Afr State Of Odisha & Another vs Bhagat Prasad Patel And Others on 27 February, 2026

Orissa High Court

Afr State Of Odisha & Another vs Bhagat Prasad Patel And Others on 27 February, 2026

Author: Sashikanta Mishra

Bench: Sashikanta Mishra

                IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA AT CUTTACK
                              SA No.11 of 1992

        [From the judgment and decree dated 28.09.1991 and
        28.10.1991 respectively passed by learned Addl. District
        Judge, Balangir in T.A. No.3/16 of 1989-90 arising out of
        judgment and decree dated 29.09.1988 and 14.10.1988
        respectively passed by learned Munsif, Balangir in T.S.
        No.169 of 1982]

AFR     State of Odisha & Another                ....   Appellants

                                    -Versus-

        Bhagat Prasad Patel and Others           .... Respondents

        Advocate(s) appeared in this case:
        For the Appellants    :Smt. Jyotsnamayee Sahoo,
                               Addl. Standing Counsel.


        For Respondents      : M/s.N.K. Sahu, Sr. Adv.
                               with M/s. B. Swain, S. Sahu,
                               A. Modi and S. Sahoo, Advocates

        CORAM:
                 JUSTICE SASHIKANTA MISHRA

                                JUDGMENT

th
27 February, 2026

SASHIKANTA MISHRA, J.

This is a defendants’ appeal against a partly

confirming and partly reversing judgment. The judgment

dated 28.09.1991 followed by decree passed by learned

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Additional District Judge, Balangir in Title Appeal No.3/16 of

1989-90 is under challenge. Said appeal was filed against

judgment dated 29.09.1988 followed by decree passed by

learned Munsif, Balangir in Title Suit No.169 of 1982. As per

the said judgment, the suit of the plaintiffs was decreed and

the defendants were injuncted from disturbing their right.

The relief of declaration of title and possession was refused.

Thus, while the defendants challenged the declaration of the

fishery right of the plaintiffs in the above-mentioned appeal,

the plaintiffs preferred cross appeal against refusal of the

relief of declaration of title and possession.

2. For convenience, the parties are referred to as

per their respective status before the Trial Court.

3. The suit in question was filed by the plaintiffs

claiming declaration of title, confirmation of possession over

the suit land or in alternative, recovery of possession along

with permanent injunction.

4. The plaintiffs’ case, briefly stated, is that the suit

land was Rayati land belonging to their grandfather, Rushi

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Patel, who excavated a water reservoir and subsequently

made improvements thereon. The plaintiffs being his

successors inherited the property and are in exclusive

possession of the same, using its water for irrigation and

pisciculture. The ex-Patna State decided to record all water

reservoirs of the State in Jalchar Khata in 1936 settlement.

Since there was mass agitation, the erstwhile Government

issued a proclamation inviting objections from tenants. The

father of the plaintiffs submitted objection. The

Superintendent of Land Records (SLR) considered the

objection and recorded the right of the plaintiffs.

Subsequently, the Government illegally transferred the land

to Bhaler Grama Panchayat for pisciculture ignoring the

possession of the plaintiffs. Since the Panchayat interfered

with their right, the plaintiffs filed the suit.

5. Defendant No.1, being the State of Odisha and

Defendant No.2, being the Bhaler Grama Panchayat

contested the suit taking similar stand. It is their case that

by order of the Government of the erstwhile Patna State, all

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water reservoirs were recorded as Jalchar. Subsequently, the

tanks were transferred to Grama Panchayats. The SLR had

no authority to declare the right of any person. Bhaler Grama

Panchayat is under possession of the suit land with fishery

rights.

6. The Trial Court framed 12 issues for

determination.

7. With regard to issues Nos. 1, 2, 4 and 5, the

Trial Court held that there was evidence to show that the

plaintiffs’ grandfather was the Rayat in respect of the suit

land having excavated the same incurring expenditure but no

title was ever acquired by referring to R.K. Ramadyani’s

report of Land Tenure and Revenue System of the Odisha

and Chhattisgarh States. The Trial Court was inclined to

hold that the tanks excavated in Rayati land cannot become

the absolute property of the excavators and that after the

settlement period they would become public lands. The SLR

directed to issue Patta in favour of the plaintiffs’ father in

respect of the fishery right. There was evidence to show that

the plaintiffs’ father was doing pisciculture. After merger, the

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fishery right of the plaintiffs was recognized. It was thus held

that the plaintiffs’ grandfather is not the title holder of the

tank by virtue of his excavation of the same as per the

revenue laws prevalent in the State of Patna, though he has

fishery rights. The Trial Court was not inclined to accept the

plea of the State that the suit tank was ever vested with

Bhaler Grama Panchayat. So, the fishery right of the

plaintiffs cannot be interfered with and that Bhaler Grama

Panchayat cannot be said to have acquired any right.

Basically, on such findings, the suit was decreed in part by

declaring the fishery right of the plaintiffs while refusing the

relief of declaration of their title.

8. In the first appeal filed by the defendants and

cross appeal filed by the plaintiffs, the First Appellate Court

held that the suit property was not Bhogra or Khamar land

but was a defendants’ rent land. Under the Odisha Merged

State Laws Act, 1950, full right and ownership was given to

an occupancy tenant. The Plaintiffs’ ancestors were the

occupancy Rayats and the entry of 1936 settlement regarding

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recording of the land in Jalchar Khata was never acted upon.

Order was issued to issue Patta in favour of the plaintiffs’

ancestors on the objection filed by him. Rent was also

collected from him. The right of an occupancy tenant was

never affected and he continues to be a Rayat. The entry in

the RoR does not give rise to title or right on the State. On

such findings, the First Appellate Court held that the

plaintiffs have right, title and interest over the suit land along

with possession exercising the right of fishing and irrigation.

Thus, the appeal preferred by the State was dismissed and

the cross appeal of the plaintiffs was allowed by declaring

plaintiffs’ title including right of fishing and irrigation over

the suit land, confirmation of possession and permanent

injunction.

9. Being further aggrieved, the defendants have

preferred the present second appeal, which was admitted on

the following substantial question of law;

“(i) Whether on account of vesting of land under
Orissa Estate Abolition Act, the tank shall be treated
to have been vested in the State Government?

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(ii) Whether right to catch and carry away the fish
being profit a prendre having valued more than
Rs.100 required compulsorily registrable?

(iii) Whether on the absence of details of the land
particulars in Ext.4 can confer a fishery right in
favour of the plaintiff merely on the basis of the order
dated 14.09.1951 passed by the Superintendent of
Land Records in Fishery Case No.53/50?

(iv) Whether the lower appellate court is justified in
decreeing the plaintiff’s suit when ex-state of Bolangir
merged in the State of Odisha on 01.01.1948 and
Thekadire system was abolished on 01.04.1950?

(v) Whether the lower appellate court can make out a
new case that the plaintiff has got occupancy right in
the absence of any pleadings/issues and an
opportunity to the defendant to deny such claim? (5)

(vi) Whether the first appellate court is justified in
decreeing the plaintiff’s suit basing upon the cross
objection filed by the respondent without filing a
separate appeal challenging the part decree?”

10. Heard, Ms. J. Sahoo, learned Additional

Standing Counsel for the State-appellant and Mr. S. Sahoo,

learned Counsel appearing for the plaintiff-respondents.

11. Ms. Sahoo would submit that the grandfather of

the plaintiffs was never an occupancy tenant but was a

cultivator under the erstwhile Thekadar, Hrusikesh Bhoi and

the property was the Gaunti Rayati land of said Thekadar. As

per the provisions of the Patna State Tenancy Act, 1944, a

tenant is liable to pay rent but does not include a farmer. The

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plaintiffs never proved that their predecessor was an

occupancy tenant under Thekadar, Hrusikesh Bhoi. As such,

the question of acquisition of tenancy right does not arise.

Ms. Sahoo further argues that even assuming that Rushi

Patel had some right over the suit land/tank, the same stood

extinguished in view of merger of the Patna State and

abolition of the Thekadar system. Only fishery rights have

been confirmed by the SLR. In any case, SLR was not

competent to confer any right. Ms. Sahoo further argues that

the very fact that the grandfather of the plaintiffs applied

before the SDO for declaration of his fishery right, which was

subsequently transferred to the SLR, implies that his claim of

being an occupancy tenant was adversely affected after

merger. The tank in question may have been excavated for

the use of the villagers. Mere acceptance of rent by the State

cannot confer any occupancy interest.

12. Per contra, Mr. Sahoo would argue referring to

different provisions of the Patna State tenancy Act that an

occupancy tenant was entitled to make improvement of his

holding including excavation of tank for storage of water for

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irrigation etc. The fact that Rushi Patel excavated the tank

for agricultural purposes establishes that he was an

occupancy tenant. Section 7 of the Odisha Merged State

Laws Act gives full right and ownership to an occupancy

tenant. Therefore, the First Appellate Court rightly interfered

with the judgment and decree passed by the learned Munsif

and decreed the suit of the plaintiffs. On the substantial

questions of law framed by this Court, Mr. Sahoo would

submit that the plaintiffs never filed the suit for declaration

of their fishery right but specifically sought for declaration of

their right, title and interest over the suit land and

confirmation of possession etc. Therefore, no registered

document showing such right was necessary. On the

substantial question of law Nos. iii, iv and v, the Ruler of

Patna State notified that the tanks constructed by the Rayats

or Thekadar on their own land at their own expenses will be

excluded from Jalchar Khata. The plaintiffs’ grandfather

staked his claim of title over the suit land way back on

03.03.1942 which was recognised and thereafter Patta was

issued in his favour and he paid rent.

Page 9 of 19

13. After hearing learned counsel for the parties at

length and on going through the materials on record, this

Court feels it proper to address certain basic issues which

would help answer the substantial questions of law framed

effectively.

14. The first issue that arises for consideration is the

status of Rushi Patel vis-à-vis the suit land. As per the ROR

of 1916 vide Ext-12, Rushi Patel was recorded as a Rayat. It

is claimed that Rushi Patel began excavating a munda (tank)

in 1908 but when exactly he acquired possession of land has

not been placed before the Court. Be that as it may, Ext-12 is

the earliest record showing Rushi Patel as being the ‘Rayat’ of

the land. The Jamabandi Register (Ext-13) of 1916 also

corroborates the above fact inasmuch as it records Rushi

Patel as a Rayat. The State however, contends that Rushi

Patel was a mere cultivator under the erstwhile Thekadar,

Hrusikesh Bhoi. At this stage, reference to some of the

provisions of Patna State Tenancy Act, 1944 would be

profitable. Section -2(xiv) defines ‘Tenant (rayat)’ as follows:

“”Tenant” (rayat) means primarily a person who
holds land for the purpose of cultivating it by himself

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or by the members of his family or by hired servants
and is, or but for a special contract, would be liable
to pay rent or cesses for such land includes also
successors in interest of such person but not a
Farmer or Thekadar.

Section 3 specifies six classes of tenants (rayats), namely;

“1. Occupancy tenant

2. Ordinary tenant

3. Under tenant

4. Village service tenant

5. Other service tenant

6. Maufi service tenant”

Section 4, which is relevant to the present case, reads as

follows;

“Every tenant not being an ordinary tenant or under
tenant shall be deemed to be an occupancy tenant.”

It is not in dispute that the land in question is not bhogra

land. Section 6 grants certain rights to the occupancy tenant

in respect of the land. Section 6(ii)(b) reads as follows;

“The excavation of tank or the digging of well, water
channel and other works of the same nature for the
storage of water necessary for the purpose of
agriculture or purposes incidental thereto.”

Section 18 provides that an occupancy tenant shall not

ordinarily be liable for ejectment from his holding.

“An occupancy tenant shall be liable for ejectment
from his holding except from so much of his
homestead land is recorded rent-free on any of

Page 11 of 19
the following grounds by order of a Revenue
Officer;

(i) that he has failed to pay rent and cesses in
respect of his holding; or.

(ii) that he has failed to discharge the liabilities
incidental to his tenancy and to observe the
rules relating to his lands as prescribed under
this Act; or

(iii) that he has permanently diverted his lands to
non-agricultural purpose;

To reiterate, Rushi Patel not being an ordinary tenant nor

under-tenant is protected from ejectment by the provisions of

Section 18. The Patna State Tenancy Act, 1944 stood

repealed by virtue of Section 5 of the Odisha Merged State

(Laws) Act, 1950. Section 7 of the said Act protected the

rights of occupancy tenant as recognized in the tenancy laws

of the merged State, in the present case, the Patna State.

Section 7 is quoted hereinbelow.

“7. Modification of Tenancy laws in force in the
merged States: Notwithstanding anything
contained in the tenancy laws of the merged States
as continued in force by virtue of Article 4 of the
States Merger (Governor’s Province) Order, 1949

(a) all suits and proceedings between landlord
and tenants such shall be instituted and tried in
revenue courts.

Explanation-In this clause, the expression
“landlord” shall mean a person immediately under
whom a tenant holds land, and the expression
“tenant” shall mean a person who holds land under
another person and is or, but for a special contract
would be liable to pay rent for that land to that
person.

Page 12 of 19

(b) an occupancy tenant shall be entitled-

(i) to freely transfer his holding;

(ii) to have full right over all kinds of trees
standing on his holding;

(iii) to use the land comprised in the holding in
any manner which does not materially impair
the value of the land or render it unfit for the
purpose of the tenancy,

(iv) to the benefit of his presumption by any
Court that the rent for the time being payable
by him is fair and equitable until the contrary
is proved;

Explanation :- (i) An “occupancy tenant”

means tenant or a raiyat having occupancy right in
his holding under the tenancy laws continued in
force in this merged States;

(ii) An “aboriginal tribe” means any tribe that
may, from time to time, be notified as such by
the State Government;

(c) Where a rent of an occupancy tenant is
payable in accordance with the tenancy laws
continued in force in the merged State concerned;

(d) an occupancy tenant shall not be liable to
eviction from his holding except in execution of a
degree for ejectment passed on the ground that

(i) he has used the land comprised in his
holding in a manner which renders it unfit for
the purposes of the tenancy, or

(ii) he has broken a condition consistent with
the provisions of the tenancy laws in force in
the merged State concerned and on breach of
which he is under the terms of contract
between himself and his landlord, liable to be
ejected:

Page 13 of 19

(e) the interest of an occupancy tenant in his
holding shall on his death pass by inheritance or
survivorship in accordance with his personal law;

(f) a “Sukhbasi” shall be entitled to the rights
of an occupancy tenant over his homestead
notwithstanding any law or custom to the contrary;

Explanation-A “Sukhabasi” means any person
holding only homestead whether or not recorded in
the settlements paper as “Ghar”, “Bari” or
“Gharbari” or a person who is granted land by the
Thekadar or by a competent revenue officer for the
purpose of using it as homestead.

(g) When land is held as service-tenure, either
under the Rule or any member of his family, the
liability of the holder of such tenure to render service
for the use and occupation thereof shall cease, and
he shall, on payment of such rent as may be
assessed by the (State) Government as fair and
equitable, acquire occupancy right therein.

(h) When a person holds khamar, nij-jote or
any other private lands of a Ruler, which has been
recognised as such by the (State) Government, he
shall not be liable to ejectment but shall be liable to
pay such fair and equitable rent as may be fixed by
the 1(Subdivisional Officer having jurisdiction or any
other officer not below the rank of Sub-Deputy
Collector authorised by the Collector in this behalf)
and thereupon he shall acquire right of occupancy in
respect of such lands:

[Explanation :-For the purpose of this Section.
Subdivisional Officer shall mean the principal
revenue officer of a Subdivision.]”

So, on a conjoint reading of the provisions of the Patna State

Tenancy Act and the Orissa Merged State (Laws) Act, 1950 it

becomes clear that the right of an occupancy tenant as

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confirmed by the former Act continues even after enactment

of the latter Act.

15. Such being the position of law relating to the

right of an occupancy tenant, there is no way by which such

right could be taken away contrary to the provisions of

Section 18. Be it noted that it is not the case of the State that

Rushi Patel’s case was covered under any of the situations

indicated in Section 18. Therefore, notwithstanding the

recording of the land in Jalachar Khata in the 1936

settlement, the right acquired by him cannot be said to have

been extinguished. Reading of the impugned judgment shows

that the First Appellate Court was alive to the above position

of law to hold as follows:

To reiterate, the suit property in question were not
Bhogra or Khamar land, but it was a tenanted land.
Under the Patna State Tenancy Act, 1944 even an
ordinary tenant cannot be dispossessed if he does not
hold any bhogra or Khamar land much less an
occupancy tenant. Under the Orissa Merged States
Laws Act, 1950 in Section 7 full right and ownership
was given to an occupancy tenant.”

16. From what has been discussed above, this Court

finds no reason to differ with the above finding.

Page 15 of 19

17. The First Appellate Court, analysing the oral and

documentary evidence on record finally arrived at the

following conclusion;

“26. Thus, it is evident from the evidence on record
that the plaintiffs’ ancestors are the occupancy raiyats
of the said plots wherein they have escavated a
reservoir for agricultural purpose. The entry of 1936
settlement was subject to dispute and was not acted
upon. Further order was issued to issue patta in
favour of the plaintiffs ancestors on the objection filed
by him. Rent was collected from him. Evidently right of
an occupancy tenant has not been affected and he
continues to be a raiyat. An entry in the R.O.R. does
not give rise a title or right on the State. In the decision
of Salim Mahammad -versus- Cuttack Municipality,
reported in 15 2 (1949) C.L.T. page 39 Their Lordship
held at page. 47″ in so far as the municipality claim
title to the disputed passage on the strength of the
current settlement entry, the claim must be negatived”.

So in the light of the aforesaid decision, the claim of
the State should be negatived.”

18. This Court fully concurs with such conclusion

for the reasons already indicated.

19. Having held so, this Court would answer the

substantial questions of law as follows:

Question No.(i)

Even on abolition of estate and vesting of the

same in the State of Odisha, the right of the Rayat (tenant)

continued as before and stood protected. In fact, in the

Page 16 of 19
instant case, there is overwhelming evidence on record to

show that the plaintiff’s ancestor was acknowledged as a

tenant by accepting rent paid by him. Therefore, vesting of

the estate shall not operate adversely to his interest. In the

case of Special Secretary to Govt. in General

Administration Deptt., Odisha, Bhubaneswar & Another

vs. Shri Bansidhar Naik1 this Court held that if a person

was in physical possession of a land on the date of vesting of

the estate as a tenant under the intermediary, he shall hold

the land on the same right, as he was entitled immediately

before the vesting. Further, in the case of Rabindranath

Dikhit vs. Padma Charan Samanta Singhar, after him

Saila Samanta Singhar and Ors2 this Court held that a

tenant inducted prior to vesting and who is in possession of

the land as a tenant on the date of vesting would continue as

a tenant under the State.

Question No.(ii)

Since the suit was filed for declaration of title

over the suit land with fishing rights as an incident to such

1
(2007) 2 OLR 557 : (2007) CLT 278 Supp
2
(2005) 2 OLR 491 : (2006) 101 CLT 612

Page 17 of 19
title, this Court is of the view that such right was not

required to be formalized by way of a registered instrument.

Question No.(iii)

In view of the finding that the ancestor of the

plaintiffs was an occupancy tenant and his right over the

land/tank including fishery right granted to him stood

protected under the relevant laws, grant of fishery right by

the SLR cannot be treated as erroneous merely for the

absence of details of land particulars.

Question No.(iv)

State not having proved that the plaintiffs’

ancestor was a cultivator under the Thekadar, the question

becomes redundant.

Question No.(v)

This Court is of the view that the First Appellate

Court did not make out a third case but analysed the

provisions of the relevant statutes to determine the actual

status of the plaintiff’s ancestor as occupancy tenant.

                                                     Page 18 of 19
 Question No.(vi)

                        The           State   not   having   questioned    the

maintainability of the cross-appeal filed by the plaintiff before

the First Appellate Court on the ground that a separate

appeal ought to have been filed, it is precluded from doing so

at this belated stage.

The substantial questions of law being answered

thus, this Court finds no merit in the contentions raised by

the State appellants so as to be persuaded to interfere.

20. In the result, the appeal fails and is therefore,

dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs.

………………………….

Sashikanta Mishra,
Judge
Orissa High Court, Cuttack
The 27th February, 2026/ A.K. Rana, P.A.

Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed
Signed by: AJAYA KUMAR RANA
Designation: P.A. Page 19 of 19
Reason: Authentication
Location: High Court of Orissa, Cuttack
Date: 27-Feb-2026 13:21:38