Allahabad High Court
Ram Charitra (At: 02:00 P.M.) vs Board Of Revenue U.P. At Lucknow Thru ... on 30 January, 2013
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD, LUCKNOW BENCH Court No.12 Case : Misc. Single No. 13 of 2013 Petitioner : Ram Chandra Respondent : Board of Revenue U.P.At Lucknow Thru Secretary & Others Petitioner Counsel : Pradeep Kumar Tiwari Respondent Counsel : C.S.C. Hon'ble Arvind Kumar Tripathi (II), J.
1. Heard Sri Pradeep Kumar Tiwari, learned counsel for the petitioner and learned Chief Standing Counsel and Sri Anup Kumar Upadhyay holding brief of Sri S.L.Verma, learned counsel for the Opposite Party No.3.
2. Opposite Party No.3 has raised a preliminary objection that a statutory remedy under 229 (b) of the U.P. Z.A. & L.R. Act is available then the writ petition arising out of mutation proceedings under Section 34 of Revenue Act is not maintainable.
3. Parties' counsel and learned Additional Chief Standing Counsel were heard on this point.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioner has argued that the bar on account of alternative remedy is not a rule of universal application. If the order passed is arbitrary by abusing power or any violation of principles of natural justice, may always be subjected to judicial review. Learned counsel has relied upon a decision of Division Bench of this Court in Lipton India Ltd. Ghaziabad Vs. State of U.P. and Others, 2009 (27) LCD 161.
5. Learned counsel for the petitioner also relied upon a decision of this Court in Smt. Saroj Singh and another Vs. Board of Revenue , Lucknow and others 2008, (105) 6981.
6. In the case of Lipton India Ltd. Ghaziabad Vs. State of U.P. and Others (supra), it has been held that :
"In one other judgment reported in 1998 (8) SCC 1, Whirpool Corporation V. Registrar of Trade marks, Hon'ble Supreme Court held that alternative remedy shall not be a bar and dismissal of writ petition on the ground of alternative remedy in spite of the fact that the authorities are abusing their power is not proper. Their Lordships of Hon'ble Court ruled that if the order passed by the authorities is arbitrary, by abusing the power or in violation of principles of natural justice, it may always be subjected to judicial review under Article relied upon a recent judgment of Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Jahan Khan (supra), where the Hon'ble Supreme Court held that even if the remedy of appeal is available but the action of the State authorities is highly arbitrary, the writ petition can be entertained."
7. In the case of Smt. Saroj Singh and another Vs. Board of Revenue , Lucknow and others (supra), it has been held that :
"Expunged name of recorded person without giving notice and opportunity of hearing amounts to decision of title in an ex parte order is not sustainable in the law."
8. Refuting these arguments, it was argued from the side of opposite party no.3 that proceeding under Section 34 is a summary proceeding and the writ petitions against the summary proceedings are not entertainable under Article 226 of the Constitution of India. Learned counsel has relied upon decision of this Court in Madhav Pandey and Others Vs. Board of Revenue, U.P. Lucknow and Others 2002(20) LCD 1439, Sri Lal Bachan Vs. Board of Revenue,U.P., Lucknow and Others 2002 (20) LCD 115, Ram Pratap Tiwari and another Vs. Board of Revenue and Others 2007(25)LCD 1352 and Jai Narain Ojha Vs. Gauri Shanker and Others 1999(17)LCD 918.
9. I have gone through the decisions referred to by the parties. The case of Lipton India Ltd. Ghaziabad Vs. State of U.P. and Others (supra) is of Division Bench but the case is related to U.P. Trade Tax Act. The proceeding under that Act is not a summary proceeding while the proceeding under Section 34 of U.P.Land Revenue Act is a summary proceeding. The cases referred by respondents and C.S.C. and the Standing Counsel though are of Single Judge but they are directly related to the point in issue involved in this writ petition. In the case of Jai Narain Ojha Vs. Gauri Shanker and Others (supra), this Court has held that question of title is not conclusively decided in mutation proceedings and parties can get a judgment from the appropriate Court on question of their title over disputed property. In the case of Ram Pratap Tiwari and another Vs. Board of Revenue and Others(Supra) this court has held that it is open for the petitioner to question the validity of the will deed executed in favour of the respondent no.3 before the Civil Court and thus he can get adjudicate his right to title before Civil Court because as has been held by the Division Bench of this case herein before, the entry in the revenue records made under Section 34 does not confor any title to the land in question.
10. In the case of Sri Lal Bachan Vs. Board of Revenue,U.P., Lucknow and Others (supra) this court has held that :
"12. This Court had occasion to consider the scope and nature of proceedings under Section 34 of the Act in several decisions. The Division Bench of this Court considered the controversy in case reported 1956 Allahabad Law Journal Page 807 Jaipal Minor V. the Board of Revenue U.P.Allahabad and others. The Division Bench in the aforesaid judgment held that it has been the consistent practice of the High Court not to interfere with orders made by the Board of Revenue in cases in which the only question at issue is whether the name of the petitioner should be entered in the record of rights. The Division Bench laid down the law in following words :
" The contention of learned counsel for the petitioner is that the Board of Revenue in passing this order exceeded its jurisdiction. It has however, been the consistent practice of this Court not to interfere with orders made by the Board of Revenue in cases in which the only question at issue is whether the name of the petitioner should be entered in the record of rights. That record is primarily maintained for revenue purposes and an entry therein has reference only to possession. Such an entry does not ordinarily confer upon the person in whose favour it is made any title to the property in question, and his right to establish his title thereto is expressly reserved by Section 40(3) of the Act. The only exception to this general rule is in those cases in which the entry itself confers a title on the petitioner by virtue of the provisions of the U.P.Zamindari Abolition & Land Reforms Act. This petition does not fall in that class and we think therefore this Court should not entertain it. It is accordingly dismissed with costs."
"23. The cases in which the writ petition can also be entertained arising out of the mutation proceedings may be cases in which an authority not having jurisdiction has passed an order or interfered with an order passed in the proceedings. The writ petition challenging an order passed without jurisdiction can be entertained by the Court despite availability of an alternative remedy. However, in that case also the Court will interfere only when it appears that substantial injustice has been suffered by a party. In view of the above discussion it is held that the writ petition arising out of the mutation proceedings under Sectiion 34 U.P.Land Revenue Act cannot be entertained by this Court subject to only exception as laid down by the Division Bench in Jaipal's case (supra). The Writ petition may also be entertained where authority passing the order had no jurisdiction."
11. In the case of Madhav Pandey and Others Vs. Board of Revenue, U.P. Lucknow and Others (supra) this Court has held that :
"The last submission of the counsel for the petitioners is that the revenue court cannot interfere with the finding of fact and the revisional court i.e. the Board of Revenue has wrongly exercised the jurisdiction hence this Court may set aside the order of the Board of Revenue. As noticed above, there is difference between the lack of jurisdiction and erroneous exercise of jurisdiction in a case. The present proceedings arise out of the mutation proceeding, which is summary proceedings and the writ petitions against the summary proceedings are not entertained under Article 226 of the Constitution of India. There is no need to consider the question as to whether the revisional court has committed any error will not make the order without jurisdiction. As held above, the writ petition arising out of the summary proceedings can be entertained only when there is lack of jurisdiction. It being not a case of lack of jurisdiction, no interference is called for in the impugned order on basis of above submission of the counsel for the petitioners."
12. A perusal of these decisions reveal that they are directly on the point and controversy here and almost all the decisions have relied upon a Division Bench case reported in 1956 ALD. 807(DB) Jaipal Minor Vs. Board of Revenue, U.P. ALD. and Anothers.
13. In another Division Bench case of Ram Bharose Lal Vs. State of U.P. and other (1991)RD 72, it has been held that " 6. As a matter of fact, the mutation proceedings may be under Section 34 of U.P.Land Revenue Act or under some other similar Act, but the legal effect in both the events remains the same. These proceedings do not decide the right or title of the parties rather these proceedings are just fiscal in nature. They have just got legal effect of entering name of vendee in place of the vendor or the name of lessee in place of lessor or donee in place of doner. These mutation proceedings are to enable the State to receive revenue from vendee.
7. By now it is well settled that where the dispute is in mutation proceedings which do not adjudicate upon rights or title of the parties, this Court need not interfere under Article 226 of the Constitution. In such matters person aggrieved shall have rider to seek remedy in the appropriate Court."
Learned Additional Chief Standing Counsel has relied upon decision of several judgments i.e. Vishwanath V. Board of Revenue, U.P.Lucknow(H.C.) 2004 (96) RD 678, State Bank of India, Deoria V. Firm Jamuna Prasad Jaiswal 2003 (95) RD 211, Nagai V. Board of Revenue(H.C.) 2002(93)RD 365 and Lal Bachan V. Board of Revenue, U.P.Lucknow (H.C.) 2002(93)RD 6.
14. In the case of Vishwanath V. Board of Revenue, U.P.Lucknow(H.C.) (supra), it has been held that :
"Findings recorded by mutation Courts are findings only in summary proceedings and have no bearing when the title is asdjudicated by competent Court on the basis of right claimed by the petitioners. In view of the proposition laid down in Lal Bachan's case (supra), I do not find it a fit case to entertained under Article 226 of the Constitution it being arisen out of summary proceedings of mutation under Section 34 of U.P.Land Revue Act,1901."
15. In the case of State Bank of India, Deoria V. Firm Jamuna Prasad Jaiswal (supra), it has been held that :
" Learned counsel for the contesting respondents is right in his submission that mutation proceedings are summary in nature. In those proceedings, titles of the parties are not decided finally. A reference in this regard may be made to the decisions in Avadhesh Pratp Singh and others, Smt. Lakhpati and another V. Board of Revenue, Chhedi Lal V. Board of Revenue, Mohar Tewari V. Board of Revenue, U.P. and another and Nagai and another V. Board of Revenue and others. In all the aforesaid decisions, it has consistently been held that the mutation proceedings are summary in nature. The findings recorded and observations made by the authorities in those proceedings have got no binding effect on the regular side either upon the parties or upon the Courts. In the Present case, as stated above, the petitioner has already filed suit for cancellation of sale-deeds in question and has, thus, already availed of the alternative remedy. Thus, the present petition field under article 26 of the Constitution of India is legally not maintainable. It is, however, observed that that the findings recorded and observations made by the Courts below on the merits of the case, will have no adverse effect upon the parties or upon the Courts will be at liberty to decide the said suits on the basis of the evidence produced by the parties ignoring the orders passed in the mutation proceedings. "
16. In the case of S Nagai V. Board of Revenue(H.C.) (supra), it has been held that :
" Learned counsel appearing for the respondent No.3 raised preliminary objection to the maintainability of the present petition. It was urged that the mutation proceedings are summary in nature and the title of teh parties are not decided in these proceedings. Orders passed by the Courts in the said proceedings have got no binding effect on the regular side and do not operate res judicata between the parties. The party aggrieved by the orders passed in those proceedings, has got the liberty to approach the competent authority for declaration of his rights and for other appropriate relief. The writ petition is of availability of alternative remedy. Reliance is being placed upon the decisions of this Court in the cases of Smt. Lakhmati and another v. The Board of Revenue, U.P. Allahabad and another and Brahma Deo and others V. Board of Revenue, U.P. and another. "
17. In the case of Lal Bachan V. Board of Revenue, U.P.Lucknow (H.C.) (supra), it has been held that :
"This Court has consistently taken the view as is apparent from the decisions of this Court referred above that writ petition challenging the orders passed in mutation proceedings are not to be entertained. To my mind apart from there being remedy of getting the title adjudicated in regular suit there is one more reason for not entertaining such writ petition. The orders passed under Section 34 of the Act are only based on possession which do not determine the title of the parties. Even if this Court entertains the writ petition and decide the writ petition on merits, the orders passed in mutation proceedings will remain orders in summary proceedings and the orders passed in the proceedings will not finally determine the title of the parties."
18. It is settled proposition of law that the proceedings under Section 34 of the Land Revenue Act doe not decide the right and title of the parties. The object of mutation proceedings is as to form whom the State has to recover the land revenue. It becomes immediately imperative to have got the name of some successor mutated in place of the deceased so that the land revenue can be recovered from him. The scope of these proceedings are not that any right or title of any body is sought to be decided.
19. Further , it is settled view of this Court that it should not interfere with the order issuedby the authorities while deciding the proceedings under Section 34 of the Land Revenue Act , as in the said proceedings the issue only in respect to record the name of tenure holder in the revenue record is under consideration. Such an entry does not ordinarily confer upon the person in whose favour it is made any title of property in question and his right is to be established as per the procedure provided under law (See Jaipal Vs.Board of Revenue ,U.P., Allahabad and others ,1956 ALJ 807, Smt. Lakhpati and another Vs. Board of Revenue, U.P. 1984 RD 378, State of U.P. through Collector, Agra Vs. Board of Revenue at Lucknow and others, 1993 RD ,206, Shiv Raj Gupta Vs. Board of Revenue , U.P. , Lucknokw and others, 1989(2) AWC 947, Pooran Singh Vs. Baord of Revenue and others ,2004(1) AWC 853 and Ram Kumar Vs. Board of Revenue U.P. Lucknow and others, 2003(1) AWC 505)
20. In the case of U.P. State Cooperative Land Development Bank Ltd. Vs. Chandra Bhan Dubey and Others (1991) 1 SCC.741, Apex Court has held that :
"But then the power conferred upon the High Courts under Article 226 of Constitution is so vast, this Court has laid down certain guidelines and self-imposed limitations have been put there subject to which the High Courts would exercise jurisdiction, but those guidelines cannot be mandatory in all circumstances. The High Court does not interfere when an equally efficacious alternative remedy is available or when there is an established procedure to remedy a wrong or enforce a right. A party may not be allowed to bypass the normal channel of civil and criminal litigation. The High Court does not act like a proverbial "bull in a china shop" in the exercise of its jurisdiction under Article 226."
21. Summing up all the decisions discussed and referred above, following position emerges :
"The cases in which the writ petition can also be entertained arising out of the mutation proceedings may be cases in which an authority not having jurisdiction has passed an order or Interfered with an order passed in the proceedings. The writ petition challenging an order passed without jurisdiction can be entertained by the Court despite availability of an alternative remedy. However. In that case also the Court will interfere only when it appears that substantial justice has been suffered by a party and in those cases in which the entry itself confers a title on the petitioner by virtue of the provisions of Uttar Pradesh Zamindari Abolition and Land Reform Act."
22. Thus, in view of the above said facts as the dispute involved in the present case arises out of Section 34 of the Land Revenue Act as such the petitioner has got an alternative efficacious remedy for redressal of his grievance under Section 229-B of the U.P.Z.A.& L.R. Act before the competent court so the present writ petition is not maintainable on the said ground and is liable to be dismissed .
23. In the instant case there were two mutation applications, one on behalf of Paras Ram Paras on the basis of will of 21.5.1988 in favour of Paras alias Ram Paras by Ramashrey. The another application was moved by Ram Ujagar claiming to be heir of Ramashrey. The Nayab Tehsildar passed orders for mutation of the name of Paras alias Ram Paras on the basis of registered will. Feeling aggrieved, Appeal No. 86 of 2004 was filed before Sub-Divisional Officer Harraiya Basti. This was allowed and the matter was remitted back to the Nayab Tehsildar to pass order afresh after giving opportunity to the parties. Against this order, a revision was preferred by Paras alias Ram Paras and revision was allowed. Order passed by Sub-Divisional Officer was set aside and the orders passed by Nayab Tehsildar was confirmed. Feeling aggrieved this writ petition has been filed.
24. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case and applying the law above discussed, it is amply clear that the mutation order has not confirmed or extinguished any right or title of anybody and thus, against this summary proceeding writ is not maintainable.
25. The writ petition is dismissed accordingly as being not maintainable.
Arvind Kumar Tripathi (II),J.
Order Date : 30.1.2013 Ashish Pd.