IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
M.R.ANITHA, J.
Rasheed @ Rafeed, S/o.Late Adima – Appellant
Versus
Mary Fernandez, W/o.Late Philip Fernandez – Respondent
RSA No. 266 Of 2015
Decided on : 25-07-2022
Civil Procedure Code, 1908 - Order II Rule 2 - Kerala Land Reforms Act- S. 2(25)- Suit for recovery of possession damages for use and occupation and also perpetual injunction – Decree - Whether the plaintiffs/respondents 1 and 2 are precluded from raising possessory title in the suit by virtue of Order 2 Rule 2 C.P.C since they did not raise such plea either in O.S.No.686 of 1990 or O.S.No.218 of 2002 filed before the Munsiffs Court, Kochi - Bar under Explanation IV to Section 11 of the Code also squarely applies since the plaintiff omitted to raise the claim with respect to the appurtenant land in the previous proceedings and it ought to be taken as forgone and has been settled between the parties. Para 30, 31.
Finding of the Court:
Principles of constructive res judicata provided under Explanation IV to Section 11 of the Code envisages that any matter which might and ought to have been made ground of defence or attack in a former suit, shall be deemed to have been a matter directly and substantially in issue in a subsequent suit - Defendants raised specific contention in the written statement that the plaintiffs have no right over the appurtenant land apart from the thatched shed. - when a case was filed against the defendants with respect to the plaint schedule house, this claim with respect to the appurtenant land ought to have been raised in the earlier suit
Result; Second Appeal allowed
JUDGMENT :
This Regular Second Appeal has been directed against the judgment and decree in A.S.No.56/2012 on the file of I Additional District Judge, Ernakulam which arise out of the judgment and decree of O.S.No.74/2008 on the file of Sub Court, Kochi.
2. Defendants 1 to 3 are the appellants. (Parties will be referred as per their status before the trial court). The suit was one for recovery of possession of plaint B schedule property, damages for use and occupation and also perpetual injunction. Original plaintiff died pending the proceedings and his legal heirs were impleaded as additional plaintiffs 2 and 3. It is alleged that an extent of 7 cents of property in Sy.No.209/2 in Fort Kochi Village and house therein with their amenities is in the possession and enjoyment of the first plaintiff for the last fifty years as per gift deed No.447/1956 of Kochi S.R.O and the property is scheduled as A schedule property. First plaintiff reduced the appurtenant land in A schedule property by occupying the house in the year 1956 and renewed the house providing septic tank, latrine and other amenities and the plaintiffs are living along with the husband of 3rd plaintiff in the house. The property originally belonged to Palakkal Pailo Eleeswa of Fort Kochi from whom Narayana Iyer purchased the property and during the time of Narayana Iyer first plaintiff and his predecessors were in possession and enjoyment of the plaint schedule property. Late Narayana Iyer and his legal heirs were never in possession of the property and intervened with the plaintiff's exclusive possession of the property. Apprehending trespass and interference of 1st plaintiff's possession in 'A' schedule property by legal heirs of late Narayana Iyer or anyone claiming under them, plaintiffs filed O.S.No.47/2006 before Sub Court, Kochi and that suit was decreed, declaring the plaintiffs possession over the property and restraining the defendants from trespassing into the property.
Earlier first plaintiff had filed O.S.No.386/1990 before the Munsiff's Court, Kochi for eviction of Adima and his legal heirs from the house in A schedule property. Munsiff court and first appellate court dismissed that suit. But this Court in R.S.A.No.687/1998 decreed the suit and defendants were directed to vacate from the plaint schedule house on the strength of title. On 08.04.2002, defendants were evicted and possession of the house was recovered. Thereafter, defendants encroached and put up a house on the eastern side of the land on 10.04.2002 using bamboo poles and tar sheets and it has been described as B schedule, in violation of the interim injunction obtained by the first plaintiff in O.S.No.218/2002 from Munsiff's Court, Kochi on 10.04.2002. Defendants have no interest or right in plaint A schedule property and plaintiffs have exclusive possession and enjoyment of plaint schedule property from 1956 onwards publicly and uninterruptedly as of right without being objected by the owner late Narayana Iyer or anyone else and perfected title about 40 years ago in 1968 by adverse possession and limitation. Plaintiff claimed an amount of Rs.300/-per month towards damages for use and occupation till the recovery of plaint B schedule property. Permanent injunction is also sought against trespass and committing waste in plaint A schedule property.
3. Defendants 3 and 5 remained ex parte. Defendants 1, 2 and 4 filed written statement contending that the description of plaint A schedule is incorrect and plaintiff is not in possession and enjoyment of plaint schedule property. Suit is not maintainable. A portion of the plaint schedule property was enjoyed by the predecessor of the defendants and after their demise it is being enjoyed by the defendants. By gift deed No.447/1956 plaintiff did not get ownership or possession of plaint A schedule property. He became the owner of a thatched shed alone as per the gift deed. The defendants predecessor was in occupation of an unnumbered shed in plaint A sc
Ayichutty v. State of Kerala [2002 (2) KLT 125]
Commissioner of Income Tax v. T.P. Kumaran [1996 (2) KLT 867 (SC)]
Mohd. Hafiz v. Mohd. Zakaria : AIR 1922 PC 23
Ramdas v. Salim Ahammed and Another : (1998) 9 SCC 719 : 1998 KHC 1468
Ravinder Kaur Grewal and Others v. Manjit Kaur and Others : 2019 (4) KHC 256
S.N.D.P.Sakhayogam v. Kerala Atmavidya Sangham : 2017 (4) KLT 866 (SC)
To establish the sameness of interest, it is not necessary to establish sameness of the cause of action. Sameness of interest is a pre-requisite for application of under Order 1 Rule 8 of the C.P.C.
The main legal point established in the judgment is the application of the bar under Order 9 Rule 9 read with Section 9 of the Civil Procedure Code, which rendered the suits not maintainable.
The establishment of title and failure to prove right to possession are crucial in determining entitlement to recovery of possession.
Unregistered relinquishment deeds cannot establish ownership, and adverse possession claims require clear proof of exclusive possession and continuity which the plaintiff failed to provide.
The burden of proof lies on the party asserting the affirmative issue, and adverse possession requires the party to set up their own adverse title and remain in exclusive possession hostile to the tr....
In injunction suits, the plaintiff must establish possession and title; revenue records are not conclusive proof of ownership.
Title and ownership claims in property disputes necessitate credible documentation; statutory presumptions apply to documents over 30 years old.
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