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2012 Supreme(Kar) 583

High Court of Karnataka
N. KUMAR & V. SURI APPA RAO, JJ.
Ammayyamma
Versus
Muniswamy Since Deceased by his L.Td. & Others
Writ Appeal No. 840 of 2009(LR)
Decided on: 23-11-2012

Advocates Appeared:
For the Appellant:A. Krishna Bhat, Jagadish D. Hiremath, Advocates.
For the Respondents:R1, S.P. Shankar, Sr. Adv. for Mamata G. Kulkarni, Advocate, R2, K. Krishna, AGA.

Headnote:KARNATAKA LAND REFORMS ACT, 1961 - Section 48-A: [N. Kumar & V.Suri Appa Rao, JJ] Jurisdiction of Land Tribunal - Dispute between two wives regarding property - Held, Tribunal cannot resolve the said dispute. The Tribunal can adjudicate only regarding conferment of occupancy right in respect of land vested in Government.

JUDGMENT

This appeal is preferred challenging the order passed by the learned Single Judge, who has upheld the order passed by the Land Reforms Appellate Tribunal granting occupancy rights in favour of the 1st respondent - Muniswamy.

2. The subject matter of these proceedings is land bearing Sy.No.100 situated in Chokkasandra Village, Anekal Taluk, Bangalore District. The said land measuring 4 acres was granted in favour of Late Ramaiah in the year 1936. He died leaving behind his second wife Smt.Ammayamma as his legal heir. The 1st respondent - Muniswamy filed Form No.7 on 30.12.1974 claiming occupancy rights in respect of the aforesaid land as well as Sy.No.92. At column No.8 he has mentioned that he has been cultivating the said land for the last 35 years. The second wife of Ramaiah, the appellant contested the claim denying the fact that he was a tenant in respect of the property in question and that the land in question was not a tenanted land. During the pendency of Form No.7 Muniswamy died. His son Anneppa was brought on record and he prosecuted the application. By a majority opinion, they rejected the claim of the applicant over an extent of 4 acres in Sy.No.100 and 4 acres 20 guntas in Sy.No.92 of Chokkasandra village as there is no relationship of tenant and land lord in this case. The Power of Attorney Holder to the applicant Sri. Anneppa, who is also the son of the applicant, is the son-in-law of the respondent. Smt. Ramakka. Wife of the applicant and mother of Power of Attorney Holder is the sister of the respondent.

3. Aggrieved by the said order, a writ petition was filed by the L.Rs. of the said Muniswamy. The said order of the Land Tribunal came to be set-aside and the matter was remanded back to the Tribunal for fresh consideration. After such remand, after holding fresh enquiry, the Tribunal held that the land in question is a tenanted land. The RTC produced shows that Muniswamy was cultivating the land from the year 1971-72 onwards. The land vested with the Government as on 01.03.1974, he was in possession cultivating as a tenant. The Tribunal also held that after him, his son M.Anneppa was tenant as on 01.03.1974 and for previous years and was cultivating the land in question. Therefore, they proceeded to grant occupancy rights in respect of Sy.No.92 measuring 4 acres 20 guntas and Sy.No.100 measuring 4 acres of Chokkasandra village, Anekal Taluk, Bangalore District.

4. Aggrieved by the said order, Ammayamma, the appellant herein preferred writ petition before this Court in W.P.No.8403/2003 challenging the grant of occupancy rights insofar as it related to Sy.No.100 measuring an extent of 4 acres of land situated in Chokkasandra village, Anekal Taluk, Bangalore District. The learned Single Judge, on consideration of the order passed by the Land Reforms Tribunal and other materials on record, agreed with the finding of the Tribunal and dismissed the writ petition. Aggrieved by the said order, the present appeal is filed.

5. We have heard the learned counsel appearing for the parties.

6. Form No.7 filed by Muniswamy discloses that he sought for occupancy rights in respect of both Sy.No.92 as well as Sy. No.100. In Form No.7, Second wife of Ramaiah was made respondent. In Form No.7 he has categorically stated that he has cultivated the land for the last 35 years. Along with the said Form No.7 he produced the RTC extracts to show the name of Ammayamma for the period from 1969-70, 1970-71 and 1971-72. In the year 1971-72, the name of Ammayamma is striked-out and the name of Muniswamy is written and his name continued till the year 1972-73 and 1973-74. In column No.9 it is mentioned that it is a granted land. In column 13 it is mentioned as 1. This document, even if it is taken on its face value, would not show that Muniswamy was cultivating the land as a tenant. In fact after coming to know that the name of Muniswamy is entered in the records, Ammayamma preferred an appeal and got that entry set-aside.

7. I







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