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1981 Supreme(Raj) 296

RAJASTHAN HIGH COURT
K.D.Sharma, J.
Chunnia And Anr. - Appellant
Versus
Keshri Mal And Ors. - Respondent
D.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 557 of 1981.
Decided On : 10-04-1981

A suit for redemption of mortgage based on an unregistered mortgage deed is barred by limitation if it is filed beyond 15 years from the date of accrual of the cause of action.

Headnote:

LIMITATION - REDEMPTION OF MORTGAGE - RAJASTHAN TENANCY ACT, 1955 - SECTION 43(4) - SUIT FOR REDEMPTION OF MORTGAGE - LIMITATION PERIOD - 15 YEARS FROM THE DATE OF ACCRUAL OF CAUSE OF ACTION - MORTGAGE DEED NOT REGISTERED - SUIT FILED BEYOND 15 YEARS - BARRED BY LIMITATION.

Fact of the Case:

The petitioners purchased agricultural land, including land comprised in Khasra No. 247, from Dhula and Moda Meenas, who were members of Scheduled tribes. The land comprised in Khasra No. 247 had been mortgaged with possession by Dhula and Moda to non-petitioner No. 1 Keshri Mal. The petitioners tendered mortgage money to Keshri Mal, but he refused to accept it. The petitioners instituted a suit for possession and mesne profits against Keshri Mal. The Assistant Collector decreed the suit, but the Revenue Appellate Authority and the Board of Revenue dismissed the suit on the ground that it was barred by limitation.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the suit was barred by limitation because it was filed beyond 15 years from the date of accrual of the cause of action. The court also found that the provisions of Sub-sections (4A), (4B), (4C), (4D) and (4E) of Section 43 of the Rajasthan Tenancy Act, 1955 were not applicable to the case because the usufructuary mortgage of the disputed land was made before the commencement of the Act.

Issues: 1. Whether the suit for redemption of mortgage was barred by limitation? 2. Whether the provisions of Sub-sections (4A), (4B), (4C), (4D) and (4E) of Section 43 of the Rajasthan Tenancy Act, 1955 were applicable to the case?

Ratio Decidendi: 1. The limitation period for a suit for redemption of mortgage based on an unregistered mortgage deed was 15 years from the date of accrual of the cause of action under the Law of Limitation in the former State of Mewar. 2. The provisions of Sub-sections (4A), (4B), (4C), (4D) and (4E) of Section 43 of the Rajasthan Tenancy Act, 1955 were not applicable to the case because the usufructuary mortgage of the disputed land was made before the commencement of the Act.

Final Decision: The writ petition was dismissed summarily.

JUDGMENT

1. - This is a writ petition filed by the Chunnia and Mingu against Keshri Mal and others under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of an appropriate writ, order or direction in the nature of certiorari for quashing or setting aside the orders marked Annexures 2, 3 & 4 and for decreeing the suit of the petitioners for possession of the land in dispute as well as mesne profits,

2. The relevant facts giving rise to this writ petition may be briefly stated as follows : The petitioners vide registered sale deed dated February 6, 1962, purchased agricultural land including land comprised in Khasra No. 247 measuring 4 Bighas and 13 Biswas situated at village Malawada from Dhula and Moda Meenas, who were members of Scheduled tribes. The land comprised in Khasra No. 247 had been mortgaged with possession by Dhula and Moda, vendors to non petitioner No. 1 Keshri Mal and so a right to ledeed the mortgaged-land was given to the purchasers, i.e. the petitioners at the time of execution of the sale-deed. Accordingly, the petitioners tendered mortgage money to Keshri Mal non-petitioner No. 1, but the latter refused to accept it. Hence, a notice was served on him on May 29, 1971 but inspite of written notice Keshri Mal did not accept the money and deliver the possession to the petitioner. The petitioners, therefore, instituted a suit for possession and mesne profits against Keshri Mal in the court of the Assistant Collector, Niinbahera In this suit Sheo Raj (now deceased) and his son Ghisa Lal were also impleaded as defendants because these persons were in actual possession of the disputed land at the time of filing of the suit. The Assistant Collector, after framing issues and recording the evidence of the parties decreed, the suit on July 30, 1976 and in pursuance of the decree, the petitioners got possession of the land in dispute on August 20, 1976. The legal representatives of Sheo Ram and his son Ghisa Lal, however, preferred an appeal before the Revenue Appellate Authority, Udaipur against, the judgment and decree of the Assistant Collector, Nimbahera, dated July 30, 1976, The Revenue Appellate Authority framed an additional issue regarding limitation on December 1, 1977 and remitted that issue to the Assistant Collector, Nimbahera, for giving his finding thereon. The Assistant Collector, thereupon, gave his finding on the issue of limitation against the petitioners and the Revenue Appellate Authority accepted the finding and dismissed the suit of the petitioner on the ground that it was barred by time. Aggrieved by the judgment of the Revenue Appellate Authority, the petitioners filed a second appeal in the Board of Revenue for Rajasthan, Ajmer. The Board of Revenue, Ajmer, vide its judgment dated January 21, 1981, summarily dismissed the appeal. Ghisa Lal and other non-petitioners, thereafter, obtained possession of the land under controversy by way of filing an application for restitution. Hence, the petitioners, being aggrieved by the judgments marked Annexures 2, 3 and 4, have invoked extraordinary jurisdiction of this Court by way of this writ petition.

3. We have gone through the writ petition and the documents enclosed therewith and heard Mr. MM, Singhvi, learned Counsel for the petitioners. In cur opinion, this writ petition is not worth admission for the reasons mentioned below.

4. It has been strenuously urged before us by Mr. M.M. Singhvi, learned Council for the petitioners, that the Assistant Collector, Revenue Appellate Authority and finally the Board of Revenue for Rajasthan committed an error apparent on the face of the record in dismissing the suit of the petitioners for possession of the land in dispute and mesne profits on the ground that it was barred by limitation. According to the submission of Mr. M.M. Singhvi the limitation prescribed by the Law of Limitation in the former State of Mewar for filing such a suit was 60 years, and, as the land was mortgaged with possession with Keshri Mal





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