IN THE HIGH COURT OF GAUHATI, ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH
MIR ALFAZ ALI, J.
Partha Sarathi Chakraborty and Others – Petitioners
Versus
Gopal Nanda Goswami and Another – Respondents
RSA No. 99 of 2009
Decided On : 17-07-2018
EVIDENCE - Land Dispute - Indian Evidence Act, 1872 - Section 65, Section 67, Section 74, Section 63, Section 61, Section 64 - The court discussed the admissibility of a certified copy of a sale-deed as secondary evidence and the burden of proof in a land dispute. The court held that the certified copy of the sale-deed was admissible as secondary evidence and that the defendants failed to discharge their burden of proving their claim over the disputed land. The court also found that the findings of the first appellate court regarding the identity of the suit land were perverse and against the weight of evidence.
Fact of the Case:
The plaintiff filed a suit for declaration of right title and interest, recovery of khas possession, permanent injunction, and other reliefs over a disputed land. The defendants claimed possession of a different portion of land and disputed the identity of the suit land.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the certified copy of the sale-deed was admissible as secondary evidence and that the defendants failed to prove their claim over the disputed land. The court also found that the findings of the first appellate court regarding the identity of the suit land were perverse and against the weight of evidence.
Issues: The issues included the admissibility of the certified copy of the sale-deed, the burden of proof in a land dispute, and the identification of the suit land.
Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the certified copy of the sale-deed was admissible as secondary evidence and that the defendants failed to discharge their burden of proving their claim over the disputed land. The court also found that the findings of the first appellate court regarding the identity of the suit land were perverse and against the weight of evidence.
Final Decision: The court set aside the judgment and decree of the appellate court and restored the judgment and decree passed by the trial court in favor of the plaintiff.
1. This second appeal is filed challenging the judgment and decree dated 31.03.2009 passed by the learned Civil Judge No. 1, Cachar at Silchar in Title Appeal No. 4/2008, whereby learned Appellate Court reversed the judgment and decree passed by the learned Munsiff No. 1 in Title Suit No. 113/2006 and dismissed the suit of the plaintiff/appellant.
2. Facts leading to the present second appeal may be stated as follows:-
Gopendra Bhusan Chakraborty, the predecessor of the present appellant, filed a suit being Title Suit No. 113/2006 (48/2004) against the respondents, Gopal Nandan Goswami and Gita Rani Namasudra for declaration of right title and interest, recovery of khas possession, permanent injunction and other reliefs. During pendency of the suit, Gopendra Bhusan Chakraborty died and his legal heirs were brought on record. The defendant Nos. 3, 4 and 5 were also subsequently impleaded as proforma defendants by way of amendment. The case of the plaintiff was that Prakriti Rani Chakraborty, wife of late Gopendra Bhusan Chakraborty was the owner of the land measuring 3 Katha 8 Chataks covered by Second RS. Patta No. 163 and Dag No. 713/724. Prakriti Rani Chakraborty died in the year 1998 and her legal heirs by executing a registered gift deed on 19.03.2001, gifted the aforesaid 3 kathas 8 chataks of land along with other land to Abhra Kanti Chakraborty, the youngest son of Prakriti Rani Chakraborty. Later on, the said Abhra Kanti Chakraborty sold the suit land along with other land to one Ujjal Seal and Amal Mazumdar. Subsequently, the suit land was repurchased by the plaintiff from the said Ujjal Seal and Amal Mazumdar vide registered sale-deed dated 26.03.2002. After purchasing the land from Ujjal Seal and Amal Mazumdar, the plaintiffs have been possessing the suit land. The plaintiffs allowed the defendants to occupy 1 (one) katha of land out of the suit land as permissive occupier. Subsequently, the defendants illegally occupied another 1 (one) katha of land out of the 3 katha 8 chataks. The land illegally occupied by the defendants has been shown in Schedule 2 and 3 and the entire suit land has been shown in Schedule 1 of the plaint. When the plaintiffs asked the defendants to vacate the suit land covered by Schedule 2 and 3, the defendants initially sought for time, however, ultimately refused to vacate the suit land and therefore, the plaintiffs filed the suit for declaration of right title and interest in Schedule A land measuring 3 katha 8 chataks and recovery of possession in respect of land described in Schedule 2 and 3 of the plaint.
3. The case of the defendants was that the plaintiffs have no right tile and interest over the suit land, as the suit land was sold to Ujjal Seal and Amal Mazumdar by registered sale- deed and possession was delivered to them. Further case of the defendants was that the defendants have been possessing the land measuring 3 katha covered by Khas Dag No. 637, and not the land covered by RS Patta No. 163. On the basis of the above pleadings of the parties, learned Munsiff framed the following issues:
1. Whether there is cause of action for the suit?
2. Whether the suit is maintainable in the present form and manner?
3. Whether the suit is barred by law?
4. Whether the suit is bad for defect of parties?
5. Whether the plaintiffs have right, title and interest over the suit land?
6. Whether the plaintiffs are entitled to get any relief as prayed for?
4. Both the parties adduced evidence, oral as well as documentary and after hearing both the sides, learned Munsiff decreed the suit in favour of the plaintiffs. Being aggrieved, the defendants/respondents preferred an appeal before the learned Civil Judge and learned Civil Judge by the impugned judgment and decree, allowed the appeal and dismissed the suit of the plaintiffs/appellants.
5. Aggrieved by the judgment and decree of the learned appellate Court reversing the decree of the learned trial Court, the plaintiffs/appellants have preferred th
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