GAUHATI HIGH COURT
Anima Hazarika, J.
Gulapi Saikia (wife), Sri Puspa Saikia (son) -Appellant
Versus
Motimai Begum.Md.Abdul Rashid -Resopndent
Second Appeal No.8 of 1994
Decided On : 22-09-2010
Specific Relief Act, 1963 - Section 31 - Limitation Act,1963 - Indian Registration Act, 1908 - Civil Procedure Code, 1908 - Section 100 - Jurisdiction - Permanent injunction - Assailed judgment and decree - Suit of plaintiff is barred by law of limitation - If instrument has been registered under Indian Registration Act, 1908 Court shall also send a copy of its decree to Officer in whose office instrument has been so registered and such Officer shall note on copy of instrument contained in his books fact of its cancellation - To cancel or set three years When facts entitling aside an instrument plaintiff to have or decree or for instrument or decree rescission of contract cancelled or set aside or contract rescinded first become known to him - Appellant herein is defendant in Title Suit on file has assailed judgment and decree passed in Title Appeal by Assistant District Judge whereby and where under Assistant District Judge dismissed appeal and affirmed judgment and decree passed by in Title Suit - Held, Plaintiffs are seeking to have documents avoided or cancelled necessarily a declaration has to be made by Court which has been declared by both Courts below - So suit necessarily has to be laid within 3 years from date when cause of action arose - Since cause of action had arisen as has been held by Court in T.S. suit ought to have been filed within and hence suit filed in year is time barred - Decisions referred to in Senior counsel wherein at paragraph of judgment Apex Court has held that if plaintiff seeks avoidance of instrument decree or contract and seeks a declaration to have decree set aside or cancelled he is necessarily bound to lay suit within years when facts entitling plaintiff to have decree set aside first became known to him - Husband of plaintiff came to know about alleged execution of sale deed when he filed objection in Partition Case which can be presumed that being wife had knowledge of execution of sale deed along with her husband which precludes her to bring suit in year as provided under Article 59 of Limitation Act and hence suit is barred by limitation - So second question of law formulated is also answered in favour of appellant - Appeal allowed
2. Before determining the lis between the parties it would be appropriate to refer the provision of Section 31 of the Specific Relief Act, 1963 ('Act 1963' for short) alongwith Article 59 of the Limitation Act,1963:
Section 31- When cancellation may be ordered- (1)Any person against whom a written instrument is void or voidable and who has reasonable apprehension that such instrument, if left outstanding, may cause him serious injury; may sue to have it adjudgedvoid or voidable;and the Court may, in its discretion so adjudge it and ordered it to be delivered up and cancelled.
(2) If the instrument has been registered under the Indian Registration Act, 1908 ( 16 of 1908), the Court shall also send a copy of its decree to the Officer in whose office the instrument has been so registered; and such Officer shall note on the copy of the instrument contained in his books the fact of its cancellation.
Article 59 of the Limitation Act, 1963:
Description of SuitPeriod of limitationTime from which period Begins to run.
Article 59
To cancel or set three yearsWhen the facts entitling aside an instrumentthe plaintiff to have the or decree or for theinstrument or decree rescission of contractcancelled or set asideor the contract rescinded first become known to him.
3. The appellant, herein is the defendant in Title Suit No.14/88 on the file of the learned Munsiff No.1, Golaghat has assailed the judgment and decree dated 30.8.93 passed in Title Appeal No. 4/92 by the learned Assistant District Judge, Golaghat whereby and whereunder the learned Assistant District Judge dismissed the appeal and affirmed the judgment and decree dated 6.7.92 passed by the learned Munsiff No.1, Golaghat in Title Suit No. 14/88.
4. The facts of the case in a nutshell is summarized hereinbelow:
One Smti. Mismai Begum @ Smti. Afzuman Nessa alongwith her daughter Smti. Motimai Begum have brought a suit being Title Suit No.14/88 in the Court of Munsiff No.1, Golaghat arraying 9 (nine) persons as party defendant. Out of 9 (nine) party defendants, Sri Faiz Ahmed, Sri Habibur Rahman, Sri Safiur Rahman and Tileswar Saikia were arrayed as main defendants whereas the defendant Nos. 5 to 9 who are own sons of plaintiff No.1 have been arrayed as proforma defendants. The plaintiff No.1 is the wife of Late Sheikh Md. Hussain whereas the plaintiff No.2 is the daughter of Late Sheikh Md. Hussain in the suit. The plaintiffs have prayed the following reliefs:
(a) For a declaration that the judgment and decree dated 23.6.88 passed in Title Suit No. 12 of 1987 by the learned Munsiff No.1, Golaghat is not legal and valid and the same is inoperative under the law,
(b) For a declaration that registered sale deed No.3758 dated 19.9.67 in connection with the land mentioned in schedule 'ka' of the plaint, shown as executed by Sk. Md. Hussain, husband of the plaintiff No.1 in favour of defendant No.4 is not valid sale deed and for cancellation of the same being forged and obtained fraudulently.
(c) For a declaration that on the basis of the aforesaid sale deed the defendant No.4 has not acquired any right, title and interest on the land mentioned in the schedule of the plaint;
(d) For permanent injunction;
(e) For recovery of khas possession in respect of 'Ka' schedule land mentioned in the schedule of the pla
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