Devadoss, J - (1.)The only point in this case is whether the Government is entitled to levy water rate on the extent of wet cultivation on the lands in plaintiff's occupation. The source of supply is a spring in Government poramboke land and the water is taken by means of a channel to the plaintiff's land. The plaintiff's case is that he and his ancestors have been using the water of the spring taken through the channel for over 80 years. The finding is that the enjoyment has been for over 60 years. Both the lower Courts have given a decree to the plaintiff and the Secretary of State has preferred this second appeal.
(2.)The contention of the learned Government Pleader is that the Government is entitled to levy watercess under Act 7 of 1865, whatever may be the source of irrigation. Here the channel marked A B C in the plan not printed here along which the water flows is said to have been dug by the plaintiff's ancestors and it is also alleged that the source of the spring is in a well or ditch sunk by the plaintiff's family. The water wells up from the ground and flows through the channel to the plaintiff's land. It is admitted that there is no source of water--any work or any construction--near the spring. The water seems to well up from underground and flow through the channel. The contention of the appellant is that the water wells up in Government poramboke land and is taken along a channel which is also in poramboke land and, therefore, the Government is entitled to levy water cess. The plaintiff's contention is that the channel was constructed by his ancestors, and he has been taking water from the spring for the last 80 years. The question is whether the source of the water could be brought within Section 1 of Act 7 of 1865. Section 1 (a) is in these,terms: Whenever water is supplied or used for purposes of irrigation from any river, stream, channel, tank or work belonging to. . . . and Section 1 (b) as follows: Whenever water by direct or indirect flow or by percolation or drainage from any such river, stream, channel, tank or work from or through adjoining land irrigates any land under cultivation or flows into a reservoir and is thereafter used for irrigating, etc.
(3.)It is admitted that the water does not come from any river, stream, channel, tank or work belonging to or constructed by Government and also that the water of the spring is not by percolation, direct or indirect by flow or drainage from any river, stream, channel or tank or work from or through adjoining land. Seeing that there is no river or stream or channel belonging to Government or any work constructed by Government which can be taken as the source of supply to the spring, Section 1 cannot apply. Where water springs up from underground and that is used by a ryot for over 60 years, the question is whether he acquires a right of easement to the free flow of water without being subject to the provisions of the Irrigation Cess Act. It is contended for the appellant that there could be no right of easement in the case of a ryotwari tenant against Government. I am unable to uphold this contention. Every ryot can acquire by prescription title against Government and if he could acquire prescriptive title against the Government he could also acquire a right of easement against Government provided the user fulfils the conditions which are necessary for the purposes of making out an easement by prescription.