ABDUL GANI CHAUDHURI Vs. ANGRI BHIKHU

JUDGEMENT

(1.) In the suit, out of which this appeal has arisen, the plaintiffs sued for recovery of arrears of rent and cesses for the years 1283 and 1284 M, E. and first quarter of 1285 M. E. with damages thereon at 25 per cent. They based their claim on a certain unregistered kabuliyat, They also claim additional rent of Rs. 212-14-0 for the period in suit, on the allegation that there had been an increase in the area of the taluk to the extent of 6 drones 7 kanis 6 1/4 gandas of land. The defendants contended, among other things, that they were not liable to pay any additional rent for any additional area. The first Court decreed the plaintiffs suit for 2 1/4 years rent at the rate of Rs. 713 with cesses and with damages at 12 1/2 per cent., but he disallowed the claim for additional rent for additional area. On appeal, the learned District Judge held that the plaintiffs were entitled to additional rent for additional area and that the area on which they were entitled to additional rent was three drones odd. He assessed the additional rent for this additional area at Rs. 69 per annum.

(2.) The plaintiffs have appealed to this Court and their first point is that, on a proper construction of the kabuliyat, it will be found that the excess area is some six drones odd and not only three drones odd. They would seem to contend that, on a proper construction of the kabuliyat, the amount of land settled with the defendants, respondents, was some 21 drones and that, as they are now in possession of 28 drones odd, the plaintiffs are entitled to additional rent on additional area, which is the difference between 21 drones odd and 28 drones odd. This question depends on the construction of the kabuliyat so far as we are concerned. Mr. Chakravarti, who appears for the appellants, would seem to argue, first of all, that what was settled by the terms of the kabuliyat with the defendants, was only the hasila area, which was some 21 drones odd. He contends further that if we find, on construing the kabuliyat, that what was settled with the defendants was the hasila land 21 drones odd together with khila land, which was some 3 drones, still we ought to hold, on a proper construction of the kabuliyat that the rent of Rs. 713 was assessed not on the total land mentioned in the kabuliyat, 24 droves odd, but only assesssed on cultivable land. I have very carefully considered the terms of the kabuliyat and I have no hesitation in coming to the conclusion that what was settled with the defendants was the area of 24 drones 10 kanis 2 gandas and 1 kara. If the land settled with the defendants was only the cultivable area of 21 drones 10 kanis and 3 karas, it seems to ma, there would be no point in making any mention of the uncultivated lands. The land of which the taluk is comprised is not described as land within certain boundaries. Had the lands been within certain boundaries then there might have been some point in mentioning the facts that some were waste and some were culturable and it was the culturable lands only within these boundaries that were settled with the tenants. But there being no mention of the boundaries, there was obviously no point in making any mention of the un-culturable lands, if they were not settled with the defendants. I am clearly, therefore, of opinion that what was settled with the defendants was 24 drones 10 kanis 2 gandas and 1 kara of land Mr. Chakravarti would then seem to argue that, even if that were so, the rent was assessed only on the cultivated area. There is nothing whatever in the document to show that the rent was assessed only on the cultivated area. If it were, the document would probably have said so and there probably would have been a stipulation in the document that if the khila lands came under cultivation additional rent would be assessed upon them. There is, however, no such stipulation in the document. I am, therefore, of opinion that the learned Judge has rightly held that it is only some 3 drones odd which are now liable to assessment for additional rent. There is a further point to be taken into consideration in connexion with this question, namely, if only culturable lands were assessable under the kabuliyat, there id no evidence as far as I can see, to show how much is culturable land and how much is khila land at the present moment.

(3.) Mr. Chakravarti has then argued that the lower Courts were wrong in not allowing them a decree for 16 goats and two large jars of molasses, which according to him form part of the rent. The defendants on the other hand, contend that these are abwabs and the plaintiffs are not entitled to realise them. Whether a stipulation such, as this, to pay goats and molasses or other things, is an abwab or forms part of the rent is really a question of fact to be decided in each particular case. In the case of Chattra Kumari Devi V/s. W. W. Broucke their Lordships of the Judicial Committee remark: "A large number of cases decided by the Calcutta and Patna High Courts were referred to in the judgments and cited at the bar. Their Lordships do not consider it necessary to refer to them beyond expressing their agreement in the view that in each case it has to be ascertained whether the sum claimed is really part of the rent agreed upon to be paid as consideration for the lease." If we apply this principle to the present case, I have no hesitation in finding that the goats and molasses do not form any part of the rent. It is quite clear, from a perusal of the document, that the total annual rent is settled to be Rs. 713 and, therefore, it is equally clear that these 16 goats and two big jars of molasses do not form any part of the rent, They cannot, therefore, be recovered by the plaintiffs and they were rightly disallowed by the lower Courts.