1988 Supreme(Raj) 606
RAJASTHAN HIGH COURT AT JAIPUR BENCH
I.S.Israni, J.
Manohar Lal - Appellant
Versus
Smt. Rajvirkor And Ors. - Respondent
S.B. Civil Misc. Appeal No. 52 of 1980.
Decided On : 13-06-1988
A suit for a declaration of nullity of sale deeds and an injunction restraining dispossession from abadi land is triable by a civil court and not a revenue court.
Headnote:
CIVIL PROCEDURE CODE, 1908 - ORDER 43 RULE 1(A) - APPEAL - JURISDICTION - SUIT FOR DECLARATION OF NULLITY OF SALE DEEDS AND INJUNCTION - WHETHER TRIABLE BY CIVIL COURT OR REVENUE COURT - ABADI LAND - DEFINITION - RAJASTHAN LAND REVENUE ACT, 1956 - SECTION 103(B).
Fact of the Case:
Plaintiff-appellant filed a suit in a civil court seeking a declaration that sale deeds executed by defendants 1-4 in favor of defendants 5-14 were null and void, an injunction restraining defendants from dispossessing the appellant, and possession of any portion of the disputed land found to be in the possession of any defendant. The trial court held that it lacked jurisdiction and ordered the plaint to be returned for presentation to the proper court.
Finding of the Court:
The High Court held that the suit was triable by a civil court and not a revenue court. The court found that the disputed land was situated in the populated area of Bharatpur City and was held for building purposes, thus falling within the definition of "abadi land" under Section 103(b) of the Rajasthan Land Revenue Act, 1956. The court also noted that the main relief sought by the appellant was a declaration of nullity of the sale deeds, which was a matter within the jurisdiction of a civil court.
Issues: 1. Whether the suit was triable by a civil court or a revenue court. 2. Whether the disputed land was "abadi land" as defined under Section 103(b) of the Rajasthan Land Revenue Act, 1956.
Ratio Decidendi: 1. The definition of "land" under Section 3(24) of the Rajasthan Tenancy Act, 1955 excludes abadi land. Therefore, the definition cannot be applied to land that is considered abadi land. 2. Abadi land is defined under Section 103(b) of the Rajasthan Land Revenue Act, 1956 as the populated area of a village, town, or city, including the site of such village, town, or city, land reserved and set apart for the development of abadi therein, and land held therein for building purposes, whether a building has been constructed thereon or not. 3. The main relief sought by the appellant was a declaration of nullity of the sale deeds, which was a matter within the jurisdiction of a civil court.
Final Decision: The High Court allowed the appeal, set aside the trial court's order, and directed the trial court to proceed with the suit on merits.
JUDGMENT
1. - This Civil Miscellaneous appeal has been filed under Order 43 Rule 1(a) C.P.C. against the order dated November 19, 1979, passed by Additional District Judge, Bharatpur, in suit No. 19/75 by which he ordered for returning the plaint to be presented to proper court.
2. It will suffice to state for the purposes of this appeal that plaintiff appellant is owner of a piece of land, bearing Khasra No. 2484, in the abadi area of Bharatpur. The respondents Nos. 1 to 4 after dividing the northern portion of the said land in small residential plots, sold the same to respondents Nos. 5 to 14 and got the sale deeds registered in their names. The plaintiff appellant thereupon filed a suit against the respondents praying that the sale deeds executed by respondents Nos. 1 to 4 in favour of respondents Nos. 5 to 14 be declared null and void against the plaintiff appellant. It was further prayed that the respondents be restrained from dispossessing the appellant and they may not further execute sale deeds in favour of any other persons. It was also prayed that in case the Court comes to the conclusion that any of the respondent is in possession of any portion of disputed land, a decree for possession of the same portion of the land be passed in favour of the appellant. Issues were framed in the trial court and arguments were heard on issue Nos. 3, 5, 7 & 8. The trial court, vide its order dated November 19, 1979, while deciding only issue No. 3 held that it had no jurisdiction to try the suit and it was ordered that the plaint be returned to the plaintiff appellant for presentation to the proper court.
3. The only question raised in this appeal is whether the suit was not triable by Civil Court and only Revenue Court has jurisdiction to try the same.
4. The contention of Shri R.S. Kejriwal, learned Counsel for the plaintiff appellant is that from the relief claimed in the plaint, it is abundantely clear that the suit was triable only by Civil Court It has been clear mentioned in last para, in para No. II of the plaintiff that the land is situated in Abadi area of Bharatpur in civil lines It is further stated that particular portion of the land of Khasra No. 2484, has been left for building purposes. It is also stated that this piece of disputed land has been never used for agricultural purposes. It is pointed out by the learned Counsel that in reply of para No. 2, the defendants No. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 & 12, who are purchesers of the disputed land, did not deny this fact either in this para or anywhere also in their written statements. It was only denied by the above mentioned defendants that the disputed land is not owned or possessed by the plaintiff appellant. It is, therefore, submitted that since this allegation has not been specifically denied by the defendants, it shall be taken to have been admitted. Reliance has been placed on the case of The State of Raj and Ors. v. Smt. Tara Devi and Ors. 1974 W.L.N (U.C.) 37 in which it was held by this Court that under Order 8, Rule 5, C.P.C. every allegation of fact in the plaint if not denied specifically or by necessary implication or stated to be not admitted in the pleading of the defendant, shall be taken to be admitted. It is also pointed out that defendant respondents Nos. 1 to 4, who are sellers of the land, have not appeared in this Court since they have no interest in the disputed land. It is also pointed out by the learned Counsel that it has been prayed in the plaint that the sale-deed may by declared to be null and void so far as the plaintiff, appellant is concerned. Such a relief can be granted only by civil court and no revenue court is competent to grant this relief. They further prayed that the defendants may be restrained from dispossessing the appellant from the disputed land. It has been also prayed that if any of the defendants are found to be in possession of any of the portion of the disputed plot, the possession of the same may be given to the appellant. It is, the
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