Karnataka High Court
MUNIYAPPA - Appellant
Versus
RAMAIAH - Respondent
Decided On : 03-26-96
Injunction - Joint Family Property - Karnataka Inams Abolition Act - [SUMMARY OF ACT SECTIONS REFERENCED: Karnataka Inams Abolition Act, 1977] - The court granted a temporary injunction in favor of the plaintiff, who obtained possession of the joint family property through a sale deed executed by the joint family manager, despite the defendant's objection that the manager had no authority to alienate the property. The court held that the manager of a joint Hindu family has the power to alienate the joint family property for family necessity or benefit to the estate, and such a sale would bind the shares of other coparceners. The defendant's remedy, if any, was to file a suit for partition and recover his share. The court dismissed the revision petition, affirming the decisions of the lower courts.
Fact of the Case:
The plaintiff filed a suit for permanent injunction, claiming possession of the joint family property through a sale deed executed by the defendant's brother, the joint family manager. The defendant objected, contending that the manager had no authority to alienate the property and that the plaintiff was not entitled to an injunction in respect of the joint family property.
Finding of the Court:
The trial court and the lower appellate court found that the plaintiff had established his possession of the property and was entitled to a temporary injunction restraining the defendant from interfering with his possession.
Issues: The main issue was whether the plaintiff was entitled to an injunction restraining the defendant from interfering with his possession of the joint family property, despite the defendant's objection that the manager had no authority to alienate the property.
Ratio Decidendi: The manager of a joint Hindu family has the power to alienate the joint family property for family necessity or benefit to the estate, and such a sale would bind the shares of other coparceners. The remedy of a non-alienating coparcener, if the alienation was not for family necessity or benefit, is to file a suit for partition and recover his share.
Final Decision: The court dismissed the revision petition, affirming the decisions of the lower courts to grant a temporary injunction in favor of the plaintiff.
( 1 ) THE defendant in a suit for injunction is the revision petitioner. The plaintiff filed a suit for permanent injunction restraining the defendant from interfering with his possession of the plaint schedule property, alleging that he purchased the same from one chinnappa, the brother of the defendant under a registered sale deed dated 26-3-1984. Chinnappa obtained the property on 30-4-1982 on the basis of an Order under the inams abolition act. It is alleged by the plaintiff that he is put in possession of the plaint schedule property and the revenue records has been changed in has name. He has also secured a loan of Rs. 4,09,5007- from a financial institution on the security of the plaint schedule land. The defendant, who has no manner of right over the plaint schedule property, is attempting to trespass into the suit schedule property and accordingly, the suit is filed for permanent injunction. Along with the suit, the plaintiff also filed i. a. ii under Order 39, Rule 1 of the Code of Civil Procedure for a temporary injunction restraining the defendant from encroaching on the suit schedule property.
( 2 ) THE defendant filed an objection contending that the plaintiff is not the absolute owner of the plaint schedule property. The vendor of the plaintiff, his brother chinnappa has absolutely no manner of right to alienate the plaint schedule property. According to the defendant, chinnappa his brother, was managing the affairs of the joint family on behalf of himself and his brother and chinnappa, after coming into force the Karnataka inams abolition Act, 1977, filed an application before the land tribunal for grant of occupancy rights as a member of the joint family and the land tribunal confirmed the occupancy rights jointly in the name of the defendant and his brother chinnappa as members of the joint family. The plaintiff, in collusion with his brother chinnappa has obtained the sale deed in his favour. The defendant has also filed a suit in o. s. No. 448 of 1994 against chinnappa for partition and separate possession of his share in the plaint schedule and other properties. It is further alleged by the defendant that the plaintiff is not entitled to an Order of injunction in respect of the joint family property on the basis of the sale deed executed by one of the members of the family. It is also pleaded by him that there cannot be any injunction restraining one coparcener from the enjoyment of the joint family property and that his brother chinnappa had no absolute right to alienate the plaint schedule property and that it is not binding on the defendant. On these allegations, he prayed for dismissing the application for temporary injunction.
( 3 ) THE trial court came to the conclusion that the plaintiff has, prima facie, proved that he is in possession and enjoyment of the plaint schedule property on the basis of the sale deed executed by the defendant's brother chinnappa, on 26-3-1984. It was also found by the trial court that, admittedly, chinnappa, being the manager of the joint hindu family he is competent to alienate the property and the remedy of the defendant, if at all, is to file a suit for partition and to get his share and that he is not entitled to interfere with the possession of the plaintiff over the suit schedule property. Accordingly, a temporary injunction was granted by the trial court. Though the defendant filed an appeal against the Order before the lower appellate court, that appeal was also dismissed confirming the Order passed by the trial court. The defendant has come up in revision against these orders.
( 4 ) BEFORE this court also, the contention raised by the learned counsel for the revision petitioner is that, the proceedings before the land tribunal produced by him would indicate that chinnappa obtained occupancy rights only on behalf of the joint family and that, he being only a member of joint family, he is not competent to alienate the property and an injunctio
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