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PETITIONER: STATE OF PUNJAB & ORS.

       Vs.

RESPONDENT: RAM RAKHA & ORS.

DATE OF JUDGMENT:       06/02/1997

BENCH: K. RAMASWAMY, S. SAGHIR AHMAD

ACT:

HEADNOTE:

JUDGMENT:                          O R D E R      Application for  substitution and  appointment of legal guardian is ordered.      This appeal  by special  leave arises from the judgment of the  High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh, made on May  7, 1980  in RSA No.602/80 confirming the judgment of the District Court dated November 7, 1979.      The admitted position is that one Gobind Mal, father of the respondents, had possessory mortgage from the holders of the suit  land in  the  year  1887-88.  When  the  land  was declared as  an evacuee  property under the Evacuee Interest (Separation) Act,  1951, the Union of India claimed the land belonged to  them. The  respondents filed a civil suit for a declaration that  after the expiry of the period of 60 years from the  date of  the mortgage,  they have  become absolute owners  as   the  mortgage  became  irredeemable  and  as  a consequence they  are the  owner of the property. Though the trial Court  has dismissed  the  suit,  on  appeal,  it  was reversed and  decree was  granted. The  High  Court  in  the second appeal  confirmed it  by dismissing  in limine. Thus, this appeal by special leave.      From the  evidence on  record, it is seen that mutation entries have been effected to show that the respondents were in possession  of the  property as  mortgagees  through  the tenants. That  evidence was corroborated by DW-2, Kanugo and the mutation  order DW-2/1.  The District  Court also relied upon  Jamabandi   for  the   year   1887-88.   Under   those circumstances, the  mutation in  regard to  year 1896-97  is only referable  to the  earlier mortgage  of 1886-87.  As  a consequence, by  the time  the Act  has come into force, the land  became   irredeemable  by   the  original   mortgagor. Resultantly, they had lost title to the typothica, The title to  the   land  was   rightly  declared  to  belong  to  the respondents and  it cannot  be  declared  to  be  a  evacuee property nor  the Government  can claim interest in the land as evacuee  property. The  decree granted  by  the  District Judge,  therefore,   is  according   to  law  and  needs  no interference.      The appeal is accordingly dismissed. No cost.

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