IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE J.B.KOSHY & THE HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE K.HEMA WEDNESDAY, THE 30TH JANUARY 2008 / 10TH MAGHA 1929 MFA.No. 111 of 2007() --------------------- APPELLANT: APPELLANTS: ---------------------- 1. THATTANKANDY ROJA RADHAMADHAVAN (DIED), LEGAL HEIRS: THATTANKANDY RADHA MADHAVAN, S/O. SADANANDAN, AGED 54 YEARS, "YAMUNA", 1/3694, KANNUR ROAD, KOZHIKODE. 2. THATTANKANDY SAANAND, S/O. THATTANKANDY RADHAMADHAVAN, AGED 10 YEARS, "YAMUNA", 1/3694, KANNUR ROAD, KOZHIKODE (REPRESENTED BY GUARDIAN, FATHER, THATTANKANDY- RADHAMADHAVAN). 3. THATTANKANDY SAYUJA, THATTANKANDY RADHAMADHAVAN, AGED 12 YEARS, "YAMUNA", 1/3694, KANNUR ROAD, KOZHIKODE (REPRESENTED BY GUARDIAN, FATHER, THATTANKANDY- RADHAMADHAVAN). BY ADV. SRI.MILLU DANDAPANI RESPONDENTS: RESPONDENTS: ------------------------- 1. STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. CUSTODIAN OF VESTED FORESTS, ARANYA BHAVAN, FOREST COMPLEX, OLAVAKODE,PALAKKAD. BY GOVERNMENT PLEADER, SRI.M.P.PRAKASH THIS MISC. FIRST APPEAL HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 30/01/2008, ALONG WITH M.F.A Nos.112/2007, 113/2007, 114/2007, 115/2007 & 116/2007 THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: ORDER ON I.A.NO.1434/2007, 2397/2007 AND 271/2008 IN M.F.A.No.111/2007 DISMISSED SD/- J.B.KOSHY, JUDGE SD/- K.HEMA, JUDGE 30/01/2008 \\TRUE COPY// P.A. to Judge J.B.KOSHY & K.HEMA, JJ. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ M.F.A.Nos. 111/2007, 112/2007, 113/2007, 114/2007, 115/2007 & 116/2007 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Dated this the 30th day of January, 2008 J U D G M E N T Koshy, J . All these appeals are filed from the common order of the Forest Tribunal, Kozhikode, in O.A.Nos.41/2001 to 46/2001. The above applications were filed by five brothers and one sister contending that 116 acres of land involved are not private forests. Six applicants claimed title and possession varying from 15 to 26 acres. But, Forest Department published a notification demarcating those properties as vested private forests. They approached the Forest Tribunal. The Tribunal rejected the application and declined to make a declaration that the petition scheduled properties are not private forests. Hence, these appeals. The extent of land claimed in the O.A before the Tribunal are as follows:- M.F.A.Nos. 111/2007, 112/2007, 113/2007, 114/2007, 115/2007 & 116/2007 -: 2 :- M.F.A.No.111/2007 against OA 41/2001 - 20 acres M.F.A.No.112/2007 against OA 45/2001 - 15 acres M.F.A.No.113/2007 against OA 46/2001 - 26 acres M.F.A.No.114/2007 against OA 42/2001 - 20 acres M.F.A.No.115/2007 against OA 43/2001 - 20 acres M.F.A.No.116/2007 against OA 44/2001 - 15 acres ------------- 116 acres ====== It is the contention of the claimants that the above land was cultivated land when the Act came into force and therefore, it is not a private forest as defined under Section 2(f)(1)(i) read with sub-clauses (B) and (C) of the Kerala Private Forest Vesting and Assignment Act, 1971 (in short 'the Vesting Act') which came into force with effect from 10.5.1971. As per section 3(1) of the Vesting Act, all private forests as defined under the Act, automatically stand vested in the Government on that date. Therefore, even though the Government notified after demarcating the land only in 2001, if the land in question is a private forest and the claimant is not entitled to any exemptions, the land automatically vest with the Government on the M.F.A.Nos. 111/2007, 112/2007, 113/2007, 114/2007, 115/2007 & 116/2007 -: 3 :- appointed day (10.5.1971). The Apex Court in T.N.Godavarman Thirumulpad v.State of Kerala [1991 Supp.(2)SCC 665] held that by thrust of the operative part of Section 3(1) of the Act, with effect on and from the appointed day, the ownership and possession of private forests stood transferred and vested in the State Government free from all encumbrances and the right, title and interest of the owner or any other person in such private forests stood extinguished. But, for the applications for section 3 (1) it should be a private forest on the appointed day, therefore, we have together to consider the definition of “private forest” in the Vesting Act. 2. Section 2 (f) defines “private forest” as follows:- (1) in relation to the Malabar district referred to in sub-section (2) of Section 5 of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956 (Central Act 37 of 1956)--- (i) any land to which the Madras Preservation of Private Forests Act, 1949 (Madras Act XXVII of 1949), applied immediately before the appointed day excluding --- (A) x x x x x x x x x x (B) lands which are used principally for the cultivation of tea, coffee, cocoa, rubber, cardamom or cinnamon and lands used for any purpose ancillary to the cultivation of such crops or for the preparation of the same for the market. Explanation:-- Lands used for the construction of office buildings, godowns, factories, quarters for workmen, M.F.A.Nos. 111/2007, 112/2007, 113/2007, 114/2007, 115/2007 & 116/2007 -: 4 :- hospitals, schools and play grounds shall be deemed to be lands used for purposes ancillary to the cultivation of such crops; (C) lands which are principally cultivated with cashew or other fruit bearing trees or are principally cultivated with any other agricultural crop and (D) xxxxx xxxxx" Admittedly, the disputed land is situated in the erstwhile Malabar area and come under the M.P.P.F Act. As per the definition, land covered under sub-clauses (B) and (C) are exempted and will not come within the definition of private forests. If it is not a private forest, it will not vest under Section 3(1). Only if the properties are vested under Section 3(1), the question of claiming exemption under Section 3 (2) and 3 (3) will arise. Here the question is whether scheduled property was a private forest on the appointed day when the Vesting Act came into force. 3. It is the case of the claimants that these land were cultivated land at the time when the Act came into force. In fact, they proved title by Exts.A1 to A5 documents. They derived title and possession as follows. One A.K.Kaderkutty Saheb held large extent of property including the OA schedule property in Jenmom right and he assigned 150 acres of land by oral lease to one Nellikka Achuthan in 1945, for replanting Cardamom and M.F.A.Nos. 111/2007, 112/2007, 113/2007, 114/2007, 115/2007 & 116/2007 -: 5 :- other Kuzhikoor. The said Nellikka Achuthan executed Kuzhikanam Marupattam Deed No.1056/1964 dated 8.4.1964 (Ext.A8) in favour of Kaderkutty Saheb, after obtaining permission from the District Collector under the M.P.P.F. Act. An extent of 37 acres out of the said 150 acres were surrendered by Nellikka Achuthan under the provisions of the Kerala Land Reforms Act, and the remaining 113 acres were pledged in the Vijaya Bank. The right over the 113 acres were purchased in a court auction by Mrs.Meera Ramesh, Mrs.Vasudevan Unnithan and her brother Ramesh. They divided the properties among them as per Deed No.2940/1988 (Ext.A125). One Leela B.Menon acquired right over 48 acres out of 113 as per Document No.739/89 (Ext.A126), 1869/1989 (Ext.A127) and also by Document No.1309/92 (Ext.A128). The above said Leela B.Menon purchased 3 Acres as per document No.3513/92. Said Leela B.Menon purchased 3 acres as per document No.3514/88 (Ext.A13), 3515/88 (Ext.A14) and 669/89 (Ext.A15). Meera Ramesh, Vasudevan Unnithan and Leela B.Menon assigned 116 acres to one P.D.Abraham and from the said P.D.Abraham, the applicant purchased 116 acres of land M.F.A.Nos. 111/2007, 112/2007, 113/2007, 114/2007, 115/2007 & 116/2007 -: 6 :- in 1995, as per Exts.A1 to A5 document Nos.3591/95, 3474/95, 3473/95, 3279/95, 3278/95 and 3472/95. 4. According to them, the entire area of 116 acres was brought under cultivation principally with cardamom, coffee, pepper, cocoa and cinnamon or with other agricultural crops before the Act came into force on 10.5.1971 and even before 1964 and, therefore, is not vested as private forest. The fact that the predecessor in interest purchased 113 acres of land in court auction is not disputed as A9 to A12 documents were produced. Ext.A7 is the lease deed dated 8.6.1964. Recital in pages 1 and 2 of the above deed itself shows that it is a cultivated land on the date of lease. 5. It was argued that Ext.A7 lease deed (document No.1059/64) dated 8.4.1964 is invalid as lease was executed after 1.4.1964, the date when Kerala Land Reforms Act came into force. It is the contention of the petitioner that there was oral lease earlier. Lessors obtained permission from the District Collector as per MPPF Act on 8.3.1965 to execute the lease and, therefore, the registered lease deed was executed on 8.6.1964. It is mentioned in the recital of the lease deed. Even before the execution of the lease deed, the properties were under lease and M.F.A.Nos. 111/2007, 112/2007, 113/2007, 114/2007, 115/2007 & 116/2007 -: 7 :- lessees were cultivating the land. Ext.A8 is the order of the Land Board, Trivandrum dated 30.5.1973 (see pages 2 and 3). This order shows that disputed land in question was cultivated even before the Land Reforms Act, 1964 came into force. The Land Board's order would show that out of the total land of the then declarant, 25 acres were private forest. They were exempted from the land ceiling area and 37 acres were found excess of the ceiling area and the predecessor-in-interest of the petitioner surrendered the above area as excess land. The land in question was included in that land ceiling account because it was not a private forest. There is no contention that the Land Board's order issued as per the statutory provisions are obtained by fraud. It is binding on both parties. So, after deduction of 37 acres surrendered, balance was 113 acres of cultivated land which was held to be not private forest. Another 3 acres independently purchased by the predecessor in interest from Leela B.Menon. But, the Land Board's order shows that out of the land of the predecessor-in-interest, 25 acres are private forest. With regard to the identity of the property, there is no dispute as properties are identified by the Commissioner. With regard to the M.F.A.Nos. 111/2007, 112/2007, 113/2007, 114/2007, 115/2007 & 116/2007 -: 8 :- possession of the land, it is not disputed. They were paying profession tax, agricultural income tax, building tax etc. Exts.A25 to A122 and Exts.A23, A24, A28 and A30 are possession certificates issued by the Village authorities. The entire land except a small area demarcated by the Commissioner is cultivated with coffee and pepper at present and the above fact is not disputed. 6. With regard to the Commission report, the Commissioner reported that the entire property covered in the application is lying contiguous. He produced the final sketch along with Ext.C10 commission report which was prepared with the help of Revenue Authorities. Ext. C1 is the report of the Commissioner wherein it was stated as follows with regard to O.A.No.41/2001:- “In the schedule of O.A. 41/01 the extent of property described is 20 acres. This property is shown in Green colour in plan No.2. A photo copy of Registered document No.3472/1995 of S.R.O Manantoddy was shown to me. As per this document Kuzhikanam right in 20 acres of land in Sy.No.8/IAIA2 was assigned by one P.D.Abraham alias Appachan to the petitioner. At present the entire 20 acres is under Coffee and pepper cultivation. The land consists of different platforms and there is a mud road through this property. The petitioner represented that this road is used for the movement of agricultural produce and manure. Besides there are the following Chamayams M.F.A.Nos. 111/2007, 112/2007, 113/2007, 114/2007, 115/2007 & 116/2007 -: 9 :- within the above said 20 acres. There is a office cum cow shed building. The building is very old. From appearance it seems it might have been constructed about 40 to 50 years back. The building consists of an office room, a tool room and a very big cow shed. The building is electrified and the K.S.E.B Consumer No. is M.4696. The walls of the building is made of laterite stones and the roof is tiled. The assessment No. of the building is VII/27 of Thavizhal Grama Panchayat. There is an old house building in this property. The house consists of 2 rooms one hall and a charu. Petitioner represented to me that the house is used as servants Quarters. The assessment No. of the building is VII/28 of Thavizhal Grama Panchayat. The walls of the house building is made of laterite stones and mud. The roof is tiled. From appearances it seems this hous building might have constructed about 40 to 50 years back. This building is also electrified. The K.S.E.B Consumer No. is M/4692. There is a big well near the above said building. The well is constructed with laterite stones. An Electric Motor used for the purpose of pumping water was also found erected near the above said building. There is separate electricity connection to the motor. The K.S.E.B consumer No. for this connection is M/4694. There is another old house building in the property. The house consist of 3 rooms and is in a dilapidated condition. The walls of the house is made of mud and laterite stones and the roof is tiled. The wall at the Eastern side of the house is already collapsed. The assessment No. of this house building is VII/26 of Thavizhal Grama Panchayat. This house building is not electrified and is not in use at present. Besides the above said 3 buildings there is another old building in the property involved in O.A.41/01. The assessment No. of the building is VII/25 of Thavizhal Grama Panchayat. From appearance it seems it might have been constructed 40 to 50 years back and it had been used as steam house for drying cardamom. There is provisions for burning wood M.F.A.Nos. 111/2007, 112/2007, 113/2007, 114/2007, 115/2007 & 116/2007 -: 10 :- in a large scale, steam pipes, boiler and chimney. This building is also tiled and constructed with laterite stones. The building is not electrified.” Boundaries were also mentioned with regard to properties in O.A.No.41/2001. 7. With regard to O.A.No.42/2001, it is stated that there were no constructions and title and possession of the appellant and cultivation of the same by coffee and pepper are clearly marked. With regard to O.A.No.43/2001 the state of properties were similar to O.A.No.42/2001. The Commissioner found that even though claim was for 20 acres, he was in possession of only 17.5 acres as pointed out by the Surveyor. The Commission report further says as follows:- “The Surveyor represented to me that the petitioner is in possession of 17.5 acres of land in Kuzhikanam right and this is shown in Green colour in the plan. The Surveyor also represented to me that 3 acres which is shown in Orange Colour in the plan was ceiling land taken over by the Government under the K.L.R Act and distributed among landless agriculturists in the past. The remaining 7 acres of ceiling land which is in possession of Government is surrounded by petitioners property. At present the entire 20 acres of land is under coffees and pepper cultivation. The land consists of different platforms and there is mud road through the property. There is a house in this property. The house is constructed with laterite stones with tile roofing. The house consists of 2 rooms , one hall room, one bath room, one kitchen and a toilet. From appearance it seems it might have constructed 40 to 50 years back. The assessment No. of the house is VII/29 M.F.A.Nos. 111/2007, 112/2007, 113/2007, 114/2007, 115/2007 & 116/2007 -: 11 :- of Thavizhal Grama Panchayat. There is no electric connection to this house.” With regard to O.A.No.44/2001 extending 15 acres, the Commissioner reports that it was under coffee and pepper cultivation. There was no building. With regard to the above 15 acres of land Commissioner's findings were similar. O.A.No.45/2001 was similar to O.A.No.44/2001. With regard to O.A.No.46/2001, the Tribunal found as follows:- “As per this document Kuzhikanam right in 26 acres of land in Sy.No.8/1A1A2 was assigned by one P.D.Abraham alias Appachan to the petitioner. At present the entire area is under Coffee and Pepper cultivation. The land consists of different platform and there is jeep road through the property. There are the following Chamayams within the above said 26 acres. There is a big 2 storied residential bunglow made of laterite stones. The roof of this bunglow is tiled the bunglow consists of 2 bedrooms, 2 dressing rooms, dining room, 1 sitting hall, 1 kitchen, toilets and a Car porch in downstairs. In the upstairs there is a big hall. From appearance it seems the bunglow had been constructed about 40 to 50 years back with all amenities of that time, for, the bedrooms are provided with fire place. The bunglow is electrified and the K.S.E.B Consumer No. is M.4693. The assessment No. of bunglow is VII/24 of Thavizhal Grama Panchayat. At the back side of the bunglow there are 4 coffee drying yards. The size of the yards is 18x13 meters, 24 x18.30 meters, 16x14 meters and 18x12 meters. The first 3 yards are tiled and the last mentioned (i.e 18x12) is cemented. During my inspection I noticed a tomb in this property. On the top marble sheet it is engraved 'Payattuvalappil Lakshmi Amma died on 28/04/1967. Around the above said bunglow there are a number of domestic trees like 2 coconut trees, 2 mango trees and chikku, 9 jathi trees, 2 chembakam, M.F.A.Nos. 111/2007, 112/2007, 113/2007, 114/2007, 115/2007 & 116/2007 -: 12 :- one Ambazham, one koddampuli, 15 silver oak and some vanila wines.” 8. Number of plants and domestic trees in the scheduled properties were also mentioned in para 70 of the Commissioner's report (Ext.C1) which shows that the land was principally cultivated with coffee and pepper and domestic trees and fruit bearing plants like orange, coconut, mango etc.were there. The property has 21,700 coffee plants out of which 5,600 yielding coffee plants are more than 40 years old. There are 17 tamarind trees which were more than 40 to 45 years old. The Tribunal specifically noticed that in the properties shown in O.A.Nos.41/2001, 43/2001, 44/2001 and 45/2001, there are certain portion which are claimed to be Cardamom plantations are full of forest trees. No cardamom plants were seen and it was full of wild growth. The forest trees mentioned therein are 40 to 60 years. According to the appellants, the cardamom plants were destroyed. Commissioner noticed remnants of destroyed cardamom cultivation. The Commissioner's report at paragraph 11 shows that there were wild forest trees in those areas and in the land surrendered as excess land by the predecessor-in- interest of the appellants. It is also stated therein that the excess land surrendered and encircled by the scheduled property in M.F.A.Nos. 111/2007, 112/2007, 113/2007, 114/2007, 115/2007 & 116/2007 -: 13 :- O.A.No.43/2001 contained wild growth wild creepers forest trees, etc. 9. One of the contention raised by the Government Pleader is that the applicants were not able to prove title. Court judgment and papers regarding procedure in court auction and title deeds were produced. Here, possession is not disputed. Since the land was cultivated mainly with coffee and fruit bearing plants in view of sub-clauses (B) and (C) of section 2(f)(1)(i), those areas are not private forest at all and they are not vested under section 3 (1). Hence, exemption under section 3 (2) and 3 (3) need not be considered. According to the Government Pleader, title is defective because under section 74 of the Land Reforms Act, lease created after coming into force of the Land Reforms Act, with effect from 1.4.1964. But, Ext.A4 lease deed was executed only on 8.4.1964. But, as already held, the recitals in the lease deed shows that there was an earlier oral lease and they got permission from the District Collector under the MPPF Act, prior to the Land Reforms Act, 1.4.1964, to execute the registered lease deed. So,lease was in existence before 1.4.1964. Even in the lease deed there was mentioning of the cultivation in the area in question. Hence, land in question is not a private M.F.A.Nos. 111/2007, 112/2007, 113/2007, 114/2007, 115/2007 & 116/2007 -: 14 :- forest and forest officers cannot interfere in the possession of the appellants. Another contention raised was that when it was pledged with Vijaya Bank, prior permission was not obtained which is against the M.P.P.F. Act. But, such a contention was not raised before the Tribunal. In the earlier suit also, no party has made such a contention. They produced the judgment and decree by the predecessor-in- interest for purchasing the land in question (A12) by court auction which shows proved title of the land. In these circumstances, we are of the view that title of the claimants cannot be questioned. After Ext.C1 report, since commissioner has reported that in the place where appellants claimed, there were cardamom plantations and full of forest trees etc. There is no conclusive evidence to prove that the above portion of the land was being cultivated on the appointed day. There are no cardamom plantations also therein at the time of the inspection of the Commissioner. That may be the land mentioned as 25 acres of property as private forest mentioned in Land Board's order. Commissioner sent for additional reports and plan and additional matters were reported in Ext.C10 report along with plan. Their excess land surrendered were marked separately and that land had full of forest trees. Excess land were separately M.F.A.Nos. 111/2007, 112/2007, 113/2007, 114/2007, 115/2007 & 116/2007 -: 15 :- noted as well as the land with measurement were mentioned where the claimants alleged as cardamom plantations. But, at present, there is no cardamom plantations and wild growth are seen in that area like the land surrendered by the predecessor- in-interest as excess land. Therefore, the area where cardamom plantations were alleged to be cultivated, now there are wild growth. Those areas are marked in blue dotted lines in Ext.C10 plan. Those areas are seen in land covered in O.A.Nos.41/01, 44/01, 45/01 and 46/01 and excess land surrendered are shown surrounded by the land covered in O.A. No. 43/01. These areas are private forest and automatically vested in Government. And other portions planted with coffee and pepper etc. are not private forest and appellants are entitled to declare that those portions of land are not vested with the Government. Hence, it is declared that the petition scheduled property except those portions marked in blue dotted lines and areas marked as excess land surrendered in Ext.C10 report are not private forests and are not vested with the Government and forest officers cannot interfere in the possession of those properties. But, we make it clear that appellants shall not cut and remove trees in the land in violation of the Kerala Preservation of Trees Act, 1986. But, appellants M.F.A.Nos. 111/2007, 112/2007, 113/2007, 114/2007, 115/2007 & 116/2007 -: 16 :- cannot claim any right over the property covered in blue dotted lines and surrendered land as excess as shown in Ext.C10 plan. The appeal is partly allowed. Sd/- (J.B.KOSHY, J UDGE) Sd/- (K.HEMA, J UDGE ms