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2024 Supreme(Ori) 414

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK
A.C.BEHERA, J.
Jagabandhu Badapanda - Appellant
Versus
Lokanath Meswa and another - Respondents
S.A. No.01 of 2002
Decided On : 07-05-2024

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Appellant :Mr. Budhiram Das, Mr. N.C. Pati, Advocate
For the Respondents: None

Consolidation authorities' records establish title and possession, superseding claims of adverse possession, which indirectly acknowledge the opposing party's title, rendering simultaneous inconsistency unacceptable.

Headnote:(A) Orissa Consolidation of Holdings and Prevention of Fragmentation of Land Act, 1972 - Sections 2(g) and 4 - Civil Procedure Code, 1908 - Res Judicata - The Second Appeal pertains to the confirmation of the prior judgments regarding right, title, and interest over non-consolidable properties - The plaintiff sought declaration and recovery of possession from the defendants who claimed to possess the suit properties through adverse possession. The lower courts dismissed the plaintiff's suit, maintaining that the defendants acquired title via adverse possession - However, the plaintiff pointed out that the consolidation authorities had recorded the suit properties exclusively in his favor, which was not contested by the defendants, rendering the lower courts' actions erroneous. The court reaffirmed the finality of the consolidation RoR, asserting that it operates as res judicata, precluding the civil court from reconsidering these issues and reinforcing that the defendants had no rights over the suit properties. (Paras 14-22)

(B) Adverse Possession - The court ruled that a claim of adverse possession indirectly admits the title of another party, thus making simultaneous claims inconsistent and untenable. The defendants' claims were rejected, affirming that they could not simultaneously maintain ownership through sale deeds and adverse possession. (Paras 17-21)

Facts of the case:
The appellant sought judicial intervention against the defendants who were contesting the plaintiff's title and possession over the suit properties noted erroneously in the remarks column of the consolidation RoR. The defendants asserted ownership predicated on adverse possession, which the plaintiff contested.

Findings of Court:
The plaintiff established his right, title, and interest over the suit properties, leading to the reversal of the earlier judgments dismissing his suit.

Issues: The main issues revolved around the validity of the suits based on the consolidation RoR and the legitimacy of adverse possession claims made by the defendants.

Ratio Decidendi: The plaintiff's title under the consolidation RoR held legal precedence, and simultaneous claims of adverse possession were deemed inconsistent, leading to the dismissal of the defendants' claims.

Result: Second appeal allowed, the lower court judgements set aside, and the plaintiff's rights affirmed.

Table of Content
1. parties involved in the appeal. (Para 1 , 2 , 3)
2. plight of plaintiff and suit properties. (Para 4 , 5)
3. defendants' claims and counterarguments. (Para 6)
4. issues framed and trial court's dismissal. (Para 8 , 9)
5. basis for the first appeal. (Para 10 , 11)
6. substantial questions of law decaled. (Para 12 , 14 , 15)
7. admission through adverse possession. (Para 17 , 18 , 20)
8. recognition of plaintiff's title. (Para 22)
9. final decree and orders issued favoring the plaintiff. (Para 24 , 25 , 26 , 27)

JUDGMENT :

A.C. Behera, J.

The 2nd appeal has been preferred against the confirming judgment.

2. The appellant of this 2nd appeal was the plaintiff before the trial court in the suit vide T.S. No.03 of 1997 and he was the appellant before the 1st appellate court in the 1st appeal vide T.A. No.02 of 2000.

3. The respondents of this 2nd appeal were the defendants before the trial court in the suit vide T.S. No.03 of 1997 and they were the respondents before the 1st appellate court in the 1st appeal vide T.A.No.02 of 2000.

4. The suit of the plaintiffs vide T.S. No.03 of 1997 before the trial court was a suit for declaration and confirmation of possession, in alternative for demolition of the structures, if the structures are made forcibly by the defendants in the suit properties during the pendency of the suit and also for recovery of possession of the suit properties, in case the possession of the suit properties is taken away by the defendants forcibly from the plaintiff during the pendency of the suit and also for permanent injunction against the defendants from interfering into his possession in the suit properties.

5. As per the plaint of the plaintiff, the suit properties are non- consolidable Plot No.360 Ac.0.420 decimals and non-consolidable Plot No.365 Ac.0.480 decimals under Consolidation Khata No.73.

According to him(plaintiff), he(plaintiff) is the exclusive owner and in possession over the suit properties and the suit properties covered under Consolidation Khata No.73 has been recorded in his name exclusively. The suit properties were also recorded in his name exclusively in the 4th settlement under Khata No.40. During consolidation operation, the defendants had claimed for recording the suit properties in their names, but, their said claim was rejected by the consolidation authorities and ultimately final consolidation RoR of the suit properties was published in the name of the plaintiff under Consolidation Khata No.73 after adjudicating/deciding the right, title and interest of the parties in respect of the suit properties. But, in the final consolidation RoR of the suit properties under Khata No.73, the possession of the defendants were erroneously noted in the remarks column of suit Plot Nos.360 and 365. In fact, the defendants were/are not in possession over any portion of the suit plots. Consolidation authorities were not authorized under law to note the possession of the defendants in the remarks column of the consolidation RoR, in respect of the suit plots. For which, the said noting of possession in favour of the defendants in the remarks column of the suit plots are required to be ignored for all purposes. The suit properties are situated by the side of the road, for which, the plaintiff has been using the suit properties for multy purposes. When the defendants tried to make construction on the suit properties forcibly by storing the building construction materials near the same, then the plaintiff objected the same, for which, the defendants could not able to make any construction on the suit properties. The defendants have no manner of right, title and interest in the suit properties, because, neither the plaintiff nor any of his ancestors has transferred the suit properties in favour of the defendants. When the defendants are trying to make construction over the suit properties forcibly, then, apprehending danger to the title of the plaintiff by the threat of the defendants, he (plaintiff) app

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