SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
PATEL BHUDARBHAI MAGANBHAI
Vs.
PATEL KHEMABHAI AMBARAM
Decided on December 11, 1996
Limitation Act, 1963 – Article 61 – Appeal by special leave arises from the judgment of the learned Single Judge of the Gujarat High court, made in Second Appeal – Respondents filed the suit for redemption of the mortgage – Trial court dismissed the suit but on appeal, the Additional District Judge, Mehsana decreed the suit holding thus: "on the plaintiff depositing in the trial court – Defendant 2 shall bring into court, all documents in possession or power relating to mortgaged property and all such documents shall be delivered over to the plaintiff and Defendant 2 shall if so required recover or retransfer the said mortgaged property free from the said mortgage and clear of and free from all encumbrances created by Defendant 2 or by any person claiming under him or any person through whom he claims and also free from all liability whatsoever arising from the mortgage, and, shall, if so required, deliver up to the plaintiff quiet and peaceful possession of the said property –Held, In this behalf, it is necessary to note a few relevant facts – As stated earlier, mortgaged the property to Kana who is a mortgagee – His wife, Shivi appears to have executed a mortgage in favour of one Kuber. Subsequently, in 1965, filed a suit OS for redemption of the mortgage executed by her and she became the owner of the property – It is stated that in assertion of her right as an owner, Shivi executed the mortgage in favour of Kuber – Her assertion was to the knowledge of predecessor-in-title of the respondent and, therefore, the suit or redemption should have been filed within 12 years from the date of the execution of the second mortgage – Clause (b) of Article 61 provides that a suit by a mortgagor to recover possession of immovable property mortgaged and afterwards transferred by the mortgagee for a valuable consideration, has to be filed within 12 years from the date of which transfer becomes known to the plaintiff – It is a settled legal position that once a mortgage is always a mortgage until it is duly redeemed within the period of limitation – It is seen that Bai Jivi or her successor-in-interest were not made parties either to the second mortgage executed or to the suit for redemption nor any acknowledgment in that behalf has been pleaded or established – Appeal is accordingly dismissed.
( 1 ). This appeal by special leave arises from the judgment of the learned Single Judge of the Gujarat High court, made on 24/2/1986 in Second Appeal No. 294 of 1978. The first appellant is the son of Maganbhai. Bai Jivi, widow of Gala mortgaged the property in 1911 to Kana for 31 years. Bai Jivi died in the year 1955. The property was succeeded by Hati, daughter of the respondent predecessor-in-title in 1965. The respondents filed the suit for redemption of the mortgage. The trial court dismissed the suit but on appeal, the Additional District Judge, Mehsana decreed the suit holding thus: "on the plaintiff depositing Rs. 112. 50 p on or before 31/7/1978 in the trial court. Defendant 2 shall bring into court, all documents in possession or power relating to mortgaged property and all such documents shall be delivered over to the plaintiff and Defendant 2 shall if so required recover or retransfer the said mortgaged property free from the said mortgage and clear of and free from all encumbrances created by Defendant 2 or by any person claiming under him or any person through whom he claims and also free from all liability whatsoever arising from the mortgage, and, shall, if so required, deliver up to the plaintiff quiet and peaceful possession of the said property. "
( 2 ). In the second appeal it was confirmed. Thus, this appeal by special leave.
( 3 ). Shri Dholakia, learned Senior Counsel for the appellant, contends that in view of the pedigree of the parties, the appellant is the grandson of Amichand while Hati is a distant relation represented through Dansang who were sons of Rupsang. Gali is the grandson of Jekaran. One of the sons of Rupsang being nearer in relation within seven degrees the appellant is entitled to a preferential right for succession than the respondents predecessor-in-title. There is a controversy as to when the widow of joitaram died. In that behalf, the appellate court having considered the entire evidence had concluded thus: "hence Joitaram was entitled to inherit properties of Gala in preference to defendant Bhudarbhai Magandas and even his father and grandfather who will come in the category of Samandaks. Looking to the provisions of Baroda Hindu Naibahdh, widow of Joitaram Kashidas, i. e. , mother of Bai Jivi was entitled to inherit the properties of Gala as ifher husband was alive at the time of death of Bai Jivi. That way Bai Hatis mother was entitled to inherit the properties of Gala on the death of Bai Jivi as a widow of Sagotra Sapindas and that way we can say that Bai Hatis mother became the owner of the suit property on the death of Bai Jivi. Hatis mother died some time in the year 1965. We can take it that she must have died after 1/8/1965 and that way she was the absolute owner of the properties when she died. Bai Hati, thus, be entitled to inherit those properties either under Baroda Hindu Nibandh or even under the Hindu Succession Act, 1956. "
( 4 ). In view of the above finding, we do not find any force in the contention of Shri Dholakia that the appellant is a preferential heir to the respondent predecessor-in-title.
( 5 ). He further contends that by operation of Article 61 (and) of the Schedule to the Limitation Act, 1963, the appellants predecessor-in-interest also became the owner of the property and the right to recover possession from them was barred by limitation since the suit came to be filed beyond 12 years from the date of the second redemption of the mortgage. In this behalf, it is necessary to note a few relevant facts. As stated earlier, Bai Jivi mortgaged the property to Kana who is a mortgagee. His wife, Shivi appears to have executed a mortgage on 31/5/1935 in favour of one Kuber. Subsequently, in 1965, Bai Shivi filed a suit OS No. 69 of 1965 for redemption of the mortgage executed by her on 31/5/1935 and she became the owner of the property. It is stated that in assertion of her right as an owner, Shivi executed the mortgage in favour of Kuber. Her assertion was to t
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