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2014 Supreme(HP) 1432

IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH AT SHIMLA
P.S. Rana, J.
Bakshi Ram son of Achharu - Appellant
Versus
Mandro Devi widow of Karam Chand and others - Respondents
RSA No. 147 of 2003
Decided On : 27-11-2014

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Appellant :Mr. K.D. Sood, Sr. Advocate with Mr. Mukul Sood, Advocate.
For the Respondent:Mr. K.S. Kanwar, Advocate.

Headnote:

Code of Civil Procedure - Tenancy Dispute - Section 100 - 1984-85, 1973-74 - The court held that a person cannot acquire two statuses at the same time in joint immovable property, i.e., status of ownership and status of tenancy. The entries in the revenue record showing the plaintiff to be a tenant of 2/3rd share were found to be void ab initio as they were recorded without any order of competent authority of law. The court also emphasized the need for positive, cogent, and reliable evidence to prove tenancy when it is disputed by the adverse party.

Fact of the Case:

The plaintiff filed a suit for declaration with consequential relief of injunction and in alternative relief of possession, claiming to be a tenant over 2/3rd share of land. The trial court decided against the plaintiff, and subsequent appeals were also dismissed. The High Court admitted the appeal on substantial questions of law.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the plaintiff failed to prove his tenancy over the suit land, as the entries in the revenue record were void ab initio and there was a lack of positive, cogent, and reliable evidence to establish the tenancy. The court affirmed the judgments and decrees of the lower courts.

Issues: The issues included the plaintiff's tenancy in possession of the suit land, entitlement for the relief of permanent prohibitory injunction, maintainability of the suit, estoppel from filing the suit, absence of cause of action, and the correctness of the revenue record entries.

Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized the need for positive, cogent, and reliable evidence to prove tenancy when it is disputed by the adverse party. It also clarified that a person cannot acquire two statuses at the same time in joint immovable property, i.e., status of ownership and status of tenancy.

Final Decision: The appeal was dismissed, and the judgments and decrees of the lower courts were affirmed. The sale deed dated 3.10.1964 was to form part and parcel of the decree sheet, and the record of the lower courts was to be sent back forthwith along with a certified copy of the judgment and decree sheet.

JUDGMENT :

P.S. Rana, J.

Regular Second Appeal is filed under Section 100 of the Code of Civil Procedure by the appellant against the judgment and decree dated 22.2.2003 passed by learned Additional District Judge Hamirpur H.P. in Civil Appeal No. 26/95 (RBT) No. 133 of 2002 titled Bakshi Ram vs. Indri Devi and others and against the judgment and decree passed by learned Civil Judge Hamirpur in Civil Suit No. 96/89 titled Bakshi Ram vs. Indri Devi and others.

2. Brief facts of the case as pleaded are that Shri Bakshi Ram plaintiff filed a suit for declaration with consequential relief of injunction and in alternative relief of possession pleaded therein that plaintiff is tenant over 2/3rd share of land comprised in Khata No. 23 Khatauni No. 23 Khasra Nos. 13, 14, 15, 16, 20 and Khata No. 23 Khatauni No. 25 Khasra Nos. 5, 18 and 19 situated in Suphan Tappa Lohdar Tehsil Barsar District Hamirpur H.P. as per jamabandi for the year 1984-85. It is pleaded that land was under the tenancy of plaintiff Bakshi Ram since long time and deceased defendant Lachhman through his LRs has no concern with suit land. It is pleaded that deceased defendant Lachhman was very aggressive and quarrelsome person and he threatened to reap the crop from the suit land forcibly sown by the plaintiff. It is pleaded that plaintiff requested the deceased defendant Lachhman several time to accept and acknowledge the status of plaintiff as tenant over suit property but he did not accept the request of plaintiff. It is further pleaded that relief as sought in relief clause of plaint be granted to plaintiff.

3. Per contra written statement filed on behalf of contesting defendant pleaded therein that suit is not maintainable and plaintiff is estopped from filing the suit by his act and conduct. It is pleaded that plaintiff has no cause of action. It is further pleaded that suit land is joint between the parties and entry of non-occupancy tenant is wrong and contrary to law in favour of the plaintiff. It is pleaded that plaintiff was wrongly entered as non-occupancy tenant upon 2/3rd share under deceased defendant Lachhman. It is pleaded that plaintiff and defendant are co-owners of suit land and further pleaded that plaintiff has only 1/3rd share on the suit land. It is pleaded that deceased defendant through his LRs is in settled possession of 2/3rd share at the spot. It is pleaded that defendant has also filed a correction application before the LRO Barsar for correction of Khasra Girdawari of suit property and same was allowed by learned Land Reforms Officer vide case No. 109/92 titled Smt. Indri Devi widow of Lachhman and others vs. Shri Bakshi Ram on dated 17.7.1993 w.e.f. Kharif 1992. Prayer for dismissal of suit sought. During pendency of suit sole defendant Lachhman died and his LRs brought on record.

4. As per the pleadings of parties learned trial Court framed following issues on dated 7.9.1989:-

1. Whether the plaintiff is tenant in possession of 2/3 share of suit land as alleged? …OPP

2. Whether the plaintiff is entitled for the relief of permanent prohibitory injunction? …OPP

3. Whether the suit is not maintainable in present form? ……OPD

4. Whether the plaintiff is estopped from filing the suit by his act and conduct? ..OPD

5. Whether the plaintiff has not cause of action? …..OPD

6. Whether entries in the revenue record showing plaintiff to be tenant of 2/3rd share are wrong and illegal? ….OPD.

7. Relief.

5. On dated 23.1.1995 learned trial Court decided issues Nos. 1 and 2 in negative and learned trial Court held that issues No. 3, 4 and 5 became redundant. Learned trial Court decided issue No. 6 in favour of the defendant and suit filed by the plaintiff was dismissed.

6. Feeling aggrieved against judgment and decree passed by learned trial Court dated 23.1.1995 appellant Bakshi Ram preferred Civil Appeal No. 26/1995 (RBT 133/02) titled Bakshi Ram vs. Indri Devi and others and learned Additional District Judge Hamirpur (H.P.) on dated 22.2.2003 dismissed the appea

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