JATINDRA NATH MAITY Vs. RASMONI MAHAPATRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THESE are two petitions under Article 227 of the Constitution relating to west Bengal Land Reforms Act and are on behalf of persons who are alleged to be bargadars under the provisions of this Act. The opposite parties applied for share of crops and for ejectment of the alleged bargadars from the disputed property. The defence case is that if a license is granted for cultivating betel leaves, that piece of land would not be considered to be agricultural land and, therefore, the provisions of the West Bengal Land reforms Act would not apply. The second ground is that there being a previous decision between the parties as to the applicability of the Act and the Land Reforms Officer having decided that the Act would not be applicable, the present petitions are barred by the doctrine of finality of litigation or by the doctrine of res judicata and the Land Reforms Officer had no authority in that matter. With regard to the second point I have been referred to a decision of the Bhagchas officer in a case No. 30/58-59. That was a case for ejectment under the west Bengal Land Reforms Act and the ground was for bonafide requirement of the owner. The question was whether the owner required it for his own use and purpose. The officer found in favour of the bargadar ; but the officer observed as follows:

(2.) WITH regard to the second point, mr. Janah has referred me to a decision in 24 Madras, 421, between Murugesa chetti v. Chintathambi Goundan and ors. (1) where it has been held that a lease of land for the cultivation of betel garden is an agricultural lease. I entirely agree with the observation of the Madras High Court. It has been held by this court in a case between surendra v. Hari Mohan (2) in 31 Calcutta, 174, that cultivation of indigo is agricultural purpose though the manufacture of indigo cakes was not so. Clearly, therefore, cultivation of betel, which has no greater commercial value than indigo, will be for agricultural purpose. Therefore, I hold that the West Bengal Land Reforms Act is attracted and the applications are maintainable. The result is that the Rules are discharged. I make no order as to costs.