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2023 Supreme(All) 2221

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
CHANDRA KUMAR RAI, J.
Ram Pal Singh and Others - Petitioners
Versus
Board Of Revenue and Others - Respondents
WRIT B NO. 13299 OF 2012.
Decided On : 13-01-2023

Advocates appeared:
For the Petitioners: Dr. G.S.D. Mishra, Binod Kumar Tripathi, R.K. Dwivedi
For the Respondents: C.S.C., Anshu Chaudhary, D.D. Chauhan, Manoj Kr. Mishra

Headnote:(A) U.P.Z.A. & L.R. Act - Sections 229B and 176 - Writ petition challenging the Board of Revenue's decision on property ownership - The Board purportedly acted without affording proper hearing to the petitioners; the appellate judgment was labeled as ex-parte. The trial Court and Additional Commissioner had ruled favorably for petitioners, but the Board of Revenue overturned these findings without proper justification. (Paras 5, 10, 16)

(B) Administrative Law - The principles of fair hearing and due process must be upheld in administrative adjudications. The Court emphasized that an order without jurisdiction could not be quashed if it simply restores another illegal order. (Paras 15, 16)

Facts of the case:
The petitioners' father filed Suit No.9 of 1982 under the U.P.Z.A. & L.R. Act over family property, initially in the name of a deceased relative. The suit has seen multiple appeals and decisions, culminating in the Board of Revenue's ruling that favored the defendants against the petitioners. The petitioners argued that due process was not followed.

Findings of Court:
The trial Court’s detailed factual findings were ignored by the Additional Commissioner, and maintaining the second appeal would restore an illegal prior order.

Issues: The case addressed whether the Board of Revenue properly considered the previous findings and if due process was adhered.

Ratio Decidendi: The Court held that the appellate bodies must review substantial findings on evidence with care, reinforcing that without a proper hearing, judgments can be deemed flawed. The importance of maintaining factual determinations from trial courts was underscored.

Result: Writ petition dismissed.

Table of Content
1. overview of family lineage and property rights. (Para 2 , 3)
2. arguments on procedural fairness and evidentiary misinterpretation. (Para 5 , 6)
3. findings on adverse possession are clarified. (Para 8 , 9 , 10)
4. assessment of trial court’s judgments and findings. (Para 11 , 12 , 13)
5. standards for judicial interference under article 226. (Para 14 , 15 , 16)
6. final decision regarding the writ petition. (Para 17 , 18)

JUDGMENT

Chandra Kumar Rai, J.

Heard Mr. V. K. Agnihotri and Sri Binod Kumar Tripathi, counsel for the petitioners, learned Standing Counsel for respondent nos.1 & 2, Mr. K. K. Singh, counsel for respondent no.3- Gaon Sabha and Mr. Anshu Chaudhary, counsel for respondent Nos. 5, 6, 9 & 10 only.

2. Brief facts of the case are that father of petitioner nos.1 & 2, namely, Nannoo Singh and petitioner nos.3 & 4 have filed a Suit No.9 of 1982, under Section 229B / 176 of U.P.Z.A. & L.R. Act. The family pedigree has been mentioned in paragraph no.2 of the plaint, which is as follows:

3. Disputed property as mentioned in Schedule Ka and Kha in the plaint of Suit No.9 of 1982 was initially recorded in the name of Chhiddu Singh and after death of Chhiddu Singh his sons, namely, Natthu Singh & Jalim Singh were recorded. After death of Nathu Singh, his share was devolved upon his widow Smt. Dhropa Devi. During consolidation operation some part of the land was recorded separately in the name of Dhropa Devi and some part was recorded jointly in the name of Jalim Singh. Dhropa Devi died during life time of Jalim Singh, as such, Jalim Singh became owner of the disputed property. Nannoo Singh, Hari Singh and Roop Singh were sons of Jalim Singh in which Roop Singh died on 11.1.1978 and Hari Singh died on 26.8.1978 during life time of their father Jalim Singh. Jalim Singh died on 8.9.1978. At the time of death of Jalim Singh only one son Nannoo Singh was alive and Man Singh, Bhudeo and Sri Ram became sons of Late Hari Singh in which Man Singh has also died earlier. Hridesh Kumar, Rajendera Kumar, Birjendra Kumar, Sarvesh Kumar, Ram Murti and Raj Kumar became sons of Late Roop Singh. There was equal share (1/3) of three sons of Jalim Singh in the disputed land. Petitioners moved a mutation application which was rejected and respondent nos. 5 to 10 illegally mutated their names in the entire share of Dhropa Devi. The aforementioned Suit No.9 of 1982 filed under Section 229B / 176 of U.P.Z.A. & L.R. Act was decreed vide judgment and decree dated 17.7.1987 by the trial Court. Against the judgment and decree of the trial Court respondent nos.5 to 10 preferred an Appeal No.63 / 1986-87 before the Commissioner. The Additional Commissioner vide judgment and decree dated 17.7.1987 set aside the judgment of the trial Court and remanded the matter back before the trial Court for decision of suit afresh. Against the remand order, trial Court again heard the suit and vide judgment and decree dated 22.8.1988 decreed the suit partly and dismissed in part. Against the judgment and decree of trial Court, petitioners filed an appeal before the Commissioner and Additional Commissioner vide judgment dated 20.3.1991 allowed the appeal and set aside the judgment of the trial Court. Against the judgment of Additional Commissioner dated 22.8.1988, respondent nos.5 to 10 filed a second appeal before the Board of Revenue who vide judgment dated 19.1.2011 allowed the second appeal and set aside the order of the appellate Court dated 20.3.1991 resulting into affirming the judgment of the trial Court dated 22.8.1988, hence this writ petition.

4. This Court while entertaining the writ petition on 11.5.2012 passed the following interim order:

    " Issue notice.

    Notice on behalf of respondents No.1 and 2 have been accepted by the office of learned Chief Standing Counsel, whereas Shri D.D. Chauhan, Advocate, has pur in appearance for respondent no.3 and Shri Manoj Kumar Mishra, Advocate, for respondent no.4. Therefore, notices need not be served to re

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