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1971 Supreme(All) 69

Allahbad High Court
JAGMOHANLAL
Chauhana - Appellant
Versus
Gaya Prasad - Respondent
Decided On : 02/19/1971

Advocates:
H.N. Tilhari for S.C. Das, for Appellant.

Headnote:

U. P. ZAMINDARI ABOLITION AND LAND REFORMS ACT - SECTION 155, 156, 167, 187, 190 (CC), 209 - COLLUSIVE DECREE - CANNOT BE SET ASIDE BY A PARTY TO THE DECREE - TRANSFER OF HOLDING BY SIRDAR - VOID - SIRDAR'S LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE CANNOT CLAIM INTEREST IN THE HOLDING.

Fact of the Case:

Badri, a Sirdar under the U. P. Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, filed a suit against Gur Prasad, alleging that Gur Prasad had wrongfully entered into possession of his Sirdari holding. A compromise decree was passed in the suit, admitting Gur Prasad's ownership of the holding and Badri's lack of interest. Badri died, and his sister, Smt. Chauhana, filed a suit to cancel the compromise decree, alleging fraud and collusion. The lower courts found the compromise decree to be collusive and set it aside but held that Smt. Chauhana could not be declared the Sirdar as Badri's interest in the holding was extinguished under Section 190 (cc) of the Act.

Finding of the Court:

The court held that the compromise decree could not be set aside at the instance of Badri's legal representative, Smt. Chauhana, as it was a collusive decree and Badri was a party to the fraud. The court further held that once the compromise decree was set aside, there was no occasion to invoke Section 190 (cc) of the Act, and Badri's legal representative had no interest in the holding.

Issues: 1. Whether a collusive decree can be set aside at the instance of a party to the decree? 2. Whether a transfer of a holding by a Sirdar is void? 3. Whether the Sirdar's legal representative can claim an interest in the holding after the transfer?

Ratio Decidendi: 1. A collusive decree cannot be set aside at the instance of a party to the decree. 2. A transfer of a holding by a Sirdar is void under Sections 155 and 156 of the Act. 3. The Sirdar's legal representative cannot claim an interest in the holding after the transfer.

Final Decision: The plaintiff's appeal was dismissed, and the defendant's appeal was allowed, dismissing the plaintiff's suit. The parties were directed to bear their own costs.

JUDGMENT :- Second Appeal No. 234 of 1963 and Second Appeal No. 275 of 1963 both arise out of the same judgment and decree passed by the Munsif Barabanki in Suit No. 57 of 1961 which decree was also confirmed by the Civil Judge, Barabanki. The brief facts of the case were that one Badri was a Sirdar of certain plots under the provisions of the U. P. Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act (hereinafter referred to as the Act). Gur Prasad defendant, who died during the pendency of these appeals and is now represented by his brother Gaya Prasad, filed a suit in the Revenue Court under Section 209 of the Act against Badri alleging that this holding was his own Sirdari holding on which Badri had entered in wrongful possession. He prayed for possession over this holding after the ejectment of Badri. In the suit a compromise dated 31-1-1959 was filed by Badri and Gur Prasad in which it was admitted that the holding belonged to Gur Prasad in which Badri had no interest and it was further stated that Badri had also restored possession over it to Gur Prasad. The court on the same day recorded this compromise and passed a decree in terms of it. Thereafter Gur Prasad remained m possession of this holding and his name was also recorded in the revenue records as its Sirdar. Badri died in March, 1960 leaving his sister Smt. Chauhana as his heir. Smt. Chauhana then filed the suit out of which these appeals have arisen in the court of Munsif Barabanki on 3-4-1961 alleging that the holding actually belonged to Badri who was an old man of 80 years of age at the time of his death and that the compromise decree in that suit was the result of fraud and collusion which is not binding on the plaintiff. The plaintiff, therefore, prayed for the cancellation of that decree, for a declaration that she was the Sirdar of this holding and for delivery of possession over it in case she was found to be out of possession. In this suit besides Gur Prasad, Gram Sabha Bairana Mau and the State Government of Uttar Pradesh were also impleaded as pro forma defendants.

2. The suit was contested by Gur Prasad on a number of grounds. He denied that there was any collusion between him and Badri in obtaining that compromise decree. He contended that he himself was the Sirdar of this land and that this compromise decree was rightly passed which in any case was binding on Badri and his legal representative and it is not liable to be set aside at the instance of the plaintiff. Some other pleas were also taken which it is not necessary to mention for the purposes of the decision of these appeals.

3. Both the courts below found that the compromise decree was a collusive decree and it was a colourable device on the part of Badri to transfer his holding to Gur Prasad which he could not otherwise transfer under the provisions of the Act. As such this decree was liable to be set aside at the instance of the plaintiff Smt. Chauhana who claimed herself to be the heir of Badri, but at the same time the plaintiff could not be declared to be the Sirdar of this land because as soon as Badri transferred this holding to Gur Prasad under the colour of this compromise decree, Badri's interest in this holding was extinguished under Section 190 (cc) of the Act. As Badri was not left with any interest in this holding at the time of his death, no interest could be acquired by the plaintiff as his heir. The trial court, therefore, passed a decree in favour of the plaintiff for cancellation of the prior compromise decree but disallowed any other relief to the plaintiff. Feeling aggrieved by this decree Smt. Chauhana and Gur Prasad both filed their appeals which were dismissed by the Civil Judge, Barabanki. After that Gur Prasad filed Second Appeal No. 234 of 1963 and Smt. Chauhana filed Second Appeal No. 275 of 1963. On the death of Gur Prasad his brother Gaya Prasad was substituted in his place as his heir.

4. I heard the learned counsel for the parties in both these appeals. The first question t



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