1963 Supreme(AP) 108
Andhra Pradesh High Court
Judges : JAGMOHAN REDDY
Thaduvayi Venkatasubbamma - Appellant
Versus
Chaluvadi Venkata Subbamma - Respondent
Decided On : 07-05-63
A subsequent suit for partition of joint family property is not barred by Order 2, Rule 2 C. P. C. if the plaintiff was ignorant of the existence of certain properties at the time of the former suit.
Headnote:
PARTITION SUIT - OMISSION TO SUE - ORDER 2, RULE 2 C. P. C. - IGNORANCE OF SPECIFIC ITEMS OF PROPERTY - NO BAR TO SUBSEQUENT SUIT - MISTAKE OF GUARDIAN DURING MINORITY - NO PREJUDICE TO MINOR - SUBSEQUENT SUIT MAINTAINABLE.
Fact of the Case:
In a partition suit, the respondent omitted to include three items of property. The appellant, the sister of the respondent's husband, claimed these properties as having been gifted to her by her father as Pasupukunkuma. Alternatively, she claimed title by adverse possession.
Finding of the Court:
The first appellate court found that the appellant had not proved her claim to the properties by adverse possession. The court also found that the respondent's father, who was the guardian in the former suit, was not aware of the specific items of property omitted from that suit.
Issues: Whether the respondent's suit was barred by Order 2, Rule 2 C. P. C. due to the omission to include the three items of property in the former suit.
Ratio Decidendi: Order 2, Rule 2 C. P. C. does not bar a subsequent suit in respect of property of which the plaintiff was ignorant at the time of the former suit. Actual knowledge of the specific items of property is required to attract the bar under Order 2, Rule 2 C. P. C. The mistake of the guardian during the minority of the plaintiff cannot prejudice the plaintiff's right to sue for the omitted properties after attaining majority.
Final Decision: The second appeal was dismissed with costs.
( 1 ) THE simple Question in this second appeal is whether the suit of the respondent is barred by Order 2, Rule 2 C. P. C. There was an earlier partition suit filed on behalf of the minor through her fattier and now the respondent after she became a major has filed a suit with respect to three items of property which were left out in that suit. The appellant is the 3rd defendant who is the sister of the respondents husband. She claimed these properties as having been gifted to her by her father as Pasupukunkuma and that is the reason why they were not included by the respondent in the former suit. Alternatively she claimed title by adverse possession, it may at this stage be stated that the averment of oral gift to her is not pressed, nor is there any validity relating to adverse possession which has been found as a fact against the appellant by the first appellate court. Learned Advocate for the appellant contends that me first appellate Court is wrong in this conclusion, because it has ignored the evidence of leases and the oral evidence of the lessees as also of the cist receipts. I do not think the lower Court has ignored the evidence. On me other hand, it has considered It and has come to a conclusion against the appellant, it did not rely very much upon the oral evidence of the village officers, nor was the other evidence sufficient to draw a conclusion in favour of the appellant of her right to adverse possession. The only question, therefore, is whether under Order 2, Rule 2 the suit of the respondent is barred.
( 2 ) LEARNED advocate for the appellant, Sri Gangadhar Rao, contends that the evidence in this case shows that the guardian of the respondent was fully aware that there were other items than those which formed We subject-matter of the former suit; that this fact was mentioned to his lawyer who said that he can file another suit later on in respect of them. The first appellate Court, however, on that evidence took the view that the respondents father who was the guardian in the former suit was not aware of these specific items of property as such, in a suit for partition, a subsequent suit in respect of property of which the plaintiff was Ignorant could be filed. But the learned advocate contends that this view is incorrect on the evidence of P. Ws. 1 and 2. P. W. 1 is the widow of the predeceased son and the plaintiff-respondent in the case. She was of course a minor at the time and consequently any evidence which she may give is only what she could nave gathered later on from her father. In so far as the evidence of P. W. 2 is concerned he says that Pichi Pullayya, the father of the appellant, had given a list of the joint family properties and said apart from these, there are some immovable properties, the survey numbers of which he could not remember. In cross-examination P. W. 2 admits that he mentioned this fact to his lawyer no said that a suit could be filed later on. It is obvious that the guardian of the respondent was not aware of the details of the property, though he had factual Knowledge of me existence of some other properties. It is contended that he could have easily ascertained the details of the properties and included them in the former suit, but it is contended by the learned advocate for the respondent that there is no obligation on the part or the guardian to ascertain. At any rate, even if he did not ascertain, that does not mean that he had knowledge of the specific Items of the properties in order to attract the bar under the previsions of Order 2, Rule 2 C. P. C. He has further contended that at any rate the omission or the negligence of the guardian in not protecting the interests of the minor, cannot negative the right of that minor when she attains majority to file a suit in respect of these properties. Order 2, Rule 2 is as follows:"2. (1) Every suit shall include the whole of me claim which the plaintiff is entitled to make in respect of the cause of action)