IN THE HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
CHANDRA KUMAR RAI, J.
Sanjeev Kumar Agrawal and anr. - Petitioners
Versus
State of U.P. and 46 ors. - Respondents
WRIT - B NO. - 3617 OF 2023.
Decided On : 18-03-2024
JUDGMENT
Chandra Kumar Rai, J.
Heard Mr. Ashish Kumar Dwivedi, learned counsel for the petitioners, Mr. Ashok Kumar Singh, learned counsel for respondent Nos. 6, 7, 8 & 9, Mr. Rahul Kumar Tyagi learned counsel for respondent No. 7, Mr. Pankaj Srivastava, learned counsel for respondent No. 5 Nagar Nigam and Mr. Hari Mohan Srivastava, learned Additional Chief Standing Counsel for the State-respondents.
2. Brief facts of the case are that one Swaroop S/o Buddhan was recorded as Bumidhar in respect to Khasra No. 59 area 0.3430 hectare (old Khasra No. 38) situated at village Noor Nagar, Pargana, Tehsil and District Meerut. Swaroop had executed a sale deed in favour of Devan Singh on 11.06.1962 accordingly, the name of Devan Singh was recorded in the revenue record vide order dated 18.04.1967 passed by Consolidation Officer in Case No. 2822 of 1967. An agreement to sale was executed by Devan Singh in favour of one Raj Bahadur and Smt. Shanti Devi on 20.01.1979. Shanti Devi and Raj Bahadur instituted a suit No. 456 of 1985 for specific performance of contract, which was decreed in favour of Shanti Devi and Raj Bahadur vide judgmethe mobile fell on the ground and was broken and two such, mischief was causednt and decree dated 13.09.1988. Shanti Devi and Raj Bahadur accordingly filed a execution case in pursuance of judgment and decree dated 13.09.1988. Accordingly, a sale deed was executed on 16.01.1989 in the aforementioned execution case in favour of Shanti Devi and Raj Bahadur and possession was also delivered in favour of Shanti Devi and Raj Bahadur. Subsequently, name of Kishan Gopal, Jitendra Kumar, Nitin Kumar, Manish Kumar and Deepak Kumar were recorded in revenue record as Bhumidhar of Gata No. 59 on the basis of will deed. Subsequently, Kishan Gopal, Jitendra Kumar, Nitin Kumar and Manish Kumar executed the sale deed on 27.06.2013 in favour of Satish Sharma and Manoj Kumar Kaushik. Manoj Kumar Kaushik and Satish Sharma accordingly executed a sale deed on 07.10.2013 in favour of petitioners. According to the petitioner, name of petitioners were recorded in Nagar Nigam Meerut for the purpose of payment of house tax etc. Respondent Nos. 6 to 9 filed a case under Section 134 of U.P. Revenue Code 2006 before the Sub-Divisional Officer, Meerut, which was registered as Case No 05419 of 2019 impleading the petitioners as opposite party in the case. Petitioners appeared in the aforementioned case and filed their objections. Sub-Divisional Officer vide Judgment and decree dated 30.04.2022/22.8.2022 dismissed the suit filed by respondent Nos. 6 to 9. Against the judgment and decree dated 30.04.2022/22.08.2022 respondent Nos. 6 to 9 filed an appeal under Section 207 of the U.P. Revenue Code 2006, which was registered as Appeal No1427 of 2022. The aforementioned appeal was heard by Additional Commissioner and the same was allowed vide judgment dated 06.04.2023 setting aside the judgment and decree dated 30.04.2022/22.08.2022 as well as decreed the plaintiffs' suit filed under Section 134 of U.P. Revenue Code 2006. Petitioners along with other co-sharer filed second appeal under Section 208 of U.P. Revenue Code 2006 before respondent No. 2/Board of Revenue, which was registered as Second Appeal No. 1510 of 2023. The aforementioned Second Appeal was heard and the same was dismissed vide judgment dated 02.08.2023. Hence, this writ petition on behalf of petitioners challenging the order dated 06.04.2023 passed by Additional Commissioner, Meerut and order dated 02.08.2023 passed by Board of Revenue U.P. Lucknow.
3. This Court vide order dated 08.11.2023 directed the learned Standing Counsel for the State as well as learned counsel appearing for the Gaon Sabha to obtain instruction as to when the land in dispute has been vested in the territory of Municipal Corporation.
4. In pursuance of the order of this Court, learned counsel appearing for respondent No. 5 Nagar Nigam placed the instruction dated 15.12.2023 stating that Khasra No. 59 area 0.3
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.
The mutation application based on an unchallenged sale deed cannot be dismissed in summary proceedings, affirming the Board of Revenue's review authority under the U.P. Land Revenue Act.
The court reinforced that administrative decisions must consider ongoing civil proceedings and legal injunctions, ensuring maintainability assessments align with established legal provisions.
Summary proceedings under the U.P. Land Revenue Act cannot expunge long-standing land entries; proper judicial recourse is required for ownership disputes.
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 court affirmed that the trial court's decree granting bhumidhari rights was valid, and the Board of Revenue acted within its jurisdiction in upholding this decision.
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