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1978 Supreme(Cal) 444

High Court Of Calcutta
N. C. Mukherji
GANESH CHANDRA BAG - Appellant
Versus
RASHBEHARI CHAKRABARTI - Respondent
Secondappeal 1831  Of  1969
Decided On : 07/12/1978

Advocates Appeared:
Prabir Kumar Samanta, S.C.MITRA, SUSHANTA KUMAR KUNDU

A minor can avoid a transfer effected by his guardian on the ground of absence of permission of the court, and it becomes a nullity on his unilateral act. He can merely avoid by his conduct and there is no need to file a suit for voiding the transfer.

Headnote:

SPECIFIC RELIEF ACT, 1877 - SECTION 39 - VOIDABLE CONTRACT - MINORITY - GUARDIANSHIP - CANCELLATION OF DOCUMENT - MAINTAINABILITY OF SUIT - PRAYER FOR CANCELLATION OF DOCUMENT NOT NECESSARY.

Fact of the Case:

Plaintiff, a minor, filed a suit seeking a declaration that the kobala (deed of sale) executed by his mother in favor of defendants 1 to 3 in respect of the suit land was fraudulent and collusive, and for permanent injunction restraining the defendants from interfering with his possession of the same. The plaintiff claimed that the kobala was voidable as it was executed without the permission of the court in violation of Section 8 of the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, and that his mother had no power to dispose of his property during his minority.

Finding of the Court:

The trial court and the lower appellate court held that the plaintiff was the real owner of the suit property, that the plaintiff's mother had no power to transfer the suit property during the plaintiff's minority as no permission of the court was obtained, that the sale was not for legal necessity, that the plaintiff was in possession of the suit property, that the plaintiff was born on 16-10-45 and so the suit was not barred by limitation. However, both the courts dismissed the suit on the ground that the plaintiff did not make any prayer in the plaint for cancellation of the kobala executed by the plaintiff's mother in favor of defendants 1 to 3.

Issues: 1. Whether the suit was maintainable without a prayer for cancellation of the kobala? 2. Whether the plaintiff was entitled to a declaration that the kobala was fraudulent, collusive, and not binding upon him?

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that it was not necessary for the plaintiff to make a prayer for cancellation of the kobala in the plaint. The court relied on the fact that the plaintiff had prayed for a declaration that the kobala was fraudulent, collusive, and not binding upon him, and that this was sufficient to entitle him to the relief sought. The court also held that the plaintiff was entitled to a declaration that the kobala was fraudulent, collusive, and not binding upon him, as the kobala was executed without the permission of the court in violation of Section 8 of the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, and that the plaintiff's mother had no power to dispose of his property during his minority.

Final Decision: The appeal was allowed, and the judgments and decrees passed by the courts below were set aside. The suit was decreed, and it was declared that the plaintiff had right, title, and interest in respect of the suit property, and that the kobala in favor of the defendants 1 to 3 was fraudulent, collusive, and not binding upon the plaintiff. The defendants 1, 2, and 3 were permanently restrained from interfering with the plaintiff's possession in the suit property.

N. C. MUKHERJI, J.

( 1 ) THIS is an appeal against the judgment and decree passed by Sri S. K. Biswas, Subordinate Judge, 3rd Court, Midnapore, dated 13-6-68 in Title Appeal No. 682 of 1977 affirming those of Sri A. K. Sil, Munsif, 2nd Court, Tamluk, dated 27-9-67 in Title Suit No. 287 of 1965.

( 2 ) THE plaintiff is the appellant in this Court. The plaintiff seeks a declaration to the effect that the kobala described in the 'kha' schedule to the plaint in favour of the defendants Nos. 1 to 3 in respect of the suit land is fraudulent and collusive and as such not binding upon the plaintiff. The plaintiff also prays for permanent injunction restraining the defendants Nos. 1 to 3 from interfering with the plaintiff's possession of the same. According to the plaintiff 'ka' sch. lands along with other lands belonged to the plaintiff's grand-father Trailokya. His son was Sudhir, The plaintiff is the eldest son of Sudhir. Sudhir had two sons who predeceased the plaintiff. Defendant No. 4 is the second wife of Sudhir. The plaintiff and his father used to stay with Trailokya who was affectionate to them. Trailokya subsequently executed a registered deed of Arpannama on 12th Baisakh, 1356 B. S. in favour of the plaintiff transferring 'ka' schedule and other lands and delivered possession thereof. The plaintiff was born on 15-10-45. (sic) As the plaintiff was a minor Sudhir used to possess on behalf of the plaintiff. It is asserted that the suit land exclusively belonged to the plaintiff and that the plaintiff's father had no interest. After attaining majority the plaintiff came to learn that defendants Nos. 1 to 3 fraudulently got a kobala executed in their favour from his mother in respect of the 'ka' schedule land. It is further asserted that his mother had no power to dispose of the property belonging to him during his minority. The plaintiff has treated the sale as void after attaining his majority.

( 3 ) DEFENDANTS Nos. 1 to 3 contested the suit. Their contention is that the plaintiff was a mere benamdar of his father Sudhir in respect of the deed of gift, that they purchased the suit land for a consideration of Rs. 6,000 as the plaintiff's mother was in utter need of money for defraying the expenses in connection with the criminal case started against her and for satisfying certain debts of the plaintiff's father and also for purchasing some land of her choice. Since purchase the defendants are in possession of the suit land. It was also stated that the plaintiff was born on 14-1-44 and attained majority on 14-1-62. Objection with regard to the maintainability of the suit and that the suit is barred by limitation were also raised. With regard to maintainability of the suit the learned Munsif found that the defendants' kobala must be held as a voidable deed as the transfer of a minor's property was made without permission of the court and as such in violation of Section 8 of the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act. But the learned Munsif was of opinion that the document must be avoided before the plaintiff gets any relief in the suit and in the instant suit as the plaintiff did not make any prayer for setting aside the deed the suit, as framed, was not maintainable. With regard to the question whether the plaintiff's mother sold the property for legal necessity the learned Munsif finds as follows :-- "i am unable to hold that Durgamoni sold the plaintiff's property for legal necessity. The plaintiff would have, therefore, got a decree for setting aside the sale deed but for his making failure to make such a prayer in this suit. In the above view of the matter, the plaintiff therefore cannot get a decree for a declaration as prayed for by him. " On the question of possession the learned Munsif finds "strong probability to hold that the plaintiff is in possession of the suit land". After finding such, the learned Munsif held that the plaintiff would have been entitled to the permanent injunction had the suit been found maintainab




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