Legal Document View

Unlock Advanced Research with PRISMAI

- Know your Kanoon - Doc Gen Hub - Counter Argument - Case Predict AI - Talk with IK Doc - ...
Upgrade to Premium
[Cites 8, Cited by 0]

Gujarat High Court

Bagshree Co-Op Housing Society Ltd & vs State Of Gujarat & 8 on 24 July, 2017

Author: J.B.Pardiwala

Bench: J.B.Pardiwala

                    C/SCA/9736/2017                                                      ORDER




                     IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

                        SPECIAL CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 9736 of 2017

         ==========================================================
                BAGSHREE CO-OP HOUSING SOCIETY LTD & 1....Petitioner(s)
                                     Versus
                       STATE OF GUJARAT & 8....Respondent(s)
         ==========================================================
         Appearance:
         MR NV GANDHI, ADVOCATE for the Petitioner(s) No. 1 - 2
         MS NISHA THAKORE, AGP - ADVANCE COPY SERVED TO GP/PP for the
         Respondent(s) No. 1
         MR AS VAKIL, ADVOCATE for the Respondent(s) No. 8 - 9
         NOTICE SERVED BY DS for the Respondent(s) No. 2 - 4 , 5.2.1 - 5.2.3 , 7.1 - 7.3
         UNSERVED-EXPIRED (N) for the Respondent(s) No. 5.1 , 6.1 - 6.2
         ==========================================================

             CORAM: HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE J.B.PARDIWALA

                                             Date : 24/07/2017


                                               ORAL ORDER

1 On 4th July 2017, the following order was passed:

"The   learned   counsel   appearing   for   the   petitioners   informs   that   it   has   come to his notice that the respondent no.5.1 viz.Maniben Talsibhai; the   respondent   no.6.1   viz.Harkhaben   widow   of   Dhanabhai   Ishwarbhai   and   the   respondent   no.6.2   viz.Manubhai   Dhanabhai   are   passed   away.   He   would   be   filing   an  appropriate   application   for   substitution   of   the   legal   heirs. 

Post  the   matter  on  24/07/2017. In  the   meantime,   the  necessary   steps   shall be taken for substitution of the legal heirs.

Mr. Apurva Vakil, the learned counsel has instructions to appear on behalf   of the respondents nos.8 and 9. He would be filing his appearance shortly   on behalf of the respondents nos.8 and 9."

2 It appears that no steps have been taken to substitute the legal  Page 1 of 14 HC-NIC Page 1 of 14 Created On Fri Aug 18 23:46:48 IST 2017 C/SCA/9736/2017 ORDER heirs of the original respondents Nos.5, 6 and 7. In such circumstances,  Mr.   Gandhi,   the   learned   counsel   makes   a   request   that   he   may   be  permitted to delete the respondents Nos.5.1, 6.1 and 6.2. The request is  granted. In such circumstances, the respondents Nos.5.1, 6.1 and 6.2 are  ordered to be deleted from the cause­title. 

3 By this application under Article 227 of the Constitution of India,  the applicants call in question the legality and validity of the order dated  28th  February   2017   passed   by   the   Special   Secretary   of   the   Revenue  Department   (Appeals),   by   which   the   S.S.R.D.   rejected   the   revision  application filed by the applicants herein, thereby affirming the order of  the   Collector,   Ahmedabad   dated   7th  March   2008   in   the   Revision  Application No.162 of 2006. 

4 The   facts   giving   rise   to   this   application   may   be   summarised   as  under:

4.1 The applicant No.1 is a Cooperative Housing Society registered at  a point of time under the provisions of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies  Act. The applicant No.2 claims to be the Secretary of the Society. 
4.2 Indisputably,   the   registration   of   the   Society   under   the   Act   has  been   cancelled.   Such   action   on   the   part   of   the   authorities   is   now   a  subject­matter of challenge before this Court. 
4.3 In such circumstances, a preliminary objection has been raised by  Mr. A.S. Vakil, the learned counsel appearing for the respondents Nos.8  and 9 that the applicant No.1 has ceased to be a legal entity. According  to him, if the registration of the Society has been cancelled, then the  applicant No.2 cannot be said to be holding an office of the Secretary. 
Page 2 of 14

HC-NIC Page 2 of 14 Created On Fri Aug 18 23:46:48 IST 2017 C/SCA/9736/2017 ORDER According   to   him,  this   petition   is  not   maintainable   at  the  end  of  the  applicants. 

4.4 In support of his submission, Mr. Vakil, the learned counsel has  placed reliance on Section 20 of the Gujarat Cooperative Societies Act,  1961. Section 20 of the Act reads as under:

"20.   Cancellation   of   registration.­  (1)   The   Registrar   shall   make   an   order cancelling the registration of a society if it transfers the whole of its   assets   and   liabilities   to   another   society,   or   amalgamates   with   another   society,or   divides   itself   into   two   or   more   societies,   or   if   its   affairs   are   wound up or it has not commenced business within a reasonable time of   its registration or has ceased to function. 
(2) An order made under sub­section (1) shall be published in the Official   Gazette. 
(3)   The   society   shall,   from   the   date   of   such   order   of   cancellation,   be   deemed to be dissolved and shall cease to exist as a corporate body."

4.5 It would not be necessary for me to go into this issue, as I am not  inclined  to  entertain  this  petition  on   many grounds.  However, I shall  deal with this issue at a little later stage. 

4.6 The dispute between the parties relates to a parcel of land bearing  survey No.331 paiki situated at village: Thaltej, Taluka: Daskroi, District: 

Ahmedabad.   The   original   owners   of   this   parcel   of   land   were   the  respondents   Nos.5,   6   and   7.   The   Society,   by   way   of   three   separate  registered   sale   deeds   dated   6th  January   1976,   purchased   the   land   in  question from the original owners i.e. the respondents Nos.5, 6 and 7.  On the strength of the three registered sale deeds, three entries came to  be mutated in the record of rights bearing Nos.5314, 5315 and 5316  respectively. These entries were pencil entries in the record of rights. On  28th June 1978, the Deputy Mamlatdar cancelled all the three entries on  Page 3 of 14 HC-NIC Page 3 of 14 Created On Fri Aug 18 23:46:48 IST 2017 C/SCA/9736/2017 ORDER the   premise   that   the   Society   had   failed   to   obtain   the   necessary  permission from the competent authority under the U.L.C.  4.7 It is important for me to note that the order passed by the Deputy  Mamlatdar   dated   28th  June   1978   came   to   be   challenged   before   the  Deputy Collector by filing an appeal in the year 2004 i.e. almost after a  period   of   twenty   six   years.   The   appeal   came   to   be   registered   as   the  RTS/Appeal/Case No.88 of 2004. The Deputy Collector partly allowed  the   appeal   and   remitted   the   matter   to   the   Mamlatdar   for   fresh  consideration. 
4.8 Being dissatisfied with such order, the respondents Nos.8 and 9  preferred   a   Special   Civil   Application   No.13948   of   2005.   This   petition  filed   by  the   respondents   Nos.8   and  9   came  to   be   disposed   of   by   the  learned   Single   Judge   by   an   order   dated   19th  September   2005   in   the  following terms:
1. "Rule. Mr.NV Gandhi, learned advocate waives service of rule on behalf of   the   respondent   No.3   ?   contesting   party,   Mr.M.R.   Mengade,   learned   advocate waives service of rule on behalf of the respondent Nos.1 and 2   and   Mr.Rakesh   Parikh   appearing   on   behalf   of   Mr.DC   Dave,   learned   advocate, waives service of rule for the respondent Nos.6/1 to 6/3.
2. With the consent of the parties, the matter is taken up for final hearing   today.
3. In this petition under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India,   the petitioner has challenged the legality and validity of the order passed   by the Deputy Collector, Viramgam Prant, Ahmedabad dtd.21/4/2005 in   RTS Appeal No.88 of 2004.
4. It appears  from  the  record  that the  entries  in favour  of the  respondent   No.3  herein  ? original  appellant  being  Entry  no.5314,  5315  and  5316   came  to be quashed  and  set aside  by the Mamlatdar,  Daskroi  by order   dtd.28/6/1978   against  which   the  respondent   No.3   preferred  an   appeal   before   the   Deputy   Collector,   Viramgam   Prant,   Ahmedabad   by   way   of   preferring RTS Appeal No.88 of 2004 after a period of almost 24 years. It   is   the   contention   on   behalf   of   the   petitioner   that   as   the   petitioner   Page 4 of 14 HC-NIC Page 4 of 14 Created On Fri Aug 18 23:46:48 IST 2017 C/SCA/9736/2017 ORDER subsequently  purchased  the  property  in question  and  inspite  of the  fact   that   the   petitioner   was   affected   by   the   impugned   order   and   though   observed by the Deputy collector in its order that the petitioner is also an   affected  party,  the  Deputy  Collector  by an order  dtd.21/4/2005,  partly   allowed the said appeal quashing and setting aside the order passed by the   Mamlatdar, Daskroi dtd.28/6/78 by which the Mamlatdar set aside the   Entry   No.5314,   5315   and   5316   which   were   made   in   favour   of   the   respondent NO.3 and remanded the matter to the Mamlatdar, Daskroi, by   condoning the delay of 24 years caused in preferring the said appeal. 
5. Number of submissions have been made by the learned advocate appearing   on   behalf   of   the   petitioners.   However   as   the   impugned   order   has   been   passed   by   the   Deputy   Collector,   Viramgam   Prant,   Ahmedabad   without   giving an opportunity of being heard to the petitioner, this Court does not   propose to consider the case on merits and proposes to remand the matter   to  the   Dy.Collector  for  passing   an  order  afresh  in accordance  with  law   inclusive of the question of limitation, after giving an opportunity to the   petitioners as well. 
6. This  Court  has  exercised   its  powers  under  Articles   226  and  227   of  the   Constitution   of   India   against   the   order   passed   by   the   Dy.Collector,   Viramgam   Prant,   Ahmedabad   though   there   is   an   alternative   remedy   available   to   the   petitioners,   in   view   of   the   judgment   of   the   Hon'ble   Supreme   Court   in   the   case   of   Whirl   Pool   Corporation   Vs.   Registrar   of   Trade Marks, reported in (1998) 8 SCC page 1, as the impugned order is   passed without giving an opportunity of hearing to the petitioners and the   same   is   in   breach   of   the   principle   of   natural   justice,   this   Court   has   entertained the petition and decided and disposed of the same.
7. For  the  reasons  stated  hereinabove,  and  in view  of the  fact  that  before   passing the impugned order dtd.21/4/2005, the Dy.Collector, Viramgam   Prant, Ahmedabad has not afforded any opportunity of being heard to the   petitioners and the same is in breach of principle of natural justice, the   impugned   order   dtd.21/4/2005   passed   by  the   Dy.Collector,   Viramgram   Prant, Ahmedabad in RTS Appeal No.88 of 2005 is required to be quashed   and set aside and the same is hereby quashed and set aside and the matter   is   remanded   to   the   Dy.Collector,   Viramgam   Prant,   Ahmedabad   for   deciding   the   same   afresh   in   accordance   with   law,   after   giving   an   opportunity of being heard to the petitioners as well. 
8. The petitioners to make an application for joining them as party before the   Dy.Collector, Viramgam Prant, Ahmedabad within a period of two weeks   from today and in case of filing such application by the petitioners, the   Dy.Collector,   Viramgam   Prant,   Ahmedabad   shall   allow   the   said   application and shall pass appropriate order in the appeal preferred by the   respondent   No.3   in   accordance   with   law   inclusive   of   the   question   of   limitation, after giving an opportunity of being heard to the petitioners, as   Page 5 of 14 HC-NIC Page 5 of 14 Created On Fri Aug 18 23:46:48 IST 2017 C/SCA/9736/2017 ORDER expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of thee months from   the date of receipt of writ of this order. However, it is made clear that this   court has not expressed any opinion on the merits of the matter and it is   ultimately for the Dy.Collector to pass appropriate order after hearing all   the   concerned   parties   inclusive   of   the   petitioners,   as   aforesaid.   Rule   is   made   absolute   to   the   aforesaid   extent   with   no   order   as   to   cost.   D.S.   Permitted."
4.9 Pursuant to the directions issued by this Court referred to above,  the   Deputy   Collector   took   up   the   appeal   for   hearing.   The   Deputy  Collector, by his order dated 14th March 2006, dismissed the appeal. 
4.10 Being   dissatisfied,   the   applicants   herein   filed   a   revision  application  before the  Collector. The  Collector, by his  order dated 7th  March   2008,   rejected   the   revision   application,   thereby   affirming   the  order passed by the Deputy Collector. 
4.11 Being   dissatisfied  with  the   order   passed  by  the   Collector,  the applicants preferred a revision application before the S.S.R.D. The  S.S.R.D.,  by his  order dated 28th  February 2017,  rejected the revision  application holding as under:
"(3) Upon considering the submission of the applicant, impugned order,   documents on record, it has been observed that­ (1) As per observations and details of the impugned order, on the basis of   entries of three different registered sale deed in statement of rights of the   village Form No.6 with respect to the land situated at moje: Thaltej, Tal.  

Daskroi,  Dist.  Ahmedabad  bearing  survey no.331  paiki,  mutation  entry   No.5314,   5315,   5316   dated   08.04.1978   have   been   cancelled   by   the   Deputy   Mamlatdar   (Revenue)   on   28.06.1978.   Being   aggrieved,   the   applicants have filed appeal before the Deputy Collector, Viramgam. The   Deputy   Collector,   vide   its   order   No.RTS/Appeal/CAse   No.88/04   dated   21.04.2005, has partly allowed the appeal and remanded back the matter   to   the   Mamlatdar   for   hearing   the   mater   afresh.   Being   aggrieved,   the   opponent No.11 has preferred Special Civil Application No.13948 of 2005   before  the Hon'ble  High Court,  wherein the Hon'ble  High Court vide its   order   dated   19.09.2005,   remanded   back   the   matter   to   the   Deputy   Page 6 of 14 HC-NIC Page 6 of 14 Created On Fri Aug 18 23:46:48 IST 2017 C/SCA/9736/2017 ORDER Collector   for   hearing   the   same   afresh.   Upon   hearing   the   matter,   the   Deputy Collector, vide its order No.RTS/High Court Remand/Appeal/Case   No.95/2005  dated 14.03.2006,  has rejected the appeal against the said   order,   the   applicant   has   filed   revision   application   before   the   Collector,   Ahmedabad.   Under   the   impugned   order,   the   Collector   has   rejected   the   revision   application   of   the   applicant   and   confirmed   the   order   dated   14.03.2006   passed   by   the   Deputy   Collector,   Viramgam.   The   applicants   herin have filed the petition after 25 years of cancellation of the impugned   mutation   entries   and   the   titles   of   the   land   have   been   changed   due   to   various transactions. Since, the applicant does not establish the defect in   the impugned  order, the Collector  has passed  the order  by rejecting  the   revision application of the applicant. 

(2) Upon considering the records produced and the impugned order, under   the mutation entry No.3641 dated 30.11.1968, the names of predecessor   of   opponent   Nos.1   to   10,   Talshibhai   Ishwarbhai   and   Dhanabhai   Ishwarbhai   have   been   entered   in   the   land   records,   who   have   executed   registered   sale   deed   dated   15.01.1976   in   favour   of   the   applicant.   A   mutation entry No.5087 dated 10.02.1976 has been made in this respect.   The   competent   officer,  vide   letter   date13.05.1977,   after   verification,   by   making endorsement of "cancelled", has cancelled the same. The impugned   mutation entry Nos.5314, 5315, 5316 have been cancelled by stating that   the   earlier   mutation   entry   no.5087   has   been   cancelled.   After   the   said   cancellation,   mutation   entry   no.5305   dated   06.03.1978   of   inheritance   has been made due to death Dhanabhai Ishwarbhai as well as mutation   entry   no.5919   dated   06.01.1983   due   to   death   of   Talshibhai.   Due   to   inheritance,   heirs,   Haribhai   Chhotabhai   and   others   have   executed   sale   deed which is mutated vide mutation entry nos.7081 and 7082. Mutation   entry No.7229  has been made  in respect  of death of the purchasers(s).   Thereafter,   on   the   basis   of   registered   sale   deed   in   respect   of   the   said   disputed   land,   in   favour   of   Shri   Mihir   Co­operative   Housing   Society   Limited.  The  same  has been mutated  vide  mutation  entry no.7357  and   7360   in   the   village   records   and   the   same   have   been   certified.   The   Additional District registrar, Cooperative Society has passed order dated   06.05.2002   for   bifurcating   the   Mihir   Cooperative   Society   into   six   Cooperative  Societies. A mutation entry No.8811  has been made in this   respect.   The   names   of   opponent   Nos.11   and   12   have   been   entered   mutation entry No.9050 and 9053. After 25 years of successively sale of   the impugned land, the petitioner has been filed. 

(3)   Considering   the   details   of   the   mutation   entries,   mutation   entry   no.5314  dated   08.04.1978,  with  regard   to  registered  sale  deed   no.295   dated   06.01.1976   in   respect   of   6131   sq.   yards   land;   mutation   entry   no.5315   dated   08.04.1978   with   regard   to   registered   sale   deed   no.293   dated   06.01.1976   in   respect   of   6131   sq.   yards   and   mutation   entry   no.5316   dated   08.04.1978   with   regard   to   registered   sale   deed   no.296   dated 06.01.1976 in respect of 6131 sq. yards of land has been made in   Page 7 of 14 HC-NIC Page 7 of 14 Created On Fri Aug 18 23:46:48 IST 2017 C/SCA/9736/2017 ORDER favour of the applicant. The same have been cancelled. The documentary   evidence   with   respect   that   the   present   opponent   -   original   parties,   Talsibhai and Dhanabhai have had sold the disputed land on 15.01.1976   by executing sale deed in favour of the applicants and thereby the sale deed   in   respect   of   the   impugned   land   has   been   cancelled   by   the   competent   Court,   have   not   been   produced.   Moreover,   mutation   entry   no.5078   in   respect of the said sale has been cancelled with endorsement ­ "cancelled"   vide   letter   dated   13.05.1977   of   the   competent   officer.   Therefore,   documentary   evidence   with   respect   that   against   the   letter   dated   13.05.1977 of the concerned competent officer as also any petitioner for   cancellation   of   the   said   mutation   entry,   has   been   filed   before   the   Competent Revenue Court or competent authority, has not been produced.   Moreover,  documentary  evidence  with respect to appeal preferred  before   competent authority for cancellation of mutation entry nos.5314, 5315,   5316 at the relevant point in time, has not been produced. 

(4) The mutation entry no.5078 dated 10.02.1976 has been cancelled by   the   competent   officer   with   endorsement   "cancelled"   vide   letter   dated   13.05.1977   of   the   competent   officer.   As   per   para   11(1)   of   Resolution   No.HKP/102003/2727/J   of   Revenue   Department   in   respect   of   maintaining the Record of Rights upto date, the parties are required to file   appeal   /   revision   against   the   relevant   order   passed   by   the   competent   officer. 

(5) The District Registrar, Cooperative Society (Rural) has passed order   dated   05.02.2003   with   respect   to   cancellation   of   registration   of   the   applicant - society. As per observation made in the order passed by the   Collector, the applicant could not file appeal on behalf of the society. The   documentary   evidence   with   respect   of   appeal   filed   before   Civil   Court   against execution of impugned order and thereby obtaining stay order, has   not   been   produced.   The   applicant   has   filed   Civil   Suit   No.363   of   2004   before the Civil Court. Further, the applicant has preferred Special Civil   Application No.5392 of 2004 before the Hon'ble Gujarat High Court which   is   pending   at  the   stage   of   final   hearing.   The   parties  are   bound   by  the   orders  that   may   be   passed   by   the  Hon'ble   High   Court  and   in   the   civil   litigations, from time to time. 

(6) The applicants have filed the petition after 25 years of cancellation of   impugned mutation entries and the titles of the land have been changed   due   to   various   transactions.   Therefore,   the   petition   is   barred   by   the   Limitation Act, 1963. No rational reasons have been submitted in respect   of the delay. As per Hon'ble High Court of Gujarat, 2002 Law Suit (Guj)   641   :   Heirs   of   Ramaben   V/s.   Natvarlal   Chandara,  it   has   been   established   that   reasonable  and   clinching   reasons   should   be   given   with   respect to delay. 

In the circumstances, for the aforesaid reasons, no intervention is required   Page 8 of 14 HC-NIC Page 8 of 14 Created On Fri Aug 18 23:46:48 IST 2017 C/SCA/9736/2017 ORDER to be made in the impugned order passed by the Collector. Therefore, the   following order is passed."

ORDER The   present   Revision   Application   No.MVV/HKP/AMD/32/08   of   the   applicant in respect of land bearing survey No.331 paiki situated at moje :  

Thaltej, Tal. Daskroi, Dist. Ahmedabad, has been rejected. The impugned   order No.LB/R.A.No.162/2006 dated 07.03.2008 passed by the Collector,   Ahmedabad is confirmed. 
Under my signature and seal, on today i.e. 28.02.2017.
Ordered by and on behalf of Governor of State of Gujarat.
Sd/­ Principal Secretary Revenue Department (Appeals) Ahmedabad."
5 Being   dissatisfied   with   the   order   passed   by   the   S.S.R.D.,   the  applicants   are   here   by   way   of   this   petition   under   Article   227   of   the  Constitution of India. 
6 Mr. N.V. Gandhi, the learned counsel appearing for the applicants  submits   that   his   clients   are   the   lawful   owners   of   the   property   in  question. According to Mr. Gandhi, way back in the year 1976, by three  registered sale deeds, the property was purchased by the Society. The  original owners i.e. the respondents Nos.5, 6 and 7 executed the sale  deeds in favour of the applicants. According to Mr. Gandhi, his clients  could be said to have acquired right over the property by purchase. In  such circumstances, the authority concerned was obliged to mutate the  name   of   the   Society   in   the   record   of   rights   in   accordance   with   the  provisions of Section 135(C) of the Gujarat Land Revenue Code, 1879. 

Mr. Gandhi would submit that the second proviso to Section 135(C) of  the   Code   provides   that   any   person   acquiring   a   right   by   virtue   of   the  Page 9 of 14 HC-NIC Page 9 of 14 Created On Fri Aug 18 23:46:48 IST 2017 C/SCA/9736/2017 ORDER registered document is exempted from the obligation  to report to the  designated officer. The learned counsel would submit that the Society  did approach the authority concerned and got the pencil entries effected  in   the   record   of   rights.   Mr.   Gandhi   would   submit   that   the   authority  concerned committed  a serious  error  in  cancelling the  entries  i.e. the  pencil entries on the premise that necessary permission under the U.L.C.  Act was not obtained by the Society before the purchase.

7 Mr. Gandhi submits that although the respondents Nos.5, 6 and 7  transferred   the   land   in   favour   of   the   applicants,   yet   later,   they  transferred the very same property in favour of one another party, and  that   party,   in  turn,   transferred   the  land  in   favour   of   the  respondents  Nos.8 and 9. Mr. Gandhi seeks to rely upon Section 8 of the Transfer of  Property Act, which is with regard to 'operation of transfer'. Section 8 of  the Transfer of Property Act reads as under:

"8. Operation of transfer.--Unless a different intention is expressed or   necessarily   implied,   a   transfer   of   property   passes   forthwith   to   the   transferee all the interest which the transferor is then capable of passing in   the   property   and   in   the   legal   incidents   thereof.   Such   incidents   include,   where the property is land, the easements annexed thereto, the rents and   profits thereof accruing after the transfer, and all things attached to the   earth;  and, where  the property  is machinery  attached  to the  earth,  the   moveable parts thereof; and, where the property is a house, the easements   annexed thereto, the rent thereof accruing after the transfer, and the locks,   keys, bars, doors, windows, and all other things provided for permanent   use therewith; and, where the property is a debt or other actionable claim,   the securities therefor (except where they are also for other debts or claims   not   transferred   to   the   transferee),   but   not   arrears   of   interest   accrued   before the transfer; and, where the property is money or other property   yielding income, the interest or income thereof accruing after the transfer   takes effect."

8 Mr. Gandhi has placed reliance on two decisions of this Court: (1)  Balvantrai   Ambaram   Patel   vs.   State   of   Gujarat  [Special   Civil  Application   No.5464   of   2014   decided   on   8th  May   2014],   and   (2)  Page 10 of 14 HC-NIC Page 10 of 14 Created On Fri Aug 18 23:46:48 IST 2017 C/SCA/9736/2017 ORDER Jhaverbhai  Savjibhai  Patel  through  Power  of  Attorney  vs.  Ashok  J.  Patel  [2005 (3) GLH 657]. The ratio of both the decisions  is that an  entry   in   the   record   of   rights   must   be   registered   on   production   of   a  registered   document.   The   validity   of   the   document   has   got   to   be  adjudicated   by   a   competent   authority.   To   put   it   in   other   words,  according to Mr. Gandhi, where the sale was hit by any provision of law  could   not   have   been   taken   into   consideration   for   the   purpose   of  cancellation of entry. Mr. Gandhi submits that his clients have filed the  Regular Civil Suit No.363 of 2004 in the Court of the learned Principal  Senior   Civil   Judge,   Ahmedabad   (Rural)   for   cancellation   of   the  subsequent sale deed and also for a declaration that the Society is the  true and lawful owner of the property in question. The suit is pending as  on   date   for   adjudication.   Mr.   Gandhi   submits   that   he   has   prayed   to  admit the matter and quash the orders passed by the revenue authorities  so far as the issue with regard to cancellation of the entries is concerned.  He clarified that he has not prayed for any interim relief. 

9 On the other hand, this petition has been vehemently opposed by  Ms. Thakore, the  learned Assistant Government Pleader appearing for  the State respondent and Mr. A.S. Vakil, the learned counsel appearing  for the respondents Nos.8 and 9. According to Ms. Thakore, the learned  A.G.P., no error, not to speak of any error of law could be said to have  been committed by the authorities in passing the impugned orders. No  interference   is   warranted   at   the   end   of   this   Court   in   exercise   of   its  supervisory jurisdiction under Article 227 of the Constitution of India. 

10 Ms. Thakore, the learned A.G.P. submits that the order passed by  the Deputy Mamlatdar in the year 1978, came to be challenged before  the Deputy Collector after almost a period of twenty six years. On such  ground alone, the authority was justified in not entertaining the appeal. 

Page 11 of 14

HC-NIC Page 11 of 14 Created On Fri Aug 18 23:46:48 IST 2017 C/SCA/9736/2017 ORDER Ms.   Thakore   would   submit   that   assuming   for   the   moment   without  admitting that an error has been committed by the revenue authorities  in going into the issue with regard to the validity of the sale transaction,  yet this Court may decline to interfere at this stage, as the applicants  have   already   filed   a   civil   suit   for   declaration   and   cancellation   of   the  subsequent sale deed. According to the learned A.G.P., the Civil Court is  competent to adjudicate and declare the respective rights of the parties  in the property in question. 

11 Mr.   Vakil,   the   learned   counsel   appearing   for   the   respondents  Nos.8 and 9 submits that his clients purchased the property in question  by   way   of   two   registered   sale   deeds   dated   28th  February   1994   from  Arvindbhai   Kantibhai   Patel,   Jayantibhai   Kantibhai   Patel,   Bhavnaben   Kantibhai   Patel,   Amrutbhai   Kashibhai,   Mineshkumar   Shantibhai  and  Haribhai Chhotabhai, Shantibhai Motibhai.   According to Mr. Vakil, his  clients are the third purchasers of the property in question. Mr. Vakil has  admitted   the   submissions   canvassed   by   the   learned   A.G.P.,   but,   in  addition   to   the   same,   he   has   raised   an   objection   as   regards   the  maintainability   of   this   petition   on   the   ground   that   the   same   is   not  maintainable. 

12 I have discussed this issue in the earlier part of my judgment. 

13 In   such   circumstances,   it   is   submitted   by   the   learned   A.G.P.  appearing   for   the   State   respondent   as   well   as   Mr.   Vakil,   the   learned  counsel that there being no merit in this petition, the same be rejected.

14 Having heard the learned counsel appearing for the parties and  having considered the materials on record, I am of the view that I should  not   interfere   with   the   impugned   orders   passed   by   the   revenue  Page 12 of 14 HC-NIC Page 12 of 14 Created On Fri Aug 18 23:46:48 IST 2017 C/SCA/9736/2017 ORDER authorities in exercise of my supervisory jurisdiction under Article 227 of  the Constitution of India. I am saying so for two good reasons. First, the  gross and inordinate delay on the part of the applicants in questioning  the order passed by the Deputy Mamlatdar dated 28th  June 1978, and  secondly, the parties are already before the Civil Court. The Civil Court  will  now look into the  matter  and give  an  appropriate  declaration  as  regards   the   right,   title   and   interest   of   the   parties   in   the   property   in  question. At this point of time, admission simpliciter of this petition will  also not serve any good purpose. Instead, I direct the Principal Senior  Civil Judge, Ahmedabad Rural to take up the Regular Civil Suit No.363  of 2004 for hearing and see to it that the same is disposed of with the  judgment within a period of one year from the date of receipt of this  order. I am sure that since this suit is of the year 2004, the issues must  have been framed. I also take notice of the fact that the land has been  fully developed by the respondents Nos.8 and 9. 

15 In view of the aforesaid, I am not going into the issue with regard  to the maintainability of this petition, as raised by Mr. Vakil, the learned  counsel appearing for the respondents Nos.8 and 9. 

16 In the result, this petition fails and is hereby rejected. It is needless  to clarify that the mutation of entry in the record of rights is only for  'fiscal purpose'. The mutation of entry would not confer any right, title or  interest in the property. The Civil Court shall decide the respective rights  of the parties on its own merits without being influenced in any manner  by   any   of   the   observations   made   by   the   revenue   authorities   in   the  impugned orders. 

17 The   issue   with   regard   to   the   maintainability   of   the   suit   at   the  instance   of   a   Society,   whose   registration   has   been   cancelled,   can   be  Page 13 of 14 HC-NIC Page 13 of 14 Created On Fri Aug 18 23:46:48 IST 2017 C/SCA/9736/2017 ORDER raised by the respondents Nos.8 and 9 before the Civil Court. At this  stage,   Mr.   Vakil,   the   learned   counsel   appearing   for   the   respondents  Nos.8 and 9 clarified that what was purchased by the Society in the year  1976 was 50% of the revenue survey No.331/1 paiki i.e. admeasuring  18,393 sq. yard, out of 36,786 sq. yard. Later on, his clients purchased  the entire property i.e. 36,000 and odd sq. yard. of land. 

(J.B.PARDIWALA, J.) chandresh Page 14 of 14 HC-NIC Page 14 of 14 Created On Fri Aug 18 23:46:48 IST 2017