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2006 Supreme(Del) 984

AIR 2007 DELHI 60
A. K. SIKRI, J.
Nisheet Bhalla and Ors.
Versus
Malini Raj Bhalla and Ors.
I. A. No. 4643 of 2004 in O. S. (OS) No. 1327 of 2003
Decided On:- 26 -5 -2006.

Advocates Appeared:
D. R. Bhatia, for Plaintiffs; Shiv Charan Garg, for Defendants.

The main legal point established in the judgment is that the possession of one co-owner is in law possession of all, unless ouster or exclusion is proved. The court also emphasized that the question of court fees must be considered based on the allegations made in the plaint and cannot be influenced by the pleas in the written statement or the final decision of the suit on merits.

Headnote:

Partition - Suit Property - Neelavathi v. N. Natarajan, AIR 1980 SC 691, Master Kunal v. Harsh Dev Shinghari, 2003 (66) DRJ 57 : (AIR 2003 Delhi 441), Smt. Prakash Wati v. Smt. Dayawanti, AIR 1991 Delhi 48 - The court discussed the principles of joint possession and the payment of court fees in a suit for partition. It held that the possession of one co-owner is in law possession of all, unless ouster or exclusion is proved. The court also emphasized that the question of court fees must be considered based on the allegations made in the plaint and cannot be influenced by the pleas in the written statement or the final decision of the suit on merits.

Fact of the Case:

The suit involved a claim for partition and permanent injunction over a property inherited by the plaintiffs and defendants. The defendants challenged the suit on various grounds, including the plaintiffs' alleged lack of interest in the property and failure to pay requisite court fees.

Finding of the Court:

The court rejected the defendants' arguments regarding the plaintiffs' lack of interest in the property and the payment of court fees. It held that the plaintiffs' claim for joint possession and the payment of fixed court fees were valid based on the principles of joint possession and co-ownership.

Issues: The issues included the plaintiffs' interest in the property, their alleged lack of possession, and the payment of court fees.

Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized that the possession of one co-owner is in law possession of all, unless ouster or exclusion is proved. It also held that the question of court fees must be considered based on the allegations made in the plaint and cannot be influenced by the pleas in the written statement or the final decision of the suit on merits.

Final Decision: The court rejected the defendants' application for dismissal of the suit and directed the plaintiffs to make up the deficiency in court fees and seek the consequential relief of possession.

ORDER :- In this suit filed by the plaintiffs, relied of partition and permanent injunction is claimed. Plaintiff Nos. 1 and 2 are sons of late Cdr. Manu Raj Bhalla and plaintiff No. 3 is his widow. Defendant Nos. 1 and 2 are the brothers of Cdr. Manu Raj Bhalla and defendant No. 3 is his sister. Thus, father of plaintiff Nos. 1 and 2 (husband of plaintiff No. 3) and the defendants were/are brothers and sister. They are all children of Shri Bal Raj Bhalla. Shri Bal Raj Bhalla was allotted a plot of land bearing No. 48, Block-G measuring 233.33 sq. yards in Naraina Industrial Residential Scheme, New Delhi (hereinafter referred to as 'the suit property') on perpetual lease. He constructed a 2A½ storeyed building on the said plot of land. During his lifetime, he executed a will dated 26-5-1990 whereby he bequeathed the suit property in favour of his wife Smt. Swadesh Kumari Bhalla. Shri Bal Raj Bhalla died on 6-6-1990 and on his death the suit property devolved upon Smt. Swadesh Kumari Bhalla and DDA mutated the property in her name. While Smt. Swadesh Kumari Bhall was still alive, her eldest son namely Cdr. Manus Raj Bhalla died on 2-1-1993 leaving behind the plaintiffs is his only legal heirs. Within few months, Smt. Swadesh Kumari Bhalla also died on 23-5-1993. She died intestate and accordingly the suit property is inherited by the plaintiffs (claiming through Cdr. Manu Raj Bhalla) and defendants in four equal shares. Thus, plaintiff Nos. 1 to 3 have ¼the undivided share in the suit property.

2. After the death of Smt. Swadesh Kumari Bhalia, DDA has mutated this property in the name of plaintiffs and defendants vide letter dated 16-12-1994. The plaintiffs accordingly claimed that they are owners of ¼th undivided share in the property and on that basis decree of partition is prayed for demarcation of respective shares by metes and bounds. In the alternative, it is prayed that in case the property cannot be partitioned by metes and bounds, then the same be sold and plaintiffs be given their ¼th share. Decree for permanent injunction is also sought against the defendants seeking restraint against them from parting with possession or creating any encumbrance or otherwise disposing the suit property. In the written statement filed on behalf of defendant No. 1 aforesaid facts pleaded in the plaint are not disputed. However, the maintaining of the suit is challenged on the ground that after the death of Cdr. Manu Raj Bhalla, his wife "plaintiff No. 3, has married Shri Anil Rajput and plaintiff Nos. 1 and 2 have also been adopted by Shri Anil Rajput. Therefore, plaintiffs have ceased to have any interest in the property. It is also stated that all pleas made in the plaint are to the effect that parties are in joint possession of the property, whereas the fact is that plaintiffs are not in possession of any portion of the suit property and the entire property is in possession of defendant Nos. 1 and 2. On this basis it is also pleaded that plaintiffs have not paid requisite court-fee.

3. Written statement on behalf of defendant Nos. 2 and 3 is also on the same lines. In this backdrop, defendant Nos. 2 and 3 also filed application under Order VII, Rule 11 of CPC for dismissal of the suit/rejection of the plaint. Though this application is filed on behalf of defendant Nos. 2 and 3, after the arguments were heard in this application, defendant No. 3 (sister) has filed IA No. 5481/2006 wherein she has prayed for transposing herself as the plaintiff and is now supporting the claim of the plaintiffs for partition and claiming therein her ¼th share. By necessary implication defendant No. 3 is now not pressing the application under Order VII, Rule 11, CPC.

4. To recapituate, in this application under Order VII, Rule 11, CPC, dismissal of the suit is sought on the following grounds :

(a) Since plaintiff No. 3 has re-mitted Shri Anil Rajput and plaintiff Nos. 1 and 2 have also been adopted by him as his children, plaintiffs cannot claim any interes

























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