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1966 Supreme(AP) 248

Andhra Pradesh High Court
Judges : CHANDRASEKHARA SASTRI
Santhannagari Ramayya - Appellant
Versus
Narasimhapuram Narayana Chetty - Respondent
Decided On : 11-16-66

The extent of an easement right to light and air acquired by prescription is determined by the quantity of light and air that has been accustomed to enter the opening during the prescriptive period, regardless of whether the plaintiff has sufficient light and air by other means.

Headnote:

EASEMENT - RIGHT TO LIGHT AND AIR - EXTENT OF EASEMENT - PRESCRIPTIVE RIGHT - SECTION 28 OF THE INDIAN EASEMENTS ACT, 1882 - INTERPRETATION - SUFFICIENCY OF LIGHT AND AIR - NO DEFENCE TO ACTION FOR OBSTRUCTION.

Fact of the Case:

Plaintiff filed a suit for a declaration of his easement right for free access of light and air through two ventilators in the southern wall of his house and for a permanent injunction restraining the defendants from interfering with his rights by putting up any construction. The defendants pleaded an agreement between their predecessors-in-title and the plaintiffs predecessors-in-title that the plaintiff would close the ventilators as and when the defendants wanted them to be closed.

Finding of the Court:

The trial court dismissed the suit, but the appellate court reversed the decision, finding that the defendants had not proved the alleged agreement and that the plaintiff had acquired the right to receive light and air through the ventilators by enjoyment for over the prescriptive period under Section 15 of the Indian Easements Act, 1882.

Issues: Whether the agreement pleaded by the defendants that the ventilators were to be closed up or removed when the defendant demanded so is true, valid and binding?

Ratio Decidendi: The extent of a prescriptive right to the passage of light or air to a certain window, door or other opening is that quantity of light or air which has been accustomed to enter that opening during the whole of the prescriptive period irrespectively of the purpose for which it has been used (Section 28 of the Indian Easements Act, 1882).

Final Decision: The plaintiff's suit was decreed, and the defendants' second appeal was dismissed.

CHANDRA SEKHARA SASTRY, J.

( 1 ) THIS second Appeal arises out of a suit for a declaration of the plaintiffs easementary right for free access of light and air through the ventilators shown as V-l and V-2 in the southern wall of the plaintiffs house shown as FGA in the plaint plan and for a permanent injunction restraining the defendants and their men from in any way interfering with the plaintiffs rights by putting up any construction in their site and for a mandatory injunction for the removal of the Varanaku put up by the defendants adjacent to the plaintiffs southern wall obstructing the access of the usual light and air through these ventilators. The plaintiff claimed that he acquired a right to receive light and air through the two ventilators by such enjoyment for over the prescribed period In fact the plaintiff- purchased the suit house in the year 1915 under Ex A-l dated 15-2-1915. Even by that time there were these two ventilators.

( 2 ) THE defendants plea was that there was an agreement between their predecessors-in-title and the plaintiffs predecessors-in-title initially and again between the plaintiff and the predecessor-in-title of the defendants when the plaintiff purchased the house to the effect that the plaintiff would close these ventilators as and when the defendants wanted them to be closed This was the main plea in the written statement and is reflected by the Court issue framed by the trial Court which is as follows; "4 Whether the agreement and the undertaking pleaded by the defendants that ventilator V (1) and V (2) are to be closed up or removed when the defendant demanded so is true, valid and binding?

( 3 ) THE trial Court on a consideration of the evidence held that the agreement is true. It also held that even if thesp two ventilators are closed, the plaintiff would be getting sufficient light and air if the door-way and the window in the wall EF and also a doorway in the northern wall EH in the plaint plan are opened, as well as the ventilator which opens into the hall on the west. As a result, the District Munsif dismissed the suit. But on appeal by the plaintiff the learned Subordinate Judge. Chittoor after a consideration of the evidence found that the defendants had not proved any agreement or undertaking pleaded by them, that is, the main defence raised by the defendants to non-suit the plaintiff and which is called by issue No. 4 is found against by the learned Subordinate Judge on an appreciation of the evidence. The learned Subordinate Judge further found that for over 45 years the plaintiff has been receiving light and air through the two ventilators, V-1 and V-2. On the question whether the plaintiff would have sufficient light and air even if the ventilators were closed, the learned Subordinate Judge held in paragraph 8 of his judgment that the plaintiff is entitled to insist upon his enjoyment of so much light and air as was then available to him. In the result the plaintiffs suit was decreed by the learned Subordinate Judge. Hence this second appeal is filed by the defendants

( 4 ) THE finding on the question raised by the 4th issue is a finding of fact and is not open to attack in second appeal. The learned Subordinate Judge referred to the evidence of the witnseses. D. Ws. 2, 3 and 4 and did not accept it. He held that he is not inclined to believe that the plaintiff had undertaken to close the ventilators whenever asked by the defendants. Therefore it is clear that the plaintiff has acquired the right of receiving light and air through the two ventilators V-l and V-2 by enjoyment for over the prescriptive period under Section 15 of the Indian Easements Act, 1882 (hereinafter called the Act) because the said Act applies to this area,

( 5 ) BUT it is argued by the learned Counsel for the appellants that on the finding of the trial Court that the plaintiff will be having sufficient light and air if the door and window of the eastern wall and the door-way on the north and the ventilators



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