SupremeToday Landscape Ad
Back
Next
Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation
Listen Audio Icon Pause Audio Icon
judgment-img

2023 Supreme(Del) 2245

IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
Vibhu Bakhru, Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav, JJ.
Anjalli Bansall – Appellant
Versus
Atul Bansal – Respondent
FAO(OS) 163 of 2017
Decided On : 10-01-2023

Advocates appeared:
Sukumar Pattjoshi, Senior Advocate with Ms Geeta Mehrotra, Advocate, for the Appellant.
Ajay Digpaul, Kamal Digpaul and Ms. Swati Kwatra, Advocates, for the Respondent.

The main legal point established in the judgment is that the relief sought in a suit must be based on the facts admitted in the plaint, and claims exceeding the admitted facts may not be sustainable.

Headnote:

Cause of Action - Property Dispute - Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 - Order VII Rule 11 - Section 118 of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882

Fact of the Case:

The appellant filed an appeal against the rejection of her application seeking dismissal of a suit claiming rights in a property. The principal controversy was whether the respondents had cause of action for seeking the relief as sought, based on the averments made in the plaint.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the respondents' claims were without substance as the appellant had acquired rights in the suit property through a Gift Deed and a Collaboration Agreement. The court also noted that the relief sought in the suit exceeded the facts admitted in the plaint.

Issues: The issues involved the validity of the appellant's rights in the suit property, the necessity of an exchange deed, and the claims for cancellation of a Gift Deed, injunction, and monetary relief.

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the appellant's rights in the suit property were valid and that no exchange deed was necessary. The court also found that the relief sought in the suit exceeded the facts admitted in the plaint.

Final Decision: The appeal was disposed of with the observations that the suit could not be rejected on the ground that it did not disclose a cause of action.

JUDGMENT

Vibhu Bakhru, J. Ms. Anjalli Bansall (hereafter `the appellant') has filed the present intra-court appeal impugning an order dated 03.03.2017 (hereafter `the impugned order') passed by the learned Single Judge, whereby the appellant's application (being IA 12912/2015) under Order VII Rule 11 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (hereafter `the CPC') seeking dismissal of the suit, being C.S (OS) No. 3966/2014 captioned `Atul Bansal and Anr. v. Anjalli Bansall', was rejected.

2. The learned Single Judge had observed that respondent no.2 was claiming his share in the immovable property through his mother who had died intestate and therefore, the said claim could not be rejected without trial on the basis that certain documents indicated that Commodore J.M.L. Bansal had disinherited respondent no.2.

3. The respondents had filed the above-mentioned suit, [being CS(OS) 3966/2014], inter alia, claiming rights in the basement and the ground floor of the built-up property bearing No. 26, Navjivan Vihar, New Delhi (hereafter `the property'). The basement and ground floor of the property along with "1/3rd share in stilts area/car parking space for two genset in stilts (after leaving space for two car parking for the owner/occupants of the third floor and also the area utilized for common facilities viz. stairs, passage etc.)"; "use of common areas, facilities and services"; and "32.5% undivided, indivisible and impartiable ownership rights in the plot of land measuring 250 Sq. Yds." is hereafter referred to as `the suit property'. The respondents are claiming equal shares in the suit property and seek a decree of partition of the said property. The respondents also pray that the Gift Deed dated 27.02.2014, executed by their late father, Commodore J.M.L. Bansal, be declared as null and void. The appellant claims that on the basis of the documents produced by the respondents (plaintiffs) and the averments made in the plaint, it is established that the respondents have no right in the suit property.

4. In view of the above, the principal controversy that needs to be addressed is whether the respondents have any cause of action for seeking the relief as sought, on the basis of the averments made in the plaint.

Facts

5. Since the controversy involved relates to whether the plaint discloses any cause of action, it would be necessary to confine the consideration of the present appeal on the facts as asserted by the respondents in their plaint. The said facts are briefly stated hereunder:

5.1. The parties are siblings. Respondent nos. 1 and 2 are the sons of Late Commodore J.M.L Bansal and Late Smt. Shanta Bansal. And, the appellant is their daughter. Commodore J.M.L Bansal expired on 17.04.2014 at the age of eighty-six years. The respondents claim that at the time of his demise, he was suffering from Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia. Smt. Shanta Bansal, mother of the parties also expired soon after, on 26.05.2014, at the age of eighty-three years.

5.2. On 14.06.2007, Commodore J.M.L Bansal executed a Will. In terms of his Will, his entire assets would devolve to his wife Smt. Shanta Bansal, in the event that he pre-deceased her. Thus, according to the respondents, Smt. Shanta Bansal became the absolute owner of the assets of Commodore J.M.L Bansal at the time of his demise.

5.3. Commodore J.M.L Bansal had acquired a plot of land (Plot No.26, Navjivan Vihar, New Delhi) on a leasehold basis in terms of a perpetual sub-lease dated 17.03.1972.

5.4. During the years of 1973-74, Commodore J.M.L Bansal constructed a two-storey residential house comprising of an independent ground-floor unit and a first-floor unit, along with a single room with an attached bathroom on the second floor. On 02.03.2000, the property was converted from leasehold to freehold

5.5. Admittedly, Commodore J.M.L Bansal gifted the entire terrace and roof rights above the first floor to the appellant by a Gift Deed dated 21.06.2001. Thereafter, in and around the years 2

Click Here to Read the rest of this document
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Judicial Analysis

AI

SupremeToday Portrait Ad
supreme today icon
logo-black

An indispensable Tool for Legal Professionals, Endorsed by Various High Court and Judicial Officers

Please visit our Training & Support
Center or Contact Us for assistance

qr

Scan Me!

India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!

For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :

whatsapp-icon Back to top