C D KATOCH Vs. SANT PAL

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS petition in revision has been brought from the order of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kulu, dated 13-6-1973 summoning the two accused Shri C. D. Katoch, I. F. S. Assistant Conservator of Forests, Kulu and Shri Dina Nath, Deputy Forest Ranger, Kulu to stand a trial under Section 379 of the Indian Penal Code. A complaint was filed by Shri Sant Pal and the allegations were that these two accused removed his sleepers on 2-6-1973 which were stacked opposite Naggar Castle. It was stated that Sant Pal had obtained a few forest trees and had converted them into Sleepers which lying stacked and despite resistance by his son Ashwani Pal the two accused removed these sleepers. In the complaint two offences were pointed out under Sections 380 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code.

(2.) THE learned Magistrate took cognizance of the case and recorded the statements of the complainant and his son Ashwani Pal as well us of few other witnesses. Ashwani Pal, however, stated that the sleepers were removed in a truck of the Forest Department and that Shri Dina Nath Deputy Ranger stated that he had received orders from Shri C. D. Katoch, I. F. S. Assistant Conservator of Forests. The evidence on the record further indicated that some complaints were instituted against Sant Pal for illicit felling of timber. Orders were received from the Divisional Forest Officer that the timber stored by Shri Sant Pal be seized as it was illicit. Ac cordingly on 2-6-1973 in compliance of those orders Shri Dina Nath Deptity Ranger went and recovered these sleepers which were removed in a Forest Truck and were stored in the forest godown. Proper entries were made in the register kept at the Department office. According to Sant Pal this was all done illegally, with the intention of committing theft,

(3.) THE learned Magistrate, however, summoned the two accused under Section 379 of the Indian Penal Code. An application was moved before him that the two accused were public servants and if at all, they committed the offence while acting or purporting to act in the discharge or their official duties. As such sanction under Section 197 of the Code of Criminal Procedure was required. The learned Magistrate, however, did not decide this application and proceeded with the trial. The two accused have now come up in revision before the High Court.