The appellant (Om Parkash) sought possession by pre-emption as a tenant over land sold by the vendor to the respondent. The High Court dismissed the second appeal, finding no proof of tenancy and no substantial question of law requiring interference.
This page shows the compact analysis of this judgement. The full analysis — procedural history, issue-by-issue holdings with ratio and obiter, advocates, and paragraph-level evidence for every claim — is being added to the record in batches and will appear here when this judgement has been through it.
R. S. A. No. 3353 of 1998 1
IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH.
Case No. : R. S. A. No. 3353 of 1998
Date of Decision : August 11, 2010
Om Parkash
.... Appellant
Vs. Chaudhri Ram .... Respondent
CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE L. N. MITTAL
Present : Mr. Ashok Aggarwal, Senior Advocate with Mr. Puneet Bali, Advocate for the appellant.
Mr. Arun Jain, Senior Advocate with Mr. Vishal Goel, Advocate for the respondent.
L. N. MITTAL, J. :
Om Parkash plaintiff, having remained unsuccessful in both the courts below, has approached this Court by way of instant second appeal.
Appellant-plaintiff filed suit for possession by pre-emption of 69 kanals 10 marlas land described in the plaint being half share of 138 kanals 19 marlas land alleging that the plaintiff is tenant over the suit land on annual rent of Rs.1,000/- per acre under its owner Dayal Singh, who leased out the suit land to plaintiff about ten years prior to filing of the suit.
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Dayal Singh sold the suit land to defendant-respondent Chaudhri Ram vide registered sale deed dated 17.11.1988 for Rs.2,50,000/- without notice to the plaintiff. Sale consideration of Rs.3,50,000/- recited in the sale deed is exaggerated to the extent of Rs.1,00,000/-. Market value of the suit land also did not exceed Rs.2,50,000/-, which was the sale consideration actually paid to vendor Dayal Singh. Plaintiff, being tenant over the suit land, claimed superior and preferential right of pre-emption. The defendant refused to accede the plaintiff's claim. Accordingly, plaintiff filed suit for possession by pre-emption.
The defendant, in his written statement, admitted the factum of sale in his favour by Dayal Singh vide sale deed dated 17.11.1988. The defendant, however, denied other allegations of the plaintiff. It was denied that plaintiff was tenant over the suit land under the vendor. It was also denied that plaintiff has superior right of pre-emption. It was pleaded that there was multiple litigation between the plaintiff and the vendor and therefore, the question of the plaintiff being tenant over the suit land under the vendor did not arise. It was also pleaded that the sale was made for Rs.3,50,000/-, which amount was actually paid to the vendor and was also market price of the suit land at the time of sale. It was also pleaded that the vendor had already filed suit against the present plaintiff seeking declaration that vendor was owner in possession of the suit land and entries in revenue record depicting plaintiff as chakotedaar were obtained by the plaintiff in
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collusion with Patwari. There was also criminal litigation between the parties. Tenancy is created by bilateral contract and tenant has to pay rent or batai , but the plaintiff never paid any rent or batai to the vendor or the vendee-defendant. During pendency of the suit, the plaintiff obtained some documents in collusion with the vendor, which are not binding on the plaintiff. In the event of decree, the defendant also claimed expenses of sale deed in addition to the sale consideration.
Plaintiff filed replication repudiating the pleas raised by the defendant and reiterated the plaint allegations.
Learned Sub Judge Ist Class, Jagadhri, vide judgment and decree dated 04.11.1995, dismissed the plaintiff's suit. First appeal preferred by the plaintiff stands dismissed by learned Additional District Judge, Jagadhri, vide judgment and decree dated 30.09.1998. Feeling still aggrieved, the plaintiff has preferred the instant second appeal.
I have heard learned senior counsel for the parties at considerable length and also carefully perused the records.
Second appeal can be entertained and adjudicated upon only on substantial question of law, if any arising in the case, as stipulated in Section 100 of the Code of Civil Procedure (in short – CPC). In the case of Gurdev Kaur and others vs. Kaki and others reported as 2006 (4) Civil Court Cases 625 (S. C.) , Hon'ble Supreme Court held that High Court can intervene in second appeal only when substantial questions of law
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are involved and the said questions have to be formulated while admitting the appeal. Similarly, in the case of Narayanan Rajendran and another vs. Lekshmy Sarojini and others reported as 2009 (2) RCR (Civil) 286 , Hon'ble Supreme Court held that second appeal can be entertained by High Court only on substantial question of law and High Court has no jurisdiction to interfere with finding of fact arrived at by courts below without formulating substantial questions of law, even if the High Court believes or is satisfied that courts below have committed error in recording finding of fact. It was also observed that when findings of fact by the lower appellate court are based on evidence, the High Court in second appeal cannot substitute its own findings on re-appreciation of evidence merely on the ground that another view is also possible. Hon'ble Supreme Court went on to observe that even if the first appellate court commits an error in recording a finding of fact, that itself will not be a ground for the High Court to upset the same. Applying these principles of law, enunciated by Hon'ble Supreme Court relating to scope of interference by High Court in second appeal, to the facts of the instant case, there is concurrent finding of fact by both the courts below against the plaintiff-appellant. The said finding is based on appreciation of evidence on record. No piece of evidence has been ignored by the courts below nor irrelevant evidence has been taken into consideration. There is proper appreciation and marshaling of evidence by both the courts below. The finding that plaintiff was not proved to be tenant
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over the suit land and therefore, the plaintiff has no superior right of preemption is supported by detailed cogent reasons recorded by the courts below. The said finding is fully justified by the evidence on record and cannot be said to be even erroneous finding nor any other reasonable view of the evidence on record is possible. Consequently, the said finding does not warrant interference in second appeal nor any substantial question of law within the purview of Section 100 CPC arises for determination in the instant second appeal.
Learned counsel for the appellant vehemently contended that the plaintiff was recorded to be in possession of the suit land in jamabandi Ex.P-14 for 1986-87 and rate of rent is mentioned to be Rs.1,000/- per acre per year and therefore, the plaintiff is proved to be tenant over the suit land since prior to impugned sale. It was also pointed out that the same entry was repeated in next succeeding jamabandi for 1991-92 Ex.P-16. It was emphasized that entries in jamabandi carry presumption of correctness under Section 44 of the Punjab Land Revenue Act and the said presumption has not been rebutted. In support of this contention, reliance has been placed on Harish Chander and others vs. Chisa Ram and another reported as AIR 1981 Supreme Court 695 , Banwari vs. Degh Ram and others reported as 1982 P. L. J. 397 and Smt. Ratni Devi vs. Chankanda Ram and another reported as 2007 (2) R.C.R. (Civil) 141 . Reference was also made to copy of Raport Roznamcha dated 25.10.1984
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Ex.D-X regarding change in occupation of the suit land at the time of usual crop inspection. Attention of the Court was also drawn to three applications Ex.P-5 dated 17.10.1989 (same copy also Ex.P-4), Ex.P-6 dated 11.10.1990 and Ex.P-7 dated 02.04.1990 moved by the defendant before Assistant Collector against the plaintiff for appraisement of crops, which were standing in the suit land at the time of moving those applications. Learned counsel for the appellant contended that such applications could be moved under Section 17 of the Punjab Tenancy Act, 1887 either by the landlord or by the tenant against the other and therefore, moving of these applications including the one Ex.P-5 moved before the filing of the suit would depict that even the defendant admitted the plaintiff to be tenant over the suit land. On the basis of these applications and some other similar applications moved by the defendant, Local Commission made reports Ex.P-8 to Ex.P-13 regarding the quantum and value of the crops standing in the suit land in different crop seasons.
Learned counsel for the appellant also referred to statement Ex.P-2 dated 19.02.1991 made by vendor in suit filed against him by the plaintiff, thereby admitting the plaintiff to be tenant over the suit land for the last eight years. On the basis of this statement, said suit was decreed vide order dated 19.02.1991 Ex.P-1 and decree Ex.P-3 of even date.
The aforesaid contentions raised on behalf of the appellant appear to be forceful on first blush, but on careful consideration of the
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evidence on record, the said contentions cannot be accepted and have been fully countered by counsel for the respondent.
At the outset, it may be noticed with significance, at the risk of repetition, that both the courts below have fully considered the aforesaid contentions and have come to concurrent finding that the plaintiff is not proved to be tenant over the suit land and therefore, he does not have superior right of pre-emption. The said finding is based on appreciation of evidence on record and therefore, cannot be called in question in second appeal. Lower appellate court is the final court of fact. No doubt, if some material evidence has been ignored or if irrelevant evidence has been considered or if the finding of the lower appellate court is patently absurd, perverse or illegal, it may give rise to substantial question of law requiring the High Court to interfere in second appeal. In the instant case, however, none of the aforesaid exceptions or any other exception of the aforesaid nature exists. The courts below have duly considered the entire evidence on record and have not considered any irrelevant evidence. Appreciation of evidence by the courts below is also correct and proper and the finding recorded by the courts below is fully justified and supported by detailed reasons recorded in the impugned judgments. All the contentions raised by counsel for the appellant, as noticed herein before, relate to appreciation of evidence on record. However, in second appeal, evidence is not to be appreciated again. Consequently, the aforesaid contentions are liable to
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rejection at the threshold as not falling within the purview of Section 100 CPC, as no substantial question of law arises for determination in the instant second appeal on the basis of said contentions.
However, even on appreciation of evidence, a different finding cannot be arrived at and the finding recorded by the courts below has to be upheld. The plaintiff-appellant has tried to create evidence during the pendency of the suit with the help of the vendor and therefore, the plaintiff's claim cannot be accepted. The plaintiff has also come with different versions regarding origin of his tenancy and for this reason as well, the plaintiff's claim of tenancy cannot be accepted. In plaint dated 15.11.1989, the plaintiff alleged that he is tenant over the suit land for about ten years i.e. since the year 1979. However, in the witness-box, the plaintiff stated that his tenancy started in the year 1984. This statement was perhaps made keeping in view Report Roznamcha Patwari Ex.D-X dated 25.10.1984. In first appeal, the plaintiff came with a third version of the inception of tenancy. The plaintiff moved application for additional evidence in first appeal alleging that the vendor Dayal Singh had leased out the suit land to plaintiff's father Mihan Singh vide lease agreement dated 12.06.1975. The plaintiff sought permission to produce the said lease agreement as well as receipt regarding payment of lease money by way of additional evidence. The plaintiff alleged that after the death of his father, he i.e. plaintiff inherited the tenancy. This version is completely contradictory to the
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averments made in the plaint. In the plaint, the plaintiff specifically pleaded that the vendor leased out the suit land to him (plaintiff) about ten years ago. Consequently, the plaintiff's version that the suit land was leased out to his father vide agreement dated 12.06.1975 and the plaintiff inherited the tenancy from his father on his death is diagonally and diametrically opposite and contradictory to his averments in the plaint. The said application was dismissed by the lower appellate court vide detailed order dated 26.07.1997 and Civil Revision preferred against the same by the plaintiff was dismissed by this Court vide order dated 26.10.1997, as mentioned in paragraph 16 of the judgment of the lower appellate court. When said order dated 26.07.1997 was passed, it was not disputed that plaintiff's father Mihan Singh had died in the year 1992. It would mean that the plaintiff allegedly inherited the tenancy from his father in the year 1992 i.e. during pendency of the instant pre-emption suit filed by the plaintiff. In other words, the plaintiff, according to his said version, was not tenant over the suit land either on the date of impugned sale or on the date of filing of pre-emption suit and therefore, the plaintiff cannot succeed in pre-empting the sale. The plaintiff has also come with a fourth version regarding his tenancy. During pendency of the pre-emption suit, the plaintiff, in another suit filed by him against the vendor, obtained statement Ex.P-2 dated 19.02.1991 from the vendor asserting that the plaintiff was tenant over the suit land for the last about eight years i.e. since about February 1983. This
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is the fourth version of the plaintiff regarding his tenancy. So many contradictory versions asserted by the plaintiff make it abundantly clear that the plaintiff was never inducted as a tenant over the suit land.
It may be added that in statement Ex.P-2, the vendor stated that he had received chakota money up to date i.e. up to February 1991. It is beyond comprehension as to how the plaintiff could pay lease money to the vendor till February 1991, when the plaintiff very well knew that vendor Dayal Singh had already sold the suit land to the defendant vide sale deed dated 17.11.1988. It thus becomes abundantly clear that the aforesaid statement was obtained by the plaintiff from the vendor to create false evidence in order to buttress the plaintiff's claim in the instant pre-emption suit. Even otherwise, the aforesaid statement has no evidentiary value as it was made by the vendor during the pendency of the instant suit, long after the vendor ceased to have any right, title or interest in the suit land, having already sold it to defendant vide sale deed dated 17.11.1988. This statement is thus of no help to the plaintiff-appellant and rather, this statement depicts the crude manner, in which the plaintiff tried to create evidence in support of his version of being tenant over the suit land.
There is another crude attempt by the plaintiff to create evidence of his tenancy. He has produced three rent receipts i.e. Mark-A dated 10.11.1986, Mark-B dated 30.11.1987 and Mark-C dated 20.12.1988 to depict that the plaintiff had paid lease money of the suit land for the years
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1986, 1987 and 1988 respectively to the vendor through the said receipts. The plaintiff also made statement to this effect in the witness-box. However, a bare glance of these receipts leaves no manner of doubt that these have been obtained by the plaintiff during the pendency of the instant suit and all the three receipts purporting to be executed in three different years were in fact prepared at one and the same time. Receipts Mark-B and Mark-C are both carbon copies of receipt Mark-A. All the three receipts were typed at the same time with one being of original type and the other two being carbon copies thereof. Years 1986, 1987 and 1988 have been typed in the body of the receipts, but the figure 19' therein was typed at the same time appearing as carbon copies in the other two receipts, whereas the figures 87' and `88' were separately typed thereafter in the said two receipts. Space for writing date was left blank in all the three receipts and the dates were handwritten. It is thus manifest that these receipts have been fabricated by the plaintiff to create false evidence in connivance with the vendor, with whom the plaintiff admittedly effected compromise in civil and criminal litigation. Since the vendor having sold the suit land was left with no interest in the said litigation with the plaintiff, the vendor effected compromise with the plaintiff to buy peace and to terminate the criminal litigation initiated against him by the plaintiff and in consideration thereof, the vendor might have executed the aforesaid antedated receipts and also made statement Ex.P-2 in the civil suit regarding alleged tenancy of plaintiff
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over the suit land in order to help the plaintiff in the instant pre-emption suit. The plaintiff extracted this evidence from the vendor as consideration for compromise and thus created this fable evidence which can be of no help to the plaintiff. Thus, the plaintiff has adopted all tactics to create false evidence to support his plea of tenancy over the suit land.
Much emphasis laid by counsel for the appellant on applications Ex.P-5 to Ex.P-7 moved by the defendant for appraisement of standing crops is also completely misplaced. These applications, in no way, depict that defendant admitted the plaintiff to be tenant over the suit land. It has nowhere been mentioned in these applications that plaintiff was tenant over the suit land. On the other hand, in application Ex.P-7 dated 02.04.1990, it was specifically mentioned that plaintiff herein was in illegal possession of the suit land. Even in the other two applications, there is no reference of any tenancy of the plaintiff over the suit land. Consequently, on the basis of these applications, no inference of tenancy of the plaintiff over the suit land can be drawn. On the other hand, these applications were made by the defendant to secure his rights for recovery of mesne profits for illegal use and occupation of the suit land by the plaintiff because later on, it would have been difficult to lead evidence regarding quantum and value of the crops grown by the plaintiff in the suit land. These applications, in no way, go in favour of the plaintiff to prove his plea of tenancy. Rather these applications depict that the plaintiff was not tenant over the suit land.
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In addition to the aforesaid, it has to be noticed that plaintiff filed suit against the vendor on 15.06.1987 for permanent injunction claiming his tenancy over the suit land for the first time. Immediately on coming to know of it, the vendor moved application Ex.DW-5/1 on 24.06.1987 for correction of khasra girdawari alleging that wrong entry was made in khasra girdawari since kharif 1984 onwards in favour of the plaintiff. Thus, immediately after jamabandi for 1986-87 came into existence and the vendor came to know of the wrong entry in favour of the plaintiff, the vendor filed application for correction of khasra girdawari which had apparently been made in favour of the plaintiff on the basis of Report Ex.D-X dated 25.10.1984 regarding crop inspection. The vendor categorically alleged in the application for correction of khasra girdawari that the plaintiff had no concern with the suit land. The vendor also filed suit against the plaintiff on 27.11.1987 vide plaint Ex.D-1 seeking declaration that vendor was owner in possession of the suit land and plaintiff was not even in possession thereof, much less tenant thereon. The vendor also sought permanent injunction against the plaintiff in the said suit. Thus, long before the impugned sale made by vendor Dayal Singh in favour of the defendant, the vendor had made application for correction of khasra girdawari and also filed suit against the plaintiff alleging inter alia that the plaintiff was never inducted as tenant in the suit land and in fact, the plaintiff was not even in possession of the suit land. The vendor even
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appeared as witness in his aforesaid suit and made statement Ex.D-2 in support of averments made in the plaint and he was subjected to crossexamination on behalf of the present plaintiff, who was defendant in the said suit. The vendor in the said statement dated 15.09.1988, made before the impugned sale, also stated that he was owner in possession of the suit land and present plaintiff was not in possession thereof and khasra girdawari entries in favour of the plaintiff were wrong. The vendor also produced jamabandis for 1976-77 and 1981-82 in evidence in that suit depicting his ownership and possession over the suit land. The said statement can be used as evidence because Dayal Singh – maker of the statement was subjected to cross-examination on behalf of the present plaintiff. However, statement Ex.P-2 made by vendor in the suit, instituted by the present plaintiff, cannot be used as evidence as the vendor was not subjected to cross-examination on behalf of the present defendant, who was not even party to the said suit. It may be added that even ignoring statement Ex.D-2, the plaintiff's case is not proved at all.
As noticed herein above, the plaintiff pleaded in the plaint that he was tenant over the suit land for ten years i.e. since the year 1979. However, the plaintiff produced in evidence jamabandi for 1986-87 Ex.P-14 only and has not produced any revenue record prior to 1986-87 in support of his plea of tenancy over the suit land. If plaintiff was tenant over the suit land since the year 1979, the plaintiff could very well produce the
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relevant revenue record. Non-production of the said record gives rise to strong adverse inference against him. It may be mentioned that subsequent jamabandi Ex.P-16 for 1991-92 is of no help to the appellant as this jamabandi was prepared during pendency of the instant suit and entry of previous jamabandi was simply repeated in it. However, there is no explanation as to why any revenue record either prior to jamabandi for 1986-87 or even thereafter till before filing of the suit in November 1989 has been withheld by the plaintiff. On account of withholding the said material evidence, adverse presumption arises against the plaintiff.
From Report dated 25.10.1984 Ex.D-X, it appears that for the first time, entry in khasra girdawari was made in favour of the plaintiff in kharif 1984 crop. This fact is also evident from application moved by vendor for correction of khasra girdawari , wherein also it was mentioned that khasra girdawari was wrongly entered in favour of plaintiff since kharif 1984 crop. However, even the said khasra girdawari has not been produced on record to depict that the plaintiff was recorded as tenant over the suit land on payment of rent or lease money. On the contrary, Report Ex.D-X dated 25.10.1984 regarding crop inspection at the spot specifically records rent or lease money to be Nil'. There is cross-mark below the word lagaan ' (rent or lease money) in Report Ex.D-X dated 25.10.1984. Thus, even the said Report, which has been heavily relied on by counsel for the appellant, depicts that no rent was payable by the plaintiff. It would lead to
R. S. A. No. 3353 of 1998 16
the inference that there was no tenancy in favour of the plaintiff and at best, even according to this Report, the plaintiff was only occupant of the suit land. However, tenancy can be created by bilateral contract between the owner and the tenant and an essential ingredient of tenancy is liability of tenant to pay rent to the landlord. However, since there was no rent payable by the plaintiff to the vendor-owner as per Report Ex.D-X, it cannot be said that any tenancy was created in favour of the plaintiff. It may also be added that according to jamabandi Ex.P-14 for 1986-87, lease money payable by the plaintiff was Rs.1,000/- per acre per year, but according to the jamabandi for 1991-92 Ex.P-16, lease money was Rs.1,200/- per acre per year. It is not the case of the plaintiff that lease money was ever increased. On the other hand, even as per compromise effected between the plaintiff and the vendor, as contained in statement dated 19.02.1991 Ex.P-2 made by the vendor, the lease money was Rs.1,000/- per acre per year. However, jamabandi for 1991-92 records lease money as Rs.1,200/- per acre per year. Thus, evidence of the plaintiff is not reliable.
As mentioned herein above, liability of tenant to pay rent to the land owner is one of the essential attributes of tenancy. It was so held in Jagjit Singh vs. The Financial Commissioner, Haryana and others reported as 1981 PLJ 367 (P&H) , Natha Singh and others vs. The Financial Commissioner, Taxation, Punjab and others reported as 1976 PLJ 293 (S. C.) , Sher Singh (deceased) Rep. by LRs and another
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vs. Prithi Singh and others reported as 1989 PLJ 621 (P&H) , Youdhister vs. Siri Ram and others reported as 1996 (3) RCR (Civil) 706 (P&H) , Suraj Bhan and others vs. Mir Singh reported as 1987 (2) All India Land Laws Reporter 76 (P&H) and an unreported judgment of this Court dated 09.02.2010 in R. S. A. No. 2111 of 1986 titled Faridabad Complex Administration, Faridabad and another vs. Gopi Chand and another. In the instant case, however, there is no evidence of payment of any rent by the plaintiff to the vendor. The plaintiff tried to create such evidence by producing receipts Mark-A, Mark-B and Mark-C, already discussed in detail, and the said evidence, which has been created and fabricated, rather goes against the plaintiff. Admittedly, the plaintiff has also not paid any rent to the defendant, although the pre-emption suit was filed one year after the impugned sale in favour of the defendant. It may also be added that the receipt Mark-C is dated 20.12.1988. However, Dayal Singh had already sold the suit land to the defendant vide sale deed dated 17.11.1988. Therefore, while executing this receipt, the vendor had no right to execute the same. It may also be added that the vendor had filed application for correction of khasra girdawari on 24.06.1987 against the plaintiff. The plaintiff had also filed suit against the vendor on 15.06.1987. The vendor had also filed suit against the plaintiff on 27.11.1987. All these cases were pending when receipt Mark-B dated 30.11.1987 and receipt Mark-C dated 20.12.1988 were allegedly issued. It is beyond
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comprehension that the vendor, while fighting the aforesaid cases and hotly asserting that plaintiff was not in possession of the suit land nor tenant, would issue the aforesaid receipts Mark-B and Mark-C during pendency of the said cases. Receipt Mark-B purports to have been issued just three days after the filing of the suit by the vendor against the plaintiff. These circumstances further depict as to in what crude manner the plaintiff has fabricated the evidence. However, the same has boomeranged on the plaintiff and it is amply established that the plaintiff was never tenant over the suit land nor he ever paid rent to the vendor or to the defendant.
Learned counsel for the appellant relied on judgment of Hon'ble Supreme Court in Wali Mahammed (Deceased) by L.Rs. vs. Ram Surat reported as 1989 (2) R. R. R. 507 to contend that entry in revenue record has to be accepted at face value. However, that observation was made in a different context in revenue proceedings going up to the Hon'ble Supreme Court. From the aforesaid judgment, it cannot be inferred by any stretch that civil suit has to be decided merely on the basis of entry in revenue record and by ignoring the other evidence and without evaluating the probative value of the revenue record. Reliance on behalf of the appellant has also been placed on judgment of Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Mansu vs. Shadi Ram reported as 1996 (3) R.C.R. (Civil) 438 . However, this judgment merely says about presumption of continuity of possession and tenancy. In the instant case, however, when inception of
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tenancy is not proved, the question of raising presumption of continuity of tenancy does not arise.
Learned counsel for the respondent relied on Natha Singh
vs. Bikkar Singh reported as 1984 P. L. J. 404 . In that case, there was no evidence of creating tenancy. It was held that simply on the basis of khasra girdawari entries, it was not possible to hold that the person was occupying the land in capacity of tenant. In the instant case also, there is no evidence of creation of tenancy. There is also contradiction as to whether alleged tenancy was created in favour of the plaintiff or in favour of his father and when the alleged tenancy was created. As per one version of the plaintiff, he inherited the tenancy from his father on his death, but plaintiff's father died in the year 1992 and therefore, whole case of the plaintiff is demolished, as according to this version of the plaintiff himself, he was not tenant over the suit land either at the time of impugned sale or at the time of institution of the suit and therefore, he cannot claim preferential right of pre-emption. Moreover, there is no evidence whatsoever regarding creation of tenancy either in favour of plaintiff or in favour of his father. On the other hand, entry in favour of the plaintiff in khasra girdawari in kharif 1984 (followed by entry in jamabandi for 1986-87) was made merely on the basis of Report Ex.D-X dated 25.10.1984 made at the time of crop inspection. The said Report cannot be said to be sufficient evidence of creating tenancy in favour of the plaintiff.
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In the aforesaid context, it may be added that change in khasra girdawari was made in favour of the plaintiff in kharif 1984. Prior to it, apparently the vendor was recorded to be owner in possession of the suit land. However, while making change in khasra girdawari in favour of the plaintiff, no prior notice was given to the vendor, who was owner in possession of the suit land. Consequently, change in khasra girdawari made in favour of the plaintiff followed by entry in jamabandi in his favour is patently illegal and cannot be said to be sufficient to prove tenancy of the plaintiff over the suit land.
Learned counsel for respondent has also relied on Fateh Singh
vs. Het Ram reported as (1995-3)P. L. R. 223 . In that case, the pre- emptor alleged to be tenant for 15 years, but there was no document of creation of tenancy. There was only khasra girdawari . Pre-emption suit on the basis of tenancy was dismissed. In the instant case also, there is only entry in jamabandi for 1986-87 in favour of the plaintiff, but the same is not sufficient to prove tenancy of the plaintiff. On the other hand, there is overwhelming evidence to depict that the plaintiff never remained tenant over the suit land.
It may also be added that the plaintiff has also not dared to examine the vendor as witness so as to afford opportunity of crossexamining him to the defendant. The plaintiff had even effected compromise with the vendor, but in spite thereof, the plaintiff did not
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examine the vendor as witness to prove his tenancy. The plaintiff has also not examined any other witness except himself to prove his tenancy. Bald, oral and self-serving statement of the plaintiff coupled with jamabandi for the year 1986-87 is not sufficient to prove his tenancy in the face of other evidence on record, as already discussed in detail. The plaintiff has also not produced any rent receipt prior to receipt Mark-A dated 10.11.1986. The plaintiff produced receipts Mark-A, Mark-B and Mark-C and it would mean that the plaintiff used to obtain rent receipts from the vendor. There is no explanation why the earlier rent receipts have not been produced by the plaintiff. On the other hand, even rent receipts Mark-A, Mark-B and MarkC have been fabricated, as already discussed in detail.
It is most significant to notice that according to the plaintiff, tenancy in his favour was created in the presence of Gurnam Singh and Fakir Chand. Consequently, Gurnam Singh and Fakir Chand were the best and most material witnesses to prove the plaintiff's case. However, for inexplicable reasons, plaintiff has not examined either of the said two witnesses. Consequently, very strong adverse presumption arises against the plaintiff and it can be safely presumed that no tenancy was ever created in favour of the plaintiff. In fact, plaintiff came out with a new version in the first appeal that tenancy had been created in favour of his father.
It is also worth mentioning that applications Ex.P-5 to P-7 were made by the defendant for appraisement of the standing crops. If there
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had been tenancy on payment of fixed amount of lease money, there was no occasion for the defendant to move applications for appraisement of standing crops. Consequently, moving of the said applications would not depict that plaintiff was ever tenant over the suit land. It would rather show that the defendant moved the said applications to claim his share in the crops from the plaintiff, who was illegally occupying the suit land. The plaintiff has also not produced the final orders passed by Assistant Collector on different applications moved by the defendant for appraisement of crops and for this reason also, adverse inference may be drawn against the plaintiff. The plaintiff has also not examined witness of receipts Mark-A, Mark-B and Mark-C giving rise to adverse inference against the plaintiff. The plaintiff himself stated in the witness-box that he was ready and willing to give batai to the defendant. It would mean that fixed amount of lease money as mentioned in jamabandi is not correct, when the plaintiff admitted his liability and readiness and willingness to pay batai .
Plaintiff's version in first appeal that tenancy was created in favour of his father was not pleaded in the plaint. In fact, the said version was not even pleaded in the earlier suit filed by the plaintiff against the vendor. The said plea contradicted the averments made in the plaint of the instant suit. The entire version of the plaintiff is thus unreliable.
In view of my above detailed discussion, I have no hesitation in concluding after appreciation of evidence that the plaintiff is not proved
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to be tenant over the suit land and the plaintiff has no right of pre-emption. Accordingly, finding of the courts below to this effect is affirmed. The said finding does not suffer from any infirmity, much less illegality or perversity, warranting interference in second appeal. No question of law, much less substantial question of law, arises for determination in the instant second appeal.
As a necessary upshot of the aforesaid discussion, I find no merit in this appeal, which is accordingly dismissed.
August 11, 2010 ( L. N. MITTAL ) monika JUDGE
3 issues framed by the court
Whether the plaintiff can claim a right of pre-emption as a tenant over the suit land after the vendor sold the land to the respondent.
Whether the evidence of tenancy (jamabandi, rent receipts, vendor statements) is sufficient to prove a valid tenancy relationship.
Whether the High Court should intervene in the second appeal on the basis of alleged substantial question of law regarding the tenancy finding.
Colour shows how this judgement treated each authority
Gurdev Kaur and others vs. Kaki and othersReferred
Gurdev Kaur and others vs. Kaki and others 2006 (4) Civil Court Cases 625 (S. C.)
Narayanan Rajendran and another vs. Lekshmy Sarojini and othersReferred
Narayanan Rajendran and another vs. Lekshmy Sarojini and others 2009 (2) RCR (Civil) 286
Harish Chander and others vs. Chisa Ram and anotherReferred
Harish Chander and others vs. Chisa Ram and another AIR 1981 Supreme Court 695 · Who else cites this
Banwari vs. Degh Ram and othersReferred
Banwari vs. Degh Ram and others 1982 P. L. J. 397
Smt. Ratni Devi vs. Chankanda Ram and anotherReferred
Smt. Ratni Devi vs. Chankanda Ram and another 2007 (2) R.C.R. (Civil) 141
Jagjit Singh vs. The Financial Commissioner, Haryana and othersReferred
Jagjit Singh vs. The Financial Commissioner, Haryana and others 1981 PLJ 367 (P&H)
Natha Singh and others vs. The Financial Commissioner, Taxation, Punjab and othersReferred
Natha Singh and others vs. The Financial Commissioner, Taxation, Punjab and others 1976 PLJ 293 (S. C.)
Sher Singh (deceased) Rep. by LRs and another vs. Prithi Singh and othersReferred
Sher Singh (deceased) Rep. by LRs and another vs. Prithi Singh and others 1989 PLJ 621 (P&H)
Youdhister vs. Siri Ram and othersReferred
Youdhister vs. Siri Ram and others 1996 (3) RCR (Civil) 706 (P&H)
Suraj Bhan and others vs. Mir SinghReferred
Suraj Bhan and others vs. Mir Singh 1987 (2) All India Land Laws Reporter 76 (P&H)
Faridabad Complex Administration, Faridabad and another vs. Gopi Chand and anotherReferred
R. S. A. No. 2111 of 1986 Faridabad Complex Administration, Faridabad and another vs. Gopi Chand and another (unreported)
Wali Mahammed (Deceased) by L.Rs. vs. Ram SuratReferred
Wali Mahammed (Deceased) by L.Rs. vs. Ram Surat 1989 (2) R. R. R. 507
Mansu vs. Shadi RamReferred
Mansu vs. Shadi Ram 1996 (3) R.C.R. (Civil) 438
Natha Singh vs. Bikkar SinghReferred
Natha Singh vs. Bikkar Singh 1984 P. L. J. 404
Fateh Singh vs. Het RamReferred
Fateh Singh vs. Het Ram (1995-3) P. L. R. 223
Om Parkash
Chaudhri Ram
L. N. MITTAL
As recorded by the court registry
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
