Holding

The succession is governed by Section 174; Jallo's proprietary right subsumed Tunda's tenancy rights, and her daughters inherit as per the statutory order of succession.

Summary

Jallo purchased the proprietary right of a Zamindari estate in 1933 and became the khudkhash-holder. She later inducted her husband Tunda as a tenant, who died in 1947‑48. After the enactment of the U.P. Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1950, a dispute arose over who succeeded to the estate of either Tunda or Jallo. The Allahabad High Court held that Jallo succeeded only to Tunda's tenancy rights and that, under Section 172, the succession would pass to the nearest male heir, Birbal. The Supreme Court rejected this view, observing that Jallo was the proprietor and Tunda's lesser tenancy right merged into her proprietary right, so Section 174, not Section 172, governed succession. Consequently, Jallo's daughters were entitled to inherit, the appeal was allowed, and the High Court's order was set aside.

Issues considered

Whether the succession to the Zamindari estate after the death of Tunda and Jallo is governed by Section 172 or Section 174 of the U.P. Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1950.
Whether the tenancy rights of Tunda merged with Jallo's proprietary right upon his death.

Legislation cited

U.P. Tenancy Acts. 40
U.P. Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1950s. 171, s. 172, s. 174

Subjects

Zamindari abolitionsuccessionproprietary righttenancySection 172Section 174intestate successionUttar Pradesh land reforms

Judgment

SMT. CHATRO WIDOW OF NAND RAM AND ORS. A
v.
SAHAYAK SANCHALAK CHAKBANDI, MEERUT AND ORS.

DECEMBER 11, 1996

(K. RAMASWAMY AND G.T. NANAVATI, JJ.] B

U.P. Zamindari Abolition and Land Refonns Act, 1950: Sections 171,
172 and 174.

J purchased proprietary right of Zamindari-She inducted her husband C
T as tenant who died in 1947-48-T not a Bhumidar but J was a
Bhumidar-Question as to who had succeeded to the estate of either T or
!--High Cowt holding that J succeeded tenancy rights held by T and that she
having died intestate, the succession would be in the line as provided in
section 172-ffeld view taken by High Court was not co"ect-J being the
proprietor her husband had only tenancy rights; on his demise, the lesser right D
of tenancy which her husband had got merged with that right as a proprietor
and therefore brother of T was not entitled under Section 172-Section 174
alone would apply.

Practice and Procedure-Raising fresh plea at appellate stage-Pennis- E
sibility of

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDJCI10N : Civil Appeal No. 669 of 1980.

From the Judgment and Order dated 8.5.79 of the Allahabad High
Court in C.M.W.P. No. 1949 of 1973.
F
B.D. Aggarwal and P.D. Sharma for the Appellants.

S.P. Sharma for the Respondents.

The following Order of the Court was delivered :
G
This appeal by special leave arise from the judgment of the learned
single judge of the Allahabad High Court, made in W.P. No. 1894/73 on
May 8, 1979.

The admitted facts are that one Jallo had purchased the proprietary
right of Zarnindari in 1933. She, thereby, became Khudkhash-holder, in H
971
972 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1996] SUPP. 9 S.C.R.

A other words, proprietary-holder. She inducted her husband Tunda as a tenant
who died in 1358 F., i.e., 1947-48. The U.P. Zamindari Abolition Act came <:!
into force in 1359 F., i.e., 1948-49. The question arose : as to who had
succeeded to the estate of either Tunda or Jallo in respect of the lands bearing
Khata Nos. 76, % and 108 in Danawali @ Atta within police station Nachra
B Tehsil Hapur, District Meerut, now renamed as Ghaziabad? The Tribunals
under the Consolidation Act had held that after the demise of Tunda the
subordinate interest of tenancy rights held by him stood merged in the
proprietary right held by Jallo and thereby Section 174 of the U.P. Zamindari
Abolition and Land Reforms Act (for short, the 'Act') would apply which
stood confirmed by the Director. In the writ petition the learned single judge
C had held that since Tunda had the tenancy rights and on his demise his wife
succeeded to the tenancy rights, by operation of Section 172 of the Act; she
succeeded to that interest as a widow of Tunda and on her demise the.
succession would go to the heirs specified in Section 172. Birbal, the brother
of Tunda, therefore, would get the tenancy rights in preference to the appel-
D !ants-daughters of Tunda and Jallo. The question is: whether the view taken
by the High Court is correct in law?

It is seen that under Section 171 of the Act the general order of
succession is regulated. It postulates that subject to the provisions of
Section 169, when a bhumidar or assami, being a male, dies, his interest in
E holding shall devolve in accordance with the order of succession envisaged
therein. Since Tunda was not a bhumidar of the lands in the aforestated
Khata numbers, Section 171 has no application. Section 172 prescribes
succession thus :

F "172. Succession in the case of a woman holding an interest inherited
as a widow --------- (1) when a bhumidar, or assami who has after
the date of vesting, inherited an interest in any holding (a) as a
widow - dies, and such bhumidar was on the date immediately
before the said date an intermediary of the land comprised in the
holding or held as a fixed rate tenant, or an exproprietary or
G occupancy tenant in Avadh or as a tenant on special terms in
Avadh and she - shall devolve upon the nearest surviving heir (such
heir bring ascertained in accordance with the provisions of Section <
171) of last male intermediary or tenant."

H The question is: whether Jallo succeeded to the tenancy rights of
CHA1RO v. SAHAYAKSANCHALAKCHAKBANDI 973

Tunda? As held, Tunda was not a bhumidar. On the other hand, Jallo was A
the bhumidar. Though Tunda had assami rights in the land as a tenant
during his lifetime, on his demise when she succeeded him, the subordinate
right of assami stood merged with bhumidari higher right held by J allo and
that, therefore, the succession under Section 172 was not open to any one.
Section 174 envisages thus : B
"Succession to a woman holding an interest otherwise :- when a
bhumidar or assami (other than a bhumidar or assami mentioned
in Section 171 or 172) who is a woman dies, her interest in the
holding shall devolve in accordance with the order of succession
given below : C
a) Son ..... .

b) Husband .....

c) Daughter ........ " D

It is seen that when Jallo died intestate, her succession to an estate
held by her is otherwise than provided in Section 171 or 172. As a
consequence, the succession was open in accordance with the order en-
visaged therein. In the absence of sons, necessarily the next line of descen- E
dants in order is of daughters. The appellants being daughters, they are
entitled to succeed over others enumerated in clauses (e) to (i). Under the
circumstances, the view of the learned single judge that J allo succeeded
tenancy rights held by Tunda and that she having died intestate, the
succession would be in the line as provided in Section 172, is not correct
in law. F
Learned counsel for the respondents contended that there were 8
tenants including Tunda, the husband of .Jallo and Birbal being one of the
successors-in-interest, is also entitled to the property as an heir of owner-
ship of Tunda. In support thereof, he wanted to rely upon Section 40 of G
the U.P. Tenancy Act. Such argument was not addressed before the High
- ... Court. We cannot allow the learned counsel to raise that question for the
first time. The High Court proceeded on the premise that Tunda is the
tenant and he having died intestate, his wife Jallo succeeded to the proper-
ty as a tenant to the tenancy rights. On that basis the learned judge had
applied Section 172 of the Act. In view of the above findings of fact we H
974 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1996) SUPP. 9 S.C.R.

A have already considered that Jallo being the proprietor her husband had
only tenancy rights; on his demise, the lesser right of tenancy which her
husband had got merged with that right as a proprietor and therefore
Birbal is not entitled under Section 172. Section 174 alone would apply to
the facts and circumstances.

B The appeal is allowed. The judgment and order of the learned single
judge stands set aside. Consequently, the writ petition stands dismissed. No
costs.

The Contempt Petition is dismissed.

C T.N.A. Appeal allowed.