KRISHNA NAND SINGH Vs. STATE OF BIHAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Counsel for the parties. The petitioners herein have impugned the appellate and revisional orders (Annexures 2 and 3) passed by the Deputy Director of Consolidation and Joint Director of Consolidation respectively holding that the petitioners and the private respondents have equal share in Revisional Khata No. 187, which corresponds to Cadestral Survey Khata No. 138 in respect of the plot measuring 8.13 acres. The case of the petitioners is that one Gogal Singh had four sons, namely, Kunjbihari Singh, Brijbihari Singh, Khobhari Singh and - Dewal Singh. Dewal Singh separated long ago and sold his l/3rd share to Bramhdeo Singh, son of Kunjbihari Singh. The petitioners belong to the branch of Kunjbihari Singh. The private respondents belong to the second branch of Brijbihari Singh. The petitioners contend that after Dewal Singh separated with his l/3rd interest in the joint family, the branches of Kunjbihari Singh and Brijbihari Singh were entitled to l/3rd share each, and the petitioners inherited l/3rd share which devolved upon them through Kunjbihari Singh. Apart from l/3rd share to which they had succeeded in normal course, they also claimed l/3rd share of Dewal Singh, which they had purchased under two sale deeds dated 19-12-1919 and 25-7-1924. It is contended that in the revisional survey record of rights prepared in the year 1960,2/3rd share was shown in favour of the petitioners and only l/3rd share was recorded in favour of the private respondents. The notification under the Consolidation Act was published in 1973-74, whereafter necessary steps were taken under Sections 8,9 and 10 obrq the Act, regarding publication of recontrol of rights, register of lands, etc.the private respondents challenged the right of the petitioners to 2/3rd share in the aforesaid Khata claiming equal share. The Consolidation Officer rejected the claim of private respondents, but the appellate authority and the revisional authority have concurrently upheld the claim of the private respondents.

(2.) It cannot be disputed that the petitioners as well as the private respondents were entitled to one-third share each which devolved upon them. The dispute is as to whether the share of third branch was purchased by Brahmdeo Singh. The appellate authority as well as the revisional authority have considered the evidence on record, and after an exhaustive discussion of the same it has been held by them concurrently that the two sale deeds executed by Dewal Singh were not in respect of his l/3rd interest in the joint family property but only proved sale of 21 kathas of land in favour of the Brahmdeo Singh. The appellate authority has also held, and which has not been set aside by the revisional authority, that the purchase by Brahmdeo Singh was on behalf of the joint family since he was then, the Karta of the joint family. The appellate as well as revisional authorities have held that the sale deeds executed by Dewal Singh did not relate to his 1/3 share which he had received while separating from the family, since the purchase was made on behalf of the joint family, both the branches are entitled to 1/2 share each.

(3.) Having regard to the concurrent findings of fact recorded by the appellate authority and the revisional authority, I have no good reason to interfere with the findings of fact.