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2024 Supreme(All) 2138

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
SAURABH SHYAM SHAMSHERY, J.
Smt. Kela and another - Appellants
Versus
Jahangir Singh and others - Respondents
Civil Misc. Writ Petition No. 3538 of 1982
Decided on : 17-12-2024

Advocates Appeared:
For the Appellant : Virendra Singh, Deoraj Singh, Devendra Dahma and K.M. Garg
For the Respondent: K.M.L. Nigam, A.S. Diwaker, Rajiv Asthana, S.C., Sudhir Kumar Pandey and Syed Ashraf Ali

The court ruled that a plaintiff must establish rights through proper succession reporting and admissible evidence, and findings from criminal proceedings do not bind civil courts.

Headnote:(A) U.P. Z.A. and L.R. Act, 1950 - Section 229-B - Suit for declaration of co-tenure holder - Dismissal of suit based on lack of succession reporting and inadmissibility of unregistered compromise - Court held that plaintiff failed to establish rights by succession or compromise, and defendants are sole sirdars. (Paras 2-3, 10-11)

(B) Adverse possession - Court ruled that possession alone does not confer title, and findings under Section 145 Cr.P.C. are not binding on civil courts. (Paras 20-21)

(C) Registration of documents - Family arrangements can be oral; if reduced to writing, registration is necessary if value exceeds Rs. 100. (Paras 22-26)

Facts of the case:
The original respondent filed a suit claiming co-tenure rights over land, which was dismissed due to failure to report succession and lack of admissible evidence for a compromise. The defendants were found to be the sole sirdars of the land.

Findings of Court:
The court upheld the dismissal of the suit, stating that the plaintiff did not establish his claim through succession or valid compromise.

Issues: The main issues included whether the plaintiff was a co-tenure holder, the effect of adverse possession, and the necessity of registration for the family arrangement.

Ratio Decidendi: The court concluded that the plaintiff's claims were not substantiated by law, and the findings from criminal proceedings do not bind civil courts.

Result: Writ petition dismissed.

JUDGMENT :

Hon'ble Saurabh Shyam Shamshery, J.-Heard Sri K.M. Garg, learned counsel for petitioners and Sri Syed Ashraf Ali, learned counsel for respondent No. 1.

2. In the present case, contesting original respondent has filed a Suit under Section 229-B of U.P.Z.A. and L.R. Act, 1950 (for short ''Act of 1950'') against original Petitioners-1 and 2 for declaration that he was a co-tenure holder in suit property with defendants. The Suit was dismissed vide order dated 23.6.1970. In said Suit, following 5 issues were framed :

    ''1. Whether plaintiff is co-tenure holder with defendants No. 1 and 2 in the land in suit?

    2. Whether defendants No. 1 and 2 are sole sirdar in the land in suit?

    3. Whether suit is barred under Order IX Rule 8 CPC?

    4. Whether suit is barred by res-judicata?

    5. What relief, if any, is the plaintiff entitled?''

3. Issues No. 3, 4 and 5 were not pressed and only issues No. 1 and 2 were decided. For reference, relevant part thereof is quoted below :

    ''The first point to be seen is whether plaintiff can acquire sirdari rights by succession as son of Budha because Budha was admitted as tenant of this land. In my opinion, Budha was tenant of this land and so far his death, plaintiff automatically became sirdar of this land. However, the plaintiff has not reported succession as required by U.P. Land Revenue Act and so the Court is precluded for taking cognizance of the case on this point because it is barred under Section 34(5) of U.P. Land Revenue Act. No doubt, the defendants have not taken any objection on this point but this being a legal point and so it has been taken. Plaintiff is said to have filed an application but there is no document to support it. Therefore, the claim of the plaintiff as sole sirdar of the land cannot be recognized. Besides has not pressed this point seriously but has raised his claim on the basis of the compromise and admission. The compromise is dated 6.6.1956. On this date, the Tenancy Act was in force. Therefore, this compromise as best can mean that the plaintiff recognized defendants No. 1 and 2 as co-tenant and defendants No. 1 and 2's father recognized the plaintiff as co-tenant. During the continuance of the Tenancy Act, this co-tenancy could not be recognized, in view of the bar created by Section 33 provisions of U.P. Tenancy Act because the Zamindar was not a party to it. Besides, the compromise was not recognized by Sri B.S. Kaushik, Judicial Officer vide his order dated 22.1.1966. It is placed on behalf of the plaintiff that this suit was withdrawn and so I think the point loses its significance. This compromise is Ex.Ka.-1. This compromise deed has been challenged by defendants No. 1 and 2 under the circumstances it was necessary for the plaintiff to have sent this document to some expert for the comparison of thumb mark of Hoop Karan deceased. As given in this document with the admitted document of Hoop Karan. This felicitation deed or compromise is silent about the land revenues payable on this land. This was necessary with a view to decide the valuation of this land coupled with the fact if it requires registration or not. This document was not produced by the plaintiff in case under Section 145 Cr.P.C. in between him and father of defendants No. 1 and 2. Therefore, this document cannot be treated as genuine and in case conferring any title on the plaintiff. The next point is the admission of Smt. Nanhi the then tenant of this land. It is a settled law that there is no admission against legal pleas. When co-tenancy cannot be conferred or recognized by act of parties in the form of compromise, it cannot be recognized on the basis of admission. Therefore, then admission plea will also not help the plaintiff. Therefore, in view of above discussion, plaintiff cannot become sirdar either by succession or by compromise or by admission. Apart from these facts plaintiff has any right after the death of Budha it was necessary for him to file a declaratory suit after reporting successi

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