MT QUDSIA JAN Vs. ZAHID HUSAIN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is a reference under Section 267, Agra Tenancy Act, by the Commissioner, Allahabad. The plaintiff instituted a suit against his co-sharers in an exproprietary tenure, in the Court of the Munsif, Allahabad, for his share of the profits. The Munsif returned the plaint for presentation to the Revenue Court, holding that the suit was within the exclusive jurisdiction of the latter Court. The plaintiff appealed to the District Judge who took a contrary view and held that the suit had been rightly instituted in the civil Court. A second appeal was preferred to this Court and came up for hearing before a learned Single Judge who treated the appeal as revision on the ground that no appeal lay to this Court. That learned Judge held that the suit was cognizable by the Revenue Court as held by the Munsif. Accordingly he set aside the District Judge's order and restored that of the Munsif. The plaintiff then presented his plaint in the Revenue Court. The Assistant Collector before whom the suit came on for hearing, dismissed it on the ground that the Revenue Court had no jurisdiction. The plaintiff went in appeal to the Court of the Commissioner whohas made the present reference under Section 267, Agra Tenancy Act. We are of opinion that the learned Commissioner had adopted the proper procedure in view of the opinion expressed by a, learned Single Judge of this Court.

(2.) It is argued by the learned advocate for the defendants that the order of the Learned Single Judge of this Court already referred to is a bar to this Bench taking a contrary view and that whatever may be the correct law on the subject, it must be held for the purposes of this case that the Revenue Court has jurisdiction. We are unable to accede to this contention. Section 267, Agra Tenancy Act, has been enacted to meet the requirements of cases in which conflicting opinions are entertained by civil and Revenue Courts as regards the proper forum. The opening words of that section make it perfectly clear that: Where either a civil or a Revenue Court is in doubt whether it is competent to entertain any suit, application, or appeal, or whether it should direct the plaintiff, applicant or appellant, to file he same in a court of the other description, the Court may submit the record, with a statement of the reasons for its doubt, to the High. Court.

(3.) The Commissioner did entertain a doubt and has submitted the case with his own opinion to the effect that the suit is cognizable by the civil Court. Sub-Section (4), Section 267 further provides that: On any such reference being made, the High Court may order the Court either to proceed with the case or, to return the plaint, application or appeal for presentation to such other Court as it may declare to be competent to try the same.