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2014 Supreme(All) 540

ALLAHABAD HIGH COURT
Ram Surat Ram (Maurya), J.
Ramesh and others -Appellant
Versus
D.D.C. and others -Respondent
Writ-BNo.7755 of 2014 With Writ-B No. 12069 of 2014
Decided On : 07-03-2014

Advocates:
Counsel for the Petitioners: K.C. Kishan Srivastav.
Counsel for the Respondents: C.S.C., K.N. Singh.

The main legal point established is that the Consolidation Officer's jurisdiction is limited to deciding objections based on valid compromises signed by all parties, and delay in filing appeals may be condonable in cases involving allegations of fraud.

Headnote:

Consolidation of Holdings Act - Land Dispute - U.P. Consolidation of Holdings Act, 1953 - Section 44-A - Section 16 of the Specific Relief Act, 1963

Fact of the Case:

The dispute involved land recorded on khatas 48, 53, and 56 of village Sagahat, pargana Dehat Amanat, district Varanasi. The Consolidation Officer decided the objections based on compromises, which were later found to be not signed by all parties. Appeals were filed, and the matter was remanded for trial on merit.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the compromises were not signed by all parties, rendering the Consolidation Officer's decision illegal. It also held that the delay in filing appeals by some parties was condonable due to allegations of fraud. The court dismissed the writ petitions, stating that substantial justice had been done and no interference was required.

Issues: The issues involved the validity of the compromises, jurisdiction of the Consolidation Officer, and condonability of delay in filing appeals.

Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized that the Consolidation Officer had no jurisdiction to decide objections based on compromises not signed by all parties. It also considered the condonability of delay in filing appeals due to allegations of fraud.

Final Decision: The writ petitions were dismissed.

Ram Surat Ram (Maurya),J.

Heard Sri K. C. Kishan Srivastav, for the petitioners and Sri K.N. Singh, for respondents.

2. Both the writ petition have been filed against common orders of Settlement Officer Consolidation (respondent-2) dated 15.02.2013, condoning delay and allowing the appeal and remanding the matter for trial before Consolidation Officer and Deputy Director of Consolidation (respondent-1) dated 21.01.2014, dismissing the revisions of the petitioners against aforesaid order, arising out of 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 recorded on khatas 48, 53 and 56 of village Sagahat, pargana Dehat Amanat, district Varanasi. Three sets of objections were filed during consolidation in respect of the land in dispute, one by Smt. Matabi Devi, second by Bechan and others and third by Banshi, in the year 1992. Before the Consolidation Officer, three compromises were filed on 13.06.1994. The Consolidation Officer verified the compromises on 13.06.1994 and decided the objections in terms of the compromises by order dated 17.06.1994.

4. Ram Adhar filed three appeals from the aforesaid orders alleging that the compromises were not signed by him and the Consolidation Officer illegally decided the objections in terms of the compromise. Settlement Officer Consolidation, by his order dated 23.10.1998 found that compromises were not signed by Ram Adhar as such he allowed the appeals and set aside the order of Consolidation Officer dated 17.06.1998 and remanded the cases for trial on merit. On the restoration applications filed by the petitioners, the orders dated 23.10.1998 were recalled by order dated 22.10.2003 and the appeals were restored to its original number.

5. In the meantime Matabi (respondent-5) also filed an appeal (registered as Appeal No. 136/934/1322/67) along with delay condonation application on 13.11.2003 and Bachchan (respondent-6) filed an appeal (registered as Appeal No. 137/937/1323/68) along with delay condonation application on 12.11.2003 against the orders of Consolidation Officer dated 17.06.1998. It has been stated by these persons that their thumb impressions on the compromises were obtained by practicing fraud upon them and they could not know about the fact at that time. All the appeals were consolidated and heard by Settlement Officer Consolidation, who by order dated 15.02.2013 held that the compromises were not signed by Ram Adhar and also several co-tenure holders. The Consolidation Officer illegally decided the objections on the basis of compromises. On these findings the appeals were allowed and orders dated 17.06.1998 were set aside and the cases were remanded to Consolidation Officer for trial on merit.

6. The petitioners along with proforma respondents filed two revisions (registered as Revision No. 1316 and 1334) from the aforesaid order. In the meantime Ram Adhar died and Shiv Nath (respondent-4) was substituted as his heir. Shiv Nath filed an application dated 06.07.2013 before Deputy Director of Consolidation for setting aside the order of Settlement Officer Consolidation, dated 15.02.2013 and restoring order of Consolidation Officer dated 17.06.1998. Both the revisions were consolidated and heard by Deputy Director of Consolidation, who by order dated 21.01.2014 found that as the compromises were not signed by all the parties as such orders of Consolidation Officer were illegal. On these findings, the revisions have been dismissed. Hence, these writ petitions have been filed.

7. The counsel for the petitioners submitted that Shiv Nath (heir of Ram Adhar) filed an application dated 06.07.2013 before Deputy Director of Consolidation for setting aside the order of Settlement Officer Consolidation, dated 15.02.2013 and restoring order of Consolidation Officer dated 17.06.1998. Deputy Director of Consolidation ought to have dismissed the appeals of Ram Adhar as not pressed and s







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