MAHENDRA KUMAR Vs. STATE OF RAJASTHAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS case has a very chequered history.

(2.) IT concerned recovery proceedings commenced somewhere in 1965 against respondent No.4 Dau Dayal Mohta by the Mining Engineer of the State of Rajasthan. In response to Notification dated 29th March, 1950 by submitting a tender for grant of mining rights in respect of mica in Udaipur and Bhilwara districts said Dau Dayal had submitted his tenders. In the said proceedings, respondent No.4 was put in possession of Block No. 3 in part 'A' as a result of sanctioning of the mining lease in favour of the applicant on terms contained in the order of sanction. Thereafter, he had submitted another application for grant of mining lease for an area 3 square miles on 4.6.1952 which was allowed vide communication dated 10.9.1957. In respect of demand on account of royalty payable under the two grants, some dispute was there about the liability to pay dead rent under the first grant. This led to filing of a writ petition No. 1197 of 1983 for the following reliefs:

(3.) THE other facet of the dispute which is relevant for the present purposes is that in pursuance of demand raised in 1965 recovery proceedings have been commenced against the allottee of aforesaid mining grant, respondent No. 4 by attaching one property situated in Bikaner which is referred to as house in question. On the attachment of the said house by the recovery officer, an objection has been raised before the SDO, Bikaner on behalf of the present petitioner and others that since the said Dau Dayal against whom the demand has been raised (hereinafter referred to as 'the debtor') had only 1/3 share in the house in question, entire house is not liable to be attached and sold in recovering the amount due from the said debtor by the Mining Department. That objection was upheld by the Sub -Divisional Officer, Bikaner by his order dated 14.4.1972 (Ex.2) that only 1/3 share of the debtor in the house in question is liable to recovery proceedings for which necessary proceedings may be taken. Vide Annx. 3 dated 30th March, 1987, the Mining Engineer (Recovery) noticing the decision given by the SDO, Bikaner, referred to above, ordered for continue with the proceedings of recovery against Dau Dayal from the 1/3 share of Dau Dayal in the house in question by transferring Dau Dayal's share to State Govt. However, the sale proclamation has been issued putting the entire property in question, without specifying that it is only against 1/3 share of Dau Dayal Mohta, for auction of the property in question on 29.10.1990 in which the highest bid was given by Shri Basant Kumar Daga, the respondent No.5. Objection was filed on 30th Nov., 1990 before the Assistant Mining Engineer (Recovery) drawing his attention to the earlier proceedings and pointing out that the debtor has only 1/3 share in the property in question and the balance 2/3 is held by the objectors, therefore, the full house could not be put to auction for effecting recovery against the debtor who had only 1/3 share in the house. This objection found favour with the recovery officer and he by his order dated 15.1.1991 upheld the objection and set aside the auction proceedings and directed for issuing fresh proclamation in respect of only 1/3 share of the debtor in the attached property. He was also of the view that the maximum offer is much below the fair price of the auction property. This order dated 15.1.1991 passed by recovery officer was challenged by Basant Kumar, auction purchaser, before the Board of Revenue, by way of revision. However, he did not implead the petitioners -objectors named in the order dated 15.1.1991 in his revision petition. However, it is stated by the learned Counsel for the respondents that during the pendency of the said revision the objectors, including the present petitioners moved an application Under Order 1 Rule 10 CPC for being impleaded as party respondents which was allowed and they were ultimately made party to that petition. However, the name of present petitioners Mahendra Kumar and Gopi Krishna do not find mention in the order of the Board.