MD. GULAM ABBAS & ORS.

MD. IBRAHIM & ORS.

December 16, 1977

[M. H. BEG, C.J., P. N. BHAGWATI AND JASWANT SINGH, JJ.J H

Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, (Act II of 1974), S. 144-Princip/ea on which jurisdiction is to be exercised u /s 144 of thtl Cr/. P.C. by magistrate, .explained.

In Md. Ibrahim v. State of U.P. etc. (C.A. No. 941A of 1976 etc. etc. decided on 6-12-1976), this Court set aside the' judgment of the Allahabad High Court passed in the Writ Petition quashing the orders of the City Magistrate and Session Judge u/s. 144 Cr!. P.C., holding that High Court committed an C error in pronouncing views on the orders passed by the criminal courts when they ceased to be operative and in giving finding on rights, title and property in a petition u/ A 226 and 227 of the Constitution.

In the Review Petition, the Review Petitioners contended that unless the court mentioned the correct principles on which jurisdiction is to be exercised u/s 144 Crl. P.C. by Magistrates, they may continue to exercise them on wrong principles.

DismWing the Petition the Court,

HELD : 1. No hard and fast rules can be laid down for guidance in exercising a J?Ower on which decisions must necessarily be governed by the existing situation in each case. It bas to be judged on facts and circumstances

existing at a particular place at a particular time. (421CD]

2. S. 144 confers a jurisdiction "to direct any person to abstain from a certain act or to take certain order with certain property in his possession or E under his management".

(420C]

3. The kind of orders u/s 144(3) which "may be directed to a particular individual or to the public generally when frequenting or visiting a particular

place" are intended only to prevent dangers to life health, safety or peace and tranquility of members of the public. A person may be prevented from doing something even upon his. own property provided that the doing of a perfectly legal act constitutes a danger to human life, health or safety of others or to public peace and tranquility. They are only temporary orders which cannot F last beyond two months from the making thereof. [420C-D]

4. Questions of title .cannot be decided for the first time either in a Writ Petition or in a proceeding u/s 144 Cr!. P.C. at all, as the remedy lies by way of a Civil Suit for an injunction.

But, previous judgments on them may have a hearing on the question whether, and, if so, what order should be passed u/s. 144 Cr!. P.C. The magistrate is not concerned with individual rights in performing his duty u/s 144 Cr!. P.C. but he has to determine what may rea- sonably necessary or expedient in a situation of which he is the best judge.

[420DE, 421A]

Clv!L APPLLATE JURISDICTION : Review Petition No. 36 of 1977.

Application for review of this Court's Judgment dated 6th of De- cember 76.

IN Civil Appeal No. 941-A of 1976

A. K. Sen, M. C. Bhandare, (Mrs.) Urimi/a Kapoor, (Miss) Kam/esh Bansal and (Mrs.) Shobha Dikshit for the Petitioners.

SUPREME COURT REPORTS

[1978] 2 S.C.R.

Bashir Ahmed, K. L. Hathi and P. C. Kapoor for the Respondent,.

The Order of the Court was delivered by

BEG, CJ.-This review application seems quite unnecessary. Since, however, learned Counsel for the petitioners have earnestly tried to impress upon us that, unless we mentioned the correct principles on which jurisdiction is to be exercised under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code by Magistrates, they may continue to exercise them on wrong principles, we may clear up these possibly imaginary difficulties.

We find it hard to bi;)ieve that Magistrates will deliberately shut iheir eyes to the requirements of law as laid down clearly in Section 144, Cr.

P.C., but, as what is not easily conceivable sometimes docs happen, we will explain the provisions of Section 144 Criminal Procedure Code a little.

This provision confers a jurisdiction to "direct any person to abstain from a certain act or to take certain order with certain property in his possession or under his management" with the object, inter alia, of preventing "a disturbance of the public tranquility, or a riot, or an affray".

Section 144(3) specifically lays down that the order under this Section "may be directed to a particular individual or to the public generally when frequenting or visiting a particular place".

The kind of orders mentioned here are obviously intended only to prevent dangers to life, health, safety or peace and tranquility of members of the public.

They are only temporary orders which cannot last beyond two months from the making thereof as is clear from Section

144(6) of the Code.

Questions of title cannot be decided here at all.

But, previous judgments on them may have a bearing on the question whether, and, if so, what order should be passed under Section 144 Criminal Procedure Code.

It may sometimes happen that a person may be prevented from doing somethinng even upon his own property provided the doing ot a perfectly legal act constitutes a danger to human life, health, or safety of others or to public peace and tranquility.

An example , if this can be shouting of provocatlvr! siogans from one's own house top. Nevertheless, it is the duty of the authorities to aid and protect those who are performing completely legal acts in a reasonable and perfectly lefal manner or in accordance with what the law permits them to do.

It is only where it is not practicable to allow them to do something which is quite lega.J, having regard to the state of excited feelings of prsons living in an area or frequenting a locality. that any action may be taken under Section 144 Criminal Procedure Code which may interfere with what are, otherwise, completely legal and permissible conduct and speech.

It was asserted on behalf of the petitioners that in a representative wit between Shia and Sunni sects of Muslims question of title to properties or places to which Magistrate's orders under Section 144 Criminal Procedure Code related has already been decided.

If that be so we have no doubt that the Magistrate will respect that decision in making an order under Section 144 Cr. P.C. in the future.

Then it would be easier for the Magistrate to see who should be allowed to exercise

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GULAM ABBAS V. IBRAHIM 421

the legitimate right of holding a meeting on or occupying a particular propt,>rty or doing anything else there.

It may however be noted that the Magistrate is not concerned with individual rights in performing his duty under Sectior. 144 but he has to determine what may he reasonably necessary or expedient in a situation of which he is the best judge.

If any community or sect is disposed to transgress the rights of 'uiother in a particular property habitually, the remedy lies by way of a civil suit for an injunction.

Both sides before us make conflictiJ1g assertions on such questions.

It is impossible to decide them for the first time either in a writ petition or in a proceeding under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

If public peace and tranquility or other objects mentioned there are not in danger the Vlagistrate concerned cannot act under Section 144.

He could only direct parties to go to the proper forum.

On the other hand, if the public safety. peace, or tranquility are in danger, it is left to the Magistrate concerned to take proper action under Section 144 Criminal Procedure Code. No hard and fast rules can be laid down for guidance in exercising a power on which decisions must necessarily be governed by the existing situation in each case.

It has to be judged on facts and circumstances existing at a particular place at a particular time.

We have no doubt that, particularly after this brief and obvious explanation of the provisions of Section I 44 Criminal Procedure Code, no orders will be passed contrary to what the section itself so clearly requires as conditions precedent to the passing of an order.

We are not convinced at all that the applicants had any real ground for seeking a review of our order<.

Consequently, we dismiss this application.

We, however. make no orders as to costs.

S. R.

Review Petition dismissed.