Case ID: 5109

Judgment:
ivil Appeal Nos. 273 274 of 1972 From the Judgment and order dated 25.8.1971 of the Allahabad High Court in C. Revn. No. 1354 and 1355 of 1969. J.P. Goel	 Rajesh and R.A. Gupta for the Appellants. O.P. Rana	 P.K. Pillai for the Respondents. The Judgment of the Court was delivered by DUTT	 J. These two appeals by special leave have been preferred by the appellants against the judgment of a learned Single Judge of the Allahabad High Court. By the said judgment the learned judge set aside the order of the District Judge	 Meerut	 passed by him on appeal under section 39 of the 	 upholding the order of the First Civil Judge	 Meerut	 and the Award of the Arbitrator made under section 12 of the U.P. Consolidation of Holdings Act	 1953	 hereinafter referred to as 'the Consolidation Act '. One Kurey was the owner of the zamindari property in Khewat Nos. 23 and 34 and also in Khewat No. 2	 comprising the disputed plots of land in village Daha. On his death	 the zamindari property devolved upon his daughter	 Sona Devi. By a registered deed of sale dated December 21	 1935	 Sona Devi sold the zamindari property to one Hoshiara	 the predecessor in interest of the appellants	 and also to one Abhey Ram. Out of the consideration of Rs.3	150	 Sona Devi was paid only Rs.1	300 in cash before the Sub Registrar and the balance of the consideration money was kept in deposit with the purchasers for payment under three usufructuary mortgage deeds executed by Kurey in favour of some of his creditors. Sona Devi had no son when she executed the sale deed	 but subsequently three sons	 namely	 the respondents Nos. 3	 4 and 5 were born to her. She died in 1944 leaving behind her the said respondents who were all minors at the time of her death. 491 The respondents No. 3 to 5	 the sons of Sona Devi	 filed a suit being suit No. 1503 of 1950 in the Court of the Munsif	 Meerut against the appellants and others for a declaration that Sona Devi had only a life interest in the zamindari property purported to have been transferred by her by the sale deed dated December 21	 1935	 and that the transfer not having been supported by any legal necessity	 was not binding upon the respondents. The respondents also prayed for recovery of possession of the property and for mesne profits. The learned Munsif by his judgment dated January 18	 1953 decreed the suit. Both the parties preferred appeals against the said judgment and decree of the learned Munsif. During the pendency of the appeals	 village Daha	 in which the disputed land is situated	 was notified for consolidation operations under the Consolidation Act. In view of section S of the consolidation Act	 all further proceedings of the said appeals were stayed. In the consolidation proceedings that were started in the village	 the names of the appellants were recorded in the revenue papers as bhumi in respect of the disputed land. The respondents filed objections under section 12 of the Consolidation Act	 as it stood at the relevant time in November	 1956. As the objections raised questions of title regarding the disputed land	 the Consolidation officer referred the matter under sub section (4) of section 12 to the statutory Arbitrator. The learned Arbitrator came to the findings that Sona Devi had only a life interest in the disputed land	 that the sale deed executed by her on December 21	 1935 was neither for legal necessity nor for the benefit of the estate of her deceased father	 that the transfer of the disputed land by the said sale deed was not binding on the respondents	 the sons of Sona Devi	 and that	 accordingly	 the said respondents were entitled to recover possession of the disputed land purported to have been transferred by the said sale deed. In view of the above findings	 the learned Arbitrator made an Award in favour of the respondents. The appellants filed two petitions of objection to the Award under section 30 of the which were dismissed by the learned First Civil Judge	 Meerut	 by his order dated November 8	 1967. Being aggrieved by the order of the learned First Civil Judge	 Meerut	 dismissing the petitions of objection	 the appellants filed two 492 appeals to the Additional District Judge	 Meerut	 under section 39 of the . The learned Additional District Judge took the view that as the sons of Abhey Ram	 who was also one of the transferees under the said sale deed dated December 21	 1935	 were not made parties in the proceedings	 the reference to the Arbitrator was illegal and the Award made by him was invalid. Further	 it was held by the learned Additional District Judge that the Arbitrator was guilty of legal misconduct inasmuch as he had committed an error of law apparent on the face of the Award. Upon the said findings	 the learned Additional District Judge set aside the order of the learned First Civil Judge	 Meerut	 and also the Award of the learned Arbitrator. Both the appeals preferred by the appellants were	 accordingly	 allowed. The respondents	 being aggrieved by the said order of the learned Additional District Judge	 filed two revision petitions under section 115 of the Code of Civil Procedure before a learned Single Judge of the Allahabad High Court. The learned Judge	 as aforesaid	 set aside the order of the learned Additional District Judge	 Meerut	 and restored that of the learned First Civil Judge	 Meerut	 and also the Award of the learned Arbitrator. Hence these two appeals by special leave. Before we proceed further we may dispose of two applications which have been filed by the appellants in the two appeals. It has been alleged in the applications that during the pendency of the appeals in this Court	 a notification dated June 27	 1981 under section 4 A of the Consolidation Act was issued declaring that village Daha might again be brought under the consolidation operations. In view of that notification	 a further notification was issued under sub section (2) of section 4 by the State Government deciding to start consolidation operations in village Daha. It is alleged that since the issuance of the notification under section 4(2)	 the consolidation operations have been going on in that village. It is submitted that by virtue of sub section (2) of section 5 of the Consolidation Act	 the consequence of the publication of a notification under section 4(2) is that the present appeals along with other proceedings out of which the appeals arise	 stand abated. The parties affected will	 however	 be entitled to agitate their right or interest in dispute in the said proceedings before the appropriate consolidation authorities under and in accordance with the provisions of the Consolidation Act and the rules made thereunder	 as provided in clause (b) of 493 section 5(2) of the Consolidation Act. Accordingly	 it has been prayed in the said applications that an order of abatement of the instant appeals and also of other proceedings including the arbitration proceedings	 should be made under section 5(2) of the Consolidation Act. In order to consider the contentions of the appellants as to the abatement of the appeals and the other proceedings out of which the appeals arise	 we may refer to some of the provisions of the Consolidation Act. Sub section (1) of section 52 of the Consolidation Act provides for the issuance of a notification by the State Government declaring the closure of the consolidation operations in the unit whereupon the village or villages forming a part of the unit shall cease to be under consolidation operations. Sub section (2) of section 52 provides that notwithstanding anything contained in sub section (1)	 any order passed by a court of competent jurisdiction in cases of writs filed under the provisions of the Constitution of India	 or in cases or proceedings pending under the Consolidation Act on the date of issue of the notification under sub section (1)	 shall be given effect to by such authorities	 as may be prescribed and the consolidation operations shall	 for that purpose	 be deemed to have not been closed. Under section 4 A(1) of the Consolidation Act	 where the State Government is of the opinion that in the case of a district or part thereof in respect of which a notification has already been issued under section 52	 it is expedient in public interest so to do	 it may make a declaration by notification in the Gazette that such district or part thereof may again be brought under consolidation operation. Under the proviso to section 4 A(1)	 no such declaration shall be issued within ten years from the date of the notification referred to in the said section. Section S provides for the effect of a notification under section 4(2). Sub section (2) of section S runs as follows: "section 5(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 (a) every proceeding for the correction of records and every suit and proceedings 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 proceedings can or ought to be taken under this Act	 pending 494 before any court or authority whether of 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 such suit or proceeding is pending	 stand abated: Provided that no such order shall be passed without giving to the parties notice by post or in any other manner and after giving them an opportunity of being heard: Provided further that on the issue of a notification under sub section (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 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 and the rules made thereunder. Explanation For the purposes of sub section (2)	 a proceeding under the Uttar Pradesh Imposition of Ceiling on Land Holdings Act	 1960 or an uncontested proceeding under Sections 134 to 137 of the U.P. Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act	 1950	 shall not be deemed to be a proceeding in respect of declaration of rights or interest	 in any land. " It is manifestly clear that where consolidation proceedings have been held and closed	 a notification under section 4(2) of the Consolidation Act can be made only after the expiry of 10 years from the date of the notification under section 52. When the consolidation proceedings are over	 the State Government issues a notification declaring that the consolidation operations have been closed in the unit whereupon the village or villages forming a part of the unit shall cease to be under consolidation operations. Thus	 at the time the notification under section 4 A is made	 the consolidation operations in respect of any district or part thereof have been closed ten years before and there is no consolidation operation in the district or part thereof to which the notification under section 4 A relates. 495 By virtue of sub section (2) of section 52 of the Consolidation Act even though a notification under sub section (I) of section 52 is made declaring that the consolidation operations have been closed in respect of the unit	 yet it shall be deemed to have not been closed for the purpose of giving effect by the prescribed authorities to the following two cases: (i) Any order passed by a court of competent jurisdiction in cases of writs filed under the provisions of the Constitution of India. (ii) In cases or proceedings pending under the Consolidation Act on the date of issue of the notification under sub section (1). Thus	 in regard to the two cases mentioned above	 the consolidation operations shall be deemed to have not been closed. As noticed already	 section 4 A will apply only where the consolidation operations remained closed for a period of ten years from the date of the notification under section 52(1). But	 in view of sub section (2) of section 52 of the Consolidation Act	 the consolidation operations shall be deemed to have not been closed in respect of the two cases mentioned above	 and so section 4 A will have no application to these two cases. Consequently	 the provision of section 4 as also the provision of section 5 will not apply to these two cases. The object of sub section (2) of section 52 is that when an order has been passed by a court under the provisions of the Constitution of India or in cases or proceedings pending under the Consolidation Act	 the right or interest involved in such order or in the pending cases or proceedings under the Consolidation Act	 should not be again subjected to the consideration in the consolidation proceedings started by virtue of a notification under section 4 A of the Consolidation Act. It may be noticed that the suit and proceedings referred to in section 5(2)(a) are different from the cases and proceedings mentioned in sub section (2) of section 52. While cases or proceedings referred to in sub section (2) of section 52	 the order passed in writ cases under the Constitution of India apart	 must be pending under the Consolidation Act	 under clause (a) of section 5(2) the proceedings which will stand abated upon an order being passed in that behalf by a court or authority	 are either a pending suit or pending proceedings	 but such proceedings are not pending under the Consolidation Act. 496 The proceedings out of which the instant appeals arise are proceedings under the Consolidation Act and	 therefore	 section 5(2)(a) will have no application to the proceedings out of which the present appeals arise. In any event	 in view of sub section (2) of section 52 of the Consolidation Act	 the notification issued under section 4 A and the subsequent notification under section 4(2) and the consequence thereof as provided under section 5(2) of the Consolidation Act	 will have no application to or affect the proceedings giving rise to the instant appeals. The applications are	 therefore	 misconceived and are dismissed. We may now come to the merits of the appeals. It is urged by Mr. J.P. Goyal	 learned counsel appearing on behalf of the appellants in both these appeals	 that the High Court should have held that as the sons of Abhey Ram	 one of the transferees under the sale deed dated December 21	 1935	 were not made parties in the arbitration proceedings	 it was invalid. This contention challenging the maintainability of the reference and the invalidity of the arbitration proceedings	 was raised for the first time before the learned Additional District Judge who	 as stated already	 upheld the same. In our opinion	 the High Court was right in overruling the contention on the ground that the learned Additional District Judge should not have entertained the objection to the maintainability of the reference itself at that stage. The High Court has pointed out that before the learned Arbitrator all the parties concerned appeared and no objection to the competency of the reference was raised and that the proper stage for raising such an objection was when the reference was made under section 12 of the Consolidation Act. The contention of the appellants is	 accordingly	 rejected. It is next contended on behalf of the appellants that the High Court was not justified in setting aside the finding of the learned Additional District Judge that the learned Arbitrator was guilty of legal misconduct. It has been held by the learned Additional District Judge that there was an error apparent on the face of the Award inasmuch as the learned Arbitrator failed to properly consider the provision of section 18 of the U.P. Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act	 1950	 hereinafter referred to as 'the Zamindari Abolition Act '	 and to give effect to the rights conferred upon the appellants under the said provision. It is submitted that the learned Additional District Judge was	 therefore justified in holding that the learned Arbitrator was guilty of legal misconduct. 497 Let us now consider whether the Arbitrator has committed any error of law in not giving effect to the provision of section 18 of the Zamindari Abolition Act in favour of the appellants. Section 18 confers on the intermediaries and certain cultivators the right to retain land in their possession	 as bhumidhars. The appellants claim that they are intermediaries in possession of the disputed land and	 accordingly	 they are entitled to retain the disputed land as bhumidhars under the provision of section 18. In our opinion	 this claim of the appellants is without any foundation. It is true that by the sale deed dated December 21	 1935 the appellants purported to have acquired the proprietory interest of Sona Devi in the land. The sale deed has	 however	 been held by the learned Arbitrator as invalid inasmuch as it was not supported by any legal necessity. The appellants	 therefore	 had not acquired any interest in the disputed land under the sale deed and	 as such	 they had no intermediary interest in the disputed land on the date immediately preceding the date of vesting under the Zamindari Abolition Act. The appellants not being intermediaries or persons of any category as mentioned in section 18	 they are not entitled to retain the disputed land under the provisions of section 18. There is	 therefore	 no substance in the contention made on behalf of the appellants that their possession in the disputed land is protected by the provision of section 18. It is	 however	 urged by Mr. Goyal that in any event the appellants are entitled to the benefit of section 3 of the Uttar Pradesh Land Reforms (Supplementary) Act	 1952. Sub section (1) of section 3 of the said Act provides as follows: "section 3. Persons in cultivatory possession in 1359 Fasli to be adhivasis or asamis. (1) Every person who was in cultivatory possession of any land during the year 1359 fasli but is not a person who as a consequence of vesting under Section 4 of the U.P. Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act	 1950 (U.P. Act I of 1951) (hereinafter referred to as the Act)	 has become a bhumudhar	 sirdar	 adhivasi or asami under Sections 18 to 21 of the said Act shall be and is hereby declared to be	 with effect from the appointed date (a) if the bhumidhar or sirdar of the land was	 or where the land belongs jointly to two or more bhumidhars or sirdars	 all of them were	 on the appointed date person or persons referred to in items 498 (i) to (vi) of sub section (2) of Section 10 of the said Act	 an asami from year to year	 or (b) if the bhumidhar or sirdar was not such a per son	 an adhivasi	 and shall be entitled to all the rights and be subject to all the liabilities conferred or imposed upon an asami or an adhivasi	 as the case may be	 by or under the said Act. Explanation. A person shall not be deemed to be in cultivatory possession of the land	 if he was cultivating it as a mortgagee with possession or a thekedar or he was merely assisting or participating with a bhumidhar	 sirdar	 adhivasi or asami concerned in the actual performance of agricultural operations. " It is submitted by the learned counsel for the appellants that as the appellants had been in cultivatory possession of the disputed land during the year 1359 Fasli	 they have acquired the status of adhivasi and are entitled to all the rights conferred upon an adhivasi under the Zamindari Abolition Act. This contention is based on the assumption that the appellants were in cultivatory possession during the year 1359 Fasli. In view of the findings of the learned Arbitrator	 as noticed above	 the appellants did not acquire any interest in the disputed land by virtue of the sale deed executed by Sona Devi. In view of the facts already noticed and stated hereafter for convenience	 we are unable to accept the contention of the appellants that they have acquired title to the disputed land by adverse possession. After the death of Sona Devi in 1944	 the possession of the disputed land by the appellants became illegal and adverse to the respondents nos. 3 to 5. But before such possession could ripen into title after the lapse of twelve years	 the respondents nos. 3 to 5 instituted a suit in 1950	 that is	 within six years of such possession	 in the court of the Munsif at Meerut for the recovery of possession of the disputed land from the appellants. The suit was decreed by the learned Munsif against the appellants. Both the appellants and the respondents Nos. 3 to 5 filed appeals against the decree	 but in view of section 5 of the Consolidation Act	 all further proceedings of the said appeals were stayed. Thereafter	 the consolidation proceedings were started and the present appeals arise out of such proceedings. Thus	 the appellants have not acquired any title to the disputed land by adverse possession. 499 Section 3 of the Uttar Pradesh (Supplementary) Act	 1952 does not confer any right on a person whose possession of the land in question during the year 1359 Fasli was illegal. In our opinion	 it is not the intention of the Legislature to protect the possession of a trespasser under section 3(1). The explanation to section 3(1) gives sufficient indication that a person not having lawful right in the land	 cannot claim to be in cultivatory possession of such land. The Allahabad High Court in Ram Krishna vs Bhagwan Baksh Singh	 and in Badri and another vs Juthan Singh and others	 has rightly held that a trespasser cannot be said to be in cultivatory possession within the meaning of section 3 of the U.P. Land Reforms (Supplementary) Act	 1952. The appellants were not	 therefore	 in cultivatory possession of the disputed land during the year Fasli 1359 and	 consequently	 they are not entitled to the benefit of section 3(1). No other point has been urged on behalf of the appellants. For the reasons aforesaid	 both the appeals are dismissed with costs assessed at a consolidated sum of R.S. 3	000. A.P.J. Appeals dismissed.

Summary:
Sona Devi	 mother of respondents nos. 3	 4 and 5	 inherited certain Zamindari property from her father. By a registered deed of sale she sold it to the predecessor in interest of the appellants and one Abhey Ram. At that time she had no son	 but subsequently	 respondents nos. 3 to 5 were born to her and at the time of her death all of them were minors. Respondents Nos. 3 to 5 filed a suit against the appellants and others for a declaration that their mother had only a life interest in the zamindari property sold by her	 and that the transfer not having been supported by any legal necessity	 was not binding upon them. They also prayed for recovery of possession of the property and for mesne profits. The suit was decreed by the Munsif. During the pendency of the appeals filed by both the parties	 the village in which the disputed land is situate	 was notified for consolidation operations and	 therefore	 in view of section 5 of the Consolidation Act	 all further proceedings of the appeals were stayed. In the consolidation proceedings	 the names of the appellants were recorded in the revenue papers as Bhumidar in respect of the disputed land. The respondents filed objections under section 12 of the Consolidation Act	 raising questions of title regarding the disputed land. The Consolidation officer referred the matter under sub section I of section 12 to the statutory Arbitrator	 who made an Award in favour of the Respondents and 488 recorded the findings that Sona Devi had only a life interest in the disputed land	 that the sale deed executed by her was neither for legal necessity nor for the benefit of the estate of her deceased father	 that the transfer of the disputed land by the sale deed was not binding on the respondents Nos. 3 to 5 and that they were entitled to reocover possession of the disputed land. Two petitions of objections to the Award	 filed by the appellants	 were dismissed by the Civil Judge. The Additional District Judge in second appeal took the view that as the sons of Abhey Ram	 who was also one of the transferees under the said sale deed. were not made parties in the proceedings	 the reference to the Arbitrator was illegal and the Award made by him was invalid	 and that the Arbitrator was guilty of legal misconduct inasmuch as he had committed an error of law apparent on the face of the Award	 allowed the appeals	 and set aside the order of Civil Judge and also the Award of the Arbitrator. A Single Judge of the High Court allowed the Revision Petitions of the respondents	 set aside the order of the Additional District Judge and restored that of the Civil Judge and also the Award of the Arbitrator. Dismissing the appeals	 this Court	 ^ HELD: 1. The object of sub section (2) of section 52 of the U.P. Consolidation of Holdings Act 1953 is that when an order has been passed by a Court under the provisions of the Constitution or in cases or proceedings pending under the Consolidation Act	 the right or interest involved under such order or in the pending cases or proceedings under the Consolidation Act	 should not be again subjected to the consideration in the consolidation proceedings started by virtue of a notification under section 4 A of the Consolidation Act. [495E F] 2. Section 4 A will apply only where the consolidation operations remained closed for a period of 10 years from the date of the notification under section 52(1). But	 in view of section 52(2)	 consolidation operations shall be deemed to have not been closed in respect of two cases mentioned therein. So	 section 4A will have no application to these two cases. Consequently	 the provision of section 4 as also the provision of section 5 will not apply to these two cases. [495D E] 3. The proceedings out of which the instant appeals arise are l l proceedings under the Consolidation Act and	 therefore	 section 5(2)(a) will 489 have no application to these proceedings. In any event	 in view of section 52(2)	 the notification issued under s.4 A and the subsequent notification under section 4(2) and the consequence thereof as provided under section 5(2) of the Consolidation Act	 will have no application to or affect the proceedings giving rise to the instant appeals. [496A B] 4. The High Court was right in holding that the Additional District Judge should not have entertained the objection to the maintainability of the reference to the Arbitrator raised for the first time before him and that the proper stage for raising such an objection was when the reference was made under section 12 of the Consolidation Act. [496E F] 5. Since the sale deed in question has been held by the Arbitrator as invalid inasmuch as it was not supported by any legal necessity	 the appellants had not acquired any interest in the disputed land under the sale deed and	 as such	 they had no intermediary interest in the disputed land on the date immediately preceding the date of vesting under the Zamindari Abolition Act. The appellants not being intermediaries or persons of any category as mentioned in section 18	 they are not entitled to 1) retain the disputed land and their possession is not protected by the provision of section 18. [497C D] 6. Section 3 of the Uttar Pradesh (Supplementary) Act	 1952 does not confer any right on a person whose possession of land during the year 1359 Fasli was illegal. It is not the intention of the Legislature to protect the possession of a trespasser under section 3(1). The explanation to section 3(1) gives sufficient indication that a person not having any lawful right in the land. cannot claim to be in cultivatory possession of such land. [499A B] Ram Krishna vs Bhagwan Baksh Singh	 and Badri and another vs Juthan Singh and others	 ( 	 relied upon. In the instant case	 in view of the findings of the Arbitrator	 the appellants did not acquire any interest in the disputed land by virtue of the sale deed in question	 and it cannot be said that they have acquired title to the disputed land by adverse possession. After the death of Sona Devi	 the possession of the disputed land by the appellants became illegal and adverse to the respondents Nos. 3 to 5. But before such possession could ripen into title after the lapse of twelve years	 the respondents Nos. 3 to S instituted a suit within six years of such possession in the Court of Munsif for the recovery of possession of the disputed land from the appellants	 which was decreed. Both the appellants 490 and the respondent Nos. 3 to 5 filed appeals	 but in view of section 5 of the Consolidation Act	 all further proceedings of the said appeals were stayed. Thereafter	 the consolidation proceedings were started giving rise to the present appeals. Thus	 the appellants have not acquired any title to the disputed land by adverse possession. [498E H]