2015 Supreme(Del) 4581
IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
NAJMI WAZIRI, J.
MRS. SUJATA SHARMA - Plaintiff
Versus
SHRI MANU GUPTA - Defendant
CS(OS) 2011/2006
Decided on : 22-12-2015
For the Plaintiff : Ms. Mala Goel, Adv.
For the Defendant :Mr. Aslam Ahmed, Mr. B.S. Jamwal & Mr. Puneet Singh Bindra, Advocates for defendant Nos.1 to 4
Mr. B.K. Srivastava, Mr. Dinesh Kumar & Mr. Roopak Gaur, Advocates for defendant Nos.10 & 11.
Headnote:
Karta - HUF Property - Hindu Succession Act, 1956, Section 6 - The court discussed the rights of a female coparcener in a Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) property and the position of Karta. The court found that the 2005 amendment to the Hindu Succession Act recognized the rights of a daughter as a coparcener in her own right and held that there is no restriction in the law preventing the eldest female coparcener of an HUF from being its Karta. The suit was decreed in favor of the plaintiff, declaring her as the Karta of the HUF property.
Fact of the Case:
The plaintiff, the first born among the co-parceners of the HUF property, sought to be declared as its Karta. The suit property comprised residential property and movable properties. The court framed several issues including the valuation of the suit, the existence of coparcenary property, and the plaintiff's entitlement as a member of the HUF.
Finding of the Court:
The court found in favor of the plaintiff, holding that the 2005 amendment to the Hindu Succession Act recognized the rights of a daughter as a coparcener in her own right and there is no restriction in the law preventing the eldest female coparcener of an HUF from being its Karta. The suit was decreed in favor of the plaintiff, declaring her as the Karta of the HUF property.
Issues: The court analyzed issues related to the valuation of the suit, the existence of coparcenary property, the plaintiff's entitlement as a member of the HUF, and the effect of the 2005 amendment to the Hindu Succession Act.
Ratio Decidendi: The court's decision was influenced by the 2005 amendment to the Hindu Succession Act, which recognized the rights of a daughter as a coparcener in her own right and removed the restriction preventing the eldest female coparcener of an HUF from being its Karta.
Final Decision: The suit was decreed in favor of the plaintiff, declaring her as the Karta of the HUF property.
NAJMI WAZIRI, J.
1. The issue which is to be decided in this case is whether the plaintiff, being the first born amongst the co-parceners of the HUF property, would by virtue of her birth, be entitled to be its Karta. Her claim is opposed by defendants Nos. 1 to 4 while the defendants Nos. 5 to 9 have given their „no objection to it and their NOC has been filed along with the plaint. Therefore, defendant Nos. 5 to 9 are virtually plaintiffs. Defendants No. 10 and 1 1 state that their position is to be determined as per law. Ms. Mala Goel, the learned counsel for the plaintiff, submits that the parties to the suit are the co-parceners of the D.R.Gupta & Sons, HUF.
2. The suit property comprises residential property at 4, University Road, Delhi-110007 and some movable properties and shares such as (i) Shares of Motor and General Finance Ltd.; (ii) Deposits with Motor and General Finance Ltd.; (iii) Bank of Account in Bank of India, Asaf Ali Road; and (iv) Bank Account in Vijaya Bank, Ansari Road.
3. To determine the lis in this case, the following issues were framed vide order dated 15.09.2008:
1. Whether the suit has been valued properly and proper court fee has been paid thereon? (OPP)
2. Whether the suit for declaration, is maintainable in its present form? (OPP)
3. Whether there exists any coparcenary property or HUF at all?(OPP)
4. Whether the plaintiff is a member of D.R. Gupta and Sons HUF? And if so, to what effect? (OPP)
5. Whether the interest of the plaintiff separated upon the demise of her father Sh. K.M. Gupta in 1984? (OPD)
6. Assuming existence of a D.R. Gupta and Sons HUF, whether the plaintiff can be considered to be an integral part of the HUF, particularly after her marriage in 1977, and whether the plaintiff has ever participated in the affairs of the HUF as a coparcener, and its effect? (OPP)
7. Assuming existence of D.R. Gupta and Sons HUF, whether the plaintiff is a coparcener of and legally entitled to be the Karta?(OPP)
8. What is the effect of the amendment in the Hindu Succession Act, in 2005 and has it made any changes in the concept of Joint Family or its properties in the law of coparcenary? (OPP)
9. Relief.
4. Issue 1
This issue was decided in favour of defendant Nos. 1 to 4 by this Court, which was subsequently set aside in Appeal No.293/2010 on 17.01.2013, therefore, this issue stands settled in favour of the plaintiff.
5. Issues No. 2, 3, 4 and 7.
Ms. Mala Goel, the learned counsel for the plaintiff submits that pursuant to the Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act, 2005 (hereinafter referred to as the amended Act) which amended the Hindu Succession Act, 1956, all rights which were available to a Hindu male are now also available to a Hindu female. She submits that a daughter is now recognised as a coparcener by birth in her own right and has the same rights in the coparcenary property that are given to a son. She relies upon Section 6 of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 which reads as under:
“6. Devolution of interest in coparcenary property. —
(1) On and from the commencement of the Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act, 2005*, in a Joint Hindu family governed by the Mitakshara law, the daughter of a coparcener shall,—
(a) by birth become a coparcener in her own right in the same manner as the son;
(b) have the same rights in the coparcenary property as she would have had if she had been a son;
(c) be subject to the same liabilities in respect of the said coparcenary property as that of a son,
and any reference to a Hindu Mitakshara coparcener shall be deemed to include a reference to a daughter of a coparcener:
Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall affect or invalidate any disposition or alienation including any partition or testamentary disposition of property which had taken place before the 20th day of December, 2004.
(2) Any property to which a female Hindu becomes entitled by virtue of sub-section (1) shall be held by her with the incidents of coparcenary ownership and s