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2017 Supreme(Gau) 566

IN THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT (ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH)
PRASANTA KUMAR DEKA, J.
Sri Sarudhan alias Khagen Rajkhowa and Others – Appellants
Versus
Sri Debeswar Bora – Respondent
RSA No. 39 of 2007
Decided On : 23-06-2017

Advocates Appeared:
For the Appellant : Mr. P. Mahanta.

The main legal point established is the importance of proving possession and ownership through evidence in land dispute cases, and the court's reliance on witness testimony to determine the rightful owner.

Headnote:

Possession - Land Dispute - Code of Criminal Procedure - [Section 145 of Cr.P.C.]

Fact of the Case:

The plaintiff/respondent claimed possession of a land purchased through a registered sale deed, which was disputed by the defendants/appellants. The trial court decreed the suit in favor of the plaintiff/respondent, which was upheld by the first appellate court. The second appeal was filed by the defendants/appellants questioning the possession claim.

Finding of the Court:

The trial court found that the plaintiff/respondent had possession of the land until being dispossessed in 1997. It disbelieved the defendants/appellants' claim of possession and the mutual settlement among the legal heirs. The court also found that the plaintiff/respondent proved the right, title, and interest over the land, leading to the decree in their favor.

Issues: The issues included the maintainability of the suit, cause of action, limitation, non-joinder of necessary party, possession of the plaintiff, entitlement to decree, and relief for the parties.

Ratio Decidendi: The court relied on the evidence of witnesses, including the plaintiff/respondent and the defendants/appellants, to determine possession and ownership of the land. It disbelieved the defendants/appellants' claims and found in favor of the plaintiff/respondent based on the evidence presented.

Final Decision: The second appeal was dismissed, upholding the findings of the trial court and the first appellate court in favor of the plaintiff/respondent.

JUDGMENT AND ORDER :

1. Heard Mr. P. Mahanta, learned counsel for the appellants. However, none has entered appearance on behalf of the sole respondent.

2. The present respondent, as plaintiff, preferred Title Suit No. 11/2002 in the court of learned Civil Judge (Jr. Divn.), Biswanath Chariali, against the present appellants/ defendants. Within a short radius, the case of the present respondent is that he purchased land measuring 1 Bigha out of 7B 1K 13L covered by Dag No. 318 (old)/693 (new) of Periodic Patta No. 145 (old)/24 (new) of village Napamua Guadhara under Mouza Kalangpur in the district of Sonitpur. The said land was purchased by way of registered sale deed No. 1337 dated 30.04.1974 from one Laibhya Bora (deceased) and since then he had been possessing the land by cultivating the same till the year 1997 as its exclusive owner. Laibhya Bora, inherited the said land measuring 7B 1K 13L from her husband along with the present appellant/defendant No. 2 and proforma defendants No. 5 and 6. Laibhya Bora died leaving behind her three daughters i.e. appellant/defendant No. 2 and the proforma defendants No. 5 and 6. The defendant/appellant No. 2 married one Guna Bora and out of the said marriage, one son, namely, Haren Bora was born to them. Later on, the said defendant/appellant No. 2 married the present defendant/appellant No. 1. The present defendants/appellants No. 1, 3 and 4 interfered with the peaceful possession of the plaintiff/respondent over the said land measuring 1 Bigha which was resisted by the plaintiff/respondent. However, on 05.07.1997 the said defendants/appellants entered into his land illegally and planted Sali crops. An FIR was lodged on 06.07.1997 whereafter, the plaintiff/respondent planted Sali crops and harvested the same. On the basis of the said FIR, a proceeding under Section 145 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (for short, Cr.P.C.) was drawn up by the learned Executive Magistrate and in the said proceeding, possession was declared in favour of the plaintiff/respondent on 20.05.1999. Being aggrieved, the defendants/appellants preferred a revision petition and vide order dated 05.09.2001, the learned Sessions Judge, Sonitpur at Tezpur allowed the revision petition by setting aside the order passed by the learned Executive Magistrate in the proceeding initiated under Section 145 Cr.P.C. Taking advantage of the said judgment passed in the revision, the defendants/appellants took possession over the suit land. Thereafter, the plaintiff/ respondent filed the suit for declaration of his right, title and interest, recovery of possession and permanent injunction.

3. The defendants/appellants contested the suit by filing their written statement. In the defence, the defendants/appellants denied that the plaintiff/respondent ever possessed the suit land and cultivated thereon. It was also denied that the plaintiff/respondent became the legal owner of the suit land during the life time of Laibhya Bora, the vendor. It was also denied that the plaintiff/respondent was holding the possession of the suit land prior to the drawal of the proceeding under Section 145 Cr.P.C. It is admitted that after the order passed by the revisional court, they took possession over the suit land. It is the case of the defendants/appellants that one Akanman Keot alias Bogiram Bora was the exclusive owner of various land including the land covered by Dag No. 318/693 measuring 7B 1K 13L. After the death of Akanman Bora, his wife Laibhya Bora and daughters, namely, Smti. Anila Bora (proforma defendant No. 5), Smti. Rohini Bora (proforma defendant No. 6) and Smti. Bhogeswari Bora (defendant No. 2) became the joint owners of the properties left by Akanman Bora and each has ¼th share over the total land. Their names were mutated in Mutation Case Nos. 334/71-72, 335/71-72, 336/71-72 and 172/72-73. The said proforma defendants No. 5 and 6 sold their respective shares of land vide registered sale deed in favour of defendant/appellant No. 2 an























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