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2012 DIGILAW 556 (HP)

Gain Chand v. Division Commissioner Mandi, Division Mandi H. P.

2012-09-13

DEV DARSHAN SUD

body2012
JUDGMENT : Dev Darshan Sud, J. The petitioner has challenged the order passed by the Divisional Commissioner, Mandi exercising powers under Section 54 of H.P. Holdings (Consolidation and Prevention of Fragmentation) Act, 1971, upholding the order dated 1.09.1995 passed in case No.66 of 1986 by the Settlement Officer, Consolidation of Holdings, Hamirpur. The order proceeds that this is the adjudication in compliance to the directions issued by this Court in CMPMO No.434 of 2010, dated 14.3.2011. The order passed by this Court was detailed, noticing that the petitioner herein had challenged the order dated 1.9.1995 of the Settlement Commissioner in appeal which was partly allowed by the Additional director Consolidation of Holdings on 21.9.2000 wherein 18 marlas of land was allotted to the petitioner. In appeal preferred by the second respondent Brahm Dass before Director Consolidation of Holdings, was dismissed on 3.8.2001. Respondent No.2 filed CWP No.1197 of 2001 against the aforesaid orders dated 3.8.2001, 21.9.2000 and the petitioner filed CWP No.19 of 2002 in which both these orders dated 3.8.2001, 21.9.2000 as also order dated 1.9.1995 were assailed. Both these writ petitions were disposed by this Court by a common judgment by me vide judgment dated 15.3.2010 holding: "This is not a satisfactory way of adjudicating a lis. Needless to say that application of mind has to be by the authority adjudicating and not by anybody else. Even if he has to agree with the reasons given by the authority subordinate to him, there must be some indication in the order as to how and on what grounds the order is being upheld which implies that the authority must indicate with certainty and clarity that the grounds set out or points urged before him for varying the order are not made out. Merely writing "the Additional Director, consolidation of Holdings has decided the case after visiting the spot and he has given detailed reasons for coming to the conclusion" do not constitute reasons but is pre judgmental and not sufficient to meet the requirements of law. In these circumstances, both these writ petitions are allowed. The impugned order of the Director Consolidation in both the writ petitions is quashed and set aside. The Statutory Authority under Section 54 of the Act as aforesaid is directed to take up the case again for decision afresh in accordance with law. In these circumstances, both these writ petitions are allowed. The impugned order of the Director Consolidation in both the writ petitions is quashed and set aside. The Statutory Authority under Section 54 of the Act as aforesaid is directed to take up the case again for decision afresh in accordance with law. This order does not in any manner pronounce on the merits of the respective contention of the parties as urged before the Director as also on facts before this Court as I have only decided on the question of legality of the order. Parties shall be free to urge and put forth their respective cases before the Director of Consolidation to show whether the petition is maintainable or the order challenged can be sustained in law. Parties shall appear before the Director of Consolidation on 7.4.2010. Both the writ petitions are disposed of." 2. Civil revision No. 224 of 2000 was instituted by the petitioner Gain Chand against the orders dated 23.5.2000 passed by the learned Sub Judge (II), Hamirpur in execution petition No.54 of 1993 rejecting the application of decree holder for passing final decree in Civil Suit No.36 of 1993. In this revision petition which was decided on 5th July,2010, the order passed by the learned Executing Court was set aside with the direction that the learned Executing Court will proceed with the execution petition in accordance with law. In CMPMO No. 434 of 2010 which was decided by this Court on 14.3.2011, this Court notices that there was a positive direction to the Divisional Commissioner, Mandi in the order dated 21.10.2010 to decide the matter afresh and to consider all other aspect including the maintainability of the petition. This Court had observed that the order has not been complied with in pursuance to the directions issued vide order dated 15th July, 2010 and the said order is more in breach than compliance. The order notices that the petitioner had submitted a copy of the judgment dated 15.7.2010 in C.R. No.224 of 200 before the learned Divisional Commissioner. 3. When the petition was disposed of, this Court observed that question of maintainability of the petition has not been considered by the learned Divisional Commissioner and in these circumstances, the order of the learned Divisional Commissioner dated 21.10.2010 was set aside with the directions to decide the petition afresh in accordance with law. 3. When the petition was disposed of, this Court observed that question of maintainability of the petition has not been considered by the learned Divisional Commissioner and in these circumstances, the order of the learned Divisional Commissioner dated 21.10.2010 was set aside with the directions to decide the petition afresh in accordance with law. Again, the Divisional Commissioner vide impugned order has affirmed the order of the Settlement Officer Consolidation 1.9.1995. What I find from the record is that the order suffers from judicial bias which has been described as obstinacy. The learned Divisional Commissioner is upholding the order of the Settlement Officer Consolidation time and again despite the directions of this Court on more than one occasion to decide the question of maintainability. This attitude of the Divisional Commissioner is plain bias to satisfy his egoistic judicial obstinacy. 4. In State of West Bengal v. Shivananda Pathak, AIR 1998 S.C. 2050 , the Supreme Court holds: 27. Judges, unfortunately, are not infallible. As human beings, they can commit mistakes even in the best of their judgments reflective of their hard labour, impartial thinking and objective assessment of the problem put before them. In the matter of interpretation of statutory provisions or while assessing the evidence in a particular case or deciding questions of law or facts, mistakes may be committed bona fide within are corrected at the appellate stage. This explains the philosophy behind the hierarchy of courts. Such a mistake can be committed even by a Judge of the High Court which are corrected in the Letters Patent Appeal, if available. 28. If a judgment is overruled by the higher court, the judicial discipline requires that the judge whose judgment is overruled must submit to that judgment. He cannot, in the same proceedings or in the collateral proceedings between the same parties, re-write the overruled judgment. Even if it was a decision on a pure question of law which came to be over-ruled, it cannot be reiterated in the same proceedings at the subsequent stage by reason of the fact that the judgment of the higher court which has overruled that judgment, not only binds the parties to the proceedings but also the Judge who had earlier rendered that decision. That Judge may have his occasion to reiterate his dogmatic views on a particular question of common law or constitutional law in some other case but not in the same case. If it is done, it would be exhibitive of his bias in his own favour to satisfy his egoistic judicial obstinacy. (p.2057). 5. Though these observations have been made with respect to Hon'ble Judge of High Court but apply Proprio Vigore to the present case. What I find is that the statutory authority which is the Divisional Commissioner has also followed the same course of conduct. I find this most unfortunate and exercise of power contrary to the statutory purpose for which it has been assigned. Be that as it may. I find from the record that the preliminary decree passed on 26.5.2011 by the learned Civil Judge(Junior Division), Court No.2, Hamirpur has been finalised in terms of what is incorporated therein. That decree has not been challenged by the parties and has attained finality. In this view of the matter, this petition is disposed of. Order of the Divisional Commissioner quashed and set aside and he is restrained from dealing with the matter in any manner. Petition stands disposed of. No order as to the costs. 6. All miscellaneous applications also stand disposed of.