SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
J.C. SHAH, C.J.I., K.S. HEGDE AND A.N. GROVER, JJ.
Dayaram and others, Appellants
Versus
Dawalatshah and another, Respondents.
Civil Appeal No. 2433 of 1966, D/- 8-1-1971.
Advocates appeared
Mr. V. S. Desai, Sr. Advocate. (M/s. V. N. Swamy, K. Rajendra Chaudhuri and K. R. Choudhuri, Advocates with him), for Appellants; M/s M. N. Phadke and A. G. Ratnaparkhi Advocates, for Respondents.
Madhya Pradesh Abolition of Proprietary Rights (Estates Mahals, Alienated Lands) Act 1 of 1951 - Section 14, 12 and 3 - Property - Possession - Decreed - Plaintiffs claimed that property in suit originally belonged to had five sons - Branches of became extinct a long time ago - Branch of Hiru (who was eldest among five sons of Gangashah) became extinct with death - Plaintiffs-sons of claimed Zamindari held by Amarshah relying upon rule , and other estate of Amarshah as devisees under will of Amarshah executed - They submitted that Dhanora Zamindari was granted to Sitaram ancestor as an impartible estate, devolving by rule of primogeniture, that the Zamindari on that account devolved on death of upon and that on death of Pratapshah Zamindari devolved upon first plaintiff - Whether any order made by Governor in exercise of powers of patent- excludes the jurisdiction of civil court - Whether Pratapshah-father of plaintiff was nearest male relative – Held, Compensation Officer is entitled to decide a question only regarding proprietary right in property divested under Section - A question regarding proprietary rights may in ordinary course be raised only in a claim against State, and if that claim be decided against the claimant in a summary inquiry held by Compensation Officer, a suit to set aside decision must be filed within two months from that date and if no suit is filed, order becomes final and conclusive – Trial Court granted mesne profits and even though High Court disallowed the claim of plaintiffs with regard to certain items no reduction was made in total amount of mesne profits awarded corresponding to claim disallowed - Counsel for plaintiffs concedes that High Court was in error in not reducing amount of mesne profits awardable to plaintiffs - He agrees that instead of figure awardable to plaintiff should be substituted – Court modify mesne profits awarded - Appeal fails and is dismissed
Judgment
SHAH, C.J.I. :- Dawalatshah and Ranwirshah-sons of Pratapshah-instituted an action in the Court of the Additional District Judge Chanda, for a decree for possession of property immovable (including the Zamindari of Dhanora) and movable specified in the Schedules annexed to the plaint, and for an order for payment of mesne protests and also for recovery of tile amount of compensation in respect of certain lands received by the defendants from the Government of Madhya Pradesh and for an order declaring their right to receive the balance of compensation remaining to be paid. The plaintiffs relied upon the following genealogy:
2. The plaintiffs claimed that the property in suit originally belonged to Gangashah. Gangashah had five sons: Hiru, Bhakta, Sakru, Kajur and Raju. The branches of Sakru and Kajur became extinct a long time ago. The branch of Hiru (who was the eldest among the five sons of Gangashah) became extinct with the death of Amarshah on December 9, 1950. The plaintiffs-sons of Pratapshah claimed the Zamindari held by Amarshah relying upon the rule of primogeniture, and the other estate of Amarshah as devisees under the will of Amarshah executed on December 3, 1950. They submitted that the Dhanora Zamindari was granted to Sitaram ancestor of Amarshah as an impartible estate, devolving by the rule of primogeniture, that the Zamindari on that account devolved on the death of Amarshah upon Pratapshah and that on the death of Pratapshah the Zamindari devolved upon the first plaintiff. The plaintiffs also claimed that the other property including Malguzari lands devolved upon them under a will executed on December 3, 1950 whereby Amarshah devised his estate in their favour. Accordingly the first plaintiff claimed that he was entitled to the Zamindari on the death of Pratapshah on January 27, 1951 and the plaintiffs claimed the other estate of Amarshah as devisees under his will. The plaintiffs submitted that Dayaram the first defendant took wrongful possession of the Zamindari and other property, movable and immovable of Amarshah.
3. The defendants by their written statement maintained that the genealogical table set up by the plaintiffs was incorrect, that by the order of the Governor of Madhya Pradesh dated November 9, 1951, the Zamindari was conferred upon the 1st defendant Dayaram as he was found suitable to hold the Zamindari and the decision of the Governor was binding upon the plaintiffs; that the- decision of the Compensation Officer regarding Malguzari lands which vested in consequence of the enactment of the Madhya Pradesh Abolition of Proprietary Rights (Estates Mahals, Alienated Lands) Act 1 of 1951, had become binding and conclusive against the plaintiffs because no suit challenging the decision was instituted within two months from the date thereof and the plaintiffs were on that account not entitled to claim the compensation paid or payable in respect of the Malguzari lands; that Amarshah did not execute the will set up by the plaintiffs; and that Amarshah had made a will dated December 8, 1950 under which his estate was devised in favour of the defendants.
4. The Trial Court held that the Dhanora Zamindari was impartible and was governed by the rule of primogeniture and Pratapshah father of the plaintiffs being the eldest member of the senior-most branch from among the descendants of the common ancestor Gangashah was entitled to the Zamindari; that the plaintiffs were entitled to receive compensation in respect of the Malguzari lands and the decision of the Compensation Officer did not operate to deprive the plaintiff of the right to those lands or compensation payable in respect thereof: that the will set up by the plaintiffs dated December 3, 1950 was genuine and the plaintiffs were under the will entitled to the estate devised in their favour by Amarshah; that the will dated December 8, 1950, set up by the defendants was a fabricated will and conferred no right or title upon the defendants; and th
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