The main legal point established is that illegal land settlements and fraudulent actions by parties involved will not be upheld by the court.

Ajit Kumar Sinha, J.

1. The present writ petition has been preferred challenging the order dated 13.1.1999, passed by the Deputy Commissioner, Ranchi, in Misc. Appeal No. 254 of 1998, whereby, it has affirmed the order dated 6.4.1997, passed by the Sub Division Officer, Ranchi in Misc. Case No. 27 of 1996-97.

2. The facts in brief, as submitted by the petitioner, are set out as under:

The land, in dispute, pertains to R.S. Khata No. 268, Plot No. 2983, comprising a total area of 1.08 Acres of Village-Argora, Police Station-Arogra, Thana No. 207. A proceeding being Misc. Case No. 27 of 1996-97 was initiated by the Sub-Divisional Officer, Ranchi, on the direction of Additional Collector, since the plot, in question, was recorded as Gairmazarua Malik Parti Kadim in the revisional survey records of right.

3. In the show cause, filed by the petitioner, it was submitted that the land, in question, was settled by the Ex. Landlord Maharaja of Ratugharha by way of grant of Hukumnama, dated 22.3.1942 on receipt of Salami of Rs. 549/- only from the settlee, namely, Samu Sahu son of Jago Sahu. It has further been submitted that after settlement, the Ex. Landlord was granted receipt, which, was duly accepted and ac knowledged. The settlee paid rent of Rs. 14/- only as fixed in the document of settlement and that is how he came in possession and acquired valid right, title and interest over the land. It is further submitted that the landlord after vesting of estate with the State of Bihar submitted return of the land, showing the said Samu Sahu as raiyat of the land, in question. The petitioner further submits that after the death of the settlee, his son Chandan Sahu inherited the lands, in question, and paid rent in respect thereof. Chandan Sahu being the sole owner of the lands as per the satisfaction of his necessity sold the lands, in question, in favour of the petitioner vide, registered deed of sale dated 30.3.1989 on receipt of valuable consideration amount of Rs. 1,50,000/- only and that is how the petitioner acquired a valid and perfect title over the lands, in question. The petitioner's name was thereafter mutated in the Anchal office and the rents were paid. The petitioner further contends that no proceeding under Section 4(h) of the Bihar Land Reforms Act, 1950 was ever initiated by the State with respect to the lands, in question, for annulment of the settlement and, thus, the Sub-Divisional Officer has clearly erred in coming to the conclusion and has illegally vide its order dated 6.4.1997 cancelled the settlement of the petitioner. Being aggrieved with the order dated 6.4.1997, the petitioner preferred Misc. Appeal No. 254 of 1998 before the Deputy Commissioner, Ranchi, which was also dismissed. It appears that the petitioner, thereafter, preferred Mutation Revision No. 56 of 1999 before the learned Commissioner, who also vide its order dated 7.5.2002 rejected it on the ground that second revision was not maintainable. Accordingly, the present writ petition has been preferred, challenging the orders dated 6.4.1997 and 13.1.1999.

4. The respondents in the counter affidavit have submitted that the disputed land was recorded as Gairmazarua Malik Parti Kadim in the revisional survey records of right and in view of the claim/demand for an area of 49 Decimals of the land, in question, a proceeding was initiated by the Sub-Divisional Officer, Sadar, Ranchi vide Misc. Case No. 27 of 1996-97 to examine the genuineness of the demand in respect of the land, in question, created in the name of said person in Register-II of Circle Officer, Town Anchal, Ranchi. The respondents submit that the land, in question is gairmazarua Malik land of the Government and the demand of the land, in question, was created to grab the valuable land in collusion of the Government officials and under the above mentioned facts and circumstances the demand of the disputed land, recorded in the name of the petitioner in Register-II of the Circle Officer, Ran