RATTAN CHAND Vs. MORI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Defendants 1 to 3 in a suit for declaration and possession filed by the deceased first Respondent Mori Devi are the Appellants in these appeals by special leave.

(2.) One Ram Sahai had two wives, Mori Devi and Nihatu. Mori Devi did not have any children. Nihatu had a daughter by name Basanti who was married to Durga. Basanti and Durga had four children, namely, the three Appellants herein (Defendants 1 to 3) and one daughter Soma Devi, who is the legal representative of deceased Mori Devi. Ram Sahai was the occupancy tenant in respect of the suit land and was entered accordingly in the revenue records. After his death, Mori Devi and Nahuti who succeeded to his estate in equal share were shown as the occupancy tenants. However, abruptly the name of Durga was also entered in the revenue records as a non-occupancy tenant. Nihatu died in the year 1983, leaving a will bequeathing her half share in favour of Defendants 1 to 3. Durga also died. After the death of Durga, the names of Defendants 1 to 3 were entered as the non-occupancy tenants in regard to the entire property including the half share of Mori Devi.

(3.) When Mori Devi came to know that names of Durga and subsequently names of Defendants 1 to 3 were entered as non-occupancy tenants even in regard to her share of land, she filed a suit for declaration and possession on 6.6.1985. The trial Court decreed the suit on 16.12.1986 accepting the claim and case of Mori Devi. However, the appeal filed by the Defendants 1 to 3 (Appellants herein) was allowed by the first appellate Court by judgment and decree dated 11.4.1989 and the suit was dismissed. Feeling aggrieved, Mori Devi filed a second appeal (RSA No. 204/1989) in the High Court of Himachal Pradesh. During the pendency of the said appeal, she died on 7.6.1994. However, no one came on record as her legal representative. The High Court, unaware of the death of Mori Devi, heard the second appeal and allowed it by judgment dated 1.5.1997. Thereafter, Defendants 1 to 3 made an application to the High Court pointing out that the Appellant Mori Devi had died in 1994 itself and there cannot be a decree in favour of a dead person in the absence of any L.R. having come on record. Accepting the said submission, the High Court recalled the order dated 1.5.1997 and dismissed the appeal as having abated. Nearly two years thereafter, in the year 1999, Soma Devi, daughter of Durga, as legatee and successor of Mori Devi, under her will, filed an application to come on record as the legal heir of Mori Devi and restore the second appeal. Though the said application was resisted, the High Court allowed the said application by order dated 1.11.2001 and set aside the abatement, condoned the delay and allowed Soma Devi to come on record subject to payment of Rs. 2,000/- as costs. The costs were paid. Thereafter, the appeal was restored to file and heard. The High Court again allowed the second appeal by judgment dated 11.1.2002.