ANNADA MOHAN ROY CHOWDHURY Vs. KINA DAS

JUDGEMENT

(1.) These appeals have now to be disposed of finally after remand for a finding as to adverse possession. The learned District Judge has found not only that the defendants have all along been in possession since 1873, but also that their possession has been adverse as against the Government. This finding is challenged as not being justified by the facts. The suits not only had been fully heard when they came before us on second appeal on the previous occasion, but we also gave the parties permission to adduce further evidence if so advised and they have done so. The matter has been very fully considered and there are no grounds for interfering with the finding.

(2.) On such finding a further point has been argued, as to the date from which adverse possession should be deemed to run. Art. 144 of the first schedule to the Limitation Act provides that in a suit for possession of immovable property the period of limitation shall be twelve years from the time when the possession of the defendants becomes adverse to the plaintiff. The property was bought by the plaintiff from the Government in July, 1903. Under Art. 149 had this suit been instituted by the Government it would not have become barred for sixty years. Consequently, we are asked to hold that in such circumstances, the word "plaintiff" should not include the plaintiff's predecessor-in title, that is the Government, as ordinarily required by Section 2, Sub-section (8), because it is submitted that that would be repugnant to the intention of the Act since, if there has been more than twelve years adverse possession as against the Government, though a suit by the Government might not be, a suit by a private purchaser from the Government would be barred. We are asked by reading the two articles together to say that a private person in such circumstances is entitled to get, before his right becomes extinguished, either 12 years from the date of his purchase or the period to which the Government would still be entitled, whichever is the less.

(3.) I see no grounds whatever for any such construction. It would give such purchaser an advantage which the law does not allow. If the period of 12 years was the less, then the previous adverse possession against the Crown, and consequently Section 2(8) would be entirely ignored, if the balance of the period to which the Crown is entitled were the less, the plaintiff would be obtaining the benefit of the full period of 60 years allowed to the Crown, to which it is conceded he is not entitled.