High Court Of Madhya Pradesh
S. P. SRIVASTAVA, R. B. DIXIT
STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH - Appellant
Versus
HARCHARAN SINGH - Respondents
L. P. A. 189 Of 2001
Decided On : 08/18/2001
Agricultural Holdings - M. P. Land Revenue Code, 1959, Section 50 - 115, 116 - The court discussed the dispute over agricultural holdings and the validity of a lease, highlighting the finality of the previous judgments and the jurisdiction of the Collector to sit in appeal over the civil court's decision. The court emphasized the exercise of power 'on its/his own motion' or 'suo motu' within a reasonable time, as stipulated in Section 50 of the M. P. Land Revenue Code, and cited relevant case law to support its decision.
Fact of the Case:
The dispute related to the title of certain agricultural holdings, with the respondent seeking a declaration of ownership and a permanent injunction. The State and other defendants contested the suit, leading to a series of judgments and orders, including a revision by the Collector after 28 years.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the Collector's revision was without jurisdiction, emphasizing the finality of previous judgments and the settled principles of law. It highlighted the abuse of authority and directed the State to recover costs from the erring official.
Issues: The issues included the validity of the lease, the jurisdiction of the Collector to sit in appeal over the civil court's decision, and the exercise of power 'suo motu' within a reasonable time.
Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized the finality of previous judgments, the jurisdictional limits of the Collector, and the requirement to exercise power 'suo motu' within a reasonable time, as stipulated in Section 50 of the M. P. Land Revenue Code.
Final Decision: The appeal was dismissed, and the court directed the State to recover costs from the erring official.
( 1 ) HEARD the learned Govt. Advocate representing the appellant/state.
( 2 ) PERUSED the Record.
( 3 ) THE dispute in the present case relates to the title in respect of certain agricultural holdings. The respondent in this appeal had filed a suit seeking a declaration that he was the owner in possession of the aforesaid agricultural holdings and for a permanent prohibitory injunction restraining the defendants including the State of M. P. through the Collector, and the Tahsildar, Gwalior from either dispossessing him from the land in dispute or interfering in his possession thereof.
( 4 ) THE aforesaid suit was contested by the defendants denying the right, title and interest of the plaintiff. They had also asserted that the Patta claimed to have been granted in favour of the plaintiff, dated 20-4-1947, was farzi. The trial Court had decreed the suit. The decree was affirmed in appeal. Thereafter, the State of M. P. , and the other defendant the Tahsildar, filed a Second Appeal No. 487/1998, which was disposed of vide the judgment and order dt. 25-1-1999, whereunder, it was dismissed.
( 5 ) A perusal of the aforesaid judgment dismissing the second appeal, indicates that Tahsildar, Gwalior had held an enquiry and disposed of the case vide his judgment and order dated 4-5-1973. After examining the voluminous evidence led before him, the Tahsildar had come to the conclusion that the land in dispute could be leased out and in fact, the Patta had been granted in favour of plaintiff after following the prescribed procedure. It was also found that the rental required to be paid by the plaintiff Patta-holder was also duly deposited by him with the State. It was also found that the plaintiff was continuing to be in possession of the land in dispute pursuant to the patta executed in his favour. The aforesaid order dated. 4-5-1973 had attained finality.
( 6 ) IT is not disputed that feeling aggrieved by the aforesaid judgment and order, the State had challenged the same before Hon. the Supreme Court but the petition for special leave to appeal (Civil No. 11776/99) was dismissed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court on 18-11-99.
( 7 ) IT was thereafter, that the Collector taking suo motu action purporting to exercise the jurisdiction envisaged under S. 50 of the M. P. Land Revenue Code, had registered a revision against the order dated 4-5-1971, passed by Tahsildar in the mutation proceeding. This action had been taken as noticed by the learned single Judge in the impugned order after a period of 28 years.
( 8 ) IN the aforesaid revision, the Collector while allowing the same, had set aside the order dt. 4-5-1971 passed by Tahsildar and had directed him to reregister the proceeding under Ss. 115 and 116 of M. P. Land Revenue Code which provides for correction of a wrong entry in Khasra and any other land record by superior officers and after examining the legality of the Patta, dispose of the case, in accordance with law within a period of three months.
( 9 ) IT was the aforesaid order, passed by the Collector, which was challenged by respondent No. 1, by means of writ petition, which had been allowed by a learned single Judge with costs quantified at Rs. 5000/-, which was made recoverable from the State, providing however, that if deemed fit the said amount may be recovered from the Collector, Gwalior as the order passed by him was in colourable exercise of powers contrary to the settled principles of law.
( 10 ) IN the impugned order, the learned single Judge, has observed that the Collector, had no jurisdiction to sit in appeal over the order passed by the Civil Court which had even been approved by the Hon. Supreme Court and direct further enquiry in regard to the validity of the lease, which question had been settled up to the stage of Hon. Supreme Court.
( 11 ) IT may be noticed at this stage that as has already been indicated hereinabove, the question in regard to the validity of the lease and the same having been ac
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