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2005 Supreme(Raj) 2549

High Court Of Rajasthan
Judgename : Prakash Tatia
Ramjilal - Appellant
Versus
Om Prakash - Respondent
S.B. Civil Second Appeal No. 98 of 2005
Decided On : 11/10/2005

Advocates Appeared:
Mr. R. Hedau, for the Appellants.

The lack of pleadings and the issue of limitation were not grounds for upsetting the judgments of the lower courts.

Headnote:

PLEADINGS - EASEMENTARY RIGHT - The court upheld the judgment and decree passed by the trial court, which decreed the suit for declaration of easementary right and granted a mandatory injunction as well as a prohibitory injunction. The court found that the property in question was part of a public chowk and that the appellants had raised a construction of temporary nature. The court held that the lack of pleadings and the issue of limitation were not grounds for upsetting the judgments of the lower courts.

Fact of the Case:

The trial court decreed the suit for declaration of easementary right and granted a mandatory injunction as well as a prohibitory injunction, holding that the property in question is part of a public chowk where the appellants have raised some construction of temporary nature.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the property in dispute was a part of a public chowk and public is using the property. The court also held that the lack of pleadings and the issue of limitation were not grounds for upsetting the judgments of the lower courts.

Issues: The issues revolved around whether the property in question is a public chowk and public way, whether the plaintiffs are using the way for more than 100 years, and the controversy arising when the temporary structure was raised by the defendants.

Ratio Decidendi: The lack of pleadings and the issue of limitation were not grounds for upsetting the judgments of the lower courts. The court also found that the question of limitation did not arise as the easementary right was claimed on the public chowk and way, which gives continuous cause of action.

Final Decision: The second appeal was dismissed with no orders as to costs.

Judgment

Prakash Tatia, J.- Heard learned Counsel for the appellants.

2. The appellants are aggrieved against the Judgment and decree passed by the trial Court dated 03.03.2000 which was upheld by the first appellate Court vide Judgment and decree dated 211.2002. The trial Court decreed the suit of the plaintiffs for declaration of easementary right and granted decree of mandatory injunction as well as prohibitory injunction holding that the property in question is part of public chowk where the appellants have raised some construction of temporary nature.

3. According to learned Counsel for the appellants, the two Courts below have committed serious error of law in decreeing the suit because of the fact that the suit itself was filed after period of expiry of limitation and the notice published under Order 1 Rule 8, CPC was defective and further submitted that the construction raised by the defendants is within the building line, therefore, the Courts below have committed serious error of fact as well as error of law in decreeing the suit of the plaintiffs. It is also submitted that the suit should have been dismissed because of lack of pleading only. Learned Counsel for the appellants relied upon the Judgment of Orissa High Court delivered in the case of Harihar Jena & Ors. vs. Bhagabat Jena & Ors., reported in AIR 1987 Orissa 270 wherein it has been held that the notice under the provision must disclose the nature of the suit as well as relief s claimed therein in order to enable the persons interested to get themselves impleaded as parties in the suit either to support the cause or oppose it. The notice must also state as to who are the persons, who have been selected to represent the cause. In that case, the notice having been not issued in above manner, therefore, the Court held that the entire proceeding is vitiated.

4. Learned Counsel for the appellants also relied upon the Judgment of the Honble Supreme Court in the case of Justiniano Antao & Ors. vs. Smt. Bernadette B. Pereira, reported in 2005 (1) WLC (SC) 295 wherein the lack of pleading was found fatal. In the above case, the Honble Apex Court observed that the plaintiff has failed to establish that she has been using the access peacefully openly as of right for last 20 years and after holding so, reversed the Judgment of High Court as well as of trial Court and dismissed the suit of the plaintiff .

5. I have considered the submissions of learned Counsel for the appellants and perused the facts of the case and record also and considered the Judgment s relied upon by learned Counsel for the appellants.

6. It is clear from the facts that the suit was filed by the plaintiffs with specific allegation about chowk in question. They placed on record the sketch map also. They gave the exact measurement of the disputed property and thereafter narrated the facts about use or property. The specific issue was framed whether the property in question is public chowk and public way or not and whether the plaintiffs are using the way since last more then 100 years or not ? The issue No. 2 reveals that the controversy arose when the temporary structure was raised by the defendants. Two Courts below very specifically recorded a finding that the property in dispute was a part of public chowk and public is using the property. The Courts below also held that even from the evidence of DW 1 Dalip, DW 2 Dharamveer and DW 3 Dilbagh, the property in dispute appears to be of public chowk and is being used for way also. These are pure questions of facts which have been decided by the two Courts below after appreciation of evidence. In view of the above, in second appeal, the question of lack of pleadings cannot be raised. The parties were fully aware of all the facts of the case, led evidence on the issues and, therefore, also, the question of lack of pleadings cannot be a ground for upsetting the Judgment s of the two Courts below. However, it may be observed that this Court is not finding




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