SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
29-4-1969.
J.C. SHAH, V. RAMASWAMI AND G.K. MITTER, JJ.
Raj Kumar Mohan Singh and others, Appellants
Versus
Raj Kumar Pashupati Nath Saran Singh and others, Respondents.
Civil Appeal No. 380 of 1965 D/- 29-4-1969.
Advocates appeared
Mr. C. B. Agarwala, Senior Advocate (M/s. Ishtiaq Ahamad Abbasi, S. Rehman and C. P. Lal, Advocate, with him), for Appellants. Mr. S. P. Sinha, Senior Advocate, (M/s. Mohammad Hussain and S. S. Shukla, Advocate, with him), for the Respondents (Nos. 1 and 3)
Oudh Estates Act 1 of 1969 - Section 8 - Devolution of estate - Trust deed - Non-taluqdari property - It will be declared that deed of trust executed by Raja Bishwanath on August 29, 1932, did not operate to settle any property being part of taluqdari estate and governed by Act 1 of 1869, for purposes specified therein - Senior Raj Kumar applied for review of judgment on ground that deed of trust settled properties as non-taluqdari as well as taluqdari and Court at earlier hearing did not make any order as to devolution of non-taluqdari property - Apparently at earlier hearing no argument on matter now sought to be raised was advanced, though hearing lasted for several days - Whether a different rule of devolution prevails in respect of properties which are non-taluqdari - Held, On record there is evidence relating to devolution of estate since time of Raja Jagpal Singh to whom Tiloi Estate was granted by Government, and it has never been suggested that non-taluqdari estate devolves otherwise than upon a single heir - Counsel also contended that even if leave to amend written statement be no granted to Senior Raj Kumar Court may review evidence and hold on evidence already on record that such a custom did prevail in family - Therefore, declare that even in non-taluqdari estate left by Raja Surpal Singh which devolved upon his widow Rani Jagannath Kuar for her lifetime, Raja Bishwanath Singh had on August 29, 1932, no interest which he could transfer, alienate or settle - Reason is obvious; in Trial Court defendants agreed that no findings should be recorded on those issues - Court cannot at this stage enter upon trial of issues which, it was agreed, had to be tried in another suit - Order accordingly.
Judgment
SHAH, J. :- By our judgment dated April 19, 1968, we passed the following order in this appeal:
"It will be declared that the deed of trust executed by Raja Bishwanath on August 29, 1932, did not operate to settle any property being part of the taluqdari estate and governed by the Oudh Estates Act 1 of 1869, for the purposes specified therein."
The Senior Raj Kumar applied for review of judgment on the ground that the deed of trust dated August 20, 1932, settled properties as non-taluqdari as well as taluqdari and the Court at the earlier hearing did not make any order as to the devolution of the non-taluqdari property. Apparently at the earlier hearing no argument on the matter now sought to be raised was advanced, though the hearing lasted for several days. We have, however, granted review of judgment and heard the parties on the question whether a different rule of devolution prevails in respect of properties which are non-taluqdari.
2. We have held that on the death of Raja Surpal Singh the taluqdari estate of Tiloi vested in Rani Jagannath Kaur, and she continued to hold the property as life owner under Section 22 (7) of the Oudh Estates Act, even after she adopted Raja Biswanath Singh on February 21, 1901, and so long as she was alive Raja Bishwanath Singh had no interest in the estate which he could settle or convey. The deed of settlement was executed by Raja Biswanath Singh during the life-time of Rani Jagannath Kaur and did not operate to convey the taluqdari estate. Counsel for the Senior Raj Kumar contends that even if Raja Bishwanath had no interest in the taluqdari estate, under the ordinary Hindu Law, on adoption the non-taluqdari property left by Raja Surpal Singh vested in Raja Bishwanath Singh and he was competent under the deed of the manner directed by that deed. Counsel says that the devolution of non-taluqdari property is governed by the rules of Hindu Law, and that on adoption of a son by Rani Jagannath Kuar her interest in the property was divested and the adopted son became the owner of the property.
3. Counsel for the Junior Raj Kumar resists this claim. Section 8 of the Oudh Estates Act 1 of 1969 provides for the preparation of lists of taluqdars and grantees, and the second list prepared under that section is a list of taluqdars whose estates, according to the custom of the family on and before the 13th day of February 1856, ordinary devolved upon a single heir. The taluqdari estate of Tiloi was entered in the second list. By Section 10 of the Act is provided :
"No persons shall be considered taluqdars or grantees within the meaning of the Act, other than the persons named in such original or supplementary lists as aforesaid. The Courts shall take judicial notice of the said lists and shall regard them as conclusive evidence that the persons named therein are such taluqdars or grantees."
Section 22 of the Act prescribes a special mode of succession to intestate taluqdars and grantees. By Clause (6) of Sec. 22 in default of any brother, or a male lineal descendant, the estate devolves upon the widow of the deceased taluqdar or grantee heir or legatee, for her life-time only, and by Clause (7) on the death of the widow, the estate devolves upon such son as the widow shall, with the consent in writing of her deceased husband, have adopted, and his male lineal descendants. The Tiloi Estate which was a taluqdari estate therefore, devolved upon Rani Jagannath Kuar and she held that estate during her life-time. The rule of Hindu law that on the adoption of a son by a widow to her deceased husband, the estate vests in the adopted son, is by the express provisions of Clauses (6) and (7) of Section 22 of the Oudh Estates Act inapplicable to taluqdari estates. That was so held in our earlier judgment dated April 19, 1968, and on that account the claim of the Senior Raj Kumar to take the taluqdari estate under the deed of settlement was negatived.
4. It was decided by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Counci
SupremeToday
Login now and unlock free premium legal research
Login to SupremeToday AI and access free legal analysis, AI highlights, and smart tools.
Login
now!
India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!
Copyright © 2023 Vikas Info Solution Pvt Ltd. All Rights Reserved.