IMPORTANT POINT
Revenue authorities cannot mutate property based on a Will; such matters must be adjudicated by a civil court.

ORDER :

None is present on behalf of the respondents even in revised call.

2. Heard Shri P. C. Chandil, learned counsel for the petitioners.

3. Challenge is made to order dated 24-8-2021 passed by Additional Commissioner, Chambal Division, Morena in Case No. 0116/2020-21/Appeal titled as Jai Sharma and another vs. Kailash Narayan and others and order dated 15-1-2021 passed by Sub Divisional Officer (Revenue) Ater, District Bhind in Case No. 31/2020-21/ vŒekŒtitled as Kailash Narayan vs. Jai and another.

4. Brief facts of the case are that property was recorded in the name of one Ramnaresh @ Naresh Sharma. During his lifetime, he is alleged to have executed a Will deed in favour of Jai and Abhishek. Tehsildar on the basis of Will recorded the name of Jai and Abhishek in place of deceased Ramnaresh @ Naresh Sharma. Being aggrieved with the order of Tehsildar, respondents/ appellants filed an appeal before the SDO, Ater, District Bhind who allowed the appeal, set aside the order of Tehsildar dated 24-9-2020 and allowed the mutation in favour of heirs of deceased. There against, petitioners filed an Appeal No. 116/2020-21/Appeal before Commissioner, Chambal Division, Morena which came to be heard and decided by Additional Commissioner, Chambal Division, Morena vide order dated 24-8-2021 dismissing the appeal making some observation. Orders of SDO and Additional Commissioner, Chambal Division, Morena are impugned in the present petition.

5. Admittedly, the land in question was recorded in the name of Ramnaresh @ Naresh Sharma who is alleged to have executed a Will deed in favour of the petitioners. Petitioners have filed a civil suit for declaration of their right.

6. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that order of Tehsildar and Additional Commissioner, Chambal Division, Morena is beyond jurisdiction. They have no right to make any comment upon the execution of Will. Learned counsel for the petitioners concedes that it is only the Civil Court and not the Revenue Authorities to examine the validity of Will and petitioners are in cultivate possession over the property in dispute. They have filed a civil suit for declaration of their rights.

7. The moot question for consideration is as to whether the revenue authorities have jurisdiction to mutate the name of a beneficiary on the basis of Will or not?

8. The question is no more res integra.

9. The Supreme Court in the case of Jitendra Singh vs. State of M. P., by order dated 6-9-2021 passed in SLP (Civil) No. 13146/2021 has held as under :

“6. Right from 1997, the law is very clear. In the case of Balwant Singh vs. Daulat Singh (D) by LRs., reported in (1997) 7 SCC 137, this Court had an occasion to consider the effect of mutation and it is observed and held that mutation of property in revenue records neither creates nor extinguishes title to the property nor has it any presumptive value on title. Such entries are relevant only for the purpose of collecting land revenue. Similar view has been expressed in the series of decisions thereafter.

6.1 In the case of Suraj Bhan vs. Financial Commissioner, (2007) 6 SCC 186, it is observed and held by this Court that an entry in revenue records does not confer title on a person whose name appears in record-of-rights. Entries in the revenue records or jamabandi have only “fiscal purpose”, i.e., payment of land revenue, and no ownership is conferred on the basis of such entries. It is further observed that so far as the title of the property is concerned, it can only be decided by a competent civil Court. Similar view has been expressed in the cases of Suman Verma vs. Union of India, (2004) 12 SCC 58; Faqruddin vs. Tajuddin (2008) 8 SCC 12; Rajinder Singh vs. State of J. and K., (2008) 9 SCC 368; Municipal Corporation, Aurangabad vs. State of Maharashtra, (2015) 16 SCC 689; T. Ravi vs. B. Chinna Narasimha, (2017) 7 SCC 342; Bhimabai Mahadeo Kambekar vs. Arthur Import and Export Co., (2019) 3 SCC 191; Prahlad Pradhan vs. Sonu Kumhar, (2019) 10 SCC