DELHI HIGH COURT
VIPIN SANGHI, REKHA PALLI
Ravi Malhotra – Appellant
Versus
Prem Malhotra – Respondent
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. co-ownership and joint possession are affirmed. (Para 1 , 2 , 3) |
| 2. court fees issue to be determined at final hearing. (Para 4) |
| 3. defendant's claims about possession are rejected. (Para 5 , 6 , 7 , 8) |
| 4. plaintiffs can remedy court fee deficiencies. (Para 9) |
| 5. appeal dismissed based on lack of merit. (Para 10) |
JUDGMENT
Vipin Sanghi, J. (Oral)--The present appeal is directed against the order dated 11.09.2018 passed by the learned Single Judge rejecting the appellant/defendant's application being I.A. No. 23748/2014 under Order VII Rule 11 CPC. The appellant has also assailed the order dated 05.10.2018 passed in Review Petition No. 383/2018, whereby the review sought by him against the order dated 11.09.2018 was also rejected.
2. The respondents/plaintiffs instituted a suit against the appellant/defendant to seek a decree for partition and permanent injunction in respect of property No. 17, Road No. 8, Punjabi Bagh, New Delhi on the premise that the plaintiffs and the defendant are co-owners of the said property.
3. After the demise of their father, Late Shri Jaidev Malhotra, the plaintiffs are residing in USA and therefore, the suit has been instituted through
Joint ownership implies possession, and deficiency in court fees does not obstruct suit maintainability as plaintiffs must be allowed to rectify any deficiencies.
Ownership of the property is sufficient to show possession, and deficiency in court fees is not fatal to the maintainability of the suit.
In partition suits, if joint possession is claimed, fixed court fees are applicable unless a clear case of ouster is established, which necessitates ad valorem fees.
The main legal point established in the judgment is that the assessment of court fee for a suit property should be in accordance with the provisions of the Court Fees Act, 1870, and the determination....
The determination of court fees payable in a partition suit is governed by the plaintiff's possession of the suit properties, as per the provisions of the Court Fees Act.
In a partition suit, if the plaintiff pleads co-ownership and joint possession, only fixed Court Fees are payable, and there is no need to pay ad-valorem fees unless there is a clear case of ouster o....
In partition suits, fixed Court Fees apply when co-ownership is asserted, independent of actual possession unless ouster is established.
Login now and unlock free premium legal research
Login to SupremeToday AI and access free legal analysis, AI highlights, and smart tools.
Login
now!
India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!
Copyright © 2023 Vikas Info Solution Pvt Ltd. All Rights Reserved.