IN THE HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
CHANDRA KUMAR RAI, J.
Bhagwan Das alias Ram Das – Petitioner
Versus
State of U.P. and Others – Respondents
Writ (B) No. 1520 of 2022
Decided On : 14-07-2022
U.P. Consolidation of Holdings Act, 1953 - Section 9A (2), 52 - Limitation Act, 1963 - Section 5, 11, 48 - Constitution of India, 1950 - Article 226 - General Clauses Act, 1897 - Section 6 - Gift Deed - Restoration Application - Petitioner submitted that objection filed by parties were decided on basis of compromise - Result of which, petitioner's father was ordered to be recorded expunging name of Somaroo but respondent no. 6 on basis of manipulated gift deed, has setup his claim through belated restoration application after 16 years and Consolidation Officer without giving cogent reason has allowed restoration application - He further submitted that application for recall filed by respondent no. 6 was not maintainable – Held, There is no dispute about fact that objection under Section 9A (2) of U.P.C.H. Act has been decided on basis of compromise by which name recorded tenure holder was expunged from whom respondent no. 6 is claiming right, accordingly, restoration application filed by respondent no. 6 was allowed by Consolidation Officer for deciding case on merit but no condition has been imposed upon respondent no. 6 for filing application with inordinate delay - Considering entire facts and circumstances as well as ratio of law laid down by Court on point in issue no interference is required against impugned orders except that since no condition has been imposed by Consolidation Officer while allowing restoration application of respondent no. 6, as such, impugned orders are modified to extent that respondent no. 6 will pay cost for allowing restoration application to sum of Rs. 10,000/- to petitioner on date fixed before Consolidation Officer - Since, case is very old, as such, Consolidation Officer is directed to decide case expeditiously preferably within a period of six months after affording opportunity of hearing to parties from date of production of certified copy of this order before him – Petition disposed of.
JUDGMENT :
CHANDRA KUMAR RAI, J.
1. Heard Sri Krishna Kumar Chaurasia, learned counsel for the petitioner, learned Standing Counsel for respondent nos. 1 to 4, Sri Pradeep Singh, learned counsel for respondent no. 5 and Sri Ashutosh Tripathi, learned counsel for respondent nos. 6 and 7.
2. The instant petition has been filed for quashing the impugned order dated 9.5.2022 passed by the Deputy Director of Consolidation/A.D.M. Namamigange, Mirzapur as well as the order dated 27.12.2019 passed by the Settlement Officer of Consolidation, Mirzapur and order dated 4.7.2019 passed by the Consolidation Officer in the proceeding arising out of Section 9A (2) of the U.P. Consolidation of Holdings Act.
3. Brief facts of the case are that in the basic year of the consolidation operation, one Somaroo was recorded over Gata No. 73/2 and 411/2 of Khata No. 255. A time barred objection under Section 9A (2) of U.P.C.H. Act was filed on 3.12.1998 by Basedeo (petitioner's father) and Laldeo (respondent no. 7) impleading Laldeo and others for cotenancy right, the case was registered as Case No. 1698. Somaroo had died during pendency of the objection before Consolidation Officer. A compromise was entered into in the aforementioned Case No. 1698 between petitioner and respondent no. 7 (natural father and guardian of respondent no. 6) by compromise deed dated 25.11.1999, which was verified by their counsel. Accordingly, Consolidation Officer by order dated 4.4.2001 allowed the objection on the basis of compromise after condoning the delay in filing the objection by separate order and ordered to record the name of petitioner's father Basedeo over Plot Nos. 73/2 and 411/2. Notification under Section 52 of U.P.C.H. Act took place on 16.9.2006 in the village in question. Respondent no. 6, Panna Lal filed an application before Consolidation Officer on 18.8.2017 against the order dated 4.4.2001 passed by Consolidation Officer stating that he (Panna Lal) was minor during the period of consolidation and came to know about the order dated 4.4.2001 on 6.8.2017 when the interference was made with possession of the petitioner. The basis of claim of respondent no. 6 is registered adoption deed alleged to be executed on 20.11.1998 by Somaroo in favour of respondent no. 6 (Panna Lal). Petitioner filed an objection to the restoration application and delay condonation application filed by respondent no. 6. Consolidation Officer by order dated 4.7.2009 allowed the restoration application giving benefit of Section 5 of Limitation Act and set aside the earlier order dated 4.4.2001 fixing a date 18.7.2019 for further proceedings. Against the order dated 4.7.2019 petitioner filed an appeal under Section 11 of the U.P.C.H. Act before the Settlement Officer of Consolidation which was dismissed by the Settlement Officer of Consolidation vide order dated 27.12.2019. The revision under Section 48 of U.P.C.H. Act filed by the petitioner against the order of the Consolidation Officer as well as the Settlement Officer of Consolidation was dismissed by the impugned order dated 9.5.2022, hence this writ petition.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that objection under Section 9A-2 of the U.P.C.H. Act filed by the parties were decided on the basis of compromise. The result of which, petitioner's father was ordered to be recorded expunging the name of Somaroo but respondent no. 6 on the basis of manipulated gift deed, has setup his claim through belated restoration application after 16 years and the Consolidation Officer without giving cogent reason has allowed the restoration application. He further submitted that application for recall filed by respondent no. 6 on 18.8.2017 was not maintainable as notification under Section 52 of the U.P.C.H. Act had already taken place on 16.9.2006. He placed reliance upon, Hari Ram vs. D.D.C. Azamgarh, 1989 R.D. 281, on the point of Section 52 of the U.P.C.H. Act. He next submitted that even no condition has been imposed for allowing the
Gurucharan Singh Baldev Singh vs. Yashwant Singh
Failure to provide a hearing and frame issues as required by the U.P. Consolidation of Holdings Act renders the adjudication void.
The court emphasized that proceedings should be decided on merits rather than technical grounds, advocating for a liberal approach to delay condonation.
Revisional jurisdiction under consolidation laws requires adherence to legal procedures, especially concerning time-barred claims and the provision of interim protection.
The court affirmed the principle that title objections must be decided on merit rather than based on previous compromises, ensuring fair opportunity for parties to present evidence.
The court emphasized that rival claims based on wills must be adjudicated on merit, and technical dismissals should not prevent fair hearings.
The Deputy Director of Consolidation's remand for a fresh hearing was justified to ensure fairness, given the significant delay and procedural irregularities in prior decisions.
The order under Section 12 of U.P.C.H. Act does not operate as res judicata in the subsequent proceedings under Section 9A(2), and the cause of action and party actions are crucial in determining the....
Revisions involving the same parties and disputes must be consolidated for efficient resolution under the U.P. Consolidation of Holdings Act.
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