Dwarka Nath Prasad Atal vs Ram Rati Devi on 20 August, 1979 Equivalent citations: AIR1980SC192, (1980)1SCC17, 1979(11)UJ730(SC), AIR 1980 SUPREME COURT 192, 1979 UJ (SC) 730, 1980 (1) SCWR 105, 1980 (1) SCC 17 Author: Y.V. Chandrachud Bench: Y.V. Chandrachud, A.D. Koshal, N.L. Untwalia JUDGMENT Y.V. Chandrachud, C.J. 1. Heard counsel. Special leave granted. 2. The respondent filed an application under 'Section 24 of the West Bengal Non-Agricultural Tenancy Act asking for pre-emption in respect of the property mentioned in Schedule 'A' of the application. That property originally belonged to Maharaja Cossirbazar Stone Works Private Ltd. which conveyed it to the appellant under a registered deed of sale dated June 27, 1975. The respondent's case was that she was a co-owner of the property and was therefore entitled to pre-expt the sale in favour of the appellant. 3. The appellant resisted the respondent's claim for pre-emption or various grounds including the ground that the property involved in the proceeding being agricultural land, the Civil Court in which the respondent had filed her application for pre-emption had no jurisdiction to entertain the application by reason of the provisions of the West Bengal Reforms Act. 4. The learned Subordinate Judge held by his judgment dated December 6, 1977 that the property involved in the proceeding was an agricultural land, that Section 24 of the West Bengal Non Agricultural Tenancy Act was not attracted and that the Civil Court had no jurisdication to entertain the application. Consistently with these findings, the learned Judge dismissed the respondent's application. That order was set aside in appeal by the learned 2nd Additional District Judge, Birbhum, who came to the conclusion that the land was non-agricultural and therefore the Subordinate Judge had jurisdiction to entertain the application. The respondent's application for pre-emption was allowed by the learned Additional District Judge. 5. The judgment having been confirmed in appeal by the High Court of Calcutta, the petitioner has filed this appeal. Dwarka Nath Prasad Atal vs Ram Rati Devi on 20 August, 1979  1 6. It seems to us that the only question which was argued before the learned Subordinate Judge was whether the Civil Court had jurisdiction to entertain the application. The decision of that question depended upon whether the land was agricultural or non-agricultural. The learned Judge dismissed the respondent's application on the narrow ground that since the land was agricultural, he had no jurisdiction to entertain the application. That judgment was overruled in appeal by the Additional District Judge. But instead of remanding the matter to the trial court for decision on other issues, the learned Judge took it upon himself to dispose of the matter on merits. The High Court came to the conclusion that in adopting that course the learned Additional District Judge had not committed any error so as to justify its interference. 7. We are not sure that the High Court is right. It appears that on the other issues involved in the case the appellant perhaps, desired to lead evidence but that opportunity was denied to him. Since the only question considered by the trial court was one of jurisdiction, which depended upon the nature and character of the land and since we cannot exclude the possibility that the appellant may have been prejudiced by reason of denial to him of an opportunity to make good his case, it is in the interest of justice to afford him that opportunity. 8. Accordingly we set aside the judgment of the High Court dated February 7, 1979 and remand the matter to it with the direction that it shall decide the question whether the appellant, Dwarka Nath Prasad Atal, had raised other question before the trial court apart from the question of jurisdiction, whether he had sought an opportunity to lead evidence on the other contentions but was denied that opportunity, and whether, by reason of the fact that he was denied such an opportunity any prejudice has been occasioned to him. If the High Court comes to the conclusion that the learned Additional District Judge instead of disposing of the appeal on merits should have remanded the matter to the trial court, the High Court any pass such order as it considers appropriate in the circumstances of the case it may either set aside the judgment of the learned Additional District Judge and remand the matter to the trial court for decision of the other questions or it may keep the Civil Revision Application on its file and call for a finding on the relevant issue or issues from the trial court. The latter course will obviate delay and may be preferred. 9. The question of jurisdiction and the question as regards the nature of the land will stand concluded by the judgment of the High Court which has affirmed the finding of the first appellate court that the land is non-agricultural and the Civil Court has the jurisdiction to entertain and decide the respondent's application for pre-emption. 10. The matter will accordingly go back to the High Court for disposal in the light of the directions given above. There will be no order as to costs. Dwarka Nath Prasad Atal vs Ram Rati Devi on 20 August, 1979  2