IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN BENCH AT JAIPUR
SUDESH BANSAL, J.
Kamla Devi W/o Late Shri Chand Ratan Acharya – Appellant
Versus
Manoharlal (Deceased) through Legal Representatives Smt. Vimla Devi – Respondent
S.B. Civil First Appeal No. 115 of 1989
Decided On : 18-08-2022
Civil Procedure Code, 1908 - Section 96 - Indian Succession Act, 1925 - Section 192, 193, 194, 63 - Evidence Act, 1872 - Section 68, 101, 102 - Property - Will - Decree of Permanent Injunction - Whether plaintiff is successor of properties left - Whether Gattulal executed his last “Will” for his properties in favour of plaintiff, if yes, what is effect of that “Will” on present suit - Whether plaintiff is entitled for permanent injunction and possession of suit property, if yes then in what manner - Whether Smt. Sahodara Devi executed gift deed in favour of defendant No. 1 and then executed her last “Will” in favour of defendant No. 1 for her properties - Whether applicant-Smt. Kamla Devi is entitled for possession of properties of deceased within scope of Section 192 of Indian Succession Act - Whether plaintiff has discharged his onus to proof allegation of forging “Will” by defendant No. 1 – Held, As far as issue No. 2 is concerned, there is no effect of “Will” of Gattulal even if executed in favour of plaintiff since properties of Smt. Sahodara Devi never devolved upon Gattulal and on basis of her “Will” as per findings of issue No. 4, devolved upon defendant No. 1 - As far as issue No. 3 is concerned, while deciding issue No. 4, this Court has concluded that Smt. Sahodara Devi executed “Will” in favour of defendant No. 1- therefore, she succeeds suit property of Smt. Sahodara Devi and plaintiff is not entitled for any decree of permanent injunction and possession in relation to suit property, accordingly this issue is held against plaintiff - Before parting with judgment, it is hereby observed that, when this Court has found that defendant No. 1 succeeds suit properties of Smt. Sahodara Devi and decree passed by trial court in favour of plaintiff deserves to be set aside, it is needless to clarify that as far as payment of rent by defendant No. 2, for her tenanted portion in suit property, is concerned, defendant No. 1 would be entitled to receive rent with effect from date of suit but if defendant No. 2 has already paid rent for any period thereafter, same would not be recoverable nor would be demanded again from defendant No. 2 - Appeal allowed.
JUDGMENT :
SUDESH BANSAL, J.
1. Appellant-Defendant No. 1-Smt. Kamla Devi filed this first appeal under Section 96 of Civil Procedure Code feeling aggrieved by the judgment and decree dated 08.09.1989 passed in Civil Suit No. 36/1984 by the Court of Additional District Judge No. 1, Jaipur City, Jaipur whereby and whereunder civil suit for declaration, possession and permanent injunction filed by the respondent No. 1-plaintiff in relation to the movable and immovable properties of late Smt. Sahodara Devi has been decreed in his favour and against the appellant-defendant No. 1 in following manner:
2. Heard learned counsel for both parties at length and perused the impugned judgment as also scanned the material on record.
3. The principal point emerges for consideration in the present case is that who would succeed the suit properties left by Smt. Sahodara Devi? From the record, it is indisputed that Smt. Sahodar Devi died issue-less on 04.03.1977 and her husband, father and mother pre-deceased her. Appellant-Defendant No. 1-Smt. Kamla Devi who happens to be daughter of her sister, has succeeded in legal proceedings initiated by her under Section 192 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925 on the basis of “Will” of Smt. Sahodara Devi dated 09.10.1976. Learned District Judge, Jaipur City, in such summary proceedings under Section 192, after recording evidence of parties and after according opportunity of hearing to the respondent No. 1-Plaintiff, passed order dated 03.05.1980 and has accepted the “Will” of Smt. Sahodar Devi as genuine and valid, and further inquiry has been concluded in favour of appellant and directions have been issued to deliver the possession of her properties to applicant Smt. Kamla Devi (appellant herein) until order is impeached by the competent court of law in regular suit in accordance with law. But thereafter respondent No. 1-Plaintiff instituted the present civil suit on 23.07.1980, challenging the “Will” of Smt. Sahodar Devi as forged and fabricated as also alleging the order dated 03.05.1980 and prayed to quash the “Will” and the order dated 03.05.1980. Respondent No. 1 is claiming his right, title and interest in the suit property of Smt. Sahodara Devi and has prayed for possession of suit property, claiming himself to be natural successor of late Smt. Sahodara Devi. Respondent No. 1-Plaintiff happened to be son of sister of husband of late Smt. Sahodara Devi. The respondent -defendant No. 2 Smt. Pushpa Devi happens to be tenant of Smt. Sahodara Devi in a portion of suit property and agreeable to pay rent to the person, declared to be owner and successor of the suit property of Smt. Sahodara Devi as per direction of the Hon’ble Court. Thus, appellant is alleging herself to be successor on the basis of testamentary document of “Will” of Smt. Sahodara Devi. Per contra, respondent No. 1 is claiming his right, title and interest in the suit property of Smt. Sahodara Devi by non-testamentary succession and has challenged the “Will” of Sahodara Devi executed in favour of appellant and has prayed for possession of the suit property.
4. At the outset and before considering facts and evidence of both parties in detail and to discuss issues involved in the present matter, it may be clarified that the dispute between parties is in relation to the suit property of Smt. Sahodara Devi, movable and immovable, as described in para No. 3 of the plaint situat
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