2015 Supreme(Gau) 727
IN THE HIGH COURT OF GAUHATI
A.K. GOSWAMI, J.
Mugkuchi Gopal Mandir - Appellant
Versus
Sri Tarun Haloi - Respondent
RSA No.50/2005
Decided on : 07.09.2015
Advocate Appeared:
For the appellant: Mr. U. Dutta
Headnote:
Civil Procedure Code,1908 - Order 41 Rule 31 – Eviction - Suit was filed by plaintiff for declaration of right - Second appeal is preferred against judgment and decree - Whether learned lower appellate Court committed illegality in reversing judgment and decree passed by learned trial Court without setting aside findings recorded by trial Court - Case of plaintiff is that plaintif which is a religious institution was allotted 1 Bigha 1 Katha 9 Lecha of land of Dag of Village vide order Memo - Plaintiff started possessing land and a tank was dug - However defendant encroached upon 11 Lecha of land on northern side on and he made preparation to raise permanent structure - Accordingly suit was filed by plaintiff for declaration of right title and interest and for khas possession as well as for permanent injunction -Held, It was pleaded by defendant that an eviction case being Eviction Case was started against him and learned lower Appellate Court proceeded with appeal considering that eviction case bearing was initiated against defendant same is not found to be in consonance with pleading of defendant - In there is no date and memo number - What will be effect of Ext-gha in absence of any pleading is to be considered - learned lower Appellate Court did not consider these aspects of matter and merely on basis of alleged Eviction Case - Appeal disposed of
Heard Mr. U. Dutta, learned counsel for the appellant. None appears for the respondent.
2. This second appeal is preferred against the judgment and decree dated 24.12.2004 passed by the learned Civil Judge (Senior Division), Nalbari in Title Appeal No.14/2004, allowing the appeal and setting aside the judgment and decree dated 19.06.2004 passed by learned Civil Judge (Junior Division) No. 2, Nalbari in Title Suit No. 21/2003, whereby the suit of the plaintiff was decreed.
3. The second appeal was admitted to be heard by an order dated 01.06.2005 on the following substantial questions of law:-
“1. Whether the learned lower appellate Court committed illegality in reversing the judgment and decree passed by the learned trial Court without setting aside the findings recorded by the trial Court under Issue Nos.3 and 4 ? and
2. Whether the findings recorded by the learned lower appellate Court that the defendant/Respondent was settled with the suit land is perverse on the face of documents exhibits “Ka” and “Kha?”
4. The case of the plaintiff is that the plaintiff, which is a religious institution, was allotted 1 Bigha 1 Katha 9 Lecha of land of Dag No.327 of Village-Mugkhuchi vide order Memo No. RSS 250/99/10 dated 21.05.1999. The plaintiff started possessing the land and a tank was dug. However, the defendant encroached upon 11 Lecha of land on the northern side on 20.01.2002 and he made preparation to raise permanent structure. Accordingly, suit was filed by the plaintiff for declaration of right, title and interest and for khas possession as well as for permanent injunction.
5. Defendant filed written statement admitting that about 40’ away from his homestead, there is a Mandir. Digging of any tank by the plaintiff was denied and it was asserted that the disputed 11 Lecha of land is part of homestead land of the defendant. It was pleaded that original Dag No.238 contained 2 Bigha 4 Katha 14 Lecha of land in K.P. Patta No.28 and the same belonged to the father of the defendant. There was Government land on the southern boundary of Dag No.238 and during the settlement in the year 1960, 4 Katha 9 Lecha out of Dag No.238 was included in Sarkari Dag No.327 without the knowledge of the defendant. An eviction case was instituted being Eviction Case No.341/86-87 in respect of encroachment of 11 Lecha of land. However, the case was amicably settled and defendant continued to possess the land peacefully. Subsequently, again Eviction Case No.2/2002-03 was started at the behest of the plaintiff. However, the State Land Advisory Committee vide its resolution No.72 dated 29.05.2003 decided to allot the land measuring 11 Lecha to the defendant.
6. On the basis of the pleadings, following issues were framed:-
“1. Whether there is cause of action for the suit ?
2. Whether the suit is bad for non-joinder of necessary parties ?
3. Whether the land measuring 1 Bigha 1 Katha 9 Lecha under dag No.327 was allotted to the Mugkuchi Gopal Mandir by the Govt. of Assam and whether the suit land is a part of the said land allotted in favour of the Mugkuchi Gopal Mandir ?
4. Whether the plaintiff has right, title, and interest over the suit land?
5. Whether the plaintiff is entitled to the relief as claimed for ?
6. To what relief/reliefs the parties are entitled to ?”
7. The plaintiff examined 4 witnesses and also exhibited documents marked as Exts-1 to 4. Defendants examined 3 witnesses and also exhibited 4 documents marked as Ext-ka to gha.
8. Mr. Dutta has submitted that impugned judgment of the learned lower Appellate Court cannot be construed to be a judgment in accordance with Order 41 Rule 31 CPC. The learned counsel submits that the learned lower Appellate Court wrongly assumed that there was admittedly an eviction case being 2/2000-01 initiated against the defendant by the Deputy Commissioner, Nalbari, which was exhibited as Ext-gha. Mr. Dutta has submitted that in the facts and circumstances of the case and having regard to the nature of the judgment p