IN THE HIGH COURT OF GAUHATI
PRASANTA KUMAR DEKA, J.
Siraj Uddin Laskar, S/O Late Ahmed Ali & Ors. - Appellants
Versus
The State of Assam - Respondent
RSA 168 of 2004
Decided On : 18-07-2017
Civil Procedure Code, 1908 – Section 80 – Assam Land Revenue Regulation – Section 154 – Indian Evidence Act – Section 101 – Assam Land and Revenue Regulations – Rule 18 – Permanent Injunction – Suit – Apprehending demolition of house and standing crops – Plaintiffs/appellants preferred Title Suit No.19/1994 in the Court of Civil Judge respondent state for declaration of their right title and interest over suit land covered under encroachment and permanent injunction restraining the respondent/state from evicting plaintiffs/appellants – Case of plaintiffs/appellants that they were the owners of 32Bs of land covered by Boijayantipur Mouza Part-1, Hailakandi which was washed away by river Katakhal said land reappeared predecessors of plaintiffs/appellants had been possessing suit land continuously by constructing dwelling house and acquired right title and interest over suit land – Held, Court finds no perversity in finding of First Appellate Court and regarding substantial question same is also decided against appellants pertinent to mention here that plaintiffs/appellants preferred an application for adducing additional evidence and vide order appellants were allowed to file application seeking amendment of plaint inasmuch without pleadings no additional evidence could be permitted – Court that plaintiffs/appellants had failed to show that prior to filing of the suit and initiation of the Encroachment case they enjoyed status of land holder defined under Assam Land Revenue Regulation and action of respondents/defendants had clouded their status of land holder with respect to suit land this Court comes to conclusion that findings of First Appellate Court that instant suit is barred under Section 154 of Assam Land Revenue Regulation is upheld – Appeal is dismissed.
Prasanta Kumar Deka, J.
1. Heard Mr. M.H. Rajborbhuiyan, the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the appellants. Also heard Mr. S.P. Choudhury, learned Government advocate appearing on behalf of the respondents.
2. The plaintiffs/appellants preferred Title Suit No.19/1994 in the Court of Civil Judge (Junior Division) No.1 Hailakandi against the respondent state for declaration of their right, title and interest over the suit land covered under encroachment Case No.1/1992-93 and permanent injunction restraining the respondent/state from evicting the plaintiffs/appellants. It is the case of the plaintiffs/appellants that they were the owners of 32Bs of land covered by 2nd RS patta No.2 Dag No.2, 4, 5 of Boijayantipur Mouza Part-1, Hailakandi which was washed away by the river Katakhal the said land reappeared. The predecessors of the plaintiffs/appellants had been possessing the suit land continuously by constructing dwelling house etc. and acquired right, title and interest over the suit land. The plaintiffs/appellants prayed for settlement of the suit land in their respective names but the defendants/respondents instead of granting settlement, carved out new 2nd R.S. Patta No. 329/331/332 and new dag No.6/321 and started encroachment Case No.1/1992-93 and issued notice under Rule 18 of the Assam Land and Revenue Regulations on 16th July, 1992 directing them to vacate the land and threatened to demolish the structures. It is also pleaded that the defendants/respondents realized touzi bahi revenue from them. Apprehending demolition of house and standing crops, plaintiffs/appellants filed the present suit with the prayers hereinabove stated.
3. The defendants/respondents contested the suit by filing written statement thereby raising the plea of non maintainability of the suit inasmuch as, the Civil Court has no jurisdiction to try the suit and further denied the long continuous possession of the plaintiffs/appellants or realization of touzi revenue from them. It is the defence of the defendants/respondents that the plaintiffs/appellants are habitual encroachers of the suit land and it was further pleaded that they were evicted in encroachment Case No.5/1958-59 from the suit land under Dag No.6/320 and the appeal No.52/1958-59 against the said encroachment case was rejected on 26.12.1960 by the Deputy Commissioner, Cachar. Subsequent to that, another re-encroachment Case No.15/1964-65 was started against the plaintiffs/appellants and their ejectment was ordered on 13.11.1964 and the subsequent appeal was also rejected on 28.11.1964. Thereafter, the SDO, Hailakandi reserved 11B 18K 4C's of land under Dag No.6/321 for grazing ground and 2 Bigha 1 Chataks of land which was kept reserved as the "gobat". Subsequent thereto demarcation pillars were raised. Even after such demarcation, the plaintiffs/appellants preferred appeal No.4/1979-80 which was also rejected. Thereafter the plaintiffs instituted Title Suit No.18/1998 in the court of Munsiff No.1, Hailakandi which was dismissed for default. Thereafter, Mudras Ali and others applied to the Deputy Commissioner, Cachar for giving effect to the order of the Revenue court. Objection was raised by the plaintiffs which was rejected by the ADC, Hailakandi and thereafter encroachment Case No.1/1992-93 was started. It was urged before the learned trial court that the plaintiffs/appellants have filed the suit misleading the actual facts and as such the defendants/respondents prayed for dismissal of the suit. On the basis of the pleadings, the learned trial court framed the following issues.
"1. Is there any cause of action for the suit?
2. Is the suit maintainable?
3. Is the suit bad for multifarious-ness?
4. Is the suit barred under section 154 of A.L.L.R.?
5. Is the suit bad for non compliance of notice under section 80, CPC?
6. Is the suit undervalued?
7. Whether the plaintiffs have exclusive possession and right over the suit land?
8. To what relief or reliefs the plaintiffs ar
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