1994 Supreme(Kar) 377
Karnataka High Court
DASAPPA - Appellant
Versus
K.S.SEETHARAM - Respondent
Decided On : 12-16-94
R.F.A. : 629 of 1989
Ravindra Patil, V.TARKARAM
A suit for possession based on title is a specific substantive relief and need not claim a declaratory decree. The suit for possession is governed by Article 65 of the Limitation Act. The suit is not barred by Section 21 of the Karnataka Rent Control Act as no relationship of landlord and tenant was established.
Headnote:
POSSESSION - PROPERTY DISPUTE - Specific Relief Act, Section 5, 6, 34 - Suit for possession based on title is a specific substantive relief. Plaintiff need not claim a declaratory decree. Suit for possession is governed by Article 65 of the Limitation Act. Plaintiff's suit for possession is not barred by Section 21 of the Karnataka Rent Control Act as no relationship of landlord and tenant was established.
Fact of the Case:
The plaintiff claimed ownership of the property and sought possession from the defendant, who denied the plaintiff's title and claimed adverse possession. The trial court decreed the plaintiff's claim for possession, which the defendant appealed.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the plaintiff proved his title to the property and that the defendant failed to establish adverse possession. The court held that the suit was within the limitation period and not barred by Section 21 of the Karnataka Rent Control Act. The court confirmed the judgment and decree of the trial court.
Issues: 1. Plaintiff's ownership of the property. 2. Defendant's adverse possession. 3. Limitation period of the suit. 4. Relief entitled to the plaintiff.
Ratio Decidendi: The suit for possession based on title is a specific substantive relief and need not claim a declaratory decree. The suit for possession is governed by Article 65 of the Limitation Act. The suit is not barred by Section 21 of the Karnataka Rent Control Act as no relationship of landlord and tenant was established.
Final Decision: The appeal is dismissed, and the judgment and decree of the trial court are confirmed.
( 1 ) THIS regular first appeal arises out of judgment and decree dated july 3rd, 1989, delivered in regular suit No. 5208 of 1986, whereby the vii additional city civil judge, bangalore, has decreed the plaintiffs claim, holding the plaintiff to be the absolute owner of the property in dispute, as well as the defendant to be in unauthorised occupation thereof without having perfected title by adverse possession and further granted the decree of possession in favour of the plaintiff-respondent and directed the defendant to vacate and hand over possession of the suit property to the plaintiff-respondent within three months from the date of decree. Further, the court directed that the enquiry, as regards mesne profits, claimed by plaintiff under Order 20, Rule 12 of the Civil Procedure Code, for short, 'code', be made. Thus, a preliminary decree has been passed by the trial court decreeing the plaintiffs claim.
( 2 ) BRIEF facts of the case are that the plaintiff claimed himself to be the owner of the property bearing nos. 57 and 57 (1) (formerly 57a), 7th main road (present 3rd main road), Sriramapuram, Bangalore-21, by virtue of the partition made under a registered partition deed dated 29-5-1969, amongst his father, his sister's daughter and himself. The plaintiff alleged that khata was also transferred in the corporation register in his name. The plaintiff, has given an exchequerred history of the litigation between the parties, in the plaint.
( 3 ) PLAINTIFF has stated in the plaint giving the description and the location of that land bearing old No. 57a and has alleged that the properties bearing old No. 57a and 57 are adjacent to each other and are situated in the compound. The plaintiff cases is that in the year 1975, a small shed was constructed and same was leased out to defendant in 1975. Thereafter, he asked the defendant to vacate the suit property, but, the defendant filed a original suit No. 2024 of 1980, which was later on numbered as 0. S. 10011 of 1980. In that suit, the present defendant, who was the plaintiff claimed that he has been long standing adverse possession, thereby, perfected his title and denied the present plaintiffs title as well as the present defendant-appellant was in possession of the property in his own right and plaintiff had no right in the property. The defendant of that suit, (i. e. , the present plaintiff) denied the present defendant's plea, i. e. , the plea of plaintiff of the suit of r. s. No. 10011 of 1980 that the said suit's plaintiff was not the tenant. The present defendant further mentioned that an ex parte decree was originally passed in that suit, but miscellaneous case No. 8 of 1982, had been filed and the said ex parte decree was set aside vide Order dated 24-8-1985. After restoration of the suit, the plaintiff of that suit, that is, the present defendant-appellant sought the declaration of his title on the basis of adverse possession by amending the plaint of that suit.
( 4 ) THE present plaintiff-respondent has asserted in the plaintth at as the present defendant-appellant has denied the plaintiffs title as well as his own possession as the tenant of the suit property, the possession of the defendant is that of a trespasser, therefore, the cause of action has accrued to him (plaintiff) to file this suit for possession as well as declaration. Plaintiff has also sought the relief for mesne profit till the date of recovery of the possession. In the plaint, the plaintiff has asserted in para 4 as the defendant has denied the title he is nothing but a trespasser hence the plaintiff is entitled to get back the possession of suit property from the defendant. The plaintiff respondent has asserted in plaint that cause of action accrued to mm on 10-10-1980, i. e. , date of filing of r. s. No. 10011 of 1980 by the present defendant-appellant and easily in 1986 when that suit was amended by present defendant-appellant. The plaintiff alleged said denial of title of th