IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATHI
SUBBA REDDY SATTI, J.
Bodduboyina Rajagopal, S/o Venkatanarayana - Appellant
Versus
Bodduboyina Venkatanarayana, S/o. B. Gopalaiah and Others – Respondents
SECOND APPEAL No.477 of 2022
Decided On : 08-11-2022
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. second appeal regarding partition of properties. (Para 1 , 2 , 3) |
| 2. defendants' claims and responses in partition suit. (Para 4 , 6 , 7) |
| 3. issues framed by the trial and appellate courts. (Para 8 , 10 , 11 , 12) |
| 4. plaintiff's arguments regarding property claims. (Para 13 , 14) |
| 5. substantial legal questions of partition. (Para 15 , 17) |
| 6. necessary parties in partition suits. (Para 18 , 19 , 20 , 21) |
| 7. legal consequences of non-joinder in partition. (Para 22 , 23) |
| 8. burden of proof regarding property ownership. (Para 24 , 25 , 26 , 27) |
| 9. admissibility of partition deeds in court. (Para 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32) |
| 10. judicial restraint in re-evaluating factual findings. (Para 33 , 34) |
| 11. conclusion of the second appeal. (Para 35 , 36) |
JUDGMENT :
(Subba Reddy Satti, J.)
Plaintiff in the suit filed above second appeal aggrieved by the judgment and decree dated 23.02.2022 in A.S.No.16 of 2016 on the file of III Additional District Judge, Rajampet, confirming the judgment and decree dated 28.09.2016 in O.S.No.94 of 2005 on the file of Senior Civil Judge, Rajampet.
2. For the sake of convenience, the parties to this judgment are referred to as per their array in plaint.
3. Suit O.S.No.94 of 2005 was filed for partition of plaint schedule properties into three equal shares and allotment of one share to him or alternatively to direct the defendants 1 to 3 to execute registered document in favour of the plaintiff in respect of plaint B schedule property.
4. In the plaint, it was contended interalia that defendants 1 and 2 are husband and wife, plaintiff and 3rd defendant are their sons; that 1st defendant’s father B.Gopalaiah died about 20 years back leaving behind 1st defendant and one Ramakrishna; that there was oral partition of properties owned and possessed by Gopalaiah between 1st defendant and his brother Ramakrishna; that plaint schedule properties fell to the share of 1st defendant; that 1st defendant, retired teacher used to attend agricultural operations personally and also leased out the properties; that 1st defendant purchased item Nos.1 to 9, 19 and 20 of schedule properties, out of the income derived from joint family properties; that 1st defendant purchased some properties in the name of 2nd defendant; that 2nd defendant has no source of income to purchase the properties; that plaintiff, defendants 1 and 3 constitute Hindu undivided joint family; that plaintiff demanded defendants 1 and 3 to effect partition and finally, partition was effected on 04.09.2004 dividing the properties among them; that plaint B schedule property fell to the share of plaintiff; however, defendants 1 and 3 convinced the plaintiff to enter into partition deed without effecting the same by way of registered document; that plaintiff issued legal notice on 29.08.2005 to defendants; that 1st defendant was also blessed with four daughters and all of them are married and they have no right or share in the schedule properties and thus, filed the suit for partition.
5. Defendants 1 and 2 filed separate written statements. 3rd Defendant filed memo adopting the written statement of 1st defendant.
6. 1st Defendant in the written statement contended interalia that in the partition between himself and his brother Ramakrishna held on 21.10.1975, he got an extent of Ac.1.34½ cents of wet land and Ac.2.35 cents of dry land situated at Upparapalli of Settigunta; that partition dated 04.09.2004 was not acted upon; that apart from plaintiff and 3rd defendant, defendants 1 and 2 blessed with four daughters and they are also entitled to share in the joint family properties; that item Nos.1, 3 to 5, 7 to 9, 19 and 20 are Sridhana properties of 2nd defendant; that item Nos.10 to 12, 16, 18, 26 and 27 of plaint A schedule properties are ancestral properties; that 1st defendant joined as school teacher in the year 1966 and retired as Head Master in Z.P. High School in 1996; that from his savings, he purchased item Nos.13 to 17; that item No.2 of plaint A sch
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The court affirmed that items 1 and 2 of suit properties are ancestral, and items 3 to 11 are self-acquired, highlighting the plaintiffs' burden to prove family property claims.
Ancestral properties must be proven to remain joint family properties post-partition; otherwise, they are deemed separate and not subject to partition claims.
Unmarried daughters are recognized as coparceners in ancestral properties under the amended Hindu Succession Act, leading to equal rights in joint family assets.
In joint family property disputes, the burden of proof lies with the party claiming self-acquisition, and failure to substantiate claims results in the affirmation of joint property status.
The presumption of joint family status in Hindu law requires clear evidence to establish prior partition; the Appellate Court allowed partition of one property acquired post-partition while dismissin....
A partition suit must include all necessary parties; their absence renders the suit incompetent and affects the plaintiff's claims.
In partition suits, the inclusion of all necessary parties and properties is essential; non-joinder renders the suit incompetent.
The burden of proof in establishing joint family property and partition lies with the party alleging its existence. The court also emphasized the entitlement of daughters to share in joint Hindu fami....
In a partition suit, the burden of proving that property standing in an individual's name is joint family property lies upon the party asserting it, requiring proof of a sufficient ancestral nucleus.....
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