Orissa High Court: The Bench of A.K. Rath, J. allowed the petition filed that challenged the order which allowed the appointment of an Amin Commissioner for local investigation under Order 26 Rule 9 CPC for the suit land.
The facts of the case were that the plaintiff-opposite party instituted the suit for declaration of right, title and interest, confirmation of possession and recovery of possession. Case of the plaintiff was that he was the owner of the suit land. Defendants filed a written statement denying the assertions made in the plaint. Case of the defendants was that the plaintiff had no title over the suit land and the defendants purchased the same by means of a registered sale deed. While matter stood thus, the plaintiff filed an application under Order 26 Rule 9 CPC for the appointment of a commissioner for demarcation of the property. Defendants filed an objection to the same. The Trial Court appointed a commissioner for local investigation. Mr. P.K. Satapathy, the counsel for the petitioners submitted that there was no justifiable reason to appoint a survey knowing commissioner in the factual scenario. The dispute did not pertain to demarcation or identification of the land.
The Court held that since both parties were claiming title over the suit land, it was not per se a ground to appoint a commissioner. The plaintiff could adduce evidence to substantiate the case. The dispute did not pertain to the area or identification or measurement or location of the land. Thus the Court had traveled beyond its jurisdiction in appointing a commissioner. The impugned order was quashed and the petition was allowed. [Regional Coop. Marketing Society v. Amarnath Saraph, 2019 SCC OnLine Ori 172, Order dated 19-04-2019]
