IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH
Sureshwar Thakur, Kuldeep Tiwari , JJ.
Som Raj (deceased) Through His Lr – Appellant
Versus
State Of Punjab & Ors. – Respondents
CWP No. 13739 of 2019 (O&M)
Decided On : 26-04-2023
PVCL Act, 1961 - Title Suit - Section 7 - Section 2(g)(5)(viii)
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner filed a title suit claiming ownership of the land, which was dismissed by the authorities. The petitioner challenged the decision based on a previous decision under Section 7 of the PVCL Act, 1961, where the Collector had declined relief to the Gram Panchayat, citing jamabandis and possession of the land.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the previous decision under Section 7 of the PVCL Act, 1961, was not given due consideration in the subsequent title suit. The court concluded that the jurisdiction exercised on the title suit was illegal and improper.
Issues: The key issues were the validity of the previous decision under Section 7 of the PVCL Act, 1961, and the procedural irregularities in the handling of the title suit.
Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the previous decision under Section 7 of the PVCL Act, 1961, should have been considered in the subsequent title suit, and the procedural requirements akin to a regular Civil Court should have been followed.
Final Decision: The impugned orders were quashed and set aside, and the case was remanded to the Collector to draw a fresh decision, frame relevant issues, and permit the parties to adduce evidence. The entire exercise was to be concluded within seven months.
JUDGMENT
Sureshwar Thakur, J. -
Factual background
1. Petitioner Som Raj (since deceased) instituted a title suit bearing case No. 14-A of 2006, before the learned Collector concerned. Through a decision, made thereons, on 14.8.2014 (Annexure P-2), the learned Collector concerned, dismissed the said title suit of the petitioner (since deceased), whereins, the plaintiff claimed the relief qua his being declared as owner in possession of the suit land. The decision (supra), led the plaintiff therein to prefer an appeal bearing No. 304 of 2014, before the learned appellate authority concerned. During the pendency of the appeal (supra), the demise of petitioner/appellant-Som Nath occurred, but then he was substituted by his LR. On the said statutory appeal, as revealed by Annexure P-3, a decision was made on 1.2.2019, whereby the decision, carried in Annexure P-2, thus became affirmed. Resultantly, the petitioner, who is the legal representative of Som Nath, becomes aggrieved from the above concurrently made verdicts of dismissal, as became made by the authorities below, upon the title suit (supra), and, is led to institute thereagainst the instant petition, before this Court.
Reasons for accepting the instant petition
2. Prior to the institution of the title suit (supra), in the year 2006, the Gram Panchayat concerned, instituted before the learned Collector concerned, and, against the petitioner herein, a petition under Section 7 of the Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulation) Act, 1961 (for short 'the PVCL Act, 1961). Through a decision made on the said petition, verdict whereof, is enclosed in Annexure P-1, the learned Collector concerned, declined the espoused therein relief to the Gram Panchayat concerned. The said declining of relief, to the Gram Panchayat concerned, by the Collector concerned, became rested, upon the factum, that the jamabandis relating to the petition land, hence commencing since 1911-12, but reflecting, that the defendant therein, who is the petitioner herein (since deceased), thus was holding cultivating possession of the petition land(s). Furthermore, it was also therein concluded, that the said possession, became also affirmed by the Consolidation Officer concerned, in the finalized consolidation scheme, as became drawn by him. The said decision was made prior to a decision, being made through Annexure P-2, upon, the petitioner's title suit bearing case No. 14-A of 2006.
The apposite exclusionary clause, as carried in Section 2(g)(5)(viii) of the PVCL Act, 1961, is applicable to the petition land(s), as in previous lis comprised in Annexure P-1, credence has been assigned to the consonant therewith jamabandis.
3. The above made decision, enclosed in Annexure P-1, though was made on a petition cast under Section 7 of the PVCL Act, 1961, by the Gram Panchayat concerned, before the Collector concerned, whereins, the petitioner (since deceased) became impleaded as a respondent. Thus, when the said verdict has remained unchallenged. Therefore, the above referred to conclusions, as carried therein, if they have acquired conclusivity, thereupon, the effect of the conclusions (supra), thus would not become prefunctorily whittled down. Nonetheless, though conclusivity, if any, as assignable to Annexure P-1, rather was amenable to be scuttled, by the Gram Panchayat concerned, even in the subsequent thereto instituted title suit, of the petitioner, before the Collector concerned. However, a reading of the concurrently made verdicts, as respectively comprised in Annexure P-2, and, Annexure P-3, do not unfold, that the Gram Panchayat concerned, took to adduce evidence, but suggestive, that the findings, and, conclusions (supra), even if assumingly they acquire conclusivity, were not rested, upon a worthy appraisal of all the relevant documentary evidence, given such relevant documentary evidence, rather becoming suppressed from the authority, who made Annexure P-1. Contrarily, the authorities concerned, appear to assign
The main legal point established is that previous decisions under relevant acts should be given due consideration, and procedural requirements akin to a regular Civil Court must be followed in simila....
The Collector must provide a reasoned decision when a title question is raised under the Punjab Village Common Lands Act, rejecting arbitrary dismissals.
Failure to frame issues on adverse possession precluded the petitioners from leading evidence, leading to a miscarriage of justice.
The court emphasized that mere claims of ownership are insufficient; prima facie evidence of title must be established to invoke eviction proceedings under the Punjab Village Common Lands Act.
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