IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA, CUTTACK
BISWANATH RATH, J.
Alok Prasad Bose - Appellant
Versus
ADDL. District Magistrate, Balasore and Others - Respondents
Writ Petition (Civil) No. 3100 of 2015, 3102 of 2015, 11311 of 2015
Decided On : 12-09-2019
Writ Petitions - Challenge to initiation of proceedings based on existence of civil court compromise decree - OPLE Act - Sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8-A - Summary of Acts and Sections: The court discussed the exercise of power under the OPLE Act, particularly under Section 8-A, and emphasized the importance of not interfering with concluded settlement proceedings unless challenged in a higher forum. The court set aside the impugned orders for ignoring previous developments and directed the petitioner to offer assessed rent to the Tahasildars for necessary corrections in the R.O.R.
Fact of the Case:
The case involved disputed property from L.E. Cases, a suit decreed in favor of the petitioner's father, and subsequent initiation of proceedings after a compromise decree and settlement of the land in favor of the petitioner. The petitioner objected to the proceedings based on the existence of a civil court compromise decree.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the subsequent Tahasildar ignored previous settlement proceedings and passed orders without referring to the earlier orders, leading to interference and setting aside of the impugned orders. The court directed the petitioner to offer assessed rent to the Tahasildars for necessary corrections in the R.O.R.
Issues: Challenge to initiation of proceedings based on civil court compromise decree, exercise of power under the OPLE Act, and non-interference with concluded settlement proceedings.
Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized the importance of not interfering with concluded settlement proceedings unless challenged in a higher forum and set aside the impugned orders for ignoring previous developments.
Final Decision: The Writ Petitions succeeded, and the court directed the petitioner to offer assessed rent to the Tahasildars for necessary corrections in the R.O.R.
JUDGMENT :
Biswanath Rath, J.
Since all the Writ Petitions involve challenge to the same order and since the parties have common set of submissions, on consent of parties this Court takes up all the matters together and decides all the Writ Petitions involved herein by this common judgment.
2. Short background involved in this case is that taking the disputed property involving all the L.E. Cases vide L.E. Case no.429/03, L.E. Case no.430/03 and L.E. Case No.431/03 the parties entered into a Suit bearing T.S. No.64/49. The suit was decreed and as a result of the decree involving such suit disputed property involved herein fell to the share of father of the petitioner. The matter ultimately brought to the level of High Court, where the matter finally ended with a compromise between the parties. It is while the matter stood thus and after the dispute between the parties involving the disputed property were set at rest, after a long time and after so many decades the proceedings were initiated vide L.E. Case no.429/03, L.E. Case no.430/03 and L.E. Case No.431/03. Upon receipt of notice involving all the three L.E. Cases the opposite party therein filed his objection as find place at page 21 of the W.P.(C) No.3100 of 2015. It is needless to indicate here that similar response have been filed by the petitioner involving the L.E. Cases indicated hereinabove. Through the objection the petitioner not only claimed his right over the property through the compromise decree involving the T.S. No.64/49, but also claimed that for the possession of the land in favour of the petitioner through a compromise decree, there was no question of interfering in the right, title and interest of the petitioner by exercise of power under the OPLE Act. All the three L.E. Cases appear to have already been disposed of on contest by entering into the orders at three stages. By the order dated 6.09.2004 where the Tahasildar recommended the matter for settlement of the land in favour of the petitioner involving all the three plots involved herein to the Sub-Collector and on the acceptances of such recommendation the matter was again taken up and decided by 4 order dated 8.4.2005 wherein the Tahasildar again after entering into another set of inquiry settled the lands in favour of the petitioner and also assessed the revenue at Rs.137.65/-, Rs.450/- and Rs.107.10/- respectively. It is stated here that the L.E. Case no.429/03 involves Khata No.428 plot no.258 area Ac.0.19 decimals, L.E. Case no.430/03 involves Khata no.180 plot no.180 & 226 Ac.0.49 & Ac.0.21 decimals Ac. 0.70 decimals Khata No.159 plot no.332 Ac.0.06 decimals plot no.330 Ac.0.15 decimals and plot no.326 Ac.0.08 decimals and L.E. Case no.431/03 involves Khata No.185 plot no.385 area Ac.0.03 dec. In a subsequent order dated 27.1.2006 the Tahasildar in confirmation of his own order dated 6.09.2004 and 8.04.2005 reaffirmed the order of settlement involving the disputed property in favour of the petitioner for final assessment of the rent involving the disputed property. It appears, at this stage of the matter the proceeding was again undertaken by the Tahasildar Simulia and by order dated 30.06.2006 the Tahasildar was pleased to reject the prayer of the petitioner on the premises that he failed to produce any documentary evidence to settle the land in his favour vide Annexure-3. This order being challenged in appeal the appellate authority also dismissed the appeal on the same premises of non-production of the records by the petitioner and also for not satisfying his case of peaceful possession for more than 30 years. Consequently the OPLE Revision No.2/10 preferred by the petitioner was also dismissed. Similarly involving the L.E. Case No.430/03, L.E. Case no.429/03 and L.E. Case No.431/03 the petitioner appears to have filed OPLE Appeal No.53/2006, OPLE Appeal No.54/2006 and OPLE Appeal No.55/
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