IN THE HIGH COURT OF BOMBAY
T.K. Chandrashekhara Das, J.
Rahibai Ladkya Patil since deceased
by her heir Waman Narayan Patil.... Petitioner.
Versus
Mathuradas Ramchandra Agarwal,
since deceased by his heirs.... Respondents.
Writ Petition No. 2398 of 1986, decided on 31-8-2000.
Advocates appeared :
G.B. Karandikar, for the petitioner.
M.V. Sali, for respondent No. 1-A.
Section 85-A- Claim of tenancy- Where claim of tenancy made regarding the land was rejected on the basis of entry made by settlement commissioner in consolidation proceedings rejecting valid evidence, held not proper. In the teeth of documentary evidence maintained in the ordinary course of business of the government, cannot be brushed aside even in the light of oral admission of the parties, nor there was any material to out way the evidentiary value of the revenue express. Therefore for deciding the legal aspects firstly whether the settlement commissioner had issued notice to the concerned parties, and secondly whether the authorities have to arrive the findings about discarding of revenue entries, the matter remanded back to Tehsildar.
2. According to petitioner, the suit property was originally belonging to His Highness Maharaja of Morvi and subsequently one Samaldas Laxmidas Gandhi became the owner of the land. As per the extract of record of rights in respect of Survey No. 77/3, from the year 1931-32, one Gandlya Shinvar was cultivating the land as a tenant till 1935-36. Thereafter, it appears that from the extract of revenue record from 1936-37, the name of one Ladkya Gandlya was appeared in the records as cultivating tenant on payment of 21 mounds of paddy as rent and his name was shown in the records till the year 1956-57. It also appears in the records that till 1950-51, his name was shown as a protected tenant. It is not disputed that Rahibai was the wife of Ladkya Gandlya. Therefore, it could be legitimately assumed that after death of Ladkya Gandlya, the property devolved upon Rahibai as a tenant. The aforesaid Rahibai thus filed the suit and the present petitioner on her death, claimed to be a legatee of Rahibai, steps into the shoe of her and continue the litigation.
3. It is significant to note that all the authorities below, referred to the entries made in the revenue extracts, which shows that Ladkya's name was entered into the records till 1951-52 as a protected tenant but this fact which was disclosed in evidence, has not been properly appreciated and considered by any of the authorities below. In other words, all the authorities relied upon the order passed by the Consolidation Officer in consolidation proceedings initiated in respect of certain lands including the suit property. It may be noted that in consolidation scheme, the land in Survey No. 77/3 allotted to Mr. M.R. Agarwal in Gat No. 60/1 and by letter dated 31-1-1966, Consolidation Officer has informed him that the name of the tenant entered into the register is a clerical mistake and it was ordered to be rectified and thereby the name was deleted. It is to be noted here that the proceedings of the Settlement Commissioner seems to have been taken away the evidentiary value of the entry in the revenue extracts in favour of the tenant as noted above. It is the case of the petitioner that the correction made by the Settlement Commissioner was done without notice to Rahibai or to the petitioner. The contention of the respondents before the authorities that Rahibai or petitioner did not file appeal against the proceedings of the Settlement Commissioner, has been accepted in favour of the respondents. It amounts to a serious miscarriage of justice. Moreover, the authorities below have found that the revenue entries started from 1933 continued till 1957 s
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