[Citation : RLW 2010(2) 1364 (SC)]
(Supreme Court)
Madan Mohan Singh Vs. Rajni Kant (Dr. Chauhan, J.)
HON'BLE P. SATHASIVAM, J.
HON'BLE DR. B.S. CHAUHAN, J.
Madan Mohan Singh & Ors.
Versus
Rajni Kant & Anr.
Civil Appeal No. 6466 of 2004, decided on 13.08.2010
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(b) Evidence Act, 1872, Sec. 35, 50, 51, 59 to 61 — Documents which are admissible u/Sec. 35 — Scope — A document may be admissible, but as to whether the entry contained therein has any probative value, may required to be examined in the facts and circumstances of a particular case — Authenticity of the entries would depend on who information such entries stood recorded and what was his source of information.
(Paras 15 to 17)
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2. Facts and circumstances giving rise to this case are that one Chandra Deo Singh was recorded as the khatedar of Khata Nos.485, 620, 146 and 66 of Village Bhojapur and Khata No.21 of Village Kanshari. The respondents in appeal, Rajni Kant and Anjani Kumar claimed themselves to be the sons of said Chandra Deo Singh and filed objections under Section 9-A(2) of U.P. Consolidation of Holdings Act, 1953 (hereinafter referred to as ‘Consolidation Act’) and they asked for inclusion of their names as his heirs. Another objection was filed by the appellants in the disputed khata submitting that the said respondents had no right or interest in the suit land, not being the sons of late Chandra Deo Singh and the appellants were his only legal heirs. The Consolidation Officer having framed large number of issues and having provided full opportunity of hearing to both the parties to lead evidence and make submissions, passed an order dated 8.11.2000, allowing the objections filed by the respondents and further directing to record their names. Being aggrieved, the appellants preferred the appeal before the Settlement Officer which had been dismissed vide judgment and order dated 16.2.2001. Being aggrieved, the appellants preferred Revision No.958 under Section 48 of the Consolidation Act which also stood dismissed vide judgment and order dated 15.3.2003.
3. The appellants further agitated the issue, challenging the said judgments and orders by filing Writ Petition No.19334/2003 which has also been dismissed vide judgment and order dated 14.8.2003. Hence, this appeal.
4. Shri Mahabir Singh, Ld. Senior counsel, appearing for the appellants, has submitted that mother of the appellants, Smt. Sonbarsa died in 1945. Chandra Deo Singh, father of the appellants remained in Jail as a Freedom Fighter from 1945-47. There is nothing on record to show that appellants’ father got married with the mother of the respondents Smt. Shakuntala in accordance with law. At the most she could be concubine of Chandra Deo Singh and being illegitimate children, the respondents have no right to inherit any share in the suit land. More so, the respondents were born prior to having started live-in-relationship between Chandra Deo Singh and said Smt. Shakuntala as is evident from the School Register and School leaving certificate produced by the appellants before the statutory authorities as well as before the High Court and this Court. The said documents had not been properly appreciated by any of the authorities. The findings of facts recorded by the statutory authorities are perverse being contrary to evidence on record produced by the appellants. The High Court did not make any attempt to appreciate the evidence at all. Findings so recorded, are perverse, being contrary to the evidence on record. The appeal has merit and thus, deserves to be allowed.
5. Per contra, Shri Abhay Kumar, Ld. Counsel appearing for the respondents has submitted that three statutory authorities under the Consolidation Act have recorded the concurrent finding of fact that Chandra Deo Singh and Smt. Shakuntala were living together for a long time. Their relationship as husband and wife had been accepted by the Society as well as the family members. In many official documents, name of Chandra Deo Singh has been shown as the father of the respondents. In the beginning, Chandra Deo Singh did not disclose the relationship with Smt. Shakuntala because of social conditions that the Society may not accept their relationship even after the death of his wife Smt. Sonbarsa. Both the respondents were born out of their relationship. Appeal lacks m
State of Bihar & Ors. vs. Radha Krishna Singh & Ors. (AIR 1983 SC 684) 13
Ram Prasad Sharma vs. State of Bihar (AIR 1970 SC 326) 14
Ram Murti vs. State of Haryana (AIR 1970 SC 1029) 14
Dayaram & Ors. vs. Dawalatshah & Anr. (AIR 1971 SC 681) 14
Harpal Singh & Anr. vs. State of Himachal Pradesh (AIR 1981 SC 361) 14
Ravinder Singh Gorkhi vs. State of U.P. ((2006) 5 SCC 584) 14
Babloo Pasi vs. State of Jharkhand & Anr. ((2008) 13 SCC 133) 14
Desh Raj vs. Bodh Raj (AIR 2008 SC 632) 14
Ram Suresh Singh vs. Prabhat Singh @Chhotu Singh & Anr. ((2009) 6 SCC 681 = 2010(1) RLW 63 (SC)) 14
Mohd. Ikram Hussain vs. The State of U.P. & Ors. (AIR 1964 SC 1625) 15
Santenu Mitra vs. State of West Bengal (AIR 1999 SC 1587) 15
Brij Mohan Singh vs. Priya Brat Narain Sinha & Ors. (AIR 1965 SC 282) 17
Birad Mal Singhvi vs. Anand Purohit (AIR 1988 SC 1796) 17
Vishnu vs. State of Maharashtra ((2006) 1 SCC 283) 17
Updesh Kumar & Ors. vs. Prithvi Singh & Ors. ((2001) 2 SCC 524) 18
State of Punjab vs. Mohinder Singh (AIR 2005 SC 1868) 18
S. Khushboo vs. Kanniammal & Anr. ((2010) 5 SCC 600) 19
Lata Singh vs. State of U.P. & Anr. (AIR 2006 SC 2522 = RLW 2006(4) SC 2735) 19
S.P.S. Balasubramanyam vs. Suruttayan @ Andali Padayachi & Ors. (AIR 1992 SC 756) 20
Mohabbat Ali Khan vs. Mohd. Ibrahim Khan (AIR 1929 PC 135) 21
Gokalchand vs. Parvin Kumar (AIR 1952 SC 231) 21
S.P.S. Balasubramanyam vs. Suruttayan ((1994) 1 SCC 460) 21
Ranganath Parmeshwar Panditrao Mali vs. Eknath Gajanan Kulkarni
Sobha Hymavathi Devi vs. Setti Gangadhara Swamy & Ors. ((2005) 2 SCC 244) 21
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