SHER MUHAMMAD KHAN AND Others vs ILAM DIN AND Other
This matter arises from a petition for leave to appeal against the dismissal of a regular second appeal, concerning a dispute over land originally allotted under the Abadkari Scheme. The core legal question revolves around whether an agreement to sell land executed before the acquisition of proprietary rights is void under section 19 of the Colonization of Government Lands (Punjab) Act, 1912. The Supreme Court considered the arguments presented, particularly relying on precedent regarding the statutory bar on transfers, and granted leave to appeal to examine whether the agreement in question violated the relevant statutory provisions. The Court held that an arguable case was made out regarding the interpretation and application of section 19 of the Colonization of Government Lands (Punjab) Act, 1912, laying down that transactions affecting government-allotted land prior to obtaining proprietary rights require detailed scrutiny against statutory restrictions.
- Is an agreement to sell government-allotted land executed before obtaining proprietary rights void under section 19 of the Colonization of Government Lands (Punjab) Act, 1912?
- Whether a suit for specific performance is maintainable on the basis of an agreement executed contrary to the Colonization of Government Lands (Punjab) Act, 1912?
- Section 19, Colonization of Government Lands (Punjab) Act 1912
ORDER
ASLAM RIAZ HUSSAIN, J.-One Jiwan was allotted 120 kanals and 1 marla of land in Chak No. 38- Alif/M. L. Tehsil Bhakkar, District Mianwali, under the Abadkari Scheme, in 1954. He entered into an agreement (Exh. D. 1) to sell the same with Mst. Nasim Akhtar, petitioner No. 2 on 26-9-1966 for Rs.
12,000. Subsequently on 29-1-1968 she executed another agreement (Exh. P. 3) to sell the same land to Ilam Din, respondent No. 1.
2. On 2-6-1970, he (Jiwan) got the proprietary rights in the said land. On the same day he executed the sale deed in favour of Mst. Nasim Akhtar. Ilam Din filed a suit for specific performance against the aforementioned Jiwan and Mst. Nasim Akhtar, petitioner No. 2 on 30-1-1971. The learned trial Court decreed the suit by its judgment dated 27-11-1974, holding that the agreement (Exh. D/1) executed in favour of Mst. Nasim Akhtar was void. His appeal was dismissed by the learned District Judge, Mianwali and his R. S. A. Also met the same fate vide the impugned judgment.
3. He has now filed the present petition for Leave to Appeal against the said order.
4. The only point pressed before us by the learned counsel for the petitioner is that the agreement Exh. P/3, executed by Jiwan in favour of Din was void in view of section 19 of the Colonization of Government Lands (Punjab) Act, 1912, and in support of this submission, he relied on Hakim A.I and another v. Atta Muhammad and others (1981 SC M 8993). Leave is granted to consider the aforementioned question. Security in the sum of Rs. 2,500, with permission to the parties to file any other additional document. To be heard alongwith appeal in C. P. No. 768/1981.
Cited by 1 case
- SHAMOON AND Others vs AHMAD AND Other 1986 SCMR 888