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Mahananda Roy v. Srish Chandra Tewari

Mahananda Roy
v.
Srish Chandra Tewari

(High Court Of Judicature At Calcutta)

No. | 28-06-1910


[1] This is an appeal from the decision of the Subordinate Judge of Purulia sitting as Special Judge in a reference under Section 30 of the Land Acquisition Act 1 of 1894 by which he has awarded a portion of the compensation to one Chandra Sekhar Tewari and others who joined in the proceeding for the first time in the Court of the Special Judge and did not apply to the Collector for any order of reference. It is settled law that under Part III of the Land Acquisition Act, the Special Court has no jurisdiction to deal with objections except those which are made by persons who were parties to proceedings before the Collector, or who have since within six months applied to the Collector to make a supplementary reference in their case. This view of the law has been extended in the case of Prabal Chandra Mukerjee v. Raja Peary Mohan Mukerjee 12 C.W.N. 987 to Section 30 of the Land Acquisition Act, and it is obvious, on a perusal of Sections 29 and 30 of the Act, the first two Sections in Part IV, that the Act does not contemplate any decision by the Special Court unless reference is made by the Collector.

[2] We are asked to hold that under Section 53 the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure apply to proceedings before the Special Court under this Act. But that Section is careful to lay down that they only apply in so far as they are not inconsistent with anything contained in this Act. Now the addition of parties by the Civil Court, who have not been made parties to the reference by the Collector, is wholly inconsistent with the Act. The Civil Court, therefore, had no jurisdiction to make the respondent a party and he, therefore, has never been a party to the proceedings on the reference and he cannot obtain any relief in a proceeding consequent upon the reference.

[3] It is perfectly clear that as far as this reference is concerned, this appeal must be decreed and the order giving apportionment to Chandra Sekhar Tewari and Ors. must be set aside and the money allotted to them must be given to the petitioner Mohananda Roy.

[4] The appellant is entitled to his costs in both Courts in proportion to the sum decreed.

[5] We assess the hearing fee in this Court at one gold mohur.

Advocates List

For The Appearing Parties ---.

For Petitioner
  • Shekhar Naphade
  • Mahesh Agrawal
  • Tarun Dua
For Respondent
  • S. Vani
  • B. Sunita Rao
  • Sushil Kumar Pathak

Bench List

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE HOLMWOOD

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SHARFUDDIN

Eq Citation

7 IND. CAS. 10

LQ/CalHC/1910/337

HeadNote

Land Acquisition Act, 1894 — Ss. 30 and 53 — Reference to Special Court — Jurisdiction of Special Court — Persons who can be parties to proceedings before Special Court — Held, Special Court has no jurisdiction to deal with objections except those which are made by persons who were parties to proceedings before Collector or who have since within six months applied to Collector to make a supplementary reference in their case — Provisions of Code of Civil Procedure apply to proceedings before Special Court only in so far as they are not inconsistent with anything contained in Land Acquisition Act — Addition of parties by Civil Court, who have not been made parties to reference by Collector, is wholly inconsistent with Act — Civil Court, therefore, had no jurisdiction to make respondent a party and he, therefore, has never been a party to proceedings on reference and he cannot obtain any relief in a proceeding consequent upon reference — Hence, order giving apportionment to respondent set aside and money allotted to him given to petitioner — Appellant entitled to his costs in both Courts in proportion to sum decreed — Constitution of India, Art. 141