Mir AJAB KHAN And Another vs RAMZAN And Other
This matter arises from a petition for leave to appeal against the judgment of the Peshawar High Court, which dismissed the petitioners' civil revision petition regarding a land dispute. The petitioners claimed ownership of the suit land through a sale transaction dated 21st May, 1975, recorded prior to the respondents' purported purchase on 24th May, 1975. The petitioners secured a decree in a civil suit against the original owner, but the respondents subsequently obtained a decree in a separate suit, claiming the earlier decree was not binding on them as they were not impleaded as parties. The Peshawar High Court upheld the dismissal of the petitioners' revision. The core legal question involves the rights of rival purchasers through competing mutations and whether a prior decree against an original vendor binds subsequent purchasers not impleaded therein. The Supreme Court granted leave to appeal to examine the questions raised regarding the misreading of evidence and the technical objections concerning the non-joinder of parties in the earlier suit. The key principle established is that leave to appeal is granted when substantial questions regarding the appreciation of evidence and conflicting proprietary claims require closer examination.
- Whether a decree obtained against an original owner in a land suit is binding on subsequent purchasers who were not impleaded as parties to that suit?
- Can a civil revision be maintained when the lower courts' concurrent findings are allegedly based on a misreading of evidence?
- How are competing claims of rival purchasers resolved when mutations are sanctioned on the same day based on transactions of different dates?
ORDER
1. MUHAMMAD AFZAL ZULLAH, J.--Leave to appeal has been sought from judgment, dated 28-1-1984 of the Peshawar High Court, whereby petitioners' civil revision petition arising out of a land suit, was dismissed.
2. According to the petitioners Salim Khan the original owner of the suit land sold it to the petitioners on 21st May, 1975, through a transaction which was recorded in the Roznamcha Waqiati of the Patwari as also in Column No. 15 of Mutation No.The first mentioned document is also signed by the vendor namely Salim Khan. The respondent side, the petitioners' case is, knowing fully well that Salim Khan had already sold the suit land to the petitioners through a power ofattorney executed in favour of Gul Shahdeen reported to the Patwari asale purported to have been made by Salim Khan to the respondents on 24-5-1975 which it is further claimed by the respondents also included the suit land. This report is the subject-matter of Mutation No. 30. Learned counsel for the petitioners has explained that it was through fraudulent means that although the petitioners' sale was earlier, the mutation in that connection was given No. 35 while the sale in favour of the respondents was later, the mutation there for was given No.30 On face the fraudulent act was purported to have been covered by the fact that both the mutations were sanctioned on the same day. The petitioners in order to get their title cleared filed a civil suit against Salim Khan which was decreed in their favour or, 8-2-1977. The respondents thereafter filed another suit on 26-1-1978 claiming that the decree passed against Salim Khan was not binding on them as they were not impleaded in that suit as party. It may be mentioned here that within the respondents' inter se there has been subsequent sale, but it is not essential to give its detail at this stage. The fact remains that their suit was decreed, the petitioners' appeal failed and their revision met the same fate, therefore, they have sought leave to appeal.
3. Learned counsel for the petitioners has inter alia contended that the impugned judgment is based on misreading of evidence and further while deciding issue on relief the technical objection with regard to the respondents not having been impleaded in the earlier suit could have been overcome.
4. After hearing the learned counsel we consider it a fit case to grant of leave to appeal to examine the questions raised in the petition.
5. Order accordingly.
6. Security Rs.2,000.