IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
RAJIV SAHAI ENDLAW, J.
Rakhi - Appellant
Versus
Babu Lal And Anr. - Respondents
EX.F.A. 9 of 2018, CM No.9638 of 2018 (for stay), CM No.9639 of 2018
Decided On : 16-08-2018
Benami Transactions - Property Dispute - Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act, 1988 - Section 4(3)(b), Section 2(9)(A)(ii), Section 2(9)(A)(iv) - The court discussed the application of the Benami Transactions Act, 1988 and its provisions in a property dispute case. The court held that the plea of the appellant/objector that the father of the appellant/objector was the owner of the property was barred by the Benami Transactions Act, as no fiduciary relationship was established.
Fact of the Case:
The appeal challenged the dismissal of objections to the execution sought by the decree holder of a compromise decree in a property possession suit. The appellant and her siblings objected, claiming that the property was purchased by their father and that they were not party to the suit.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the objections were rightly dismissed as the plea of the appellant/objector regarding the ownership of the property was barred by the Benami Transactions Act. The court also explored the possibility of amicable settlement, but the appellant/objector showed unwillingness to buy the property.
Issues: The issues involved the ownership of the property, the application of the Benami Transactions Act, and the possibility of amicable settlement.
Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the plea of the appellant/objector regarding the ownership of the property was barred by the Benami Transactions Act, as no fiduciary relationship was established. The court also emphasized the importance of establishing legal arguments consistently before successive courts.
Final Decision: The appeal was dismissed, but the appellant/objector or the judgment debtor were given the opportunity to make an offer for purchase of the property within one month.
1. This Execution First Appeal impugns the order [dated 4th November, 2016 in Execution No.10/14 (New No.60653/16) of the Court of Additional District Judge-03 (West)] of dismissal of objections preferred by the appellant along with her brother and sister (who have not been impleaded as parties to this appeal) to the execution sought by the respondent no.1/decree holder of a compromise decree [dated 2nd November, 2012 in Suit No.513/2012 of the Court of Additional District Judge-06 (West)] in a suit filed by the respondent no.1/decree holder against respondent no.2/defendant/judgment debtor Bhagwati Devi, being the mother of the appellant/objector.
2. This appeal came up first before this Court on 13th March, 2018, when notice limited to the aspect of exploring possibility of amicable settlement between the parties was ordered to be issued and the operation of the impugned order stayed. The appellant/objector, after the last date, has not taken steps for service of the un-served respondent no.2/defendant/judgment debtor Bhagwati Devi.
3. The counsel for the appellant states that the appellant/objector, respondent no.1/decree holder and the respondent no.2/defendant/judgment debtor are present in Court in person.
4. The counsel for the appellant has been heard and the copies of the relevant Trial Court record annexed to this appeal perused.
5. The respondent no.1/decree holder instituted the suit, for recovery of possession, on the basis of title, of property no.E-690, Camp No.2, J.J. Colony, Nangloi, New Delhi, from the respondent no.2/defendant/judgment debtor. The said suit was compromised in mediation, where under the respondent no.1/plaintiff/decree holder agreed to pay Rs.2,00,000/- to the respondent no.2/defendant/judgment debtor for vacating the property.
6. Upon the respondent no.2/defendant/judgment debtor not vacating the property, execution was sought and in which as aforesaid, the appellant along with her sister and brother, being the daughters and son of the respondent no.2/defendant/judgment debtor, filed objections and against dismissal of which objections this appeal has been preferred.
7. It was the objection of the appellant and her sister and brother, (i) that the respondent no.1/plaintiff/decree holder is their paternal grandfather; (ii) that though the appellant /objector and her sister and brother along with their mother i.e. respondent no.2/defendant/judgment debtor were in possession of the property, but the appellant/objector and her sister and brother were not made a party to the suit; (iii) that the property was purchased by the appellant/objector’s father, though in the name of the grandfather i.e. the respondent no.1/plaintiff/decree holder; (iv) that the appellant/objector and her sister and brother had not consented to the settlement arrived at by their mother, the respondent no.2/defendant/judgment debtor, with the respondent no.1/plaintiff/decree holder; (v) the entire purchase consideration for the land underneath the property and for construction of the property, was incurred by the father of the appellant/objector and her sister and brother, on behalf of the appellant/objector and her sister and brother; (vi) that the respondent no.1/plaintiff/decree holder and the respondent no.2/defendant/judgment debtor were in collusion with each other; and, (vii) that the appellant/objector and her sister and brother were in possession of the property, being the legal representative of their father who was the owner of the property and who is missing for the last several years.
8. The sister and brother of the appellant/objector, who along with appellant/objector had filed objections, are obviously satisfied with dismissal of objections and have not appealed there against.
9. Though the counsel for the appellant/objector, before me, has sought to argue that it was not the case of the appellant that her father was the owner and it was the case of the appellant/objector that the appellant/objector herse
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