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1978 Supreme(Pat) 222

PATNA HIGH COURT
Birendra Prasad Sinha and V.Mishra JJ.
Sardamoni Debi
Versus
State Of Bihar
Appeal from Original Decree No. 934 of 1971 ;
Decided On : OCTOBER 6, 1978

Headnote:Bihar Tenancy Act, Sec. 5 & 20 - Settlement of tank with the embankment for agricultural purposes-Settlement of tank only cannot be considered to be for agricultural purpose with embankment only containing the tank-Area of the tank and embankment has to be considered-Area of embankment big enough for cultivation-Settlement valid for agricultural purposes-Tank would be within the ambit of lease. (Para 12)

       Bihar Land Reforms Act, Sec. 4(g) & (n)-Enquiry under either provision-Appeal & Revision provided against the order-Order not set aside either on appeal or revision-collector has no power to reopen the matter or review the same. (Para 25)

       

Judgment

VISHWANATH MISHRA, J.

1. This appeal arises out of a suit for declaration of the plaintiffs title as raiyat and for injunction against the State of Bihar restraining them from interfering with her (Plaintiffs) possession, which has been dismissed by Shri H.N. Sahay, 3rd Additional. Subordinate Judge, Dhanbad.

2. One Chandra Kanta Ghosal had three sons, namely, Kali Pada Ghosal, Bhawataran Ghosal and Shyama Pada Ghosal. The wife of Chandra Kanta Ghosal was Thakomoni Debi. Kali Pada was married to Sardamoni Debi, who is the plaintiff here, Chandra Kanta Ghosal was perhaps, a leper, but he was a man of means. People were reluctant to give their daughters in marriage in his family and so, Chandra Kanta Ghosal by way of inducement promised to give or settle some land with the would-be wife of Kali Pada. With this understanding, Sardamoni Debi was married to Kali Pada. Chandra Kanta Ghosal had a joint Khewat with Ananta Lal Dey in which the share of Chandra Kanta was 12 annas and that of Ananta Lal 4 annas. In the year 1928 B.S. corresponding to 1921, Chandra Kanta as 12 annas tenure-holder, settled with the plaintiff the two plots bearing plots Nos. 5242 and 5243 appertaining to Khata No. 809 measuring 5.46 acres, situate in Mauza Chas, police station Chas, district Dhanbad. The aforesaid plots Nos. 5242 and 5243 are popularly known as Gadai Bandh, a tank and its embankment. At the same time, he also settled his 12 annas share of the tenure in some other lands situated at Mouza Salagidi alias Bhawanipur police station Chas, district Dhanbad. The area of this land was 8 and odd acres. Both the settlements were made simultaneously and a sum of Rs. 11/- was fixed as the rental thereof. Subsequently, on the 13th Shrawana 1332 F.S. (27th of July, 1925). Chandra Kanta executed an unregistered Patta (Ext. 3) in favour of the plaintiff purporting to settle the aforesaid plots with the plaintiff at a total zama of Rs. 11. Obviously, this was only with respect to his 12 annas share in the tenure. The plaintiff, it is said, became a raiyat in respect of 12 annas share of the plots mentioned above, right from the time of the oral settlement in 1921.

3. On the 2nd December, 1938, the three sons of Chandra Kanta Ghosal purchased from Ananta Lal Dey his 4 annas share in the tenure in respect of Gadai Bandh (Plots 5242 and 5243) through a registered sale-deed (Ext. 6) for a sum of Rs. 500/-. On the 30th May, 1939, there was a further settlement in favour of the plaintiff with respect to the remaining 4 annas tenure-holders interest in the aforesaid plots. By this time, Bhawtaran had died unmarried and issueless and so his interest had devolved upon Thakomoni Debi, his mother. Shyama Pada was still a minor. Therefore, this settlement was made by Kali Pada for self and as guardian of Shyama Pada and also by Thakomoni on whom the interest of Bhawataran had devolved. This unregistered Patta is Ext. 3/A.

4. It would thus appear that with respect to the two plots (Plots Nos. 5242 and 5243) of Mouza Chas, settlement was made with the plaintiff by the 12 annas tenure-holder in the years 1921 and 1925 and by the remaining 4 annas tenure-holders in the year 1939 and so, after 1939, according to the case of the plaintiff, she continued as a full-fledged raiyat of the disputed plots of Mouza Chas.

5. The plaintiff claims to have paid rent to the ex-intermediaries with respect to the said plots according to the terms of settlement and also to the State of Bihar after the abolition of Zamindari under the Bihar Land Reforms Act, 1950 . Her case is that in the tank i.e. plot No. 5243, she had been rearing fish. Over the embankment in plot No. 5242 she grows vegetables, has planted some trees, and has also exercised other rights of a permanent raiyat. She has also constructed several buildings on the embankment after obtaining due sanction from the authorities under S.6 of the Bihar Act XXIII of 1948.

6. The State Government has also realised rent from her













































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