HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
A. BANERJI, J.
Mobd. Ahmad - Appellant
Versus
Allah Rabbul Alemin - Respondent
Second Appeal No. 2014 of 1972
Decided on : Aug 03, 1984
WAQF - CONSOLIDATION OF HOLDINGS ACT - JURISDICTION - CIVIL COURT - BAR OF SUIT - SECTION 49 - VALIDITY OF WAQF - POSSESSION - FAILURE OF JUSTICE - SECTION 331 (1-A) OF THE U. P. ZAMINDARI ABOLITION AND LAND REFORMS ACT - INTERPRETATION AND APPLICATION.
Fact of the Case:
Plaintiffs filed a suit for cancellation of a sale deed executed by defendant no. 1 in favor of defendant no. 2 and also for the cancellation of a Waqf deed executed by the appellant Mohammad Ahmad. The defendants contended that the suit was barred by Section 49 of the U. P. Consolidation of Holdings Act and the Civil Court had no jurisdiction to try the suit.
Finding of the Court:
The court held that the civil court had jurisdiction to try the suit, the suit was not barred by Section 49 of the Consolidation of Holdings Act, and the plaintiffs had the right to file the suit. The court further held that the appellant, being the Mutwalli of the Waqf, could not prescribe adverse possession in respect of Waqf property and his possession was permissive in nature.
Issues: 1. Whether the civil court had jurisdiction to try the suit. 2. Whether the suit was barred by Section 49 of the Consolidation of Holdings Act. 3. Whether the plaintiffs had the right to file the suit. 4. Whether the appellant could prescribe adverse possession in respect of Waqf property. 5. Whether the appellant's possession was permissive in nature.
Ratio Decidendi: 1. The suit for cancellation of a sale deed or a Waqf deed lies in the civil court as such a suit cannot be filed in a revenue court. 2. Section 49 of the Consolidation of Holdings Act does not bar a suit where the right claimed is founded on the allegation that the tenure-holder is recorded in a representative capacity. 3. The plaintiffs, as beneficiaries of the Waqf, had the right to file the suit to protect the Waqf property. 4. A Mutwalli of a Waqf property cannot prescribe adverse possession in respect of the Waqf property as his possession is permissive in nature. 5. The appellant's possession of the Waqf property was permissive in nature as he had not pleaded or established any overt act to convert his possession into adverse possession.
Final Decision: The appeal was dismissed with costs.
A. Banerji, J.
1. This second appeal arises out of a judgment and decree passed by the Civil Judge, Bulandshahr, dated April 29, 1972, dismissing the appeal of the defendant-appellants. The trial court had decreed the plaintiffs' suit and cancelled the sale deed dated 22-6-1966 executed by defendant no. 1 in favour of defendant no. 2.
2. The relevant facts briefly stated are as follows : Plaintiffs filed suit no. 77 of 1968 for the cancellation of the sale deed dated 22nd June, 1966 executed by Mohammad Ahmad in favour of Mohammad Arif and also for the cancellation of the Waqf deed dated 22nd May, 1965 executed by the appellant Mohammad Ahmad. Plaintiff's case was that Syed Mohammad Siddiq had created a Waqf in respect of the plots by Waqf deed dated October 11, 1943. The appellant Mohammad Ahmad was appointd Mutwalli of the said Waqf. The Waqf deed also provided that after the appellant Mohammad Ahmad, his two brothers would succeed him as Mutwalli. The deed further stipulated that Mutwalli would have no right to Waqf property. During consolidation proceedings, certain plots were allotted to the Waqf in lieu of the existing plots held by the Waqf. The appellant no. 1, Mohammad Ahmad, who had no right to sell the Waqf plots, did so in favour of appellant no. 2, Mohammad Arif on 22nd June, 1966 and he also created a separate Waqf. Plaintiffs therefore sought the relief for the cancellation of the Sale deed dated 22nd June, 1966 executed by appellant no. 1, Mohammad Ahmad in favour of appellant no. 2, Mohammad Arif, and also for the cancellation of the Waqf deed.
The defendants in their written statement took up the plea that Syed Mohammad Siddiq was a Zamindar and he had created a Waqf in respect of his proprietary right and after the abolition of Zamindari in the State of Uttar Pradesh the said proprietary right came to an end and as such the Waqf also became non-est. Appellant Mohammad Ahmad was in actual possession over the disputed plots and after abolition of Zamindari he became Bhumidhar. His rights were recognised as Bhumidhar and as such he could transfer the plots to defendant no. 2, Mohammad Arif and create a separate Waqf in respect of other plots. Among other pleas it was stated that the suit was barred by Section 49 of the U. P. Consolidation of Holdings Act and the Civil Court had no jurisdiction to try the suit. Further, plaintiffs' right to file the suit was also questioned. Defendant-appellant no. 2 took up the plea that he was a bona fide purchaser for value without notice and as such his interest should be protected.
3. The trial court came to the conclusion that Mohammad Ahmad being Mutwalli did not become Bhumidhar of the plots in dispute in his own rights and he could not transfer the suit plots to the appellant no. 2, Mohammad Arif nor could he create another Waqf. The trial court further held that the civil court had jurisdiction to try the suit and the suit was not barred by Section 49 of the Consolidation of Holdings Act. Plaintiffs' suit was decreed and the sale deed dated 22nd June, 1966 executed by Mohammad Ahmad in favour of Mohammad Arif was cancelled.
4. Mohammad Ahmad filed an appeal in the court below. The appellate court held that the civil court had jurisdiction to try the suit. Plaintiff no. 1 was the Bhumidhar of the plots in dispute and the appellant no. 1 MOHAMMAD Ahmad did not acquire Bhumidhari rights in his personal capacity. Learned Civil Judge further held that the suit was not barred by section 49 of the Consolidation of Holdings Act. Lastly, the appellants' contention that the plaintiffs had no right to file the suit was repelled. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed as without force.
Against the above judgment and decree the present second appeal was filed. The appeal-came up before me on the 11th of March, 1980. The appeal was filed by both the appellants. However, Mohammad Ahmad had died and no application had been made to bring his heirs on record. Appellant No. 2, Moh
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