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2004 Supreme(AP) 354

Andhra Pradesh High Court
Judges : ELIPE DHARMA RAO
Shaik Nurbi - Appellant
Versus
Pathan Mastanbi - Respondent
S.A.No.30/2000
Decided On : 03-23-04
Advocates Appeared :
Mrs.G.Jyothi Kiran, Mr.Potti Venkata Ramana Rao

Headnote:MOHAMMEDAN LAW, Sec.135 - Oral gift - Daughter of deceased, first wife of deceased Muslim father filing suit for partition of suit schedule property - Defendants, 2nd wife and her children contend that deceased father made oral gift bequeathing suit schedule property in their favour one month prior to his death - Plaintiff contends that gift is not valid beyond 1/3rd of estate as it is a death-bed gift - Trial Court dismissed suit holding that plaintiff not taken such plea in pleadings and just canvassed only at time of arguments - Lower appellate Court confirmed judgment of trial Court holding that disputed gift cannot be termed as made during marz-ul-maut (death-illness) since father suffering from Tuberculosis for about two-three years prior to his death.

       In this case, there is no averment in plaint that oral gift is not in accordance with Sec.135 of Mahomedan Law - Even for raising new plea on basis of provisions of law it must have its foundation in pleading and in absence of pleadings in plaint even though evidence is adduced by party it cannot be looked into for reason that opposite party could not have any opportunity to contradict said pleading.

       Both Courts below have come to right conclusion that old gift made by deceased father in favour of defendants is valid - Second appeal, dismissed.

ELIPE DHARMA RAO, J.

( 1 ) THIS second appeal is filed by the unsuccessful plaintiff who lost before both the courts below.

( 2 ) THE point for consideration in this second appeal is whether the gift made by late Alikhan bequeathing entire property in favour of the defendants is valid and binding on the plaintiff? in order to appreciate the question, it is necessary to notice the facts of the case. The parties are referred to herein as they are arrayed in the suit. The plaintiff is the daughter of Pathan Alikhan who died intestate on 16-10-1981. First defendant is his wife and defendants 2 to 5 are sons and defendants 6 and 7 are his daughters. The plaintiff was born through the first wife of Alikahn namely, Tara Bi. Defendants 2 to 7 are the children born through his second wife, first defendant. The suit schedule properties belonged to Alikhan. After his death, first defendant is managing the properties. First defendant accounted for mesne profits only for one year and thereafter no accounts were maintained. Therefore, the plaintiff demanded for partition of the suit schedule properties. In spite of several demands, first defendant did not partition the properties. Hence, the plaintiff filed the suit for partition and to allot 7/88 share to her. First defendant filed her written statement while defendants 2 to 7 filed a memo adopting the same. It is stated that the mother of the plaintiff died in the year 1965. After her death, Alikhan married first defendant. The plaintiff was married at a very young age. Her marriage was performed with the sister s son of Alikhan. The plaintiff could not be sent to her husband as he was living with a Christian woman. The plaintiff s husband used to harass her for getting property from her father. The property located near K. T. Road was given to the plaintiff. Alikhan and the defendants lived in item No. 1 house. During his life time, Alikhan made a oral gift bequeathing the suit schedule properties i. e. , two-storeyed house and agricultural land, in favour of the defendants, in the presence of Pathan Allabaksh and Syed Abdul Majid. First defendant accepted the gift on her behalf and on behalf of her minor children. Thus, they became absolute owners and possessors of the suit schedule properties. The plaintiff never claimed any right in the suit schedule properties and she was not in joint possession of the same. On the basis of the above pleadings, the trial Court has settled the following issues for trial. 1. Whether the plaintiff is entitled for partition and allotment of 7 shares out of 88 shares of the plaint schedule properties? 2. Whether the plaintiff is entitled for mesne profits on the plaint schedule properties from 1982 onwards till the time of allotment and delivery of the properties? 3. To what relief?

( 3 ) THE plaintiff herself was examined as P. W. 1 besides examining P. Ws. 2 and 3. P. W. 2 is one Abdul Faziz and P. W. 3 is the husband of the plaintiff. She marked exs. A1 and A2 - registration extracts of the suit schedule properties standing in the name of Alikhan. First defendant examined herself as D. W. 1 and also examined D. Ws. 2 to 4 and marked Exs. B1 to B14. Before the trial Court, it was the case of the plaintiff that Alikhan died on 16-10-1981 leaving behind the plaintiff and the defendants, that after the death of Alikhan, plaintiff and defendants were in joint possession of the suit schedule properties, that first defendant was managing the suit schedule properties, but was not accounting for mesne profits, and, therefore, she filed the suit for partition claiming 7/88th share. The suit was contested by the defendants contending that late Alikhan made a oral gift one month prior to his death bequeathing the suit schedule properties in their favour and, therefore, the plaintiff is not entitled for any share in them. On issue No. 1, the trial Court, after considering the evidence on record, and also Section 135 of Mohammedan Law on the point of gift (hiba), obse


















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