# 340 RAM GOBINDA DA WAN & ORS v. SMT.,BHAKTABALA Janitary 8, 1971

- **Citation:** [1971] 3 S.C.R. 340
- **Court:** Supreme Court of India
- **Decided:** 1971
- **Case number:** Civil Appeals Nos. 436 and G · 437 of 1967
- **Bench:** J. M. Shelat, C. A. Vajdialingam
- **Source:** https://unisonlegal.in/judgment/supreme-court-of-india/340-ram-gobinda-da-wan-ors-v-smt-bhaktabala-janitary-8-1971-5200
- **Pages:** 11

## Headnote

Practice-Re~ judicata- Land acquisitiod proceedings-Claim of one
party to compensation dismissed for default-Acquisition of other plots
-Interest of parties same-Claim of title-If e~rlier decision operates as
·res · judicata.
Certain plots in a Municipality were acquired under the Land Acqui-
•ition Act, 1894, and the predecessor of the appellants and the predecesEor of the respondents, each claimed the compensation amount on the
basis of title. The matter was referred to the Court of the District Judge.
The claim of the predecessor of the respondents was dismissed for default
and the claim of the predecessor of the appellants was therefore upheld.
O:rtain other plots pe'rtaining to thr same title and interest were later
.acquired and th• question arose as to whether appellants or respondents
were entitled to the compensation.
Since the test of res judicata is the
identity of _title in tht two litigations and not the identity of the actuai
property involved, the appellants pleaded that the earlier decision by the
District Jud11e operated as res judicata.
HELD : The earlier decision did not operate as res judicata against
ihc respondents in~smuch as the matter was not heard and finally decided
on merits after contest. If a matter was heard and finally decided on
merits, then such a decision operates as res judicata, even though an
appeal against the decision was dismissed on a preliminary ~round such
a1 limitation default in printin1, or default of appears.nee! because, it
.amounts to the appeal havin11 been heard and finally deeded on the
merits whatever might have been the around of dismi11al of the appeal,
and has the effect of confirming the decision of the trial court on merits.
'.But If there hacl been no contest, no hearing and final decl1Jon by any
·court, at any stage, the decision would not operate a1 rts /udlcata.
[350 A·El
.
Raj Laks~ml Dasi & Or.. v, Banamall Sen & Ors., [1953] S.C.R. 154,
•Pul~v~rthl Benkata Subba Rao & Ors. v. Yalluri Jagannadha Rao & Ors.,
[1964]
2 S.C.R.
310 and
Sheodan Singh v. Smt. Daryao Kunwar,
[ 19661 3 S.C.R. 300. referred to.
.
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## Text

:340
RAM GOBINDA DA WAN & ORS.
v.
SMT.,BHAKTABALA
Janitary 8, 1971
[J. M. SHELAT AND C. A. VAJDIALINGAM, JJ.]
Practice-Re~ judicata- Land acquisitiod proceedings-Claim of one
party to compensation dismissed for default-Acquisition of other plots
-Interest of parties same-Claim of title-If e~rlier decision operates as
·res · judicata.
Certain plots in a Municipality were acquired under the Land Acqui-
•ition Act, 1894, and the predecessor of the appellants and the predecesEor of the respondents, each claimed the compensation amount on the
basis of title. The matter was referred to the Court of the District Judge.
The claim of the predecessor of the respondents was dismissed for default
and the claim of the predecessor of the appellants was therefore upheld.
O:rtain other plots pe'rtaining to thr same title and interest were later
.acquired and th• question arose as to whether appellants or respondents
were entitled to the compensation.
Since the test of res judicata is the
identity of _title in tht two litigations and not the identity of the actuai
property involved, the appellants pleaded that the earlier decision by the
District Jud11e operated as res judicata.
HELD : The earlier decision did not operate as res judicata against
ihc respondents in~smuch as the matter was not heard and finally decided
on merits after contest. If a matter was heard and finally decided on
merits, then such a decision operates as res judicata, even though an
appeal against the decision was dismissed on a preliminary ~round such
a1 limitation default in printin1, or default of appears.nee! because, it
.amounts to the appeal havin11 been heard and finally deeded on the
merits whatever might have been the around of dismi11al of the appeal,
and has the effect of confirming the decision of the trial court on merits.
'.But If there hacl been no contest, no hearing and final decl1Jon by any
·court, at any stage, the decision would not operate a1 rts /udlcata.
[350 A·El
.
Raj Laks~ml Dasi & Or.. v, Banamall Sen & Ors., [1953] S.C.R. 154,
•Pul~v~rthl Benkata Subba Rao & Ors. v. Yalluri Jagannadha Rao & Ors.,
[1964]
2 S.C.R.
310 and
Sheodan Singh v. Smt. Daryao Kunwar,
[ 19661 3 S.C.R. 300. referred to.
.
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CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeals Nos. 436 and
G ·
437 of 1967.
Appeals from the judgmenv and decrees dated March 27, 1962
·of the Calcutta High Court in First Appeals Nos. 311 and 312 of
1956.
D. N. Mukher;ee, for the appellants (in all the appeals).
The respondent did not appear.
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R. G. DAWAN v. BHAKTABALA (Vaidialingam, J.)
341
The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
Valdlaliugam, J,
Theiie two appeals on certificate are directed against the judgment of the Calcutta High Court dated March
27, 1962 in First Appeals from the Original Decree Nos. 311 ano
312 of 1956.
Two plots of land bearing No. 936 of Mouza Asansol a.nd
plot No. 9202 of Mouza Asansol Municipality were acquired
under the Land Acquisition Act. The notification under s. 4 of the
Land Acquisition Act dated December 13, 1947 was published
in the Calcutta Gazette of 25th December, 194 7. The declaration
under s. 6 dated December 30, 1947 was published in the Calcutta
Gazette on 8th January, 1948. For plot No. 936 of Mouza
Asansol measuring about 31 acres, the Land Acquisition Collector
awarded a total compensation of Rs. 1707 I - including Rs. · 1 J.-
1/6 on account of the .landlord's interest. The entire compensation in respect of this plot was directed to be paid to Bhaktabala
Dasi, the sole respondent in Civil Appeal No. 436 of 1967. In
respect of plot No. 9202 of Mouza Asansol Municipality, the
Land Acquisition Officer awarded as compensation a sum of
Rs. 825/15/6 including Rs. 6/5/6 on account of the landlord's
interest. This entire amount of compensation was directed to b~
paid to Bhaktabala Dasi and her sister Subasini Dasi.
It may be mentioned that Bhaktabala Dasi is the first respondent
and on the death of Subasini Dasi, her son Sunil Kumar Roy, who
has been impleaded in the proceedings is the second respondent
in Civil Appeal No. 437 of 1967. Before the Land Acquisition
Collector, in respect of both these plots, one Kashi Nath Dawn
claimed title to the land and as such to the er.tire compensation
amount. The appellants in these two appeals are the legal representatives oi Kashi Nath Dawn.
The case of Kashi Nath Dawn was that both the plots of land
belonged to Panchanan Roy. husband of Sutiasini Dasi, against
whom a money. decree had been obtained b} one J atin Kumar
Roy. In executtol) of the money decree (Execution Case No 120
of 1929. Subordinate Judge's Court, Asansol), the deiiree-h0ider
&ought these t":'o items and certain other properties to sale. Kashi
Nath Dawn claimed to have -purchased these items in the Court
sale and obtained the sale certificate Ex. 2. The sale was confirmed on November 27. 1930 and delivery of possession was also
taken ?n December .10. 1930. It was on the strength of this purchase m Court auction that Kashi Nath Dawn claimed title to the
two plots.
The. case of Bhaktabala Dasi, who alone contested the claim
of Kash1 Nath Dawn was briefly as follows : Panchanan Roy had
342
SUPREME COURT REPORTS
[1971 J3 S.C.R.
no title to the properties and that on the other ,hand they belonged
to Ramanugraha Roy, who died leaving his widow Manmohini
and furee daughters, Santabala, Subasini and Bhaktabala. On the
death of Ramai:mgraha Roy, his widqw.Marunohini succeeded to
the property as life estate holder. As Santabala died shortly after
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her father's death, the properties devolved on the, other two sisters
namely, Subasini and Bhaktabala, on the death of Manmohini
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Panchanan Roy had married Santabala and on her death he
married her sister Subasini. Panchanain Roy during the life time
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of his mother-in-law Manmohini was allowed to manage the properties. In the settlement proceedings of 1918-21 he surreptitiously got his name recorded as owner of one half share in the
estate of his father-in-law in Mouza Asansol aind of the entire
interest in Mouza Asansol Municipality.
Panchanan Roy was
never in possession and enjoyment of the properties whereas
Manmohiini Dasi during her lifo time and on her death her
daughter Subasini and Bhaktabala were in possession and enjoyment.
There was a partition between the two sisters of Mouza
Asansol property and in consequence plot No. 936 of Mouza
Asansol was obtained as her share by Bhaktabala Dasi. It was
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on this bas.is that Bhaktabaia Dasi claimed exclusive title to plot
No. 936 and the right tci receive the entire compensation amount
for that land. She claimed that in respect of plot No. 9202 of
Mouza Asansol Municipality, she and her sister Subasini Dasi,
had a title to half share each and asserted the right to receive compensation on that basis.
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In view of the dispute regarding right to receive the compe11sation amount, the Land Acquisition Collector-referred the matter
to the Additional District Judge, Burdwan for determination of
the said dispute.
The stand taken before th,. Land Acquisition
Collector was reiterated before the learned Additional District
Jμdge.
With re.ference to plot No"936 of Mouza Asainsol, the
learned Additional District Judge held that Panchanan Roy had
wrongfully and fraudulently got recorded his name as owner of
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the half share when he was managing the property on behalf of his
mother-in-law Manmohi.ni widow of Ramanugraha Roy. The
Court further held . that Panchanan Roy was never in possession
and enjoyment of both the plots in question. Regarding plotNo. G
9202 of Mouza Asansol Municipality, it was held that Jong before
the sale in Execution Cas·e No. 120 of 1929, the Katiyans and the
maps had been published and they conclusively .show that Mouza
Asansol Municipality was a Mouza different from Mouza Asansol
with different J.L. number. The sale certificate Ex. 2 under
which Kashi Nath Dawn claimed title was scrutinized by the
Court which held that the description of the various items clearly
showed that no land of Mouza Asansol Municipality was included
therein. The Court did not also accept the claim of Kashi Nath
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Dawn that for the purpose of C. S. operation only the lands within Mouza Asansol Municipality were separately recorded and that
they were also i!ncluded within Mouza Asansol. In this view the
learned Additional District Judge held that Kashi Nath Dawn did
not purchase in the court sale any plot of land within Mouza
Asansol Municipality and as such he had no title to plot No. 9202.
The court accepted the plea of Bhaktabala Dasi that she and her
sister Subasini Dasi were entitled to the compensation amount in
equal shares. Finally the Additional District 'Judge held that
Kashi Nath Dawn was r.ot entitled to claim any portion of the
compensation amount in respect of the two plots.
Kashi Nath Dawn filed two appeals before the Calcutta High
Court, being First Appeals Nos. 311 and 312 of 1956. As the
Land Acquisition Collector had made separate references in respect of each of the plots and as the two references were disposed
of separately, though by a common judgment, two 1jppeals were
filed in the Jiigh Court. The First Appeal No. 311 of 1956 related to plot No. 936 and First Appeal No. 312 of 1956 related
to plot No. 9202. At this stage it may be mentioned that Civil
Appeals No. 436 and 437 of 1967 against the decision of the High
Court in First Appeals Nos. 311 and 312 of 1956 respectively.
The High Court did not agree with the learned Additional District
Judge that Panchanan Roy had fraudulently got his name entered
in the settlement re11ister as owner of half share in plot No. 936.
It is the view of the High Court that the plea set up by Bhaktabala
Dasi that she was absolutely entitled. to the said item has not been
substa,11tiated.
The High Court held that the settlement register
established that Panchanan Roy's name has been recorded as
owner of half share and Manmohini as the owner of another half
share in the properties owned by Ramanugraha Roy in Mouza
Asansol and that there was no fraud on the part of Panchanan
Roy in having his name so entered. The High Court further held
that in the court sale, Kashi Nath Dawn had purchased the half
share owned by Panchanan R"i:iy in Mouza Asansol and as such
he had title to half share in plot No. 936 notwithstanding the fact
that Kashi Nath Dawn was not able to establish that Panchanan
Roy was in possession and actual enjoyment of his half share. In
this view the High Court modified the decree of the ]earned Additional District Judge and held that in respect of plotNo: 936 both
Kashi Nath Dawn and ·Bhaktabala Dasi were entitled to half share
each and in that proportion were also entitled to the compensation
amount. As the fulJ ri!;!ht of Kashi Nath Dawn in plot No: 936
was not recognised by the High Court. Civil Appeal No. 436 of
J 967 has been filed.
Regarding plot No. 9202 the High Court
a~reed with the
Land ·Acquisition Court and held that in the court sale, Kashi
344
SUPREME COURT REPORTS
(1971 J3 s.c.R.
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Nath Dawn had not purchased any property in Mouza Asansol
Municipality and therefore he had no title thereto.
The claim
that Panchanan Roy was in possession of this plot was also rejected. A plea of res judicata raised by Kashi Nath Dawn based upon
Ex. 7 the decree of the Land Acquisition Case No. 242 of 1938,
with reference to plot No. 9202, was also P~jected by the High
Court.
The lequest for adducing additional evidence made on
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behalf of Kashi Nath Dawn was also rejected'by the High Court.
In consequence First Appeal No. 312 of 1956 was dismissed
against which Civil Appeal No. 437 of 1967 has been filed.
We will first take up the claim of full ownership made by
Kashi Nath Dawn in respect of plot No. 936 of Mouza Asansol, c
which is.the subject of Civil Appeal No. 436 of 1967.
Mr. Dr, N. Mukherjee, learned counsel for the appellants,
who, as we have stated earlier, are the legal representatives of deceased Kashi Nath Dawn, urged that the High Court .. should h!!ve
acctheptefd1
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he pleah~ade bthy' Kas1
hi NThath Dawn that hede whas enhtitled
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to
e u owners 1p of
1s p ot.
e counsel urg
t at t e relevant entries )n the settlement registers have not been properly
construed by the High Court.
According to him all the rights
which Ramanugraha Roy had in plot No. 936 of Mouza Asansol
had accrued to Panchanan Roy, whose rights had been purchased
by Kashi Nath.Dawn in court sale. The High Court having held
that there was no fraud, perpetrated by Panchanan Roy i11 having
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his ;n'ame entered in the. settlement registers, the full rights of
Panchanan :Rov in plot No. 936 as the original owner and of
Kashi Nath Dawn as purchaser in court.sale should have been
upheld.
We are illOt inclined to accept this contention of th'e learned
counsel. No doubt, the learned District Judge held th~t P;mchanan F
Roy fraudulently got his name. entered in the settlement registers
when he }Vas in managemenFof the properties during the life time
of Manmohini, widow of Ramanugraha Roy.
This finding was
not accepted by the High Court. The High Court has considered
the recitals in Ex. A, the Settlement Khatian No. 16 of Mauza
Asansol which is also a khatian in respect of the permanent tenG
ute Jagir Nakari Ramakrishna Roy. The High Court has adverted to the fact that in.Ex. A the holders are divided into 17 groups
but the holders of 'ka' group were described as Manmohini wife of
Ramanugraha Roy and Panchanan Roy s/o Umesh Chandra Roy.
These two persons were also described as being entitled to 8 g.
1 k. 15 tils each. Plot No. 936 has been .found to be one of the
plots recorded as in khas p~sio,n of 'ka' .group in Ex. A.
It is
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on this basis that tl\e High Court differing from the learned Dis-
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trict Judge held that Panchanan Roy had been the owner of half
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345
share in thiS plot and Kashj Nath Dawn .as purchaser of this halt
share of Panchanan Roy was entitled to half of the compensation
pmount. Mr. Mukherjee was not able to satisfi as to how Kashi
Nath Dawn was entitled .to full ownership of plot No. 936. We
arein agreement with the decision of the High Court on this point;
and as such hold that there is no merit in Civil Appeal No. 436
of 1967.
Com;ng to plot No. 9202 of Mouza Asansol Mwiicipality Mr.
D. N. Mukherjee raised two coPtentions: (i) the Hjgh Court was.
in error in holding that Ex. 2, the sale. certificate does not take in
this item and (ii) the claim of the respondent was barred by res
judicata, by. the decree of ·the Land Acquisition Court Ex. 7 and
the High Court was again .in error in holding that there is no bar
of res-judicata.
So far as the first contention is concerned, it is an attack on .
a finding of fact recorded by the High Court. We have already
pointed out that even the Land Acquisition Court held that Kashi
Nath Dawn did not purchase in the court sale any property of
Pancha.nan Roy in Mouza Asansol Municipality, The High Court
has agreed with this finding. The entire claim of title in respect
of both the items was based on the sale certificate Ex. 2. Both
the District Judge and the High Court have held that what was
sold in court sale was only the interest of Panchanan Roy in the
permanent tenure in respe~t of Mouza Asansol and not in respect
of any other Mouza. The High Court has further held that Mouza
Asansol Municipality and Mouza Asansol were different entities
even from about 1896 and the court sale which took place in or
about 1930 related only to ihe properties in Mouza Asansol. The
description of the properties given in the sale certificate Ex. 2,
according to the High Court, clearly establishes that what was
sold in court auction a.nd purchased by Kashi Nath Dawn was
only the property that was situated in Mouza Asansol as defined
by the District Settlement Operations and not a different -Mouza
Asansol as it might have existed prior to 1896. The High Court
has gone more elaborately into this aspect than the District Court
and held that Kashi Nath Dawn did not purchase in the court
auction any property of Panchanan Roy in Mouza Asansol M~ni
cipality. We find no flaw in the finding of the High Court. Therefore, on this findhng it follows that Kashi Nath Dawn, through
whom the appellants claimed, had no right, title or interest in plot
No. 9202. ·
.
Faced with this situation Mr. Mukherjee raised his second
contention that the claims of Bhaktabala Dasi and her sister
Subasini Dasi were barred by res-iudicata.
346
SUPREME COURT REPORTS
(1971 J3 S.C.R.
The bar of res-judicata is pleaded as follows : Certain other
plots in Mouza Asansol Municipality were acquired under the
Land Acquisition Act and there was a dispute regarding the persons entitled to compensation amount.
Kashi Nath Dawn macfe
a claim for payment of the full compensation as the
ow~r of
those plots.
That claim was resisted by Subasi.ni Dasi and her
sons and they claimed in turn to be entitled to the compensation
amount. . But the Land Acquisition Court upheld the claim of
Kashi Nath' Dawn and that decree has become final. Under Ex.
7 the title of Kashi Nath D;iwn in the properties of Monza Asansol
Municipality having been recognised, it was no longer open to the
respondtmts herein to urge that Kashi Nath Dawn had no title to
plot No. 9202, which is situated in Monza Asansol Municipality.
The High Court had rejected fhis plea on the ground that the
daims of. Subasini Dasi in the prior land acquisition proceediiigs
having been dismissed for default, would not prevent her from
claiming title to other plots pertaining to the same interest inasmuch as the question of ownership of the interest as a whole was
not heard and dedded.
M1 Mukherjee, learned counsel for the appellants attacks this
reasoning of the High Court as fallacious. He urged that Subasini
Dasi and her sons havi.ng made a claim before the Land Acquisition Court for payment of compensation on the basis of their title,
which was rejected are not entitled to put forward. any further
claim to this item. This plea of res-judicata raised by Mr.
Mukherjee has to be approached from !Wo points of view : (i) as
a. bar against Bhaktabala Dasi and (ii) as a bar against Subasini
Dasi. We have already referred to the case set up by Bhaktabala
Dasi regarding the interest of herself and her sister Subasini Dasi
in plot No. 9202. This ca_se has been accepted by both the courts.
From the nature of the claim, it is clear that Bhaktabala Dasi was
not Claiming any title through· Subasini Dasi, on the other hand
.she was claiming half share -in her own right as the daughier of
Ramanugraha Roy and according tc her. her sister Subasini Dasi
was also entitled to an equal share. Bhaktabala Dasi, it is admitted, was not a party to the decree Ex. 7. If that is so, there is no
question of any bar of res-judicata so far ,as ·half share of
Bhaktabala Dasi is concerned. Then the question is whether the
claim of Subasini Dasi to half share in this item is barred by Ex.
7. If the appellants' contention in this regard is accepted, they
will be entitled to at least claim the half share of Subasini Dasi in
plot No. 9202. Now it is necessary to refer to the nature of the
proceedings covered by Ex. 7.
Nine plots of land referred to
therein and situate in Monza Asansol Municipality appear to have
been acquired under the Land Acquisition Act for the expansion
of a road level crossin!(. There appear to have been disputes
amongst various parties with regard to right to receive coll}pensaA
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tion and therefore the matter was referred to the Court of the
District Judge.
Burdwan in Land Acquisition Case No .. 42 of
1938. Neither the actual pleadings in order to ascertam the
nature of the claim that was made by the parties oor the judgment
in the land acquisition case have been filed in these proc~edings.
The only document that has been filed is the decree Ex. 7. From
the decree it is seen that Kashi Nath Dawn was party No. 7 a.nd
SubilSini D11J>i and her sons were parties Nos. 9 to 12. Par.ties Nos.
9 to 12 claimed compensation amount as against party No. 7, and
the claim of Subasini Dasi was dismissed for default by the learned Distriot Judge under Ex. 7 dated March 3, 1939 and the result
of the decision was that the claim of Kashi Nath Dawn was upheld and that of Bubasini Dasi and her sons was rejected, though
on default.
Mr. Mukherjee, learned counsel for the appellants has urged
that the same title to the property which was in dispute and deCiaed in Ex .. 7 in favour of Kashi Nath Dawn again arises for c011sideration ·in these proceedings. The title of Subasini Dasi having
been~ rejected by the court cannot again be t.he subject matter
of a ftesh adjudication. We are not inclined to accept the contention of Mr. Mukherjee that Ex. 7 operates as res-judicata in respect of the claim even of Subasini Dasi and her sons in respect
of half share claimed in plot No. 9202. Though it is true that
Subasini Dasi appears to have contested the claim of Kashi Nath
Dawn in the proceedi:ngs leading upto Ex. 7, in our opinion, it
cannot be &iid that in those proceedings the issue as to title was
heard and finally decided. We have already pointed out that the
claim of Subasini Dasi was dismissed for default.
· ·
Mr. Mukherjee drew our attention to certain decisioni; and
urged that the decision of the Land AcquisitiOjll Court lllperlites as
11es judicata; He further urged that even though the property in
the previous land acquisition proceeqings may have been of a very
small extent, when once the title to the compensation amount
which really relates to the nature of the title to the property has
been raised ll!lld decided, that decision will operate as res-judicata.
The propositicn enunciated by Mr. Mukherjee and set out .above
as such are beyond controversy but we are of the opinion that the
facts before us are totally different.
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We will now advert to the decisions cited by Mr. Mukherjee.
In Raj Lakshmi Dasi and others v. Banama/i Sen a,.d others(')
this Court had to consider the question whether a previous.. decision on title in land acquisition proceedings operated as resc
judicata in a subsequent suit between the same parties when the
(I) [1953! S.C.R. 154.
34,8
SUPREME COURT REPORTS
[l'.171 )3 s.c.R.
questio;n of title was again raised. The facts in that case were
briefly as follows : Certain properties were acquired in land
acquisition proceedings and the;e was a triangular contest about
the right to receive compensation between A and B, the rival
olaimants, ll{nd C, a mortgagee from B. All the parties required
the question of apportionment to be referred to the Land Acquisition Court. The court decided the ql:i,estion of title in favour· of B
after contest. This decision was confit;med by the High Court on
appeal.
That means that the title of 8 and his mortgagee C to
receive compensation amount was upheld by the Land Acquisition Court a;nd the High Court. A took the matter to the-,Privy
Cou. 1cii1 which reversed the decision of the High Court and the
Land Acquisition Court and the title of B and C were negatived.
In a subsequent suit between the same parties the question of title
was again raised and this Court held that the decision of the Privy
Counci'I opi;_rated as res-judicata in respect (lf the subsequent proceedings notwithstanding the fact that B and his mortgagee C did
not appear before the Privy Council and their claim was rejected
in default.
Considerable reliance has
been placed
by Mr.
Mukherjee on this decision in support of his contention that Ex. 7
though a decision given against Subasini basi and
h~r sons in
default of tJ-..~ir appearance operates res-judicata.
In our opinion, the decision of this Court referred to itbove
does not assist the appellants.
It is now well established that where
a dispute as to title to receive compensation amolJlllt has been ref~rred to a court, a decree thereon not appealed from renders the
question of title res-judicata in a suit between the sa.me parties ·to
the dispute.
A party in such circumstances cannot be heard to
say that the value of the subject matter on which the former decision was pronounced was comparatively so trifling that it was not
worth their while to appeal from it. It is true tha't the test of resjudicata is the identity of title in the two litigations and not the
identity of the actual property involved in the two cases but the
previous decision must be one on a title in respect of which a dispute has been 1t:ais'ed and which dispute was heard and firially decided by the court.
IHs interesting to note tbat though it was urged that the decision of the Privy Council was given fo default of appearance of 'B
and his mortgagee C and therefore the said decision will not
operate as. res-judicata, this Court did not hold that a decision
given even in the first instance in default of appearance of a party
will operate as res-judicata. On the other hand, this Court categorically held that C, the mortgagee had fought out the title of
mortgagor B, both before the Land. Acquisition Court and the
High Court and had obtained-a- judgment in his favour after a fu!l
con lest.
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R. G. DAWAN v. BHAKTABALA (Vaidialingam, J.)
349
It is the view of this Court that the ·mere fact that the mortgagee did not choose to appear before the Privy Cou;ncil and the
decision of the Privy Council was given in the absen£e of the mortgagee, is of no consequence as the decisions of the High Court
and the District Court have been given after contest. Therefore
it will be seen that the decision of this Court relied on by Mr.
B Mukherjee is no authority for the wide proposition that evtm if
there has been no hearing and final decision by any court at any
stage, after contest, the decision will operate as res-judicata.
For an earlier decision to operate as res-judicata it has been
held by this Court in Pulavarthi Venkata Subba Rao and others
v. Valluri Jagannadha Rao and others(') that the same must have
bee,ti on a matter which was 'heard and finally decided'.
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In Sheodan Singfl v. Smt. Daryao Kunwar(')
the question
whether a decjsion given by the High Court dismissing certain
appeal on the ground of limitation or on the ground that the party
had not taken ste12s to prosecute the appeal operates as resjudicata, was considered by this Court. In that cas\l A had instituted against B two suits asserting title to a certain property. B
contested those claims and also instituted two other suits to establish his title to the same property as against A.
A's suits were
decreed and B's suits were dismissed; B filed four appeals, two
appeals against the decision given in A's suits and two appeals
against the dismissal of his two suits. It is seen that all the appeals
were taken oin the file of the High Court but the two appeals filed
by B against the decision in the suits instituted by him were dismissed by the High Court on the groll!Ilds that one was filed beyond the period of limitation and the other for non-prosecution.
At the final hearing the' High Court took the view that the
dismissal of B's two appeals, referred to above, operated as res-
.iudicata in the two appeals fited by B against the decision in A's
suits on the question of title to the property. It was urged before this Court on behalf of B that the dismissal of his appeals on
the grounds of limitation and non-prosecution by the High Court
does not operate a~ res-judicata as the High Court cannot be considered to have 'heard and finally decided' the· question of title.
This contention was not accepted. This Court referred to instances
where a fc,rmer suit was dismissed by a trial court for want of
jurisdiction or for default of plaintiff's appearance etc. and pointed out that in respect of such class of cases, the decision :not being
on merits, would not be res-judicata in a subsequent suit. It was
further pointed out that none of those cQ!lSiderations apply to a
case where a decision is given on the merits by the trial court and
the matter is taken in appeal arul: the appeal is dismis.sed on some
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G
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(I) [1964] 2 S.C.R. 310.
(2) [1966] 3 S.C.R. 300.
350
SUPREME COURT REPORTS
[1971 ]3 s.c.R.
A
preliminary ground, like limitation or default in prhlting. It was
held that such dismissal 'by an avpellate court has the effect of
cql?finning the decision of the trial court on merits, and that it
"amo.unts to. the appeal being heard and finally decided on the
merits whatever may be the ground for dismisse,l of the appeal".
It will be s~n from the above reasoning that in order to operate
B
as res·judicata, the previous decision must have been given after
the matter was heard and finally decided on merits. This Court
has further held that the High Court, in that case, when it dismissed the two appeals in question, though on a preliminary
ground of limitation or default in printing must be considered to
have heard and finally decided on merits.
Far from supporting
Mr. Mukherjee's contention that a decision given in default of
appearance under any circumstance, operates as re§-judicata, the
above decision lays down clearly that a previous decision to operate
as res-judicata must be one in a case heard and finally decided on
merits.
To conclude Ex. 7, i;n our opinion, does not operate as res-judicata even against the claim of Subasini Dasi and her sons inasmuch
as the matter was not heard and finally decided on merits after
contest by the Land Acquisition Court. We have already pointed
out that if the plea of res-judicata is not accepted the decision of
the two courts regarding Subasini Dasi's having in plot No. 9202
half share will have also to be sustained.
In the result the appeals fail and are dismissed. As there is
no appearance for the respondents, there will be no order as to
costs.
V.P.S.
Appeals dismissed.
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