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2024 Supreme(Pat) 770

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
ARUN KUMAR JHA, J.
Civil Misc. Jur. No. 536 of 2023
(29.2.2024)
State of Bihar & Ors. ... Petitioners
vs.
Lal Babu Prasad & Ors. ... Respondents

Advocates:
For the Petitioners: M/s Uday Shankar Sharan Singh, G.P.-19.
For the Resp. Nos. 1 & 2 : M/s Chandra Kant, Ravi Bhushan Bharat, Navin Kumar.
For Respondent No.3: M/s Prakash Ojha, Bijay Prakash.

Headnote:

Civil Procedure Code, 1908 – Order XXXIX, Rules 1 and 2 – Injunction – Suit filed by plaintiffs/appellants/respondent for declaration of their title and for restraining defendants from dispossessing them from suit land with further prayer to restrain defendants from changing physical feature of land – Claim of petitioners is based on settlement of suit land by ex-landlords prior to vesting of Zamindari to a person whose land was later on purchased in auction sale by vendors of plaintiffs – There is no dispute over title of ex-landlord – Thereafter, documents have been brought on record showing mutation and issuance of rent receipt in favour of plaintiffs – Creation of Jamabandi and issuance of rent receipts are other instances showing possession of plaintiffs. If any new construction is erected on suit property, same could be considered as causing irreparable loss to plaintiffs – Once a prima facie case in favour of plaintiffs have been found, on preponderance of documents of possession balance of convenience would tilt in favour of plaintiffs notwithstanding report of Pleader Commissioner – It becomes duty of court to preserve suit property till disposal of suit – Since defendants/ petitioners have failed to show any prima facie case or balance of convenience in their favour – Three ingredients for grant of injunction under Order XXXIX, Rules 1 and 2 of CPC are in favour of plaintiffs – Order of status quo affirmed – Petition dismissed. (Paras 15, 16 and 17)

Arun Kumar Jha, J.—The instant petition has been filed under Article 227 of the Constitution of India for quashing the order dated 05.01.2023 passed in Misc. Appeal No. 16 of 2022 by the learned District Judge, Siwan whereby and whereunder the learned District Judge, Siwan set aside the order dated 01.09.2020 passed by the learned Sub Judge, XIII, Siwan in Title Suit No. 687 of 2011 and passed an order for maintaining status quo till disposal of Title Suit No. 687 of 2011.

2. Briefly stated, facts of the case are that the plaintiffs/appellants/respondents 1st set filed Title Suit No. 687 of 2011 for declaration of their title and for restraining the defendants from dispossessing them from the suit land with further prayer to restrain the defendants from changing the physical feature of the land. Petitioners are defendants before the learned trial court and respondents before the learned appellate court. The plaintiffs claimed that the suit land is a Gairmajarua Malik and Noor Mohamad and Noorul Ain were the ex-landlords settled the entire land of Survey Plot Nos. 175 and 176 under Khata No. 363 in favour of one Azimuddin Mian and handed over the possession on payment of rent before vesting of Jamindari. Said Azimuddin Mian had taken loan from one Kamla Pandey who filed Money Suit No. 419 of 1953 for the recovery of loan amount which was decreed. Thereafter, Execution Case No. 395 of 1954 was filed and one Most. Marachhia purchased the suit land having area of 14 katha 2 dhur in auction sale. Thereafter, the suit land was partitioned amongst the sons of Most. Marachhia who executed seven sale deeds on different dates with regard to 9 katha 4 dhur in the name of parents of the plaintiffs and handed over the possession of the suit land. After death of their parents, the plaintiffs came into possession of the suit land and their names have been mutated in the revenue record and Jamabandi was created in the name of the plaintiffs and they started paying rent to the State of Bihar which continued till 2006 and last rent receipt was issued on 10.02.2006.

3. The suit was contested by defendant State by filing written statement in which they denied all the claims of the plaintiffs and further asserted that as per the Survey Khatiyan, Survey Plot No. 175 is recorded as ‘graha’ (pond) and Suvery Plot No. 176 is recorded as part of ‘parti kadeem’ under Gairmazarua Malik Khata No. 383. The defendants further claimed that after vesting of the Zamindari in the State of Bihar, the State Government became the lawful owner of the aforementioned two plots. The defendants further contended that no Jamabandi was ever created in the name of private person and no one has been paying rent and no official has been receiving rent from any private person. It was further submitted in the written statement that the major portion of Survey Plot No. 175 was being used for public purposes and as there was need to construct a building for Sahayak Thana, Sarai, a proceeding for transfer of the land was initiated and after spot inspection, the land was found fit for transfer to the Police Department and it was finally transferred on 07.06.2011 and possession has been given to Police Department which started the construction of building of Sahayak Thana, Sarai. Thus, the defendants claimed that the plaintiffs have no right, title and possession over the land in question.

4. On 12.08.2022, an application under Order XXXIX, Rule 1 and 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure (hereinafter ‘the Code’) has been filed by the plaintiffs with a prayer that defendants be restrained from changing the present status of the land in question and they be further restrained from making any construction of any building or to sale out the land in question.

5. Earlier on 28.03.2012, plaintiffs filed an application under Order 26, Rule 9 of the Code for appointment of Pleader Commissioner with direction to submit a report with regard of status of land in question. On 23.08.2022, the Pleader C

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