Bala Ram (since deceased) through his legal heirs v. Dassi Devi
2018-11-20
SURESHWAR THAKUR
body2018
DigiLaw.ai
JUDGMENT : Sureshwar Thakur, J. The instant appeal is directed, against, the impugned verdict recorded, upon, Civil Appeal No.14 of 2003, by the learned First Appellate Court, whereby, it reversed the verdict pronounced by the learned trial Court, upon, Civil Suit No.57-1 of 2000, whereunder, the latter Court, had, dismissed the plaintiff's suit, for rendition of a decree, for, perpetual injunction, and, for mandatory injunction, and, rather the learned First Appellate Court hence partly allowed the plaintiff's appeal, vis-a-vis, rendition of a decree for perpetual injunction, (a) whereas, it declined relief qua rendition of a decree for mandatory injunction, vis-a-vis, the construction raised, upon, the contentious suit khasra numbers, till, the occurrence, of, a valid partition qua the undivided estate, hence inter se the contesting parties. 2. Briefly stated the facts of the case are that the plaintiff filed a suit for perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from raising any construction on the land comprised in Khata/Khtauni No. 116/326 min, Khasra No.864, measuring 0-07-17 hectare, situated in village Tayawal, PO Jeori, Teh. Rampur Bushahr, District Shimla, H.P., and, for mandatory injunction for demolition of the structure illegally raised on the suit land. It has been pleaded that the suit is shown in the ownership of the plaintiff and Chhergu and son and daughter of the plaintiff and the land is in joint ownership and possession of the co-sharers and that the land has been wrongly shown in possession of the chhergu co-sharer in the column of possession. It has been further pleaded that Sh. Chhergu co-sharer during the year 1999 sold half share of Khasra No.865/2/1 measuring 0-01-12 hectare to the defendants and mutation to this effect was attested and as per the averments in the sale deed and the mutation attested thereafter, the defendants were put in possession of this land. It has been further pleaded that as per the share of Chhergu the total land which comes to his share is 0-01-28 hectare out of this Chhergu has already sold land comprised in Khasra No.865/1, measuring 0-00-40 hectare to one Dila Ram and only 0- 00-88 hectare remained in is share and that the defendants were ought to raise construction on more than the share of Sh. Chhergu which he could sell and for that reason suit for perpetual injunction was filed by the plaintiff and her son Sohan Lal against the defendants.
Chhergu which he could sell and for that reason suit for perpetual injunction was filed by the plaintiff and her son Sohan Lal against the defendants. It has been further pleaded that during the pendency of the suit, defendant No.1 made false complaint against the plaintiff and her son with the police at Jhakri and the Dy. S.P. Jhakri along with the police visited the spot and directed the parties to get the land verified and when the Patwari visited the spot and measured the land, it was revealed that the defendants have raised the construction on khasra No. 864 instead of Khasra No.865/2/1 and the plaintiff then abandoned that suit. It has been further pleaded that the defendants despite the fact told by the Patwari did not agree to stop the construction on Khasra No.864 on which khasra they have no right and title and that the defendants are cosharer so far Khasra No.865/2 is concerned. It has been further pleaded that the land is in joint ownership of plaintiff and the other co-sharers and is not yet partitioned and the widow of Chhergu has filed a partition application before the A.C.1st Grad, Rampur which is pending. It has been further pleaded that as the land has been purchased jointly by the defendants comprised in Khasra No.865/2/1, therefore, all the three purchasers have been made party in the suit but factually the hero of the whole show is defendant No.1 and that the defendant No.1 illegally encroached upon part of Khasra No.864 and started raising the construction on the suit land knowing fully well that he and his sons, i.e. defendants No.2 and 3 have no right and title in the suit land. It has been further pleaded that the plaintiff and her son and daughter are entitled to half share in the suit land and factually the suit land is in possession of the plaintiff and her son and the entries in the column of possession have been wrongly made in favour of Chhergu. It has been further pleaded that the plaintiff shall suffer irreparable loss and injury which cannot be measured in terms of money in case the defendants are not restrained from raising any further construction on the suit land and the construction illegaly raised is not demolished. Hence the suit. 3.
It has been further pleaded that the plaintiff shall suffer irreparable loss and injury which cannot be measured in terms of money in case the defendants are not restrained from raising any further construction on the suit land and the construction illegaly raised is not demolished. Hence the suit. 3. The defendants contested the suit and filed written statement, wherein, they have pleaded that he entries qua khasra No.864, situated in village Tayawal are not correct as per the spot position as the said khasra number along with khasra number 865 was allotted to Sh. Chhergu in family partition about 40 years back and since then late Sh. Chhergu has been coming in exclusive possession of Khasra No.864 and 865. It has been further pleaded that Khasra No.865/2/1 stands sold in favour of the defendants by late Sh. Chhergu but the spot on which construction has been raised by the defendants is the same which was shown and possession of which was delivered on the spot by late Sh. Chhergu to the defendants. It has been further pleaded that late Sh. Chhergu being exclusive owner in possession of Khasra No.864 and 865 was within his power and entitled to sell even the entire khasra number, where the plaintiff along with one Sh. Sohan and Shanta Devi are in possession of Khasra No.749, 862 and 863 and the said khasra numbers in their possession are much more than their share in the entire khata. It has been further pleaded that the spot was not visited by the Patwari and the land was not measured and in fact Patwari is not entitled to give demarcation of the land, and, therefore, in case any such demarcation given by the Patwari is illegal. It has been further pleaded that the plaintiff has no right, title and interest to stop the defendants from raising construction over Khasra Nos. 864 and 865 in any way. It has been further pleaded that the plaintiff and her sons are not in possession of Khasra No. 864 and 865 and did not remain in possession at any point of time. It has been further pleaded that partition took place about 40 years ago. 4. The plaintiff filed replication to the written statement of the defendants, wherein, he denied the contents of the written statement and re-affirmed and reasserted the averments, made in the plaint. 5.
It has been further pleaded that partition took place about 40 years ago. 4. The plaintiff filed replication to the written statement of the defendants, wherein, he denied the contents of the written statement and re-affirmed and reasserted the averments, made in the plaint. 5. On the pleadings of the parties, the learned trial Court struck the following issues inter-se the parties at contest:- 1. Whether the plaintiff is entitled for the decree of perpetual injunction, as prayed for? OPP. 2. Whether the plaintiff is entitled to a decree of mandatory injunction as prayed for? OPP. 3. Whether the suit land, i.e. Khasra No.864 and 865 fall in the share of Chhergu in family partition? OPD. 4. Whether Chhergu had sold the suit land to the defendants? OPD. 5. Whether Chhergu has delivered the possession of suit land, i.e. Khasra No.865 and 864 to the defendants? OPD. 6. Relief. 6. On an appraisal of evidence, adduced before the learned trial Court, the learned trial Court dismissed the suit of the plaintiff/respondent herein. In an appeal, preferred therefrom by the plaintiff/respondent herein before the learned First Appellate Court, the latter Court partly allowed the appeal, and, modified the findings recorded by the learned trial Court. 7. Now the defendants/appellants herein, have instituted the instant Regular Second Appeal, before, this Court, wherein they assail the findings, recorded in its impugned judgment and decree, by the learned first Appellate Court. When the appeal came up for admission, this Court, on 12.07.2004, admitted the appeal instituted by the defendants/appellants against the judgment and decree, rendered by the learned first Appellate Court, on, the hereinafter extracted substantial questions of law :- 1. Whether the 1st Appellate Court has misread and misinterpreted the documents P-1 and PX thereby misleading it to come to a right conclusion? 2. Whether the 1st Appellate Court has misconstrued the legal position qua the rights of co-sharers to sell/transfer the land? Substantial questions of Law No.1 to 2: 8.
Whether the 1st Appellate Court has misread and misinterpreted the documents P-1 and PX thereby misleading it to come to a right conclusion? 2. Whether the 1st Appellate Court has misconstrued the legal position qua the rights of co-sharers to sell/transfer the land? Substantial questions of Law No.1 to 2: 8. The learned counsel appearing for the appellant has contended with much vigour before this Court (i) that with the defendants under Ex.P-4, exhibit whereof comprises a sale deed executed inter se them with one Chhergu, (ii) and, with the afore exhibit containing recitals, vis-a-vis, a specific portion of land, being alienated thereunder, (iii)and, when in pursuance to the afore exhibit, mutation borne in Ex.P-1, also stood, hence attested by the revenue officers concerned, with, categorical communications borne therein qua (a) within his share, the aforesaid Chhergu alienating the suit property, vis-a-vis, the appellants, (b) besides Categorical communications akin, vis-a-vis, the recitals borne in Ex.P-4, also occurring therein, (c) besides when tatima, is also reflected in Ex.P-1, with clear disclosures therein qua a specific portion of the undivided suit property rather being mutated, vis-a-vis, the defendants/appellants,(d) thereupon, the counsel for the defendants/appellants has contended with much vigour that (e) hence the presumption of truth attached to the revenue entries, as, borne in Ex.DW1/A, exhibit whereof appertains to the suit khasra numbers, and, with a clear manifestation borne therein, qua the suit property, inclusive of the contentious suit khasra numbers, being undivided inter se the parties at contest, rather, coming to be dislodged, (f) and, even when no mutation with respect to the family partition which purportedly occurred, inter se, the afore Chheragu, and, his other family members, qua, the undivided suit property, thereupon, its non attestation, renders, not, underwhelmed, the afore communication borne in Ex.P-1.
However, the aforesaid contention is meritless, for, the reason, (a) the recitals borne in Ex.P-1 qua Chheragu hence alienating a specific portion of the undivided suit property, and, any tatima appended thereto, and, also the latter in tandem therewith, hence carrying akin reflections, cannot, render unnecessary, the dire and grave legal necessity, of, dismemberment of the joint estate, rather occurring only in pursuance, to, a valid order of partition, hence being pronounced, vis-a-vis, the joint undivided suit khasra numbers; (b) compatibly, hence, the order, of mutation borne in Ex.P-1, holding therewithin hence echoings akin to the one borne in Ex.P- 4 also likewise, cannot acquire, any validity, nor hence the presumption of truth ascribed to the revenue entries borne in jamabandi Ex.DW1/A, also cannot be construed hence to be either dislodged or overcome. The further effect of the aforesaid inferences is qua, when no valid dismemberment, of, the joint estate has occurred, (i) thereupon, even if defendants/appellants, are holding settled possession of a specific portion, of the undivided joint suit property, their possession thereof, is, irrelevant, for constraining this Court to decline relief, of, permanent prohibitory injunction, (ii) given any declining to the plaintiff of the aforesaid relief rather tantamounting qua this Court rather rendering hence nugatory the trite principle, underlining, the jurisprudential concept of joint ownership, (iii) principle whereof is anchored, upon, the salient canon qua till occurrence, of a valid dismemberment, of, the joint estate inter se all the co-owners concerned, thereupto, all the co-owners holding unity of title and community of possession, vis-a-vis, every inch, of, the apposite undivided joint estate, (iv) and, with the further corollary qua possession of any portion of the undivided suit property, by any co-owner, being construable to be his, hence, vicariously holding possession thereof, on, behalf of other co-owners, (v) and, also his settled possession rather not bestowing any legal entitlement qua him, to claim, that, the aggrieved co-owners being not entitled, for rendition, of, a decree, of, permanent prohibitory injunction, (vi) unless, evidence erupts qua the possession of any co-owner, vis-a-vis, any undivided suit property, is, with the evident consent of other co-owners in the joint khata. Since, vis-a-vis, the afore excepting cannons qua the afore jurisprudential concept, of, joint ownership, no, satiating therewith, hence, evidence stands adduced, thereupon, the rendition, of, a decree of injunction qua the plaintiff, is not wanting in legal vigour. 9.
Since, vis-a-vis, the afore excepting cannons qua the afore jurisprudential concept, of, joint ownership, no, satiating therewith, hence, evidence stands adduced, thereupon, the rendition, of, a decree of injunction qua the plaintiff, is not wanting in legal vigour. 9. The above discussion, unfolds, that the conclusions as arrived by the learned first Appellate Court being based, upon a proper and mature appreciation of evidence on record. While rendering the findings, the learned first Appellate Court has not excluded germane and apposite material from consideration. Accordingly, the substantial questions of law are answered in favour of the respondent/plaintiff, and, against the defendants/appellants. 10. In view of the above discussion, there is no merit in the instant Regular Second Appeal, and, it is dismissed accordingly. In sequel, the judgment and decree rendered by the learned District Judge, Kinnaur Civil Division at Rampur Pushahr, H.P., upon, Civil Appeal No. 14 of 2003, is affirmed and maintained. Decree sheet be prepared accordingly. All pending applications also stand disposed of. No order as to costs.