IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN BENCH AT JAIPUR
Sudesh Bansal, J.
Kunj Behari Lal S/o Late Shri Damodar Lal - Appellant
Versus
Kewal Chand S/o Shri Rikhab Chand - Respondent
S.B. Civil First Appeal No. 104 of 1990 With S.B. Civil First Appeal No. 2 of 1993
Decided On : 13-09-2022
Civil Procedure Code, 1908 - Order 6 Rule 17, Order 41Rule 27, Section 96 - Rajasthan Pre-emption Act, 1966 - Section 11 (1), 5 (1) (a), 15, 21 - Limitation Act, 1963 - Article 97, 113,10 - Punjab Pre-emption Act, 1913 - Section 21-A - Sale Deed - Right of Preemption in Properties Sold - Whether plaintiff’s suit for pre-emption is within limitation - Whether plaintiff’s suit for pre-emption remains for partial properties and cannot succeed - Whether trial court committed error of law in allowing application for amendment in plaint and what is effect of allowing or disallowing application under Order 6 Rule 17 CPC filed by plaintiff - Whether plaintiff’s right of pre-emption is hit by principles of acquiescence and waiver and plaintiff has lost his right or estopped from enforcing same in law – Held, Findings of issue No.1 are not under challenge nor have been disputed by learned counsel for plaintiff in first appeal - Defendant No.1 has proved that pursuant to decree for preemption passed in his favour, he paid including sale consideration and other expenses to Patasi Devi, for obtaining ownership and possession of her portion and Exhibit-A/4 is available on record - It has also been discussed and has been held in catena of judgments that a right of pre-emption is a weak right, which can be defeated by all legal means available to vendee and defendant - In present case, defendant No.1 by procuring decree of pre-emption in relation to portion of Patasi Devi, which is subject matter in present suit, has defeated plaintiff’s right of pre-emption even before filing present suit - In this view, Section 19 of Pre-emption Act, 1966 prohibits plaintiff’s suit for pre-emption against defendant No.1 - Division Bench of Allahabad High Court, in case of Abdul Razzaq Vs. Mumtaz Hussain and Ors. has held that no suit for pre-emption lie, basis of which, a decree for pre-emption in another suit - Decree for pre-emption passed in favour of defendant No.1 is a lawful and valid decree - As has already been observed by trial court and discussed by this Court in forgoing paragraphs that this decree of pre-emption does not suffer from fraud or collusion, therefore, in this way also, plaintiff’s right of pre-emption is not enforceable against defendant No.1 - Issue No.2, 3, 4 and 6 stand answered against plaintiff as per discussion made hereinabove - Issue No.1 and 5 have already been held by trial court against plaintiff and findings of these issues are not under challenge in present first appeals, therefore, as a final result, this court affirms judgment and decree dismissing plaintiff’s suit for pre-emption - Appeals dismissed.
JUDGMENT :
1. Both first appeals have arisen out of two separate civil suits for pre-emption, wherein parties are common and some of issues related to law of pre-emption are also common, although facts and properties are slightly different but both appeals are tagged and with consent of learned counsel for both parties, have been heard together and, would stand decide by this common judgment.
2. Relevant facts, in nutshell to give rise both appeals are as under:-
2.1 One Damodar Lal (original plaintiff) claimed a right of preemption in properties sold by Chhoti Devi and Nirmala Devi (defendants No.2 and 3) situated in haveli three storied bearing Municipal No.1236, Khejron Ka Rasta, Chowkri Topkhana Desh, Jaipur on the ground of having common chowk, pole, nall, ravish etc. plaintiff claimed that he is a co-sharer in the haveli and has a right of pre-emption to purchase the another portion of haveli, sold by defendants NO.2 and 3 (who are also another co-sharers in the haveli) to vendees other persons namely, Kewal Chand and one Smt. Patasi Devi through different registered sale deeds. Hence, the plaintiff filed two separate civil suit for pre-emption & for possession.
2.2 Initially Damodar Lal instituted civil suit No.19/1976 (14/1980) on 22.01.1976 against Kewal Chand purchaser and Chhoti Devi and Nirmala Devi, vendors impleading them as party defendants No.1, 2 and 3. It was stated that the portion of haveli detailed in para No.3 of the plaint has been sold by defendants No.2 and 3 through registered sale deed dated 07.01.1975 to defendant No.1-Kewal Chand but sale deed was endorsed in books of Sub-registrar on 25.01.1975. It was stated that since plaintiff has a right of pre-emption and was/is agreed to purchase the sold out portion of haveli, but the sale deed was executed without his knowledge and without giving any prior notice of sale to him. Further it is stated that in the sale deed valuation has been shown as Rs.24,999/-, which is mentioned incorrectly and ostentatiously just to divest the right of pre-emption of the plaintiff whereas the actual sale consideration of Rs.12,999/- was paid by the purchaser defendant No.1- Kewal Chand, which is the actual value of the suit property. The plaintiff-Damodar Lal claimed that he is ready to pay the actual sale consideration of Rs.12,999/- or whatever the amount, directed by the court and his suit for pre-emption be decreed in his favour and possession of suit property be directed to delivered to the plaintiff.
2.2.1 Kewal Chand, the purchaser, defendant No.1 submitted his separate written statement and denied the right of pre- emption of plaintiff and also contended that the suit has been wrongly valued as Rs.12,999/- whereas the actual sale consideration is Rs.24,999/- which is rightly mentioned in the sale deed. The defendant No.1 contended that after purchasing the suit property through sale deed dated 07.01.1975, he has incurred huge amount in carrying out addition/alteration and repairing/maintenance work in the suit property, which is well within knowledge of the plaintiff. The plaintiff never asserted his right of pre-emption, as such plaintiff has waived his right of preemption and further suit is also barred by law of limitation. The defendant No.1 also raised a defence that the suit for pre-emption has been instituted for partial property and not for the entire sold out property, therefore, the suit is liable to be dismissed with cost.
2.2.2 Smt. Chhoti Devi and Smt. Nirmala Devi, the vendors and defendants No.2 and 3 submitted joint written statement and contested the suit stating inter alia that before selling out the suit property to defendant No.1, an oral offer was given to the plaintiff to purchase the suit property but he expressed his unability to purchase the suit property against sale consideration, as agreed to pay by defendants No.1 and thereafter on
Goja Bai Vs. Ganga Bai Ramchandra Pawar and Ors reported in (1980)2 SCC 329
Sardar Singh Vs. Daleep Kaur and Ors reported in AIR 1981 P&H 340
Ram Saran Lall and Ors. Vs. Domini Kuer and Ors
Radhakishan Laxminarayan Toshniwal vs. Shridhar Ramchandra Alshi and Ors.
Patna High Court in the case of Domini Kuer Vs. Ramsaran Lal & Ors.
Kumar Gonsusab & ors. vs. Mohammed Miyan Urf Baban and Ors.
Hiralal Agrawal, Etc vs Rampadarath Singh & Ors., Etc.
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Maganbai and Jambu Kumar, LRs. Of Magan Lal Vs. Nasir Mohammad.
Mt. Zainab Bibi Vs. Umar Hayat Khan And Ors.
Smt. Roopi Bai Vs. Mahaveer and Ors. Reported in AIR 1994 Raj 133
Right of Pre-emption of Co-sharer – On all cases where possession is delivered on the date of execution of sale deed, whether before or during execution thereof or soon thereafter on that day, it wou....
The right of pre-emption is a very weak right.
The court held that pre-emption based on vicinage is unconstitutional, and disputes regarding pre-emption rights necessitate a full trial due to the involvement of mixed questions of law and fact.
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