Supreme Court of India
MOOL CHAND AND ORSversusDY. DIRECTOR, CONSOLIDATION AND ORS
- Citation
- 1995 INSC 466
- Decided
- 16 August 1995
Holding
A Section 4 notification abates the entire suit, including a preliminary decree, if an appeal against that decree is pending; otherwise the preliminary decree remains effective.
Summary
The Supreme Court considered two civil appeals arising from partition suits that were pending when a village was notified for consolidation under the Uttar Pradesh Consolidation of Holdings Act, 1967. The appellants argued that the notification and the resulting abatement under Section 5(2) of the Act nullified both the preliminary and final decrees, while the respondents contended that only proceedings for the final decree were extinguished because the preliminary decree had become final under Section 97 of the CPC. The Court held that a notification under Section 4 of the Act abates all suits or proceedings relating to the declaration of rights in the land, including a preliminary decree, if an appeal against that decree is pending at the time of notification; otherwise the preliminary decree remains effective. It further clarified that a preliminary decree becomes final for the matters it decides, and the consolidation authorities may give effect to it under Sections 9 and 9A of the Act. Consequently, the Court allowed Civil Appeal No. 2635 of 1980 (setting aside the High Court’s decision) and dismissed Civil Appeal No. 10214 of 1983.
Issues considered
- The effect of a Section 4 notification under the U.P. Consolidation of Holdings Act on pending suits and appeals, particularly whether a preliminary decree is abated under Section 5(2).
- Whether a preliminary decree, once passed and not appealed, becomes final and remains effective despite the abatement of the suit.
- The distinction between abatement of proceedings for a final decree versus a preliminary decree.
Legislation cited
- Code of Civil Procedure, 1908s. 2(2), s. 97, s. Order XX Rule 18, s. Order XXVI Rules 13 and 14
- Uttar Pradesh Consolidation of Holdings Act, 1967s. 4, s. 5(2)
- Uttar Pradesh Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Acts. 176
Subjects
U.P. Consolidation of Holdings Actabatement of suitpreliminary decreefinal decreesection 4 notificationsection 5(2) abatementCode of Civil Procedurepartition suitland consolidationcivil appeal
Judgment
-
...
MOOL CHAND AND ORS. A
v.
_, DY. DIRECTOR, CONSOLIDATION AND ORS.
AUGUST 16, 1995
[S.C. AGRAWAL ANDS. SAGHIR AHMED, JJ.] B
U.P. Consolidation of Holdings Act, 1967:
Sections 4, 5(2}-Issue of consolidation notification-Abatement of
pending suits or proceedings-Relating only to declaration of right or interest C
in the land lying in the consolidation area-Whether abated.
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908:
Sections 2(2), 97, Order XX Rule 18, Order XXVI Rules 13 and
14-U.P. Consolidation of Holdings Act 5.4 and 5.5(2)-Effect of notifica- D
tion-Preliminary decree-No appeal pendin~Would remain unaffected and
would not abate-However, proceedings relating to final decree would abate.
In Civil Appeal No. 10214 of 1983, plots in dispute were recorded in
the basic year, in the name of the appellants against which respondents 3
E
to 6 filed objections claiming co-tenancy but the appellants contested their
claim and pleaded that they were exclusive tenure-holders of the aforesaid
plots in which respondents 3 to 6 had no share.
The Consolidation Officer dismissed the objections with the finding
that respondents had no share in the plots but the Settlement Officer, F
Consolidation, in appeal, allowed the claim of the respondents, which was
also upheld by the Deputy Director of Consolidation. The basis of judg-
ments passed by the Settlement Officer and the Deputy Director was the
preliminary partition in the suit for decree passed filed by the respondents.
This suit while pending in the Board of Revenue abated under section 5(2) G
of the U.P. Consolidation of Holdings Act on a account of Notification
under Sec. 4 of the said Act. Still the authorities and the High Court
.followed the preliminary decree and, therefore, the question involved in
this appeal was whether the preliminary decree would also abate if the suit
had abated u/s 5(2) of the Act on account of Notification for consolidation
operation issued under Sec. 4 of the Act. H
763
764 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1995] SUPP. 2 S.C.R.
A In Civil Appeal No. 2635of1980 it was found by the Deputy Director
that the respondents had filed a suit under Section 176 of the U.P.
Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act for partition of their 2/3rd
share in the holding which was decreed.and the appeals which were filed
against the preliminary decree by the appellants were dismissed. The Writ
Petition filed in the High Court was also dismissed. Proceedings for
B preparation of final decree were then initiated in the Court of the Judicial
Officer who passed the final decree for partition but the appellants chal-
lenged the final decree in appeal during the pendency of which the village
.
was notified for consolidation operations and consequently the Additional
Commissioner abated the appeal as also the suit.
c
On behalf of the appellants in C.A. No. 10214 of 1983 it was con-
tended that the village having been notified under Section 4 of the Act, the
suit which was pending before the Board of Revenue abated in view of
Section 5(2) of the Act; and that the effect of abatement was that the
judgment and the decree passed by the Revenue Courts became non-exis-
D tent. Similar was the contention of the respondents in C.A. No. 2635 of
1980. -<.
On behalf of the respondents in C.A.10214of1983 and the appellant
in C.A. No. 2635 of 1980 it was contended that in a suit for partition in
E which two decrees, viz., a preliminary decree and a final decree are passed
has to be distinguished from an ordinary suit in which only one decree is
passed, and that in the instant cases the effect of Section 5(2) of the Act
was to affect the proceedings for preparation for final decree which were
pending and not the preliminary decree since it had attained finality.
F Allowing Civil Appeal No. 2635 of 1980 and dismissing Civil Appeal
No. 10214 of 1983, this Court
HELD : 1.1. On the publication of the notification under Section 4
of the U.P. Consolidation of Holdings Act, suits of proceedings relating to
G declaration of right or interest in the land lying in the consolidated area
stand abated under Section 5(2). This abatement takes place on an order
passed in that behalf by the Court or Authority before whom suc.h suit or
proceedings were pending. [768-C]
1.2. The definition of "decree" contained in Section 2(2) read with the
H provisions contained in Order 20 Rules 18(2) as also Order 26 Rule 14 of
I
MOOL CHAND v. DY. DIRECTOR CONSOLIDATION 765
the Code Civil Procedure, 1908 indicate that a preliminary decree has first A
to be passed in a partition suit and thereafter a final decree is passed for
actual separation of shares in accordancewith the proceedings held under
Order 26. There are, thus, two stages in a suit for partition. The first stage
is reached when the preliminary decree is passed under which the rights of
the parties in the property in question are determined and declared. The
second stage is the stage when a final decree is passed which concludes the
B
proceedings before the Court and the suit is treated to have come to an end
for all practical purposes. [773-C- D]
1.3. As a consequence of the notification used under Section 4 of the
Act, proceedings pending in the Civil Court or in appeal stand abated. C
[774-F-G]
Ram Adhar Singh v. Ramroop Singh, [1968] 2 SCR 95, Chattar Singh
v. Thakur Prasad Singh, [1975] 4 SCC 457; Munshi Muqbool Raza v. Hasan
Raza, [1977] 3 SCC 578; Satyanarayan Prasad Sah v. State of Bihar, AIR
(1980) SC 2051 and Mst. Bibi Rahmani Khatoon and Ors. v. Harkoo Gope & D
Ors., [1981] 3 SCC 173, relied on.
2. Preliminary decree is an appealable decree under Section 97 C.P.C.
If an appeal is not filed against the preliminary decree and its correctness
is not challenged, it becomes final and the party aggrieved thereby will not
be permitted to challenge its correctness in an appeal against the final E
decree. [775-E-F] .,
Venkata Reddy v. Pothi Reddy, [1963] Supp. 2 SCR 616, Gyarsi Bai
and Ors. v. Dhansukh Lal and Ors., AIR (1965) SC 1055 and Shankar
Ba/want Lokhande (d) by Lrs. v. Chandrakant Shankar Lokhande andAnr.,
JT (1995) 3 SC 186, relied on. F
Ahmed Musaji Saleji and Others v.Hashim Ebrahim Saleji and Others,
AIR (1915) PC 116, referred to.
3. There is a distinction between a case in which an appeal is filed G
against a preliminary decree and a case in which a preliminary decree is not
appealed against and its correctness is not assailed. If therefore, a Notifica-
tion under Section 4 of the Act is issued in a case where an appeal against
the preliminary decree was not pending, the latter, viz. the preliminary
decree, will remain unaffected and will not abate but if the preliminary
decree had been assailed in appeal, and the appeal is pending on the date of H
766 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1995) SUPP. 2 S.C.R.
A Notification, the notification will have the effect of abating the entire
suit/proceedings including the preliminary decree passed therein. On the
contrary, if an appeal is filed against the final decree without there being an
appeal against the preliminary decree and the preliminary decree becomes
"unassailable" on account of Sec. 97 C.P.C., the Notification under Section
4 would abate the proceedings relating to the final decree without in any way
B touching impairing or affecting the preliminary decree. [777-B-E]
Rude1pal Singh v. Rampa/ Singh, AIR (1972) Allahabad 67, Satish
Kumar v. La/ta Tiwari, (1974) Revenue Decision 379, Mohan Lal v. Deputy
Director of Consolidation, (1981) Allahabad Law Journal 350, approved.
c Ram Garib v. Bhagwati Din, (1976) 2 RD 47, reversed.
4. The preliminary decree can nevertheless be given effect to in
proceedings before the consolidation authorities in view of the provisions
contained in Sections 9 and 9A of the Act which enable the consolidation
D authorities to specify the share of individual tenure holders in joint hold-
ings for purpose of effecti~g partitions to ensure proper consolidation and
to settle the dispute betw~en the parties with regard to their claims to land
or partition of joint holdings. [778-E-F]
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No. 10214 of
E 1983.
•
From the Judgment and Order dated 24.8.83 of the Allahabad High
Court in C.M. W.P. No. 6911of1973.
WITH
F
Civil Appeal No. 2635 of 1980.
From the Judgment and Order dated 8.4.80 of the Allahabad High
Court in C.M.W.P. No. 2864 of 1971.
G Mahabir Singh and J.P. Goyal, Ms. Kusum Singh, for Ms. Dabiya
Promod Swarup, H.L. Srivastav, T.N. Singh, S.M. Rao, B.M Sharma, AK.
Sharma S.N. Singh and Ashok Grover, for the appearing parties.
The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
H S. SAGHIR AHMAD, J. Since in these two appeals, common ques-
MOOL CHAND v. DY. DIRECTOR CONSOLIDATION [SAGHIRAHMED, J.) 767
tion of law relating to the abatement of suit or proceedings under Section A
5(2) of the U .P. Consolidation of Holdings Act (for short 'Act') is involved,
both the appeals which were heard together, are being disposed of by this
judgment.
In Civil Appeal No. 10214 of 1983, Plots No. 139 and 240 situate in
Village Rampur, Paragana and Teshsil Hapur, District Meerut, were
B
recorded in the basic year, in the name of the appellants against whom
respondents 3 to 6 filed objections claiming co-tenancy but the appellants
contested their claim and pleaded that they, namely, the appellants were
exclusive tenure-holders of the aforesaid plots in which respondents 3 to 6
had no share. c
The Consolidation Officer by his order dated 23rd January, 1973,
dismissed the objections with the finding that respondents had no share in
the plots but the Settlement Officer, Consolidation (for short, SOC) in
appeal, allowed the claim of the respondents by judgment and order dated D
12th July, 1973 which was also upheld by the Deputy Director of Consolida-
lllf. tion (for short, DDC) by his judgment and order dated 17th September,
1973. The basis of judgments passed by the SOC & DDC was the prelimi-
nary decree passed on 17.9.80 in the suit for partition filed by the respon-
dents. This suit while pending in the Board of Revenue was abated on
account of Notification dt. 2.4.1994 issued under Sec. 4 of the Act. Still the E
SOC, DDC & the High Court followed the preliminary decree and, there-
fore, the question involved in this appeal is whether the preliminary decree
would also abate if the suit is abated u/s 5(2) on account of Notification
for consolidation operation issued under Sec 4 of the Act.
F
Similar q~estion is involved in Civil Appeal No. 2635 of 1980 in which
it was found by the Deputy Director .that Raj Narai.an as also other sons
of Mata Prasad, had filed a suit under Section 176 of the U.P. Zamindari
Abolition and Land Reforms Act (for short, ZA & LR Act) for partition
of their 2/3rd share in the holding which was decreed and the appeals
which were filed against the preliminary decree by Chanderbali and others G
were dismissed. The Writ Petition filed in the Allahabad High Court was
also dismissed. Proceedings for preparation of final decree were then
initiated in the Court of the Judicial officer who passed the final decree
for partition but Chanderbali and others challenged the final decree in
appeal during the pendency of which the village was notified for consolida- H
768 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995] SUPP. 2S.C.R.
A tion operations ai1d consequently the Additional Commissioner abated the
appeal as also the suit by his order dated 1st August, 1967, Which is quoted
below:
"The village in suit is under consolidation of holdings operation.
The appeal along with the suit, therefore, abate under the
B provisions of Section 5(b) of the U.P. Consolidation of Holdings
Act as amended by U.P. Act No. 21of1967"
It is contended by the learned counsel for the appellants that since
the Village had already been notified under Section 4 of the Act, the suit
C which, on the date of the aforesaid notification, was pending before the
Board of Revenue, abated in view of the provisions contained in Section
5(2) of the Act and, therefore, the consolidation authorities viz., the
Settlement Officer and the Deputy Director were not justified in relying
upon the judgment of the Revenue Courts as the effect of abat~ment was
that the judgment and the decree, passed by the Revenue Courts, became
D non-existent. The consolidation authorities, it is contended, ought to have
investigated the claim of the respondents irrespective of the judgment
passed by the Revenue Courts and should have recorded their own inde-
pendent findings on the questions, specially the question of title, involved
in the case.
E Learned counsel for the respondents on the contrary contended that
the suit for partition or, for that matter, any other suit, for example, a suit
for redemption or foreclosure, based on a mortgage in which two decrees,
viz., a preliminary decree and a final decree are passed, has to be distin-
guished from an ordinary suit in which only one decree is passed and since
F in the instant cases, a preliminary decree for partition had already been
passed, the notification issued under Section 4 read with Sec. 5(2) of the
Act would have the effect of abating the proceedings for preparation for
final decree which, at the relevant time, were pending in the Court but the
preliminary decree would not be abated as it had attained finality. It is,
G therefore, contended that since the rights of the parties had already been
determined by a preliminary decree for partition, the consolidation
authorities, as also the High Court were justified in relying upon that
decree and in granting a share to the respondents in the plots in question.
Relevant portions of the provisions contained in Sections 4 & 5 of
H the Act are quoted below :
MOOL CHAND v. DY. DIRECTOR CONSOLIDATION [SAGHIRAHMED, J.) 769
"4. Declaration and notification regarding consolidation - (l)(a) A
The State Government may, where it is of opinion that a district
or part thereof may be brought under consolidation operations,
make a declaration to that effect in the Gazette ............................... .
(i) ........................................... .
B
(ii) .......................................... .
(iii) ........................................ ..
(b) .......................................... ..
c
(2)(a) When the State Government decides to start consolidation
operations, either in the area covered by a declaration issued under
sub-section (1) or in any other area, it may issue a notification to
this effect.
(b) Every such notification shall be published in the Gazette and D
in a daily newspaper having circulation in the said area and shall
• also be published in each unit in the said area in such manner as
may be considered appropriate."
"5. Effect of (notification under Section 4(2)).
E
(1) ............................................
(a) ........................................... .
(b) ........................................... .
F
(c) ........................................... .
(2) Upon the said publication of the notification under sub-section
(2) of Section 4, the following further consequences shall ensure
in the area to which the notification relates, namely- G
(a) every proceeding for the correction of records and every suit
and proceeding in respect of declaration of rights or interest in
any land lying in the area, or for declaration or adjudication of any
other right in regard to which proceeding can or ought to be taken
under this Act, pending before any court or authority whether of H
770 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995) SUPP. 2S.C.R.
the first instance or of appeal, reference or revision, shall, on an
order being passed in that behalf by the court or authority before
whom
I
such suit or proceedings is pending, stand abated:
Provided that no such order shall be passe~ without giving to the
parties notice by post or in any other manner and after giving them
IB an opportunity of being heard :
Provided further that on the issue of a notification under sub-sec-
tion (1) of Section 6 in respect of the said area or part thereof,
every such order in relation to the land lying in such area or part
c as the case may be, shall stand vacated;
(b) Such abatement shall be without prejudice to the rights of the
persons affected to agitate the right or interest in dispute in the
said suits or proceedings before the appropriate consolidation
authorities under and in accordance with the provisions of this Act
D and the rules made there under.
(Explanation - For the purposes of sub-section (2), a proceeding
· under the Uttar Pradesh Imposition of Ceiling on Land Holdings
· Act, 1960 or. an Un.contested proceeding under Sections 134 to 137
· of the U .i>.. Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforins Act, 1950 shall
not be 4eemed to be a proceeding in respect of declaration of
. rights or interest, in any land).
On the publication of the notification under Section 4, the folloWing
proceedings or suit, irrespective of the stage at which, or, the court in
p which, they are pending, are abated under Section 5(2) : ·
"(i) proceedings for the correction of records;
(ii) every suit, in respect of the declaration of rights or interest in
any land lying in the area covered by the Notification ;
G
(iii) Proceedings in respect of declaration of rights or interests in
such land;
(iv) suits or proceedings for declaration or adjudication of any
other right in regard to which proceedings are ought to be taken
H under the Act.
MOOL CHAND v. DY. DIRECTOR CONSOLIDATION (SAGHIRAHMEQ, J.) 771
..,
What, therefore, abate are suits or proceedings relating to declara- A
tion of right or interest in the land lying, in the consolidation area. This
abatement takes place on an order passed in that behalf by the Court or
Authority before whom such suit or proceedings were pending.
It will be noticed that this abatement, as provided by sub- section
2(b) of Section 5 takes place without prejudice to the rights of the persons B
affected, to agitate the right or interest involved in the said suit or proceed-
ings, before the appropriate consolidation authorities.
Now, "Decree" is defined in Section 2(2) of the Code of Civil Proce-
~~ w~: c
"(2)"decree" means the formal expression of an adjudication
which, so far ~ regards the Court expressing it, conclusively
determines the rights of the parties with regard to all or any of the
matters in controversy in the suit and may be either preliminary
or final. It shall be deemed to include the rejection of a plaint and D
the determination of any question within Section 144, but shall not
include-
(a) any adjudication from which an appeal lies~ an appeal from
an order, or
E
(b) any order of dismissal for default.
Explanation - A decree is preliminary when further proceedings
have to be taken before the suit can be completely disposed of. It
is final when such adjudication completely disposes of the suit. It
may party preliminary and partly final."
F
The definition provides that the decree will either be preliminary or
final or partly preliminary or partly final. Explanation appended to section
2(2) indicates that a decree would be a preliminary decree where further
proceedings have to be taken before the suit can be completely disposed G
of.
Order 20 Rule 18 which provides for a decree in a suit for partition
of property of separate possession of a share ·therein, is quoted below:
"18. Decree in suit for partition of property or separate posses- H
772 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995] SUPP. 2 S.C.R.
A sion of a share therein, then, -
(a) if and in so far as the decree relates to an estate assessed to
the payment of revenue to the Government, the decree shall
declare the rights of the several parties interested in the property, .
but shall direct such partition or separation to be made by the
B Collector, or any gazetted subordinate of the Collector deputed by
him in this behalf, in accordance with such declaration and with
the provisions of section 54;
(2) if and in so far as such decree relates to any other immovable
property or to movable property, the Court may, if the partition
c or separation cannot be conveniently made without further inquiry
pass a preliminary decree declaring the rights of the several parties
interested in the property and giving such further directions as may
be required."
D Sub-Rule (2) of Rule 18 as quota above would indicate that the Court
has to pass a preliminary decree where it cannot immediately partition the
property in respect of which the suit was filed.
Order 26 Rules 13 & 1~ provide as under:
E "13. Commission to make partition of immovable property-Where
a preliminary decree for partition has been passed, the Court may, ·
in any case ~ot provided for by Section 54, issue a commission to
such person as it thinks fit to make· the ·partition or separation
according to the rights as declared in such decree.
F 14. Procedure of commissioner-(1) The Commissioner shall, after
such inquiry as may be necessary, divide the property into as many
shares as may be directed by the order under which the commission
was issued, and shall allot such shares to the parties, and may, if
authorized thereto by the said order, award sums to be paid for
G the purpose of equalizing the value of the shares.
(2) The Commissioner shall then prepare and sign a report or the
Commissioners (where the commission was issued to more than
one person and they cannot agree) shall prepare and sign separate
reports appointing the share of each party and distinguishing each
H share (if so directed by the said order) by metes and bounds. Such
MOOL CHAND v. DY. DIRECTOR CONSOLIDATION [SAGHIRAHMED, J.] 773
report or reports shall be annexed to the commission and trans- A
rnitted to the Court; and the Court, after hearing .any objections
which the parties may make to the report or reports, shall confirm,
vary or set aside the same.
(3) Where the Court confirms or varies the report or reports it
shall pass a decree in accordance with the same as confirmed or B
varied; but where the Court set aside the report or reports it shall
either issue a new commission or make such other order as it shall
think fit."
The definition of "decree" contained in Section 2(2) read with the C
provisions contained in Order 20 Rule 18(2) as also Order 26 Rule 14 of
the ·code indicate that a preliminary decree has first to be passed in a,
partition suit and thereafter a final decree is passed for actual separation
of shares in accordance with the proceedings held under Order 26. There
are, thus, two stages in suit for partition. The first stage is reached when
the preliminary decree is passed under which the rights of the parties in D
the property in question are determined and declared. The second stage
is the stage when a final decree is passed which concludes the proceedings
before the Court and the suit is treated to have come to an end for all
practical purposes.
Unless otherwise expressly provided, suits filed in the Revenue Court E
under the U.P.Z.A. & L.R. Act are regulated by the provisions of the Code
of Civil Procedure as provided by Section 341 of that Act.
A suit for partition of a "Holding" is filed under Section 176 of the
U .P.ZA. & L.R. Act. Section 178 provides for the modes of division. F
Section 179, 180, 181 & 182-B are other relevant sections.
Rules 156 & 157 of the Rules made under the ZA & LR Act
provided as under :
"156. Sections 176 to 182. (Division) of holdings-(1) A plaint for G
(division) of a holding under Section 176 shall contain the par-
ticulars mentioned in clauses (1) to (6) of Rule 127 and the land
revenue payable for the holding.
(2) Where a suit has been filed for division of more than one
holding, the particulars referred to in sub-rule (1) shall be men- H
774 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1995) SUPP. 2 S.C.R.
A tioned in the plaint for all such holdings.
157. Before making a (division) the court shall -
(a) determine separately the share of the plaintiff and each of the
other co-tenure-holders,
B
(b) record which, if any, of the· co-tenure-holders wish to remain
joint,
.,
(c) make a valuation of the holding (or holdings) in accordance
with the rent-rate applicable to each plot in the holding, and
.c
(d) determine separately the value of the share of the plaintiff and
each of the co-tenure-holders."
From a perusal of the above provisions it would appear that in a suit
for partition, the Revenue Court also, like the Civil Court, has first to pass
D a preliminary decree determining and declaring the rights of the parties
and their shares, if any, in .the holding. Thereafter, proceedings for the
preparation of the final decree are initiated under Rules 158 to 164 which
lay down the various modes in which a decree for partition can be imple-
mented and the respective shares of the tenure-holders separate, in accord-
E ance with the rights and shares already determined under the preliminary
decree.
The question, therefore, is whether a notification under Section 4 of
the Consolidation Act would abate the entire suit or will it not affect the
proceedings upto the stage of, and, llicluding, preliminary decree, if the
F notification was issued after the passing of the preliminary decree?
The question of abatement of suit as a consequence of a notification
issued under Section 4 of the Act was examined by this Court in several
decisions.
G In Ram Adhar Singh v. Ramroop Singh, (1968] 2 SCR 95 = AIR
(1968) SC 714, an appeal was pending in this Court and it was held that
the suit as a whole would abate, rendering the appeal pending in this Court,
as infructuous. The decision in Ram Adhar Singh's case was followed in
Chattar Singh v. Thakur Prq.sad Singh, (1975] 4 SCC 457 where, too, the
H appeal was pending in this Court and, therefore, when a notification under
MOOL CHAND v. DY. DIRECTOR CONSOLIDATION (SAGHIRAHMED, J.] 775
"'
..
Section 4 was issued, an application filed in this Court that the suit and the A
appeal be abated so that the parties may legitimately agitate their claims
before the consolidation authorities, was allowed and it was held that the
- suit and the appeal both stood abated. Similar view was taken in Munshi
Muqbool Raza v. Hasan Raza, [1977) 3 SCC 578.
B
The decision of this Court in Ram Adhar and Chattar Singh's case
(supra) were noticed by this Court in Satyanarayan Prasad Sah v. State of
Bihar, AIR (1980) SC 2051 - [1980) Supp. SCC 474 and both the decisions
were affirmed. All these cases, namely, Ram Adhar's case, Chattar Singh's,
case and Satyanarayan Prasad Salt's case were considered again by this
Court in Mst. Bibi Rahmani Khatoon and Ors. v. Harkoo Gope & Ors., c
[1981) 3 sec 173 and the views expressed therein were followed with the
finding that as a consequence of the notification issued under Section 4 of
the Act, proceedings pending in the Civil Court or in appeal stand abated.
But the matter, so far as preliminary decree is concerned, does not D
end here .
..
Preliminary Decree is an appealable decree. Section 97 of the Code
of Civil Procedure provides as under :
"97. Appeal from final decree where no appeal from preliminary E
decree - Where any party aggrieved by a preliminary decree passed
after the commencement of this Code does not appeal from such
decree, he shall be precluded from disputing its correctness in any
appeal which may be preferred from the final decree."
F
Thus, if an appeal is not filed against the preliminary decree and its
correctness is not challenged, it becomes final and the party aggrieved
thereby will not be permitted to challenge its correctness in an appeal
against final decree.
The Privy Council in Ahmed Musaji Saleji and others v. Hashim G
Ebrahim Saleji and Others, AIR (1915) PC 116, held that failure to appeal
against a preliminary decree would operate as a bar to raising any objection
~"'
to it in an appeal filed against final decree. Thus Court in Venkata Reddy
v. Pothi Reddy, [1963) Supp. 2 SCR 616 = AIR (1963) SC 992, 993 has
held that the impact of Section 97 is that the preliminary decree, so far as H
776 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995] SUPP. 2 S.C.R.
A the matters covered by it are concerned, is regarded as embodying the final
decision of the Court passing that decree. It observed as under :
"A preliminary decree passed, whether it is in a mortgage suit or
a partition suit, is not a tentative decree but must, in so far as the
matters dealt with by it are concerned, be regarded as embodying
B the final decision of the Court passing that decree ..........................".
This decision was relied upon in Gyarsi Bai and Ors. v. Dhansukh Lal and
Ors., AIR (1965) SC 1055 in which it was observed as under:
"It is true that a preliminary decree is final in respect of the matters
c to be decided before it is made. It is indisputable that in a mortgage
suit there will be two decrees, namely preliminary decree and final
decree, and that ordinarily the preliminary decree settles the rights
of the parties and the final decree works out those rights."
D In Shankar Balwant Lokhande (d) by Lrs. v. Chandra"kant Shankar
Lokhande & Anr., JT (1995) 3 SC 186 while considering the provisions of ...
order 20 Rule 18, Code of Civil Procedure as also the period prescribed
for the execution of decree, under the Limitation Act, it was observed as
under:
E "Thus, it could be seen that where the decree relates to any
immovable property and the partition or separation cannot be
conveniently made without further inquiry, then the court is re-
quired to pass a preliminary decree declaring the rights of several
pmties interested in the property, The Court is also empowered to
F give such further directions as may be required in this behalf. A
preliminary decree in a partition action, is a step in the suit which
continues until the final decree is passed. In a suit for partition by
a coparcenar or co-sharer, the court should not give a decree only
for the plaintifrs share, it should consider shares of all the heirs
after making them parties and then to pass a preliminary decree.
G The words "Declaring the rights of the several parties interested
in the property, in sub-rule (2) would indicate that shares of the
parties other than the plaintiff(s), have to be taken into account
while passing a preliminary decree. Therefore, preliminary decree
for parties is only a declaration of the rights of the parties and the
H shares they have in the joint family or coparcenary property, which
MOOL CHAND v. DY. DIRECTOR CONSOLIDATION (SAGHIRAHMED, J.] 777
is the subject-matter of the suit. The final decree should specify A
the division by metes and bounds and it needs to be engrossed on
stamped paper."
--- (Emphasis supplied)
B
There is, thus, a distinction between a case in wbich an appeal is filed
against a preliminary decree and a case in which a preliminary decree is
not appealed against and its correctness is not assailed. If, therefore, a
Notification under Section 4 of the Act is issued in a case where an appeal
against the preliminary decree was not pending, the latter, viz. the prelimi-c
nary decree, will remain unaffected and will not abate but if the preliminary
decree had been assailed in appeal, and the appeal is pending on the date
of Notification, the latter, namely the Notification, will have the effect of
abating the entire suit/proceedings including the preliminary decree passed
therein. On contrary, if an appeal is filed against the final decree without
D
. there being any appeal against the preliminary decree and the preliminary
decree becomes "unassailable" on account of Sec. 97 C.P.C., the Notifica-
tion under Section 4 would abate the proceedings relating to the final
decree without in any way touching, impairing or affecting the preliminary
decree. The reason to repeat, is obvious. Once, a preliminary decree is
passed, the proceedings so far as declaration of rights or interests in the E
land are concerned, comes to an end. Those rights are to be worked out
by the final decree. In a case, therefore, where a preliminary decree has
already been passed and only the proceeding relating to the preparation
of final decree and pending in any Court, either at the original stage or at
the appellate or revisional stage, it cannot be said that proceedings relating F
to " declaration or determination of rights in the land" within the meaning
of Section 5(2) of the Act are pending.
The above view was also expressed by the Allahabad High Court first
in Ruderpal Singh v. Rampa/ Singh, AIR (1972) Allahabad 67 and then in G
Salish Kumar v. La/ta Tiwari, (1974) Revenue Decision 379. These two
. _,,, decisions were followed in another case, namely, in Mohan Lal v. Deputy
Director of Consolidation, (1981) Allahabad law Journal 350. However, a
Division Bench of the Allahabad High Court in Ram Garib v. Bhagwati
Din, (1976) 2 RD 47 decided the matter as follows : H
778 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995) SUPP. 2 S.C.R. /-
,,
A "As the notification under Section 4 of the Act had been issued in
respect of the land in dispute and the suit related to the deter-
mination of the rights of the Parties and the matter had gone before
the Board of Revenue validity and in accordance with law and the
Board of Revenue was considering the revision in exercise of its
jurjsdiction, it did not have jurisdiction to decide the question
-
B
about.the abatement of the suit under Section 5(2) of the Act. If
the Board had jurisdiction to decide the question whether the suit
had abated or not, its decision one way or the other can only suffer
from an error of law. It cannot be held to be passed in exercise of
jurisdiction not vested in it by law. Hence, so long as the order
c of the Board of Revenue passed under Section 5(2) of the U.P.
Consolidation of Holdings Act stands, the preliminary decree
passed in the suit will be deemed to be wiped off the record and
the suit from the stage of the plaint will be deemed abated."
D
We reiterated that Ruderpal Singh's case (supra) and that of Satish
....
Kumar as also Mohan case (supra) were correctly decided but the Division
Bench decision in Ram Garib's case (supra) does not lay down the correct
law which is hereby reversed.
E
The preliminary decree can nevertheless be given effect to in
proceedings before the consolidation authorities in view of the provisions
contained in Sections 9 and 9A of the Act which enables the consolidation
authorities to specify the share of individual tenure holders in join holdings
for purpose of effecting partitions to ensure proper consolidation and to
~
F settle the dispute between the parties with regard to their claims to land
or partition of joint holdings.
- .
In Civil Appeal No. 2635 of 1980, the High Court had held on the
basis of the Division Bench's Decision in Ram Garib's case (supra) that
G the preliminary decree was wiped out on account of the Notification issued
under Section 4 of the Act. The decision being erroneous cannot be
sustained. Consequently, Civil Appeal No. 2635 of 1980 is allowed and the ........
judgment of the High Court dated 08.04.1980 is set aside and the case is
remanded to it for a fresh decision in accordance with law in the light of
H the judgment passed in this case.
MOOL CHAND v. DY. DIRECTOR CONSOLIDATION [SAGHIRAHMED, J.) 779
In Civil Appeal No. 10214 of 1983, the High Court did not treat the A
preliminary decree as having abated and has upheld the judgment and
order of the Assistant Director (Consolidation) who had decided the case
on the basis of the decree passed in the partition's suit under Section 176
of the U.P.Z.A. & L.R. Act. This appeal is consequently dismissed. There
will be no order as to costs in both the cases. B
v.s.s. Civil Appeal No. 2635 of 1980 allowed.
Civil Appeal No. 10214/83 dismissed.
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