[2009) 10 S.C.R. 1163

RAMESH DUTI & ORS.

STATE OF PUNJAB & ORS. (Criminal Appeal No. 1284 of 2009)

JULY 21, 2009

(5.8. SINHA AND DEEPAK VERMA, JJ.]

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973: s.482 - FIR lodged under ss.4201465146714681471 and 1208 /PC - Quashing of

_, A/legation against appellants was that suit land, though in C possession of appellants, vested in government and appellants by transferring the suit land cheated government

- Petition uls.482 - High Court dismissed the petition - Correctness of - Held: Not correct - Entry in revenue record of rights is merely an evidence of possession - Such an entry o would not create title and absence thereof would not extinguish the same - Unless there exists a statutory interdict, a person in possession may transfer his right, title and interest in favour of a third party - In the facts and circumstances of the case, only because appellants transferred a portion of the E land without having complete ownership over it by itself would not satisfy the ingredients of ss.467, 468 and 469 /PC - Some of the parameters laid down in *Bhajan Lal were satisfied - Penal Code, 1860 - ss.420-465146714681471 and 1208.

Appellants were members of managing committee of F a school. They filed a suit in 1990 praying for a decree for possession of the suit land in respect of which a decree acknowledging a transfer in their favour was passed. The suit was decreed. An order of mutation was thereafter passed in their favour which however was G subsequently cancelled. Appellants sold a part of land.

The third respondent raised a question with regard to the purported illegal transfer by appellants before the District Grievance Committee. An FIR was lodged stating that on 1163 H

A cancellation of mutation in favour of appellants, the ownership vested in the Central Government and the appellants by selling the land cheated the government.

The appellants filed petition under section 482 Cr.P.C. for quashing the FIR which was dismissed. Hence the 8 appeal.

Allowing the appeal, the Court

HELD: 1. Indisputably, the appellants, as members of the society, were running a school on the plot in C question. They obtained a decree in their favour. The decree was not only passed against the State but also against the Collector and one Kahla Singh who claimed his right, title and interest in or over the said property. The respondents filed a counter affidavit wherein it was D stated that the title in respect of the lands in question was with the Central Government. [Para 14] [1172-A-C]

2. Title in or over an immoveable property has many facets. Possession is one of them. Unless there exists a statutory interdict, a person in possession may transfer E his right, title and interest in favour of a third party. [Para

15] [1172-D]

Vinash Kumar Chauhan v. Vijay Krishna Mishra (2009) 2 sec 532, relied on.

3. It is not correct in contending that only because the order of mutation made in favour of the appellants was cancelled, the same would lead to conclusion that they had no title over the property. It is now a well settled G principle of law that entry in a Revenue Record of rights

merely is an evidence of possession. Such an entry does not create title; absence thereof does not extinguish the same. Furthermore, it is one thing to say that the appellants committed acts of criminal misconduct while

RAMESH DUTI & ORS. v. STATE OF PUNJAB & 1165

ORS.

trying to obtain orders of mutation but it is another thing A to say that only because they filed such an application, the same by itself would tantamount to commission of a criminal offence. In the facts and circumstances of this case, only because appellants transferred a portion of the property without having complete ownership over them B by itself would not satisfy the ingredients of Sections 467, 468 and 469. (Paras 16 and 17] [1172-E-H; 1173-A)

Faqruddin (Dead) through LRs. v, Tajuddin (Dead) through LRs. (2008) 8 SCC 12; Devendra & Ors. v. State of C U.P. & Anr 2007 (9) SCC 613, relied on.

4. The provisions of Section 41 to 44 of the Indian Evidence Act do not suggest that the decision of the Civil Court would be binding on the Criminal Courts. The institution of a criminal case must be held to be an act of D ma/a fide on the part of the respondents in the backdrop of events which stand admitted. This case, therefore, satisfies some of the parameters laid down in *Bhajan Lal. [Para 18) (1173-D-E, G-H]

Seth Ramdayal Jat v. Laxmi Prasad 2009 (5) SCALE E 527; State of Haryana & Ors. v. Bhajan Lal & Ors. 1992 Supp. 1 sec 335, relied on.

Case Law Reference :

(2009) 2 sec 532 relied on Para 15 F

(2008) 8 sec 12 relied on Para 16

2001 (9) sec 613 relied on Para 17

2009 (5) SCALE 527 relied on Para 18 G

1992 Supp. 1 sec 33,5 relied on Para 13

CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Criminal Appeal

A No. 1284 of 2009.

From the Judgment & Order dated 27.05.2008 of the High ,_

Court of Punjab & Haryana at Chandigarh in Criminal Miscellaneous No. 12308-M of 2001.

B D.K. Bhatti, Chitranjan Mishra, Dr. Manohar Singh Bakshi, M. Dev Suman Mohan Puria and Debasis Misra for the Appellants.

Anil Grover, Ms. Shubhangi Tuli, Rahul Khurana, Kuldip c Singh for the Respondents.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

5.8. SINHA, J. 1 Leave granted.

2. The appellant herein is aggrieved by and dissatisfied with a judgment and order dated 27.05.2008 passed by a learned Single Judge of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh in Criminal Miscellaneous No.12308 of 2001 whereby and whereunder an application filed by them purported

E to be under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure

for quashing a First Information Report lodged at the direction of Respondent No.4 by the respondent No.2 on 23.3.2001 for the alleged commission of offences punishable under Sections 420/465/467/468/471 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code has

F been dismissed.

3. The basic fact of the matter is not in dispute. The appellants are members of the Managing Committee of Shastri Memorial School, Shivaji Nagar, Ludhiana. The said society is registered under the Societies Registration Act in the year

G 1982.

4. Allegedly, the land in question was said to have been transferred to one Kahla Singh by the Tehsildar in the year 1977-78. He filed a suit being Civil suit No.309 against his

H daughter-in-law wherein a decree acknowledging a transfer in

favour of the latter was passed. The appellants are said to have made a representation before the concerned authority in relation to the functioning of the school after passing of the aforementioned decree came to their knowledge. It is stated that a report dated 14.1.1983 was submitted by the then Tehsildar (Sales), Ludhiana showing the school to be an . existing one whereafter the name of the appellants had been recorded in the record of rights.

They filed a suit in the year 1990 praying for a decree for possession. By reason of a judgment dated 15.3.1990, the said suit was decreed. In the said suit, State of Punjab, Collector Ludhiana as well as the said Kahla Singh were arrayed as defendants.

5. An order of mutation was thereafter passed in their favour which, however, is said to have been cancelled.

Indisputably, a proposal was moved for lodging of a First Information Report.

6. Appellants sold a part of the land to Mis Everest Girls School. Allegedly sale proceeds therefrom had been spent on construction of sixteen rooms in the existing school. The vendees of the said premises, i.e., the Mis. Everest School were threatened with dispossession by the supporters of respondent Nos.3 and 5. A newspaper report to that effect also appeared in 'Punjab Kesri'. They filed a civil suit in the court of Civil Judge, Ludhiana wherein an order of status-quo was passed in the following terms :

"In the meantime defendants are restrained from interfering in possession of the plaintiffs in property comprised in Khasra No.1219 khata No.2311571 as per Jamabandi for the years 1992-93, situated at Village Saidan, Shivaji Nagar, Ludhiana and further restraining the defendants from interfering in the construction being raised by the plaintiffs except in due course of Law till 21.12.1999."

7. It appears that in a meeting held on 24.6.1999, the third respondent raised a question with regard to the purported illegal transfer by the appellants before the District Grievance ~

Committee. However, it was stated that he had obtained the legal opinion that no offence is made out. The resolution B adopted in the said meeting dated 24.6.1999 reads as under:

"Item No.15 Sh. Sat Pal Gausain, M.L.A. submitted an application from the residents of Shivaji Nagar, Ludhiana regarding property No.918/4 which is alleged to be under c unauthorized possession of some persons. S.S.P. informed that about a year prior to it Managing Committee of Shastri Memorial Model School sold the land for a sum of Rs.9.85 lacs to Everest School. The allegation in the application is that a property has two different members.

D As per the record, land purchased by the Managing Committee Shastri Memorial Model School, bears No.3849. After the investigation legal opinion has opined that no offence is made out. This matter is between the members of the Managing Committee of the school and there is no action required on the part of the police.

E The matter may be re-investigated after summoning both the parties and complete report be submitted in the case made."

8. The appellants also filed an application before the ...

F respondent No.4 on 18.9.2000 stating their bona fide in the matter besides pointing out the interest of the students of the school. The Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana issued notice to the school assessing the house tax. House Tax is being paid

G by the appellants.

9. In the suit filed by the Everest School, applications were filed by the supporters -of respondent Nos.3 and 5 for their impleadment which were dismissed.

H However, in a meeting dated 11.9.2000, again a resolution

was moved wherein a decision was taken to lodge a First A

Information Report against the appellants in the following terms

"The Commissioner Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana informed on the application submitted by Sat Pal Gausain 8 MLA on behalf of certain residents of Shastri Nagar, Ludhiana regarding illegal possession of some persons on property No.918/4 that the land being ownership of Rehabilitation Department no amount on the construction can be spent.

The President ordered that accused who exchanged the area, an FIR be registered against them and necessary correspondence be made between Commissioner, Municipal Corporation Ludhiana and the item was deleted

from the agenda." D

10. Pursuant to the said resolution, a First Information Report was lodged, relevant portions whereof reads as under

"From the above, it is clear that the civil court has ordered E for the possession by holding that applicant committee is registered which is running School; their possession will not be taken. Meaning thereby that order of the Court was regarding possession. Whereas the revenue officials vide mutation No.38144 has changed the ownership of the F above property in favour of Shastri Memorial Middle School Committee registered which has been ordered as disputed by the District Collector, Ludhiana vide his order dated 15.9.1999 and in compliance with that order, the revenue officer has cancelled the mutation. It is worth G mentioning here that Managing Committee of the above school by selling the property got the mutation changed and same has been cancelled after the sanction of the mutation No.38144. This land was sold to Pankaj Sharma Sia Rajinder Kumar of Everest Educational Society and H

A its President was Rajinder Kumar Sharma and the land after sale was mutated vide mutation No.40762 (0-2-00- .. 300 Sq. Yds), 40763 (0-1-17-275 Sq.yds) 40064 (0-2-13 400 Sq.yds) because of cancellation of muatation No.38144 their sansity has also come in. Now, ownership B of this land vests in the Central Govt. Your attention is invited to letter No.906/IPC dated 11.5.2000 and the report that now the Central Govt. has been shown as owner of this land. Sh. Jaspal Singh, the then Halqa Patwari and Circle revenue officer Jagdeep Singh are guilty as in order c to usurp the Govt. land, with dishonest attention in order to give undue benefit to the members of the Managing Committee of the School, have sanctioned mutation against orders of the Court. Similarly, these members of the Managing Committee of the School who in connivance

D with the revenue officers, have got the land transferred in favour of the School and have further sold it to Sh. Pankaj Sharma of Everest Educational Society have cheated the Govt. when they were not lawful owners of the land. In view of decision of the Grievance Committee in its meeting dated 11.9.2000 all the above said accused are liable for E cheating including the members of the above Society and along with predecessor. A case under above said sections be registered and legal action be taken. In this connection opinion of the District Attorney, Ludhiana has been ..... obtained and he has opined that case under Sections 420/ F 465/467/468/471 read with Section 120-8 IPC can be registered. You are hereby informed that keeping in view order of District Grievance Committee meeting held on

11.9.2000, necessary case be registered against above said accused persons and this office may be informed G about the action taken therein."

11. The appellants filed an application under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure praying for quashing of the said First Information Report which by reason of the impugned

H order has been dismissed.

12. Mr. D.K. Bhatti, learned counsel appearing on behalf A ., of the appellant, would contend:

(i) The High Court committed a serious error in so far as it failed to take into consideration that the admitted events would clearly and unequivocally B show that the First lnfonnation Report lodged by the respondents was an act of mala fide on their part and based on political consideration.

(ii) Appellants having obtained a decree in their favour, a criminal proceeding would not be maintainable. c "' (iii) The contents of the first information report, even if given face value and taken to be correct in their entirety, do not disclose an offence cognizable far t less under Sections 420/465/467/468/471 read D with Section 120B of the Indian Penal Code ..

13. Mr. Anil Grover, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the respondent, on the other hand, urged:

(i) The appellants having obtained a decree for E permanent injunction although they have no title in or over the property in question, could not have transferred a portion thereof to M/s. Everest School.

(ii) In view of an attempt on the part of the appellants F to get their names mutated in the Revenue Records with the connivance of the Revenue Authorities, the High Court must be held to be correct in declining to exercise its discretionary jurisdiction under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

G , (iii) In view of the decisions of this Court laying down the law that the first information report can be quashed only on limited grounds as for example in State of Haryana & Ors. v. Bhajan Lal & Ors. (1992 Supp. 1 sec 335], it is not a fit case where this H

A Court should exercise its jurisdiction under Article 136 of the Constitution of India.

14. Indisputably, the appellants, as members of the society, have been running a school on the plot in question. They have

B obtained a decree in their favour. The decree had not only been passed against the State but also against thfl Collector and Shri Kahla Singh who had claimed his right, title and interest in or over the said property. ..

Before us, the respondents have filed a counter affidavit c wherein it has, inter alia, been stated that the title in respect of the lands in question are with the Central Government.

The fact that respondents herein, acting in their official capacity, are bound by the said decree is not in dispute.

15. Title in or over an immoveable property has many ' facets. Possession is one of them. Unless there exists a statutory interdict, a person in possession may transfer his right, title and interest in favour of a third party. [See Vinash Kumar

E Chauhan v. Vyay Krishna Mishra [(2009) 2 SCC 532]

16. Mr. Grover, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the respondent. may not be correct in contending that only because the order of mutation made in favour of the appellants had been cancelled, the same ipso facto would lead to the conclusion that

F they have no title over the property. It is now a well settled

principle of law that entry in a Revenue Record of rights merely is an evidence of possession. [See Faqruddin (Dead) through LRs. v. Tajuddin (Dead) through LRs. [(2008) 8 SCC 12].

17. Such an entry does not create title; absence thereof does not extinguish the same. Furthermore, it is one thing to say that the appellants had committed acts of criminal misconduct while trying to obtain orders of mutation but it is another thing to say that only because they filed such an application, the same by .itself would tantamount to commission H of a criminal offence. In the facts and circumstances of this

RAMESH DUTI & ORS. v. STATE OF PUNJAB & 1173

case, in our opinion, only because appellants are said to have A transferred a portion of the property without having complete ownership over them by itself do not satisfy the ingredients of Sections 46~, 468 and 469. This aspect of the matter is covered by a recent decision of this Court in Devendra & Ors.

v. State of UP. & Anr. [2007 (9) SCC 613).

18. We, however, make it clear that we do not intend to lay down a law that the judgment of the Civil Court would be binding on a criminal court in view of several decisions of this Court.

In Seth Ramdaya/ Jat v. Laxmi Prasad [2009 (5) SCALE 527), this Court, while referring to a large number of decisions, held as under:

"18. It is now almost well-settled that, save and except for o Section 43 of the Indian Evidence Act which refers to Sections 40, 41, and 42 thereof, a judgment of a criminal court shall not be admissible in a civil court."

The provisions of Section 41 to 44 of the Indian Evidence Act do not suggest that the decision of the Civil Court would E be binding on the Criminal Courts. Section 44 of the Indian Evidence Act, reads as under :

"44. Fraud or collusion in obtaining judgment, or··· incompetency of Courl, may be proved.- Any party to a F suit or other proceeding may show that any judgment, order or decree which is relevant under sections 40, 41 or 42 and which has been proved by the adverse party, was delivered by a Court not competent to deliver it, or was obtained by fraud or collusion." G

The institution of a criminal case must be held to be an act of mala fide on the part of the respondents in the aforementioned backdrop of events which stand admitted. This case, therefore, satisfies some of the parameters laid down in several sub-pa_ras of paragraph 105 of Bhajan Lal (supra) H

A which read as under:

"105. In the backdrop of the interpretation of the various relevant provisions of the Code under Chapt!'lr XIV and of the principles of law enunciated by this Court in a series of decisions relating to the exercise of the extra-ordinary power under Article 226 or the inherent powers Under Section 482 of the Code which we have extracted and reproduced above, we give the following categories of cases by way of illustration wherein such power could be exercised either to prevent abuse of the process of any Court or otherwise to secure the ends of justice, though it may not be possible to lay down any precise, clearly defined and sufficiently channelised and inflexible guidelines or rigid formulae and to give an exhaustive list of myriad kinds of cases wherein such power should be exercised.

1. Where the allegations made in the First Information Report or the complaint, even if they are taken at their face value and accepted in their entirety do not prima-facie constitute any offence or make out a case against the accused.

xxx xxx xxx

3. Where the uncontroverted allegations made in the FIR F or complaint and the evidence collected in support of the same do not disclose the commission of any offence and make out a case against the accused.

xxx xxx xxx

5. Where the allegations made in the FIR or complaint are so absurd and inherently improbable on the basis of which no prudent person can ever reach a just conclusion that there is sufficient ground for proceeding against the accused.

RAMESH oun & ORS. v. STATE OF PUNJAB & 1175

)()()( )()()( )()()(

7. Where a criminal proceeding is manifestly attended with mala fide and/or where the proceeding is maliciously instituted with an ulterior motive for wreaking vengeance

on the accused and with a view to spite him due to private 8 and personal grudge."

19. For the reasons aforementioned, the fmpugned judgment cannot be sustained. It is set aside accordingly.

Appeal is allowed. This Order, however, may not be construed to be a judgment in respect of the right, title and interest over C the property in question.

D.G .

Appeal allowed.