Judgement Appeal (No. 77 of 1934) from a decree of the Chief Court (April 7, 1932) which had affirmed a decree of the Subordinate Judge of Rai Bareli (November 15, 1930). The suit out of which this appeal arose was brought by the present appellants, Rai Bajrang Bahadur Singh and Rai Mahipal Singh, and two other persons, on February 20, 1930, against 69 defendants, of whom defendant No. 69 was made a pro forma defendant as a person having the same interest as the plaintiffs. The relief sought was a declaration that the appellants, their co-plaintiffs and defendant No. 69 were the superior proprietors, and not the inferior proprietors, of a number of plots of land situated in the village of Nain, of Pargana Salon, in the district of Rai Bareli. The appellants case was that their ancestors and those of their co-plaintiffs and of defendant No. 69 were always in possession of the disputed plots as superior proprietors, that some interference with their rights by the predecessors of defendants Nos. 1—68 had led to a suit being brought for a declaration of their rights, which was granted by the Court on April 17, 1876, and that thereafter the ancestors of the plaintiffs and of defendant No. 69, and after them the appellants themselves, their co-plaintiffs and defendant No. 69 were in possession of the plots continuously as superior proprietors, though by mistake they were recorded in the Revenue papers as under-proprietors; that in 1906 the village Nain was partitioned and five mahals created, and the disputed plots were distributed throughout the five mahals, and were recorded wrongly as the under-proprietary tenure of the appellants and others; that, taking advantage of the wrong entry, some of the co-sharers of the five mahals, including some of the present respondents, filed suits for assessment of rent on the under-proprietors, which suits were decreed on June 25, 1929. The present suit was contested by seven defendants, but the only defendant now appearing before the Judicial Committee was respondent No. 3, Thakurain Chhabinath Kuar. The defendants denied that the appellants had any title as superior proprietors in the particular plots of land in dispute. The present suit was contested by seven defendants, but the only defendant now appearing before the Judicial Committee was respondent No. 3, Thakurain Chhabinath Kuar. The defendants denied that the appellants had any title as superior proprietors in the particular plots of land in dispute. They pleaded (inter alia) that the appellants could not maintain the suit inasmuch as they had not claimed superior proprietary rights during the partition proceedings or at the time when the Settlement Khewats were being prepared, and that in any event the suit was barred by s. 233 (k) of the Land Revenue Act (U. P. Act III. of 1901). The facts and the relevant statutory provisions appear from the judgment of the Judicial Committee. The Subordinate Judge held (inter alia) that s. 233 (k) of the Land Revenue Act, 1901, barred the plaintiffs suit, which was accordingly dismissed. The plaintiffs appealed to the Chief Court of Oudh (Wazir Hasan C.J. and Kisch J.) who referred the Law. Rep. 65 Ind. App. 314 ( 1937- 1938) Rai Bajrang Bahadur Singh V. Rai Beni Madho Bakhsh Singh 104 following questions for decision by a Full Bench (1.) Is the relief of declaration prayed for by the plaintiffs in the present suit barred by the provisions of cl. (k) of s. 233 of the Land Revenue Act, 1901, by virtue of partitions of 1906 and 1910 ? (2.) Is the jurisdiction of the Collector to act under cl. (c) of s. 111, sub-s. 1, of the Land Revenue Act, 1901, ousted when the question of proprietary title alleged to have been decided by him in the partition proceedings mentioned above had already been determined by a Court of competent jurisdiction ? The Full Bench (Wazir Hasan C. J., Raza and Srivastava JJ.) agreed that the first question should be answered in the affirmative and the second in the negative, and thereupon the Chief Justice and Kisch J., following the decision of the Full Bench, dismissed the appeal. The appeal is reported at ( 1932) I. L. R. 7 Luck. 716. 1938. May 2, 3. Wallach for respondent No. 3, took a preliminary objection to the competency of the appeal. The appeal is reported at ( 1932) I. L. R. 7 Luck. 716. 1938. May 2, 3. Wallach for respondent No. 3, took a preliminary objection to the competency of the appeal. At the time when leave was granted by the High Court the amount involved on appeal to the Judicial Committee exceeded Rs.10,000, but in consequence of certain compromises which were entered into before the certificate was granted the amount in dispute on appeal to the Judicial Committee had been reduced to below Rs.10,000, and therefore s. no of the Code of Civil Procedure did not apply. The High Court also gave leave to appeal under s. 109 (c) of the Code, but it is submitted that there was no important question of law involved in which either a public or any private party was interested Radhakrishna Ayyar v. Swaminatha Ayyar (( 1920) L. R. 48 I. A. 3,1, 32.). H. W. Williams for the appellants. The main point in the appeal is the interpretation of s. 233 (k) of the Act of 1901. The appellants were not in a position to make any objection of the nature contemplated by s. III of the Act, for their case is that the question of title had already been decided in 1876 by a Court of competent jurisdiction. The appellants find it difficult to dispute the interpretation which has been placed on the words "with respect to partition" by the majority decision of the Court below; but the effect of the decision under appeal is that a title declared to rest in the appellants by a competent Court has been disturbed by a Revenue Court which had no jurisdiction to disturb it. It is submitted that the Revenue Court in the partition proceedings was not competent to adjudicate on a question of title inasmuch as the Court was not acting under s. in. The suit is not barred by the provisions of s. 233 (k) or on any other ground. It is submitted that the Revenue Court in the partition proceedings was not competent to adjudicate on a question of title inasmuch as the Court was not acting under s. in. The suit is not barred by the provisions of s. 233 (k) or on any other ground. [On the meaning of "with respect to partition " reference was made to Shambhu Singh v. Daljit Singh (( 1916) I. L. R. 38 A. 243,248.); Kalka Prasad v. Manmohan Lal (( 1916) I. L. R. 38 A. 302, 309.); and Bijai Misir v. Kali Prasad Misir (( 1917) I. L. R. 39 A. 469.).] Wallach, who was only called upon on the question of certain agreements of compromise entered into between the appellants and three sets of respondents since this appeal was brought, said that he did not object to any order the Board might make provided that his clients were not prejudiced thereby. May 27. The judgment of their Lordships was delivered by SIR GEORGE RANKIN. The question for determination in this case relates to partition proceedings which from October 3, 1903, to July 1, 1907, took place under the United Provinces Land Revenue Act (UJP. Act III. of 1901) in respect of a village called Nain, situate in Pargana Salon, in the district of Rai Bareli in Oudh. The question has been described by the Chief Court of Oudh as of imprtance, and judicial opinion in the United Provinces has for many years been divided upon the principle to be applied. The suit out of which the present appeal arises was brought in the Court of the Subordinate Judge of Rai Bareli by the two appellants, together with two other persons, on February 20, 1930, against 68 persons interested in the lands of the village; defendant No. 69 being joined pro forma as a person having the same interest as the plaintiffs. The relief claimed by the plaint was a declaration that the Law. Rep. 65 Ind. App. 314 ( 1937- 1938) Rai Bajrang Bahadur Singh V. Rai Beni Madho Bakhsh Singh 105 plaintiffs and defendant No. 69 were superior proprietors, as distinct from under-proprietors, of various plots of land specified in list A attached to the plaint. The aggregate area of these plots is about 71 bighas; they are not contiguous, but are scattered throughout the various parts of the village. The aggregate area of these plots is about 71 bighas; they are not contiguous, but are scattered throughout the various parts of the village. By reason of certain compromises entered into pending this appeal to His Majesty, there remain in controversy only five plots, with a total area of 5 bighas 7 biswas 16 biswansis, and the respondent No. 3, Thakurain Chhabinath Kuar (the third defendant), is the only contesting respondent. She is one of the two widows of one Rai Chait Narain Singh, her co-widow being Musammat Soet Raj Kuar At the time when partition proceedings, as already mentioned, were begun in 1903, the plaintiffs were recorded as having only under-proprietary right in these five plots. As a result of the partition, these plots were included in the revenue-paying unit or "mahal," comprising 164 bighas, which was given the name of Rai Chait Narain Singh, and assessed as at annual revenue of Rs.51. The plaintiffs were recorded as having an under-proprietary interest therein, but as holding them rent free. The superior interest was recorded as belonging to Rai Chait Narain Singh and another. It now stands in the names of his two widows, who hold as limited owners under the Hindu law. Musammat Soet Raj Kuar, by registered deed, dated September 20, 1933, has compromised with the appellants on terms which purport to agree that the latter be recorded as the superior proprietors, that they shall get revenue thereon separately assessed, and that she shall not be liable for the payment of such revenue. At the trial of the suit the learned Subordinate Judge found against the plaintiffs on the issue as to their title to the superior right in the suit lands. He also held that their suit was bad as being one to disturb the partition of 1906, and as contrary to s. 233 (k) of the Act of 1901. The Division Bench of the Chief Court, on appeal, referred to a Full Bench two questions— 1. Is the relief of declaration prayed for by the plaintiffs in the present suit barred by the provisions of cl. (k) of s. 233 of the Land Revenue Act, 1901, by virtue of partitions of 1906 and 1910 ? 2. Is the jurisdiction of the Collector to act under cl. Is the relief of declaration prayed for by the plaintiffs in the present suit barred by the provisions of cl. (k) of s. 233 of the Land Revenue Act, 1901, by virtue of partitions of 1906 and 1910 ? 2. Is the jurisdiction of the Collector to act under cl. (c) of s. in, sub-s. 1 of the Land Revenue Act, 1901, ousted when the question of proprietary title alleged to have been decided by him in the partition proceedings mentioned above had already been determined by a Court of competent jurisdiction ? The Full Bench (March 10, 1932), having answered the first question in the affirmative and the second in the negative,- the Division Bench, on April 7, 1932, dismissed the appeal. From this decree the present appeal has been brought pursuant to a certificate granted on September 21, 1932, by the Chief Court that the case complies with the requirements of s. no and is also fit for appeal to His Majesty under cl. (c) of s. 109 of the Civil Procedure Code. It has been contended for respondent No. 3 (hereinafter called the respondent) that the amount or value of the subject-matter in dispute on this appeal had been reduced to less than Rs.10,000 by compromise with certain of the defendants, effected after the date of the certificate but before December 12, 1932, when the appeal was finally admitted, and that the appeal had become incompetent accordingly. Their Lordships are far from holding that this contention would have prevailed apart from the certificate as to fitness under cl. (c) of s. 109, but in view of the express reference to that clause in the judgment of the Chief Court they think that the objection must clearly be over-ruled. The second of the two questions referred to the Full Bench was apparently propounded in the interest of the plaintiffs. Before their Lordships the negative answer given to it by the Full Bench has not been contested in argument, but it is, in any view, unnecessary that their Lordships should give any decision thereupon. Law. Rep. 65 Ind. App. 314 ( 1937- 1938) Rai Bajrang Bahadur Singh V. Rai Beni Madho Bakhsh Singh 106 As the sole question for decision on this appeal is whether the suit is barred by cl. Law. Rep. 65 Ind. App. 314 ( 1937- 1938) Rai Bajrang Bahadur Singh V. Rai Beni Madho Bakhsh Singh 106 As the sole question for decision on this appeal is whether the suit is barred by cl. (k) of s. 233 of the Act of 1901, it is necessary to consider in relation to that clause the nature and effect of partition proceedings taken under chapter VII. of the Act, to examine the circumstances in which the plaintiffs claim to be entitled to relief, and to ascertain the results which would follow from the grant of the relief claimed. Sect. 233, upon which the present case turns, constitutes Part B of chapter XI. of the Act. The subject-matter of the chapter is described as "Miscellaneous,” and that of Part B as "Jurisdiction of Civil Courts" or, as given in the margin of the section, "Matters excepted from cognisance of Civil "Courts.” These matters are stated in thirteen clauses (a) to (m), of which the most important for the present case is (k). “233. No person shall institute any suit or other proceeding in the Civil Court with respect to any of the following matters "(k) partition or union of mahals except as provided in "sections 111 and 112." Other matters excepted from the cognizance of Civil Courts by the section are the liability of any land, not excepted under s. 58, to be assessed to revenue; the claim of any person to engage for the payment of revenue; the amount of revenue assessed on any mahal or portion of a mahal; the amount to be paid to a proprietor by an inferior proprietor when that amount has been fixed by the Settlement Officer; claims connected with or arising out of the collection of revenue. The words "partition or union of mahals " which appear in el. (k) appear earlier in the Act as the heading to chapter VII. They had stood at the head of the corresponding provisions of the previous Acts (XIX. of 1873 and XVII. of 1876). The usual meaning of mahal is that given in cl. (a) of s. 4—"any local area held under a separate engagement for the payment "of land revenue " Though the definition includes (cl. They had stood at the head of the corresponding provisions of the previous Acts (XIX. of 1873 and XVII. of 1876). The usual meaning of mahal is that given in cl. (a) of s. 4—"any local area held under a separate engagement for the payment "of land revenue " Though the definition includes (cl. (b)) "any revenue-free area for which a separate record of rights "has been framed,” and certain other cases mentioned in the section, the root idea is unit of area for revenue purposes. In chapter VII. the Act does not provide any special definition of "union of mahals,” which is a simple matter dealt with by ss. 139 and 140. But it is otherwise with "partition,” which is defined by s. 106— " 106. Partition means the division of a mahal or of a part of a mahal into two or more portions, each consisting of one or more shares. "In imperfect partition the several portions remain jointly responsible for the revenue assessed on the whole mahal. "In perfect partition the whole mahal is divided and the several portions become separate mahals, each severally responsible for the revenue distributed thereon. "The procedure prescribed in this Chapter shall be followed "in all partitions, whether imperfect or perfect, except where "it is otherwise expressly declared." The chapter provides that an application for partition may be presented by one, or jointly by two or more, of the recorded co-sharers of a mahal (s. 107), but that the Collector may at any stage stay the partition and order the proceedings to be quashed (s. 109). On receiving an application, the Collector is to issue a proclamation to all the other recorded co-sharers to appear and state their objections, if any, Law. Rep. 65 Ind. App. 314 ( 1937- 1938) Rai Bajrang Bahadur Singh V. Rai Beni Madho Bakhsh Singh 107 to the partition; any other recorded co-sharer may join in applying for partition (s. no). On receiving an application, the Collector is to issue a proclamation to all the other recorded co-sharers to appear and state their objections, if any, Law. Rep. 65 Ind. App. 314 ( 1937- 1938) Rai Bajrang Bahadur Singh V. Rai Beni Madho Bakhsh Singh 107 to the partition; any other recorded co-sharer may join in applying for partition (s. no). If the partition is not to be made by the parties themselves, or by arbitrators, but by the Collector or an Assistant Collector, a partition proceeding (tarz-i-taqsim) is to be drawn up declaring the nature and extent of the interests of the persons applying for the partition and of any other persons who may be affected thereby, detailing how partition is to be made, and deciding all disputed questions that may have arisen in connection therewith (s. 114). This proceeding bears some analogy to what in a suit before a Civil Court would be called a preliminary decree for partition. It is prior to this stage that ss. 111 and 112—both of which are mentioned in cl. (k) of s. 233—apply to the case, and enable an objection by a recorded co-sharer involving a question of proprietary title to come before a Civil Court at first instance or on appeal if it has not already done so, "III.—(1.) If, on or before the day so fixed, any objection is "made by a recorded co-sharer, involving a question of pro prietary title which has not been already determined by a "Court of competent jurisdiction, the Collector may either— "(a) decline to grant the application until the question in dispute has been determined by a competent Court, or "(b) require any party to the case to institute within three months a suit in the Civil Court for the determination of such question, or “(c) proceed to inquire into the merits of the objection. "(2.) When the proceedings have been postponed under "cl. (b)} if such party fails to comply with the requisition, the "Collector shall decide the question against him. If he institutes the suit the Collector shall deal with the case in "accordance with the decision of the Civil Court. "(3.) If the Collector decides to inquire into the merits of the "objection, he shall follow the procedure laid down in the Code "of Civil Procedure for the trial of original suits.” "112. If he institutes the suit the Collector shall deal with the case in "accordance with the decision of the Civil Court. "(3.) If the Collector decides to inquire into the merits of the "objection, he shall follow the procedure laid down in the Code "of Civil Procedure for the trial of original suits.” "112. All decrees passed under sub-s. (3.) of the preceding "section shall be held to be decrees of a Court of civil judicature "of the first instance, and shall be open to appeal to the "District Judge or High Court or the Judicial Commissioner, "as the case may be, under the rules applicable to appeals to "those Courts, and the Appellate Court may issue a precept "to the Collector, desiring him to stay the partition pending "the decision of the appeal." The remaining sections of chapter VII. contain many pro visions as to the principles to govern the division of the land into different portions to be allotted to the various sharers— a matter which in cases of perfect partition affects the revenue directly. These sections cover such matters as lands already held by a co-sharer in severalty, buildings of one sharer on the land allotted to another, garden lands, wells, and so forth. They provide that, if the holding of any tenant is divided, the rent is to be apportioned, and in all cases the revenue of the mahal is to be distributed over the several portions (ss. 129, 130). There is provision for appeals from the Assistant Collector to the Collector, and for appeals to the Commissioner from the Collectors orders on a partition proceeding or disallowing partition. Sect. 131 is important— "131. A partition shall not be complete until the Collector has passed an order confirming it. "When the partition has been confirmed, the Collector shall issue a proclaation thereof, and the partition shall take effect from the first day of July next following the date of such proclamation." Law. Rep. 65 Ind. App. 314 ( 1937- 1938) Rai Bajrang Bahadur Singh V. Rai Beni Madho Bakhsh Singh 108 In the present case the provisions of chapter VII were applied to the village of Nain. They began with an application (s. 107) on October 3, 1903, by certain co-sharers of the village for a perfect partition to be made of the lands of the village, which at that time was a single mahal. They began with an application (s. 107) on October 3, 1903, by certain co-sharers of the village for a perfect partition to be made of the lands of the village, which at that time was a single mahal. Proclamation was duly made calling upon the other co-sharers to appear and state objections, if any (s. no). The plaintiffs-appellants were recorded as co-sharers of the village apart altogether from their interest in any of the plots in suit. As such they received due notice of the application for partition, and on March 12, 1904, they filed an application in respect of their recorded interest as superior proprietors, agreeing to partition (s. no, sub-s. 2), but asking that their interest be included in a particular mahal. With reference to the plots in suit the plaintiffs were recorded as under-proprietors, and not as having the superior right; though their claim now is that they were entitled to the superior interest and that the record was erroneous. They say that in 1876 their right had been established by the decree of a Civil Court, but they have to admit that in 1903 the record was against them. They made no claim to the superior interest in these plots, or any of them, in the course of the partition proceedings. Their interest in the plots in suit was treated as a rent-free but under-proprietary interest, with the result that by the partition their interest in the village lands as superior proprietors was included in one mahal while the five plots now in dispute were included in another, the plaintiffs being shown as under-proprietors in the Khewat of under-proprietors of that mahal. The village was divided into five mahals, the fifth being a residuary mahal comprising the lands of those who did not seek partition. The partition proceeding (s. 114) was approved by the Collector on September 16, 1904, and the partition was confirmed on September 28, 1906, with effect from July 1, 1907 (s. 131). The various plots originally claimed by the plaint were distributed over all five of the new mahals; the five plots still in controversy were included in the second, which was given the name of Rai Chait Narain Singh. As representing a 1 anna 5 pie share in the village this mahal included 164 bighas, and was assessed to revenue at Rs.51. As representing a 1 anna 5 pie share in the village this mahal included 164 bighas, and was assessed to revenue at Rs.51. No objection or appeal was taken by the plaintiffs at any time between 1903 and 1907. In 1909 imperfect partitions of the residuary mahal was carried out, but as the five plots now in dispute were not in that mahal it need not be further referred to. The plaintiffs remained in possession of the suit lands as of old, paying neither revenue nor rent, till 1929. In that year proceedings under s. 107 of the Oudh Rent Act (XXII. of 1886) were taken against them before the Assistant Record Officer by the pro prietors of different mahals, including the mahal Rai Chait Narain Singh. On June 25th, 1929, the Assistant Record Officer assessed them to rent notwithstanding their claim to be proprietors—a claim then set up, so far as appears, for the first time since some date before 1903. The plaintiffs, on February 20, 1930, filed the present suit for a declaration that they are the superior proprietors of the lands specified in the plaint, and not inferior proprietors. If the plaintiffs be granted the relief claimed, it is plain that the result of the partition of 1903-7 will be substantially altered. All the Courts in India are agreed as to this. It is no answer to say that the plaintiffs could be declared to be joint proprietors of a mahal along with the persons to whom it was allotted at the partition. Such a declaration would produce a result contrary to the very purpose of the applicants for partition—namely, to separate their shares, and a highly unjust result, in respect that failure by the plaintiffs to pay their share of revenue would compel the present proprietors to pay it in order to avoid a sale of the entire mahal. That alone would convert the partition of 1906 into something which was not intended by the Collector, or by any party thereto, and which might well be intolerable. But the declaration would also mean a reduction in the assets of the mahal and a disturbance of the arrangements for the payment of the revenue, and, indeed, an extensive disturbance, if the original plaint with its 68 defendants be regarded. But the declaration would also mean a reduction in the assets of the mahal and a disturbance of the arrangements for the payment of the revenue, and, indeed, an extensive disturbance, if the original plaint with its 68 defendants be regarded. All the Courts in India—the Assistant Record Officer in the rent case, and the judges in the trial Court and Chief Court—have been satisfied that the plaintiffs suit is in these circumstances barred by virtue of the partition of 1906, but the judgments in the Chief Court disclose a difference of opinion as to the Law. Rep. 65 Ind. App. 314 ( 1937- 1938) Rai Bajrang Bahadur Singh V. Rai Beni Madho Bakhsh Singh 109 principle applicable under the Act of 1901 to the case. Though the first question referred to the Full Bench had reference to cl. (k) of s. 233, the learned Chief Judge answered it by saying that the suit was barred by virtue of the previous partitions but not by the provisions of cl. (k). He considered that it was barred by the general principle of res judicata, the Collector being regarded by him as a Court of exclusive jurisdiction. The other members of the Full Bench held that the suit was barred by cl. (k), but that the principle of res judicata did not apply. This difference of opinion is but the reflection of a divergence in the previous authorities; the matter seems, indeed, to have been constantly before the Courts in Agra and in Oudh; from time to time it has appeared to be settled, only to become unsettled by subsequent decisions. With all respect to the learned judges in Ram Rekha Misra v. Lallu Misra (( 1931) I. L. R. 53 A. 568.), their Lordships think that to approach the construction of s. 233 of the Act by first forming a view upon the disputable question of res judicata is a mistake in method Upon an independent examination of the provisions of the Act of 1901 their Lordships have arrived at the same con struction as was put upon the previous Act (XIX. of 1873) by the Full Bench of the High Court at Allahabad in Muhammad Sadiq v. Laute Ram (( 1901) I. L. R. 23 A. 291.), and upon the present Act by Banerji and Tudball JJ. of 1873) by the Full Bench of the High Court at Allahabad in Muhammad Sadiq v. Laute Ram (( 1901) I. L. R. 23 A. 291.), and upon the present Act by Banerji and Tudball JJ. in Bijai Misir v. Kali Prasad Misir (( 1917) I. L. R. 39 A. 469.). If a question of title affecting the partition which might have been raised in the partition proceedings is not so raised, and the partition is completed, s. 233 (k), in their Lordships opinion, debars parties to the partition from raising the question subsequently in a Civil Court, This proposition is wide enough to cover the present case, and it is unnecessary to consider whether it might not be framed more widely. As was well said by Strachey C.J. in the former case (( 1901) I. L. R. 23 A. 300.)— The Legislature intended to give to co-sharers raising questions of title a limited opportunity and a limited time for having such questions determined by a Civil Court, and in effect provided that such questions might only be so determined if raised at such a time as to avoid the inconvenience...arising where interference with an actually completed distribution is sought." As against this view of s. 233, cl. (k), there is the narrower interpretation to be collected from the dissenting judgment of Richards C.J. in Bijai Misir v. Kali Prasad Misir (2) and the judgment of Bennet J. in Ram Rekha Misra v. Lallu Misra (( 1931) I. L. R. 53 A. 568.). Proceeding upon the basis that partition means the opposite of union of mahals, Richards C.J. considered that these words refer to units of area which the revenue authorities create in the course of partition proceedings. He did not agree that the expression partition means, or includes, the actual division as between the parties and the determination of their title (( 1917) I. L. R. 39 A. 475-6.)—"If the plaintiff in this suit was successful, the "property would remain in the same unit in which it was "placed by the Revenue Court, notwithstanding the plaintiffs "decree for possession. The unit would not be affected, though the ownership of the property in it would be ....If the legislature intended to prevent questions of title being re-opened after partition, it would have been simpler, fairer, and less calculated to do injustice if the rules of res judicata as laid down in the Code of Civil Procedure had been incorporated." The narrower view of s. 233 (k) was thus expressed by Bennet J. (( 1931) I. L. R. 53 A. 576.)— "That section only bars suits which would alter the partition "in regard to the amount of shares in any mahal or subdivision of a mahal . . . We consider that this view of s. 233 " (k) is the correct view and that no advantage accrues from "adding an additional interpretation of s. 233 (k) in the wider "sense to make it co-extensive with the rule of res judicata." In the present case the learned Chief Judge presiding over the Full Bench rested his view that cl. (k) Law. Rep. 65 Ind. App. 314 ( 1937- 1938) Rai Bajrang Bahadur Singh V. Rai Beni Madho Bakhsh Singh 110 did not bar the plaintiffs suit upon the definition of "partition " contained in s. 106 of the Act (( 1932) I. L. R. 7 Luck . 724.)—" As already stated, partition, according to s. 106, means the division of a mahal or a part of a mahal "into two or more portions, each consisting of one or more "shares. I feel no difficulty in saying that having regard to "the defined sense of the word ‘partition’ the present suit is "not a suit with respect to partition." Their Lordships think this line of reasoning to be unsound, and that the phrase "partition and union of mahals" refers to a process regulated by chapter VII. of the Act, and the result thereof, which is given statutory effect. The words occur at the head of the chapter as a statement of its subject-matter. Definitions may be more or less successful, and it is not always safe to take an abstract word in its most abstract sense. For the purposes of the Act it is not possible to say on the strength of the definition that "partition" means nothing more than the re-arrangement of the land into units of area. Definitions may be more or less successful, and it is not always safe to take an abstract word in its most abstract sense. For the purposes of the Act it is not possible to say on the strength of the definition that "partition" means nothing more than the re-arrangement of the land into units of area. It imports and includes that rights in these units are distributed among the sharers. This, indeed, in the case of imperfect partition, is the main feature, and almost the whole of the operation. The amount of revenue imposed depends upon the "unit"—that is, the amount of land brought under one assessment, this depends mainly upon the person or persons interested and their relations with one another. When s. 106 states that a mahal is divided into "two or more portions, "each consisting of one or more shares,” it refers to distribution among the sharers according to their rights—not merely to a division of the land into units of area. An " application for "partition " (s. 107), is surely an application for a change to be made in the form or method in which the applicants interest is held; to have a certain amount of land allotted to the applicant in severalty, and in such wise that he shall be responsible for such revenue only as is attributable to his own land. When s. 114 speaks of the partition proceeding "detailing how the partition is to be made, and deciding all disputed "questions that may have arisen in connection therewith," it surely refers to the principles upon which the various portions are to be allotted—not merely the principles on which their size and position is to be determined. Sect. 118 and the following sections are clear to this effect. But s. 233, cl. (k), itself contains words which show that partition is not used in that clause in the narrow sense of mere arrangement into units of area. The words "except as provided in ss. 111 and 112 " are inconsistent with the construction contended for. These sections provide means whereby objections involving a question of proprietary title can be brought before the Civil Courts. The words "except as provided in ss. 111 and 112 " are inconsistent with the construction contended for. These sections provide means whereby objections involving a question of proprietary title can be brought before the Civil Courts. The exception is made in their favour by cl (k) because otherwise the sections would conflict with the clause —that is because suits raising questions of proprietary title are hit by the prohibition against instituting suits with respect to partition of mahals. The exception makes it exceedingly difficult to maintain that the only thing excluded from the cognizance of the Civil Court by cl. (k) is the schematic arrange ment of the land into units of area, and that no question of proprietary right comes within the prohibition of access to the Civil Court. This is not a new point; it was before the Court in Bijai Misir v. Kali Prasad Misir (( 1917) I. L. R. 39 A. 469.) and is referred to by Richards C.J. (Ibid. 476.)—"It is said that the words except as provided by sections 111 and 112 show that the expression partition means or at least includes the actual division as between the parties and the determination of their title. "It may possibly be that the framers of the section hoped the "introduction of these words would prevent subsequent "questions of title being raised. Another explanation might "be to obviate some contradiction or inconsistency between "ss. 111-112, and s. 233 (k)." This passage shows that the argument was appreciated; but, in their Lordships1 opinion, it was not answered. Moreover, in order to provide that a Civil Court dealing in the ordinary course with titles to land should not make any order which would alter the "units of area," it seems to be at once ineffective and excessive to enact that no person shall institute in the Civil Court any suit with respect to partition. In order to divide a mahal into shares, which is the meaning of partition as defined by s. 106, a number of important steps have to be taken to arrive at a result effective in accordance with s. 131. These steps are detailed in the intervening sections. A suit is brought with respect to the partition if it is Law. Rep. 65 Ind. App. These steps are detailed in the intervening sections. A suit is brought with respect to the partition if it is Law. Rep. 65 Ind. App. 314 ( 1937- 1938) Rai Bajrang Bahadur Singh V. Rai Beni Madho Bakhsh Singh 111 brought to impugn the distribution which by partition has been effected under the Act. The question of res judicata has been much considered in connection with s. 233 (k), and in the present case, though no question was referred to the Full Bench as to res judicata, the learned Chief Judge based his decision entirely upon that ground. What the position would be in such a case as the present apart from any special statutory provision is a difficult question and one not to be lightly decided; but their Lordships agree with Srivastava and Raza JJ., the other members of the Full Bench, in holding that the principle of res judicata would not apply where, as in the present case, no objection was made under 5. Ill with the result that ss. 111 and 112 did not come into operation. In such a case the partition proceeds upon the entries in the Khewat; the Collector does not function as a Civil Court, and does not have in that or any other capacity to decide as to its correctness expressly or implicitly. To hold that the right to a decision from the Civil Court is ousted by the mere fact that the Collector proceeded upon the footing of the record is not, in their Lordships’ view, sound doctrine so far as regards the principle of res judicata. Their Lordships on this point are in agreement both with Richards C.J. in Kalka Prasad v. Manmohan Lal (( 1916) I. L. R. 38 A. 302, 310), and with Banerji J. in Bijai Misirs case (( 1917) I. L. R. 39 A. 469.). The facts of the present case raise no question as to the rights of anyone to bring a civil suit pending the partition proceedings, or as to the rights of a person who is not a recorded co-sharer or was not a party to the proceedings, or as to any case between persons whose interests were not opposed for the purpose of the partition. A considerable number of decisions have been given upon such cases, but their Lordships have not had occasion to hear argument upon them, and do not deal with them— more especially as their Lordships consider that their decision upon the point arising in the present case is in confirmation of the main current of authority in India. Since this appeal to His Majesty was brought, agreements of compromise have been entered into between the appellants and three sets of respondents. While entitled to assume that these respondents are competent to deal with their own interests in the land of the village, their Lordships are not in a position to make certain that the agreements as they stand are unobjectionable from the standpoint of the revenue authorities, and (in the case of the agreement with Musammat Soet Raj Kuar) compatible with all the rights of the contesting respondent Thakurain Chhabinath Kuar. They will humbly advise His Majesty that the appeal should be dismissed, and that the order to be made on this appeal should record that as against the respondents other than Thakurain Chhabinath Kuar the dismissal is directed by reason of the said agreements; but they are not prepared to advise that there should be any direction that the said agreements should be carried into effect. If any question should arise as to the carrying out of any of the compromises it must be dealt with in proceedings to be instituted in India in accordance with law. The appellants must pay to Thakurain Chhabinath Kuar her costs of this appeal.