NOLIN BEHARI BOSU Vs. HARI PADA BHUIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) We have listened to a very interesting and in some portions very illuminating argument in this group of cases from Dr. Bijan Kumar Mukherji; but, after giving to his submissions our very best attention, we are of opinion that these appeals must be dismissed. A preliminary objection has been taken by Mr. Bankim Chunder Roy, learned Advocate for the respondents in 58 out of these 89 appeals. His case is that, leaving aside six appeals which are above Rs. 100 in value, in the remaining 52 appeals the value of the suits was under Rs. 100 and that having regard to the language of Section 153, Ben. Ten. Act, these second appeals are incompetent. Dr. Mukherji has pointed out that; in all these oases questions relating to enhancement of rent and of the amount of rent were in issue and those questions were determined by the trial Court. We are satisfied that those questions did come within the ambit of the matters in controversy between the parties in these 52 cases and that there is no substance whatsoever in the preliminary point sought to be raised on behalf of the respondents in these 52 appeals. The preliminary point is therefore negatived.

(2.) We now turn to decide the real questions in controversy in these 89 appeals. These appeals are by the plaintiff and they arise out of a group of suits for recovery of arrears of rent. The tenants allege that by reason of the operation of a custom of "Hajabad" in the four mouzahs in suit and there having been inundation in 1333 and 1335 there were no crops in the years 1334 and 1336 and that therefore the tenants should not be made liable to pay rents during those years. The question of the existence of this custom of "Hajabad" has been gone into by the Courts below and the finding of fact by the lower appellate Court is that the tenants have been able to prove the existence of this custom from time immemorial and that there is no evidence on the plaintiff's side to rebut this. In essence this is a mixed question of law and fact and no doubt the finding of the lower appellate Court bends itself easily to a very plausible argument on behalf of the plaintiff-landlord. But it is impossible to shut one's eyes to the fact that the lower appellate Court on full consideration of the evidence has come to the conclusion that the tenants have shown that this custom has always existed; in other words, that this custom has been in existence from time immemorial. What is the exact meaning of the term "time immemorial" in this country has been the subject of debate in many cases.

(3.) In England the matter is not full of difficulties because of the recognition that the period of the commencement of time immemorial has by statute and also by common law been definitely fixed for centuries past. The time immemorial would for all practical purposes, and has indeed in several instances for all practical purposes, been taken to be something which was in existence at the time of Pitt's India Act, ordinarily called the Regulating Act of 1773. If it be taken that time immemorial would carry one back to 1773 or if it be taken that time immemorial would carry one back to 1793, when the Permanent Settlement of Bengal was made, it would from a practical point of view amount to the same thing, namely that for all these long series of years the custom has been recognized and has been in existence. If that is so, then there is nothing to wonder that in the record-of-rights mention of the existence of this custom finds a place. It is undeniable that the existence of this custom in the localities concerned forms one of the incidents of tenancy and the fact that this custom is recognized and given effect to is easily provable by the production of the entries in the record of rights. Therefore we start with this, that the custom in question has been proved by the tenants; it has been proved to have been in existence for a long series of years compendiously described as time immemorial and the only question that need detain us is whether or not this custom is a reasonable one. Dr. Mukherji has addressed us a vigorous argument combating the proposition that it is a reasonable custom; but we are unable to hold that having regard to the character of the lands let out, having regard to the fact that the true source of the real wealth of the tenants is often sapped because of the inundation which the lands are subject to and the tenants are left without their wherewithal to pay the rent due to their landlord, that the custom is in any sense of the word an unreasonable one.