MOHAMMAD ANIS v. ADDITIONAL COMMISSIONER ALLAHABAD DIVISION ALLAHABAD
2001-08-30
R.R.YADAV
body2001
DigiLaw.ai
R. R. YADAV, J. Although the present writ petition is posted today for admission but with the consent of the learned Counsel for the parties, I propose to dispose it of finally at admission stage. 2. Heard the learned Counsel for the petitioner, Sri Surya Narayan as well as the learned Standing Counsel at length. Perused the order impugned dated 30-11-1999 passed by respondent No. 2, Sub- Divisional Officer, Kaushambi (Annexure-7 to the writ petition) whereby the application moved by the petitioner under Section 33/39 of U. P. Land Revenue Act (hereinafter called as the Act of 1901) has been rejected and order dated 30-5-2000, passed by respondent No. 1, Additional Commissioner, Allahabad Division, Allahabad affirming the aforesaid order, a copy whereof is filed and marked as Annexure-9 to the writ petition. 3. Briefly stated the facts are that the deceased-plaintiff Smt. Shabbirul Nishan filed civil suit No. 268 of 1962 for cancellation of two sale-deed dated 7-5-1960 and 4-6-1960, for recovery of possession of subject-matter of the aforesaid two sale-deeds and for recovery of Rs. 800/- as damages against Hakimuddin. The aforesaid civil suit No. 268 of 1962 filed by the deceased-plaintiff, Smt. Shabbirul Nishan was dismissed by the trial Court on 6-8-1968. 4. Aggrieved against the judgment and decree dated 6-8-1968 passed by trial Court, Shabbirul Nishan filed first civil appeal No. 88 of 1968. It appears from perusal of the records that during the pendency of the aforesaid first appeal, plaintiff, Shabbirul Nishan expired and in her place, the name of the petitioner, Mohammad Anis was substituted as her sole legal representative in the array of appellant. After hearing Mohammad Anis petitioner and Hakimuddin, the learned first appellate Court set aside the judgment and decree dated 6-8-1968 passed by the trial Court and allowed the appeal on 23-4-1979 whereby the aforesaid two sale-deeds dated 7-5-1960 and 4-6-1960 were cancelled, holding these sale- deeds to be void ab initio. It was further held by the first appellate Court that the deceased-plaintiff, Shabbirul Nishan was forcibly dispossessed by Hakimuddin on the basis of above mentioned two sale- deeds and she was found to be entitled to get back possession of the subject-matter of two sale-deeds from Hakimuddin. However, the first appellate Court refused to pass decree for damages amounting to Rs. 800/- against Hakimuddin. 5.
However, the first appellate Court refused to pass decree for damages amounting to Rs. 800/- against Hakimuddin. 5. Aggrieved against the judgment and decree passed by the first appellate Court on 23-4-1979, Hakimuddin filed a second appeal No. 1688 of 1979 before the High Court which too was dismissed on 16-9-1997. 6. Undaunted from dismissal of second appeal, Hakimuddin filed S. L. P. before the Supreme Court which too was dismissed on 5-2- 1998. 7. It is revealed from perusal of the record that on the basis of sale-deeds dated 7-5-1960 and 4-6-1960, Hakimuddin initiated proceedings for mutation under Section 34 of the Act of 1901 and on the basis of the aforesaid two sale-deeds, the name of Hakimuddin was recorded in the record of rights in place of deceased-plaintiff, Smt. Shabbirul Nishan. It is further borne out from perusal of the record that after dismissal of SLP by the Supreme Court on 5-2-1998, the petitioner. Mohammad Anis filed execution application No. 10 of 1998 before the Executing Court for execution of the decree. The executing Court in pursuant of the decree, which attained finality between petitioner Mohammad Anis and Hakimuddin from the judgment of Honble Supreme Court on 5-2-1998, possession was delivered to the petitioner, Mohammad Anis and a communication was ordered to be sent to Sub-Registrar, Registration, Chail to make an endorsement in the register to strike off the aforesaid two sale-deeds from the register kept in the office of Sub-Registrar, Registration. In pursuant of the order passed by the executing Court, both the sale-deeds mentioned hereinabove have been struck off from the register kept for this purpose in the office of Sub-Registrar, Registration, Chail. 8. After decision of execution application No. 10 of 1998 by executing Court, the record of rights requires correction, hence the petitioner, Mohammad Anis moved an application under Section 33/39 of the Act of 1901 upon which a report was called. It is apparent from perusal of Annexure-6 to the writ petition that on 1-10-1999, Naib Tahsildar in his detail report reported that in view of decision rendered upto Supreme Court, the record of rights is to be corrected and in place of Hakimuddin, who got his name recorded in the record of rights on the basis of sale-deeds dated 7-5-1960 and 4-6-1960 is to be removed and in his place the name of the petitioner. Mohammad Anis is to be recorded.
Mohammad Anis is to be recorded. It is further reported by Naib Tahsildar that in execution No. 10 of 1998 possession over the disputed land has been restored to the petitioner Mohammad Anis and Hakimuddin is not in possession over the land in question, therefore, there is no impediment in correcting the record of rights under Section 33/39 of Act of 1901. 9. It is amazing to note that when the aforesaid detail report dated 1-10-1999 was placed before Tahsildar for reference to Sub-Divisional Officer within the meaning of sub-section (2) of Section 39 of the Act of 1901, for the reasons best known to him, he took myopic view and reported to Sub-Divisional Officer that the record of rights cannot be corrected within the meaning of Section 33/39 of the Act of 1901 as dispute pertains about obedience of Courts order. It is shocking to note that the Sub- Divisional Officer with closed mind rejected the application of the petitioner Mohammad Anis moved under Section 33/39 of the Act of 1901 ignoring its mandatory provisions on 30-11-1999, a copy whereof is filed and marked as Annexure-7 to the writ petition. 10. It is further amazing to note that when the petitioner Mohammad Anis aggrieved with the order dated 30-11-1999 passed by Sub-Divisional Officer filed a revision under amended Section 219 of the Act of 1901, the learned Additional Commissioner mechanically affirmed the aforesaid order of Sub- Divisional Officer by his impugned order dated 30-5-2000, a copy whereof is filed and marked as Annexure-9 to the writ petition. 11. During the course of argument when the learned Standing Counsel, Sri L. P. Tiwari was confronted by the Court with the mandatory provisions envisaged under clause (b) of sub-section (2) of Section 33 of the Act of 1901 which provides that other changes that may take place in respect of any land and shall also correct all errors and omissions in accordance with the provisions of Section 39 provided that the power to record a change under clause (b) shall not be construed to include the power to decide a dispute involving any question of title.
After going through the aforesaid provisions, learned Standing Counsel, Sri Tiwari with feeble voice submitted that he has no option except to support the orders impugned passed by respondents No. 1 and 2 but fails to give reasons in support of impugned orders in the light of clause (b) of sub-section (2) of Section 33 of Act of 1901 specially when mutation in favour of Hakimuddin in Khatauni on the basis of two sale-deeds mentioned hereinabove are proved to be non est after dismissal of SLP by Supreme Court and Mohammad Anis is admittedly found to be in possession over the disputed land after decision of Execution No. 10 of 1998 by executing Court after evicting Hakimuddin whose name is to be expunged from Khatauni. Indisputably the title between Mohammad Anis and Hakimuddin in respect to the land in dispute has been finally adjudicated by Supreme Court on 5-2-1998 and as such in the instant proceeding question of title between Mohammad Anis and Hakimuddin is not involved. 12. For the reasons given hereinbelow, the orders passed by the respondents No. 1 and 2 are not sustainable in the eye of law and deserve to be quashed. 13. It is to be noticed that the Collector of a district is charged under Section 33 of Act of 1901 to maintain the record of rights, and for that purpose is annually, or at such longer intervals as the State Government may prescribe, cause to be prepared an amended register mentioned in Section 32. The register so prepared is to be called the annual register. The Collector is expected to cause to record in the annual register all successions and transfers in accordance with the provisions of Section 35 and other changes that may take place in respect of any land and is also to correct all errors and omissions in accordance with the provisions of Section 39 provided that the power to record a change under clause (b) shall not be construed to include the power to decide a dispute involving any question of title. 14.
14. A close scrutiny of Section 39 of the Act of 1901 reveals that when an application for correction of any error or omission in the annual register is made to the Tahsildar, then on receiving such application under sub-section (1) or any error or omission in the annual register coming to his knowledge otherwise, the Tahsildar shall make such inquiry as appears necessary and refer the case to the Collector, who shall dispose it of after deciding the dispute in accordance with the provisions of Section 40 provided that nothing in this sub- section shall be construed to empower the Collector to decide a dispute involving any question of title. 15. Conjoint reading of Sections 33, 39 and 40 of the Act of 1901 reveal that either on application or otherwise coming to the knowledge of the Tahsildar, if any change takes place in respect of any land or error or omission is found in the record of rights, which requires correction, then he is to refer to the Collector after making such enquiry as appears necessary to him and after receiving reference Collector is required to dispose it of in accordance with the provisions of Section 40 of the Act of 1901, provided that correction in the record of rights does not involve any question of title. In the instant case dispute is squarely covered with expression "other changes that may take place in respect of any land" used under clause (b) of sub- section (2) of Section 33 of the U. P. Act of 1901. 16. In my considered opinion, in the facts and circumstances of the case on hand the Sub-Divisional Officer has no option except to correct the record of rights expunging the name of Hakimuddin and in his place recording the name of Mohammad Anis as indisputably dispute relating to their title over the land in dispute has been finally adjudicated by Supreme Court for all time to come and question of title is not involved between them in the proceedings under Section 33/39 of Act of 1901. 17. It goes without saying that Hakimuddin got his name mutated on the basis of two sale-deeds dated 7-5-1960 and 4-6-1960 in the revenue records which have been declared to be void ab initio by the first appellate Court, by second appellate Court and also by the Supreme Court.
17. It goes without saying that Hakimuddin got his name mutated on the basis of two sale-deeds dated 7-5-1960 and 4-6-1960 in the revenue records which have been declared to be void ab initio by the first appellate Court, by second appellate Court and also by the Supreme Court. Thus question relating to title between petitioner Mohammad Anis and Hakimuddin has already been decided which attained finality. Now, the present proceedings under Sections 33/39 of the Act of 1901 are to be decided by the Sub-Divisional Officer according to sub-section of (1) Section 40 of the Act of 1901 which provides that all dispute regarding entries in the annual register shall be decided on the basis of possession. 18. Coming to question of possession, it is evident from perusal of record that the petitioner Mohammad Anis had filed execution application No. 10 of 1998 before the Executing Court for recovery of possession from Hakimuddin whose name is wrongly recorded in the revenue records and the Executing Court after evicting Hakimuddin from the land in dispute has already restored possession to the petitioner, Mohammad Anis. Therefore, in view of the above facts and circumstances, the respondent No. 2 has no option except to decide the application moved under Section 33/39 of the Act of 1901 on the basis of possession which has already been restored to Mohammad Anis, the petitioner by the Executing Court on 20-5-1999, a copy whereof is filed by the petitioner and marked a Annexure-3 to the writ petition. Thus on the date of decision by respondents No. 1 and 2 the petitioner Mohammad Anis was in possession over the land in dispute. 19. It is held that whenever and wherever on the basis of a sale-deed a person got his name recorded in Khatauni and such sale- deed is cancelled by competent Civil Court, then in such a situation, the Collector or Sub-Divisional Officer, as the case may be, has no option except to correct the Khatauni in pursuant to judgment and decree passed by Civil Court provided such judgment and decree has attained finally, instead of relegating the parties to initiate proceeding under Section 34 of the Act of 1901 wasting public time of Courts and causing unnecessary financial burden on the parties.
It is to be imbibed by all Revenue Courts exercising powers under Section 33/39 of the Act of 1901 that if technicalities are pitted against substantial justice then substantial justice should not be allowed either to escape or slide on mere technicalities as has been done in the present case. It is well to remember that Courts of law are not respected by the public in general and litigant public in particular because Courts are capable to legalize injustice but Courts of law are respected because the Courts are expected to advance justice between the parties in accordance with law after ironing out the creases of law in correct perspective bringing it to the side of truth, justice and fair play. In the present case the lis between the petitioner, Mohammad Anis and Hakimuddin has attained finality up to Supreme Court even then with close mind, the respondents No. 1 and 2 are shirking their responsibilities to correct the Khatauni which they are required to correct immediately either on the basis of an application moved by the petitioner, Mohammad Anis under Section 33/39 of Act of 1901 or otherwise coming to their knowledge after giving notice to Hakimuddin and providing him also an opportunity of hearing. 20. From the discussions made hereinabove, it is held that Revenue Courts while deciding application under Section 33/39 of the Act of 1901 neither have jurisdiction to go behind the decrees passed by the Civil Courts holding sale-deeds to be void ab initio nor they have jurisdiction to go behind the orders passed by Executing Civil Courts in Executing Civil Courts decrees. Here in the present case indisputably two sale-deeds dated 7-5-1960 and 4-6-1960 executed in favour of Hakimuddin on the basis of which his name was recorded, have been declared void ab initio upto Supreme Court, therefore, the entry of Hakimuddin in Khatauni automatically becomes non est. It is made clear that from first appellate Court upto Supreme Court, the validity of aforesaid sale-deeds was examined between Mohammad Anis and Hakimuddin. It is further proved that Civil Court while executing decree for possession evicted Hakimuddin and restored possession to Mohammad Anis.
It is made clear that from first appellate Court upto Supreme Court, the validity of aforesaid sale-deeds was examined between Mohammad Anis and Hakimuddin. It is further proved that Civil Court while executing decree for possession evicted Hakimuddin and restored possession to Mohammad Anis. Thus in the present case wrong entry of Hakimuddin in the record of rights is to be expunged and in his place the entry of Mohammad Anis is to be recorded in accordance with law within the meaning of clause (b) of sub- section (2) of Section 33 of the Act of 1901 and an argument contrary to it advanced by the learned Standing Counsel is hereby repelled. 21. For the reasons given hereinabove, the order dated 30-11-1999 passed by the Sub-Divisional Officer, Kaushambi under Section 33/39 of the Act of 1901 and the order dated 30-5-2000 passed by the respondent No. 1, Additional Commissioner, Allahabad Division, Allahabad deserve to be quashed. 22. As a result of aforesaid discussion, the instant writ petition is allowed. Order dated 30-11-1999, passed by Sub- Divisional Officer, Kaushambi and order dated 30-5-2000 passed by Additional Commission, Allahabad Division, Allahabad are hereby quashed and the case is remanded back to the Sub-Divisional Officer, Kaushambi to decide the application of the petitioner under Section 33/39 of the Act of 1901 afresh expeditiously, preferably within a period of six months from the date of production of a certified copy of this order in accordance with law in the light of the observations made in the body of this order after giving opportunity of hearing to Hakimuddin as well. Cost is made easy. Petition allowed. .