Abdul Ghani and others vs Haji Abdul Fatah and others
This matter arises from a petition assailing concurrent findings of lower courts and the High Court of Balochistan in favor of the respondent, who successfully claimed ownership of the suit property through a Qabin-nama dated 29.6.1949 (Ex.P-3) evidencing the transfer of land as dower to Mst. Sahib Khatoon. The core legal question involves the evidentiary value and legal presumption attached to an ancient title document that antedates a period far beyond thirty years and surfaces from proper custody, in contrast to subsequent revenue records and mutations favoring petitioners who claimed as residual successors and purchasers. The Supreme Court held that the ancient document of title, being a Qabin-nama protected by statutory presumption and emanating from proper custody, successfully establishes title and nullifies subsequent inconsistent claims or revenue entries. The Court laid down the principle that ancient documents dating beyond thirty years, when verified in the totality of circumstances, carry formidable evidentiary weight and command judicial recognition, warranting no interference with concurrent findings of lower forums. Leave to appeal was accordingly declined.
- What is the evidentiary value of an ancient Qabin-nama antedating a period beyond thirty years in establishing title to property?
- Whether concurrent findings of lower courts regarding property ownership based on ancient title documents warrant interference by the Supreme Court?
- Does a duly established dower transfer through an ancient document override subsequent entries in the revenue record?
ORDER
QAZI MUHAMMAD AMIN AHMED, J.---Abdul Fateh, respondent, remained successful throughout downstairs to counter petitioners' claim over the suit property . At the center of controversy is Mst. Sahib Khatoon; she mothered plaintif f/respondent from her wedlock with Muhammad Musa, however , contracted second marriage with Muhammad Raheem after former's death, survived by Muhammad Ibrahim, issueless, leaving petitioners as distant kinder in the field; they laid claim over the disputed land, partly on account of their being residual successors of Muhammad Ibrahim and partly through a sale. The respondent came up with a Qabin-nama dated 29.6.1949 (Ex.P-3), purporting transfer of the land as dower to the lady, on the strength whereof, a learned Civil Judge at Dhadar , District Khichi decreed the suit vide judgment and decree dated 31.12.2012, affirmed throughout lastly by a learned Judge-in-Chamber of the High Court of Balochistan vide judgment dated 06.05.2016, vires whereof, are being assailed on a variety of grounds.
2. Syed Ayaz Zahoor , learned Sr. ASC, contends that the Courts below ran into concurrence of error inasmuch as plaintif f's claim, devoid of any proof, in the face of longstanding entries in the revenue record, reflecting multiple mutations favoring the petitioners, there was hardly an occasion to uphold plaintif f's claim; adds that Mst. Sahib Khatoon did not figure anywhere in the pedigree-table or in the revenue record whereas the petitioners, being rightful owners, are firmly entrenched in the suit property . None appeared to prove Ex.P-3 and as such acquisition of land partly through sale and partly through inheritance, could not have been set aside. The learned counsel for the respondent has defended the impu gned judgments being well reasoned, structured upon an ancient title document protected by the statutory presumption.
3. Heard. Record perused.
4. Position consistently taken ,by the petitioners, notwithstanding, Qabinnama Ex.P.3, insurmountably stands in impediment to acceptance of their claim, inasmuch as, being a document antedating a period far beyond 30 years, surfacing on the record from respondent's custody , to be considered as proper , by all means, in circumstances, nullifies the hypothesis of residual bequeathal or the sale as they could not possibly acquire a better title after the land was once invested in Mst. Sahib Khatoon in pursuance thereto.
Though the genuineness of Qabinnama Ex.P.3 has been disputed at the bar, however , upon our own examination, in the totality of circumstance& and admitted nuptial bond between Muhammad Raheem and Mst. Sahib Khatoon, we entertain no manner of doubt that the disputed land was parted by the former as a dower to her better half as far back as on 29.6.1949 on an official stamp paper . Any manipulation, given the timeframe, is inconceivable, even by the best of foretellers. Consideration of Qabin-nama Ex.P.3 in favour of the respondent by the courts below , an exercise found by us, most prudent as well as within the remit of law, calls for no interference. Petition fails. Leave declined.