PANDIT SADANAND PANDE Vs. SYED ALI JAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This appeal arises out of a suit in which the plaintiff asks for a declaration that he was entitled to realize the income and profits of a certain fair jointly with the defendants in proportion to his share in the village. He further claims to recover the sum of Rs. 2,415-9-9, the amount which the defendants had wrongfully realized and converted to their own use. The facts found by the Court below are shortly as follows: The fair was established some years ago jointly by the plaintiffs and the defendants. It was held on land which belonged to them jointly in certain proportions. So far as the findings of fact are concerned, we are in entire accord with the Court below; in fact the evidence as to these facts has been practically admitted by the respondent's counsel. The learned Judge, however, notwithstanding the finding of facts in favour of the plaintiff held that inasmuch as there had been no sanction by Government to the levying of tolls and market dues, their exaction was illegal and on this legal ground he dismissed the plaintiff's suit, It must be remembered that no question arises between the alleged owners of the market and the persons who are called upon to pay the market dues, nor is there any question as to the rights of the owners of rival fairs and markets. The defendants admittedly have been collecting and recovering the profits derived from the fair in question. There is no doubt that if the taking of market tolls and custom? is illegal, the learned Judge was right in refusing to make a declaration that the plaintiff was entitled and the only question we have to consider in the present appeal is whether or not the taking of market dues and customs in a private market is legal.

(2.) The profits of the market are derived from levying toll of so much per head upon every beast bought and sold and also from persons who are granted the privilege of putting up stalls during the time the fair is held. Prima facie any person is entitled to charge persons, who of their own free will and accord make use of his land for any purpose. Two provisions of the Agra Land Revenue Act III of 1901 are relied on by the defendants as showing that the exaction of market tolls and dues is illegal. We have not been referred to any other enactment. Section 56 provides as follows: In the North Western Provinces all cesses which are payable by tenants on account of the occupation of land and which are of the nature of rent payable in addition to the rents of tenants or in lieu of which proprietory rights may be assigned under Section 78 Clause (b) shall be recorded by the record officer under the appellations by which they are known and no cesses not so recorded shall be recoverable in any Civil or Revenue Court.

(3.) The other section is Section 86. Sub-section (1) is as follows: A list of all erases other than those referred to in Section 56 levied in accordance with village custom shall, if generally or specially sanctioned by the local Government, be recorded by the Settlement Officer and no cesses not so recorded shall be recoverable in any Civil or Revenue Court and no such list shall be altered or added to during the currency of settlement.