IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
K.Babu
Shahulhameed S/o. Alikunju – Appellant
Versus
Abdul Latheef S/o. Mytheenkunju – Respondent
JUDGMENT :
Additional defendant No.3 in a suit challenges the order issuing a Survey Commission to measure and identify a pathway over which the plaintiff claimed the right of easement by prescription in this proceeding.
2. The plaintiff instituted the original suit seeking a declaration of prescriptive easement right over the property scheduled as ‘C’ in the plaint. The plaintiff is the owner of the plaint ‘A’ schedule property, the dominant tenement. Defendants are the owners of plaint ‘B’ schedule property, the servient tenement. ‘C’ schedule property, the way, runs through the ‘B’ schedule property. It is averred that the way has a length of 36.8ms and width of 3ms.
3. At the time of institution of the suit, the plaintiff applied for a Commission. The Commissioner prepared Ext.P4 commission Report and rough sketch. Later, on the application of defendant No.1, the Commissioner prepared Ext.P5 commission report and rough sketch.
4. The plaintiff filed Ext.P6 application contending that Exts.P4 and P5 commission reports and rough sketches do not contain the precise measurements regarding ‘C’ schedule way. The trial Court allowed the application and issued a Commission consisting of an
Madhavan v. Narayanankutti and Others
Edakudi Raveendran @ Ravi and Others v. Lohithakshan and Another
A survey commission for measuring an easement is necessary only when pleadings genuinely require precise measurements; otherwise, it may cause unnecessary delays.
Measurement for easement rights must be precise and based on pleadings, with survey commissions deemed unnecessary without genuine need.
Easement rights require clear identification and specific evidence; the absence of a proper survey plan undermines claims for easement by prescription.
Prescriptive easement requires proof of uninterrupted use for 20 years; unclear evidence can lead to dismissal of claims.
The dismissal of an injunction suit cannot occur without proof of the defendant's claimed easement, and a plaintiff's established possession is paramount for granting relief.
Easement by prescription requires proof of continuous use for the statutory period; mere permissive use does not establish a right.
Plaintiff failed to establish the existence of an easementary right over the claimed suit way, leading to dismissal of the suit.
First appellate court's perverse denial of pathway existence and prescriptive easement set aside; trial decree restored on unimpeachable commissioners' reports, witness evidence proving 50+ years' op....
Point of Law : Dispute of property – Appointment of Commission necessary to identify the property.
Appointment of a Survey Commission is not necessary in a case for simple injunction, where property is identified with certainty based on local commission report, though other side disputes identity ....
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