2009 Supreme(Del) 1129
IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
JUSTICE SHIV NARAYAN DHINGRA, J.
Talat Parveen Naqvi – Plaintiff
Versus
Delhi Development Authority & Anr. – Defendants
CS(OS) No. 1877/2009
Decided on : October 23, 2009
Mr. P.K. Duggal, Advocate & Mr. Sanjay Bhasin, Advocate
Grant of Probate does not confer title, and ownership must be established independent of the Will.
Headnote:
Probate Will - Property Ownership - None
Fact of the Case:
The plaintiff claimed ownership and possession of land, alleging that the defendant's squad demolished the property and threatened to take possession, citing unauthorized construction. The plaintiff sought perpetual injunction against the defendant.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the plaintiff failed to establish ownership or show prima facie evidence of existing structures on the property. The court dismissed the suit, stating that the allegations of religious bias against the defendant were unfounded.
Issues: Ownership and possession of the land, unauthorized construction, religious bias allegations
Ratio Decidendi: Grant of Probate does not confer title, and the plaintiff failed to establish ownership or show evidence of existing structures. Unfounded allegations of religious bias must be dismissed by the court.
Final Decision: The suit was dismissed for lack of merit and maintainability.
This suit has been filed by the plaintiff for perpetual injunction wherein plaintiff has claimed to be the owner and in possession of land falling in khasra nos. 64, 65, 66, 101, 102 & 103 (min) situated in the Revenue Estate of Village Kotla, Delhi. She stated she was in possession of land falling in khasra no. 103 (min) measuring 3000 sq. yards a built up property and was in continuous use occupation of plaintiff ever since she acquired rights from her predecessor viz. Shri Hari Ram Mittal vide Probate proceedings in respect of Will executed by him. She submitted that a squad of the defendant no.1 came to the premises on 17.3.2009 and started demolishing the premises citing the same as a recent unauthorized construction. The squad threatened to take possession of the land in case the materials belonging to plaintiff were not removed. She submitted that the defendant’s squad was inimical towards the plaintiff on account of religious bias and had to leave the place because of the intervention of the local police but they went away renewing the threat to come back again to accomplish their illegal designs. She stated that the action of the defendant in part demolishing the property and the threat was illegal as defendant had no right, title or interest over the property and the plaintiff was never issued a show-cause notice. The area under occupation of plaintiff was an urbanized village and was an unauthorized colony which has been given provisional recognition. Thus, defendant no.1 had no right to interfere in the possession of plaintiff as the area had already been transferred to defendant no.2 i.e. MCD and the policy statement was issued by the authorities that urbanized villages in Delhi would be transferred to control and administration of defendant no.2. It is stated that vide notification dated 19.5.1987 the area in question was transferred from defendant no.1 to defendant no.2 and therefore defendant no.1 had no right to take demolition action. A prayer has been made that the Court should issue a perpetual injunction in favour of plaintiff and against defendant no.1 restraining defendant no.1 from forcibly evicting, dispossessing or causing any interference in use, enjoyment and possession of the plaintiff in respect of khasra no.103 (min), Revenue Estate of Village Kotla, Delhi.
2. The site plan filed by the plaintiff shows that the entire area as open land or part demolished land. No existence of structure can be made out from the site plan. In the site plan a gate has been shown and on both sides of the gate demolished portion has been marked. Right through the gate, a passage has been shown going upto end of a piece of land and along the passage some trees, open areas and demolished portion has been shown. On one side of the passage, a Charitable Medical Centre has been written however, no structure plan of such Charitable Medical Centre is there. The other documents filed by the plaintiff describe the land as agricultural land. The khasra Girdawari entries only show what was sown in the land and when it was sown. Khasra Girdawari does not show existence of any structure on the land. Even the Will filed by the plaintiff, under which the plaintiff has claimed ownership, records that it was about a vacant piece of land. The Will does not state that there was a khasra no. 103(min). Will relied on is of one Mr. Hari Ram Mittal and in this Will he has stated that he was owner of vacant land lying in khasra nos. 64, 65, 66, 101, 102, 103, 104 & 105 of Village Kotla. Out of this land a part of the land belonging to him had been acquired and he authorized plaintiff, by way of a power attorney, to collect compensation in respect of acquired properties. He further stated that after his death the aforesaid (un-acquired) properties shall be absolutely of the plaintiff. It is nowhere stated in the Will what were the acquired portions and what were the un-acquired portions.
3. The plaintiff obta