(1.) THIS is a petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India.
(2.) THE facts giving rise to the present petition are as follows :- On 7th February, 1963, one Bhagwan Dass executed a sale deed in favour of the petitioner Ramadhar on a consideration of Rs.1500/-. Rs.l000/-were paid by Ramadhar and it was agreed upon that the balance amount of Rs. 500/-would be paid at the time of the registration of the sale deed. On 8th February, 1963, Bhagwan Dass executed another sale deed in favour of Muneshwar and others. This sale deed was registered on that very day. THE sale deed in favour of Ramadhar was registered on 15th February, 1963 after Bhagwan Dass took the balance amount of Rs. 500/-. Muneshwar filed a suit under section 229-B read with Section 209 of the UP ZA and LR Act, 1952 for a declaration that by virtue of the sale deed in his favour executed and registered on 8th February, 1963, he became the Bhumidhar of the land in dispute. It was alleged in the said suit that the sale deed executed on 7th February, 1963 in favour of Ramadhar had no effect as it was registered subsequently on 15th February, 1963. THE Assistant Collector, Varanasi dismissed the suit. In appeal, the Additional Commissioner upheld the judgment of the trial court by his judgment dated 27th May, 1969. Muneshwar thereafter filed second appeal in the Board of Revenue. THE Board of Revenue by its judgment dated 5th August, 1975 allowed the appeal, set aside the judgment and decree of the two courts below and decreed the suit filed by Muneshwar. THE effect was that the sale deed in favour of Muneshwar was upheld by the Board of Revenue while the sale deed executed in favour of Ramadhar was nullified. Ramadhar filed the present petition in this court challenging the judgment of the Board of Revenue dated 5th August, 1975.
(3.) IN Gayatri Prasad v. Board of Revenue, 1973 AWR 606 a Division Bench of this court had an occasion to consider this very question. The Bench held that if a sale deed was executed earlier but registered subsequently, then by virtue of Section 47 of the INdian Registration Act, the title would be deemed to be transferred with effect from the date of the execution of the sale deed. It has further been held that out of the two completed sale deeds the one which is earlier takes priority after registration. The facts in the case of Gayatri Prasad (supra) are identical to the facts in the present case. The principle laid down in Gayatri Prasad case is fully applicable in the present case and it clearly supports the contention raised by the learned counsel for the petitioner.