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

2010 Supreme(Pat) 2267

PATNA HIGH COURT
Mungeshwar Sahoo, J.
Jai Prakash
Versus
Raj Kumar Prasad
First Appeal No. 248 of 1981
Decided On : SEPTEMBER 30, 2010

Headnote:Bihar Tenancy Act, 1885-Section 103A-Record-of-rights-Only because the suit property is recorded in the name of a person, it cannot be held that he continued to be in possession-It is settled law that presumption of a state of affairs is backward and forward unless the other is proved-Here, even though the ancestor of the defendant were tenant in cadestral survey record of right, the plaintiffs have been able to show that they were dispossessed by the auction sale and delivery of possession in execution of the money decree. (Para 13)

       Code of Civil Procedure, 1908-Order 21 Rules 82 and 95 read with Bihar Tenancy Act, 1885-Chapter XIII-Auction sale-Defendants never challenged the auction sale-They cannot be allowed to say in a co-lateral proceeding (here, the suit for declaration of title) that the judgment or the auction sale or the delivery of possession or the issuance of sale certificates are all void documents. (Para 11)

       Limitation Act, 1963-Articles 64 & 65-Adverse possession-The claim of adverse possession has two elements-Firstly, that the possession of the defendants become adverse to the plaintiff and secondly, the defendant must continue to remain in possession for a period of 12 years-In the present case, the only defence of the defendant is that they have acquired title by adverse possession-Unless they prove animus possidendi, simply long possession will never constitute adverse possession. (Para 15)

       Code of Civil Procedure, 1908-Section 35(2)-Costs-When Section 35(2) provides for costs to follow the event, it is implicit that the cost have to be those which are reasonably incurred by a successful party except in those cases where the court in its discretion may direct otherwise by recording reasons thereof. (Para 18)

       2009 (5) SCC 713; 2012 (1) BLJ 42 SC; 2004 (3) PLJR 245; 2007 (6) SCC 59; AIR 1973 SC 2341; 2005 (6) SCC 344-Referred.

       

JUDGEMENT

Mungeshwar Sahoo, J.

1. The original Plaintiff, Kesho Sao had filed this First Appeal against the Judgment and decree dated, 16th April, 1981 passed by Sri Anand Kumar Verma, the learned Additional Subordinate Judge II, Munger in Title Suit No. 14 of 1973/19 of 1980 dismissing the Plaintiffs suit. The original Plaintiff-Appellant, Kesho Sao died during the pendency of the appeal and his Legal representatives, Jai Prakash and others have been substituted.

2. The Plaintiff filed the aforesaid title suit for declaration of title and for declaration that the Defendants have got no right, title or interest on the suit land and they have got no right to continue in occupation thereof. The Plaintiff also prayed for decree for eviction of the Defendants and also prayed that the Defendants may be directed to give vacant possession of the suit land to the Plaintiff. The Plaintiff also prayed for arrears of rent and damages.

3. The Plaintiff prayed for the aforesaid relieves on the facts that the suit land described in Scheduled 1 of the plaint was under the jamindari of Late Nawab Abdul Wahab Khan. Sheikh Abdul Sattar, Sheikh Abdul Hai and Sheikh Abdul Haque, sons of Sheikh Shafaitullah were the tenants in occupation thereof. After the death of landlord, Nawab Abdul Wahab Khan, his widow, sons and daughters succeeded to the jamindari right of Scheduled-1 property. In Money Suit No. 154 of 1947, a decree was obtained against the tenants and in execution of the said decree i.e. Execution Case No. 191 of 1948, the suit property was auction purchased by the heirs of Nawab Abdul Wahab Khan. The sale certificate dated, 11th August, 1949 was issued. Delivery of possession was obtained by the auction purchasers on 19th November, 1949 and thereafter, the auction purchasers came in Khas possession of the property. In 1951, there was partition amongst the heirs and the suit property exclusively fell in the share of Masomat Bibi Maimuna Sultana Begum, who came in possession. The suit land was a vacant piece of land. She let out the suit land to one Raghunandan Prasad Singh, who used to hold a coal depot. In 1963, one Mithoo Ram took the suit land on rent and he continued to be tenant till April 1970. Thereafter, the Defendants, first party approached Bibi Maimuna Sultana Begum, who inducted them as tenant on monthly rent of Rs. 30 only. A written agreement was entered into between Raj Kumar Prasad and Bibi Maimuna Sultana Begum through her brother and Mokhtar- Am Nawabzada Shahabuddin Ahmad Khan on 1st August, 1970. The Defendant No. 2 signed as witness in the said deed. Only western half portion was let out to the Defendants, first party and the eastern half portion was lying vacant. In course of time, the Defendants, first party with the permission of Bibi Maimuna Sultana Begum occupied the eastern half portion also for the purpose of coal depot.

4. The further case of the Plaintiff is that he entered into contract with Bibi Maimuna Sultana Begum on 15th July, 1971 for purchase of the suit land and before sale deed could be executed, Bibi Maimuna Sultana Begum died and thereafter, her heirs executed a Registered sale deed on 12th April, 1972 in favour of the Plaintiff transferring the suit land for Rs. 12,500. The Plaintiff purchased the suit land for his own necessity and wanted to build a house thereon. He requested the Defendants to vacate the suit land but, they did not vacate. He served Legal notice but, the Defendants denied relationship of landlord and tenant and claimed title over the suit land. It is stated that the Defendants have got no right, title or interest on the suit land. In spite of determination of tenancy, the Defendants neither paid the rent nor vacated the suit land. Hence, the suit was filed.

5. On being noticed, the Defendants appeared and filed a contesting written statement. Their defence in short is that the suit, as framed, is not maintainable, the suit is barred by law of limitation, the suit is barred by pr





























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
logo-black

An indispensable Tool for Legal Professionals, Endorsed by Various High Court and Judicial Officers

Please visit our Training & Support
Center or Contact Us for assistance

qr

Scan Me!

India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!

For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :

whatsapp-icon Back to top