RAJASTHAN HIGH COURT
I.S.Israni, J.
Hukma & ors. - Appellant
Versus
Narendra Kanwar and ors. - Respondent
S.B. Civil Misc. Appeal No. 54 of 1975.
Decided On : 10-07-1986
JURISDICTION - SUIT FOR DECLARATION OF RIGHTS IN AGRICULTURAL LAND - RAJASTHAN TENANCY ACT, 1955 - SECTION 207 - SCHEDULE III - JURISDICTION OF REVENUE COURT - CIVIL COURT HAS NO JURISDICTION TO TRY SUIT RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL LAND - PLAINTIFFS CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO TRAVEL BEYOND PLEADINGS - APPELLATE COURT CANNOT DIRECT TRIAL COURT TO RECORD EVIDENCE ON PLEA NOT RAISED IN PLAINT.
Fact of the Case:
Plaintiffs filed a suit for possession and injunction, alleging that they were the owners of a garden consisting of 2 bighas and 15 biswas of land, known as 'Duniwalon-ke-bag,' situated in Ajmer. The defendant claimed khatedari rights in the property and had obtained a Parcha lagan from the Settlement Department. The trial court held that the suit was triable by the revenue court and returned the plaint to the plaintiffs for presentation to the proper court. The first appellate court set aside the trial court's judgment and remanded the case for taking evidence on whether the land was Abadi land.
Finding of the Court:
The High Court held that the suit fell under Sections 183, 187, 202, 203, and 198A of Schedule III of the Rajasthan Tenancy Act, 1955, and as per Section 207 of the Act, such suits could only be tried by the Revenue Court. The High Court further held that the plaintiffs could not be allowed to travel beyond the pleadings and that the appellate court could not direct the trial court to record evidence on a plea not raised in the plaint.
Issues: 1. Whether the civil court had jurisdiction to try the suit relating to agricultural land? 2. Whether the plaintiffs could be allowed to raise a new plea in the appellate court that the land was Abadi land?
Ratio Decidendi: 1. The Rajasthan Tenancy Act, 1955, Section 207 and Schedule III, confer exclusive jurisdiction on the Revenue Court to try suits relating to agricultural land. 2. A party cannot be allowed to travel beyond the pleadings and raise new pleas in the appellate court.
Final Decision: The High Court allowed the appeal, set aside the judgment of the first appellate court, and upheld the judgment of the trial court.
"Whether this court had jurisdiction to try the suit?
Since this was legal issue and required no evidence, the trial court heard the arguments and by its judgment dated 20th May, 1971 held that the land was agricultural land as recorded in the revenue record and Parcha-lagan having been obtained by the defendant, the suit was triable by the revenue court. It was, therefore, ordered that the plaint be returned to the plaintiffs for presentation to the proper court. The plaintiffs aggrieved by this order filed an appeal which was heard and decided by the learned Civil Judge, Jaipur District Judge, who held that the aforesaid issue could only be decided after taking evidence of the parties as to whether the land was Abadi land and, therefore, set-aside the judgment of the learned Munsif and remanded the case to the trial court with a direction that issue NO. 2 regarding jurisdiction be decided after giving opportunity of leading evidence to the parties and recording a finding whether the suit land was Abadi land.
Sheikh Abdul Sattar v. B.B. Rahazani and Ors. AIR 1977 SC 890
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