SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
PRASHANT KUMAR MISHRA, K. VINOD CHANDRAN, JJ.
Kisan Vithoba Aakhade (D) Through LRs. and Others – Appellants
Versus
Suresh Tukaram Nerkar – Respondent
Civil Appeal No. 720 of 2015
Decided On : 09-09-2025
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. arguments regarding evidence and corrections (Para 2 , 3 , 6 , 11) |
| 2. dispute over property ownership and possession (Para 4) |
| 3. court's assessment of contesting parties (Para 5 , 8 , 9 , 13) |
| 4. concurrent findings on land possession disputes. (Para 7) |
| 5. findings on possession and title validity (Para 10 , 12) |
| 6. dismissal of appeal due to lack of merit (Para 14 , 15) |
JUDGMENT :
K. VINOD CHANDRAN, J.
The concurrent findings on facts as entered into by the trial court and the first appellate court, to reject the suit filed, was overturned by the High Court in Second Appeal holding, the reading of the document establishing title; of the plaintiff and the findings on possession; of the defendants, perverse.
2. Shri Satyajit A. Desai, learned counsel for the appellants argued that the sale deed exhibited at Ext. 81, was produced by the plaintiff. Though it showed the extent of 150 square metres, actually as per the revenue records produced by the defendants, as on the date of sale deed the vendor of the plaintiff had possession only of 109.70 square metres. The balance portion was an open space which was in the possession of the deceased 1st appellant, the 8th defendant in the suit. The revenue records were corrected after the written statement was filed by the defendants. Despite assertion of possession by the plaintiff, in the Commission taken out by the plaintiff it was found with the 9th defendant. Even then the plaintiff did not seek for recovery of possession. It is argued that there was no question of law arising in the Second Appeal and the High Court erred in reversing the concurrent finding on facts of the trial court and the first appellate court.
3. Shri Gagan Sanghi, learned counsel for the respondent No. 1/ plaintiff read to us the reliefs sought in the plaint, which was a declaration of ownership and possession with consequential injunction. The plaintiff was in possession of the entire property wherein admittedly there was a building. The disputed land was lying contiguous to the plot in which the building was constructed. The defendants were dumping waste in the property and keeping manure thereon, which was objected to. On objections raised there was a threat levelled and hence the suit was filed. The mere finding of manure and waste on the property cannot lead to a finding of possession. The appellate court wrongly found that the title deed showed only a lower extent which was found to be a mistake of fact amounting to perversity by the High Court.
4. The plaint was filed for declaration of ownership and possession and consequential injunction from interference with the open space, lying adjacent to the residential building. The property as covered by Ext. 81 title deed was more fully described in the 1st paragraph of the plaint, for which the declaration was sought insofar as the ownership and possession as also consequential permanent injunction against the defendants from interfering with the ownership and possession of the plaintiff. The plaint averments clearly indicate that the suit was necessitated since the defendants failed to give heed to the objections raised by the plaintiff against the defendants using the property to keep manure and dump waste.
5. The suit was compromised insofar as the defendants 1 to 7 are concerned. Defendants 8 to 12 went to trial but with only a written objection to the IA for temporary injunction by the 9th defendant. On a query being put to the learned counsel appearing for the appellants, it was asserted that the 8th defendant adopted the objection filed by the 9th defendant to the I.A praying temporary injunction, which was adopted as the written statement of the 9th defendant also. However, we notice from the judgment of the trial court itself that the 8th defendant failed to file a written statement, and the 9th defendant alone contested the matter and adopted the objection filed to the IA praying injunction, as the 9th defendant’s written statement. Defendants
A plaintiff must prove lawful possession to claim an injunction, and reliance on revenue records alone is insufficient to establish ownership of property.
A plaintiff claiming ownership must prove title and ongoing possession; failure to respond to prior sales bars relief, highlighted by limitation law.
Title claims require appropriate documentation; failure to prove ownership and non-joinder of necessary parties renders suit invalid.
Possession follows title; documentary evidence prevails over oral testimony in establishing property rights.
Concurrent findings of fact by trial and appellate courts are upheld unless substantial legal questions arise; plaintiffs must substantiate claims with credible evidence.
Sale - Validity - Defendants were not interested or they did not try to bring their case before court and lead evidence in support of their case to with respect to sale deed being sham, bogus or frau....
Mere entries in revenue records do not confer title; to maintain a suit for declaration, a party must also seek possession.
The judgment emphasizes the importance of continuous possession and the lack of evidence to support adverse possession in property disputes.
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