Back
High Court of Judicature at Calcutta
GIRISH CHANDRA GUPTA & SHIB SADHAN SADHU, JJ.
Chittaranjan Chatterjee
Versus
Sadhan Banerjee & Others
S.A.T. No. 467 of 2013 (Appellate Side)
Decided On: 29-09-2014
Family Settlement Deed - Validity - Limitation - Fraud - Burden of Proof - Kamalarani Devi, the wife of the plaintiff, executed a registered deed of family settlement in favor of the defendants on 09.09.1987, transferring her self-acquired property. The plaintiff filed a suit for declaration that the deed was void, collusive, fraudulent, and procured by false impersonation. The courts below dismissed the suit, finding that the plaintiff had knowledge of the execution of the deed and failed to prove fraud or undue influence within the limitation period.
Fact of the Case:
Plaintiff filed a suit for declaration that the registered deed of family settlement executed by his wife in favor of the defendants was void, collusive, fraudulent, and procured by false impersonation. The plaintiff claimed that his wife was not physically or mentally fit to execute the deed and that the defendants had procured it by false impersonation.
Finding of the Court:
The courts below dismissed the suit, finding that the plaintiff had full knowledge about the execution of the deed and failed to prove that he had filed the suit within 3 years from the date of his knowledge. The courts also found that the plaintiff failed to prove that the impugned deed was void, collusive, and procured by practicing fraud, misrepresentation, and false impersonation.
Issues: 1. Whether the plaintiff had knowledge of the execution of the deed? 2. Whether the plaintiff filed the suit within the limitation period? 3. Whether the plaintiff proved that the impugned deed was void, collusive, and procured by practicing fraud, misrepresentation, and false impersonation?
Ratio Decidendi: 1. The plaintiff failed to prove that he had no knowledge of the execution of the deed. 2. The plaintiff failed to file the suit within the limitation period of 3 years from the date of his knowledge. 3. The plaintiff failed to prove that the impugned deed was void, collusive, and procured by practicing fraud, misrepresentation, and false impersonation.
Final Decision: The second appeal was dismissed.
Shib Sadhan Sadhu, J.
1. Appellant/Plaintiff filed the suit for declaration that the registered deed of Family Settlement being deed No.2178 dated 09.09.1987 executed by his wife Kamalarani Devi in favour of the defendants is void, collusive, fraudulent and procured by false impersonation and so is not binding upon the plaintiff.
2. Plaintiff’s case is that the suit property was purchased by his wife prior to their marriage. After marriage they began to reside in the suit property, a portion of which was occupied by a tenant. His wife had been suffering from high blood pressure, high blood sugar and neurological problem and she was under medical treatment. Since no issue was born out of their wedlock, they adopted a female child named Shibani Das and they brought her up as their own daughter. The condition of Kamalarani deteriorated day by day and she used to stay in Kolkata under the care of Shibani. Plaintiff used to come at weekend. Shibani used to take help of the defendants who are the sons of the elder sister of his wife, in the event of crisis. Ultimately plaintiff managed his posting at Kolkata and took his wife and Shibani to his paternal house at Dumdum. From the year 1982 Kamalarani lost the senses of distinguishing right or wrong. She died on 12.07.1999.
3. Being the sole legal heir of his deceased wife Kamalarani Devi, the plaintiff began to collect rent from the tenants in respect of the suit property by issuing rent receipts. On 08.08.2005 he received Advocate’s letter along with some annexures and came to learn that his tenant Aravinda Pal had filed a suit against him for protection of his tenancy right. The appellant then asked his said tenant who disclosed that one of the respondents Sekhar Banerjee had threatened him to oust from the suit property and to construct a multi-storied building thereon. The appellant then rushed to the house of the respondents. Being asked one of the respondents disclosed that they had acquired right, title and interest in the suit property by virtue of the impugned deed dated 09.09.1987 and that they would not allow him entry into the suit property. The appellant thereafter, took out the certified copy of the impugned deed No.2178 dated 09.08.1987 and filed the suit alleging that his wife was not physically or mentally fit, that she had no reason to execute such deed nor she could understand the contents or sign it and the defendants have procured the deed by false impersonation.
4. The defendants contested the suit by filing a Written Statement in which the allegations brought by the plaintiff were denied. It was contended further that Kamalarani after acquiring the suit property made construction therein by taking money from Mani Mohan Banerjee, father of the defendant, whom she used to treat as her son. She incurred huge expenditure but she could not repay such amount. After marriage she repeatedly asked the plaintiff to pay that sum of money which was received by her for constructing the residential unit in the suit property but he did not make any payment. So, she made up her mind to transfer such property in favour of Mani Mohan Banerjee or his sons. She used to reside in the suit property but the plaintiff did not maintain her. So, she inducted some tenants in the suit property and realized rent from the tenants and maintained herself. Also Mani Mohan and his sons used to pay some money to her. So, she had decided to execute a deed of private trust in favour of the defendants. Kamalarani was not suffering from various ailments from the beginning of her married life. 2/3 years prior to her death on 12.07.1999 she had been suffering from blood sugar and blood pressure but she had no neurological problem. The plaintiff did not take her to any Doctor for treatment. As per the instruction of Kamalarani, Tushar Kanti Ghosh prepared the draft of the deed of Family Settlement and stamp paper was purchased and the deed was executed on 09.09.1987 in which Kalipadababu was
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
Scan Me!
India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!
For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :
Back to top
