Mr. Abhimanyu and Mr. Abhishek, Advocates. THE STATE ORS v. Through

infirmity. Hence, it was contended that the petition filed for revocation of the LoA was liable to be dismissed.

3.5 On completion of pleadings, necessary issues were raised by the trial court. The parties went to trial on the basis of the abovesaid pleadings. On behalf of the petitioner, PW-1 to PW-8 were examined, and exhibits PW-1/A, PW-2/A to PW-2/B, PW- FAO 259/2015 & LA.APP. 500/2015 Signature Not Verified Signed By:KOMAL DHAWAN Signing Date:10.12.2025 11:45:26 3/1 to PW-3/3, PW-4/1 to PW-4/2, PW-5/1 to PW-5/6, PW-6/1 to PW-6/2 and PW-7/X were marked. On behalf of applicants/objectors, RW-1 to RW-11 were examined, and exhibits EX/OW1/1 to EX/OW/1/48 were marked. The trial court, on consideration of the oral and documentary evidence and after hearing both sides, held that the grant of LoA required revocation as it was found from the materials on record that there was in fact concealment of material facts and also non-joinder of necessary parties. Aggrieved, Jangli has come up in appeal.

3.6 Jangli, the original petitioner died during the pendency of the proceedings, and hence his legal heirs, namely, his wife and children, have been impleaded as the additional appellants.

4. It was submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioners that though the applicants/ objectors had cited Chander Wati and Ram Phal as witnesses in their witness list, no steps were taken to examine them for, which no reason(s) has been furnished. This is FAO 259/2015 & LA.APP. 500/2015 Signature Not Verified Signed By:KOMAL DHAWAN Signing Date:10.12.2025 11:45:26 one aspect that needs to be doubted. On the other hand, the petitioners have examined PW-1 to PW-8 and through their testimony and the documents produced, have proved that Chandra Wati @ Chandro was the daughter of Chandgi of Village Sardhana, Sonepat, Haryana and was married to Ram Phal. Though the petitioners had produced the necessary documents to substantiate their case and proved it through the officials of the departments concerned, the trial court ignored the same on the ground that the documents had been obtained under the RTI Act and that the same had not been proved. The fact that Chandra Wati @ Chandro was the daughter of Chandgi of Village Sardhana has been proved by the production of the voter list and the statement of Chandra Wati herself that she is residing at her parental house in Sardhana. On the other hand, the evidence let in by the applicants/ objectors is only hearsay evidence. The trial court went wrong in concluding that the materials on record FAO 259/2015 & LA.APP. 500/2015 Signature Not Verified Signed By:KOMAL DHAWAN Signing Date:10.12.2025 11:45:26 proved that Chandra Wati @ Chandro died in the year 1973. The trial court also went wrong in holding that Chandra Wati @ Chandro, W/o Chandgi and W/o Ramphal are not one and the same person, but different persons. Ram Phal, the husband of Chandra Wati had falsely given a declaration to the authorities concerned that his wife had died. The authorities concerned even without Ram Phal producing a death certificate, recorded in the service book of Ram Phal that his wife Chandra Wati was no more. It was also submitted that for argument sake, even if it is assumed that Chandra Wati @ Chandro was married to Chandgi, still the applicants/ objectors would derive no right to the land in question. The share of Chandgi @ Chander Bhan was supposed to have been mutated in the name of his wife Chandra Wati @ Chandro and their daughter Bimla. But Bimla died a minor and hence, in the light of Section 51(1) of the DLR Act, the latter’s share devolved on the male descendent of her father, namely, FAO 259/2015 & LA.APP. 500/2015 Signature Not Verified Signed By:KOMAL DHAWAN Signing Date:10.12.2025 11:45:26 Jangli. Chandra Wati @ Chandro had no right to transfer the land in question in view of Sections 50 and 51(1) of the DLR Act and so the transaction is totally illegal. It was also pointed out that there was no valid divorce between Chandra Wati and Ram Phal and hence, the purported marriage of Chandra Wati with Chandgi @ Chander Bhan was a nullity. There has been no concealment or misrepresentation of facts by Jangli and, therefore, no grounds have been made out for revocation of the LoA, goes the argument.

5. Per contra, it was submitted by the learned counsel for respondents no. 2 to 4, i.e. the applicants/ objectors that Jangli played fraud by misleading the Court that his brother Chander Bhan died a bachelor and issueless, when he was in fact survived by his wife and daughter. It was falsely contended that Jangli and his sister Kala Wati were the only siblings of Chander Bhan. Further, LoA can be granted only in respect of the whole or any part of the estate of a deceased. However, in the case on hand, FAO 259/2015 & LA.APP. 500/2015 Signature Not Verified Signed By:KOMAL DHAWAN Signing Date:10.12.2025 11:45:26 when the application for grant of LoA was moved by Jangli, the deceased Chander Bhan, had no interest whatsoever left in the estate in respect of which the LoA was granted. Land measuring 45 bigha 11 biswa came to the share of Chandra Wati @ Chandro and her daughter Bimla. After the death of Bimla, her share reverted to her mother Chandra Wati. A portion of the property was sold by Chandra Wati to the applicants/ objectors. Jangli filed the petition for grant of LoA after 22 years of the death of his brother Chander Bhan, which in itself is a suspicious circumstance. Jangli, in support of his case, had produced very old khatoni of the year 1973-74, though the khatonis for the year 1977-78, 1984 and 2001 were available. The LoA was obtained by concealment of revenue records which would have shown the applicants’/ objectors’ share in the property. The materials on record, conclusively prove that pursuant to the sale deeds being executed in favour of the applicants/ objectors, mutation had also been FAO 259/2015 & LA.APP. 500/2015 Signature Not Verified Signed By:KOMAL DHAWAN Signing Date:10.12.2025 11:45:26 effected in their favour, pursuant to which they had sold an extent of 31 bigha 07 biswas to one Jugal Batra and his three brothers, who in turn sold the property to M/s Vikram Impex (Private) Ltd. The said land was thereafter acquired as per Award No. 24/2002-

2003. Compensation was assessed in the name of the vendees, who received the amount without any objection. Materials on record will clearly reveal that the LoA was obtained by Jangli by misrepresentation and concealment of facts and, therefore, the trial court was justified in revoking the grant of LoA. The impugned order suffers from no infirmity calling for an interference by this Court, submits the learned counsel for the applicants/ objectors.

6. I briefly refer to the evidence on record in this case. PW-1 is one of the grandsons of the original petitioner. However, a reading of the testimony of PW-1 would show that he has no direct knowledge about the transactions involved and that he has only hearsay knowledge about the same. FAO 259/2015 & LA.APP. 500/2015 Signature Not Verified Signed By:KOMAL DHAWAN Signing Date:10.12.2025 11:45:26

6.1 PW-2, Hawaldar, Records, Rajputana Rifles, Delhi Cantonment was examined to prove the service records of Ram Phal (Nayak) S/o Sh. Ram Singh, R/o Village Sitawali, Tehsil Sonepat, Haryana. PW-2 deposed that Ram Phal had retired on

28.02.1991. As per records, Ram Phal had nominated his wife, namely, Chandro who, as per the records, is stated to have died on

10.03.1973. PW-2 deposed that it was based on the declaration, namely, Ex. PW-2/B given by Ram Phal, the death of his wife had been recorded in his service records marked as PW-2/A. PW-2 further deposed that as per service records, Ram Phal had thereafter married one Nani and the said entry was effected in the records on 07.07.1976.

6.2 PW-3, ASI Rajbir Singh, S.P. Office, Sonepat was examined to prove the statement of witnesses that was recorded in the course of investigation conducted relating to a police complaint that was given by Jangli against Ram Phal and Chandra Wati. The FAO 259/2015 & LA.APP. 500/2015 Signature Not Verified Signed By:KOMAL DHAWAN Signing Date:10.12.2025 11:45:26 witness produced the statements of Ram Phal and Chandra Wati which was recorded by ASI, Gohana Police Station. Ram Phal is seen to have stated that he married Chandra Wati @ Chandro, daughter of Chandgi Ram, R/o Sardhana in the year 1968; that due to differences of opinion, they separated as per the decision of their relatives and Panchayat and thereafter he entered into a second marriage with one Nani D/o Matu Ram Jat, R/o Gumana. Ram Phal has further stated that his first wife Chandro thereafter married a person from Narela, who died and that Chandro is presently living in Village Sardhana. Chandra Wati @ Chandro, in her statement has stated that she is a resident of Village Sardhana and that she is receiving pension as widow of Chandgi @ Chander Bhan S/o Maya Ram, R/o Village Mamurpur, Nai Basi, Narela, Delhi. There is also the statement of Jangli Ram in which he states that he had filed an application to stop the pension of Chandro @ Chandra Wati, pursuant to which the pension was stopped. There FAO 259/2015 & LA.APP. 500/2015 Signature Not Verified Signed By:KOMAL DHAWAN Signing Date:10.12.2025 11:45:26 are also statements of the residents of Village Sardhana confirming that Chandro @ Chandra Wati D/o Chandgi was receiving widow pension as widow of Chandgi @ Chander Bhan. Among the statements produced, the statement of the Sarpanch of Village Sardhana is also seen in which he has stated that Chandro @ Chandra Wati, is a resident of his village and that she has been receiving pension as widow of Chandgi @ Chander Bhan. The report after investigation into the complaint of Jangli is also seen produced by the witness. In the said report, it is stated that the marriage of Chandra Wati was solemnized with Ram Phal in the year 1968 and that as per the decision of the Panchayat, they had divorced. Thereafter, Chandra Wati married Chander Bhan S/o Maya Ram, R/o Village Mamurpur Pana, Nai Basi, Narela, who died and that Chandra Wati is receiving widow pension.

6.3 PW-4, LDC, Office of Deputy Commissioner, Sonepat, Haryana was examined to prove the action taken report on the FAO 259/2015 & LA.APP. 500/2015 Signature Not Verified Signed By:KOMAL DHAWAN Signing Date:10.12.2025 11:45:26 complaint dated 17.07.2006 moved by Jangli. In the documents produced by the witness, it is seen that pursuant to the complaint, a report from the Social Welfare Officer, Sonepat was called for in the matter and as per their report Chandro @ Chandra Wati was receiving pension till the month of May 2006. Thereafter, the Department concerned stopped the pension from June 2006.

6.4 PW-5, Assistant Civil Registration, Office of Civil Surgeon Office, Sonepat, Haryana was examined to prove the entries in the birth and death register during the period from 1971 to 1976. He deposed that there is no entry in the name of Chandro @ Chandra Wati W/o Ram Phal, R/o Village Sitawali for the aforesaid period.

6.5 PW-6, an official of the District Election Office, Sonepat was examined to prove the voter list marked as Ex. PW-6/1 and PW-6/2. Entry no. 297 and 299, in the said voters list shows the name of Chandgi and Chandra Wati. FAO 259/2015 & LA.APP. 500/2015 Signature Not Verified Signed By:KOMAL DHAWAN Signing Date:10.12.2025 11:45:26

6.6 The testimony of PW-7, a resident of Village Sitawali does not in any way advance the case of the petitioners.

6.7 PW-8, Sarpanch of Village Sitawali till the year 1991 deposed that Ram Phal, an ex-army man is a resident of his village. He does not know the name of Ram Phal’s wife though he knows that Ram Phal was married. However, PW-8 admitted that he had issued a certificate, which was marked ‘X’, in which it is stated that Ram Phal S/o Ram Singh, R/o Village Sitawali, Sonepat, Haryana is married to Chandro @ Chandra Wati D/o Sh. Chandgi R/o Village Sardhana, District Sonepat, Haryana in the year 1968.

7. Now coming to the evidence let in by the applicants/ objectors. RW-1, LDC, Office of Chief Election Commissioner, Kashmiri Gate, Delhi was examined to prove the voters list of the year 1980 of East Delhi Parliamentary Constituency. According to RW-1, as per the voters list of polling booth no. 176, Nai Basti, Mamurpur, Narela Delhi, the name of Jangli Ram S/o Maya Ram FAO 259/2015 & LA.APP. 500/2015 Signature Not Verified Signed By:KOMAL DHAWAN Signing Date:10.12.2025 11:45:26 is at serial no. 107. At serial no. 117, is Chandre S/o Maya Ram and at serial no. 118, is Chandro W/o Chandre. The voters list was marked as Ex. RW-1/OW1/48.

7.1 RW-2, Section Officer, Accounts, NDPL, Narela was discharged as he had not produced the documents that were required in the case.

7.2 RW-3, Sub-Registrar, Narela Zone was examined to prove the birth and death record of the year 1978. He deposed that as per records, entry no. 153 recorded on 13.06.1978 shows that a girl child named Bimla was born to Chander Bhan and Chander Wati on 05.06.1978. The address of the parents is – Nai Basti, Mamurpur, Narela, Delhi.

7.3 RW-4, UDC, Court of Financial Commissioner, Sham Nath Marg produced and proved the certified copies of the file relating to case no. 13/79-CA which was marked as Ex. RW4/OW1/45 to Ex. RW4/OW1/47. A perusal of the file shows FAO 259/2015 & LA.APP. 500/2015 Signature Not Verified Signed By:KOMAL DHAWAN Signing Date:10.12.2025 11:45:26 that in a revision filed under Sections 187 of the DLR Act, which was against the dismissal of a suit filed under Section 84 of the DLR Act, Jangli and his brother Chander Bhan were the petitioners. During the pendency of the proceedings, Chander Bhan died and on an application moved by Chander Wati, she was impleaded in the proceedings as the legal heir/representative of Chander Bhan vide order dated 17.02.1979.

7.4 RW-5 was examined to prove Ex. RW5/OW1/28, the sanction granted under Section 336 of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957 to the applicants/objectors for construction of a farm house in Khasra No.2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9/29, village Mahmoarpur, Delhi.

7.5 RW-6, Patwari, Record Room, Kanoongo Branch, Tehsil Building Tis Hazari, Delhi was examined to prove the khatoni record of khasra no. 48-2-3-9 and 147. The said document has been marked as Ex. OW1/1. The record of mutation relating to the FAO 259/2015 & LA.APP. 500/2015 Signature Not Verified Signed By:KOMAL DHAWAN Signing Date:10.12.2025 11:45:26 property has been marked as Ex. OW1/9. The records of khasra girdawari running into 17 sheets have been marked as Ex. OW1/17. RW-6 in his cross-examination deposed that the khatoni has been recorded in the name of Jangli. Khatoni of khasra nos. 48 (2, 3, 9) and khasra no. 147, 4, 7, 8/1, 8(2) for the year 1997-98, 1983-84 and 2000-01 have been recorded in the name of Jangli and Chander Bhan S/o Maya in equal shares for the period 1977-

78. After the death of Chander Bhan, the khatoni was recorded in the name of Chander Wati, his widow and Bimla, his daughter in equal shares. Thereafter, Bimla died and hence the khatoni was recorded in the name of her mother Chander Wati. He also deposed that mutation in respect of the said property has also been effected.

7.6 RW-7, Patwari, Narela for the period from 2004 to 2006 deposed that khasra girdawari certificates 1/20 to 27 were issued by him. According to him, the land in dispute was in khasra no. 48 FAO 259/2015 & LA.APP. 500/2015 Signature Not Verified Signed By:KOMAL DHAWAN Signing Date:10.12.2025 11:45:26 (2, 3, 9, 7, 4 and 8/1 and 8/2) that it was acquired by Award no. 28 of 2003-04. As per records, with effect from 02.01.2004, half of the aforesaid land stood mutated in the name of Jangli, S/o Maya Ram.

7.7 RW-8, Patwari, DC Office Kanjawala Land Acquisition Branch, who was directed to produce the record of Award no. 24 of 2003-04, deposed that there was no such Award for Village Mamurpur. However, he produced Award no. 28 of 2003-04, the certified copy of which has been marked as Ex. OW 1/40 to 43.

7.8 RW-9 deposed that as per sale deed dated 26.06.1989, he along with his three brothers had purchased land measuring 31 bighas 7 biswas comprised in khasra no. 52/18 (3-01) 22(4-16), 23(3-08), 53/2(4-16), 3(3-13), 8(3-10), 12(4-16) and 13(3-03) situated in the revenue estate of Mamurpur, Delhi from Inder Singh S/o Maha Singh. Thereafter, they sold the land to M/s Vikram Impex (Private) Ltd. by way of sale deed dated FAO 259/2015 & LA.APP. 500/2015 Signature Not Verified Signed By:KOMAL DHAWAN Signing Date:10.12.2025 11:45:26

19.05.2001, which land was thereafter acquired vide Award No. 24/2002-03, Mamurpur, Delhi. He further deposed compensation was received by M/s Vikram Impex (Private) Ltd. the Land Acquisition Collector, District North-West, Kanjhawala, Delh and that no objection had been raised by any one when compensation was disbursed to M/s Vikram Impex (Private) Ltd.

7.9 RW-10, Patwari, DC Office, Kanjhawala, LAC produced the file of Award no. 24/2002-03, Mamurpur. The certified copy has been marked as Ex. OW1/39.

7.10 Finally, RW-11, Sector Officer, NDPL, Narela deposed that electricity connection in khasra no. 48/2 has been given in the name of Daryao Singh S/o Inder Singh bearing K.No. 129581. The receipts regarding payment of electricity charges has been marked as Ex. RW11/A.

8. It is true, as pointed by the learned counsel for the FAO 259/2015 & LA.APP. 500/2015 Signature Not Verified Signed By:KOMAL DHAWAN Signing Date:10.12.2025 11:45:26 petitioners, that neither Chander Wati nor Ram Phal stated to be alive were examined by the applicants/objectors though they were arrayed as witnesses. However, the materials on record does raise doubts in the mind of this Court as to whether Chandgi @ Chander Bhan was actually a bachelor who died issueless as alleged by Jangli and his sister Kala Wati in the application moved for obtaining LoA. As per the service records of Ram Phal which have been produced and marked through PW-2, he is seen to have first married Chander Wati and thereafter, another lady named Nani. The birth and death register entries show no entry relating to the death of Chander Wati. Chander Wati continues to be alive. The records reveal that it was merely on the basis of a declaration given by Ram Phal, the authority concerned recorded in his service record that his first wife was no more. It is seen that Jangli had given a complaint to the authority concerned that though Chander Wati was married and continues to be the wife of Ram Phal, she FAO 259/2015 & LA.APP. 500/2015 Signature Not Verified Signed By:KOMAL DHAWAN Signing Date:10.12.2025 11:45:26 has been receiving pension claiming to be wife of Chander Bhan. It is seen pursuant to the complaint, the disbursement of pension to Chander Wati was stopped. It appears from the materials on record that Ram Phal had first married Chander Wati. Thereafter, they separated as per the decision of the Panchayat concerned. It is no doubt, true that the said “divorce” granted by the Panchayat concerned is no divorce in the eye of law. But thereafter, Ram Phal is seen to have married Nani. Chander Wati appears to have married Chander Bhan. Whether the marriage between Chander Wati and Ram Phal had been dissolved by a decree of the Court or whether the marriage between Chander Wati and Chander Bhan were valid in the eye of law are obviously not matters that were required to be considered by a probate court.

9. Another disturbing aspect that needs to be noticed is the year in which Jangli move for LoA. Admittedly, Chander Bhan died in the year 1979. However, the petition for LoA is seen filed FAO 259/2015 & LA.APP. 500/2015 Signature Not Verified Signed By:KOMAL DHAWAN Signing Date:10.12.2025 11:45:26 in the year 2001, which is about 22 years after the death of Chander Bhan. No explanation whatsoever is seen given for the inordinate delay in moving for LoA. It was pointed out by the learned counsel for the applicants/objectors that it was only when the land was acquired, a move was made by Jangli for the first time claiming to be the sole legal heir of his brother and moved the probate court and fraudulently managed to obtain a LoA in his favour by suppressing material facts. This argument substantiated by the materials on record. The Section 4 notification for acquisition is seen dated 02.05.2001. Pursuant to the same, the land was acquired and Exhibit OW1/39 is the Award dated

17.02.2004 passed in respect of the said acquisition.

10. Further, Exhibits RW4/OW1/45 to RW4/OW1/47 produced from the Court of the Financial Commissioner indicate that after the death of Chander Bhan, it was Jangli and Chander Wati who were prosecuting the proceedings before the said court. FAO 259/2015 & LA.APP. 500/2015 Signature Not Verified Signed By:KOMAL DHAWAN Signing Date:10.12.2025 11:45:26 In the said proceedings when Chander Wati got herself impleaded as the legal heir/representative of Chander Bhan way back in the year 1979, Jangli never objected the same. In such circumstances, he cannot be heard to contend that he never knew that Chander Wati was dealing with the share of the property that belonged to his brother Chander Bhan. If Jangli had a case that his brother, Chander Bhan had died a bachelor and issueless and that Chander Wati, a complete stranger was trying to meddle in the estate of his brother, he ought to have approached the civil court and obtained necessary relief. Instead, he seemed to have adopted the easier way of obtaining a LoA by not impleading the legal heirs of his brother Chander Bhan and by concealing facts. In such circumstances, I find that the trial court was justified in concluding, based on the materials on record, that the LoA had been obtained by concealing material facts. I find no infirmity in the impugned judgment calling for an interference by this Court. FAO 259/2015 & LA.APP. 500/2015 Signature Not Verified Signed By:KOMAL DHAWAN Signing Date:10.12.2025 11:45:26

11. In the result, the appeal sans merit is dismissed.

12. In view of the revocation of the LoA and the consequent absence of any subsisting right in the acquired land, the appellants/objectors can lay no claim to the compensation. The LA.APP. 500/2015 shall also stand dismissed.

13. Application(s), if any, pending shall stand closed. CHANDRASEKHARAN SUDHA (JUDGE) DECEMBER 10 , 2025 p’ma/kd/RN FAO 259/2015 & LA.APP. 500/2015 Signature Not Verified Signed By:KOMAL DHAWAN Signing Date:10.12.2025 11:45:26