SupremeToday Landscape Ad
Back
Next
Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation
Listen Audio Icon Pause Audio Icon
judgment-img

1985 Supreme(Kar) 369

Karnataka High Court
Stumpp Schedule and Somappa Pvt.Ltd. - Appellant
Versus
S.M.Chandrappa - Respondent
Decided On : 09-25-85
R.F.A. : 1 of 1973

Advocates:
LESLIE DISILVA, PADUBIDARI RAGHAVENDRA RAO, S.RAMASWAMY IYENGAR

The plaintiff's suit for declaration and correction of entries in the record of Rights was maintainable under the proviso to Section 135 of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act.

Headnote:

Inams Abolition Act - Land Dispute - S. No. 139/2 - Summary

Fact of the Case:

The plaintiff filed a suit for declaration that he is the owner of the land described in schedule 'a', that the existing entries in the index of land and other allied revenue records in respect of Hissa Nos. 1 and 2 of S. No. 139 are incorrect and should be cancelled and correct entries should be made. The suit was also for injunction restraining defendant-1 from interfering with schedule 'a' property and for awarding damages of Rs. 200/-. No relief, however, has been claimed as against defendants-2 to 6.

Finding of the Court:

The trial Court decreed the suit declaring the plaintiff as the owner of schedule 'a' property. The court also issued a permanent injunction against defendant-1 restraining it from interfering with the plaintiff's possession of that property while awarding Rs. 200/- as damages to the plaintiff for the damage caused by defendant-1.

Issues: 1) Whether the entries in the Index of Land and the Revenue Records in regard to Hissa number of S. No. 139 are incorrect? 2) Does the plaintiff prove his possession of schedule 'a' property? 3) Whether the suit is maintainable and if so, whether title to schedule 'a' property could be declared in favour of the plaintiff? 4) Whether the State had taken possession of any part of schedule 'a' property pursuant to the proceedings taken under the Land Acquisition Act?

Ratio Decidendi: The plaintiff's suit for declaration and correction of entries in the record of Rights was maintainable under the proviso to Section 135 of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act. The plaintiff was in exclusive possession of the entire land in schedule 'a' and was entitled to a possessory title for the said extent of 15 guntas. The possessory title is good title as against all except the true owner.

Final Decision: The appeal is allowed in part, the judgment and decree of the trial Court awarding damages against defendant-1 are set aside, and the judgment and decree in all other respects subject to the observation and modification made, are kept undisturbed. In the circumstances, no order as to costs in this appeal.

JAGANNATHA SHETTY, J.

( 1 ) THIS appeal has been preferred by defendant-1 against the judgment and decree dated June 14, 1972, made in o. S. No. 12 of 1968, on the file of the principal Civil Judge, Bangalore District, bangalore.

( 2 ) BRIEFLY stated the facts are these: a small plot of land measuring 1 acre 13 gumtas in S. No. 139/2 described in the plaint as schedule 'a' is the subject matter of the litigation. It appears to be a valuable piece of land and perhaps the only asset of the plaintiff. It is situated near Koramangala Layout in bangalore City. It lies adjacent to bangalore-Hosur Road, the life-line between Bangalore and Madras. It is located amidst big factories, colleges, hospitals and residential buildings.

( 3 ) THERE is a triangular fight for the suit land. Plaintiff claims to be the owner in possession of that land and he traces his title as follows : dodda Annaiab Reddy and Chikka annaiah Reddy were two of his predecessors. They were brothers. They were members of a Joint Hindu Family. Chikka Annaiah Reddy died leaving behind his son Pillappa. The family owned among other lands, S. No. 139 of koramangala village measuring 8 acres 23 guntas. On March 4, 1920, there was a partition in the family between the two branches of family represented by Dodda annaiah Reddy and Pillappa. That partition was evidenced by a registered deed Ex. P-8. In the said partition, northern half was allotted to pillappa's branch and southern half was allotted to Dodda Annaiah's branch. In 1943, there was a further partition in the branch of family of Dodda Annaiah. It is evidenced by Ex. P-7, dated March 15, 1943. One of the properties included in that partition was S. No. 139, measuring 4 acres 20 guntas. That was the very property allotted to that branch under Ex. P-8. Although the deed of partition Ex. P-7 recited that the properties of the branch family were equally divided among five sons of Dodda annaiah, S. No. 139 measuring 4 acres 20 Gs. was, however, shared only by four of his sons. That is clear from the schedule of properties given to each of those four sons.

( 4 ) IN 1937, for the first time, the record of Rights and Survey Settlement were introduced. While preparing the survey settlement, two hissas in S. No. 139 given to Dodda Annaiah and Pillappa were measured and the measurements were recorded in the Hissa Tippani and atlas (Exs. P-1 and P-2 ). Northern portion was given the Hissa No. 139/1 ana southern portion was given in the hissa No. 139/2 and they were so recorded in Exs. P-l and P-2 It was found that S. No. 139/1 measured 3 acres 36 guntas and S. No. 139/2 measured 4 acres 27 guntas. But, due to inadvertence, the authorities in entering the names of the occupants of the sub-divisions apparently committed mistake. Pillappa was shown to be the occupant of S. No. 139/2 and dodda Annaiah and his sons were shown to be the occupants of S. No. 139/1. This mistake was not noticed by the occupants or the authorities concerned and it remained and continued for years after years. Notwithstanding that mistake in revenue and survey records, the parties, however, continued to remain in possession and enjoyment of the area which really belonged to them.

( 5 ) THE Karnataka (Personal and miscellaneous) Inams Abolition Act, 1954 (called shorty as Inam Abolition act") was brought into force. Under that Act all personal and miscellaneous inams were abolished and the inam lands stood vested in the State free from all encumbrances. The Act conferred right on parties to apply for registration of occupancy right before the Special deputy Commissioner in respect of their holdings. So, the father of plaintiff applied for registration of occupancy right in respect of S. No. 139/1 measuring 38 guntas His other three brothers also claimed similar rights in respect of similar extents. The Special Deputy commissioner registered all of them as kadim tenants in respect of the extents claimed by them. Gullamma, the widow of Pillappa, asked for




























Click Here to Read the rest of this document

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
SupremeToday Portrait Ad
supreme today icon
logo-black

An indispensable Tool for Legal Professionals, Endorsed by Various High Court and Judicial Officers

Please visit our Training & Support
Center or Contact Us for assistance

qr

Scan Me!

India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!

For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :

whatsapp-icon Back to top