Research › Search › Judgment

Allahabad High Court · body

2023 DIGILAW 1534 (ALL)

Abdul Ahmad v. Deputy Director of Consolidation, Bahraich

2023-06-13

SAURABH LAVANIA

body2023
JUDGMENT Saurabh Lavania, J. Heard Sri Rama Kant Dixit, learned counsel for the petitioner, Sri Hemant Kumar Pandey, learned State counsel appearing for the respondent Nos. 1 to 3 and Sri Anil Kumar Shukla, learned counsel appearing for the respondent No. 4 and 8, who has filed his Vakalatnama on behalf of respondent No. 4 in the Court today, which is taken on record. 2. By means of this petition, the petitioner has assailed the validity of the impugned order dated 23.03.2023 passed by the respondent No. 1/Deputy Director of Consolidation (in short "DDC"), Bahraich. 3. While assailing the impugned order dated 23.03.2023, learned counsel for the petitioner stated that the impugned order dated 23.03.2023 is liable to be interfered with by this Court, as the same has been passed in violation of principles envisaged under Section 19 of U.P. Consolidation of Holdings Act, 1953 (in short "Act of 1953"). 4. Elaborating, he stated that during consolidation proceedings, the allotment should be made over original gata (mool gata) of the tenure holder and further, as per Section 19 of the Act of 1953, the source of irrigation should be taken note of while making allotment by the Consolidation Authorities under the Act of 1953. 5. It is also stated that in the instant case, the respondent No. 2/Appellate Authority/Settlement Officer of Consolidation (SOC) considered the source of irrigation as also the share over Gata No. 1235, area 0.957 Hectare, in issue, and considering the same, the respondent No.2 provided the chak to the petitioner over Gata No. 1235 vide order dated 31.01.2023. He also stated that while passing the order dated 31.01.2023, SOC also conducted on the spot inspection. 6. It is also stated that ignoring the principles related to allotment of chak(s), the DDC interfered in the order passed by SOC dated 31.01.2023 and by virtue of the impugned order dated 23.03.2023, the petitioner would not get any share over Gata No. 1235. Moreover, the source of irrigation of the petitioner has also been ignored while passing the order impugned dated 23.03.2023. 7. On the other hand, Sri Hemant Kumar Pandey, learned State counsel appearing for the respondent Nos. Moreover, the source of irrigation of the petitioner has also been ignored while passing the order impugned dated 23.03.2023. 7. On the other hand, Sri Hemant Kumar Pandey, learned State counsel appearing for the respondent Nos. 1 to 3 and Sri Anil Kumar Shukla, learned counsel appearing for the respondent No. 4 and 8 stated that the impugned order dated 23.03.2023 is not liable to be interfered with by this Court, as two revisions one by Abdul Mannan and another by Smt. Jalima were filed, registered as Case Nos. 499/ 202354081500000123 and 500/ 202354081500000124, broadly on the ground that as per principles envisaged under Section 19 of the Act of 1953, the chak should be rectangular in nature and taking note of the same, proper chak(s) have been allotted on Gata Nos. 1214 and 1235 to all the co-sharers. 8. Further submission is that the petitioner has been allotted two chaks over his mool gata No. 1235 over which he is holding largest share i.e. 1/9 share, which is indicated in ground-C of this petition and Section 19 of the Act of 1953 says that chak should be allotted to the tenure holder at a place where he holds largest part of his holding. It is also stated that maximum three chaks can be allotted by the Consolidation Authorities and with the approval of DDC, four chaks can be allotted. In the instant case, the petitioner has been given two chaks, which is permissible under law. As such, no interference is required in the matter. 9. Further submission is that the submission of petitioner's counsel that petitioner's boring is situated over Gata No. 1235 is completely fallacious and baseless, as there is no document in support of this contention. 10. On being asked on the aforesaid aspect of the case, learned counsel for the petitioner failed to point out any document from where it can be deduced that the petitioner's boring is situated over Gata No. 1235. 11. Considered the submissions advanced by the learned counsel for the parties and perused the record. 12. This case relates to allotment of chak(s), as such, it would be useful to refer some judgments of this Court on the issue involved and the relevant provisions of the Act of 1953. Section- 19(1)(e) of the Act of 1953 is as follows:- "19. Considered the submissions advanced by the learned counsel for the parties and perused the record. 12. This case relates to allotment of chak(s), as such, it would be useful to refer some judgments of this Court on the issue involved and the relevant provisions of the Act of 1953. Section- 19(1)(e) of the Act of 1953 is as follows:- "19. Conditions to be fulfilled by a Consolidation Scheme.-(1) A consolidation scheme shall fulfil the following conditions, namely, (a)...... (b)...... (c)...... (d)...... (e) every tenure-holder is, as far as possible, allotted a compact area at the place where he holds the largest part of his holding : Provided that no tenure-holder may be allotted more chaks than three, except with the approval in writing of the Deputy Director of Consolidation: Provided further that no consolidation made shall be invalid for the reason merely that the number of chaks allotted to a tenure-holder exceeds three." 13. From reading of Section 19(1)(e) and considering the case of the parties, it is clear that consolidation Authorities can not pass arbitrary order. It is no doubt correct that during chak allotment proceedings, the allotment cannot be made in such a manner which may satisfy every tenure holder but the consolidation authorities are required follow the mandate of the Act/Rules, as explained by the judicial pronouncements. 14. In the context of this case, the following observations of the judgment passed by this Court in the case of Asbaran v. Deputy Director of Consolidation, Gonda; 1986 A.W.C. 1088, are relevant. "This provision contained in Section 19(1)(f) enjoins upon the consolidation authorities to allot plot on which exists his private source of irrigation or any other improvement. Apart from it, no other provisions of Section 19 of the Act enjoins upon the consolidation authorities to make allotment of chak to the tenure-holder on his original plot and the consolidation authorities in view of provisions contained in Section 19(1)(e) of the Act are required to allot, as far as possible, a compact area to the tenure-holder at place where he holds largest part of his holding. The word as far as possible occurring in Section 19(1)(e) of the Act cannot be construed so as to give an unfettered discretion to the consolidation authorities in not making an allotment of a chak of compact area at place where the tenure holder holds his largest part of holding. The word as far as possible occurring in Section 19(1)(e) of the Act cannot be construed so as to give an unfettered discretion to the consolidation authorities in not making an allotment of a chak of compact area at place where the tenure holder holds his largest part of holding. It while making allotment of a chak to the tenure holder the Consolidation Officer finds it difficult to make allotment of chak to him of a compact area at a place where he held the largest part of his holding, then, he has to assign reasons for not doing so. If no good reasons are shown, the allotment would certainly be held to be irregular and cannot be sustained. The aforesaid provisions contained in Section 19(1)(e) of the Act, however, cannot be construed to make it imperative on the consolidation authorities to allot chak of compact area to a tenure holder be imperatively including therein some plot of his original holding. The requirement of said provision, in my opinion, is that the tenure holder has to be allotted a chak of a compact area at a place where he holds the largest part of his holding and not on the plot of his largest part of holding. In making allotment of chaks equity amongst various tenure holders has got to be adjusted, and, as such, if it is not possible to include some of the original land of the tenure holder in the allotted chak; then the allotment of chak cannot be said to be invalid or without jurisdiction, on the ground that no plot of original holding of the tenure holder has been included in his chak although a chak of compact area has been allotted at a place and in the vicinity where the tenure holder holds the largest part of his holding. The requirement of allotting original plot of the holding to the tenure holder in his chak has been mandated only in Section 19(1)(f), according to which, if there exists private source of irrigation or other improvement on the plot in question, then it has got to be allotted in the chak of the tenure holder. The allotment of chak in violation of the provision contained in Section 19(1)(f) would certainly make allotment illegal being violative of specific provisions. The allotment of chak in violation of the provision contained in Section 19(1)(f) would certainly make allotment illegal being violative of specific provisions. But in my opinion, an allotment of a 'Uran' Chak cannot be taken to be illegal and without jurisdiction if such a chak has been allotted at a place quite near the original land held by the tenure holder in its vicinity and not excessively exceeding the valuation of his original plots in that sector." 15. In the above case, this Court held that in view of the provision of Section 19(1)(e) the consolidation authorities are required to allot as far as possible a compact area to the tenure holder at a place where he holds the largest part of the holding and the judgment also says that the aforesaid provision can be construed to make it imperative on the consolidation authorities to allot chak of compact area to a tenure holder including therein some plot of his original holding. 16. In the judgment passed in the case of Mukut Nathi v. The Deputy Director of Consolidation, Gorakhpur; 1998 R.D. 148, this Court held in paragraph 5 as under:- "The Consolidation Officer and Settlement Officer of Consolidation have carved out the chak of the petitioner in such a way that its shape was rectangular and was leading up to the P.W.D. road. The Deputy Director of Consolidation for the first time carved out a chak in rectangular shape running from north to south, with the result that the petitioner was deprived of the land towards P.W.D. road. The Deputy Director of Consolidation has not recorded any finding as to whether under the sale deed any specified portion was sold to the petitioner. In case the petitioner was sold a portion which did not lead up to P.W.D. road, the Deputy Director of Consolidation may be justified not to give such portion to the petitioner but if this portion was not specified or he was given a portion which leads up to the P.W.D. road, the order of the Deputy Director of Consolidation will not be valid and justified." 17. In respect to cases where the interference in the allotment of chaks is permissible under Article 226, the issue has been considered by this Court in Writ Petition (Cons.) No. 5001 of 1983 (Ram Udit v. D.D.C. & others) decided on 24.09.2014 and in para 29 to 32, this Court has said as under:- "29. It is not in dispute that the allotment of Chaks is to be made taking into consideration principles laid down under Section 19 of Act 1953. These principles have been considered by this Court in Bechan Singh v. Deputy Director of Consolidation and others 1985 AWC 604 All. In para 4 thereof, this Court has said that allotment of Chak has to be made consistent with the principles, namely, (i) every tenure holder should be allotted compact area at the place where he holds largest part of his holding (ii) the tenure holder, as far as possible, should be allotted the plot on which exists his private source of irrigation or any other improvement together with the area in the vicinity equal to valuation of the plot originally held by him and (iii) every tenure holder, as far as possible, would be allotted Chak in conformity with the process of rectangulation. The Court further held that the area held by tenture holder prior to start of consolidation proceedings, is relevant only to ascertain whether the area allotted to the tenure holder, varies by more than 25% or not, as contained in the first proviso of Section 19 of the Act, 1953. 30. In Dr. A.N. Srivastava v. DDC 1982 LLJ 42 Hon'ble K. N. Misra J. referring to Section 19(1)(e) of Act 1953 said: "The petitioners under the provisions of Section 19 (1) (e) of the Act were entitled to get a chak at a place where they had held largest part of their original holding. The words 'as for as possible' used in the said sub-section do not confer any jurisdiction upon the consolidation authorities to act arbitrarily ignoring the provisions contained therein. The Settlement Officer (Consolidation) while altering the chak of the petitioners should have assigned reasons for not making allotment to the petitioners on the aforesaid plots Nos. 1082 and 1087 which were admittedly largest part of their holding. The Settlement Officer (Consolidation) while altering the chak of the petitioners should have assigned reasons for not making allotment to the petitioners on the aforesaid plots Nos. 1082 and 1087 which were admittedly largest part of their holding. In my opinion the words as far as possible used in Section 19 (1) (e) of the Act require the provisions contained therein to be followed unless their compliance cannot be made for specific reasons to be assigned for it" (emphasis added) 31. This was reiterated in Samai Lal v. Deputy Director of Consolidation, Pratapgarh and others 1985 LLJ 330 and the Court further said: "In the present case the Assistant Consolidation Officer appears to have acted illegally and in violation of the provisions contained in Section 19 (1) (e) of the Act which lays down that every tenure-holder, as for as possible, should be allotted a Chak at a place where he held his largest holding. The Assistant Consolidation Officer should have proposed a Chak of the petitioners on this very plot No. 1703 in accordance with the aforesaid provisions and in case it is not possible, then the reasons should have been mentioned for not allotting a Chak to the petitioners on their plot. The words "as far as possible" used in the said sub-section do not confer any jurisdiction upon the consolidation authorities to act arbitrarily, ignoring the provisions contained thereunder." (emphasis added) 32. In Doodh Nath v. DDC and others 1988(6)LCD 453 the Court held, if a tenure holder has his Chak with private source of irrigation, allotment of chak must be weighed so as to keep intact private source of irrigation of such person. The Court said that there cannot be any legal justification for refusing to allot a Chak to a tenure holder at a particular place, where he had held his private source of irrigation on the ground that his sons or other relations may have been allotted a chak in its vicinity. Every tenure holder would be entitled to get allotment of chak at a place where he could be allotted chak, keeping in view the provisions contained in Section 19 of the Act. The tenure holder would be entitled to get near village Abadi so much of land which he originally held at that place and also at the place of his private source of irrigation. The tenure holder would be entitled to get near village Abadi so much of land which he originally held at that place and also at the place of his private source of irrigation. The Court also said that undoubtedly, while deciding objection filed by a tenure holder against proposed allotment of chaks, equities are to be adjusted taking into consideration location of original land-holding of the other tenure holders whose chaks are likely to be affected while determining the objection. But while doing so, just and appropriate claim put forth by the tenure holder cannot be rejected merely on the ground that he is a big tenure holder as compared to the opposite parties or that his son or some other relation has been allotted chak near the place where the objector claims an allotment of chak as against his original holding. The Court added a few words of caution for the consolidation authorities, in the following manner: "In the matter of allotment of chaks a care is to be taken by the authorities to allot chak to the tenure holders to which they are entitled as against their original holdings. If appropriate chak is not allotted to a tenure holder, he sustains irreparable loss and injury for all times to come. Thus in exercise of powers under Article 226 of the Constitution, this Court is not to feel hesitant in interfering with the impugned orders which are found to be unwarranted in law and facts of the case, merely on the ground that the writ petition could not be taken up earlier for disposal. The impugned orders cannot be left to survive merely on the delay in disposal of the writ petition for no fault of the petitioner." (para-11) 18. Applying the principles related to allotment of chak(s) as observed by this Court in the judgment(s), referred above, this Court considered the facts of the case. This Court finds that the chak(s) have been allotted to the petitioner over the gata over which he holds largest part of his holding and with regard to boring, the petitioner has failed to substantiate his case by placing relevant material evidence on record. As such, this Court is of the view that the allotment of chak(s) to the petitioner is justified and proper. As such, this Court is of the view that the allotment of chak(s) to the petitioner is justified and proper. Hence, no interference in the order of DDC dated 23.03.2023 is required by this Court in exercise of power vested under Article 226/227 of the Constitution of India. The petition is accordingly dismissed. Costs made easy.