Andhra Pradesh High Court
Judges : K.RAMASWAMY
SEETHAL SINGH - Appellant
Versus
MAHMOOD SHARIFF - Respondent
Decided On : 11-17-83
PARTITION SUIT - JURISDICTION OF CIVIL COURT - ABOLITION OF INAM LANDS - ANDHRA PRADESH (TELANGANA AREA) ABOLITION OF INAMS ACT, 1955 - SECTIONS 3, 10, 24, 30 - CIVIL COURT HAS NO JURISDICTION TO DECIDE PARTITION SUIT RELATING TO INAM LANDS AFTER THEIR ABOLITION AND VESTING IN THE STATE - JURISDICTION VESTS WITH THE COLLECTOR OR AUTHORISED OFFICER UNDER THE ACT.
Fact of the Case:
Plaintiff filed a suit for partition of patta land. Defendant claimed to be a tenant and later claimed to have purchased the property from the inamdar. Trial court decreed the suit and appellate court confirmed it. Defendant appealed, contending that the land was inam land and he was an old occupant entitled to occupancy certificate. He also contended that the Civil Court had no jurisdiction.
Finding of the Court:
The Civil Court has no jurisdiction to decide a partition suit relating to inam lands after their abolition and vesting in the State. Jurisdiction vests with the Collector or authorised officer under the Andhra Pradesh (Telangana Area) Abolition of Inams Act, 1955.
Issues: 1. Whether the Civil Court has jurisdiction to decide a partition suit relating to inam lands after their abolition and vesting in the State? 2. Whether the defendant, who claimed to be a tenant and later claimed to have purchased the property from the inamdar, had any rights in the land after its abolition?
Ratio Decidendi: 1. The Andhra Pradesh (Telangana Area) Abolition of Inams Act, 1955 provides for the abolition of inam lands and the vesting of such lands in the State. 2. Upon abolition of inam lands, all pre-existing rights, including those of inamdars, kabiz-e-kadim, permanent tenants, protected tenants, and non-protected tenants, cease and are extinguished. 3. The Act provides for an enquiry by the Collector or authorised officer to determine the nature and history of the lands and the rights of the parties. 4. The Civil Court has no jurisdiction to decide disputes relating to inam lands after their abolition and vesting in the State. Such disputes must be adjudicated by the Collector or authorised officer under the Act.
Final Decision: The second appeal is allowed, the decree of both the courts below are set aside and the suit is dismissed.
( 1 ) THE unsuccessful defendant in both the courts is the appellant. He initially claims to be a tenant but subsequently he claims that he purchased the property from the inamdar and became the owner thereof. The first respondent is the plaintiff. He filed the suit for partition and the suit was decreed and on appeal, it was confirmed. The appellant was impleaded as 12th defendant, it is the contention of the plaintiff that it is a patta land and that it is liable for partition. On the other hand it is the conten lion of the appellant that it is an inam land and is an old occupant as kobiz-e-kadim. He is entitled to occupancy certificate which was given under Ex. B-15. He a!so contended that the Civil Court has no jurisdiction. His contetions have been nagatived by both the courts. The appellate court has held that since the proceedings have not yet been completed the civil Court has got jurisdiction. On that view, the Appellate Court confirmed the deeree of the trial eourt.
( 2 ) IN this appeal, Sri M. L. Ramakrishna Rao, learned counsel for the appellant contends that after obtaining the patta under Ex. B-15, the plaintiff took proceedings before the District Collector, Ranga Reddy district and got the order under Ex. B-15, set aside and the matter has been remanded to the D. R. D. , Hyderabad, West (Inams Collector) for enquiry de novo. Challenging that order, the appellant filed W. P. No. 2173/1980 in this court and this court dismissed the writ petition holding that the apprehension of the appellant (Petitioner in the writ petition) that the oreinal authority will not enquire into all the questions which will be raised before it, has absolutely no basis. The enquiry is now pending before the D R D (Inams Collector ). It is also contended that by virtue of the abolition of the inam, the Civil Court has no jurisdiction.
( 3 ) SRI. Madhava Reddy, learned counsel for the respondent, contends that the Civil Court has given a finding that it is not an mam land and that there is no evidence that it was an inam land and it was abolished. It is a patta land. Even assuming that it is an mam land, still so long as patta is not granted, the Civil Court continves to have jurisdiction and even the mam land can be partitioned between the heirs concerned. The appellant being only a tenant, he cannot have any higher rights than the owner. Therefore, the decree passed by the trial Court and confirmed by the appellate court is legal.
( 4 ) UPON these rival contentions, the essential question for consideration is whether the Civil Court has got jurisdiction to take cognizance of the cause for partition.
( 5 ) IN the appeal before the Collector, Rangareddy District in R. C. No. B3/28626/78, and 83/11328/79, dated 18-4-1980, the plaintiff herein and others contended that they are inamdars and before issuance of patta under Ex. B-15, no notice was given to them and the enquiry was made behind their back. The Appellate Authority accepting that contention, set aside the order and directed the D. R O. (Inams Collector) to make a detailed enquiry and dispose of the matters according to law. That order was confirmed in W. P. 2173/1983, dated 25th March, 1983.
( 6 ) FROM this it is clear that in the suit as well as in the other proceedings, the claim pertains to lands bearing Survey Nos. 96 and 103 admeasuring Ac. 32-28 cents situate in Poppalguda village. It is an inam land which was abolished and the proceedings before the authorities are pending.
( 7 ) THE Andhra Pradesh (Telangana Area) Abolition of Inams Act (No. VIII of 1955) (for short "the Act") shall apply to all inarm except inams held by or for the benefit of charitable and religious institutions ; inams held for rendering village service useful to the Government or to the village community inclnding sethsendhi, heerandi and balutha inams. We are not concerned with latter excepted inams. Chapter II deals with abolition and vesting of inams and the consequences thereof. Un
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