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2019 Supreme(Raj) 1943

IN THE HIGH COURT OF RAJASTHAN
Dinesh Mehta, J.
Vardaram - Appellant
Versus
Mohan Lal - Respondent
Civil Writ Petition No. 15664 of 2019
Decided On : 13-12-2019

Advocates Appeared:
S.M. Parihar, Advocate, Pritam Solanki, Advocate

Headnote:

Injunction - Rajasthan Tenancy Act - The court held that a right of way claimed by the respondents through the land of a private agriculturist cannot be granted as a matter of right until an order is passed under Sections 251 and 251A of the Rajasthan Tenancy Act. The court directed the respondents not to interfere in the petitioners' possession and pass through their land, with the interim order continuing only till the disposal of the proceedings initiated by the respondents under Section 251A of the Act.

Fact of the Case:

The petitioners filed a suit for injunction under Section 212 of the Rajasthan Tenancy Act, seeking to restrain the respondents from demolishing a boundary wall in their agricultural land. The Sub-Divisional Officer rejected the petitioners' application for temporary injunction, which was later allowed by the Revenue Appellate Authority. The respondents filed a revision petition before the Board of Revenue, which set aside the order of the Revenue Appellate Authority and restored the order of the Sub-Divisional Officer, resulting in the injunction being set aside.

Finding of the Court:

The court held that the respondents cannot be granted a right of way through the land of a private agriculturist until an order is passed under Sections 251 and 251A of the Rajasthan Tenancy Act. The court directed the respondents not to interfere in the petitioners' possession and pass through their land, with the interim order continuing only till the disposal of the proceedings initiated by the respondents under Section 251A of the Act.

Issues: The issues revolved around the grant of injunction under Section 212 of the Rajasthan Tenancy Act, the rejection of the petitioners' application for temporary injunction, and the subsequent revision petition filed by the respondents before the Board of Revenue.

Ratio Decidendi: The court's decision was based on the interpretation of Sections 251 and 251A of the Rajasthan Tenancy Act, which govern the grant of a right of way and the parameters for such grant. The court emphasized that the respondents cannot be granted a right of way through the land of a private agriculturist until an order is passed under these provisions.

Final Decision: The court disposed of the writ petition with the direction to the respondents not to interfere in the petitioners' possession and pass through their land. The interim order was to continue only till the disposal of the proceedings initiated by the respondents under Section 251A of the Rajasthan Tenancy Act.

JUDGMENT

Dinesh Mehta, J. - The present writ petition is directed against the order 21.08.2019, passed by the Board of Revenue, Ajmer (hereinafter referred to as "the Board"), whereby it has allowed the revision filed by the respondents and has restored the order dated 09.05.2018, passed by the Sub-Divisional Officer, Sirohi.

2. The facts in brief appertain to the present case are that the petitioners filed a suit for injunction under Section 212 of the Rajasthan Tenancy Act, 1955 (hereinafter referred to "the Act of 1955"), interalia seeking an injunction qua the respondents that they be restrained from demolishing boundary wall/Maarh existing in their agricultural land situated in Khasra No.574 of village Jawaal, District Sirohi. An application for temporary injunction under Section 212 of the Tenancy Act was also filed.

3. Petitioners' application for Temporary Injunction was rejected by the Sub-Divisional Officer, vide its order dated 09.05.2018; in an appeal filed theiragaist, the Revenue Appellate Authority allowed the same vide order dated 15.11.2018 and granted injunction, restraining the respondents from interfering in the possession of the petitioners while also directing them not to effect any change in the physical status of the land in question.

4. The respondents preferred a revision petition under Section 230 of the Act of 1955 before the Board of Revenue, Ajmer. Learned Member of the Board allowed the revision and set aside the order dated 15.11.2018, passed by the Revenue Appellate Authority and restored the order 09.05.2018, passed by the SubDivisional Officer - as a result whereof, injunction granted in favour of the plaintiffs/petitioners has been set aside.

5. Mr. S.M. Parihar, learned counsel for the petitioners, challenging the order impugned, contended that the respondents cannot be permitted to enter into the land belonging to the petitioners to have access to their holdings situated in various Khasras including Khasra No.601.

6. It was also asserted that there is no recorded way so far as revenue record is concerned and merely because the respondents were allegedly using petitioners' land for access to their agriculture field, they cannot be permitted to demolish the boundary wall 'Maarh', until and unless an order under Section 251 and 251A of the Rajasthan Tenancy Act, is passed by the competent authority in accordance with law.

7. Mr. Pritam Solanki, learned counsel appearing for the respondents No.1-16, inviting Court's attention towards various documentary evidence, including Google Map and photographs of the site contended that a way from petitioners' land i.e. Khasra No.574 is being used by all the respondents for decades and no injunction can be granted to the petitioners, who have stopped the respondents' right of way, which was existing for years. He added that the respondents have right of easement as a consequence of unabated use of the subject land.

8. Learned counsel for the respondents further informed that during the period interregnum, pursuant to direction of the trial Court, proceedings under Section 251 of the Act of 1955 have been initiated and the same are pending before the Tehsildar, Sirohi. It was also informed that an application under Section 251A of the Act of 1955 has been preferred before the SubDivisional Officer, Sirohi.

9. Having heard learned counsel for the parties and upon perusal of the material available on record, this Court is of the considered opinion that until and unless, an order pursuant to proceedings under Section 251 and/or 251A of the Rajasthan Tenancy Act is passed either on the basis of easementary right or on the basis of parameters prescribed under Section 251, a right of way, claimed and sought to be enforced by the respondents (neighbouring agriculturists) cannot, as a matter of right be granted through the land of a private agriculturist.

10. Without recording any finding, even if it is presumed that the respondents can legitimately claim a right of way, t

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