Government of Balochistan through Secretary Board of Revenue v. Raheem Badshah,
YLR 2010 2578 · Balochistan High Court
This case was about a land dispute in Balochistan over property in Mouza Balan Northern, also known as Choot Dasht. The respondents claimed their mother, Mst. Mah Ganj, had owned the land since their forefathers' time, and that the government wrongly recorded the property in its own name while the family was away abroad. The trial court dismissed their suit, finding they had failed to prove ownership and that the case was filed too late, beyond the legal time limit. On appeal, the appellate court reversed this and ruled in favor of the family, declaring them owners and finding the suit was filed on time. The government then challenged that decision before the Balochistan High Court.
The High Court sided with the government. It found that the respondents had produced only two oral witnesses and gave evidence through an attorney, but no title deed or documentary proof of ownership was ever presented. No one explained how the land had passed down to Mst. Mah Ganj, nor was there any account of when the disputed revenue entries were made. The appellate court, the High Court said, had simply accepted oral testimony without properly examining the record, and wrongly concluded the suit was filed on time despite a long, unexplained delay.
The High Court set aside the appellate court's decision and restored the trial court's ruling, dismissing the family's claim. The case underscores that in property disputes, mere oral claims of ancestral ownership are insufficient without documentary evidence and a clear explanation of how title was transferred, and that courts must properly justify findings on limitation periods.
یہ مقدمہ بلوچستان میں موضع بالان نادرن، جسے چوٹ دشت کے نام سے بھی جانا جاتا ہے، کی اراضی سے متعلق ایک زمینی تنازعے کا تھا۔ مدعا علیہان کا دعویٰ تھا کہ یہ زمین ان کی والدہ مستورہ مہ گنج کی ملکیت تھی اور ان کے آباؤ اجداد کے زمانے سے ان کے خاندان کے قبضے میں چلی آ رہی تھی، اور یہ کہ جب خاندان بیرون ملک مقیم تھا تو حکومت نے غلط طور پر اس جائیداد کو اپنے نام پر ریکارڈ کر لیا۔ ٹرائل کورٹ نے ان کا دعویٰ خارج کر دیا تھا، یہ قرار دیتے ہوئے کہ وہ ملکیت ثابت کرنے میں ناکام رہے اور یہ کہ مقدمہ قانونی مدت گزر جانے کے بعد، یعنی وقت پر دائر نہیں کیا گیا تھا۔ اپیل پر، اپیلیٹ کورٹ نے اس فیصلے کو کالعدم قرار دیتے ہوئے خاندان کے حق میں فیصلہ دیا، انہیں مالک قرار دیا اور یہ نتیجہ اخذ کیا کہ مقدمہ وقت پر دائر کیا گیا تھا۔ اس کے بعد حکومت نے اس فیصلے کو بلوچستان ہائی کورٹ میں چیلنج کیا۔
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