HIRANMOY KUMAR SAHA Vs. BANKA BEHARI GHOSE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) It has been found by the lower Court that the land in dispute is in the zemindari of the pLalntiffs. It has been also found that the defendant took settlement of the same from a neighbouring zemindar in good faith. Upon these findings, the first Court allowed the defendant to remain in possession and the pLalntiffs were given a decree for possession by receipt of rent from the defendant. In the lower Appellate Court, it was contended on behalf of the pLalntiffs, that it was not sufficient to find the bona flies of the tenant and that it was further necessary to find whether the person from whom the tenant took settlement, was acting bona fide in making the settlement with him. The learned Judge, however, thought that it was not necessary to enter into that question as it was, in his opinion, immaterial whether the lessor made settlement in good faith or otherwise. That, however, does not seem to be the correct view of the law as Lald down in some of the latest cases.

(2.) The case relied on in the lower Court was the ease of Sinai Lal Pakrashi v. Kalu Pramanik (2)20 C. 708 : 10 Ind. Dec. (N.S.) 477. That case decided that if a tenant took settlement from a trespasser in good faith, he might be considered a tenant in accordance with the definition of the word in the Bengal Tenancy Act and be allowed to retain possession. The question of the bona fides of the person so letting him in was not raised in that case and probably could not be raised, as the landlord in that case had been litigating for title to the property. That case formed the subject of consideration in the case of Upendra Narain Bhattacharya v. Protab Chandra Pardhan (1)8 C. W.N. 320 : 31 C. 703. and it was held that it was necessary to find whether the landlord letting in a tenant was acting bona fide in doing so. That case has been followed in a number of cases which have been considered in the case of Krishna Nath Chakravarti v. Muhammad Wafiz 31 Ind Cas. 789 : C. L.J. 563 at p. 565 : 21 C.W.N. 93. and the latest opinion on the subject is that the bona fides of the persons from whom the tenant takes settlement have also to be considered in deciding whether the tenant is to be allowed to retain possession as a tenant. We see no reason to differ from the view expressed in these cases.

(3.) The learned Vakil for the respondent has referred to some other cases, viz., Peary Mohun Mondal v. Radhika Mohun Hazra 8 C.W.N. 315 : 5 C.W.N. 681 : 11 288.; Madhu v. Sabar Ali 6 Ind. Cas. 177 : 14 C.W.N. 681 : 11 288. and Tepu Mohammad v. Tefayit Mohammad 29 Ind. Cas. 216 : 19 C.W.N. 772. But none of these cases decided the exact point now raised by the learned Vakil for the appellant.