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2024 Supreme(Bom) 488

IN THE HIGH COURT OF BOMBAY
Sandeep V. Marne, J.
Kalsumbibi Kashim Khanbande - Appellant
Versus
Abdul Rahiman Fakir Patel & Ors. - Respondents
Second Appeal No. 35 of 2024
Decided On : 08-05-2024

Advocates appeared:
Mr. G.S. Godbole, Senior Advocate a/w Mr. Mohit D. Joshi, for Appellant. Mr. Surel Shah a/w Mr. Z. A. Jariwala & Ms. Manasi C. Pandit i/b Mrs. Esha Singh Bhadoria, for Respondent No.1. Ms. Hafiza Hajimiya Patel, Respondent No.4-in-person, present.

IMPORTANT POINT
A waiver of rights in immovable property can occur through conduct and agreements, and claims for additional property must be substantiated by evidence; mere assertions without supporting documentation or admissions do not suffice.

Headnote:

PROPERTY LAW - SHARE IN PROPERTY AND COMPENSATION - CIVIL PROCEDURE CODE, ORDER 41 RULE 25; RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT 2005 - The court discussed the applicability of Order 41 Rule 25 of the Civil Procedure Code regarding the necessity of framing additional issues in light of amended pleadings. It interpreted the Right to Information Act 2005 in the context of claims for additional land allotment, ultimately concluding that the plaintiff's claims were not substantiated. The court emphasized the importance of the Development Agreement and the admissions made by the plaintiff, which indicated a waiver of her rights to a portion of the property, influencing the decision to dismiss the appeal.

Fact of the Case:

The plaintiff, a sibling, sought a one-fourth share in a plot received under a government scheme and compensation for acquired land owned by her deceased father. The trial court dismissed her suit, stating she had waived her rights by accepting a lesser share in a Development Agreement executed during the suit's pendency.

Finding of the Court:

The court upheld the trial court's decision, finding that the plaintiff had effectively waived her rights to a larger share of the property by accepting a smaller share in the Development Agreement and that her claims for additional land were not substantiated by evidence.

Issues: 1. Whether the First Appellate Court was required to frame an additional issue regarding amended pleadings. 2. Whether the plaintiff was denied relief based on the Development Agreement. 3. Whether the Development Agreement constituted a relinquishment of the plaintiff's rights.

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the plaintiff's admissions and the Development Agreement indicated a clear waiver of her rights to the disputed area. The court also ruled that the First Appellate Court was not required to frame additional issues as the claims for additional land were not supported by evidence.

Final Decision: The appeal was dismissed, affirming the lower court's decree, with a clarification that the plaintiff would be entitled to a share of any additional land allotted by CIDCO in the future.

JUDGMENT

Sandeep V. Marne, J. - Appellant have filed this Appeal challenging the Decree dated 29 September 2022 passed by District Court, Panvel dismissing Regular Civil Appeal No.114 of 2019 (Old Regular Civil Appeal No.346 of 2012) and confirming the Decree passed by Joint Civil Judge, Junior Division, Panvel dated 30 July 2012 in Regular Civil Suit No.164 of 2000. By its decree, the Trial Court had dismissed Plaintiff's suit seeking one-fourth share in Plot received from CIDCO under 12.5% scheme as well as her share in the amount of compensation received towards acquisition of the suit property.2. Plaintiff and Defendant Nos.1 and 5 are siblings. Defendant No.2 is the wife of Plaintiff's deceased brother late Hajimiya Patel and Defendant Nos. 3 and 4 are children of Defendant No.2. Plaintiff's father late Fakir Abdul Rahiman Patel owned various lands as well as house properties at village Owe as more particular described in para 2 of the plaint. All the said properties of late Fakir Abdul Rahiman Patel came to be acquired by the State Government for establishment of Navi Mumbai, City and were handed over to City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra (CIDCO). Plaintiff averred in her Plaint that after acquisition of various lands, compensation was received during lifetime of her father and the entire proceedings relating to acquisition and compensation were looked after by her brother (Defendant No.1). That Plaintiff was not aware about the exact amount received by Defendant No.1 towards compensation and she guessed that the amount of compensation could be to the tune of Rs.7,00,000/-. She further claimed that enhanced compensation was also paid by the Land Acquisition Officer, accounts of which were available with the first Defendant.

3. Plaintiff further averred that a scheme was implemented by State Government for allotment of 12.5% plot in lieu of acquired land. That accordingly, towards acquired lands of her father, CIDCO allotted certain plot and that Defendant No.1 was in the process of selling the said plot received under 12.5% scheme by ignoring Plaintiff's claim. Plaintiff claimed one-fourth share in such plot received under 12.5% scheme. On this cause of action, she instituted Regular Civil Suit No.164 of 2000 (Old Special Civil Suit No.119 of 1997). She claimed one-fourth share in plot received under 12.5% scheme and also claimed share in the amount of compensation.

4. It appears that during pendency of the suit, a Development Agreement came to be executed in October 2009 by Plaintiff, Defendant Nos. 1 and 5 in favour of M/s Paradise Group, under which development rights in respect of area admeasuring 4580 sq. mtrs. out of total area of 6870 sq. mtrs. was granted in favour of Paradise Group. The Agreement was executed on a premise that the entire family was to receive plot admeasuring 6870 sq. mtrs. under 12.5% scheme from CIDCO. However, since Defendant Nos. 2, 3 and 4 (heirs of deceased brither Hajimiya) were not party to the Development Agreement, their share of 2290 sq. mtrs. was kept aside and the Development Agreement was executed only in respect of area admeasuring 4580 sq. mtrs. The Agreement divided entitlements of Defendant No.1 as 2780 sq. mtrs., Plaintiff 900 sq. mtrs. and Defendant No.5 900 sq. mtrs. Accordingly, each party to the Development Agreement was paid consideration corresponding to their respective areas.

5. When Plaintiff's suit came up for hearing, the Trial Court proceeded to dismiss the same by Judgment and Decree dated 30 July 2012 by referring to the Development Agreement. The Trial Court considered Muslim Law of Inheritance and held that Plaintiff was entitled to one-sixth share in the total area of 6870 sq. mtrs. received under 12.5% sq. mtrs. The Trial Court accordingly ascertained the share of Plaintiff at 1145 sq. mtrs. After referring to the Development Agreement, the Trial Court held that though Plaintiff was entitled to receive share of 1145 sq. mtrs. area, she wil

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