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2009 Supreme(P&H) 1071

PUNJAB & HARYANA HIGH COURT
S.S.Saron, J.
Dev Raj Singh
Versus
State Of Punjab
Civil Writ Petition No. 9601 of 2009,
Decided On : JULY 3, 2009

The sanction of mutation does not confer any right or title to the property and is only for fiscal purposes. The validity of the Will should be determined in a civil suit.

Headnote:

Mutation - Property Dispute - The court held that the sanction of mutation does not determine the rights or title to the property and is only for fiscal purposes. The question of the validity of the Will should be determined in a civil suit, and mutation proceedings are not the appropriate forum for deciding such issues.

Fact of the Case:

The petitioners sought quashing of orders and directions to sanction mutation in their favor based on a registered Will executed by the deceased. The mutation was objected by the deceased's brother, and the revenue authorities sanctioned the mutation in favor of the brother based on natural succession.

Finding of the Court:

The court dismissed the writ petition, stating that the sanction of mutation does not determine the rights or title to the property. It held that mutation proceedings are summary in nature and do not confer any right or title, and the validity of the Will should be determined in a civil suit.

Issues: Dispute over sanction of mutation based on a registered Will versus natural succession, and the jurisdiction of the court in such matters.

Ratio Decidendi: Mutation proceedings do not determine rights or title to the property and are only for fiscal purposes. The validity of the Will should be determined in a civil suit, and mutation proceedings are not the appropriate forum for deciding such issues.

Final Decision: The writ petition filed by the petitioners was dismissed, and they were advised to seek their remedy through a duly instituted civil suit.

JudgmentJudgment

S.S.Saron, J.

1. This petition under Articles 226/227 of the Constitution of India has been filed seeking quashing of the impugned order dated 1.10.2008 (Annexure-P.7) passed by the Financial Commissioner (Appeals), Punjab, the order dated 19.4.2006 (Annexure-P.5) passed by the Commissioner, Patiala Division, Patiala, the order dated 22.7.2004 (Annexure-P.3) passed by the Collector, Ludhiana and the order dated 23.5.2003 (Annexure-P.1) passed by the Assistant Collector Grade I, Payal, District Ludhiana and for issuance of directions to sanction mutation with regard to the estate of deceased Harnek Singh in favour of the petitioners on the basis of registered Will dated 1.10.2001 executed in favour of the petitioners

2. The petitioners are real brothers and are the sons of Mohinder Singh. Harnek Singh (deceased) whose estate is in dispute was the son of their real paternal uncle (Chacha) Inder Singh. He was unmarried and was living with the petitioners. He was being looked after by the petitioners for the last many years and due to this he had executed a registered Will dated 1.10.2001 in their favour with regard to his properties. The said Will was scribed by Harbans Singh Vasika Navis and was witnessed by Raghbir Singh by putting his thumb impression on the Will. After about 8 months of the execution of the Will Harnek Singh died and the petitioners on the basis of the registered Will made an application for sanction of mutation in their favour with regard to the property of Harnek Singh. The mutation was objected by Sajjan Singh (respondent No. 6) who is the real brother of Harnek Singh (deceased). He seeks sanction of the mutation on the basis of inheritance. The Will set up by the petitioners was contested by Sajjan Singh (respondent No. 6). The petitioners, therefore, led evidence to prove the registered Will. However, according to the learned counsel for the petitioners the evidence was discarded by the Assistant Collector Grade I, Payal, Ludhiana in a totally arbitrary manner and mutation was sanctioned in the name of Sajjan Singh (respondent No. 6) on the basis of natural succession vide order dated 23.5.2003 (Annexure-P.l). The said order was affirmed in appeal by the Collector and also by the Commissioner, Patiala Division, Patiala. The petitioners aggrieved against the same preferred a revision petition before the Financial Commissioner which has also been dismissed. They have, therefore, approached this Court.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioners has contended that the Will dated 1.10.2001 executed by Harnek Singh was liable to be accepted and it has wrongly been discarded by the revenue authorities. It is submitted that it is a case of misreading of evidence on the record and the provisions of Section 68 of the Evidence Act, 1872 and Section 63(c) of the Succession Act, 1925 have not been considered. Besides, it is submitted that evidence led in support of the Will has not been considered.

4. After giving my thoughtful consideration to the matter and perusing the record, it may be noticed that the case relates to sanction of mutation on the basis of natural succession or registered Will which requires the appreciation and consideration of evidence. This Court in exercise of its supervisory writ jurisdiction under Articles 226/227 of the Constitution of India is not to go into the veracity of the evidence and reach a conclusion as to whether the Will set up by the petitioners is duly proved or whether the mutation was liable to be sanctioned on the basis of natural succession. Sanction of mutation as is well known does not determine the rights or title to the property. These are entered only for fiscal purpose of updating the record for the purpose of ascertaining the land revenue payable. Besides, mutation proceedings are summary in nature and technicalities of law which extinguish or confer some right on a party is not to be gone into. The question as regards the validity of the Will are to be d

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