DEPUTY COMMISSIONER THARPARKAR And Others vs LACHMANDAS And Other
This matter concerns a petition for leave to appeal against a judgment of the Sind High Court, which had restored a trial court decree in favor of the respondents. The respondents had filed a suit for declaration challenging the legality of a demand for construction charges related to a watercourse, which the petitioners argued were to be shared equally between the Government and beneficiary landlords. The petitioners contended that the civil suit was barred by jurisdiction under Section 11 of the Sind Revenue Jurisdiction Act, 1876, as an appeal was competent under Section 203 of the Sind Land Revenue Code, 1879. Furthermore, the petitioners argued that the suit suffered from non-joinder of necessary parties and was premature, as the respondents had only received a notice and could have pursued departmental remedies. The Supreme Court granted leave to appeal to examine whether the civil court had jurisdiction to grant a declaration in light of the available departmental remedies and the statutory bars raised by the petitioners.
- Does Section 11 of the Sind Revenue Jurisdiction Act 1876 bar a civil suit when an appeal is competent under the Sind Land Revenue Code 1879?
- Is a civil suit for declaration premature when the plaintiff has only received a notice and has not exhausted departmental remedies?
- Does the failure to join the Government and the Irrigation Department as parties render a suit bad for non-joinder?
- Section 11, The Sind Revenue Jurisdiction Act 1876
- Section 203, Sind Land Revenue Code 1879
ORDER
1. MUHAMMAD AFZAL ZULLAH, J.--Leave to appeal has been sought in this petition from judgment, dated 12-5-1985 of the Sind High Court; whereby the respondents' (plaintiffs') second appeal arising out of a suit filed against the petitioners, was allowed. While setting aside lower appellate Court's decision the trial Court Decree in the .Suit of the respondents, was restored.
2. The respondents had filed a suit for declaration against the petitioners to the effect that the demand for payment of the construction charges of their watercourse was illegal. According to the learned Additional Advocate-General, the charges were in connection with the sharing of expenses for the construction of the watercourse which was for the utilization of the respondents (plaintiffs)- -the expenses under the relevant law were to be shared by the Government and the beneficiary- landlords in 50 per cent share each. The suit was decreed by the trial Court notwithstanding the objection regarding the lack of jurisdiction. The first appeal filed by the petitioner was, however, allowed and the suit was dismissed. On second appeal a learned Single Judge of the High Court as mentioned above while setting aside the first appellate judgment has restored the decree passed by the trial Court.
3. Learned Additional Advocate-General has repeated the plea of bar of jurisdiction and has relied on section 11 of The Sind Revenue Jurisdiction Act (No. X) of 1876, which prima facie barred the filing of suit in this case. It provided that where an appeal is competent a suit could not be filed. Learned Additional Advocate-General contended that an appeal in this case was competent under section 203 of the Sind Land Revenue Code, 1879 and in this behalf has relied on Mehdi Shah v. Government of West Pakistan, Lahore and another PLD 1969 Kar. 369. He has also contended that the Government and the Irrigation Department were necessary parties in this case, therefore, the suit was bad from non-joinder of the parties as well. He has further argued that the suit was premature.
4. Only a notice had been issued to the respondents (plaintiffs). They could have raised the factual pleas to be urged before the competent departmental authorities and the matter could thus have been adequately dealt with and decided in the departmental proceedings. It was thus not a fit case for grant of declaration by the Civil Court.
5. After hearing the learned Additional Advocate-General, we consider it a fit case for grant of leave to appeal so as to examine the questions raised in the petition.
6. Order accordingly.