LAWS(ORI)-1966-12-3

SATYANARAYAN GANTAYET Vs. STATE

Decided On December 22, 1966
SATYANARAYAN GANTAYET Appellant
V/S
STATE Respondents

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE applications in both these cases are directed against a common order dated 24-3-65 passed under Section 117 (3), Cr. P. C. It was based on a police report submitted before the Sub Divisional Officer on 24-3-65 In the report it was stated that there was an imminent danger of breach of peace between two parties who are the respective petitioners in these two revision applications and that it was necessary that the proceeding under Section 107, Cr. P. C. be drawn against both of them. The Learned Sub Divisional Officer, on a consideration of that report, passed a composite order taking action thereby both under Section 112, Cr. P. C. and under Section 117 (3), Cr. P. C. The order read as follows:

(2.) THE first question is based on the assumption that an order under Section 117 (3) Cr. P. C. may be passed only when an enquiry under S 112 Cr. P. C has already been taken up for consideration and that unless the proceeding under section 112 Cr. P. C. has come to that stage, the Magistrate has no jurisdiction to take action under Section 117 (3) In my opinion, there is no substance in this contention Subsection (3) of Section 117 Cr. P. C provides that pending completion of inquiry the Magistrate may direct the person in respect of whom the order under Section 112 has been made, to execute a bond for keeping the peace or maintaining good behaviour until the conclusion of the enquiry. The exercise of this power is sub ject to two conditions only (i) that the Magistrate considers that immediate measures are necessary for prevention of a breach of the peace, and (ii) that the reasons in support of that consideration are recorded in writing. In my opinion, if these two conditions are complied with, an order under section 117 (3) may be passed at any time during the period commencing from the date when an order under Section 112 Cr. P. C. has been passed till the disposal of the enquiry. The opening phrase, "pending the completion of the enquiry" cannot be construed to mean that the power under S 117 (3) is open to be exercised only when an enquiry as provided under Section 112 has already commenced. Such a construction of Section 117 (3) will negative the very purpose underlying it. The condition laid down therein that "if he considers that immediate measures are necessary for the prevention of a breach of the peace" clearly contemplates that the power given under Section 117 (3) is to meet the emergency which may arise as a result of imminent danger of a breach of the peace. The sense of emergency as contemplated therein is not confined to those events only which may happen after the commencement of enquiry under Section 112, but is in relation to the entire situation which may arise in the case right from the time when an order under Section 112 is passed. The entire object underlying this Sub-section (3) of Section 117 is to have a complete control over the entire situation that may develope at any time between the date when an order under Section 112 is passed and the date when an enquiry thereunder is concluded. Therefore, the submission made on behalf of the petitioners that a composite order both under Section 117 (3) and under Section 112 cannot be passed is erroneous and contrary to the very purpose underlying section 107 and Section 117 (3) of the Criminal Procedure Code. This is so is also supported by the decisions in Upendranath Kanungo v. State, (1966) 32 Cut LT 742: (AIR 1966 Orissa 75) and Amir Singh v. The State, AIR 1962 Pat 61. It is true that the considerations which are to weigh with the Court for passing orders under the two sections--One under S 112 and the other under Section 117 (3) as laid down therein, are not the same but different. The consideration which has to weigh in the case of an order under Section 112 is the likelihood of a breach of the peace or of the disturbance of public tranquillity; while that which has to weigh in the case of an order under Section 117 (3) is the requirement of the immediate measures for the prevention of a breach of the peace or disturbance of public tranquillity. The difference however between the two considerations is only one of degree in regard to the urgency with which action has to be taken for the prevention of a breach of the peace or disturbance of public tranquillity. Therefore, the situation will vary from case to case. In some an action under Section 112 alone may be considered necessary, while in others as the enquiry under Section 112 proceeds, the action under Section 117 (3) may also be considered necessary to be taken But there may still be another class of cases different to both. where the danger of breach of the peace or disturbance of public tranquillity is so imminent that any action under Section 112 alone is not considered sufficient to cope with the situation unless it is supplemented then and there with an order under Section 117 (3) also. Thus there is no substance in the contention that the exercise of the power under Section 117 (3) is dependent on the commencement of the enquiry under Section 112. Therefore, the first contention fails.

(3.) THEN, as to the second contention this much is true that as urgency of the matter is the guiding principle for the exercise of jurisdiction under Section 117 (3 ). there must be evidence on the record to show that the mind of the court in passing the order thereunder was alive to this aspect of the matter; otherwise it cannot be said with certainty that the order passed under Section 117 (3) is not a simple mechanical order or an order passed for a purpose ulterior to Section 117 (3) Therefore, in order to satisfy this condition it is necessary that the reasons which may have guided the court to take action under Section 117 (3) should be recorded in the order That will give clear proof of the fact that the court in passing the order under Section 117 (3) was fully alive to the requirement of the section and applied its mind fully to the facts of the case in the light of that requirement. In the present case the court, in taking action under Section 117 (3) has specifically mentioned that there was apprehension of imminent breach of the peace. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioners state that this reason as given by the Court, is more or less mechanical and general; it does not establish that the court in passing the order under Section 117 (3) did apply its mind to the facts of the present case.