Madras High Court
Nawab Wallajah Sahib Pallivasal vs The Commissioner Of Land ... on 30 October, 2015
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B E F O R E T H E MADU RAI B E N C H O F MADRA S HIGH C O U RT
Reserved on : 0 5 . 0 3 . 2 0 1 9
Delivered on : 30.04.2019
CORAM:
T H E HO N O U R A B L E MR. J U S T I C E K . K A LYA N A S U N DA R AM
A ND
T H E HO N O U R A B L E MR S . J U S T I C E S . T H A R A NI
W. A.(MD)N o. 7 o f 2 0 1 6
and
C .M. P.(MD). N o s . 3 7 7 2 , 5 6 0 3 a n d 8 6 8 7 o f 2 0 1 8
Nawab Wallajah Sahib Pallivasal,
represented by its Secretary,
Door No.31, Cheranmahadevi Road,
Pettai, Tirunelveli 620 004. ... Appellant
Vs.
1. The Commissioner of Land Administration / Board of Revenue,
Chepauk,
Chennai 600 005.
2. The Assistant Settlement Officer,
Tirunelveli District at Tirunelveli.
3. The District Collector,
Tirunelveli District at
Tirunelveli.
4. The Tamil Nadu Wakf Board,
represented by the Chief Executive Officer,
No.1 Jaffer Syrang Street,
Chennai 600 001.
5. The Member Secretary,
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Local Town Planning,
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Palayamkottai,
Tirunelveli.
6. The District Registrar,
Tirunelveli District,
Tirunelveli.
7. The Second Sub Registrar,
Tirunelveli District, Pettai,
Tirunelveli 627 004.
8. Ms.Anees Aysha
9. Ms.Hasana
10. A.Siraj Mohideen
11. V.M.A.Peer Mohamed
12. Ms.Amathul Hameeda
13. Ms.Jameel Fathima
14. Ms.A.Sulaika
15. Ms.Sowdha Ammal
16. Ms.Thowheth Ammal
17. I.Ahamed Ibrahim
18. Mohamed Ismail
19. Ms.Mohamed Gani Beevi
20. Ms.Ayshathul Munavara Beham
21. Ms.Amathul Natheera ... Respondents
P R AY E R : Writ Appeal is filed under Clause 15 of the Letters Patent
against the order of this Court, dated 30.10.2015 made in W.P.(MD).No.
10034 of 2015.
For Appellant : Mr.S.Parthasarathy, Senior counsel
for Mr.S.Balasubramaniam
For R1 to R3, R5 to R7 : Mr.Aayiram K.Selvakumar
Additional Government Pleader
For R4 : Mr.M.Mohaboob Athiff
For R8 to R21 : Mr.M.Vallinayagam, Senior counsel
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for Mr.D.Nallathambi
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J U DG ME N T
(Judgment of the Court was delivered by K . K A LYA N A S U N DA R AM,J . )
This appeal has been preferred assailing the order of the learned
single Judge passed in W.P.(MD).No.10034 of 2015, dated 30.10.2015.
2. The writ petitioner is the appellant. One Mohamed Musthafa,
S/o. Hassan Sahib filed the writ petition claiming to be the Secretary of
Nawab Wallajah Sahib Pallivasal seeking to quash the records dated
21.09.1961, pertaining to the taking away of the landed properties
belonging to the petitioner Pallivasal.
3. The case of the petitioner is that during the 16th century, Nawab
of Carnatic had dedicated the landed properties comprised in the Village
viz, Karuvelankulam in Tirunelveli District to the petitioner Pallivasal
which was a religious institution. The Inam Fair Register maintained by
Inam Commissioner in the year 1865 shows that the Title Deed No.276 of
Karuvelankulam Village was dedicated to the petitioner Pallivasal. While
so, during the year 1905, one Adhambava Rawather, Vavukkani Beevi and
Mahamedukani Beevi entered into a deed of partition in respect of the
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subject lands as if those lands belonged to their forefathers. According to
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the petitioner, the said partition deed is a false document created by
them in order to grab the properties of the petitioner Pallivasal. After the
enactment of Tamil Nadu Estates (Abolition and Conversion into
Ryotwari) Act, 1948, the legal heirs of the said three persons by playing
fraud got Ryotwari Pattas in respect of the subject lands.
4. The petitioner further alleged that the second respondent
without putting on notice on the petitioner, granted Pattas in their favour
in the year 1961. After the present Secretary viz., Mohamed Musthafa
took charge as the Secretary of the petitioner Pallivasal in the year 2009,
the Committee has been taking steps to set right the property belonging
to the petitioner Pallivasal. The sum and substance of the case of the
petitioner was that the entire lands in Karuvelankulam was dedicated by
Nawab of Carnatic in 16th century, however, the private respondents
colluding with the second respondent had obtained Patta without notice
to the petitioner.
5. The case of the private respondents before the writ Court was
that the writ petition filed by Mr.Mohamed Musthafa is not maintainable
as no document was produced to establish the fact that he was a
Secretary at the time of filing of the writ petition. As per Section 32 (2)(i)
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of Tamil Nadu Wakf Act, the Tamil Nadu Wakf Board alone is empowered
to institute the writ proceedings relating to Wakf properties. Therefore,
the Pallivasal has no right to institute writ proceedings relating to Wakf
property.
6. It is further stated in the counter that the Wakf Board also
cannot initiate any proceedings in respect of a property in the absence of
Notification under Section 5(2) of the Act, notifying the said property in
the list of Wakf. The lands in Karuvelankulam are admittedly Inam lands
and the Inam system was abolished by the Tamil Nadu Estates (Abolition
and Conversion into Ryotwari) Act, 1948, and as per Section 3 of the Act,
the Inam lands were taken away and vested with the Government free
from all encumbrance. By a notification issued by the Government, the
lands were taken away and not by the order of the second respondent as
alleged in the writ petition. Now, there is no Assistant Settlement Officer
in Tirunelveli District and hence, the prayer sought for against the second
respondent, who is a Non Existing Officer is not maintainable.
7. It is their further case that the Then Ruler Nawab of Carnatic
gave only the right to collect usufructs from the lands in support of and
maintenance of the Pallivasal and the Government is now paying transit
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allowance to the Pallivasal and also paid compensation. Further, the
recital in the Fair Inam Register would reveal that the lands in
Karuvelankulam has not been given to the Pallivasal, as it has been
mentioned that the land has been managed by the Government from fasli
1216 to 1259 and a fixed monthly payment was made for support of the
Pettai Mosque. In the Column No.4 of the Pro forma report of the
petitioner Pallivasal, the title deeds of the Pallivasal has been given, but
the lands in Karuvelankulam has not been shown in the said column.
Therefore, even as per the pro forma relating to the petitioner Pallivasal,
the lands in Karuvelankulam are not belonging to the petitioner Pallivasal.
The counter further proceeds that the title dispute could be only
established before the competent Court and the petitioner had filed a
suit in O.S.No.209 of 2012 before the Wakf Tribunal, Tirunelveli, showing
the private respondents as defendants in the suit. The private
respondents filed an application in I.A.No.632 of 2012, to reject the plaint
under Order 7 Rule 11 of C.P.C. and the petition was allowed and the
matter was taken up to the High Court by way of Civil Revision Petition.
The present writ petition filed after lapse of 54 years is liable to be
dismissed on the ground of latches. The learned single Judge dismissed
the writ petition. Challenging the same, the present appeal.
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8. Heard Mr.S.Parthasarathy, learned Senior counsel for the
appellant, Mr.Aayiram K.Selvakumar, learned Additional Government
Pleader for the respondents 1 to 3, 5 to 7 and Mr.M.Vallinayagam,
learned Senior counsel for the respondents 8 to 24.
9. The learned Senior counsel for the appellant would urge that
the Inam Fair Register is the material document, which shows that the
lands in Karuvelankulam Village were granted to the appellant Pallivasal
and once dedication was done in favour of Wakf, private individual
cannot claim right over the property, but the private respondents by
practising fraud have obtained Patta from the second respondent that
too without notice to the petitioner and without proper enquiry,
therefore they are liable to be set aside. It is further contended that since
material facts have been suppressed at the time of issuance of Patta, it
would amount to fraud and any order obtained by playing fraud is nullity
and the appellant cannot be non-suited on the ground of delay and
latches.
10. The following decisions are relied upon in support of the
contentions.
http://www.judis.nic.in (i) In ( 2 0 0 7 ) 4 S C C 2 2 1 (A . V. P a p a y y a S a s t r y
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a n d ot h e rs v. G o ve r n m e nt o f A n d h r a p r a d e s h a n d
o t h e r s ) , th e H o n' bl e S u p r e m e C o urt h a s h el d a s f oll o w s :
“ 22 . It i s th u s s e ttl e d p r o p o siti o n o f la w th at a ju d g m e n t , d e c r e e
o r o r d e r o b t ai n e d b y pl a yi n g fra u d o n th e C o u rt, Tri b u n al o r A ut h ority
i s a n ullity a n d n o n e s t in th e e y e o f la w. S u c h a ju d g m e n t , d e c r e e o r
o r d e r --b y th e fir st C o u rt o r b y th e fin al C o u rt-- h a s to b e tr e at e d a s
n ullity b y e v e r y C o urt, s u p e ri or o r inf eri or. It c a n b e c h all e n g e d in a n y
C o urt, at a n y ti m e , in a p p e al , r e vi si o n , w rit o r e v e n in c oll at e r al
p r o c e e di n g s.
39 . T h e a b o v e prin ci pl e , h o w e v e r, i s s u bj e ct t o e x c e p ti o n o f
fra u d . O n c e it i s e s t a bli s h e d th at th e o r d e r w a s o b t ai n e d b y a
s u c c e s s f ul p arty b y p r a cti si n g o r pl a yi n g fra u d , it i s vitiat e d . S u c h
o r d e r c a n n o t b e h el d l e g al , v ali d o r in c o n s o n a n c e wit h la w. It i s n o n-
e xi st e nt a n d n o n e s t a n d c a n n ot b e all o w e d t o s t a n d . T hi s i s th e
fu n d a m e n t al prin ci pl e o f la w a n d n e e d s n o furth e r e l a b o r ati o n .
T h e r e f o r e , it h a s b e e n s ai d th at a ju d g m e n t , d e c r e e o r o r d e r o b t ai n e d
b y fra u d h a s t o b e tr e at e d a s n ullity, w h e t h e r b y th e c o urt o f fir st
in st a n c e o r b y th e fin al c o urt. A n d it h a s t o b e tr e at e d a s n o n e s t b y
e v e r y C o u rt, s u p e ri or o r inf eri or.”
(ii) In ( 1 9 9 4 ) 1 SCC 1 (S . P. C h e n g a l v a r a y a Naid u
(d e a d) b y L R S . v. J a g a n n at h (d e a d) b y L R S a n d ot h e rs),
th e H o n' bl e S u p r e m e C o urt h a s h el d a s f oll o w s : :
http://www.judis.nic.in
“6 . T h e fa ct s o f th e p r e s e n t c a s e l e a v e n o m a n n e r o f d o u b t
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th at J a g a n n at h o b t ai n e d th e p r eli mi n ar y d e c r e e b y pl a yi n g fra u d o n
th e c o urt. A fra u d i s a n a ct o f d eli b e r at e d e c e p ti o n with th e d e si g n o f
s e c u rin g s o m e t hi n g b y ta kin g u n f air a d v a nt a g e o f a n o t h e r. It i s a
d e c e p ti o n in o r d e r t o g ai n b y a n o t h e r' s lo s s . It i s a c h e atin g int e n d e d
t o g e t a n a d v a nt a g e . J a g a n n at h w a s w o r ki n g a s a cl e r k with C h u nilal
S o w c a r. H e p u r c h a s e d th e p r o p e rty in th e c o urt a u cti o n o n b e h alf o f
C h u nilal S o w c a r. H e h a d , o n hi s o w n v oliti o n , e x e c u t e d th e
r e gi st e r e d r el e a s e d e e d ( E x hi bit B - 1 S ) in f a v o u r o f C h u nilal S o w c a r
r e g a r di n g th e p r o p e r ty in di s p ut e . H e k n e w th at th e a p p ell a nt s h a d
p ai d th e t ot al d e c r e t al a m o u nt t o hi s m a s t e r C h u nilal S o w c a r.
W it h o ut di s cl o si n g all th e s e fa ct s , h e fil e d th e s uit f or th e p artitio n o f
th e p r o p e r ty o n th e g r o u n d th at h e h a d p u r c h a s e d th e p r o p e r ty o n
hi s o w n b e h alf a n d n ot o n b e h alf o f C h u nilal S o w c a r. N o n-p r o d u cti o n
and even n o n-m e n ti o ni n g of th e r el e a s e deed at th e trial
ta nt a m o u nt s t o pl a yi n g fra u d o n th e c o urt. W e d o n ot a g r e e wit h th e
o b s e r v ati o n s o f th e Hi g h C o urt th at th e a p p ella nt s-d e f e n d a nt s c o ul d
h a v e e a sily p r o d u c e d th e c e r tifi e d r e gi st e r e d c o p y o f E x hi bit B - 15
a n d n o n-s uit e d th e pl aintiff. A litig a nt, w h o a p p r o a c h e s th e c o urt, i s
b o u n d t o p r o d u c e all th e d o c u m e n t s e x e c u t e d b y hi m w hi c h a r e
r el e v a nt t o th e litig ati o n . If h e with h ol d s a vital d o c u m e n t in o r d e r t o
g ai n a d v a nt a g e o n th e o t h e r s i d e th e n h e w o ul d b e g uilty o f pl a yi n g
fra u d o n th e c o urt a s w e ll a s o n th e o p p o sit e p arty.”
(iii) In A I R 2 0 1 7 S C 2 0 5 6 (K a r u n a k a r a n v . V. P a d m i n i ),
th e H o n' bl e S u p r e m e C o urt h a s h el d a s f oll o w s :
“9 . T h e l e ar n e d S i n gl e J u d g e h el d th at th e c o ntr a v e n ti o n s
p oi nt e d o u t b y th e A p p ell a nt/ P e titi o n e r di d n o t fall within th e a m bit o f
R ul e 29(8). T hi s fin di n g w a s u p h el d b y th e Di vi si o n B e n c h . S e c ti o n
9 6 o f th e A c t cl e a rly e n vi s a g e s th at a s si g n m e n t c a n o nly b e m a d e in
f a v o u r o f la n dl e s s a g ri c ultural la b o u r e r s o r s m all h ol d e r s a n d o t h e r
la n dl or d s . In thi s c a s e , w e a r e o nly c o n c e r n e d with la n dl e s s
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a gri c ultural la b o u r e r s . E v e n if w e w e r e t o ig n o r e th e fal s e cl ai m s e t
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u p b y R e s p o n d e nt N o . 1 th at s h e h a d o b t ai n e d th e t e n a n c y rig ht s o n
thi s la n d fr o m K. P. G o pi n at h a n in th e y e a r 1962 , a d mitt e dly w h e n
s h e w a s o nly 10 y e a r s ol d a n d at th at ti m e K. P. G o pi n at h a n w a s n o t
th e o w n e r o f th e p r o p e r ty a s hi s fat h e r K. P. C h o yi w a s s till ali v e , y e t
w e c a n n o t ig n o r e th e fa ct th at in th e y e a r 198 8 R e s p o n d e n t N o . 1
w a s h a vi n g a v alid lic e n c e to r u n a n al u mi niu m in d u s tr y a n d w a s
e m pl o yi n g 9 p e r s o n s . T h e r e f o r e , R e s p o n d e n t N o . 1 c a n n o t cl ai m t o
fall u n d e r th e c at e g o r y o f "la n dl e s s a gri c ultural la b o u r e r". T h e r e f o r e ,
s h e h a d o b t ai n e d th e a s si g n m e n t o r d e r b y tot ally m i s- r e p r e s e n tin g
th e fa ct s a n d h a d pl a y e d fra u d o n th e a ut h oriti e s . T h e la w i s w e ll
s e ttl e d th at fra u d vitiat e s all c o n tra ct s o r a g r e e m e n t s . T hi s i s a c a s e
w h e r e fra u d i s w rit lar g e . It i s e vi d e nt th at a s s i g n m e n t w a s o b t ai n e d
in t ot al c o ntr a v e n ti o n o f S e c ti o n 96 o f th e A c t a n d , th e r e f o r e , R ul e
2 9(8) w a s al s o a p pli c a bl e . H e n c e , w e a r e n o t in a g r e e m e n t with th e
vi e w e x p r e s s e d b y th e Di vi si o n B e n c h o f th e Hi g h C o urt o f K e r al a .
A c c o r di n gly, th e a p p e al i s all o w e d . T h e ju d g m e n t s o f th e l e ar n e d
S i n gl e J u d g e a n d th e Di vi si o n B e n c h a r e s e t a si d e a n d th e w rit
p e titi o n o f th e A p p ell a nt/ P e titi o n e r i s all o w e d . T h e o r d e r o f th e
Di stri ct C oll e ct or c a n c e llin g th e A s s i g n m e n t D e e d d at e d 22.08.2003
i s r e s t o r e d .”
(iv) In C D J 2 0 0 5 S C 5 4 1 (T h e S t a t e o f A n d h r a P r a d e s h
& A n o t h e r v . T. S u r y a c h a n d r a R a o ), th e H o n' bl e S u p r e m e C o urt
h a s h el d a s f oll o w s :
“9. A "fra u d" i s a n a ct o f d eli b e r at e d e c e p ti o n with th e d e si g n
o f s e c u rin g s o m e t hi n g b y ta kin g u n f aira d v a nt a g e o f a n o t h e r. It i s a
d e c e p ti o n in o r d e r t o g ai n b y a n ot h e r' s lo s s . It i s a c h e atin g
int e n d e d t o g e t a n a d v a nt a g e . ( S e e S . P. C h a n g al v a r a y a N ai d u v.
J a g a n n at h (1994 (1) S C C 1) .
10 . "Fra u d" a s i s w e ll k n o w n vitiat e s e v e r y s o l e m n a ct . F r a u d
http://www.judis.nic.in a n d ju sti c e n e v e r d w e ll t o g e t h e r. F r a u d i s a c o n d u ct e ith e r b y l ett er
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o r w o r d s , w hi c h in cl u d e s th e o t h e r p e r s o n o r a ut h orityt o ta k e a
d e fi nit e d e t e r mi n ati v e s t a n d a s a r e s p o n s e to th e c o n d u ct o f th e
f or m e r e it h e r b y w o r d s o r l ett e r. It i s al s o w e ll s e ttl e d th at
m i s r e p r e s e n t ati o n it s elf a m o u nt s to fra u d . In d e e d , in n o c e n t
m i s r e p r e s e n t ati o n m a y al s o gi v e r e a s o n t o cl ai m r eli ef a g ai n st fra u d .
A fra u d ul e nt m i s r e p r e s e n t ati o n i s c all e d d e c e it a n d c o n si st s in
l e a di n g a m a n int o d a m a g e b y willfully o r r e c kl e s s l y c a u si n g hi m t o
b e li e v e a n d a ct o n fal s e h o o d . It i s a fra u d in la w if a p arty m a k e s
r e p r e s e n t ati o n s , w hi c h h e k n o w s t o b e fal s e , a n d injur y e n u r e s
th e r e fr o m alth o u g h th e m o ti v e fr o m w hi c h th e r e p r e s e n t ati o n s
p r o c e e d e d m a y n ot h a v e b e e n b a d . A n a ct o f fra u d o n c o urt i s
al w a y s vi e w e d s e ri o u sl y. A c ollu si o n o r c o n s pira c y with a vi e w to
d e p ri v e th e rig ht s o f th e o t h e r s in r el ati o n t o a p r o p e rty w o ul d
r e n d e r th e tra n s a c ti o n v oi d a b initi o. F r a u d a n d d e c e p ti o n a r e
s y n o n y m o u s . Alth o u g h in a gi v e n c a s e a d e c e p ti o n m a y n ot
a m o u nt t o fra u d , fra u d i s a n at h e m a t o all e q uit a bl e prin ci pl e s a n d
a n y a ff air taint e d with fra u d c a n n ot b e p e r p e t u at e d o r s a v e d b y th e
a p pli c ati o n o f a n y e q uit a bl e d o c trin e in cl u di n g r e s ju di c at a . ( S e e
R a m C h a n d r a S i n g h v. S a vitri D e vi a n d O r s.(2003 (8) S C C 319).
11. "Fra u d" a n d c ollu si o n vitiat e e v e n th e m o s t s o l e m n
p r o c e e di n g s in a n y ci viliz e d s y s t e m o f juri s pr u d e n c e . It i s a c o n c e p t
d e s c ri pti v e o f h u m a n c o n d u ct . Mi c h a el L e vi lik e n s a fra u d s t e r t o
Milt o n' s s o r c e r e r, C o m u s , w h o e x ult e d in hi s a bility t o, 'win g m e int o
th e e a s y h e art e d m a n a n d tra p hi m int o s n a r e s' . It h a s b e e n d e fin e d
a s a n a ct o f tri c k e r y o r d e c e it. In W e b s t e r' s T hir d N e w Int er n ati o n al
Di cti o n a r y "fra u d" in e q uity h a s b e e n d e fin e d a s a n a ct o r o m i s si o n t o
a ct o r c o n c e al m e n t b y w hi c h o n e p e r s o n o b t ai n s a n a d v a nt a g e
a g ai n s t c o n s ci e n c e o v e r a n ot h e r o r w hi c h e q uity o r p u bli c p oli c y
f or bi d s a s b e i n g p r ej u di ci al t o a n o t h e r. In Bl a c k' s L e g al Di cti o n a r y,
"fra u d" i s d e fi n e d a s a n int e nti o n al p e r v e r si o n o f tr uth f or th e p u r p o s e
o f in d u ci n g a n ot h e r in r elia n c e u p o n it t o p art with s o m e v al u a bl e
thin g b e l o n gi n g to hi m or s urr e n d er a l e g al rig ht; a fal s e
http://www.judis.nic.in r e p r e s e n t ati o n o f a m a tt e r o f fa ct w h e t h e r b y w o r d s o r b y c o n d u ct , b y
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fal s e o r m i sl e a di n g all e g ati o n s , o r b y c o n c e al m e n t o f th at w hi c h
s h o ul d h a v e b e e n di s cl o s e d , w hi c h d e c e i v e s a n d i s int e n d e d t o
d e c e i v e a n o t h e r s o th at h e s h all a ct u p o n it to hi s l e g al injur y. In
C o n ci s e O x f o r d Di cti o n ar y, it h a s b e e n d e fi n e d a s c ri mi n al d e c e p ti o n ,
u s e o f fal s e r e p r e s e n t ati o n to g ai n u nj u st a d v a nt a g e ; di s h o n e s t
artifi c e o r tri ck . A c c o r di n g t o H al s b u r y' s L a w s o f E n gl a n d , a
r e p r e s e n t ati o n i s d e e m e d t o h a v e b e e n fal s e , a n d th e r e f o r e a
m i s r e p r e s e n t ati o n , if it w a s at th e m a t e ri al d at e fal s e in s u b s t a n c e
a n d in fa ct . S e c ti o n 17 o f th e In di a n C o n tra ct A c t , 1872 d e fi n e s
"fra u d" a s a ct c o m m itt e d b y a p arty t o a c o n tra ct with int e nt t o
d e c e i v e a n o t h e r. F r o m di cti o n ar y m e a ni n g o r e v e n o t h e r wi s e fra u d
ari s e s o ut o f d eli b e r at e a cti v e r ol e o f r e p r e s e n t at or a b o ut a fa ct ,
w hi c h h e k n o w s t o b e u ntr u e y e t h e s u c c e e d s in m i sl e a di n g th e
r e p r e s e n t e e b y m a ki n g hi m b e li e v e it t o b e tr u e . T h e r e p r e s e n t ati o n
t o b e c o m e fra u d ul e nt m u s t b e o f fa ct with k n o wl e d g e th at it w a s
fal s e . In a l e a di n g E n gli s h c a s e i. e . D e r r y a n d O r s . v. P e e k (1886-90)
All E R 1 w h at c o n s titut e s "fra u d" w a s d e s c ri b e d th u s : ( All E R p . 22 B -
C ) "fra u d" i s p r o v e d w h e n it i s s h o w n th at a fal s e r e p r e s e n t ati o n h a s
b e e n m a d e (i) k n o wi n gly, o r (ii) with o ut b e li ef in it s tr uth , o r (iii)
r e c kl e s s l y, c a r el e s s w h e t h e r it b e tr u e o r fal s e". B u t "fra u d" in p u bli c
la w i s n o t th e s a m e a s "fra u d" in pri v at e la w. N o r c a n th e in gr e di e nt s ,
w hi c h e s t a bli s h "fra u d" in c o m m e r ci al tra n s a cti o n , b e o f a s si st a n c e in
d e t e r mi nin g fra u d in A d mi ni strati v e L a w. It h a s b e e n a ptly o b s e r v e d
b y L o r d B ri d g e in K h a w aj a v. S e c r e t ar y o f S t at e f or H o m e D e ptt.
(1983) 1 All E R 765 , th at it i s d a n g e r o u s t o intr o d u c e m a xi m s o f
c o m m o n la w a s t o e f f e c t o f fra u d w hil e d e t e r mi nin g fra u d in r el ati o n
o f s t at ut or y la w. "Fra u d" in r el ati o n t o s t at ut e m u s t b e a c ol o u r a bl e
tra n s a cti o n to e v a d e th e p r o vi si o n s o f a s t at ut e . "If a s t at ut e h a s
b e e n p a s s e d f or s o m e o n e p arti c ul ar p ur p o s e , a c o urt o f la w will n o t
c o u nt e n a n c e a n y att e m p t w hi c h m a y b e m a d e t o e x t e n d th e
o p e r ati o n o f th e A c t t o s o m e t hi n g e l s e w hi c h i s q uit e f or ei g n t o it s
o bj e ct a n d b e y o n d it s s c o p e . P r e s e n t d a y c o n c e p t o f fra u d o n s t at ut e
http://www.judis.nic.in h a s v e e r e d r o u n d a b u s e o f p o w e r o r m al a fid e e x e r ci s e o f p o w e r. It
13
m a y ari s e d u e t o o v e r s t e p pi n g th e li mit s o f p o w e r o r d e f e atin g th e
p r o vi si o n o f s t at ut e b y a d o ptin g s u b t e rf u g e o r th e p o w e r m a y b e
e x e r ci s e d f or e x tr a n e o u s o r irr el e v a nt c o n si d e r ati o n s . T h e c ol o ur o f
fra u d in p u bli c la w o r a d mi ni strati o n la w, a s it i s d e v e l o pi n g , i s
a s s u m i n g diff e r e nt s h a d e s . It ari s e s fr o m a d e c e p ti o n c o m m itt e d b y
di s cl o s u r e o f in c orr e ct fa ct s k n o wi n gly a n d d eli b e r at ely to in v o k e
e x e r ci s e o f p o w e r a n d p r o c u r e a n o r d e r fr o m a n a ut h ority o r tri b u n al.
It m u s t r e s ult in e x e r ci s e o f juri s di cti o n w hi c h o t h e r wi s e w o ul d n o t
h a v e b e e n e x e r ci s e d . T h e m i s r e p r e s e n t ati o n m u s t b e in r el ati o n t o
th e c o n diti o n s p r o vi d e d in a s e c ti o n o n e xi st e n c e o r n o n-e xi st e n c e o f
w hi c h th e p o w e r c a n b e e x e r ci s e d . B u t n o n-di s cl o s u r e o f a fa ct n o t
r e q uir e d b y a s t at ut e t o b e di s cl o s e d m a y n ot a m o u nt t o fra u d . E v e n
in c o m m e r ci al tra n s a c ti o n s n o n-di s cl o s u r e o f e v e r y fa ct d o e s n ot
vitiat e th e a g r e e m e n t . "In a c o n tra ct e v e r y p e r s o n m u s t lo o k f or
hi m s e lf a n d e n s u r e s th at h e a c q uir e s th e inf or m ati o n n e c e s s a r y to
a v oi d b a d b a r g ai n . In p u bli c la w th e d ut y i s n ot t o d e c e i v e .”
( v) In A I R 1998 SC 972 (S a y y e d Ali v. A n d h r a
P r a d e s h W a k f B o a r d , H y d e r a b a d ), th e H o n' bl e S u p r e m e C o urt
h a s h el d a s f oll o w s :
“14 . L a s tly, it w a s c o nt e n d e d b y l e ar n e d c o u n s e l f or th e
a p p ell a nt th at o n c e p att a , u n d e r th e In a m s A c t , h a vi n g b e e n g r a nt e d
in f a v o u r o f M o k h a s a d ar, it w a s n ot o p e n to th e Hi g h C o u rt t o h ol d
th at th e p r o p e r ty w a s W a k f p r o p e rt y. In o t h e r w o r d s , th e a r g u m e n t
s e e m s to p r o c e e d O n th e b a si s th at o n c e p att a h a s b e e n g r a nt e d
u n d e r th e In a m s A c t to M o k h a s a d a r s , th e la n d h a s c e a s e d t o b e a
w a k f p r o p e r ty. It m a y b e s t at e d th at a w a k f i s a p e r m a n e n t d e di c ati o n
o f p r o p e rty f or p ur p o s e s r e c o g niz e d b y M u sli m la w a s pi o u s r eligi o u s
o r c h arita bl e a n d th e p r o p e r ty h a vi n g b e e n f o u n d a s W a k f w o ul d
al w a y s r et ai n it s c h a r a ct e r a s a W a k f. In o t h e r w o r d s , o n c e a W a k f
http://www.judis.nic.in al w a y s a W a k f a n d th e g r a nt o f p att a in f a v o u r o f M o k h a s a d a r u n d e r
14
th e In a m s A c t d o e s n ot , in a n y m a n n e r, n ullify th e e a rli er d e di c ati o n
m a d e o f th e p r o p e r ty c o n s titutin g th e s a m e a s W a k f. A ft e r a W a k f
h a d b e e n c r e at e d , it c o ntin u e s t o b e s o f or all ti m e t o c o m e a n d
furth e r c o n tin u e s t o b e g o v e r n e d b y th e p r o vi si o n s o f th e W a k f
A c t a n d a g r a nt o f p att a in f a v o u r o f M o k h a s a d a r d o e s n o t a ff e ct th e
o ri gin al c h a r a ct e r o f th e W a k f p r o p e r t y. W e a c c o r di n gly fin d n o
s u b s t a n c e in la st a r g u m e n t o f l e ar n e d c o u n s e l f or th e a p p ell a nt .”
( vi) In A I R 1 9 6 0 S C 1 0 0 (N a r a y a n v . G o p a l ), th e H o n' bl e
S u p r e m e C o urt h a s h el d a s f oll o w s :
“ 21 . T h u s , it w a s d o u bly n e c e s s a r y f or th e a p p ell a nt t o b ri n g
b e f o r e th e C o u rt all th e d o c u m e n t s in w hi c h hi s titl e w a s c r e at e d ,
r e c o g ni s e d o r c o n fir m e d . H e h a s , h o w e v e r, fil e d o nly a s e l e cti o n , a n d
h a s r efrai n e d fr o m b rin gi n g int o e vi d e n c e all th e m a t e ri al in hi s
p o s s e s s i o n w hi c h a s lat e a s 193 1 w a s a v aila bl e t o hi m . W e h a v e
p oi nt e d o u t a b o v e th at in 1931 h e c a u s e d a hi st or y o f th e S a n s t h a n
t o b e p u bli s h e d , a n d it r e f e r s t o n u m e r o u s d o c u m e n t s , w hi c h h a v e
n ot f o u n d th eir w a y int o C o urt. T h e l e ar n e d J u d g e s o f th e Hi g h C o urt
al s o m e n ti o n e d thi s fa ct , a n d s t at e d th at in vi e w o f th e failur e o f th e
a p p ell a nt t o p r o v e c o n cl u si v ely th at a hi g h e r titl e th a n th e o n e m a d e
o ut b e f o r e th e In a m C o m m i s si o n w a s a a v aila bl e t o hi m , n o r elia n c e
c o ul d b e pl a c e d u p o n s u c h d o c u m e n t s a s h a d b e e n e x hi bit e d . W e
h a v e t o s e e w h e t h e r thi s s t at e m e n t i s c o r r e ct in all th e cir c u m s t a n c e s
o f thi s c a s e .”
( vii) In 2 0 0 9 ( 7 ) M L J 3 3 5 (A y y a n k u tt y G o u n d e r v .
R e v e n u e D i v i s i o n a l O f fi c e r ), thi s C o urt h a s h el d a s f oll o w s :
“10 . M r. V. L a k s h mi n a r a y a n a p p e a r s f or th e W a k f B o a r d in th e
http://www.judis.nic.in
thr e e W rit P e titi o n s 4455 6 t o 4455 8 o f 2006 fil e d b y th e
15
s u b s e q u e n t p u r c h a s e r s . H e r e f er r e d t o d e ci si o n o f th e A n d h r a
P r a d e s h Hi g h C o u rt in A n d h r a P r a d e s h W a k f B o a r d , H y d e r a b a d -
v s. -S . Syed Ali M ulla and oth er s r e p ort e d in
M A N U/A P/0194/1985 : A I R 198 5 A P 12 7 w h e r ei n a n o t h e r d e ci si o n
o f th e A n d h r a P r a d e s h Hi g h C o urt w a s cit e d , viz., R . D o r a s w a m y
R e d d y - v s . -B o a r d o f W a k f r e p ort e d in (1978)2 A P L J (H C ) 399
w hi c h r el at e s to s e r vi c e g r a nt a n d it s i m pli c ati o n . H e r e f e r r e d t o th e
f oll o wi n g p orti o n o f th e d e ci si o n t o s t at e th at th e l e g al h eir s o f th e
lat e k h a zi A b d ul R a s h e e d d o n o t h a v e a rig ht o f ali e n ati o n . T h e
p r o p e rty i s a w a k f p r o p e rt y. In th at d e ci si o n , it i s h el d a s f oll o w s :-
12 . In Zi n y ar Jung v. Dir e ct o r of E n d o w m e nt s
M A N U/ S C/0383/1962 : A I R 1963 S C 985 , th e S u p r e m e C o u rt
o b s e r v e d:
S i milarly th e M u sli m la w r el atin g to tr u st s diff er s
fu n d a m e n t ally fr o m th e E n gli s h la w. A c c o r di n g t o M r. A m e e r Ali.
T h e M o h a m m a d a n la w o w e s it s o ri gin t o a r ul e laid d o w n b y
th e P r o p h e t o f I sl a m ; a n d m e a n s 'th e tyin g u p o f p r o p e r ty in th e
o w n e r s hi p o f G o d th e Al mi g hty a n d th e d e v o ti o n o f th e p r ofit s f or
th e b e n e fit s o f h u m a n b ei n g s' . A s a r e s ult, o f th e c r e ati o n o f a w a k f
th e rig ht o f W a k f i s e x tin g ui s h e d a n d th e o w n e r s hi p i s tra n s f e r r e d
t o th e Al mi g ht y. T h e m a n a g e r o f th e W a k f i s th e M ut a w alli, th e
G o v e r n o r, s u p e rint e n d e n t o r c u r at o r. B u t in th at c a p a city h e h a s n o
rig ht in th e p r o p e r ty b e l o n gi n g t o th e w a k f ; th e p r o p e r ty i s n ot
v e s t e d in hi m a n d h e i s n ot a tr u st e e in th e l e g al s e n s e .
T h e r e f o r e , th e r e i s n o d o u b t th at th e w a k f t o w hi c h th e A c t
a p pli e s , in e s s e n ti al f e at ur e s i s diff e r e nt fr o m th e tr u st-a s k n o w n t o
E n gli s h L a w.
In R . D o r a s w a m y R e d d y v. B o a r d o f W a k f s (1978)2 A P L J
(H C ) 399 G a n g a d h a r a R a o , J. , d e alin g with a s e r vi c e g r a nt m a d e
f or th e p ur p o s e of c e l e b r atin g Mohanum f e s ti val a n d f or
m ai nt ai nin g r e s tin g pl a c e f or fa kir s a n d in r e p ellin g th e a r g u m e n t
th at th e p r o p e rty d o e s n ot v e s t in th e Al mi g ht y b u t it v e s t s in th e
http://www.judis.nic.in p e r s o n w h o i s t o r e n d e r s e r vi c e , o b s e r v e d :
16
It i s tr u e th at th e la n d w a s g r a nt e d t o a n in di vi d u al t o
p e rf or m s e r vi c e . B u t it d o e s n o t m e a n th at h e a c q uir e s titl e t o th at
p r o p e rt y. S i mil arly, if th e la n d c a n b e r e s u m e d f or n o n-p e rf or m a n c e
o f s e r vi c e a n d c a n b e r e-g r a nt e d to a n o t h e r p e r s o n f or r e n d e rin g
s e r vi c e , d o e s n ot m e a n th at th e o ri gin al g r a nt e e c o n tin u e s to b e
th e o w n e r o f th e p r o p e rt y. W h e n o n c e th e W a k f w a s c r e at e d it
c o ntin u e s t o b e W a k f. W h e n th e in a m i s r e s u m e d a n d r e-g r a nt e d it
d o e s n ot m e a n th at th e r e i s r e v o c ati o n o f th e s e r vi c e . It o nly
m e a n s th at th e w a k f p r o p e r ty i s e n tr u st e d t o a n ot h e r in di vi d u al t o
p e rf or m th e s e r vi c e .
We ar e in r e s p e c tf ul a g r e e m e n t with th e a f o r e s ai d
o b s e r v ati o n s a n d h ol d th at a ft e r 1964 a m e n d m e n t A c t , all s e r vi c e
g r a nt s m a d e f or a n y p ur p o s e r e c o g ni s e d b y th e M u sli m la w a s
pi o u s , r eligi o u s o r c h arita bl e h a v e th e e ff e c t o f c o n s titutin g th e
p r o p e rty, s u bj e ct m a tt e r o f th e g r a nt t o b e w a k f, it i s s o b e c a u s e
th e w a k f in it s b a si c e s s e n ti al in v ol v e s th e p e r m a n e n t d e di c ati o n o f
th e p r o p e r ty f or s u c h a p e rf or m a n c e .
P a r a g r a p h 12 o f th e s ai d ju d g m e n t d e al s with b o t h th e
s it u ati o n (i. e.) th e n at ur e o f d e di c ati o n o f p r o p e r ty u n d e r M u sli m
L a w a n d th e p o w e r to r e s u m e th e la n d f or th e n o n-p e rf or m a n c e o f
s e r vi c e . H e , th e r e f o r e , ju stifi e d th e i m p u g n e d p r o c e e di n g s . H e
furth e r s u b m itt e d th at p e titi o n e r s h a v e n o l e g al rig ht t o b e h e a r d
a n d th e r e f o r e , n oti c e i s n ot n e c e s s a r y. T h e n oti c e , if a n y, i s s u e d
p r e vi o u sl y will n ot cl ot h e th e p e titi o n e r s with a n y rig ht t o cl ai m
p att a o r to b e h e a r d in th e p r o c e e di n g s .”
( viii) In 2 0 1 1 ( 6 ) M L J 7 3 1 (M . G o v i n d a n v . S p e c i a l
C o m m i s s i o n e r a n d C o m m i s s i o n e r o f L a n d A d m i n i s t r a t i o n ),
thi s C o urt h a s h el d a s f oll o w s :
“ 25 . T h e r e i s n o ti m e li mit t o e x e r ci s e th e s u o m o t u p o w e r s
http://www.judis.nic.in u n d e r th e A c t . T h e c o r r e cti v e m e a s u r e s c a n b e ta k e n w h e n e v e r th e
17
fra u d ul e nt a n d irr e g ul ar o r d e r i s b r o u g ht t o th e n o ti c e o f th e
C o m m i s si o n e r o f L a n d A d m i ni strati o n . T h e A c t d o e s n o t p r o vi d e f or
a n y s p e cifi c ti m e fra m e . T h e ti m e li mit o f s i xty d a y s m e n ti o n e d in
C l a u s e 9 o f G . O. M s. N o.130 0 , d at e d 30.04.1971 , i s o nly f or a n
a p pli c ati o n t o b e fil e d b y th e a g g ri e v e d p arty f or n o t g r a ntin g p att a
b u t n o t f or th e s u o m o t u a cti o n b y th e a ut h ority. T h e r e f o r e , th e n e xt
c o nt e nti o n o f th e l e ar n e d c o u n s e l f or th e p e titi o n e r th at th e a cti o n o f
th e fir st r e s p o n d e n t in c a n c e llin g th e p att a g r a nt e d t o th e p e titi o n e r i s
ti m e b a r r e d c a n n o t b e s u s t ai n e d .”
(ix) In A I R 2 0 0 7 S C ( S u p ) 4 7 3 (S t a t e o f P u n j a b a n d
o t h e r s v . B h a t i n d a D i st r i c t C o-o p . M i l k P. Uni o n L i m i t e d ) ,
th e H o n' bl e S u p r e m e C o urt h a s h el d a s f oll o w s :
“ 10 . T h e l e ar n e d c o u n s e l a p p e a rin g o n b e h alf o f th e a p p ell a nt,
in s u p p ort o f thi s a p p e al , int e r alia , s u b m itt e d th at th e Hi g h C o urt in
p a s s i n g th e i m p u g n e d ju d g m e n t c o m m itt e d a s e ri o u s ill e g ality in s o
far a s it fail e d t o ta k e int o c o n si d e r ati o n th at n o ti m e li mit h a s b e e n
fix e d f or e x e r ci s e o f s u o m o t o juri s di cti o n o f th e R e vi si o n al A ut h ority.
It w a s furth e r s u b m itt e d th at a s it w a s o p e n t o th e r e s p o n d e n t t o rai s e
all c o n t e nti o n s b e f o r e th e R e vi si o n al A ut h ority it s elf, it w a s n o t a fit
c a s e w h e r e th e Hi g h C o u rt s h o ul d h a v e e x e r ci s e d it s p o w e r o f
ju di ci al r e vi e w.
17 . It i s trit e th at if n o p e ri o d o f li mitati o n h a s b e e n p r e s c ri b e d ,
s t at ut or y a ut h ority m u s t e x e r ci s e it s juri s di cti o n wit hin a r e a s o n a bl e
p e ri o d . W h at , h o w e v e r, s h all b e th e r e a s o n a bl e p e ri o d w o ul d d e p e n d
u p o n th e n at ur e o f th e s t at ut e , rig ht s a n d lia biliti e s th e r e u n d e r a n d
o t h e r r el e v a nt fa ct or s .”
( x) In 1 9 8 9 ( 1) S C C 1 0 1 (M u n i c i p a l C o r p o r a t i o n o f
http://www.judis.nic.in
18
D e l h i v . G u r n a m K a u r ) , th e H o n' bl e S u p r e m e C o urt h a s h el d a s
f oll o w s :
“11. P r o n o u n c e m e n t s o f la w, w hi c h a r e n ot p art o f th e rati o
d e ci d e n di a r e cl a s s e d a s o bit e r di ct a a n d a r e n o t a ut h oritativ e . W ith
all r e s p e c t t o th e l e ar n e d J u d g e w h o p a s s e d th e o r d e r in J a m n a D a s'
c a s e a n d t o th e l e ar n e d J u d g e w h o a g r e e d wit h hi m , w e c a n n ot
c o n c e d e th at thi s C o u rt i s b o u n d t o f oll o w it. It w a s d eli v e r e d with o ut
a r g u m e n t , with o ut r e f e r e n c e t o th e r el e v a nt p r o vi si o n s o f th e A c t
c o n f e rrin g e x p r e s s p o w e r o n th e M u ni ci p al C o r p o r ati o n t o dir e ct
r e m o v al o f e n c r o a c h m e n t s fr o m a n y p u bli c pl a c e lik e p a v e m e n t o r
p u bli c s tr e e t s , a n d with o ut a n y cit ati o n o f a ut h ority. A c c o r di n gly, w e
d o n o t p r o p o s e t o u p h ol d th e d e ci si o n o f th e Hi g h C o u rt b e c a u s e , it
s e e m s t o u s th at it i s w r o n g in prin ci pl e a n d c a n n o t b e ju stifi e d b y th e
t er m s o f th e r el e v a nt p r o vi si o n s . A d e ci si o n s h o ul d b e tr e at e d a s
gi v e n p e r in c uria m w h e n it i s gi v e n in ig n o r a n c e o f th e t er m s o f a
s t at ut e o r o f a r ul e h a vi n g th e f or c e o f a s t at ut e . S o far a s th e o r d e r
s h o w s , n o a r g u m e n t w a s a d d r e s s e d t o th e C o urt o n th e q u e s ti o n o r
n o t w h e t h e r a n y dir e cti o n c o ul d p r o p e rly b e m a d e c o m p e llin g th e
M u ni ci p al C o r p o r ati o n t o c o n s tr u ct a s t all at th e pit c hi n g s it e o f a P G
N O 939 p a v e m e n t s q u att e r. P r o f e s s o r P. J . Fitz g e r al d , e dit or o f th e
S a l m o n d o n J u ri s pr u d e n c e , 12th e d n . e x pl ain s th e c o n c e p t o f s u b
s il e nti o at p . 153 in th e s e w o r d s :
"A d e ci si o n p a s s e s s u b s il e nti o, in th e t e c h ni c al s e n s e th at
h a s c o m e to b e att a c h e d t o th at p h r a s e , w h e n th e p arti c ul ar p oi nt o f
la w in v ol v e d in th e d e ci si o n i s n o t p e r c ei v e d b y th e c o urt o r p r e s e n t
t o it s m i n d . T h e C o u rt m a y c o n s ci o u sl y d e ci d e in f a v o u r o f o n e p arty
b e c a u s e o f p oi nt A , w hi c h it c o n si d e r s a n d p r o n o u n c e s u p o n . It m a y
b e s h o w n , h o w e v e r, th at lo gi c ally th e c o urt s h o ul d n o t h a v e d e ci d e d
in f a v o u r o f th e p arti c ul ar p arty u nl e s s it al s o d e ci d e d p oi nt B in hi s
f a v o u r ; b u t p oi nt B w a s n ot a r g u e d o r c o n si d e r e d b y th e c o urt. In
s u c h cir c u m s t a n c e s , alth o u g h p oi nt B w a s lo gi c ally in v ol v e d in th e
http://www.judis.nic.in fa ct s a n d alth o u g h th e c a s e h a d a s p e cifi c o u t c o m e , th e d e ci si o n i s
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n o t a n a ut h ority o n p oi nt B . P o i nt B i s s ai d t o p a s s s u b s il e nti o .”
( xi) In A I R 2 0 1 0 S C 7 4 4 (M a n d a l R e v e n u e O f fi c e r v .
G o u n d l a V e n k a i a h a n d A n o t h e r ) , th e H o n' bl e S u p r e m e C o urt
h a s h el d a s f oll o w s :
“29. In o u r vi e w, e v e n th o u g h b y m a ki n g r e f e r e n c e t o th e
ju d g m e n t o f thi s C o u rt in S y e d Ya k o o b v. K. S . R a d h a kri s h n a n a n d
o t h e r s ( s u p r a ) , th e Hi g h C o u rt h a s gi v e n a n i m p r e s si o n th at it w a s
a w a r e o f th e li mitati o n s o f c e r ti o rari juri s di cti o n u n d e r A rti cl e 226 o f
th e C o n s tituti o n o f In di a , a c riti c al a n aly si s o f th e i m p u g n e d o r d e r
m a k e s it cl e a r th at th e Hi g h C o u rt e x c e e d e d it s juri s di cti o n a n d
c o m m itt e d s e ri o u s e r r o r b y int erf erin g with th e w e ll arti c ul at e d a n d
w e ll r e a s o n e d c o n c u r r e nt fin din g s r e c o r d e d b y th e S p e ci al Tri b u n al
a n d th e S p e ci al C o urt th at G o n d a M allai a h h a d ill e g ally o c c u pi e d th e
G o v e r n m e n t la n d a n d a ft e r hi s d e a t h , th e r e s p o n d e nt s c o n tin u e d
wit h th e ill e g al p o s s e s s i o n a n d a s s u c h th e y w e r e lia bl e t o b e tr e at e d
a s la n d g r a b b e r s within th e m e a ni n g o f S e c ti o n 2( d ) o f th e L a n d
G r a b bi n g A c t a n d th at th e y h a v e fail e d to p r o v e th at th eir p o s s e s s i o n
w a s o p e n a n d h o s til e t o th e G o v e r n m e n t s o a s t o e n titl e th e m t o
cl ai m titl e o v e r th e s c h e d ul e la n d b y a d v e r s e p o s s e s s i o n . T h e
r e s p o n d e n t s di d n ot p r o d u c e a n y a ffir m ati v e e vi d e n c e b e f o r e th e
S p e ci al Tri b u n al r e g a r di n g th e p oi nt o f ti m e w h e n G o n d a M allai a h
o c c u pi e d th e la n d a n d s t art e d c ulti vati o n . In st e a d , th e y r eli e d u p o n
th e n o ti c e s i s s u e d u n d e r S e c ti o n 7 o f th e E n c r o a c h m e n t A c t a n d
pl e a d e d th at th e p r o c e e di n g s initiat e d u n d e r th at A c t will b e d e e m e d
t o h a v e b e e n d r o p p e d b e c a u s e n o o r d e r w a s p a s s e d f or e vi cti o n o f
th eir f ath e r b y tr e atin g hi m a n e n c r o a c h e r o f th e G o v e r n m e n t la n d .
T h e S p e ci al C o u rt h a s c o n si d e r e d thi s i s s u e in d e t ail a n d a s s i g n e d
c o g e n t r e a s o n s f or d o u b tin g th e a ut h e nti city o f th e d o c u m e n t s
p r o d u c e d b y th e r e s p o n d e n t s in s u p p o rt o f th eir pl e a . T h e Hi g h C o urt
http://www.judis.nic.in c o m pl et ely o v e rl o o k e d th e o b s e r v ati o n s m a d e b y th e S p e ci al C o urt
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o n thi s i s s u e a n d d e ci d e d th e c a s e b y p r e s u m i n g th at th e c o m p e t e nt
a ut h ority h a d ta k e n a c o n s ci o u s d e ci si o n to all o w G o n d a M allaia h to
c o n tin u e hi s o c c u p ati o n o f th e G o v e r n m e n t la n d . In o u r c o n si d e r e d
vi e w, th e a p p r o a c h a d o pt e d b y th e Hi g h C o u rt w a s e x - fa ci e
e r r o n e o u s b e c a u s e a b s e n c e o f fin al o r d e r in th e p r o c e e di n g s
initiat e d u n d e r th e E n c r o a c h m e n t A c t c a n n ot l e a d t o a n inf e r e n c e
th at th e c o n c e r n e d a ut h ority h a d r e c o g ni z e d th e p o s s e s s i o n o f
G o n d a M allai a h o v e r th e s c h e d ul e la n d . T h at a p art, e v e n if thi s
C o urt w a s t o p r e s u m e th at th e p r o c e e di n g s initiat e d a g ai n st G o n d a
M allai a h u n d e r th e E n c r o a c h m e n t A c t h a d b e e n d r o p p e d , th e s ai d
p r e s u m p ti o n c a n n ot be ov er s tr et c h e d f or e n t ert ai nin g th e
r e s p o n d e n t s' cl ai m th at th eir p o s s e s s i o n w a s o p e n a n d h o s til e q u a
th e tr u e o w n e r i. e . th e G o v e r n m e n t . T h e p a y m e n t o f la n d r e v e n u e b y
G o n d a M allai a h a n d/or th e r e s p o n d e nt s a n d m a ki n g o f a p pli c ati o n s
b y th e m t o th e G o v e r n m e n t f or a s si g n m e n t o f th e s c h e d ul e la n d o r
r e g ul ari s ati o n o f th eir p o s s e s s i o n , c o m pl et ely d e m oli s h th eir c a s e
th at th eir p o s s e s s i o n w a s o p e n a n d h o s til e a n d th e y h a v e a c q uir e d
titl e b y a d v e r s e p o s s e s s i o n . In thi s c o nt e xt , it i s n e c e s s a r y t o
r e m e m b e r th at it i s w e ll n ei g h i m p o s s i bl e f or th e S t at e a n d it s
in str u m e n t aliti e s in cl u din g th e lo c al a ut h oriti e s t o k e e p e v e r y d a y
vi gila n c e/ w at c h o v e r v a s t tra ct s o f o p e n la n d o w n e d b y th e m o r o f
w hi c h th e y a r e th e p u bli c tr u st e e s . N o a m o u nt o f vi gil c a n s t o p
e n c r o a c h m e n t s a n d u n a ut h ori s e d o c c u p ati o n o f p u bli c la n d b y
u n s c r u p ul o u s e l e m e n t s , w h o a ct lik e v ultur e s t o g r a b s u c h la n d ,
rai s e ill e g al c o n s tr u cti o n s a n d , at ti m e s , s u c c e e d e d in m a ni p ul atin g
th e S t at e a p p a r at u s f or g e ttin g th eir o c c u p ati o n/p o s s e s s i o n a n d
c o n s tr u cti o n r e g ul ariz e d . It i s o u r c o n si d e r e d vi e w th at w h e r e a n
e n c r o a c h e r, ill e g al o c c u p a nt o r la n d g r a b b e r o f p u bli c p r o p e rty rai s e s
a pl e a th at h e h a s p e rf e c t e d titl e b y a d v e r s e p o s s e s s i o n , th e C o u rt i s
d ut y b o u n d t o a ct wit h g r e at e r s e ri o u s n e s s , c a r e a n d cir c u m s p e c ti o n .
A n y la xity in thi s r e g a r d m a y r e s ult in d e s tr u cti o n o f rig ht/titl e o f th e
S t at e to i m m o v a bl e p r o p e rty and gi v e up p er hand to th e
http://www.judis.nic.in e n c r o a c h e r s , u n a ut h ori s e d o c c u p a nt s o r la n d g r a b b e r s.
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11. Per contra, it is the submission of Mr.M.Vallinayagam, learned
Senior counsel for the private respondents that the writ petitioner has no
lo c u s s t a n di to file a writ petition and this appeal. Hence, the writ appeal
is liable to be dismissed on the ground of maintainability. It is further
contended that the petitioner seeks direction to the first respondent to
change the revenue records by exercising the power of revision, though
there is no prescribed period to exercise the revisional power, however it
has to be done within a reasonable period and the prayer to direct the
statutory authority to exercise revisional power after the lapse of 54 years
is unsustainable and unacceptable.
12. According to the learned Senior counsel, the land in dispute is
admittedly inam land and after implementation of Inam Abolition Act,
the entire land would vest with the Government. If any one claims right
over the same, they shall apply to the concerned authority with relevant
documents within the time, but if no application was registered within
the stipulated time, they are precluded from challenging the same. He
further added that the Act does not contemplate notice to the persons
interested, therefore the appellant need not be put on notice and heard
http://www.judis.nic.in
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before issuing Patta in favour of the private respondents.
13. It is also contended that even assuming that the dedication had
been made in favour of Wakf, proceedings to recover the property
should have been initiated by the Wakf and not by an individual. Further,
no notification has been issued to the effect that the property belongs to
Wakf, and hence even Wakf has no legal right to take action against the
respondents.
14. The learned Senior counsel has cited the following judgments
in support of his arguments.
(i) In 2 0 0 2 ( 1 ) C T C 5 6 1 (Ta m i l N a d u W a k f B o a r d v .
H at hij a A m m al (d e a d) b y LRS e t c . e t c . ,) , th e H o n' bl e
S u p r e m e C o urt h a s h el d a s f oll o w s :
“ 6 . In th e e v e n t , a n y p r o p e rty h a s b e e n o m itt e d b y
in a d v e r t e n c e o r o t h e r wi s e , th e n it i s f or W a k f B o a r d t o ta k e a cti o n
a s p r o vi d e d u n d e r S e c ti o n 27 o f th e A c t . If th e W a k f B o a r d h a s
r e a s o n t o b eli e v e th at a p arti c ul ar p r o p e rty i s a w a k f p r o p e rty th e n
it c a n it s elf c oll e ct inf or m ati o n a n d if a n y q u e s ti o n ari s e s w h e t h e r a
p arti c ul ar p r o p e rty i s a w a k f p r o p e rty o r n o t it m a y, a ft e r m a ki n g
s u c h e n q uiry a s it m a y d e e m fit d e ci d e th e q u e s ti o n a n d s u c h
d e ci si o n o f th e W a k f B o a r d s h all b e fin al u nl e s s r e v o k e d o r
m o difi e d b y a C i vil C o urt. S u c h a cti o n h a s n o t b e e n ta k e n b y th e
W a k f B o a r d in thi s c a s e .
http://www.judis.nic.in
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7 . T h e Hi g h C o u rt i s ju stifi e d in h ol din g th at th e W a k f B o a r d
h a d n o rig ht to in stitut e s uit f or d e cl a r ati o n th at a n y p r o p e r ty i s a
w a k f p r o p e rty a s th e s c h e m e o f th e A c t cl e a rly in di c at e s . T h e Hi g h
C o urt furth e r f o u n d th at a s far a s th e a p p ell a nt i s c o n c e r n e d with
r e g a r d t o titl e o f a n y p r o p e r ty, it m u s t c o m pl y with th e r e q uir e m e n t s
o f S e c ti o n s 4 ,5 a n d 6 o r 27 o f th e A c t , w hi c h m e a n s th at if a n y
p r o p e r ty is n ot p u bli s h e d as w a kf p r o p e r ty as r e q uir e d
u n d e r S e c ti o n 5(2) o f th e A c t o r th e B o a r d h a s n ot in v o k e d th e
s p e ci al p o w e r u n d e r S e c ti o n 27 , th e W a k f B o a r d c a n n ot fil e a s uit
f or d e cl a r ati o n a n d p o s s e s s i o n a n d o n th at b a si s u p h el d th e o r d e r
m a d e b y th e Trial C o urt a s affir m e d b y th e Fir st A p p ell at e C o u rt.
8 . M s . S h o b h a , l e ar n e d c o u n s e l f or th e a p p ell a nt, d r e w o u r
att e nti o n t o th e d e ci si o n o f thi s C o urt in S a y y e d Ali a n d O r s . v. A . P.
W a k f B o a r d , H y d e r a b a d a n d O r s ., [1998] 2 S C C 642 ; t o c o nt e n d
th at w a k f p r o p e r ty c a n n e v e r lo s e it s c h a r a ct e r a s w a k f p r o p e r ty
o n c e it i s s h o w n th at it i s a p e r m a n e nt d e di c ati o n o f p r o p e r ty a n d
o n c e a w a k f, it will al w a y s b e a w a k f. T h e p oi nt u r g e d in thi s C a s e
i s th at th e s uit p r o p e rty i s a w a k f p r o p e rty a n d h e n c e s o u g ht f or
p o s s e s s i o n . W h a t w a s p oi nt e d o ut b y th e Tri al C o urt, th e Fir st
A p p ell at e C o urt a n d th e Hi g h C o u rt c o n c ur r e ntly i s th at b e f o r e
filin g th e s uit a s p r o vi d e d in la w, th e W a k f B o a r d s h o ul d h a v e
f oll o w e d th e p r o c e d u r e a s r e q uir e d u n d e r S e c ti o n 4,5 a n d 6 o r 27
o f th e A c t . A fin din g o f fa ct h a s b e e n r e c o r d e d b y th e Tri al C o u rt,
a n d a ffir m e d in a p p e al , i s th at th e s uit p r o p e rti e s a r e n o t in cl u d e d
in th e n o tifi c ati o n p u bli s h e d u n d e r S e c ti o n 5(2) o f th e A c t a n d
th e r e f o r e , st e p s s h o ul d have been ta k e n as p r o vi d e d
u n d e r S e c ti o n 27 o f th e A c t . It i s o nly th e r e a ft e r a s uit f or
p o s s e s s i o n c o ul d h a v e b e e n fil e d b y th e a p p ell a nt. T h e r e i s n o
a n s w e r to thi s fin din g .”
(ii) In C . R . P. ( P D ) ( M D ). N o . 1 5 6 2 of 2012, d at e d
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1 1. 1 2.2 0 1 2 (H a z a r a t h Khaja S yed S u lth a n v.
M . V. P. G u n a v e l ), thi s C o urt h a s h el d a s f oll o w s :
“10 . A t th e o ut s e t , I w o ul d lik e t o fu mi g at e m y m i n d wit h th e
f oll o wi n g d e ci si o n s :
(i) Ta mil N a d u W a k f B o a r d v. H at hija A m m al (D e a d ) b y Lr s. ,
r e p o rt e d in 2002 (1) C T C 561 . C e r t ai n e x c e r pt s fr o m it, w o ul d r u n
th u s : "5. L e t us now e x a min e th e p r o vi si o n s of th e A ct.
U n d e r S e c ti o n 5(2)o f th e A c t , aft e r a p r o p e r ty i s n o tifi e d t o b e w a k f
p r o p e r ty, a d e t e r mi n ati o n i s m a d e b y a C i vil C o u rt w h e n e v e r a n y
di s p ut e ari s e s aft e r th e n o tifi c ati o n i s p u bli s h e d b y th e W a k f B o a r d a s
t o w h e t h e r a p arti c ul ar p r o p e rty s p e cifi e d a s w a k f p r o p e r ty in a li st
p u bli s h e d i s a w a k f p r o p e rty o r n o t. S e c ti o n 6 furth e r p r o vi d e s th at th e
C i vil C o u rt s h all n o t e n t e rt ain a n y s u c h s uit a ft e r th e e x pir y o f o n e
y e a r a ft e r th e d at e o f p u bli c ati o n o f th e li st b y th e B o a r d . S u c h a s uit
c a n n o t b e at th e in st a n c e o f th e W a k f B o a r d . A g ai n , th e B o a r d m a y
it s elf c oll e ct inf or m ati o n r e g a r di n g any p r o p e r ty as p r o vi d e d
u n d e r S e c ti o n 27 o f th e A c t a n d d e ci d e w h e t h e r a p arti c ul ar p r o p e rty
i s w a k f p r o p e r ty o r n ot a n d th at d e ci si o n i s fin al u nl e s s it i s r e v o k e d
o r m o difi e d b y a ci vil c o urt.
6 . In th e e v e nt, a ny p r o p e rty ha s been o m itt e d by
in a d v e r t e n c e o r o t h e r wi s e , th e n it i s f or th e W a k f B o a r d t o ta k e a cti o n
a s p r o vi d e d u n d e r S e c ti o n 27 o f th e A c t . If th e W a k f B o a r d h a s
r e a s o n t o b eli e v e th at a p arti c ul ar p r o p e rty i s a w a k f p r o p e rty th e n it
c a n it s elf c oll e ct inf or m ati o n a n d if a n y, q u e s ti o n ari s e s w h e t h e r a
p arti c ul ar p r o p e r ty i s a w a k f p r o p e r ty o r n ot it m a y, a ft e r m a ki n g s u c h
e n q uiry a s it m a y d e e m fit d e ci d e th e q u e s ti o n a n d s u c h d e ci si o n o f
th e W a k f b o a r d s h all b e fin al u nl e s s r e v o k e d o r m o difi e d b y a ci vil
c o urt. S u c h a cti o n h a s n ot b e e n ta k e n b y th e W a k f B o a r d in thi s
c a s e.
7 . T h e Hi g h C o urt i s ju stifi e d in h ol di n g th at th e W a k f B o a r d
http://www.judis.nic.in
h a d n o rig ht to in stitut e s uit f or d e cl a r ati o n th at a n y p r o p e r ty i s a w a k f
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p r o p e r ty a s th e s c h e m e o f th e A c t cl e a rly in di c at e s . T h e Hi g h C o urt
furth e r f o u n d th at a s far a s th e a p p ell a nt i s c o n c e r n e d with r e g a r d t o
titl e o f a n y p r o p e r ty, it m u s t c o m pl y with th e r e q uir e m e n t s o f S e c ti o n s
4 , 5 a n d 6 o r 27 o f th e A c t , w hi c h m e a n s th at if a n y p r o p e r ty i s n ot
p u bli s h e d a s w a k f p r o p e rty a s r e q uir e d u n d e r S e c ti o n 5(2) o f th e A c t
o r th e B o a r d h a s n o t in v o k e d th e s p e ci al p o w e r u n d e r S e c ti o n 27 ,
th e W a k f B o a r d c a n n o t fil e a s uit f or d e cl a r ati o n a n d p o s s e s s i o n a n d
o n th at b a si s u p h el d th e o r d e r m a d e b y th e Trial C o u rt a s a ffir m e d b y
th e Fir st A p p ell at e C o u rt."
(ii) A h al e S u n n at h w al J a m a t h J o gi M a d a m a n d D u r g a v. H aji
S y e d Irfa n H u s s ai S a hi b r e p o rt e d in 2010 (2) M W N ( Ci vil) 65 5 . A n
e x c e r pt fr o m it, w o ul d r u n th u s:
"10. T h e p e r u s al o f th e ju d g e m e n t o f th e H o n o u r a bl e A p e x
C o urt r e p ort e d in Ta mil N a d u W a k f B o a r d v. H at hija A m m al (D e a d )
b y Lr s , e t c. , 2002(1) C T C 561 ( S C ):2002 (1) L W 38 4 , l e a v e s n o
d o u b t th at S e c ti o n s 4 , 5 , 6 a n d 27 o f th e W a k f A c t 1954 ( w hi c h a r e in
p ari m a t e ri a with S e c ti o n s 4 , 5 , 6 a n d 40 o f th e W a k f A c t , 1995)
s h o ul d n e c e s s a rily b e a d h e r e d t o b e f o r e filin g a S uit f or r e c o v e r y o f
p o s s e s s i o n o f th e W a k f p r o p e r t y. It i s b e y o n d d o u b t th at th e
in stituti o n s lik e th e P l ai ntiff c o ul d fil e a S uit f or p o s s e s s i o n o f th e
W a k f p r o p e r ty, b u t b e f o r e filin g s u c h S uit n e c e s s a rily th e s ai d
in stituti o n s h o ul d c o m pl y with th e a f o r e s ai d p r o vi si o n s o f la w a s p e r
th e m a n d at e o f th e H o n o u r a bl e A p e x C o urt."
11. A c u m ul ati v e r e a di n g o f th e a f o r e s ai d p r e c e d e n t s w o ul d
u n a m bi g u o u sl y a n d u n e q ui v o c ally hi g hli g ht a n d s p o tli g ht th e fa ct th at
if th e r e i s a n y di s p ut e r el atin g t o W a k f p r o p e rty a s p e r th e p r o vi si o n s
o f W a k f A c t 195 5 , n o s uit in ci vil C o urt o r e v e n W. O. P. b e f o r e th e
Tri b u n al c o ul d s t r ai g ht a w a y b e fil e d . T h e o nly r e m e d y w hi c h w a s
a v aila bl e f or th e r e vi si o n p e titi o n e r at th e r el e v a nt ti m e o f p r e s e n tin g
th e W. O. P. b e f o r e th e Tri b u n al, w a s th at it o u g ht t o h a v e a p p r o a c h e d
th e W a k f B o a r d f or g e ttin g th e s uit p r o p e r ty d e cl ar e d a s W a k f
http://www.judis.nic.in p r o p e r ty. B u t in d u bita bly a n d in di s p ut a bly, it w a s n ot d o n e s o . A s
26
s u c h , it i s c r y st al cl e a r in vi e w o f th e d e ci si o n s o f th e H o n o u r a bl e
A p e x C o urt a s w e ll thi s C o u rt th at s u c h p r e s e n t ati o n o f W. O. P. i s a b
initi o v oi d a n d th e s u b s e q u e n t p r o c e e di n g s c o n d u ct e d b e f o r e th e
Tri b u n al in W. O. P. c a n n o t b e c o u nt e n a n c e d a s v alid.
13 . In vi e w o f th e cl e a r a n d c at e g o ri c al d e ci si o n o f th e
H o n o u r a bl e A p e x C o urt in Ta mil N a d u W a k f B o a r d v. H at hija A m m al
( D e a d ) b y Lr s. , r e p ort e d in 2002 (1) C T C 561 , w hi c h i s s q u a r ely
a p pli c a bl e t o th e fa ct s a n d cir c u m s t a n c e s o f th e p r e s e n t c a s e . I a m
o f th e c o n si d e r e d vi e w th at s u c h filin g o f W. O. P. w a s a b initio v oi d
a n d a c c o r di n gly, th at o u g ht t o h a v e b e e n di s mi s s e d .
(iii) In 2 0 1 5 ( 2 ) L . W. 8 4 5 (N a g o o r G a n i A m m a l @
M a h a b o o b a l B e e v i a n d o t h e r s v . Te n k a s i Va n g a r u M u t h u
M e e r a n S a h i b W o rs hi p p e rs a n d J a m at h a rs L i a g at A li
K h a n a n d o t h e r s ) , thi s C o urt h a s h el d a s f oll o w s :
“ 25 . It w o ul d n ot b e o u t o f pl a c e f or thi s C o u rt t o r e f e r to th e
d e ci si o n o f th e H o n' bl e A p e x C o u rt in Ta mil N a d u W a k f B o a r d v s .
H at hija A m m al ( D e a d ) b y Lr s . E t c . [M A N U/ S C/0518/2001 : 2001
(1) C T C 561] w h e r ei n T h eir L o r d s hi p s h a v e d e ci d e d th e rig ht o f
th e W a k f B o a r d t o in stitut e a s uit. In thi s r e g a r d , p a r a g r a p h s 6 to 8
o f th e s ai d ju d g m e n t a r e u s e f ully r e-p r o d u c e d h e r e u n d e r:-
P a r a 6 : "In th e e v e n t , a n y p r o p e r ty h a s b e e n o m itt e d b y
in a d v e rt e n c e o r o t h e r wi s e , th e n it i s f or W a k f B o a r d t o ta k e a cti o n
a s p r o vi d e d u n d e r S e c ti o n 27 o f th e A c t . If th e W a k f B o a r d h a s
r e a s o n t o b e li e v e th at a p arti c ul ar p r o p e r ty i s a w a k f p r o p e r ty th e n
it c a n it s elf c oll e ct inf or m ati o n a n d if a n y q u e s ti o n ari s e s w h e t h e r a
p arti c ul ar p r o p e rty i s a w a k f p r o p e rty o r n o t it m a y, a ft e r m a ki n g
s u c h e n q uiry a s it m a y d e e m fit d e ci d e th e q u e s ti o n a n d s u c h
d e ci si o n o f th e W a k f B o a r d s h all b e fin al u nl e s s r e v o k e d o r
http://www.judis.nic.in
m o difi e d b y a C i vil C o u rt. S u c h a cti o n h a s n ot b e e n ta k e n b y th e
27
W a k f B o a r d in thi s c a s e .
P a r a 7 : T h e Hi g h C o urt i s ju stifi e d in h ol di n g th at th e W a k f
B o a r d h a d n o rig ht t o in stitut e s uit f or d e cl a r ati o n th at a n y p r o p e rty
i s a w a k f p r o p e r ty a s th e s c h e m e o f th e A c t cl e a rly in di c at e s . T h e
Hi g h C o urt furth e r f o u n d th at a s far a s th e a p p ell a nt i s c o n c e r n e d
with r e g a r d t o titl e o f a n y p r o p e r ty, it m u s t c o m pl y with th e
r e q uir e m e n t s o f S e c ti o n s 4,5 a n d 6 o r 27 o f th e A c t , w hi c h m e a n s
th at if a n y p r o p e r ty i s n o t p u bli s h e d a s w a k f p r o p e r ty a s r e q uir e d
u n d e r S e c ti o n 5(2) o f th e A c t o r th e B o a r d h a s n ot in v o k e d th e
s p e ci al p o w e r u n d e r S e c ti o n 27 , th e W a k f B o a r d c a n n o t fil e a s uit
f or d e cl a r ati o n a n d p o s s e s s i o n a n d o n th at b a si s u p h el d th e o r d e r
m a d e b y th e Tri al C o u rt a s a ffir m e d b y th e Fir st A p p ell at e C o urt.
P a r a 8 : M s. S h o b h a , l e ar n e d c o u n s e l f or th e a p p ella nt, d r e w
o u r att e nti o n t o th e d e ci si o n o f thi s C o u rt in S a y y e d Ali a n d O r s . v.
A . P. W a k f B o a r d , H y d e r a b a d a n d O r s . M A N U/ S C/0070/1998 :
[1998] 2 S C C 642 ; t o c o n t e n d th at w a k f p r o p e rty c a n n e v e r lo s e it s
c h a r a ct e r a s w a k f p r o p e rty o n c e it i s s h o w n th at it i s a p e r m a n e n t
d e di c ati o n o f p r o p e r ty a n d o n c e a w a k f, it will al w a y s b e a w a k f.
T h e p oi nt u r g e d in thi s C a s e i s th at th e s uit p r o p e r ty i s a w a k f
p r o p e rty a n d h e n c e s o u g ht f or p o s s e s s i o n . W h at w a s p oi nt e d o ut
b y th e Trial C o u rt, th e Fir st A p p ell at e C o u rt a n d th e Hi g h C o u rt
c o n c ur r e ntly i s th at b e f o r e filin g th e s uit a s p r o vi d e d in la w, th e
W a k f B o a r d s h o ul d h a v e f oll o w e d th e p r o c e d u r e a s r e q uir e d u n d e r
S e c ti o n 4 , 5 a n d 6 o r 27 o f th e A c t . A fin di n g o f fa ct h a s b e e n
r e c o r d e d b y th e Tri al C o u rt, a n d a ffir m e d in a p p e al , i s th at th e s uit
p r o p e rti e s a r e n o t in cl u d e d in th e n otifi c ati o n p u bli s h e d u n d e r
S e c ti o n 5(2) o f th e A c t a n d th e r e f o r e , s t e p s s h o ul d h a v e b e e n
ta k e n a s p r o vi d e d u n d e r S e c ti o n 27 o f th e A c t . It i s o nly th e r e a ft e r
a s uit f or p o s s e s s i o n c o ul d h a v e b e e n fil e d b y th e a p p ell a nt. T h e r e
i s n o a n s w e r t o thi s fin di n g."
26 . In th e a b o v e r ulin g , th e H o n' bl e S u p r e m e C o u rt h a s h el d
th at th e W a k f B o a r d h a s g o t n o rig ht t o in stitut e a s uit f or
http://www.judis.nic.in d e cl a r ati o n th at a n y p r o p e rty i s a W a k f p r o p e r ty u nl e s s th e
28
r e q uir e m e n t s u n d e r S e c ti o n s 4 , 5 , 6 & 27 o f th e A c t a r e c o m pli e d
with.
27 . In th e c a s e o n h a n d , th e pl ai ntiff s h a d n o t p r o d u c e d th e
p u bli c ati o n o f li st o f W a k f p r o p e r ty a s c o n t e m pl at e d u n d e r S e c ti o n
5 o f th e W a k f A c t n o r th e R e gi st e r o f W a k f s , w hi c h c o nt ain s
p arti c ul ar s o f all W a k f p r o p e r ti e s , all titl e d e e d s a n d d o c u m e n t s
r el atin g th e r e t o, a s p r o vi d e d u n d e r S e c ti o n 37 o f th e W a k f A c t . T h e
a b s e n c e o f p u bli c ati o n o f th e li st o f p r o p e r ti e s u n d e r S e c ti o n 5 a n d
th e a b s e n c e o f r e gi st e r u n d e r S e c ti o n 37 o f W a k f A c t w o ul d b e li e
th e c o n t e nti o n o f th e pl ai ntiff s th at M o h a m m e d I s m ail int e n d e d to
d e di c at e th e 1 st s c h e d ul e p r o p e r ty to th e pl aintiff s' M o s q u e a n d
di v e s t e d th e titl e in th e s ai d p r o p e rty a n d d eli v e r th e s a m e t o th e
pl ai ntiff' s M o s q u e .
(iv) In A I R 2 0 1 7 H i m a c h a l P r a d e s h 3 8 (H . P. Wa q f
B o a r d v . K h w a j a K h a l l i l u l l a a n d a n o t h e r ) , th e Di vi si o n B e n c h
o f th e Hi g h C o urt o f Hi m a c h al P r a d e s h h a s h el d a s f oll o w s :
“ 22. Neither there are pleadings nor there is iota of proof on
the record to the effect that the suit property was ever declared as
Wakf property or it was notified as such. It is also not known
whether the plaintiff-Board had followed the mandate of the
provisions of the Wakf Act and also followed the mechanism
contained in the Act for declaring the suit property as Wakf
property, if any.
24. In the instant case, the plaintiff-Board has made the
foundation of the suit on the basis of alleged Wakfnama, Ext.
PW-2/B, which contains the description of the property i.e. house
No. 109 (five storeyed) and house No. 109/1 (two storeyed),
situated in Ladakhi Mohalla, Shimla, house No. 58 (four storeyed)
situated over the Mall, Shimla, and shops No. 2, 3, 4 and 5
http://www.judis.nic.in situated in Gali No. 5, near Shiv Divala, Middle Bazar, Shimla. The
29
plaintiff-Board has not filed the suit regarding all the properties
mentioned in the alleged Wakfnama, except shops No. 2, 3, 4 and
5 situated in khasra No. 218(new) and 200(old). The said
Wakfnama does not even contain the detailed description of the
suit property, only shop numbers, without khasra numbers, have
been mentioned in the said Wakfnama.
25. The plaintiff-Board has also failed to plead and prove
that the suit property, being the Wakf property, was in its
possession at any point of time. There is no averment in the plaint
or evidence led by the plaintiff to the effect that the suit property
had ever remained in its possession.
27. The mutation stands effected on 20th February, 1992 in
terms of which, defendant No. 1 is shown to be owner in
possession and, admittedly, as per the pleadings, is in possession
of the shops. The plaintiff has not questioned the said mutation till
today, thus, has attained finality. It also shows that the defendants
were in possession of the suit property.
29. If any revenue entry had cast cloud on the title of the
plaintiff-Board, it had to file a suit within the time frame prescribed
by the statute. Section 6 of the Act prescribed the limitation for
filing a suit in regard to the Wakf properties. It is apt to reproduce
the relevant portion of Section 6 of the Act hereunder:
"6. Disputes regarding wakfs :- (1) If any question arises whether a
particular property specified as wakf property in the list of wakfs is
wakf property or not or whether a wakf specified in such list is a
Shia wakf or Sunni wakf, the Board or the mutawalli of the wakf or
any person aggrieved may institute a suit in a Tribunal for the
decision of the question and the decision of the Tribunal in respect
of such matter shall be final.
Provided that no such suit shall be entertained by the Tribunal
after the expiry of one year from the date of the publication of the
list of wakfs.
http://www.judis.nic.in ............ ........... .............."
30
31. In view of the above discussion, coupled with the
averments contained in the plaint and the evidence led by the
plaintiff, one comes to inescapable conclusion that the plaintiff has
failed to prove that it was owner in possession of the suit property.
Viewed thus, the learned Tribunal has rightly made discussion and
determined issue No. 1 against the plaintiff/revision petitioner. The
said findings are upheld.
Issue No. 1(a)
"Whether the plaintiff is entitled for declaration as alleged? OPP"
38. Another aspect of the case is that the defendants
purchased suit property comprised in Khasra No. 218, apart from
other property, vide sale deed dated 15th February, 2007, from the
Government of Himachal Pradesh. The said sale deed has been
proved on record as DW-2/A. The plaintiff-Board has not
questioned the said sale deed Ext. DW-2/A, which also relates to
Khasra No. 218 over which the shops, subject matter of the instant
dispute, are situated in terms of the revenue record and as per the
plaint.”
( v) In A I R 2017 SC 2653 (M a d a n u r i S ri Rama
C h a n d r a M u r t h y v . S y e d J a l a l ), th e H o n' bl e S u p r e m e C o urt h a s
h el d a s f oll o w s :
“ 19 . A s p e r S e c ti o n 27 o f 1954 A c t (S e c ti o n 40 o f 1995 A c t) ,
th e B o a r d m a y it s elf c oll e ct inf or m ati o n r e g a r di n g a n y p r o p e r ty
w hi c h it h a s r e a s o n t o b e li e v e t o b e w a k f p r o p e rty a n d if a n y
q u e s ti o n ari s e s w h e t h e r a p arti c ul ar p r o p e rty i s w a k f p r o p e rty o r
n ot th e B o a r d aft e r m a ki n g s u c h e n q uir y a s it d e e m s fit, d e ci d e th e
q u e s ti o n . T h e d e ci si o n o f th e B o a r d o n a n y q u e s ti o n u n d e r s u b -
s e c ti o n (1) o f S e c ti o n 27 o f 1954 A c t ( or u n d e r S e c ti o n 40(1) o f
1995 A c t) s h all, u nl e s s r e v o k e d o r m o difi e d b y th e C i vil C o u rt, b e
http://www.judis.nic.in
fin al. T h e e ff e c t o f S e c ti o n 27 o f 1954 A c t o r S e c ti o n 40 o f 1995
31
A c t i s th at, if a n y p r o p e r ty h a d b e e n o m itt e d t o b e in cl u d e d in th e
li st o f a u q a f b y in a d v e rt e n c e o r o t h e r wi s e , th e n it w a s/i s f or th e
W a k f B o a r d t o ta k e a cti o n , a s p e r s ai d p r o vi si o n . In thi s c o n t e xt , it
i s r el e v a nt t o n ot e th e o b s e r v ati o n s b y thi s C o urt in th e c a s e
o f T. N. Wa k f B o a r d v s . H at hija A m m al [1] w hi c h r e a d th u s:
“In th e e v e n t , a n y p r o p e rty h a s b e e n o m itt e d b y in a d v e rt e n c e o r
o t h e r wi s e , th e n it i s f or th e W a k f B o a r d t o ta k e a cti o n a s p r o vi d e d
u n d e r S e c ti o n 27 o f th e A c t . If th e W a k f B o a r d h a s r e a s o n t o
b e li e v e th at a p arti c ul ar p r o p e r ty i s a w a k f p r o p e r ty th e n it c a n
it s elf c oll e ct inf or m ati o n a n d if a n y q u e s ti o n ari s e s w h e t h e r a
p arti c ul ar p r o p e rty i s a w a k f p r o p e rty o r n o t , it m a y, aft e r m a ki n g
s u c h e n q uiry a s it m a y d e e m fit d e ci d e th e q u e s ti o n a n d s u c h
d e ci si o n o f th e W a k f B o a r d s h all b e fin al u nl e s s r e v o k e d o r
m o difi e d b y a ci vil c o urt. S u c h a cti o n h a s n ot b e e n ta k e n b y th e
W a k f B o a r d in thi s c a s e .”
21 . In th e m a tt e r o n h a n d , th e s ai d p r o vi si o n al s o will n ot
c o m e t o th e ai d o f th e pl aintiff in a s m u c h a s th e s ai d s u b - s e c ti o n
c a n b e e m pl o y e d o nly if s u r v e y o f a u q a f w a s n ot d o n e b e f o r e th e
c o m m e n c e m e n t o f W a k f ( A m e n d m e n t) A c t , 2013 . A d m itt e dly in th e
m a tt e r o n h a n d , th e s u r v e y w a s c o n d u ct e d pri or to 19 62 a n d
b a s e d o n s u c h S u r v e y o r’s r e p ort o nly, th e li st w a s p r e p a r e d a n d
th e s a m e w a s s u b m itt e d to S t at e G o v e r n m e n t , w hi c h in tur n , w a s
f or w a r d e d t o W a k f B o a r d , th e W a k f B o a r d aft e r e x a mi nin g th e
r e p ort p u bli s h e d th e li st in th e o ffi ci al g a z e tt e in th e y e a r 1962 .
H e n c e , s u b - s e c ti o n (1 A ) o f S e c ti o n 4 al s o will b e o f n o a v ail t o th e
pl ai ntiff.
22 . In th e m a tt e r o n h a n d , a s m e n ti o n e d s u p r a , th e Tri b u n al
a n d th e Hi g h C o u rt, o n fa ct s h a v e h el d th at th e p r o p e r ty in
q u e s ti o n i s n o t in cl u d e d in th e li st p u bli s h e d in th e O ffi ci al G a z e tt e
a s a w a k f p r o p e r t y. S u c h n o n- in cl u si o n w a s n e v e r q u e s ti o n e d b y
a n y p e r s o n in cl u di n g th e W a k f B o a r d . T h e B o a r d h a s n o t
http://www.judis.nic.in
e x e r ci s e d juri s di cti o n u n d e r S e c ti o n 27 o f 1954 A c t a n d S e c ti o n
32
40 o f 1995 A c t , th o u g h 50 y e a r s h a v e e l a p s e d fr o m th e d at e o f th e
g a z e tt e n otifi c ati o n . H e n c e , in o u r c o n si d e r e d o pi ni o n , th e
a v e r m e n t s in th e pl aint d o n o t di s cl o s e th e c a u s e o f a cti o n f or filin g
th e s uit. T h e s uit i s m a nif e s tly m e ritl e s s a n d v e x ati o u s . S o al s o th e
s uit i s b a r r e d b y la w f or th e r e a s o n s m e n ti o n e d s u p r a .”
( vi) In 2 0 1 2 ( 4 ) L . W. 6 5 (C h i n n a M a z j i d S u n n a t h
J a m a t h b y its M u t h a v a l l i A b d u l S h u k k u r v . S . V. T h a n g a m
( d i e d ) a n d o t h e r s ), thi s C o urt h a s h el d a s f oll o w s :
“3 . T h e lo n g a n d s h o rt o f th e g e r m a n e fa ct s a b s ol ut ely
n e c e s s a r y f or th e di s p o s al o f thi s r e vi si o n w o ul d r u n th u s : A c c o r di n g
t o th e l e ar n e d c o u n s e l f or th e r e vi si o n p e titi o n e r h e r ei n , th e p r o p e r ty
d e s c ri b e d in th e W. O. P. i s a W a k f p r o p e r ty a n d th e r e i s n o d o u b t
a b o ut it. T h e M ut h a v alli r e p r e s e n tin g th e s ai d R a si p u r a m C hi n n a
M a zjid S u n n at h J a m a t h al s o i s th e p r o p e r M ut h a v alli, o v e r w hi c h
th e r e i s n o ri val cl ai m . T h e gri e v a n c e e x p r e s s e d in th e W. O. P. b y th e
M ut h a v alli c o n c e r n e d o n b e h alf o f th e R a si p u r a m C hi n n a M a zjid
S u n n at h J a m a t h w a s t o th e e f f e ct th at, th e d e f e n d a nt s with o ut a n y
m a n n e r o f rig ht e n c r o a c h e d a p orti o n o f th e W a k f p r o p e rty a n d lay
cl ai m o v e r it a s if it i s th eir o w n p r o p e rt y. In s u c h cir c u m s t a n c e s , th e
Tri b u n al t o w hi c h th e y s t r ai g ht a w a y a p p r o a c h e d with o ut a p p r o a c hi n g
th e W a k f B o a r d , o r d e r e d th at it i s f or th e p e titi o n e r t o a p p r o a c h th e
W a k f B o a r d it s elf f or p r o p e r r e m e d y ; h e al s o r e f e r r e d to S e c ti o n 40 o f
th e W a k f A c t a n d r e n d e r e d hi s fin din g th at it i s f or th e p e titi o n e r t o
a p p r o a c h th e W a k f B o a r d c o n c e r n e d . O v e r a n d a b o v e th at, I w o ul d
lik e t o r e f e r to S e c ti o n 5 4 o f th e W a k f A c t , w hi c h i s r e p r o d u c e d
h e r e u n d e r:
"54. R e m o v al o f e n c r o a c h m e n t fr o m W a k f p r o p e rt y.-(1) W h e n e v e r
th e C hi e f E x e c u ti v e O ffi c e r c o n si d e r s w h e t h e r o n r e c ei vi n g a n y
c o m pl ai nt o r on hi s own m o ti o n th at th e r e ha s been an
http://www.judis.nic.in
33
e n c r o a c h m e n t o n m y la n d , b uildin g , s p a c e o r o t h e r p r o p e r ty w hi c h i s
w a k f p r o p e r ty a n d , w hi c h h a s b e e n r e gi st e r e d a s s u c h u n d e r thi s A c t ,
h e s h all c a u s e t o b e s e r v e d u p o n th e e n c r o a c h e r a n oti c e s p e cif yin g
th e p arti c ul ar s o f th e e n c r o a c h m e n t a n d c allin g u p o n hi m t o s h o w
c a u s e b e f o r e a d at e t o b e s p e cifi e d in s u c h n o ti c e , a s to w h y a n
o r d e r r e q uirin g hi m t o r e m o v e th e e n c r o a c h m e n t b e f o r e th e d at e s o
s p e cifi e d s h o ul d n o t b e m a d e a n d s h all al s o s e n d a c o p y o f s u c h
n oti c e t o th e c o n c e r n e d m u t a w alli.
(2) T h e n oti c e r e f er r e d t o in s u b - s e c ti o n (1) s h all b e s e r v e d in s u c h
m a n n e r a s m a y b e p r e s c ri b e d .
(3) If, a ft e r c o n si d e rin g th e o bj e cti o n s , r e c ei v e d d urin g th e p e ri o d
s p e cifi e d in th e n o ti c e , a n d a ft e r c o n d u ctin g a n in q uiry in s u c h
m a n n e r a s m a y b e p r e s c ri b e d , th e C hi e f E x e c u ti v e O ffi c e r i s s a ti sfi e d
th at th e p r o p e rty in q u e s ti o n i s w a k f p r o p e r ty a n d th at th e r e h a s b e e n
a n e n c r o a c h m e n t o n a n y s u c h w a k f p r o p e r ty, h e m a y, b y a n o r d e r,
r e q uir e th e e n c r o a c h e r t o r e m o v e s u c h e n c r o a c h m e n t a n d d eli v e r
p o s s e s s i o n o f th e la n d , b uildin g , s p a c e o r o t h e r p r o p e r ty e n c r o a c h e d
u p o n t o th e m u t a w alli o f th e w a k f.
(4) N ot hin g c o n t ain e d in s u b - s e c ti o n (3) s h all p r e v e n t a n y p e r s o n
a g g ri e v e d b y th e o r d e r m a d e b y th e C hi e f E x e c u ti v e O ffi c e r u n d e r
th at s u b s e c ti o n fr o m in stitutin g a s uit in a Tri b u n al t o e s t a bli s h th at
h e h a s rig ht, titl e o r int e r e s t in th e la n d , b uildin g , s p a c e o r o t h e r
p r o p e rty:
P r o vi d e d th at n o s u c h s uit s h all b e in stitut e d b y a p e r s o n w h o
h a s b e e n l et int o p o s s e s s i o n o f th e la n d , b uildin g , s p a c e o r o t h e r
p r o p e rty a s a l e s s e e , lic e n s e e o r m o r t g a g e e b y th e m u t a w alli o f th e
w a k f o r b y a n y o t h e r p e r s o n a ut h ori s e d b y hi m in thi s b e h alf.
4 . A m e r e p e r u s al o f S e c ti o n 54 o f th e W a k f A c t c o u pl e d with
S e c ti o n 40 o f th e A c t , w o ul d l e a v e n o d o u b t in th e m i n d o f th e C o u rt
th at th e a ut h ority u n d e r th e W a k f A c t h a s g o t a m pl e p o w e r s t o d e ci d e
all m a tt er s r el atin g t o W a k f p r o p e r ty a n d if r e ally th e d e f e n d a nt s a s
http://www.judis.nic.in
s t at e d b y th e p e titi o n e r a r e e n c r o a c h e r s , th e n th e a p p r o pri at e
34
a ut h ority u n d e r th e A c t c o ul d p r o c e e d a s a g ai n st th e e n c r o a c h e r s
a n d d o th e n e e d f ul. W h e n s u c h i s th e l e g al p o siti o n , I c o ul d s e e n o
p e r v e r sity o r ill e g ality in th e o r d e r p a s s e d b y th e lo w e r C o u rt.
A c c o r di n gly, thi s r e vi si o n p e titi o n i s di s mi s s e d a n d it i s f or th e
p e titi o n e r t o a p p r o a c h a s p e r th e a b o v e p r o vi si o n s th e a ut h ority
c o n c e r n e d u n d e r th e A c t a n d g e t a p p r o pri at e r e m e d y. N o c o s t s.
( vii) In 2 0 1 0 ( 4 ) C T C 5 1 6 (T h e S e c r e t a r y , Ta m i l N a d u
Wa k f B o a r d , M a d r a s v. K a n c h e e p u r a m Oili M o h a m e d
P e t a i L e b b a i J a m m a M a s j u i d a n d o t h e r s ) , thi s C o urt h a s h el d
a s f oll o w s :
“ 27 . It i s t o b e n ot e d th at a s p e r S e c ti o n 32(2)(i) o f th e W a k f
A c t , 1995 , th e p o w e r t o in stitut e a n d d e f e n d s uit s a n d p r o c e e di n g s
p e r t ainin g to W a k f li e s wit h th e b o a r d a n d th e r e f o r e th e p r e s e n t
s uit fil e d b e f o r e th e trial C o u rt b y th e M ut h a v alli r e p r e s e n tin g th e
1 st R e s p o n d e n t/plaintiff' s M o s q u e i s n ot m ai nt ain a bl e in th e e y e o f
la w.
28 . In r e g a r d t o th e pl e a o f th e A p p ell a nt/10th D e f e n d a nt
th at i s s u a n c e o f n oti c e t o th e A p p ell a nt/ Wa kf B o a r d i s a c o n diti o n
p r e c e d e n t t o th e filin g o f th e s uit, thi s C o urt p oi nt s o u t th at n e w
S e c ti o n 89 ( ol d S e c ti o n 56) o f th e W a k f A c t , 1995 , h a s n ot
u n d e r g o n e a n y c h a n g e a n d th e n oti c e u n d e r S e c ti o n 56 ( n e w
S e c ti o n 89) i s a n al o g o u s t o S e c ti o n 80 o f th e C o d e o f C i vil
P r o c e d u r e a n d it p r o hi bit s th e filin g o f a n y s uit a g ai n s t th e W a k f
B o a r d in r e s p e c t a n y A c t p u r p ortin g t o b e d o n e b y it in p u r s u a n c e
o f th e A c t o r th e r ul e s fra m e d th e r e u n d e r u nl e s s , th e p r o p e r n oti c e
i s s e r v e d o n th e W a k f B o a r d b e f o r e filin g o f th e s uit. D e f e c t o f w a nt
o f n o ti c e g o e s to th e r o ot o f th e m a tt e r a n d it c a n n ot b e vi e w e d
lik ely.
29 . In th e in st a nt c a s e , th o u g h a s a g ai n st th e A p p ell a nt/10th
http://www.judis.nic.in
D e f e n d a nt n o r eli ef i s cl ai m e d a s p e r th e a v e r m e n t m a d e in th e
35
pl aint y e t , it i s a n e c e s s a r y p arty t o th e s uit a s o pi n e d b y thi s
C o urt. E v e n t h o u g h a s a g ai n st th e A p p ell a nt/10th D e f e n d a nt n o
r eli ef i s cl ai m e d b y th e 1 st R e s p o n d e n t/plaintiff in th e s uit s i n c e th e
A p p ella nt/10th D e f e n d a nt h a s G e n e r al S u p e rint e n d e nt a n d c o ntr ol
o f th e 1 st R e s p o n d e n t/plaintiff' s M o s q u e a n d in a s m u c h a s th e 1 st
R e s p o n d e n t/plaintiff i s r e p r e s e n t e d b y M ut h a v alli w h o c a n b e
r e m o v e d fr o m hi s o ffi c e a s p e r th e p r o vi si o n s o f th e W a k f A c t ,
199 5 , a n d s i n c e h e h a s t o c a r r y o ut th e dir e cti o n s o f th e B o a r d a n d
t o p e rf or m o t h e r d uti e s e nj oi n e d u n d e r th e A c t , thi s C o u rt i s o f th e
c o n si d e r e d vi e w th at p r e- s uit n o ti c e a s r e q uir e d u n d e r S e c ti o n 89
( ol d S e c ti o n 56) o f th e A c t i s v e r y m u c h n e c e s s a r y/m a n d at or y a n d
in th e in st a nt c a s e , th e pl ai ntiff h a s n o t i s s u e d th e p r e- s uit n o ti c e
a s p e r S e c ti o n 89 ( Ol d S e c ti o n 56) o f th e A c t a n d thi s m a t e ri al
d e f e c t aff e ct s th e v e r y f o u n d ati o n o f th e filin g o f th e s uit a n d th e
s u b s t a ntial q u e s ti o n s o f la w 2 a n d 3 a r e a n s w e r e d a g ai n st th e 1 st
R e s p o n d e n t/plaintiff.
36 . B e th at a s it m a y, s i n c e thi s C o u rt h a s h el d th at p r e- s uit
n o ti c e u n d e r S e c ti o n 89 o f th e A c t i s a c o n diti o n p r e c e d e n t to th e
filin g o f th e s uit a g ai n st th e A p p ell a nt/10th D e f e n d a nt B o a r d
( e v e n t h o u g h n o r eli ef i s cl ai m e d a g ai n st it) a n d al s o b e c a u s e o f
th e fa ct th at a s p e r S e c ti o n 32(2)(i) o f th e A c t , o nly th e
A p p ella nt/ Wa kf B o a r d c a n fil e a s uit a n d d e f e n d th e s a m e e t c , thi s
C o urt ( o n th e b a si s o f fa ct s a n d cir c u m s t a n c e s o f th e p r e s e n t c a s e
w hi c h fl o at o n th e s u rf a c e ) o pi n e s th at th e s u b s t a ntial q u e s ti o n o f
la w N o . 1 fra m e d b y it, r el atin g t o th e p r ot e cti o n o f a cti o n ta k e n in
g o o d faith th at n o s uit o r o t h e r p r o c e e di n g s s h all li e a g ai n st th e
B o a r d a n d it s s u b o r di n at e s e t c. , d uly a p p oi nt e d u n d e r th e A c t e t c. ,
d o e s n ot w a r r a nt a n a n s w e r fr o m thi s C o u rt a n d th e p oi nt i s s o
a n s w e r e d .”
( viii) In A I R 2 0 0 4 S C 4 3 6 5 ( S. M . M . K.K.T h a n g a l v.
B a d a g a r a J a m a y a t h P a l l i D h a r a s C o m m i tt e e ), th e H o n' bl e
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36
S u p r e m e C o urt h a s h el d a s f oll o w s :
“ 8 . A s i s e vi d e nt fr o m th e i m p u g n e d ju d g m e n t , th e Hi g h C o u rt
t o o k int o c o n si d e r ati o n th e w ritt e n s t at e m e n t fil e d b y th e S e c r e t ar y,
W a k f B o a r d w h e r ei n it h a s b e e n s t at e d th at th e pl ai ntiff-c o m m itt e e
w a s v e r y r e g ul ar in s u b m ittin g a n n u al s t at e m e n t o f a c c o u nt s to th e
W a k f B o a r d a n d in p a y m e n t o f a n n u al c o ntri b uti o n t o th e B o a r d a s
p e r th e p r o vi si o n s o f th e A c t in s u p p o rt o f th e vi e w th at th e pl aintiff
w a s a ct u ally a ctin g a s a m u t a w alli. T hi s a p p r o a c h , in o u r vi e w, i s n ot
c o r r e ct . T h e w ritt e n s t at e m e n t fil e d b y W a k f B o a r d c o ul d n o t bi n d th e
d e f e n d a nt n o . 2 . F urth e r a n y s t at e m e n t m a d e in th e s ai d w ritt e n
s t at e m e n t c o ul d n ot b e a c c e p t e d a g ai n s t th e d e f e n d a nt N o . 2 u nl e s s
it w a s e s t a bli s h e d o n th e b a si s o f e vi d e n c e . T h e d e ci si o n o f M oi d e e n
Bi bi A m m al ( s u p r a ) , in o u r vi e w, d o e s n o t h el p th e pl ai ntiff. To a p ply
th e s ai d d e ci si o n , n e c e s s a r y fa ct s o u g ht to h a v e b e e n pl e a d e d a n d
e s t a bli s h e d . In th e c a s e o n h a n d , a s alr e a d y n oti c e d a b o v e , n eith e r
th e r e w a s pl e a di n g s p e cifi c ally in th at pl ai nt a s t o th e pl aintiff a ct u ally
a ctin g a s a m u t a w alli to c o m e wit hin th e s c o p e o f S e c ti o n 3(f) o f
1 954 W a k f A c t n o r a c c e p t a bl e a n d s u ffi ci e nt e vi d e n c e w a s pl a c e d o n
r e c o r d to p r o v e it a s a fa ct . In th e s it u ati o n , th e a f o r e m e n ti o n e d
d e ci si o n h a s n o a p pli c ati o n to th e c a s e o f th e pl aintiff. W h e n th e
pl ai ntiff c a m e f or w a r d s p e cifi c ally pl e a di n g th at h e w a s e n titl e d f or
d e cl a r ati o n o f titl e a n d f or r e c o v e r y o f p o s s e s s i o n o f th e pl ai nt
s c h e d ul e p r o p e r ty b a s e d on th e a g r e e m e n t E x b t . A - 2 d at e d
1 3.2.1973 , it c o ul d s u c c e e d o nly o n th e b a si s o f v ali dity o f E x b t . A - 2
a n d th e v alidity o f tra n s f e r o f m u t a w alli s hi p in it s f a v o u r. S i n c e all th e
c o urt s h a v e c o n c ur r e ntly f o u n d th at m u t a w alli s hi p c o ul d n o t b e v alidly
tra n s f e r r e d in f a v o u r o f th e pl aintiff-c o m m itt e e u n d e r E x b t . A 2 , th e s uit
fil e d b y th e pl ai ntiff o u g ht t o h a v e b e e n di s mi s s e d . T h e pl ai ntiff c o ul d
o nly s u c c e e d o n th e s tr e n gt h o f it s c a s e a n d n o t o n th e w e a k n e s s
f o u n d in th e c a s e o f th e d e f e n d a nt, if a n y. T h e fir st a p p ell at e c o urt
h a vi n g e l a b o r at ely c o n si d e r e d th e e vi d e n c e pl a c e d o n r e c o r d in th e
lig ht o f th e pl e a di n g s o f th e p arti e s h a d c o m e to th e rig ht c o n cl u si o n
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37
in di s mi s si n g th e s uit o f th e pl ai ntiff. T h e Hi g h C o urt in s e c o n d
a p p e al , in o u r vi e w, w a s n o t rig ht in u p s e ttin g th e fin din g s o f fa ct
r e c o r d e d b y th e fir st a p p ell at e c o urt, th at t o o with o ut p uttin g th e
p arti e s o n n oti c e o n th e s u b s t a nti al q u e s ti o n o f la w. E v e n o t h e r wi s e ,
th e fin di n g o f th e Hi g h C o u rt o n q u e s ti o n n o . 3 c a n n o t b e s u s t ai n e d
w h e n s u c h a c a s e di d n o t ari s e f or c o n si d e r ati o n in th e a b s e n c e o f
n e c e s s a r y pl e a di n g in th e pl ai nt in th at r e g a r d . M o r e s o w h e n th e
c a s e o f th e pl ai ntiff w a s b a s e d cl e a rly o n titl e s ai d t o h a v e b e e n
d e ri v e d u n d e r E x b t . A - 2.
9 . U n d e r th e cir c u m s t a n c e s a n d in th e lig ht o f w h at i s s t at e d
a b o v e , th e i m p u g n e d ju d g m e n t c a n n ot b e s u s t ai n e d . In th e r e s ult, th e
a p p e al i s all o w e d , th e i m p u g n e d ju d g m e n t i s s e t a si d e e x c e p t th e
dir e cti o n gi v e n t o th e W a k f B o a r d t o a ct u n d e r S e c ti o n 63 o f th e W a k f
A c t , 19 95 a n d th e s uit fil e d b y th e pl ai ntiff i s di s mi s s e d . In o t h e r
w o r d s , th e dir e cti o n gi v e n b y th e Hi g h C o u rt t o th e W a k f B o a r d t o
e x e r ci s e po w er u n d e r S e c ti o n 63 o f th e W a kf A c t , 1995 is
m ai nt ai n e d . In c a s e a n y o f th e p arti e s w a nt s t o c h all e n g e th at th e
p r o p e rty in q u e s ti o n i s n ot a w a k f p r o p e r ty, it i s o p e n to s u c h p arty t o
s e e k a p p r o pri at e r e m e d y in a c c o r d a n c e with la w. N o c o s t s .”
(ix) In A I R 2 0 0 9 SC ( S u p p ) 2 4 7 1 (S a n t h o s h k u m a r
S h i v a g o n d a P a t i l v . B a l a S a h e b T h u k k a r a m S h e v a l e ), th e
H o n' bl e S u p r e m e C o urt h a s h el d a s f oll o w s :
“ 16 . It s e e m s to b e fairly s e ttl e d th at if a s t at u e d o e s n o t
p r e s c ri b e th e ti m e li mit f or e x e r ci s e o f r e vi si o n al p o w e r, it d o e s n ot
m e a n th at s u c h p o w e r c a n b e e x e r ci s e d at a n y ti m e ; rat h e r it
s h o ul d b e e x e r ci s e d within a r e a s o n a bl e ti m e . It i s s o b e c a u s e th e
la w d o e s n ot e x p e c t a s e ttl e d thin g t o b e u n s e ttl e d aft e r a lo n g
la p s e o f ti m e . W h e r e th e l e gi sl at ur e d o e s n o t p r o vi d e f or a n y
l e n gt h o f ti m e wit hin w hi c h th e p o w e r o f r e vi si o n i s t o b e e x e r ci s e d
http://www.judis.nic.in b y th e a ut h ority, s u o m o t u o r o t h e r wi s e , it i s pl ain th at e x e r ci s e o f
38
s u c h p o w e r within r e a s o n a bl e ti m e i s in h e r e nt th e r ei n.
O r di n arily, th e r e a s o n a bl e p e ri o d within w hi c h p o w e r o f
r e vi si o n m a y b e e x e r ci s e d w o ul d b e thr e e y e a r s u n d e r S e c ti o n 257
o f th e M a h a r a s h tra L a n d R e v e n u e C o d e s u bj e ct , o f c o u r s e , to th e
e x c e p ti o n al cir c u m s t a n c e s in a gi v e n c a s e , b u t s u r ely e x e r ci s e o f
r e vi si o n al p o w e r a ft e r a la p s e o f 17 y e a r s i s n ot a r e a s o n a bl e ti m e .
In v o c ati o n o f r e vi si o n al p o w e r b y th e S u b - Di vi si o n al O ffi c e r u n d e r
S e c ti o n 257 o f th e M a h a r a s h tra L a n d R e v e n u e C o d e i s pl ainly a n
a b u s e o f p r o c e s s in th e fa ct s a n d cir c u m s t a n c e s o f th e c a s e
a s s u mi n g th at th e o r d e r o f Te h sil d ar p a s s e d o n M a r c h 30 , 1976 i s
fla w e d a n d l e g ally n o t c o r r e ct.
P e r tin e ntly, Tu k a r a m S a k h a r a m S h e v al e , d urin g hi s lif eti m e
n e v e r c h all e n g e d th e l e g ality a n d c o r r e ct n e s s o f th e o r d e r o f
Te h sil d ar, S hir ol alth o u g h it w a s p a s s e d o n M a r c h 30 , 1976 a n d h e
w a s ali v e u pt o 199 0 . It i s n ot e v e n in th e c a s e o f R e s p o n d e n t N o s .
1 t o 5 th at Tu k a r a m w a s n o t a w a r e o f th e o r d e r d at e d M a r c h 30 ,
1976 . T h e r e i s n o fin din g b y th e S u b - Di vi si o n al O ffi c e r e it h e r th at
o r d e r d at e d M a r c h 30 , 1 976 w a s o b t ai n e d fra u d ul e ntly.”
( x) In A I R 2 0 1 5 S C 1 0 2 1 ( J t . C o l l e c t o r, R e n g a R e d d y
D i s t r i c t a n d a n o t h e r v . D. N a r a s i n g R a o & o t h e r s ), th e H o' bl e
S u p r e m e C o urt h a s h el d a s f oll o w s :
“ 11. N o ti m e li mit i s p r e s c ri b e d in th e a b o v e R e g ul ati o n f or th e
e x e r ci s e o f s u o m o t u p o w e r b u t th e q u e s ti o n i s a s t o w h e t h e r th e s u o
m o t u p o w e r c o ul d b e e x e r ci s e d a ft e r a p e ri o d o f 50 y e a r s . T h e
G o v e r n m e n t a s e a rly a s in th e y e a r 1991 p a s s e d o r d e r r e s e r vi n g 477
a c r e s o f la n d in S u r v e y N o s . 36 a n d 37 o f G o p a n p ally villa g e f or
h o u s e - s it e s t o th e g o v e r n m e n t e m pl o y e e s . In o t h e r w o r d s th e
G o v e r n m e n t h a d e v e r y o c c a si o n to v e rify th e r e v e n u e e n tri e s
p e r t ainin g t o th e s ai d la n d s w hil e p a s s i n g th e G o v e r n m e n t O r d e r
http://www.judis.nic.in d at e d 24.9.1991 b ut n o e x c e p ti o n w a s ta k e n t o th e e n tri e s f o u n d .
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F urth e r th e r e s p o n d e n t s h e r ei n fil e d W rit P e titi o n N o.2 1719 o f 1997
c h all e n gi n g th e G o v e r n m e n t o r d e r d at e d 24.9.1991 a n d e v e n at th at
p oi nt o f ti m e n o a cti o n w a s initiat e d p e r t ainin g t o th e e n tri e s in th e
s ai d s u r v e y n u m b e r s . T h e r e a ft er, th e p u r c h a s e r s o f la n d fr o m
r e s p o n d e n t N o s. 1 a n d 2 h e r ei n fil e d a ci vil s uit in O. S. N o.12 o f 2001
o n th e fil e o f A d diti o n al Di stri ct J u d g e , R a n g a R e d d y Di stri ct p r a yi n g
f or a d e cl a r ati o n th at th e y w e r e la wf ul o w n e r s a n d p o s s e s s o r s o f
c e r t ai n pl ot s o f la n d in s u r v e y N o.36 , a n d a ft e r c o nt e s t , th e s uit w a s
d e c r e e d a n d s ai d d e c r e e i s all o w e d t o b e c o m e fin al. B y th e
i m p u g n e d N oti c e d at e d 31.12.2004 th e s u o m o t u r e vi si o n p o w e r
u n d e r R e g ul ati o n 166 B r e f er r e d a b o v e i s s o u g ht t o b e e x e r ci s e d a ft e r
fiv e d e c a d e s a n d if it i s all o w e d t o d o s o it w o ul d l e a d t o a n o m al o u s
p o siti o n l e a di n g t o u n c e r t ainty a n d c o m pli c ati o n s s e ri o u sl y a ff e ctin g
th e rig ht s o f th e p arti e s o v e r i m m o v a bl e p r o p e rti e s.
12 . In th e lig ht o f w h at i s s t at e d a b o v e w e a r e o f th e vi e w th at
th e Di vi si o n B e n c h o f th e Hi g h C o u rt w a s rig ht in affir mi n g th e vi e w o f
th e l e ar n e d s i n gl e J u d g e o f th e Hi g h C o urt th at th e s u o m o t u r e vi si o n
u n d e rt a k e n a ft e r a lo n g la p s e o f ti m e , e v e n in th e a b s e n c e o f a n y
p e ri o d o f li mitati o n w a s a r bitrar y a n d o p p o s e d t o th e c o n c e p t o f r ul e
o f la w.
24 . To s u m u p , d el a y e d e x e r ci s e o f r e vi si o n al juri s di cti o n i s
fr o w n e d u p o n b e c a u s e if a cti o n s o r tra n s a cti o n s w e r e to r e m ai n
f or e v e r o p e n to c h all e n g e , it will m e a n a v oi d a bl e a n d e n dl e s s
u n c e r t ainty in h u m a n a ff air s , w hi c h i s n ot th e p oli c y o f la w. B e c a u s e ,
e v e n w h e n th e r e i s n o p e ri o d o f li mitati o n p r e s c ri b e d f or e x e r ci s e o f
s u c h p o w e r s , th e int er v e ni n g d el a y, m a y h a v e l e d t o c r e ati o n o f thir d
p arty rig ht s , th at c a n n o t b e tra m pl e d b y a b e l at e d e x e r ci s e o f a
di s c r e ti o n ar y p o w e r e s p e ci ally w h e n n o c o g e n t e x pl a n ati o n f or th e
d el a y i s in s i g ht . R ul e o f la w it i s s ai d m u s t r u n cl o s e l y with th e r ul e o f
lif e . E v e n in c a s e s w h e r e th e o r d e r s s o u g ht t o b e r e vi s e d a r e
fra u d ul e nt , th e e x e r ci s e o f p o w e r m u s t b e within a r e a s o n a bl e p e ri o d
o f th e di s c o v e r y o f fra u d . S i m ply d e s c ri bi n g a n a ct o r tra n s a c ti o n t o
http://www.judis.nic.in
b e fra u d ul e nt will n o t e x t e n d th e ti m e f or it s c o r r e cti o n t o infinity ; f or
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o t h e r wi s e th e e x e r ci s e o f r e vi si o n al p o w e r w o ul d it s elf b e ta nt a m o u nt
t o a fra u d u p o n th e s t at ut e th at v e s t s s u c h p o w e r in a n a ut h ority.
25 . In th e c a s e at h a n d , w hil e th e e n tr y s o u g ht t o b e c o r r e ct e d
i s d e s c ri b e d a s fra u d ul e nt , th e r e i s n ot hi n g in th e n oti c e i m p u g n e d
b e f o r e th e Hi g h C o urt a s to w h e n w a s th e all e g e d fra u d di s c o v e r e d
b y th e S t at e . A s p e cifi c s t at e m e n t in th at r e g a r d w a s e s s e n ti al f or it
w a s a juri s di cti o n al fa ct, w hi c h o u g ht t o b e cl e a rly a s s e r t e d in th e
n o ti c e i s s u e d t o th e r e s p o n d e n t s . T h e att e m p t o f th e a p p ella nt-S t at e
t o d e m o n s tr at e th at th e n o ti c e w a s i s s u e d within a r e a s o n a bl e p e ri o d
o f th e di s c o v e r y o f th e all e g e d fra u d i s, th e r e f o r e , futil e . A t a n y rat e ,
w h e n th e G o v e r n m e n t all o w e d th e la n d in q u e s ti o n f or h o u si n g s it e s
t o b e gi v e n t o G o v e r n m e n t e m pl o y e e s in th e y e a r 1991 , it m u s t b e
p r e s u m e d t o h a v e k n o w n a b o ut th e r e c o r d a n d th e r e v e n u e e n tri e s
c o n c e r ni n g th e p a r c el o f la n d m a d e in th e o r di n ar y c o u r s e o f o ffi ci al
b u si n e s s . In a s m u c h a s , th e n o ti c e w a s i s s u e d a s lat e a s o n 31 st
D e c e m b e r, 2004 , it w a s d el a y e d b y n e a rly 13 y e a r s . N o e x pl a n ati o n
h a s b e e n o ff e r e d e v e n f or thi s d el a y a s s u mi n g th at th e s a m e o u g ht t o
b e c o u nt e d o nly fr o m th e y e a r 19 91 . J u d g e d fr o m a n y a n gl e th e
n o ti c e s e e ki n g t o r e v e r s e th e e n tri e s m a d e h alf a c e n t ur y a g o , w a s
cl e a rly b e y o n d r e a s o n a bl e ti m e a n d w a s rig htly q u a s h e d .”
( xi) In A I R 2 0 1 5 R a j a s t h a n 1 7 9 (T A R A v . S t a t e o f
R a j a s t h a n ( F B ) ), th e Hi g h C o urt o f R aj a s t h a n h a s h el d a s f oll o w s :
“42 . O n th e a f or e s ai d di s c u s s i o n a n d in th e lig ht o f th e
ju d g m e nt s o f th e S u p r e m e C o urt r e f e r r e d t o a b o v e , w e
d e ci d e th e q u e s ti o n n o.( v) in th e m a n n e r th at e v e n if n o ti m e
li mit h a s b e e n fix e d f or r e f e r e n c e u n d e r S e c ti o n 82 o f th e
R aj a s t h a n L a n d R e v e n u e A c t , 1956 a n d u n d e r s e c ti o n 232 o f
th e R aj a s t h a n Te n a n c y A c t , 1955 in r e s p e c t o f th e la n d h el d
b y a Hin d u Id ol ( d eity) , a r e f e r e n c e c a n b e m a d e wit hin a
http://www.judis.nic.in r e a s o n a bl e ti m e , w hi c h will d e p e n d u p o n th e fa ct s a n d
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cir c u m s t a n c e s o f e a c h c a s e . E v e n if th e fra u d i s all e g e d , th e
p o w e r m u s t n ot b e e x e r ci s e d aft e r u nr e a s o n a bl e p e ri o d , s u c h
a s , aft e r s e v e r al d e c a d e s cl ai min g rig ht s o v e r th e lan d.
48 . In o r d e r to s u m m a riz e th e a n s w e r s , th e q u e s ti o n s
fra m e d b y b y th e C o urt a n d o u r d e ci si o n s o n th e q u e s ti o n s a r e
s t at e d a s b e l o w :-
"Q u e s ti o n N o.(i) W h e t h e r th e la n d h el d in J a gir, b y Hin d u
Id ol ( d eity) a s D olid ar o r M u afi d ar c ulti v at e d b y a p e r s o n o t h e r
th a n th e S h e b ait/P uj ari o f th e d eity o r b y hir e d la b o u r o r s e r v a nt s
e n g a g e d b y it s S h e b ait/P uj ari a s a t e n a nt o f th e d eity, s u c h id ol
b e i n g tr e at e d a s a p e r p e t u al m i n o r, will s till b e r e g a r d e d a s la n d
h el d in th e p e r s o n al c ulti v ati o n o f th e d eity o r will s u c h la n d b e
r e g a r d e d a s h el d in th e t e n a n c y b y th e p e r s o n c ulti v atin g s u c h
la n d a s t e n a nt o f a d eity ?
A n s w e r:- T h e q u e s ti o n n o.(i) i s d e ci d e d in f a v o u r o f th e
S t at e a n d a g ai n st th e S h e b ait/P uj ari cl ai mi n g th e la n d to b e s a v e d
b y th e J a gir s A c t o f 19 52 . T h e la n d h el d in J a gir b y Hin d u id ol
( d eity) a s D olid ar o r M u afi d ar c ulti v at e d b y a p e r s o n o t h e r th a n th e
S h e b ait/P uj ari o f th e d eity p e r s o n ally o r b y hir e d la b o u r o r
s e r v a nt s e n g a g e d b y it s S h e b ait/P uj ari a s a t e n a nt o f th e d eity,
s h all v e s t in th e S t at e , a ft e r th e J a gir s A c t o f 1952 . T h e Hin d u id ol
( d eity), e v e n if it i s tr e at e d to b e a p e r p e t u al m i n or, c o ul d n ot
c o n tin u e t o h ol d s u c h la n d . S u c h la n d c a n n o t b e tr e at e d t o b e in
it s p e r s o n al c ulti vati o n . A t e n a nt o f s u c h la n d c ulti vatin g th e la n d
a c q uir e d th e rig ht s o f k h at e d a r o f th e S t at e . S u c h la n d u n d e r th e
t e n a n c y o f a p e r s o n o t h e r th a n S h e b ait/P urj ari o f Hin d u Id ol
( d eity) b e c a m e k h at e d ari la n d o f s u c h t e n a nt . T h e n a m e o f Hin d u
Id ol ( d eity) fr o m s u c h la n d h a d to b e e x p u n g e d fr o m th e r e v e n u e
r e c o r d s with S h e b ait/P ujuri h a vi n g n o rig ht to cl ai m th e la n d a s
K h at e d a r. C o n s e q u e n tly, th e y h a d n o rig ht t o tra n s f e r s u c h la n d s ,
a n d all s u c h tra n s f e r s h a v e t o b e tr e at e d a s n ull a n d v oi d , in
http://www.judis.nic.in
42
c o n tr a v e nti o n o f th e J a gir s A c t 1952 , a n d th e la n d u n d e r s u c h
tra n s f e r s t o b e r e s u m e d b y th e S t at e .
Q u e s ti o n N o.(ii) W h at a r e th e rig ht s o f th e Hin d u Id ol ( d eity)
in th e la n d s h el d b y th e m in th e n a m e o f it s S h e b ait s/ P uj ari o n th e
d at e o f r e s u m p ti o n o f s u c h J a gir, u n d e r th e p r o vi si o n s o f th e
R aj a st h a n L a n d R e f or m s & R e s u m p ti o n o f J a gir A c t , 1952 ?
A n s w e r:- T h e Hin d u Id ol ( d eity) in th e la n d s h el d b y th e m in
th e n a m e o f it s S h e b ait/P uj ari o n th e d at e o f r e s u m p ti o n o f s u c h
J a gir u n d e r th e p r o vi si o n s o f th e J a gir s A c t o f 1952 di d n ot h a v e
a n y rig ht s e x c e p t in k h u d k a s ht la n d c ulti vat e d b y S h e b ait/P uj ari
e it h e r b y th e m s e l v e s o r b y hir e d la b o u r o r s e r v a nt e n g a g e d b y
th e m f or th e b e n e fit o f th e e x p e n s e s o f th e t e m pl e in cl u di n g s e w a
p uj a . All th o s e la n d s l et o u t b y th e m t o th e t e n a nt s o r s u b - t e n a nt s
w e r e r e s u m e d b y th e J a gir s A c t o f 1952 a n d th at th e Hin d u id ol
( d eity) lo st all th e rig ht s in s u c h ja gir la n d s.
Q u e s ti o n N o.(iii) W h e t h e r s u c h a J a gir la n d/M u afi h el d b y
th e S h e b ait/P uj ari o f Hin d u Id ol ( d eity) in th eir n a m e a ft e r th e d at e
o f r e s u m p ti o n o f th e J a gir ( M u afi) c a n b e ali e n at e d b y th e m ? If s o ,
w h at i s th e e ff e c t ?
A n s w e r:- T h e J a gir la n d/M u afi h el d b y th e S h e b ait/P uj ari o f
Hin d u Id ol( d eity) in th eir n a m e a ft e r th e d at e o f r e s u m p ti o n o f th e
J a gir ( M u afi) b y th e J a gir s A c t o f 1952 will n ot gi v e th e m a n y rig ht
n o r th e y c o ul d ali e n at e th e la n d . T h e ali e n ati o n m a d e b y th e m o f
s u c h la n d w hi c h w a s r e s u m e d/a c q uir e d b y th e S t at e G o v e r n m e n t
a n d f or w hi c h cl ai m s w e r e m a d e a n d s e ttl e d b e f o r e th e J a gir
C o m m i s si o n e r, w o ul d b e n ull a n d v oi d a n d will h a v e n o e ff e c t.
Q u e s ti o n N o.(i v) W h e t h e r a n y p e r s o n c a n a c q uir e rig ht b y
a d v e r s e p o s s e s s i o n in th e la n d s o f a f o r e s ai d n at ur e a g ai n st th e
h ol d e r ?
A n s w e r:- No p er s o n can a c q uir e rig ht by a d v er s e
http://www.judis.nic.in p o s s e s s i o n in th e la n d s w hi c h w e r e r e s u m e d o r a r e in th e t e n a n c y
43
o f th e t e n a nt s a s k h at e d a r s . T h e li mitati o n a p pli c a bl e u n d e r th e
R aj a st h a n Te n a n c y A c t , 19 55 f or filin g s uit f or p o s s e s s i o n a g ai n st
th e tr e s p a s s e r will b e a p pli c a bl e . T h e R aj a st h a n Te n a n c y A c t ,
195 5 b e i n g a S p e ci al A c t , will p r e v ail a n d th e p r o vi si o n s o f S e c ti o n
27 o f th e Li mitati o n A c t will n o t a p ply f or cl ai mi n g a d v e r s e
p o s s e s s i o n o n s u c h la n d s.
Q u e s ti o n N o.( v) W h e t h e r a n y ti m e li mit c a n b e fix e d f or
r e f e r e n c e u/s 82 o f th e R aj a st h a n L a n d R e v e n u e A c t , 1956 a n d
u/ s.232 o f th e R aj a s t h a n Te n a n c y A c t , 1955 in r e s p e c t o f th e la n d
h el d b y a Hin d u Id ol ( d eity). If s o , t o w h at e x t e nt ?
A n s w e r:- N o ti m e li mit h a s b e e n fix e d f or r e f e r e n c e u n d e r
S e c ti o n 82 o f th e R aj a s t h a n L a n d R e v e n u e A c t , 1956 a n d u n d e r
s e c ti o n 23 2 o f th e R aj a s t h a n Te n a n c y A c t , 1955 in r e s p e c t o f th e
la n d h el d b y a Hin d u Id ol ( d eity), a n d th u s a r e f e r e n c e c a n b e
m a d e within a r e a s o n a bl e ti m e , w hi c h will d e p e n d u p o n th e fa ct s
a n d cir c u m s t a n c e s o f e a c h c a s e . E v e n if th e fra u d i s all e g e d , th e
p o w e r m u s t n o t b e e x e r ci s e d a ft e r u n r e a s o n a bl e p e ri o d , s u c h a s ,
a ft e r s e v e r al d e c a d e s cl ai mi n g rig ht s o v e r th e la n d."
( xii) In 2 0 1 6 ( 2 ) L . W. 4 5 (S u n d a r a m a n d o t h e r s v . t h e
P rincipal S e c r eta r y and C o m m ission er of Land
A d m i n i s t r a t i o n ), th e Di vi si o n B e n c h o f thi s C o urt h a s h el d a s
f oll o w s :
“ 25 . In th e c a s e o n h a n d , in c o ntr o v e rti bly, th e a p p ella nt s
h a v e fil e d th e r e p r e s e n t ati o n/p etiti o n s e e ki n g g r a nt o f p att a a ft e r
s i x d e c a d e s , cl ai mi n g t o b e d e s c e n d a nt s o f th e e r s t w hil e
Z a mi n d a r. Al b eit th e r e i s n o li mitati o n p r e s c ri b e d f or e x e r ci s e o f
p o w e r u n d e r S e c ti o n 7( c ) o f th e A c t , it d o e s n ot e n titl e th e
a p p ell a nt s t o q u e s ti o n th e a cti o n o f th e S e ttl e m e n t O ffi c e r b y
http://www.judis.nic.in
44
all ottin g th e s c h e d ul e d p r o p e r ty in f a v o u r o f th e thir d r e s p o n d e nt
a n d it s p r e d e c e s s o r s , b e y o n d a r e a s o n a bl e d el a y. T h e a p p ell a nt s
h a v e m i s e r a bly fail e d t o e x pl ain s u c h a n in or di n at e d el a y a n d
la c h e s .
28 . T h e a p p ella nt s , cl ai mi n g t o b e d e s c e n d a nt s o f th e
e r s t w hil e Z a mi n d ar a r e e n titl e d t o r y ot w ari p att a in Z a mi n d ari
E s t at e u n d e r th e p r o vi si o n s o f S e c ti o n 12 o f th e A c t . O n a b a r e
r e a di n g o f th e s ai d p r o vi si o n s , it i s e l o q u e n t th at a la n d h ol d e r,
cl ai mi n g t o b e e n titl e d t o r y ot w ari p at a u n d e r th e p r o vi si o n s , m u s t
h a v e a c q uir e d th e la n d b y in h e rita n c e o r s u c c e s s i o n u n d e r a will o r
b y p u r c h a s e , e x c h a n g e o f gift, b u t n ot in cl u di n g p u r c h a s e at a s al e
f or arr e a r s o f r e nt , p r o vi d e d th e s ai d la n d h ol d e r i s in c o ntin u o u s
p o s s e s s i o n o f s u c h la n d s fr o m 1 st d a y o f J ul y 1945 a n d h a d b e e n
c ulti v atin g s u c h la n d s hi m s e lf, b y hi s o w n s e r v a nt s o r b y hir e d
la b o ur, with hi s o w n o r hir e d s t o c k in th e o r di n ar y c o u r s e o f
h u s b a n d r y. T h e a p p ell a nt s h a v e n o t pl e a d e d e v e n in th eir
r e p r e s e n t ati o n m a d e t o th e fir st r e s p o n d e n t th at th e y h a v e b e e n in
c o n tin u o u s p o s s e s s i o n o f th e la n d fr o m th e s p e cifi e d d at e , i. e., 1 st
J uly, 1945 a n d al s o o n th e n o tifi e d d at e , i. e., th e d at e w h e n th e A c t
c a m e int o f or c e a n d c ulti vatin g th e m s e l v e s o r thr o u g h th eir o w n
s e r v a nt s o r b y hir e d la b o u r o r o t h e r wi s e .
29 . T h e S t at e G o v e r n m e n t , s u b s e q u e n tly, b y s e v e r al
G o v e r n m e n t O r d e r s , a s r e f er r e d t o in G . O . M s . N o . 130 0 ,
R e v e n u e D e p art m e nt d at e d 30 A p ril 197 1 , h a d p e r mitt e d th e
la n d h ol d e r s o r th e ry ot s , w h o c o ul d n o t o b t ai n p att a within th e
p r e s c ri b e d ti m e u n d e r th e p r o vi si o n s o f th e A c t , t o m a k e a n
a p pli c ati o n f or g r a nt o f p att a in r e s p e c t o f s u c h la n d s , p r o vi d e d
th e y w e r e in c o n tin u o u s p o s s e s s i o n a n d e nj o y m e n t o f a n y la n d in
th e e s t at e ta k e n o v e r u n d e r th e A c t . T h e s ai d p e r mi s si o n c a m e t o
a n e n d s u b s e q u e n tly b y G . O . M s . N o . 714 , w hi c h s ti p ul at e d th e
la st d at e a s 20 A u g u s t 1987 . T h e a p p ell a nt s h a d n e v e r c o m e
f or w a r d u n d e r th e a f o r e s t at e d p r o vi si o n s o f th e A c t o r u n d e r th e
http://www.judis.nic.in e x t e n d e d ti m e g r a nt e d b y s e v e r al G o v e r n m e n t O r d e r s , cl ai mi n g to
45
b e in c o n tin u o u s p o s s e s s i o n a n d e nj o y m e n t o f a n y la n d in th e
e s t at e ta k e n o v e r u n d e r th e A c t.
30 . A s a s e q uitur, w e h a v e n o h e sit ati o n in h ol din g th at th e
fir st r e s p o n d e nt h a d rig htly r ej e ct e d th e a p p ell a nt s' a p pli c ati o n a s
b e i n g b a r r e d b y d el a y a n d th at th e l e ar n e d S i n gl e J u d g e h a s ju stly
di s mi s s e d th e w rit p e titi o n u p h ol di n g th e o r d e r p a s s e d b y th e fir st
r e s p o n d e n t .”
( xiii) In 2 0 1 8 S A R ( C i v i l) 3 6 0 (M a h a v i r a n d O t h e r s v .
Uni o n o f I n d i a a n d a n o t h e r ), th e H o n' bl e S u p r e m e C o urt h a s h el d
a s f oll o w s :
“ 16 . T h e C o n s tituti o n B e n c h o f thi s C o u rt in R a bi n d r a n at h
B o s e a n d O r s . v. U ni o n o f In di a a n d O r s . M A N U/ S C/0506/1969 :
(1970) 1 S C C 84 h a s o b s e r v e d :
32... w e a r e o f th e vi e w th at n o r eli ef s h o ul d b e gi v e n t o
P e titi o n e r s w h o , with o ut a n y r e a s o n a bl e e x pl a n ati o n , a p p r o a c h
thi s C o u rt U n d e r A r ti cl e 32 o f th e C o n s tituti o n a ft e r in or di n at e
d el a y. T h e hi g h e s t C o u rt in thi s la n d h a s b e e n gi v e n O ri gin al
J u ri s di cti o n to e n t e rt ain p e titi o n s U n d e r A rti cl e 32 o f th e
C o n s tituti o n . It c o ul d n ot h a v e b e e n th e int e nti o n th at thi s C o u rt
w o ul d g o int o s t al e d e m a n d s a ft e r a la p s e o f y e a r s . It i s s ai d th at
A r ti cl e 32 i s it s elf a g u a r a nt e e d rig ht. S o it i s, b ut it d o e s n ot
f oll o w fr o m thi s th at it w a s th e int e nti o n o f th e C o n s tituti o n
m a k e r s th at thi s C o urt s h o ul d di s c a r d all prin ci pl e s a n d g r a nt
r eli ef in p e titi o n s fil e d a ft e r in or din at e d el a y.
17 . T hi s C o u rt in D h a r a p p a v. Bij a p ur C o - o p e r ati v e Milk
P r o d u c e r s S o ci e ti e s U ni o n Lt d . M A N U/ S C/7367/2007 : 200 7 (3)
S . C . T. 491 : (2007) 9 S C C 10 9 c o n si d e r e d th e q u e s ti o n o f d el a y
a n d la c h e s in th e m a tt e r o f rai si n g th e di s p ut e u n d e r In d u s trial
Di s p ut e A c t , 194 7 . T h o u g h n o li mitati o n p e ri o d i s p r e s c ri b e d
http://www.judis.nic.in u n d e r th e In d u s trial Di s p ut e s A c t , thi s C o urt h a s h el d th at if o n
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a c c o u nt o f d el a y, a di s p ut e h a s b e c o m e s t al e o r c e a s e s t o e xi st ,
th e r e f e r e n c e s h o ul d b e r ej e ct e d . It i s al s o h el d th at la p s e o f
ti m e r e s ult s in lo si n g th e r e m e d y a n d th e rig ht a s w e ll. T h e d el a y
w o ul d b e f at al if it h a s r e s ult e d in m a t e ri al e vi d e n c e r el e v a nt to
a dj u di c ati o n b e i n g lo st o r r e n d e r e d u n a v aila bl e . W h e n b e l at e d
cl ai m s a r e c o n si d e r e d a s s t al e a n d n o n-e xi stin g f or th e p ur p o s e
o f r ef u si n g o r r ej e ctin g a r e f e r e n c e U n d e r S e c ti o n 10(1)( c) o r in
s pit e o f n o p e ri o d o f li mitati o n i s p r e s c ri b e d thi s C o u rt laid th at it
will b e ill o gi c al t o h ol d th at th e a m e n d m e n t t o th e I. D. A c t
in s e rtin g S e c ti o n 10(4-a ) p r e s c ri bin g th e ti m e li mit o f s i x m o n t h s
s h o ul d b e int er pr et e d a s r e vi vin g all s t al e a n d d e a d cl ai m s . T hi s
C o urt h a s furth e r o b s e r v e d th at S e c ti o n 10(4-A ) cl e a rly r e q uir e s
th at a w o r k m a n w h o w a nt s t o dir e ctly a p p r o a c h th e L a b o u r
C o urt, s h o ul d d o s o within s i x m o n t h s fr o m th e d at e o f
c o m m u ni c ati o n o f th e o r d e r. T hi s C o urt h a s laid d o w n th at w h e n
a n e w r e m e d y o r r eli ef i s p r o vi d e d b y a s t at ut e , s u c h a
tra n siti o n al p r o vi si o n i s m a d e t o e n s u r e th at p e r s o n s w h o a r e
gi v e n a s p e ci al rig ht, d o n ot lo s e it f or w a n t o f a d e q u at e ti m e t o
e n f o r c e it, th o u g h th e y h a v e a c a u s e o f a cti o n o r rig ht a s o n th e
d at e w h e n th e n e w r e m e d y o r r eli ef c o m e s int o e ff e c t . T hi s
C o urt h a s furth e r o b s e r v e d th at S e c ti o n 10(4-A ) d o e s n o t ,
th e r e f o r e , r e vi v e n o n-e xi stin g o r s t al e o r d e a d cl ai m s b u t o nly
e n s u r e s th at cl ai m s w hi c h w e r e liv e , t o b e fil e d , b y a p plyin g th e
s i x-m o n t h R ul e in S e c ti o n 10(4-A ) . T hi s C o urt h a s laid d o w n
th u s:
“29 . T hi s C o urt w hil e d e alin g wit h S e c ti o n s 10(1)( c) a n d
( d) o f th e ID A c t , h a s r e p e a t e dly h el d th at th o u g h th e A c t d o e s
n o t p r o vi d e a p e ri o d o f li mitati o n f or rai si n g a di s p ut e U n d e r
S e c ti o n 10(1)( c) o r ( d) , if o n a c c o u nt o f d el a y, a di s p ut e h a s
b e c o m e s t al e o r c e a s e s to e xi st , th e r e f e r e n c e s h o ul d b e
r ej e ct e d . It h a s al s o h el d th at la p s e o f ti m e r e s ult s in lo si n g th e
r e m e d y a n d th e rig ht a s w e ll. T h e d el a y w o ul d b e f at al if it h a s
http://www.judis.nic.in r e s ult e d in m a t e ri al e vi d e n c e r el e v a nt to a dj u di c ati o n b e i n g lo st
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o r r e n d e r e d u n a v aila bl e ( vi d e N e d u n g a di B a n k Lt d . v. K. P.
M a d h a v a n k utty ; B al bir S i n g h v. P u nj a b R o a d w a y s ; A s s tt.
E x e c u ti v e E n gi n e e r v. S hi v alin g a a n d S . M . Nilajk ar v. Tel e c o m
Di stt. M a n a g e r ) . W h e n b e l at e d cl ai m s a r e c o n si d e r e d a s s t al e
a n d n o n-e xi stin g f or th e p ur p o s e o f r ef u si n g o r r ej e ctin g a
r e f e r e n c e U n d e r S e c ti o n 10(1)( c ) o r ( d) , in s pit e o f n o p e ri o d o f
li mitati o n b e i n g p r e s c ri b e d , it will b e ill o gi c al t o h ol d th at th e
a m e n d m e n t t o th e A c t in s e rtin g S e c ti o n 10(4-A ) p r e s c ri bi n g a
ti m e- li mit o f s i x m o n t h s , s h o ul d b e int er pr et e d a s r e vi vin g all
s t al e a n d d e a d cl ai m s.
30 . T h e o bj e ct o f S e c ti o n 10(4-A ) i s t o e n a bl e w o r k m e n t o
a p ply dir e ctly t o th e L a b o u r C o u rt f or a dj u di c ati o n o f di s p ut e s
r el atin g to t er mi n ati o n , wit h o ut g oi n g thr o u g h th e la b ori o u s
p r o c e s s o f s e e ki n g a r e f e r e n c e U n d e r S e c ti o n 10(1) o f th e ID
A c t . T h e l e gi sl ati v e int e nt w a s n o t t o r e vi v e s t al e o r n o n-e xi stin g
cl ai m s . S e c ti o n 10(4-A ) cl e a rly r e q uir e s th at a w o r k m a n w h o
w a n t s t o dir e ctly a p p r o a c h th e L a b o u r C o u rt s h o ul d d o s o wit hin
s i x m o n t h s fr o m th e d at e o f c o m m u ni c ati o n o f th e o r d e r. T h e n
c o m e th e w o r d s "or th e d at e o f c o m m e n c e m e n t o f th e In d u strial
Di s p ut e s ( K ar n at a k a A m e n d m e n t) A c t , 198 7 , w hi c h e v e r i s lat er".
T h e r e a s o n f or th e s e w o r d s i s o b vi o u s . In c a s e s w h e r e th e
c a u s e o f a cti o n a r o s e pri or t o 7-4-19 88 , s o m e a d diti o n al ti m e
h a d t o b e p r o vi d e d t o m a k e th e p r o vi si o n s e f f e cti v e . L e t u s ta k e
th e e x a m pl e o f a w o r k m a n w h o h a d r e c ei v e d th e t er mi n ati o n
o r d e r o n 10-10-1987 . If S e c ti o n 10(4-A ) , w hi c h c a m e int o e ff e c t
o n 7-4-1988 , h a d m e r el y s t at e d th at th e a p pli c ati o n h a d t o b e
fil e d within s i x m o n t h s fr o m th e d at e o f c o m m u ni c ati o n , h e h a d
t o fil e th e a p pli c ati o n b e f o r e 10-4-1988 , th at i s h a r dly thr e e d a y s
fr o m th e d at e w h e n th e a m e n d m e n t c a m e int o e ff e c t . T h e
l e gi sl at ur e th o u g ht th at w o r k m e n s h o ul d b e gi v e n some
r e a s o n a bl e ti m e t o k n o w a b o ut th e n e w p r o vi si o n a n d ta k e s t e p s
t o a p p r o a c h th e L a b o u r C o u rt. T h e r e f o r e , all w o r k m e n w h o w e r e
http://www.judis.nic.in c o m m u ni c at e d o r d e r s o f t er mi n ati o n wit hin s i x m o n t h s pri or t o
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7-4-1988 w e r e gi v e n th e b e n e fit o f u nif or m s i x m o n t h s' ti m e fr o m
7-4-1988 , irr e s p e c ti v e o f th e d at e o f e x piry o f s i x m o n t h s . W h e n
a n e w r e m e d y o r r eli ef i s p r o vi d e d b y a s t at ut e , s u c h a
tra n siti o n al p r o vi si o n i s m a d e t o e n s u r e th at p e r s o n s w h o a r e
gi v e n a s p e ci al rig ht, d o n ot lo s e it f or w a n t o f a d e q u at e ti m e t o
e n f o r c e it, th o u g h th e y h a v e a c a u s e o f a cti o n o r rig ht a s o n th e
d at e w h e n th e n e w r e m e d y o r r eli ef c o ni e s int o e f f e c t.
31 . S e c ti o n 10(4-A ) d o e s n ot th e r e f o r e r e vi v e n o n-
e xi stin g o r s t al e o r d e a d cl ai m s b ut o nly e n s u r e s th at cl ai m s
w hi c h w e r e liv e , b y a p plyi n g th e s i x-m o n t h R ul e in S e c ti o n 10(4-
A ) a s o n th e d at e w h e n th e S e c ti o n c a m e int o e f f e ct , h a v e a
m i ni m u m o f s i x m o n t h s' ti m e t o a p p r o a c h th e L a b o u r C o u rt. T h at
i s e n s u r e d b y a d di n g th e w o r d s "or th e d at e o f c o m m e n c e m e n t
o f th e In d u s trial Di s p ut e s ( K ar n at a k a A m e n d m e n t) A c t , 198 7 ,
w hi c h e v e r i s lat er" to th e w o r d s "within s i x m o n t h s fr o m th e d at e
o f c o m m u ni c ati o n to hi m o f th e o r d e r o f di s c h a r g e , di s mi s s al ,
r etr e n c h m e n t o r t er mi n ati o n". In o t h e r w o r d s all th o s e w h o w e r e
c o m m u ni c at e d o r d e r s o f t er mi n ati o n d urin g a p e ri o d o f s i x
m o nth s pri or to 7-4-1988 w er e deemed to have been
c o m m u ni c at e d s u c h o r d e r s o f t er mi n ati o n a s o n 7-4-1988 f or th e
p u r p o s e o f s e e ki n g r e m e d y. T h e r e f o r e , th e w o r d s "within s i x
m o n t h s fr o m th e d at e o f c o m m e n c e m e n t o f th e In d u s trial
Di s p ut e s ( K ar n at a k a A m e n d m e n t) A c t , 198 7 , w hi c h e v e r i s lat e r"
o nly e n a bl e s th o s e w h o h a d b e e n c o m m u ni c at e d o r d e r o f
t er mi n ati o n wit hin s i x m o n t h s pri or t o 7-4-1988 , t o a p ply U n d e r
S e c ti o n 10(4-A ).
18 . T hi s C o u rt in S t at e of K ar n at a k a v. L a x m a n
M A N U/ S C/2506/2005 : 2005 (4) R . C. R . ( Ci vil) 63 1 : (2005) 8
S C C 709 c o n si d e r e d th e q u e s ti o n w h e r e n o ti m e li mit i s fix e d
U n d e r S e c ti o n 18(3) o f L a n d A c q ui siti o n A c t , 1894 ( a s a m e n d e d
in K ar n at a k a S t at e ) . N o ti m e li mit w a s fix e d b y th e s t at ut e t o
a p ply b e f o r e th e c o urt b ut s i n c e th e a p pli c ati o n i s t o th e c o urt,
http://www.judis.nic.in th o u g h u n d e r a s p e ci al e n a ct m e n t o f A r ti cl e 137 , th e r e si d u a r y
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A r ti cl e o f th e Li mit ati o n A c t , 1963 w o ul d b e attra ct e d a n d th e
a p pli c ati o n h a s t o b e m a d e wit hin thr e e y e a r s o f th e a p pli c ati o n
r elyin g o n th e A d dl. S p e ci al L a n d A c q ui siti o n O ffi c e r, B a n g al o r e
v. T h a k o r e d a s , M aj or, a n d O r s . M A N U/ S C/0464/1994 : (1997)
11 S C C 412 . T hi s C o u rt h a s o b s e r v e d :
9 . A s c a n b e s e e n , n o ti m e f or a p plyin g t o th e c o urt in
t er m s o f S u b - s e c ti o n
(3) i s fix e d b y th e s t at ut e . B u t s i n c e th e a p pli c ati o n i s t o th e c o urt,
th o u g h u n d e r a s p e ci al e n a ct m e n t , A r ti cl e 13 7 , th e r e si d u ar y
A r ti cl e o f th e Li mit ati o n A c t , 1963 , w o ul d b e attra ct e d a n d th e
a p pli c ati o n h a s t o b e m a d e wit hin thr e e y e a r s o f th e a p pli c ati o n f or
m a ki n g a r e f e r e n c e o r th e e x pir y o f 90 d a y s a ft e r th e a p pli c ati o n .
T h e p o siti o n i s s e ttl e d b y th e d e ci si o n o f thi s C o urt in A d dl . S p l .
L a n d A c q ui siti o n O ffi c e r v. T h a k o r e d a s . It w a s h el d : ( S C C p . 414 ,
p a r a 3)
3 . A d m itt e dly, th e c a u s e o f a cti o n f or s e e ki n g a r e f e r e n c e
h a d ari s e n o n th e d at e o f s e r vi c e o f th e a w a r d U n d e r S e c ti o n
12(2) o f th e A c t . W it hin 90 d a y s fr o m th e d at e o f th e s e r vi c e o f th e
n o ti c e , th e R e s p o n d e n t s m a d e th e a p pli c ati o n r e q u e s ti n g th e
D e p ut y C o m m i s si o n e r t o r e f e r th e c a s e s t o th e ci vil c o urt U n d e r
S e c ti o n 18 . U n d e r th e a m e n d e d S u b - s e c ti o n (3)( a) o f th e A c t , th e
D e p ut y C o m m i s si o n e r s h all, within 90 d a y s fr o m 1-9-1970 m a k e a
r e f e r e n c e U n d e r S e c ti o n 18 t o th e ci vil c o urt w hi c h h e fail e d t o d o .
C o n s e q u e n tly, b y o p e r ati o n o f S u b - s e c ti o n 3( b ) wit h th e e x pir y o f
th e a f o r e s t at e d 90 d a y s , th e c a u s e o f a cti o n h a d a c c r u e d t o th e
R e s p o n d e n t s t o m a k e a n a p pli c ati o n to th e ci vil c o urt with a p r a y e r
t o dir e ct th e D e p ut y C o m m i s si o n e r to m a k e a r e f e r e n c e . T h e r e i s
n o p e ri o d o f li mitati o n p r e s c ri b e d in S u b - s e c ti o n (3)( b ) t o m a k e
th at a p pli c ati o n b ut it s h o ul d b e d o n e within li mitati o n p r e s c ri b e d
b y th e S c h e d ul e to th e Li mit ati o n A c t . S i n c e n o A r ti cl e e x p r e s s l y
p r e s c ri b e d th e li mitati o n t o m a k e s u c h a p pli c ati o n , th e r e si d u ar y
A r ti cl e U n d e r A rti cl e 137 o f th e S c h e d ul e to th e Li mit ati o n A c t g e t s
http://www.judis.nic.in attra ct e d . T h u s , it c o ul d b e s e e n th at in th e a b s e n c e o f a n y s p e ci al
50
p e ri o d o f li mitati o n p r e s c ri b e d b y C l a u s e ( b ) o f S u b - s e c ti o n (3) o f
S e c ti o n 18 o f th e A c t , th e a p pli c ati o n s h o ul d h a v e b e e n m a d e
wit hin thr e e y e a r s fr o m th e d at e o f e x pir y o f 90 d a y s p r e s c ri b e d in
S e c ti o n 18(3)( b ) i. e . th e d at e o n w hi c h c a u s e o f a cti o n h a d
a c c r u e d t o th e R e s p o n d e nt cl ai m a nt . S i n c e th e a p pli c ati o n h a d
b e e n a d mitt e dly m a d e b e y o n d thr e e y e a r s , it w a s cl e a rly b a r r e d
b y li mitati o n . S i n c e , th e Hi g h C o u rt r eli e d u p o n th e c a s e in
M u ni ci p al C o u n cil w hi c h h a s s t o o d o v e r r ul e d , th e o r d e r o f th e Hi g h
C o urt i s u n s u s t ai n a bl e .
T hi s p o siti o n i s al s o s u p p o rt e d b y th e r e a s o ni n g in K e r al a
S E B v. T. P. K u n h aliu m m a . It m a y b e s e e n th at u n d e r th e C e n tral
A c t s a n s th e K ar n at a k a a m e n d m e n t th e r e w a s n o rig ht t o
a p p r o a c h th e P ri n ci p al C i vil C o u rt o f o ri gin al juri s di cti o n t o c o m p e l
a r e f e r e n c e a n d n o ti m e - li mit w a s al s o fix e d f or m a ki n g s u c h a n
a p p r o a c h . All th at w a s r e q uir e d o f a cl ai m a nt w a s to m a k e a n
a p pli c ati o n f or r e f e r e n c e within s i x w e e k s o f th e a w a r d o r th e
n o ti c e o f th e a w a r d , a s th e c a s e m a y b e . B u t o b vi o u sly th e S t at e
L e gi sl at ur e th o u g ht it n e c e s s a r y t o p r o vi d e a ti m e- fra m e f or th e
cl ai m a nt t o m a k e hi s cl ai m f or e n h a n c e d c o m p e n s a ti o n a n d f or
e n s u rin g a n e x p e diti o u s di s p o s al o f th e a p pli c ati o n f or r e f e r e n c e
b y th e a ut h ority u n d e r th e A c t fixin g a ti m e within w hi c h h e i s t o a ct
a n d c o n f e rrin g a n a d diti o n al rig ht o n th e cl ai m a nt t o a p p r o a c h th e
ci vil c o urt o n s a ti sf yin g th e c o n diti o n p r e c e d e n t o f h a vi n g m a d e a n
a p pli c ati o n f or r e f e r e n c e wit hin th e ti m e p r e s c ri b e d.
10 . A s t at ut e c a n , e v e n w hil e c o n f e rrin g a rig ht, p r o vi d e al s o
f or a r e p o s e . T h e Li mit ati o n A c t i s n ot a n e q uita bl e pi e c e o f
l e gi sl ati o n b ut i s a s t at ut e o f r e p o s e . T h e rig ht u n d o u b t e dly
a v aila bl e t o a litig a nt b e c o m e s u n e n f o r c e a bl e if th e litig a nt d o e s
n o t a p p r o a c h th e c o urt within th e ti m e p r e s c ri b e d . It i s in thi s
c o n t e xt th at it h a s b e e n s ai d th at th e la w i s f or th e dili g e nt . T h e
la w e x p e c t s a litig a nt t o s e e k th e e n f o r c e m e n t o f a rig ht a v aila bl e
t o hi m wit hin a r e a s o n a bl e ti m e o f th e ari si n g o f th e c a u s e o f
http://www.judis.nic.in a cti o n a n d th at r e a s o n a bl e ti m e i s r efl e ct e d b y th e v a ri o u s arti cl e s
51
o f th e Li mitati o n A c t.
19 . T h e c o urt i s d ut y b o u n d t o p r e v e n t th e a b u s e o f th e
p r o c e s s o f la w in th e c a s e s w hi c h h a v e b e e n c o n cl u d e d s e v e r al
d e c a d e s b e f o r e , in o u r c o n si d e r e d o pi ni o n , th e p r o vi si o n s o f
S e c ti o n 24(2) o f th e 201 3 A c t c a n n o t b e in v o k e d in s u c h c a s e s o f
d e a d cl ai m s o r s t al e cl ai m s . T h e r e a r e s e v e r al n u m b e r s o f c a s e s
c o m i n g t o thi s C o urt in w hi c h m a tt e r s h a d b e e n c o nt e s t e d u p t o
thi s C o urt q u e s ti o ni n g th e a c q ui siti o n a n d th e p e titi o n s h a v e b e e n
di s mi s s e d b y thi s C o u rt, a n d a c q ui siti o n h a s att ain e d fin ality,
p o s s e s s i o n w a s ta k e n , th e a w a r d p a s s e d . N oti c e h a d b e e n i s s u e d
U n d e r S e c ti o n 12(2) o f th e A c t t e n d e rin g th e a w a r d e d a m o u nt b ut
it h a s n ot b e e n c oll e ct e d b y th e cl ai m a nt s/la n d o w n e r s d eli b e r at ely
o r th e y h a d r ef u s e d t o c oll e ct it a n d a r e n o t r e a d y a n d willin g t o
a c c e p t it a n d , th e r e a ft er, it h a s b e e n d e p o sit e d in th e n a m e a n d
a c c o u nt o f th e o w n e r s in th e tr e a s u r y w hi c h i s al s o d e p o sit e d a s
p e r th e S t at e G o v e r n m e n t' s in str u cti o n s i s s u e d ti m e t o ti m e
r el atin g t o h o w G o v e r n m e n t m o n e y i s t o b e d e alt with . T h e a ct o f
failur e t o d e p o sit m o n e y U n d e r S e c ti o n 31 aft e r p o s s e s s i o n i s
ta k e n o nly i m p o s e s lia bility t o p a y hi g h e r int e r e s t U n d e r S e c ti o n
34 . T h e a c q ui siti o n w o ul d n ot la p s e u n d e r th e A c t.
20 . In o u r o pi ni o n , th e c a s e s in w hi c h th e r e i s d eli b e r at e
a cti o n o f th e o w n e r s f or n o t c oll e ctin g th e c o m p e n s a ti o n a n d th e y
d o n ot w a nt to r e c ei v e it, S e c ti o n 24(2) o f th e 2013 A c t d o e s n ot
c o m e t o th eir r e s c u e a s p r o vi si o n s a r e t o h el p th o s e p e r s o n s w h o
a r e d e p ri v e d o f c o m p e n s ati o n b ut n o t f or th o s e w h o d eli b e r at ely
h a d n o t r e c ei v e d it a n d litig at e d f or d e c a d e s f or q u a s hi n g o f
p r o c e e di n g s a v oi di n g to r e c ei v e c o m p e n s a ti o n b y willful a ct . T h e
failur e t o d e p o sit in c o urt U n d e r S e c ti o n 31(1) in s u c h c a s e s w o ul d
attra ct o nly int e r e s t a s e n vi s a g e d U n d e r S e c ti o n 34 o f th e A c t a n d
th e p r o vi si o n s o f S e c ti o n 24 c a n n o t b e s o in v o k e d in s u c h c a s e s .
21 . In th e in st a nt c a s e , th e cl ai m h a s b e e n m a d e n o t o nly
b e l at e dly, b ut n eith e r th e P e titi o n e r s n o r th eir p r e vi o u s thr e e
http://www.judis.nic.in g e n e r ati o n s h a d e v e r a p p r o a c h e d a n y o f th e a ut h oriti e s in w ritin g
52
f or cl ai mi n g c o m p e n s a ti o n . N o r e p r e s e n t ati o n h a d e v e r b e e n fil e d
wit h a n y a ut h ority, n o n e h a s b e e n a n n e x e d a n d th e r e i s n o
a v e r m e n t m a d e in th e p e titi o n th at a n y s u c h r e p r e s e n t ati o n h a d
e v e r b e e n fil e d . T h e cl ai m a p p e a r s n ot o nly s t al e a n d d e a d b u t
e x tr e m e l y cl o u d e d . T hi s w e a r e m e n ti o ni n g a s a d diti o n al r e a s o n s ,
a s s u c h cl ai m s n ot o nly s u ff e r fr o m d el a y a n d la c h e s b u t c o urt s
a r e n ot s u p p o s e d t o e n t ert ain s u c h cl ai m s . B e s i d e s s u c h cl ai m s
b e c o m e d o u b tf ul, c a n n ot b e r e c ei v e d f or c o n si d e r ati o n b e i n g
b a r r e d d u e t o d el a y a n d la c h e s .”
15. For better appreciation, Sections 4, 5, 6 and 27 of the Waqf Act,
1995, are extracted below:
“4 . P r e l i m i n a r y s u r v e y o f [ a u q a f].— (1) T h e S t at e
G o v e r n m e nt m a y, b y n otifi c ati o n in th e O ffi ci al G a z e tt e , a p p oi nt f or th e
S t at e a S u r v e y C o m m i s si o n e r o f [A u q a f] a n d a s m a n y A d diti o n al o r
A s s i st a nt S u r v e y C o m m i s s i o n e r s o f [A u q a f] a s m a y b e n e c e s s a r y f or th e
p ur p o s e o f m a ki n g a s u r v e y o f [a u q af in th e S t at e].
[(1 A) E v e r y S t at e G o v e r n m e nt s h all m ai nt ain a li st o f a u q a f
r e f e r r e d t o in s u b - s e c ti o n (1) a n d th e s u r v e y o f a u q a f s h all b e c o m pl et e d
wit hin a p e ri o d o f o n e y e a r fr o m th e d at e o f c o m m e n c e m e nt o f th e W a k f
( A m e n d m e nt) A c t , 20 13 (27 o f 2013) , in c a s e s u c h s u r v e y w a s n ot d o n e
b e f o r e th e c o m m e n c e m e n t o f th e W a k f ( A m e n d m e nt) A c t , 201 3 :
P r o vi d e d th at w h e r e n o S u r v e y C o m m i s si o n e r o f W a q f h a s b e e n
a p p oi nt e d , a S u r v e y C o m m i s si o n e r f or a u q a f s h all b e a p p oi nt e d wit hin
thr e e m o nt h s fr o m th e d at e o f s u c h c o m m e n c e m e n t.]
(2) All A d diti o n al a n d A s s i s t a nt S u r v e y C o m m i s si o n e r o f [A u q af]
s h all p e rf or m th eir fu n cti o n s u n d e r thi s A c t u n d e r th e g e n e r al s u p e r vi si o n
a n d c o ntr ol o f th e S u r v e y C o m m i s si o n e r o f [A u q af].
(3) T h e S u r v e y C o m m i s si o n e r s h all, aft e r m a ki n g s u c h in q uiry a s
h e m a y c o n si d e r n e c e s s a r y, s u b m it hi s r e p o rt, in r e s p e c t o f [a u q af]
e xi s tin g at th e d at e o f th e c o m m e n c e m e n t o f thi s A c t in th e S t at e o r a n y
http://www.judis.nic.in
p art th e r e o f, t o th e S t at e G o v e r n m e nt c o nt ainin g th e f oll o wi n g p a rti c ul ar s ,
53
n a m e l y:—
( a ) th e n u m b e r o f [a u q af] in th e S t at e s h o wi n g th e S hi a [a u q af] a n d
S u n ni [a u q af] s e p a r at ely ;
( b ) th e n at ur e a n d o bj e ct s o f e a c h [ w a qf];
( c) th e g r o s s in c o m e o f th e p r o p e rt y c o m p ri s e d in e a c h [ w a qf];
( d ) th e a m o u nt o f la n d r e v e n u e , c e s s e s , rat e s a n d ta x e s p a y a bl e in
r e s p e c t o f e a c h [ w a qf];
( e ) th e e x p e n s e s in c urr e d in th e r e ali s ati o n o f th e in c o m e a n d th e
p ay or oth er r e m u n e r ati o n o f th e m u t a w alli o f e a c h [ w a qf]; a n d
(f) s u c h o t h e r p arti c ul ar s r el atin g t o e a c h [ w a qf] a s m a y b e
p r e s c ri b e d .
(4) T h e S u r v e y C o m m i s si o n e r s h all, w hil e m a ki n g a n y in q uiry, h a v e
th e s a m e p o w e r s a s a r e v e s t e d in a ci vil c o urt u n d e r th e C o d e o f Ci vil
P r o c e d u r e , 19 08 (5 o f 1908) in r e s p e c t o f th e f oll o wi n g m a tt e r s , n a m e l y:—
( a ) s u m m o ni n g a n d e x a mi nin g a n y wit n e s s ;
( b ) r e q uirin g th e di s c o v e r y a n d p r o d u cti o n o f a n y d o c u m e nt ;
( c) r e q ui sitio nin g a n y p u bli c r e c o r d fr o m a n y c o urt o r o ffi c e ;
( d ) i s s ui n g c o m m i s si o n s f or th e e x a mi n ati o n o f a n y wit n e s s o r
a c c o u nt s ;
( e ) m a ki n g a n y lo c al in s p e c ti o n o r lo c al inv e s ti g ati o n ;
(f) s u c h o t h e r m a tt e r s a s m a y b e p r e s c ri b e d .
(5) If, d urin g a n y s u c h in q uiry, a n y di s p ut e ari s e s a s t o w h e t h e r a
p arti c ul ar [ w a qf] i s a S hi a [ w a qf] o r S u n ni [ w a qf] a n d th e r e a r e cl e a r
in di c ati o n s in th e d e e d o f [ w a q f] a s t o it s n at ur e , th e di s p ut e s h all b e
d e ci d e d o n th e b a si s o f s u c h d e e d .
(6) T h e S t at e G o v e r n m e nt m a y, b y n otifi c ati o n in th e O ffi ci al
G a z e tt e , dir e ct th e S u r v e y C o m m i s si o n e r t o m a k e a s e c o n d o r s u b s e q u e nt
s u r v e y o f [ w a qf] p r o p e rti e s in th e S t at e a n d th e p r o vi si o n s o f s u b - s e c ti o n s
(2) , (3) , (4) a n d (5) s h all a p ply t o s u c h s u r v e y a s th e y a p ply t o a s u r v e y
dir e ct e d u n d e r s u b - s e c ti o n (1) :
P r o vi d e d th at n o s u c h s e c o n d o r s u b s e q u e nt s u r v e y s h all b e m a d e u ntil
th e e x piry o f a p e ri o d o f [t e n y e a r s] fr o m th e d at e o n w hi c h th e r e p o rt in
r el ati o n t o th e i m m e di at ely p r e vi o u s s u r v e y w a s s u b m itt e d u n d e r s u b -
s e c ti o n (3) :
3[Provided further that the waqf properties already notified shall not be
http://www.judis.nic.in reviewed again in subsequent survey except where the status of such property has
54
been changed in accordance with the provisions of any law.]
5 . P u b l i c a t i o n o f li st o f [ a u q a f].— (1) O n r e c ei pt o f a
r e p o rt u n d e r s u b - s e c ti o n (3) o f s e c ti o n 4 , th e S t at e G o v e r n m e nt s h all
f or w a r d a c o p y o f th e s a m e t o th e B o a r d .
(2) T h e B o a r d s h all e x a mi n e th e r e p o rt f or w a r d e d t o it u n d e r s u b -
s e c ti o n (1) a n d [for d w a r d it b a c k t o th e G o v e r n m e nt wit hin a p e ri o d o f s i x
m o nt h s f or p u bli c ati o n in th e O ffi ci al G a z e tt e] a li st o f S u n ni [a u q af] o r S hi a
[a u q af] in th e S t at e , w h e t h e r in e xi st e n c e at th e c o m m e n c e m e n t o f thi s A c t
o r c o m i n g int o e xi st e n c e th e r e a ft e r, t o w hi c h th e r e p o rt r el at e s , a n d
c o nt ainin g s u c h o t h e r p arti c ul ar s a s m a y b e p r e s c ri b e d .
6[(3) T h e r e v e n u e a ut h oriti e s s h all—
(i) in cl u d e th e li st o f a u q a f r e f e r r e d t o in s u b - s e c ti o n (2) , w hil e
u p d atin g th e la n d r e c o r d s ; a n d
(ii) ta k e int o c o n si d e r ati o n th e li st o f a u q a f r e f e r r e d t o in s u b - s e c ti o n
(2) , w hil e d e ci din g m u t ati o n in th e la n d r e c o r d s .
(4) T h e S t at e G o v e r n m e nt s h all m ai nt ain a r e c o r d o f th e li st s
p u bli s h e d u n d e r s u b - s e c ti o n (2) fr o m ti m e t o ti m e .]
6. Disputes regarding [auqaf].—(1) If a n y q u e s ti o n ari s e s w h e t h e r a
p arti c ul ar p r o p e rt y s p e cifi e d a s [ w a qf] p r o p e rt y in th e li st o f [a u q af] i s [ w a q f]
p r o p e rt y o r n ot o r w h e t h e r a [ w a qf] s p e cifi e d in s u c h li st i s a S hi a [ w a qf] o r
S u n ni [ w a qf], th e B o a r d o r th e m u t a w alli o f th e [ w a qf] o r [a ny p e r s o n
a g g ri e v e d] m a y in stitut e a s uit in a Tri b u n al f or th e d e ci si o n o f th e q u e s ti o n
a n d th e d e ci si o n o f th e Tri b u n al in r e s p e c t o f s u c h m a tt e r s h all b e fin al:
P r o vi d e d th at n o s u c h s uit s h all b e e n t e rt ain e d b y th e Tri b u n al a ft e r
th e e x piry o f o n e y e a r fr o m th e d at e o f th e p u bli c ati o n o f th e li st o f [a u q af]:
[ Pr o vi d e d furth e r th at n o s uit s h all b e in stitut e d b e f o r e th e Tri b u n al in
r e s p e c t o f s u c h p r o p e rti e s n otifi e d in a s e c o n d o r s u b s e q u e nt s u r v e y
p ur s u a nt t o th e p r o vi si o n s c o nt ain e d in s u b - s e c ti o n (6) o f s e c ti o n 4.]
(2) N ot with s t a n di n g a n yt hin g c o nt ain e d in s u b - s e c ti o n (1) , n o
p r o c e e di n g u n d e r thi s A c t in r e s p e c t o f a n y [ w a q f] s h all b e s t a y e d b y
r e a s o n o nly o f th e p e n d e n c y o f a n y s u c h s uit o r o f a n y a p p e al o r o t h e r
p r o c e e di n g ari si n g o ut o f s u c h s uit.
(3) T h e S u r v e y C o m m i s si o n e r s h all n ot b e m a d e a p arty t o a n y s uit
http://www.judis.nic.in
u n d e r s u b - s e c ti o n (1) a n d n o s uit, p r o s e c uti o n o r o t h e r l e g al p r o c e e di n g
55
s h all li e a g ai n s t hi m in r e s p e c t o f a n yt hin g w hi c h i s in g o o d faith d o n e o r
int e n d e d t o b e d o n e in p ur s u a n c e o f thi s A c t o r a n y r ul e s m a d e th e r e u n d e r.
(4) T h e li st o f [a u q af] s h all, u nl e s s it i s m o difi e d in p ur s u a n c e o f a
d e ci si o n o f th e Tri b u n al u n d e r s u b - s e c ti o n (1) , b e fin al a n d c o n cl u si v e .
(5) O n a n d fr o m th e c o m m e n c e m e nt o f thi s A c t in a S t at e , n o s uit o r
o t h e r l e g al p r o c e e di n g s h all b e in stitut e d o r c o m m e n c e d in a c o urt in th at
S t at e in r el ati o n t o a n y q u e s ti o n r e f e r r e d t o in s u b - s e c ti o n (1).
27. Delegation of powers by the Board.—T h e B o a r d m a y, b y a
g e n e r al o r s p e ci al o r d e r in w ritin g , d el e g at e t o th e C h air p e r s o n , a n y o t h e r
m e m b e r, th e C hi ef E x e c uti v e O ffi c e r o r a n y o t h e r o ffi c e r o r s e r v a nt o f th e
B o a r d o r a n y a r e a c o m m itt e e , s u bj e ct t o s u c h c o n ditio n s a n d li mit ati o n s a s
m a y b e s p e cifi e d in th e s ai d o r d e r, s u c h o f it s p o w e r s a n d d uti e s u n d e r thi s
A c t , a s it m a y d e e m n e c e s s a r y, e x c e p t th e p o w e r s a n d fu n cti o n s o f th e
B o a r d m e nti o n e d u n d e r cl a u s e s ( c) , ( d) , ( g) a n d (j) o f s u b - s e c ti o n (2) o f
s e c ti o n 32 a n d s e c ti o n 110.]
16. It is settled law that any order obtained by practising fraud is a
nullity. Hence, there is no quarrel over the proposition laid down in the
decisions referred in Para -10 (i) to (vii) and with regard to the character
of the property in the decisions referred in Paragraphs 10 (ix), (x) and
(xi), however, in view of the categorical pronouncement of the Hon'ble
Apex Court in the subsequent decisions cited by the learned counsel for
the respondent, we are unable to accept the decision of this Court
reported in 2 0 1 1 ( 6 ) M L J 7 3 1 (supra).
17. In this appeal, questions arise for consideration as to whether
the allegations of the appellant are sufficient to decide that the private
http://www.judis.nic.in
56
respondents had obtained Patta by playing fraud and the serious
disputed facts could be decided in the writ petition filed invoking Article
226 of the Constitution of India.
18. It is also well settled that with regard to fraud, there shall be
specific pleading and proof and the burden of proof lies on the person
who alleges fraud. In the matter on hand, admittedly even in the year
1905, the property in dispute was partitioned through a registered deed
and Pattas were issued in favour of the private respondents in the year
1961 by the Settlement Tahsildar. It is also not disputed that the suit
instituted by the appellant before the competent forum was struck off at
the instance of the private respondents and the Civil Revision Petition
filed questioning the order was also withdrawn by the appellant for the
reasons best known to him.
19. By virtue of Section 3(b) of Tamil Nadu Estates Abolition Act,
the entire Inam estate shall stand transferred to the Government and vest
with them free from all encumbrance, however, it is subject to the pre-
existing right of the Ryots or land owners to get Ryotwari Patta under the
provisions of Act. Section 11 of the Act deals with issuance of Patta to the
Ryots and under Section 12, the land owners are entitled to get Ryotwari
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57
Patta. Once Patta is issued under the above said provisions, aggrieved
persons have to prefer an appeal and no civil suit lie questioning the
issuance of Patta. According to the private respondents, Ryotwari Patta
had been given to the purchasers in title of the respondents 8 to 21 by
the Settlement Officer under Section 11 of the Act, in the year 1961. Ever
since they have been in continuous and uninterrupted possession and
enjoyment of the land in dispute. There were numerous alienations for
the past 54 years.
20. The learned Senior counsel for the private respondents would
urge that the petitioner ought to have filed an application under Section
13 of the Act and even one more opportunity was given by issuing G.O.
(Ms.)No.1300, dated 30.04.2017, enabling the appellant to apply for
issuance of Patta. The submissions of the learned Senior counsel is that
unless an application is filed under Sections 11 to 13 of the Act, there was
no obligation for the second respondent to issue a notice to the parties.
21. The learned Senior counsel by referring to the Inam Fair
Register and the Notification would argue that the land in dispute was
not dedicated to the appellant Pallivasal as alleged and the appellant has
no legal right to maintain the writ petition.
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22. The main grievance of the appellant is that the second
respondent issued patta without putting on notice to the appellant. As
rightly contended by the learned counsel for the respondents that it is
not mandatory under the Abolition Act to issue notice the person
interested and if anyone claims of right over the property, that will be
considered by the authority. Hence, we find no force in the contention of
the appellant. It is to be noted that except making bald and vague
allegations that the private respondents obtained Patta in collusion with
the second respondent, no materials have been brought on record to
substantiate the same. Hence, in our considered opinion the allegation of
fraud cannot be decided by this Court and the appellant is relegated to
the competent forum for redressal of his grievance.
23. Wakf Act is a Self Contained Code. A plain reading of the above
provisions would reveal that it has been stated in categorical terms how
the property of Wakf is to be maintained and protected. It is evident
from the decisions relied on by the respondents, as per the Scheme of
the Wakf Act all the properties belong to the Wakf are to be notified
under Section 5 of the Act. If any property of the Wakf has been omitted,
under Section 27, necessary and required action is to be initiated by the
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Wakf Board to determine whether the particular property belongs to the
Wakf and unless a property published under Section 5(2) or an order
passed by the Wakf in exercise of the power, Wakf Board cannot file a
suit.
24. This Court in 2 0 1 2 ( 4 ) L . W. 6 5 (supra), by referring Section
54 of the Wakf Act, confirmed the finding of the Wakf Tribunal that the
Muthavalli of Rasipuram Chinna Mazjid of Sunnath Jamath has no right to
institute suit for removal of encroachment from Wakf property and he
has to approach the Wakf Board. In 2 0 1 0 ( 4 ) C T C 5 1 6 , it has been
held that in view of Section 32(2)(1) of the Wakf Act, the present suit
filed by the Muthavalli representing the plaintiff's Mosque is not
maintainable as the power to institute and defend the suit pertaining to
Wakf lies with Wakf Board.
25. In the case on hand, the appellant claims right over the
property on the basis that the property was dedicated to the religious
institution and it is a Wakf property. The respondent would contend that
the property was not notified under Section 5(2) and no order was
passed under Section 27 of the Act. It is the case of the appellant that the
provisions of the Wakf Act have no application and the writ petition filed
by Muthavalli is maintainable. But we are not able to accept the
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submission of the learned counsel for the reasons that they cannot blow
hot and cold in the same breath. In our considered opinion, all the
provisions of Wakf Act are applicable to the case on hand and as per the
decisions referred above, the appellant has no lo c u s s t a n di to file the writ
petition and this writ appeal.
26. In A I R 2 0 0 9 ( S C ) S u p p l . 2 4 7 and A I R 2 0 1 5 ( S C )
1 0 2 ( S u p r a ) , the Hon'ble Apex Court set aside the orders passed in
exercise of the s u o m o t u judicial power after lapse of 17 and 13 years
respectively. The same view was taken by the Supreme Court in the latest
decision reported in 2 0 1 8 S A R C i v i l 3 6 0 . The Rajastan High Court in
A I R 2 0 1 5 R a j a s t h a n 1 7 9 ( S u p r a ) has gone to the extent of
holding that even if the fraud is alleged, the power must not be exercised
after unreasonable period, such as after several decades. In similar
circumstances, the Division Bench of this Court in 2 0 1 6 ( 2 ) L . W. 4 5
( S u p r a ) , rejected the prayer sought for grant of Patta after six decades.
In the matter on hand, indisputably the appellant challenges issuance of
Patta after a lapse of 54 years.
27. The learned single Judge by following the principles laid down
in the decisions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court and after analysing the
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relevant provisions of the Wakf Act, dismissed the writ petition. Taking
note of the above facts, we find no ground to interfere with the
impugned judgment. In that view, the writ appeal fails and the same is
dismissed. No cots. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are
closed.
Index :Yes/No (M. K. K . S . , J ) (R.T, J.)
Internet :Yes/No
30.04.2019
akv
To
1. The Commissioner of Land Administration / Board of Revenue,
Chepauk,
Chennai 600 005.
2. The Assistant Settlement Officer,
Tirunelveli District at Tirunelveli.
3. The District Collector,
Tirunelveli District at
Tirunelveli.
4. The Tamil Nadu Wakf Board,
represented by the Chief Executive Officer,
No.1 Jaffer Syrang Street,
Chennai 600 001.
5. The Member Secretary,
Local Town Planning,
Palayamkottai,
Tirunelveli.
6. The District Registrar,
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62
Tirunelveli District,
Tirunelveli.
7. The Second Sub Registrar,
Tirunelveli District, Pettai,
Tirunelveli 627 004.
K . K A LYA N A S U N DA R AM., J.
A ND R. THA R A NI., J.
akv P r e d eliv e r y jud g m e n t m a d e in W. A.(MD)N o. 7 o f 2 0 1 6 http://www.judis.nic.in 63 3 0.0 4.2 0 1 9 It defines what is Wakf and it deals with how the properties of Wakf to be maintained and protected. A reading of the above provisions would reveal that unless the property in dispute is notified under Section ... the Wakf Board itself has no authority to initiate proceeding to declare the character of the property and for consequential relief of recovery of possession and permanent injunction. It is to be noted that it is the categorical case of the appellant that Nawab of Carnatic had dedicated the properties in favour of a religious institution and hence it is Wakf properties. When it was pointed out by the learned Senior counsel http://www.judis.nic.in 64 Mr.M.Vallinayagam that unless the properties were not notified under the Wakf Act, no action be initiated. Decisions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in A I R 2 0 1 7 S C 2 6 5 3 , 2 0 0 2 ( 1 ) C T C 5 6 1 and this Court referred in Para-12 have been relied upon, it is replied by Mr.S.Parthasarathy, learned Senior counsel that the provisions of Wakf Act has no application and the appellant can maintain the writ petition. It is not the case of the learned counsel that the property was published as Wakf property under Section 5(2) of the Act. We wish to point out that the appellant cannot be permitted to blow hot and cold in the same breath. Keeping in mind the dictum laid down by the Hon'ble Apex Court in the above cited cases, we are of the considered opinion, the provisions of Wakf Act shall apply to case on hand and the contentions of the appellant are rejected.
17. In the instant case, it is not disputed that in 1919 itself the property in dispute was divided between the predecessors of the private respondents by registered partition. It is the case of the private respondents for time immemorial the properties have been under possession and enjoyment by them and their forefathers. It is pertinent to note that by enactment of Inam Abolition Act, as per Section ........ , the entire land vest with the Government. Sections 11, 12 and 13 enable the ryot and the persons claiming right over to make necessary applications. http://www.judis.nic.in 65 But, admittedly no application was made by the appellant. As per the Scheme of the Act, it was not obligatory on the Settlement Officer to verify the Revenue documents and other records including Inam Fair Register to issue notice to them while considering the claim made under the above provisions. Therefore, the contention of the appellant that Patta was issued without hearing the appellant has no substance.
18. In the decisions relied on by the learned counsel for the appellant, the Hon'ble Apex Court has categorically held that if any order obtained by committing fraud, it is a nullity. It is further held that the entries made in the Inam Fair Register is a material evidence and unless the contra is proved, they have to be relied upon. There is no dispute with regard to the above proposition.
19. By virtue of Section 3(b) of Tamil Nadu Estates Abolition Act, the entire Inam estate shall stand transferred to the Government and vest with them free from all encumbrance, however, it is subject to the pre- existing right of the Ryots or land owners to get Ryotwari Patta under the provisions of Act. Section 11 of the Act deals with issuance of Patta to the Ryots and under Section 12, the land owners are entitled to get Ryotwari Patta. Once Patta is issued under the above said provisions, aggrieved http://www.judis.nic.in 66 persons have to prefer an appeal and no civil suit lie questioning the issuance of Patta. According to the private respondents, Ryotwari Patta had been given to the purchasers in title of the respondents 8 to 21 by the Settlement Officer under Section 11 of the Act, in the year 1961. Ever since they have been in continuous and uninterrupted possession and enjoyment of the land in dispute. There were numerous alienations for the past 54 years.
20. The learned Senior counsel for the private respondents would urge that the petitioner ought to have filed an application under Section 13 of the Act and even one more opportunity was given by issuing G.O. (Ms.)No.1300, dated 30.04.2017, enabling the appellant to apply for issuance of Patta. The submissions of the learned Senior counsel is that unless an application is filed under Sections 11 to 13 of the Act, there was no application for the second respondent to issue a notice to the parties.
21. The learned Senior counsel by referring the Inam Fair Register and the Notification would argue that the land in dispute was not dedicated to the appellant Pallivasal as alleged and the appellant has no legal right to maintain the writ petition. In the decisions relied by the http://www.judis.nic.in 67 learned counsel for the respondents, this Court has held that unless the property is notified, the parties have no right to maintain a suit and if there is any dispute with regard to the property of the Wakf, the Wakf Board has to initiate proceedings to remove the encroachers.
22. The appellant has filed the writ petition on the ground that the property was dedicated to a Walkf and the Patta issued in favour of the respondents is liable to be set aside. As per the decisions of the Apex Court relied on by the respondents, unless a property was notified under Section 5 of the Act or it is not brought under Section 27 of the Act, a suit is not maintainable. Since the appellant claims that the property in dispute as Wakf Property, their contentions that the provisions of the Wakf Act has no application could not be countenanced.
23. The Hon'ble Apex Court in the decision ..... has observed that if there is no prescribed limitation, the revisional power has to be exercised within a maximum period of five years. In the case on hand, indisputably the appellant challenges issuance of Patta after lapse of 54 years.
24. The learned single Judge, by relying upon the decision of the Apex Court report in A I R 2 0 1 5 ( S C ) 1 0 2 1 , has dismissed the writ http://www.judis.nic.in 68 petition on the ground of latches. We find no ground to interfere with the order of the learned single Judge. In fine, the writ appeal fails and the same is dismissed.
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