IN THE HIGH COURT OF CALCUTTA
HARISH TANDON, J.
Srijan Realty Private Limited - Petitioner
Versus
Anowar Hossain @ Mondal & Ors. - Opposite Parties
C.O. No. 2395 of 2015
Decided On : 21-09-2016
CIVIL PROCEDURE CODE - Order 7, Rule 11 - Rejection of Plaint - Suit for Declaration and Partition - Interpretation of Hanafi Law of Inheritance - Devolution of Interest of Widows upon Death - Applicability of Limitation - Validity of Oral Agreement - Maintainability of Suit.
Fact of the Case:
Plaintiffs filed a suit for declaration and partition, claiming that a deed executed in 1942 by their father, Amjad Ali Mondal, was void as he was a minor at the time and that an oral agreement was reached between the parties for amicable partition of the property. The defendants contended that the deed was executed after the death of Akchhed Ali Mondal, whose share Amjad Ali Mondal inherited, and that the plaintiffs did not inherit any share under the Hanafi School of Mohammedan Law.
Finding of the Court:
The court held that the plaintiffs did not have a clear right to sue based on the devolution of interest from the two widows of Akchhed Mondal as their estate would devolve upon their parental side and not on the husband's heir. The court also found that the issue of limitation and the interpretation of the deed required further examination based on evidence and could not be decided at the stage of Order 7, Rule 11 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
Issues: 1. Whether the plaintiffs had a clear right to sue based on the devolution of interest from the two widows of Akchhed Mondal? 2. Whether the suit was barred by limitation? 3. Whether the oral agreement alleged by the plaintiffs was valid and enforceable?
Ratio Decidendi: 1. Under the Hanafi School of Mohammedan Law, the estate of a widow who inherited from her husband would devolve upon her parental side and not upon the heirs of the husband. 2. The interpretation of the deed and the issue of limitation required further examination based on evidence and could not be decided at the stage of Order 7, Rule 11 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
Final Decision: The court dismissed the revisional application, upholding the Trial Court's order rejecting the defendants' application under Order 7, Rule 11 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
Harish Tandon, J.
This revisional application is directed against an order No. 47 dated April 21, 2015 passed by Civil Judge (Senior Division), Baruipur, 24 Parganas South in Title Suit No. 55 of 2009 by which an application under Order 7, Rule 11 of the Code of Civil Procedure is rejected.
2. It would be relevant to record the salient facts allegedly constituting the cause of action narrated in the plaint before proceeding to deal with the points urged by the defendant in an application under Order 7, Rule 11 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The plaintiffs claimed the following reliefs in the plaint :
"(a) a decree of declaration that deed being No. 206 for the year 1942 is a collusive document and by the said document Akchhed Ali Mondal's one-third share is not affected and the plaintiffs and proforma-defendants are the joint owners of his share;
(b) a preliminary decree for partition declaring one third share of the plaintiffs in the suit property;
(c) Certain time to be given to the plaintiffs for making amicable partition of the suit property in terms of the preliminary decree and on the failure of the parties, a survey passed Advocate Commissioner be appointed for effecting partition of the property in terms of the preliminary decree and on the basis of his report final decree be passed;
(d) for a decree of declaration that the defendants have no right, title and interest and possession over one third share left by Akchhed Ali Mondal of the property and Deed No. 206 of 1942 in respect of the suit property is not binding upon the plaintiffs;
(e) for a decree of permanent injunction restraining the defendants from interfering or disturbing in respect of one third share of the plaintiffs in the suit property;
(f) for a decree of all costs of the suit;
(g) for a decree of any other relief or reliefs to which the plaintiffs are entitled under law and equity."
3. The plaint case proceeds with one Lutfar @ Notai Mondal was the owner of the subject property and had five sons, namely, Beni Mondal, Babu Mondal, Sabu Mandal, Katil Mondal and Sahebjan Mondal. Two of his sons, namely, Babu Mondal and Sabu Mondal died during the lifetime of Lutfar Mondal. Beni Mondal had one son, namely, Akchhed Mondal who had no issue except two wives, who were alive at the time of his death. The other son, namely, Katil Mondal had one son, Amjad Ali Mondal whose sons are the plaintiffs in the instant suit. Saheb Chand Mondal had a son, namely, Fakir Md. Mondal, who is also arrained as proforma defendant in the instant suit. According to the plaintiffs the two sons who died during the lifetime of Lutfar Mondal did not inherit any shares in the estate left by him in view of Hanafi Law of inheritance and, therefore, his share devolved upon the three sons, namely, Beni Mondal, Katil Mondal and Saheb Chand Mondal who had undivided 1/3rd share therein. Upon the death of the aforesid three sons the properties devolved upon Akchhed Mondal, Amjad Mondal and Fakir Mondal having 1/3rd each therein and the C.S. record of right was prepared in their names.
4. It is further alleged that Akchhed died in the year 1939 and his two wives subsequently died and, therefore, his share would devolve upon the surviving nephews in equal shares.
5. The challenge is further made to a deed no. 206 of 1942 executed by the father of the plaintiffs and the proforma defendants whereby he transferred and conveyed his right in favour of a third party who in turn sold the properties to the defendant companies. The challenge is also made to the said deed on the premise that the father of the plaintiffs, namely, Amjad Ali Mondal was minor at the time of execution and registration of the said alleged deed and in absence of any guardian being appointed on his behalf, the entire transfer is illegal and cannot convey the valid title in favour of the ultimate predecessors. The knowledge of the said deed is imputed in the first week of April, 2006 and the suit appears to have been filed in the
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