NASIMULLAH vs IJAZ HUSSAIN
This petition, filed under Section 561-A, Code of Criminal Procedure 1898, sought the quashment of an order passed by the Additional Sessions Judge, which dismissed the petitioner's application for acquittal under Section 265-K, Code of Criminal Procedure 1898. The core legal question was whether an accused is entitled to acquittal in criminal proceedings under the Illegal Dispossession Act 2005 solely based on an ex parte civil decree, particularly when that decree is currently challenged under Section 12(2), Code of Civil Procedure 1908. The Court held that the existence of a contested ex parte civil decree does not warrant the acquittal of an accused in criminal proceedings. The Court affirmed that the trial court must determine guilt or innocence after recording evidence, and criminal proceedings cannot be pre-empted through a quashment petition based on mere probabilities or the existence of a disputed civil judgment. The principle laid down is that criminal liability is independent of contested civil claims, and the trial court must proceed to trial unless the prosecution's case is clearly redundant or baseless.
- Does the existence of an ex parte civil decree entitle an accused to acquittal under Section 265-K of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898?
- Can criminal proceedings under the Illegal Dispossession Act 2005 be quashed solely on the basis of a pending civil dispute?
- Is a trial court required to record evidence in a case under the Illegal Dispossession Act 2005 despite the existence of a contested civil decree?
- Section 561-A, Code of Criminal Procedure 1898
- Section 265-K, Code of Criminal Procedure 1898
- Section 3, Illegal Dispossession Act 2005
- Section 4, Illegal Dispossession Act 2005
- Section 7(1), Illegal Dispossession Act 2005
- Section 12(2), Code of Civil Procedure 1908
' QAISER RASHID KHAN, J.--Through this petition filed under section 561-A, Cr.P.C, the petitioner, Nasimullah, seeks the quashment of order dated 28-4-2011 passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge-IV, D.I. Khan, whereby his application under section 265-K Cr.P.C. In complaint Case No.9 of 2010 has been dismissed.
2. This case has a chequered history. Briefly stated facts of the case are that Ejaz Hussain respondent filed a complaint in the court of learned Sessions Judge, D.I.Khan since entrusted to the learned Additional Sessions Judge-IV against the petitioner Nasimullah under sections 3/4 of the Illegal Dispossession Act, 2005 on the allegations that he is owner of land located in Khata No.224, khatoni Nos.885 to 892, khasra No.114 measuring 370 kanals, mauza Baber, Tehsil Paroa, District D.I.Khan which was given on lease to Nazim Khan son of Sharbat Khan with effect from 12-4-2005 to 30-4-2009 and was further extended for one year. On 6-4-2010 when the said period came to end, the lessee Nazim Khan handed over possession of the disputed land to the complainant Ejaz Hussain who appointed a tenant namely Muhammad Ramzan for the same but on 20-4-2010, the petitioner Nasimullah along with others duly armed with fire arms entered, removed the tenant therefrom and took forcible possession of the `kotajat. Constructed therein. On 28-4-2010, the complainant thus submitted an application to the DPO D.I.Khan about the illegal act of the petitioner and the latter in order to save his skin produced a fictitious lease deed of a back date, dated 22-4-2009 showing himself to be the lessee of the disputed land. The said lease deed was sent to FSL Peshawar for verification and, in the meanwhile, the complainant also applied to the Incharge Treasury Branch D.I.Khan on 13-5-2010 for verification of the stamp paper used for the aforesaid lease deed dated 22-4-2009 bearing No.3716 who reported in the negative. Likewise, the report of FSL Peshawar dated 21-5-2010 was also received in negative and thus the petitioner was arrested by the local police but no legal action was taken against him in the shape of registration of a criminal case. The petitioner in turn filed a civil suit on the basis of aforesaid back dated lease deed dated 22-4-2009 which was decreed ex parte in his favour vide judgment and decree dated 27-1-2011 passed by the learned Civil Judge-IV, D.I.Khan, where-against an application under section 12(2), C.P.C. Is pending adjudication being based on fraud etc.
3. During the pendency of the complaint, the learned Additional Sessions Judge-IV, D.I. Khan vide order dated 8-12-2010 handed over the possession of the disputed land to the complainant under section 7(1) of the Illegal Dispossession Act, 2005 which was challenged by the petitioner before this court through a writ petition but in vain vide order dated 14-12-2010 against which C . P . L . A-1- P/ 2011 is pending adjudication before the august apex court.
4. On the basis of aforesaid decree of the civil court, the petitioner applied to the learned Additional Sessions Judge-IV, D.I. Khan for his acquittal under section 265-K, Cr.P.C. But could not succeed vide order impugned herein.
5. I have carefully gone through the entire record of the case and anxiously considered the arguments of the learned counsel for the parties including the learned Deputy Advocate-General representing the State.
6. The allegations against the petitioner are that he had forcibly dispossessed Muhammad Ramzan, tenant of the complainant from the disputed land and illegally occupied the same on 20- 4-2010, while on the other hand the plea of the petitioner is that he being lessee had lawfully taken its possession.
7. The record, however, belies the stance of the petitioner as the same is totally unfounded and baseless because vide order dated 8-12-2010, the respondent was put in possession of the disputed land and the petitioner was evicted therefrom while disposing off the application of the respondent under section 7(1) of the Illegal Dispossession Act, 2005. Mere existence of an ex parte decree in favour of the petitioner which too, has been challenged through an application under section 12(2), C.P.C. Would not entitle the petitioner to his outright acquittal in the criminal proceedings before the learned trial court where his alleged guilt or otherwise would be determined after recording of pro and contra evidence.
8. The petitioner has failed to show that under what circumstances the case of the prosecution has become redundant and that there are no chances of conviction of the petitioner and that in all probabilities he c would be acquitted. Courts of law do not go by probabilities and the same can even be the figment of imagination of an individual. The proceedings before the learned trial court cannot be pre-empted through the present quashment petition.
9. For the reasons stated above, I find no substance in this petition which is accordingly dismissed.