HON'BLE Dr. JUSTICE K.G. SHANKAR Crl. R.C.No.982 of 2014 Date: 29.04.204 Between:
Irondla Kumaraswamy .. Petitioner/ Owner of the vehicle AND The State of A.P., through F.R.O., Kothaguda, Warangal District, rep.by Public Prosecutor, High Court, Hyderabad. .. Respondent HON'BLE Dr. JUSTICE K.G.SHANKAR Crl.R.C.No.982 of 2014 JUDGMENT:
The petitioner seeks to set aside the order of the learned Judicial Magistrate of First Class, Narsampet in Crl.M.P.No.652 of 2014 in P.O.R.No.20/01 dated 25.04.2014.
2. Tractor (John Deere) of the petitioner bearing Registration No. AP15-AA-2225 has seized of by the Forest officials. A case was registered under Section 20 (i) (c) (ii) (iii) (iv) (vii) & 44 of Andhra Pradesh Forest Act, 1967 (for short, “Forest Act”). The petitioner sought for interim custody of the vehicle. The learned Judicial Magistrate of First Class, Narsampet held on the basis of Oruganti Seshachala Venkateshwarlu vs. Government
[1]
of Andhra Pradesh that a Judicial First Class Magistrate has no jurisdiction under Section 457 Cr.P.C. to pass orders regarding interim custody of the vehicle, which was not produced before him. The learned Magistrate held that as per Section 44 of the Forest Act, the property which was seized is liable to be confiscated, therefore, was not maintainable. Consequently, the learned Magistrate dismissed the petition. Hence, the Revision.
3. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the Court has, indeed, jurisdiction to entertain the application and can order return of the vehicle for interim custody even if case is registered under the provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Forest Act.
4. I n Public Prosecutor v. G.Marimuthu [2] Konar , a case was registered under the provisions of the A.P. Forest Act. A lorry was seized under the provisions of the Forest Act. A learned single Judge of this Court held that the Magistrate has powers to dispose of the property under Section 44(4) of the Forest Act as well as under Section 457 Cr.P.C.
[3]
5. I n Ulli Bhaskar v. State of A.P. , black jaggery and alum were seized under the provisions of the Excise Act and under the provisions of Prohibition Act. The Court held that black jaggery and alum are not intoxicants and that their sale cannot be subject matter of punishment.
6. I n Chindura Muthaiah & Co., Kamareddy, Nizamabad District, A.P. vs. Deputy Commissioner of
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Prohibition and Excise, Karimnagar, A.P. , the Court ordered return of a vehicle involved in an offence under Section 34 (e) of the Excise Act.
7. In an unreported decision in Criminal Revision Case No.2484 of 2012, dated 11.12.2012, (M/s. Amruthavarshini Dairy Farms Pvt. Ltd. v. The State), the petitioner was involved in an offence under the Prohibition Act. On the basis of P.Swarupa’s case (2nd supra), the Court considered it appropriate to return the vehicle. Further, in Public Prosecutor v. G.Marimuthu Konar’s case (3rd supra), the Court held that even when the property is seized under the provisions of the Forest Act, a Judicial First Class Magistrate is entitled to grant interim custody of the vehicle under the provisions of Section 457 Cr.P.C.
In view of these decisions, it is contended by the learned counsel for the petitioner that the petitioner is entitled to interim custody of the property.
8. Indeed, the vehicle involved in this case is under Section 20(i) (c) (ii) (iii) (iv) (vii) & 44 of the A.P. Forest Act. This Court has held in Public Prosecutor v. G.Marimuthu Konar (supra-2) when lorry was seized under the provisions of the Forest Act a learned single Judge of this Court held that the Magistrate has powers to dispose of the property under Section 44(4) of the Forest Act as well as under Section 457 Cr.P.C. However, in view of the decision of this Court in Crl.R.C.No.2484 of 2012, I consider that the Criminal Court has got jurisdiction to order the disposal of the property, more so, by way of interim custody.
9. The petitioner claimed that he is the owner of the property and seeks for interim custody of the vehicle. Detention of the vehicle with police or Forest officials certainly would cause damage to the vehicle if the vehicle is not put to use. I, therefore, consider it appropriate to grant interim custody of the same to the petitioner subject to the result of the trial.
10. Accordingly, this Criminal Revision Case is allowed. The order of the trial Court in Crl.M.P.No.652 of 2014 in P.O.R.No.20/01, dated 04.04.2014 is set aside. The petitioner is granted interim custody of Tractor (John Deere) bearing Registration No. AP15-AA-2225 subject to his proving ownership to the vehicle, on a personal bond of Rs. 3,00,000/- (Rupees Three Lakhs Only) with two sureties in a like sum to the satisfaction of Judicial Magistrate of First Class, Narsampet, and on further conditions as follows:
1) that the petitioner shall produce the vehicle before the trial Court as and when directed by the trial Court,
2) the petitioner shall not alienate or dispose of the vehicle without prior permission of the Court and
3) the petitioner shall not alter the shape or condition of the vehicle without prior permission of the Court.
11. Miscellaneous Petitions, pending if any in this Criminal Revision Case, shall stand closed.
Dr. JUSTICE K.G. SHANKAR Date: 29.04.2014
Isn
[1] 2003 (2) ALT 444
[2] LAWS(APH)-1980-12-35/APLJ-1981-1-84
[3] 2004 (1) ALD (Crl.) 561 (AP)
[4] 2006 (2) ALD 367