Sushant Singh Kushwaha And Ors vs Police Incharge And Ors

S. C. Gupte, J

Heard learned Counsel for the Petitioners and learned Public Prosecutors.

Rule. Taken up for hearing forthwith by consent of Counsel.

This Petition challenges the prosecution of Criminal Case No.AOA/85/2018, pending before the Judicial Magistrate, First Class, at Pernem. The criminal case appears to be the result of FIR No.192/2017, registered by Respondent No.1 Pernem Police Station. The Respondents have already filed a Charge Sheet bearing Charge Sheet No.56/2018, alleging an offence under Section 17A of the Goa Town and Country Planning Act (the "Act"), against the Petitioners.

Section 17A of the Act prohibits cutting of any hilly land and filling up of any low lying land, etc. and makes the acts as an offence. Section 124 of the Act requires that no prosecution for any offence punishable under the Act can be instituted, except with the previous sanction of the Government or the Planning and Development Authority concerned, or any officer authorised by the Government or such Planning and Development Authority in that behalf. Learned Additional Public Prosecutor, who appears on behalf of Respondent No.2, confirms that there is no previous sanction of the Government or the Planning and Development Authority, or any Officer of the Government or the Planning Authority, as the case may be, for prosecution of the alleged offence of the Petitioner under Section 17A of the Act. Since, admittedly, there is no previous sanction, the prosecution has been wrongly instituted and cannot go through.

Criminal Case No.AOA/85/2018, pending before the Judicial Magistrate, First Class, at Pernem is, accordingly, quashed and set aside. It is, however, made clear that this Court has not applied its mind to the merits of the case. The State is free, if it may so choose, to consider whether or not to prosecute the Petitioners for the alleged offence after seeking a previous sanction under Section 124 of the Act.

The Petition is disposed of accordingly.