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2023 DIGILAW 1025 (KAR)

Channappa v. Chandrawwa

2023-08-29

ANANT RAMANATH HEGDE

body2023
JUDGMENT : Mr. Anant Ramanath Hegde, J. - Defendants No.1 and 2 in O.S.No.66/1995 are before this Court challenging the judgment and decree dated 02.09.2005, rendered in O.S.No.66/1995 on the file of the Principal Civil Judge (Sr.Dn.), Jamkhandi. 2. The suit is one for partition and separate possession. The admitted genealogy is as under: 3. One Sanyawwa W/o.Mallappa Nilajagi, was the owner of the suit properties. This aspect is not in dispute. She had four sons and two daughters. Among four sons, the eldest son Basappa died issueless and he was a bachelor. The suit is filed by one of the daughter by name Chandrawwa. By the time the suit is filed, the third son Balappa was no more. The successors of Balappa, namely his wife and children were arrayed as defendants along with other defendants. 4. The suit was contested by the defendants on the premise that, the partition has already taken place in the family and in the said partition, Sanyawwa, the mother of the plaintiff, has given money to the plaintiff and plaintiff has purchased two properties from that money paid by the mother and as such, plaintiff is not entitled to the share in the suit properties. Alternatively, it is also contended that, assuming that there is no partition, the suit without including the two properties purchased in the name of the plaintiff, which were funded by the mother of the plaintiff, is not maintainable. 5. The trial Court after considering the rival contentions has held that the previous partition is not established. The trial Court also gave a finding that the properties standing in the name of the plaintiff are not the properties belonging to the joint family. Accordingly, the suit is decreed. 6. Aggrieved by the aforementioned judgment and decree, defendants No.1 and 2 are in appeal. 7. Learned counsel appearing for the appellants/defendants No.1 and 2 would contend that; 7.1. The plaintiff is a divorcee and after the divorce, she was staying with her mother and the mother taking sympathy towards her daughter, who is a divorcee, has contributed her money to purchase the properties in the name of the plaintiff and as such, plaintiff is not entitled to share in the joint family properties. 7.2. The contribution of fund by the mother of the plaintiff is treated as a share given to the plaintiff by the mother during her life time. 7.3. 7.2. The contribution of fund by the mother of the plaintiff is treated as a share given to the plaintiff by the mother during her life time. 7.3. In the alternative, assuming that there is no partition, the properties purchased in the name of the plaintiff with the aid of the funds provided by the plaintiff's mother should be treated as joint family properties and the suit without including those properties standing in the name of the plaintiff is not maintainable. 8. Learned counsel for the respondent would contend that the trial Court is justified in dismissing the suit and it is also her contention that the properties are purchased 18 years after the death of the mother, as such, the contention that the mother has contributed fund to purchase the properties by the plaintiff is not acceptable. 9. This Court has considered the contentions raised at the bar. 10. The following point would arise for consideration: "Whether the trial Court is justified in decreeing the suit of the plaintiff? 11. As could be noticed from the admitted genealogy, the properties originally belonged to Sanyawwa. There is no dispute over this fact. Sanyawwa died somewhere in the year 1975, as could be noticed from the admission in the cross-examination of DW1. The properties in the name of plaintiff were purchased 19 years after the death of Sanyawwa and there is no evidence to show that the plaintiff's mother has helped the plaintiff to purchase the properties. On the other hand, the plaintiff has produced the evidence to show that she had independent source of income to purchase the properties and the registered sale deed stands in the name of the plaintiff. 12. In the absence of any other material to hold that there is contribution from the mother to purchase the properties in the name of the plaintiff, the Court cannot hold that the properties in the name of the plaintiff are the joint family properties of the plaintiff and defendants. 13. Moreover, the plaintiff is married and the properties are purchased in the name of the plaintiff after the marriage. This being the position, purchase of the properties in the name of the plaintiff cannot be construed as the joint family properties of the plaintiff and her brothers and sisters. 14. 13. Moreover, the plaintiff is married and the properties are purchased in the name of the plaintiff after the marriage. This being the position, purchase of the properties in the name of the plaintiff cannot be construed as the joint family properties of the plaintiff and her brothers and sisters. 14. The contention that there is already a partition between the plaintiff and defendants during the life time of the mother of the plaintiff is not established. There are no materials to this effect and moreover, the partition cannot be effected during the life time of Sanyawwa, as Sanyawwa held the properties absolutely, since she acquired the properties on her own the suit properties are the self-acquired properties of Sanyawwa, there cannot be any partition of the suit properties during the life time of Sanyawwa and alleged partition is not established. 15. Under the circumstances, this Court is of the view that the judgment and decree passed by the trial Court cannot suffer from any illegality. 16. Accordingly, the appeal is dismissed.