SHYAM SUNDER PRASAD SINGH Vs. STATE OF BIHAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE above six appeals by certificate and Civil Appeals Nos. 494 -496 of 1975, arise out of a common judgment dated 15/12/1972, of the High Court of Judicature at Patna passed in First Appeals Nos. 85 to 87, 130, 131 and 134 of 1966. After the above six appeals and Civil Appeals Nos. 494 -496 of 1975 were heard together for sometime, we found that the above six appeals i.e. Civil Apps. Nos. 114 -119 of 1976 could be disposed of by a separate judgment. We, therefore, proceeded with the consent of the learned counsel for the parties to hear fully Civil Appeals Nos. 114 -119 of 1976. By this common judgment, we propose to dispose of the above six appeals. THE further hearing of Civil Appeals Nos. 494 -496 of 1975, is deferred.

(2.) THE question which arises for our consideration in the above Civil Appeals Nos. 114 -119 of 1976, is whether the appellants and others either claiming under the appellants or along with them are entitled to an estate popularly known as 'Bettiah Raj' which was under the management of the Court of Wards, Bihar. THE last male holder of the said estate, Maharaja Harendra Kishore Singh Bahadur died issueless on March 26, 1893, leaving behind him two widows, Maharani Sheo Ratna Kuer and Maharani Janki Kuer. Maharani Sheo Ratna Kuer who succeeded to the estate of Maharaja Harendra Kishore Singh on his death as his senior widow died on March 24, 1896 and on her death Maharani Janki Kuer became entitled to the possession of the estate. Since it was found that Maharani Janki Kuer was not able to administer the estate, its management was taken over by the Court of Wards, Bihar in the year 1897. Maharani Janki Kuer who was a limited holder of the estate died on 27/11/1954. On her death, disputes arose amongst several persons who were parties to the suits out of which the above appeals arise regarding the title to the 'Bettiah Raj' estate. THE State of Bihar, however, claimed that none of the claimants was the heir of the last male holder and that since there was no heir at law as such at the time when the limited estate of Maharani Janki Kuer came to an end on her death, the entire estate along with the net income which the Court of Wards had realized from it became the property of the State of Bihar by virtue of the rule of escheat. We shall refer to the respective submissions of the parties at a later stage.

(3.) THE major part of the estate of 'Bettiah Raj' is situated in Champaran District of the State of Bihar. Some of its properties are situated in the State of Uttar Pradesh also. THE principality known as 'Bettiah Raj' was established by Raja Ugrasen in or about the middle of the 17th century, It was then known as Reasut of Sirkar Champarun consisting of four pergunnahs known as Majhwa, Simrown, Babra and Maihsi. It was an impartible estate, Raja Ugrasen was succeeded by his son, Raja Guz Singh in the year 1659. Raja Dalip Singh, son of Raja Guz Singh came to the gaddi in the year 1694 and he was succeeded by his son, Raja Dhrub Singh in the year 1715. Raja Dhrub Singh died in 1762 without a male issue but leaving a daughter by name Bonga Babui, who had married one Roghunath Singh, a Bhumihar Brahmin of Gautam gotra. It is said that he had another daughter also, but it is not necessary to investigate into that fact in these cases. On the death of Raja Dhrub Singh who was a jethoria Brahmin of the Kashyap gotra, his daughter's son (Bonga Babui's son), Raja Jugal Kishore Singh entered into possession of the estate of 'Bettiah Raj' and was in possession thereof at the date when the East India Company assumed the Government of the province. On the assumption of the Government of Bengal by the East India Company, Raja Jugal Kishore Singh offered some resistance to their authority and the Company's troops were despatched to enforce his submission. Raja Jugal Kishore Singh fled into the neighbouring State of Bundelkhand and his estates were seized and placed under the management of the Company's officers. During the absence of Raja Jugal Kishore Singh, Sri Kishen Singh and Abdhoot Singh who were respectively sons of Prithi Singh and Satrajit Singh, younger brothers of Raja Dalip Singh, found favour with the East India Company. After some negotiations, the Government decided to allot the zemindari of Majhwa and Simrown Pargunnahs which formed part of 'Bettiah Raj' estate to Raja Jugal Kishore Singh and to leave Babra and Maihsi in possession of Srikishen and Abdhut Singh. On his return, Raja Jugal Kishore Singh accepted the decision of the East India Company which was formally announced on July 24, 1771 in the following terms : -