NAIN SINGH Vs. KOONWARJEE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The only question that falls for decision in this appeal by special leave is as to the application of Section 151, Civil Procedure Code to a remand order falling with in section 105 (2) of that Code.

(2.) The facts leading upto the point under consideration may now be stated. The appellant was the Jagirdar of the suit properties. One Bhagirath was his tenant. The said Bhagirath died in the year 1947 leaving behind no male issues. His wife had predeceased him. He had two daughters who were living at the time of his death. After his death, defendants Nos. 1 to 5 who are his distant relations took possession of the suit properties and got the revenue records changed in their names. Thereafter the appellant brought the suit under appeal seeking the following reliefs:-

(3.) The defendants resisted the plaintiff's claim. They contended inter alia that (1) the Civil Court had no jurisdiction to entertain the suit; (2) the plaintiff had lost right over the suit properties in view of the Jagirs Abolition Act, 1951 which came into force on December 4, 1952 during the pendency of the suit and (3) the 1st defendant being the adopted son of Bhagirath is entitled to the possession of the suit properties. In the suit several issues were raised. It is not necessary to refer to them in view of the limited scope of this appeal. The trial Court dismissed the suit upholding the contention of the defendants on two issues viz., (1) that the Civil Court had no jurisdiction to entertain the suit and (2) that in view of the abolition of jagirs and the vesting of the suit properties in the State, the plaintiff can claim no relief. The first appellate Court reversed the findings of the trial Court on those issues. It came to the conclusion that the Civil Court had jurisdiction to entertain the suit. It further held that though in view of the abolition of the jagirs, the suit properties had vested in the State, it was for the State to get itself impleaded if it is interested in this litigation and as the State had not chosen to get itself impleaded, it was open to the plaintiff to press the suit. In view of those conclusions, the Appellate Court set aside the decree of the Trial Court and remanded the suit in the trial Court for deciding the other issues left undecided. After the remand, the trial Court negatived every one of the contentions taken by the defendants and decreed the suit as prayed for. In appeal that decree was confirmed. In second appeal the High Court of Madhya Pradesh agreed with the Trial Court and the Appellate Court on the findings given on all issues excepting the issue relating to the effect of abolition of the jagirs on the suit. On that issue, it came to the conclusion that in view of the abolition of jagirs under the Jagirs Abolition Act, the plaintiff had lost his title to the suit properties and therefore he could not get a decree for possession of the suit properties. It rejected the contention of the plaintiff that that issue is concluded by the decision of the Appellate Court made before remand as the same had not been appealed against. It opined that the Court had inherent power to consider the correctness of that order. It accordingly allowed the appeal and dismissed the suit.