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1997 DIGILAW 170 (HP)

BHULA RAM v. NARBIR SINGH

1997-05-12

A.K.GOEL

body1997
JUDGMENT Arun Kumar Goel, J.—The appellant has filed this appeal against the judgment and decree passed by Shri Jasbir S. Dhaliwal, District and Sessions Judge, Sirmaur District at Nahan dated 26-9-1991. By means-of impugned judgment and decree, while allowing the appeal, first appellate Court has upset the judgment and decree of the trial Court passed in Civil Suit No. 158/1 of 1989/88, dated 7-12-1990, whereby the suit of the Respondent (hereinafter referred to as the Plaintiff’) had been dismissed As a result of the allowing of the appeal by the District Judge, Sirmaur the suit of the plaintiff claiming decree and possession of laud measuring 7 bigha 2 biswas has been decreed. 2. Suit was filed by the plaintiff against the appellant (hereinafter referred to as the Defendant; for possession on the basis of title and that f the defendant is a trespasser over the land measuring 7 bighas 2 biswas (hereinafter referred to as the suit land’ and since the defendant had encroached upon the suit land without any right, as such, possession was claimed, The suit was contested and resisted by the defendant, who pleaded that he is a non-occupancy tenant on payment of 1/4th of Galla-Batai in respect of land measuring 5 bigha 12 biswas comprised ia khasra No. 431/322 rain under the plaintiff. This land, according to the defendant, was in the nature or Jhari Jhund and he made the same cultivable after spending huge amount 3. Since the relations between the parties were good, so the defendant did not bother regarding revenue entries According to the defendant, it was further held out by the plaintiff that there is no need of getting the revenue entries corrected, although it had come in evidence ; as also it was the case pleaded by the defendant that he applied for correction of revenue entries. Plaintiff was holding good position as Joint Secretary, Transport and Tourism, Government of Himachal Pradesh and also remained as Collector and held other high positions, as such, the reveoue officers did not carry out the necessary correction. It was farther the case of the defendant that when he had applied for correction of revenue entries on 9-7-1979, plaintiff executed a receipt/agreement whereby he agreed to sell 6 bigha 12 bighas of land for a sum of Rs 5,200. He also received Rs. It was farther the case of the defendant that when he had applied for correction of revenue entries on 9-7-1979, plaintiff executed a receipt/agreement whereby he agreed to sell 6 bigha 12 bighas of land for a sum of Rs 5,200. He also received Rs. 500 from the son of the defendant namely Mangat Ram, who was also the attorney of the defendant. However, when on 15-12-1979, the son of the defendant went to pay the balance amount of sale consideration of Rs. 5,000, plaintiff pretended that since he has not paid Mamla (land revenue) to the Government of H.P., as such, he his unable to execute the sale deed and get it registered in favour of defendant as well as his son Mangat Ram, But the plaintiff assured that the dispute would be settled soon and he would execute the necessary safe deed as also would receive the balance amount. Defendant being a simplton and illiterate, accepted the word of the plaintiff and continued paying the Galla Batai to the latter. In these circumstances, the dismissal of suit was prayed for. 4. In the replication filed by the plaintiff to the written statement of the defendant, he admitted the receipt of Rs. 500 in terms of the receipt dated 9-7-1979, but pleaded that there was failure on the part of the defendant to get the needful done by payment of balance amount. It was further pleaded that the defendant showed his inability to get the sale deed registered in his favour, as such, the latter was stated to be not entitled to take benefit of the said receipt in question and, therefore, the defendant was bound to deliver possession and according to the plaintiff. In the aforesaid circumstances, parties went to trial on the following issues :— 1. Whether the defendant is ia possession of entire suit laud ? OPP. 2. Whether the defendant is in possession of 5.12 bighas out of the suit land as tenant as alleged ? OPD. 3. Whether the suit is not maintainable ? OPD. 4. Relief. Decision of the trial Court, dismissing the suit, was questioned in appeal by the plaintiff. While allowing the appeal and setting aside the impugned judgment and decree, first appellate Court has decreed the suit of the plaintiff for possession, hence, this appeal at the instance of the defendant, 5. 3. Whether the suit is not maintainable ? OPD. 4. Relief. Decision of the trial Court, dismissing the suit, was questioned in appeal by the plaintiff. While allowing the appeal and setting aside the impugned judgment and decree, first appellate Court has decreed the suit of the plaintiff for possession, hence, this appeal at the instance of the defendant, 5. During the course of hearing of this appeal, the sole question pressed into service by the learned Counsel for the defendant was that the defendant having come into possession in part performance of the agreement dated 9-7-1979 vide Ext. D-1 his possession is protected in law. In support of this submission, it was further urged that the attorney and son of the defendant went with the balance amount to the plaintiff for payment thereof and getting the sale deed executed when the plaintiff put or! the execution and registration of the same and thus it was urged that so far the defendant was concerned, he was always ready and willing to complete his part in terms of the receipt. On the ocher hand, it was the plaintiff who was evading the issue on one pretext or the other. This plea has been controverted by the learned Counsel for the plaintiff who urged that the defendant was never a tenant and he was a trespasser over the suit land and thus there was no question of his possession being protected ia part performance in accordance with section 53-A of the Transfer of Property Act. Alternatively, it was urged that if it is held that section 53-A supra covers the present case, then in that event, defendant having failed to prove other requirements of law, viz. he is ready and willing to perform his part of the obligation in terms of Ext. D-l, decree passed by the first appellate Court was liable to be upheld. 6. At this stage, it may be appropriate to point out here that so far the plea of tenancy is concerned, there is no evidence brought on record by the defendant to rebut the entries made in revenue record viz, Exts. PA to PE Ordinarily, at the time when exhibit D-l was executed, the plaintiff had assured the defendant not to continue with the application filed by him for correction of revenue entries. PA to PE Ordinarily, at the time when exhibit D-l was executed, the plaintiff had assured the defendant not to continue with the application filed by him for correction of revenue entries. Thereafter, when again the plaintiff pat off the son and attorney of the defendant, he ought to have initiated steps for correction of revenue entries or such other action as was permissible in law, but nothing was done by the defendant. In these circumstances, the findings of the lower appellate Court that defendant was not a tenant over the suit land are correct in the face of the evidence both oral and documentary produced by the parties and, thus, are upheld. 7. Now, the sole question that needs to be considered is whether f the defendant while invoking the doctrine of section 53-A supra is there anything to show that the defendant has performed or was willing to perform his part of the obligations in terms of exhibit D-1. Once it is held that he was ready and willing, his possession needs to be protected and the claim of the plaintiff must fail, otherwise the claim of the plaintiff is likely to succeed if it is not proved. 8. Shri K.D. Sood, learned Counsel for the appellant has placed reliance on Maneklal Manusukbhai v. Hormusji Jamshedji Ginwalla and Sons, AIR 1950 SC 1 ; Chaman Lal v. Smt. Surinder Kumari AIR 1983 P and H 323 ; and State of Madras v M/s. Ramalingam and Co., AIR 1956 Madras On the other hand, Shri D.D Sood’ learned Counsel appearing for the respondent has placed reliance on Nathulal v. Phoolchand, AIR 1970 SC 546; Sardar Govindrao Mahadik and another v Devi Sahai and others. AIR 1982 SC 989 ; Mahibuddin Ahmed Bora v Dandiram Koch and another. AIR 1966 Assam 46 ; Devi Sahai Premraj Mahajan v. Govindrao Balwantrao and others, AIR 1965 MP 275 and K. Venkatasubbayya v. K. Rosayya and others, AIR 1957 AP 58. 9. So far the principles underlined in section 53-A of the Transfer of Property Act are concerned, there is no dispute in this behalf The question to be examined in this case is whether the defendant who is invoking this doctrine has been able to establish the requirements of law or not. 9. So far the principles underlined in section 53-A of the Transfer of Property Act are concerned, there is no dispute in this behalf The question to be examined in this case is whether the defendant who is invoking this doctrine has been able to establish the requirements of law or not. In this behalf, again a reference has to be made to the written statement of the defendant as well as to the pleadings made by him, While considering the case of the plaintiff, this Court cannot ignore the fact that the defendant is a rustic illiterate villager, whereas it has come in evidence that the plaintiff was working as Secretary, Transport and Tourism besides having occupied senior positions like Collector etc In this background, the plea of the defendant has to be examined Defendant has categorically stated that his son had gone to pay the balance amount, but the plaintiff assured that he would take the money later on and also did not get the sale deed registered nor accepted the money and the plaintiff1 held out that he would get the sale deed registered later on, In this behalf, it may be appropriate to mention here that the plaintiff had not said a word in his plaint regarding Ext D-1 it was only in his replication that while admitting the execution of Ext. D-1 and receipt of Rs 500, he held out that the failure was on the part of the defendant to fulfil his part of the obligation This position does not seem to be correct. It appears that not only the plaintiff evaded the receipt of money when it was offered and thereafter to execute the sale deed, but he also allured the defendant to withdraw his application for correction of revenue entries filed by him. In the ordinary course of things, defendant would not have withdrawn the application unless he was assured by the plaintiff and this Court has no hesitation in holding that the defendant was trapped in withdrawing his application for correction of revenue entries and at the same time he evaded the execution of the sale deed. No doubt defendant did not issue any notice or initiate any steps in the direction of implementing the receipt Ext. No doubt defendant did not issue any notice or initiate any steps in the direction of implementing the receipt Ext. DA through process of law, but that would not erase the fact and take away the right accrued in favour of the defendant qua the land suit which has was occupying m part performance after Ext D-l had been executed by the defendant m terms thereof. 10. In view of the aforesaid findings, this Court is of the view that the defendant was always ready and willing to perform his part of the agreement, but the plaintiff was evading the issue on one pretext or the other and finally he came to file the present suit. 11. On consideration of the evidence on record as well as in view of the discussion made hereinabove, it is clear that the defendant: was always ready and willing to fulfil his part of the application in terms of Ext. D-1 s and there can be hardly any doubt in that behalf. Thus, he has rightly pressed into service section 53-A of the Transfer of Property Act to protect his possession Not only tins, it was the plaintiff who was putting off the defendant after having received a sum of Rs 500 from the former. No notice of forfeiture or revocation of Ext. D-1 was issued by the plaintiff. In this view of the matter, the persistence on the part of the learned Counsel for the plaintiff that it was the defendant who failed to perform his part of the obligation in terms of Ext. D-1 is hereby rejected. 12. As a result of the aforesaid discussion and in view of evidence produced by the parties, it is held that the possession of the defendant is protected under section 53-A of the Transfer of Property Act. Consequently the suit filed by the plaintiff had rightly been dismissed by the trial Court. No other point has been urged by the learned Counsel for the parties. In view of the above discussion, this appeal is allowed. Consequently the impugned judgment and decree passed by the lower appellate Court is hereby set aside and that of the trial is ordered to be restored resulting in the dismissal of the suit filed by the plaintiff Costs on the parties. Appeal allowed.