LexPUSHPAGIRI MATH versus KOPPARAJU VEERABHADRA RAO
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PUSHPAGIRI MATH v. KOPPARAJU VEERABHADRA RAO MAY 7, 1996 [K. RAMASWAMY, FAIZAN UDDIN AND G.B. PATTANAIK, JJ.] Andhra Pradesh Inam Abolition and Conversion into Ryotwmi Act, 1956: A B Ss.3, 7, 15-Land belonging to Math-Grant made in favour of Inam- C dar to render service to Math-Suit by great grandson of original Inamdar for declaration of title on the ground that the original inamdar had acquired title by prescription-Held, after the Act had come into force, pre-existing 1ight, title and interest stood extinguished and new rights were sought to be conferred u/s. 3 read with s. 7-A new grant of ryotwari patta is to be made by the Tehsildar by way of an order after enquiry to the extent of entitlement as D . per law-Jurisdiction of civil cmat to declare title to Inam land by necessary implication stood extinguished-Plaintiff cannot claim any exclusive title to the property as owner and lay claim for declaration of title on that basis. CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION Civil Appeal No. 8994 of E 1996. From the Judgment and Order dated 8th March, 1983 of the Andhra Pradesh High Court in Second Appeal No. 191/80. Mr. A Subba Rao, for the Appellant. The following order of the Court was delivered. Leave granted. Substitution allowed. F Though the dasti notice had been served on the L.R., he refused to G accept as per the statement made in the affidavit filed in support of the dasti service. Accordingly we have heard the counsel for the appellant. The case of the respondent set up in the plaint was that originally the property belonged to the appellant Shri Pushpagiri Math. Sub- sequently, the property was granted in favour of one K. Narasingaiah, the H 515 516 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1996] SUPP. 2 S.C.R. A great grand-father of the plaintiff as Bhatavarthi Inam by Sankaracharya who was Peetadhipathi of the math. He was in possession and enjoyment as a grantee. Subsequently, he acquired title by prescription. The trial Court decteed the suit in OS No. 66/68 dated September 30, 1974. On appeal the Additional Subordinate Judge, Narasaraopet in his judgment B and decree dated December 29, 1979 in A.S. No. 218/78 held that Ex. A-1 to Ex. A-10 positively show that the suit land is a Bhatavarthi Inam land and was in possession of the ancestors of the respondent-plaintiff since 1950 under Ex.A-1. The land, therefore, is a Bhatavarthi Inam land as evidenced by Ex. A-1 to A-10 granted originally by Bhatavarthi in or around the year 1900 for rendering service that was being rendered by the C plaintiff- math to the appellant. Math is the real owner of the land granted as an inam to the respondent-plaintiff. It was also found that Ex.B-1 to B-14 and B-17 would prove conclusive evidence that the appellant is the absolute owner of the land and tbe respondent plaintiff and his ancestors were permitted to continue in possession and enjoyment of the land as D inamdars for service rendered and to be rendered by them to the institu- tion. The appellate Court accordingly held that the decree for declaration of Litle and injunction cannot be granted against the real owner. In S.A. No. 191/80, the High Court of A.P. by judgment and decree dated March 8, 1983 reversed the judgment of the appellate Court and confirmed that of the trial Court. Thus this appeal by special leave. E When it is an admitted case that the land originally belonged to the Math and when the appellate Court has recorded the finding of fact on the basis of the documentary evidence that the Math is the owner of the property and that the respondent admittedly came in possession as an p lnamdar to render service to the math, he cannot claim any possessory title or title in his own right. Under the A.P. lnam Abolition and Conversion into R yotwari Act, Act 37 /56, after the Aet had come into force, the pre-existing right, title and interest stood extinguished and the new rights were sought to be conferred under Section 3 read with Section 7 thereof either in a suo nzotu enquiry under Section 3 or on an application under G Section 7. A new grant of ryotwari patta is to be made by the Tehsildar by way of an order after enquiry lo the extent of entitlement as per law. ll would be subject to an appeal to the Revenue Divisional Officer which becomes final. In Peddinti Venkata Murai/ Ranganatha Deslka Iyengar & Ors. v. Govt. of A.P. & Anr., JT (1996) 1 SC 234, a Bench of two Judges of H this Court (in which one of us K
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