A long-running legal battle over the possession of Phangrei village between Sihai and Lunghar ended with the former winning the case.
The issue was earlier resolved with an order passed by Civil Judge (Sr) Division, Imphal East in 2019 but the judgment was challenged by a party.
However, the District Judge, Imphal East again stated that the judgment was reasonable as it was made or decided with no error of law and there is no miscarriage of justice on any ground and that the judgment was duly backed by evidence.
The Civil Judge (Sr) Division, Imphal East in 2019 passed the judgment, stating that Sihai Village be allowed to enjoy the possession of Sihai Phangrei. However, the judgment was challenged by Lunghar village, citing that the judgment was erroneously passed.
Challenging the judgment, a regular first appeal was filed before the district Judge, Imphal East in 2020. However, the District Judge stated that the “plaintiffs did not come to the court with clean hands and on the count also in view of the Supreme Court’s order, no decree can be passed in their favor.”
“Trial Court in the impugned judgment were reasonable and the impugned Judgment was made with no error of law. There was no miscarriage of justice on any grounds. There is also ground to show that the Judgment passed by the Trial Court was not backed by evidences,” stated the District Judge.
Accordingly, the plaintiffs are not entitled to the reliefs they have claimed, stated the court.
Therefore, the court dismissed the suit on the grounds of being devoid of merit. The court further observed that the defendants’ village, Sihai village be allowed to enjoy possession of the suit land/Sihai Phangrei/Schedule B land, as the case may be, as owner in possession of Sihai Phangrei.
The District Judge stated that the impugned judgment was reasonable, it was made or decided with no error of law and there is no miscarriage of justice on any ground and that the judgment was duly backed by evidence. Hence, the appeal was disposed of by expunging a part of the order of the Trial Court.
Meanwhile, a local newspaper published a report on the judgment of the District Judge, Imphal East as well as the statement of Sihai village headman on March 3.
Reacting to the news, Lunghar Village Authority secretary LW Vareiso at Manipur Press Club on Friday alleged that the news report was erroneous.
He alleged that the statement of the Sihai village headman was being interpreted in a misleading manner. He claimed that as per the judgment made by the Civil Judge (Sr) Division, Imphal East the possession of Phangrei was erroneously granted to Sihai villagers as its owner.
He further said that the District Judge dismissed the appeal by removing a part of order of the Civil Judge (Sr) Division who had stated the case is highly sensitive, and requested the deputy commissioner, Ukhrul to take all necessary precautions for preventing any unwanted incidents.
