Allahabad High Court
Chandra Pal Singh vs State Of U.P. And Another on 10 July, 2025
Author: Saurabh Srivastava
Bench: Saurabh Srivastava
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD
?Neutral Citation No. - 2025:AHC:111792
Court No. - 77
Case :- APPLICATION U/S 528 BNSS No. - 20681 of 2025
Applicant :- Chandra Pal Singh
Opposite Party :- State of U.P. and Another
Counsel for Applicant :- Ashish Kumar Pandey,Bhriguram Ji,Shashi Shekhar Maurya
Counsel for Opposite Party :- G.A.
Hon'ble Saurabh Srivastava,J.
1. Heard learned counsel for the parties.
2. By means of the present application, applicant has sought quashing of the summoning order dated 24.07.2023 in Case no. 7434/2023 (State vs. Chandrapal Singh) arising out of Case Crime no. 202/2023 under Section 447 IPC & 3/4 Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984, PS- Kotwali Chunar, District Mirzapur, which has been pending before A.C.J.M. 1st Mirzapur as well as entire proceeding in Case no. 7434/2023.
3. Brief facts of the present case are that a first information report dated 06.06.2023 bearing Case Crime No.202 of 2023 was lodged by Lekhpal/opposite party no.2 in pursuance of Section 447 IPC against applicant alleging that applicant has encroached illegally and raising construction over some part of Gata No.268 which is Navin Parti land. The applicant had, thus, caused damage and loss to the public property which is the land vested in Gram Sabha. After lodging of the FIR, the concerned Investigating Officer started inquiry and after conclusion of the same, preferred charge-sheet on dated 04.07.2023 against applicant under Section 447 IPC and 3/4 Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984, whereupon learned court concerned has taken cognizance/summoning of offence vide order dated 24.07.2023 which impugned the present petition.
4. Learned counsel for applicant has challenged the chargesheet as well as cognizance/summoning order on several other ground inter-alia precisely on the ground that lodging of the first information report and submitting charge-sheet taking aid of provisions of the P.D.P.P. Act, 1984 is nothing but an abuse of process of the law, inasmuch as, the said provisions cannot be invoked to lodge a criminal case on the allegations of damage or loss caused to the Gram Sabha land. The Magistrate has acted illegally and without application of judicial mind in taking cognizance on the charge sheet submitted under Section 447 IPC and 3/4 of the P.D.P.P. Act, 1984. It is also submitted that as implication of the applicant under Section 447 IPC is dependent upon mandatory notice under Section 441 IPC as per the State Amendment, but there is hardly any case that the notice has ever been issued before lodging FIR against the applicant.
5. In any case, the question as to whether applicant had illegally encroached upon the land vested in Gram Sabha, can only be adjudicated by the Revenue Authorities. The proper proceeding for eviction of the unauthorized occupant can be undertaken under Section 67 of the Revenue Code, 2006 which is already pending before court concerned. The short-cut procedure adopted by the Lekhpal of the village concerned is nothing but with a view to harass the applicant.
6. Per contra, learned AGA vehemently opposed the prayer sought through the instant petition but could not dispute the aforesaid arguments raised by learned counsel for applicant.
7. While dealing with similar issue, co-ordinate Bench of this Court vide order 6.8.2020 passed in Application u/s 482 no. 9964 of 2020 (Munshi Lal and Another vs. State of U.P. and another), quashed the entire proceeding u/s 2/3 of Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984 and held that as far as criminal proceeding for illegal encroachment, damage or trespass over the land belonging to Gram Sabha is concerned, the same can be undertaken but it would be subject to the adjudication of rights of the parties over the land in dispute as the said determination can be done only by the revenue court. As far as the P.D.P.P. Act, 1984 is concerned, the same has been enacted with the specific purpose. the statement of objects and reasons of the said Act shows that it was enacted with a view to curb acts of vandalism and damage to public property including destruction and damage caused during riots and public commotion.
8. As far as the allegation of criminal offence under Section 447 IPC to constitute criminal trespass, the prosecution has to prove and the Court has to return a finding on the evidence that the trespass was committed with one of the intents enumerated in Section 441 of the Indian Penal Code. The prosecution has, thus, not only to allege but also to prove that the entry or unlawful occupation must be with an intent; (i) to commit an offence; or (ii) to intimidate, insult or annoy any person in possession of the property". Every 'trespass' by itself is not criminal. In absence of any such finding, the conviction under Section 447 IPC cannot be sustained. The offence under Section 447 IPC though is cognizable but is also a compoundable offence triable by any Magistrate, trial of which has to be conducted summarily. A charge under this section should specifically state intent which is alleged. The accused may lay a bonafide claim and right in the land in question. Although he may have no right to the land but he cannot be convicted of criminal trespass unless it is proved by the prosecution that he did so with an intention to intimidate, insult or annoy the person in possession or to commit an offence. The complainant need not be necessarily a person in actual physical possession of the land in question on the date of entry of the trespasser, i.e. the accused person. He may be a person to whom the land in question belonged or deemed to have been vested. The person who actually owns the land or property is the competent person to lodge the complaint.
9. From perusal of the records, it transpires that present case is squarely covered with the judgment of co-ordinate Bench of this Court passed in Munshi Lal (supra) and it is also apparent on face of record that proceeding under Section 67 of U.P.Revenue Code, 2006 is already pending before court concerned and as such the criminal proceedings initiated against the applicant pursuant to Section 447 IPC and section 3/4 of Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984, cannot but be said to be an abuse of the process of law or the Court. The cognizance/summoning order dated 24.07.2023 has been passed in complete ignorance of law. The continuation of criminal proceedings, in the considered opinion of the Court, being an abuse of process of the Court, ends of the justice requires that the said proceedings be quashed.
10. Invoking inherent powers under Section 528 BNSS of the High Court, entire proceedings of the Case Crime no. 202/2023 under Section 447 IPC & 3/4 Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984, PS- Kotwali Chunar, District Mirzapur, is hereby quashed only in respect of applicant namely Chandra Pal Singh.
11. The instant application stands allowed.
12. However, this order shall have no effect over the proceeding pending against applicant in pursuance to Section 67 U.P.Revenue Code, 2006 before court concerned.
Order Date :- 10.7.2025
Shaswat
