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1992 Supreme(Ker) 429

High Court of Kerala
P.A. Mohammed, J.
Indira V Menon - Appellant
Versus
Padmavathy Amma & Ors - Respondent
S.A. No. 546 of 1987
Decided On : 27-11-1992

When both parties agree to appoint a second commissioner for valid reasons, the evidentiary value of the first report is automatically detached, and the court need not pass separate orders setting it aside.

Headnote:

Commissioner Report - Property Dispute - O.26 R.10(3) - The court appointed a second commissioner to prepare a fresh report and plan, and relied on the second report without setting aside the first report. The court held that when both parties agree to appoint a second commissioner for valid reasons, the evidentiary value of the first report is automatically detached, and the court need not pass separate orders setting it aside. The judgment and decree passed by the lower appellate court in A. S. Nos. 43/86 and 46/86 are confirmed.

Fact of the Case:

The case involved a property dispute between Padmavathy Amma and the legal heirs of Balakrishna Menon. The dispute centered around the ownership and possession of specific portions of jointly owned property, leading to multiple suits and appeals.

Finding of the Court:

The court dismissed the appeals and confirmed the judgment and decree passed by the lower appellate court, which relied on the second commissioner's report without setting aside the first report.

Issues: The main issue was whether the lower appellate court was justified in relying on the second commissioner's report without setting aside the first report.

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that when both parties agree to appoint a second commissioner for valid reasons, the evidentiary value of the first report is automatically detached, and the court need not pass separate orders setting it aside.

Final Decision: Both the appeals were dismissed, and the judgment and decree passed by the lower appellate court in A. S. Nos. 43/86 and 46/86 were confirmed.

JUDGMENT

P.A. Mohammed, J.

1. These second appeals arise from a common judgment of the Subordinate Judge's Court, Ernakulam in A S. Nos. 43 and 46 of 1986. Bath these appeals were filed by one Balakrishna Menon. He died some time later and hence his daughter Indira V. Menon and son inlaw K. P. V. Menon were impleaded as legal heirs in view of the recital contained in the assignment deed executed by him in favour of them. Deceased Balakrishna Menon was the second defendant in O. S. No. 809 of 1981 filed by his sitter Padmavathy Amma. The rights of the first defendant Kochammini Amma where later assigned to Balakrishna Menon. Thus the main contest in these appeals is between Padmavathy Amma and legal heirs of Balakrishna Menon.

2. The common facts involved in these appeals are narrated hereunder:

Balakrishna Menon along with three sisters, Janaki Amma, Ammalu Amma and Kochammini Amma jointly purchased an item of property as per the deed No. 432/1125. That property was later divided among the sharers as per the partition deed No. 420/1966. Balakrishna Menon and his sister Kochammini Amma obtained their share of 35 1/2 cents jointly. In the year 1968 Kochammini Amma executed a conditional sale deed in respect of six cents, a portion of the above joint property in favour A of Padmavathy Amma as per registered deed No. 1786/68 (Ext. A1 in O.S. 809/81) Kochammini Amma having failed to fulfil the conditions, the sale in favour of Padmavathy Amma became absolute. Thereupon Balakrishna Menon executed a registered deed releasing his rights in respect of the above six cents of land assigned to Padmavathy Amma. This six cents of land is the plaint A schedule property in O. S. No 809/81. A portion of this property having an area of about 40 feet in length and 2 1/2 feet in width is the plaint schedule property in the said suit.

Later a portion of the joint property belonging to Kochammini Amma and Balakrishna Menon was again sold to one Sarada Amma leaving a balance of 13 cents in the possession of Balakrishna Menon. In October 1981 Kochammini Amma released all her rights over the 13 cents to Balakrishna Menon as per the release deed. Thus Balakrishna Menon became the absolute owner of this 13 cents of land. This is plaint A schedule property in O. S. No. 1039/81.

O.S. No. 809/81: In this suit filed by Padmavathy Amma, she prayed for a declaration of title and recovery of possession of plaint B schedule property. She had started construction of a residential building in plaint A schedule property. When construction reached upto the level of sunshade, Kochammini Amma and Balakrishna Menon, defendants in the suit, under the guise of putting up additional construction in the western side of their property encroached into plaint B schedule property. It was under that situation O. S. No 809/81 was filed before the Munsiff's Court, Ernakulam

O. S. No 1039/81: Balakrishna Menon who was the second defendant in O. S. No 809/81 filed this suit before the Munsiff's Court, Ernakulam for a permanent prohibitory injunction restraining Padmavathy Amma from completing the construction of the building which she had put up la plaint B schedule property in O.S. 809/81. The plaintiffs case is that the water from the sunshade of the building constructed by Padmavathy Amma falls into his property. It was in that background O. S. No 1039/81 was filed by Balakrishna Menon with the aforesaid prayer.

The above two suits were tried together by the learned Munsiff as per order In I. A, No 1241/83 in O.S. No 809/81.

3. In O. S. No. 1039/81 the plaintiff Balakrishna Menon as per the order in I. A. No. 4083/81 took out an Advocate - commissioner to prepare a sketch showing the lie of plaint A and B schedule properties. Ext. C3 is that report. The defendant Padmavathy Amma has filed objection against the said report on 6-1-1982.

Subsequently, Padmavathy Amma, the plaintiff in O. S.809/81 filed I. A. 1223/83 for appointment of an Advocate - commissioner to measure out and identify t






























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