TUTUPALLI RAMALINGA SASTRI Vs. YOGANANDA LAKSHMINARA SIMHASWAMI VARU

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This appeal by special leave is directed against the judgment of the Division Bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court dismissing L. P. A. No. 245 of 1972, which had been filed against the judgment of a learned single Judge of that High Court in A. S. No. 89 of 1970. Notice, under S. 3 (2) of the Andhra Pradesh (Andhra Area) Inams Abolition and Conversion into Ryotwari Act, 1956, which came into force on 14-12-1956, was issued, calling upon the appellant, Archaka of the respondent-temple to appear before the Deputy Tehsildar for Inams, Guntur in a suo motu enquiry for determining the nature of the Inam. But unfortunately, the appellant did not appear before the Deputy Tehsildar. The Deputy Tehsildar, therefore, decided on 22-12-1960, holding that the Inam was in favour of respondent-temple and that the appellant was only Archaka. The Deputy, Tehsildar granted Patta in favour of the respondent-temple. But the contention of the appellant is that the Inam title deed dated 29-11-1860 in respect of the lands was issued in favour of his ancestors, burdened with service of Swastivachakam in the Pagoda of the respondent-temple. The Inam title, deed, Inam Fair Register extracts etc, are available.

(2.) The appellant filed an appeal against the aforesaid decision of the Deputy Tehsildar for Inams in I. A. No. 14 of 1961 before the Revenue Court. The Revenue Court dismissed the appeal holding that the appellant was not a person concerned, on the ground, that he had not appeared before the Deputy Tehsildar for Inams in pursuance of the aforesaid Notice issued to him under Section 3 (2) of the Act. The appellant challenged that order of the Revenue Court in W. P. No. 915 of 1961 and it was dismissed. The appellant, thereafter, filed Original Suit No. 42 of 1975 in the Court of the Subordinate Judge, Tenali for a declaration that the order dated 22-12-1960 of the Deputy Tehsildar for Inams granting Patta in favour of the respondent-temple is not valid and binding on him. That suit was dismissed by the learned Subordinate Judge on 30-1-1969. Against the judgment and decree in that Original Suit, the appellant filed the aforesaid Appeal Suit No. 89 of 1970.

(3.) The Inam Title Deed dated 29-11-1860 and the Inam Fair Register extract came up for consideration in Original Suit No. 314 of 1941 before District Munsiff's Court, Tenali, to which the respondent-temple as well as the Hindu Religious Endowments Board were parties. That suit was filed by the appellant for a declaration that neither the appellant nor the property involved in that suit, which is the land in dispute in these proceedings nor the income from the lands is liable to be proceeded against for recovery of contribution by the Hindu Religious Endowments Board and for the refund of Rupees 32-14-6, being the amount collected by the Board by way of contribution. That suit appears to have been decreed by the trial Court. The Hindu Religious Endowments Board took up the matter in appeal in A. S. No. 63 of 1944, Sub Court, Tenali, which was subsequently taken on file as A. S. No. 324 of 1944, Sub Court, Bapatla, and was dismissed on 30-12-1944. On a consideration of the evidence adduced by the parties and judgment and decree of the trial Court, the learned Additional Subordinate Judge, who disposed of the appeal, observed thus in his judgment :