Bombay Presidency - Act
The Mamlatdars' Courts Act, 1906
BOMBAY PRESIDENCY
India
India
The Mamlatdars' Courts Act, 1906
Act 02 of 1906
- Published in Gazette of India on 29 October 1906
- Not commenced
- [This is the version of this document from 29 October 1906.]
- [Note: The original publication document is not available and this content could not be verified.]
An Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to the powers and procedure of Mamlatdars' CourtsPreambleWhereas it is expedient to consolidate and amend the law relating to the powers and procedure of Mamlatdars' Courts; it is herby enacted as follows;-(a)the word "Mamlatdar" shall include any Revenue-officer exercising for the time being the powers [of a Mamlatdar, of a Mahalkari, or of a Tahsildar or Naib Tahsildar,] and any other person who may be specially authorized by the [ [(State)] Government] to exercise the powers of a Mamlatdar under this Act; and (b)the words "plaintiff" and "defendant" shall include(i)a pleader duly appointed to act on behalf of such plaintiff or defendant, and (ii)the recognized agent of a plaintiff or defendant as defined in section 37 of the [Code of Civil Procedure.] (a)to remove or cause to be removed any impediment, erected otherwise than under due authority of law, to the natural flow in a defined channel or otherwise of any surface water naturally rising in or falling on any land used for agriculture, grazing, trees or crops, on to any adjacent land, where such impediment causes or is likely to cause damage to the land used for such purpose or to any such grazing, trees or crops thereon; (b)to give immediate possession of any lands or premises used for agriculture or grazing, or trees, or crops, fisheries, or to restore the use of water from any well, tank, canal or water-course, whether natural or artificial used for agricultural purposes to any person who has been dispossessed or deprived thereof otherwise than by due course of law, or who has become entitled to the possession or restoration thereof by reason of the determination of any tenancy or other right of any other person, not being a person who has been a former owner or part-owner, within a period of twelve years before the institution of the suit of the property or use claimed, or who is the legal representative of such former owner or part-owner: Provided that, if in any case the Mamlatdar considers it inequitable or unduly harsh [to remove or cause to be removed any such impediment or], to give possession of any such property or to restore any such use to a person who has become entitled thereto merely by reason of the determination of any such tenancy or other right, or if it appears to him that such case can be more suitably dealt with by a Civil Court, he may in his discretion refuse to exercise the power aforesaid, but shall record in writing his reasons for such refusal.Power to issue injunction. - (2) The said Court shall also, subject to the same provisions, have power within the said limits, [where any impediment referred to in sub-section (1) is erected, or an attempt has been made to erect it, or], when any person is otherwise than by due course of law disturbed or obstructed, or when an attempt has been made so to disturb or obstruct any person, in the possession of any lands or premises used for agriculture or grazing, or trees, or crops, or fisheries, or in the use of water from any well, tank, canal or water-course, whether natural or artificial, used for agricultural purposes, or in the use of roads or customary ways thereto, to issue an injunction to the person [erecting or who has attempted to erect such impediment, or] causing, or who has attempted to cause, such disturbance or obstruction, requiring him to refrain [from erecting or attempting to erect any such impediment or], from causing or attempting to cause any further such disturbance or obstruction.Suits to be filed within six months. - (3) No suit shall be entertained by a Mamlatdar's Court unless it is brought within six months from the date on which the cause of action arose.Cause of action. - (4) The cause of action shall be deemed to have arisen on the date on which the [impediment to the natural flow of surface water or the] dispossession, deprivation or determination, of tenancy or other right occurred, or on which the [impediment,] disturbance or obstruction, or the attempted [impediment or] disturbance or obstruction, first commenced.Explanation. - The exercise by a joint owner of any right which he has over the joint property is not a dispossession, or disturbance of possession of the other joint owner or owners within the meaning of this section.Illustration I.A lets B his field to cultivate for a specific period of one or more years. B refuses to resign possession after the expiration of that period. A can sue for possession in the Mamlatdar's Court at any time within 6 months from the date of the expiration of the said period, unless B is a person who has been a former owner or part-owner within a period of twelve years before the institution of the suit of the property, or who is the legal representative of such former owner or part-owner.Illustration II.B is a yearly tenant of A, who gives him a notice to vacate, as he is bound to do [in accordance with the law relating to the termination of an annual tenancy] before the end of the then current year of tenancy. At the commencement of the next year B refuses to vacate. A can sue B in the Mamlatdar's Court at any time within six months from the commencement of that year, unless B is a person who has been a former owner or part-owner within a period of twelve years before the institution of the suit of the property, or who is the legal representative of such former owner or part-owner.Illustration III.A allows B the use of water from his well, or from his water-course, for a specific period, at the expiration of which B continues to take water from the well or watercourse without A's consent. A may sue B in the Mamlatdar's Court at any time within six months from the expiration of the said period to obtain an injunction to stop B from taking the water, unless B is a person who has been a former owner or part-owner within a period of twelve years before the institution of the suit of the use of the water, or who is the legal representative of such former owner or part-owner,Illustration IV.A and B holds lands adjacent to a or similar artificial water-course whichhas hitherto been exclusively used by B. A draws water therefrom. B may sue in the Mamlatdar's Court, at any time within six months from the date on which A commences to take the water, for an injunction to prevent A from so doing.(a)the name, age, religion, caste, profession and place of abode of the plaintiff; (b)the name, age, religion, caste, profession and place of abode of the defendant; [(bb) the nature and situation of the impediment erected and the situation of the lands which are adjacent to each other, and the nature of the relief sought;](c)the nature and situation of the property of which possession for use is sought, or the nature of the injunction to be granted, as the case may be; (d)the date on which the cause of action arose; (e)the circumstances out of which the cause of action arose; and (f)a list of the plaintiff's documents, if any, and of his witnesses, if any, showing what evidence is required from each witness, and whether such witnesses are to be summoned to attend, or whether the plaintiff will produce them on the day and at the place to be fixed under section 14. (a)where the plaintiff declines to make a statement on oath under section 9; or (b)where the plaintiff is willing to make or has made a statement on oath under section 9, but fails to furnish the particulars specified in section 7 within the time fixed under section 9 or altogether; or (c)where it appears upon the face of the plaint,(i)that the property or use claimed is not one of the kind specified in section 5, or (ii)that the cause of action arose more than six months before the plaint was presented; or (d)where the plaintiff declines to subscribe or verify the plaint as required by sections 10 and 11. (2)The date to be fixed for the trial of the case. shall not be earlier than ten days, nor later than fifteen days, from the day on which the notice is issued, except for sufficient reason to be recorded in writing by the Mamlatdar with his own hand. (3)The place to be fixed for the trial of the case may be in the Mamlatdar's office, or at or near the scene of dispute, or at any other spot that the Mamlatdar considers convenient to the parties. (2)The Mamlatdar may issue, after recording his reasons in writing, a warrant for the arrest of any such witness if at such time he fails to appear and the summons is proved to have been duly served in time to admit of appearing in accordance therewith and no reasonable excuse is offered for such failure. (3)The payment of the cost incurred in thus procuring the attendance of witnesses shall be regulated in accordance with the rules that may from time to time be in force in regard to the attendance of witnesses in Subordinate Civil Courts. (2)Where any witness who has been duly summoned, or for whose arrest a warrant has been issued under sub-section (2) of section 15, fails to attend on the day and at the place fixed, the Mamlatdar may, if he considers there is sufficient reason, after taking the evidence of those present, adjourn the hearing of the suit from time to time till the attendance of such witness can be enforced. (3)The Mamlatdar may, for any other sufficient reason to be recorded in writing, adjourn the trial of the case for such time as he thinks fit, but not ordinarily exceeding ten days. (4)The provisions of sections 15 and 16 shall apply in respect of any day to which the trial of the case may be adjourned under this section, as if such day were the day originally fixed for the trial. (4)Where the Mamlatdar orders the name of any person to be added as a defendant or enters on the record the name of any person as the legal representative of a deceased defendant, the Marnlatdar shall issue to such person a notice as provided in section 14; and the trial shall proceed on the date fixed in such notice. (1)whether surface water flowed, in a defined channel or otherwise, naturally from plaintiff's land on to defendant's land; (2)whether the defendant erected any impediment to such flow, otherwise than under due authority of law; (3)whether such erection impeded such natural flow of water within six months before the suit was filed; (4)whether such impediment has caused or is likely to cause damage to plaintiff's land or to any grazing, trees or crops thereon;](a)If the plaintiff avers that he has been unlawfully disposed of any property or deprived of any use- (1)whether the plaintiff or any person on his behalf or through whom he claims was in possession or enjoyment of the property or use claimed up to any time within six months before the suit was filed; (2)whether the defendant is in possession at the time of the suit, and, if so, whether he obtained possession otherwise than by due course of law;(b)if the plaintiff avers that he is entitled to possession of any property or restoration of any use by reason of the determination of any tenure or other right of the defendant in respect thereof- (1)whether the defendant is in possession of the property or in the enjoyment of the use by a right derived from the plaintiff or from any person through whom he claims; (2)whether such right has determined at any time within six months before the suit was filed; (3)whether the defendant is other than a person who has been a former owner or part-owner within a period of twelve years before the institution of the suit of the property or use claimed, and other than the legal representative of such former owner or part-owner;(c)if the plaintiff avers that he is still in possession of the property or in the enjoyment of the use, but that the defendant disturbs or obstructs, or has attempted to disturb or obstruct, him in his possession or use- (1)whether the plaintiff or any person in his behalf is actually in possession or enjoyment of the property or use claimed; (2)whether the defendant is disturbing or obstructing, or has attempted to disturb or obstruct, him in such possession or enjoyment; (3)whether such disturbance or obstruction, or such attempted disturbance or obstruction, first commenced within six months before the suit was filed.Power of Mamlatdar to examine other witnesses and inspect property in disputes. - (2) The Mamlatdar may, after due notice to, and in the presence of, the parties summon and examine as a witness any person who has not been summoned or produced, and may call for and cause to be proved any document which has not been applied for or produced, by either of the parties, where he considers it expedient in the interests of justice so to do, and may, if he thinks fit, make a personal inspection of the property in dispute in the presence of, or after due notice to, the parties.[He shall without unnecessary delay record a memorandum after hearing the parties on the spot, if present, of any relevant facts observed at such inspection. The memorandum shall form part of the record of the case.]Record of proceedings by Mamlatdar. - (3) The Mamlatdar shall with his own hand make or sign a memorandum of the substance of the evidence of each witness as the examination of the witness proceeds, and briefly record his reasons for his finding.Orders to be passed by Mamlatdar upon decisions in favour of plaintiff and defendant. - (4) Where the Mamlatdar's finding upon the issues is in favour of the plaintiff, he shall make such order, not being in excess of the powers vested in him by section 5, as the circumstances of the case appear to him to require; and where his finding is in favour of the defendant, he shall dismiss the suit. In either case the costs of the suit, including the costs of execution, shall follow the decision. (a)until the plaintiff agrees to take the crop at a valuation, to be made under the orders of the Mamlatdar, according to the value of the crop at such time, including any instalments of the Government assessment which the defendant may have paid for the current year; or (b)where the plaintiff is unwilling to take the crop at such valuation until after the expiration of sufficient time for the crop to be gathered by the defendant. The amount of any valuation made under clause (a) of the proviso to this subsection shall be paid to the defendant through the Marnaltdar, and shall be recoverable from the plaintiff as an arrear of land-revenue.Mode of serving .injunction. - (2) Where the Mamlatdar's decision is for granting an injunction, he shall cause the same to be [prepared in the form of Schedule BB or C, as the case may be,] and shall deliver or tender the same then and there to the defendant, if present, or if the defendant is not present, shall send it to the village-officers, or to any subordinate under his control to be served upon the defendant.Recovery of costs awarded.:- (3) Where the Mamlatdar awards costs, such costs, together with the costs of execution, shall be recoverable from the party ordered to pay them as an arrear of land revenue.Disobedience to an injunction how punishable. - (4) Any person disobeying an injunction granted under sub-section (2) shall be punishable under section 188 of the [Indian Penal Code.](a)[against Government or against any Government officer] in respect of any act done or purporting to be done by any such officer in his official capacity, except where acting as a manager or guardian duly constituted under any law for the time being in force; or (b)in respect of [any removal of any impediment or of] any dispossession, recovery of possession or disturbance of possession, that has been the subject of previous proceedings, to which the plaintiff or his predecessor in interest was a party, under this Act, or in a Civil Court, or under Chapter XII of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898. [27. Repeals and savings. - On the commencement of this Act in that part of the State of Bombay to which it is extended by the Mamlatdar's Courts (Extension) Act, 1957, the Saurashtra Mamlatdar's Courts Ordinance, 1948, and the Mamlatdars' Courts Act, 1906, as modified and extended to the Kutch area of the State of Bombay, shall, from such commencement in that part, stand repealed:Provided that notwithstanding any such repeal, anything done or action taken (including any appointments made, any Mamlatdars' Courts constituted, territorial limits thereof fixed, orders made by such Courts, proceedings pending before such Courts or before the Collector or other authority, and delegations made by the Government or the Collector) by or under the provisions of the laws so repealed shall, in so far as such thing done or action taken is not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, be deemed to be done, taken, appointed, constituted, fixed, pending, or made under the provisions of this Act as if this Act had then been in force; and accordingly, all such proceedings pending before any such Court or Collector or other authority shall be continued and disposed of in accordance with the provisions of this Act.]