IN THE HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
CHANDRA KUMAR RAI, J.
Dayaram Singh And Another – Appellant
Versus
State Of U.P. And Others – Respondents
Writ C No.25986 of 2023
Decided on : 30-10-2023
Jurisdiction - Suit for Partition - U.P. Revenue Code, 2006 - Section 116, 117
Fact of the Case:
Plaintiff filed a suit for division of holdings in a village. Defendants claimed that the revenue Court had no jurisdiction as the property was earmarked as abadi. The Sub-Divisional Officer passed a preliminary decree in favor of the plaintiff, which was upheld in appeal. The defendants filed a writ petition challenging the jurisdiction of the revenue Court.
Finding of the Court:
The Court found that the plot in dispute was recorded as bhumidhari land in the final C.H. Form 45 and Khatauni, and the consolidation operation had concluded. The Court held that no further investigation was required to determine the nature of the plot and dismissed the writ petition, directing the trial Court to conclude the pending suit.
Issues: 1. Whether the revenue Court had jurisdiction over the suit for partition. 2. Whether the plot in dispute was recorded as abadi or bhumidhari land.
Ratio Decidendi: The Court relied on the final revenue entry in C.H. Form 45 and Khatauni, concluding that the plot in dispute was recorded as bhumidhari land of both parties. The Court held that no further investigation was necessary and directed the trial Court to conclude the pending suit.
Final Decision: The writ petition was dismissed, and the trial Court was directed to conclude the pending suit.
JUDGMENT :
1. Heard Mr. Shreyas Srivastava, learned counsel for the petitioners, Mr. Krishna Mohan, learned counsel appearing for plaintiff-respondent no. 2, Mr. Arun Kumar Pandey, learned counsel for respondent no. 3 (Gaon Sahba) and Mr. Abhishek Shukla, learned Additional Chief Standing Counsel for the State-respondents.
2. Brief facts of the case are that plaintiff respondent no.2 filed a suit no.4625 of 2022 for division of holdings in Khasra No.1096 (old no.714/4) area 0.1010 hectare situated in Village-Goharwar Hallu, Pargana Boodpur, Tahsil-Chandpur, District-Bijnor. Defendant-petitioners filed a written statement stating specifically that revenue Court had no jurisdiction to try a suit under Section 116 of U.P. Revenue Code, 2006 as the property had been earmarked as abadi. Sub-Divisional Officer/respondent no.4 passed a preliminary decree vide judgment dated 13.12.2022 declaring 1/3 share of plaintiff, 1/3 share defendant no.1 and 1/3 share of defendant no.2. Against the judgment dated 13.12.2022 passed by the Sub-Divisional Officer/respondent no.2, petitioners filed an appeal under Section 207 of U.P. Revenue Code, 2006, which was registered as Case No.228 of 2023, Computerized Case No.202313000000223. Commissioner, Moradabad Division, Moradabad/respondent no.5 dismissed the appeal filed by the petitioners vide order dated 10.7.2023, hence this writ petition. This Court vide order dated 10.8.2023 issued notice to respondent no.4. In pursuance of the order dated 10.8.2023 respondent no.2 has put in appearance and filed his counter affidavit. Petitioners have filed his rejoinder affidavit also.
3. Learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that the property in question was recorded as abadi in the revenue records, as such, the suit for partition is not maintainable before the revenue Court. He further submitted that the specific objection was taken before the Sub-Divisional Officer/respondent no.4 at the instance of the defendant/petitioners that land in dispute is abadi, as such, the suit for partition under Section 116 of U.P. Revenue Code, 2006 is not maintainable but without considering the objection of the petitioners in accordance with law, the Court has proceeded and passed the preliminary decree in the matter. He further submitted that the property in question had been earmarked as abadi in the consolidation proceeding and kept outside the consolidation scheme. He further placed the C.H. Form 2A, C.H. Form 18 and C.H. Form 41 prepared during consolidation operation, which has been annexed as Annexure Nos.6, 7 & 8 to the writ petition in order to demonstrate that the plot no.1096 (old no.714/4) was recorded as abadi. He further placed the revenue map of the village, which has been annexed as Annexure No.RA-2 to the rejoinder affidavit dated 8.10.2023 in order to demonstrate that the plot no.1096 has been shown as abadi. He next submitted that the Sub-Divisional Officer has not considered the documentary evidences filed on behalf of the petitioners before the Court and in the arbitrary manner preliminary decree has been passed, which has been maintained in appeal by the Commissioner. He placed the reliance upon the judgment of Hon'ble Apex Court as well as of this Court in order to demonstrate that the suit for partition before the Revenue Court in respect to the abadi land is not maintainable as well as the revenue entry made during consolidation operation cannot be ignored. The particulars of the cases are as follows:
ii. 2019 (142) RD 649 (Dharam Singh (D) thr. L.Rs. and Others Vs. Prem Singh (D) Thr. L.Rs.).
iii. 1983 RD 279 (Hashmat Khan Vs. Imams).
iv. 1974 Allahabad Civil Nirnaya 70 (Ram Saran and Another Vs. Drigraj and Others).
v. 1979 RD 78 (Kamla Shanker and Others Vs. Dy. Dir. of Consolidation and Others).
vi. 2004 A.L.J. 1498 (Ram Prasad Vs. Deputy Director of Consolidation Pratapgarh).
4. On the other hand, Mr. Krishna Mohan, learned cou
Dharam Singh (D) thr. L.Rs. and Others Vs. Prem Singh (D) Thr. L.Rs.
The main legal point established is that the final revenue entry in the C.H. Form 45 and Khatauni is conclusive evidence of the nature of the plot, and no further investigation is required by the Cou....
The court affirmed that prior adjudications in consolidation proceedings are binding, and the petitioners' claims lacked legal basis under the U.P. Revenue Code.
Proper issue framing and evidence assessment are essential in land rights claims; failure to do so necessitates remand for lawful adjudication.
Unregistered Wills granting limited interests do not negate partition rights unless claims about the nature of interests are timely raised during consolidation proceedings, reinforcing exclusive juri....
The suit was held to be barred by Section 49 of the U.P.C.H. Act as the disputed land was recorded as Navin Parti during consolidation operation and the plaintiff did not take any steps to correct th....
The burden of proof in establishing cultivatory possession and the validity of entries in revenue records is crucial in property disputes.
The court reinforced that administrative decisions must consider ongoing civil proceedings and legal injunctions, ensuring maintainability assessments align with established legal provisions.
The revenue court has jurisdiction to grant interim injunctions in partition suits under the U.P. Revenue Code, and construction on joint land does not change its nature as a holding.
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