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1970 Supreme(SC) 184

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
J.C. SHAH AND K.S. HEGDE, JJ.
Nainsingh, Appellant
Versus
 Koonwarjee and others, Respondents.
Civil Appeal No. 1460 of 1966, D/- 2-4-1970.

Advocates:
For the Appellant/applicant(s): Mr. H.C. Jalmeria, Adv.
For the respondent/non-applicant(s): Mrs. Deepika Majhajan, Adv.

Headnote:(1) Civil P.C., 1908 - S. 105 (2) and O. 43, R. 1 - remand order appeal-able under Order 43 - appeal not filed - order cannot be questioned in subsequent appeal.

       Where a remand order passed by the District Judge is appeal-able under Order 43, and no appeal is filed against it, it becomes final and cannot be assailed in subsequent second appeal before the High Court. [Para 4

       (2) Civil P.C, 1908 - S. 151 - inherent powers - when may be exercised-remedy provided in other provisions of the Code and not availed of - such remedy cannot be given under inherent power.

       The power under section 151 of the Code cannot be exercised as an appellate power.

       Inherent jurisdiction of the Court must be exercised subject to the rule that if the Code does contain specific provisions which would meet the necessities of the case, such provisions should be followed and inherent jurisdiction should not be invoked. In other words the court cannot make use of the special provisions of section 151 of the Code where a party had his remedy provided elsewhere in the Code and he neglected to avail himself of the same. [Para 4

       (3) Abolition of Jagirs Act, 1951 (MB) - S. 4 - vesting of Jagir in the State - suit for ownership of land on date of vesting is tenable as it gives the Jagirdar the right to claim compensation. 1966 JLJ 1006 = 1966 R.N. 444 (SC) followed. [Para 5

       (4) Appeal - necessary party not impleaded - appellate Court may implead such party in interest of justice and decided the case. [Para 5

Judgment

HEGDE, J.:- The only question that falls for decision in this appeal by special leave is as to the application of Section 151, Civil Procedure Code to a remand order falling with in section 105 (2) of that Code.

2. The facts leading upto the point under consideration may now be stated. The appellant was the Jagirdar of the suit properties. One Bhagirath was his tenant. The said Bhagirath died in the year 1947 leaving behind no male issues. His wife had predeceased him. He had two daughters who were living at the time of his death. After his death, defendants Nos. 1 to 5 who are his distant relations took possession of the suit properties and got the revenue records changed in their names. Thereafter the appellant brought the suit under appeal seeking the following reliefs:-

(1) to declare that he is the owner of the suit properties; (2) to quash the order of the Tehsildar dated November 8, 1949 transferring the khata relating to the suit properties to the names of Defendants 1 to 5; (3) to grant possession of those properties to him and (4) other usual incidental reliefs.

3. The defendants resisted the plaintiff s claim. They contended inter alia that (1) the Civil Court had no jurisdiction to entertain the suit; (2) the plaintiff had lost right over the suit properties in view of the Jagirs Abolition Act, 1951 which came into force on December 4, 1952 during the pendency of the suit and (3) the 1st defendant being the adopted son of Bhagirath is entitled to the possession of the suit properties. In the suit several issues were raised. It is not necessary to refer to them in view of the limited scope of this appeal. The trial Court dismissed the suit upholding the contention of the defendants on two issues viz., (1) that the Civil Court had no jurisdiction to entertain the suit and (2) that in view of the abolition of jagirs and the vesting of the suit properties in the State, the plaintiff can claim no relief. The first appellate Court reversed the findings of the trial Court on those issues. It came to the conclusion that the Civil Court had jurisdiction to entertain the suit. It further held that though in view of the abolition of the jagirs, the suit properties had vested in the State, it was for the State to get itself impleaded if it is interested in this litigation and as the State had not chosen to get itself impleaded, it was open to the plaintiff to press the suit. In view of those conclusions, the Appellate Court set aside the decree of the Trial Court and remanded the suit in the trial Court for deciding the other issues left undecided. After the remand, the trial Court negatived every one of the contentions taken by the defendants and decreed the suit as prayed for. In appeal that decree was confirmed. In second appeal the High Court of Madhya Pradesh agreed with the Trial Court and the Appellate Court on the findings given on all issues excepting the issue relating to the effect of abolition of the jagirs on the suit. On that issue, it came to the conclusion that in view of the abolition of jagirs under the Jagirs Abolition Act, the plaintiff had lost his title to the suit properties and therefore he could not get a decree for possession of the suit properties. It rejected the contention of the plaintiff that that issue is concluded by the decision of the Appellate Court made before remand as the same had not been appealed against. It opined that the Court had inherent power to consider the correctness of that order. It accordingly allowed the appeal and dismissed the suit.

4. The High Court, in our opinion, erred in holding that the correctness of the remand order was open to review by it. The order in question was made under Rule 23, Order 41, Civil Procedure Code. That order was appealable under Order 43 of that Code. As the same was not appealed against, its correctness was no more open to examination in view of Section 105 (2) of the Code which lays down that where any party aggrieved by an order of rema




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