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2025 Supreme(Ker) 736

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
M.A.Abdul Hakhim, J.
Omana Amma and ors. – Petitioners
Versus
Chandrasekharan Pillai – Respondent
RSA No. 323 of 2014
Decided On : 25-03-2025

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Appellant : BY ADVS. SRI.R.S.KALKURA SMT.R.BINDU SRI.HARISH GOPINATH SRI.JOHNSON JOSE PANJIKKARAN SRI.M.S.KALESH SRI.K.KURIAN KOSHY SMT.M.K.LEELAKUMARI SRI.SANIL KUNJACHAN
For the Respondent: BY ADVS. P.B.SUBRAMANYAN P.B.KRISHNAN(SR) SAJU J PANICKER SABU GEORGE MANU VYASAN PETER S.V.BALAKRISHNA IYER (SR.)

IMPORTANT POINT
Property identification must rely on original documents rather than resurvey records, allowing for partial cancellation of deeds when excess land is included without title.

Headnote:

(A) Specific Relief Act, 1963 - Sections 31 and 32 - Dispute over property boundaries and possession - Plaintiff claimed ownership of properties as per partition deed, while defendants contested based on a settlement deed - The trial court decreed in favor of the plaintiff, but the appellate court confirmed the decision - The substantial question of law addressed was whether property should be identified by documents or survey records. (Paras 8 , 20 )

(B) Evidence - The court emphasized that the plaintiff's wife was a competent witness, and the defendants' failure to present evidence led to adverse inferences against them. (Paras 18 , 19 )

Facts of the case:

The plaintiff sought recovery of possession of residential property and cancellation of a settlement deed that wrongfully included excess land. The defendants claimed the property based on a settlement deed executed by the plaintiff's mother.

Findings of Court:

The trial court's decree was based on the incorrect identification of property boundaries, necessitating a remand for proper identification and boundary fixation.

Issues: The main issue was whether the property should be identified according to the documents or survey records.

Ratio Decidendi: The court ruled that the identification of property must be based on the original documents rather than resurvey records, and partial cancellation of the settlement deed was justified.

Result: The Regular Second Appeal is allowed in part, setting aside the trial court's judgment and remanding for further proceedings.

JUDGMENT :

M.A.ABDUL HAKHIM, J.

1. Appellants are the defendants in the suit. The 2nd defendant is the grand daughter of the 1st defendant. The plaintiff and the 1st defendant are the children of one Sarasamma Amma. The 1st defendant is born to Raghava Kurup and the plaintiff is born to Chellappan Pillai. The suit was for fixation of boundary, partial cancellation of Ext.A4, recovery of possession with mesne profit, and consequential injunction.

2. Plaintiff’s claim, in substance, is that the Plaint A schedule property having an extent of 19 ¾ cents belonged to the plaintiff as per 7th schedule in Ext.A1 Partition Deed of the year 1990. Plaint B schedule property having an extent of 6 cents is derived by the plaintiff as per Ext.A2 document. It is situated on the western side of plaint A schedule property. Both these properties are lying as a compact plot. It is recorded in resurvey as 11.50 ares. Sarasamma Amma derived plaint C schedule property having an extent of 6 ¾ cents as per 1st schedule in Ext.A1 Partition deed. The said C schedule property is situated on the immediate northern side of A schedule property. In Re- survey, Plaint C schedule property is recorded as 2.40 ares in Resurvey No.251/11 in Block No.37 of Parippally Village. Though plaint C schedule property was allotted to Sarasamma Amma, the same was in absolute possession and enjoyment of the plaintiff, which was lying contiguous to plaint A and B schedule properties. The plaintiff was residing in the house in the property, which was in a dilapidated condition. He renovated it. He was looking after his mother, Sarasamma Amma, till her death. The mother had assured him to give plaint C schedule property to the plaintiff. Later, on 03.04.2006, the plaintiff came to know that Sarasamma Amma and DW2, who is another son of Sarasamma Amma had created Ext.A4 Settlement and Release deed in respect of Plaint C schedule property in favor of the 1st defendant on 23.06.2003. Ext.A4 Deed covers not only Plaint C schedule property but also the property in which residential building of the plaintiff’s father Chellappan Pillai is situated measuring 3.50 Ares making a total extent of 5.90 Ares. The document was registered at Chadayamangalam Sub Registrar Office. Sarasamma Amma had only 2.40 ares in Resurvey No.251/11. The 1st defendant filed O.S No.11/2006 against the wife of the plaintiff and the tenant occupying the residential building, showing the aforesaid description of the property having 5.90 ares. After obtaining an order of interim injunction, the 1st defendant dispossessed the tenant from the residential building and removed the belongings of the plaintiff’s wife that were kept locked in one of the rooms in their residence. The interim order was later vacated, directing to maintain the status quo. Appeals were filed, and the appeals were disposed of, setting aside the Interim Order of the Trial Court with a direction to take evidence and dispose of the case within six months. Thereafter, O.S.No.11/2006 was dismissed for default since the 1st defendant remained absent on the listed day for trial. Application for restoration of the suit was dismissed for non-payment of cost. Thus, the 1st defendant took illegal possession of the residential building of the plaintiff situated in A and B schedule properties bearing No. KPXII/35 after dispossessing the tenant under the cover of an injunction order in O.S No.11/2006. Since the 1st defendant has forcefully put her granddaughter/1st defendant and husband in possession of the residential building, it is liable to be recovered. The plaintiff is entitled to get a mesne profit @ Rs.1,000/- per month. Hence, the suit was filed for fixing the boundaries of A, B, and C schedule properties, recovery of possession of the house in the property, and to remove the part of the entries made in Ext.A4 document that the property covered thereunder is 5.90 Ares in Sy No.8982/9-3 (Resurvey No.25/11).

3. The 1st defendant opposed the suit prayer

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