UPENDRA NATH GHOSE Vs. DWARKANATH BISWAS

JUDGEMENT

(1.) DEFENDANTS Nos. 1 and 3, who purchased the tenure in suit from defendant No. 4, appear to have paid rent for about 37 years and the rent was accepted from them. Plaintiff, therefore, is not entitled to obtain khas possession of the tenure, as his right to do so is barred by limitation. That being so, the plaintiff cannot ignore the right of defendants Nos. 1 and 3 who were entered in the Record of Rights as tenants. We do not see, however, why the plaintiff should not get a decree for rent at the enhanced rate of Rs. 90 odd. It is true there is a presumption under Section 50(2) of the Bengal Tenancy Act arising from the payment of rent at the same rate for more than twenty years: but the plaintiff has produced a kabuliyat of the year 1840 executed by the predecessor-in-interest of the defendant No. 4, the vendor of defendants Nos. 1 and 3. There is an express stipulation in the kabuliat that the tenants would pay enhanced rent according to the Pargana rate. The kabuliyat may be considered either as a new contract under which the tenants agreed to pay enhanced rent, or as a contract containing recitals of the incidents of the tenancy which was in existence from before. In either view of the matter it shows that the rent was enbanceable. That being so, the enhancement allowed by the Court of first instance will stand; and to that extent only the decree of the Court of first instance is varied.

(2.) THE result is that the decree of the lower Appellate Court is set aside and the decree of the Court of first instance affirmed with respect to the amount of rent payable by the defendants. THE entry of the names of defendants Nos. 1 and 3 in the Record of Rights will stand. Under the circumstances of the case, we direct that each party do bear its own costs in all the Courts.