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1982 Supreme(Kar) 53

Karnataka High Court
D.RAMANATHA GUPTA - Appellant
Versus
S.RAZAACK - Respondent
Decided On : 02-16-82
R.S.A. : 183 of 1974

Advocates:
M.V.BALAMBRA, R.NARAYANAPPA, S.C.JAWALI, S.SHANKARANARAYAN

The central legal point established in the judgment is the significance of agreements in determining the acquisition of prescriptive right to easement, and the requirement for substantial interference with the normal enjoyment of light and air to constitute actionable nuisance.

Headnote:

Easement - Right to Light and Air - S. 15, 28, 33, 35 of the Easements Act - The plaintiff claimed prescriptive right to light and air through windows and ventilator. The court discussed the legal provisions related to acquisition of easement by prescription and the significance of agreements in determining the prescriptive right. The court emphasized that the right cannot be claimed as an easement if it is enjoyed by permission and on condition, and highlighted the requirement for substantial interference with the normal enjoyment of light and air to constitute actionable nuisance.

Fact of the Case:

The plaintiff claimed ownership of premises with windows and ventilator through which light and air passed to his property. The defendant, by constructing a two-storied building, would block the passage of air and light, leading the plaintiff to seek a permanent injunction.

Finding of the Court:

The trial court dismissed the suit, stating that the plaintiff did not acquire the alleged easement by prescription due to agreements between the parties. The first appellate court reversed the decision, holding that the plaintiff did acquire prescriptive right. The second appellate court allowed the appeal, setting aside the first appellate court's decision and dismissing the plaintiff's suit for injunction.

Issues: 1. Maintainability of the suit for injunction without a prayer for declaration of prescriptive right. 2. Proof of agreements and their legal implications. 3. Establishment of prescriptive right by the plaintiff.

Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized the necessity for a declaration of prescriptive right in a suit for injunction based on easement by prescription. It also discussed the legal provisions related to the proof of agreements and their impact on the acquisition of prescriptive right. The court highlighted the requirement for substantial interference with the normal enjoyment of light and air to constitute actionable nuisance.

Final Decision: The second appellate court set aside the first appellate court's decision and dismissed the plaintiff's suit for injunction, stating that the plaintiff did not acquire the alleged prescriptive right to light and air.

G. N. SABHAHIT, J.

( 1 ) THIS appeal by the defendant is directed against the judgment and decree dated 19- 2-1973 passed by the II Addl. Civil judge, Bangalore in RA No. 35/70, on his file, allowing the appeal of the plaintiff on reversing the judgment and decree dated 31-3-1970 passed by the II Addl. First munsiff, Bangalore in OS No. 489/64 on his file, dismissing the suit of the plaintiff for injunction.

( 2 ) IT is the case of the plaintiff that he is the owner of the premises known as AH buildings bearing No. 840, old Taluk cutcherry Road, Nagarthpet and 112 chowdeswari Temple Street, and defendant is the owner of the premises adjoining his premises bearing No. 113 and 114, Old taluk Cutcherry Road. There are two windows of the size of 36" x 56" on the upstairs of the plaintiff's building through which the light and air passes to the pro. perty of the plaintiff. These windows and ventilator have been according to the plaintiff in existence for over 50 years and the plaintiff has been in enjoyment of the light and air coming through them and it is undisturbed during all this period. Thus the plaintiff has acquired easementary right to the light and air through the windows and ventilator having enjoyed the same in his own right undisturbed for a period of 50 years. The defendant some time ago demolished the structure in Nos. 113 and 114, Chowdeswary Temple Street, and is now putting up a two storied building. If the defendant were to put up a two storied building, the windows and ventilator would be completely shut up and there will be no passage through which the air and light passes to the property of the plaintiff. Hence, he averred that the defendant is not entitled to obstruct the air and light coming through the windows. Therefore, the plaintiff sought to restrain the defendant by means of an injunction from blocking the windows and ventilator. Hence, he instituted the suit for permanent injunction against the defendant with a prayer for issuance of an injunction permanently, prohibiting the defendant from shutting out the windows and ventilator situated in the plaintiff's property and for costs.

( 3 ) THE suit was resisted by the defendant. He contended that the plaintiff did not acquire any easement by prescription for the alleged flow of light and air throuh the windows and ventilator. He specifically pleaded that the predecessors in title of the plaintiff executed an agreement on 5 9 1921 to the predecessors in title of the defendant undertaking not to obstruct the raising of the building by constructing the floors. Hence, he submitted that the suit for injunction was not maintainable.

( 4 ) THE trial Court raised the following issues as arising from the pleadings. (1) Whether the plaintiff has acquired prescriptive right to enjoy light and air through the windows and ventilator in question ? or (2) Whether the predecessor in title of plaintiff has executed the agreements dated 5-9 1921 and if yes, whether plaintiff has not enjoyed light and air as a matter of right ? (3) Whether plaintiff is entitled to the injunction prayed for ? (4) To what reliefs are the parties entitled ?

( 5 ) THE trial Court, appreciating the evidence on record, held that the plaintiff has not acquired the easement alleged by prescription in view of the fact that the predecessors in title of the plaintiff have executed agreements as per Exts. D-3 and d-4 dated 5-9-1921 not to obstruct the predecessors in title of the defendant from raising their building by putting up upstairs. In that view, he dismissed the suit as not tenable. Aggrieved by the said judgment and decree the plaintiff went up in appeal before the learned Civil Judge, bangalore, in RA No. 35 of 1970 on his file and the II Addl. Civil Judge, who heard the appeal, raised the following points as arising for his consideration in the appeal. (1) Whether the plaintiff has established the prescriptive right to the user of light and air. through the windows, and ventilator ? (2) Whet














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