RAJA BHUPENDRA NARAIN SINGHA BAHADUR versus MAHARAJ BAHADUR SINGH AND OTHERS

J.-These appeals are directed against the judgment and decrees of the High Court of Judicature at Calcutta, dated 23rd February, 1945, reversing the judgment and decrees passed· by the District Judge -of Birbhum dated - 16th December, 1938. The principal questions for determination are the same m all of them and can be conveniently disposed of by one judgment.

pp. 783–784

It is necessary to set out briefly the history of this half a century old litigation. The seven suits out of which arise Appeals Nos. 68 to 74 were filed iH September, 1904, by Maharaja Bahadur Singh, in the court of the different Munsifs at Rampurhat, against Raja Ranjit Singh Bahadur, deceased, and others, for a declaration of his title to the lands mentioned in the different suits and for mesne profits from the year 1899. till recovery of possession. It was alleged that the lands in the several suits were chowkidari chakran lands within the plaintiff's patnidari, granted to his predecessors in interest on 14th November, 1853, by the ancestors of the defendant, that · as the lands were in the possession of village watchman on service tenures, they were excluded from assessment of land revenue and no rent was paid on them, that in the year 1899 under the provisions of sections 50 and 51 of Bengal Act VI of 1870 Government resumed the lands, terminated the service tenures and settled them with the zamindar, that in this situation the plaintiff as patnidar became entitled to their actual physical possession, that the zamindar wrongfully took physical possession of them and denied the right of the plaintiff and hence he was entitled to the reliefs claimed. The suits were decreed on 17th August, 1905, and 19th August, 1905, by the two courts respectively and the decisions were affirmed on appeal by the District Judge. On special ~ppeal to the High Court, the suits were remanded for trial on the question of limitation, and after remand they were dismissed by the trial court and the Court of appeal as barred by limitation. On second appeal, it was held that the suits were within limitation and were then decreed for the second time. This decision was affirmed on appeal to His Majesty in Council. The plaintiff actually obtained possession of the lands invol:ved in these su~ts in August, 1913. An application was made for ascertainment of mesne profits on 6th November, 1918. This was resisted by the defendant and it was pleaded that the plaintiff was not entitled to interest on mesne profits, that the zamindar was entitled to receive the profits of the disputed lands and that deduction should be made out of the amount of the mesne profits on account of munafa and the amount of chowkidari dues as well as cesses

pp. 784–785

due to him or paid by him. Five years later, on · 24th June, 1927, another set of objections was filed by the zamindar claiming deduction out of mesne profits 'by way of equitable set-off of the payments made by him subsequent to the date of delivery of possession as well as for the amount of munafa that became payable to him after that date. After a prolonged enquiry .the trial court on 18th December, 1937, decreed the plaintiff's claim for mesne profits after allowing the zamindar the deductions claimed by him up to the date of assessment of mesne profits but disallowed the amount claimed by way of equitable set~off for the subsequent period. The learned District Judge on appeal reversed this decision and allowed the defendant the amount claimed by him by way of equitable set-off, subject, however, to the condition that the dues of the defendant should be deducted from the dues of the plaintiff till the defcndant' s dues were wiped off. The relevant part· of his judgment runs thus :-

p. 785

"The broad fact is that they (plaintiffs) have been in possession of the lands since 1910 and have been in enjoyment of rent from the tenants from that date and according to law they are not entitled to possess the land unconditionally. Now that all the facts are before the court and the time has come for final adjustment of accounts between the parties the court should try to do substantial justice between the parties. It is not sufficient answer to say that the plea of equitable set-off was not raised in the beginning. The circumstances in all these cases are peculiar and it could hardly be expected that such plea would have been taken in the very beginning. The course of litigation in these cases has not run along easy and smooth channels : on the contrary its course has been extremely tortuous and disturbed frequmtly by conflicting decisions. No one could have reasonably anticipated in the beginning that the litigation would be protracted in this extraordinary· way. It is the duty of the court to take notice of the subsequent events in order to do justice between the parties . ..... As we are dealing with the question of equitable set-off, no question of time-barred debts or unascertained sum can arise. . . . . . The plea of equitable setoff in respect of time-barred debts can be set up as a shield by way of defence nor can any question of payment of court-fees arise. There is, in my opinion, no substantial difference in the character of the respective parties during the entire period and it would be futile to make an attempt at distinction by over; subtle argument where there is really no difference in substance. There is considerable force in .the argument advanced on the side of tl1e appelltant, namely, tile appellant's claim to the equitable set-off is really in the. nature of cross-demand arising out of the same transaction and connected in its nature and cricumstances . .... ; From whatever standpoint the matter may be 'looked at I am of the opinion that the claim of the appell~nt for equitable set-off for the subsequent period by way of deduction of the chowkidari revenue and cess .paid by him as well as on account of munafa should be allowed. This amount will also carry interest at 6 per cent per annum up to date. The subsequent! period means the period since the date of delivery of possession up to 1927-28."

pp. 785–786

Against the judgment and decrees of the District' Judge the plaintiff preferred appeals to the High Court at Calcutta. The High Court by the judgment under appeal modified the decress of the District Judge and disallowed the claim for equitable set-off in its entirety for the subsequent period and restored the decree of the trial court. The zamindar filed applications for leave to appeal to His Majesty in Council. These applications were consolidated with similar applications filed in t11e second batch of suits. A certificate was granted for leave to appeal to His Majesty in Council. By an order dated 9th June, 1947, all the appeals were admitted and it was directed that the proceedings be printed and transmitted to England. During the pendency of the proceedings in the High Court, Raja Bhupendra Narayan Singh died and the 11resent appellant was impleaded as his heir and representative. An application was also made in the High Court for permission to urge additional grounds not already taken. After the abolition of the jurisdiction of the Privy Council these appeals were transmitted to this Court.

pp. 786–787

An application under Order XIX, rule 4, of the Supreme Court Rules was presented at the hearing of the appeals that the appellant be allowed to urge the following additional grounds in support of the appeals, viz.:-

p. 787

(1) That the munafa (rent) should not be calculated on the basis of the principles laid down in Radhacharan v. Maharaja Raniit Singh(

p. 787

(2) That the said munafa should have been assessed on a fair share of the profits from the land.

p. 787

The ~~econd batch of appeals. (Nos. 75 to 92 of 1951) arises out of 18 suits instituted in the court of the Munsif of Rampurhat on 22nd December, 1909, by Ganpat Singh and Narpat Singh predecessors in interest of respondents 1 to 3 against the predecessors in interest of the appellant, late Raja Ranjit Singh Bahadur, and also some other persons who were tenants under him, for a declaration of the plaintiffs' title to the resumed chowkidari chakran lands and for khas possession of the same and for mesne profits~ The allegations in these suits were the same as in the first set of suits. The defence to the suits was also the same. The suits were decreed by the trial Judge on 30th September, 1910, in the following terms :-

p. 787

"The plaintiffs' title is declared to the lands in suit and they will get khas possession of the same by ejecting the tenant defendants; on condition of paying (1) (1918) 27 C.L.J. 532.

p. 787

to t.he defendant No. 1 an additional rent, to be determined on the principle that the original patni rent should ·bear the same ratio to the patni rent now payable bv the plaintiffs as the original H ustbood at the time of the creation of the patni should bear to the present increased Hustbood, or any other fair and equitable rent which may be determined at the time of assessing the ·mesne profits.

p. 788

The plaintiffs will get W asilat from defendant No. I up to the date of delivery of possession of the land in suit to them. The amount will be determined in a separate enquiry."

p. 788

The District Judge on appeal remanded the cases for determination of the conditions and terms under which the patnidar was to hold the lands under the zamindar and directed ascertainment of profits. The plaintiffs obtained delivery of possession of the lands in the meanwhile on 23rd November, 1910. Against the remand order appeals were preferred to the High Court and the 'High Court decreed the appeals in these terms:-

p. 788

"W e set aside the portion of the decision of the District Judge which remands the cases to the original court to determine the conditions under which the patnidar is to hold the lands under the zarnindar. Rest of the remand order will stand. That portion of the Munsif's decree, which imposes on the appell;mt, as a condition of obtaining khas possession, the payment of additional rent to the zamindar will be set aside."

p. 788

Against these decrees appeals were preferred to His Majesty in Council by special ilcave. The Privy Council set aside the decrees of the High Court and observed as follows:-

p. 788

"Their Lordships, therefore, see no reason for interfering with the long series of authorities commencing as. far back as the . year 1900, which have established the right of the zamindar to have an additional rent fixed for such 'lands not can. their Lordships overlook the fact that in the cases already referred before this Board no exception was taken by the patnidar to the fixing of such rents as a condition of being put into possession. . "

pp. 788–789

On 8th December, 1922, the plaintiffs filed applications in these suits for ascertainment of mesne profits for the years 1906 to 1910. Objections were taken on behalf of the defendant on the 17th April, 1923, and it was contended that .the plaintiffs may be allowed mesne profits to ·the extent of the amount that would be found due after deduction of the amount of rent to which the defendant was entitled in respect of the lands in suit according lb the judgment of the munsif. On the 28th May, 1927, another application was filed by the zamindar claiming deduction by way of equiitab'.le set-off of the amounts due to him for rent from 1910 onwards and on account of subsequent payment made by him towards revenue and cesses. After a prolonged enquiry the munsaf ultimately on the 18th December, 1937, decreed the plaintiff's claim for mesne profits after allowing deductions for the amounts claimed by the defendant up to the date of delivery of possession. He held that the appellant was not entitled to get any amount by way of equitable set-off in respect of sums of money spent by him in payment of revenue and cesses or for the amount of munafa or profits for the period subsequent to the date of delivery of possession. The District Judge on appeal! by his judgment dated the 16th December, 1938, allowed the claim of equitable set-off for the period subsequent to delivery of possession and directed that "from the plaintiffs' dues, the dues of the defendant are to be deducted and if after these deductions any sum is due to the plaintiffs they will get a decree for that sum. If it is found on calculations in some cases that the dues of the defendant exceed the dues of the plaintiffs, in such cases the prayer · of the plaintiffs for mesne profits must be dismissed." Against this decision special appeals were pref erred to the High Court and by the judgment under appeal the decision of the uial court was restored. Applications were then made for leave to appeals to His 1\1.ajesty in. Council and 2-9 those were allowed and a certificate was granted for preferring those appeals. Because of the abolition of the jurisdiction of the Privy Council those appeals are now before us for decision.

pp. 789–790

The points for decision in all these appeals are the following:-

p. 790

1. Whether the appellant is entitled to deduct by way of equitable set-off from the amount of mesne profits the amounts due to him on account of rent, revenue and cesses for the period subsequent to the dates of delivery of possession.

p. 790

2. Whether interest should be allowed on the amount of mesne profits found due, and if so, at what rate.

p. 790

3. Whether the rent due to the appellant from the patnidar on those lands should be calculated on the basis of annual assets of the land (as in Radhacharan v. Maharaia Ranji~ Singh(')), or on a fair and equitable basis.

p. 790

The claim for set-off for the period. for which mesne profits were claimed has been allowed and is not in these appeals.

p. 790

As regards the amounts due to the appellant by way of rent subsequent to .the date of transfer of possession, the claim is unconnected with the subjectmatter of the different suits. It seems clear that a plea in the nature of equitable set-off is not available when the cross-demands do not arise out of the same transaction. Mesne profits due to the plaintiff relate to the period during which the appellant was in wrongful possession of the lands and .the amounts claimed by the defendant relate to a period when he was no longer in possession and had ceased to be a trespasser. No mesne profits a.re claimaWe for that period. The right of the appellant to recover additional rents from the plaintiff arises out of a different cause of action and independently of the claim for mesne profits. If the patnidar after having entered into possession had defaulted in the payment of the (1) (1918) 27 C.L.J. 532. , , ; additional rents due for any period, nothing stood in the way of the appellant from recovering them by appropriate legal proceedings. The prolongation of the enquiry for ascertainment of the mesne profits cannot support a claim for equitable set-off for the period subsequent to the delivery of possession to the plaintiff.

pp. 790–791

It is obvious· that no claim for equitable set-off against mesne profits during the pendency of the suits could be made for the sums deduction of which is now sought, as the amounts had not then accrued due and his right to them had not yet arisen. The learned District Judge was in error in holding that the appellant's claim for equitable set-off was in the nature of a cross-demand arising out of the same transaction and connected in its nature and circumstances. He failed to appreciate that the transaction which led to plaintiff's demand r~sulted tfrom the defendant's wrongful act as a trespasser, while the transaction giving rise to the appellant's demand arises out of the relationship of landlord and tenant and the obligations resulting therefrom. A wrongdoer who has wrongfully withheld moneys belonging to another cannot invoke any principles of equity in his favour and seek to deduct therefrom the amounts that during this period have fallen due to him. There is nothing improper or unjust in telling the wrongdoer to undo his wrong, and not to take advantage of it. Such a person cannot be helped on any principles of equity to recover amounts for the recovery of which he could have taken action in due course of law and which for some unexplained reason he failed to take and which claim may have by now become barred by limitation.

p. 791

It was contended that it was only after the decree of the Privy Council that the appellant's rights to the additional rent was finally established and till then no legal steps could be taken to enforce this demand. The contention is without force. The appellant's right to additional rent had been established by the decree of the trial court in execution of which possession passed from him to the patnidar. 'fhe Privy Council only affirmed this decision. The patnidars under the decree were entitled to possession of the lands conditional on payment of the additional rent due for the period they had been out of possession. That condition having been fulfilled (by adjustment of the appellant's claim against the mesne profits), the decree must be held to have been satisfied, thus completely settling the cross-demands. The landlord's demand for subsequent rents has to be enforced in the ordinary way in the civil court if any default has been committed in the payment of these rents. This claim cannot for ever remain linked with the demand for mesne profits for any anterior period. The result 1s that the decision of the High Court on this point is maintained.

pp. 791–792

On the question of future interest payable on the decretal amount, the learned District Judge observed as follows:-

p. 792

"I may state, however, at this stage that if I were to rule out the fact that I am allowing the claim of the appellant for equitable set-off, I would have allowed interest to the plaintiffs at the uniform rate of 4 per cent. per annum throughout, i.e., from the beginning of the W ashilat · period up to date: As I am allowing the prayer for equitable set-off, I am of opinion, however, that interest at the usual rate at 6 per cent. per annum should be granted for the whole of this period."

p. 792

The High Court disallowed equitable set-off but yet maintained this decision. When the claim for equitable set-off is being disallowed, there is no justification for allowing future interest at the rate of more than four per cent. for such a long period, particularly in a case where the plaintiff himself has not been prompt in getting the amount of mesrie profits ascertained. The plaintiff did not even ask for an enquiry into this question· for a period of about twelve years. Taking .into consideration all the circurristances of the case we , think that future interest .should · not have been allow- . ed to the' plaintiff in the several suits at a higher rate . than four per cent: on the amount decreed in the vari- ·<$ suits by way 'of mesne :profits. ·

p. 792

The appellant's last contention that the munafa (rent) should not be calculated on· the principle laid ·down in Radhacharan v. · Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1) but should have been assessed on a fair share of the profits of the land has no substance because the claim was not made in the grounds of appeal to the Privy Council and was not even mentioned in the additional grounds of appeal. It was for the first time made before us at the hearing and we see no valid grounds for ·entertaining it at this late stage. Moreover, it seems to us that the claim has no substance in the absence of any .evidence about the proportion the original patni rent bore to the r.evenue and cesses.

p. 793

For the reasons given above all these appeals fail except to the extent that the decree of the High Court is modified in that the amounts decreed by way of mesne profits in the various suits will bear interest at the rate of four per cent. instead of six per cent. The · parties will bear their own costs in all these appeals.

p. 793

Appeals dismissed. Agent for the appellant in Civil Appeals No. 62 to

p. 793

74 :lJ.ld 75 to 92 : P. K. Bose. Agent for respondent No. 1 in Civil Appeals Nos. 68

p. 793

to 74 : Ganpat Rai. Agent for the respondents Nos. 1 to 3 m Civil · Appeals Nos. 75 to 92 : Sukumar Ghose.

p. 793

MUSAMMAT PHOOL KUER MUSAMMAT PEM KUER AND ANOTHE.lt.

p. 793

PANDIT MADAN MOHAN

p. 793

v. MUSAMMAT PEM KUER AND ANOTHER .

p. 793

and BosE JJ.]

p. 793

Hindu law-Widow-Surrender 'to next reversioner and stranger-Validity-Compromise by widow-When binding reversioner.

p. 793

(1) (1918) 27 C.L.J. 532.

p. 793