Kerala High Court
D.SREEDEVI
Thottathil Thamasikkum Cherootty alias Balan - Appellant
Versus
Puliyaratharayil Velayudhan Nair - Respondent
Decided On : 01/16/1998
right of way - property dispute - [Easement Act, Section 15] - The court discussed the plaintiff's claim of right of way over the defendant's property, considering the nature of easement, easement of necessity, and easement by prescription. The court held that the plaintiff failed to establish continuous use of the pathway for the required period to claim easement by prescription under Section 15 of the Easement Act. The court also considered the existence of an alternative pathway, which defeated the claim of easement of necessity. The court ultimately concluded that the plaintiff cannot claim the right of way over the defendant's property.
Fact of the Case:
The plaintiff claimed a right of way through the defendant's property and filed a suit for permanent injunction. The trial court dismissed the suit, but the first appellate court granted a decree for permanent injunction. The defendant appealed against this decision, and the Second Appeal set aside the first appellate court's judgment and restored the trial court's decree.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the plaintiff failed to establish the right of way over the defendant's property and cannot claim easement by prescription or easement of necessity. The court held that the plaintiff cannot obtain a decree of injunction as prayed for and restored the trial court's decree.
Issues: The main issue was the plaintiff's claim of right of way over the defendant's property and the validity of the decree for permanent injunction.
Ratio Decidendi: The court's decision was based on the failure of the plaintiff to establish continuous use of the pathway for the required period to claim easement by prescription under Section 15 of the Easement Act and the existence of an alternative pathway, which defeated the claim of easement of necessity.
Final Decision: The Second Appeal allowed, the decree and judgment of the first appellate court are set aside, and the decree and judgment of the trial court are restored. No costs.
This Second Appeal is directed against the decree and judgment in A.S. No. 97 of 1987 of the Sub Court, Kozhikode, which was filed against the decree and judgment in O.S. No. 608 of 1983 of the Munsiff's Court, Kozhikode. The defendant is the appellant.
2. The plaintiff's case is this : The plaint A schedule property originally belonged to Thekka Palangat tarwad, from whom the property devolved on Kayyalil Achuma. One Kunhirayan purchased the property from Kayyalil Achuma in the year 1959. He had put up a building and effected improvements. The plaintiff purchased the property in 1966 from Kunhirayan. Kunhirayan dismantled the building, which was in a dilapidated condition and put up a new one and started residing therein. The plaintiff and his predecessors in interest were using the B Schedule bund for ingress and egress to the plaint A schedule item. The properties on either side of the B schedule belongs to the defendant. The A schedule property is lying on a lower level. On the allegation that the defendant is attempting to annex a portion of the bund which is used as a pathway to his property the suit has been filed for a decree of permanent injuction.
3. The defendant contested the suit. He would contend that the plaintiff has no right over the B schedule property, as it forms part of his property. The property belonging to the defendnt is a paddy field and B schedule is the varamba in between the paddy fields. An electric post has been planted in the varamba without the consent of the defendant. The post was planted on 17-2-1983. In spite of repeated requests the defendant did not remove the post. Since the defendant has come to know that the post was planted for drawing electric line to a neighbour's house, he did not pursue further for removal of the post. He also denies the allegation that he had attempted to annex the pathway to his property. The plaintiff has access to his property through the southern pathway. The plaintiff and others filed a petition before the R.D.O., alleging that the defendant is obstructing the pathway. The plaintiff and defendant were examined and later it was agreed to provide way for the use of the complainants including the plaintiff through the paddy-field in the possession of the defendant. Thus, a new way was put up so as to gain access from the north-eastern corner of the plaint A schedule property to the public way on the north.
4. The trial Court, after taking evidence, dismissed the suit. Aggrieved by the said decre and judgment, the plaintiff filed A.S. No. 97 of 1987 before the District Court, Kozhikode as A.S. No. 120 of 1987, which was later transferred to the Sub Court, Kozhikode and renumbered as A.S. No. 97 of 1987. The learned Sub Judge set aside the decree and judgment of the trial Court and granted a decree for permanent injunction restraining the defendant from interfering with the user of the B schedule passage and also from altering the width of the passage as noted by the Commissioner in Ext. C4 plan. Aggrieved by the said decree and judgment, the defendant has preferred this Second Appeal.
5. Admittedly, the plaint A schedule property originally belonged to Thekke Palangat tarwad and by subsequent assignment it devolved on the plaintiff. The property on the northern side of the A schedule item belongs to the defendant. The plaintiff claims a right of way through B schedule property, which is part and parcel of the defendant's property. A schedule property is lying on a lower level. A commission was issued to prepare a plan of the properties belonging to the plaintiff and the defendant. Plant A schedule property is lying on the sought of the defendant's property. B schedule portion is a bund which starts from the northern road and runs towards the south and ends in the A schedule. According to the plaintiff, he has been using the said pathway for his ingress and egress to the A schedule property. The plaintiff is residing in the building the A schedule item. T
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