SupremeToday Landscape Ad
Back
Next
Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation
Listen Article Pause Article
judgment-img

2015 Supreme(Kar) 593

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA DHARWAD BENCH
B.VEERAPPA, J.
SOMAPPA - APPELLANTS
Vs.
MAHADEVAPPA – Respondent
R.S.A. NO.5448/2013
Decided on : 4.9.2015

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Appellants : SRI. VIJAYENDRA BHIMAKKANAVAR, ADV.

Headnote:INDIAN EVIDENCE ACT, 1872 - Section 61: [B. Veerappa, J] Documentary evidence - Mere marking of exhibit does not dispense with proof of document.

       LIFE INSURANCE CORPORATION ACT, 1956 - Article 54: [B. Veerappa, J] Suit for specific performance of agreement to sell - Question of limitation considered by both lower Courts and negatived contention of plaintiffs - No evidence to prove sale deed - Held, Suit filed after 44 years to enforce agreement is barred by limitation. Contention of plaintiffs that objection was not raised when agreement of sale in question was marked and no defence was taken in written statement with regard to limitation cannot be accepted. Law of limitation is question of law.

       PRACTICE & PROCEDURE - Documentary evidence: [B. Veerappa, J] Mere marking of exhibit does not dispense with proof of document.

       SPECIFIC RELIEF ACT,1963 - Section 16(c): [B. Veerappa, J] ’Readiness and willingness’to perform - Plaintiff must allege and prove a continuous ’readiness and willingness’to perform contract on his part from date of contract till institution of suit.

       SPECIFIC RELIEF ACT,1963 - Section 20: [B. Veerappa, J] Suit for specific performance - Limitation - Agreement to sell property - Condition that since consolidation scheme was applying to village, after obtaining permission to sell property from the concerned authority, owners would execute registered sale deed in favour of plaintiffs - Karnataka Prevention of Fragmentation and Consolidation of Holdings Act came to be abolished in year 1980 - Till then no steps were taken by plaintiffs - Suit filed only after lapse of 44 years - Held, Suit is hopelessly barred by limitation as contemplated under Article 54 of the law of Limitation Act, 1963.

JUDGMENT

This is an unsuccessful plaintiffs’ regular second appeal against the judgment and decree dated 15.02.2013 made in R.A. No.267/2011 on the file of the IV Addl. District and Sessions Judge, Belgaum, confirming the judgment and decree dated 30.07.2011 made in O.S. No.78/2007 on the file of the Addl. Senior Civil Judge, Saundatti, dismissing the suit of the plaintiffs for specific performance, cancellation of sale deed and consequential relief of permanent injunction.

2. This is a very interesting case filed by the plaintiffs to enforce the agreement dated 17.04.1963 and suit filed on 01.06.2007, after lapse of more than four decades to enforce the agreement and suit came to be dismissed.

3. It is the specific case of the plaintiffs that the property bearing block No.87 measuring 2 acres 12 guntas, situated at Aladakatti Village, Saundatti Taluk was belonged to Mallappa, Sannafakkirappa and Adiveppa Mallappa Pavadeppanavar. Out of the said property, the said Mallappa and Balappa Sannafakkirappa executed an agreement of sale in favour of the father of the plaintiffs by name Padeppa Shivarayappa Pavadeppanavar for a valuable consideration of Rs.3,320/. Out of the said consideration, the father of the plaintiffs paid earnest money of Rs.1,000/- to the owners of the property. The said agreement of sale was registered before the Sub-Registrar. It was agreed between the parties in the said document that since consolidation scheme was applying to the Village, after obtaining permission to sell the property from the concerned authority, the owners would execute registered sale deed in favour of the plaintiffs. On the date of agreement itself the possession of 2/3rd share was handed over to the father of the plaintiffs and it is further case of the plaintiffs that during the lifetime of the father of the plaintiffs, he was in possession and enjoyment of the property, on the basis of the agreement of sale till his death and during his lifetime he was requesting the owners of the property to obtain the permission early and execute the registered sale deed in his favour. However, the owners of the property postponed the execution of the sale deed till the death of the father of the plaintiffs. After the death of the original owners, the defendant Nos.1 and 2 being the legal heirs of Mallappa were asked by the plaintiffs to accept the balance sale consideration and execute the sale deed in favour of the plaintiffs. However, defendant Nos.1 and 2 and also the LRs. of Adiveppa Mallappa Pavadeppanavar and Balappa Sannafakkirappa postponed the execution of the sale deed in favour of the plaintiffs and in the month of February 2007 when the plaintiffs requested the legal heirs of the original owners, they started giving false reply and therefore, the plaintiffs came to know that behind the back of the plaintiffs, the defendant Nos.1 and 2 sold the suit schedule property in favour of defendant Nos.3 and 4 for sale consideration of Rs.1,11,000/ under the registered sale deed dated 08.03.2007. The defendant Nos.1 and 2 had no absolute right to alienate the property in favour of the defendant Nos.3 and 4, since the LRs. of Balappa and Adiveppa are also the owners of the said property along with defendant Nos.1 and 2. Therefore, the sale deed is not in accordance with law and it is null and void and not at all binding on the plaintiffs. Defendant Nos.5 to 8 have got 1/3rd share in the suit property. Therefore, they are only formal parties etc. Therefore, they filed the suit.

4. Defendant Nos.3 and 6 filed the written statement. Defendant Nos.1, 2, 4, 7 and 8 adopted the written statement made by the 6th defendant. 5th defendant died and his LRs. are brought on record as defendant Nos.5A to 5C and they have not filed any written statement. The plaintiffs got impleaded defendant Nos.9 to 22 and they have not filed any written statement nor c










































Click Here to Read the rest of this document

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
SupremeToday Portrait Ad
supreme today icon
whatsapp-icon Back to top