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2007 Supreme(Ker) 279

Judges : M.SASIDHARAN NAMBIAR
Kottangoodan Mohammed - Appellant
Versus
K.Saidalavi - Respondent
Case No : S.A.Nos.868 and 874 of 1994
Decided On : 06/07/2007
Advocates Appeared :
For the Appellants: K. Ramachandran & S. Jayasree, Advocates. For the Respondents: T. Krishnanunni, Advocate.

The burden of proof is on the person seeking to sustain a transaction entered into with a Pardanashin woman to establish that she executed it after clearly understanding the nature of the transaction.

Headnote:

Gift Deed - Property Partition - Ext.A-3, Ext.B-1, Ext.B-2, Ext.B-3 - The court discussed the validity of Ext.A-3 gift deed, the burden of proof, and the presumption applicable to transactions by Pardanashin women. The court also considered the evidence of attestation and the acceptance and acting upon the gift deed by the donees. The decision was based on the finding that the gift deed was valid and not vitiated by undue influence, leading to the dismissal of the appeals.

Fact of the Case:

The appellant sought a decree for partition and allotment of his share in a property, while respondents filed a suit seeking a decree for permanent prohibitory injunction contending that the property belonged to them absolutely. Both suits were tried jointly, and the Munsiff passed a preliminary decree for partition. The Sub Judge, on reappreciation of evidence, set aside the findings and held that the gift deed was valid and binding on the appellant, leading to the dismissal of the partition suit and granting of a decree for injunction.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the Ext.A-3 gift deed was valid and not vitiated by undue influence, and the appellant was not entitled to claim a share in the property. The court also dismissed the appeals filed by the respondents.

Issues: The issues revolved around the validity of the gift deed, burden of proof, presumption applicable to transactions by Pardanashin women, and the acceptance and acting upon the gift deed by the donees.

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the burden of proof is on the person seeking to sustain a transaction entered into with a Pardanashin woman to establish that she executed it after clearly understanding the nature of the transaction. The court also emphasized the importance of evidence of attestation and the acceptance and acting upon the gift deed by the donees.

Final Decision: The court dismissed the appeals and upheld the decision that the gift deed was valid and not vitiated by undue influence, leading to the dismissal of the partition suit and granting of a decree for injunction.

Judgment :-

Appellant instituted O.S.4 of 1985 before Munsiff Court, Parappanangadi seeking a decree for partition and allotment of his share in the plaint B schedule property having an extent of 2.42 acres in R.S.223/1 of Cherukad Village of Eranad Taluk. Respondents 1 and 2 filed O.S.299 of 1984 seeking a decree for permanent prohibitory injunction in respect of the same property contending that the property belongs to them absolutely. Plaint B schedule property admittedly originally belonged to deceased Pathummakutty Umma having obtained it on lease. Appellant is the son of Pathummakutty Umma in her first husband. Respondents 1 to 3 are the children born to her in her second marriage. Appellant contended that on the death of Pathummakutty Umma, plaint B schedule property devolved on all the legal heirs and therefore he is entitled to 2/7 shares and 3rd respondent is entitled to 1 /7 shares and respondents 1 and 2, 2/7 shares each. Respondents contended that plaint B schedule property is not available for partition as under Ext.A-3 gift deed executed on 23-1-1963, Pathummakutty Umma had gifted the properties to respondents 1 and 2 and the gift deed was acted upon and accepted by them and being the donees, respondents 1 and 2 were in possession of the property since then and under Ext. B-1 registered partition deed dated 19-7-1965, the property was divided between respondents 1 and 2 and first respondent purchased jenmom right from the Land Tribunal in respect of the property obtained under Ext. A-3 and B-1 evidenced by Ext.B-2 purchase certificate and second respondent purchased jenmom right from the Land Tribunal in respect of the property obtained by him under Ext.B-1 evidenced by Ext.B-3 purchase certificate and they were separately paying tax for the respective portions of the property since then and therefore appellant is not entitled to claim any share. Appellant sought the decree for partition after getting Ext.A-3 gift deed set aside on the ground that it is vitiated by undue influence and hence not binding on the appellant or plaint B schedule property.

2. Respondents 1 and 2 in their suit contended that they are in absolute possession and enjoyment of the plaint schedule property under Ext.A-3 gift deed and under Ext.B-1 partition deed and Exts.B-2 and B-3 purchase certificates and defendants are not entitled to trespass into the plaint schedule property and therefore they arc to be restrained by a permanent prohibitory injunction. Defendants in their written statement contended that they are in joint possession of the property as the property originally belonged to the mother Pathummakutty Umma and on her death it devolved on appellant also and they are in joint possession of the property and therefore respondents 1 and 2 are not entitled to the decree sought for. Both suits were tried jointly. Appellant was examined as P.W.1 and a witness was examined as P.W.2. First respondent was examined as D.W.1 and a witness was examined as D.W.2. Exts.A-1 to A-3 on the side of appellant and Exts.B-1 to B-29 on the side of respondents were marked.

3. Learned Munsiff on the evidence found that the original of Ext.A-3 gift deed was not produced and Ext.A-3 gift deed was executed by an illiterate old lady and respondents 1 and 2 did not establish that the gift deed was validly executed by deceased Pathummakutty Umma or that it was accepted and acted upon. It was held that on the death of Pathummakutty Umma the property devolved on all the children and Ext.A-3 gift deed is not valid. A preliminary decree was passed directing division of the plaint B schedule property into seven shares and allotment of two such shares to appellant after setting aside Ext.A-3 gift deed. O.S.299 of 1984 was dismissed in view of the preliminary decree passed in O.S.4 of 1985.

4. Respondents 1 and 2 challenged the Decree and Judgment in A.S.1 of 1989 and A.S.11 of 1989. Learned Sub Judge, on reappreciation of evidence, set aside the findings of the lear















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