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1993 Supreme(Mad) 773

High Court of Judicature at Madras
K.A. SWAMY & SOMASUNDARAM
K.M.A. Shahul Hameed
Versus
The District Revenue Officer, Madurai & Others
W.A. Nos. 1293 to 1299 of respectively
Decided On :Decided on: 23-11-1993

Advocates Appeared:
For the Appellant:A. Ramanathan, Advocate.
For the Respondents:K. Sukumaran for P.T.S. Narendravasan, D. Gurumoorthy, Advocates.

The appellate authority had the jurisdiction to pass an interim order with or without notice, and the aggrieved party was entitled to seek modification or vacation of the same.

Headnote:

Appeal - Tamil Nadu Agricultural Lands Record of Tenancy Rights Act, 1969 - The court held that the appellate authority was justified in granting the stay without notice to the other side, and the revisional authority and the learned single Judge were not correct in proceeding on the basis that the ex-parte interim order passed by the appellate authority was bad in law.

Fact of the Case:

The appeals were filed against the order passed by the learned single Judge in Writ Petitions Nos. 15786 to 15792/93, which stayed the operation of the order passed by the Record Officer in a proceeding initiated under the Tamil Nadu Agricultural Lands Record of Tenancy Rights Act, 1969.

Finding of the Court:

The court rejected the appeals and held that the appellate authority was justified in granting the stay without notice to the other side, and the revisional authority and the learned single Judge were not correct in their interpretation of the law.

Issues: The issues involved the validity of the ex-parte interim order passed by the appellate authority and the justification for the learned single Judge's order staying the operation of the Record Officer's order pending disposal of the appeal.

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the appellate authority had the jurisdiction to pass an interim order with or without notice, and the aggrieved party was entitled to seek modification or vacation of the same.

Final Decision: The appeals were rejected, and the court upheld the order passed by the learned single Judge, except to the extent it was clarified above.

Judgment :-

K.A. SWAMY, C.J.

1. These appeals have been filed against the common order dated 13-10-1993 passed by the learned single Judge in Writ Petitions Nos. 15786 to 15792/93. Though the learned Single Judge his agreed with the reason given by the revisional authority had nevertheless passed an order staying the operation of the order passed by the Record Officer.

2. The matter arises out of a proceeding initiated under the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural Lands Record of Tenancy Rights Act, 1969 (hereinafter referred to as the Act). The Record Officer has recorded that the appellant is the tenant of the lands in question. The land owner, aggrieved by the said order, has gone in appeals to the Appellate Authority, who is the Revenue Divisional Officer. Pending disposal of the appeals the Revenue officer has stayed the operation of the order passed by the Record Officer. The Revisional authority has set aside the order on the ground that the order has been passed without notice to the appellant herein.

3. Learned single Judge has held that the Appellate Authority should not have granted the stay to continue till the appeals are disposed of without notice to the respondent in the appeal Therefore, it has been held by the learned single Judge that the revisional authority is justified in interfering with the order of the Appellate Authority. Ultimately, learned single Judge has directed the Appellate Authority to dispose of the appeals within two months from the date of the order and in the meanwhile the order of the Record Officer has been stayed. Therefore, it follows that the learned single Judge has proceeded on the basis that no interim order, till the disposal of the appeals, should have been passed without notice, therefore, it is an invalid order.

4. S. 6 of the Act, which provides for an appeal, read thus:

“6. Appeal :—Any Person aggrieved by an order made under sub-S. (3) of S. 4 or sub-S. (3) of S. 5 may within such period as may be prescribed, appeal to such authority as may be specified by the Government in, this behalf (hereinafter referred to the appellate authority) and the decision of such authority, on Such appeal subject to the provisions of S. 7 be final.”

We have been informed that these is no other provision contained in the Act, nor the Rules are framed, dealing with the scope and ambit of the power of the appellate authority. It is established principle of law that when ever a power of jurisdiction is conferred upon an authority, all that is necessary for the purpose of effective exercise of that power or jurisdiction must be deemed to have been conceded to it by the legislation, as otherwise the very purpose, intendment and object of conferment of power of jurisdiction cannot be achieved.

5. When the appellate authority granted the stay, without notice to the other side, it was nevertheless open to the other side to appear and seek modification or vacation of it. Merely because the appellate authority stated in the order that the interim order of stay to continue till the disposal of the appeal, it did not cease to be an ad interim order granted without notice to the other side and thereby enabling the other side to appear and seek modification or vacation of it. As such, we are of the view that the revisional authority as well as the learned single Judge are not correct in proceeding on the basis that the ex-parte interim order passed by the appellate authority to be effective till the disposal of the appeal, was bad in law. When once there is jurisdiction to pass an interim order, it can he passed with notice or ex parte depending upon the facts and circumstances of each case. The aggrieved party is entitled to seek-modification or vacation of the same. Therefore, it is not possible to hold that the appellate authority acted without the authority of the law while granting an interim order of stay, which did not in any way prevent the respondents to seek vacation or modification of it.

6. Now th


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