1954 Supreme(All) 131
HIGH COURT OF ALLAHBAD
H. S. CHATURVEDI, RANDHIR SINGH, JJ.
Angnu
Versus
Mahabir
Civil Ref. No. 1 of 1952
Decided On : 27-07-1954
Kesri Bir Pd., for Applicant; Sri Ram, for Opposite Parties (Nos. 1 and 2).
Headnote:
Jurisdiction - Suit for Possession of Land - Summary
Fact of the Case:
A suit for possession of a plot of land, removal of constructions, mandatory injunction, and damages was instituted in the Revenue Court. The defendants contested the suit and raised a plea of jurisdiction, which was upheld by the Assistant Collector, leading to a reference to the High Court.
Finding of the Court:
The High Court found that the suit did not lie in the Revenue Court and should have been instituted in the Civil Court. It was concluded that the Revenue Court was not competent to grant all the reliefs sought in the suit.
Issues: Jurisdiction of Revenue Court, Proper forum for the suit
Ratio Decidendi: If a suit involves reliefs that cannot be granted by the Revenue Court, such as possession of land, removal of constructions, injunction, and damages, it should be brought in the Civil Court.
Final Decision: The High Court directed that the plaint be returned by the Revenue Court for presentation to the Civil Court.
2. It appears that a suit for the possession of a plot of land, and for some other reliefs which included the removal of certain constructions standing on this plot and a permanent mandatory injunction to require the defendant to close a certain door and damages, was instituted in the Court of the Munsif, Sitapur.
3. The defendants contested the suit and also raised a plea of jurisdiction. This plea of jurisdiction found favour with the learned Munsif who ordered presentation of the plaint to the proper Court. Thereafter the plaint was presented in the Court of the Assistant Collector, first class. The learned Assistant Collector found that the suit did not lie in the Revenue Court and should have been instituted in the Court of the Munsif. He, therefore, made the reference, which is before us, through the Deputy Commissioner, Sitapur.
4. Both parties are represented in this reference and learned counsel concede that the proper forum for the suit was the Civil Court and not the Revenue Court. If a suit is brought in respect of an agricultural plot of land as also for the removal of constructions standing on it and for damages and also for an injunction, such a suit would evidently lie in the Civil Court. The Revenue Court is not competent to grant all the reliefs and if all the reliefs cannot be granted by the Revenue Court, the suit would be only in the Civil Court. The view taken by the learned Assistant Collector appears to us to be correct.
5. We, therefore, direct that the plaint be returned by the Revenue Court for presentation to the Civil Court.
Order accordingly.