SHAKUNTALA DEVI Vs. MADAN JHA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) None appeared on behalf of the appellant.

(2.) The appellant is aggrieved by the judgment and the order of the learned Single Judge rejecting her writ petition.

(3.) The appellant had applied for mutation of agricultural lands (hereafter "the lands") in her favour. The appellant is the daughter of Siri Lal who died in 1965. She got married in 1977. Later, the contesting respondents (hereafter referred to collectively as "Jai Singh") sought for mutation of the lands, arguing that by virtue of Sections 50 and 51 of the Delhi Land Reforms Act, 1954 [hereafter "the 1954 Act"], the appellant could not claim mutation and instead, they, as the nearest male relatives of the deceased, are the owners of the agricultural lands in Village Alipur to an extent of area measuring 79-04 bighas and that the lands had to be registered in their favour. The Revenue authorities, by an order dated 16.08.1988 accepted the contentions on behalf of Jai Singh, who is now represented by his legal heirs. The appellant was aggrieved and carried the matter in appeal to the Additional Collector, who by an order dated 28.02.1994 confirmed the view of the Revenue authorities. A further round of litigation ensued; the appellant questions the order of the Additional Collector before the Financial Commissioner under Section 66 of the 1954 Act. The Financial Commissioner dismissed the plea and confirmed the findings of the lower authorities by the following reasoning: