Supreme Court of India
JHABBAR SINGH (DECEASED) THROUGH LEGAL HEIRS & ORS.versusJAGTAR SINGH S/O DARSHAN SINGH
- Citation
- 2023 INSC 373
- Decided
- 17 April 2023
- Disposal
- Appeal(s) allowed
- Bench
- AJAY RASTOGI
Holding
A partition is deemed completed and the joint status of parties severed upon the Revenue Officer's order under Section 118, so the plaintiff lost his co‑sharer status and pre‑emption right before the decree, rendering the High Court's order erroneous.
Summary
The plaintiff Jagtar Singh claimed a right of pre-emption as a co‑sharer in a joint khewat when the owners Jhabbar Singh sold portions of the land without giving notice. While the trial court and the first appellate court held that a partition order dated 31‑July‑1982 by the Assistant Collector severed the joint status, the High Court reversed this, saying the absence of a formal instrument of partition meant the co‑sharer status persisted. The Supreme Court examined the Punjab Land Revenue Act, particularly sections 118 and 121, and held that a partition is deemed completed when the Revenue Officer issues an order under section 118, making the joint status end at that point, irrespective of the later preparation of an instrument. Consequently, the plaintiff had lost his co‑sharer status before the decree and his pre‑emption right could not survive. The Court set aside the High Court’s order and allowed the appeals.
Issues considered
- The plaintiff's entitlement to a pre‑emption right on the date of the decree
- Whether the joint status of co‑sharers ends upon the Revenue Officer's order under Section 118 of the Punjab Land Revenue Act despite the absence of an instrument of partition
- Whether the plaintiff was a necessary or proper party to the suit for pre‑emption
- The correct interpretation of Sections 118, 121 and related provisions of the Punjab Land Revenue Act
- The propriety of the High Court's reversal of the lower courts' decisions
Legislation cited
- Code of Civil Procedure, 1908s. Order I Rule 10, s. Order I Rule 9, s. Order VI Rule 2(1), s. Order XX Rule 18
- Punjab Land Revenue Act, 1887s. 117, s. 118, s. 120, s. 121, s. 123
- Punjab Pre-emption Act, 1913s. 15, s. 19, s. 20, s. 21, s. 4
Subjects
right of pre-emptionpartitionjoint ownershipco‑sharerPunjab Land Revenue Actnecessary partycivil procedureinstrument of partitionland revenue
Judgment
564 [2023]REPORTS
SUPREME COURT 3 S.C.R. 564 [2023] 3 S.C.R.
A JHABBAR SINGH (DECEASED) THROUGH LEGAL HEIRS &
ORS.
v.
JAGTAR SINGH S/O DARSHAN SINGH
B (Civil Appeal No. 1497 of 2008)
APRIL 17, 2023
[AJAY RASTOGI AND BELA M. TRIVEDI, JJ.]
Punjab Pre-emption Act, 1913:ss. 4, 15, 19, 20 , 21 – Punjab
Land Revenue Act, 1887 – ss. 118, 121, 123 – Right of pre-emption
C
– Suit for possession of the suit lands by the respondent against the
appellants-buyer, on the ground that he as a co-sharer in the joint
khewat along with the owner-vendor had a superior right to pre-
empt the sales, and that he was not put to any notice of sale of the
suit lands to the appellants by the owner-vendor – Dismissed by the
D trial court on the ground that khewat had remained no more joint
as per the order passed by the Revenue Officer in partition matter
filed during the pendency of the suits – First appeal also dismissed
– However, the High Court allowed the appeals on the ground that
on the date of the passing of the decree, no instrument of partition
was drawn by the Revenue Officer, and thus, the joint status of the
E
parties had not come to an end and respondent had not lost his
superior right of pre-emption – On appeal, held: Plaint was loosely
drafted, the respondent neither pleaded as to how he was the co-
sharer, nor impleaded the owner of the suit lands, with whom he
claimed to be the co-sharer – Once the decision on the property to
F be divided and on the mode of partition is taken by the Revenue
Officer u/s.118, the joint status of the parties would stand severed
on the date of such decision, subject to the decision in appeal if
any – Consequential action of drawing an instrument of partition
would follow thereafter – Thus, merely because the instrument of
partition was not drawn, it could not be said that the partition was
G
not completed or that the joint status of the parties was not severed
– Joint status of the parties came to an end, when the Assistant
Collector passed the order and when the same was confirmed by
the Collector – Trial court and the appellate court rightly held that
the respondent did not possess the status of co-sharer on the date
H of decree and that his right of pre-emption had not survived till the
564
JHABBAR SINGH (DECEASED) THROUGH LEGAL HEIRS v. 565
JAGTAR SINGH S/O DARSHAN SINGH
date of passing of the decree in the suits – Thus, the order passed A
by the High Court quashed and set aside.
Pre-emption: Right of pre-emption – General principles –
Explained.
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908:
B
Ord. VI r.2(1) – Cardinal rule of pleadings – Reiterated.
Ord. I r.10 – Necessary party/ proper party – Non-impleadment of.
Allowing the appeals, the Court
HELD: 1.1 In a very loosely drafted plaint, the plaintiff had
C
neither pleaded as to how he was the cosharer, nor had he
impleaded the said JS, the owner of the suit lands, with whom he
claimed to be the co-sharer, and who had sold the suit lands to
the defendants and Others. It is needless to say that in a suit for
pre-emption, the vendor i.e., the owner of the suit land who had
allegedly not given any notice of sale to the plaintiff as required D
to be given under Section 19 of the Pre-emption Act and against
whom the right to pre-empt the sale is claimed would be a proper
party if not a necessary party, for a complete and final adjudication
on the issues involved in the suit. When a right to pre-empt the
sale was claimed by the plaintiff JS as a co-sharer in the lands
E
along with the owner , alleging that the mandatory provisions
contained in Section 19 i.e., for giving notice to the pre-emptor,
was not complied with by the owner or seller JS, his presence as
the party defendant was desirable along with the other defendants
and Others, to effectively and finally decide the disputes between
the parties. Though, Order I, Rule 9 states that no suit shall be F
defeated by reasons of the misjoinder or non-joinder of parties,
care must be taken by the court to ensure that all the parties, be
it the plaintiff or the defendant, whose presence is necessary for
complete and final adjudication on the issues involved in the suit,
are before the court. That is the reason why the courts are
G
empowered to strike out or add parties, at any stage of the
proceedings as per Order I, Rule 10, C.P.C. [Paras 12, 13][577-
F-G; 578-A-C]
1.2 Having regard to the absolutely sketchy and loosely
drafted plaint in the instant case, the Court is tempted to
H
566 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2023] 3 S.C.R.
A regurgitate the basic and cardinal rule of pleadings contained in
Order VI, Rule2(1) of the Code, according to which every pleading
(i.e., plaint or written statement) has to contain a statement in
concise form of the material facts on which the party pleading
relies for his claim or defence, as the case may be. Of course, the
B pleading need not contain the evidence by which such material
facts are to be proved, nonetheless the facts necessary to
formulate a complete cause of action i.e., the material facts must
be stated. Omission of a single material fact would lead to an
incomplete cause of action and in that case, the statement of claim
would become bad in the eye of law. [Para 14][578-D-F]
C
1.3 Apart from the fact that the right of pre-emption is very
weak right and capable of being defeated by all legitimate
methods, the pre-emptor must establish that he had the right to
pre-empt on the date of sale, on the date of the filing of the suit
and on the date of the passing of the decree by the Court of the
D
first instance. The pre-emptor or the claimant-plaintiff who claims
the right to pre-empt the sale on the date of sale, has also to
prove that such right continued to subsist till the passing of the
decree of the first court. If the claimant-plaintiff loses that right
or the vendee improves his right equal or above the right of the
E claimant before the adjudication of the suit, the suit for pre-
emption would fail. [Para 17][579-G; 580-A-B]
1.4 It is difficult to subscribe the view taken by the High
Court in the impugned order that since no instrument of partition
was drawn on the date of passing of the decree by the trial court,
F the joint status of the parties had not come to an end. Having
duly considered the provisions contained in the Punjab Land
Revenue Act and also the Haryana Land Records Manual, it
clearly emerges that as per Section 118 of the Land Revenue
Act, when there is a question as to the property to be divided, or
G the mode of making a partition, the Revenue Officer after such
inquiry as he deems necessary, is required to record an order
stating his decision on the question and record his reasons for
the decision. [Para 26][589-G; 583-A-B]
H
JHABBAR SINGH (DECEASED) THROUGH LEGAL HEIRS v. 567
JAGTAR SINGH S/O DARSHAN SINGH
1.5 Section 121 states that when the partition is completed, A
the Revenue Officer shall cause an instrument of partition to be
prepared, and the date on which the partition is to take effect to
be recorded therein. If the said provision contained in Section
121 is closely read, it clearly appears that it deals with the
procedure to be followed by the Revenue Officer, after the
B
partition is completed. Meaning thereby, the Revenue Officer
after the Partition is completed, has to cause an instrument of
partition to be prepared and record therein the date on which the
partition is to take effect. When the inquiry as contemplated in
Section 118 on the question as to the property to be divided, or
the mode of making partition is made by the Revenue Officer, C
and an order stating his decision on the question along with the
reasons for such decision is passed, the partition is deemed to
have completed, subject to the decision of appeal that may be
preferred against such order as contemplated in sub-section 2 of
Section 118. Section 117 of the Punjab Land Revenue Act confers
D
discretion upon the Revenue Officer to decide the question as to
the title in any property of which the partition is sought, either by
himself or to refer the question to be determined by the competent
court. Thus, the jurisdiction of the Revenue Officer in the cases
of partition is concurrent with that of the civil court. Therefore,
for the purpose of interpreting Section 121, the Court can safely E
draw an analogy from the provisions contained in Order XX, Rule
18 C.P.C. which pertain to the procedure to be followed on the
passing of the decree for the partition of the property. [Paras 27
and 28][583-D-H]
1.6 If the said analogy is applied to the provisions contained F
in the Punjab Land Revenue Act pertaining to the Partition, when
a decision is taken by the Revenue Officer under Section 118 on
the question as to the property to be divided and the mode of
partition, the rights and status of the parties stand decided and
the partition is deemed to have completed. At this stage, such
decision is required to be treated as the “decree”. The G
consequential action of preparing the instrument of partition as
contemplated in Section 121 of the Land Revenue Act would be
only ministerial or administrative act to be carried out to
completely dispose of the partition case instituted before the
H
568 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2023] 3 S.C.R.
A Revenue Officer. Hence, once the decision on the property to be
divided and on the mode of partition is taken by the Revenue
Officer under Section 118, the joint status of the parties would
stand severed on the date of such decision, subject to the decision
in appeal if any preferred by the party. The consequential action
of drawing an instrument of partition would follow thereafter.
B
Hence, merely because the instrument of partition was not drawn,
it could not be said that the partition was not completed or that
the joint status of the parties was not severed. [Para 30][584-G;
585-A-C]
1.7 In the present case, the Assistant Collector i.e.,
C concerned Revenue Officer vide the order dated 25.05.1982 had
rejected the objections raised by the plaintiff and others with
regard to the mode of partition and had confirmed the mode of
partition accordingly. On that day, the “Naksha Be” was already
annexed to the file and the case was listed on 31.05.1982 for
D hearing the objections as to the “Naksha Be”. On 31.07.1982,
the Assistant Collector passed the order stating inter alia that
the Patwari and Kanungo were present, and they had explained
the parties about the passage and the boundaries of the plots,
and that as per “Naksha Be”, the partition was accepted. The
details of the number of khasras allotted to both the parties i.e.,
E to defendant and others and to plaintiff were also mentioned in
the said order. The partition having been accepted as per the
said “Naksha Be”, the joint status of the parties had stood
severed. Of course, the said order dated 31.07.1982 was
challenged by the plaintiff by way of an appeal before the Collector
F who vide the order dated 12.10.1982 had dismissed the same.
The said order of Collector was further challenged by the said
plaintiff by filing revision application before the Commissioner.
Though, the Commissioner had initially granted stay against the
operation of the order dated 31.07.1982 upto 16.11.1982,
admittedly the said stay was not further extended thereafter.
G Under the circumstances, the joint status of the parties had come
to an end on 31.07.1982, when the Assistant Collector passed
the order and when the same was confirmed by the Collector on
19.10.1982. The trial court and the appellate court, under the
circumstances, had rightly held that the plaintiff did not possess
H the status of co-sharer on the date of decree i.e., on 01.12.1982,
JHABBAR SINGH (DECEASED) THROUGH LEGAL HEIRS v. 569
JAGTAR SINGH S/O DARSHAN SINGH
and that his right of pre-emption had not survived till the date of A
passing of the decree in the suits. The High Court grossly erred
in misinterpreting the provisions of Punjab Pre-emption Act and
of Land Revenue Act, and in setting aside the judgments and
decrees passed by the trial court and the appellate court. The
impugned order passed by the High Court is quashed and set
B
aside. [Paras 32 and 33][585-H; 586-A-G]
U.P. Awas Evam Vikas Parishad vs. Gyan Devi AIR 1995
SC 724 : [1994] 4 Suppl. SCR 646 - relied on.
Shyam Sunder and Others vs. Ram Kumar and Another
(2001) 8 SCC 24 : [2001] 1 Suppl. SCR 115; Bishan C
Singh & Others vs. Khazan Singh & Another AIR 1958
SC 838 : [1959] SCR 878; Bhagwan Das (Dead) by
LRS and Others vs. Chet Ram 1971 (1) SCC 12 : [1971]
2 SCR 640; Barasat Eye Hospital vs. Kaustabh Mondal
(2019) 19 SCC 767; Raghunath (Dead) by LRs. vs.
Radha Mohan (Dead) Through LRs. And Others (2021) D
12 SCC 501; Har Devi vs. Ram Jas and Others 1974
PLJ 345; Lala Ram vs. The Financial Commissioner,
Haryana 1991 SCC Online P&H 1105; Pritam Singh
vs. Jaskaur Singh 1992 SCC Online P&H 676; Munshi
vs. The Financial Commissioner, Haryana, Chandigarh E
1993 SCC Online P&H 1086; Ramji Lal and Another
vs. The State of Punjab and Others AIR 1966 P&H
374; Pritam Singh vs. Jaskaur Singh 1992 SCC online
P&H 676; Shub Karan Bubna Alias Shub Karan Prasad
Bubna v. Sita Saran Bubna and Others (2009) 3 SCC
(Civ) 820 – referred to. F
Case Law Reference
[1959] SCR 878 referred to Para 4
[1994] 4 Suppl. SCR 646 relied on Para 13
(2019) 19 SCC 767 referred to Para 16 G
(2021) 12 SCC 501 referred to Para 16
[1971] 2 SCR 640 referred to Para 18
AIR 1966 P&H 374 referred to Para 18
H
570 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2023] 3 S.C.R.
A [2001] 1 Suppl. SCR 115 referred to Para 19
(2009) 3 SCC (Civ) 820 referred to Para 29
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No. 1497
of 2008.
B From the Judgment and Order dated 17.08.2007 of the High Court
of Punjab & Haryana at Chandigarh in RSA No. 1470 of 1983.
With
Civil Appeal No.1498 of 2008.
Narender Hooda, Sr. Adv., Varun Punia, Jasbir Singh Malik, Advs.
C for the Appellants.
Rajiv Bhalla, Sr. Adv., Tripurari R., Ms. Ritu Puri, B.S. Billoria,
Sumeir Ahuja, Jai Surya J., Bharat Upreti, Sandeep Lamba, Sagar Roy,
Ms. Reeta Puniya, Sunil, Anuj Raghuvanshi, Ram Narayan Mohanty,
Ambes Shehbaz Ansari, Kamal Mohan Gupta, Ms. S. Janani, Shiv Singh
D Yadav, Priya Ranjan Kumar, Amar Nath Singh, Advs. for the Respondent.
The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
BELA M. TRIVEDI, J.
1. Both the appeals arise out of the common judgment and order
E dated 17.08.2007 passed by the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at
Chandigarh in RSA No.1470/1983 and RSA No. 1557/1983, whereby
the High Court, while allowing the said appeals filed by the original plaintiff
Jagtar Singh (predecessor of the present respondent)decreed the Civil
Suits no. 420/1981 and 421/1981, filed by him, seeking decree for the
possession of the suit lands, claiming right of pre-emption against the
F original defendants Jhabbar Singh and others (the predecessor of the
present appellants). The present appellants and respondent have been
substituted as the legal heirs of the original defendant Jhabbar Singh and
original plaintiff Jagtar Singh respectively.
2. The factual matrix giving rise to the present appeals are as
G under: -
(2.1) The Civil Suit No.420/1981 was filed by the plaintiff Jagtar
Singh against the defendant Jhabbar Singh and others, with
regard to the land admeasuring 12 bighas representing 240/
819thshare of the land admeasuring 40 bighas 19 biswas, as
H detailed in para 1 of the plaint. The said land was originally
JHABBAR SINGH (DECEASED) THROUGH LEGAL HEIRS v. 571
JAGTAR SINGH S/O DARSHAN SINGH [BELA M. TRIVEDI, J.]
owned by one Jit Singh, who had sold the same for A
consideration of Rs.46,500/- to the defendant Jhabbar Singh
and others vide registered sale deed dated 07.04.1980.
(2.2) The Civil Suit no.421/1981 was also filed by the plaintiff
Jagtar Singh pertaining to the land admeasuring 10 bighas
18 biswas representing 218/819 th share of the land B
admeasuring 40 bighas and 19 biswas as detailed in para 1
of the plaint, originally owned by Jit Singh and his wife Piar
Kaur, who had sold the same for a consideration of Rs
42,500/- to the defendant Jhabbar Singh and others vide
registered sale deed dated 24.04.1980.
C
(2.3) On 06.04.1981, the plaintiff Jagtar Singh filed the said two
suits seeking possession of the suit lands on the ground that
he was having a superior right to pre-empt those sale deeds
as the co-sharer in the joint khewat, however no notice of
the sale was given to the plaintiff by the said owner Jit
Singh. The defendants Jhabbar Singh and others resisted D
the suits denying the plaintiff’s claim of superior right of
pre-emption.
(2.4) During the pendency of the said suits, on25.05.1982, the
defendant Jhabbar Singh filed a Partition case being no.
78/TP before the Assistant Collector, Tehsil Pihowa, in E
which the plaintiff Jagtar Singh had filed his objections. The
Assistant Collector, Tehsil, Kurukshetra passed the following
order on 25.05.1982 as under: -
“…..Therefore, the objections placed by Jagtar Singh
and others are rejected and the mode of partition which F
has already been prepared has been confirmed. Naksha
Be is already annexed in the file because it has already
been prepared. Therefore, the case is to be listed on
31.5.82 for objections as to Naksha Be”.
(2.5) Thereafter on 31.07.1982, the Assistant Collector, Tehsil, G
Pihowa passed the following order: -
“Today the file has been produced. Counsel of parties
are present, Patwari and Kanoongo are also present who
as per the earlier order have provided for passage and
boundaries of the plots and about which the parties have
H
572 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2023] 3 S.C.R.
A been explained. There was no passage for these plots
earlier. Even then passage has been given from Khasra
802/1 and 806 from Village Kamoda to Village Jyotisar
which is connecting these villages. Another passage is
at the East side after 4-5 acres and if these plots did not
get any other passages then this is the correct place for
B
such passage. As per Naksha Be of partition, the partition
is accepted the details of which is as follows:
C
D
In addition to above for No.1 802/1-806-790/1-792/1
For No.2 0-4 0-4 0-2 x
E 792/1
0-2
Total: 0-12 Biswa
Now the case is to be listed on 30/8/82 after expiry of time for
appeal. Pronounced in Open Court.
F 31-7-82
Sd/-
A.C.Second Class
Pihova”
G (2.6) It further emerges that thereafter the defendant Jhabbar
Singh had filed an application before the Trial Court seeking
an amendment in the written statement in the suits stating
inter alia that during the pendency of the suits, the joint
khata including the suit lands had been partitioned by the
AC-I Grade, Pihowa vide order dated 31.07.1982.
H
JHABBAR SINGH (DECEASED) THROUGH LEGAL HEIRS v. 573
JAGTAR SINGH S/O DARSHAN SINGH [BELA M. TRIVEDI, J.]
Consequent upon such amendment, an additional issue came A
to be framed by the trial court vide the order dated
28.09.1982 in the suits, as to “whether the suit land has
been partitioned?”
(2.7) On 12.10.1982, the Collector Guhla dismissed the appeal
filed by the said Jagtar Singh and Others against the order B
dated 31.07.1982 passed by the Assistant Collector, Pihowa.
On 19.10.1982, the said Jagtar Singh had filed Revision
application before the Commissioner, in which the
Commissioner had initially granted stay against the operation
of the order dated 31.07.1982 upto 16.11.1982, however
the said stay was not extended thereafter. C
(2.8) Both the suits being 420/1981 and 421/1981 came to be
dismissed by the Civil Judge, SJIIC Kaithal vide the
judgments and decrees dated 01.12.1982, holding inter alia
that khewat in dispute had remained no more joint as per
the order dated 31.07.1982 and that the plaintiff had lost D
the joint status as the co-sharer on the date of passing the
judgment and decree. The First Appeals preferred by the
plaintiff Jagtar Singh also came to be dismissed by the
Additional District Judge, Kurukshetra, vide the judgment
and decrees dated 08.04.1983. E
(2.9) However, the RSA no. 1470/83 and RSA no. 1557/83
preferred by the plaintiff Jagtar Singh against the said
judgments and decrees of the First Appellate Court, came
to be allowed by the High Court vide the impugned common
judgment and order dated 17.08.2007.
F
3. The learned senior counsel Mr. Narender Hooda appearing for
the appellants (original defendants) placing reliance on the provisions
contained in Section 121 of the Punjab Land Revenue Act, 1887
(hereinafter referred to as the ‘Revenue Act’) submitted that after the
partition was completed, the function of the Revenue Officer to prepare
G
an instrument of partition and fixing the date for taking effect of the
partition was only an executory or ministerial act. As such “Naksha Be”
having already been prepared when the Assistant Collector had passed
the order, and the objections of the respondent (original plaintiff Jagtar
Singh) with regard to the mode of partition having already been rejected
vide his order dated 25.05.1982, the said “Naksha Be” had stood H
574 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2023] 3 S.C.R.
A confirmed, and thereafter the said “Naksha Be” was to be treated as
“Naksha Zeem” for the final allocation of lands between the parties.
According to him, thereafter the Assistant Collector had passed the order
on 31.07.1982 accepting the partition, and the appeal against the said
order preferred by Jagtar Singh before the Collector was dismissed on
12.10.1982, and therefore the right of pre-emption even if had existed in
B
favour of the plaintiff Jagtar Singh on the date of filing of the suits, did
not survive on the date of passing of the decrees in the civil suits on
01.12.1982. He further submitted that the right of pre-emption under the
Punjab Pre-emption Act, 1913 (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Pre-emption
Act’) is a weak kind of right, and as per the settled legal position, the
C right of pre-emption should not only exist on the date of filing of the suits,
but has to subsist on the date of passing of decree also. Mr. Hooda has
placed reliance on the decisions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court
in Har Devi vs. Ram Jas and Others (1974 PLJ 345); Lala Ram vs.
The Financial Commissioner, Haryana (1991 SCC Online P&H
1105); Pritam Singh Vs. Jaskaur Singh (1992 SCC Online P&H
D
676) and Munshi vs. The Financial Commissioner, Haryana,
Chandigarh (1993 SCC Online P&H 1086) to buttress his
submissions.
4. Per contra, the learned senior counsel, Mr. Rajiv Bhalla
appearing for the respondent repelling the submissions made on behalf
E of the appellants submitted that as per Section 121 of the Revenue Act,
the partition comes into effect one date to be notified by the Assistant
Collector in the instrument of partition and not on the date of preparation
of “Naksha Be” or “Naksha Zeem”. According to him, the said date is
significant for the purpose of determining the liability of the parties to
F pay the revenue and also for recording the ownership rights in the record
of rights. Mr. Bhalla relied upon the various proformas contained in the
Haryana Land Records Manual, 2013 to submit that the partition and
severance of status of the co-sharer could be notified by the Assistant
Collector only in accordance with Section 121 of the Revenue Act and
Clauses 18.12 to 18.14 of the Manual. Distinguishing the judgments relied
G upon by the learned senior counsel Mr. Hooda for the appellants, learned
senior counsel, Mr. Bhalla submitted that in the said cases, the status of
co-sharer had come to an end on the date set out in the instrument of
partition, whereas in the instant case neither the instrument of partition
was prepared, nor the date was determined by the Assistant Collector
H as per Section 121 of the Revenue Act, and therefore it could not be said
JHABBAR SINGH (DECEASED) THROUGH LEGAL HEIRS v. 575
JAGTAR SINGH S/O DARSHAN SINGH [BELA M. TRIVEDI, J.]
that the proceedings of partition had stood concluded before the date of A
decrees passed in the suits. Placing reliance upon the judgment of this
Court in case of Bishan Singh & Others vs. Khazan Singh & Another1
he submitted that the right of pre-emption is a right of substitution and
not a right of re-purchase and therefore the plaintiff was not required to
challengein the suits, the sale deeds executed in favour of the appellants-
B
defendants.
5. For the better appreciation of the rival contentions raised by
the learned counsel for the parties, it would be beneficial to refer to
some of the provisions contained in the Pre-emption Act and the Revenue
Act. Section 4 of the Pre-emption Act pertains to the right of pre-emption
which reads as under: C
“4. Right of pre-emption application of - The right of pre-
emption shall mean the right of a person to acquire agricultural
land or village immoveable property or urban immoveable property
in preference to other persons, and it arises in respect of such
land only in the case of sales and in respect of such property only D
in the case of -sales or of foreclosures of the right to redeem such
property.
Nothing in this section shall prevent a Court from holding that
an alienation purporting to be other than a sale is in effect a sale.”
6. Section 15 deals with vesting of right of pre-emption in favour E
of certain categories of persons. The relevant part thereof is reproduced
as under: -
“15.Persons in whom right of pre-emption vests in respect of
sales of agricultural land and village immovable property ~
(1) The right of pre-emption in respect of agricultural land and F
village immovable property shall vest-
(a)…….
(b) Where the sale is of a share out of joint land or property
and is not made by all the co-sharers jointly, -
G
First, in the sons or daughters or sons’ sons or daughters’
sons of the vendor or vendors;
Secondly, in the brothers or brother’s sons of the vendor or
vendors;
1
AIR 1958 SC 838 H
576 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2023] 3 S.C.R.
A Thirdly, in the father’s brother or father’s brother’s sons of
the vendor or vendor’s;
Fourthly, in the other co-shares;
Fifthly, in the tenants who hold under tenancy of the vendor
or vendor the land or property sold or a part thereof;
B
(c)…….”
7. The procedure for giving notice to the pre-emptor has been laid
down in Section 19 and the procedure for giving notice by the pre-emptor
to the vendor has been laid down in Section 20. Section 21 of the Pre-
C emption Act states that any person entitled to a right of pre-emption
may, when the sale or foreclosure has been completed, bring a suit to
enforce that right.
8. So far as the provisions contained in the Punjab Land Revenue
Act, are concerned, Chapter IX thereof pertains to the “Partition”. As
D per Section 111 thereof, the application for partition could be made by
any joint owner of land or any joint tenant of a tenancy in which a right
of occupancy subsists, to the Revenue Officer in the circumstances
mentioned therein. The procedure to be followed by the Revenue Officer
on receiving the application under Section 111 is laid down in Sections
113 to 120.
E
9. Section 118 pertaining to the disposal of other questions and to
the Appeal reads as under: -
“118. Disposal of other question: -(1) When there is a question
as to the property to be divided, or the mode of making a partition,
the Revenue-officer shall, after, such injury as he deems necessary,
F
record an order stating his decision on the question and his reasons
for the decision.
(2) An appeal may be preferred from an order under sub-section
(1) within fifteen days from the date thereof, and, when such an
appeal is preferred and the institution thereof has been certified
G to the revenue-officer by the [authority to whom the appeal has
been preferred] the Revenue-officer shall stay proceeding pending
the disposal of the appeal.
(3)……
H (4)……”
JHABBAR SINGH (DECEASED) THROUGH LEGAL HEIRS v. 577
JAGTAR SINGH S/O DARSHAN SINGH [BELA M. TRIVEDI, J.]
10. Section 121 which pertains to the instrument of partition, being A
relevant for our purpose is reproduced as under:
“121. Instrument of partition: - When a partition is completed,
the Revenue-officer shall cause an instrument of partition to be
prepared, and the date on which the partition is to take effect to
be recorded therein.” B
11. Section 123 pertains to the affirmation of partition made without
the intervention of the Revenue Officer which reads as under:
“123. Affirmation of partition privately affected: - (1) In any
case in which a partition has been made without the intervention
of a Revenue-officer, and party thereto may apply to a Revenue-
C
officer for an order affirming the partition.
(2) On receiving the application, the Revenue-officer shall inquire
into the case, and, if he finds that the partition has in fact been
made, he may make an order affirming it and proceed under section
119, 120, 121 and 122, or any of those sections, as circumstances
may require, in the same manner as if the partition had been made D
on an application to himself under this Chapter.”
12. At the outset, it may be noted that the plaintiff Jagtar Singh,
the predecessor of the present respondent, had filed the suits claiming
himself to be the co-sharer in the joint khewat along with the vendor Jit
Singh, and had sought relief against the defendant Jhabbar Singh and E
others with regard to the possession of the suit lands, on the ground that
he as a co-sharer had a superior right to pre-empt the sales, and that he
was not put to any notice of sale of the suit lands on or before the date
of such sales. In a very loosely drafted plaint, the plaintiff had neither
pleaded as to how he was the co-sharer, nor had he impleaded the said
Jit Singh, the owner of the suit lands, with whom he claimed to be the F
co-sharer, and who had sold the suit lands to the defendants Jhabbar
Singh and Others. It is needless to say that in a suit for pre-emption, the
vendor i.e., the owner of the suit land who had allegedly not given any
notice of sale to the plaintiff as required to be given under Section 19 of
the Pre-emption Act and against whom the right to pre-empt the sale is G
claimed would be a proper party if not a necessary party, for a complete
and final adjudication on the issues involved in the suit.
13. As held by this Court in U.P. Awas Evam Vikas Parishad vs.
Gyan Devi2, necessary party is one without whom no order can be
2
AIR 1995 SC 724 H
578 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2023] 3 S.C.R.
A made effectively; and a proper party is one in whose absence an effective
order can be made but whose presence is necessary for a complete and
final decision on the question involved in the proceedings. When a right
to pre-empt the sale was claimed by the plaintiff Jagtar Singh as a co-
sharer in the lands alongwith the owner Jit Singh, alleging that the
mandatory provisions contained in Section 19 i.e., for giving notice to the
B
pre-emptor, was not complied with by the owner or seller Jit Singh, his
presence as the party defendant was desirable along with the other
defendants Jhabbar Singh and Others, to effectively and finally decide
the disputes between the parties. Though, Order I, Rule 9 states that no
suit shall be defeated by reasons of the misjoinder or non-joinder of parties,
C care must be taken by the court to ensure that all the parties, be it the
plaintiff or the defendant, whose presence is necessary for complete and
final adjudication on the issues involved in the suit, are before the court.
That is the reason why the courts are empowered to strike out or add
parties, at any stage of the proceedings as per Order I, Rule 10, C.P.C.
D 14. Further, having regard to the absolutely sketchy and loosely
drafted plaint in the instant case, the Court is tempted to regurgitate the
basic and cardinal rule of pleadings contained in Order VI, Rule2(1) of
the Code, according to which every pleading (i.e., plaint or written
statement) has to contain a statement in concise form of the material
facts on which the party pleading relies for his claim or defence, as the
E case may be. Of course, the pleading need not contain the evidence by
which such material facts are to be proved, nonetheless the facts
necessary to formulate a complete cause of action i.e., the material
facts must be stated. Omission of a single material fact would lead to an
incomplete cause of action and in that case, the statement of claim would
F become bad in the eye of law.
15. Now, so far as the right of pre-emption is concerned, it may
be noted that it is a very weak right and could be defeated by all legitimate
methods. This Court as back as in 1958, in case of Bishan Singh and
Others vs. Khazan Singh & Another (supra), had set-forth the contours
G of the right of pre-emption. It was opined therein by the four-Judge
Bench that-
“11…..The right of pre-emption is not a right to the thing sold but
a right to the offer of a thing about to be sold. This right is called
the primary or inherent right. (2) The pre-emptor has a secondary
H right or a remedial right to follow the thing sold. (3) It is a right of
JHABBAR SINGH (DECEASED) THROUGH LEGAL HEIRS v. 579
JAGTAR SINGH S/O DARSHAN SINGH [BELA M. TRIVEDI, J.]
substitution but not of re-purchase i. e., the pre-emptor takes the A
entire bargain and steps into the shoes of the original vendee. (4)
It is a right to acquire the whole of the property sold and not a
share of the property sold. (5) Preference being the essence of
the right, the plaintiff must have a superior right to that of the
vendee or the person substituted in his place. (6) The right being
B
a very weak right, it can be defeated by all legitimate methods,
such as the vendee allowing the claimant of a superior or equal
right being substituted in his place.”
16. The afore-stated position was reiterated by this Court in Barasat
Eye Hospital vs. Kaustabh Mondal3, and again in the recent decision in
case of Raghunath (Dead) by LRs. vs. Radha Mohan (Dead) Through C
LRs. And Others4,wherein it has been observed as under: -
“14. We have given our thoughtful consideration to the aforesaid
issue and in order to determine the same, we had, at the inception
itself, set out the judgment in Barasat Eye Hospital case [Barasat
Eye Hospital v. Kaustabh Mondal, (2019) 19 SCC 767 : (2020) D
4 SCC (Civ) 810] . We have, thus, referred to the earlier judicial
view in para 10 of the judgment extracted aforesaid. The historical
perspective of the right of pre-emption shows that it owes its
origination to the advent of the Mohammedan rule, based on
customs, which came to be accepted in various courts largely E
located in the north of India. The pre-emptor has been held by the
judicial pronouncements to have two rights. Firstly, the inherent
or primary right, which is the right to the offer of a thing about to
be sold and the secondary or remedial right to follow the thing
sold. It is a secondary right, which is simply a right of substitution
in place of the original vendee. The pre-emptor is bound to show F
that he not only has a right as good as that of the vendee, but it is
superior to that of the vendee; and that too at the time when the
pre-emptor exercises his right. In our view, it is relevant to note
this observation and we once again emphasise that the right is a
“very weak right” and is, thus, capable of being defeated by all G
legitimate methods including the claim of superior or equal right.”
17. At this juncture, it would be also apt to mention that apart
from the fact that the right of pre-emption is very weak right and capable
3
(2019) 19 SCC 767
4
(2021) 12 SCC 501 H
580 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2023] 3 S.C.R.
A of being defeated by all legitimate methods, the pre-emptor must establish
that he had the right to pre-empt on the date of sale, on the date of the
filing of the suit and on the date of the passing of the decree by the Court
of the first instance. The pre-emptor or the claimant-plaintiff who claims
the right to pre-empt the sale on the date of sale, has also to prove that
such right continued to subsist till the passing of the decree of the first
B
court. If the claimant-plaintiff loses that right or the vendee improves his
right equal or above the right of the claimant before the adjudication of
the suit, the suit for pre-emption would fail.
18. This proposition of law has been well settled by this Court
since 1971, in case of Bhagwan Das (Dead) by LRS and Others vs.
C Chet Ram5. In the said case, this Court had approved the full bench
decision of Punjab High Court in Ramji Lal and Another vs. The State
of Punjab and Others6, which had ruled that a pre-emptor must maintain
his qualification to pre-empt upto the date of the decree.
19. The Constitution Bench in case of Shyam Sunder and Others
D vs. Ram Kumar and Another7 also while examining the issues whether
in a suit for pre-emption, the pre-emptor should possess his right to pre-
empt on the date of sale and on the date of the decree of the First Court,
and whether the loss of that right after the date of decree either by his
own act or by an act beyond his control or by any subsequent change in
E the legislation which is prospective in operation during the pendency of
the appeal filed against the decree of the Court of First instance, would
affect the right of the pre-emptor or not, has laid down certain principles,
after making analysis of various decisions including the decision of the
Full Bench rendered by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in Ramji
Lal vs. State of Punjab (supra).
F
“10. On an analysis of the aforesaid decisions referred to in first
category of decisions, the legal principles that emerge are these:
1. The pre-emptor must have the right to pre-empt on the date of
sale, on the date of filing of the suit and on the date of passing of
G the decree by the Court of the first instance only.
2. The pre-emptor who claims the right to pre-empt the sale on
the date of the sale must prove that such right continued to subsist
5
1971 (1) SCC 12
6
AIR 1966 P&H 374
H 7
(2001) 8 SCC 24
JHABBAR SINGH (DECEASED) THROUGH LEGAL HEIRS v. 581
JAGTAR SINGH S/O DARSHAN SINGH [BELA M. TRIVEDI, J.]
till the passing of the decree of the first court. If the claimant A
loses that right or a vendee improves his right equal or above the
right of the claimant before the adjudication of suit, the suit for
pre-emption must fail.
3. A pre-emptor who has a right to preempt a sale on the date of
institution of the suit and on the date of passing of decree, the loss B
of such right subsequent to the decree of the first court would not
affect his right or maintainability of the suit for pre- emption.
4. A pre-emptor who after proving his right on the date of sale, on
the date of filing the suit and on the date of passing of the decree
by the first court, has obtained a decree for preemption by the
C
Court of first instance, such right cannot be taken away by
subsequent legislation during pendency of the appeal filed against
the decree unless such legislation has retrospective operation.”
20. In the light of the afore-stated legal position, let us examine
whether the pre-emptor i.e., plaintiff Jagtar Singh had established his
superior right of pre-emption all through out from the date of the execution D
of the sale deeds by the original owner – vendor Jit Singh, till the date of
filing of the suit as also till the date of passing of the decree by the court
of the first instance.
21. Recapitulating the facts, it appears that the said plaintiff Jagtar
Singh, the predecessor of the present respondent, had filed the suits on E
06.04.1981 claiming his superior right to pre-empt the sale on the ground
of being co-sharer in the joint Khewat alleging inter-alia in the plaint
that the original owner of the suit lands Jit Singh had executed the
registered sale deeds on 07.04.1980 and 24.04.1980 in favour of the
defendants Jhabbar Singh and others, predecessors of the present
F
appellants, without giving any notice to the plaintiff. Since it was not
disputed that the plaintiff Jagtar Singh was the co-sharer in the joint
Khewat as per the Jamabandi for the year 1978-1979 (exhibit P-1), it
could be safely held that the plaintiff had the right of pre-emption on the
date of execution of the sale deeds in question and also on the date of
filing of the suits. G
22. However, the core issue that has fallen for consideration before
us is, whether the plaintiff Jagtar Singh had the right to pre-empt on the
date of passing of the decree by the trial court i.e. on 01.12.1982.
23. As stated earlier, pending the suits, the defendant Jhabbar
Singh had filed a Partition case being no. 78/TP in respect of lands in H
question before the Assistant Collector, in which the plaintiff Jagtar Singh
582 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2023] 3 S.C.R.
A had filed his objections. The Assistant Collector vide the order dated
25.05.1982 had rejected the objections of Jagtar Singh and had listed the
case on 31.05.1982 for the objections as to the “Naksha Be”, which
was already prepared and annexed to the file. As transpiring from the
record, on 31.07.1982, the Assistant Collector in presence of the parties
provided for the passage and the boundaries of the plots, and passed the
B
order giving details of partition as per the “Naksha Be”, mentioning as to
which of the khasara numbers would be allotted to Jhabbar Singh and
which to Jagtar Singh.
24. The trial court after discussing various decisions of the Punjab
and Haryana High Court held that the Khewat in dispute had remained
C no more joint as per the order dated 31.07.1982passed by the Assistant
Collector, and that the plaintiff had lost his status of a co-sharer on that
date. Therefore, according to the trial court, the plaintiff did not possess
the status of the co-sharer on the date of decree. The First Appellate
Court in the appeals preferred by the plaintiff Jagtar Singh, also while
D confirming the judgments and decrees passed by the trial court and
dismissing the appeals of the plaintiff held vide judgment and decree
dated 08.04.1983 that the joint relationship between the parties had come
to an end as soon as the order dated 31.07.1982 was passed by the
Assistant Collector, and that the plaintiff had ceased to be the co-sharer
in the land in dispute.
E
25. However, the High Court in the Second appeals preferred by
the original plaintiff Jagtar Singh reversed the concurrent findings recorded
by the two courts below and allowed the second appeals, holding inter
alia that on the date of the passing of the decree, no instrument of
partition was drawn by the Revenue Officer, and therefore it could not
F be said that the joint status of the parties had come to an end or that the
plaintiff had lost his superior right of pre-emption. The High Court while
passing the impugned order had followed its earlier judgment in Pritam
Singh vs. Jaskaur Singh8.
26. In our opinion, it is difficult to subscribe the view taken by the
G High Court in the impugned order that since no instrument of partition
was drawn on the date of passing of the decree by the trial court, the
joint status of the parties had not come to an end. Having duly considered
the provisions contained in the Punjab Land Revenue Act and also the
Haryana Land Records Manual placed on record by the learned counsel
H 8
1992 SCC online P&H 676
JHABBAR SINGH (DECEASED) THROUGH LEGAL HEIRS v. 583
JAGTAR SINGH S/O DARSHAN SINGH [BELA M. TRIVEDI, J.]
for the parties, it clearly emerges that as per Section 118 of the Land A
Revenue Act, when there is a question as to the property to be divided,
or the mode of making a partition, the Revenue Officer after such inquiry
as he deems necessary, is required to record an order stating his decision
on the question and record his reasons for the decision. Sub section 2 of
Section 118 provides for an appeal to be preferred from decision of the
B
Revenue Officer on the question of property to be divided, or the mode
of making the partition. As such, there is no further appeal provided
against the order in appeal passed under Section 118(2) of the Land
Revenue Act. Section 119 deals with the administration of the property
excluded from partition referred to in Clause 2 of Section 112, with which
we are not concerned. Section 120 deals with the provisions with regard C
to the distribution of revenue and rent after the partition.
27. The relevant Section 121 states that when the partition is
completed, the Revenue Officer shall cause an instrument of partition to
be prepared, and the date on which the partition is to take effect to be
recorded therein. If the said provision contained in Section 121 is closely D
read, it clearly appears that it deals with the procedure to be followed by
the Revenue Officer, after the partition is completed. Meaning thereby,
the Revenue Officer after the Partition is completed, has to cause an
instrument of partition to be prepared and record therein the date on
which the partition is to take effect. Therefore, when the inquiry as
contemplated in Section 118 on the question as to the property to be E
divided, or the mode of making partition is made by the Revenue Officer,
and an order stating his decision on the question along with the reasons
for such decision is passed, the partition is deemed to have completed,
subject to the decision of appeal that may be preferred against such
order as contemplated in sub-section 2 of Section 118. F
28. It is pertinent to note that Section 117 of the Punjab Land
Revenue Act confers discretion upon the Revenue Officer to decide the
question as to the title in any property of which the partition is sought,
either by himself or to refer the question to be determined by the
competent court. Thus, the jurisdiction of the Revenue Officer in the
G
cases of partition is concurrent with that of the civil court. Therefore,
for the purpose of interpreting Section 121 of the Land Revenue Act,
the Court can safely draw an analogy from the provisions contained in
Order XX, Rule 18 C.P.C. which pertain to the procedure to be followed
on the passing of the decree for the partition of the property. The said
provision reads as under :- H
584 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2023] 3 S.C.R.
A “18. Decree in suit for partition of property or separate
possession of a share therein.—Where the Court passes a
decree for the partition of property or for the separate possession
of a share therein, then,—
(1) if and in so far as the decree relates to an estate assessed to
B the payment of revenue to the Government, the decree shall
declare the rights of the several parties interested in the property,
but shall direct such partition or separation to be made by the
Collector, or any gazetted subordinate of the Collector deputed by
him in this behalf, in accordance with such declaration and with
the provisions of section 54;
C
(2) if and in so far as such decree relates to any other immovable
property or to movable property, the Court may, if the partition or
separation cannot be conveniently made without further inquiry,
pass a preliminary decree declaring the rights of the several parties
interested in the property and giving such further directions as
D may be required.”
29. This Court in case of Shub Karan Bubna Alias Shub Karan
Prasad Bubna v. Sita Saran Bubna and Others9, had an occasion to
deal with the said provisions contained in Order XX, Rule 18, and it was
observed as under:-
E
“7. …. In a suit for partition or separation of a share, the court at
the first stage decides whether the plaintiff has a share in the suit
property and whether he is entitled to division and separate
possession. The decision on these two issues is exercise of a
judicial function and results in first stage decision termed as
F “decree” under Order 20 Rule 18(1) and termed as “preliminary
decree” under Order 20 Rule 18(2) of the Code. The consequential
division by metes and bounds, considered to be a ministerial or
administrative act requiring the physical inspection, measurements,
calculations and considering various permutations/combinations/
alternatives of division is referred to the Collector under Rule
G
18(1) and is the subject-matter of the final decree under Rule
18(2).”
30. If the said analogy is applied to the provisions contained in the
Punjab Land Revenue Act pertaining to the Partition, we are of the
H 9
(2009) 3 SCC (Civ) 820
JHABBAR SINGH (DECEASED) THROUGH LEGAL HEIRS v. 585
JAGTAR SINGH S/O DARSHAN SINGH [BELA M. TRIVEDI, J.]
opinion that when a decision is taken by the Revenue Officer under A
Section 118 on the question as to the property to be divided and the
mode of partition, the rights and status of the parties stand decided and
the partition is deemed to have completed. At this stage, such decision is
required to be treated as the “decree”. The consequential action of
preparing the instrument of partition as contemplated in Section 121 of
B
the Land Revenue Act would be only ministerial or administrative act to
be carried out to completely dispose of the partition case instituted before
the Revenue Officer. Hence, once the decision on the property to be
divided and on the mode of partition is taken by the Revenue Officer
under Section 118, the joint status of the parties would stand severed on
the date of such decision, subject to the decision in appeal if any preferred C
by the party. The consequential action of drawing an instrument of
partition would follow thereafter. Hence, merely because the instrument
of partition was not drawn, it could not be said that the partition was not
completed or that the joint status of the parties was not severed.
31. The first part of Section 121 of the Land Revenue Act states D
that “when a partition is completed”. Meaning thereby, when the issue
with regard to the properties to be divided and the mode of making
partition stand decided and rights of the parties stand determined by the
Revenue Officer, the latter part of Section 121 for preparing the
instrument of partition and recording the date of partition would come
E
into play. Such actions required to be taken as contained in the latter part
of Section 121, would be only an executory work or administrative act to
be carried out for completely disposing of the partition case instituted by
the party before the Revenue Officer. Just as in case of a decree in civil
suit, the adjudication conclusively decides the rights of the parties with
regard to the matter in controversy, however the decree would be F
preliminary when further proceedings have to be taken before the suit
can be completely disposed of. In the same way, when the decision is
taken by the Revenue Officer under Section 118, the partition would
stand completed, the joint status of the parties would stand severed and
would remain no more joint, after the period of limitation prescribed G
under the Act. The further proceeding to draw an instrument of partition
would be only an executory or ministerial work to be carried out to
completely dispose of the partition case.
32. So far as the facts of the present case are concerned, the
Assistant Collector i.e., concerned Revenue Officer vide the order dated
H
586 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2023] 3 S.C.R.
A 25.05.1982 had rejected the objections raised by the plaintiff Jagtar Singh
and others with regard to the mode of partition and had confirmed the
mode of partition accordingly. On that day, the “Naksha Be” was already
annexed to the file and the case was listed on 31.05.1982 for hearing the
objections as to the “Naksha Be”. On 31.07.1982, the Assistant Collector
B passed the order stating inter alia that the Patwari and Kanungo were
present, and they had explained the parties about the passage and the
boundaries of the plots, and that as per “Naksha Be”, the partition was
accepted. The details of the number of khasras allotted to both the parties
i.e., to Jhabbar Singh and others and to Jagtar Singh were also mentioned
in the said order. The partition having been accepted as per the said
C “Naksha Be”, the joint status of the parties had stood severed. Of course,
the said order dated 31.07.1982 was challenged by the plaintiff Jagtar
Singh by way of an appeal before the Collector who vide the order
dated 12.10.1982 had dismissed the same. The said order of Collector
was further challenged by the said Jagtar Singh by filing revision
D application before the Commissioner. Though, the Commissioner had
initially granted stay against the operation of the order dated 31.07.1982
upto 16.11.1982, admittedly the said stay was not further extended
thereafter. Under the circumstances, the joint status of the parties had
come to an end on 31.07.1982, when the Assistant Collector passed the
order and when the same was confirmed by the Collector on 19.10.1982.
E
The trial court and the appellate court, under the circumstances, had
rightly held that the plaintiff Jagtar Singh did not possess the status of
co-sharer on the date of decree i.e., on 01.12.1982, and that his right of
pre-emption had not survived till the date of passing of the decree in the
suits. In our opinion, the High Court had grossly erred in misinterpreting
F the provisions of Punjab Pre-emption Act and of Land Revenue Act,
and in setting aside the judgments and decrees passed by the trial court
and the appellate court.
33. In that view of the matter, the impugned common order passed
by the High Court deserves to be quashed and set aside and is accordingly
G set aside. Both the appeals stand allowed accordingly.
Nidhi Jain Appeals allowed.
(Assisted by : Bhavyata Kapoor and Rakhi, LCRAs)
H
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