SupremeToday Landscape Ad
Back
Next
Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation
Listen Audio Icon Pause Audio Icon
judgment-img

1984 Supreme(Raj) 523

RAJASTHAN HIGH COURT
S.N.Bhargava, J.
Chander Raj - Appellant
Versus
State of Rajasthan And Anr. - Respondent
S.B. Civil Second Appeal No. 21 of 1973.
Decided On : 03-12-1984

The central legal point established in the judgment is the ownership of the land and the plaintiff being restrained from working on the mines, leading to the refund of the security and dead-rent to the plaintiff.

Headnote:

mining lease - recovery of security and dead-rent - Kharda and Bambolai mines - [Mining Act, Section 8] - The court discussed the issuance of a certificate by the Tehsildar, the jurisdiction of the State to grant mining leases, and the ownership of the land. The court found that the plaintiff was not allowed to work on the Kharda mines and that the land of Bhambolai mine belonged to His Highness, Jodhpur, leading to the decision to refund the security and dead-rent to the plaintiff.

Fact of the Case:

The plaintiff filed a suit against the defendants for the recovery of a sum of Rs. 2,300, alleging that he was restrained from working on the leased mines and seeking a refund of the security and dead-rent.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the plaintiff was not allowed to work on the Kharda mines and that the land of Bhambolai mine belonged to His Highness, Jodhpur, leading to the decision to refund the security and dead-rent to the plaintiff.

Issues: The issues included whether the plaintiff was restrained from working on the mines, the jurisdiction of the State to grant mining leases, the validity of the plaintiff's notice, and the effect of the plaintiff's surrender letter on the suit.

Ratio Decidendi: The court's decision was influenced by the plaintiff being restrained from working on the mines and the ownership of the land, leading to the refund of the security and dead-rent to the plaintiff.

Final Decision: The appeal was allowed, the judgments of the two courts were set aside, and the plaintiff's suit for a sum of Rs. 2,300 was decreed with costs throughout, along with 6% interest from the date of suit till realization.

JUDGMENT

1. - This is a second appeal against the judgment and decree passed by Additional District Judge, No. 2, Jodhpur confirming the decree passed by the Additional Civil Judge, Jodhpur and dismissing the suit of the plaintiff.

2. The plaintiff filed present suit against the defendants for the recovery of a sum of Rs. 2,300/-. The plaintiff took on lease Kharda mine and Bambolai mine in the Mining department on January 14, 1966 and paid a sum of Rs. 500/- as security for each mine totalling to Rs. 1,000/- and further paid a sum of Rs. 493.60 and Rs. 493.56 as dead-rent for both the mines. The plaintiff has alleged that when he started the work at the mines, the Revenue officers restrained him all the Kharda mine because it involved risk and damage to the Kharda Bandh and employees of Jodhpur His Highness restrained the plaintiff from working on the mines as the land belonged to His Highness being his personal property. The plaintiff met the Collector and Tehsidar who gave him certificate on October 29, 1966 which runs as under:

"It is certified that the Mining Lease granted to Shri Chander Raj Singhvi in village Bhambholi and village Kharda, was not given possession because the village Bhambholi belongs to H.H. Jodhpur a personal property. The possession in Kharda was not given because it was near Kharda dam boundary and the working would have been dangerous to the Dam."

Therefore, the plaintiff filed the present suit for the refund of the security its well as dead-rent. The defendants in their written statement stated that the land of Bhamboli mine belonged to His Highnees or that the plaintiff was allowed to work on the Kharda mines. It further pleaded that Tehsildar was not competent to issue any certificate like Ex. 2., as the land belong to the Mining Department. It however took a plea that the plaintiff has surrendered the two leases which was accepted by the department therefore, plaintiff was not entitled to refund of any amount. Following issue were framed:

"1. Whether after taking the contract of Kharda and Bambolai mines, the revenue authorities and the employees of His Highnees restrained the plaintiff, as given in para No. 3 of the Plaint?

2. Whether the contract given by the defendants was beyond the powers and authority?

3. Whether the notice given by the plaintiff was defective and hence the suit is not maintainable?

4. Whether the plaintiff on 17-6-66 served a surrender letter for both the leases and if so what would be its effect on the suit?

5. Relief."

3. The plaintiff examined himself and the defendant did not examine any witness but only produced certain documents including a letter dated 5-2-1967 addressed by the Mining Engineer, Jodhpur to Shri Kailash Singhvi. In reply to his letter dated January 21, 1967 regarding grant of mining lease near village Bambolai. It has been stated in the letter that the area false in the personal property of High Highness and as such you may please produce 'No objection Certificate' from His Highness and the other document was a order passed by the Director, Mines dated August 2, 1967 rejecting the application of Shri Chander Raj Singhvi, appellant under Rule 8 for the reasons that the proposed land belongs to the Maharaja Jodhpur being included as his personal property, However, the trial court in his brief judgment has found that plaintiff was not allowed to work on the Kharda mine but on the Bhambolai mine he had taken out 80 tonnes of stone and thereafter the employees of His Highness did not allow him to work from that mine. Issue No. 2 was also decided against the plaintiff. Issue No. 3 was decided against the defendant. While discussing issue No. 4 it was observed that since the plaintiff had surrendered which was accepted by the department on February 15, 1967 the plaintiff was not entitled to any refund as prayed in the plaint. The plaintiff preferred an appeal and the learned Additional District Judge No. 2, Jodhpur also discussed the appeal and confirmed the judgmen






Click Here to Read the rest of this document
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Judicial Analysis

AI

SupremeToday Portrait Ad
supreme today icon
logo-black

An indispensable Tool for Legal Professionals, Endorsed by Various High Court and Judicial Officers

Please visit our Training & Support
Center or Contact Us for assistance

qr

Scan Me!

India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!

For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :

whatsapp-icon Back to top