Jagdish Prasad Bansal vs Shivkumar Dansena on 2 July, 2026

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    Chattisgarh High Court

    Jagdish Prasad Bansal vs Shivkumar Dansena on 2 July, 2026

    Author: Parth Prateem Sahu

    Bench: Parth Prateem Sahu

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                 CGHC010352872024                                             2026:CGHC:27879-DB
    
    
    
    
                                                                                         NAFR
    
                             HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR
    
                                               FA No. 198 of 2024
    
                 Jagdish Prasad Bansal S/o Late Ramphal Bansal, Aged About 67 Years R/o
                 Ward No. 11, Sakti, Tehsil Sakti, District-Janjgir-Champa (C.G.) -----(Plaintiff)
                                                                                  ... Appellant(s)
                                                      versus
                 Shivkumar       Dansena   The     Then    Nayab     Tehsildar/tehsildar/executive
                 Magistratet, Sakti, Tehsil-Sakti, District-Sakti (C.G.) At The Time Of Filing Of
                 The Civil Suit He Was Posted At Kharsiya As Tehsildar Kharsiya, District-
                 Raigarh Now At Present He Is Posted As Tehsildar Raigarh, District-Raigarh
                 (C.G.) -----(Defendant)
                                                                               ... Respondent(s)
    
    
                 For Appellant         : Mr. Manoj Paranjpe, Senior Advocate with
                                         Mr. Sandeep Patel, Advocate
                 For Respondent        : Mr. Amrito Das, Senior Advocate with Ms. Juhi
                                         Jaiswal, Advocate
    
                              D.B. : Hon'ble Shri Justice Parth Prateem Sahu &
                                     Hon'ble Shri Justice Sachin Singh Rajput
    
                                              Judgment on Board
                 02/07/2026
    
                 Per Parth Prateem Sahu, J.
    

    1. By this appeal, appellant has challenged the legality and sustainability

    of the impugned order dated 28.09.2024 passed in Civil Suit

    SPONSORED

    No.18-B/2023 by learned First District Judge, Sakti, District – Janjgir

    Digitally
    signed by
    PRAVEEN
    KUMAR
    SINHA
    Date:

    2026.07.09
    18:49:55
    +0530
    2 / 18

    Champa, whereby learned trial Court has dismissed the suit filed by the

    appellant/plaintiff under Order 7 Rule 11 (d) of CPC.

    2. Facts relevant for disposal of the present appeal are that the

    appellant/plaintiff instituted a civil suit against the respondent/defendant

    seeking recovery of a sum of Rs. 33,95,000/- as compensation for the

    alleged illegal demolition of his office, mental agony, and defamation.

    The plaintiff pleaded, inter alia, that while the respondent-defendant

    was posted as Nayab Tehsildar/Tehsildar/Executive Magistrate at Sakti,

    District Sakti, he misused his official powers and illegally demolished

    the plaintiff’s office on 26.03.2018, thereby causing substantial loss. It

    was specifically averred in the plaint that the entire demolition action

    was mala fide, arbitrary, and contrary to law. It was further pleaded that

    despite the grant of a stay order by the Board of Revenue, the

    respondent proceeded to demolish the entire building, resulting in

    considerable financial loss and mental suffering to the plaintiff.

    3. At the stage of filing the written statement, the respondent/defendant

    filed an application under Order 7 Rule 11 of the CPC, seeking

    rejection of the plaint. It was specifically contended that the action

    challenged in the suit had been undertaken by the defendant in his

    official capacity as Nayab Tehsildar. It was submitted that a Tehsildar or

    Nayab Tehsildar apart from being a Revenue Officer under Section 11

    of the Chhattisgarh Land Revenue Code, 1959 (for short, “the Code of

    1959”), is also a Revenue Court within the meaning of Section 31 of

    the said Code. In that capacity, such officer is empowered to initiate

    proceedings against unauthorized occupants of Government land

    under Section 248 of the Code of 1959 and to pass orders of eviction
    3 / 18

    thereunder. It was further contended that, by virtue of Sections 2 and 3

    of the Judges (Protection) Act, 1985, a Tehsildar or Nayab Tehsildar is

    deemed to be a “Judge” in respect of acts performed and orders

    passed while exercising powers under the Code of 1959 and is,

    therefore, entitled to the protection afforded under Section 3(1) of the

    Act. Consequently, no civil suit or criminal proceeding can be instituted

    against such officer in respect of any act done or order passed in the

    discharge of his quasi-judicial functions. The suit seeking

    compensation for actions taken by the defendant in exercise of his

    statutory powers as Revenue Court was expressly barred under

    Section 3 of the Judges (Protection) Act, 1985, rendering the suit not

    maintainable.

    4. Learned trial Court, after considering the pleadings of the parties,

    material available on record, and the relevant statutory provisions,

    allowed the application filed by the respondent/defendant under Order

    7 Rule 11 of the CPC. Consequently, by the impugned order dated

    28.09.2024, learned trial Court rejected the plaint under Order 7 Rule

    11(d) of the CPC, holding that the suit was barred in view of the

    provisions of the Judges (Protection) Act, 1985. Aggrieved by the said

    order, the appellant/plaintiff has preferred the present appeal.

    5. Learned counsel for the appellant/plaintiff would submit that learned

    trial Court committed error in allowing the application under Order 7

    Rule 11 CPC considering the facts and material placed before it by

    defendant overlooking the scope of Order 7 Rule 11 CPC . He

    contended that trial Court failed to appreciate the order passed by

    Board of Revenue dated 20.05.2020 and the order of High Court of
    4 / 18

    Chhattisgarh in Writ Appeal No.370/2023. It is contention of learned

    counsel for appellant that the action of demolition of the building of

    appellant on 26.03.2018 after passing of interim order in favour of

    appellant and bringing the knowledge of defendant/respondent, cannot

    be said to be an act of respondent to be in good faith, but the act of

    respondent- defendant is with malafide. The act of defendant to be

    malafide is a mixed question of fact and law which can be decided only

    after full-fledged trial. Act of respondent to be in good faith or with

    malafide can be proved only after recording of evidence of parties. The

    finding recorded by trial Court is without there being any evidence on

    record and therefore suit filed by appellant- plaintiff ought not to have

    been dismissed under Order 7 Rule 11 of CPC. The act of

    respondent/defendant which is pleaded in plaint will not fall within the

    ambit of “discharge of his judicial duty” and, therefore, the said act is

    not covered under sub-Section (1) of Section 3 of Judges (Protection)

    Act, 1985 (hereinafter referred to as “Act of 1985”). He also contended

    that the order passed by the trial Court dismissing the entire suit under

    Order 7 Rule 11 (d) of CPC is per se illegal and therefore it be set

    aside. In support of his submissions, learned counsel for the appellant

    places reliance upon the decision in case of Shaifali Gupta Vs. Vidya

    Devi Gupta & Ors. (2025 SCC OnLine SC 1181), Producin Pvt. Ltd

    Vs. Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce (T & D) & Ors (First

    Appeal No.65 of 2013, decided on 07.03.2022), Sought Eastern

    Coalfields Ltd. Vs. M/s Rajendra Kumar Poddar (WP227 No. 488 of

    2021 decided on 11.11.2022 ), E.S. Sanjeeva Rao Vs. Central Bureau

    of Investigation (CBI) Mumbai and Ors. (2012 SCC OnLine Bom

    1908), Rachapudi Subba Rao Vs. Advocate General (1981) 2 SCC
    5 / 18

    577 and Deepali Jadhav Vs. The State of Madhya Pradesh & Anr.

    (Criminal Revision No.1592 of 2021 , decided on 8th March 2022),

    6. Learned counsel for the respondent/defendant would vehemently

    oppose submission of learned counsel for the appellant and would

    submit that respondent-defendant was serving as a Nayab

    Tehsildar/Executive Magistrate on 26.03.2018 and in compliance

    of/execution of order passed by his predecessor in the year 2015 under

    Section 248 of the Code of 1959, he had removed the encroachment

    by demolishing the superstructure. It is his contention that demolition of

    illegal construction on Govt. land has been done following due

    procedure of law. Order of removing encroachment under Section 248

    of the Code of 1959 passed by Tehsildar was put to challenge before

    higher authorities i.e. Sub Divisional Officer/Collector/Commissioner.

    He contended that in the revision application, there is no pleading

    made by the appellant that respondent defendant has acted malafide.

    Board of Revenue also has not recorded any finding about the conduct

    of respondent defendant to be not of in good faith on 26.03.2018.

    Respondent being a Revenue Officer acting as a quasi- judicial

    authority has acted to execute the order passed by the authority in

    revenue case, under the provision of Section 248 of the Code of 1959

    and therefore the act of respondent -defendant is in good faith under

    the authority of law. He therefore is protected under Section 3 of the

    Judges (Protection) Act, 1985 in order to safeguard the Judges and the

    Presiding Officer of Revenue Courts from false and frivolous

    prosecution. He submits that there is no dispute that suit can be

    dismissed under the provision of Order 7 Rule 11 of CPC considering
    6 / 18

    the complaint averment. Tehsildar is a Revenue Officer within the

    meaning of Section 11 of the Code of 1959 and functions as quasi-

    judicial Officer in Revenue Court. He contended that act of respondent

    defendant is covered under Section 3 (1) of the Act of 1985. No cause

    of action would legally arise against the respondent personally for the

    act performed by him in discharge of his official duties. Learned trial

    Court upon considering the averments contained in the plaint and the

    applicable statutory provision held that suit was expressly barred under

    the law and rejected the suit filed under Order 7 Rule 11 CPC. In

    support of his submissions, he places reliance upon the decision in

    case of Rajkumar Tamboli Vs. State of Chhattisgarh & Anr. (CRMP

    No.1461 of 2023 and other connected matters decided on 29.04.2024),

    P.K. Gupta Vs. State of Chhattisgarh & Ors. (CRMP No.366 of 2015,

    decided on 17.01.2020), Sree Surya Developers and Promoters Vs.

    N. Sailesh Prasad and Ors. (2022) 5 SCC 736 and K. Akbar Ali Vs.

    K. Umar Khan & Ors (2021) 14 SCC 51.

    7. We have heard learned counsel for the respective parties and also

    perused the records of the case.

    8. Challenge in this appeal is to the order passed by learned trial Court

    whereby the application filed under Order 7 Rule 11 CPC by the

    defendant/respondent was allowed and the suit filed by the

    appellant/plaintiff was dismissed under Order 7 Rule 11 (d) of CPC

    recording a finding that respondent/defendant while holding post of

    Nayab Tehsildar/In-Charge Tehsildar, Sakti, has initiated proceeding of

    ejectment and removal of superstructure and therefore he is protected

    under the Judges (Protection) Act 1985.

    7 / 18

    9. From the pleadings made in the plaint itself it is clear that the

    plaintiff/appellant has pleaded that Tehsildar while considering the case

    registered against the plaintiff/appellant has passed an order of

    ejectment. Order passed by the Tehsildar was upheld by Commissioner

    and after passing of order by the Commissioner on 21.03.2018, notice

    was issued for removing superstructure and vacating land subject

    matter of revenue proceedings and upon date fixed for removing

    encroachment in the notice, superstructure was demolished and get

    the land vacated. Nayab Tasildar is a Revenue Officer under Section 11

    of the Code of 1959. Section 11 of the Code of 1959 is relevant in the

    facts of case and it is extracted below for ready reference:

    “11. Revenue Officers.- There shall be the following
    classes of the Revenue Officers, namely :-

    (1) Commissioner, Land Records;

    (2) Additional Commissioner, Land Records;

    3) Commissioner,
    (4) Additional Commissioner;

    (5) Collector and District Survey Officer,
    (6) Additional Collector,
    (7) Sub-Divisional Officer (Sub Divisional Officer
    (Revenue) and Deputy Survey Officer,
    (8) Assistant Collector,
    (9) Joint Collector,
    (10) Deputy Collector,
    (11) Tahsildar and Assistant Survey Officer;
    (12) Additional Tahsildar (Additional Tahsildar);
    (13) Superintendent of Land Records;
    (14) Naib Tahsildar, and
    (15) Assistant Superintendent of Land Records.]
    8 / 18

    10. Section 31 of the Code of 1959 provides for conferral of status of

    Courts on Board and Revenue Officers which reads as under :

    “31. Conferral of Status of Courts on Board
    and Revenue Officers- The Board or a Revenue
    Officer, while exercising power under this Code
    or any other enactment for the time being in force
    to enquire into or to decide any question arising
    for determination between the State Government
    and any person or between parties to any
    proceedings, shall be a Revenue Court.

    11. Section 32 provides inherent power to Revenue Courts, which is also

    re-produced herein-under:

    “32. Inherent power of Revenue Courts.-
    Nothing in this Code shall be deemed to limit or
    otherwise affect the inherent power of the
    Revenue Court to make such orders as may be
    necessary for the ends of justice or to prevent the
    abuse of the process of the Court.”

    12. Section 2 of the Act of 1985 defines “Judge”. Definition of Judge is also

    extracted below for ready reference:

    “2. Definition.–In this Act, “Judge” means not
    only every person who is officially designated as
    Judge, but also every person–

    (a)who is empowered by law to give in any
    legal proceeding a definitive judgment, or a
    judgment which, if not appealed against, would
    be definitive, or a judgment which, if confirmed
    by some other authority, would be definitive; or

    (b) who is one of a body of persons which
    body of persons is empowered by law to give
    such a judgment as is referred to in clause (a).”

    9 / 18

    13. While exercising the power under Section 248 of the Code of 1959,

    Nayab Tahsildar decided the revenue case and according to Section 31

    of the Code of 1959, he is conferred with the status of Revenue Court,

    while discharging the proceeding under Section 248 of the Code of

    1959 and executing its order.

    14. Hon’ble Supreme Court in case of Rachapudi Subba Rao (supra) has

    considered the issue of protection to the Judicial Officer and observed

    thus :

    “9. As pointed out by this Court in Anwar Hussain V.
    Ajoy Kumar Mukerjee & Ors. the Section
    affords
    protection to two broad categories of acts done or
    ordered to be done by a judicial Officer in his judicial
    capacity. In the first category fall those acts which are
    within the limits of his jurisdiction. The second category
    encompasses those acts which may not be within the
    jurisdiction of the judicial Officer, but are, nevertheless,
    done or ordered to be done by him, believing in good
    faith that he had jurisdiction to do them or order them
    to be done.

    10. In the case of acts of the first category committed
    in the discharge of his judicial duties, the protection
    afforded by the statute is absolute, and no enquiry will
    be entertained as to whether the act done or ordered
    to be done was erroneous, or even illegal, or was done
    or ordered without believing in good faith.

    11. In the case of acts of the second category, the
    protection of the statute will be available if at the time
    of doing, ordering the act, the judicial officer acting
    judicially, in good faith believed himself to have
    jurisdiction to do or order the same. The expression
    “jurisdiction” in this Section has not been used in the
    10 / 18

    limited sense of the term, as connoting the “power” to
    do or order to do the particular act complained of, but
    is used in a wide sense as meaning “generally the
    authority of the Judicial Officer to act in the matters”.

    Therefore, if the judicial officer had the general
    authority to enter upon the enquiry into the cause,
    action, petition or other proceeding in the course of
    which the impugned act was done or ordered by him in
    his judicial capacity, the act, even if erroneous, will still
    be within his `jurisdiction’, and the mere fact that it was
    erroneous will not put it beyond his “jurisdiction”. Error
    in the exercise of jurisdiction is not to be confused with
    lack of jurisdiction in entertaining the cause or
    proceeding. It follows that if the judicial officer is found
    to have been acting in the discharge of his judicial
    duties, then, in order to exclude him from the
    protection of this statute, the complainant has to
    establish that (1) the judicial officer complained against
    was acting without any jurisdiction whatsoever, and (2)
    he was acting without good faith in believing himself to
    have jurisdiction.”

    15. High Court of Bombay in case of N.V. Shamsunder Civil Judge

    (Senior Division) V. Savitabai reported in 2006 Lawsuit (Bom.) 1230

    has considered the suit filed against Civil Judge for not investing the

    amount of compensation as directed by the Appellate Authority

    awarded in the land acquisition matter, and it observed thus :

    “6. I have considered the submissions made by the
    learned Counsel and perused the record. Since the
    immunity is claimed by the defendant No. 1 under the
    above two Acts, it would be appropriate to quote
    Section 1 of the Judicial Officers’ Protection Act of
    1850 and Section 3 of the Judges (Protection) Act,
    11 / 18

    1985. Section 1 of the Judicial Officers Protection Act
    of 1850 reads as under:

    1. Non-liability to suit of officers acting judicially,
    for official acts done in good faith and of officers
    executing warrants and order:- No Judge,
    Magistrate, Justice of Peace, Collector or other
    person acting judicially shall be liable to be sued
    in any Civil Court for any act done or ordered to
    be done by him in the discharge of his judicial
    duty, whether or not within the limits of his
    jurisdiction: Provided that he at the time in good
    faith, believed himself to have jurisdiction to do or
    order the act complained of; and no officer of any
    Court or other person, bound to execute the
    lawful warrants or orders of any such judge,
    Magistrate, Justice of the Peace, Collector or
    other person acting judicially shall be liable to be
    sued in any Civil Court, for the execution of any
    warrant or order, which he would be bound to
    execute, if within the jurisdiction of the person
    issuing the same.

    Section 3 of the Judges (Protection) Act, 1985 reads
    as under:

    Additional protection to Judges :- (1)
    Notwithstanding anything contained in any other
    law for the time being in force and subject to the
    provisions of Sub-section (2), no Court shall
    entertain or continue any civil or criminal
    proceeding against any person who is or was a
    Judge for any act, thing or word committed, done
    or spoken by him when, or in the course of acting
    or purporting to act in the discharge of his official
    or judicial duty or function. (2) Nothing in Sub-
    section (1) shall debar or affect in any manner
    the power of the Central Government or the State
    Government or the Supreme Court of India or
    12 / 18

    any High Court or any other authority under any
    law for the time being in force to take such action
    (whether by way of civil, criminal or departmental
    proceedings or otherwise) against any person
    who is or was a Judge.

    7. From the bare perusal of the Section 1 of The 1850
    Act, it is clear that the Judicial Officer acting judicially
    is protected in respect of any act done or ordered to be
    done by him in the discharge of his judicial duty
    provided he in good faith believed himself to have
    jurisdiction to do or order the act complained of.
    Insofar as Section 3 of The 1985 Act, which provides
    additional protection to Judges clearly stipulates that
    no Court shall entertain or continue any civil or criminal
    proceedings against any person who is or was a Judge
    for any act, thing or word committed, done or spoken
    by him when, or in the course of, acting or purporting
    to act in the discharge of his official or judicial duty or
    function. Thus, Section 3 gives complete immunity to a
    Judge or Ex-Judge in respect of any act, thing or word
    committed, done or spoken by him when, or in the
    course of, acting or purporting to act in the discharge
    of his official or judicial duty or function. Section 4 of
    the said Act also provides that provision of this Act
    shall be in addition to, and not in derogation of, the
    provisions of any other law for the time being in force
    providing for protection of Judges. The conjoint
    reading of sections 3 and 4 makes it clear that the
    protection given to a Judge or Ex-Judge for any act,
    thing or word committed, done or spoken by him while
    discharging official or judicial function is absolute.
    Under Section 1 of The 1850 Act the protection from
    being sued in civil suit is available to a Judge or
    Magistrate for any act done or ordered to be done by
    him in the discharge of his judicial duty provided he in
    good faith believed himself to have jurisdiction to do or
    13 / 18

    order the act complained of. As such the protection
    available to a Judge under The 1850 Act is in respect
    of any action taken in good faith whereas the
    protection available under The 1985 Act is absolute
    and is even available not only to a sitting Judge but
    also to an Ex-Judge in respect of the actions taken or
    words spoken by him while discharging his official or
    judicial function. The reason behind giving absolute
    protection by The 1985 Act is quite obvious. If such an
    absolute protection is not given, the Judge or Ex Judge
    runs the risk of facing civil action at the instance of the
    disgruntled litigants who may have been aggrieved by
    adverse orders passed against them. If such an
    absolute protection is not given, a Judge or an Ex-
    judge is likely to face frivolous suits at the instance of
    the litigants who are aggrieved by adverse orders
    passed by the Judge or Ex-Judge. Therefore, in order
    to give absolute protection to the Judge not only during
    his tenure but even thereafter, the Legislature thought
    it fit to enact The Judges (Protection) Act, 1985. A bare
    reading of Sections 3 and 4 of the said Act makes the
    intention of the legislature to give complete protection
    to a Judge sitting or retired clear. That being the
    position, in my view, there is considerable merit in the
    submission of Mr. Bhangde that the trial Court
    exercised jurisdiction illegally in rejecting the
    application under Order VII, Rule 11 of the Code of
    Civil Procedure
    . It is the case of the defendant No. 1
    that the suit filed against the defendant No. 1 was
    clearly barred and, therefore, the plaint was liable to be
    rejected as against the defendant No. 1 under Order
    VII, Rule 11(d) of Civil Procedure Code on the ground
    that there was a bar to file the suit. Since the suit was
    clearly barred under Section 3 of the 1985 Act, the
    application filed by the defendant No. 1 ought to have
    been allowed by the trial Court. I am, therefore, of the
    14 / 18

    opinion that the trial Court exercised jurisdiction
    illegally in rejecting the application filed by the
    defendant No. 1. I am unable to accept the submission
    of Mr. Darda appearing on behalf of the respondents 1
    to 6 that the respondents 1 to 6 have filed the suit
    against the defendants in good faith believing that the
    suit is the only remedy available in view of the
    communication of the Registrar and the notice under
    Section 80 of the Code of Civil Procedure issued to the
    defendants. The suit must have been filed by the
    plaintiffs against the defendants after obtaining legal
    advise and if the plaintiffs have been wrongly advised
    in filing the suit which is patently not maintainable, they
    cannot come with the plea that the suit was filed in
    good faith. Moreover, it is pertinent to note that the
    application filed under Order VII, Rule 11 of the Code
    of Civil Procedure
    by the defendant No. 1 in the trial
    Court was vehemently contested in the trial Court by
    respondents 1 to 6. They have also contested the
    present Revision Application. Therefore, I am unable to
    accept the submission of Mr. Darda, I am, therefore, of
    the opinion that the impugned order deserves to be
    quashed and set aside.”

    16. In case of Zunjarrao Bhikaji Nagarkar Vs. Union of India & Ors.

    reported in (1999) 7 SCC 409, Hon’ble Supreme Court has held that if

    the revenue officer in quasi-judicial adjudication has wrongly exercised

    his jurisdiction, that wrong can be corrected in appeal. That can not

    always form basis for initiating disciplinary proceedings against the

    officer while he is acting as quasi-judicial authority. It must be kept in

    mind that being a quasi- judicial authority, he is always subject to

    judicial supervision in appeal.

    15 / 18

    17. In case of Balram & Ors. Vs. Aswani Kumar Yadav & Ors. reported

    in MANU/MP/0175/2001, High Court of Madhya Pradesh has observed

    thus:

    ” The non-applicant No. 1 was empowered to give a definite
    judgment in a legal proceeding. It does not matter that for
    the purpose of the M.P. Land Revenue Code, the
    judgment is mentioned as an order. The definition given in
    Section 2 of the Act is much wider and it includes an order
    which determines the right of the parties, for the reasons
    given in it. If the non-applicant No. 1, exercising his power
    under the M.P. Land Revenue Code, is a Judge, then he
    is entitled to protection under Section 3(1) of the Act and
    no Court could entertain any civil or criminal proceedings
    against him for any act, thing or word committed, done or
    spoken by him, or in the course of acting or purporting to
    act in the discharge of his official or judicial duty or
    function. It cannot be said that if the non-applicant No. 1 is
    charged of the offences which the applicant-complainant
    wants him to be charged with, the action taken by him
    during the course of passing of the judicial order of
    mutation, will not form part of the offences.”

    18. In the pleadings made in the plaint, there is no specific pleading that

    respondent /defendant has acted without jurisdiction, but the pleading

    is that Tehsildar (defendant) even after bringing to his knowledge of the

    interim order of stay of order of ejectment has demolished the

    superstructure and got the appellant/plaintiff evicted.

    19. Definition of Judge as provided under the Act of 1985 is very wide. It

    also includes a person empowered under law to give in legal

    proceeding a definite judgment. The respondent while acting in the
    16 / 18

    officiating capacity of Tehsildar was executing the order passed under

    Section 248 of the Code of 1959 in Revenue Case.

    20. Section 3 of the Act of 1985 provides for additional protection to Judges

    which reads as under :

    “3. Additional protection to Judges.–

    (1)Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law
    for the time being in force and subject to the provisions
    of sub-section (2), no court shall entertain or continue
    any civil or criminal proceeding against any person
    who is or was a Judge for any act, thing or word
    committed, done or spoken by him when, or in the
    course of, acting or purporting to act in the discharge
    of his official or judicial duty or function.
    (2) Nothing in sub-section (1) shall debar or affect in
    any manner the power of the Central Government or
    the State Government or the Supreme Court of India
    or any High Court or any other authority under any law
    for the time being in force to take such action (whether
    by way of civil, criminal, or departmental proceedings
    or otherwise) against any person who is or was a
    Judge.”

    21. Perusal of the afore extracted provision under the Act of 1985 would

    show that there is bar for entertaining or continuing of any civil or

    criminal proceedings against any person who is or was Judge for any

    act, thing or word committed.

    22. The act of the person being a Judge is protected. It is not in dispute

    that respondent while acting as Tehsildar was discharging his duties

    and functions under Section 248 of the Code fo 1959 and in

    compliance of order passed under Section 248 further action of

    removal of encroachment was initiated by him.

    17 / 18

    23. The argument which is advanced by learned counsel for the

    appellant/plaintiff is that whether the act committed by

    respondent/defendant is in discharge of his duty or not can only be

    proved by evidence, which in the opinion of this Court is not

    sustainable. It is not disputed by the appellant that respondent

    /defendant was not posted as officiating Tehsildar, the demolition is in

    execution of the order passed under Section 248 of the Code of 1959.

    In above facts of the case and the provision under the Act of 1985 as

    also provision of Section 31 of the Code of 1959 we are of the

    considered view that respondent/ defendant is protected under the Act

    of 1985 as the respondent-defendant acted in capacity of Nayab

    Tahsildar a Revenue Officer under Section 11 of the Code of 1959 and

    has exercised jurisdiction under Section 248 of the Code of 1959 being

    a revenue Court. The act of respondent defendant is protected . In the

    plaint there is no specific pleading that action taken by respondent is

    without jurisdiction.

    24. Reliance placed by learned counsel for the appellant/plaintiff in case of

    Rachapudi Subba Rao (supra) is considered by this Court in

    preceding paragraph.

    25. In case of Deepali Jadhav (supra) criminal case was registered

    against the applicant therein under Section 13 (1) (d), 13 (2) of the

    Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 along with other offences of IPC

    and in that facts of case High Court of Madhya Pradesh held that in

    view of conduct of judicial officer, applicant was not entitled for

    protection under the Act of 1985.

    18 / 18

    26. As civil proceeding initiated against respondent/defendant is barred

    under Section 3 of the Act of 1985 and therefore in the opinion of this

    Court, learned trial Court has not committed any illegally or infirmity in

    allowing the application under Order 7 Rule 11 of CPC and dismissing

    the suit under Order 7 Rule 11 (d) of the Act of 1985.

    27. For the foregoing discussions, we do not find any merit in the appeal.

    The first appeal deserves to be and is accordingly dismissed. The

    impugned judgment and decree dismissing the suit under Order 7 Rule

    11(d) CPC are affirmed.

    28. Let a decree be drawn accordingly.

                            Sd/-                                       Sd/-
                    (Parth Prateem Sahu)                       (Sachin Singh Rajput)
                           Judge                                      Judge
    
    Praveen
    
    
                     S
     



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