GANGAMANI BISWAS Vs. RABJA ALI CHAUKIDAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This appeal is by the plaintiffs and arises out of a suit for possession of certain land by avoiding an encumbrance under Section 167 of the Bengal Tenancy Act. The whole question depends upon the fact whether the suit in execution of the decree under which, the plaintiffs purchased the property was a rent suit coming within the provisions of Section 148-A of the Bengal Tenancy Act so as to bring into operation all the rights which a purchaser obtains at a sale in execution of a rent decree under that Act.

(2.) We have been lead through the plaint in the rent suit the material portion of which is contained in paragraphs 4 and 6. In paragraph 4 the plaint stated that the rent in arrears due to the plaintiffs alone, who were co-sharer landlords was a certain amount and it also stated that the tenant defendant's dues to the co sharer defendant's Nos. 2 to 5 for the period in suit may amount to a certain amount. In paragraph 6 it was stated that on account of information having been withheld from the plaintiffs the plaintiffs tentatively claimed the amount due in their own share and paid Court-fees thereon. There was a prayer (ga) which ran thus: If the co-sharer landlords defendants pray to the Court to be added as plaintiffs, or if they or the tenants defendants declare in Court the amount due in their share, to add the said amount to the claim and pass a decree for the total amount against the tenants defendants after receiving the deficit Court fees on such additional amount.

(3.) It is contended that this plaint was in accordance with the provisions laid down in Section 148-A of the Bengal Tenancy Act applying to East Bengal. This section requires that the co- sharer landlord should institute a suit to recover the rent due to all the co-sharer landlords in respect of an entire holding, and it is also necessary that all the remaining co-sharers should be made parties to the suit, and if he is unable to ascertain what rent is due for the whole tenure or holding owing to the refusal or neglect of the tenant or of the co-sharer landlords to furnish correct information the plaintiff co- sharer landlord shall l)e entitled to proceed with the suit for his share only of the rent. The first requisite is that the co-sharer landlord should sue for recovery of rent due to all the landlords, and, secondly, if he is unable to find out the dues to the other co-sharers he would be entitled to proceed with the suit for his share only.