MLD 2002

2002 PLP 1844 (MLD)

MUHAMMAD HANIF‑‑‑Petitioner Versus ZULFIQAR ALI ‑‑‑Respondent

Jurisdiction / Court
Lahore
Decided Date
Writ Petition No.4926 of 2002, decided on 20th June, 2002.
Honorable Judges
Farrukh Lateef, J
Case Reference Summary (AEO Optimized)
Citation 2002 PLP 1844 (MLD)
Forum / Court Lahore
Bench Members Farrukh Lateef, J
Parties MUHAMMAD HANIF‑‑‑Petitioner Versus ZULFIQAR ALI ‑‑‑Respondent
💡 Quick Legal QA & Summary / سوال و جواب خلاصہ
Q1: What are the key laws and sections cited in 2002 PLP 1844 (MLD)?

This judgment primarily cites: statutory provisions as referenced in Pakistani case law index.

Q2: Which judicial bench decided the case 2002 PLP 1844 (MLD)?

The case was heard and decided by the Lahore bench comprising: Farrukh Lateef, J.

Q3: What is the official citation format for this judgment on Pakistan Law Portal?

Cite this legal precedent as: 2002 PLP 1844 (MLD) (MUHAMMAD HANIF‑‑‑Petitioner Versus ZULFIQAR ALI ‑‑‑Respondent). Read the full summary and cross-referenced laws free on Pakistan Law Portal.

Representation

  • Ch. Abdul Ghani for Petitioner.

Headnotes / Summary

(a) Constitution of Pakistan (1973)‑‑‑ ‑‑‑‑Art. 199‑‑‑Constitutional jurisdiction‑‑‑Scope‑‑‑Powers of High Court in Constitutional jurisdiction were not analogous to those of Appellate Court‑‑‑High Court could strike down an order passed by a subordinate Court as without lawful authority and of no legal effect, but could not substitute its own judgment for that of subordinate Court. (b) West Pakistan Land Revenue Act (XVII of 1967)‑‑‑ ‑‑‑‑Ss. 36 & 164‑‑‑Constitution of Pakistan (1973), Art. 199‑‑ Constitutional petition‑‑‑ Appointment of Lambardar‑‑‑On death of Lambardar, applications were invited for fresh appointment against post of Lambardar‑‑‑Son of deceased Lambardar alongwith others applied for the post, but District Collector after observing usual formalities appointed petitioner and ignored son of deceased Lambardar and appeal tiled against order of District Collector was dismissed by Executive District Officer‑‑‑Revision filed by son of deceased Lambardar against order of Executive District Officer, was accepted by Member, Board of Revenue and son of deceased Lambardar was appointed at the post of Lambardar‑‑‑Concurrent orders passed by District Collector and Executive District officer did not contain any reason for decision rendered by them for giving preference to petitioner over son of deceased Lambardar‑‑‑Member, Board of Revenue had rightly appointed respondent observing that he being a middle‑aged man and having background of Lambardari was better trained for the job‑‑‑Order competently passed by Member, Board of Revenue in revision, could not be said to be without jurisdiction., in excess of jurisdiction and without lawful authority‑‑‑Constitutional petition against order of Member, Board of Revenue was dismissed, in circumstances. PLD 1999 SC 484; Ghulam Muhammad v. Sarwar Khan PLD 1962 W.P. (Rev.) 53; Raja Muhammad Aslam v. Raja Muhammad Sarwar and others 2000 SCMR 531; Haji Noorwar Jan v. Senior Member, Board of Revenue, N.W.F.‑P. and 4 others PLD 1991 SC 531; Ghulam Farid v. Ahmad Din 1990 CLC 1983; Abdul Haq v. Hakam Ali PLD 1959 W.P. (Rev.) 8 and Atta Ullah v. Pir Bukhsh PLD 1959 W.P (Rev.) 36 ref.

Judgment & Decree

4. Revision respondent No. 1, against the aforesaid order was accepted by M.B.R. (respondent No.2) on 8‑6‑2002 whereby order of Executive District Officer (Revenue), was set aside and respondent No.1 was appointed as Lambardar

5. Learned counsel for the petitioner has urged that M.B.R. had exceeded his jurisdiction in setting aside well‑founded orders of the District Collector and Executive District, Officer (Rev.); that in PLD 1999 SC 484, rule of primogeniture was held against the injunctions of Islam but vide the impugned order, respondent No.1, was appointed being son of Lambardar in violation of the aforesaid authority; and that order of the Executive District Officer (Revenue) was well‑worded and did not warrant any interference by way of revision support of his arguments reliance was placed on:

(1) Ghulam Muhammad v. Sarwar Khan (PLD 1962 W.P. (Rev.) 53. (2) Raja Muhammad Aslam v. Raja Muhammad Sarwar and others (2000 SCMR 531). (3) Haji Noorwar. Jan v. Senior Member, Board of Revenue, N.W.F.‑P and 4 others (PLD 1991 SC 531). (4) Ghulam Farid v. Ahmad Din (1990 CLC 1983 (Rev.)). (5) Abdul Haq v. Hakam Ali (PLD 1959‑V.P. (Rev.) 8). (6) Atta Ullah v. Pir Bukhsh (PLD 1959 W.P. (Rev.) 36).

6. I have heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and I have also perused the writ petition alongwith its Annexures as well as the caselaw cited by the learned counsel for the petitioner.

7. In writ jurisdiction powers of High Court are not analogous to those of an Appellate Court. It can strike down an order passed by a subordinate Court as without lawful authority and of no legal effect but cannot substitute its own judgment for that of the subordinate Court.

8. Precedent Authorities mentioned at Serial Nos. l to 3 relates to appeal cases while those mentioned at Serial Nos.4 to 6 are regarding civil revisions whereas the present case is under writ jurisdiction hence the said authorities are not applicable.

9. A perusal of the impugned order shows that it is entirely reasonable.

10. Order dated 6‑11‑2001 passed by the Executive District Officer (Rev.) does not contain any reason for the decision rendered whereas reasons assigned by the District Collector in his order dated 25‑7‑2001 for giving preference to the petitioner were manifestly neither sound nor specific. The questions asked by the District Collector from the petitioner and respondent No. 1, and the answers to those questions which were allegedly not satisfactorily given by respondent No. 1, were not mentioned in the order; stammer in speech of respondent No. 1, was erroneously considered as defect in health. Observation of M.B.R. was that both respondent No. l and the petitioner were of middle age and having background of Lambardari, respondent No. 1, was better trained for the job. A perusal of the impugned order shows that respondent No. l was not appointed as Lambardar on the rule of primogeniture as was alleged by the petitioner's counsel.

11. Revision against order of the Executive District Officer (Rev.) is provided under the law before the M.B.R., hence by no stretch of imagination it can be said that orders passed by M.B.R. on the revision petition were without jurisdiction or in excess of jurisdiction and without lawful authority. For the reasons stated above, the writ petition is hereby dismissed in limine. H.B.T./M‑1286/L Petition dismissed.