HARI SADHAN ROY Vs. PROBHAKAR RAY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) These three rules, in Revision Cases 1205 of 1937, 284 of 1938, and in Miscellaneous Case 6 of 1938, involve consideration of the same question of law. In Revision Case No. 1205, the petitioner was convicted of theft by a Union Bench, and an application to set aside the conviction, made under Section 71, Village Self-Government Act, was rejected by the Sub- Divisional Officer. In Revision Case No. 284, the petitioners were convicted under Section 504, I.P.C. On application made under Section 71, Village Self-Government Act, the sentence was reduced by the Sub-Divisional Officer. In Miscellaneous Case No.6 an application was made by the petitioners to the Sub-Divisional Officer to transfer a criminal case pending against them before a Union Bench. This application was refused after enquiry by the Sub-Divisional Officer. In all these instances, rules have been issued by this Court, and the point of law involved is whether the Court has jurisdiction to interfere.

(2.) It is material that the application to this Court was made in Case No.1205 under Section 439, Criminal P.C., in Case No.284 under Secs.435 and 439, Criminal P.C., and in Miscellaneous Case No.6 under Section 526, Criminal P.C., The statutory provisions on the point are Section 71 and Section 93, Village Self Government Act. Section 71 provides that notwithstanding anything contained in the Criminal P. C., there shall be no appeal by a convicted person, in any case tried by a Union Bench Provided that the District Magistrate or Sub-Divisional Officer if satisfied that a failure of justice is occurred may, of his own motion or on the application of the parties, cancel or modify any order of conviction or compensation made by a Union Bench, or direct the retrial of any case by a Court of competent jurisdiction subordinate to him. Section 93 of the Act lays down that the provisions of the Criminal P. C., excepting Chap.33, shall not apply to any trial suit or proceeding before a Union Bench or Union Court. Now it seems perfectly clear that Section 71 of the Act bars any appeal by a person convicted by a Union Bench. The right to challenge any such decision is not taken away, but it must be exercised in the manner provided in the Act itself. The further question then is whether there can be any such challenge by way of invocation of the revisional jurisdiction of this Court. On consideration of the whole matter, we are of opinion that there cannot be any such challenge. The jurisdiction invoked in all these cases is a jurisdiction derived from the Criminal P. C., and outside Claude 33 of that Code. Section 93 of the Act provides that the Code, except the said Chapter, shall not apply to any trial or proceeding before a Union Bench. We are unable therefore to hold that any jurisdiction derivable from the Criminal P. C. exists in this Court.

(3.) We may note in conclusion that reference was made before us to two reported cases. In Yasin Moral V/s. Lsak Khan Mitter J. adverted to this very point, and indicated the view that the revisional powers of this Court were restricted having regard to Secs.71 and 93, Village Self-Government Act. He however discharged the rule in that case on another ground. In Khudiram Kundu V/s. Surendra Mohan which was a case of a civil suit tried by a Union Court, S.K. Ghose J. did interfere in revision but it is not clear, from the language of the report whether he purported to do so under Section 115, Civil P.C., or under Section 107, Government of India Act, a Section now repealed. In any case, the present rules are concerned with criminal proceedings before Union Benches, and for the reasons indicated previously, we hold that we have no jurisdiction to interfere. The rules are accordingly discharged. Khundkar, J.