CASE NAME	Munshi Ram and Ors. V. Delhi administration, 1968 SCR (2) 408
CITATION	1968 AIR 702, AIR 1968 SUSC702, 1968 (1) SCWR 30, 1968 MADLW (CRI) 90, 1968 SCD 244, 1968 2 SCJ 521, 1968 2 SCR 455, 1968 MADLJ(CRI) 577
COURT	Supreme Court of India
BENCH	Hon’ble Justice K.S. Hegde, Justice S.M. Sikri, Justice J. M. Shelat
APPELLANT	Munshi Ram and others
RESPONDENT	Delhi administration
DECIDED ON	decided on 27th November, 1967

 

INTRODUCTION

The case of Munshi Ram deals with the general exception of private defense, which is given under Sec. 34 of BNS previously given under Sec. 96 of IPC. Every Indian citizen has the right to private defense, which allows them to defend themselves against any outside force that could cause them harm or injury. In everyday terms, it is using otherwise illegal means to defend oneself, another person, or property or against any other criminal activity. The Indian Penal Code of 1860 has laws pertaining to each and every Indian citizen’s right to private defense in sections 96 to 106. Every free nation’s citizens ought to have the ability to defend themselves against any impending threat when official assistance is neither feasible nor available. 

This right should be interpreted in light of the state’s obligation to safeguard its citizens’ property. Every Indian citizen was allowed the right to use it for self-defense. However, many people frequently abuse this privilege by using it as a justification for committing crimes or other offenses. Consequently, there are significant limitations and constraints on this right to private defense. Even though India’s inhabitants were granted the right to private defense as a tool for self-defense, many people frequently use this freedom for nefarious or illegal ends. The court now has the obligation and responsibility to determine whether or not the right was exercised in good faith. The degree to which this privilege may be exercised is determined by a reasonable fear of risk rather than by actual threat. An accused party may, but only to a limited extent, expand this right; this would not negate the right to a private defense.

FACTS OF THE CASE

Field No. 1129/477, which is five bighas and thirteen Biswas in Kilokri, was managed by the controlling officer since it was an evacuee property. The Displaced Persons Act of 1954 allowed the Central Government to purchase the property, which PW 17 Ashwani Kumar Dutt bought for Rs. 7,600 on January 2, 1961, at a public auction. PW It) Sham Das Kanungo made the aforementioned delivery. When PW 17 and his father, PW 19, went to the field on July 1, 1962, with PW 16, Gopal Das, PW 15, Nand Lal, and one B. N. Acharya using a tractor to level the land, PWs 17 and 19 as well as the tractor driver, B. N. Acharya, were injured by the appellants’ spears and lathis attack on the complainants’ party.  

ISSUES RAISED

• Has the appellants’ claimed right of personal defense been sufficiently established? 
• Have they outdone an equivalent if they were granted that right?

ARGUMENTS FROM BOTH SIDES

Argument on behalf of the petitioner

• The appellants maintained a private defense stance throughout, despite their denial in their statement made in accordance with s. 342 Cr.P.C. that they were at the scene of the incident or that they had injured anyone. 
• They argue that for more than thirty years, their relative Jamuna (DW 3) was the land’s renter. His lease was never canceled. It was a field where he had raised crops. On June 22, 1962, there was no delivery made. If the prosecution claims that a delivery occurred, it was not authorized by law and so had no bearing. 
• As a result, Jamuna held ownership of the land until July 1, 1962. The day before the incident, PWs 17 and 19 attempted to coerce Jamuna into making peace with them and giving them peaceful control of the land. However, he sidestepped the issue by claiming that he was leaving the station and that it could be discussed when he got back. 
• On July 1, 1962, the complainant party arrived at the field in a body and a tractor to aggressively assert their right to the land. PW 19 had a handgun without a license at the time. At this point, the complaining party was ordered to leave the field by the appellants, who happened to be close relatives of Jamuna. They pushed them when they refused, then used the least amount of force possible to eject them off the field. 

Argument on behalf of the respondent

• The particular delivery was made in accordance with S. 19 of the Act. To the extent that it is relevant to our current goal, Section 19 says, The managing officer or managing corporation may cancel any allotment, terminate any lease, or amend the terms of any lease or allotment under which any evacuee property acquired under this Act is held or occupied by a person, whether such allotment or lease was granted before or after the commencement of this Act. This is true regardless of anything stated in any contract or other law currently in effect, subject to any rules that may be made under this Act.
• Whether legal or wrong, PW 17 seized control of the property on June 22, 1962. As a result, Jamuna had no right to take the law into his own hands and should have brought his complaints to LISup(CI)/68-15 in a court of law. This argument is predicated on a misinterpretation of the law. PW 17 could not be considered to have been in possession of the field if it could not be established that he was in possession of it at the time of the purported delivery. 
• The completion of certain requirements in response to an unauthorized directive from PW 5 does not establish that PW 17 gained possession of the field. The actions done on June 22, 1962, by PW 17 and those who accompanied him were also not authorized. 

JUDGMENT

The Hon’ble Supreme Court, in this case, held that the appellants could not be said to have exceeded their right of private defense, and hence, their conviction was set aside. The court observed that Such a right against the owner of the truth is not granted by stray or even sporadic acts of trespass. The territory that a trespasser has the right to defend against the legitimate owner must be a settled territory that has been acknowledged by the genuine owner and spans a significant amount of time. The legitimate owner’s possession would not be disrupted by an impromptu act of possession.

CONCLUSION

1. 97 of the Indian Penal Code lays out the legal framework for property defense. It states that every individual is entitled, subject to the limitations outlined in s..99, to defend (1) their own body and the body of any other person against any offense that affects the human body and (2) their property, whether it be movable or immovable, against any act that is an offense that falls under the definition of theft, robbery, mischief, or criminal trespass, or that is an attempt to commit any of these offenses. There is time to seek the protection of public authorities, according to Section 99 of the code. It further states that the right to private defense shall never be exercised in a way that would result in more harm than is necessary to achieve defense. The law does not force someone whose property is being forcibly occupied by trespassers to flee and seek out police assistance. 

The right to private defense has social utility and ought to be interpreted broadly. Such a right will not only serve as a deterrent to evil people but also uplift virtuous traits in free citizens. Running away from danger is the most dehumanizing thing that can happen to a person. The Court relied on many cases, and it concluded that generally, the accused must plead for the above-mentioned right, but even if he does not plead for self-defense, it is open to the court to consider the plea of private defense if it arises from materials on record. It observed that in general parlance, even if the right of private defense is not pleaded, it is assumed to be pleaded and given the benefit of this defense.

It is commonly accepted in a well-ordered, civilized society that the State would look out for the people and property of individual citizens and that it is the State’s duty to provide protection for these people and their belongings. This does not, however, imply that someone who is unexpectedly faced with an attack has to flee in order to defend themselves. He has the right to protect himself and fend off the assault. In the event of an attack on his property, his situation remains unchanged. Stated differently, a citizen has the right to defend himself and his property when they are in danger and cannot easily access rapid assistance from the government machinery.