IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
NIRZAR S. DESAI, J.
JORUBHAI NAKUBHAI MORI – Appellant
Versus
PRAVINBHAI NARUBHAI RATHOD – Respondent
Civil Revision Application No. 95 of 2023
Decided On : 28-03-2023
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 - Order 7 Rule 11 - Suit for specific performance - Execution of sale deed - Permanent injunction - Applicants have challenged order passed by learned Principal Civil Judge, on application below Exh.27 under Order 7 Rule 11 in Regular Civil Suit – Held, Application preferred by applicant under Order 7 Rule 11 bares only two grounds and Court below has considered both grounds and passed order placed upon submissions made by learned advocate appearing for parties - Trial Court specifically dealt with issue in respect of limitation and held that issue of limitation is a mixed question of facts and law - More particularly, by taking into consideration provisions of Article 64 and 65 which is in respect of possession of immovable property and Article 65 is specifically in respect of case of adverse possession, which according to this Court, cannot be said to be erroneous - Despite order of trial Court that suit is undervalued and applicant was asked to pay remaining court fees, he has failed to pay remaining court fees and therefore, even that contention raised in application under Order 7 Rule 11 also cannot be sustained - Court does not find any error committed by Court below – Application rejected.
ORDER :
1. By way of this Civil Revision Application, the applicants have challenged the order dated 10.1.2023 passed by learned Principal Civil Judge, Barwala, on application below Exh.27 under Order 7 Rule 11 in Regular Civil Suit No. 67 of 2022.
2. Heard learned advocate Mr. Ravi Pahwa appearing for the applicants and learned advocate Mr. Vicky B. Mehta appearing of the respondent-Original plaintiff.
3. The applicants herein are the original defendants No. 5 to 20 in Regular Civil Suit No. 67 of 2022.
4. The original plaintiff is the respondent No. 1 here before this Court.
5. The original plaintiff preferred Regular Civil Suit No. 67 of 2022 claiming adverse possession and thereby prayed for execution of sale deed and for permanent injunction.
6. The case of the original plaintiff before the trial Court was that the plaintiff is residing at the premises stated in the Cause Title since last around 35 years and he has constructed two storied building since last more than 35 years. Birth of his children also took place in the said premises only and all the documents etc. barring the address which is mentioned in the Cause Title. Though, as the society is an unregistered society, the other members of the society are harassing the original plaintiff and therefore, by using their influence, they got a notice for demolition issued by Barwala Municipality on the ground of unauthorized constructions. The plaint states that the cause of action has arisen because the plaintiff purchased the property in question since last more than 35 years by paying a consideration of Rs.10,000/- from one Manjibhai Dalabhai Patel, who was to execute a Registered Sale Deed in favour of the plaintiff but as the said Manjibhai Dalabhai Patel expired, the legal heirs started residing at Botad and though they were ready and willing to execute a Sale Deed in favour of the plaintiff, it is because of insistence of defendant Nos.5 to 20 - present applicants that they did not execute the Sale Deed in favour of the applicants and that is how according to the plaintiff the cause of action to file the suit has arisen.
7. Once the suit was filed and summons was issued, the present applicants appeared in the said suit and filed one page application under Order 7 Rule 11 of Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.
8. The application was preferred on two grounds:
(ii) The contentions raised in that application under Order 7 Rule 11 was that the suit is barred by limitation.
9. Except for the aforesaid two grounds, the application was not preferred canvassing any other grounds.
10. The application was heard by learned Principal Civil Judge, Barwala and an order below Exh.27 was passed on 10.1.2023 rejecting the application on the ground that the aspect of limitation is a triable issue and as the suit is for specific performance and permanent injunction on the basis of adverse possession, the evidence is required to be laid by going on with the trial.
11. The aforesaid order is under challenged by way of present Civil Revision Application.
12. Learned advocate Mr. Ravi Pahwa appearing for the applicants vehemently challenged the impugned order and submitted that in a suit for adverse possession as held by Delhi High Court in case of Raunak Singh vs. Delhi Development Authority and Others wherein reliance is placed upon judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in case of Karnataka Board of Wakf vs. Government of India, 2004 SCC Online SC 505.
13. Learned advocate Mr. Ravi Pahwa contended that as per the judgment in case of Karnataka Board of Wakf (Supra) the Hon'ble Supreme Court has laid down four parameters that (a) if a person claims adverse possession then he is required to show on what date he came into possession; (b) what was the nature of possession; (c) Whether the factum of possession was known to the other party and (d) How long his poss
D.N. Venkatarayappa vs. State of Karnataka
The cause of action is a bundle of facts and cannot be decided at the preliminary stage of the suit.
The necessity of framing substantial questions of law in second appeals is mandated, and mere long-term possession does not equate to adverse possession without requisite proofs of hostility.
Point of Law : It is trite that court while considering an application under Order VII Rule 11 CPC is required to consider contents of plaint and documents relied upon by plaintiff whereas defence di....
The judgment emphasizes the legal principles of adverse possession, including the requirements of open, clear, continuous, and hostile possession, burden of proof, and the need for a substantial ques....
The main legal point established in the judgment is the requirement for adverse possession, including the need for peaceful, open, and continuous possession, as well as the animus possidendi to hold ....
The court upheld that the limitation period for challenging a sale deed starts upon knowledge of the transaction, confirming the lower courts' rejection of the plaint on limitation grounds.
Amendments to pleadings under Order VI Rule 17 of CPC allow for alternate defenses like adverse possession, provided they are substantiated in pleadings; courts should be liberal in permitting such a....
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.
A claim for adverse possession must plead essential facts including the true owner's identity and hostile possession; mere possession lacks sufficiency for title. Claims must also meet limitation req....
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