SupremeToday Landscape Ad
Back
Next
Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation
Listen Audio Icon Pause Audio Icon
judgment-img

1995 Supreme(All) 231

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
BEERENDRA DIXIT
MUZEEB - Appellant
Versus
DY.DIRECTOR OF CONSOLIDATION, AZAMGARH - Respondents
C. M. W. P. 4005 Of 1995
Decided On : 02/16/1995

Advocates Appeared:
JAMIL AHMAD AZMI

A person whose entry in revenue records is expunged or corrected on the basis of a forged or non-existing order is entitled to a post order opportunity of hearing to challenge the order of correction.

Headnote:

CONSOLIDATION OF LAND HOLDINGS ACT - SECTION 48 - AMALDARAMAD - EXPUNCTION - POST ORDER HEARING - FORGED ORDER - OPPORTUNITY OF HEARING - NATURAL JUSTICE - PRINCIPLE OF POST ORDER HEARING - ALTERNATIVE REMEDY.

Fact of the Case:

The petitioner challenged an order of the Joint Director of Consolidation expunging an amaldaramad made in CH Form 23 in respect of plot No. 466 of village Seedha Sultanpur, Tehsil Sadar, District Azamgarh recorded in the name of the petitioner and in its place entry to be made is of "deeh Asthan". The amaldaramad expunged was in the name of the petitioner recorded in pursuance of an order passed by Consolidation Officer on 31-3-1960 in case No. 2355.

Finding of the Court:

The court held that the Joint Director of Consolidation was well within his power to correct the entry as soon as he was satisfied that it is on the basis of a forged order and then no opportunity of hearing to the petitioner was necessary before passing the order. The application of principles of natural justice cannot be extended to such cases.

Issues: Whether an entry be corrected without affording opportunity of hearing to person likely to be affected depends on facts of each case.

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the petitioner has an alternative remedy before the Joint Director of Consolidation by raising same grounds which he has taken in this writ petition. In case petitioner takes recourse to such a remedy by moving Joint Director of Consolidation then the Joint Director of Consolidation will dispose of the petitioner's objections after affording opportunity of hearing to petitioner as well as counsel on behalf of State and while considering the case of parties if Joint Director of Consolidation comes to the conclusion that the order passed by the Consolidation Officer is genuine and not a forged order then he will grant appropriate relief to petitioner in the light of finding recorded by him in that respect.

Final Decision: The writ petition is dismissed subject to aforesaid observations.

BEERENDRA DIXIT, J.

( 1 ) THIS writ petition is directed against an order of Joint Director of Consolidation whereby in exercise of power under Section 48 of U. P. Consolidation of Land Holdings Act (in short act) he directed expunction of an amaldaramad made in CH Form 23. The amaldaramad expunged is in respect of plot No. 466 of village Seedha Sultanpur, Tehsil Sadar, District Azamgarh recorded in the name of petitioner and in its place entry to be made is of "deeh Asthan". The amaldaramad, which has been ordered to be expunged is in the name of petitioner recorded in pursuance of an order passed by Consolidation Officer on 31-3-1960 in case No. 2355.

( 2 ) THE facts necessary for determining present controversy as set-out in writ petition are that the Consolidation Officer Azamgarh passed an order in Case No. 2355 of 31-3-60 to enter the name of petitioner Muzeeb over plot No. 338 (Old No. 466 ). The amaldaramad was done accordingly in relevant records of consolidation operation. It was also incorporated in revenue records later on. The order was given effect in CH Form 41 and CH Form 45 in the year 1960, the year in which consolidation operation also concluded in village. The petitioner claimed that the land was finally settled as part of petitioners holding under consolidation operation. The District Government counsel (Revenue) Azamgarh (In short d. G. C. ) challenged the amaldaramad by filing an application on 27-10-94 wherein it has been averred that the amaldaramad in respect of plot No. 338 (Old No. 466) was fraudulent. According to the D. G. C. the order of Consolidation Officer dated 31-3-60, which is basis of amaldaramad, is forged and non-existing order and, therefore, the amaldaramad was rightly deleted without any notice to petitioner. He claimed that plot in dispute be continued in papers as "deeh Asthan". The Joint Director of Consolidation examined the matter and on being satisfied in respect of stand taken by D. G. C. Allowed the application by order in question without hearing petitioner. The Joint Director of Consolidation relied upon the decision of Supreme Court of India in U. P. Junior Doctors Action Committee v. Dr. B. Seetal Nandwani, AIR 1991 SC 909 for passing order without affording opportunity of hearing to petitioner. He relied on proposition of law that rule of natural justice in respect of affording opportunity of hearing before passing of order do not apply in a case where something is done on the basis of a forged order. Feeling aggrieved by the order of Joint Director of Consolidation, the petitioner filed this petition.

( 3 ) THE learned counsel for petitioner argued that the order in question was passed during earlier consolidation operation in the year 1960, which was given effect in papers, and if the Joint Director of Consolidation considered that correction of papers in respect of amaldaramad of the 1960 is to be dropped out then opportunity of hearing to petitioner before passing impugned order was necessary. The learned standing counsel opposed argument and submitted that as the order is forged, which gave rise to amaldaramad, it was not necessary for Joint Director of Consolidation to provide opportunity of hearing to petitioner before passing the order.

( 4 ) WHETHER an entry be corrected without affording opportunity of hearing to person likely to be affected depends on facts of each case. So far entry made on the basis of a forged order or non-existing order is concerned, such an entry cannot be allowed to continue as soon as the fact comes to light. Any person who has got an amaldaramad on the basis of forged or non-existing order cannot be allowed to raise a grievance. If we examine the order under challenge on said principle then Joint Director of Consolidation was well within his power to correct the entry as soon as he was satisfied that it is on the basis of a forged order and then no opportunity of hearing to petitioner was necessary before passing the order. The applicati








Click Here to Read the rest of this document

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
SupremeToday Portrait Ad
supreme today icon
logo-black

An indispensable Tool for Legal Professionals, Endorsed by Various High Court and Judicial Officers

Please visit our Training & Support
Center or Contact Us for assistance

qr

Scan Me!

India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!

For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :

whatsapp-icon Back to top