Failure to comply with procedural requirements under Section 80 CPC and invalidity of settlement under the Bihar Land Reforms Act and Indian Forest Act.

D.N. Upadhyay, J.

1. This second appeal has been preferred by the plaintiff/appellant against the judgment dated 9th June, 2015 and decree dated 22nd June, 2015 passed and signed by learned District Judge 3rd, Hazaribagh in connection with Title Appeal No.04 of 2011, whereby judgment dated 7th January, 2011 and decree dated 17th January, 2011 passed and signed by Sub Judge-II, Hazaribagh in connection with Title Suit No.2 of 2003 has been affirmed and the appeal stood dismissed.

2. The facts reveal from the averments made by the plaintiff in his plaint are that the land in dispute, appertaining to Khata No.1, Plot Nos.62 & 49 of village Bhuchungdih, P.S. Ramgarh, District Hazaribagh was initially settled in the name of Hussaini Mian (father of the plaintiff) in the year 1936. It is disclosed that Hussaini Mian reclaimed the land and cut and removed the shrubs and bushes from the land and made it fit for cultivation. Amin of the landlord measured the land and verified the reclamation made by Hussaini Mian, pertaining to Plot Nos.49 and 62, measuring an area of 9 acres, and prepared a Parcha on 16th April, 1936 in favour of Hussaini Mian. The Manager, being satisfied with the reclamation, granted Hukumnama in favour of Hussaini Mian on 27th October, 1936 and confirmed the settlement against the land in question. Hussaini Mian till his lifetime remained in actual physical possession over the land, morefully described in Schedule-A of the plaint. After abolition of Jamindari and enactment of Bihar Land Reforms Act, Hussaini Mian was recognized as a raiyat for Schedule-A land by the State of Bihar. It is further case of the plaintiff that the name of Hussaini Mian also appeared in Register-II. After death of Hussaini Mian, the plaintiff came in possession and he has started enjoying his peaceful possession over the land in question without any hindrance from any corner. It is further contended that the plaintiff was forced to file a petition before the Land Acquisition Officer, stating that the land of Schedule-A is a raiyati land of plaintiff and it cannot be acquired for the Central Coalfields Limited. The said petition was marked and numbered as Case No.8 of 1985-86. After enquiry the land was declared as raiyati land of the plaintiff. The Additional Collector also examined Hukumnama, Parcha, Jamindari Rent Receipts as well as State rent receipts and the report called for by the D.F.O. (East) and after considering the same Schedule-A land of the plaintiff was declared as raiyati land. When the Forest Guard started creating hindrance against paddy grown by the plaintiff on Plot No.62, area measuring six acres, cause of action arose for the suit and the plaintiff filed a suit for declaration of his title over the land in question. It was also contended that the plaintiff had filed the suit without giving notice to the defendants under Section 80 C.P.C. and prayed for exemption from giving notice to the defendants, as the relief sought for by the plaintiff was urgent and immediate and the plaintiff was not in position to wait for two months. There was apprehension that the defendant may cause damage and destroy the suit land.

3. On being noticed the Defendant No.1-the State of Jharkhand through the Deputy Commissioner, Hazaribagh and Defendant No.2-Divisional Forest Officer, Ramgarh appeared and filed their written statements, stating therein that the suit is not maintainable and the same is liable to be dismissed in limine. The plaintiff has got no cause of action for the suit. The suit is liable to be dismissed for want of notice under Section 80 CPC and it is hit by Section 34 of the Specific Relief Act. It is contended that the story of measurement and verification by Amin of the ex. Landlord is incorrect and they had no authority to issue any Parcha. According to Section 4(h) of the Bihar Land Reforms Act, 1950, all those settlements stood annulled. The grant of Hukumnama by the Manager of Ramgarh Wards Estate in confir