2004 Supreme(Kar) 353
Karnataka High Court
K.Doddanagowda - Appellant
Versus
V.Ramachandra Reddy - Respondent
Decided On : 06-15-04
R.S.A. : 558 of 2003
R.GOPAL KRISHNAN, T.N.RAGHUPATHY
The right of way can be established through historical usage and documentary evidence, and obstruction of the right of way can lead to the grant of injunctions.
Headnote:
right of way - Property Dispute - The court held that the plaintiff has the right of way over the disputed passage based on historical usage and documentary evidence. The defendant's erection of cuddapah slabs obstructing the passage was found to be in violation of the plaintiff's rights, leading to the grant of permanent and mandatory injunctions.
Fact of the Case:
The Plaintiff filed a suit for permanent injunction and mandatory injunction against the defendant, claiming the right of way over a disputed passage. The defendant resisted the suit, denying the plaintiff's right of way and stating that the erection of cuddapah slabs was to prevent the plaintiff from constructing a sink pit adjacent to the defendant's house.
Finding of the Court:
The trial court decreed the suit in favor of the plaintiff, granting permanent and mandatory injunctions. The first appellate court upheld the trial court's findings, concluding that the defendant had obstructed the plaintiff's right of way and had no exclusive claim to the disputed space.
Issues: Dispute over right of way, obstruction of passage, and ownership of the disputed space.
Ratio Decidendi: The court relied on historical diaries and documentary evidence to establish the plaintiff's right of way over the disputed passage. The defendant's admission of laying the cuddapah slabs further supported the plaintiff's claim.
Final Decision: The appeal was dismissed, affirming the grant of permanent and mandatory injunctions in favor of the plaintiff.
( 1 ) THE Appellant was the defendant and Respondent was the Plaintiff in the trial Court. For the sake of convenience, the parties are referred to as in the trial Court.
( 2 ) THE Plaintiff filed the suit for permanent injunction restraining the defendant from putting up cuddapah slabs or making construction in front of the open space of his house thereby obstructing right of way from the road to house and for mandatory injunction to remove the cuddapah slabs planted in front of his house. Plaintiff claims that he has been using the courtyard in front of defendant's house and the open space in front of his house to approach the road since time immemorial. Since the defendant erected cuddapah slabs obstructing the passage to the plaintiff, suit was filed. The suit was resisted by the defendant by filing written statement denying the plaint averments. The defendant states that difference between him and the plaintiff arose nn account of attempt to construct sink pit adjacent to defendant's house by the plaintiff and to avoid the same the defendant erected the cuddapah slabs. According to the defendant, erection of cuddapah slabs will not obstruct the plalntiffin any manner and that plaintiff was never permitted to use the passage. Contending that the suit is not maintainable, the defendant prayed for dismissalof the suit.
( 3 ) ON the basis of the pleadings, the trial court framed Issues and went for trial. Parties adduced evidence and produced documents in support of their respective case. Upon consideration of the material brought on record, the trial Court decreed the suit as prayed for The appeal preferred against the Judgment and decree of the trial Court was dismissed by the first appellate Court. Being aggrieved by the same the defendant has filed this second appeal praying to set aside the judgments and decrees of the courts below and to dismiss the suit.
( 4 ) THE facts as such are not in dispute. What the defendant claims Is plaintiff has no right of way on the disputed area. The court Commissioner gave report as per EX. P-9 and plaintiff produced photographs which clearly proved installation of cuddapah slabs by the defendant. In fact, defendant has admitted that he laid the cuddapah slabs. Therefore, the question to be resolved is whether plaintiff has got any right to use the disputed passage.
( 5 ) THE trial Court traced the right of way to the plaintiff from the Diaries Exs, D-3 and d-4 wherein the cordial relationship of the defendant and plaintiffs elders mentioned. The events that took place from 19-4-1943 to 14-2-1950, according to the trial Court, speaks that the open space in front of the house of the plaintiff as well as the house of the defendant was being used by them as common space. The same is found to be described as "balakeyalliruva Bayalu Jaaga" (meaning that the 'open space in use') in the will Ex, D-1 under which the defendant is the beneficiary. It is in this open space the stone slabs had been spread over, which have been removed by the defendant and cuddapah slabs have been erected causing obstruction to the plaintiff. Taking into consideration these factors, the trial Court rightly held that plaintiff has proved his case and accordingly granted the reliefs of permanent injunction and mandatory injunction directing the defendant to remove the cuddapah slabs and not to interfere with the possession and enjoyment of the dispute space by the plaintiff.
( 6 ) UPON re-appreciation of the findings of the trial Court, the first Appellate Court not only concurred with the findings recorded by the trial Court but also further held that the defendant has not proved that the disputed space exclusively belongs to him and that the plaintiff has no right whatsoever upon the same. The first appellate court also held that the defendant has clearly admitted in the cross-examination that there is only one door to come out from the house of the plaintiff which is facing north. It has further h