2015 Supreme(Raj) 1174
RAJASTHAN HIGH COURT AT JAIPUR BENCH
Nisha Gupta, J.
Smt. Sudesh & Anr. - Appellant
Versus
Amar Pal Singh & ors. - Respondent
S.B. Civil First Appeal No. 357 of 2005.
Decided On : 8-01-2015
Advocates:
For the Appellants:Sanjay Mehrishi, Advocate.
For the Respondents:Ashvin Garg, Advocate.
Headnote:Evidence Act, 1872 Section 115 – The plaintiff in the present case went in appeal to change his facts about the property which he made earlier at the trial court stage – He produced evidence to prove that the property in dispute is self acquired and in corroboration of the same relied on the will 7.6.2001 as well as the sale deed executed by the deceased – Also asked for the declaration of Will dated 12.6.2001 to be forged – The appellate court didn’t allow the plaintiff’s plea that the property in dispute was ancestral and is in the name of the deceased’s father and dismissed the appeal – For dismissal, court went by the rule of Estoppel and due to which the plaintiff couldn’t change his facts stated in the plaint.
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 – Order 41 Rule 27
The plaintiff respondent was supposed to present the revenue record for proving the status of property as to be ancestral property in the name of his grandfather but he didn’t present the documents before the Trial court in the given time – It was held before ADM, Behror that the document now cannot be admitted in additional evidence at this appellate stage as the plaintiff respondent was sleeping upon his rights.
JUDGMENT
1. - This first appeal under Section 96 CPC has been filed against the judgment and decree dated 15.4.2005 passed by Additional District Judge (Fast Track), Behror, Alwar in Civil Suit No. 103/04 (17/02) whereby the suit filed by the appellants has been dismissed.
2. The brief facts of the case giving rise to this appeal are that plaintiff appellants filed a suit for cancellation of Will dated 12.6.2001 on the ground that Will dated 12.6.2001 has been forged in favour of respondents whereas earlier father of the parties Lallu Singh has executed a Will dated 7.6.2001 and property has been divided in all the three children's. The earlier Will was attested by notary public and witnessed by two witnesses. On 14.6.2001, Lallu Singh died. Thereafter wife of respondent No.1 got her name entered in the mutation which was objected by the appellants and suit has been filed which was dismissed, hence this appeal.
3. The contention of the counsel for the appellants is that the property in dispute was the ancestral property in the hands of Lallu Singh hence he was not able to alienate it by Will and Will dated 12.6.2001 is without competence and during the course of appeal, application under Order 41, Rule 27 CPC has been submitted with the contention that the suit property was in the name of their grand-father Mangtu Singh and it is the ancestral property. Earlier the documents were not within the knowledge of the appellants and notwithstanding the exercise of due diligence they could not be produced before the trial Court and issue No.1 has been decided against them only on this ground that no documentary evidence has been submitted to prove that the disputed property is ancestral property, hence application under Order 41, Rule 27 CPC be allowed and decree of the court below be set aside.Per contra, the contention of the respondents is that there is no infirmity in the finding and conclusion of the court below. It does not lie in the mouth of the appellants to say that the disputed property is the ancestral property in the hands of Lallu Singh as the basis of the suit for cancellation of Will dated 12.6.2001 is the earlier Will dated 7.6.2001 executed in favour of appellants and non production of documents before the trial Court was with the mala fide intention as the Will dated 7.6.2001 was in favour of appellants the documents have not been submitted and when the suit has been dismissed then only false documents have been submitted.
4. Heard the learned counsel for the parties and perused the judgment and decree under appeal as well as original record of the case.
5. The contention of the appellants in the pleading was that the disputed property is ancestral property in the hands of Lallu Singh but PW/1 Sudesh appellant herself has specifically stated that it was the self-acquired property of Lallu Singh and not the ancestral property. Furthermore, the basis of the suit was Ex.1 Will dated 7.6.2001 which was in favour of appellant. Apart from it, Ex.2 sale deed has also been relied upon by which certain properties have been sold to third-person, hence the contention mainly before the learned trial Court was Will dated 12.6.2001 is forged one as it does not contain the reference of earlier Will dated 7.6.2001 and the specific admission of the appellants in evidence was that it is not the ancestral property in the hands of Lallu Singh and in spite of specific objection, no revenue record of the disputed property has been submitted before the court below and reason is also obvious as pointed out by the counsel for the respondents that documentary evidence have not been submitted as the Will dated 7.6.2001 was in favour of plaintiff appellants.
6. Now application under Order 41, Rule 27 CPC has been submitted for taking the revenue record of the disputed property with the contention that revenue record was not within the knowledge of the appellants which prima facie seems to be false as the contention before the court below was that w
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