# HARENDRA NATH BHATTACHARYA & ORS v. KALIRAM DAS-DEAD BY L. Rs

- **Citation:** [1972] 2 S.C.R. 492
- **Court:** Supreme Court of India
- **Decided:** 1971-11-22
- **Case number:** Civii Appeal No. 1273 of 1966
- **Bench:** K. S. Hegde, A. N. Grover, H. R. Khanna
- **Source:** https://unisonlegal.in/judgment/supreme-court-of-india/harendra-nath-bhattacharya-ors-v-kaliram-das-dead-by-l-rs-5669
- **Pages:** 10

## Headnote

Code of Civil Procedure 1908-S. 92-A grant made by an A/10111
King in Assam to a number of Bliakats for the propagation of "Nama
Dliarn1a" and for continuance of Sravana Kirtana-Dlzarma-Whether suit
by the descendants of tire Bhakats not maintainable because provisions of
s. 92 not followed.
The suit was instituted by the plaintiffs in a representative capacity as
Bhakats. According to the allegations in the plaint, a grant of rent free
land of approximately 316 bighas was made by a Kmg during the preBritish period in the name of one G, for the establishment of a vaishnavic
institution. It was made for the propag_ation of N amc Dharma and for
continuance of Sravana-Kirtana-Dharma. -
Defendants I to 20 were alleged to be the heirs of G.
The plaintiffs
claimed that they were the descendants of the I 0 Bhakats who were mentioned in the copper plate creating the endowment. In the copper plate,
th• grant was t~rmed as
Brahmottar.
According to the plaintiffs,
the
grant was a Dharmottar grant though called Brahmqttar in the copper
plate.
Jn other words. it was an endowment created fvr
religious
and
charitable purposes and it did not confer benefit only on the grantee or his
heirs.
It was asserted by the plaintiffs. that the detendanls were int,,rfering with their rights relating to the institution and w~re also not properly repairing the Namghar (the place of worship). The ~elief claimed
was for a declaration that the disputed land was a gift to the institution
(sat sanghee satra) and for possession.
In tQe written statement, it was contended, inter :i,lia, that the disputed
land was not Dharmottar. It was a property gifted to late G, the predecessors of the defendants from generation to generation
aud that the
suit,
according to the defendants, was not n1aintainable because the J}rovisions
of s. 92. Civil Procedure Cocle had not been complied with.
The trial court held that the suit was not maintainable because s. 92 of
the Ch-ii Procedure Code was not followed and that the suit property was
Brahmottar and not Dharmottar
In appeal the Additional District Judge held that the suit did not fall
within s. 92 C.P.C., and so was maintainable and that the suit property wa•
Dharmottar and not Brahmottar. According to the learned Judge, the
plain meaning of the grant was that G, was made the medhi (high priest)
for the satra.
The grant '"'as contemporaneous with the establishment of
the Satra.
The purpose for which the grant was made was specifica11y for
the propagation of Sravanakirtana-Dharma.
The word 'Brahmottar• had
been qualified bv "Punyarthe". which meant ufor piety".
The grant was,
therefore. not a personal grant. Accordingly, he held the plaintiffs entitled to fife the suit and the appeal was allowed.
The Defendants filed ·an appeal to the High Court.
Dismissing the
appeal, the High Court held that the relief claimed did not come within
the provisions of s. 92 C. P. C .. and. the Hi~h Court agreed with the
translation made by the learned Addi. District Jud~e of the relevant
passage of the copper plate.
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HARENDRA v. KALIDAS (Grover, J.)
493
On an appeal by certificate,
HELD : (1) In the facts and circumstances of the case, s. 92 of tb.e
Code of Civil Procedure did not apply. It is well
sen led that a suit
under s. 92 C .P .C., is of a special nature which. pre-supposes the existence of a public trust of a religious or charitable characte(. Such. suit
can proceed onlv on the allegation that there is a breach of such trust or
that directions from the court are necessary for the administration of the
trust.
Jn the sUit, there must be a, prayer for one or other of the reliefs .
that are specifically mentioned in the section. In tbe present case. none
ol the reliefs claimed by the plaintiffs fell within the oection.
The declarations which were sought could not therefore attract s. 92 of the Civil Procedure Code. [499 DJ .
(2) As regards the correct translation of the copper plate on which the
grant was -made there w

## Text

492
HARENDRA NATH BHATTACHARYA & ORS.
v.
KALIRAM DAS-DEAD BY L. Rs.
November 22, 1971
[K. S. HEGDE, A. N. GROVER AND H. R. KHANNA, JJ.]
Code of Civil Procedure 1908-S. 92-A grant made by an A/10111
King in Assam to a number of Bliakats for the propagation of "Nama
Dliarn1a" and for continuance of Sravana Kirtana-Dlzarma-Whether suit
by the descendants of tire Bhakats not maintainable because provisions of
s. 92 not followed.
The suit was instituted by the plaintiffs in a representative capacity as
Bhakats. According to the allegations in the plaint, a grant of rent free
land of approximately 316 bighas was made by a Kmg during the preBritish period in the name of one G, for the establishment of a vaishnavic
institution. It was made for the propag_ation of N amc Dharma and for
continuance of Sravana-Kirtana-Dharma. -
Defendants I to 20 were alleged to be the heirs of G.
The plaintiffs
claimed that they were the descendants of the I 0 Bhakats who were mentioned in the copper plate creating the endowment. In the copper plate,
th• grant was t~rmed as
Brahmottar.
According to the plaintiffs,
the
grant was a Dharmottar grant though called Brahmqttar in the copper
plate.
Jn other words. it was an endowment created fvr
religious
and
charitable purposes and it did not confer benefit only on the grantee or his
heirs.
It was asserted by the plaintiffs. that the detendanls were int,,rfering with their rights relating to the institution and w~re also not properly repairing the Namghar (the place of worship). The ~elief claimed
was for a declaration that the disputed land was a gift to the institution
(sat sanghee satra) and for possession.
In tQe written statement, it was contended, inter :i,lia, that the disputed
land was not Dharmottar. It was a property gifted to late G, the predecessors of the defendants from generation to generation
aud that the
suit,
according to the defendants, was not n1aintainable because the J}rovisions
of s. 92. Civil Procedure Cocle had not been complied with.
The trial court held that the suit was not maintainable because s. 92 of
the Ch-ii Procedure Code was not followed and that the suit property was
Brahmottar and not Dharmottar
In appeal the Additional District Judge held that the suit did not fall
within s. 92 C.P.C., and so was maintainable and that the suit property wa•
Dharmottar and not Brahmottar. According to the learned Judge, the
plain meaning of the grant was that G, was made the medhi (high priest)
for the satra.
The grant '"'as contemporaneous with the establishment of
the Satra.
The purpose for which the grant was made was specifica11y for
the propagation of Sravanakirtana-Dharma.
The word 'Brahmottar• had
been qualified bv "Punyarthe". which meant ufor piety".
The grant was,
therefore. not a personal grant. Accordingly, he held the plaintiffs entitled to fife the suit and the appeal was allowed.
The Defendants filed ·an appeal to the High Court.
Dismissing the
appeal, the High Court held that the relief claimed did not come within
the provisions of s. 92 C. P. C .. and. the Hi~h Court agreed with the
translation made by the learned Addi. District Jud~e of the relevant
passage of the copper plate.
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HARENDRA v. KALIDAS (Grover, J.)
493
On an appeal by certificate,
HELD : (1) In the facts and circumstances of the case, s. 92 of tb.e
Code of Civil Procedure did not apply. It is well
sen led that a suit
under s. 92 C .P .C., is of a special nature which. pre-supposes the existence of a public trust of a religious or charitable characte(. Such. suit
can proceed onlv on the allegation that there is a breach of such trust or
that directions from the court are necessary for the administration of the
trust.
Jn the sUit, there must be a, prayer for one or other of the reliefs .
that are specifically mentioned in the section. In tbe present case. none
ol the reliefs claimed by the plaintiffs fell within the oection.
The declarations which were sought could not therefore attract s. 92 of the Civil Procedure Code. [499 DJ .
(2) As regards the correct translation of the copper plate on which the
grant was -made there was no reason to doubt the correctness of the translation appearing jn the judgment of the Addi. District Judge which wa'
affirmed by the -High Court.
Both the Addi. District Judge and the High
Court were more familiar with the language and the origio of the establishn1ent of satras and its historical background.
They \vere in a better position to interpret the terms of the grant than others.
Therefore, there was
no reason 'Nhy this Court should interfere with the conci usions arrived at
by both the courts below cspeciaJly when this Court- also was inclined to
the vie\\' that the grant was not a personal grant made in favour of the
high priest.
The \'4/0rd 'Brahmottar" was used in the grant but mere uSc
of that word wo!J]d not change the e.ssential character 01 the grant, r1amely.
that it was a Dharmottar grant made for the
propagation of SravanaKirtana Dhanna and not to the high priest and his own brothers in their
personal capacity. [500 CJ
Jihan Chandra Sanna
Do!oi v.
Anandi Rtl1n
Kalila & Ors.
11961]
E
3 S.C. R. 947, referred to and. distinguished.
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civii Appeal No. 1273 of
1966.
Appeal from the judgment and order dated May 30, 1960 cf
the Assam High Court in Second Appeal No. 151 of 1958.
F
D. N. Mukherjee. for the appellants.
Sukumar Ghose, for respondents Nos. l (a), 2(a), 3, 8 and 19.
The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
Gwver, J. This is an appeal by certificate from the judgement of the Assam and Nagaland High Court arising out of a
G
suit which was filed as far back as May 1948.
The main controversy arises out of a grant on a Copper Plate
made by Ah,m King Maharaj Sibasingha of some landed property in the year 1663 Saka Era corresponding to 1741 A. D.
The suit was instituted by the plaintiffs in a representative capacity as Bhakats.
According to the allegations in the plaint this
1-1
grant was made "by the King in the name of one Gadapani Bhattacharjya for the establishμient of a Satra (Vaishnavic institution),
ff was made for the propagation of Nama Dharma and for con-
'tinuance of Sraban Kirtan Dharma.
Defendants 1 to 20 were
494
SUPREME COURT REPORTS
[ 1972) k l>c.L.1'.
alleged to be the heirs of Gadapani Bhattacharjya. The plaintiffs
claimed that they were the descendants of the 10 Bhakats who
were mentioned in the Copper Plate creating the endowment, the
name of the Satra being Sat Sangee Satra. The original grant
was in respect of 79 puras of land which would be equivalent to
316 bighas. It was rent-free. In the Copper Plate the grant was
termed as Brahmottar. After the British rule commenced there
was an enquiry in which the grandson of the original grantee
(Gadapani Bhattacharjya) made a claim of 83 puras of land with
l 0 bighas of Sat Sangee Satra. This was cm:ifirmed by the British
Government.
During the demarcation survey of 18 81, the area
was reduced to 304 bighas and in the survey and settlement of
1884-85 it was shown as 313 bighas roughly. In the subsequent
settlement of 1905-06, the land was assessed to half revenue,
known as Nispi Kheraj.
The area covered by Nispi Kheraj or
Nisf Kheraj was 243 bighas. During the current 30 year settlement the Ni.ipi Kheraj land was shown to cover an area of 230
bighas odd and the suit was confined to that area.
According to the case of the plaintiffs, the grant, as a matter
of fact, was a Dharmottar grant though called Brahmouar in the
Copper Plate. In other words, it was an endowment created for
religious and charitable purposes and it did not confer benefit
only on the grantee (Gadapani Bhattacharjya) or his heirs and
descendants. The Sat Sangee Satra to be established on the basis
of this grant was known as Bhanukuchi Satra along with a Nam
ghar. It was asserted by the plaintiffs that the defendants were
interfering with their rights relating to the Satra and were also
not properly repairinF" the Nam ghar etc.
It was alleged that
some of the plaintiffs were still living in the land covered by the
Nispi-kherai Patta.
Paragraph 12 of the plaint ·may be reproduced:-
" 12. · In fact the land described in the Schedule of
disputed patta is the
Dharmottar land gifted to the
Bhanukuchi Satsangi Satra. The land has been absolutely endorsed for religious purpose, hence the defendants have not pos~essed any title of their own over
those. They are the trustees only on behalf of the Satra.
They are bound to maintain the said Satra with the income of these lands by observing the Dou] festival and
the usual Nam-Kirtan and the plaintiffs as the Bhakats
of the said Satra are entitled to possess their own basti
and paddy lands etc. by going and observing the NamKirtan in the Satra house of Dag No. 472 and the Dou!
festival by erecting the Doul stage as before in Dag
No. 428. Hence it is necessary to obtain a decree after
a declaration from the Civil Court and with the said
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llARENDRA r. J-;ALIDAS ( Gro1'er, J.)
end and view it is necessary to obtain possession from
the Court on behalf of the plaintiffs. If it is necessary
the plaintiffs will file a scheme case afterwards".
495
The relief which was claimed was for a declaration that I.he disputed land was a gift to the Bhanukuchi Sat Sang as mentioned
in paragraph 12 and for possession.
In the written statement the. position taken up was that the
disputed land was not Dharmottar. It was a property gifted to
late Gadapani Brahmin, the- predecessor of the defendants. Gadapani Bhattacharjya was a good religious minded Brahmin and
the Ahom King, for the advantage of preaching religion, gifted
the land to him as Niskar Brahmottar generation to generation.
Gadapani ;Bhattacharjya became the full proprietor and the defendants were his descendants and 'they had been in peaceful possession in that capacity all along. -It was denied that there was
any Sat Sangee Satra of Bhanukuchi. It was further pleaded
that the plaintiffs had no locus standi to file the suit.
Paragraph 4 of the wriuen statement was in these terms:
"4. It is true that these defendants are the absolute
owners in respect of the disputed land.
The English
had conquered this Assam province. There by all the
claims and the arrangements of the former ruler over
the land etc. of the country were extinguished and the
British Government also issued an order, to that effect.
Though it is taken for granted that )he" disputed land
was gifted to the Satsangi Satra in ancient time yet by
an order of the British Government the nature of that
Dhannottar land was extinguished. That by a lakheraj
investigation during the British rule the patta has been
issued in ewry settlement in the
name of late Debi
Datta by keeping Brahnrottar in force and on the basis of
that fom1 the patta has been issued in every settlement
in the name of Debi Datta and after him in 1the name of
these defendants, who are his descendants. On the basis
that patta these defendants have been entitled to become
the full proprietors to possess the disputed land. The
plaintiffs are not entitled to have any ri,ght in respect of
the disputed land on the basis of the patta also and in
they have not acquired any right thereon".
According to ilie defendants the suit ~as not maintainable be·
cause the provisions of the law rela~ng ito a suit based on breach
of trust had not been complied will!.
The Trial Court framed 7 issues out of which only ilie following may be mentioned :-
" l. ls the >Uit maintainable in its μresent form '!
4116
SlJl'REME COURT REPORTS
(1972J 2 S.C.R.
2., Have the plaintiffs locus standi to bring the suit '!
3. Is the disputed land a Dharmottar property and
absolutely endowed for religious
purposes
as
alleged?".
The Trial Court found that the suit was not maintainable owing
to non-compliance with the provisions of section 92, Code of
Civil Procedure. On issue No. 2 its decision was in favour of
the plaintiffs as also on issue No. 5. On that issue it was held
that the suit prop·~rty was Brahmotttar and .not Dharmottar. In
view of the finding on issue No. 1, the suit was dismissed .
An appeal was taken to the Court of the Additional District
Judge, Lower Assam. He held that the suit did not fall within
section 92, Code of Civil Procedure, and was therefore, maintainable. The learned Judge referred to the relevant portion of the
grant which according to him was to be translated as follows:-
"Be it known to all that the Satsangi Satra of 10
Bhakats is established. Gadapani Brahmin is made the
Medhi of th..: said Satra; and the lands are granted to
him as Brahmottar for religious purposes.
Let him
occupy the land from generation to generation after
propagating the Sraban Kirtan Dharma':.
In the opinion of the Additional Distt. Judge the plain meaning of the grant was that Gadapani Brahmin was made the Medhi
of the Satra. The grant was contemporaneous with the establishment of the Satra. The purpose for which the grant was made
was specifically stated to be for the propagation of Sraban Kirtan
Dharma. The word "Brahmottar'' had been qualified by "Punyarthe" which meant for piety.
The grant was, therefore, not
a personal grant. 'The words of the grant indicated that it had
been made for some religious purpose for which the Satra was
established. But for his appointment as Medhi and the establishment of the Satra, the grant to Gadapani would have been a personal one. The learned Additional Distt. Judge appears to have
been fully conversant with the various Satras which were to be
found in Assam and with the manner in which they were created.
After considering the entire evidence, he came to the conclusion
that there was a Satra at Bhanukuchi and ithat the grant was to
the Satra and not to Gadapani in his personal capacity. It was
further held by him that the establishment of the Satra and the
creation of the office of the Bhakats was contemporaneous so far
as the present case was concerned. The plaintiffs, therefore, by
virtue of the criginal grant, were entitled to file a suit.
The
appeal was allowed and a cka~c was granted for a declaration
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HARENDRA v. KAL!DAS (Grover, J.)
497
that the disputed land was the Dharmottar property of the Bhanu-
.kuchi Sat Sangee Satra and that the plaintiffs were the Bhakats
of that Satra having a right to perform n:ligious functions prescribed for them in the Satra. The suit for possession, however,
was dismissed.
The defendants filed an appeal to the High Court. Only two
points were raised before the High Court. They wero :-
"I. As to whether 1he suit is hit by section 92 of
the Code of Civil Procedure; and
2. As to whether Ext. 1, the Copper Plate, has been
correctly interpreted to hold 1that the original
grant created by the Ahom King was of the
nature of Dharrnottar grant or a religious trust
for the benefit of the Satra or that it was merely
a personal gift in favour of Gadapani Bhattachariya who was the original Medhi or the high
priest named in regards to the Satra created by
the Copper Plate?"
The High Court held that the reliefs claimed in the suit did
not come within the provisions of sec. 92.
As
regards ·the
correct interpretation of the relevant passage on the Copper Plate
by which the grant was created, the High Court agreed with the
interpretation put by the Additional Distt. Judge on the relevant
passage.
The original text was quoted as agreed to by counsel
for both the parties and its English translation was given as
follows :-,
"The King has for the purpose of earning merit for
himself and his brother, made this Brahmottar grant
consisting of the lands as mentioned herein along with
three Paiks and ten families of Bhakats to Gadapani
Brahman who is
appointed to be the Medhi
(high
priest) of the Sat Sangi Satra. He will for generations
enjoy the land by being in the service of God and for
the purpose of perpetuation of the cult of the Sravan
Kirtan Dharma".
The High Court examined the text in the background of the institution of Satras in Assam and came to \he conclusion that the
intention of the King in making the grant was for the benefit of
Sat Sangee Sctra. The High Court also took into consideration
Exhibi1 2, a copy of a petition of claim made by Debi Datta
Sarrna in the Lakheraj enquiry in the year 1884 and came to the
conclusion that the predecessor-in-interest of the defendants had
accepted the position th&t he or other descendants of Gadapani
Brahmin were merely trustees in respect of the land which be-
498
SUPREME COURT REPORTS
[1972] 2 S.C.R.
longed to the Satra and the Bhakats or the predecessors-in-interest
of the plaintiffs had interest in the same.. The appeal of the defendants was consequently dismissed.
Learned counsel for the plaintiffs has sought to raise the same
points which were agitated before the High Court. The first one
relates to the applicability of sec. 92 of the Civil Procedure Code.
The second relates to the correct interpretation of the terms ot
the original grant with regard to its true nature, namelv, whether
it was a Dharmottar grant or a religious trmt for the benefit of the
Satra or that it was merely a personal gift in favour of Gadapan.i.
Section 92. Code of Civil Procedure provides that in case of any
alleged breach of anv exnress or constructive trust created for
public puroose of a ·charitable or religious nature or where the
direction of the court is deemed necessarv for the administration
of any such trust, the consent of. the Advocate General has to be
obtained for institmion of the suit bv two or more persons havin~
an interest in the trust. Further the suit must be for obtaininl!
a decree for the following :-
"(a) removing any trustee;
(b) appointing a new trustee;
( c) vesting any property in a trustee;
(cc) directing a trustee who has been removed or a
person who has ceased to be a trustee to deliver
possession of any trust property in his possession
to the person entitled to the possession of such
property;
( d) di!ecting accounts and inquiries;
( e) declaring what pronortion of the trust-property
or of the interest therein shall be allocated to
any particular object of the trust;.
(f) authorizing the whole or any part of the trustproperty to be let, sold. mortgaged or exchanged;
( g) settling a scheme; or
(h) granting such
further or other relief as the
nature of the case may require".
The High Court analvsed the iJlaint which is orimarilv to he
looked at for deciding the question of applicabilitv of sec. 92.
The High Court was of the view that the reliefs claimed in· the
plaint were stated m~inly in para 12, which if analysed, would
Involve the following ~-
( 1) A declara'iion that the suit land was Dharmottar
land gifted to Bhanukuchi Sat Sangi Satra for a
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HARENDRA "· KALT DAS ( Grm"el', J.)
religious purpose and that the defendants had no
personal interest therein except as trustees for
the management of the Satra;
(2) A declaration that the defendants were bound to
maintain the Satra with the income of the suit
lands by observing the Dou!
festival and the
usual Nam-Kirtan;
( 3) For a declaration that the plaintiffs as Bhakats
of the Satra were entitled to possess their own
Basti and paddy lands and that they had a right
of access to the use of the Satra for various religious purposes;
( 4) A claim for possession of the lands confined to
the above reliefs.
499
It was added in the plaint that a scheme case would be instituted
later on if considered necessary.
The High Court was of the
view thatnone of the reliefs claimed in the plaint brought it within. the terms of sec. 92.
It is well settled by the decisions of this
Court that a suit under sec. 92 is of a special nature which pre-.
supposes the exiS'lence of a public trust of a religious. or charitable
character.
Such suit can proo~ed only on the allegation that there
is a breach of such trust or that directions from the Court are
necessary for the administration of the tru~'t. In the suit, however, there must be a praver for one or other of the reliefs that
are specifically mentioned in the section.
Only then 'the suit has
to be filed in conformity with the provisions of section 92 of the
Code of Civil Procedure.
(See Mahant Pragdasii Guru Bhag·
wandasii v. Patel lshwarlalbhai .Narsibhai and others)("). It is
quite clear that none of the reliefs claimed by the plaintiffs fell
within the section.
The declarations which were sought could
not possibly attract the. applicability of sec. 92 of the Civil Procedure Code.
The High Court was, therefore, right in holding
that non-compliance with 'that section did not affect the maintair.-
ability of the suit.
On the second point our attention has been invited to the
translation of the Copper Plate cin which the grant was made by
the Ahom King.
This translation, it has been pointed out, was
accepted by both sides.
According to this translation the land
and the. estate described "together with three Bhakats and 10
l,'aiks have been given for piety as Brahmottar to the godly
Brahmin. Gadapani with .his own brothers making him a Medhi of
Satsangi Satra.
He will remain in devotion of God and will enjoy and occupy and continue to enioy and occupy together with
Ill [1952lS.C.R. 513.
500
SU-PREME COURT REPORTS
[1972] 2 S.C.R.
his own brothers from father to son, son's son etc. and will scatter
Sravana-Kirtana-dhanna." It is contended on behalf of tho plain·
tnfs that the grant was clearly described as Brahmottar and it w11s
made to the Brahinin Gadapani with his own brothers and he wlis
made Medhi of 'the Sat Sangi Satra. Medhi means a high priest.
He and his descendants were to enjoy and occupy the property
from generation to generation. Of course, it was laid down as a
part of their duties that they should propagate Sravana·Kirtana·
dhanna bot that did not conver1 th.e grant into Dharrnottar.
As regards •tho! correct translation, we are unable to accept the
contention that the translation iet out in the judgment of the High
Court along with the original text does not represent the correct
translation.
The learned Addi. Distt. Judge and Deka J, who
delivered the judgment of the division Bench in the High Court,
were fully familiar with the language and we find no reason to
doubt the correctness of the translation appearing in the judgment
of the High Court.
Both the Addi. Distt. Judge and the High
Court were more familiar with the establishment of Satras and the
historical background in which such institutions came to be estab·
lished · and were in a better position to interpret the tenns of the
grant than ourselves.
Moreover, their judgments were based on
other evidence which was produced and it would not be right for
us even if we 1ook a different view to depart from the practice of
this Court not to interfere with the conclusions into which familiarity with the local Janguag.e, customs and enactments plays a
vital part.
Even otherwise we have not been persuade? to take
the view that the grant was only a personal grant in favour of
Gadapani Brahmin.
The word Brahmottar was certainly used
but mere use of tha•t word would not change the essential charac·
ter of the grant.
In this connection our attention has been invited
to a decision of this Court in libon Chandra Sarma Doloi' v.
A nandi Ram Kali ta and others(ol). In this case a question arose
about certain grant made by Assam Rajas to the Bardeuries
(temple officials) to enable them to render services to the Deitr!s
installed in the temple.
On certain alienations having been made,
a suit was instituted on behalf of the temple that the alienations
were invalid and unauthorised.
The principal point Which was
urged was that the High Court had come to a wrong conclusion
that the lands in suit which were admittedly described as Brahmottar lands in the revenue records were transferable without any
restriction.
After going ill'to the history of lands described as
Nisf-Khirai in the revenue records ii was observed by this Court
that a Nisf-Khierajdar was ordinarily a person whose lands were
claimed by his ancestors revenue free on the ground that they w.:re
g'tilntces· of the Assam Raja for some religious or charitable Y'Ut·
(I) [ 1961) (3) S.C.R. 947.
A
B
c
E
F
H
A
B
c
D
,
E
F
G
HARENDRA v. KAL!DAS (Grover, J.)
5 01
pose.
Reference was also made to the provisions of Regulation
I of 1886 called "The Assam Land and Revenue Regulations" ..
After referring to the relevant provisions it was stated that it
could not be held that the lands in question were burdened with
the special condition that they could be transferred only to Bardeuries and not to any strangers outside the group.
It was;
finally observed :-
"As the High Court has found, and that ls no longer
in dispuie, these lands are described as Brahrnottar
lands in revenue records and to the said lands and their
holders the statutory provisions of the Regulation to
which we have just referred applied, therefore, it is impossible fo escape the comcl'usion that by virtue of the
relevant statutory provisions of the Regulation the lands
must be deemed to be heritable and transferable without
any resiriction" .
.It is qui1e obvious tha'I the question involved in this case was quite·
different from the one under examination by us. It was not
argued at any scage in the present case including the appeal before the High Court that bjy virtue of the provisiol!s and the other
facts relied upon in the aforesaid judgment, the mere fact that the·
lands were described as Brahrnottar would be the personal property of those in whose names they were shown in ·the revenue
records.
Nor has our attention teen drawn to any entries from
the revenue records produced in the present case which would.
show the exact and precise terms in which those entries had been
made.
Lastly it was contended that even in the plaint the lands were
admitted to have been held under a Nisaf-Khiraj or Ni~pi-Khera_j
Patta and that according to the entire history and other facts stated
in Jibon Chandra Sarma Doloi's case (supra), such a patta could.
be held only in a personal capacity.
The difficulty again is that
no such contention was raised before the High Court or before
any of the Courts below.
We are unable in these circumstances·
to either allow this point to be agitated or to enter into its discussion.
In the result the appeal fails and it is dismissed with costs.
s.c.
Appeals dismissed·