1970 Supreme(Raj) 221
RAJASTHAN HIGH COURT
C.M.Lodha, J.
Keshri Lal - Appellant
Versus
Shiv Dutt - Respondent
S.B. Civil Second Appeal No. 263 of 1963.
Decided On : 7-04-1970
The court held that the plaintiff was entitled to the removal of the stones and the restoration of the width of the lane based on the special damage caused to the plaintiff. The court also recognized that the lane was not a public highway but a pathway for the residents of the houses in the lane.
Headnote:Encroachment - Suit for Injunction - Municipal Board, Baran - Public Highway - Village Pathway - Special Damage The court discussed the width of the lane and the placement of two stones by the defendant, which reduced the width of the lane. The court relied on the plan submitted by the defendant to the Municipal Board, Baran, which showed the width of the lane as 6'. The court also considered the evidence of witnesses who testified that the defendant had reduced the width of the lane. The court concluded that the width of the lane had been reduced from 6' to 5' by placing the two stones. The court further discussed the nature of the lane, stating that it was not a public highway but served as a passage for the residents of the few houses opening into the lane. The court held that the narrowing of the passage caused special damage to the plaintiff and ordered the removal of the obstruction to restore the width of the lane to 6'. The court also addressed the issue of the plaintiff's right to take a bullock cart through the lane. While the plaintiff failed to establish that bullock carts had been taken through the lane in the past, the court held that the plaintiff could use the lane in a manner that did not cause inconvenience to the residents or damage to the defendant's property. The court granted a mandatory injunction for the removal of the stones and issued a perpetual injunction against the defendant from placing any further obstructions in the lane. The court classified the judgment as a Civil Case and did not specify a sub-category. ***
Fact of the Case:
The plaintiff filed a suit for injunction against the defendant, alleging that the defendant had placed two stones in the lane in front of the plaintiff's house, reducing the width of the lane. The plaintiff sought the removal of the stones and a perpetual injunction against the defendant from making any further encroachments in the lane.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the defendant had indeed reduced the width of the lane by placing the two stones.
Ratio Decidendi:
The court held that the plaintiff was entitled to the removal of the stones and the restoration of the width of the lane to its former size. The court also stated that the lane was not a public highway but a pathway for the residents of the houses in the lane. Final Decision: The court partially allowed the appeal, set aside the judgments of the lower courts, and decreed the plaintiff's suit to the extent of ordering the removal of the stones and the restoration of the width of the lane. The court also issued a perpetual injunction against the defendant from placing any obstructions in the lane. ***
JUDGMENT
1. - This is a plaintiff's second appeal arising out of a suit for injunction.
2. The houses of the parties are situated in a blind alley in the town of Baran. The width of the lane where it meets the main road is said to be 10'-8". As one proceeds inside the lane for after about 13' the width of the lane is reduced on account of there being a 'Chabutri' in front of the defendant's house. The plaintiff's house is situated almost at the end of the lane. The plaintiff's case is that he had purchased this house from the defendant's maternal grand-father Gendilal in 1950 A D. and reconstructed ' it in 1951. It is alleged that the lane is being used for carrying a bullock cart to the plaintiff's house for the last more than 30 years. But the defendant some time in the month of Posh Samvat 2014, placed two stone-pillars one adjacent to the corner the 'Chabutri' of his house and the other just opposite to it with the result that the width of the lane at that point was reduced to 5'. The two stones which are alleged to have been placed by the defendant have been marked as points Nos. 1 and 2 in the site plan Ex. 1 attached to the plaint, The plaintiff also alleged that he constructed a door in his house opening towards the northern of his house but the defendant unlawfully raised a wall in front of the door and there by blocked the passage. The plaintiff, therefore, instituted the present suit on 14-3-1958 praying that the dependant, be directed to remove the stones from the lane so as to restore its former width of 6 and a perpetual injunction be also issued against him not to make any encroachment in the lane in future It was also prayed that the wall constructed by him in front of the plaintiff's door be ordered to be removed, and the plaintiff may be awarded Rs. 250/- as damages. The defendant denied the plaintiff's suit and pleaded that no bullock cart has ever been taken through the lane to the plaintiff's house as the lane is too narrow for taking a bullock cart through it. It was also pleaded that the plaintiff had unlawfully opened a door on the defendant's land and that he had right to raise a wall on his own land to which the plaintiff can have possibly no objection.
3. Both the parties examined a number of witnesses and also produced several documents in support of their respective cases, and the learned Munsiff by his judgment and decree dated 30-3-1962 held that the plaintiff had failed to establish that bullock carts were being taken inside the lane for the last 30 years as pleaded by him. He also came to the conclusion that the defendant had not reduced the width of the lane from 6' to 5' as alleged by the plaintiff. As regards the obstruction of the plaintiff's door by the defendant by raising a wall just in front of it, the learned Munsiff held that the plaintiff had failed to substantiate the case set up by him. In the result he dismissed the plaintiff's suit.
4. The plaintiff filed appeal but that too was dismissed by the learned Civil Judge, Baran by his judgment dated 22-1-63. Consequently the plaintiff has come in second appeal to this Court.
5. In the course of arguments learned counsel for the appellant expressly gave up his case for demolition of the wall alleged to have been built by the defendant blocking the plaintiff's door and also for damages on on account of the same. The only point which has been argued by him is that the plaintiff is entitled to get a decree for removal of the stones from the places marked 1' and 2' in the plan Ex. 1. He has also urged that a perpetual injunction may be issued against the defendant restraining him from making any further encroachment in the lane or by doing any other act which may result in the reduction of the width of the lane to less than 6'.
6. It may be observed that the learned first appellate court has come to the conclusion that on 11-2-1957 the width of the lane in question was 6 and that it was sometime between 11-2-1957 and 27-8-57 that the width of th
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