Madhav S/O. Raghunath Yerne (Dead) Thr. Lrs. Jija Marotrao Vairagade and Others v. Ganpat Raghunath Yerne (Dead) Thr. Lrs. and Ors.
Case brief
What is this about?
Appointment of Court Commissioner at final-arguments stage in encroachment suit; suo moto order Exhibit-1 dated 25.08.2023; plaintiffs' application Exhibit-249 allowed by order dated 25.10.2024; Taluka Inspector of Land Records (T.I.L.R.) appointed to measure suit properties; counter claim for partition and separate possession; measurement map by retired Talathi not an Expert; Vijay v. State of Maharashtra 2009 (4) ALL MR 601 relied on by Trial Court; Chandrarao v. Dhondu s/o Fula Patil 2012 (2) ALL MR 267 distinguished as of no assistance; Bombay High Court Nagpur Bench, Writ Petition No. 95 of 2025, decided 31.07.2025; writ dismissed, no costs.
What did the court decide?
Since the measurement map on record was prepared by a retired Talathi who, as admitted during his evidence, was not an Expert in the field, it was desirable rather than necessary-adjacent: it was desirable and indeed necessary to get the land measured through an Expert, and the appointment of the T.I.L.R. as Court Commissioner therefore cannot be faulted.