2009 Supreme(Jhk) 897
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI
HON’BLE MR.JUSTICE AJIT KUMAR SINHA
Chakaram Mahato & Ors. - Petitioners
Versus
The State of Jharkhand & Ors. - Respondents
W.P.(C) No. 1401 of 2007
Decided on : 01.07.2009
For the Petitioner:Mr. K.P.Deo, Advocate For the Respondents:
Mrs. Nivedita Kundu Mr. Naveen Kumar, Advocates
Headnote:Santhal Parganas Tenancy (Supplementary Provisions) Act, 1949—Sections 20 and 42—petition for eviction from land and house—Deputy Commissioners has jurisdiction to pass order for eviction of unauthorized occupant of the land who occupied the land in contravention of the provisions of Section 20—for proving possession over the land, no documentary evidence produced by the petitioners—held liable for ejectment—petition dismissed. (Paras 8 to 13)
JUDGMENT:
The present writ petition has been preferred for issuance of an appropriate writ,order or direction for quashing the order dated 31.10.2006 passed by Divisional-Commissioner,Santhal Pargana-Dumka in Revenue Misc. Revision No. 67 of 2004-05 passed in Revenue Misc. Appeal No. 61 of 2004-05 passed by Deputy Commissioner-Deoghar against the order dated 13.8.2004 passed by Sub-Divisional Officer,Deoghar, evicting the petitioners under Section-42 of the Santhal Pargana Tenancy(Supplementary Provision)Act,1949 on the basis of petition filed by rsp-Lilawati Devi,from mauza-Pachaiya Kothi, Thana-Deoghar, Plot No. 922, area 2.70 acres in which petitioners have constructed their house and thus on the basis of application filed by Lilawati Devi under Section 42 of the Santhal pargana Tenancy(Supplementary Provision)Act,1949, the Courts below wrongly passed the order of eviction and pursuant thereto the Sub-Divisional Officer,Deoghar has issued eviction warrant on 13.2.2007 directing the petitioners to remove the same within a fortnight without considering the fact that earlier husband of the Lilawati Devi namely,Maru Mahto had filed Title Suit No. 33 of 1967 in the court of Shri J.P.Sharma,Deputy Collector, Deoghar with regard to Plot No. 922, Area-2.70 decimals of Mauza-Pachaiya Kothi for declaration of title and recovery of possession for the same against Raghu Mahato and Khusi Mahato, ancestor of the petitioners, which was ultimately dismissed in terms of compromise dated 10.1.1968 admitting the land in favour of the ancestor of the petitioner and thus again after 33 years Lilawati Devi filed a petition under Section 42 of the S.P.T.Act, suppressing her inter-se relationships with the petitioner and without considering, the Courts below, have passed the order of eviction of the petitioners and thus eviction warrant has been issued on 13.2.2007 by the Sub-Divisional Officer-Deoghar.
2. The facts,in brief, are set out as under: The petitioners are legal heir and successor of Raghu Mahato who was legal heir and successor of one of the son of Horil Mahato namely Govind Mahto, whreas private respondent, Lilawati Devi is widow of Maru Mahato, the grand son of Kanhaiya Mahato, i.e. brother of Govind Mahato. It appears that that in the year 1967a Title Suit No. 33 of 1967 was filed by Maru mahato for declaration of title and recovery of possession, which ended in compromise in terms of order dated 10.1.1968. The private respondent Lilawati Devi initiated a proceeding in the year 1988 which was dropped vide order dated 25.4.1988 by Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Deoghar.The petitioners are possessing the land of Mauza-Pachiya Kothi,Plot No. 922, Area-2.70 acres since year 1936 and have constructed a residential house over the same in which the family of the petitioners are residing and the same was admitted by Maru Mahato, husband of private respondent Lilawati Devi in Title Suit No. 33 of 1967 which ended in compromise and thus the petitioners are residing over the plot which was initially recorded in the name of Horil Mahato, ancestor of petitioners and private respondent before 1936 and as such eviction of the petitioners cannot be passed under Section 20 or 42 of the Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act (in short S.P.T. Act).The private respondent Lilawati Devi filed a petition of eviction of the petitioners from the land in question vide Revenue Misc. Case No. 53 of 2001-02 before the Court of Sub-Divisional officer, Deoghar (in short S.D.O.,Deoghar) for eviction of the petitioners under Section 42 of the S.P.T.Act. The petitioners also filed their show cause stating therein that they are in possession of the land since 1936, after the last survey settlement, as parties have common ancestor and after spending huge money, they have developed the land and also constructed house and the matter was compromised in Title Suit No. 33 of 1967 and thereafter a proceeding was initiated vide Misc. Case No. 87 of 1988 which was dropped and thus, the