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PETITIONER: BAPU MAHADU MALI & ORS.

       Vs.

RESPONDENT: VITHALRAO BHAUSAHEB DESHMUKH & ANR.

DATE OF JUDGMENT02/11/1995

BENCH: RAMASWAMY, K. BENCH: RAMASWAMY, K. HANSARIA B.L. (J)

CITATION:  1995 SCC  Supl.  (4) 632 JT 1995 (8)   446  1995 SCALE  (6)466

ACT:

HEADNOTE:

JUDGMENT:                          O R D E R      Leave granted.      We   do   not   find   any   justification   warranting interference in this appeal.      The only point before the Revenue Tribunal and the High Court was of the title. For valid reasons the contention was rejected.      Admittedly, there  was a  suit for  possession  by  the rival  reversioners.   The  appellants-landlords   were  the defendants  in   the  suit.   The  suit  ended  against  the landlords-appellants and thereby the title remained with the other  side  of  the  reversioners.  Since  the  respondents remained in  possession for  more than  12 years  they  have prescribed title  by adverse  possession.  That  apart,  the appellants’ having entered into a tenancy agreement with the respondents they  are estopped  under  Section  116  of  the Evidence Act  to deny  the title  of the  landlords.  Having these insurmountable  difficulties in  the  way,  Shri  G.N. Ganpule,  learned   senior  counsel   for  the   appellants, contended that when a notice was issued to the appellants to pay Nazrana  after the  abolition of  wattan, the appellants had paid  the same  and thereby became entitled to remain in possession  and   Section  31  of  the  Bombay  Tenancy  and Agricultural  Lands  Act,  1948  has  no  application.  This contention  was   rejected  by   the  appellate  authorities recording the  finding that the respondents paid the Nazrana but this finding was not canvassed either before the Revenue Tribunal or  the High  Court. No clinching evidence has been produced before  us to  show that  the appellants  had  paid Nazrana. The contention, therefore, has no substance.      The  civil  appeal  is  accordingly  dismissed  without costs.