IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI
V.R.K. KRUPA SAGAR, J.
S. Md. Sharif [Died] By Lrs And Others - Appellants
Versus
Mohammad Osman Died By Lrs And Others – Respondents
Second Appeal No. 887 Of 2007
Decided On : 06-03-2024
(A) Code of Civil Procedure - Section 100 - Specific Relief Act - Sections 31, 34, 38 and 41 - Appeal against dismissal of suit for declaration of title and permanent injunction - Both Courts found plaintiff not entitled to title - Court held that consequential relief of injunction cannot be granted if substantive relief is denied - Reference made to Padhiyar Prahladji Chenaji v. Maniben Jagmalbhai, (2022) 12 SCC 128. (Paras 11, 15)
(B) Legal principles - The court emphasized that the primary relief sought must be established for any consequential relief to be granted, reaffirming the principle that possession alone does not entitle a party to an injunction without a valid title. (Paras 15)
Facts of the case:
The plaintiff sought declaration of title and injunction over property, claiming ancestral rights, while the defendant contended ownership by a Mosque. The trial court dismissed the suit, finding no title. The appellate court confirmed this dismissal.
Findings of Court:
The appellate court upheld the trial court's decision, stating that without establishing title, the injunction could not be granted.
Issues: The main issues included whether injunction could be granted despite possession being established when title was not proven.
Ratio Decidendi: The court ruled that without a valid title, the relief of permanent injunction cannot be granted, even if possession is established.
Result: Second Appeal dismissed.
JUDGMENT :
(V.R.K. KRUPA SAGAR, J.)
Legal representatives of the original plaintiff have preferred this Appeal under Section 100 of Code of Civil Procedure (C.P.C.). Legal representatives of the original defendant are the respondents herein.
2. Sri Mohammad Sharif instituted O.S.No.59 of 1988 as against SriMohammad Osman with a prayer for declaration of title of plaintiff over the plaint schedule property and a consequential permanent injunction restraining the defendant and his men from trespassing into any portion of the plaint schedule property and for costs and such other reliefs. The claim of title was made stating that property originally belonged to the ancestors of the plaintiff and it all came by succession.
3. Defendant filed the written statement denying the plaint averments and contended that the property belonged to the Mosque and the plaintiff having joined as a tenant in a small portion of a space for running a hotel has come up with all false pleas and sought dismissal of the suit.
4. Learned trial Court settled the following issues for trial:
2. Whether the plaintiff is entitled for permanent injunction as prayed for?
3. To what relief?
5. At the trial, on behalf of the plaintiff, PWs.1 to 5 were examined and Exs.A.1 to A.39 were marked. On behalf of the defendant, DWs.1 to 3 were examined and Exs.B.1 to B.18 were marked. The advocate commissioner-PW.5 marked Exs.C.1 and C.2.
6. After an elaborate consideration of the evidence on record, learned District Munsif, Banaganapalle by a judgment dated 19.01.1993 found that plaintiff has no title over the property and his possession over the property is unlawful and accordingly it refused to grant all the reliefs and dismissed the suit with costs.
7. Aggrieved by it, the sole plaintiff preferred A.S.No.5 of 1993 before the learned Principal Senior Civil Judge, Nandyal. During the pendency of the appeal, the sole appellant died and his legal representatives came on record as appellant Nos.1 to 5. The sole defendant also died and his legal representatives came on record as respondent Nos.1 to 4.
8. On hearing the submissions on both sides, learned first appellate Court framed the following points for its consideration:
2. Whether the plaintiffs perfected their title by way of adverse possession?
3. Whether the plaintiffs are entitled for permanent injunction?
4. Whether the decree and judgment of the lower court suffers from any irregularity on facts or law?
5. Whether the documents which were sought to be tendered by the plaintiffs by way of additional evidence can be received?
9. After considering the material on record, by a judgment dated 24.04.2007 the learned first appellate Court dismissed the appeal and confirmed the trial Court judgment. At paragraph No.26 the learned first appellate Court recorded that on evidence it was found that the plaintiff has been in possession and enjoyment of the suit schedule property. It also observed that despite orders of status quo the appellants built a pucca building in the suit site (it may be mentioned that in the original suit the plaint schedule mentions existence of a hut). Holding that the possession held by the plaintiff is unlawful, it refused to grant even the relief of permanent injunction.
10. Aggrieved by that, the present appeal is preferred by the plaintiffs. During the pendency of this appeal respondent No.4 died and his legal representatives were brought on record as respondent Nos.5 to 7.
11. On 02.08.2007 this Court admitted the appeal on the following substantial questions of law:
Consequential relief of injunction cannot be granted if the substantive relief of title is denied, even if possession is established.
A plaintiff must establish title to obtain consequential relief of injunction; mere possession is insufficient if title is denied.
A co-owner's entitlement to seek permanent injunction based on established title, possession, and enjoyment, even in the absence of exclusive possession, when the defendant fails to prove her claim.
In a suit for injunction simpliciter, the court cannot adjudicate title without necessary pleadings and issues; possession is the primary concern.
A plaintiff with lawful possession can seek an injunction against interference, and if ownership is disputed, they may need to prove title in a suit for declaration alongside injunction.
In a suit for permanent injunction, the burden of proof is on the plaintiff to establish possession and incidental title to the property. Clear title supported by documents is necessary to claim perm....
A person in settled possession is protected against forcible dispossession by the true owner without legal recourse, even if the title is disputed.
In actions for injunctions, plaintiffs must demonstrate lawful possession and seek a declaration of title when ownership is disputed; failure to do so renders the suit unmaintainable.
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