informed the Board on 28-3-1987 about his objection to the proposed construction under Section 181 (4) (a) of the Act. The said non-applicant addressed a letter dated 30/03/1987 to the Board that since no order was passed on his application for sanction, there was "deemed sanction" under Section 181 (6) of the Act and, therefore, he has started constructing the complex. The Board wrote back on 1-4-1987 that there could be no deemed sanction, since the period of 30 days has to be counted from the date of the report of the Defence Estate Officer and not from the date of reminders sent by the said non-applicant. The Board, thereafter filed a civil suit on 16-4-1987 for declaration and injunction against the said non-applicant and prayed for a temporary injunction to stop the construction in progress. Application for temporary injunction was unfortunately rejected by the trial Court on 2-5-1987 but the appellate Court granted the temporary injunction prayed for on 28-7-1987. The said non-applicant filed, thereafter, a writ petition in this Court against the Board, which was dismisses on 30/10/1987. This Court, however, directed the Board to furnish security for a sum of Rs. 2,00,000/- (Rs. Two lacs only) to compensate the said non-applicant for the loss that may be caused to him on account of temporary injunction. Thereafter, on 4-4-1988, the Board issued a notice under Section 256 of the Act, requiring the said non-applicant to demolish the unauthorised construction. The legal validity of this notice was challenged by the said non-applicant by filing a writ petition in this Court which was the subject-matter of Misc. Petition No. 1171/88. This Court, by its order dated 12-10-1988, held that since a Civil Suit has also been filed by the Board and temporary injunction granted, no interference was called for. This Court, however, recorded the undertaking given by the Board that they will not take further action in pursuance of the notice under Section 256 of the Act, pending trial of the civil suit. In the meantime, the plaint filed by the Board was returned to them on 1-11-1988 for presentation before the proper Court. The returned plaint was presented before the Vth Additional District Judge, on 3-11-1988, who granted ex parte injunction in their favour on 4-11-1988. It appears that the non-applicant felt that return of the plaint meant automatic vacation of the temporary injunction, he started constructi