Geethakumari v. Kuttumukku Devaswom Board and Others

## **`IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM`** ## **`PRESENT`** ``` THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANIL K.NARENDRAN ``` ``` & ``` ``` THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE P.G. AJITHKUMAR ``` ``` THURSDAY, THE 3[RD] DAY OF AUGUST 2023 / 12TH SRAVANA, 1945 ``` ``` WP(C) NO. 23531 OF 2023 ``` ## **`PETITIONER:`** ``` GEETHAKUMARI, AGED 55 YEARS, KALLATTUVALAPPIL HOUSE, KUTTUMUKKU, VILVATTOM, RAMAVARMAPURAM, THRISSUR, PIN - 680631 ``` ``` BY ADVS.C.A.ANOOP ``` ``` R.KRISHNA VANESHA VISWAMBARAN ``` ## **`RESPONDENTS:`** - **`1 KUTTUMUKKU DEVASWOM REPRESENTED BY THE DEVASWOM OFFICER, SREEKRISHNAPURAM, KUTTUMUKKU, PIN - 680008`** ## **`2 COCHIN DEVASWOM BOARD REPRESENTED BY SECRETARY SWARAJ ROUND NORTH, THRISSUR, PIN - 680001`** - **`*3 THE REVENUE DIVISIONAL OFFICER, 1ST FLOOR, CIVIL LINES ROAD, AYYANTHOLE, (APPELLATE AUTHORITY UNDER THE LAND CONSERVANCY ACT), THRISSUR, PIN – 680003 DESCRIPTION OF THE 3[RD] RESPONDENT IS CORRECTED AS ‘SUB COLLECTOR, (APPELLATE AUTHORITY UNDER THE LAND CONSERVANCY ACT), O/O THE SUB COLLECTOR, THRISSUR-680003`** ## **`4 THE SPECIAL THAHASILDAR`** - **`COCHIN DEVASWOM BOARD LC UNIT, THRISSUR, PIN - 680020`** ## **`5 THE VILLAGE OFFICER`** ``` VILVATTOM VILLAGE OFFICE, VILVATTOM, PIN - 680008 ``` - **`6 THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, REPRESENTED BY SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, SECRETARIAT MAHATHMA GANDHI ROAD, NEAR CENTRAL STADIUM, STATUE, PALAYAM,THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN – 695001 (THE DESCRIPTION OF THE 6TH RESPONDENT IS SUO MOTU CORRECTED AS 'REVENUE (DEVASWOM) DEPARTMENT' INSTEAD OF 'DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE' BY THE ORDER DATED 03.08.2023 IN WPC)`** ``` SRI K.P. SUDHEER - STANDING COUNSEL - CDB ; SRI S.RAJMOHAN - SR GOVERNMENT PLEADER ``` ``` THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 03.08.2023, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: ``` 2 W.P.(C)No.23531 of 2023 ## **JUDGMENT** Anil K. Narendran, J. The petitioner has filed this writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, seeking a writ of certiorari to quash Ext.P9 order dated 17.08.2020 of the 3[rd] respondent Revenue Divisional Officer, who was acting as Appellate Authority under the Land Conservancy Act. The petitioner has also sought for a declaration that her land is not Government land or Puramboke so as to recover the same resorting to the provisions of the Kerala Land Conservancy Act, 1957 but Devaswom land capable of getting Pattayam/Purchase Certificate under the Kerala Land Reforms Act, 1963. The further relief sought for is a writ, order or direction to stay all further proceedings of eviction and recovery of 15 cents of land/property comprised in Survey No.211/2 of Vilvattom Village from the possession of the petitioner, in obedience to Ext.P1 notice dated 06.06.2019. 2. Going by the averments in the writ petition, the land in question having an extent of 15 cents is part of 1.72 Acres of land situated in Survey No.211/2 of Vilvattom Village, belongs to Sreekrishnapuram Temple. By virtue of Document No.4105/1116 of Sub Registrar Office, Thrissur, the properties having a total extent of 2.56 Acres were given on licence in favour of Kongoth 3 W.P.(C)No.23531 of 2023 Parameswara Menon. Thereafter, the Devaswom Board, vide its decision dated 19.12.1953, in proceedings No.3923/1953 gave the property to the said Parmeswara Menon with Verumpattam rights, upon his request. Thereupon, the said person, who was holding the property as cultivating tenant as defined in Section 2(8) read with Section 13 of the Kerala Land Reforms Act, became the absolute owner in possession of the property. The said property was again assigned in favour of Cherumukkil Gopalan Nair, who partitioned the said property among his legal heirs. Thereafter, an extent of 15 cents from the said property was assigned in favour of the husband of the petitioner. After the death of her husband, the petitioner became the title holder and owner of in possession of the said property. However, the petitioner has been issued with Ext.P1 order dated 06.06.2019 of the 4[th] respondent Special Tahsildar resorting to the provisions of the Kerala Land Conservancy Act and the Rules made thereunder, for eviction from the unauthorised occupation of the said property. Challenging the said order, the petitioner preferred an appeal, i.e., Appeal No.A3/11698/2019, before the 3[rd] respondent Sub Collector, which was dismissed by Ext.P9 order dated 17.08.2020. Hence this writ petition. 3. On 20.07.2023, when this writ petition came up for 4 W.P.(C)No.23531 of 2023 admission, a learned Single Judge of this Court granted an interim order to maintain _status quo_ for a period of ten days. The said order was in force till 30.07.2023. 4. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner, the learned Standing Counsel for Cochin Devaswom Board for respondents 1 and 2 and the learned Senior Government Pleader for respondents 3 to 6. 5. Ext.P9 order dated 17.08.2020 of the 3[rd] respondent Sub Collector, which is under challenge in this writ petition, is one passed in Ext.P8 appeal, i.e., Appeal No.11698 of 2019, which was one filed by the petitioner under Section 16(1)(b) of the Kerala Land Conservancy Act, challenging Ext.P1 order dated 06.06.2019 of the 4[th] respondent Special Tahsildar. 6. Section 16 of the Kerala Land Conservancy Act deals with appeal and revision. As per sub-section (1) of Section 16, any person aggrieved by any decision or order under this Act of any officer authorised under Section 15 may appeal, (a) where such officer is the Revenue Divisional Officer to the Collector. As per the proviso to clause (a), no such appeal shall lie in any case where the order is passed by the Revenue Divisional Officer on appeal under clause (b). As per clause (b) of sub-section (1) of Section 16; in all other cases appeal shall lie to the Revenue 5 W.P.(C)No.23531 of 2023 Divisional Office. The Collector or the Revenue Divisional Officer, as the case may be, may pass such order on the appeal as he thinks fit. As per sub-section (2) of Section 16, the Collector may either suo motu or on application revise any decision made or order passed under this Act by any officer authorised under Section 15. As per the first proviso to sub-section (2), where such officer is the Revenue Divisional Officer, the Collector shall not on application revise any decision made or order passed otherwise than on appeal. As per the second proviso to subsection (2), the Collector shall not revise any decision or order if an appeal against such decision or order is pending or if the time for preferring appeal, if any, against such decision or order has not expired. As per sub-section (3) of Section 16, any person aggrieved by any decision or order of the Collector under this Act (otherwise than on appeal or revision) may appeal to the Board of Revenue and the Board of Revenue may pass such order on the appeal as it thinks fit. As per sub-section (4) of Section 16, the Commissioner of Land Revenue may either _suo motu_ or on application revise any order passed by the Collector on appeal. As per sub-section (5) of Section 16, the Government may either _suo motu_ or on application revise any order passed by the Commissioner of Land Revenue on appeal. As per sub-section 6 W.P.(C)No.23531 of 2023 (6) of Section 16, no order shall be passed under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) or sub-section (3) or sub-section, (4) or subsection (5) without giving the party who may be affected thereby an opportunity of being heard. As per sub-section (7) of Section 16, pending disposals of any appeal or revision under this Act, the appellate authority or the revising authority, as the case may be, may suspend the execution of the decision or order appealed against or sought to be revised. 7. Section 17 of the Kerala Land Conservancy Act deals with the limitation for appeal and revision. As per sub-section (1) of Section 17, no appeal or revision shall be preferred under Section 16 after the expiration of thirty days from the date on which the decision or order appealed against or sought to be revised was received by the appellant or applicant as the case may be. As per sub-section (2) of Section 17, notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the appellate authority or the revising authority may admit an appeal or application for revision preferred after the period specified in that sub-section, if such authority is satisfied that the appellant or applicant had sufficient cause for not preferring the appeal or application within that period. As per sub-section (3) of Section 17, the Collector shall not _suo motu_ initiate proceedings to revise any decision or 7 W.P.(C)No.23531 of 2023 order after the expiry of one year from the date on which such decision has been made or order has been passed. As per subsection (4) of Section 17, the Government or the Board of Revenue the Commissioner of Land Revenue the Commissioner of Land Revenue shall not _suo motu_ initiate proceedings to revise any order after the expiry of one year from the date on which such order has been passed. 8. In view of the provisions under sub-section (4) of Section 16 of the Act, the petitioner has a statutory remedy of revision before the Commissioner of Land Revenue, against Ext.P9 order dated 17.08.2020 of the 3[rd] respondent Sub Collector. 9. In **Commissioner of Income Tax v. Chhabil Das Agarwal [(2014) 1 SCC 603]** the Apex Court held that nonentertainment of a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India when an efficacious alternative remedy is available is a rule and self-imposed limitation. It is essentially a rule of policy, convenience and discretion rather than a rule of law. Undoubtedly, it is within the discretion of the High Court to grant relief under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, despite the existence of alternative remedy. However, High Court must not interfere if there is an adequate efficacious alternative 8 W.P.(C)No.23531 of 2023 remedy available to the petitioner and he has approached the High Court without availing the same, unless he has made out an exceptional case warranting such interference or there exists sufficient ground to invoke the extraordinary jurisdiction under Article 226. ## 10. In **Authorised Officer, State Bank of Travancore** **v. Mathew K.C. [(2018) 3 SCC 85]** the Apex Court reiterated that the discretionary jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India is not absolute but has to be exercised judiciously in the given facts of a case and in accordance with law. The normal rule is that a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India ought not to be entertained if alternative statutory remedies are available, except in cases falling within the well-defined exceptions as observed in **Chaabil Das Agarwal [(2014) 1 SCC 603]** , i.e., where the statutory authority has not acted in accordance with the provisions of the enactment in question or in defiance of the fundamental principles of judicial procedure or has resorted to invoke the provisions which are repealed, or when an order has been passed in total violation of the principles of natural justice. After referring to the law laid down in **Thansingh Nathmal v. Superintendent of Taxes [AIR 1964 SC 1419]** and **Titaghur** 9 W.P.(C)No.23531 of 2023 ## **Paper Mills Company Ltd. v. State of Orissa [(1983) 2 SCC** **433]** the Apex Court held that the High Court will not entertain a petition under Article 226 of the Constitution if an effective alternative remedy is available to the aggrieved person or the statute under which the action complained of contains a mechanism for redressal of grievance. Therefore, when a statutory forum is created by law for redressal of grievances, a writ petition should not be entertained ignoring the statutory dispensation. 11. In **Thansingh Nathmal [AIR 1964 SC 1419]** a Constitution Bench of the Apex Court held that the jurisdiction of the High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution is couched in wide terms and the exercise thereof is not subject to any restrictions except the territorial restrictions which are expressly provided in the Article. But the exercise of the jurisdiction is discretionary: it is not exercised merely because it is lawful to do so. The very amplitude of the jurisdiction demands that it will ordinarily be exercised subject to certain self-imposed limitations. Resort to that jurisdiction is not intended as an alternative remedy for relief which may be obtained in a suit or other mode prescribed by statute. Ordinarily, the Court will not entertain a petition for a writ under Article 226, where the 10 W.P.(C)No.23531 of 2023 petitioner has an alternative remedy, which without being unduly onerous, provides an equally efficacious remedy. Again the High Court does not generally enter upon a determination of questions which demand an elaborate examination of evidence to establish the right to enforce for which the writ is claimed. The High Court does not, therefore, act as a Court of appeal against the decision of a Court or tribunal, to correct errors of fact, and does not by assuming jurisdiction under Article 226 trench upon an alternative remedy provided by statute for obtaining relief. Where it is open to the aggrieved petitioner to move another tribunal or even itself in another jurisdiction for obtaining redress in the manner provided by a statute, the High Court normally will not permit by entertaining a petition under Article 226 of the Constitution the machinery created under the statute to be bypassed and will leave the party applying to it to seek resort to the machinery so set up. ## 12. In **Titaghur Paper Mill [(1983) 2 SCC 433]** Three-Judge Bench of the Apex Court held that the Orissa Sales Tax Act, 1947 provides for a complete machinery to challenge an order of assessment, and the impugned orders of assessment can only be challenged by the mode prescribed by the Act and not by a petition under Article 226 of the Constitution. It is now 11 W.P.(C)No.23531 of 2023 well recognised that where a right or liability is created by a statute which gives a special remedy for enforcing it, the remedy provided by that statute only must be availed of. This rule was stated with great clarity by Willes, J. in **Wolverhampton New Water Works Co. v. Hawkesford [(1859) 6 CBNS 336]** at page 356 in the following passage: "There are three classes of cases in which a liability may be established founded upon statute ... But there is a third class, viz., where a liability not existing at common law is created by a statute which at the same time gives a special and particular remedy for enforcing it ... the remedy provided by the statute must be followed, and it is not competent to the party to pursue the course applicable to cases of the second class. The form given by the statute must be adopted and adhered to." The rule laid down in that passage was approved by the House of Lords in **Neville v. London Express Newspaper Ltd. [1919 AC 368]** and has been reaffirmed by the Privy Council in **Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago v. Gordon Grant** **and Co. [1935 AC 532]** and **Secretary of State v. Mask and Co. [AIR 1940 PC 105]** . It has also been held to be equally applicable to enforcement of rights and has been followed by the Apex Court throughout. 13. In **Balkrishna Ram v. Union of India [(2020) 2 SCC 442]** one of the issues raised before the Apex Court was 12 W.P.(C)No.23531 of 2023 whether an appeal against an order of a single judge of a High Court deciding a case related to an Armed Forces personnel pending before the High Court is required to be transferred to the Armed Forces Tribunal or should be heard by the High Court. The Apex Court held that sub-section (1) of Section 14 of the Armed Forces Tribunal Act, 2007 clearly provides that the Armed Forces Tribunal will exercise powers of all Courts except the Supreme Court or High Court exercising jurisdiction under Article 226 and Article 227 of the Constitution of India. Section 34 is very carefully worded. It states that 'every suit', or 'other proceedings' pending before any Court including a High Court immediately before the establishment of the Tribunal shall stand transferred on that day to the Tribunal. The Legislature has clearly not vested the Armed Forces Tribunal with the power and jurisdiction of the High Court to be exercised under Article 226 of the Constitution. There can be no manner of doubt that the High Court can exercise its writ jurisdiction even in respect of orders passed by the Armed Forces Tribunal. Since an appeal lies to the Supreme Court against an order of the Armed Forces Tribunal, the High Court may not exercise their extraordinary writ jurisdiction because there is an efficacious alternative remedy available but that does not mean that the jurisdiction of the High 13 W.P.(C)No.23531 of 2023 Court is taken away. In a given circumstance, the High Court may and can exercise its extraordinary writ jurisdiction even against the orders of the High Court [sic: Armed Forces Tribunal]. 14. In **Balkrishna Ram [(2020) 2 SCC 442]** the Apex Court held that the principle that the High Court should not exercise its extraordinary writ jurisdiction when an efficacious alternative remedy is available, is a rule of prudence and not a rule of law. The Writ Courts normally refrain from exercising their extraordinary power if the petitioner has an alternative efficacious remedy. The existence of such remedy however does not mean that the jurisdiction of the High Court is ousted. At the same time, it is a well settled principle that such jurisdiction should not be exercised when there is an alternative remedy available - **Union of India v. T.R. Varma [AIR 1957 SC 882]** . The rule of alternative remedy is a rule of discretion and not a rule of jurisdiction. Merely because the Court may not exercise its discretion, is not a ground to hold that it has no jurisdiction. There may be cases where the High Court would be justified in exercising its writ jurisdiction because of some glaring illegality committed by the Armed Forces Tribunal. One must also remember that the alternative remedy must be efficacious and in 14 W.P.(C)No.23531 of 2023 case of a Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO), or a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO); to expect such a person to approach the Supreme Court in every case may not be justified. It is extremely difficult and beyond the monetary reach of an ordinary litigant to approach the Supreme Court. Therefore, it will be for the High Court to decide in the peculiar facts and circumstances of each case whether it should exercise its extraordinary writ jurisdiction or not. There cannot be a blanket ban on the exercise of such jurisdiction because that would effectively mean that the Writ Court is denuded of its jurisdiction to entertain such writ petitions which is not the law laid down in **L. Chandra Kumar v. Union of India [(1997) 3 SCC 262]** . 15. Viewed in the light of the law laid down in the decisions referred to supra, the conclusion is irresistible that in view of the statutory remedy provided under sub-section (4) of Section 16 of the Kerala Land Conservancy Act, before the Commissioner of Land Revenue, the petitioner cannot invoke the writ jurisdiction of this Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, for challenging Ext.P9 order dated 17.08.2020 of the 3[rd] respondent Sub Collector, on the grounds raised in this writ petition. 16. In such circumstances, this writ petition, which was 15 W.P.(C)No.23531 of 2023 one filed on 13.07.2023, fails on the ground of maintainability and the same is accordingly dismissed; however without prejudice to the right of the petitioner to challenge Ext.P9 order dated 17.08.2020 of the 3[rd] respondent Sub Collector before the Commissioner of Land Revenue, by invoking the statutory remedy provided under sub-section (4) of Section 16 of the Act. The legal and factual contentions raised by the petitioner are left open. 17. The submission of the learned counsel for the petitioner that the petitioner, who is a widow, shall file a revision before the Commissioner of Land Revenue, under sub-section (4) of Section 16 of the Act, challenging Ext.P9 order dated 17.08.2020 of the 3[rd] respondent Sub Collector, within a period of three weeks from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this judgment, is recorded. In the application to be filed for condonation of delay, invoking the provisions of sub-section (2) of Section 17 of the Act, the petitioner shall point out the period of pendency of this writ petition before this Court. The interim order of _status quo_ granted by the learned Single Judge of this Court in this writ petition, on 20.07.2023 for ten days, is revived and extended, which shall continue to be in force, till a decision is taken by the Commissioner of Land 16 W.P.(C)No.23531 of 2023 Revenue, as directed above, within the time limit stipulated above. Sd/- **ANIL K. NARENDRAN, JUDGE** Sd/- **P.G. AJITHKUMAR, JUDGE** AV/5/8 17 W.P.(C)No.23531 of 2023 ## **`APPENDIX OF WP(C) 23531/2023`** |**`PETITIONER EXHIBITS`**|| |---|---| |**`Exhibit P1`**|**`THE TRUE COPY OF THE NOTICE DATED 6/6/2019`**| ||**`ISSUED BY THE RESPONDENT NO.4`**| |**`Exhibit P2`**|**`THE TRUE COPY OF THE DEED OF SALE OF THRISSUR`**| ||**`SRO NUMBERED AS 2924/2005,`**| |**`Exhibit P3`**|**`THE TRUE COPY OF THE DEED NO160/1954`**| |**`Exhibit P4`**|**`THE TRUE COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE SHOWING THE`**| ||**`DETAILS OF DOCUMENTS EXECUTED BY OR IN FAVOUR`**| ||**`OF A PERSON -NUMBERED 609/1961`**| |**`Exhibit P5`**|**`TRUE COPY OF THE SAID SALE DEED NO. 1790/`**| ||**`1974`**| |**`Exhibit P6`**|**`THE TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER OF THE DEPUTY`**| ||**`COLLECTOR LAND REFORMS, THRISSUR IN SMP`**| ||**`812/2009`**| |**`Exhibit P7`**|**`TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER OF THE DEPUTY`**| ||**`COLLECTOR (LAND REFORMS) THRISSUR IN FAVOUR`**| ||**`OF JALEESH PETER AND SHEEBA RANI,`**| |**`Exhibit P8`**|**`THE TRUE COPY OF THE MEMORANDUM OF APPEAL`**| ||**`AGAINST THE ORDER NO. B.473/2017`**| |**`Exhibit P9`**|**`THE TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 17/08/2020`**|