Sahabuddin Bepari v. Menda Sk. (Dead) Through LRs.
2012-05-22
B.P.KATAKEY
body2012
DigiLaw.ai
JUDGMENT : B.P. Katakey, J. This appeal by the defendant Nos. 1 to 3 is directed against the judgment and decree dated 21.12.2001 passed by the learned Civil Judge (Senior Division), Dhubri in Title Appeal No. 26/1999, whereby and where under the appeal preferred by the plaintiffs/respondents has been allowed by setting aside the judgment and decree dated 12.5.1999 passed by the learned Civil Judge (Junior Division) No. 2, Dhubri in Title Suit No. 130/1989 dismissing the suit filed by the plaintiffs. 2. The predecessor-in-interest of the present respondent Nos. 1 to 4 instituted Title Suit No. 130/1989 praying for declaration of his right, title and interest and confirmation of possession over the plot of land measuring 4 kathas 17 lechas covered by Khatian No. 107 under Dag No. 450 of Village Bichandal Part I under Pargana Khuua circle, Golukganj in the district of Dhubri, apart from the decree for permanent injunction, contending that the defendant No. 1 who was the owner and possessor of the suit land sold it to the plaintiffs by registered deed of sale dated 21.9.1974 and delivered possession of the suit land. It has also been contended that on 14.4.1989 as the defendant threatened to dispossess the plaintiff has instituted the suit for declaration as aforesaid. 3. The defendant Nos. 1 to 3 filed the joint written statement denying the sale of the suit land by the defendant No. 1 in favour of the plaintiff by the registered instrument dated 21.9.1974, contending inter alia that date i.e., 21.9.1974 the defendant No. 1 went to the Sub-Registrar's Office at Golukganj in connection with the sale of a plot of land by the original plaintiff in favour of one Dilbar Hussain in which deed he was the witness. It has also been pleaded that the defendant No. 1 never sold the suit land to the plaintiff which is also evident from the value of the property given as Rs. 100/- though at the relevant point of time the market value of land was Rs. 2000/- to Rs. 3000/- per bigha. 4. The Trial Court on the basis of the pleadings of the parties has framed the following issues for consideration and decision :- "l. Whether the suit is maintainable? 2. Is there any cause of action for the suit? 3.
2000/- to Rs. 3000/- per bigha. 4. The Trial Court on the basis of the pleadings of the parties has framed the following issues for consideration and decision :- "l. Whether the suit is maintainable? 2. Is there any cause of action for the suit? 3. Whether the plaintiff had purchased the suit land by a registered sale-deed vide deed No. 8566 dated 21.9.1974 or not? If yes, whether the plaintiff had got delivery of possession and thereby acquired any right, title and interest and possession over the suit land? 4. Whether the plaintiff is entitled to get a decree as prayed for?" 5. During pendency of the suit the original plaintiff, however, has expired and hence the present respondents were substituted in place of the original plaintiff being his heirs. 6. The plaintiffs in support of their case have examine five witnesses and also proved two documents namely Ext. 1 i.e., the sale-deed dated 21.9.1974, on the basis of which the plaintiffs have claimed their right, title and interest over the suit land and Ext. `Ka' i.e., Khatian No. 187. The defendants examined three witnesses and proved the sale deed dated 1.9.1974 which was executed by the original plaintiff in favour of Dilbar Hussain which was also marked as Ext. `Ka'. 7. The Trial Court upon appreciation of the evidences on record has answered the issue No. 1 against the plaintiffs on the ground that the other pattadars in respect of Khatian No. 107 have not been made parties and hence the suit is not maintainable. The issue No. 2 was answered in favour of the plaintiffs. The issue No. 3 was also decided against the plaintiffs by holding that the plaintiffs could not prove due execution of the sale-deed being Ext. 1 by the defendant No. 1 who has denied his signature in the said sale-deed. Issue No. 4 was also consequently decided against the plaintiffs. 8. Being aggrieved the plaintiffs preferred Title Appeal No. 26/1999 which has been decided vide judgment dated 26.12.2001 decreeing the suit of the plaintiffs by setting aside the judgment and decree passed by the Trial Court. Hence the present appeal. 9. The appeal was admitted for hearing vide order dated 23.1.2004 on the following substantial questions of law : "1. Whether the findings of the Court below with regard to execution of the sale-deed Ext.
Hence the present appeal. 9. The appeal was admitted for hearing vide order dated 23.1.2004 on the following substantial questions of law : "1. Whether the findings of the Court below with regard to execution of the sale-deed Ext. 1 has been vitiated for non-consideration of evidence of D.Ws. 1, 2 and 3 and on misreading of averments made in paragraphs 10 and 12 of the written statement? 2. Whether the learned Lower Appellate Court was correct in reversing the finding of the Trial Court with regard to the maintainability of the suit without considering the materials relied upon and reasons adduced by the Trial Court?" 10. I have heard Mr. Sarkar, learned Counsel for appellants/defendants as well as Mr. Bhowmick, learned Counsel appearing for the respondents/plaintiffs. 11. Mr. Sarkar, learned Counsel for the appellants referring to the pleadings in the plaint and the written statements as well as the depositions of the D.W. 1, 2 and 3 has submitted that since the defendant No. 1 has specifically denied the execution of the sale-deed being Ext. 1 dated 21.9.1974 transferring his right over the property in favour of the present respondents' predecessor-in-interest and also denied his signature in the said sale-deed (Ext. 1), the plaintiffs did not take any steps for proving the signature appearing in Ext. 1 that the same is the signature of the defendant No. 1 by sending the same for opinion of the handwriting expert and as such the First Appellate Court ought not to have held that plaintiffs could prove due execution of the sale-deed being Ext. 1. It has also been submitted that the First Appellate Court also ought not to have reversed the findings recorded by the Trial Court with regard to the issue No. 1 i.e., maintainability of the suit as it is evident from Ext. `Ka' Khatian that there were other pattadars apart from Sahebuddin Bepari, defendant No. 1, who have not been made party defendants in the suit. The learned Counsel, therefore, submits that the suit of the plaintiffs is not maintainable in the absence of necessary parties. 12. Mr. Bhowmick, learned Counsel appearing for respondents on the other hand, supporting the judgment and decree passed by the First Appellate Court, submits that though the defendants in the written statement have denied execution of the sale-deed being Ext.
The learned Counsel, therefore, submits that the suit of the plaintiffs is not maintainable in the absence of necessary parties. 12. Mr. Bhowmick, learned Counsel appearing for respondents on the other hand, supporting the judgment and decree passed by the First Appellate Court, submits that though the defendants in the written statement have denied execution of the sale-deed being Ext. 1 dated 21.9.1974, the defendant No. 1 during his cross-examination has admitted the signatures appearing in Ext. 1 and hence the plaintiffs could prove the due execution of the sale-deed. It has also been submitted by Mr. Bhowmick that the defendants in the written statement has not taken any plea of non joinder of necessary parties and on the other hand the defendants have in fact admitted in the written statement that the defendant No. 1 is the owner of the suit land transfer of which, however, has been denied in the written statement filed and, therefore, the judgment and decree passed by the First Appellate Court needs no interference in second appeal. 13. I have considered the rival submissions of the learned Counsel for the parties and also perused the judgments and decrees passed by the Courts below, apart from the evidences adduced by the parties, both oral and documentary, as the first substantial question of law is based on the contention of the appellants about perversity in recording the findings by the First Appellate Court. 14. As noticed above, the redecessor-in-interest of the present respondents instituted the suit for declaration of right, title and interest in respect of the suit land by virtue of purchase on the basis of the sale-deed dated 21.9.1974 (Ext. 1) executed by the defendant No. 1. The execution of the sale-deed, however, has been denied by the defendants in the written statement filed. The plaintiff No. 1 has proved the sale-deed dated 21.9.1974 which is marked as Ext. 1. During in chief examination the plaintiff No. 1 has proved the signatures of the defendant No. 1 in the sale-deed (Ext. 1), which are marked as Ext. 1 (3), 1 (4) and 1 (5) apart from the endorsement by the defendant No. 1 before the Sub-Registrar as Ext. 2 (1), 2 (2). The signature of the Sub-Registrar who registered the said sale-deed was also proved which was marked as Ext. 3 (1).
1), which are marked as Ext. 1 (3), 1 (4) and 1 (5) apart from the endorsement by the defendant No. 1 before the Sub-Registrar as Ext. 2 (1), 2 (2). The signature of the Sub-Registrar who registered the said sale-deed was also proved which was marked as Ext. 3 (1). Though the defendant No. 1, who has examined himself as D.W. 1, in his in-chief examination has denied the signatures marked as Ext. 1 (3), 1 (4), 1 (5), 2 (1), 2 (2) and 3 (1) appearing in Ext. 1, as his signatures, during cross-examination he, however, has admitted that Ext. 1 (3), 1 (4), 1 (5), 2 (2) and 3 (1) are his signatures. During re-examination of this witness he has also admitted Ext. 2 (1) appearing in Ext. 1 as his signature though during cross-examination he had denied the same. 15. As discussed above, the defendants in the written statement have not pleaded that the suit land did not belong to the defendant No. 1 alone. In paras 10 and 12 of the written statement, pleadings in which according to the defendants was misread, the defendants have pleaded relating to the possession only. In Para 10 the defendants have pleaded that on 14.4.1984, the plaintiffs with the help of muscle man dispossessed the plaintiffs, (which ought to have been the defendants) from his plot of land which is adjacent and contiguous to the suit land. In para 12 it has been pleaded that as the plaintiffs have encroached on the plot of land belonging to the defendant No. 1 and is liable to be evicted, the defendant reserves the right to file suit for eviction. By such pleadings in paras 10 and 12 the defendants have admitted the possession of the plaintiffs. 16. It appears from the judgment and decree passed by the Trial Court that the suit was held to be not maintainable because of non-joinder of necessary parties i.e. the khatiandars in respect of Khatian No. 107. The defendants have not taken any plea in the written statement relating to the non-joinder of necessary parties in the suit and in fact have admitted that the defendant No. 1 is the owner of the suit land. Perusal of Ext.
The defendants have not taken any plea in the written statement relating to the non-joinder of necessary parties in the suit and in fact have admitted that the defendant No. 1 is the owner of the suit land. Perusal of Ext. `Ka' Khatian also reveals that Khatian No. 107 consists of 10 dags, out of which Dag No. 450 is the suit land, which according to the plaintiffs belonged to the defendant No. 1, which has also been admitted by the defendant No. 1 in the written statement. Since Khatian No. 107 consists of 10 Dags as aforesaid and each of the Dag have different specific land, the other Khatiandars who have land in other Dags being not necessary parties in the suit in hand, the First Appellate Court has rightly decided issue No. 1 and issue No. 3 in favour of the plaintiffs. 17. In view of the above, I do not find any merit in the appeal and hence it is dismissed. No cost. 18. The registry is directed to send down the records forthwith. Appeal dismissed.