Karnataka High Court
Judges : K.Sreedhar Rao
G.GOVINDAPPA BY HIS LRS. - Appellant
Versus
TAYAMMA BY HER LRS. - Respondent
RSA 31 Of 2000
Decided On : 01/28/2004
Advocates Appeared :
RAVINDRA REDDY, SHIVAKUMAR KALLUR, SOMNATH REDDY
adverse possession - property dispute - Hindu Succession Act - Section 14 - Ex P1 - permissive possession - adverse possession - Hanumanthappa and Ors. v. M. Adisheshaiah and Ors. - Chandrabhagabai and Ors. v. Ramakrishna and Ors.
Fact of the Case:
The appellants, as the legal representatives of the deceased plaintiff, filed a suit for declaration of title and possession of ancestral properties. The defendants denied the plaintiff's title, claiming adverse possession and ownership under Section 14 of the Hindu Succession Act. The trial court dismissed the suit, finding adverse possession proved. The appellate court, after remand, confirmed the finding of adverse possession in favor of the first defendant.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the plaintiff failed to prove permissive possession and that the defendants had substantially established continuous uninterrupted possession, leading to the plea of adverse possession being upheld. The court also held that the appellate court's appreciation of evidence and inference drawn were sound and proper.
Issues: The issues included the plaintiff's failure to prove permissive possession, the defendants' establishment of continuous uninterrupted possession, and the plea of adverse possession.
Ratio Decidendi: The court's decision was based on the failure of the plaintiff to prove permissive possession, the defendants' establishment of continuous uninterrupted possession, and the legal corollary that when permissive possession is rejected, adverse possession is upheld.
Final Decision: The appeal was dismissed, and the questions of law were answered in the negative.
( 1 ) THIS appeal against the judgment and decree dated 28. 9. 99 in RA No. 17/85 on the file of the addl. District Judge, Raichur, arising out of the judgment and decree dated 31. 8. 85 in O. S. No. 171/81 on the file of the Civil Judge, Raichur. For convenient discussion the appellant would be called plaintiffs and the respondents as defendants.
( 2 ) THE appellants are the LRs of the deceased plaintiff, who filed a suit for declaration of title in respect of the suit schedule property and for possession. According to plaintiff his grand father one Narasappa is the propositus. The suit properties are ancestral properties. Propositus died leaving behind two sons by name Basanna and Balayya. Plaintiff is the son of Basanna. The first defendant is the wife of Balayya and the second defendant is the daughter of Balayya. Basanna died in the year 1975. Balayya died in the year 1976. Plaintiff contends that in the year 1939 as per Ex P1 Balayya released his share in the suit property in favour of Basanna. Balayya had no residence and he was financially not well placed, therefore plaintiff's father Basanna permitted balayya to live in the suit house as licensee. When the defendants took hostile attitude, the suit came to be filed for declaration of title and possession.
( 3 ) THE defendants denied the plaintiff's title. It is said that Balayya constructed the suit house investing his earnings. The property was mutated in the municipal records in the year 1963 in favour of the first defendant and she is in possession and occupation in her own right. It is said that the husband of the first defendant orally given the property to the first defendant for her maintenance. Therefore, under Section 14 of the Hindu Succession Act, she has become the absolute owner of the property. The first defendant alternatively contends that she has perfected her title by adverse possession. It is further said that the first defendant has made a registered will in favour of second defendant. The defendant denies the theory of permissive possession, denies the execution of release deed by Balayya and contends that the release deed is concocted and fabricated.
( 4 ) THE trial Court finds that Ex P1 the relinquishment deed does not pertain to the suit house since the southern boundary of the property in the deed does not tally with the suit schedule property and that the plaintiff has failed to show that the property mentioned as house No. 756/ 1348 fasli relates to the suit house bearing Municipal No. 11-7-40. The trial Court also finds that adverse possession is proved and the theory of permissive possession not proved. Accordingly, dismissed the suit. The first appellate Court confirmed the findings in the judgment and decree of the trial Court. This Court in RSA 237/88 remanded the matter to the appellate Court for re-consideration of the case to find out whether the partition is proved and whether the first defendant has put up the construction of the house from their earnings and whether such construction was put up when the family was joint and also to find out whether the parties are entitled to equal share in the property.
( 5 ) THE appellate Court after remand comes to the conclusion that the partition between the parties is proved, holds that the defendants have failed to prove that they have put up the construction of the house. Further, holds that the family was not joint and the property is not a joint property, but in the judgment rendered by the appellate Court prior to the remand had upheld the finding of the trial Court on the question of adverse possession in favour of the first defendant.
( 6 ) THE case is at the stage of admission. LCRs have been secured. The Learned Counsel for the parties argued on merits for final disposal.
( 7 ) THE following substantial questions of law are formulated for consideration:- " (1) Whether the findings of the appellate Court that the plaintiff has failed to prove the title to the
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