PYARE LAL AND ORS.versusMANI RAM AND ORS.

A                            PYARE LAL AND ORS.
                                           v.
                             MANI RAM AND ORS.

                                AUGUST 22, 2000

B                  [A.P. MISRA AND Y.K. SABHARWAL, JJ.]

          Quanoon Mal Riyasaat Gwalior. Samvat 1983 (Special Legislation)-
    Section 253(9)-Right of succession lo property-Belween male descendants
    and sons of daughter of great grandfather-Nearest blood relation-Meaning
C   of-Held, sister's son is not included in nearest blood relation-Section 2-
    Hindu Law of Inheritance (Amendment) Act, 1929.

          Stare Decisis-Applicability of

           Appellants and respondents both claimed a right of succession to
D   agricultural lands of H who died in 1948. The succession was governed by
    the Quanoon Mal Riyasaat Gwalior, Samvat 1983, a special legislation of
    the then Gwalior State (Special Legislation). The appellants and 'H' are
    cousins and are descendants of a common great grand father. The re-
    spondents are sons of H's sister. The respondents, after failing before
    Revenue Courts in their claim for succession, filed a suit for declaration
E   that they were owners of the land after H's death and also for restoration
    of possession from the appellants. The suit was decreed and was confirmed
    by the High Court. The Trial Court and the High Court have held that
    sister's son fall in the category of 'nearest blood relation' within the
    meaning of Section 253(9) of the Special Legislation.
F
          In this appeal, the appellants contended that deceased's sister or her
    sons would have no right to claim succession within the meaning of Section
    253(9) of the Special Legislation; that the clause only recognises the male
    descendants who are within three generations from father or grand father
    or great grand father.
G
          The respondents contended that section 253(9) of the Special Legis-
    lation on its own force covered the deceased's sister or her son, who alone
    can be said to be 'nearest blood relation' even if the Hindu Law amend-
    ment of 1929 was not read into the Special Legislation. It was further
H   contended that applying the concept of stare decisis, a different interpreta-
                                        618
                          PYARE LAL v. MANI RAM                           619
tion would result in unsettling property rights settled long ago.                 A

      Allowing the appeals, the Court

       HELD : 1.1. The Hindu Law of Inheritance (Amendment) Act, 1929
which came into force on 21st February, 1929 made a far reaching depar-
ture from the ancient rule by Section 2 providing that a son's daughter,          B
daughter's daughter, sister and sister's son shall in the order so specified,
be entitled to rank in the order of succession next after father's father and
before a father's brother. The amendment that was incorporated in
1943 in Section 253 of the Special Legislation by adding thereto in the
order of succession daughter of deceased, may have been inspired by               c
amendment of Hindu Law made in 1929. At the same time, however, no
amendment was made incorporating in Section 253 of the Special Legisla-
tion, the sister or sister's son of the deceased. The amendment made in
Hindu Law cannot be read into Special Legislation. Section 253 of the
Special Legislation is a part of Revenue Law of the erstwhile State of
                                                                                  D
Gwalior. It enacts the list of heirs. It applies to every such tenant uniformly
without reference to tenants personal law. It would be equally applicable to
all irrespective of deceased tenant being a Muslim, Hindu, Christian or
any other religion. Under these circumstances, the Hindu Law of Inherit-
ance (Amendment) Act, 1929 cannot be read into Section 253 of the Special
Legislation. [623-E-H]                                                            E

        1.2. Clause (9) of Section 253 does not only mention 'nearest blood
relation' as a last category in the order of succession. The 'nearest blood
relation' has been mentioned by way of illustration in the genealogical
tree, Appendix-3, as one who is within three generations from father or
                                                                                  F
grand father or great grand father. The 'nearest blood relations' are,
therefore, circumscribed by the limitation of three generations from fa-
ther's side. In Section 253, only daughter is mentioned in one of the
categories in order of succession. The sister or sister's sons are nowhere
mentioned. The sister or sister's son do not fall within three gener:ations
from father or grand father or great grand father. It is not a case of any        G
close or nearest blood relations as such falling within the meaning of clause
(9). It is only those nearest blood relations who fall in clause (9) who would
come in order of succession. It appears that on marriage, sister goes out of
the family and thus not shown in the family tree of the deceased. The
daughter was added in 1943 but not the sister or her sons. In the absence of      H
    620                 SUPREME COURT REPORTS                [2000] SUPP. 2 S.C.R.

A   mention of sister or sister's son in clause (9) or Appendix-3, the question of
    their being entitled to succession in preference to the descendants of the
    great grand father does not arise. The descendants of the great grand
    father clearly fall within three generations as contemplated by Appendix-
    3. The inclusion of daughter of the deceased in 1943 was deliberate and by
    the same token the omission of sister or her sons was also deliberate. If so,
B
    it is not possible to include them in the said provision now by interpreta-
    tion of clause (9) of Section 253 read with Appendix-3. [624-C-G]

           2. The principle of stare decisis has no applicability in the present
    case. No other decision of the High Court was brought to Court's notice
c   placing a similar interpretation on the provisions in question. Sister or
    sister's son cannot be brought in order of succession by applying the
    principle of stare decisis when they are clearly excluded. However, it is
    clarified that the interpretation of clause (9) of Section 253 of Special
    Legislation would not entitle anyone to reopen the issue of succession
    which stand already settled. This interpretation would be applicable pro-
D
    spectively. [625-A-B]

          CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal No. 3111 of 1990.

         From the Judgment and Order dated 21.2.90 of the Madhya Pradesh
    High Court in C.S.A. No. 393 of 1973.
E
         Shiv Dayal Shrivastava, Sushi! Kumar Jain, Sudhanshu Aterya, Pradeep
    Agarwal, Ms. A. Mishra, Ms. Gulnar Khan and Ms. Anjali Doshi for the
    Appellants.

F         S.S. Khanduja for the Respondents.

          The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

          Y.K. SABHARWAL, J. The question f~r determination in this appeal
    is whether sister's son or descendants of father's father's father are entitled to
G   inherent the property of the deceased. It is not in dispute that the right of
    succession in respect of the agricultural land in question is governed by a
    special legislation of the then Gwalior State, namely, Quanoon Mal Riyasat
    Gwalior, Samvat 1983 (hereinafter referred to as 'Special Legislation').

          On factual matrix, there is no dispute between the parties. The subject
H   matter of appeal is land in question left behind by one Harbilas. Harbilas died
               PYARE LAL v. MANI RAM [Y.K. SABHARWAL, .T.]                   621
in the year 1948. Who out of the aforesaid two categories have the right of          A
succession to his land, is the question? The appellants fall in the category of
descendants of great grand father of Harbilas. Appellants are sons of Hansraj.
Murli was father of Hansraj and Mohan was father of Murli. Harbilas was son
of Bhagwant. Ghanshyam was father of Bhagwant. Murli and Ghanshyam were
brothers, both being sons of Mohan. Mohan was, thus, great grand father of
                                                                                     B
Harbilas as also of appellants. The other defendants in the suit also belong to
different branches of great grand father, Mohan. The respondents are Harbilas's
sister's sons. After the death of Harbilas, his sister's sons having failed before
the Revenue Courts in their claim for succession, filed the suit which has given
rise to this appeal, inter alia, seeking a declaration as owners of the land left
behind by Harbilas and for restoration of possession thereof from the defend-        c
ants being descendants of great grand father of Harbilas. The suit for declara-
tion and restoration of possession has been decreed by the trial court. The
judgment and decree of the trial court has been affirmed in the first appeal as
also by the High Court in the second appeal. Under these circumstances, the
defendants in the suit are in appeal before us.
                                                                                     D
       The only question is about the interpretation of part of Section 253 of
the aforesaid Special Legislation. At the time of death of Harbilas, his sister
Kokila was alive. The plaintiffs in the suit, namely, Pooja Ram and Mani Ram
are sons of Kokila. Smt. Kokila died after the death of Harbilas. All the
defendants in the suit, as stated above, belong to several branches of descend-      E
ants of great grand father of Harbilas. The controversy relates to interpretation
of clause (9) of Section 253 of the Special Legislation read with Appendix-3
appended theret0. Admittedly, none of the claimants fall within clauses l to 8
of Section 253. Each of the two categories of claimants claim to fall within
clause (9). The Special Legislation is in Hindi. Counsel for the parties admit
that the correct English translation of Section 253 and Appendix-3 appended          F
thereto reads as under:-

         "253. Right to Skitul Malkiyat tenants and Maurusi tenants is heritable
         and order of succession to these tenants shall be as under:-

         (!)   Natural offspring seriatim i.e. first the son, then grand-son and     G
               in his absence great grand son.

         (2)   Widow of deceased during her life time or so long as she does
               not remarry.

         (3)   father of deceased.                                                   H
    622                  SUPREME COURT REPORTS                [200o] SUPP. 2 S.C.R.
A           (4)     mother of deceased.

            (5)    Son's widow, who lived jointly with deceased, during her life
                   time or so long as she does not marry.

            (6)     daughter of deceased.
B
            (7)    brother of deceased if born of the same father as was the de-
                   ceased.

            (8)     daughter's son.

c           (9)    nearest blood relation, in the abovesaid serial order, as shown by
                   way of illustration in genealogical tree appendix-3, who are
                   within three generations from father or grand father, or great
                   grand father."

                                       APPENDIX-3
D
           Great grand mother (2)         (19) Great Grand father
                                                             Widow ()         (21)

                  Grand mother (14)       ( 13) Grand father_ _
                                                       Widow () (16)Uncl
                                                                 (17)          (22)
E
                                                                  Son           (23)

                         Mother (6)       (5) Father
                                                 Widow(15) (9)
                                                           Bro-
                                                           ther
F
                                  Deceased: 4 Widow
                                                             Nep
                                                             (II)
                                                             hew
                                                                 1
                                                              (12) (18) Son
                                                              Son
                   Widow (7)      (!)Son                  (8)Daughter
G
                                      (2)Grandson         (IO)Son

                                      (3)Great Grandson

          It has been concurrently held by all courts that the sister's son of the
H   deceased fall in the category of the 'nearest blood relation' within the meaning
              PYARE LAL v. M>\NI RAM [Y.K. SABHARWAL, J.]                    623
of aforesaid clause (9) read with the third Schedule and on that finding, the suit   A
was decreed by the trial court which judgment and decree has been affirmed
in the first and second appeal.

       Learned counsel for the appellants contends that sister or sister's son
have no right to claim succession as neither sister nor sister's son are within
the contemplation of clause (9) of Section 253 of the Special Legislation. The
                                                                                     B
said clause, it is contended, only recognises the male descendants who are
within three generations from father or grand father or great grand father. It is
claimed that the appellants fall in that category. In the order of succession, the
daughter of the deceased is in the sixth position. It may, however, be noticed
that in the section and in Appendix-3 as originally stood, the daughter did not      c
find any place. Section 253 of Special Legislation as originally stood had only
clauses 1 to 8. Daughter of deceased was brought in by virtue of amendment
of Samvat year 1989 published in the Gwalior Government Gazette dated 15th
April, 1943. By the said amendment, 'daughter of the deceased' was inserted
below sons; widow as in clause (5) and above the brother of the deceased as
                                                                                     D
now in clause (7). Prior to amendment, clause (7) was clause (6). The High
Court has held that the amendment incorporating daughter of the deceased has
a historical background inasmuch as the ancient Hindu Law did not recognise
the sister and sister's son as heirs but Hindu Law of Inheritance (Amendment)
Act, 1929 which came into force on 21st February, 1929 made a far reaching
departure from the ancient rule by its Section 2 providing that a son's daughter,    E
daughter's daughter, sister and sister's son shall in the order so specified, be
entitled to rank in the order of succession next after father's father and before
a father's brother. The High Court observed that rule of succession enacted by
Special Legislation was also accordingly amended so as to get in tune with the
march of time. The amendment as aforestated that was incorporated in 1943            F
in Section 253 by adding thereto in the order of succession daughter of de-
ceased, may have been inspired by amendment of Hindu Law made in 1929.
At the same time, however, it has to be kept in view, that no amendment was
made incorporating in Section 253 of the Special Legislation, the sister or
sister's son of the deceased. The amendment made in Hindu Law cannot be
read into Special Legislation. Section 253 of Special Legislation is a part of       G
Revenue Law of the erstwhile State of Gwalior. It enacts the list of heirs, who
succeed an ex-proprietary or an occupancy tenant. It applies to every such
tenant uniformly without reference to tenant's personal law. It would be equally
applicable to all irrespective of deceased tenant being a Muslim, Hindu, Chris-
tian or any other religion. Under these circumstances, learned counsel for the       H
    624                  SUPREME COURT REPORTS                (2000) SUPP. 2 S.C.R.
A   respondents rightly conceded that the Hindu Law of Inheritance (Amendment)
    Act, 1929 cannot be read into Section 253 of the Special Legislation. The
    contention of learned counsel for respondents, Mr. Khanduja, however, is
    that abovesaid clause (9) on its own force covers the sister or sister's son who
    alone can be said to be 'nearest blood relation' within the meaning of the said
    clause. On the other hand, the contention of Mr. Jain, learned counsel for the
B
    appellants is that his clients fall within the meaning of 'nearest close relation'
    as in clause (9) which read with the appendix, nowhere mentions sister or
    sister's sons.

           Clause (9) of Section 253 does not only mention 'nearest blood relation'
c   as a last category in the order of succession. The 'nearest blood relation' has
    been mentioned by way of illustration in genealogical tree, Appendix-3, who
    are within three generations from father or grand father or great grand father.
    The 'nearest blood relations' are, therefore, circumscribed by the limitation of
    three generations from father's side. The appellants are descendants of great
    grand father of Harbilas, namely, Mohan. In Section 253, only daughter is
D   mentioned in one of category in order of succession. The sister or sister's sons
    are nowhere mentioned. The sister or sister's son do not fall within three
    generations from father or grand father or great grand father. It is not a case
    of any close or nearest blood relations as such falling within the meaning of
    clause (9). It is only those nearest blood relations who fall in clause (9) who
E   would come in order of succession. It appears that on marriage, sister goes out
    of family and has thus not being shown in the family tree of the deceased. The
    daughter was added in 1943 but not the sister or her sons. In the absence of
    mention of sister or sister's son in clause (9) or Appendix-3, the question of
    their being entitled to succession in preference over the descendants of the
    great grand father does not arise. The descendants of great grand father clearly
F   fall within three generations as contemplated by Appendix-3. It is nobody's
    case that prior to amendment of 1943, sister or sister's son were included in
    clause (9) or in Appendix-3 but the daughter of deceased was not included.
    Therefore, inclusion of daughter of the deceased in 1943 was deliberate and
    by the same token the omission of sister or her sons was also deliberate. If so,
G   it is not possible to include them in the said provision now by interpretation
    of clause (9) of Section 253 read with Appendi)l.-3.

             Learned counsel for the respondents also sought to bring in the concept
    of .\'tare decisis and submitted that the interpretation sought to be placed on the
    aforesaid pr!Jvision by the High Court has stood the stand of time over number
H   of years and a different interpretation now would result in unsettling property
               PYARE LAL v. MANI RAM [Y.K. SABHARWAL, J.]                      625
rights settled long ago. The said principle has no applicability in the present        A
case. No other decision of the High Court was brought to our notice placing
the similar interpretation on the provisions in question. The sister or sister's son
cannot be brought in order of succession by applying the principle of stare
decisis when they are clearly excluded. However, we make it clear that the
interpretation of clause (9) of Section 253 of Special Legislation placed by us
                                                                                       B
would not entitle anyone to reopen the issue of succession which stand already
settled. This interpretation would be applicable prospectively.

      For the aforesaid reasons, we. allow the appeal and set aside the im-
pugned judgment. The suit of the plaintiffs stands dismissed. In the facts and
circumstances of the ca$e, parties are left to bear their own costs.                   c
B.S.                                                             Appeal allowed.