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2007 Supreme(All) 1827

[2007(7) ADJ 451]
ALLAHABAD HIGH COURT
BEFORE : S.U. KHAN, J.
SIYA RAM AND OTHERS ......Petitioners
Versus
ADDITIONAL COMMISSIONER (ADMN) KANPUR DIVISION, KANPUR AND ANOTHER ...........Respondents
(Civil Misc. Writ Petition No. 13258 of 2004, decided on 3rd July, 2007)
Z

Advocates:
Counsel :
S.C. Tiwari for the Petitioners; Satya Prakash, Amit Kumar, S.C. for the Respondents.

Headnote:U.P. Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1950—Section 122-B—Eviction proceedings—Gaon Sabha land—Conferment of benefit under Section 122-B of the Act—Lekhpal not initiating the eviction proceedings before the cut-off date—If petitioners found to be in possession over disputed land since long is correct, hence impugned order passed by the Additional Commissioner unsustainable—Petitioner given liberty to file regular suit for declaration—Petitioners neither shall be evicted for six months neither their houses shall be demolished. [Paras 3, 4 and 5]

JUDGMENT

Hon’ble S.U. Khan, J.—Proceedings for eviction under Section 122-B of U.P.Z.A.L.R. Act were initiated against respondent No. 2 Jagdish in respect of Gaon Sabha plot No. 819 area 0.125 hectares and plot No. 835 area 0.256 hectare (total area 0.381 hectares equivalent to 3810 square meters) situated in village Ghimau Tehsil Bilhaur District Kanpur. In the revenue records the entire land in dispute is entered as Navin Parti and bunjar. True copy of Khatauni recording the said fact dated 5.2.2004 has been annexed as Annexure 2 to the writ petition. The said Khatauni is for 1404 to 1409 fasli issued on 4.9.2004. Lekhpal gave the report against respondent No. 2 on 31.12.1995 and the case was registered as case No. 5, Gaon Sabha v. Jagdish on the file of Assistant Collector Ist Class/Deputy Collector, Bilhaur Kanpur. Respondent No. 2 pleaded that he was a member of Scheduled Caste and as he was in possession over the land in dispute since 1975, hence, land stood settled with him under Section 122-B (4-F) of the Act. Respondent No. 2 claimed that he must be declared Bhumidhar of the land in dispute. Pradhan filed objections to the effect that respondent No. 2 was resident of Gram Panchayat Lalpur and not of Gram Panchayat in question i.e. Gaon Sabha Ghimau. The Deputy Collector observed that respondent No. 2 did not file any documentary evidence in support of his case. Tehsildar had also reported that respondent No. 2 was not resident of Gaon Sabha Ghimau. Deputy Collector decided the matter against respondent No. 2 through order dated 31.10.1998 on the ground that respondent No. 2 was not resident of Gaon Sabha concerned. Against the said order respondent No. 2 filed revision being revision No. 55 of 1999. Additional Commissioner, (Administration) Kanpur Division, Kanpur allowed the revision on 5.8.1999 set aside the order of Deputy Collector and directed the entry of name of respondent No. 2 as Bhumidhar over the land in dispute. Commissioner held that for conferment of benefit of sub-section (4-F) of Section 122-B of the Act it was not necessary that occupant must be resident of the same village. Commissioner further held that Lekhpal had reported that respondent No. 2 was in possession since before 30.6.1995 which was the cut off date at the relevant time. Initially cut off date for conferment of benefit of Section 122-B (4-F) of the Act was June 1975. Thereafter, it was changed to June 1985, and then to June 1995. At present the cut off date is May 2002. Whenever cut off date is changed some people start making evidence of their prior possession since before the cut off date. The most convenient method in this regard is to get the Lekhpal issue notice of eviction in form No. 49-Ka. In all such situations the Court must take action against the Lekhpal for not initiating the eviction proceedings before the cut off date. Moreover, in order to prove the possession prior to cut off date the best evidence is entry in the revenue records made before the cut off date. Until decision by the revisional Court, in the revenue records land in dispute was shown as Navin Parti and bunjar.

2. The case of the petitioners who are seven in numbers is that over the land in dispute they are also having their houses since long. Petitioners admit that over an area of 3 biswa respondent No. 2 is also having his house. (It is necessary to mention here that in the entire writ petition it is not stated that the petitioners are member of Scheduled Castes hence entitled to benefit of Section 122-B (4-F) of the Act). Learned Counsel for the respondent has cited an authority of the Supreme Court reported in Chandrika Singh v. Arvind Kumar Singh, 2006 ACJ 2139, wherein it has been held that writ petition filed by a person who was not a party in the proceedings before the authorities below is not maintainable.

3. If the allegation of the petitioners that they are in possession over the land in dispute since long is correct then the impugned order passed by





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