Mitter, J.@mdashI am of opinion that the basis on which the jurisdiction of Criminal Courts u/s 145 of the Code of Criminal Procedure is founded
does not exist in this case.
2. Section 145 says that, ""whenever a Magistrate is satisfied from a police report or other information that a dispute likely to cause a breach of the
peace exists, &c, &c,"" then a proceeding under this section may be instituted.
3. In this case what happened was this: A police report was submitted to the Magistrate on the 8th November 1882, and in that report the police
officer stated as his opinion that there was a dispute between the parties to these proceedings relating to a chur, and that in his opinion there was a
likelihood of a breach of the peace. This opinion was based upon this ground: The police officer says that if one of the parties would attempt to
collect rent forcibly from the ryots, there was a likelihood of a breach of the peace. Upon that, both the parties to these proceedings were called
upon to show cause why they should not be bound down to keep the peace. They appeared and asked the Magistrate to allow them time to settle
the matter amicably. For some reason or other this amicable settlement did not take place, and they were directed to enter into recognizances to
the amount of Rs. 500 each, not to commit a breach of the peace for four months.
4. Then on the 15th Pous 1289 (corresponding with the 29th December 1882) an application was made by Mohamed Sabir, the opposite party,
alleging that the applicant before us, viz., Obhoy Chandra Mookerjee, was about to commit acts of oppression upon his tenants, and in that
application Mohamed Sabir also stated that some of the tenants had complained against the servants of Obhoy Chandra. On that very day his
deposition was taken and he confirmed the statements made in his application. The Magistrate, without any further enquiry as to whether all these
statements were correct or not, on the 2nd January 1883, upon this petition, and the deposition of Mohamed Sabir, ordered the proceeding now
before us to be instituted.
5. It appears to me that it was the duty of the Magistrate to see whether there was any dispute likely to cause a breach of the peace concerning this
chur land before instituting these proceedings. He has acted simply on the statement of Mohamed Sabir, that is to say, he has assumed jurisdiction
without really satisfying himself as to whether there was a dispute between [80] the parties. It may be that Mohamed Sabir was anxious to have the
question of possession decided in a cheap way, but it was the duty of the Magistrate, u/s 145, to satisfy himself that really there was a dispute
likely to cause a breach of the peace concerning this chur land.
6. On the whole, I am of opinion that the foundation upon which the jurisdiction of the Criminal Courts u/s 145 is based was wanting in this case.
We therefore set aside the order, dated 16th July 1883, and the rest of the proceedings.
Pigot, J.
7. I entirely agree. I only wish to add that it seems to me that Magistrates ought to be very careful in acting u/s 145 of the Code of Criminal
Procedure, so as to guard themselves from the danger of assuming jurisdiction in cases not really contemplated by the section, and where the
suggested apprehension of a breach of the peace is little more than colourable, and made to induce the Magistrates to deal with matters properly
cognizable by the Civil Courts.