IN THE HIGH COURT OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR AT SRINAGAR
Mohd. Yaqoob Mir, J.
Akhtara - Appellant
Versus
State Of J&K & Ors. - Respondent
OWP No. 495/2005, IA No. 791/2005
Decided On : 30 September, 2008
Limitation - Land Revenue Act - Section 15 - Section 3 of Limitation Act - [Section 11, 12, 13, 15 of Land Revenue Act] - The court addressed the issue of limitation in filing revision under the Land Revenue Act and concluded that no period of limitation is prescribed for exercising revisional power under section 15 of Land Revenue Act. The court highlighted the legislative wisdom in not prescribing any period of limitation for revision and emphasized the intent to ensure genuineness in the proceedings and the revenue records. The court also referenced relevant judgments to support its interpretation.
Fact of the Case:
The court addressed the issue of setting aside two mutations under the Land Revenue Act, which were attested illegally and in derogation of the law. The mutations involved inheritance and oral gift of land, and the Financial Commissioner remitted the matter back for fresh orders and administrative action against the attesting officers.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the mutations were attested illegally and in a casual fashion, and the Financial Commissioner was right in opining that the mutations needed rectification. The court also emphasized the relevance of the legislative provisions and the absence of prescribed limitation for filing revision under the Land Revenue Act.
Issues: The issues involved the legality of the attested mutations, the applicability of limitation in filing revision under the Land Revenue Act, and the powers of the Financial Commissioner to rectify the wrong committed in the mutations.
Ratio Decidendi: The court's decision was based on the absence of prescribed limitation for filing revision under the Land Revenue Act, the legislative intent to ensure genuineness in proceedings and revenue records, and the need to rectify the illegally attested mutations.
Final Decision: The court upheld the decision of the Financial Commissioner to set aside the mutations and remit the matter back for fresh orders, while also directing administrative action against the attesting officers. The Financial Commissioner was tasked with monitoring the administrative action taken against the officers.
2. The counsel for the petitioner would contend that both the revisions were barred by limitation should have been dismissed as such as warranted under Section 3 of the Limitation Act. Instead, Financial Commissioner has held that the issue of limitation is irrelevant. Though mutations admittedly have been attested at the back of the respondents but they had the knowledge which they had gained while pursuing the case pending in the Court of Munsiff, Chadoora, petitioner has sought issuance of writ of certiorari for quashing the order of learned Financial Commissioner.
3. Counsel appearing for the Respondents 2 to 6 contended that no period of limitation is prescribed for filing the revision. Power vested with Financial Commissioner has an object of undoing the wrong so as to bring record in tune with the factual requirements. In support of his contention, learned counsel has relied on the judgments of this Court being reported in 2005 (II) SLJ 716, 2001 SLJ 86, 2003 (II) SLJ 509 and 2005 SLJ 767.
4. Before addressing as to whether any period of limitation is prescribed for filing revision under the provisions of Land Revenue Act, noticing of factual aspect is indispensable.
5. One Ama Khanday has died survived by five daughters and the widow. Succession mutation No. 2853 has been attested on 09.12.1999 whereunder legacy of the deceased has been attested to the extent of 1/8th in favour of Mst. Khatiji, widow and rest in favour of Mst. Akhtara (petitioner). In the mutation, Patwari concerned has recorded Pedigree table showing Mst. Akhtara as only daughter. Tehsildar with eyes shut has attested the mutation. Both Tehsildar and Patwari have acted in derogation of STANDING ORDER 23-A. The mutation on the face of it has been illegally attested that too at the back of the respondents (legal heirs of the deceased). The mutation is neither covered by personal law nor covered by customary law.
6. Another mutation no. 2855 attested on 25.03.1999 has also been attested at the back of the respondents (legal heirs) whereunder 6 kanals and 15 marlas of land covered under Survey No. 1366 based on oral gift has been attested that too in a casual fashion. The learned Financial Commissioner, noticing the nature of the mutations attested, has rightly opined that the mutations have been attested illegally and he shall be failing in his duty in not rectifying the wrong committed and has finally remitted the matter back to the Tehsildar, Chadoora for fresh orders and has also observed that the administrative action be taken against the attesting officer concerned.
7. According to appearing counsel for the petitioner, Sub Section 2 of Section 12 of Land Revenue Act is applicable. So as per Section 3 of Limitation Act, revision should have been dismissed as barred by limitation. It is true that when any suit, appeal and application are filed after the period of limitation prescribed by first Schedule, it shall have to be dismissed, although limitation has not been set up as defence.
8. The question is as to whether any period is prescribed for filing revision under Land Revenue Act so as to attract applicability of Section 3 of the Limitation Act, my answer is in negative for the following reasons :-
(a) Conjoint reading of sections 11, 12, 13 and 15 of Land Revenue Act clearly indicate that the legislature in its wisdom has not prescribed any period of limitation for exercising revisional power under section 15 of Land Revenue Act. For appeals as per Section 12, period of limitation is prescribed, for review, as per Section 13, period of limitation is prescribed, whereas under Section 15 no period of limitation is prescribed. The supervisory power vested in Financial Com
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