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1958 Supreme(MP) 239

High Court Of Madhya Pradesh
M. Hidayatullah, C. J. and P. K. Tare, J.
SINGHAI SHRINANDANLAL - Appellant
Versus
LAXMAN SINGH - Respondents
Second Appeal 1055 Of 1956
Decided On : 10/10/1958

Advocates Appeared:
M.L.Singhai, R.P.Verma

A person who has received any advantage under a contract that becomes void is bound to restore it or make compensation for it.

Headnote:

VOID CONTRACT - RESTITUTION OF CONSIDERATION - Madhya Pradesh Abolition of Proprietary Rights (Estates, Mahals, Alienated Lands) Act, 1950, Section 6(1) - Indian Contract Act, 1872, Section 65 - Where a contract becomes void, the person who received any advantage under such contract is bound to restore it or make compensation for it.

Fact of the Case:

The plaintiff, a proprietor and lambardar, transferred occupancy rights to the defendants in two separate transactions on 29th July 1950 and 21st March 1951, respectively. The defendants applied for recognition of the transfers, but it was refused. The defendants then purchased the same fields from the State in an auction. The plaintiffs filed suits for the refund of the consideration paid for the transfers.

Finding of the Court:

The court held that the transfers were void from the date of vesting under Section 6(1) of the Madhya Pradesh Abolition of Proprietary Rights (Estates, Mahals, Alienated Lands) Act, 1950, as the plaintiffs did not obtain a declaration under Section 6(2) that the transfers were made in good faith and in the ordinary course of village management. However, the court also held that the plaintiffs were entitled to restitution of the consideration paid for the transfers under Section 65 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872, as the contracts became void.

Issues: Whether the transfers of occupancy rights were void under Section 6(1) of the Madhya Pradesh Abolition of Proprietary Rights (Estates, Mahals, Alienated Lands) Act, 1950.

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the transfers were void from the date of vesting under Section 6(1) of the Madhya Pradesh Abolition of Proprietary Rights (Estates, Mahals, Alienated Lands) Act, 1950, as the plaintiffs did not obtain a declaration under Section 6(2) that the transfers were made in good faith and in the ordinary course of village management. However, the court also held that the plaintiffs were entitled to restitution of the consideration paid for the transfers under Section 65 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872, as the contracts became void.

Final Decision: The court dismissed the appeals of both the plaintiffs and the defendants, holding that the transfers were void but that the plaintiffs were entitled to restitution of the consideration paid.

M. HIDAYATULLAH, C. J.

( 1 ) THE judgment in this second appeal shall also govern the disposal of second appeals Nos. 966 of 1956 and 1015 of 1956. The other two appeals are appeals against a common judgment and decree.

( 2 ) THE case comes before us on a reference by one of us. The whole matter in dispute is referred to the Division Bench. Singhai Shrinandanlal (who was the defendant in the two suits) was proprietor and lambardar of mauzas Belai and kirrawada in Khurai tahsil. On 29-7-1950 he orally created two brothers laxmansingh and Durjansingh occupancy tenants of fields Nos. 688 and 691/1 of mauaa Belai on receipt of Rs. 625/ -. The fields were recorded chhota ghas. The tenants applied to be recognised as tenants but the Board of Revenue by its order dated 18-8-1953 declined to do so. Laxmansingh and Durjansingh later purchased these same fields in an auction held by the State for Rs. 1230/- on 12-6-1951. They brought the suit for Rs. 1000/including in their claim Rs. G25/- consideration, interest on the same and Rs. 100/- spent on fighting the case on the revenue side, The first Court passed a decree for Rs. 737/ 8/- and costs. On appeal by the defendant the amount was reduced to Rs. 625/- with costs in proportion. The present appeal has been filed by the defendant against that decree.

( 3 ) SINGHAI Shrinandanlal as proprietor lambar-dar of mauza Kirrawada also transferred in occupancy rights to Suratsingh khasra Nos. 2 to 5 and 34 on 21-31951 for Rs. 1000/- by a registered deed. These fields were recorded as chhota ghas, Suratsingh applied for recognition of the transfer but it was refused. He thereafter took the same fields from the State for Rs. 2250/ -. On 20th Octo-ber, 1954, Suratsingh claimed Rs. 1600/- including Rs. 606/- as charges for ploughing by tractor, Rs. 400/- other expenses, Rs. 50/- for expenses in revenue Courts and rs. 50/- for stamp duty and registration of the document. The first Court decreed the claim for Rs. 1600/ -. On appeal by Sin-ghai Shrinandanlal the amount decreed was reduced to Rs. 1000/ -. The two second appeals (Nos. 966 of 1956 and 1015 of 1956) have been filed by Shrinandanlal and Suratsingh respectively against the same judgment and decree.

( 4 ) THE two transactions are of 29th July 1950 and 21st March 1951. They are both hit by section 6 (1) of the Madhya Pradesh Abolition of Proprietary Rights (Estates, mahals, Alienated Lands) Act, 1950. That section reads as follows:-

"6 (1) Except as provided in Sub-section (2), the transfer of any right in the property which is liable to vest in the State under this Act made by the proprietor at any time after the 16th March, 1950 shall, as from the date of vesting, be void. (2) Where on the application of the transferor or the transferee, the deputy Commissioner is satisfied that any transfer of property referred to in Sub-section (1) was made by a proprietor in good faith and in the ordinary course of village management, he may declare that the transfer shall not be void after the date of vesting. "

( 5 ) IT is quite clear that unless the transferor or transferee obtained the declaration under the second sub-section, the transfer became void from the date of vesting. That date was 31st March, 1951. It is equally clear that during the period 29-71950 and 21-3-1951 till the date of vesting the agreements were not void and valid contracts existed.

( 6 ) SECTION 65 of the Indian Contract Act lays down :

"when an agreement is discovered to be void, or when a contract becomes void, any person who has received any advantage under such agreement or contract is bound to restore it or to make compensation for it, to the person from whom he received it. "

The matter is covered by the expression "when a contract becomes void" because the original contracts became void on the 31st March, 1951. Even if the contracts became void when the orders by which permission was refused were passed, they did become void and the lessor was bound to refund the considerati




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