PATNA HIGH COURT
Kanhaiya Singh and Ramratna Singh JJ.
Lalji Sah
Versus
Sat Narain Bhagat
Appeal from Original Decree No. 116 of 1957 ;
Decided On : OCTOBER 13, 1961
AUCTION SALE - Setting aside - Grounds - Compromise decree - Validity - Leave of the court - Burden of proof - Gross negligence of guardian - Effect - Bona fide purchaser - Protection - Limitation - Minor - Disability - Guardian's right to sue.
Fact of the Case:
Plaintiff-respondent instituted a suit for a declaration that a decree in small cause court suit No. 228 of 1938, obtained by defendant No. 1, Ramswarath Thakur, and the auction sale in execution case no. 1774 of 1938 in execution of the decree and the consequent delivery of possession of the properties described in the schedules appended to the plaint are illegal and void and they may be set aside. There is also a prayer for a declaration that certain zarpeshgi bonds in favour of Lalji Sah, the defendant 2nd party, and Lauhar Singh, the defendant 4th party, are illegal and without legal necessities. The last prayer is for recovery of possession of the property described in schedule 2 to the plaint.
Finding of the Court:
1. The compromise decree in the small cause court suit in favour of Ramswarath Thakur was quite valid and legal; 2. the execution sale in favour of Chandradeo Sah was valid and binding on Satnarain son of Gopal; 3. the appellants, who had no concern with the small cause court suit or the execution proceedings, acquired good title to the suit properties on the basis of the sale deed dated the 25th May, 1944; and 4. the plaintiff is not entitled to recover possession of the properties in suit.
Issues: 1. Whether the compromise decree in the small cause court suit was valid and legal? 2. Whether the execution sale in favour of Chandradeo Sah was valid and binding on Satnarain son of Gopal? 3. Whether the appellants acquired good title to the suit properties on the basis of the sale deed dated the 25th May, 1944? 4. Whether the plaintiff is entitled to recover possession of the properties in suit?
Ratio Decidendi: 1. The onus of proof lies on the person who would fail, if no evidence at all were given on either side. 2. It is not every kind of negligence or any amount of negligence which would render proceeding otherwise regular and proper liable to be opened up. It must be such negligence as leads to the loss of a suit, which, if it had been conducted with due care, must have been successful. 3. A sale, having duly taken place in execution of a decree in force at the time, cannot afterwards be set aside as against a bona fide purchaser, not a party to the decree, on the ground that, on further proceedings, the decree has been subsequently to the sale, reversed by an appellate Court. 4. The period of limitation prescribed for a person who does not suffer from any legal disability shall be computed in the case of a minor, from the date of cessation of his minority.
Final Decision: The suit must be dismissed and the appeal is allowed with costs of both the Courts.
Ramratna Singh, J.
1. The suit, out of which this appeal arises, was instituted by the plaintiff-respondent. Ist party for a declaration that a decree in small cause court suit No. 228 of 1938, obtained by defendant No. 1, Ramswarath Thakur (defendant No. 2, who is Chandradeo Sah, mentioned as a decree-holder in paragraph 7 of the plaint seems to be a mistake) and the auction sale in execution case no. 1774 of 1938 in execution of the decree and the consequent delivery of possession of the properties described in the schedules appended to the plaint are illegal and void and they may be set aside. There is also a prayer for a declaration that certain zarpeshgi bonds in favour of Lalji Sah, the defendant 2nd party, and Lauhar Singh, the defendant 4th party, are illegal and without legal necessities. The last prayer is for recovery of possession of the property described in schedule 2 to the plaint. The plaintiff, who calls himself as Satnarain Bhagat, son of Gopal Bhagat, instituted the suit on the 26th May 1952 as a minor through his next friend Sukhat Bhagat, his fathers sisters husband. But during the pendency of the suit he filed a petition that he attained majority on the 17th August 1953 and the lower court accepted him as major with effect from that date. In order to appreciate the case of the parties, it is necessary to bear in mind the following genealogical table:
Damri Mahto
|
__________________________________________________________
| |
Lila Mahto Nanhku Mahto
| |
Gopal Mahto ____________________________________________
| | | |
Sat Narain Mahto Durga Mahto Kali Mahto Musam Mahto
| | Chimni
Daughter Daughter Daughter
Gunjri Galgodni |
Son Ramayan
Defdt.No.16
It is admitted that Damri Mahto died leaving two sons, namely, Lila Mahto and Nankhu Mahto, Lila died leaving a son, Gopal Mahto in a state of jointness with Nanku, who then became the karta of the family; and both Nankhu and Gopal were recorded in the record of rights in respect of their family properties. Nanku had two sons and a daughter Musammat Chimni. The two sons, Durga and Kali, had each a daughter. Both the sons died during the life of Nanku, who also died subsequently in a state oE jointness with Gopal, Nankus daughter Chimni and the daughters of Nankus sons are also dead. Musammat Dhanwa, defendant No. 15 described as the defendant 6th party, is the widow of Gopal. Defendant No. 16 is alleged to be the son of Chimni, but this fact is disputed by the contesting defendants 3, 17 and 18 who are the appellants in this Court. The learned advocates for the parties have agreed that it is not necessary to decide in the present case whether defendant No. 16 is the son of Musammat Chimni or not.
2 The property described in Schedule 1 to the plaint is the agricultural land measuring 6 bighas 13 kathas 8 dhurs and is the ancestral land of Gopal and Nanku. The property described in Schedule 2 to the plaint is the interest of a usufructuary mortgagee in some areas of culturable lands acquired under usufructuary mortgage bonds dated the 17th October, 1921, the 11th July, 1924 and the 23rd June 1925, respectively for Rupees 200, Rs. 220 and Rs. 227 executed by certain persons in favour of Nanku when he was alive. The properties
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