2009 Supreme(All) 3433
[2009(9) ADJ 722]
ALLAHABAD HIGH COURT
BEFORE : S.S. CHAUHAN, J.
GYAN CHAND AND OTHERS ....Petitioners
Versus
BOARD OF REVENUE AND OTHERS ....Opposite Parties
(Civil Misc. Writ Petition No. 33564 of 1993, decided on 30th October, 2009)
Counsel :
R.N. Singh for the Petitioner; B.B. Paul and A.P. Paul for the Respondents.
Headnote:(A) U.P. Land Revenue Act, 1901—Section 34—U.P. Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1950—Sections 210 and 229-B—Mutation proceedings—Question of heirship—Filing of suit for declaration of right—Decreed in favour of petitioners—Appeal against—Allowed by Addl. Commissioner—Against the order of Addl. Commissioner a second appeal was filed before Board of Revenue—Which was rejected—Hence petition against—It was contended that the competent Court while entertaining regular suit ignores any such observation made by Board of Revenue in mutation proceedings in regard to title of parties—Failure to take into account some vital facts amounts to a manifest error on the record resulting in failure of justice—Held, Addl.Commissioner and Board of Revenue relied upon finding recorded by mutation Court under Section 34 of Act—Finding recorded under said section are summoning in nature—Do not decide any title—Moreover in summary proceedings elaborate procedure of evidence not adopted—Such approach of Court below not appreciated—It is wholly illegal. [Paras 1, 2, 4 and 6]
(B) U.P. Land Revenue Act, 1901—Section 34—Mutation proceedings—Nature of—It is summary in nature—Only for purposes of prima facie determining title of parties—Evidence taken. [Para 4]
Hon’ble S.S. Chauhan, J.—The present petition has been filed challenging the order dated 31.8.1993 passed by the Board of Revenue and the order dated 3.2.1992 passed by the Additional Commissioner, Moradabad Division, Moradabad.
2. The dispute relates to plot No. 47 measuring 3.94 acres, plot No. 52 measuring 2.56 acres, plot No. 162 measuring 4.12 acres and plot No. 209 measuring 7.07 acres; the total area of all the plots is 17.69 acres. Name of Hari Prakash son of Darbari Ram/respondent and Musammat Khilanda Bai widow of late Hemraj (aunt of the petitioners) was entered jointly in the khatauni of 1373 fasli to 1375 fasli. In the same khatauni, name of Kishun Chand son of Khilanda Bai also came to be recorded. The petitioners came to India at the time of partition along with a group of Manak Chand, who was the group leader. Hemraj alias Hema Ram was alive at the time of partition and was a member of the said group. At the time of rehabilitation, the disputed property was given to Hemraj alias Hema Ram who died before commencement of Chakbandi operations. Smt. Khilanda Bai wife of Hemraj alias Hema Ram succeeded to the disputed property and died issueless. After her death, the petitioners being the sons of Sobha Ram being the natural heirs succeeded to the property. Father of Hari Prakash, namely, Darbari Ram had died in Pakistan and half of the area of the disputed plot was in the name of Hari Prakash and the other half in the name of Musammat Khilanda Bai. When the petitioners came to know about this, they filed objection under Section 34 of the U.P. Land Revenue Act (for short “the Act”) inter alia on the ground that Khilanda Bai widow of Hemraj died issueless and the petitioners are their heirs. Hemraj was brother of Sobharam and uncle of the petitioners. By virtue of the order passed by the Tehsildar, name of Hari Prakash and others was expunged. Name of the petitioners was entered in the half area of the plot and an appeal under Section 210 of the Act was filed before the Sub Divisional Magistrate, who allowed the appeal. Against the order of the Sub Divisional Magistrate dated 7.7.1980, a revision was preferred before the Commissioner. Against the order of the Commissioner, an appeal was preferred before the Board of Revenue which too was dismissed. Thereafter a Writ Petition No. 200 of 1990 was preferred before this Court at Lucknow Bench which is alleged to be pending.
3. The petitioners filed a suit under Section 229-B of the U.P. Z.A. and L.R. Act (for short “the Z.A. Act”) for declaration of their rights. The suit was decreed in favour of the petitioners. An appeal was filed against the judgment of the Sub Divisional Magistrate before the Additional Commissioner, who allowed the appeal. Against the order of the Additional Commissioner, a second appeal was filed before the Board of Revenue and the Board of Revenue proceeded to reject the appeal by its judgment and order dated 31.8.1993. Hence this writ petition.
4. Submission of learned counsel for the petitioners is that the evidence on record has not been evaluated and considered as required under law but the Court of Additional Commissioner as well as Board of Revenue has misdirected themselves in relying upon the finding recorded during the proceedings under Section 34 of the Act. The findings recorded under Section 34 of the Act are not conclusive and final but in fact these proceedings are summary in nature and so any evidence adduced in these proceedings cannot be made a basis for allowing the appeal. Learned counsel has further submitted that by relying upon the evidence of the mutation Courts, the rights of the petitioners have been adjudicated in an illegal and arbitrary manner and such finding cannot be said to be binding and neither any finding can be based on such evidence. The first appellate Court as well as the second appellate Court was required to consider the evidence lead before the Sub Divisional Magistrate in the suit filed under Secti