MAGUNI CHARAN PRADHANversusSTATE OF ORISSA

                        MAGUNI CHARAN PRADHAN
                                                                                   A
                                          v.
                                STATE OF ORISSA

                                   APRIL 4, 1991
       [A.M. AHMADI, V. RAMASWAMIANDK. RAMASWAMY,JJ.]
                                                                                   B
            Penal Code, 1860-Sections 97, 103, 105-'Right of private
       defence of property-Trespass of land-Exercise of right by owner
       against trespasser-Scope of.         ·

             Penal Code, 1860-Section 302-Murder-Conviction under-.
       Plea of right of private defence of property-Causing death by giving
       blows on head of the unarmed trespasser in sitting position-Amounts · C
       to abuse of right of private defence and commission of murder.

              The appellant was in possession of the field under a sale deed
       executed by his mother in his favour till the day prior to the incident.
       When he went to the field, he saw the deceased and his companions           D
       ploughing the field. He asked them to unyoke the bullocks. On refusal
       he assaulted the unarmed deceased with a stick on the head while he was
       sitting on the ridge, which resulted in his death.

             The Trial Court acquitted the appellant giving him the benefit of
       the right of private defence to person and property. The High Court in      E
       appeal, reversed the finding of the Trial Court holding that he had no
       such right and convicted the appellant under Section 302 and sentenced
       him to rigorous imprisonment for life.
             Dismissing the appellants' appeal, this Court,
              HELD: I. A rightful owner in peaceful possession of his land is      F
       entitled to defend his property against any person or persons who
       threaten to disposses him. The law does not expect any cowardice on his
       part when there is real and imminent danger to his property from
       outside sources. Thus a rightful owner is entitled to throw out, by using
       such force as would in the circumstances of the case appear to be
       reasonably necessary, any person who tries to invade his right to peace-    G
-t _   ful possession of his property. But if the trespasser has settled in the
       possession of the property, the course which the rightful person must
       01dopt is to recover possession in accordance with law and not by force.
       In such a case the trespasser would be entitled to defend bis possession
       even against a rightful owner if the latter tries to evict him by use of
        force. [ 196B-C]                                                           H

                                          191
     192                   SUPREME COURT REPORTS              I 1991] 2 S.C.R.
A        2. The appellant had a right to confront the prosecution party
   which was guilty of criminal trespass and could have used reasonable
   force to clear the encroachment, but he could not use it as a pretext or
   excuse to settle the old dispute regarding the title to the land. He clearly
   abused the right and in the guise of protecting his property he attacked
B an unarmed person who was sitting at distance by inflicting heavy blows
   on the vital part of his body, namely, the skull, causing multiple
 ~ fractures. The deceased had not offered any resistance, he was unarmed
   and was in sitting posture when the blows were hit giving him no
   chance even to run away. The appellant abused the right arising out
   of the trespass to kill the deceased. This was a case of intentional
   murder and not something done in the exercise of right to protect the
C property. I197B-D]

          3. In the instant case, the appellant inflicted more than one blow
    on the deceased on seeing him on his land. There was no grave or
    sudden provocation as urged hy counsel for the appellant. The medical
D   evidence clearly shows that the blows were vicious and on the head
    resulting in the fractures of the parietal hone. In such circumstances,
    the case cannot fall either under Section 304 Part Ior part II, IPC. The
    appellant will surrender to his bail and serve out the remaining part of
    his sentence. I197E-G]

         CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Criminal Appeal
E
    No. 814 of 1979.

         From the Judgment and Order dated 28.6.79 of the Orissa High
    Court in Government Appeal No. 26 of 1976

           Amlan Ghosh for the Appellant.
F
           R.K. Mehta for the Respondent.

           The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

G        AHMADI, J. The appellant was tried for the murder of Bhikari
  ·Pradhan. The Trial Court acquitted him giving him the benefit of the
   right of private defence to person and property. The High Court in
   appeal reversed the Trial Court holding that he had no such right. The
   High Court, therefore, convicted him under Section 302 and directed
   him to suffer rigorous imprisonment for life. It is against the said order
H of conviction and sentence that the present appeal is preferred.
                M.C. PRADHAN v. STATE OF ORISSA [AHMADI, J.J               193

           The Trial Court on an appreciation of PWs l, 5 to 7 concluded as      A
      under:

                 "Thus the truth seems to be that when Bhikari Pradhan and
                 PWs 1 and 5 to 7 criminally trespassed into the disputed
                 land and Bhikari Pradhan took the dominant role in taking       B
                 his two pairs of bullocks and 2 hired labourers, PWs 5 and 7
                 and ploughing the disputed land, the accused party went
                 there to plough the same and when the accused objected
--{              Bhikari Pradhan raised an axe at the accused who whirled
 i               the stick which struck on the head of Bhikari Pardhan who
                 injured and fell down on the ground and was subsequently
                 taken to Harichandanpur hospital where he was found             C
                 dead."

      Proceeding further, the Trial Court after discussing the case law on the
      point, held:
                                                                                 D
                 "In the present case, the deceased party committed cri-
                 minal trespass on the disputed land. When the accused
                 objected the forcible ploughing of the disputed land by the
                 deceased party, Bhikari Pradhan chased the accused by
                 holding an axe. In such circumstances I think the accused
                 had reasonable apprehension of death or grievoushurt to
                                                                                 E
                 him, and the accused whirled the stick which struck on the
                 head of Bhikari Pradhan. In such circumstances it is not
                 only clear that the accused had no intention to cause the
                 death of Bhikari Pradhan, but his acts are protected by
                 exercise of right of private defence of property and person
                 and did not exceed the right of private defence of property
                                                                                 F
                 or person. Thus the accused is protected by Sections 100
                 and 104, IPC."

           The High Court on a reappreciation of the prosecution and the
      defence evidence held:
                                                                                 G
                 "Considering the evidence of this witness along with the
                 sale deed Ext.B. we concur in the finding of the Trial Judge
                 that the respondent was in possession of the land by virtue
                 of his purchase."

      and then proceeded to add in para 9 as under:                              H
      194                  SUPREME COURT REPORTS             I 1991] 2 S.C.R.
                 'The respondent w'as in possession of the land till the date
A
                 of occurrence. The prosecution party entered into the land
                 and forcibly ploughed the same. The respondent asked the
                 prosecution party to unyoke their bullocks, but they did not
                 agree. Such conduct would a1nount to crirninal trespass

B
      On the question of right of private defence, the High Court approa-
      ched the question thus:

                 "But even if such an intention is imputed to them the right
                 of private defence of property against criminal trespass
                 which would arise in favour of the respondent will be taken
c                away on account of the provisions of Section 99, !PC. It
                 says that there is no right of private defence in cases in
                 which there is time to have recourse to the protection of the
                 public authorities. Since there was no crop on the land'lhe
                 respondent stood nothing to lose if he would have taken
I)               legal steps to restrain the prosecution party from interfer-
                 ing with his possession. Moreover, when no actual damage
                 was being done to the property, he .really had nothing to
                 protect. We are. therefore, of the opinion that there was no
                 right of private defence of property and the respondent
                 cannot be said to have acted in the exercise of that right
E                when he assaulted the deceased ...

      The High Court disagreed with the Trial Court that the deceased had
      threatened to hit the appellant with an axe and, therefore, the appel-
      lant had hit him with his stick.

F           Thus both the courts below have recorded a concurrent finding
      of fact that the title to the field vested in the appellant and the
      deceased and his con1panions had committed trespass by entering into
      and illegally ploughing the same. The appellant went to the field and
      on seeing the deceased and his companions ploughing the field asked
      them to unyoke the bullocks and on the deceased refusing assaulted         ..
G     him with a stick causing two external injuries, namely, (i) ecchymosis
      over the right side of face covering an area of 3" x 2" and (ii)
      lacerated would 4" x 0.5'' over the right parietal bone in vertical
      direction. On internal examination a fracture of the right parietal
      bone, a fracture starting from the middle of the parietal bone and
      extending upto the right ear and concussion of the brain substance
1-1   were noticed. He opined that both the injuries were possible by two
                M.C. PRADHAN v. STATE OF ORISSA [AHMADI, J.)                195

      separate strokes. He further opined that external injur)· No. 2 could be
                                                                                  A
      caused by I to 3 heavy strokes on the same part. On the basis of this
      evidence the High Court caine to the conclusion that ihe appellant was
      guilty of murder.

            There is no doubt that the deceased died a homicidal death. The
      concurrent findings of fact reveal that the appellant was in possession     B
      of the field under a sale deed executed by his mother in his favour till
      the day prior to the incident. Even so, the High Court held that he had
      no right to assault and kill the deceased. That is because the law does
      not permit a person, even if there is trespass upon his land to take lhc
      law in his own hands to secure back the possession. In the instant case.
      when the appellant went to his field he found the deceased and his
      companions in possession of the field and tilling the land. Although        c
      the title of the field vested in him and he was in actual possession, his
      remedy was not to assauity the deceased but to seek protection of the
      public authorities to evict him. The High Court, therefore, came to the
      conclusion that the appellant had no right of self defence .
...                                                                              D
             The law relating to the right of private defence is encapsuled in
      Sections 96 to !06, !PC. According to Section 96 nothing is an offence
      which is done in the exercise of the right of private defence. Section 97
      provides that every person has a right, subject to the restrictions con-
      tained in Section 99, to defend (i) his own body, and the body of any
      other person against any offence affecting the human body and (ii) the _ E
      property, whether movable or immovable, of himself or of any other
      person, against any act which is an offence falling within the definition
      of theft, robbery, mischief or criminal trespass. Section 99 is in two
      parts: the first enumerates acis against which there is no right of pri-
      vate defence and the second indicaies the extent to which such right
      may be exercised. The third clause falling within the first part says F
      there is no right of private defence in cases in which there is time to
      have recourse to the protection of the public authorities. The second
      part says that the right of private defence in no case extends to the
      inflicting of more harm than it is necessary to inflict for the purpose of
      defence. Sections IOO to 102 deal with the right of private defence of the
      body with which we are not concerned. Section 103 provides that the G
      right of private defence of property extends to the voluntary causing of
      death or any other harm to the wrong-doer, if the offence which occa-
      sions the exercise of the right, be an offence of robbery, house-
      breaking at night, mischief by fire, theft, mischief or house trespass.
      Section 104 indicates \vhen such fight extends to causing any harn1
      other than death. Then comes section 105 which states that the right of     H
    196                   SUPREME COURT REPORTS            I 1991] 2 S.C.R.

    private defence to property commences when a reasonable apprehen-
A
    sion of danger to the property commences and continues. in the case of
    criminal trespass, as long as the offender continues in the commission
    thereof. These provisions clearly show that a rightful owner in peace-
    ful possession of his land is entitled to defend his property against any
    person or persons who threaten to dispossess him. The law does not
B   expect any cowardice on his part when there is real and imminent
    danger to his property from outside sources. Thus a rightful owner is
    entitled to throw out, by using such force as would in the circumst-
    ances of the case appear to be reasonably necessary, any person who
    tries to invade his right to peaceful possession of his property. But if
    the trespasser has settled in the possession of the property, the
    recourse which the rightful person must adopt is to recover possession
c   in accordance with law and not by force. In such a case the trespasser
    would be entitled to defend his possession even against a rightful
    owner if the latter tries to evict him by use of force. But no hard and
    fast rule can be laid down in this behalf because much would depend

D
    on the facts of each case.

          The facts of this case reveal that the disputed land belonged to
                                                                                ..
                                                                                "'-
    Saibani, the appellant"s mother who had sold it to the appellant under
    a deed of conveyance. PW I happens to be her co-wife's daughter son
    while the deceased was PW J's maternal uncle. There was some dis-
    pute between the appellant and PW I regarding this parcel of land. On
E   the execution of the sale deed dated 9th June, 1972 in favour of the
    appellant the title to the land passed to the appellant and as found by
    both courts he was in actual possession of the land till the da, previous
    to the incident. The incident occurred on 1st June, 1974 on which day
    PW 1 entered into the field and stared to till it with the help of PWs 5
    to 7. This act of criminal trespass was at the behest of the deceased. On
F   that afternoon the deceased had gone to the field with food for PWs I,
    5 to 7. After giving them the meals the deceased sat on the ridge of
    Mohan Mahanta at a distance of about 30 cubits. At that time the
    appellant arrived at the scene with his servants OW 1-Madhu and
    Budhu (not examined) with plough and bullocks to till the land. On
    seeing PW I and his companions tilling the land, he asked him to
G   unyoke the bullocks but the prosecution party refused whereupon the
    appellant went to where the deceased was sitting on the ridge and dealt
    him heavy blows with his stick which proved fatal. Since the defence
    version that the deceased had gone after the appellant with an axe is
    disbelieved, and in our view rightly, it follows that the appellant went
    and attacked the deceased who was unarmed and was still in sitting
H   posture and gave two or three blows with his stick on the head of the
                   M.C. PRADHAN v. STATE OF ORISSA [AHMADI, J.]                197

         deceased. Can the benefit of the right of private defence be available       A
         to the assailant in such circumstances'' Can it be said that the appellant
         was justified in using force? True it is, PW I and his companions had
         invaded ·the field of the appellant which was lying vacant and had
         started to till it. Even so, was the appellant justified in straightaway
         approaching the deceased, who was sitting on the ridge, and assaulting
                                                                                      B
         him on the prosecution party refusing to unyoke the bullocks'> The
         appellant had a right to confront the prosecution party which was
         guilty of criminal trespass and could have used reasonable force to
•        clear the encroachment, but he could not use it as a pretext or excuse
    J.   to settle the old dispute regarding the title to the land. He clearly
         abused the right and in the guise of protecting his property he attacked
         an unarmed person who was sitting at a distance by inflicting heavy          c
         blows on the vital part of his body, namely, the skull causing multiple
         fractures. The deceased had not offered any resistance, he was unar-
         med and was in sitting posture when the blows were hit giving him no
         chance even to run away. It, therefore, seems crystal clear that the
         appellant abused the right arising out of the trespass to kill the
                                                                                      D
         deceased. I.n these special circumstances we feel this was a case of
         intentional murder and not something done in the exercise of right to
         protect the property. The High Court rightly points out that the land
         was lying fallow and there was no such urgency to take the law in his
         own hand. We concur with the High Court that this is a case of murder
         simpliciter.
                                                                                      E
                Counsel for the appellant submitted that the conviction should
         be altered to one under Section 304 Part II, !PC. This is a case in which
         the appellant inflicted more than one blow on the deceased on seeing
         him on his land. There was no grave or sudden provocation as urged by
         counsel for the appellant. The medical evidence clearly shows that the
         blows were vicious and on the head resulting in the fractures of the         F
         parietal bone. In the circumstances. we do not think that this is a case
         falling either under Section 30;1 Part I or Part II, !PC.

              We, therefore, do not see any merit in this appeal and disn1iss
         the same. The appellant will surrender to his bail and serve out the
         remaining part of his sentence.                                              G

         V.P.R.
                                                                Appeal dismissed.