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1984 DIGILAW 352 (PAT)

Parmeshwar Singh v. Sukhdeo Mahto

1984-09-28

S.K.CHOUDHURI

body1984
JUDGMENT S.K. CHOUDHURI, J 1. These three writ application have been heard together as they raise a common question for decision. The petitioner in the first two writ applications is one Parmeshwar Singh and the petitioner in the third writ application is one kamleshwari Singh. The purchasers in all the three writ applications are different persons and the vendors are the same. In the first two writ applications the subsequent purchaser is Mehi Lal Mahto (Respondent No.2). Whereas in the third writ application its subsequent purchaser is Ramkhelawan Mahto (Respondent No.6). 2. In all these three writ application filed under Articles 226 and 227 of Constitution of India, the petitioners who are the preemptors prayed for quashing the orders of the Land Reforms Deputy Collector, Begusarai dated 16th May 1977 contained in Annexure–3 and the appellate order passed by Additional collector, Begusarai dated 24th November 1978 contained in Annexure and the revisional order passed by the Additional Member, Board of Revenue, dated 30th July, 1979 as contained in Annexure–1. 3. It will suffice to give the relevant facts of C.W.J.C, No.2625 of 1979, as dates of different sale deeds, which occasioned the filing the three preemption applications by the petitioners and the date of the subsequent sale deed are the same and the order dismissing all the three preemption application is common as also the appellate order and the revisional order. 4. The sale deed in question was executed on 7th May, 1975 by the vendors in favour of the purchaser and was registered on 16.6.1975 in favour of the subsequent purchaser. Preemption application, it appears was filed on 15th September, 1975 in relation to the three sale deeds, which gave rise to three cases. They were heard together and disposed of by a common Judgment as contained in Annexure–3 aforesaid. After the filing of the aforesaid preemption applications, the first purchaser appeared and filed his show cause stating that he has already transferred the land to the second purchaser (subsequent purchaser). According to the petitioner, he came to know for the first time about the second transfer after the first purchaser filed his show cause and, accordingly, on 25th February, 1976, the pre-emptor, namely, the writ petitioner filed an application to add the subsequent purchaser as a party to the proceeding. The preemption application was heard and rejected by the order (Annexure–3). The preemption application was heard and rejected by the order (Annexure–3). Three appeals were filed by preemptors before the Additional Collector, but they were all dismissed by a common order as contained in Annexure–2. There after, the Additional Member, Board of Revenue also dismissed the three revision applications preferred by the preemptors by the common order as contained in Annexure1. 5. Mr. Lakshman Sharan Sinha, learned Counsel appearing on behalf of the writ petitioner in all the three writ applications strongly contended that when the writ petitioner had no knowledge of the second transfer, he was well within time from the date of the first sale deed to file an application under Sections 16 (3) of the Bihar Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling Area & Acquisition of Surplus Land) Act, 1961 (Bihar Act, 12 of 1962) hereinafter called 'the Act' the said Application could not be defeated by the sale-deed executed and registered with in the limitation period for filing pre-emption application. His further contention was that when there was specific assertion in the application for adding the subsequent purchaser as a party and that the second transaction was sham, farzi and created only to defeat the purpose of the Act, the subsequent purchaser should have been allowed to be added as a party and the courts below should have investigated into the allegations regarding sham and farzi nature of transaction. He therefore, contended that none of the authorities below having entered into that question, the impugned Annexure are liable to be set aside and it is a fit case for sending back the matter to the original authority namely, the Land Reforms Deputy Collector, Begusarai for hearing afresh and disposal in accordance with law. 6. In support of his argument, learned counsel drew my attention to Annexure 4, which is a copy of the application filed before the original authority for adding the subsequent transferee as a party. That application has alleged in paragraph 2 that second sale was entirely sham and farzi created to defeat the purpose of the Act. The passing of consideration under the second sale deed was also challenged and it was stated that he was not a bonafide purchaser. That application has alleged in paragraph 2 that second sale was entirely sham and farzi created to defeat the purpose of the Act. The passing of consideration under the second sale deed was also challenged and it was stated that he was not a bonafide purchaser. The further allegation in that application was that the petitioner had no knowledge of the second sale deed as the subsequent purchaser was never in possession rather it was the first purchaser who was in possession. In view of these assertions in the application for addition of the subsequent purchaser as party, learned counsel for the writ petitioner contended that it was the bounden duty of the authorities below to add the subsequent purchaser as party in the proceeding and determine the aforesaid question as to whether the subsequent sale deed was a genuine document or it was farzi in nature. In support of his contention he has placed strong reliance upon Bench decision of this Court in Smt. Sudama Devi & others vs. Rajendra Singh & others ABR 1975 Pat 199=1973 PLJR 543. He has placed reliance only upon a sentence appearing in paragraph 15 which reads thus. "The purchasers transferred the property to Shyam Narain Singh, which transfer, if not farzi and sham, is not hit by the doctrine of lis pendens, it would be good transfer and no order of preemption under clause (iii) of section 16(3) can be made against the original purchasers, as the order would be futile and infructuous." Relying on the sentence the contention of learned Counsel was that if second transaction would be found to be farzi and sham, then the preemption application filed as against the first sale-deed would be competent and would not become infructuous though the registration of the second sale-deed was completed before the filing of the preemption application under Section 16(3) of the Act. Acceptance of this submission would amount to stretching too far if the meaning of the sentence relied upon by the learned Counsel from the aforesaid decision in Smt. Sudama Devi' case is accepted. Acceptance of this submission would amount to stretching too far if the meaning of the sentence relied upon by the learned Counsel from the aforesaid decision in Smt. Sudama Devi' case is accepted. In that Case while discussing the relevant point Justice Untwalia, as he then was has expressly stated while referring the case of Ramchandra Yadav vs. Anutha Yadav, 1971 BLJR 994 as follows: – "In Section 16(3), however, there is absolutely no provision made for making an order of preemption against a subsequent transferee on an application filed for preemption against the first transferee. If the subsequent transferee is, in fact and in law, a transferee, of the property in respect of which claim for preemption has been made then a question of his being a transferee with notice of the preemption application is not relevant in view of what I have said in my judgment in Ramchandra Yadav vs. Anutha Yadav (1971 B.L.J.R. 994). I have pointed out three situations there. If the transferee of the property transfers it to a second purchaser by a document executed and registered before the filing of the application, the second transferee gets a good title to the property and there is no question of his right being defeated by a subsequent application filed by the preemptor, as be could not be presumed to have any knowledge of the application which may be filed in future. On the other side of the picture, the clear example is where the second sale-deed is executed and registered after the filing of the application for preemption. In such a case, the second transfer would be clearly hit by the doctrine of lis pendens engrafted in Section 52 of the Transfer of Property Act. But the difficulty arises when as document of sale is executed before the filing of the application for pre-emption, but is registered after its filing." In the reported case their Lordships were dealing with a case where a second sale-deed was executed prior to the filing of the preemption application, but registered thereafter. The effect of registration of such a second sale-deed was the question for decision in that case. The effect of registration of such a second sale-deed was the question for decision in that case. It has been pointed out that in such a situation the second sale-deed which was registered after the preemption was filed would relate back to the date of execution under Section 47 of the Indian Registration Act, as the second sale-deed conferred title upon the second purchaser under that Section from the date of execution of the second sale-deed. It has been held in the said reported case that such transaction would not be hit by lis pendens, as the second transferee becomes the owner from the date of execution of the sale-deed. Their Lordships therefore, thought it fit in such a situation to allow the writ petitioner (Preemptor of that Case) to add the second purchaser as a party to the proceeding and remanded the case to the lowest authority for a fresh decision in accordance with law. It was under those circumstances that one sentence from paragraph 15 of the above reported decision which has been strongly relied upon by Mr. Sinha, has been used. 7. Mr. Surya Bhushan Prasad Singh for the second purchaser, however supported the impugned orders and contended that in the facts and circumstances of the case, the impugned orders do not call for any interference, as the preemption application was not directed against the second purchaser which was complete in all respects before the filing of the preemption application by the writ petitioner. According to the learned Counsel merely by making an allegation of sham and farzi nature of the transaction and ignoring the second sale• deed on that ground would not give the preemptor a right to file an application for preemption against the first sale-deed Learned Counsel for the subsequent purchaser has argued that in such a situation, the preemptor ought to have filed the preemption application as against both the sale-deeds and alleging sham and farzi nature of the transaction about the second sale-deed. This not having been done on a date when the application for addition of the second purchaser was filed, the application for pre-emption against the second sale-deed was prima facie barred and the subsequent transferee was rightly not allowed to be added as a party to the proceeding by the authorities below. In my view this submission of learned Counsel for the second purchaser appears to have substance. In my view this submission of learned Counsel for the second purchaser appears to have substance. It cannot be argued that the preemptor had no knowledge of registration of the second sale-deed on the date when the preemption application was filed. True it is that the preemption application was filed within time from the date of the registration of the first sale-deed. If, according to him, the second purchase was a sham and forged transaction and was created in order to defeat the preemption application and the second sale-deed having been registered before the preemption application he should have added both the first purchaser as also the second purchaser as party in the proceeding and it was then that the allegation of sham and farzi transaction regarding the second sale-deed would have been considered and decided in presence of all the parties. It is not permissible in law to file an application subsequently ignoring the period of limitation for filing a preemption application to allow the preemptor at any time to add the subsequent purchaser as a party on the allegation of sham and farzi nature of the transaction and on the allegation that he had no knowledge about the second sale-deed. The sentence relied upon from the decision in Smt. Sudama Devi case (supra) does not help at all the preemptor. The said sentence has been used in the context of that case and cannot be stretched far. If the argument of Mr. Sinha is accepted then the position of the subsequent purchaser under the second sale-deed would remain precarious, and merely en allegation of sham and farzi nature of the transaction, the second purchaser though not a party in the preemption case and if such application is allowed, he would be bound by the sale-deed which may be executed by the first purchaser in favour of the preemptor in pursuance of the decision. 8. In my considered opinion, it appears to me that when the second sale-deed is complete in all respects and title passed upon the second transferee before the preemption application was filed, then, the allegation of sham and farzi nature of the transaction can only be investigated by filing a preemption application, which must be within the limitation period. 8. In my considered opinion, it appears to me that when the second sale-deed is complete in all respects and title passed upon the second transferee before the preemption application was filed, then, the allegation of sham and farzi nature of the transaction can only be investigated by filing a preemption application, which must be within the limitation period. If that is not done, then the preemptor is debarred from challenging the second sale-deed as sham and farzi and attempting after a long lapse of the limitation period, to add the second purchaser as a party in the proceeding. 9. For the reasons stated above, these three writ applications have got no merit and they are accordingly dismissed. In the circumstances of the case there will be no order as to costs. Applications dismissed.