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2018 Supreme(Ker) 51

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA
A. HARIPRASAD, J.
Narayanan Radhakrishna Menon - Appellant
Versus
Narayanan Sukumara Menon & Others - Respondents
S.A. Nos. 237 & 239 of 1998
Decided On : 10-01-2018

Advocates Appeared:
For the Appellant : S.V. Balakrishna Iyer, P.B. Krishnan
For the Respondents: Pirappancode V.S. Sudhir, S.P. Aravindakshan Pillai

Headnote:

The Transfer of Property Act- Section 10-A right originating from a custom must be specifically pleaded and proved. There is absolutely no pleading of a customary right in that regard-The claim of right to property to perform rituals cannot be legally recognized-Though Section 10 of the TP Act may not be directly applicable to a deed of partition, absolute restraint on alienation in a deed of family settlement or partition will be invalid on general principles of law

Statement of facts:

Suit for permanent prohibitory injunction- Plaint schedule property, with other items, originally belonged to Areepparambathu Raghava Menon. He bequeathed the plaint schedule property in favour of the plaintiffs' mother, Gouri Amma Bhavani Amma, by executing a Will dated 17.08.1122 M.E. After his death, the Will took effect and the property devolved on the legatee. There was a partition in the thavazhi of Bhavani Amma and D schedule in the deed of partition was set apart to the share of the plaintiffs-These two suits should have been tried jointly. Instead, they were tried separately. Suit filed by the appellant and another (O.S.No.538 of 1986) was dismissed and the suit against the appellant and others (O.S.No.842 of 1986) was decreed. Hence they preferred A.S.Nos.91 of 1989 and 98 of 1990 before the Court of Subordinate Judge, Cherthala. The appeals were heard jointly and disposed by a common judgment. Pending the appeals, 2nd plaintiff in O.S.No.538 of 1986 died. The lower appellate court confirmed the judgments and decrees passed by the trial court and dismissed the appeals

Finding of the court:

Suit for permanent prohibitory injunction- Plaint schedule property, with other items, originally belonged to Areepparambathu Raghava Menon- He bequeathed the plaint schedule property in favour of the plaintiffs' mother, Gouri Amma Bhavani Amma, by executing a Will dated 17.08.1122 M.E. After his death, the Will took effect and the property devolved on the legatee. There was a partition in the thavazhi of Bhavani Amma and D schedule in the deed of partition was set apart to the share of the plaintiffs

Result: Allowed

Judgement Key Points

Key Points: - The judgment discusses voidness of absolute restraints on alienation in partition deeds and their alignment with Section 10 and 11 TP Act principles (!) (!) (!) (!) (!) . - It analyzes whether a partition deed can be treated as a transfer for applying Section 10/11 TP Act and the resulting public policy implications (!) (!) (!) . - It holds that Ext.A1 Will is proven in original form from proper custody and more than 30 years old, addressing execution, attestation, and testamentary capacity, with considerations of Section 90 and related case law (!) (!) (!) (!) (!) . - It addresses mis-description of property in a Will and the applicability of principles like falsa demonstratio non nocet to identify the intended bequest (!) (!) (!) . - It concludes that mis-descriptions do not void the bequest where identity can be ascertained through boundary descriptions and surrounding documents (!) (!) (!) .

What is the validity of a restriction on alienation in a partition deed under the Transfer of Property Act?

What is the evidentiary effect and proof requirements for Ext.A1 Will under Section 90 of the Evidence Act and related sections?

What is the impact of mis-descriptions in property descriptions within wills and partition deeds on their validity and identification of the property?


JUDGMENT :

1. These second appeals emanate from the judgments and decrees in two suits; viz., O.S.Nos.538 of 1986 and 842 of 1986 filed before the Munsiff's Court, Cherthala. Appellant is the 1st plaintiff in O.S.No.538 of 1986 and the 1st defendant in O.S.No.842 of 1986. Contesting respondents are the opposite parties to the suits.

2. Brief facts are as follows: O.S.No.538 of 1986 is a suit for permanent prohibitory injunction. Plaint schedule property, with other items, originally belonged to Areepparambathu Raghava Menon. He bequeathed the plaint schedule property in favour of the plaintiffs' mother, Gouri Amma Bhavani Amma, by executing a Will dated 17.08.1122 M.E. After his death, the Will took effect and the property devolved on the legatee. There was a partition in the thavazhi of Bhavani Amma and D schedule in the deed of partition was set apart to the share of the plaintiffs. Since the 1st plaintiff was residing away, his younger brother, the 2nd plaintiff, was looking after the property. When the plaintiffs started construction of a building in the property, the defendants obstructed. Hence the suit for prohibitory injunction.

3. In the written statement the defendants contended that the plaint schedule property never formed part of survey No.186/5A-2, having an extent of 1.53 acres. It formed part of 2.63 acres in survey No. 186/5A. It is included in 63 cents, on the northern extremity of 2.63 acres of land. 63 cents mentioned above was not included in the Will. It is pertinent to note that execution of the Will by Raghava Menon was not disputed at all. Plaintiffs' mother did not get any right over 63 cents of land. Plaint schedule property was kept in common, as item No.37 of A schedule in a partition deed of the year 1100 M.E. That property had been used by the family members as a cremation ground. Thereafter, members of the family started using it for some rituals, like “paravaippu” and “thalapoli” in connection with “arattu” procession of Cherthala Devi Temple. Plaintiffs are not entitled to construct any building in the plaint schedule property.

4. The contentions raised in the plaint in O.S.No.842 of 1986 are identical to the plea in the written statement in O.S.No.538 of 1986. The contesting defendants in O.S.No.538 of 1986 are the plaintiffs herein. They reiterated their contentions and claimed an injunction decree against the defendants (plaintiffs in O.S.No.538 of 1986) from making any construction in the property.

5. Defendants in the above suit contended that they are entitled to the property by virtue of the bequest by Raghava Menon in favour of their mother and also by subsequent partition in the family.

6. Ideally, these two suits should have been tried jointly. Instead, they were tried separately. Suit filed by the appellant and another (O.S.No.538 of 1986) was dismissed and the suit against the appellant and others (O.S.No.842 of 1986) was decreed. Hence they preferred A.S.Nos.91 of 1989 and 98 of 1990 before the Court of Subordinate Judge, Cherthala. The appeals were heard jointly and disposed by a common judgment. Pending the appeals, 2nd plaintiff in O.S.No.538 of 1986 died. The lower appellate court confirmed the judgments and decrees passed by the trial court and dismissed the appeals.

7. Heard the learned Senior Counsel appearing for the appellant and the learned counsel for the respondents.

8. Learned Senior Advocate contended that the lower appellate court erred in not considering the scope and legal effect of Exts.B1, A8 and A9 documents. Documents are referred to in the order in which they are marked in O.S.No.538 of 1986. It is further contended that the lower appellate court committed a grave mistake in proceeding on the basis that the appellant did not prove his title and possession to the suit property merely for the reason that there is a difference in survey number shown in the plaint as well as in the documents. It is the definite contention that the court below failed to advert to the reci

































































































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