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2023 Supreme(All) 2146

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
CHANDRA KUMAR RAI, J.
Sunita Upadhyay – Petitioner
Versus
State of U.P. and Others – Respondents
Writ (C) No. 32558 of 2022
Decided On : 13-02-2023

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Petitioner: Sanjay Kumar Singh.
For the Respondents: Bhupendra Kumar Tripathi, Mukesh Kumar Singh.

Headnote:(A) Indian Evidence Act, 1872 - Section 92 (Proviso 4) - U.P. Land Revenue Act - Mutation disputes arising from wills - Validity of unregistered Will-deed dated 07.02.2002 challenged based on the existence of a prior registered Will-deed dated 22.03.1999 - Court determined that an unregistered Will cannot cancel a registered Will under law. (Paras 4, 7, 10)

(B) Writ jurisdiction - The court cannot interfere in factual findings of summary proceedings under Article 226 of the Constitution. (Para 11)

Facts of the case:
The petitioner challenged the mutation order based on unregistered Will-deed after the original holder passed away, whereas respondents relied on a prior registered Will in their favor.

Findings of Court:
The petitioner failed to prove the unregistered Will-deed in accordance with legal requirements, and the previous registered Will stood valid.

Issues: Whether an unregistered Will can cancel a registered Will and the maintainability of the writ petition in summary proceedings.

Ratio Decidendi: The court upheld that under Section 92 of the Indian Evidence Act, the registered Will-deed could not be cancelled by unregistered Will-deed, affirming that mutation based on unregistered documents was invalid in this case.

Result: Writ petition dismissed.

Table of Content
1. background facts of the case (Para 2)
2. petitioner argues for mutation based on unregistered will (Para 3)
3. respondent counters with legality of will (Para 4)
4. court considers arguments and case facts (Para 5 , 6)
5. review of legal principles pertaining to will and evidence (Para 7 , 8 , 9)
6. decision on unregistered will affecting registered will (Para 10)
7. conclusion to dismiss the petition (Para 11)

JUDGMENT :

CHANDRA KUMAR RAI, J.

1. Heard Mr. Sanjay Kumar Singh, counsel for the petitioner, Mr. Mukesh Kumar Singh, learned counsel for respondent No. 5 & 6, learned Standing Counsel for the State-respondents and Mr. Bhupendra Kumar Tripathi, learned counsel for respondent No. 4/Gaon Sabha.

2. Brief facts of the case are that father of respondent Nos. 5 & 6 was recorded tenure holder of the plots in dispute. Mangaru Upadhyay, father of respondent Nos. 5 & 6 had no male child, he had only two daughters i.e. respondent Nos. 5 & 6 (Asha Upadhyay & Usha Upadhyay). Mangaru Upadhyayhad her wife Smt.Lalti Devi. Mangaru Upadhyay executed a registered Will-deed on 22.03.1999 in favour of her daughters i.e. respondent Nos. 5 & 6. Respondent Nos. 5 & 6 were married in the life time of their father and were residing in their in-laws house. It is also alleged in the writ petition that subsequently Mangaru Upadhyay had also executed an unregistered Will-deed dated 07.02.2022 in respect to Arazi No. 998 area 0.747 hectare. The earlier registered Will-deed executed on 22.03.1999 was cancelled in respect of Arazi No. 998 area 0.747 hectare. Mangaru Upadhyay expired on 18.02.2002. After the death of Mangaru Upadhyay, respondent Nos. 5 & 6 as well as wife of deceased Mangaru Upadhyay applied for mutation which was allowed on 16.12.2003. Against the order dated 16.12.2003, petitioner filed an application for recalling the order dated 16.12.2003. The recall application filed by the petitioner was allowed on 09.09.2004 and the name of the petitioner's husband was ordered to be recorded over Arazi No. 998. Against the order dated 09.09.2004, respondent Nos. 5 & 6 filed recall application which was allowed on 15.04.2016 setting aside the order dated 09.09.2004. Mother of respondent Nos. 5 & 6 executed the Will-deed in favour of respondent Nos. 5 & 6 in respect to Arazi No. 998. On the basis of Will-deed executed by mother of respondent Nos. 5 & 6, names of respondent Nos. 5 & 6 was mutated in the revenue records. On the application of the petitioner against the order of mutation passed in favour of respondent Nos. 5 & 6 was recalled vide order dated 28.03.2016. Respondent Nos. 5 & 6 challenged the order dated 28.03.2016 in appeal which was allowed and order dated 28.03.2016 was set aside and the mutation applied by the petitioner on the basis of unregistered Will-deed dated 07.02.2002 was dismissed by Tahsildar (Judicial), Sadar, Varanasi. Petitioner challenged the order dated 01.03.2021 through revision before the Commissioner which was dismissed vide order dated 23.08.2022, hence this writ petition.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner's mutation on the basis of unregistered Will-deed dated 07.02.2022 has been illegally refused by the Naib Tahsildar although the unregistered Will-deed setup by the petitioner has not been cancelled by any Court. He further submitted that respondent Nos. 5 & 6, daughters of Mangaru Upadhyay was not maintaining their father, Mangaru Upadhyay, as such, the subsequent unregistered Will-deed was executed on 07.02.2002 in respect of Arazi No. 998 area 0.747 hectare only. He further submitted that reason was assigned in the subsequent unregistered Will-deed by recorded tenure holder by which the registered Will-deed executed by him was cancelled in respect of plot No. 998 only. He next submitted that impugned orders are illegal and liable to be set aside.

4. On the other hand counsel appearing for respondent No. 5 submitted that Naib Tahsildar has rightly refused the mutation

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