Case: State of Karnataka Vs. Krishnaji Srinivas Kulkarni and Others

2. These appeals arise from the order of the Division Bench dated January 18, 1990 of the Karnataka High Court in Writ Petition Nos. 11215-11223 of 1985 and batch. The respondents own different extents of agricultural land situated at Jambaga and other villages in Bijapur District of Karnataka State which were in erstwhile part of Bombay province. They leased out their lands to M/s. Sugarcane Products and Industries Ltd., a registered company, by a registered lease dated April 1, 1942 for a period of 30 years which stood expired on March 31, 1973 but remained in possession as tenant. The Karnataka Land Reforms Act, 1961, Act 10 of 1962 (for short the Act) was amended by Amendment Act 1 of 1974 (for short the Amendment Act). The latter came into effect from March 1, 1974. Section 79-B of the Act prohibits holding of agricultural land by certain persons. Sub-section (1)(b) declares that with effect from the date of the commencement of the Amendment Act, it shall not be lawful for a company to hold any land. Sub-section (2) thereof mandates every such company to furnish to the Tehsildar having jurisdiction over the land, a declaration containing the particulars of such land and such other prescribed particulars. Under sub-section (3) thereto the Tehsildar after inquiry made in the prescribed manner should send the statement to the Deputy commissioner who declares, by notification that, "such land shall vest in the State Government free from all encumbrances". Sub-section (4) gives right to the owner of the land payment of compensation prescribed in Section 72. The lessee-company submitted a declaration, though purported to be under Section 66, but on the facts it must be in under Section 79-B(2). The Tehsildar after conducting the inquiry and giving opportunity to the respondents submitted the declaration to the Deputy Commissioner who published in the prescribed manner. Thus 600 acres of demised lands stood vested in the State free from all encumbrances. The respondents challenged the action in the writ petitions contending that as on March 1, 1974 the company was not holding the demised land as a tenant. The company, therefore, was incompetent to file any declaration under Section 66 and it cannot be treated to be under Section 79-B. Its possession is not lawful and that, therefore, the land does not stand vested in the State. The company was not a holder under Section 79-B. The landowners are holder of the lands. The High Court in the impugned order rightly held that the impugned order was without authority of law, being outside the purview of Section 79-B(3) of the Act and the ownership of the respondents, however, was not declared

Reasoning: We are not so much concerned with the lawful possession or possession of a tenant holding over for the purpose of interpreting the provisions of the Act. Section 6, as seen earlier, specifically declares that despite the expiry of lease by efflux of time, the tenancy would not stand terminated and that, therefore, the possession of the tenant/company statutorily remains to be juridical possession. The phrase "holder" of the land in Section 79-B must be construed from that perspective. The contra-contention violates the scheme and defeats the purpose of the Act. It is to be remembered that in respect of the matters covered under the Act, the jurisdiction of the civil court has been ousted and conferred on the Tribunals under the Act. There is no forum created under the Act to decide the rights of the landowner and the erstwhile tenant5. In Bhawanji Lakhamshi v. Himatlal Jamnadas Dani ( 1972 (1) SCC 388  : 1972 (2) SCR 890 ) the facts were that after the lease had by the appellant expired by efflux of time they remained in occupation and were paying the rent to the lessor. The leases were determined by issue of notice under Section 106 of the Transfer of Property Act and the suit was filed for decree of eviction on the ground of personal requirement. One of the defences was that after the lease was determined the lessor accepted the rent. Therefore, as tenant holding over he was entitled to the protection of Section 13 of the Bombay Rent Act. That was negatived by all the courts and decree for eviction was granted. This Court held that the act of holding over, after expiry of the lease, does not create a tenancy of any kind. After he continued with the consent of the landlord he is tenant at sufferance and without consent he is not a tenant holdings over. Under Section 116 of Transfer of Property Act the assent of the landlord for the continuance of the possession after the lease was determined creates a new tenancy, but there must be bilateral assent expressly or otherwise. Accordingly it was held that there was no proof that the landlord had accepted the rent agreeing to continue the tenancy. The ratio therein has no application to the facts of this case. In M. C. Chockalingam v. V. Manickavasagam ( 1974 (1) SCC 48  : 1974 (2) SCR 143 ) the question therein was whether the lessee of a cinema theatre, after the expiry of the lease was having lawful possession under Rule 13 of Madras Cinemas Regulations. In that context this Court held that by the language of Rule 3 it is implicit that the owner is having a title to the property if he can satisfy the licensing authority that the tenant, though was in possession, his possession was not lawful, but litigious possession and he is not entitled to the renewal of the licence. Lawful possession cannot be established without a concomitant existence of lawful relationship between the landlord and the tenant. This relationship cannot be established against the consent of the landlord unless his consent becomes under special law, irrelevant. Lawful possession is not litigious possession and must have some foundation in legal right to possess the property which cannot be equated with a temporary right to enforce recovery of the property in case a person who is wrongly or forcefully dispossessed from it. Therefore, the ratio in the above decision also is not of any assistance to the respondents. It is also equally well settled law that of the expiry of the lease of the landlord, the rent of the landlord continues to receive without protest, he acquiesced to the continuance in possession by the lessee and unless he is lawfully ejected his possession cannot be held to beAs seen, admittedly the respondents as on March 1, 1974 did not have possession of the lands. The company lessee continued to hold the land. By operation of Section 6 though its lease had expired by efflux of time, the lease did not stand terminated. In other words, his possession remains juridical possession under the Act. Therefore, on its being prohibited to remain in possession, the company was enjoined under Section 79-B(2) to furnish declaration and accordingly he did furnish to the Tehsildar, though mistakenly done by quoting Section 66(1). Quotation of a wrong provision does not take away the jurisdiction of the authorities to inquire under Section 79-B(3) of the Act. The Tribunals, therefore, had jurisdiction to inquire into and publish the declaration as enjoined under Section 79-B(3) of the Act. The demised 600 acres land held by the company stood vested in the State free ofKarnataka Land Reforms Act, 1961, Act 10 of 1962 (for short the Act) was amended by Amendment Act 1 of 1974 (for short the Amendment Act). The latter came into effect from March 1, 1974. Sectionof the Act prohibits holding of agricultural land by certain persons.(1)(b) declares that with effect from the date of the commencement of the Amendment Act, it shall not be lawful for a company to hold any land.(2) thereof mandates every such company to furnish to the Tehsildar having jurisdiction over the land, a declaration containing the particulars of such land and such other prescribed particulars. Under(3) thereto the Tehsildar after inquiry made in the prescribed manner should send the statement to the Deputy commissioner who declares, by notification that, "such land shall vest in the State Government free from all encumbrances".(4) gives right to the owner of the land payment of compensation prescribed in Section 72. Thesubmitted a declaration, though purported to be under Section 66, but on the facts it must be in under SectionThe Tehsildar after conducting the inquiry and giving opportunity to the respondents submitted the declaration to the Deputy Commissioner who published in the prescribed manner. Thus 600 acres of demised lands stood vested in the State free from all encumbrances. The respondents challenged the action in the writ petitions contending that as on March 1, 1974 the company was not holding the demised land as a tenant. The company, therefore, was incompetent to file any declaration under Section 66 and it cannot be treated to be under SectionIts possession is not lawful and that, therefore, the land does not stand vested in the State. The company was not a holder under SectionThe landowners are holder of the lands. The High Court in the impugned order rightly held that the impugned order was without authority of law, being outside the purview of Sectionof the Act and the ownership of the respondents, however, was not declared