2013 Supreme(All) 2637
ALLAHABAD HIGH COURT
BEFORE : RAM SURAT RAM (MAURYA), J.
Smt. CHANDAN DEVI .....Petitioner
Versus
ADDITIONAL COLLECTOR/DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF CONSOLIDATION, BANDA AND OTHERS .....Respondents
(Civil Misc. Writ Petition No. 57408 of 2013, decided on 20th November, 2013)
Counsel :
R.K. Pandey for the Petitioner; C.S.C. and Rishi Kesh Tripathi for the Respondents.
Headnote:U.P. Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1950—Sections 229-B, 172 and 171—U.P. Consolidation of Holdings Act, 1953—Section 9—Hindu Succession Act, 1956—Section 4—Succession—Co-tenancy—Declaration of—On ground that land in dispute was ancestral property—In present case original tenure-holder died after coming into force of Act, 1951—According to petitioner’s statement her marriage performed in year 1966-67—In terms of Section 172 her interest in land in dispute, which was inherited by as a daughter would devolved upon ‘G’—Who was real brother of original tenure-holder and his heir under Section 171(f) on her marriage—Petitioner was divested long before her filing of suit under Section 229-B. [Paras 8, 11 and 12]
Result; Petition Dismissed.
Hon’ble Ram Surat Ram (Maurya), J.—Heard Sri R. K. Pandey, for the petitioner and Sri Rishi Kesh Tripathi, for the respondents.
2. The writ petition has been filed against the orders of Consolidation Officer dated 17.11.2003 and Deputy Director of Consolidation, dated 31.8.2013, passed in title proceeding, under U.P. Consolidation of Holdings Act, 1953 (hereinafter referred to as the Act).
3. The dispute between the parties relates to the land of basic consolidation year khata 196 of village Mataundh, pargana and district Banda, which was recorded in the names of Gorwa (now represented by respondents-3 to 5). The petitioner filed an objection (registered as Case No. 266/427/181/266/2002-03) under Section 9 of the Act, claiming co-tenancy of 1/2 share, in the land in dispute. It has been stated by the petitioner that the land in dispute was the ancestral property coming from the time of Bhaiya Lal in the family. After death of Bhaiya Lal, it was jointly inherited by his two sons Gorwa and Maiyadeen. The petitioner is the daughter of Maiyadeen, who died in his early age, leaving behind him, his widow Smt. Ram Dulari and the petitioner, who was unmarried minor daughter. Smt. Ram Dulari also died shortly thereafter, in the year 1956. Taking advantage of the minority of the petitioner, Gorwa got his name recorded as an heir of Maiyadeen, on the basis of PA-11, by the order of Supervisor Kanoongo, in the year 1961 although the petitioner being unmarried daughter inherited the share of Maiyadeen. The petitioner through out remained in joint possession over the land in dispute. The petitioner filed a suit under Section 229-B of U.P. Act No. 1 of 1951, for declaring her as co-sharer of 1/2 share, in the disputed land, in the year 1984, which was abated under the Act.
4. Gorwa contested the objection of the petitioner and denied the petitioner being daughter of Maiyadeen in his counter objection. However, in the statement, it was admitted that the petitioner was daughter of Maiyadeen, but it was stated that on marriage, the petitioner was divested under Section 172 of U.P. Act No. 1 of 1951 and Gorwa being the real brother of Maiyadeen inherited his share in the land in dispute. The Case was tired by the Consolidation Officer (respondent-2). Apart from documentary evidence, the petitioner examined herself as PW-1, Baldu as PW-2 and Mijaji as PW-3. Gorwa examined himself as DW-1. It is alleged that some compromise was filed on 20.11.2001 before the Consolidation Officer, but the parties denied filing of the compromise. The Consolidation Officer, therefore heard arguments on merit and by order dated 17.11.2003 held that the petitioner could not give any evidence to show that at the time of death of Maiyadeen and Smt. Ram Dulari, she was unmarried. In any case, at present she is admittedly married and wife of Ram Gulam as such in view of provisions of Section 172 of U.P. Act No. 1 of 1951, she was divested her interest in the land in dispute. Gorwa being real brother of Maiyadeen inherited his share also in the land in dispute. On these findings Consolidation Officer, by order dated 17.11.2003, dismissed the objection of the petitioner, rejecting the compromise.
5. The petitioner filed an appeal (registered as Appeal No. 48) from the aforesaid order. The appeal was heard by Assistant Settlement Officer Consolidation, Banda, who by order dated 25.3.2004 held that in the khatauni 1360-61 F, names of Gorwa and Maiyadeen were recorded and in khatauni 1369-1971 F, names of Gorwa and Smt. Ram Dulari widow of Maiyadeen were recorded. It is proved from Pariwar Register and statement of the witnesses that the petitioner was daughter of Maiyadeen and Smt. Ram Dulari and was unmarried at the time of their death, whose marriage was performed by Gorwa. The Consolidation Officer did not consider the evidence on record and has not recorded any finding on the issues framed by him and has illegally dismissed the objection of the petitioner. On thes