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1991 Supreme(Gau) 137

GAUHATI HIGH COURT
S.N.Phukan, J.
Bharat Lal Hajam -Appellant
Versus
Suprova Chanda -Respondent
Second Appeal No. 18 of 1985
Decided On : 18-07-1991

Advocates Appeared:
S.K.Senapati, B.L.Singh, B.K.Das, B.Banerjee

The civil court lacks jurisdiction to entertain a dispute related to registration of possession as a tenant under Section 54A of the Assam (Temporarily Settled Areas) Tenancy Act, 1971, when the Revenue Appellate Authority has already rejected the claim.

Headnote:

ASSAM (TEMPORARILY SETTLED AREAS) TENANCY ACT, 1971 - SECTION 54A, 66 - JURISDICTION OF CIVIL COURT - REVENUE OFFICER'S ORDER REJECTING CLAIM FOR REGISTRATION OF POSSESSION AS TENANT - CIVIL COURT CANNOT RE-AGITATE THE SAME MATTER.

Fact of the Case:

Plaintiff filed a suit for declaration of occupancy tenancy in respect of Dag No. 53, claiming possession and cultivation of the land since her husband's death in 1965. The Revenue Authority initially allowed her claim under Section 54A of the Assam (Temporarily Settled Areas) Tenancy Act, 1971, but the Revenue Appellate Authority set aside the order, holding that the Revenue Officer lacked the authority to restore possession in the absence of a tenancy khatian. The plaintiff then approached the civil court.

Finding of the Court:

The court held that the civil court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the dispute, as Section 66 of the Act barred civil courts from exercising jurisdiction in matters related to possession of records of rights and claims to registration of possession under Section 54A. The court also noted that the plaintiff had obtained a compromise decree in an earlier civil suit (T. S. No. 4 of 1963), which granted her husband only 5 kathas of land in respect of the disputed dags, including Dag No. 53. The court further found that the plaintiff had received compensation for the land acquired under Dag No. 53.

Issues: 1. Whether the civil court has jurisdiction to entertain a dispute related to registration of possession as a tenant under Section 54A of the Assam (Temporarily Settled Areas) Tenancy Act, 1971, when the Revenue Appellate Authority has already rejected the claim. 2. Whether a compromise decree in an earlier civil suit, granting the plaintiff's husband only a limited area of land, bars her subsequent claim for a larger area.

Ratio Decidendi: 1. Section 66 of the Assam (Temporarily Settled Areas) Tenancy Act, 1971, ousts the jurisdiction of civil courts in matters related to possession of records of rights and claims to registration of possession under Section 54A. 2. A compromise decree in an earlier civil suit, which has not been challenged or set aside, is binding on the parties and bars subsequent claims that are inconsistent with the terms of the decree.

Final Decision: The appeal was allowed, setting aside the judgment and decree of the lower appellate court and restoring the decree of the trial court, which had dismissed the plaintiff's suit.

This second appeal is by the defendants against the judgment and decree of reversion of the learned lower appellate Court below.

2. Facts are as follows :- Late husband of the plaintiff Late Priya Chanda took settlement of land in respect of Dag No. 51, 52 and 53 covered by Patta No.2 in Lakhipur Pargana, Cachar and thereafter he was in peace­ful possession of the land by cultivation on one part and by constructing dwelling house on the other part. He died in the year 1965 and thereafter plaintiff has been possessing the land. She also got khatian as tenant in respect of Dag No.51 and 52 but her claim as tenant in respect of Dag No. 53 was rejected by the appellate Revenue Authority. Hence, the suit praying for declaration that plaintiff is an occupancy tenant in respect of the said land covered by Dag No. 53. The area of the suit land is 1 bigha. The suit was resisted by defendant 1 to 4 and it was denied that the plaintiff was in possession of the suit land. It was also mentioned that in an earlier suit viz T. S. No. 4 of 1963, there was a deed of compromise and according to that deed the late husband and the plaintiff who was a party got only 5 kathas of land. Hence, it was prayed that suit may be dismissed.

3. The learned trial Court framed as many as 6 issues and dismissed the suit which was revised by the learned lower appellate Court.

4. Heard Mr. Banerjee, learned counsel for the appellant and Mr. Senapati, for the respondents.

5. Learned counsel for the appellants has raised the point of law that in view of the provisions contained in Assam (Temporarily Settled Areas) Tenancy Act, 1971 (for short the Act) civil Court has no jurisdiction to entertain the present dispute. It is necessary to elaborate the factual part to appreciate this point.

6. The plaintiff approached the Revenue Authority under section 54A of the Act for registration of her position as a tenant. This matter was taken up by the Revenue Authority and by order Ext 9 allowed the claim of the present plaintiff in respect of Dag Nos. 51, 52 and 53. The Revenue Authority recorded that khatian in respect of tenancy was given to the plaintiff in respect of Dag No.51 and 52 (G) but in not respect of khatian No.53. But in spite of that they it allowed the claim of the plaintiff in respect of Dag No.53.The main ground for doing so is that unless this is granted she will not be able to enjoy the other 2 dags. This order was set asi de by the Revenue Appellate Authority vide order dated 6 6.79 passed in R.P. Appeal Case No. 803 of 1977-78. The appellate authority held that under the aforesaid section 54 A a Revenue Officer is competent only to restore possession in respect of tenanted land and as plaintiff did not get any tenancy khatian in respect of Dag No. 53 the order of the learned Revenue Officer in respect of this dag was not in accordance with law.

7. Mr. Banerjee, learned counsel for the appellant has drawn attention of this Court to section 66 of the Act which, inter alia, provides that except where otherwise expressly provided for in the Act and Rules made thereunder no civil Court shall exercise jurisdiction in any of the matters mentioned in that section and in these matters the jurisdiction shall only be with the Revenue Court or Officer as the case may be. In the said section there are 5 matters including the matters "Possession of records of rights under Chapter X and preparation and signing or alteration of any documents contained therein", and claims to registration of possession under section 54 A.

8. Admittedly, in the case in hand the Revenue Authority had prepared the records of rights of the tenant and in respect of Dag No.53 plaintiff could not obtain tenancy khatian. That apart, as stated above her right to registra­tion of possession as tenant in respect of this dag has also been rejected by the Revenue Appellate Authority. These two facts are sufficient for me to hold that the same matter cannot be re-agitated in the civil Court.

9. There was a






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