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2001 DIGILAW 182 (ORI)

NABEEN CHANDRA SAHU v. DEBASIS SAHU

2001-04-19

P.K.MOHANTY

body2001
P. K. MOHANTY, J. ( 1 ) THESE two appeals arise out of the order dated 15-2-2000 passed by the learned Civil Judge (Senior Division), Aska partly allowing the plaintiff's prayer for injunction. Misc. Appeal No. 226 of 2000 is by the defendant against the partial injunction whereas Misc. Appeal No. 136 of 2000 is by the plaintiff who is aggrieved by the partial refusal of his prayer. ( 2 ) IN order to appreciate the contention raised at the bar, it is necessary to note the short facts of the case. The plaintiff's case in short is that the defendant is his only son born through his first wife late Snehalata Sahu who died in 1976. The plaintiff married for the second time and begot a daughter through her, but since the second wife also died in August, 1993 on the advise of his father and other family members and friends, he married for the third time on 1-12-1993 and the wife is presently working at Umaguda in Koraput district. The defendant, being the only son he was given good education and he ultimately got a job as Personnel Officer in a Cement Company at Rajaganpur and he is staying there. The plaintiff however, stays at Amaguda with his serving wife, but was making frequent visits to his native place and other villages and to Berhampur to look after his family and property affairs and to look after his father Joginath Sahu who decided to stay mostly at Aska or Berhampur. Late Mani Sahu was the original ancestor who had three sons, Kalu, Siba and Khetrabasi. Kalu had three sons, namely Biswanath, Radhasyam and Anatryami, Khetrabasi is the father of Joginath who is the father of the plaintiff. Kalu, Sibha and Khetrabasi died long back and Siba died issueless. Joginath Sahu, father of the plaintiff is the eldest son and the other son is Uma Charan Sahu. Hema Sundari, Kumudini, Santilata, Malayarani and Pramila are the five daughters of Joginath. There was an amicable partition and division of all joint family properties between the two branches of Kalu and Joginath about 50 years back. Joginath got a vast extent of landed properties and several houses situated in different villages, but in course of time he had sold many of the land. There was an amicable partition and division of all joint family properties between the two branches of Kalu and Joginath about 50 years back. Joginath got a vast extent of landed properties and several houses situated in different villages, but in course of time he had sold many of the land. Uma Charan Sahu who was then a minor represented by mother Baidehi as his guardian, filed a partition suit on 7-10-1955, in the Court of the Munsif , Aska, T. S. No. 126 of 1955 against Joginath and the brother Nabin Chandra Sahu who were minors represented by his father guardian Joginath Sahu in respect of joint family lands and houses. However, the suit ended in a compromise decree. It is alleged that the suit was a collusive suit at the instance of father Joginath to avoid O. L. R. ceiling proceedings and as such, the compromise decree was never acted upon and the parties continued to live joint and enjoy all the properties. Joginath having become old and the mother having died, there was misunderstanding between Uma Charan Sahu and the plaintiff, but with the co-operation of their agnetic uncle Biswanath agreed to act as an arbitrator for amicable settlement between the brothers, but there having un-usually delayed the plaintiff withdrew his consent in March, 1992. However, since the partition through mediator failed, Joginath, the father of the plaintiff and Uma Charan took the initiative to settle the dispute between the two brothers and ultimately, an amicable family settlement was reached between the plaintiff, Uma Charan and their father Joginath on 26-4-1992 which was reduced into writing and signed by all the parties. It is alleged that in terms of the family settlement and arrangement both the brothers i. e. the plaintiff and Uma Charan accepted and acknowledged the settlement. It was agreed by the parties to retain all the moveable properties with them and the father Joginath declined to accept separate share for himself in the moveable properties. However, decided to keep a deposit of Rs. 2,00,000/- each brother contributing Rs. 1,00,000/- for the father. Other terms and conditions were laid down in the settlement. It is thus claimed by the plaintiff that he has become the absolute and exclusive owner in possession of all the moveable and immovable properties described in the plaint Schedule 'a', 'b', and 'c'. 2,00,000/- each brother contributing Rs. 1,00,000/- for the father. Other terms and conditions were laid down in the settlement. It is thus claimed by the plaintiff that he has become the absolute and exclusive owner in possession of all the moveable and immovable properties described in the plaint Schedule 'a', 'b', and 'c'. It is further pleaded that the plaintiff was having lucrative practice as an advocate having a good income was paying income tax till 1993. The plaintiff having good professional income, acquired two houses, one at Chandra-sekharpur and the other Tankapani Road Pandab Gumpha, Bhubaneswar and they are the absolute exclusive and self-acquired properties of the plaintiff over which the defendant has no right, title and interest in any manner. But since the plaintiff is staying at a distance place, the defendant son was to collect the rent of the house on his behalf, Joginath suddenly died at Berhampur on 25-8-1997 and he performed the ceremonies of the deceased father. Joginath having declined to have any share in the erstwhile joint family properties in terms of the family settlement dated 26-4-1992 question of executing any wilnama or testament in favour of defendant did not arise. Plaintiff having asked the defendant to give a detail account of his collection of rent in respect of the separate houses of the plaintiff at Bhubaneswar, he got wild. According to the plaintiff the defendant does not contribute anything and make unnecesary expenditure for which he was constrained to demand for an amicable partition of the suit properties, but the defendant evaded. Subsequenlty the plaintiff having information that the defendant was making clandestine arrangements to alienate some of the suit land, the suit was filed for partition and division of the properties into two equal shares. ( 3 ) THE defendant-son has filed a written statement denying the plaint averments and refuting the claim of the plaintiff. It is the case of the defendant that he has got his sister married since the plaintiff did not take any care of her and provide any financial help, even the plaintiff did not attend the marriage. In the partition suit T. S. No. 126 of 1995 each of the parties i. e, late Joginath Sahu, the plaintiff and his brother Uma Charan got their respective shares of land and other properties as per the decree. After the decree the parties possessed their respective shares. In the partition suit T. S. No. 126 of 1995 each of the parties i. e, late Joginath Sahu, the plaintiff and his brother Uma Charan got their respective shares of land and other properties as per the decree. After the decree the parties possessed their respective shares. It is however, stated that the plaintiff and his brother being minors, their properties were looked after by their parents representing them in the aforesaid suit. The allegation that partition was effected to avoid ceiling proceeding and that it was collusive has been denied to be false. The defendant pleaded that in accordance with the partition the lands and other properties were recorded separately in the names of the parties. In view of the partition the lands in separate possession of those persons was taken into consideration for calculation of the ceiling area under the O. L. R. Act. Plaintiff even though was aware that the parties were separate in all respect took an unimaginable stand to get some more properties for himself as Jyesthansa and made an attempt for re-partition of all the properties which was not permissible under law since there was an earlier partition. It is stated that the present suit is not maintainable in law and hit by the principle of res judicata. The further partition after the decree in T. S. No. 126 of 1955 said to be completely false. It is alleged that after the plaintiff had started living with his third wife did not bother for the defendant or the daughter and the defendant was looked after by his late grand father and out of love and affection towards the defendant and in view of the prevailing circumstance late Joginath has got a will scribed under his signature on 12-7-1996 and signed it on 29-1-1987 in presence of attesting witnesses and got it duly registered. The said will is in respect of some of his properties consisting of those which had fallen to his share, the land and house purchased by him subsequently and other immovable properties which belonged to him and in absolute possession. After the death of Joginath the defendant became the rightful owner and is in possession of all the properties mentioned in the will on his own right. After having come to know of the will the plaintiff has filed the suit on the false and fabricated averments. After the death of Joginath the defendant became the rightful owner and is in possession of all the properties mentioned in the will on his own right. After having come to know of the will the plaintiff has filed the suit on the false and fabricated averments. It is specifically averred that the land described in schedule 'b' are those mentioned in the will and the lands which fell to the share of late Joginath in partition and those acquired by him subsequently to the said partition are mentioned in Schedule 'x' in the written statement and the rent of the land in Schedule 'b' and the house mentioned in Schedule 'a' were undisputedly in sole possession of late Joginath. But being unable to challenge the validity of the will the plaintiff has taken false plea that the lands are fallen to his share and has claimed partition of the land described in schedule 'b' of the plaint. ( 4 ) IN the suit the plaintiff filed an application under Order 39, Rules 1 and 2, C. P. C. for an injunction restraining the defendant from alienating any of the suit properties. The learned Civil Judge (Senior Division) has granted partial order of injunction restraining the defendant from alienating the property said to have been purchased by the plaintiff in his own name and the properties falling to his share. The plaintiff is aggrieved by the order of partial injunction, challenges the same claiming that the Court below ought to have granted injunction not to alienate in respect of the entire suit schedule properties, whereas the defendant is aggrieved by the order granting partial injunction restraining him from alienating the properties standing on the name of the plaintiff and the properties falling to his share. ( 5 ) MR. S. S. Rao, learned counsel for the appellant in Misc. Appeal No. 226 of 2000, who is respondent in Misc. Appeal No. 136 of 2000, strenuously contended that the order of the learned Civil Judge is contrary to law inasmuch as in the facts and circumstances of the case none of the conditions for grant of an injunction being available in favour of the plaintiff, it could not have granted the injunction. Appeal No. 136 of 2000, strenuously contended that the order of the learned Civil Judge is contrary to law inasmuch as in the facts and circumstances of the case none of the conditions for grant of an injunction being available in favour of the plaintiff, it could not have granted the injunction. It is further submitted that in view of the earlier partition in the year 1955 a second suit for partition was not maintainable in law and on that count alone the learned Civil Judge could not have otherwise granted an order of injunction. The learned counsel has REFERRED TO the decision in the case of Sahadeb Nayak v. Satyabadi Nayak, AIR 1984 Orissa 30 and in case of Dayanidhi Padan v. Gadadhar Padhan (1990) 70 Cut LT 527 in support of his conention that a second suit for partition is not maintainable in law and, therefore, the court below could not have granted an injunction holding a prima facie case, irreparable injury and balance of convenience in favour of the plaintiff in such a suit. In the cases cited, this Court has taken the view that where there was a previous partition, a fresh suit for partition was not maintianable because a party who faces some difficulty decades after being in enjoyment, would not furnish a cause of action for a suit for fresh partition. It is held that partition dissolves the coparcenary and community of interest is lost. The members upon partition hold their respective shares as their separate property, and a fresh partition is possible if the male members to the original partition fuse their separate interests by reunion with the intention to reunite in estate and interest to revert to their former status. In the case at hand, the earlier suit was between the plaintiff, his brother and the father. The defendant, it is said, was not born in the year when the suit was instituted and the present suit is between one of the defendants in the previous suit and his son inasmuch as the previous partition is alleged to be a collusive one for the purpose of avoiding ceiling proceeding as well as income-tax and even after the compromise decree also it is alleged that the parties continued to remain in joint status. Even plaintiff and his brother were minors during the said proceeding and the plaintiff's brother brought the suit through his mother guardian. In that view of the matter, before trial of the suit and consideration of materials on record, it cannot be authoritatively said that the suit is not maintainable in law. The aforesaid two decisions, relied on by the learned counsel, do not lay down an absolute proposition of law, that a second suit for partition can never be instituted at all. Rather it is laid down that if after partition the parties to the partition fuse their separate interest by remaining with intention to reunite in interest , to revert to their former status, a second suit would be maintainable. Thus, unless the evidence is led and materials placed during the trial, the question of maintainability cannot be decided inasmuch as the earlier partition was between the plaintiff, his brother and their father. I would not like to go deep into the question of maintainability at this stage since any finding herein may prejudice either of the parties in the suit. ( 6 ) THE decision of this Court in Daniel Das v. Satyajit Das (1999) 88 Cut LT 340, Rama Chandra Pani v. Keshab Chandra Panda (1995) 2 Orissa LR 652 : (1996 AIHC 444), M/s. Grafiek Pvt. Ltd. v. Shri Lord Lingaraj Mahaprabhu, AIR 1999 Orissa 49, Jujhar Singh v. Giani Talok Singh, AIR 1987 Punj and Har 34, have been REFERRED TO in connection with the circumstances under which an order of injunction can be granted. The principle laid down are well known and there can be no quarrel over the proposition of law laid down, but it depends on given set of facts. The decision in Juhjhar Singh's case (supra) related to a suit for permanent injunction to restrain a Karta from alienating property and, therefore, it has no application to the case in hand. The principle laid down are well known and there can be no quarrel over the proposition of law laid down, but it depends on given set of facts. The decision in Juhjhar Singh's case (supra) related to a suit for permanent injunction to restrain a Karta from alienating property and, therefore, it has no application to the case in hand. ( 7 ) SRI B. K. Mohanty, learned Senior Advocate appearing along with Sri P. K. Khuntia, on the other hand contended that the earlier suit, admittedly being for partition between the plaintiff, his brother and their father, when both the plaintiff and his brother were minors and the defendant was not born, there can be no bar for maintaining the present suit, as contended inasmuch as the fact that a suit for partition was initiated by the minor brother of the plaintiff, through his mother guardian, against their father and the plaintiff, who was also a minor, and that ended, in compromise itself would go a long way to suggest that it might be a collusive one with the purpose of avoiding the O. L. R. Ceiling Proceedings, the income tax, and that there was no intention nor in fact there could be separate living in mess and enjoyment of the properties, the two sons, i. e. the plaintiff being minors and the third one was none else than their father. ( 8 ) LAW is well settled that while granting injunction, the Court is to be satisfied about the existence of a prima facie case, balance of convenience and the irreparabale loss. All the three ingredients must be satisfied in order that the injunction should be granted. The object of the interlocutory injunction is to protect the plaintiff of injury that is likely to be caused if an order is not granted and the existence of a prima facie case and as to whether the balance of convenience tilts in favour of the parties which seeks an order. ( 9 ) IN view of the pleadings of the parties and the facts and situation of the case discussed earlier, there cannot be any doubt that a substantial question is raised for determination. ( 9 ) IN view of the pleadings of the parties and the facts and situation of the case discussed earlier, there cannot be any doubt that a substantial question is raised for determination. The earlier partition suit was between plaintiff, his brother and their father when admittedly the plaintiff and his brother were minors and the suit was at the instance of his minor brother through his mother guardian and it is pleaded in the present suit that the earlier was a collusive one for the purpose of avoiding land ceiling and income-tax, but the parties continued to remain joint. Undisputedly some properties stand exclusively recorded in the name of the plaintiff and the Court below has found all the three ingredients for grant of a temporary injunction in favour of the plaintiff. The learned Court below has observed that the documents showing properties purchased by him subsequent to 1955 and the properties inheritted by him by way of partition in the year 1955 claimed to have been incorporated in the will, has not been shown by either of the parties by producing any documents in support of their contention. If neither of the parties could produce any document in support of their contentions, the learned Court below could not have refused injunction on that count alone having found the ingredients for issuance of an order in favour of the plaintiff. The fact that the suit is between the father and the son for a partition, also cannot be lost sight of. It is stated at the Bar that the written statement has already been filed and the suit is ripe for trial. ( 10 ) IN the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case, I am of the considered opinion that the pending suit should be directed to be tried and disposed of at an early date and during its pendency both the parties should be restrained from alienating any of the suit property without leave of the Court in case of exigency and justification. Accordingly, it is directed that the learned Civil Judge (Senior Division ), Aska shall expedite trial of the suit and complete the same preferably within a period of four months from the date of communication of this order. During the pendency of the suit, both the parties are restrained from alienating any of the suit properties. Accordingly, it is directed that the learned Civil Judge (Senior Division ), Aska shall expedite trial of the suit and complete the same preferably within a period of four months from the date of communication of this order. During the pendency of the suit, both the parties are restrained from alienating any of the suit properties. However, liberty is granted to the parties to approach the trial Court in case of expendiency or justifiable case for permission to alienate any of the suit properties, which are to be considered on its own merit, and no opinion whatsoever is expressed on that. The Appeals are thus disposed of in the aforesaid terms. Order accordingly.