AJMER KAUR v. STATE OF PUNJAB AND ORS

Citation: [2004] SUPP. 2 S.C.R. 601

Court: Supreme Court of India

Bench: BRIJESH KUMAR, ARUN KUMAR

Case summary

AJMER KAUR v. STATE OF PUNJAB AND ORS.pdf

Judgment text

AJMER KAUR v. STATE OF PUNJAB AND ORS. MAY 7, 2004 [BRIJESH KUMAR AND ARUN KUMAR, JJ.

] Punjab Land Reforms act, 1972; Sections 3(4) and IJ(5) & (7): Filing of return regarding land holding by husband and wife- Collector orderedcertain landas surplus-Applicationfor re-determination filed by the applicant almost 5 years after the death ofhis wife-Collector held that applicant was not holding any surplus land-On Review, reversed by the Collector-Revision/Review petitions/writ petition filed by the daughter ofthe applicant after the death ofher father-Dismissed by the revenue authorities and the High Court-On appeal, Held: Applicationfor re-determination ought to have been dismissed as it was filed by the application almost 5 years after the death ofhis wife-Assuming that the landowner had the right to file the application even then it ought to be exercised within a reasonable time-Permitting the application at belated stage would have disastrous consequences and would result in grave injustice-Defeats the object ofthe legislation-Collector was wrong in reopening the issue and reversing earlier order.

Punjab Tenancy Act, 1887; Sections 80, 81 and 82: Period ofLimitation/review-Held: Maximum period oflimitation is ninety days-Since appeal against the order of the Collector declaring surplus land was dismissed and not challengedfurther, it became finallt cannot be re-opened after a lapse of6 years. Father of the appellant, landowner, filed a return along with his wife declaring the land owned by them. Collector held 3. 12 acres of the land surplus. The landowner preferred an appeal, which was dismissed by the Commissioner. In the meanwhile, surplus land was mutated in favour of the State Government which in turn allotted it to third parties. The landowner filed an application for re-deter~ination of the land holding almost S year after the death of his wife on the ground of succession. The Collector held that there was no surplus land. The surplus land declared earlier was restored to him and the mutation in favour of the State Government was concelled.

The Collector, after obtaining necessary permission, reviewed its earlier order and held that the owner . was holding surplus land. Appeal filed by the owner was dismissed by the Commissioner. After the death of the landowner, his daughter filed a Revision Petition, which was dismissed by the Financial Commissioner. Aggrieved, she filed a writ petition, which was dismissed by the High Court; however, it permitted the petitioner to file a Review Petition to raise the questions which were sought to be reviewed in the writ petition. Review Application filed by her was dismissed by the Financial Commissioner. She challenged the order of the Commissioner, which was again dismissed by the High Court. Hence the present appeals.

It was contended by the appellant that since the order of the Collector holding that there was no surplus land had become final, it could not have been reviewed/re-opened by the Collector after expiry of the limitation period of 90 days; and that the right conferred on the land-owner under Section 11(S) of the Punjab Land Reforms Act could not be defeated by application of sub-section (7) ofSectionll ofthe Act. Respondents submitted that the power to condone delay has been vested with the authorities under the provisions of law; and that the time to seek review could be extended. Dismissing the appeals, the Court HELD: 1. The bar of limitation does not come in the way of the Collector re-determining the permissible land holding ofthe landowner. Clause (b) of sub-section (I) of Section 82 of the Punjab Tenancy Act shows that review can be made even after expiry of period of ninety days were the Revenue Officer is satisfied about cause for delay.

The fact that the Commissioner granted permission to the Collector to review his order suggests that the hurdle of limitation had been successfully crossed. (606-F-GI 2. 1. On 15th October, 1979, when the wife of the land-holder AJMER KAUR v. STATE 603 made her Will she was left with no interest or title in the land and therefore she could not have made a Will with respect thereto. The delay of almost 5 years by the landowner in filing the application for re-determination of the surplus land after death of his wife is fatal for him and the application for re-determination ought to have been dismissed on this ground alone. Assuming that he had a right to make an application under Section 11(5) of the Punjab Land Reforms Act but the right had to be exercised within a reasonable time. It cannot be said that the right under Section 11(5) of the Act could be exercised at any time at the sweet will of the applicant.

Permitting an application under Section 11(5) of tlie Act to be moved at any time would have disastrous consequences. (606-F, G-H; 607-A) 2. 2. The concept of reasonable time in the given facts would be most appropriate. An application must be moved within reasonable time. The facts of the present case demonstrate that re-determination under sub-section (5) of Section 11 of the Act almost 5 years after the death of wife of the applicant and more than 6 years after the order of the Collector declaring the land as surplus had become final, has resulted in grave injustice besides defeating the object ofthe legislation which was envisaged as a socially beneficial piece of legislation. Thus, the application for re-determination of Ianll holding filed by the landowner under sub-section (5) of Section 11 of the Act was liable to be dismissed on the ground of inordinate delay and the Collector was wrong in re-opening the issue and declaring the land as not surplus. (609-G-H; 610-A-B) 3.

The provisions regarding appeals etc. contained in Sections 80-82 of the Punjab Tenancy Act, 1887, as made applicable to proceedings under the Punjab Land Reforms Act, 1972, show that. the maximum period of limitation in case of appeal or review is ninety days. The appeal against the final order of the Collector dated 30th September, 1976 whereby 3. 12 hectares of land had been declared as surplus was dismissed on 27th March, 1979. The order was allowed to become final, as it was not challenged any further. Thus the determination by the Collector becomes final on 27th March, 1979 itself, the same could not be re-opened after a lapse of more than 6 years by order dated 23rd July, 1985. The subsequent proce. edings before the Revenue authorities did not lie. The Collector's order dated 23rd July, 1985 is non-est. So all the subsequent proceedings fall through. (610-C-D-E] CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal Nos. 6489- 6490 of 1998. From the Judgment and Order dated 30. 7.

98 of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in C. W. P. ~o. 11817-18/98. Manoj Swarup and Ms. Nidhi Agarwal for the Appellant. Har Dev Singh, Ms. Madhu Moolchandani, Seeraj Bagga, Mrs. Suresh Bagga, Kuldip Singh and Mrs. Naresh Bakshi for the Respondents. The Judgment of the Court was delivered by ARUN KUMAR, J. : These appeals are directed against the judgment ofthe Punjab and Haryana High Court dismissing in limine a Writ Petition filed by the petitioner challenging the order of the revenue authorities regarding declaration oh portion of land owner by predecessor in interest of the appellant as surplus under The Punjab Land Reforms Act, 1972( hereinafter referred to as the 'Act'). Briefly the facts are that Daya Singh, father of the petitioner filed a return regarding his and his wife Kartar Kaur's holding of lands under Section 5 of the Act. After scrutinizing the return, the Collector found that the holding in their hands came to 10. 12. hectares of first quality land.

Out of that they were entitled to 7 hectares of land. Thus 3. 12 hectares of land was found to be surplus which the land owners were required to surrender. Daya Singh filed an appeal against the said order before the Commissioner. One of the objections taken by Daya Singh in his appeal was that the land held by his wife Kartar Kaur could not be clubbed with the land held by him. This objection was turned down by the Commissioner. It was observed that according to Section 3(4) of the Act a "family" in relation to a person means a person, wife or husband, as the case may be, of such person and his or her minor children. The appeal was dismissed by the Commissioner. Kartar Kaur wife of Daya Singh died on 9th October, 1980. In 1982, the surplus land was mutated in favour of the State Government and in 1983 it was allotted to third parties.

On 21st June, 1985 Daya Singh filed an application under Section 11(5) ofthe Act for re-determination of the land holding in view of death ofKartar Kaur. The Collector vide his order dated 23rd July, 1985 disposed of the said application holding that there was no surplus area of land with Daya Singh. The land declared surplus vide earlier order dated 30th September, 1976 was ordered to be restored to Daya Singh and the mutation in favour of the State Government was cancelled. On 19th May, 1986, the Collector sought permission from the Commissioner to review the order dated 23rd July, 1985. The Commissioner granted the requisite permission on 14th August, 1986. In view ofthe permission granted to him, the Collector heard the matter all over again and vide his order dated 22nd December, 1986 held that Daya Singh was in possession of surplus land. The order dated 30th September, 1976 passed by the Collector earlier declaring 3.

12 hectares ~f first quality land as surplus was maintained and the Mutation No. 2760 vide which ownership and possession of surplus land was sanctioned in favour of the State Government was restored. Appeal filed by Daya Singh against the said order was dismissed by the Commissioner vide his order dated I Ith November, 1987. On 22nd December, 1987, Daya Singh died. Revision filed by Ajmer Kaur (appellant herein) before the Financial Commissioner against the order ofCommissioner was dismissed on 27th January/J994. This order of the Financial Commissioner was challenged in the Punjab and Haryana High Court by way of a Writ Petition. The Writ Petition was however dismissed on 3rd October, 1994 permitting the petitioner to approach the . Fianancial Commissioner by way ofa Review Petition wherein she could raise all the questions sought to be raised in the Writ Petition. Thus the matter went back to the Financial Commissioner by way of Review applications.

The review applications were dismissed by the Financial Commissioner vide order dated I0th March, 1998. The order of the Financial Commissioner was again challenged by way of Writ Petitions filed in the Punjab and Hayana High Court at Chandigarh. The Writ Petitions were again dismissed by the High court vide order dated 30th July, 1998. The present appeals are directed against the said orders of the High Court. Mr. Manoj Swarup, the learned counsel appearing for the appellant raised the following points in support of the appeals : 1. The order dated 23rd July, 1985 passed by the Collector on application under Section 11(5) ofthe Act holding that there was no surplus land had become final and the same could not be reviewed or reopened by the Collector particularly after 90 days in view of Section 81 of the Act. 2. Section 11(5) ofthe Act conferred a right on the land owner which could not be defeated by sub-section (7) of Section 11 of the Act.

Regarding the first point it was contended that at the most the respondents (Revenue authorities) could take the benefit of a period of ninety days to file review against the order dated 23rd July, 1985 whereby declaration of surplus land was re-determined and it was held that there was no surplus land in the hands of Daya Singh. The Collector sought review after about nine months which was clearly barred by time. In reply the learned counsel for respondents submitted that there is power to condone delay with the authorities in exercise ofwhich time to seek review can be extended. In support of the submission, our attention was invited to Section 82 of the Act which contains provision regarding review of orders ofrevenue authorities.

According to sub-clause (b) of Section 82(1) "no application for review ofan order shall be entertained unless it is made within ninety days from the passing of the order or unless the applicant satisfies the Revenue Officer that he had sufficient cause for not making the application within that period. " We have considered the rival contentions. In our view the bar oftimitation does not come in the way ofthe Collector re-determining the permissible land holding of Daya Singh. A bare reading of clause (b) of sub-section (I) of Section 82 shows that review can be made even after expiry of period ofninety days where the Revenue Officer is satisfied about cause for delay. The fact that the Commissioner granted permission to the Collector to review his order suggests that the hurdle of limitation had been successfully crossed. Coming to the second point a conflict is suggested between subsections (5) and (7) of Section 11 of the Act.

We would like to quote the relevant provisions : "Section 11 (I) (2) (3) (4) (5) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force and save in the case of land acquired by the State Government under any law for the time being in force or by an heir by inheritance, no transfer or other disposition of land which is comprised in the surplus area under the Punjab law, the Pepsu law or this Act, shall affect the vesting thereof in the State Government or its utilization under the Act. (6) ................. (7) Where succession has opened after the surplus area or any part thereof has been determined by the Collector, the saving specified in favour of an heir by inheritance under sub-section (5) shall not apply in respect of the area so determined. " According to sub-section (5) no transfer or other disposition of land which comprised in the surplus area shall affect the vesting thereof in the State Government or its utilisation under the Act.

However, exception is created in cases of : (I) acquisition of land by the State Government; (2) inheritance, that is, devolution of interest in the land on account of death etc. in the family which will be a case of involuntary transfer. Sub-section (7) seems to take away the benefit conferred by subsection (5) regarding reopening of determination of surplus land in cases speci tied in the said sub-section. According to sub-section (7) where succession opens after the surplus area or any part thereof has been detennined by the Collector,the exception provided in sub-section (5) shall not apply in respect of the surplus land. It is argued that sub-section (7) takes away the right conferred by sub-section (5), therefore the same has to be ignored. In support of his contention the learned counsel for the appellant relied upon a Full Bench decision of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in Ajit Kaur and ors. v. State of Punjab and Ors. (1980) Punjab Law Journal 354.

The said judgment indicates that the Full Bench posed a conflict between the two provisions and tried to resolve the same. In our view, it is not necessary for us to enter into the controversy regarding the alleged conflict between the provisions of sub-sections (5) and (7) of Section 11 of the Act. In the circumstances ofthe case, we feel that these appeals can be decided on the basis of the fact that the initial order whereby the Collector declared 3. 12 hectares of land as surplus was passed on 30th September, 1976. The appeal against the said order filed by Daya Singh, land owner, was dismissed on 27th March, 1979. Kartar Kaur wife of Daya Singh, along with whom Daya Singh had filed a joint return with respect to the lands, died on 9th October, 1980. The surplus lands were mutated in favour of the State Government in the year 1982 and the State Government allotted the same to third parties including the respondents No. 5 to 7 herein in the year 1983. Respondent No.

7 has filed an affidavit stating that he is in possession ofthe land allotted to him. Kartar Kaur is said to have made a Will on 15th October, 1979 regarding a portion of land declared surplus in favour of a Gurudawara which has been impleaded as respondent No. 8 in this appeal. On 15th October, 1979 when Kartar Kaur made her Will she was left with no interest or title in the land and therefore she could not have made a Will with respect thereto. Daya Singh filed an application for re-determination of the surplus land under Section 11(5) of the Act only on 21st June, 1985 on the basis of the fact that Kartar Kaur had died and succession had re-opened. This application was made almost 5 years after the death of Kartar Kaur. In our view, this delay in making the application is fatal for Daya Singh and the application for re-determination ought to have been dismissed on this ground alone.

Assuming that Daya Singh had a right to make an application under Section 11(5) ofthe Act but the right had to be exercised within a reasonable time. i-1 It cannot be said that the right under Section 11(5) can be exercised at any time at the sweet will of the applicant. The order regarding determination of surplus land by. the Collector has serious consequences: I. So far as the land owner is concerned he is divested of the land. 2. The surplus land vests in the State Government. 3. The State Government utilizes the surplus land in accordance with law which includes allotment of the surplus land to third parties like landless persons for purposes of cultivation etc. Permitting an application under Section 11(5) to be moved at any time would have disastrous consequences. The State Government in which the land vests on being declared as surplus, will not be able to utilize the same. The State Government cannot be made to wait indefinitely before putting the land to use.

Where the land is utilized by the State Government a consequence of the order passed subsequently could be of divesting it of the land. Taking the facts ofpresent case by way ofan illustration, it would mean the land which stood mutated in the State Government in 1982 and which was allotted by the State Government to third parties in 1983, would as a result ofreopening the settled position, lead to third parties being asked to restore back the land to the State Government and the State Government in tum would have to be divested of the land. The land will in tum be restored to the land owner. This will be the result ofthe land being declared by the Collector as not surplus with the land owner. The effect ofpermitting such a situation will be that the land will remain in a situation offlux. There will be no finality. The very purpose of the legislation will be defeated.

The allottee will not be able to utilize the land for fear of being divested in the event of deaths and births in the family of the land owners. Deaths and births are events which are bound to occur. Therefore, it is reasonable to read a time limit in sub-section (5) of Section 11. The concept of reasonable time in the given facts would be most appropriate. An application must be moved within a reasonable time. The facts of the present case demonstrate that re-determination under sub-section (5) of Section 11 almost 5 years after the death of Kartar Kaur and more than 6 years after the order of Collector declaring the land as surplus had become final, has resulted in grave injustice besides defeating the object of the legislation which was envisaged as a socially beneficial piece of legislation.

Thus we hold that the application for re-determination filed by Daya Singh under sub-section (5) of Section II of the Act on 21st June, 1985 was liable to be dismissed on the ground of inordinate delay and the Collector was wrong in re-opening the issue declaring the land as not surplus in the hands of Daya Singh and Kartar Kaur. The above reasoning is in consonance with the provision in subsection (7) of Section 11 ofthe Act. Sub-section (7) uses the words "where succession is opened after the surplus area or any part thereof has been determined by the Collector.... ". The words "determined by the Collector" would mean that the order of the Collector has attained finality. The provisions regarding appeals etc. contained in Sections 80 82 ofthe Punjab Tenancy Act, 1887, as made applicable to proceedings under the Punjab :'. Land Reforms Act, 1972, show that the maximum period of limitation in case of appeal or review is ninety days.

The appeal against the final order ofthe Collector dated 30th September, 1976 whereby 3. 12 hectares ofland had been declared as surplus was dismissed on 27th March, 1979. The order was allowed to become final as it was not challenged any further. Thus the determination by the Collector became final on 27th March, 1979. The same could not be re-opened after a lapse of more than 6 years by .. order dated 23rd July, 1985. The subsequent proceedings before the Revenue authorities did not lie. The order dated 23rd July, 1985 is nonest. All the subsequent proceedings therefore fall through. The issue could not have been reopened. As a result of above discussion, we find no merit in these appeals. The same are dismissed leaving the parties to bear their respective costs. S. K. S. Appeals dismissed.