IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI
A.V. Ravindra Babu, J.
Vuppu Veera Venkata Subba Rao, S/o Late Puliraju - Appellant
Versus
Borra Padmaja Rao, W/o Jaganmohana Rao - Respondent
Appeal Suit No.1569 of 2018
Decided On : 05-01-2024
G.P.A. - Property Dispute - Indian Contract Act, 1872, Section 201 - Suraj Lamp and Industries Private Limited vs. State of Haryana and another, (2012) 1 Supreme Court Cases 656
Fact of the Case:
The plaintiff filed a suit seeking declaration of his title, possession, and rights over a property, alleging that the defendant's claim of purchasing the property was based on fabricated documents. The defendant contended that she was a bonafide purchaser for valuable consideration and had obtained a registered sale deed.
Finding of the Court:
The court dismissed the suit of the plaintiff, finding that the plaintiff's conduct was not that of a reasonable person, as he had kept quiet for about 22 years after allegedly being coerced into signing a registered General Power of Attorney (G.P.A.). The court also noted discrepancies in the plaintiff's evidence and found no grounds to interfere with the judgment of the lower court.
Issues: The issues included the entitlement of the plaintiff to seek declaration of title and the sustainability of the judgment of the lower court.
Ratio Decidendi: The court found that the plaintiff's failure to challenge the G.P.A. for over 22 years and the lack of proper pleadings regarding coercion or fraud undermined his claim for declaration of title. The court also noted that the plaintiff's conduct did not align with that of a reasonable person.
Final Decision: The appeal suit was dismissed, confirming the judgment and decree of the lower court.
JUDGMENT
1. Challenge in this appeal suit is to the judgment, dated 24.07.2018 in O.S.No.213 of 2017, on the file of VII Additional Senior Civil Judge, Vijayawada ('Additional Senior Civil Judge' for short), whereunder the learned Additional Senior Civil Judge, dismissed the suit of the plaintiff, which was filed with a prayer to declare that the plaintiff is the absolute owner of the plaint schedule property having right, title and possession and to grant perpetual injunction restraining the defendant, her agents and other men from ever interfering with the plaintiff's right, title and peaceful possession and further restraining the defendant not to encumber or to alienate the plaint schedule property.
2. The parties to this Appeal Suit will hereinafter be referred to as described before the learned Additional Senior Civil Judge for the sake of convenience.
3. The case of the plaintiff, in brief, according to the plaint averments is that the plaintiff is no other than the elder brother of the defendant. He purchased the plaint schedule property from one Rajagiri Balarama Murthy and others vide a deed of sale on 19.12.1978 bearing registered document No.5772/1978. The plaint schedule property is vacant site, described in the plaint schedule. Since the date of purchase, the plaintiff has been in possession and enjoyment of the same. Recently, the plaintiff learnt that the defendant with the active connivance of her henchmen, fabricated, cooked up and manufactured an illusory document of sale, dated 26.12.2016, on the file of Sub-Registrar Office, Mangalagiri, bearing Document No.13636/2016, alleged to have been executed by one Pamulapati Kanchaiah of Vijayawada, alleged to be the General Power of Attorney Holder of the plaintiff. In the aforesaid sale deed, it was alleged that the defendant paid the entire consideration of Rs.38,40,000/- to the alleged vendor in installments prior to the date of alleged sale deed. It was also alleged that the original document of title was lost and could not be traced out though a report was lodged to Patamata, Autonagar Police Station. It was also alleged in the sale deed that possession was delivered by the vendor to the vendee, but in fact there was no delivery of possession and there is no oral sale in favour of Mandapu Venkateswara Rao as alleged in the document of sale, dated 26.12.2016. The alleged G.P.A. bearing document No.2447/1994, on the file of Joint Sub-Registry, is nothing but fabricated, manufactured and illegal document and the contents thereof are not true. The contents of the sale deed, dated 26.12.2016, are false and collusive and there is no iota of truth in it. The defendant has no financial capacity to pay huge amount of Rs.38,40,000/- either to the alleged vendor or to Mandapu Venakteswara Rao at any point of time, even in installments. So, basing on the alleged sale deed, dated 26.12.2016, no right, title and possession was flown to the defendant. After came to know about the illegal sale deed, dated 26.12.2016, the plaintiff lodged a report to the Commissioner of Police, Vijayawada, on 23.02.2017 against acknowledgement. Hence, the suit.
4. The defendant got filed her written statement denying the averments in the plaint and the contention of the defendant, in brief, is that the suit filed by the plaintiff is not at all maintainable. The plaintiff suppressed the facts willfully and filed the present suit with an intention to grab the property of the defendant by hook or crook. The plaintiff executed a General Power of Attorney on 21.09.1994 in favour of Pamulapati Kanchaiah, S/o Venkateswara Rao and got it registered as document No.2447/1994 before the Sub-Registrar Office, Vijayawada. In the said document, it was categorically stated that the plaintiff sold the plaint schedule property to one Mandapu Venkateswara Rao, S/o Ramaiah on 21.09.1994 and an agreement of sale was executed in favour of Mandapu Venkateswara Rao. It was further stated that as the plaintiff has some
The judgment emphasizes the importance of timely and proper legal action, and the need for plaintiffs to make clear and consistent pleadings to support their claims.
General Power of Attorney ceases upon the death of the principal, invalidating any subsequent sale deeds executed without the consent of all necessary parties.
Presumption that possession goes with title applies to a case like this where neither party has been able to prove or establish possession, but one of the parties is able to show its title.
A minor can be a transferee of property, and a sale deed executed in their favor is valid despite their incapacity to contract.
In a suit for declaration of title, the burden lies on the plaintiff to establish their title, and failure to do so results in dismissal, regardless of the defendants' claims.
The burden to prove title in a property dispute lies with the plaintiff, requiring evidence such as a registered sale deed, even when seeking alternative relief of possession.
The court ruled that proposed defendants need to show necessity for inclusion in a suit, affirming that absence does not impair justice or adjudication of existing claims.
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