(1.) Counters petitioners in the proceedings initiated by Sub Divisional Magistrate, Thalassery under Section 107 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (hereinafter referred to as 'the Code') namely M.C.Nos.157, 159, 158, 184, 183, 138, 202, 188, 203, 204, 189, 187, 141, 205, 206 and 240 of 2013, 18, 16, 15, 17, 14, 22, 23, 21, 2, 3, 35, 24 and 4 of 2014 respectively have filed these petitions to quash the proceedings under Section 482 of Code Criminal Procedure.
(2.) Since the set of facts in all these cases deal with a common question of law regarding the initiation of proceedings by the authorities under Section 107 to 111 of Code of Criminal Procedure and irregularities in the proceedings, all these cases have been taken together for consideration on a common question of law raised in all these matters and disposed of by a common judgment.
(3.) In all these cases, the Sub Divisional Magistrate, Thalassery has initiated proceedings against the petitioners under Section 107 of Code of Criminal Procedure and passed an order under Section 111 of the Code requesting them to execute a bond under Section 109 of Code of Criminal Procedure which is being challenged by the petitioners. In all these cases, it was mentioned in the impugned preliminary order that the Sub Divisional Magistrate had received a report from the Station House Officer of the concerned Police Station apprehending involvement of these petitioners in certain criminal activities and causing public tranquility and disturbing peace and wanted the Sub Divisional Magistrate to initiate proceedings under Section 107 of Code of Criminal Procedure. In all these cases, except mentioning the case numbers and section of the offences, the Sub Divisional Magistrate, without mentioning the substance of information and the reason for satisfaction, had issued a stereo typed order requesting the petitioners to execute a bond to keep peace and order in the locality for a particular period or to show cause as to why they should not be directed to execute bond as aforesaid which are being challenged by the petitioners by filing the above petitions.