1. The proceedings in this case were initiated u/s 110 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Magistrate who initiated them ought to have
disposed of them himself; but instead of doing so, he sent up the case to the District Magistrate for action under Regulation XII of 1827. That he
had no jurisdiction to do. The Code requires that he should pass the final order himself, either discharging or taking security from the accused.
2. The District Magistrate, to whom the case was sent up by the first class Magistrate, assumed jurisdiction under Regulation XII of 1827 and has
passed an order placing certain restrictions1 upon the personal liberty of the petitioners.
3. Whether, if the District Magistrate had passed such an order independently of the proceedings u/s 110, it would have been legal is not the
question before us now. But the proceeding having been initiated u/s 110, the Magistrate before whom it was initiated ought to, have himself
disposed of it. The District Magistrate had no jurisdiction to dispose of it.
4. On this ground, the District Magistrate''s order must be quashed and the proceedings sent back to the Magistrate, first class, to be dealt with
and disposed of according to law.
1The District Magistrate''s order against the accused was to the following effect:
Whereas in the interests of the public peace and order it is desirable to keep a watch over your movements, the following instructions are hereby
issued to you:
(a) You are required to attend the roll-call once in the morning and once in the night at the Police Chowri Borad before the Police Patil and should
not leave your house after sunset and before sunrise.
(b) You are forbidden to leave the limits of your village without the permission in writing of the Police Patil of your village. Such permission shall
state the period for which you intend to absent yourself from your village and the place you propose to visit and the purpose of your visit.
(c) And you are hereby warned that in the event of your failing at any time to comply with any order given above, or if you absent yourself from
your village beyond the period covered by the permission granted under Clause (b), or if you are found in any town or village other than which you
are permitted to visit, you render yourself liable to be punished with simple imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months.