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2022 Supreme(Kar) 998

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA
Sachin Shankar Magadum, J.
Bharmappa - Appellant
Versus
Guddappa - Respondent
Regular Second Appeal No. 1310 of 2006 (Par)
Decided On : 09-02-2022

Advocates appeared:
Mallikarjunswamy B.Hiremath, Advocate, Suresh N.Kini, Advocate, N.S.Kini, Advocate, Sunil S.Desai, Advocate

The main legal point established is the application of Sec. 41 of the Transfer of Property Act, the exclusion of contrary evidence, and the principles of Hindu Law regarding co-parcenary property and unilateral alienation.

Headnote:

Joint Family Ancestral Property - Sale Deed - Sec. 41 of the Transfer of Property Act - Exclusion of Contrary Evidence - Equitable Rights in Final Decree Proceedings

Fact of the Case:

The plaintiff filed a suit for partition and separate possession, claiming joint family ancestral properties. The defendant contended that the property was self-acquired. The Trial Court and First Appellate Court held in favor of the plaintiff, and the defendant appealed.

Finding of the Court:

The Court found that the sale deed executed by the defendant in favor of the appellant admitted to selling half joint portion in the property, and any contrary evidence was excluded. The Court also noted subsequent developments regarding alienation of the property by the plaintiff and legal representatives of the deceased defendant, affecting the equitable rights of the appellant.

Issues: The main issue was whether the property was joint family ancestral or self-acquired, and the effect of the sale deed on the plaintiff's share. The Court also addressed subsequent developments affecting the equitable rights of the appellant.

Ratio Decidendi: The Court relied on the recitals in the sale deed, the exclusion of contrary evidence, and the principles of Hindu Law regarding co-parcenary property and unilateral alienation. It also noted the application of Sec. 41 of the Transfer of Property Act and the need for the appellant to work out equitable rights in final decree proceedings.

Final Decision: The second appeal was dismissed, and the Court emphasized that the dismissal would not hinder the appellant's equitable rights in the final decree proceedings.

JUDGMENT

1. Captioned second appeal is filed by unsuccessful defendant No.2, who is questioning concurrent judgment and decree of the courts below wherein respondent No.1- plaintiff is granted half share in item No.35/1 property. Respondent No.1-plaintiff filed a suit for partition and separate possession in O.S.No.56/2002. The relevant genealogy of the family is as under: Shiddappa (Dead) Yallavva Basappa Guddappa (Deft.No.1) (Plaintiff)

2. The respondent No.1-plaintiff specifically contended that schedule 1(A) properties, which is agricultural lands bearing survey No.57/3 measuring 1 acre 23 guntas and survey no.56/1 measuring 3 acre 20 guntas are joint family ancestral properties. After the death of plaintiff's father Shiddappa, defendant No.1 i.e. vendor of appellant/defendant No.2, was managing the family affairs as a Karta. It was further contended that suit lands at schedule 1(A) were jointly cultivated by plaintiff and defendant No.1. It was specifically contended that out of the income derived from the ancestral properties and also out of joint earnings, suit schedule 1(B) property bearing Survey no.35/1 was purchased in the name of defendant No.1. The respondent-plaintiff has specifically pleaded in the plaint that the registered sale deed executed by defendant No.1 in favour of present appellant-defendant No.2 is a nominal sale deed and same would not give any right and title either to defendant No.1 or in favour of defendant No.2. On these set of pleadings, respondent No.1-plaintiff filed a suit for partition and separate possession.

3. On receipt of summons, the present appellant, who was arrayed as defendant No.2, contested the proceedings. The present appellant has stoutly denied the entire averments made in the plaint. The allegation that the sale deed in the name of defendant No.1, in the capacity of manager, was seriously disputed by the present appellant herein. The present appellant, who is purchaser has specifically contended that defendant No.1 has purchased item No.1(B) property out of his independent earnings for valuable sale consideration and therefore, it is self acquired property of defendant No.1. In the event, if Court comes to a conclusion that plaintiff is entitled for share in suit item No.1(B) property, the appellant is entitled for equitable portion of allotment of suit item No.1(B) land. The Trial Court, having assessed the oral and documentary evidence, answered issue No.1 and 2 in affirmative and recorded a categorical finding that respondent No.1-plaintiff has succeeded in establishing that the suit schedule properties are joint family ancestral properties comprising plaintiff and defendant No.1 and further held that the sale deed executed in favour of appellant-defendant No.2 by deceased defendant No.1 in respect of agricultural land bearing Survey No.35/1 is not binding on plaintiff's half share in the suit schedule property.

4. Feeling aggrieved by the judgment and decree of the Trial Court, the present appellant preferred an appeal before the First Appellate Court. The First Appellate Court having independently assessed the ocular and documentary evidence has referred to the recitals in Ex.D6 and Ex.D7, which are two sale deeds executed by deceased defendant No.1 in favour of appellant- defendant No.2, wherein defendant No.1 has sold half share on 26/4/1985 as per Ex.D6 and remaining half portion was also sold by him in favour of defendant No.2 on 19/11/1985 as per Ex.D7. The First Appellate Court having meticulously examined Ex.D6 found that defendant No.1 while alienating half portion in Survey No.35/1 has admitted in an unequivocal terms that he is selling his half share in the suit schedule property. Therefore, by placing reliance on Ex.D6, the First Appellate Court has also concurred with the findings of the Trial Court that the land bearing Survey No.35/1 was purchased in the name of defendant No.1, who was acting as a manager of the family and was looking after the family affair

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