IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Reserved on : 17.12.2024 Pronounced on : 07.01.2025 DAL CHAND AND OTHERS ....Appellants VERSUS RAJENDER AND OTHERS ....Respondents CORAM : HON’BLE MRS. JUSTICE ALKA SARIN Present : Ms. Shaveta Sanghi, Advocate for the appellants.

(through hybrid mode).

ALKA SARIN, J.

1. The present regular second appeal has been preferred by the plaintiff-appellants challenging the concurrent findings returned by both the Courts concerned.

2. Brief facts relevant to the present lis are that the plaintiff- appellants herein filed a suit for damages and compensation on account of malicious prosecution alleged to have been launched by the defendant- respondents. It was averred in the plaint that one Jagbir was the brother of the plaintiff-appellant No.1 and uncle of the plaintiff-appellants No.2 to 4, who was a co-sharer in possession of 1/12^th share in the total land measuring 355 Kanals 13 Marlas Bakadar 29 Kanals 13 Marlas situated within the revenue estate of Village Kithwari, Tehsil and District Palwal. The land of Jagbir was looked after by the plaintiff-appellant No.1 as Jagbir was of a weak mind and used to associate with Sadhus etc. The defendant-

respondents were aware of the weakness of Jagbir and with a malafide intention confined Jagbir on 31.05.2006. On 15.06.2006 all the defendant- respondents in furtherance of their common intention procured a sale deed of his share on payment of an ostensible sale consideration of ₹16,66,000. As per the recital in the sale deed, the payment was made through a bank transaction, however, later the amount was alleged to have been got transferred by them by opening a new account for Jagbir. It was further averred that plaintiff-appellant No.1, on coming to know of the sale deed, filed a complaint in the Court of Sub-Divisional, Judicial Magistrate (SDJM), Palwal on 16.07.2007 and an inquiry was ordered under Section 202 CrPC. Since the complaint had been sent to the Station House Officer (SHO), RS City Palwal, the defendant-respondents became aware of the same and immediately filed a complaint in the Court of Judicial Magistrate, 1^st Class (JMIC) Palwal under Sections 364, 323, 506, 342, 347, 348, 384, 386 read with Section 34 IPC which was alleged to be totally false and baseless. It was further averred that they have filed a civil suit challenging the validity of the sale deed dated 15.06.2006 also. It was further the case set up that the defendant-respondents with the malafide intention dragged the plaintiff-appellants upto the High Court on the point of Court fees. It was further averred that in the criminal case the plaintiff-appellants were acquitted and that they incurred heavy expenses due to the litigation.

3. On notice the defendant-respondents appeared and filed their joint written statement raising various preliminary objections qua locus standi, concealment of material facts etc. It was averred in the written statement that an appeal had been preferred in the High Court against the acquittal being CRM-A-322-MA/2013 of 2013 which is still pending. All other allegations were denied.

4. From the pleadings of the parties the following issues were framed :

1. Whether the plaintiffs are entitled to damages/compensation to the tune of ₹5,00,000 on account of malicious prosecution ? OPP

2. Whether the defendants prosecuted the plaintiffs and whether the prosecution terminated in favour of the plaintiffs ? OPP

3. If issue No.2 is proved then whether the prosecution was actuated with malice and was without any reasonable cause ? OPP

4. Whether the plaintiffs suffered any damages due to the prosecution ? OPD

5. Whether suit of the plaintiffs is maintainable in the present form ? OPD

6. Whether the plaintiffs have no locus standi to file the present suit ? OPD

7. Relief.

5. The Trial Court vide judgment and decree dated 21.12.2016 dismissed the suit with costs. Aggrieved by the same an appeal was preferred by the plaintiff-appellants which appeal was also dism