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REPORTABLE

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION  

CIVIL APPEAL NOS.170-173 OF 2011  

UNIVERSITY OF MYSORE                ….. APPELLANT

                VERSUS

RAJAIAH (DEAD) BY LRS.  & ORS.                   ….. RESPONDENTS

J  U  D  G  M  E N T

S.ABDUL NAZEER, J.  

1. The appellant-University of Mysore has filed these appeals challenging the

common judgment and order passed by the High Court of Karnataka, Bangalore, in

RSA Nos.456 of 2000, 457 of 2000, and in W.P. Nos. 1649 of 2001 and 4302 of

2001 dated 25.06.2004, whereby the High Court has dismissed the appeals and the

writ petitions.

2. Rajaiah since deceased by his LRs and Chamundi (hereinafter referred to as

the ‘private respondents’) both sons of late Nanjaiah Thavarekatte, filed two suits,

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being OS No. 20/1995 and OS No.21/1995, on the file of the Second Munsiff and

JMFC at Mysore against the University of  Mysore (hereinafter referred to as ‘the

University’) for injunction restraining the University, their officials, subordinates

or  anybody  acting  on  their  behalf  from  interfering  with  their  possession  and

enjoyment of the suit schedule properties.  The suit schedule property in OS No.

20/1995 is as under:-

“Patta  land  bearing  Sy.  No.4,  situated  at Kurubarahalli,  Mysore  Taluk,  measuring  4.00 acres, and kharab land 4.00 acres of the same Sy. Number,  abutting  to  the  same  land,  situated  at Kurubarahalli, Mysore Taluk, bounded on –

East : by Main road. West : By Holla. South : By Bull road North : By Private land.”

The suit schedule property in OS No. 21/1995 is as under:-

“Patta land bearing Sy. No.4 measuring 4.00 acres, situated at Kurubarahalli, Mysore taluk,  and land measuring 4.00 acres of  kharab land, situated in the same number, abutting to the said land, situated at  Kurubarahalli, Mysore, bounded on the

East : By Halla & Property of Rajaiah West : By property of R.K. Muthu South : By Bull road. North : By land of Narayanappa.”

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3. In O.S. No. 20/95 the case pleaded by the private respondent-Rajaiah is that

he was the tenant of 4 acres of land in Sy. No.4 of Kurubarahalli village, Mysore,

and the landlord was Maharaja of Mysore.  On coming into force the Karnataka

Land Reforms Act, 1961 (for short ‘the KLR Act’) he filed a declaration seeking

occupancy  right  in  respect  of  the  said  land.   After  contest,  the  Land  Tribunal

granted occupancy right in respect of the said land in his favour.  He has been in

possession and enjoyment of the said property.    

4. The case put forth by the private respondent-Chamundi in OS No.21/95 is

that his father late Nanjaiah was an agricultural tenant in respect of 4 acres of patta

land abutting 4 acres of  Kharab land situated in Sy. No.4 of  Kurubarahalli village,

Mysore  under  Maharaja  of  Mysore.  On  enforcement  of  the  Act,  the  schedule

property vested in the Government.   His  father  had filed a declaration seeking

grant of occupancy right in respect of the aforesaid 4 acres of land. After contest,

the occupancy right had been conferred upon his father on 5.6.1981.  After the

death of his father the khata of the said property was transferred to his name and

that he has been in possession and enjoyment of the said property.  

5. In  both  the  suits,  private  respondents  have  further  contended  that  the

defendant-University has got no manner of right, title and interest over the said

property and that the officers of the University are interfering with their possession

and enjoyment of said property.

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6. University  filed  written  statement  in  both  the  suits  denying  the  plaint

averments.  It was contended that the President of India had executed a deed of

lease  dated  30.11.1970  in  respect  of  22  acres  of  land  in  Survey  No.4  of

Kurubarahalli, Kasaba Hobli, Mysore Taluk  bounded on the North by remaining

portion of Sy No.4, South by road, East by road and West by remaining portion of

Serial No.4 of Kurubarahalli in its favour.  The lease was for a period of 99 years.

Based on the lease deed, University has been in absolute possession and enjoyment

of the aforesaid land.  The suit scheduled property is part and parcel of this land.  It

was contended that the private respondents have no manner of right, title or interest

whatsoever in respect of the said property.

7. On the basis of the pleadings of the parties, the trial court framed relevant

issues.  The parties have let in evidence in support of their respective contentions.

On  appreciation  of  materials  on  record,  the  trial  court  dismissed  the  suits  by

judgment and decree dated 5.2.1998.

8. The private respondents challenged the said judgment and decree by filing

RA  Nos.87/98  and  88/98  before  the  II  Addl.  Civil  Judge  (Senior  Division),

Mysore.  After hearing, the First Appellate Court allowed the appeals on 6.3.2000

and the suits filed by the private respondents were decreed only insofar as 4 acres

of patta land is concerned.  Both the suits in respect of kharab land to an extent of 4

acres each were dismissed.

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9. University challenged the said decree of the First Appellate Court by filing

RSA No. 456 of 2000 and RSA No.457 of 2000 before the High Court.

10. During the pendency of these appeals, University filed WP No.1649 of 2001

and WP No. 4302 of 2001, challenging the legality and correctness of the order

dated 5.6.1981 passed by the Land Tribunal, Mysore, in KL/RF/4480/79-80 and

4481/79-81 (Annexure P-3) whereby occupancy right in respect of 4 acres of land

each has been granted in favour of the private respondent Rajaiah, and Nanjaiah,

father of the other private respondent Chamundi.   It was contended that by  a  deed

of gift dated 12.8.1965, Maharaja of Mysore had gifted 22 acres of land in Survey

No.4  of  Kurubarahalli  village,  Kasaba  Hobli,  Mysore  Taluk,  in  favour  of  the

President  of  India and the President  of  India leased the said land in favour of

University by executing a lease deed dated 30.11.1970.  The land in question did

not  belong to  the  Maharaja  of  Mysore,  when Rajaiah  and Nanjaiah  had made

applications for grant of occupancy right. Having regard to Section 107 of the KLR

Act, the application filed by Rajaiah and Nanjaiah was not maintainable.  It was

further contended that the order passed by the Land Tribunal granting occupancy

right was without jurisdiction.  It was also contended that the University was not

made party to the proceedings before the Land Tribunal.  Mysore Palace was made

a party to the proceedings which has nothing to do with the land in question at the

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relevant point  of  time. University  has assigned cogent reasons for  the delay in

filing the writ petitions challenging the order of the Land Tribunal.

11. The  High  Court  by  a  common  judgment  dated  25.6.2004  dismissed  the

appeals as well as the writ petitions.  

12. The State of  Karnataka has filed objections to these appeals on 13.4.2012

contending  that  the  private  respondents  have  managed  to  create  certain  bogus

documents to their advantage and produced the same before the civil court so as to

establish their claim over the lands in question contending that the occupancy right

has been granted in their favour.  It was further contended that on verification of

the records,  it  was  noticed that  K.L.R.M.  No.  4480/79 is  in  respect  of  Survey

No.42 of  Dadadahalli village, Mysore Taluk, which is to an extent of 2 acres and

the occupancy right as per Form No.10 was granted to one Sri Siddaiah, son of

Madaiah.   K.L.R.M.  No.4481/79 is  in  respect  of  Survey No.39 of  Dadadahalli

village, Mysore Taluk, which is to an extent of 2 acres, and the occupancy right has

been granted in favour of Sri Shivanna, son of  Nanjegowda.  On perusal of the

Declaration  Register  pertaining  to  Kurubarahalli  village,  Mysore  Taluk,  it  was

noticed that there is no entry for having filed declaration in Form No.7 by the

private respondents.  The  K.L.R.F. bearing No. 4480/79 and 4481/79 is in respect

of  lands  pertaining  to  Dadadahalli  village,  Jayapura  Hobli  which  has  been

fraudulently made use of by the private respondents, creating Form No.10 in their

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favour just to claim rights illegally over the land belonging to the University. The

private respondents have not filed any application in Form No.7 in respect of the

suit schedule property as per the register maintained with respect to Kurubarahalli

village.  It is also stated that the respondents-plaintiff have not come to the court

with clean hands.  Therefore, Tahsildar, Mysore Taluk, has filed a complaint to the

jurisdictional police vide letter dated 23.1.2012 and the jurisdictional police have

filed  an  FIR  before  the  3rd JMFC  Court,  Mysore,  wherein  the  case  has  been

registered against  the LRs of the Rajaiah and Nanjaiah under Sections 465, 466,

468.  471,120(B)  and  420  of  IPC  and  Section  192(a)  of  the  Karnataka  Land

Revenue Act, 1964.  

13. Shri  Guru  Krishna  Kumar,  learned  senior  advocate,  appearing  for  the

appellant-University, submits that the title set up by the private respondents over

the  subject  land  is  fraudulent  and  based  on  forged  documents.    Rajaiah  and

Nanjaiah had not filed applications for grant of occupancy right in respect of the

schedule lands. The applications have been filed by Sri Siddaiah and Sri Shivanna

in respect of some other land in Dadadahalli village.  The reference numbers for

applications for another village have been unscrupulously used while forging the

Land Tribunal’s order dated 5.6.1981.   

14. Alternatively, it is submitted that Maharaja of Mysore had granted 22 acres

of  land  in  Survey  No.4  of  Kurubarahalli,  Kasaba  Hobli,  Mysore  Taluk  of

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Kurubarahalli  in  favour  of  President  of  India  by  a  registered  gift-deed  dated

12.8.1965  (Annexure  P-1)  and  that  the  said  land  was  leased  in  favour  of  the

University by the President of India by a deed of lease dated 30.11.1970 (Annexure

P-2).   The land did not belong to the Maharaja of Mysore on the appointed date.

Neither  the  University  nor  the  Government  of  India  was  made  party  to  the

proceedings  before the  Land Tribunal.   But,  Mysore  Palace  was made a  party

which has nothing to do with the land when the alleged application was made for

grant of occupancy right.   The KLR Act has no application to the lands belonging

to the Government or held on lease by a University having regard to Section 107 of

the said Act.

15. It is further argued that the private respondents are not in possession of the

schedule property.  Possession of the land is and has been with the University.

Upon discovery of the fraud perpetuated by the private respondents, the University

by way of I.A Nos.12-15 of  2010 and the State of Karnataka by way of written

statement along with the affidavit, placed the relevant documents on record before

this Court as far back as in the years 2010-12.  The private respondents have not

placed on record any rebuttable documents. It is argued that the University has also

assigned  justifiable  reasons  for  the  delay  in  approaching  the  High  Court  for

quashing the order of the Land Tribunal.   The High Court has, however, failed to

accept the said reasons.  

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16. Shri Devadatt Kamat, learned Additional Advocate General, appearing for

the  respondent-State  of  Karnataka,  has  supported  the  stand  taken  by  the

appellant-University. He has produced the original records in relation to the lands

in question.  He has pointed out that the land did not belong to the Mysore Palace

when the applications said to have been made by Rajaiah and Nanjaiah for grant of

occupancy right. The order dated 5.6.1981 at Annexure P-3 is a forged document.  

17. Shri  Nagmohan  Das,  learned  senior  counsel  appearing  for  the  private

respondents, supported the judgment of the High Court. It is submitted that the

Land Tribunal has rightly granted the occupancy right in respect of the said lands

in  favour  of  the  private  respondents.  When  the  appellant-University  tried  to

interfere  with  their  possession,  they  filed  the  suits  for  injunction  which  were

decreed by the First Appellate Court.   The High Court has rightly dismissed the

second appeal filed by the University.   Learned counsel prays for dismissal of

these appeals.  

18. We have carefully  considered the submissions of  learned counsel  for  the

parties made at the Bar and carefully perused the materials placed on record.

19. Having  regard  to  the  contentions  urged,  the  first  question  for  our

consideration is whether the University is a lessee of the schedule property. It is

clear from the materials placed on record that originally the property in question

belonged to the Maharaja of Mysore.  He gifted the said property to the President

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of India for starting Logopedics Institute in Mysore as per registered gift-deed at

Annexure  P-1,  dated  12.8.1965.   Since  the  land  was  not  suitable  for  the  said

purpose, Union of India requested the University of Mysore to give some other

land and accordingly the University gave 32 acres of its land.  In lieu of the same,

the Union of India leased 22 acres of the said land for 99 years commencing from

30.11.1997 in favour of the University.  This is evident from the registered lease

deed  at  Annexure  P-2  dated  30.11.1970.  It  was  a  vacant  land.  The  schedule

properties are a part and parcel of the said land.  It is thus clear that the University

was the lessee of the said land.

20. This takes us to the next question as to whether Rajaiah and Nanjaiah had

made applications for grant of occupancy right in respect of the schedule lands and

whether  the  order  of  the  Land  Tribunal  at  Annexure  P-3  dated  5.6.1981  is  in

respect  of  the  said  lands.   The  University  and  the  State  Government  have

contended  that  the  contesting  respondents  have  managed  to  create  bogus

documents to their advantage in relation to the land in question.  In order to test the

correctness of this submission, we have verified the original records produced by

the  learned Additional  Advocate  General  representing  the  State  Government  in

relation  to  the  properties  in  question.  The  order  dated  5.6.1981  of  the  Land

Tribunal at Annexure P-3 shows that the Land Tribunal passed the order granting

occupancy right at Annexure P-3 in KL/RF/4480/79-80 and 4481/79-80.  A perusal

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of the records reveals that K.L.R.M. No.4480/1979 is in respect of Sy. No.42 of

Dadadahalli village, Mysore Taluk to an extent of 2 acres of land and occupancy

right in the said case was granted to one Sri Siddaiah, son of Madaiah.  K.L.R.M.

No.4481/79 is in respect of  Sy. No.39 of   Dadadahalli village, Mysore Taluk to an

extent of  2 acres of land and the occupancy right in the said case was granted in

favour of Sri Shivanna, son of  Nanjegowda.   The Declaration Register maintained

by the Land Tribunal pertaining to Kurubarahalli, Mysore Taluk  does not contain

any entry for having filed declaration form in Form No.7 by Rajaiah and Nanjaiah.

As  noticed  above,  K.L.R.F.  No.  4480/79  and  4481/79  is  in  respect  of  lands

belonging to Dadadahalli village, Jayapura Hobli which has been used by Rajaiah

and Nanjaiah for creating Form No.10 in their favour in respect of schedule land.

21. The University has filed IA Nos.12-15 of 2010 narrating the aforesaid facts

along with the supporting documents. The State Government has also given the

aforesaid particulars  in  their  statement  of  objections.  IA Nos.  12-15/2010 have

been filed in the year 2010 and the State Government has filed objections in the

year  2012.   Respondents  have  not  filed  any  rebuttal  documents  or  additional

written statement. It is clear that the order of the Land Tribunal at Annexure P-3 is

a fabricated document.

22. Now let us consider the alternative submission of the University that the

alleged application of  Rajaiah and Nanjaiah for grant of occupancy right was not

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maintainable  and  the  alleged  order  at  Annexure  P-3  has  been  passed  without

jurisdiction.  Section 44(1)  of  the KLR Act,  1961 which came into force w.e.f.

1.3.1974 provides for vesting of the land in the State Government.  It  reads as

under:

“44.  Vesting of  lands in the State Government.—(1) All  lands  held  by  or  in  the  possession  of  tenants (including tenants  against  whom a  decree  or  order  for eviction or a certificate for resumption is made or issued) immediately prior to the date of commencement of the Amendment  Act,  other  than lands  held  by them under leases permitted under Section 5, shall, with effect on and from the said date, stand transferred to and vest in the State Government.”   

23. The KLR Act is not made applicable to certain lands.  This is  clear from

Section 107 of the Act.  The relevant provisions for the purpose of this case are

sub-Section (1)(i) and (iii) of Section 107, which is as under:

“107. Act not to apply to certain lands.—(1) Subject to the provisions of Section 110, nothing in this Act, except Section 8, shall apply to lands,—  

(i) belonging to Government;  

                 [(ii) * * * * *];

(iii)  belonging to  or  held  on lease  by or  from a  local authority, an Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee constituted  under  the  Karnataka  Agricultural  Produce Marketing Regulation Act, 1966 (Karnataka Act No. 27 of  1966),  a  University  established  by  law in  India,  [a research  institution  owned  or  controlled  by  the  State Government  or  the  Central  Government  or  both]  [an

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Agricultural Research Institution recognised by the State Government or the Central Government], the  Karnataka Bhoodhan Yagna Board established under the Karnataka Bhoodhan  Yagna  Act,  1963  (Karnataka  Act  No.  34  of 1963).”

 24. It is clear from the aforesaid provisions that any land belonging to or held on

lease by a University established by law is not subject to the provisions of the KLR

Act. The said Act is also not applicable to the land belonging to the Government.

In the instant case, the land in question belongs to the University.  The registered

gift  deed dated 12.8.1999 at Annexure P-1 executed by Maharaja of Mysore in

favour of the President of India and the lease deed dated 30.11.1970 executed by

the President of India in favour of the University clearly establishes the said fact.

Therefore, assuming that Rajaiah and Nanjaiah had made applications for grant of

occupancy right in respect of the schedule property, the said applications were not

maintainable and the order at Annexure P-3 has been passed without jurisdiction.

Therefore, the private respondents cannot claim any right in respect of the schedule

lands on the basis of the order at Annexure P-3.

25. There  is  also  no  merit  in  the  contention  of  the  learned  senior  counsel

appearing for the private respondents that the writ petitions are highly belated.  As

has been stated above, neither the University nor the Government of India was

made a party to the proceedings before the Land Tribunal.  Though Mysore Palace

was made a party, it has nothing to do with the lands in question at the relevant

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point of time.  The lands in question did not vest in the State Government on the

appointed date, namely, 1.03.1974 as it belongs to University.  It is only when the

Deputy Commissioner informed the University that some persons are trying to get

the records changed in their names on the basis of the order of the Land Tribunal,

the University took steps to challenge the said order.  The records produced before

us clearly establishes that the University has taken steps to challenge the said order

diligently thereafter.  We are of the view that the High Court was not justified in

dismissing the writ petitions on the ground of delay and latches.  

26. The order dated 20.1.2012 of the Assistant Commissioner at Annexure R-6

clearly shows that the University is in possession of the said land. It is submitted at

the Bar that the said order of the Assistant Commissioner has been challenged by

the private respondents before the High Court by filing a writ petition and that the

said writ petition is pending.  It is also evident that the criminal case filed by the

jurisdictional police against the private respondents is also pending before the 3rd

JMC Court, Mysore. The concerned courts are requested to dispose of these cases

expeditiously in accordance with law.

27. In our view, the High Court was not justified in holding that  the private

respondents are in possession of the lands in question.  They do not have title or

are in possession of the said lands. It is also clear that the University is in lawful

possession of the said lands.  We are further of the view that the High Court was

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not justified in dismissing the writ petitions filed by the University challenging the

order of the Land Tribunal at Annexure P3.  The High Court was also not justified

in dismissing the Regular Second Appeals filed by University.   

28. For the afore-stated reasons, the judgment and the decree, of the High Court

in R.S.A Nos. 456/2000 and 457/2000, as also of the First Appellate Court in RA

Nos. 87 and 88 of 1998 are set aside.    The judgment and decree dated 5.2.1998

passed by the Trial Court in OS Nos. 20/95 and 21/95 is restored.  The  order

of the High Court in W.P. Nos.1649/2001 and 4302/2001 is set aside and the writ

petitions filed by the University are allowed.   The order dated 5.6.1981 of the

Land  Tribunal,  Mysore  (at  Annexure  P-3)  in  No.  KL/RF/4480/79-80  and

4481/79-80 is hereby quashed.   

29. The appeals are accordingly allowed.  There shall be no order as to costs.  

    ……………………………J.

 (N.V. RAMANA)

      ……………………………J.  (S. ABDUL NAZEER)

New Delhi; March 23, 2018.