This issue came before the Supreme Court in the case of ‘Balai Chandra Mondal v. Smt. Indurekha Debi (1973)’.
Here goes the facts and analysis of the case-
- The appellant claims that Anadi executed the deed of settlement as the authorised manager of Indurekha. Indurekha’s case is, however, that neither she nor Samarjit who was her name-lender before had on any occasion permitted manager to make a settlement and that the settlement in favour of the appellant was fraudulently created by one a Annada Prasad De and Anadi Charan Chakrabarti acting in collusion with the appellant.
- Indurekha filed a suit on 3 August 1953 in the Court of the subordinate Judge at Krishnagar asking for a declaration that the fictitious settlement created in favour of the appellant was void and also asking for a decree for possession of the suit property and means profits. The appellant contested the suit and in the written statement denied the title of Indurekha to the land in dispute.
- According to the appellant it was Samarjit first and then Indurekha’s husband Panchu Gopal who were the owners of the land in suit so that Indurekha could have no cause of action against the appellant. He further claimed that after taking a settlement of the land he has been in ownership and possession of the land first under Samarjit and “at present under the plaintiff as a settled raiyat”.
- The learned subordinate judge dismissed Indurekha’s suit. Sbordinate judge however, came to the finding that the appellant had obtained his settlement from Anadi who was a recognised agent of Samarjit. As at the time of the settlement Samarjit was admittedly the ostensible owner Samarjit would be competent to give the land to the appellant in rayati interest and Indurekha as real owner would not be entitled to object to it.
- The learned subordinate judge also held that whatever Anadi did when Samarjit was the owner was with the consent and acquiescence of both Indurekha and Samarjit. From this he came to the conclusion that since the settlement of the land with the appellant was made with the consent of both the ostensible owner as well as the real owner. Indurekha’s suit must be dismissed. Accordingly, he dismissed the suit.
- On appeal from this judgment, however, the Calcutta High Court set aside the learned subordinate Judge’s order and decreed Indurekha’s suit. The appellant then appealed to Supreme Court.
What Supreme Court said on the issue
The Court analysed the case as follows-
- “The decision in this case must turn round the question as to whether Anadi had any authority to settle the land with the appellant. Admittedly no written authority for giving such settlement is in existence. There have been attempts on the part of the appellant to show at the time of trial that Anadi used to collect rents and used to manage the estate of Samarjit as well as of Indurekha.
- Even assuming that Anadi did so and had the authority to do so, we do not see how he could dispose of the property and give a substantial area of land in raiyati settlement to the appellant.
- Counsel asked us to infer from the fact that Anadi had been in management of this land before and after the plaintiff came into possession of it that he had the necessary authority to give an Amalnama in respect of the land. We see absolutely no justification for making such an inference, It is a thoroughly well-recognised principle that where the transferor himself has no title to the property he must at least have the authority to transfer it.
- Under Section 7 of the Transfer of Property Act only a person authorised to dispose of transferable property not his own is competent to transfer it either wholly or in part. The learned Counsel for the appellant drew our attention to the fact that the unregistered deed of Amalnama on which the appellant bases his title describes Anadi as the manager of Samarjit and that one of the witnesses to the document was Anada Prasad De who has been described in the same deed as the authorised gomesta on behalf of Samarjit.
- It was argued that on the basis of the oral evidence and also having regard to the deed of Amalnama as well as the registered Kobala of 18 October, 1943 by which Samarjit transferred the land to Indurekha the inference is irresistible that Anadi must have been authorised to grant the Amalnama.
- We have gone through both the deed of Amalnama as well as the registered Kobale but we find no warrant for such an inference. There is merely a statement in the registered Kobale that Anadi was a local agent of Indurekha’s husband and that he was instrumental in obtaining possession of the property through court.
- We do not see how, this connotes any authority to transfer or dispose of property on behalf of Indurekha. We have also gone through the oral evidence of the appellant carefully. Even he does not say anywhere that Anadi had the authority to dispose of property.
- He merely on the statement that Anadi was a manager of Samarjit. Indeed the evidence of the appellant himself shows that neither Samarjit nor Indurekha figured in any manner in the transaction leading to the settlement of land with the appellant. The appellant admits that he had never seen any writing by Samarjit appointing Anadi as a Manager. Though he knew Samarjit he never had any discussion with him. He further admits that he did not go either to Indurekha for settlement or to Samarjit on any occasion whatsoever.
- In this connection it should be mentioned that Indurekha’s husband Panchu Gopal who according tothe plaintiff looked after her property has stated clearly that Anadi was never a manager of his wife’s estate and that be had never been entrusted with the work of “settling tenants, creating jamas, realising rents” in the mahal. Panchu Gopal also denies that Anadi was at any time Samarjit’s manager.
- As for Annada, Panchu Gopal admits that Annada used to work as a Naib before the land in question was bought by Samarjit as his wife’s benamdar but he states clearly that no authority was given to Annada at any time to settle or induct tenants in the mahal. He further says that even in the Dakhilas or rent receipts which used to be issued on behalf of his wife, there is a clear mention that the person who received the rents had no authority to settle jamas.
- Panchu Gopal further stated that the appellant had not on any occasion approached him for settlement of the land. In view of all this we find it impossible to accept the appellant’s contention that Anadi had any authority to settle the land with him.
- It was urged on behalf of the appellant that there are certain rent receipts in evidence which indicate the appellant had paid rents to Indurekha. It was sought to be contended that since Indurekha had accepted rents she should be estopped from denying the appellant’s title. We cannot persuade ourselves to accept this contention either, there is no evidence to show that the rents were collected from the appellant with the knowledge and consent of Indurekha.
- It has been suggested on her behalf that some dishonest gomastas had collected rents from the appellant and that these gomastas had neither rendered accounts nor handed over these rents to her. It is significant that the rent receipts in question were never put to either Indurekha or her husband at the time of trial. No question of estoppel therefore arises and we reject the appellant’s contention based on estoppel.
- No other point was urged on behalf of the appellant. In the circumstances, we find no merit in the appeal and dismiss the appeal.”
Reference
Balai Chandra Mondal v. Indurekha Devi (1973)