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



IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI
Prathiba M. Singh, J.
Rajinder Pershad - Appellant
Versus
Ram Niwas - Respondent
RSA 37 of 2020 & CM Appls. 7988-89 of 2020
Decided On : 14-02-2022




Oral family settlements are valid and require no registration if acknowledged by all parties, and prior admissions bind parties in subsequent related suits.

Headnote:(A) Delhi Land Reforms Act, 1954 - Suit for partition - Appellate court affirmed concurrent findings of trial court dismissing the suit for partition based on family settlement dated 27th April, 1979 - The family settlement did not require registration under law - Judicial precedent indicates oral family arrangements are permissible and valid under certain conditions. (Paras 6, 12, 14)

(B) Admission - Prior admissions in a plaint regarding family partition bind the parties in subsequent cases - The plaintiffs’ arguments about the inadmissibility of the compromise document are unfounded, given the background of the case. (Paras 9, 16)

Facts of the case:
The plaintiffs, legal heirs of a deceased brother, sought partition of a jointly owned property alleging unauthorized construction by the defendants. They relied on a prior family settlement that admitted an oral partition had already occurred among the brothers regarding the property in dispute.

Findings of Court:
The court upheld the trial court's ruling that the partition had been previously established through a family settlement and thus denied the partition request.

Issues: The court addressed whether the suit was barred due to prior agreements and the admissibility of documents related to these family arrangements.

Ratio Decidendi: The court found that oral family settlements are valid if acknowledged by parties; no registration is needed for such prior settlements, and parties are bound by their own admissions in earlier lawsuits.

Result: Second appeal dismissed; terms of family settlement upheld.

Table of Content
1. second appeal on previous judgments (Para 1 , 2)
2. nature of dispute among heirs (Para 3 , 4)
3. issues framed by trial court (Para 5 , 6)
4. trial court's findings and reasoning (Para 7 , 8)
5. appellate court's evaluation of arguments (Para 9 , 10)
6. legal principles on family settlements (Para 12 , 14)
7. admissions impacting current case (Para 15 , 16)
8. dismissal of the appeal with final order (Para 17 , 18)

JUDGMENT

Prathiba M. Singh, J. (Oral)--This hearing has been done through video conferencing.

2. The present second appeal has been filed challenging the judgment dated 18th November, 2019 passed by the ld. ADJ-VII (Central), Tis Hazari Courts, Delhi (hereinafter, "Appellate Court") in RCA No.11/2019 titled Sh. Rajinder Pershad v. Sh. Ved Prakash v. Ram Niwas & Ors. By the impugned order, the Appellate Court has dismissed the first appeal filed against the judgment and decree dated 30th January, 2016 passed by the Ld. Civil Judge-14, Central District, Tis Hazari Courts, Delhi (hereinafter, "Trial Court") in Suit No.38/15 titled Sh. Rajender Pershad & Ors. v. Ram Niwas & Ors. Therefore, in effect, the Appellate Court and the Trial Court have arrived at concurrent findings.

3. The dispute in the present case is between the legal heirs of the brothers i.e., Sh. Udey Ram, Sh. Teeka Ram, Sh. Tokh Ram, Sh. Ram Niwas & Sh. Yad Ram, who are all sons of Pt. Har Lal. The Plaintiffs are the legal heirs of Sh. Udey Ram. A suit for partition was filed by the Plaintiffs seeking partition and permanent injunction. The reliefs sought in the said suit are as under:

    "i) a decree for partition be passed in favour of the plaintiffs and against the defendants in respect of joint properties bearing Kh. No. 70/2/3 measuring' 1250 sq. yds, situated at within the colony of Village Palam, New Delhi as shown in red colour in the site plan, by metes and bounds and holding the plaintiffs as co- sharer of 1/5th share in the said property.

    ii) a decree of permanent injunction be passed in favour of the plaintiffs and against the defendants thereby restraining the defendants, their agents, servants and associates and any other person, acting on their behalf from, raising any illegal and unauthorized construction in any manner in the aforesaid property as shown in the site plan attached and also from selling, transferring or alienating, or part with possession and creating any third party interest in respect of the aforesaid property.

    iii) a decree of mandatory injunction may also be passed in. favour of the plaintiffs and against the defendants thereby directing the defendants, to remove and demolish the illegal and unauthorized construction as shown in the site plan of the property no.70/2/3, measuring 1250 sq. yds. situated within the colony, of Palam, New Delhi .

    iv) Costs of the suit be also awarded in favour of the plaintiffs.

    v) Any other relief which this Hon'ble Court deems fit and proper in the circumstances of the case be also granted in favour of the plaintiffs."

4. As per the plaint, the case of the Plaintiffs in the said plaint was that all the properties are joint properties. In paragraph 5 of the said plaint, the Plaintiffs pleaded that there was a settlement and agreement between the parties. Apart from the settlement, the Plaintiffs staked their entitled to 1/5th share in the suit property. The Plaintiffs further claimed that the Defendants have raised illegal and unauthorised construction on the suit property, during the pendency of the suit being Civil Suit No. 17/2004 titled "Sh. Rajinder Pershad v. Sh. Ram Niwas". However, the said suit was withdrawn with permission to file afresh. Thereafter, the Defendants threatened to take forceable possession of the suit property. Under such circumstances, on the strength of joint ownership, the partition and injunction in respect of the suit property was sought by the Plaintiffs before the Trial Court.

5. Vide judgment and decree dated 30th January, 2016, the Trial Co

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