IN THE HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
RAJNISH KUMAR, J.
Babu Ali And Another – Appellant
Versus
D.D.C. And Others – Respondents
Consolidation No. - 788 of 1986
Decided on : 07-09-2021
Limitation Act, 1963 - Section 5 and 14 – Condonation of delay - Objection claiming plots in dispute - Basis of adverse possession - Petition has been filed challenging orders - One filed an objection claiming rights on basis of adverse possession but later on he gave a statement and his objection was rejected by the Consolidation Officer - No appeal or revision was filed by him - The opposite party no.3 now deceased and substituted by his legal heirs in the present writ petition had filed an objection claiming the plots in dispute on the basis of adverse possession – Held, revision filed against original order has been dismissed holding that the entry of the opposite party no.3 under clause-9 has rightly been made after issuance in accordance with law, therefore possession of the opposite party no.3 has rightly been found and no evidence has been adduced by the petitioner which may indicate that petitioner has ever evicted the opposite party no.3 from the land in dispute and the petitioner has failed to produce any constructive, oral and written evidence, accordingly held that opposite party no.3 has matured his right on the basis of adverse possession and dismissed the revision - But revisional court failed to consider the legal position in regard to entry under clause-9 on basis of PA-10 as discussed above - In case the entry was made in name of opposite party no.3 under clause-9 on basis of PA-10 it was incumbent upon the opposite party no.3 to prove by adducing cogent evidence that the same was made in accordance with law and PA-10 was served on the original tenure holder - It was also required to be proved as to when opposite party no.3 entered into the possession in the knowledge of the petitioner and continued his possession for required period. But it has not been proved by the opposite party no.3 and no finding has been recorded in this regard - In the present case, as per the findings, recorded by Consolidation Officer, there was contradiction in the evidence in regard to the possession of the petitioner and entry, which finding has not been set aside by the appellate or revisional authority - None of courts have recorded the finding in regard to adverse possession in accordance with law and Land Records Manual and the service of PA10 on the original tenure holder, which was mandatory - Therefore this Court is of the view that the opposite party no.3 has failed to prove his adverse possession on the land in dispute, therefore his claim was not sustainable, so no fruitful purpose would be served by remanding the case and it will be a futile exercise - Writ petition allowed.
JUDGMENT :
1. Heard, Shri Dwijendra Mishra, learned counsel for the petitioners and Shri Ashish Jaiswal, learned counsel for the legal heirs of opposite party no.3 i.e. opposite parties no.3/1/1 to 3/4/7. Notice on behalf of opposite parties no.1 and 2 has been accepted by learned Chief Standing Counsel.
2. This petition has been filed challenging the orders dated 05.11.1981 and 22.05.1984 passed by Assistant Settlement Officer of Consolidation and order dated 28.11.1985 passed by the Deputy Director of Consolidation, Sitapur.
3. The dispute in the instant writ petition relates to Khata No.123, consisting of Plot Nos. 2100/2, 2101/1 measuring 0.70, 2113 measuring 0.5 and 244 measuring 0.46, which was recorded in the basic year Khatauni in the name of Kallu, the father of the petitioner Mohd. Hussain @ Ghamar, who has now been substituted by his legal heir after his death. Mohd. Hussain @ Ghamar had filed an objection during consolidation that he was the son of Kallu, therefore his name be recorded on the plots in dispute. One Sukai filed an objection claiming rights on the basis of adverse possession but later on he gave a statement and his objection was rejected by the Consolidation Officer. No appeal or revision was filed by him. The opposite party no.3 Rasool now deceased and substituted by his legal heirs in the present writ petition had filed an objection claiming the plots in dispute on the basis of adverse possession. The Consolidation Officer, after considering the oral and documentary evidence, rejected the objections of the opposite party no.3 holding that he has failed to prove his continuous adverse possession on the plots in dispute and directed to record the name of the petitioner being the son and legal heir of the deceased Kallu. The opposite party no.3 filed an appeal which was allowed ex-parte by means of the order dated 05.11.1981 and the order passed by the Consolidation Officer was set-aside. It was recorded in the order that the notice of appeal has been returned with the refusal of the petitioner. The petitioner moved an application for recall of the order. The said application was rejected in absence of the petitioner on 19.03.1984. Therefore, the petitioner moved an application for restoration on 20.03.1984 on the ground that the train of the petitioner was delayed therefore he reached the court at about 05:00 P.M., when he came to know that his application has been rejected and his counsel had not come to court. The opposite party no.2 rejected the application for restoration filed by the petitioner by means of the order dated 22.05.1984. Thereafter the petitioner filed a revision before the Deputy Director of Consolidation i.e. opposite party no.1 challenging the order of rejection of the restoration application. Another revision was filed by the petitioner challenging the original order dated 05.11.1981 passed by the opposite party no.2 in appeal alongwith an application under Section 5 and 14 of the Limitation Act. The Consolidation Officer, after hearing the parties, dismissed the revisions by means of the order dated 28.11.1985. Hence the present writ petition has been filed.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioner had submitted that after death of father of the petitioner Mohd. Hussain @ Ghamar, the name of the petitioner was liable to be recorded in the revenue records. Therefore, he had filed the objection during consolidation proceedings which was allowed after considering the pleadings and evidence holding that the petitioner is the legal heir of deceased Kallu and the opposite party no.3 has failed to prove his adverse possession in accordance with law. The appeal filed by the opposite party no.3 was allowed ex-parte because he, in collision with the post man, had got the notice of the appeal returned as refused. On coming to know, the petitioner had filed an application for recall but the sa
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Point of Law : Civil Law - Possession - A party laying his claim on basis of adverse possession in some property has to prove as to date, time and manner in which possession is converted into open, h....
The burden of proof is upon the person claiming rights over the land on the basis of adverse possession to prove that the entries in the revenue record were made in accordance with the mode and manne....
Adverse possession requires continuous, open, and hostile possession, which must be proven with adequate evidence beyond mere irrigation slips.
The main legal point established in the judgment is the importance of following the mandatory procedures for recording possession in land records and the requirements for adverse possession.
Irrigation slips alone do not establish ownership or adverse possession; adequate evidence and lawful possession are required to substantiate claims over land.
A claim of adverse possession must demonstrate clear, hostile, and continuous possession for over 12 years, supported by genuine records; incorrect or surreptitious entries do not confer any rights.
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