IN THE HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
JAYANT BANERJI, J.
Rama Shankar Lal And 12 Others - Petitioners
Versus
State Of U.P. And 3 Others - Respondents
WRIT - B NO. - 1475 OF 2023.
Decided On : 19-04-2023
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. writ petition's purpose and restoration application details (Para 2 , 3) |
| 2. delay in revisiting revision application not sufficiently explained (Para 4 , 5) |
| 3. supreme court's stance on condoning delays (Para 6 , 8) |
| 4. court rejects writ petition due to lack of merit (Para 7 , 9) |
JUDGMENT
Jayant Banerji, J.
Heard learned counsel for the petitioners. Learned Standing Counsel appears for respondent nos. 1, 2 and 4. Sri Rameshwar Prasad Shukla, learned counsel has accepted notice on behalf of respondent no.3- Gram Panchayat.
2. This writ petition has been filed with the following prayer:-
"(i) Issue a writ, order or direction in the nature of certiorari quashing the order dated 13.12.2022 passed in Case No. RES/3604/22 Azamgarh arising out of Computerized Case No. AL20221506003604 Rama Shankar Lal and others v. Gram Panchayat and others by the Member, Board of Revenue U.P. Prayagraj (Annexure No. 5 to the writ petition).
(ii) Issue a writ, order or direction in the nature of mandamus commanding the respondents not to act upon the order impugned."
3. The order impugned appears to have been passed on the restoration application dated 14.11.2022 filed by the petitioners for restoring the revision that was dismissed on 13.12.2013. The restoration application was filed along with a delay condonation application under Section 5 of the LIMITATION ACT . The reason for delay mentioned in the affidavit filed in support of the application under Section 5 of the LIMITATION ACT is sought to be explained in paragraph nos. 2, 3 and 4 of the affidavit which are quoted below:-
"2.That the applicants preferred Revision against the order dated 11.7.2007 passed by Up Ziladhikari Ballia and for approval of Resolution dated 26.6.2006 and after hearing the Hon'ble Member of this Hon'ble court has been pleased to pass the stay order dated 24.7.2007 and the same was extended on several dates.
3.That the applicants were assured that the stay order has been existing because their counsel has been extending the aforesaid order time to Neutral Citation No. - 2023:AHC:83252 time.
4.That on 18.7.2022 the deponent came to Prayagraj for some personal work and after arrival at Prayagraj, he enquired about his case from the office and then he found that his revision has been dismissed in default on 13.12.2013 by the Hon'ble Member Jaswant Singh."
4. The order dated 13.12.2013, against which restoration application was filed is quoted below:-
^^U;k;ky; jktLo ifj"kn] m0iz0 bykgkckn
lnL;] tloar flag ¼vkbZ0,0,l0½
fuxjkuh la0% 120@06&07 vUrxZr /kkjk&333 m0iz0
t0fo0 ,oa Hkw0O;k0vf/k0
jek 'kadj yky vkfn cuke xzke iapk;r vkfn
xzke&fpydgj] rglhy&jlMk] tuin&cfy;kA
fu.kZ;
izLrqr fuxjkuh] fuxjkuhdrkZ.k }kjk U;k;ky; miftykf/kdkjh jlMk] ftyk cfy;k }kjk fu.khZr okn la[;k&8@2005 xzke iapk;r cuke jek 'kadj yky vkfn varxZr /kkjk&161 ;w0ih0 tSM0,0 ,.M ,y0vkj0 ,DV lEcfU/kr ,oa fLFkr Hkwfe xzke fpygdj] rglhy jlMk] ,y0vkj0 ,DV lEcfU/kr ,oa fLFkr Hkwfe xzke fpydgj] rglhy jlMk] ftyk cfy;k esa ikfjr vkns'k fnukad 11@07@07 ds fo:) ;ksftr dh x;h gSA
esjs }kjk i=koyh dk lE;d~ voyksdu fd;k x;kA ;g fuxjkuh fiNys 7 o"kZ ls yfEcr gS fuxjkuh dk fuLrkj.k xq.knks"k ij fd;k tk jgk gS D;ksafd fuxjkuhdrkZ }kjk fuxjkuh ds fuLrkj.k esa :fp ugha fy;k tk jgk gSA
i=koyh ds voyksdu ls fofnr gksrk gS fd voj U;k;ky; }kjk xzke lHkk dh Hkwfe ls fofue; dks bl vk/kkj ij fujLr dj fn;k fd fofue; /kkjk&132 tehankjh fouk'k vf/kfu;e ls vPNkfnr Hkwfe dk fd;k tk jgk FkkA voj U;k;ky; }kjk ikfjr fd;k x;k vkns'k ,d U;k;ksfpr vkns'k gS D;ksafd /kkjk&132 ls vkPNkfnr Hkwfe ij dHkh Hkh fdlh i{k dks dksbZ vf/kdkj izkIr ugha gks ldrs ftl dkj.k voj U;k;ky; }kjk vius Lor% Li"V vkns'k esa fofue; dks fujLr fd;s tkus dk vkns'k ,d U;k;ksfpr vkns'k gS ftlesa gLr{ksi dh dksbZ vko';drk u gksus ds dkj.k fuxjkuh fujLr fd;s tkus ;ksX; gSA
vkns'k
mijksDr foospuk ds vk/kkj ij fuxjkuhdrkZ dh fuxjkuh fujLr dh tkrh gSA voj U;k;ky; }kjk ikfjr vkns'k fnukad 11@07@07 dh iqf"V dh tkrh gSA LFkxu ;fn dksbZ gks] fujLr fd;k tk
AI
The court ruled that procedural delays should be examined contextually, emphasizing the need for justice over strict adherence to timelines, allowing case merits to guide decisions.
The court emphasized that delay in filing a restoration application undermines the right to challenge prior orders, reinforcing the principle that the law of limitation must be strictly applied.
A suit for declaration under Section 144 of the U.P. Revenue Code cannot be decided without framing issues and allowing evidence, and orders passed without jurisdiction are nullities.
A party must demonstrate substantive rights to challenge consolidation orders; inordinate delay in seeking restoration applications without sufficient explanation cannot be condoned.
A formal application for condonation of delay is not necessary; oral requests sufficing with sufficient cause are valid in proceedings under the U.P. Land Revenue Act.
The court established that powers under the Uttar Pradesh Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act must be exercised within a reasonable time, and unreasonable delays invalidate such actions.
Login now and unlock free premium legal research
Login to SupremeToday AI and access free legal analysis, AI highlights, and smart tools.
Login
now!
India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!
Copyright © 2023 Vikas Info Solution Pvt Ltd. All Rights Reserved.