IN THE HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
S.K. SINGH, J.
Ram Prasad And Another - Appellants
Versus
Deputy Director Of Consolidation And Others - Respondents
C.M.W.P. No. 7618 of 1975
Decided On : 10-11-2003
Consolidation Authorities - Nature of Land - Uttar Pradesh Consolidation of Holdings Act - [Section 49, Uttar Pradesh Consolidation of Holdings Act] - The court clarified that the consolidation authorities have the jurisdiction to decide the nature of the land, but not the rights and title therein. The entry in the consolidation proceedings about the nature of the land as bhumidhari land is final, and any dispute about rights and title should be adjudicated by the civil court. The decision in the case of Kamla Shanker affirmed that the consolidation authorities will only decide the nature of the land and make entry accordingly, leaving the adjudication of rights and title to the civil court.
Fact of the Case:
The Petitioner challenged the judgment of the Deputy Director of Consolidation, which allowed the revision filed by the opposite party and condoned the delay in filing the objection, sending the matter back to the Consolidation Officer for deciding the claim of the parties on the merits.
Finding of the Court:
The court declined to interfere in the order of the Deputy Director of Consolidation, stating that the consolidation authorities have the jurisdiction to decide the nature of the land, but not the rights and title therein. The entry in the consolidation proceedings about the nature of the land as bhumidhari land is final, and any dispute about rights and title should be adjudicated by the civil court.
Issues: Jurisdiction of consolidation authorities to decide the nature of the land and the maintainability of the objection filed by the opposite party.
Ratio Decidendi: Consolidation authorities have the jurisdiction to decide the nature of the land, but not the rights and title therein. The entry in the consolidation proceedings about the nature of the land as bhumidhari land is final, and any dispute about rights and title should be adjudicated by the civil court.
Final Decision: The writ petition fails and is dismissed, as the court declined to interfere in the order of the Deputy Director of Consolidation.
S.K. Singh, J.
By means of this Petition, Petitioner has challenged the judgment of the Deputy Director of Consolidation dated 5th March, 1975 (Annexure-4 to the writ petition) by which revision filed by the opposite party has been allowed and by condoning the delay in filing objection, matter has been sent to the Consolidation Officer for deciding the claim of the parties on the merits.
2. Parties counsel has been heard at some length.
3. There appears to be no dispute about the fact that basic year record shows name of the Petitioners as bhumidhar over the land in question. Objection was filed by the opposite party on 31st May, 1974, which was time-barred. It has been stated in para 4 of the objection that between the parties at an earlier stage the litigation has taken place in which it was finally held that the land in dispute is abadi of the objector but thereafter land was recorded as grove of the Petitioners. It was further stated that in the consolidation Partal the map has not been correctly prepared so prayer was made that the name of the Petitioner be expunged and the land be recorded as abadi. The Consolidation Officer by its judgment dated 30th June, 1975, by giving finding that no satisfactory explanation has been given in respect to the delay dismissed objection on the ground of limitation. In revision filed by the opposite party Deputy Director of Consolidation by giving finding that ground taken by the objector about lack of knowledge in respect to correct entry and position of the spot in view of the abadi/grove cannot be said to be motivated and therefore, believing the explanation given by the objector delay in filing the same was condoned and the matter was remitted back to the Consolidation Officer.
4. Submission of the learned Counsel for the Petitioner is that irrespective of the objection filed by the objector being barred by time or not as by the objection prayer was made that after expunging the name of the Petitioner, land be recorded as abadi it was not maintainable as consolidation authorities have no jurisdiction to declare the land as abadi of the objector and thus as proceedings pursuant to the order of remand by the Deputy Director of Consolidation will be a futile exercise, impugned order is liable to be interfered by this Court. It has been further submitted that irrespective of the entry in the name of the Petitioners of their bhumidhari in the consolidation proceedings it is always open for the opposite party to the file civil suit for declaration about the land to be abadi and at the same time for declaration of his right in the land and, therefore, proceedings pursuant to the order of the remand will be just multiplicity and will be nothing but sheer harassment to both the parties. In support of the aforesaid submission Sri. Misra, learned advocate has placed reliance on the decision given by this Court in case of Kamla Shanker 1979 RD 78.
5. In response to the aforesaid submission, learned Counsel for the Respondent submits that by the order of the Deputy Director of Consolidation only delay in filing the objection has been condoned and the rival claim of the parties including that of the objector is to be examined by the Consolidation Officer and thus, it is not a case for interference by this Court. It is further submitted that as nature of land is being claimed to be abadi, consolidation authorities have every jurisdiction to decide that question and, therefore, objection filed by objector cannot be said to be not maintainable.
6. After hearing arguments as noted above, this Court has examined the matter.
7. There appears to be no dispute about the fact that Petitioners are recorded as bhumidhar over the land and the nature of the land has been mentioned as grove. The objection has been filed by the opposite party claiming expunction of the name of the Petitioners and at the same time for recording the land as his abadi. In view of the aforesaid there cannot be any manner of doubt
Login now and unlock free premium legal research
Login to SupremeToday AI and access free legal analysis, AI highlights, and smart tools.
Login
now!
India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!
Copyright © 2023 Vikas Info Solution Pvt Ltd. All Rights Reserved.