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1994 Supreme(All) 135

HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
S.R. MISRA, J.
Manohar Lal - Appellant
Versus
State Government of U. P. - Respondent
Civil Misc. Writ Petition No. 8330 of 1981
Decided on : Feb 07, 1994

Advocates:
Advocate appeared:
M.P. Singh

The Commissioner, while deciding objection under Rule 235-I of the Rules, acts as a Court and the revision arising out of the order passed by Commissioner will certainly lie before the Board of Revenue.

Headnote:

UP ZAMINDARI ABOLITION AND LAND REFORMS ACT - REALIZATION OF ARREARS OF LAND REVENUE - SECTION 279, RULES 281-285 - REVISION - SECTION 333 - LAND REVENUE ACT - SECTION 219 - JURISDICTION - COMMISSIONER - JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS - BOARD OF REVENUE - REVISION - JURISDICTION - SUMMARY

Fact of the Case:

Petitioner challenged the impugned order of the Board of Revenue returning the revision on the ground of jurisdiction and directing the revision to be laid before the Board of Revenue, Lucknow, as it relates to the realization of arrears of land revenue.

Finding of the Court:

The court held that the proceedings before the Commissioner are judicial in nature and the rights and objections decided by the Commissioner under Rule 285-I are judicial proceedings, against which revision will lie before the Board of Revenue under section 333 of the UP ZA and LR Act, and not under section 219 of the Land Revenue Act.

Issues: Whether a revision arising out of realization of arrears of land revenue in accordance with the provisions of the U. P. Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act (hereinafter referred to as 'the ZA and LR Act'), and Rules framed thereunder will lie under the provisions of ZA and LR Act, or under the Land Revenue Act.

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the procedure described under the UP ZA and LR Act and, the rules framed there under, empowers the Commissioner to decide the objection and the rights of the parties as a Court. While doing so he does not act under the provisions of Land Revenue Act but he decides the rights of the parties and objections under the provisions of UP ZA and LR Act and rules framed thereunder.

Final Decision: The court quashed the judgment and order passed by the Board of Revenue and directed the Board of Revenue to decide the revision afresh, according to law, in the light of observations made above.

JUDGMENT

S. R. Misra, J.

1. Manohar Lal, petitioner challenges the impugned order dated 4-7-1981 passed by Board of Revenue returning the revision on the ground of jurisdiction and directing the revision to be laid before the Board of Revenue, Lucknow as the same relates to the realisation of arrears of land revenue, by means of the present writ petition.

2. The point arises for consideration in the present case is as to whether a revision arising out of realization of arrears of land revenue in accordance with the provisions of the U. P. Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act (hereinafter referred to as 'the ZA and LR Act'), and Rules framed thereunder will lie under the provisions of ZA and LR Act, or under the Land Revenue Act.

The facts, as" stated in the petition, in brief are that sales tax amounting to Rs 7784 87 together with 18% interest fell due against the firm Sudershan Oil Mills, Gorakhpur from 1963-64 to 1969-70. There were other partners as well. On account of non-payment, recovery proceeding started as a result whereof, petitioner's house was attached by issuance of Z. A- Form 73-D dated 22-7-1975. Thereafter, petitioner deposited' an amount of Rs. 2291.36P towards interest. Another amount of Rs. 5473.21 together with interest at the rate of 18% remained outstanding and, therefore, pro- clamation in Z.A. Form No. 74 for sale of the attached house was issued on 2-9-1975. The date of auction was fixed as 7-10-1975, which happened to be a holiday for Idul Fitra. Since this was a holiday, the petitioner claimed that no auction could have taken place under Rule 285 (A) of the Rules framed under the UP ZA and L.R. Act. However, the auction took place on 8-10-1975, to which, petitioner alleges, that he did not have any notice or information. The highest bidder, namely, Durga Prasad did not deposit l/4th amount of Rs. 13,000 and, therefore, one Kanhaiya Lal Jaiswal, who had earlier given a bid of Rs. 11,000 moved an application offering Rs. 16,000 behind the back of the petitioner and after completion of auctions proceedings. His offer was accepted.

3. Thereupon, petitioner moved an application under Rule 285-1 for cancellation of the sale 'on various grounds, which was rejected. Aggrieved, the petitioner filed a revision.

4. Sri Sashi Nandan, learned counsel for the petitioner drew my attention to the provisions of U. P. Z. A. and L. R. Act and the Land Revenue Act. He also strenuously argued on the merits of the case by contending that since the Department had accepted part payment from the petitioner, it was estopped from auctioning the property in question which could not be done without issuing fresh notice and proclamation. The negotiation between the Department and the auction-purchaser was held under the thick veil of secrecy and everything happened after the auction was over. He further urged that recovery of arrears as laud revenue is regulated by Section 279 of the UA ZA and LR Act and Rules 281 to 285 of the Rules framed thereunder. Rule 285-E is analogous to order XXI Rule 85 CPC. The view of the Board of Revenue that since the dispute arises out of recovery of amount as arrears of land revenue, the provisions of Land Revenue Act will be applicable, is erroneous in law.

On the other hand, learned counsel for the respondents tried to justify the order of the Board of Revenue on various grounds. Since the case is fully covered by Full Bench decision of the this Court, the submissions advanced by learned counsel for the respondents have no substance and, therefore; they are not being discussed

5. The question as to whether the realization of the amount in the present case will fall under the provisions of UP ZA and LR Act, or, under the Land Revenue Act, is a pure question of law. While going through the impugned order passed by Board of Revenue, I find that the Board of Revenue has completely overlooked this aspect of the matter that when a procedure is prescribed for realisation of amount as arrears of land






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