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1997 Supreme(Guj) 485

Gujarat High Court
Judgename :M.R.CALLA
GANGABEN - Appellant
Versus
COLLECTOR,surat - Respondent
S.C.A. 4204 of 1997
Decided On : 10/01/1997

Advocates Appeared: MUKESH R.PATEL, Mukesh R.Shah, R.N.SHAH, UTPAL PANCHAL

Headnote:(a) Gujarat Land Revenue Rules, 1972 - Rule 108(6) - Bombay Land Revenue Code - Sec. 211 - Revision - Suo motu revision - Authority competent - Rule 108(6) authorising Commissioner to exercise the powers of suo motu revision - Sec. 211 of the Code authorising, inter alia, Dy. Collector to exercise those powers - Rules cannot override the provisions of the Act - Held, Dy. Collector, therefore, competent to exercise the powers of suo motu revision under Rule 108(6).

       Under Rule 108(6) the Commissioner may call for and examine the record of any enquiry or the proceedings of any subordinate revenue officer held under Rules 106, 107 and Sub-rules (1) to (5) of this rule for purpose of satisfying himself as to the regularity of such proceedings and as to the legality or propriety of any decision or order passed in such proceedings. The rules relating to the procedure do not divest the Dy. Collector from taking upon action suo motu. No scheme of rules can over-ride the provision of the main Act whether the matter is considered by the Commissioner (now known as Special Secretary) under Rule 108 (6) or the matter is taken up suo motu for revision under Sec. 211 of the Bombay Land Revenue Code. No exception can be taken to the order passed by the Dy. Collector so as to take up suo motu action with regard to entries. Sec. 211 is general power of revision vests with the State Government and any revenue officer not inferior in rank to Assistant and/or Dy. Collector or Superintendent of Survey in the respective department.

       [Para 5]

       (b) Bombay Land Revenue Code - Sec. 211 - Revision - Delay in exercise of power of suo motu revision - Petitioners themselves not apprising the authorities about the fact of consent decree - Matter came to notice of Dy. Collector when construction was raised on the land in question as also as regards breach of conditions of Urban Land (Ceiling & Regulation) Act - Held, in the circumstances, delay of three years in exercise of suo motu revision cannot be said to be unreasonable so as to vitiate the revisional order.

       The Dy. Collector while passing the order dated 12.8.1993 has given reasons at the very threshold of the order as to why the suo motu action was initiated by him and with regard to the entry No. 1344 dated 11.1.1979 which was later on confirmed on 23.4.1980. It has also been recorded that the matter came to be noticed when construction was raised on the land in question and also with regard to the breach of the condition under the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act. In the facts of the case at hand it cannot be said that the suo motu action was initiated under Sec. 211 after unreasonable and long time. In the facts of the present case the order passed by the Dy. Collector cannot be held to be illegal on this ground.

       [Para 5]

       

M. R. CALLA, J.

( 1 ) HEARD learned Counsels.

( 2 ) THE consent decree was passed in Special Civil Suit No. 422 of 1978 on 30-12-1988 by the Civil Judge (S. D.), Surat with regard to piece of land situated at Fulpada. Taluka Choryasi. District Surat. i. e. . Revenue Survey No. 27/1/2 admeasuring two acres and one guntha, i. e. , 8,196. 64 sq. mts. of land. The Town Planningscheme No. 15 (Fulpada) was implemented under Town Planning Scheme in place of original plot No. 59, i. e. , Revenue Survey No. 27/1 final plot No. 57 was given. There was yet another piece of land at Fulpada being Revenue Survey No. 86 paiki admeasuring 1. 23 acres and Survey No. 26/2 and 26/3 to which Town Planning Scheme was also applicable. The disputed land being Survey Nos. 27/1 and 86 paiki originally belonged to one Vallabhbhai Hasjibhai. These lands were mutated in the record of rights in the names of Hargovindbhai Vallabhbhai and Thakarbhai Vallabhbhai by successor. There was a partition between Hargovindbhai and Thakarbhai Vallabhbhai with regard to the ancestral property and thus land bearing Survey No. 27/1 and 86 paiki had gone in the share of Hargovindbhai. The aforesaid lands were in the name of Hargovindbhai Vallabhbhai as ancestral and HUF property. The suit was filed by Hargovindbhai Vallabhbhai in the Court of civil Judge (S. D.), Surat for partition for the disputed land and in the Special Civil suit No. 422 of 1978 on the basis of compromise the consent decree was passed. As per this decree passed on the consent terms the land being Survey No. 27/1 and survey No. 86 paiki was divided into the plots by partition and a copy of the decree on the consent terms as above has been placed on record as Exh. 8. The petitioner no. 1 herein is daughter of deceased Hargovindbhai Vallabhbhai and petitioner No. 2 is daughter of Kamuben who is other daughter of deceased Hargovindbhai vallabhbhai and petitioner Nos. 3 and 4 are the sons of Gangaben. Petitioner No. 5 is son of Jekorben who was sister of deceased Hargovindbhai Vallabhbhai. On the basis of the consent decree as aforesaid, the entries were made in the revenue record, i. e. , in the record of city survey and the names were mutated in terms of the partition decree dated 30-12-1978 as above. On the basis of the aforesaid partition, names of the respective parties were entered in the village form No. 6 vide entry No. 1344 by Talati-cum-Mantri and this entry was also certified by the deputy Mamlatdar vide his order dated 23-4-1980.

( 3 ) THE Dy. Collector, Choryasi Prant in suo motu case No. RTS/revision 2/83 passed an order on 12-8-1983 whereby the entries as aforesaid were set aside. Against this orde dated 12-8-1983 which is enclosed with the petition as Annexure "c" i. e. . the order passed in Case No. RTS/2/83 whereby entry No. 1344 dated 23-4-1980 was cancelled by the Dy. Collector, Choryasi Prant. Surat. Hargovindbhai vallabhbhai and Ramanbhai Hargovindbhai preferred Revision Application before the Special Secretary (Appeals ). Revenue Department. This revision petition under rule 108 (6) of the Gujarat Land Revenue Rules. 1972 was sent to the Collector. Surat and it was directed to be treated as appeal under Rule 108 (5) for decision in accordance with law after hearing -The parties. This order was passed by the revenue Department, Government of Gujarat on 10-2-1988 and. thereafter, the collector, Surat passed an order on 13-7-I988 rejecting the appeal and confirming the order dated 12-8-1983. The present petitioners preferred appeal against the above order dated 13-7-1988 passed by Collector, Surat. before the Special Secretary (Appeals), Revenue Department. Government of Gujarat and order dated 19-4-1997 has now been passed by the Special Secretary (Appeals ). Revenue Department. It is this order dated 19-4-1997 which is impugned in the present Special Civil. Application.

( 4 ) LEARNED Counsel for the petitioner, Mr. Shah has submitted that the Dy. Collector had no power to take up the










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