The Khata Khatauni in the name of the respondent was sufficient to establish ownership and possession, and the failure to prove entitlement to compensation led to the dismissal of the appeal.

VALMIKI J. MEHTA, J.

LA. APP. No.254/2016 and C.M. Appl. Nos. 35130/2016 (for stay under Section 151 CPC), 35131/2016 (for exemption)

1. This first appeal under Section 54 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 is filed by the appellants against the impugned Judgment of the Trial Court dated 1.8.2016 dismissing their claim petition for compensation, and who were I.P. no. 2 in the trial court proceedings. The proceedings in the trial court were reference proceedings under Sections 30/31 of the Land Acquisition Act for distribution of compensation.

2. The disputes in the present case pertain to the title of 10 biswas of land, 5 biswas in Khasra no. 841//1/1 and 5 biswas in Khasra no. 651//21 of Village Mundka, Delhi. The compensation amount is Rs.2,50,994/-.

3. The issue before the trial court was as to whether the appellants/I.P. no. 2 or their predecessor had any title or possession of the suit land. This was held against the appellants in terms of the discussions contained in paragraphs 12 to 16 of the judgment of the trial court which read as under:-

“12. In support of its claim, from the side of IP No. 1 Gaon Sabha Sh. Balbir Singh, Ld. Counsel tendered in evidence the copies of Khata Khatoni in respect of the land in question as Ex. IP1/D/1 and Ex. IP1/D/2. As per statement of Sh. Balbir Singh, Counsel for the IP No.1, evidence of IP No.1 was closed on 16.05.2016.

13. IP No. 2 Sh. Rajesh Kumar got himself examined as IP2W1 and tendered his affidavit in evidence as Ex. IP2W-1/X and proved on record copy of titled documents in favour of IP No. 2 as Ex. IP2W1/1 (colly); photographs of the land in question as Ex. IP2W1/2 (colly) and complaint dated 09.12.2007 made to SHO, PS Nangloi as Ex. IP2W1/3. As per statement of Sh. D.S. Lakra, Counsel for the IP no.2 evidence of IP No. 2 was closed on 08.10.2015.

14. I have heard Sh. Balbir Singh, Ld. Counsel for IP No.1/Gaon Sabha and Sh. D.S. Lakra, Ld. Counsel for IP no.2 and perused the record. My findings on issues are as under:

15. The Collector has referred the present dispute as Sh. Rajesh Kumar and Sh. Sunil Kumar IP No.2 raised the objection of the release of the compensation of the acquired land in question to Gaon Sabha who as per record is the rightful owner. The Gaon Sabha proved the Khata Khatoni Ex. IP1/D/1 and Ex. IP1/D2. Accordingly to which Gaon Sabha is the Khataidar of the acquired land in question.

16. On the other hand IP No. 2 relied on a Power of Attorney in their favour executed by one Sh. Dinesh Kumar Bhardwaj dated 08.10.2003. The IP No. 2 have not acted upon the alleged transaction. No document proved on record how Sh. Dinesh Kumar Bhardwaj was rightful owner of the acquired land in question as no Revenue record in this regard proved on record. The IP No. 2 further relied on photographs of the alleged acquired land in question, however, no negatives have been produced to prove the photographs and there is no proper demarcation by any revenue department regarding the alleged Khasra numbers written on the photographs. No revenue record produced in support of the rightful ownership of the land in question by IP No. 2. Hence in my opinion, IP No. 2 failed to establish their rightful ownership and possession of the acquired land, therefore, the issue no. 1 is decided in favour of IP No. 1 and against IP No.2.” (underlining added)

4. A reading of the aforesaid paragraphs shows that respondent no.1/Gaon Sabha/IP no. 1 proved its claim as Khata Khatauni in respect of the subject land was in the name of respondent no.1/I.P. no. 1. Khata Khatauni was proved and exhibited as Ex.IP1/D/1 and Ex.IP1/D/2. In my opinion, this Khata Khatauni is enough to show both the ownership and possession of the subject land of I.P. no.1/respondent no.1, inasmuch as, the Khata Khatauni shows the title in the name of respondent no. 1 and since the subject property is only an open land, possession will naturally follow title and therefore possession would be of respondent no.1/I.P. no. 1. Once