IN THE HIGH COURT OF GAUHATI
Arun Chandra Upadhyay, J.
Subudini Kar & another – Appellants
Vs.
Sabitri Rani Deb – Respondent
R.S.A. No. 125 of 1999
Decided On: 10.01.2012
Transfer of Property Act 1882 - Section 48 - Registered sale deed - Possession of suit land - Suit land by amicable partition - Predecessor of preformed defendant and predecessor of preformed defendant late were owners of suit land - Since owners were brothers they amicably partitioned land - Suit land along with other land fell into share of late and accordingly he became owner and possessor - Thereafter said sold out suit land to one filled suit land by digging a tank inside it and also constructed a house with a bamboo and thatch - Held, When similar rights are created in favor of two persons at different times one who has advantage in time should also have advantage in law - This rule however applies only to cases where conflicting equities are otherwise equal. Section 48 of the Transfer of Property Act 1882 is founded upon important principle that no man can convey a title than what he has - If a person has already effected a transfer he cannot derogate from his grant and deal with property free from rights created under earlier transaction - Section 48 is an absolute in its terms and does not contain any protection or reservation in favor of a subsequent transferee who has no knowledge of prior transfer - Appeal dismissed.
A.C. Upadhyay, J.
1. Appeal filed by the appellant-defendant is directed against the judgment and decree dated 14.6.1999, passed by Civil Judge (Senior Division), Hailakandi, in Title Appeal No. 29 of 1995, reversing the judgment and decree dated 20.9.1995 passed by the Munsiff No. 2, Hailakandi in Title Suit No. 79 of 1988. The facts leading to the filing of this appeal may be stated as follows:-
The predecessor of proforma defendant Nos. 4 to 10, late Jogendra Chandra Deb and predecessor of proforma defendant Nos. 1 and 12 and 21 to 32, late Gojendra Chandra Dey, were the owners of the suit land. Since the owners were brothers, they amicably partitioned the land. The suit land along with other land fell into the share of late Jogendra Chandra Dey and accordingly, he became owner and possessor. Thereafter the said Jogendra Chandra Dey sold out the suit land to one Makhon Lal Dey on 24.3.1971. Makhan Lal Dey filled the suit land by digging a tank inside it and also constructed a house with a bamboo and thatch.
2 Makhan Lal Dey became ill sold out the suit land along with other lands to the defendant No. 3, Promobala Dey by registered sale deed dated 17.4.1974 and handed over the possession to the defendant No. 3.
3. Sometime in 1974 the defendant No. 3 left her homestead situated near the suit land and shifted to another place. However, while shifting, she left the suit land under the care and custody of the predecessor of defendant No. 2 (ka) to 2 (cha). During the last part of 1986, defendant No. 3 the predecessor of defendant No. 2 (ka) to 2 (cha) constructed a house with wooden frame with kerosene tin roofing and also constructed a hut on the eastern side and refused to hand over, the possession of the suit land. Defendant No. 3, Smti. Premobala Dev, who is the mother of the plaintiff Smti. Sabitri Rani Deb sold out the suit land to the plaintiff by registered sale deed dated 4.11.1981. Since the plaintiff failed to get the possession over the suit land from the defendants, she filed the suit for declaration that the plaintiff is the owner of the suit land by virtue of purchase, with a prayer for khas possession over the suit land by evicting the defendants from the suit land. The defendants contested the suit both in facts and in law, by filing their written statement. The defendant contended that the suit is bad for waiver estoppel and acquiescence and the suit is barred by the law of limitation. The defendant also denied the sale of the suit land to the defendant No. 3 in the year 1974 and also denied that defendant No. 3 left the suit land under the care and custody of the predecessor of the defendants No. 2(ka) to 2(cha). The defendants stated in their written statement that Jogendra Chandra Dey and Gajendra Chandra Dey were the original owners of the suit land along with other lands, and Jogendra Chandra Dey became the absolute owner of the suit land by amicable partition between two brothers, who subsequently disposed of the suit land by selling it to Makhan Lal Dey, by executing a registered sale deed on 24.3.1971. It is further contended in their written statement that Makhan Lal Dey subsequently sold out the suit land to the predecessor of the defendants No. 2(ka) to 2 (cha) at Rs. 1500/- by a registered sale deed dated 10.11.1975. The predecessor of the defendants No. 2(ka) to 2(cha) also constructed two thatched house over the suit land with bamboo and kerosene tin shed. The defendants in their written statement further stated that the purchase made by the plaintiff of the suit land from defendant No. 3 is collusive, since no consideration thereof in respect of the suit land was paid and further the plaintiff also did not record her name in the jamabandi and as such prayed for dismissal of the suit.
4. The defendant also filed a counter claim with a prayer for declaration that the registered sale deed dated 17.4.1974, which was executed by Makhan Lal Dey in favour of his mother was collusive and without cons
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