Case: S. KULDEEP SINGH &amp; ANR Vs. S. PRITHPAL SINGH

2. In the suit, Prithpal Singh as the plaintiff claimed that he received gifts of land in his favour from Sucha Singh. But although the suit schedule properties were more, the plaintiff confined his relief to the land measuring 11 kanals and 15 marlas mentioned above and not any other lands of his adoptive father Sucha Singh. In the plaint, Prithpal Singh enclosed certified copy of a compromise deed in between himself and one Abdul Jalil Khan and the claim of the plaintiff centers around the said compromise deed dated 18.12.1975. The terms of the compromise being relevant are extracted hereinbelow:Sir, compromise is submitted as under:-1. That in the case entitiled above the parties have amicably compromised as under; out of Survey No. 1829 = Four kanals and five marlas and out of Survey No. 1835 Min one Kanal fifteen marlas in total six kanals including trees and houses situated at Ranbirpora Tehsil Anantnag will remain under the ownership of the Appellant in consideration of the Appellant under Survey No. 1829 = 3 Kanals 15 marlas, 1838 min 8 Kanals in total = 11 kanals 15 marlas including trees situated at village Ranbirpora Tehsil Anantnag gives up his tenancy rights and hands over its possession to the Respondent who will be considered its owner, no dispute remains in future.2. That the parties will bear their own costs of litigation, in light of compromise the land be recorded in the name of parties in the Revenue Registers.3. It is prayed the compromise be accepted and the appeal decided on the condition mentioned that will do justice.Accepted the compromise -Left Thumb impression of - Abdul jalilPritpal Singh - Thumb ImpressionI also accept the Compromise Sardar Sacha Singh S/o Amar Singh Ranibirpora Anantnag Father of Respondent Thumb Impression.3. As can be seen Sardar Sucha Singh appended his thumb impression to the above compromise deed with the expression I also accept the compromise. The Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag (D.C for short) thereafter passed an order on 24.12.1975 on the File No.168/06 recording the presence of both parties and the settlement made amongst them whereunder the tenant Abdul Jalil Khan gave up his tenancy rights over certain parcels of land and for the earlier noted 11 kanals and 15 marlas including the trees situated on the said parcel at village Ranbirpora, the respondent was accepted to be the owner by the tenant. Consequential directions were accordingly issued by the D.C for entering the compromise in the revenue records and as such the order dated 24.08.1974 by the Circle Officer regarding correction of tenancy was disposed of in light of the compromise amongst both parties.4. Parallelly, during the aforesaid proceedings, on 1.5.1972 the Jammu & Kashmir Agrarian Reforms Act, 1972 (hereinafter referred to as, the 1972 Act) came into force under which new rights and obligations were created and jurisdiction was conferred on the competent authority for the purpose of correcting the revenue records. Section 2 (6) of this Act gave a wide interpretation to the term owner for the purposes of revenue records and included inferior owners, and those claiming through the proprietor. Similarly, under Section 2(7), personal cultivation by a person also included cultivation by owner and his adopted son.5. On the strength of Section 50 of 1972 Act, the Jammu and Kashmir Agrarian Reforms Rules, 1973 (for short, the 1973 Rules) were notified. Rule 5 provided that the Khasra Girdwari Register for Kharif 1971 upon due verification and authentication, was to be the record of personal cultivation of lands as on 1.9.1971 (cutoff date). The Circle Officers under Rule 7 were required to visit each village within their jurisdiction to verify, amend, and authenticate entries for Kharif Register Girdwari 1971. Rule 15 provided the procedure for amendment of return or for collecting information for filing revenue entries under Rule 11. This shows that after the cutoff date of 1.9.1971, the Circle Officers were given new responsibility for verifying and compiling land revenue entries and the procedure for amending entries in case of errors or disputes, were also prescribed.6. At that stage, Abdul Jalil Khan claiming tenancy rights on the subject land applied for correction of tenancy to the Circle Officer and exercising the power for correction of tenancy, the Circle Officer on 24.8.1974 ordered the application made by the tenant Abdul Jalil Khan. The tenant Abdul Jalil Khan being aggrieved preferred appeal before the DC under the 1972 Act but in the meantime on 25.3.1975, the Jammu & Kashmir Agrarian Reforms (Suspension of Operations Act), 1975 (hereinafter the Suspension Act, 1975) was notified. The suspension was to be in effect initially till 19.12.1975 but was extended later to 30.3.1976. These dates are significant because the compromise dated 18.12.1975 was entered while certain provisions of 1972 Act remained inoperative because of the Suspension Act, 1975.7. On 1.6.1978 the new Jammu & Kashmir Agrarian Reforms Act, 1976 (hereinafter referred to as, the 1976 Act) came into force with effect from 13.07.1978, replacing the suspended Act of 1972.8. In course of verifying and correcting the entries in terms of the order passed by the Collector on 24.12.1975 (during the period while the Act of 1972 was under suspension) inquiries were conducted and the competent officer attested mutation no.4133 whereby the land with trees to the extent of 11 Kanals and 15 Marlas, were re-recorded in the name of late S. Sucha Singh. The appellants, who are the natural son and daughter of the land owner, claimed that since that date till today, they are in possession of the land although in the interregnum, their father S. Sucha Singh died.9. The civil Suit by the respondent no.1 was initially instituted before the Jammu & Kashmir High Court, for declaration and possession of land and it was claimed in the Suit by the adopted son that the appellants have forcibly dispossessed him from the land claimed in the Suit. The respondent has founded his claim over Sucha Singhs land on the basis of the compromise dated 18.12.1975 and the subsequent order recording the compromise passed by the DC on 24.12.1975. Although the respondent claimed to be adopted son of Sucha Singh (appellants father), similar assertion was not made on such basis for other properties of Sucha Singh. The Suit filed before the High Court was transferred in 1995 to the Court of the District Judge, Anantnag where the appellants as the defendant nos.1 and 2 filed their written statement stating, inter alia, that the compromise and the order passed thereon by the D.C on 24.12.1975, was without jurisdiction and the same do not confer any right on the plaintiff. On the given-up claim based on the gift executed by late Sucha Singh, the stand of the appellants/defendants was that the documents were revoked by their father during his life time and the revocation deed executed in September, 1975 was registered on 22.1.1976. Notably the amendments sought by the plaintiff to the plaint was not pressed/rejected and the relief in the suit was confined to 11 Kanals and 15 Marlas of land based on the compromise dated 18.12.1975 and the Deputy Commissioners order dated 24.12.1975.10. The learned District Judge took note of the following pedigree table of the parties:11. Framing several issues on the basis of the pleadings of the parties, the learned Judge after considering the materials on record found in favour of the plaintiff that he is the owner of 11 Kanals and 15 Marlas in Survey Nos. 1829 and 1838. This finding was based primarily on the compromise dated 18.12.1975 between the plaintiff and Abdul Jalil Khan and accordingly a decree for possession of land was passed in favour of the plaintiff-respondent and against the defendants-appellants.12. The Civil First Appeal No.117 of 2003 was then filed by the appellants and likewise Cross Appeal No.72 of 2004 was filed by the respondent assailing the District Judge order dated 31.7.2003 but the learned Single Judge under his 24.9.2008 common order, dismissed both appeals and thereby the decree/order dated 31.7.2003 came to be upheld.13. Thereafter the appellants preferred the LPA No.174 of 2008 and specifically questioned the jurisdiction of the DC to pass the 24.12.1975 order by contending that the compromise dated 18.12.1975 was a nullity. According to the appellants, their father late Sucha Singh through whom the plaintiff claims, was the owner of the subject land and unless the land owner transferred the land in favour of the plaintiff, through a valid registered instrument, the plaintiff can have no claim over the subject land. It was specifically contended that under Section 49 of the Registration Act, 1908 and Section 138 of the Jammu & Kashmir Transfer of Property Act, 1920 which are applicable to the State, claim for title or of possession of immoveable property without a registered instrument, cannot be entertained. Their say was that there is nothing on record that Sucha Singh had transferred any land to the plaintiff through a valid instrument. On the compromise, which was the basis for plaintiffs claim, the appellants projected that in terms of Section 3 of the Suspension Act, 1975, the operation of the concerned provisions of the 1972 Act and all proceedings thereunder, remained in suspension until 30.3.1976 and therefore the 18.12.1975 compromise and the DCs order dated 24.12.1975 for correction of revenue records based on the compromise are non-est as the same was passed while the 1972 Act was under suspension.14. Having considered the rival projections, the High Court observed that the only question which requires determination in the appeal is, what is the effect of the compromise. To give the answer, the Court noted that the certified copy of the compromise does not disclose that the same was in connection with a proceeding initiated for resumption of land but noted that the same related to correction of revenue records. According to the Court the plaintiff being an Army personnel, was in a better position to resume the land which was under the tenancy of Abdul Jalil Khan and therefore the plaintiff was authorized to launch the proceeding and enter into compromise with the tenant Abdul Jalil Khan. The Division Bench also noted that the owner of the land Sucha Singh had acknowledged the compromise deed which recorded the respective ownership of the tenant Abdul Jalil Khan and the plaintiff, for the concerned portions of the land of Sucha Singh. On the issue of the transfer of land being without a registered document, the Court observed that the instrument of compromise where a tenant accepts that his landlord is in possession of certain land over which the tenant makes no claim and surrenders his tenancy, would not require registration. The plaintiffs right on the concerned land is also recognized by the Sucha Singh through his endorsement. Moreover, since the appellants had not taken steps to appropriately challenge the 18.12.1975 compromise within the period of limitation, the title of the plaintiff stood perfected. The appeal accordingly was dismissed under the impugned judgment.

Court's reasoning:
18. In order to adjudicate the above issue, we need to look at the compromise in its intent and functioning. The compromise between the Plaintiff and Abdul Jalil Khan (tenant) was recorded in a proceeding for correction of revenue records under the 1972 Act and the Rules. There, the Plaintiff was admitted to be the owner and in possession of land which he personally cultivated. Sucha Singh with his thumb impression endorsed the compromise deed. On this the defendants have contended that the said statement has to be read in the context in which it was made and how the parties to the transaction understood the same. The plaintiff says that his adoptive father Sucha Singh intended to confer title on the Plaintiff and Sucha Singh would not have looked into the definition of owner under the 1972 Act, before making the endorsement on the compromise. On this, it cannot be ignored that the parties effectuated the transaction in a proceeding under the 1972 Act. Thus, the compromise exists within the four corners of the 1972 Act, and must therefore be read by applying the statutory provisions.19. Proceeding further, the definitions of owner and personal cultivation under Ss. 2(6) and (7) respectively of the 1972 Act are expansive. The definition of owner is an inclusive one. It includes not only the legal owner/proprietor, but also person claiming through the legal owner. Specifically, the adopted sons of the owner. Hence, the purpose of the compromise decree in the correction proceedings under Chapter III of the Rules pertain only to revenue entries, and the possession of land in capacity of a personal cultivator. This could hardly confer any lawful title on the plaintiff over Sucha Singhs land.20. The power under the 1973 Rules confers limited power to the circle officers and it is confined to verifying, amending, and authenticating revenue records as they existed on the cutoff date i.e., 1st September, 1971. Thus, it is clear that a mere affirmation in the context of revenue records and personal cultivation rights cannot be interpreted as an intention of Sucha Singh to confer title upon the Plaintiff. With his endorsement on the compromise, Sucha Singh perhaps intended to give the right of personal cultivation but the same does not in any manner suggest that Sucha Singh had intended to confer title on the plaintiff.21. It is also important to note that Plaintiff in his own testimony (led before Trial Court, and recorded in the Trial Court judgment) had stated that Sucha Singh prepared orchards. Albeit, by using the salary of Plaintiff. The land is therefore of the orchard category. In this situation, the land which is the subject matter of the Compromise being an Orchard stood excluded from the definition of land under S. 2(4) of the 1972 Act. As such, the title for such category of land could not vest with the Plaintiff. This determination of fact is essential to adjudicate the title and the issue was definitely raised in the LPA proceeding before the High Court, apart from being raised in the lower court also. In such a situation this Court is required to keep the orchard aspect in mind and also address the implication of the same on the contesting parties. The upshot of the above persuade us to hold that the compromise (18.12.1975) does not convey any lawful title on the Plaintiff.23. We are however unable to see the compromise as a kind of family arrangement. The compromise was not amongst family members but between the plaintiff and the tenant – Jalil Khan (not a family member). The statement of Sucha Singh I accept the compromise, is only with regard to the internal arrangement regarding the tenancy of Jalil Khan, and this will not make it a family arrangement. Moreover, the plea that compromise is a Family Arrangement is raised for the first time before this Court. The Plaintiff significantly had waived his claim to other assets left by Sucha Singh (on the basis that the Plaintiff is his adopted son), before the High Court. He cannot therefore be permitted to raise such a contention for the first time before this Court. Even otherwise, Jalil Khan was not a family member. Thus, he could not have been a party to a so called family arrangement. Besides, none of the other family members were parties to the said compromise either. Therefore, the documents in question would require registration and it cannot be treated as a family arrangement.24. It is pertinent to note that the ownership claim for the plaintiff is founded only on the compromise and the respondent is not claiming any antecedent title. The issue whether the compromise decree between parties to a suit proceeding, could vest or transfer title to one of them, was decided in Bhoop Singh v. Ram Singh Major [supra], where the requirement of registration of such compromise order which create new rights, title, or interest, was upheld in the following manner: -18. The legal position qua clause (vi) can, on the basis of the aforesaid discussion, be summarised as below:(1) Compromise decree if bona fide, in the sense that the compromise is not a device to obviate payment of stamp duty and frustrate the law relating to registration, would not require registration. In a converse situation, it would require registration.(2) If the compromise decree were to create for the first time right, title or interest in immovable property of the value of Rs 100 or upwards in favour of any party to the suit the decree or order would require registration.(3) If the decree were not to attract any of the clauses of sub-section (1) of Section 17, as was the position in the aforesaid Privy Council and this Courts cases, it is apparent that the decree would not require registration.(4) If the decree were not to embody the terms of compromise, as was the position in Lahore case, benefit from the terms of compromise cannot be derived, even if a suit were to be disposed of because of the compromise in question.(5) If the property dealt with by the decree be not the subject-matter of the suit or proceeding, clause (vi) of sub-section (2) would not operate, because of the amendment of this clause by Act 21 of 1929, which has its origin in the aforesaid decision of the Privy Council, according to which the original clause would have been attracted, even if it were to encompass property not litigated.25. Further, in K. Raghundandan & Ors. vs. Ali Hussain Sabir & Ors. [supra], while referring to Bhoop Singh [supra], the Court held that consent terms creating rights/title or interest for the first time, as distinguished from recognition of a right, would require registration if the value of property is above Rs. 100. This was affirmed by a three Judges bench in Phool Patti vs. Ram Singh [supra]. Lastly, in Ripudaman Singh vs. Tikka Maheshwar Chand (2021) 7 SCC 446,  this Court held that where there is no pre-existing right, but right has been created by the compromise alone, such compromise creating new right, title or interest in immovable property of value of Rs. 100 or above, is compulsorily registrable.26. In the present case, the Appeal filed by the tenant – Jalil Khan arose from the change of the entry in the records during the process of verification under the 1972 Act. It was in this Appeal that the compromise was recorded and endorsed by the DCs Order, recognizing the possession of the Plaintiff for the very first time, as was also admitted by plaintiff in paragraph 6 of the Suit. In circumstances of this kind, we are quite certain that the compromise was required to be registered, under Section 49 of the Registration Act, 1977 and also under Section 138 of the J&K Transfer of Property Act. Without such registration no title can fructify for the plaintiff from the documents in question.27. Furthermore, the compromise and the DCs consequent Order, was passed in a revenue proceeding and this was definitely not a part of a Court proceeding. That being the case, the compromise did not fall under the exception category under Section 17(2)(vi) of Registration Act, 1977 (as applicable to then State of J&K). The above makes it abundantly clear that the compromise in order to have legal effect needed registration under the Registration Act, 1977.28. Significantly, the DCs 24.12.1975 order based on the Compromise, also dealt with 6 Kanals land forming part of Survey No. 1829 & 1838 which went to the ownership of the tenant - Jalil Khan. The subject compromise or the DCs order was not restricted only to 11 Kanals and 15 Marlas as claimed by the Plaintiff. These circumstances would imply that the compromise required registration for it to be of any legal effect. Since title is claimed, and the plaintiff founded his entire case on the compromise, it would necessarily require registration. Accordingly, question B is answered in affirmative.30. The above makes it clear that this case is outside the ambit of any of the exempted sections such as Section 15 (Prohibition on transfer of land), 25 (levy of annual tax), 27 (collection of tax), 28 (Determination of ques-levy of tax related), 51 (repeal & savings) of the 1972 Act. Only such provisions of Chapter V which were relatable to the aforesaid provisions were relevant, and not all sections were within the ambit of exception. Section 31 of the 1972 Act which provided for Appeals and Revisions, was not protected by Section 4 of the Suspension Act, 1975. Thus, the DC, in our mind lacked inherent jurisdiction to either entertain the appeal or endorse the compromise during the suspended phase. In cases where the authority lacked jurisdiction under a special Act and yet exercises powers, without authority of law, any order or decree so passed through such unlawful exercise of power, will be a legal nullity. The deficiency of jurisdiction of the authority cannot be cured by the consent of the parties. The challenge to such an incompetent order could be set up wherever it is sought to be enforced or relied upon, even in execution or in collateral proceedings (1991) 3 SCC 136,  Para. 5 | (2017) 3 SCC 740,  Para. 35. Accordingly answering in favour of the defendants, the DCs order in our opinion can have no legal effect as the same was passed during the operation of Suspension Act, 1975. We have found that the compromise being unregistered cannot confer title on the respondent.Equity as we know follows the law, and whenever there is a conflict between law and equity, it is the law which must prevail. Here the Latin maxim dura lex sed lex, which means the law is hard, but it is the law would apply. Equity can only supplement the law, but it cannot supplant or override it (2007) 2 SCC 230,  Para. 29, and this would have a bearing against the respondent.32. The records in the case show that Sucha Singh, during his life time, had cancelled the two Wills in favour of the plaintiff. This indicates that Sucha Singh was not interested to give any part of his property to the plaintiff. Even otherwise, the suit property is self-acquired property of Sucha Singh, and a donee cannot claim equity in respect of the disposal of self-acquired properties, by a donor. Equity is all about balancing the competing interests and due weightage must be given to the fact that the appellants have been in possession and was nurturing their fathers land for over four decades and the estoppel principle propounded against them by the respondent must give way to the law set out by the statute (2021) 3 SCC 401 .33. Notwithstanding the concurrent finding against them, in a case like this, where the law leans in appellants favour, the Court has to exercise corrective jurisdiction as the circumstances justify. As such, taking a cue from Haryana State Industrial Development Corporation vs. Cork Manufacturing Co (2007) 8 SCC 120 ., the exercise of extraordinary jurisdiction under Article 136 is found to be merited in this matter.