SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
P. JAGANMOHAN REDDY, M.H. BEG AND A. ALAGIRISWAMI, JJ.
Jagdev Daulata Mahadik and others, Appellants
Versus
Govindrao Balwantrao through L. Rs. and others, Respondents.
Civil Appeals Nos. 1925-1926 of 1967, D/- 14-8-1974.
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 - Order 41 - Rule 4 - Transfer of Property Act - Section 41 - Joint family property –Shares - Separate possession of half share - Father of Durgabai and Govindrao were brothers and owned suit properties which were held by them as joint family property - As Narayanrao ahd borrowed monies from various persons those creditors filed suits against him and got joint family properties attached. Govindrao naturally objected and wanted that attachment to be made enforceable only against share of Narayanrao - Accordingly only one half share of Narayanrao was put up for sale - Even before half share was brought to sale - Held, Apart from evidence which has been led to show possession of either side, admitted facts themselves go to show that plaintiff s suit could not be barred by limitation - Plaintiff Govindrao and Narayanrao were in joint possession of properties, and Govindrao s half share in properties was never denied - After suit was filed, his joint possession was continued, and very fact that in 1941, there was a partition by metes and bounds in which Govindrao was allotted "B properties in suit would postulate that he was in joint possession of every unit of the family property in enjoyment of his half share in property - And if he was in possession till, 1941, I do not see how he would be barred by limitation - No serious challenge has been directed against view expressed learned Judge with which we are also in entire agreement - Appeals dismissed.
Judgment
JAGANMOHAN REDDY, J. :- These appeals arise out of two suits Nos. C. S. 27 of 1952 and C. S. 190 of 1952 on the file of IInd Joint Civil Judge (J. D.) Satara. A brief history of the facts leading to this litigation is necessary for a proper understanding of the issue in the case. Narayanrao father of Durgabai and Govindrao were brothers and owned suit properties which were held by them as joint family property. As Narayanrao ahd borrowed monies from various persons those creditors filed suits against him and got the joint family properties attached. Govindrao naturally objected and wanted that attachment to be made enforceable only against the share of Narayanrao. Accordingly only one half share of Narayanrao was put up for sale. Even before the half share was brought to sale. Govindrao filed suit O.S. No. 313 of 1923 against Narayanrao for partition of the joint family properties and for separate possession of his half share. On October 26, 1923. Narayanrao s half share in A Schedule properties was purchased by one Narasingarao who was Mukhtyar of Govindrao. On April 20, 1924 symbolic possession was obtained by Narasingaroa of that half share. On July 1, 1925, by a registered saleded Narasingaro sold the half share of Narayanarao in A Schedule properties which he had purchased to Govindrao for Rs. 16,000/-. In O. s. 313 of 1923 filed by Govindrao for partition a preliminary decree was passed on August 24, 1925. It may be stated that after the purchase of the half share of Narayanrao s property in the auction sale in the creditors suits, Govindrao did not amend his plaint mentioning about the subsequent sale of Narayanrao s half share in favour of Narasingarao and his purchasing that half share from Narasingarao.
2. After the preliminary decree was passed, Narayanrao died leaving behind him his widow Laxmibai and his daughter Durgabai. They were brought on record. In 1932 the widow Laxmibai died and thereafter Durgabai was the sole legal representative of Narayanrao. In 1941 a final decree was passed and later in execution proceedings Govindrao s half share was separated by metes and bounds and he was put in possession of B Schedule properties situated in Ninam and Kausawade. He also obtained mesne profits through the Court. In so far as Narayanrao s half share was concerned his separate share was shown in C Schedule to that suit. Since some confusion may be created, because in the suits out of which these appeals arise also there is a C Schedule, that Schedule will hereinafter be referred as the suit C Schedule. To continue the narrative, out of nine properties that were sold by Durgabai, two were sold to Raoji Satwaji Mahadik being items 1 and 7, and the other seven properties were sold to Raoji Satwaji Mahadik and seven other persons. Out of Narayanrao s share which was purchased by Govindrao he sold R. S. Nos. 172/1 and 172/2 for Rs. 2,000/- to one Bali Mahadu Jadhav. Inasmuch as Durgabai was exercising the right in respect of Suit C Schedule properties in the partition suit, which in fact were ultimately purchased by Govindrao, Govindrao filed C. S. No. 27 of 1952 in respect of items (1) and (7) of suit C Schedule properties and Bali Mahadu Jadhav filed C. S. No. 190 of 1952 in respect of R. S. Nos. 172/1 and 172/2 The case of Bali Mahadu Jadhav was similar to that of Govindrao in C. S. No. 27 of 1952 and the reliefs asked for in both the suits were for possession and for awarding mesne profits of the Suit C Schedule properties. In C. S. No. 27 of 1952 Durgabai was defendant No. 1 and the purchasers were defendants Nos. 2 to 9, but in C. S. No. 190 of 1952 the same defendants as in c. S. No. 27 of 1952were shown as defendants 1 to 8, because they got into wrongful possession of the suit lands in or about December. 9, 1947 after winning over Daulata Raoji to their side. It was also mentioned that the suit land out of the said R. S. No. 172 was with Daulata Raoji Mahadik as a tenant of Govindrao and
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