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2022 Supreme(SC) 1431

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
Hemant Gupta, V. Ramasubramanian, JJ.
Harminder Singh(d) Thr. Lrs. – Appellant
Versus
Surjit Kaur(d) Thr. Lrs. & Ors. – Respondents
Civil Appeal No. 89 of 2012
Decided On : 27-04-2022

Advocates appeared:
Miss Geetanjali Mohan, Advocate, Ms. Madhu Moolchandani, Advocate, Mr. K. K. Mohan, Advocate, Mr. Yadav Narender Singh, Advocate, Mr. R.K. Rathore, Advocate, Ms. Ranjeeta Rohatgi, Advocate, Counsel for the Appearing Parties.

The central legal point established in the judgment is that once a mortgage is created, the mortgagor has a right to redeem the mortgage at any point of time, based on the principle that once a mortgage always a mortgage.

Headnote:

mortgage rights - Right to Redeem - Transfer of Property Act, 1882 - Section 60, Section 62 - The court discussed the right of the mortgagor to redeem the mortgage at any point of time, based on the principle that once a mortgage always a mortgage. The judgment referenced and discussed the interpretation of Section 60 and Section 62 of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882, and how these provisions influenced the court's decision.

Fact of the Case:

The plaintiff appealed against the High Court's judgment and decree, seeking declaration as the owner of the land after the extinguishment of mortgage rights and permanent injunction.

Finding of the Court:

The court dismissed the appeal, citing the principle that once a mortgage is created, the mortgagor has a right to redeem the mortgage at any point of time.

Issues: Interpretation of mortgage rights and right to redeem, application of relevant legal provisions, and the impact of previous judgments on the present case.

Ratio Decidendi: The court relied on the interpretation of the right to redeem the mortgage and the principle that once a mortgage is created, it always remains a mortgage, as established in previous judgments.

Final Decision: The court dismissed the appeal, finding no merit in the case based on the established legal principles.

ORDER

1. The plaintiff is in appeal before this Court against the Judgment and decree passed by the High Court in Second Appeal on 21.12.2007 whereby the mortgagor's appeal was allowed holding that the mortgagor has a right to redeem the land in question.

2. One Gulab Singh - mortgaged his share of land in favour of Rajinder Singh on 02.05.1921 with possession. The defendants inherited the estate of Gulab Singh whereas Rajinder Singh - mortgagee died issueless and his rights were inherited by his wife - Rajinder Kaur. Rajinder Kaur sold her mortgagee rights to the plaintiff vide sale deed dated 18.06.1979.

3. Since the mortgage was not redeemed by the mortgagor within a period of 30 years, the plaintiff filed a suit for declaration that she had become the owner after the extinguishment of the mortgage rights and for permanent injunction.

4. The suit was decreed by the trial Court. Such decree was affirmed by the First Appellate Court as well but in Second Appeal, the suit was dismissed relying upon the judgment of this Court in 'Sampuran Singh Vs. Niranjan Kaur', reported in (1999) 2 SCC 679.

5. After the judgment was rendered by the Single Judge Bench, the Full Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 'Ram Kishan & Ors. Vs. Sheo Ram & Ors. ' reported in AIR 2008 P&H 77 held that once a usufructuary mortgage is created, the mortgagor has a right to redeem the mortgage at any point of time on the principle that once a mortgage always a mortgage. Such judgment was affirmed by this Court in 'Singh Ram (Dead) Through Legal Representatives Vs. Sheo Ram & Ors.' reported in (2014) 9 SCC 185.

6. In view of the aforesaid judgment, we do not find any merit in the present appeal and the same is dismissed.

7. Pending application(s), if any, also stand disposed of.

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