2005 Supreme(Kar) 791
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BANGALORE
S.R. Nayak, N. Kumar and Ram Mohan Reddy, JJ.
T.N. Anantha Balaraje Urs —Appellant
Vs.
Smt. Gunamba Nanjaraje Urs. —Respondent
Regular First Appeal No. 340 of 1997
Decided on : 15-06-2005
Advocate Appeared:
Mr. V.P. Kulkarni, for the Appellant
Mr. Padmanabha Mahale, S.N. Bhat, for the Respondent
The main legal point established in the judgment is that the adoption of the defendant did not affect the disposal of the properties by the deceased adoptive father, and the suit filed by the respondent was not barred by limitation.
Headnote:
Adoption - Property Disposition - Hindu Law - [Adoption] - [Property Disposition] - [Hindu Law]
Fact of the Case:
The plaintiff filed a suit for partition and separate possession of the share of the plaintiff in the suit schedule properties, which were ancestral properties. The defendant, who was the adopted son, contested the suit on the grounds of adoption, property disposition, and Hindu law. The court decreed the suit in favor of the plaintiff, declaring her entitlement to half share in one property and 5/6th share in two other properties. The defendant appealed the judgment.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the adoption of the defendant by the adoptive mother in terms of the Will executed by his deceased adoptive father did not affect the disposal of the properties by the deceased adoptive father. The court also found that the suit filed by the respondent was not barred by limitation.
Issues: The issues included the legality of the adoption, the competence of the adoptive father to execute the Will, the entitlement of the plaintiff to shares in the properties, the right of the plaintiff being extinguished, and the suit being improperly valued for the purpose of court fee.
Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the adoption did not affect the disposal of the properties by the deceased adoptive father and that the suit was not barred by limitation. The court also emphasized that mere long possession by the defendant without intention to possess the suit land adverse to the title of the plaintiff and to the latter's knowledge cannot result in acquisition of title by prescription.
Final Decision: The appeal was dismissed with costs throughout.
S.R. Nayak, J.—This appeal preferred by the defendant in the suit arises out of the judgment and decree dated 28.2.1997 passed in O.S. No. 188 of 1991 on the file of the Court of the II Addl. Civil Judge, Mysore. The Court below has decreed the suit for partition and separate possession of the share of the plaintiff who is respondent is this appeal in the suit schedule properties. The plaintiff filed the suit for declaration that she is entitled for half share in item No. 1 of the suit schedule property and two-third share in item nos. 2 and 3 of the suit schedule properties and for partition of the same by metes and bounds and to put her in separate possession of the same and also for directing an inquiry regarding future mesne profits.
2. The facts set out in the plaint, in brief, are as follows:
Sri M.N. Balaraje Urs was the absolute owner of the suit schedule properties and he died on 17.6.1930. At the time of his death, he was the sole surviving coparcener of the family. He left behind his wife Smt. Lingajjammanni and his daughter Kunanda Nagaraje Urs, the plaintiff. He had executed a Will dated 13.6.1930 produced and marked as Exhibit-P.2. which was commenced on 9.6.1930 and completed on 13.6.1930. The Will was probated in Mis. No. 70/30-31 by the learned District Judge, Mysore and the probate was granted on 4.4.1931. Under the Will, Sri. M.N. Balaraje Urs had bequeathed his self-acquired property to his wife Smt. Lingajjammanni and the plaintiff who is his only daughter. Sri. M.N. Balaraje Urs had no male issues and therefore he had permitted his wife Smt. Lingajjammanni to take in adoption any boy except from the family of Sri. Balananjaraje Urs. He also bequeathed the ancestral properties of 1/3rd share each in favour of his wife, daughter who is the plaintiff and his brother Narasaraje Urs by name. In the will, it was covenanted that in the event of Narasaraje Urs getting the stipend of Rs. 600/- per month from the Palace administration, the properties bequeathed to him shall vest with his wife Smt. Lingajjammanni. Sri. Nanjaraje Urs got the stipend of Rs. 600/- per month and consequently his 1/3rd share in the ancestral properties as per the will came to be bequeathed in favour of Smt. Lingajjammanni. Thus, Smt. Lingajjammanni got 2/3rd share in the ancestral properties and the remaining 1/3rd share came to be bequeathed in favour of the plaintiff. As permitted under the will Smt. Lingajjammanni took the defendant in adoption on 13.6.1951 by adoption deed dated 13.6.1951 produced and marked as Exhibit-D. 1 which came to be registered in the Office of the Sub-Registrar, Mysore. Smt. Lingajjammanni continued to be the owner of 2/3rd share till her death on 30.4.1975. She died intestate leaving behind the plaintiff and the defendant as her legal representatives. The defendant is none other than the natural son of the plaintiff. The plaintiff and Smt. Lingajjammanni had entered into a partition of the ancestral properties left behind by late Sri. M.N. Balaraje Urs by a partition deed dated 13.6.1965 with regard to item No. 1 of suit schedule properties in terms of the will dated 13.6.1930. The plaintiff had not taken her 1/3rd share in item nos. 2 and 3 of the suit schedule properties. Although the plaintiff and the defendant have been in joint possession and enjoyment of the suit schedule properties, it is alleged that the defendant recently exhibited a hostile attitude towards the plaintiff in the matter of enjoying the suit schedule properties. That led to the plaintiff causing a legal notice dated 5.6.1991 demanding partition and separate possession of the suit schedule properties. The defendant sent an untenable reply that led to the filing of a suit praying for the reliefs noticed above.
3. The defendant put in appearance through his Counsel and contested the suit by filing written statement. The written statement was amended twice. In the written statement it was contended that the adoption made by Smt. L