High Court of Kerala
M. SASIDHARAN NAMBIAR
Mohammed Haneefa & Others
Versus
Salim & Others
RSA.No. 1373 of 2004 & R.S.A.No.147 of 2005
Decided on : 14-03-2011
Mohammedan Law - Section 118 - Suit for partition - Appellants filed a suit seeking a decree for declaration of their title, possession and for permanent prohibitory injunction - Plaintiff and defendants 7, 8 and 17 sought partition of the plaint schedule properties contending that plaint schedule properties are available for partition and his rights devolved on his legal heirs under Mohammedan Law - Contending that the appellants alone have right in the said properties - Based on Exhibit B2 will, it is contended that in view of Exhibit B2 will, said properties are not available for partition - Held, Parties are entitled to adduce further evidence in respect of availability or non-availability of any of the plaint schedule properties for partition - Partly allowed.
1. Appellants in R.S.A.No.1373/2004 are defendants 1 to 6 in O.S.No.311/1992 on the file of Sub Court, Attingal. They are the plaintiffs in O.S.No.189/1992. R.S.A.No.147/2005 is filed challenging the concurrent judgment and decree in O.S.No. 189/1992. Respondents 1 and 10 were the original plaintiffs in O.S.No.311/1992. Subsequently, tenth respondent was transposed as Defendant No.17. Respondents 2 to 9 are defendants 7 to 13 and 15 in O.S.No.311/1992. O.S.No.311/1992 was filed seeking a decree for partition of the plaint schedule properties and separation of the share of the first respondent. Appellants filed O.S.No.189/1992 seeking a decree for declaration of their title, possession and for permanent prohibitory injunction on the strength of Exhibit B2 will. Plaint schedule properties in O.S.No.189/1992 was only four items of the properties involved in O.S.No.311/1992. Plaint schedule properties in O.S.No.311/1992, apart from the properties involved in O.S.No.189/1992, includes the property scheduled as Item Nos.(a) to (m). Plaint schedule properties originally belonged to Appi Kunju Meera Sahib. Second appellant and second respondent in R.S.A.No.1373/2004, namely, defendants 2 and 7, were admittedly the widows of Meera Sahib. Appellants 1 and 3 to 6 are the children of Meera Sahib in the second appellant. Respondents 1 to 3 and 10 are the children of Meera Sahib in second respondent. They are respectively the plaintiff and defendants 7, 8 and 17 in O.S.No.311/1992. O.S.No. 311/1992 was filed seeking partition of the plaint schedule properties contending that plaint schedule properties are available for partition as they originally belonged to Meera Sahib and his rights devolved on his legal heirs under Mohammedan Law. Defendants 9 to 16 (Defendants 14 and 16 were subsequently removed) were impleaded as the building tenants and they have no right in the property. O.S.No.189/1992 was filed contending that Meera Sahib executed Exhibit B2 will 7/1978 on 12.3.1978 whereunder, he bequeathed the plaint schedule properties in O.S.No.189/1992 in favour of appellants and therefore, appellants alone have right in the said properties. Appellants sought declaration of title and possession over the said properties and sought a decree for injunction restraining respondents in R.S.A.No.147/2005 from trespassing into the plaint schedule properties. They resisted the claim for partition raising similar contentions. Based on Exhibit B2 will, it is contended that in view of Exhibit B2 will, said properties are not available for partition. Learned Sub Judge tried both the suits jointly. O.S.No.311/1992 was treated as the main case. Evidence consists of Exhibits A1 to A14, B1 to B20 and Exhibit C1 and oral evidence of PWs 1 and 2 and DWs 1 to 5.
2. Learned Sub Judge, on the evidence, found that Exhibit B2 will was not revoked by tearing into pieces as claimed by respondents 1 to 3. Learned Sub Judge also found that Exhibit B2 is a will and not a gift as contended by the appellants and could take effect only on the death of Meera Sahib on 4.12.1990. Learned Sub Judge found that on the date of execution of Exhibit B2 will, namely, 12.3.1978, Meera Sahib executed Exhibits B3 and B4 gift deeds in favour of respondents 1 and 10 and the property bequeathed under Exhibit B2 exceeds one third of the assets left behind by the deceased. Learned Sub Judge also found that as provided under Section 117 of Mohammedan Law, the bequest under Exhibit B2, to become valid against respondents 1 to 3 and 10, legal heirs shall give their consent and from the fact that after the death of Meera Sahib, within one month O.S.No.311/1992 was instituted (originally instituted as O.S.No.14/1991) it is clear that there was no consent by them after the death of the testator and therefore, Exhibit B2 will not operate as against their rights. Learned Sub Judge also found that as the bequest exceeds one third of the assets as provided under Section 117 of Mohammedan Law,
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