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