IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
Dharmesh Sharma, J.
Usha Rani (Deceased) Through Lr - Appellant
Versus
Chander Mohan Gautam & Ors. - Respondents
C.R.P. No. 311 of 2023 & CM APPL. No. 55742 of 2023
Decided On : 04-03-2024
Limitation - Property Dispute - Code of Civil Procedure, 1908[Order VII Rule 11] - Indian Evidence Act, 1872[Section 90] - Court Fee Act, 1870[Section 7(v)]
Fact of the Case:
The suit property was gifted to Usha Rani by her father. The respondents filed a Civil Suit seeking reliefs of declaration, partition, permanent and mandatory injunction. The defendant filed an application seeking rejection of the plaint on grounds of limitation, undervaluation, and inadequate court fee.
Finding of the Court:
The court dismissed the defendant's application, stating that limitation is a mixed question of law and fact and cannot be decided at the stage of the application. The court also found that the suit for declaration without seeking relief of possession is not liable to be rejected. The court held that the suit was not barred by any law and directed the plaintiff to amend the valuation clause and affix appropriate court fees.
Issues: The issues included the rejection of the plaint based on limitation, undervaluation, and inadequate court fee.
Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized that the cause of action should be disclosed in the plaint and that the essential facts must be proven to obtain a decree. The court also highlighted the need for the plaintiff's pleadings to bring out a cause of action in a manner that is justifiable in law.
Final Decision: The court allowed the revision petition, set aside the impugned order, and rejected the plaint for want of cause of action and being barred by limitation.
JUDGMENT
Dharmesh Sharma, J. - This Judgment shall decide the present civil revision petition filed by the petitioner/revisionist, who is the defendant No.1 in the suit filed by the respondents/plaintiffs pending before the learned Trial Court, assailing the Impugned Order dated 16.09.2023 passed by the learned Additional District Judge, North, Rohini Courts, Delhi[ADJ], whereby the petitioner's application under Order VII Rule 11 Code of Civil Procedure Code, 1908[CPC] seeking rejection of the plaint, was dismissed.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND:
2. Briefly stated, the present revision petition has been filed through the legal representative of late Usha Rani, who expired on 29.05.2021 during the pendency of the suit before the learned Trial Court. It is their case that the suit property bearing No. AE-197, Shalimar Bagh, Delhi-88[Suit Property] was gifted to Usha Rani vide Gift Deed dated 25.09.1980 by her father late Ram Saroop Gautam, out of natural love and affection and out of free will without any fraud and coercion. It is further claimed that the father of Usha Rani after the Gift deed wrote several letters to the DDA to transfer the lease rights owned by him to Smt. Usha Rani, and, after the due process of law, the lease rights in the suit property were transferred in her name.
3. It is further stated the said Smt. Usha Rani out of her own and her husband's resources, constructed a house on the suit property and executed a registered Conveyance Deed dated 29.01.2008 in her name. It is stated that during the lifetime of Smt. Usha Rani, she had executed a registered Will dated 26th October, 2017 wherein she had bequeathed right, title and interest in the suit property, in favour of her husband Sh. Bharmanand Sharma (Legal Representative of Smt. Usha Rani herein).
4. The grievance of the petitioner is that after 33 years, on 03.01.2017, the respondents herein filed a Civil Suit bearing No. 07/2017 titled as "Chander Mohan Gautam & Anr. versus Smt. Usha Rani & Ors." seeking reliefs of declaration, partition, permanent and mandatory injunction in respect of the suit property.
PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE LEARNED TRIAL COURT AND IMPUGNED ORDER:
5. During the course of the proceedings before the learned Trial Court, on 10.03.2017, the respondent No. 3/DDA herein was impleaded as a necessary party. The learned Trial Court, based on the pleadings of the parties, on 22.10.2018, framed the following issues: -
"1. Whether suit has not been valued properly for the purpose of court fee? OPD
2. Whether plaintiff has concealed material facts, if so to what effect? OPD1
3. Whether D-1 is the absolute owner of the suit property? OPD1
4. Whether suit is not maintainable due to non-service of the mandatory notice under Section 53B of the DDA Act? OPD5
5. Whether plaintiff is entitled for decree of partition as prayed for? OPP
6. Whether the plaintiff is entitled for decree of permanent injunction, as prayed for? OPP
7. Whether the plaintiff is entitled for decree of permanent injunction, as prayed for? OPP
8. Whether the plaintiff is entitled for decree of mandatory injunction, as prayed for? OPP
9. Relief."
6. The petitioner, on 25.05.2022, filed an application under Order VII Rule 11 of the CPC for rejection of the plaint filed by the respondents. The grounds taken by the petitioner in the application are reproduced below: -
"(i) The suit of the plaintiff is liable to be dismissed on the ground of limitation. The suit has been filed after the lapse of 33 years which is barred by the Limitation Act, 1908.
(ii) The plaintiff in the entire plaint have not mentioned the fact as to when he came to know about the gift deed which was executed in favour of the defendant no. 1. Hence, creating an illusory cause of action.
(iii) The suit of the plaintiff is liable to be dismissed due to the specific bar of proviso to Section 34 of the Specific Relief Act, 1963. The plaintiff has sought the relief of declaration without the consequential relied of possession.
(iv) The shit of the pla
Arcelor Mittal Nippon Steel India Ltd v. Essar Bulk Terminal Ltd.
The essential facts must be proven to obtain a decree, and the cause of action should be disclosed in the plaint in a manner justifiable in law.
The court established that a plaint can be rejected under Order VII, Rule 11 if it is barred by limitation, regardless of the merits of the case.
Gift deed - Rejected the plaint - Limitation - Suit is barred by limitation in view of pleadings of appellant that he came to know about gift deeds only two days prior to filing of suit as such issue....
The court held that a plaint can only be rejected under Order VII Rule 11 if it does not disclose a cause of action, and the issue of limitation is a mixed question of law and fact.
No cause of action exists for partition without challenging the underlying gift deed; the plaint cannot be rejected on grounds of limitation based on the alleged fraud.
Point of law: Rejection of plaint - Clever or ingenious drafting cannot mask the Court for consideration of am application seeking rejection of the plaint when the suit is barred by limitation on the....
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