Devi Chand Jain vs The State Of Rajasthan on 19 December, 1990
6. It is not disputed that a complaint was filed by Devi Chand in the Court of the Munsif and Judicial Magistrate, Sirohi, in which the tractor was seized and this complaint was sent for investigation to the police and the police, after necessary investigation, presented the challan and the learned Magistrate has taken the cognizance against Laxman Dan and Chhel Singh and the matter is still pending. The learned Counsel for the petitioner has contended that as Laxman Dan is an accused in a case with respect to this very tractor, therefore, the delivery and custody of the tractor, cultivator and displough cannot be given to Laxman Dan and he has placed reliance on Makbool Khan v. The State of Rajasthan 1983 RCC 98, Banney Singh v. The State of Rajasthan 1985 RCC 297, and Kailash Chandra v. Paras Mal 1985 RLW 206).Merely because a complaint has been filed and on the basis of which a cognizance has been taken by the Court, it will not disentitle any accused for consideration of his case for the custody of the vehicle. If that will be allowed then a great hardship will be caused to the real owner and the person who is in possession of the motor vehicle because in that case any person may lodge a report or file a complaint against the real owner and if by chance he succeeds in getting the cognizance taken and the vehicle seized and as soon as the cognizance is taken, the right for consideration of the custody of the vehicle to the actual owner goes away as the case is pending against him. I am therefore, of the opinion that at the time of consideration regarding the custody of the vehicle, the claim of the petitioner for the custody of the vehicle cannot be altogether ignored on the point that a criminal case is pending against him in which the cognizance has been taken. That may be a ground for not giving the custody of the vehicle to him but it cannot altogether disentitle him for the custody of the vehicle. Keeping this in view that a criminal case is pending against Laxam Dan, and the cognizance has been taken against him by the Court, I will consider the case of the respondent Laxman Dan as well as that of Devi Chand as to who is the person best entitled for the delivery of the tractor.