2025 Supreme(MP) 46

IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH
Suresh Kumar Kait, CJ, S. A. Dharmadhikari and Vivek Jain, JJ
Anand Choudhary v. State of M. P. & Others
Writ Petition No. 3499 of 2022 with W. P. No. 7492 of 2022 and Writ Appeal No. 667 of 2024 with W. A. No. 680 of 2024 and W. A. No. 1561 of 2024 (Jabalpur); Decided on 14.2.2025.

Headnote:

¼1½ Hkw&jktLo lafgrk] 1959 ¼e-ç-½ && èkkjk 164 && fgr dk U;kxeu && O;fDr dks HkwfeLokeh vf/kdkj izkIr && Hkys gh og gd ugha gks ijarq mldh e`R;q gksus ij Hkwfe mlds Lo;a ds fof/kd okfjlksa dks U;kxfer gksxhA ¼iSjk 19

¼2½ Hkw&jktLo lafgrk] 1959 ¼e-ç-½ && èkkjk 109] 110 rFkk 164 && e-iz- Hkw&jktLo lafgrk ¼Hkw&vfHkys[kksa esa ukekarj.k½ fu;e] 2018 && fu- 3 iz#i 1] Hkkx pkj] izfof"V 2 && foy ds vk/kkj ij ukekarj.k vkosnu fd;k tk ldrk gS && ;fn foy ;k fdlh vU; jhfr ls ukekarj.k fd;k tkrk gS rks Hkwfe dk foØ;] ca/kd] nku] fofue; rFkk foHkktu djus dk vf/kdkj gS && Hkwfe ds gd /kkjd }kjk ;g leLr laO;ogkj fd, tk ldrs gSa && ;g ugha dgk tk ldrk fd ukekarj.k izfof"V iw.kZr% foÙkh; iz;kstu ds fy, gh gksxhA ¼iSjk 28 ,oa 31

¼3½ Hkw&jktLo lafgrk] 1959 ¼e-ç-½ && èkkjk 158 && HkwfeLokeh vf/kdkj dk egRo && O;fDr dks /kkjk 158 ds fuca/kukuqlkj Hkwfe izkIr && mls leLr vfèkdkj gksaxs rFkk og leLr nkf;Roksa ds v/;/khu gksxk && HkwfeLokeh vf/kdkj loZJs"B vf/kdkj gSa && Hkwfe ds HkwfeLokeh d¢ :i esa ukekarj.k gksus ij og lu~ 1959 dh lafgrk ds v/khu of.kZr leLr vf/kdkjksa dk miHkksx djsxk && ijarq ;g lafgrk ds fofHkUu mica/kksa esa vf/kdfFkr dfri; fucZa/kuksa ds v/;/khu gksxk && ;g rdZ vekU; fd;k x;k fd ukekarj.k izfof"V;k¡ fo'kq)r% foÙkh; iz;kstu ds fy, gksrh gSa && ukekarj.k izfof"V ds lkFk Hkwfe esa vU; vf/kdkj rFkk fgr vkrs gS && lokZfèkd egRoiw.kZ] Hkwfe ds varj.k dk vf/kdkj A ¼iSjk 31

¼4½ Hkw&jktLo lafgrk] 1959 ¼e-ç-½ && èkkjk 11] 30] 31 rFkk 32 && jktLo U;k;ky; ßU;k;ky;ß gSa ;k ugha && fofuf'pr ugha && iw.kZ U;k;ihB dks fufnZ"V iz'u dh O;kfIr esa ugha vkrkA ¼iSjk 34 ,oa 35

¼5½ Hkw&jktLo lafgrk] 1959 ¼e-ç-½ && èkkjk 257 && jktLo izkf/kdkfj;ksa dh vuU; vf/kdkfjrk && vfu.khZr NksM+h xbZ && vuU;rk dh izd`fr bl funsZ'k dk fo"k; ughaA ¼iSjk 36

¼6½ flfoy izfØ;k lafgrk] 1908 && èkkjk 9 && vf/kdkfjrk && flfoy U;k;ky; dks flfoy izd`fr ds leLr oknksa dk fopkj.k djus dh vfèkdkfjrk gS] tc rd fd fofufnZ"Vr% oftZr ugha gks && flfoy U;k;ky; dh vf/kdkfjrk d¢ viotZu dk lgt gh vuqeku ugha fd;k tkuk gksrkA ¼2003½ 6 ,llhlh 151] ¼2002½ 5 ,llhlh 510 rFkk ¼2003½ 6 ,llhlh 220 fufnZ"VA ¼iSjk 36

¼7½ Hkw&jktLo lafgrk] 1959 ¼e-ç-½ && èkkjk 111] 109] 110 rFkk 257¼d½ && ukekarj.k dk;Zokgh && tgk¡ Hkh futh i{kdkjksa ds vf/kdkj varoZfyr gksrs gSa ogk¡] foy ;k jftLVªhÑr nLrkost ds fo"k; esa fdlh fookn dh fLFkfr esa] jktLo izkf/kdkfj;ksa rFkk jktLo U;k;ky;ksa dks dksbZ vf/kdkfjrk ugha && i{kdkj flfoy U;k;ky; tkdj fooknksa dk U;k;fu.kZ;u djkus dks Lora= gksaxs && tgk¡ ukekarj.k ds vuqØe esa Hkwfe esa ljdkj ds fgr dk fook|d mRiUu gksrk gS ogk¡ rglhynkj /kkjk 111 ds lkFk ifBr /kkjk 257¼d½ ds fuca/kuksa ds vuqlkj ml iz'u dk fofu'p;u dj ldrk gSA ¼iSjk 40 ls 42

¼8½ Hkw&jktLo lafgrk] 1959 ¼e-ç-½ && èkkjk 110¼4½ rFkk 111 && D;k foy ds vk/kkj ij ukekarj.k fd;k tk ldrk gS && leLr fookfnr ekeyksa esa] rglhynkj dks foy ds vk/kkj ij ukekarj.k djus dk vf/kdkj ugha gksxk && fookfnr ekeyksa esa foy ds vk/kkj ij ukekarj.k ds fy, mls flfoy U;k;ky; }kjk fookn dk U;k;fu.kZ;u fd, tkus rd izrh{kk djuk gksxhA ¼2007½ 6 ,llhlh 186 rFkk ¼2021½ ,llhlh vkWuykbu ,llh 802 fufnZ"VA ¼iSjk 44 ,oa 46

¼9½ mÙkjkf/kdkj vf/kfu;e] 1925 && èkkjk 272 rFkk 278 && izkscsV rFkk iz'kklui= && dgk¡ visf{kr gS && e-iz- jkT; esa vko';d ugha && izkscsV ,sfPNd gS && izkscsV bu jkT;{ks=ksa esa oftZr ughaA 1998 vkb,yvkj ¼,eih½ 689 rFkk ¼2020½ 14 ,llhlh 102 fufnZ"VA ¼iSjk 49

¼10½ mÙkjkf/kdkj vf/kfu;e] 1925 && èkkjk 63¼x½ && lk{; vf/kfu;e] 1872 && /kkjk 68 rFkk 67 && foy && vis{kk,¡ && foy lkf{k;ksa }kjk vuqizekf.kr gksuk pkfg, && de&ls&de ,d vuqizek.kd lk{kh dh lk{; ls lkfcr fd;k tkuk vko';d gS && lcwr dk Hkkj foy izLrqr djus okys ij gksrk gSA ¼2017½ 1 ,llhlh 257] ¼2021½ 11 ,llhlh 277] ¼2015½ 8 ,llhlh 615 rFkk ,vkbvkj 1959 ,llh443 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 51] 60 ,oa 61

¼11½ foy && lcwr dk Òkj rFkk jhfr && Òkj foy çLrqr djus okys ij gksrk gS && mls de&ls&de ,d vuqizek.kd lk{kh d¢ ijh{k.k }kjk lkfcr djuk gksuk gS fd foy vlyh gS && olh;rdrkZ dh ekufld fLFkfr] jt+keanh rFkk le>us dh 'kfä Òh lkfcr dh tkuk gksrh gS && Li"Vr%] ;g lHkh fu"d"kZ jktLo çkfèkdkfj;¨a }kjk ugÈ fn, tk ldrsA ¼1974½ 2 ,llhlh 600] ,vkbvkj 1960 ,llh 1332 rFkk ¼2022½ 3 ,llhlh 209 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 60 ls 65

¼12½ Òw&jktLo lafgrk] 1959 ¼e-ç-½ && èkkjk 109] 110 rFkk 164 && D;k foy d¢ vkèkkj ij ukekarj.k fd;k tk ldrk gS && vfookfnr ekey¨a esa] rglhynkj foy d¢ vkèkkj ij ukekarj.k dj ldrk gS && rFkkfi] mu ekey¨a esa Òh] ijorhZ flfoy okn dÒh oftZr ugÈ g¨xk && fookn dh fLFkfr esa] fookn mBkus okys O;fä d¨ flfoy U;k;ky; tkuk g¨xk && ;fn flfoy okn lafLFkr ugÈ fd;k tkrk] ;k lafLFkr fd, tkus d¢ ckotwn O;kns'k çnku ugÈ fd;k tkrk] rks jktLo çkfèkdkjh fookfnr foy dh mis{kk dj fookfnr ekeys dk fofu'p;u dj ldrs gSa && O;kns'k dh fLFkfr esa] dk;Zokgh yafcr j[kh tkuk g¨xh && funsZ'k dk mÙkj u esa fn;k x;kA

funsZ'k dk ç'u fuEukuqlkj gS%&

^^bl ckjs esa fd D;k rglhynkj jkT; ljdkj }kjk ukekarj.k d¢ lacaèk esa cuk, x, fu;e¨a vFkkZr~ eè;çns'k Òw&jktLo lafgrk ¼Òw&vfÒys[k¨a esa ukekarj.k½ fu;e] 2018 d¢ micaèk¨a ij fopkj fd, fcuk] iwoZ esa fn, x, fofu'p;¨a dh lgk;rk ls ukekarj.k d¢ vkosnu d¨ vkjaHk esa gh bl vkèkkj ij [kkfjt dj ldrk gS fd og ^foy^ ij vkèkkfjr gSA^^

vfHkfu/kkZfjr% iwoksZä foospu dh n`f"V ls] ge vius le{k çLrqr ç'u dk udkjkRed mRrj nsrs gSa fd rglhynkj ukekarj.k d¢ vkosnu d¨ vkjaHk esa gh bl vkèkkj ij [kkfjt ugÈ dj ldrk fd og ^foy^ ij vkèkkfjr gSA rFkkfi] gekjs }kjk mi;qZä dh xà foospuk dh n`f"V ls] gekjs fu"d"k¨Za d¨ Øe'k% fuEukuqlkj la{ksi esa çLrqr djuk mfpr g¨xk%&

¼1½ futh i{kdkj¨a d¢ eè; e-ç- Òw&jktLo lafgrk dh èkkjk 109 rFkk 110 d¢ vèkhu ukekarj.k d¢ ekey¨a esa fopkj djrs le; rglhynkj U;kf;d ;k vèkZ&Ukf;d dk;Z ugÈ djrk] cfYd d¢oy ç'kklfud dk;Z djrk gS v©j blfy,] og ukekarj.k d¢ vkosnu¨a ds fofu'p;u d¢ ç;kstu ds fy, lk{; ysus gsrq çkfèkÑr ugÈ gSA

¼2½ rglhynkj olh;r d¢ vkèkkj ij ukekarj.k d¢ vkosnu ij fopkjkFkZ xzg.k dj ldrk gS] rFkkfi mld¢ fy, e`rd d¢ fofèkd okfjlku¨a d¢ fo"k; esa tk¡p djuk v©j e-ç- Òw&jktLo lafgrk dh èkkjk 110 ¼4½ d¢ micaèk¨a d¢ n`f"Vd¨.k ls mUgsa lwpuki= nsuk vfuok;Z g¨xkA

¼3½ e-ç- Ã’w&jktLo lafgrk dh èkkjk 109] 110 rFkk 111 d¨ ,d lkFk iढ+k tkuk pkfg,A e-ç- Ã’w&jktLo lafgrk dh èkkjk 111 d¢ iढ+us ek= ls gh ;g fu"d"kZ fudyrk gS fd tgk¡ futh i{kdkj¨a d¢ vfèkdkj varoZfyr gSa] rc fookfnr ekey¨a dk fu.kZ; djuk d¢oy flfoy U;k;ky; dk dke g¨xkA jktLo vfÃ’ys[k¨a esa ukekarj.k d¢ ekey¨a esa jktLo çkfèkdkfj;¨a dh vfèkdkfjrk] ek= ç'kklfud gSA

¼4½ olh;r dh oSèkrk] olh;r fu"ikfnr djus d¢ fy, olh;rdrkZ dh l{kerk ;k olh;rdrkZ dh n¨ çfr}a}h olh;r¨a d¢ vfLrRo ;k ukekarj.k fu;e 2018 d¢ ç:i&1 esa mfYyf[kr volh;rh jftLVªhÑr 'kh"kZd nLrkost dh oSèkrk d¢ lacaèk esa fookn vfèkdkj¨a d¢ vfÒys[k esa vfÒfyf[kr fdlh Òh vfèkdkj ls lacafèkr fookn mRiUu g¨xk v©j ukekarj.k ;k çfof"V esa lqèkkj d¢ n©jku mRiUu g¨us okyk fookn ,slk fookn g¨xkA

¼5½ ;fn iSjk 4 esa mfYyf[kr d¨Ã fookn futh i{kdkj¨a d¢ eè; mBk;k tkrk gS] rc rglhynkj d¨ fookn dk fofu'p;u djus dh l{kerk ugÈ g¨xh v©j i{kdkj¨a d¨ mi;qZä iSjk&74 esa varfo"V foLr`r foospuk d¢ vuqlkj fookn dk fu.kZ; djkus d¢ fy, flfoy U;k;ky; dk njoktk [kV[kVkuk g¨xkA ,sls ekey¨a dk ;k r¨ fuiVkjk fd;k tk,xk ;k yafcr j[kk tk,xk v©j bl vkns'k esa foLr`r dh xà foospuk dh jhfr esa rglhynkj }kjk e-ç- Òw&jktLo lafgrk dh èkkjk 110 ¼7½ d¢ vuqlkj dysDVj d¨ fji¨VZ fd;k tk,xkA

¼6½ e-ç- Ã’w&jktLo lafgrk dh èkkjk 110 ¼4½ d¢ vèkhu fookfnr ekey¨a esa fu.kZ; djuk tSlk vuqè;kr gS] rglhynkj d¢ ,sls fookn dk fofu'p;u djus dk çkfèkdkj ugÈ nsrk v©j olh;r ;k volh;rh jftLVªh 'kh"kZd nLrkost dh çekf.kdrk esa tkdj flfoy U;k;ky; dh 'kfä;k¡ xzg.k djus dk çkfèkdkj ugÈ nsrk v©j ml ckgjh le; lhek d¨ d¢oy ;g fuèkkZfjr djus d¢ fy, iढ+k tkuk gS fd D;k ekeys esa d¨Ã fookn dk vfLrRo gS v©j i{kdkj¨a d¨ flfoy U;k;ky; esa tkus dk volj çnku fd;k x;k gSA ;fn flfoy U;k;ky; esa ugÈ tk;k tkrk gS v©j tkus d¢ ckotwn flfoy U;k;ky; }kjk O;kns'k çnku ugÈ fd;k tkrk gS] rc fookfnr olh;rh nLrkost d¨ utjvankt djrs gq, mÙkjkfèkdkj d¢ vkèkkj ij v©j volh;rh jftLVªhÑr 'kh"kZd nLrkost¨a d¢ ekey¨a esa ,sls nLrkost¨a d¨ çÒkoh djrs gq, ukekarj.k fd;k tk,xkA tc olh;rdrkZ dh l{kerk] olh;r dh oSèkrk ¼jftLVªhÑr g¨ ;k ugȽ ;k volh;rh jftLVªhÑr LoRo dk nLrkost ;k LoRo d¢ :i esa fookn flfoy U;k;ky; d¢ le{k mBk;k tkrk gS v©j O;kns'k fn;k tkrk gS] rc rglhynkj d¨ ,dek= jkLrk vfxze dk;Zokgh ugÈ djuk gS v©j e-ç- Ã’w&jktLo lafgrk dh èkkjk 110 ¼7½ d¢ vèkhu dysDVj d¨ ekeys dh fji¨VZ djuk g¨xkA

¼7½ ;fn olh;rdrkZ d¢ fdlh Òh okfjlku v©j fdlh vU; O;fä }kjk ekeys esa foy fu"ikfnr djus esa olh;rdrkZ dh l{kerk v©j foy dh çekf.kdrrk d¢ fo"k; esa d¨Ã fookn ugÈ mBk;k tkrk gS] rc rglhynkj d¨ ,sls vfookfnr ekey¨a esa ukekarj.k djuk [kqyk gSA fQj Òh] mu ekey¨a esa ckn esa Òh flfoy okn oftZr ugÈ gSA

¼8½ ukekarj.k d¢ ,sls ekey¨a esa tgk¡ ljdkj dk Òwfe dh Qly dk fgr g¨us dk ç'u mBrk gS r¨ rglhynkj ml ç'u d¨ e-ç- Òw&jktLo lafgrk dh èkkjk 111 d¢ lkFk ifBr èkkjk 257¼d½ d¢ fucaèku¨a d¢ vuqlkj ç'kklfud vfèkdkfjrk ls vfèkd O;kid vfèkdkfjrk d¨ ç;¨x dj ldrk gS v©j lk{; ys ldrk gS] ysfdu mu ekey¨a esa Òh] olh;r ;k fdlh jftLVªhÑr LoRo d¢ nLrkost dh oSèkrk d¢ fo"k; esa d¨Ã tkap rglhynkj d¢ le{k ugÈ g¨ ldrhA 2023¼1½ jk-fu- 243 ¼mPpre U;k-½ ¾ ¼2021½ ,llhlh vkWuykbu ,llh 802] ¼2007½ 6 ,llhlh 186] rFkk ¼1997½ 2 ,llhlh 387 foosfprA fjV ;kfpdk Ø- 16413@2024] fjV vihy Ø1466@2024] çdh.kZ ;kfpdk Ø- 6597@2019] ¼2013½ ,llhlh vkWuykbu ,eih 2724] fjV ;kfpdk Ø- 16920@2021 rFkk fjV ;kfpdk Ø- 9755@2021 fufnZ"VA ¼iSjk 74 ,oa 75

(1) Land Revenue Code, 1959 (M. P.) -- S. 164 -- devolution of interest -- person getting Bhumiswami right -- though may not be title but on his death, land will devolve on his own legal heirs. [Para 19

(2) Land Revenue Code, 1959 (M. P.) -- Ss. 109, 110 and 164 -- M. P. Bhu-Rajasva Sanhita (Bhu-Abhilekhon mein Namantran) Niyam, 2018 -- R. 3 Form 1, Part 4, Entry 2 -- application for mutation can be filed on basis of Will -- if mutation is made on basis of Will or any other manner then there is right to sell, mortgage, gift, exchange and partition land -- these all transactions can be performed by title holder of land -- it cannot be said that mutation entry would only be for fiscal purpose. [Para 28 & 31

(3) Land Revenue Code, 1959 (M. P.) -- S. 158 -- value of Bhumiswami rights -- Bhumiswami rights got by person in terms of section 158 -- he shall have all rights and be subject to all liabilities -- Bhumiswami rights are best rights -- upon mutation as Bhumiswami of land, he will enjoy all rights as narrated under Code of 1959 -- but it will be subject to certain restrictions as laid down in various provisions of Code -- the argument that mutation entries are purely for fiscal purpose, discarded -- mutation entry brings along other rights and interest in land -- most importantly the right to transfer land. [Para 31

(4) Land Revenue Code, 1959 (M. P.) -- Ss. 11, 30, 31 and 32 -- whether revenue Courts are "Court" or not -- not decided -- not within scope of question referred to Full Bench. [Para 34 & 35

(5) Land Revenue Code, 1959 (M. P.) -- S. 257 -- exclusive jurisdiction of revenue authorities -- left undecided -- nature of exclusivity is not a term of the reference. [Para 36

(6) Civil P. C., 1908 -- S. 9 -- jurisdiction -- civil Court has jurisdiction to try all suits of civil nature unless specifically barred -- exclusion of jurisdiction of civil Court not to be lightly inferred. (2003) 6 SCC 151, (2002) 5 SCC 510 and (2003) 6 SCC 220 referred to. [Para 39

(7) Land Revenue Code, 1959 (M. P.) -- Ss. 111, 109, 110 and 257(a) -- mutation proceedings -- wherever rights of private parties are involved, in case of any dispute about Will or registered document, revenue officers and revenue Courts have no jurisdiction -- parties would be at liberty to go to civil Court to have disputes adjudicated -- where issue of Government interest in land crops up in course of mutation, Tahsildar can decide the question in terms of section 111 read with section 257(a). [Paras 40 to 42

(8) Land Revenue Code, 1959 (M. P.) -- Ss. 110(4) and 111 -- whether mutation can be made on basis of Will -- in all disputed cases, Tahsildar would have no right to carry out mutation on basis of Will -- for mutation on basis of Will in disputed cases, he will have to wait till dispute is adjudicated by civil Court. (2007) 6 SCC 186 and (2021) SCC Online SC 802 referred to. [Paras 44 & 46

(9) Succession Act, 1925 -- Ss. 272 and 278 -- probate and letter of administration -- where required -- not essential in State of M. P. -- probate is optional -- probate is not barred in these territories. 1998 ILR MP 689 and (2020) 14 SCC 102 referred to. [Para 49

(10) Succession Act, 1925 -- S. 63(c) -- Evidence Act, 1872 -- Ss. 68 and 63 -- Will -- requirements -- Will must be attested by witnesses -- must be proved by evidence of at least one attesting witness -- burden of proof is upon propounder of Will. (2017) 1 SCC 257, (2021) 11 SCC 277, (2015) 8 SCC 615 and AIR 1959 SC 443 followed. [Paras 51, 60 & 61

(11) Will -- burden and manner of proof -- onus is on propounder of Will -- he must prove by examining at least one attesting witness that Will was genuine -- mental status, willingness and understanding of testator also must be proved -- all these findings obviously cannot be given by revenue authorities. (1974) 2 SCC 600, AIR 1960 SC 1332 and (2022) 3 SCC 209 followed. [Paras 60 to 65

(12) Land Revenue Code, 1959 (M. P.) -- Ss. 109, 110 and 164 -- whether mutation can be made on basis of Will -- in undisputed cases, Tahsildar can carry out mutation on basis of Will -- however, in those cases also, subsequent civil suit will never be barred -- in case of dispute, the person raising dispute will be required to approach civil Court -- if civil suit is not instituted or despite institution, no injunction is granted, then revenue authorities may decide disputed case by ignoring disputed Will -- in case of injunction, proceedings will have to be kept pending -- question of reference answered in negative.

Question of reference is as under:--

“As to whether Tehsildar can reject the application of mutation at threshold on the ground that it is based upon 'Will', taking aid from the decisions previously rendered without considering the provisions of rules viz. Madhya Pradesh BhuRajasva Sanhita (Bhu-Abhilekhon Mein Namantaran) Niyam, 2018 framed by the State Government vis-a-vis mutation.†[Para 1

Held : In view of the aforesaid discussion, we answer the question referred to us in the negative and hold that Tehsildar cannot reject the application for mutation at threshold on the ground that it is based upon Will. However, in view of detailed discussion made by us above, it would be appropriate to summarize our conclusions serially as under:--

1) The Tehsildar, while dealing with cases of mutation under sections 109 and 110, MPLRC between private parties, does not perform judicial or quasi-judicial functions, but only performs administrative functions and therefore, he is not authorized to take any evidence for the purpose of deciding applications for mutation.

2) The Tehsildar can entertain application for mutation on the basis of Will. However, it would be obligatory upon him to enquire about the legal heirs of the deceased and notice them in view of provisions of section 110(4) MPLRC.

3) Sections 109 and 110 have to be read along with section 111, MPLRC and a bare reading of section 111 of MPLRC leads to conclusion that whereever rights of private parties are involved, then it will only be for the civil Court to adjudicate the disputed cases. The jurisdiction of the revenue officers in the matters of mutation in revenue records, is merely administrative.

4) A dispute as to validity of Will, competence of testator to execute Will or existence of two rival Wills of testator, or a dispute as to validity of any other nontestamentary registered title document as enumerated in Form-1 of Mutation Rules of 2018 would create a dispute relating to any right which is recorded in the record of rights and arising during either mutation or correction of entry would be such a dispute.

5) In case any dispute as mentioned in para (4) above is raised between private parties, then the Tehsildar would not have any competence to decide the dispute and it would be for the parties to approach the civil Court to get the dispute adjudicated, in terms of detailed discussion contained in para-74 above. Such matters will either be disposed or kept pending and reported to the Collector in terms of section 110(7) MPLRC by the Tehsildar, in the manner discussed in detail in this order.

6) The decision in disputed cases as contemplated under section 110(4), MPLRC does not give any authority to the Tehsildar to decide such dispute and assume powers of civil Court by going into the authenticity of Will or of any nontestamentary registered title document and that outer time-limit has to be read only to determine whether a dispute exists in the matter and granting opportunity to parties to approach the civil Court. If such approach to civil Court is not made or despite approach, no injunction is granted by civil Court, then mutation will be carried out on basis of succession by ignoring disputed testamentary document and in case of non-testamentary registered title documents, by giving effect to such document. Once a dispute in the matter of competence of testator, validity of the Will (whether registered or not) or into a non-testamentary registered title document or dispute as to title is raised before civil Court and injunction is granted, then the only course open for the Tehsildar would be not to proceed further and to report the matter to the Collector under section 110(7) of MPLRC.

7) In case no dispute is raised by any legal heirs of the testator or by any other person in the matter of competence of testator to execute the Will and authenticity of the Will, then it would be open for the Tehsildar to carry out the mutation in such undisputed cases. However, even in those cases, subsequent civil Suit will not be barred.

8) In case where issue of Government having interest in the land crops up in course of mutation, then the Tehsildar may decide that question in terms of section 111 read with section 257(a), MPLRC by exercising jurisdiction which is wider than administrative one and may take evidence, but in those cases also, no enquiry as to validity of Will or of any registered title document can take place before the Tehsildar. 2023 (1) RN 243 (SC) = (2021) SCC Online SC 802, (2007) 6 SCC 186 and (1997) 2 SCC 387 discussed. W. P. No. 16413 of 2024, W. A. No. 1466 of 2024, M. P. No. 6597 of 2019, (2013) SCC Online MP 2724, W. P. No. 16920 of 2021 and W. P. No. 9755 of 2021 referred to. [Paras 74 & 75