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2024 Supreme(Cal) 360

IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA
AJOY KUMAR MUKHERJEE, J.
Sri Anil Kumar Pal - Appellant
Versus
Chabi Pal & Others – Respondents
S.A. 365 of 2010 with CAN 4 of 2022
Decided On : 08-04-2024

Advocates Appeared:
For the Appellant : Mr. Tanmoy Mukherjee, Mr. Gopal Ch. Ghosh, Ms. Shila Sarkar, Mr. Souvik Das.
For the Respondents: Mr. Bhaskar Ghosh, Sr. Adv., Mr. Arup Banerjee.

IMPORTANT POINT
The central legal point established in the judgment is the application of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 and the principles of property inheritance under the Dayabhaga School of Hindu Law.

Headnote:

Birth Certificate - Property Inheritance - Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 - Summary of Acts and Sections: The court discussed the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 and its provisions regarding the recording of births and deaths. The court also considered the Hindu Law and the implications of property inheritance under the Dayabhaga School of Hindu Law. The judgment revolved around the interpretation of the Will executed in favor of Paritosh Bala and the rights of inheritance under the old Hindu Law applicable to the Dayabhaga School of Hindu Law.

Fact of the Case:

The case involved a dispute over the inheritance and possession of a property. The plaintiff sought recovery of possession against the defendant, claiming ownership inherited from his mother. The defendant contested the suit, denying the plaintiff's ownership and asserting his own rights as a co-sharer in the property.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the defendant's birth occurred after the death of the plaintiff's mother, establishing that the defendant was not entitled to inherit the property. The court also analyzed the Will executed in favor of the plaintiff's mother and the implications of the old Hindu Law on property inheritance.

Issues: The key issues included the status of the defendant as a licensee or co-sharer in the property, the validity of the birth certificate as additional evidence, and the interpretation of the Will under the Dayabhaga School of Hindu Law.

Ratio Decidendi: The court's decision was based on the interpretation of the Will, the timing of the defendant's birth in relation to the plaintiff's mother's death, and the application of the old Hindu Law principles to determine property inheritance.

Final Decision: The court set aside the judgment and decree of the lower court, affirming the dismissal of the suit and ruling in favor of the plaintiff's ownership of the property.

JUDGMENT :

Ajoy Kumar Mukherjee, J.

1. This Second Appeal has been preferred challenging the judgment and decree dated 21st August, 2010 passed by Additional District Judge 4th court Burdwan in T.A. no. 126 of 1989/ 22 of 1989. By the impugned judgment the court below has reversed the judgment and decree dated 14th August, 1989 passed by learned Assistant District Judge, Burdwan in T.S. No. 21 of 1985/ 24 of 1979.

2. The Predecessor-in-interest of the plaintiffs/respondents herein, filed aforesaid T.S. No. 24 of 1979/T.S No. 21 of 1985 for recovery of “khas” possession against the present appellant/defendant no.1 treating the present appellant to be a licensee under the original deceased plaintiff. In the plaint plaintiff specifically pleaded that suit property originally belonged to one Laxmi Mani Dasi, who during her lifetime bequeathed her property in favour of Partiosh Bala Dasi, who is the mother of the plaintiff, by virtue of a will executed on 8th December, 1924 where the husband of Paritosh Bala namely Ratan Chandra Pal was appointed as executor. Thereafter the said will was probated and accordingly mother of the plaintiff, Paritosh Bala became the owner of the suit property. Said Paritosh Bala died on 18th March, 1937 and according to plaintiff, he being the son of Paritosh Bala has solely inherited property left by her mother. His further case is that the RS recording of the suit property in the name of his father Ratan Chandra Pal is erroneous. Plaintiff’s further case is defendant no.1/appellant herein was born due to second marriage of his father Ratan Chandra pal with one Aruna Bala Dasi. Subsequently after the death of the first wife of Ratan namely Paritosh Bala, Ratan Chandra pal as well as present defendant no.1/appellant herein were given a status of licensee, in respect of the suit property under the original plaintiff. Plaintiff has revoked the aforesaid license and as defendant no.1 failed to quit and vacate, inspite of revocation of license, plaintiff filed the aforesaid suit against the defendant no. 1 for his eviction from the suit property.

3. The defendant no.1/ appellant herein contested the suit by filing written statement denying the material allegations contained in the plaint. Defendant No. 1 specifically denied that he was begotten out of the alleged second marriage of Ratan Chandra pal but he was begotten out of the first marriage of Ratan Chandra pal with Paritosh Bala and as such after the death of Paritosh Bala, Ratan being the husband of Paritosh and the defendant no.1 being the second son of Paritosh Bala cannot be treated as licensee under the original plaintiff and on the contrary the defendant no.1 /appellant herein is a co-sharer in respect of the suit property and accordingly he prayed for dismissal of the suit.

4. Learned Trial judge while deciding the vital issues being issue no. 3, 4 and 5 came to a finding that both the witnesses of plaintiff have categorically admitted about the status of Ratan Chandra Pal being the father of the plaintiff to be a co-sharer and not to be a licensee and also considering the entry in the Record of Rights in the name of Ratan (marked exhibit-6) the trial court negated the case made out by the original plaintiff with regard to creation of license in favour of the father of plaintiff as well as in respect of the present defendant no.1/appellant. Learned Trial Court also on the basis of evidence, negated the plaintiffs contention that the defendant no.1 is not the son of Paritosh Bala.

5. Plaintiff respondent being aggrieved by the aforesaid judgment preferred first appeal before the appellate court being aforesaid Title appeal no. 126 of 1989/22 of 1989 and learned first appellate court after hearing both the parties by a judgment and decree dated August, 21, 2010 was pleased to allow the appeal and thereby set aside judgment and decree passed by the Trial Court. The learned first appellate court was pleased to declare plaintiffs right title interest

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