2010 (8) Supreme 157
SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
Markandey Katju and T.S. Thakur, JJ.
Arun Lal & Ors. — Appellants
versus
Union of India & Ors. — Respondents
Civil Appeal No.6464 of 2004
(With Civil Appeal No.6465 of 2004)
Decided on : 30-11-2010
(b) Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 – Section 47 – There was no limitation prescribed for filing of objections under Section 47. (Para 10)
(c) Judicial Review – Possession of suit property delivered to decree-holder – Decree-holder shall retain possession unless and until the property is resumed by the Union of India. (Para 11)
Facts of the case:
1. Land measuring 3.563 acres situated in Survey No.160 within Agra Cantonment was held in occupancy rights by one Hamid Ali Khan on the strength of a grant under the Government of India. The grantee had constructed Bungalow No. 194 on the land.
2. A sale deed was executed in respect of the property on 11th September, 1946 by Hamid Ali Khan in favour of Chhail Behari Lal and his two brothers Naval Kishore and Kapoor Chand.
3. The Bungalow in question had been let out by the original grantee to the Military Estate Officer in June 1942 on monthly rental of Rs.125/-.
4. Suit by the purchasers for recovery of rent and damages and for vacant possession which suit was decreed for a sum of Rs.1600/- only towards rent and damages.
5. Suit filed by Naval Kishore and others for recovery of Rs.7800/- as arrears of rent and damages with a prayer for possession by eviction of the Garrison Engineer from the main bungalow and the land over which the Govt. of India had built the barrack was decreed but only to the extent of recovery of Rs.8977.50.
6. The appeal by Union of India was dismissed by High Court granting arrears of rent and possession of the property.
7. Execution application was filed by the decree-holder in which the Union of India filed its objections opposing the execution inter-alia on the ground that the land appurtenant to the Bungalow having been resumed by the Government the possession of the same could be taken away from it in execution of the decree passed in favour of the decree holders.
8. Two resumption notices were issued by Govt. of India pertaining to 0.771 acres of land underlying the bungalow, and 2.729 acres appertaining to it. While the order regarding 0.771 acres was challenged and quashed, that regarding 2.729 remained unchallenged.
Finding of the Court:
There is no infirmity in the impugned judgment.
Result : Appeal dismissed.
JUDGMENT
T.S. Thakur, J. —
1. These appeals by special leave arise out of orders passed by the learned Single Judge of the High Court of Allahabad whereby Civil Misc. Writ Petition No.43928 of 2002 filed by the respondent-Union of India has been allowed and order dated 3rd August, 2002 passed by the District Judge, Agra in revision and that dated 24th May, 2002 passed by the Additional Civil Judge, Agra, in execution proceedings filed before the later set aside. The High Court has while allowing the writ petition and setting aside the orders referred to above held that the execution proceedings instituted by the respondent-decree holders were not maintainable in so far as the same related to 2.792 acres of land that stood resumed by the Government of India in terms of a resumption notice dated 23rd September, 1970 and the possession thereof taken over on 6th November, 1970. The short question that arises for our consideration therefore is whether the High Court was right in taking that view and dismissing the execution proceedings in so far as the same related to land measuring 2.792 acres appurtenant of Bungalow No. 194, situate in the Agra cantonment area. The facts giving rise to the controversy have been set out in detail by the High Court and need not, therefore, be repeated by us here except to the extent it is absolutely necessary to do so.
2. Land measuring 3.563 acres situated in Survey No.160 within Agra Cantonment was held in occupancy rights by one Hamid Ali Khan on the strength of a grant under the Government of India. The grantee it appears had constructed what has been described in the orders passed by the Courts below as Bungalow No. 194 situated in the cantonment area at Agra. Pursuant to an application filed jointly by Hamid Ali Khan and Lala Chhail Behari, the Military Estates Officer granted permission for transfer of the Bungalow aforementioned and the land under and appurtenant thereto in terms of letter dated 3rd August, 1946. A sale deed was accordingly executed in respect of the property on 11th September, 1946 by Hamid Ali Khan in favour of Chhail Behari Lal and his two brothers Naval Kishore and Kapoor Chand. The Bungalow in question had been let out by the original grantee to the Military Estate Officer in June 1942 on monthly rental of Rs.125/-. The purchasers on the basis of the sale in their favour acquired the right to claim the rent payable for the same from the Military Estate Officer. Suit No. OS 842 of 1958 was accordingly filed by the purchasers for recovery of arrears of rent and damages and for vacant possession which suit was decreed for a sum of Rs.1600/- only towards rent and damages. The Court held that in the absence of any material to show that the Government had issued any notice for resumption of the land appurtenant to the bungalow, the Government of India was liable to pay damages for remaining in occupation of the barracks which had been built in the compound of bungalow.
3. The grant holder Naval Kishore and others filed a second suit bearing suit No.6 of 1963 for recovery of rent and damages for use and occupation of the bungalow apparently for the period subsequent to the earlier suit. This suit was also decreed by the Trial Court. The appeal preferred by the Union of India was, however, allowed holding that there was no valid contract between the parties in respect of the bungalow and consequently the claim for rent could not be decreed. The claim for payment for damages also failed on account of non-compliance with the provisions of Section 80 of the CPC.
4. A third suit being suit No.99 of 1968 was then filed by the Naval Kishore and others for recovery of Rs.7800/- as arrears of rent and damages with a prayer for possession by eviction of the Garrison Engineer from the main bungalow and the land over which the Govt. of India had built the barrack. This suit was decreed on 25th October, 1969 but only to the extent of recovery of Rs.8977.50 towards rent. The Trial Court di
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.