Karnataka High Court
RAJA RAO - Appellant
Versus
LAND TRIBUNAL, KUNIGAL - Respondent
Decided On : 06-24-75
W.P. : 2137 of 1975
Jurisdiction - Land Tribunal - Interim Order
Fact of the Case:
The landlords filed a writ petition challenging an interim order passed by the Land Tribunal, which directed them not to interfere with the possession of the tenant pending disposal of proceedings.
Finding of the Court:
The court held that the Tribunal's order was passed without jurisdiction and set it aside.
Issues: Jurisdiction of the Tribunal to issue interim orders and the applicability of procedural rules.
Ratio Decidendi: The court found that the provisions of the Karnataka Land Reforms Act and the rules did not confer the power on the Tribunal to pass an interlocutory order such as a temporary injunction.
Final Decision: The order passed by the Tribunal was held to be without jurisdiction and was set aside. All other contentions of the parties were left open.
( 2 ) SRI B. K. Ramachandra Rao, learned Counsel for the petitioners, contended that the order impugned in this writ petition was one passed without jurisdiction. He submitted that in the absence of any statututory provision expressly conferring power on the Tribunal to issue an interim order of injunction, it was not open to the Tribunal to exercise such power relying upon the provisions of S. 113 of the Act and Rule 17 of the Rules framed thereunder. S. 113 provides that save as otherwise expressly provided in the Act, the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, shall be applicable in respect of all applications and proceedings under this Act before the Court.
( 3 ) RULE 17 of the Karnataka Land Reforms Rules, 1974, states that the tribunal shall in respect of applications made to it follow the same procedure as specified for a summary enquiry under S. 34 of the Karnataka Land revenue Act, 1964 subject to the condition that the records of the proceedings shall be maintained in a language understood by all its members.
( 4 ) S. 113 refers to the proceedings before the Court. The expression 'court' is defined in S. 2 (9a) of the Act as the Court of Munsiff within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the land is situate. S. 113 does not apply to the proceedings pending before the Tribunal. So no reliance can be placed by the 2nd respondent on the above provision. Even granting for purposes of argument that S. 113 is applicable, it cannot be said that power to pass interlocutory orders such as temporary injunction, attachment, arrest or appointment of Receiver, pending disposal of proceedings which is found in S. 94 of the CPC, is conferred on the Tribunal in the absence of any express provision in that behalf because those powers cannot be considered as incidental steps for making of final order by the Tribunal. The duties of the Tribunal are set cut in S. 112 (B) of the Act. They are: (a) to make necessary verification or hold an enquiry and pass orders in cases relating to registration of a tenant as occupant under S. 48a; (b) to decide whether a person is tenant or not; (c) to grant surplus land under S. 77 ; and (d) to perform such other duties and functions as are imposed on the tribunal under the provisions of the Act or under any rule made thereunder.
( 5 ) IT is difficult to agree with the submission made on behalf oi respondent 2 that in order to discharge the duties assigned to the Tribunal it is necessary that the Tribunal should be clothed with powers enumerated in S. 94 CPC. The above view receives support from the decision of a Divn Bench of this court on Molle alias Medda v. Mys RTA. For the same reason it has to be held that Rule 17 of the Karnataka Land Reforms Rules, 1974, does no empower the Tribunal to pass an interlocutory order in the nature of temporary injunction restraining any of the parties from entering upon the land which is the subje
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