Sujat Uddin Choudhury v. Md. Ali Ahmed Barbhuiya and 59 D Ors

JUDGMENT AND ORDER (CAV) Heard Mr. A.M. Barbhuiya, learned counsel representing the appellant as well as Mr. M.H. Rajbarbhuiyan, learned counsel appearing for the respondents.

¶2This is a Regular Second Appeal under Section 100 of the Civil Procedure Code (CPC) whereby the judgment dated 29.06.2009 passed by the court of learned District Judge, Hailakandi in Title Appeal Page No.# 8/11 No.33/2006, affirming the judgment and decree dated 20.09.2002 passed by the court of learned Civil Judge, Senior Division, Hailakandi in Title Suit No.48/2000, is under challenge.

¶3Kukicherra Tea Company sold 509 Bighas, 13 Kathas and 12 Chatak of land to Lt. Md. Hamid Raja Choudhury and five others. Registered sale deeds were executed and delivery of possession were also given. Hamid Raja Choudhury and five other buyers divided the land between themselves and since then, all of them have been enjoying the possession of the land.

¶4After amicable division of land between themselves, Hamid Raja Choudhury got about 160 Bighas of land. Hamid Raja Choudhury had five sons and two daughters. The sons are-Lt. Abdul Jabbar Choudhury, Lt. Abdul Masabbir Choudhury, Lt. Mubarak Ali Choudhury, Md. Moin Uddin Choudhury and Md. Kochir Uddin Choudhury. The daughters are-Morium Nessa Choudhury and Khairun Nessa Choudhury.

¶5During the lifetime of Hamid Raja Choudhury, his sons jointly enjoyed the land by cultivating paddy in low lying areas.

¶6Hamid Raja Choudhury donated 12 Kader of land to his elder sons Lt. Abdul Jabbar Choudhury and Abdul Musabbir Choudhury. After the death of Hamid Raja Choudhury, the remaining lands were amicably partitioned between the five sons.

¶7The two daughters of Hamid Raja Choudhury died unmarried.

¶8In the meantime, Abdul Jabbar Choudhury also died. Therefore, his five sons inherited the property left behind by him. Those sons even sold 2 Page No.# 9/11 plots of land to Abdul Sattar and Akhtar Ali.

¶9Similarly, after the death of Abdul Musabbir Choudhury, his sons and daughters inherited his share of land. They also sold some of their lands to some other persons.

¶10The other sons of Lt. Hamid Raja Choudhury and his grandsons continued to occupy their respective shares. They also sold some portion of their land.

¶11The sons of Lt. Abdul Musabbir Choudhury even leased out 6 Bighas 10 Kathas of land for an amount of `25,000/-.

¶12The sons of Lt. Abdul Musabbir Choudhury had sold some lands to the respondents. Since then i.e. from 07.05.1999, the respondents have been occupying their lands.

¶13On 17.05.2000, the appellants trespassed into the land of the respondents and dispossessed them. Therefore, the respondents filed the suit for declaration of their right, title and interest over the suit land and for recovery of vacant possession.

¶14The appellants contested the case by filing written statement. They have claimed that the respondents never had possession of the suit land. They specifically denied the allegation dated 17.05.2000.

¶15On the basis of the pleadings of the parties, the trial court framed the following issues: 1) Is there any cause of action ? 2) Is the suit bad in law ? Page No.# 10/11 3) Is the suit barred by waiver, estoppels and acquiescence ? 4) Is the suit bad for non-joinder ? 5) Whether the plaintiff acquired title in a specific plot & got possession without may valid partition over the patta ? 6) To what relief the plaintiff is entitled ?

¶16The respondents examined 6 witnesses and the appellants examined 3 witnesses in order to prove their respective cases.

¶17On the basis of the evidence on record, the trial court decreed the suit of the respondents. On being aggrieved by the judgment of the trial court, the appellants preferred an appeal before the court of the District Judge, Hailakandi. The first appellate court dismissed the appeal and the trial court judgment was affirmed.

¶18I have gone through the judgment of the first appellate court.

¶19I find that at this stage, Order 41 Rule 31 of the Code of Civil Procedure is required to be visited. Order 41 Rule 31 of the CPC reads as under: "31. Contents, date and signature of judgment.- The judgment of the Appellate Court shall be in writing and shall state—

(a) the points for determination;

(b) the decision thereon;

(c) the reasons for the decision; and

(d) where the decree appealed from is reversed or varied, the relief to which the appellant is entitled, and shall at the time that it is pronounced be signed and dated by the Judge or by the Judges concurring there in."

¶20On a plain reading of the appellate court judgment, it is found that Page No.# 11/11 the appellate court has failed to draw up a point for determination. The Civil Procedure Code has laid down the rule as to how the appellate court judgment is to be written. If the rule is not followed, then it is not a judgment at all. Therefore, the first appellate court judgment cannot be considered to be a judgment according to Order 41 Rule 31 of the Civil Procedure Code. Such a judgment is not sustainable in law.

¶21Accordingly, the appeal is allowed. The impugned judgment is set aside. The case is remanded to the first appellate court of the District Judge, Hailakandi to draw up a point for determination and for passing a fresh judgment on all issues. Send back the LCR.

JUDGE Comparing Assistant

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