IN THE HIGH COURT OF GAUHATI AT KOHIMA BENCH
Mir Alfaz Ali, J.
Elothung Kithan - Appellants
Vs.
Yankhosao Erui and Ors. - Respondents
First Appeal No. 2(K) of 2016
Decided On : 13-06-2019
Civil Procedure Court – Order-1 Rule 8 Order 14 Rule 2 – Declaration Of Title – This regular first appeal is directed against the judgment and decree passed by the learned District Judge, in T.S. – Counsel for the appellant submits that the suit land belongs to the Kithan Clan, to which plaintiff belong and some portion of the suit land were sold by the defendants illegally, though the defendants do not have any right, title over the same – The further contention of the learned counsel was that the defendant also resold the portion of the suit land, which were earlier sold by the father of the plaintiff and another clan member, representing the plaintiffs clan, and as such, the plaintiff is entitled to recover the price of the land, which was illegally obtained by the defendants from the purchasers (proforma defendants) – Held, Therefore, evidently and admittedly, the suit land is the property of the clan and not individual property of the plaintiff having exclusive right, title and interest therein – In fact, there is no specific pleading with regard to exclusive title of the plaintiff nor evidence was brought on record to establish the exclusive title of the plaintiff over the suit land – Even the plaintiff avoided the witness box – The sole witness examined by the plaintiff deposed in clear and unambiguous term that the suit property belongs to the clan – When there was no pleadings tracing out the exclusive title of the plaintiff, except making a prayer seeking declaration of title and admittedly the suit property to be of the clan, no decree declaring title of the plaintiff can be passed in absence of pleadings in a civil suit – The plaintiff having failed to establish exclusive right title over the suit properly, the suit of the plaintiff for declaration of his title is bound to fail – Therefore, the suit as well as the appeal deserves to be dismissed, though for the reasons different from the one on the basis of which the learned trial court dismissed the suit – In view of the foregoing discussions, this appeal appears to be devoid of merit and accordingly dismissed – Appeal Dismissed
JUDGMENT :
Mir Alfaz Ali, J.
1. This regular first appeal is directed against the judgment and decree dated 05.04.2016 passed by the learned District Judge, Wokha, Nagaland in T.S. No. 1/2013.
2. The plaintiff/appellant filed the suit (TS 1/2013) for declaration of title and other consequential reliefs. The case of the plaintiff was that the plaintiff and defendants belong to Kithan Clan. There was an earlier round of litigation between the plaintiff and defendants in respect of the present suit land, wherein, both the parties made rival claim of title over the suit land. The village court decided the suit in favour of the defendants. Against the decision of the village court, the plaintiff preferred an appeal before the Wokha Customary Court and the customary court upheld and confirmed the decision of the village court and thereby dismissed the appeal. Aggrieved by the decision of the customary court, the plaintiff preferred an appeal before the ADC (J), Wokha. The present defendants also filed an appeal before this court and this court while setting aside the impugned judgments passed by the village council as well as customary court, directed to file a fresh suit. Pursuant to the direction of this court, the present defendants filed TS. No. 3/1996 before the Court of ADC(J), Wokha. However, the said suit was withdrawn by the defendants without any leave to file fresh suit. After withdrawal of the Title Suit No. 3/1996 filed by the defendant in the year 2005, there was no further proceeding.
3. It was stated in the plaint that late Hakao Kithan, father of the present plaintiff sold a plot of land measuring 30 x 15 sq.ft. to proforma defendant No. 8, Yanajamo Khuvung, on 15.01.1991 for a consideration of Rs. 15,000/-. However, the defendants later on, claimed the said plot of land, which was sold by the father of the plaintiff, to be their own land and obtained Rs. 50,000/- from the proforma defendant No. 8 forcibly and resold the said land on 10.06.2013. By another Sale Deed dated 25.05.2013 executed by the Wokha Village 'B' Khel Echungmongrui Clan forcibly sold a plot of land measuring 30 X 35 sq. ft. to Sri Tsenjamo Tsopoe (proforma defendant No. 9). It was stated that the said land sold by Sale Deed dated 25.05.2013 was also a part of the suit land and as such, the plaintiff was entitled to get the aforementioned sale proceed. By Sale Deed dated 10.06.2013 executed by Wokha Village 'B' Khel Echungmongrui Clan forcibly sold another plot of land measuring 25 X 12 sq. ft. to Shri Nongothung Ezung (proforma defendant No. 10) located between PWD Office Road and Local Ground Road Wokha Town at a cost of Rs. 15,000/-. The land covered by the aforementioned sale deed dated 10.6.2013 was also a part of the suit land and the plaintiff was entitled to get the sale value of the said suit land. It was also stated that by another sale deed dated 18.11.1993, a plot of land was sold by the father of the present plaintiff late Hakao Kithan and one Sri Nchanimo Kithan representing the Kithan Clan to the proforma defendant No. 7, Sri Y. Ekyimo Ezung.
4. On 30.05.2013, the defendant No. 1, Sri Yamosao Erui forcibly cut a plot of land measuring 15 X 12 sq. ft. and put a fencing, which was removed by the plaintiff on 31.05.2013. However, the defendant No. 6 threatened to destroy the construction and dispossess the Kithan Clan from the said land. The suit land has been described in paragraph-19(a) of the plaint as under:
"The suit land is bounded on the Eastern side in a small nullah coming up on the Western side is PWD Store and from there the Soil Department Office and PWD Office. And from Southern side a small nullah near Late Renbomo's building and from there after crossing the main road, DCs Office, Police Station and upto the entire Hill area that is up to the Hill was the Western side."
5. The defendant by filing written statement raised various legal pleas pertaining to maintainability, non-joinder of necessary party, bar of limitation, lack o
Dwaraka Prasad Agarwalla Vs. Legal Heirs of Nil Kamal Bezbaruah & Ors.
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