2024 Supreme(MP) 410

IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH
G. S. Ahluwalia, J.
Sharad Agarwal v. State of M. P. and Others
Miscellaneous Criminal Cases No. 7431 of 2020, 9859 of 2020, 12289 of 2020 and 17457 of 2020 (Jabalpur);
Decided on 6.5.2024

Headnote:

¼1½ uSlfxZd U;k; && fl)kar && çkfèkdkjh d¨ mldh O;fäxr gSfl;r esa i{kdkj ugÈ cuk;k x;k && mld¢ fo#) i{kikr ds vfHkdFku¨a ij fopkj ugÈ fd;k tk ldrkA
vfÒfuèkkZfjr% tc rd fdlh O;fä d¨ mldh O;fäxr gSfl;r esa i{kdkj ugÈ cuk;k tkrk] mld¢ fo#) i{kikr d¢ vfHkdFku¨a ij fopkj ugÈ fd;k tk ldrkA blfy,] mi[kaM eftLVªsV@çR;FkÊ Øekad 3 d¢ fo#) t¨ Òh vfHkdFku fd, x, gSa] mu ij fopkj ugÈ fd;k tk ldrk] vr%] og mä vkèkkj ij ukeatwj fd, tkrs gSaA ¼1992½ lIyh- ¼1½ ,llhlh 222] ,vkbvkj 2003 ,llh 1344] ,vkbvkj 1996 ,llh 326] tsVh 1996 ¼8½ ,llh 550 rFkk ¼2014½ 5 ,llhlh 417 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 19
¼2½ foØ; foys[k && fofèkekU;rk && jkT; ljdkj dk ifji= fnukad 26&6&1984 && ykxw g¨uk && ou Òwfe dk iV~Vk ik¡p o"kZ d¢ fy, çnku fd;k x;k && iÍs dh vofèk cढ+kà ugÈ xà && iÍsnkj }kjk lg&vfÒ;qä Øekad 1] 2] ,oa 3 d¢ i{k esa d¨Ã varj.k ugÈ fd;k x;k && l{ke vfèkdkjh d¢ fdlh vkns'k d¢ fcuk mUg¨aus diViwoZd jktLo vfÒys[k esa viuk ukekarj.k djk fy;k && lg&vfÒ;qä¨a us vusd O;fä;¨a d¨ Òwfe foØ; dj nh && vkxs vkSj vU; vusd O;fä;¨a d¢ i{k esa Òwfe dk varj.k && vij dysDVj }kjk ifji= fnukad 26&6&1984 dk voyac ysrs gq, foØ; foys[k fofèkekU; Ĩf"kr ugÈ fd, tk ldrsA ¼iSjk 20 ls 23
¼3½ ÒwfeLokeh vfèkdkj && jkT; ljdkj ds ifji= d¢ vkèkkj ij ÒwfeLokeh vfèkdkjksa dk Loeso ç¨nÒwr g¨uk && ou Òwfe dk iÍk ik¡p o"kZ d¢ fy, çnku fd;k x;k && iÍs dh vofèk c<+kà ugÈ xà && iÍsnkj d¢ i{k esa ÒwfeLokeh vfèkdkj Lor% ç¨n~Òwr ugÈ g¨rs && og çnku fd, tkuk g¨rs gSaA fjV ;kfpdk Øekad 17922 lu~ 2015 fu.kÊr fnukad 16&4&2024 voyafcrA ¼iSjk 20 ,oa 21
¼4½ Òw&jktLo lafgrk] 1959 ¼e-ç-½ && èkkjk 109 rFkk 110 && jktLo vfÒys[k esa ukekarj.k && ewY; && jktLo vfÒys[k esa ukekarj.k ek= ls d¨Ã gd çnÙk ugÈ gksrk && ukekarj.k dh çfof"V gd dk nLrkost ugÈ && ;g d¢oy jktfoÙkh; ç;¨tuksa d¢ fy, dh tkrh gSA ¼iSjk 22
¼5½ foØ; && fl)kar && foØsrk vius gd ls vfèkd varj.k ugÈ dj ldrkA ¼2013½ 9 ,llhlh 319 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 22
¼6½ naM çfØ;k lafgrk] 1973 && èkkjk 482 && çFke bfÙkyk fji¨VZ dk vfÒ[kaMu && jktLo çkfèkdkfj;¨a }kjk fn, x, fu"d"kksaZ dk naM U;k;ky; ij vkc)dj çHkko && vkosndx.k d¢ i{k esa ,sls O;fä;¨a }kjk foØ; foys[k ftudk dksbZ gd ugÈ && vij dysDVj us vfÒfuèkkZfjr fd;k fd foØ; foys[k oSèk gSa && ,sls xyr fu"d"kZ nkafMd dk;Zokgh d¨ ykxw ugÈ fd, tk ldrs && ,slk vkos'k nkafMd dk;Zokgh ij vkc)dj ugÈA ¼2010½ 8 ,llhlh 775] ¼2009½ 5 ,llhlh 528 rFkk fo'ks"k btktr ;kfpdk ¼nkafMd½ Øekad 9778 fu.kÊr fnukad 2&4&2024 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 22 ls 26
¼7½ naM çfØ;k lafgrk] 1973 && èkkjk 154 && çFke bfÙkyk fji¨VZ dk jftLVªhdj.k && çFke bfÙkyk fji¨VZ d¢ jftLVªhdj.k d¢ iwoZ lwpuk ;k lquokà dk volj && çFke bfÙkyk fji¨VZ d¢ jftLVªhdj.k d¢ iwoZ lafnX/k dks lquokà dk d¨Ã vfèkdkj ugÈ && vkosndx.k esa ls d¨Ã Òh çFke bfÙkyk fji¨VZ d¢ jftLVªhdj.k d¢ iwoZ lquokà dk gdnkj ugÈ FkkA ¼2013½ 6 ,llhlh 384 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 27 ,oa 28
¼8½ naM lafgrk] 1860 && èkkjk 467] 468] 469] rFkk 471 && Lokeh ls brj O;fä }kjk Òwfe dk foØ; && foØ; foys[k¨a esa fofufnZ"Vr% mfYyf[kr fd Òwfe ljdkjh Òwfe ugÈ gS v©j foØsrk Lokeh gS && ;g tkurs gq, fd lEifÙk mldh ugÈ] foØsrk }kjk csbekuh ls ;k diViwoZd viuh g¨us dk nkok && ,dek= vk'k; ljdkj d¨ vlE;d~ gkfu igq¡pkdj vlE;d~ Qk;nk çkIr djus dk Fkk && ljdkjh Òwfe ;g fofufnZ"V Ĩ"k.kk djrs gq, voSèk :i ls foØ; dh xà fd ;g ljdkjh Òwfe ugÈ && èkkjk 467] 468] 469 ,oa 471 d¢ vèkhu çFken`"V~;k ekeyk curk gSA ¼2003½ 3 ,llhlh 641 vuqlfjrA ¼2009½ 8 ,llhlh 751 foosfprA ¼iSjk 34 ls 36
¼9½ naM çfØ;k lafgrk] 1973 && èkkjk 482 && naM lafgrk] 1860 && èkkjk 467] 468] 469 rFkk 471 && nkafMd vfÒ;¨tu vkSj flfoy vidkj && vfHkdFku¨a esa ek= flfoy laÄVd varoZfyr g¨us ij Òh ;g vfÒçsr ugÈ g¨xk fd n¨"kdrkZ dk nkafMd vfÒ;¨tu ugÈ fd;k tk ldrkA ¼2012½ 9 ,llhlh 460 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 39] 40] 43 ,oa 44
¼10½ naM lafgrk] 1860 && èkkjk 52 && ln~Òkfod laO;ogkj && vfÒçsr && ljdkjh ou Òwfe fcuk gd d¢ foØ; dh xà && foØsrk vius gd ls vfèkd varj.k ugÈ dj ldrk && foØsrk d¢ gd dk lR;kiu djus d¢ fy, Øsrk lnSo ck/; gS && blfy,] ;fn i'pkr~orÊ Øsrkv¨a us mä laifÙk Ø; dh gS rc ;g ln~Òkfod laO;ogkj ugÈA ¼iSjk 40 ,oa 41

(1) Natural Justice -- principle -- authority not impleaded as party in his personal capacity -- allegations of bias against him cannot be considered.

Held : Unless and until a person is impleaded as a party in his personal capacity, no allegations of bias can be considered against him. Therefore, whatever allegations have been levelled against the SDM/respondent No. 3 cannot be considered, therefore, the same are rejected on the said ground. (1992) Supp. (1) SCC 222, AIR 2003 SC 1344, AIR 1996 SC 326, JT 1996 (8) SC 550 and (2014) 5 SCC 417 followed. [Para 19

(2) Sale deed -- (2) Sale Deed -- validity -- circular of State Government dated 26.6.1984 -- applicability -- lease of forest land granted for five years -- period of lease not extended -- no transfer made by lessee in favour of co-accused No. 1, 2 and 3 -- they fraudulently got their names mutated in revenue record without any order of competent authority -- co-accused sold land to several persons -- further transfer of land in favour of several persons -- sale deeds cannot be declared valid by Additional Collector by relying on circular dated 26.6.1984 . [Paras 20 to 23

(3) Bhumiswami Rights -- accrual of Bhumiswami rights on basis of circular of State Government -- lease of forest land granted for five years -- period of lease not extended -- rights of Bhumiswami in favour of lessee do not accrue automatically -- same have to be granted. W. P. No. 17922 of 2015 decided on 16.4.2024 relied on. [Paras 20 & 21

(4) Land Revenue Code, 1959 (M. P.) -- Ss. 109 and 110 -- mutation in revenue record -- value -- mere mutation in revenue record would not confer any title -- mutation entry is not document of title -- it is made for fiscal purposes only. [Para 22

(5) Sale -- principle -- seller cannot transfer title better than what he himself is having. (2013) 9 SCC 319 followed. [Para 22

(6) Criminal P. C., 1973 -- S. 482 -- quashing of FIR -- binding effect of findings given by revenue authorities on criminal Court -- sale deeds in favour of applicants by sellers who have no title -- Additional Collector held that sale deeds are legal -- such erroneous findings cannot be made applicable to criminal proceedings -- such order not binding on criminal proceedings. (2010) 8 SCC 775, (2009) 5 SCC 528 and SLP (Criminal) No. 9778 decided on 2.4.2024 followed. [Paras 22 to 26

(7) Criminal P. C., 1973 -- S. 154 -- registration of FIR -- notice or hearing opportunity prior to registration of FIR -- a suspect has no right of pre-audience prior to registration of FIR -- none of the applicants were entitled to any hearing prior to registrar of FIR. (2013) 6 SCC 384 followed. [Paras 27 & 28

(8) Penal Code, 1860 -- Ss. 467, 468, 469 and 471 -- sale of land by person other than owner -- specifically mentioned in sale deeds that land is not Government land and seller is owner -- seller dishonestly or fraudulently claiming it to be his even though he knows that it is not his property -- only intention was to gain undue advantage by causing undue loss to Government -- illegally selling Government land by making specific declaration that it is not Government land -- prima facie case made out under sections 467, 468, 469 and 471. (2003) 3 SCC 641 followed. (2009) 8 SCC 751 discussed. [Paras 34 to 36

(9) Criminal P. C., 1973 -- S. 482 -- Penal Code, 1860 -- Ss. 467, 468, 469 and 471 -- criminal prosecution and civil wrong -- even if only civil ingredients are involved in allegations, it would not mean that wrongdoer cannot be criminally prosecuted. (2012) 9 SCC 460 followed. [Paras 39, 40, 43 & 44

(10) Penal Code, 1860 -- S. 52 -- bona fide transaction -- meaning -- Government forest land sold without any title -- seller cannot transfer title better than what he himself was having -- it is always obligatory on part of purchaser to verify title of seller -- therefore, if subsequent purchasers purchased said property, then it is not a bona fide transaction. [Paras 40 & 41