SupremeToday Landscape Ad
Back
Next
Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation
Listen Audio Icon Pause Audio Icon
judgment-img

2015 Supreme(Gau) 437

IN THE HIGH COURT OF GAUHATI
Suman Shyam, J.
Harakanta Deka and Ors. - Appellants
Vs.
Maya Ram Deka - Respondent
RSA No. 22 of 2004
Decided On: 12.02.2015

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Appellant: B. Devi
For the Respondents: M.A. Sheikh

Headnote:

Assam (Temporary Settled Areas) Tenancy Act, 1971 –Sections 145, 146, 66, 54, 55, 50 and 51 – Categorical claim – Suit land – Second Appeal is directed against judgment and decree passed by Civil Judge Nalbari, in Title Appeal affirming judgment and decree respectively passed by the Civil Judge (Junior Division), Nalbari in Title facts of case, as set out in plaint is that land measuring originally forms part of an area of land measuring 4 Bighas, 0 Katha, 14 Lechas in respect of which plaintiff and his two brothers, namely Ganesh and Bongshi were Khatiandars on strength of Khatian aforesaid plot of land measuring 4 Bighas 0 Katha, 14 Lechas was amicably partitioned between plaintiff and his two brothers. Pursuant thereto, an area of land measuring 1 Bigha, 3 Katha, 4 Lechas fall into share of plaintiff – Held, Materials available on record it is not clear as to whether Sanjib Barua was in-fact landlord in respect of land in question since admittedly his name was not recorded in original Jamabandi pertaining to the said patta learned Courts below did not attach much credibility in correction of Jamabandi whereby name of Sanjib Barua was subsequently included – Land and even if it is presumed that the suit land was validly transferred in favour of appellants/defendants means of Ext. B, sale deed, even in that case defendants would at best step into the shoes of the pattadar and no further – Such being position, they would not be entitled under the law to disturb the possession of an occupancy tenant over the land in respect of which his name has been duly recorded and a khatian is issued. I find force in the argument – Appeal dismissed.

JUDGMENT :

Suman Shyam, J.

1. This Second Appeal is directed against judgment and decree dated 4.7.2003 passed by the Civil Judge (Senior Division), Nalbari, in Title Appeal No. 8/2001 affirming the judgment and decree dated 30.6.2001 and 12.7.2001 respectively passed by the Civil Judge (Junior Division), Nalbari in Title Suit No. 33/97. The facts of the case, as set out in the plaint, is that land measuring 1 Bigha, 3 Kathas, 4 Lechas of K.P. Patta No. 75 of Dag No. 251, originally forms part of an area of land measuring 4 Bighas, 0 Katha, 14 Lechas in respect of which the plaintiff and his two brothers, namely Ganesh and Bongshi were the Khatiandars on the strength of Khatian No. 27. The aforesaid plot of land measuring 4 Bighas 0 Katha, 14 Lechas was amicably partitioned between the plaintiff and his two brothers. Pursuant thereto, an area of land measuring 1 Bigha, 3 Katha, 4 Lechas fall into the share of the plaintiff. The said area of land measuring 1 Bigha, 3 Katha, 4 Lechas are in two plots, i.e., one measuring 4 Katha 4 Lechas and other measuring 4 Katha, both the plots being covered by Dag No. 251 of Patta No. 75 of Village-Balagaon under Mouza-Uperbarbhag in the District of Nalbari.

2. plaintiff's case is that after the amicable partition of the land carried out about 20 years back, the aforesaid plot of land measuring 1 Bigha 3 Kathas, 4 Lechas, which is the suit land, was under the exclusive possession and occupation of the plaintiff and the plaintiff's name had been duly recorded as an occupancy tenant in the records maintained by the Government. The Defendant No. 1 and 2, who are sons of the brother, of the plaintiff, viz. Bongshi, tried to dispossess him from the suit land. On an apprehension of breach of peace, the plaintiff had preferred a proceeding under Sections 145/146 Cr.P.C. bearing number Misc. Case 82/88 whereby and whereunder the disputed land was attached. In the petition filed in connection with Misc. Case No. 82/88, the plaintiff had inadvertently shown the suit land to be covered by one boundary although the same comprise of two plots of land. Taking into account such inadvertent error in describing the suit land, the Executive Magistrate had declared the possession in favour of the Defendants No. 1 and 2 vide order dated 26.5.1997. Although Criminal Motion C.M. No. 12/97 was preferred against the said order in the Court of District and Sessions Judge, Nalbari by the plaintiff, yet the same was also dismissed.

3. Situated thus, the plaintiff was compelled to institute Title Suit No. 33/97 in the Court of Civil Judge (Junior Division), Nalbari praying for a decree declaring that the plaintiff is the recorded occupancy tenant in respect of the suit land; a decree for confirmation of possession and/or alternately for recovery of khas possession; permanent injunction and for other consequential reliefs.

4. The defendants/appellants No. 1 and 2 contested the suit filed by the plaintiff by filing a joint written statement whereby they have denied the claims made by the plaintiff in the plaint Besides taking formal objection in the written statement, the appellants-defendants No. 1 and 2 had also stated that the plaintiff's name had been included in the Khatian No. 27 in a fraudulent and collusive manner with the help of the revenue officials. The contesting defendants also denied that there was an amicable partition in respect of the land measuring 4 Bighas 14 Lechas jointly held by the three brothers as occupancy tenants. The defendants No. 1 and 2 further claimed to have purchased the suit land from its pattadar Sanjib Barua by means of a registered Deed of Sale. They have denied that the plaintiff was ever in possession of the land.

5. Upon consideration of the pleadings of the parties, the learned Trial Court framed as many as five issues, which are as follows:-

"1) Whether there is any cause of action for the suit?

2) Whether suit is maintainable in its present form ?

3) Whether suit land was under possess




























Click Here to Read the rest of this document

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
SupremeToday Portrait Ad
supreme today icon
logo-black

An indispensable Tool for Legal Professionals, Endorsed by Various High Court and Judicial Officers

Please visit our Training & Support
Center or Contact Us for assistance

qr

Scan Me!

India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!

For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :

whatsapp-icon Back to top