2015 Supreme(Gau) 439
IN THE HIGH COURT OF GAUHATI
Nishitendu Chaudhury, J.
Imtiaz Rasul - Appellants
Vs.
Ataur Rasul and Ors. - Respondent
RSA No. 174 of 2003
Decided On : 19.02.2015
For The Appellant :A.C. Sarma, Advocate
For The Respondents:R. Hussain, Advocate
Headnote:
Transfer of Property Act, 1882 - Chapter II - Section 123 - Limitation Act - Section 59 - Mullahs Mohammedan Law - Section 149 - Gift deed - Suit property - Seeking declaration of his right, title, interest and for permanent injunction - Plaintiff suit was decreed by the learned trial court holding that there was no gift in terms of the Provision of Mohammedan Law and the same was upheld by the defendant - Sole respondent, late as plaintiff instituted Title Suit in the Court of learned Civil Judge (Senior Division) No. 1, Kamrup, at Guwahati, seeking declaration of his right, title, interest and for permanent injunction - Plaintiff stated that he and the defendant are Sunni Muslims by faith and that defendant is his brother - Plaintiff was the absolute owner of the plot of land measuring 11 lechas particularly described in schedule to the plaint - Defendant being his younger brother had influenced him to execute a registered gift deed being in favour of the defendant. Although he executed the gift deed and got it registered but did not hand over, possession of the same – Held, defendant started harassing the plaintiff. This pleading made in the plaint has been supported by the plaintiff in his evidence and in cross-examination also such statement is not discredited - Addition to that P.W. 2 a tenant to the ancestral property of the parties came to the witness box and deposed that plaintiff has been all along in possession and there was difficulty between the plaintiff and the defendant since aforementioned date. Prima facie, once such pleadings of the plaintiff has been proved that the dispute arose because of cause of action and it has been proved by oral evidence of two witnesses and more particularly when the defendant could not bring any independent witness to rebut the same, merely because there was mutation in the records of rights in favour of the defendant on the basis of the gift deed, cannot change the situation. Since the plaintiff has succeeded to prove that all along he continued to remain in possession in the suit land and that defendant approached him for handing over possession leading to cause of action of the suit, the suit cannot be held to be barred by limitation under Section 59 of the Limitation Act. Accordingly, second substantial question of law is also decided in favour of the respondent - Second appeal is dismissed.
Nishitendu Chaudhury, J.
1. This Second Appeal is directed against the concurrent findings of two Courts below. The plaintiff suit was decreed by the learned trial court holding that there was no gift in terms of the Provision of Mohammedan Law and the same was upheld by the defendant. The sole respondent, late Ataur Rasul, as plaintiff instituted Title Suit No. 258 of 1998 in the Court of learned Civil Judge (Senior Division) No. 1, Kamrup, at Guwahati, seeking declaration of his right, title, interest and for permanent injunction. The plaintiff stated that he and the defendant are Sunni Muslims by faith and that defendant is his brother. The plaintiff was the absolute owner of the plot of land measuring 11 lechas particularly described in schedule to the plaint. In the year 1975 the defendant being his younger brother had influenced him to execute a registered gift deed being No. 10047 dated 17.11.1975 in favour of the defendant. Although he executed the gift deed and got it registered but did not hand over, possession of the same. Thereafter, on or about 03.08.1998 the defendant approached the plaintiff and demanded possession of the property on the basis of the aforesaid gift deed to which the plaintiff declined. Consequently, the defendants started harassing the plaintiff. Because of such harassment consequent to refusal of the plaintiff to hand over possession to the defendant, the plaintiff was compelled to institute the suit praying for declaration that notwithstanding execution of registered gift deed dated 17.11.1975, right, title and interest of the property remained with him. The defendant did not acquire any right, title and interest to the suit property and/or injunction restraining the defendant and his her is, legal representatives, men or servants, employees, agent, attorneys and/or other person from alienating, selling, transferring, leasing and/or changing the nature and character of the suit property mentioned in the registered gift deed.
2. The defendant appeared and submitted written statement denying averments made in the plaint and stated that he was given possession with respect to the property and that story of his approaching the plaintiff on 03.09.1998 is not correct. He, therefore, claimed that the suit be dismissed with cost of Rs. 5,000/-. On the basis of such rival contention of the parties, the learned trial court framed as many as 6 (six) issues and the same are quoted below:
1. Whether the suit is maintainable in the present form?
2. Whether there is cause of action for the suit?
3. Whether the suit is barred by limitation?
4. Whether the suit is bad for waiver, estoppels and acquiescence?
5. Whether gift deed No. 10047 dated 17.11.1975 is liable to be cancelled and the same is inoperative, null and void and ab-initio?
6. What relief the parties are entitled to?
3. The plaintiff examined two witnesses including himself and exhibited some documents. The defendant also examined himself and exhibited some documents like jamabandi.
4. Upon perusal of the evidence brought on record and after hearing the learned counsel for the parties, the learned trial court by his judgment and decree dated 24.12.2001 decreed the suit in entirety and restrained the defendant from challenging the nature and character of the suit property mentioned in the aforesaid gift deed. Aggrieved, the defendant preferred Title Appeal No. 7 of 2002. The learned First Appellate Court after hearing the parties and considering all the materials available on record decided issue No. 5 again in its own way holding that registration and execution of the gift deed cannot make the gift valid under Mohammedan Law unless all the three conditions precedent as mentioned in Section 149 of Mullah's Mohammedan Law are satisfied in a gift made by a Mohammedan to another Mohammedan. The learned first appellate court further observed that not only the P.W. 1 but independent witness P.W. 2 who is a tenant of the property stated on oath coming to