JUDGMENT
1. This is a Rule on the District Magistrate to show cause why the conviction and sentences of the petitioners should not be set aside on the ground that the property contemplated in Section 406 is movable property, and the property entrusted to the petitioners was standing crops; on the authority of the case of Jugdown Sinha v. Queen-Empress 23 C. 372 and also why the sentences should not be reduced.
2. It has been found by both Courts that 18 bighas of land on which was then standing a crop of paddy were entrusted to the petitioners to take care of and watch until the paddy was ripe when they were to give notice to the factory people who would cut it. When the paddy was ripe the petitioners themselves cut the crops and disposed of the same. On these findings both the Courts concurred in convicting the petitioners under Section 406 of the Indian Penal Code.
3. In this Court it has been contended that, inasmuch as the property was standing crops at the time when the trust was created, no offence under Section 408 of the Indian Penal Code could have been committed in relation to that crop, and the case of Jugdown Sinha v. Queen-Empress 23 C. 372. has been relied upon, as also the case of Reg. v. Girdhar Dliaramdas 6 B.H.C.R.Cr. 33. In the former case the subject of trust was land; in the latter case, a house. Reliance is also placed on the case of Queen-Empress v. Bhagu (1897) Ratanlal’s Unreported Cr. Cas. 928. The facts of this case are very similar to the case now before us. In that case a forest guard, who had been engaged to watch a Government forest, had been convicted of an attempt to commit criminal breach of trust, because he had allowed a timber merchant improperly to cut and remove some trees from the forest. It was held in revision in that case that it was extremely doubtful if the forest guard could have been in any manner entrusted with the trees of the forest or with any dominion over those trees. He seems to have been merely a watchman employed to guard the trees and to prevent any injuries being done to the forest. The fact that he omitted to do his duty would hardly, we think, amount to criminal breach of trust.” The learned Judges go on to say : Moreover, the trees are immovable properties, and according to good authority criminal breach of trust could not be committed in respect of them.” Reference is then made to the cases we have already quoted. The learned Judges, there-fore, held that Section 406 was inapplicable to the facts of that case, and altered the conviction to one under Section 3V9. In this case the property which was entrusted to the accused was a crop of paddy which the petitioners had to guard until it had become ripe. At that time, no doubt, it was immovable property. When they cut the paddy it became movable property, but it still remained entrusted to them, if they, therefore, improperly disposed of it, it seems to us that they committed criminal misappropriation within the meaning of Section 405. If, on the other hand, the lower Courts are not right in holding, as we are inclined to think, that the crops were entrusted to the petitioners, within the meaning of Section 405, then for the reasons given in the last quoted Bombay case their conviction under Section 379 would not be improper. The property became capable of theft the moment it was severed from the ground : vide Explanation (2) to Section 378 of the Penal Code. We have been asked to reduce the sentences. It seems, however, from the explanation of the Magistrate that a very considerable amount of paddy, probably of the value of Rs. 1,000, was removed. We, therefore, do not think that the terms of imprisonment are too severe.
4. With regard to the fines, we direct that if they, or any portion thereof, be realised, the amount will be awarded as compensation, under Section 545 of the Criminal Procedure Code, to the manager of the factory.
5. The petitioners must now surrender to their bail and serve out the remaining portions of their sentences. The Rule is discharged.
