1. Rule. With the consent of the parties Counsel Rule made returnable forthwith. Learned Counsel for respondents Nos. 2 and 3 waives service. Learned Counsel for the petitioner submits that name of respondent No. 1 be deleted as no relief is claimed against him. His order passed in judicial capacity is under challenge. I order accordingly.
2. Challenge has been made to a show cause notice dated October 12, 1995 issued under section 111 of the Criminal Procedure Code, for short ‘the Code’, in this criminal writ petition.
3. The notice says that Special Executive Magistrate had received information from Senior Inspector of Police, Byculla Police Station that the petitioner armed with deadly weapons like hockeysticks is causing trouble to the peace loving citizens. In the report the following instances are cited.
“(i) Between 8-7-1992 to 10-9-1992 there was theft of teak wood worth Rs. 65,000/- from a godown situate at Sunderramdas Saw Mill Compound, Opposite Ray Road Station and the petitioner with knowledge that the said wood was stolen property, purchased it for his own benefit at lower rate. With respect to the said incident, Byculla Police Station has registered C.R No. 444 of 1992 under sections 454, 457, 380 of the Indian Penal Code. The stolen property was recovered from the petitioner. On 19-9-1992 the petitioner was arrested for commission of offence under section 411 of the Indian Penal Code and was released on bail.
(ii) On 9-2-1993 at about 18.30 Hrs. the petitioner with the help of his associates stabbed a person by means of a sharp weapon and on the said incident Kalachowky Police Station has registered offences under sections 302, 307, 141, 143 to 149, Indian Penal Code vide their C.R No. 25 of 1993. The petitioner was arrested and has been released on bail.
(iii) On 16-2-1995 at 19.30 Hrs. the petitioner and his associate assaulted one Altaf Yusuf Kazi over a cause of keeping pots in the open space. On the said incident, Byculla Police Station registered C.R No. 43 of 1995 under section 324 read with 34 of the Indian Penal Code. The petitioner was arrested and has been released on bail.”
4. According to the show cause notice, these instances are sufficient to attract the provisions of section 110(a) of the Code. The notice does not say that the crimes registered against the petitioner at Sr. Nos. (ii) and (iii) ended in his conviction. Section 110(a) can only be attracted when a person is proved by habit a robber, house-breaker, thief or forgerer by habit or a receiver of stolen property. The proof will only be available after the petitioner is found guilty of the charge levelled against him. This is not the case of respondent No. 2 that the charges levelled against the petitioner as contained in (ii) and (iii) of the show cause notice have been proved at the trial. The object of the proceedings under this section is prevention and not punishment for offences. The drastic measure cannot be taken against the petitioner till the charge levelled against him is proved. On the admitted facts action under section 110(a) of the code on the basis of the grounds at Sr. Nos. (ii) and (iii) of the show cause notice is unwarranted. The show cause notice does not fall within the purview of section 110(a) of the code.
5. The instance cited at Sr. No. (i) of the show cause notice is that stolen property was recovered from the petitioner and an offence at C.R No. 444 of 1992 under sections 454, 457 and 380, Indian Penal Code was registered against the petitioner at Byculla Police Station. The registration of the case for the alleged offence will not take the character of the proof of fact that the petitioner by habit was a receiver of stolen property. The object of the proceedings under sections 107 to 110 of the Code is prevention and not punishment. It is to be used solely for the purpose of securing future good behaviour. The action would be fully justified if on earlier occasions the charges envisaged under various clauses of section 110 of the Code had been established in the Court. On the strength of proof of the past incidents falling within the purview of various clauses of section 110 of the Code and to prevent the accused from committing similar offences preventive action can be taken. But this is not the position here. The accusation stated at (i) has yet to be tried. Preventive action is uncalled for. The show cause notice is thus wholly illegal and cannot be sustained.
6. For the reasons stated above the petition succeeds and hence the following order.
(i) Show cause notice dated 12-10-1995, at Exhibit A to the petition is quashed.
(ii) Respondent No. 2 is at liberty to take such action against the petitioner in conformity with law and taking the aforesaid observations in view.
7. Rule made absolute in the above terms. Intimation to be sent to the concerned authorities immediately.
Petition allowed.