SupremeToday Landscape Ad
Back
Next
Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation
Listen Audio Icon Pause Audio Icon
judgment-img

2022 Supreme(Raj) 1641

HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN BENCH AT JAIPUR
Sudesh Bansal, J.
Mumtaj Hussain – Appellant
Versus
Nagar Palika & Ors. – Respondents
S.B. Civil Second Appeal No. 603 of 2017
Decided On : 13-07-2022

Advocates appeared:
Mr. Sanjay Gangwar, for the Appellant.

The main legal point established in the judgment is that the claim for easementary right must be supported by sufficient evidence and necessity, and that concurrent findings of fact, even if erroneous, cannot be disturbed in the absence of substantial questions of law.

Headnote:

Easementary Right - Civil Suit - Section 100 of Civil Procedure Code - 28.02.2008 - 03.06.2017 - 18.03.1989 - 27.07.1994

Fact of the Case:

Appellant-plaintiff filed a civil suit for permanent injunction claiming right of easement on the land opened towards the southern side of his plot. The trial court observed that the plaintiff's right of access, air, and light from the eastern side made the claim for easement from the southern side unnecessary. The first appellate court concurred with the trial court's findings and dismissed the appeal.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the plaintiff did not seek a declaration of easementary right to his property from the land of Nagar Palika, Kekri towards the southern side of his plot. It also noted that the plaintiff's property had right of access, air, and light from the main road on the eastern side, making the claim for easement from the southern side alternative and unnecessary.

Issues: The issues revolved around the plaintiff's claim for easementary right on the land towards the southern side of his plot and the refusal of the trial court to grant a permanent injunction against the private respondents.

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the plaintiff's right of access, air, and light from the eastern side made the claim for easement from the southern side unnecessary. It also emphasized that the claim for easementary right by way of prescription was not supported by sufficient evidence.

Final Decision: The second appeal was found to be devoid of merits and was dismissed.

JUDGMENT

1. Appellant-plaintiff has preferred this second appeal under Section 100 of Civil Procedure Code, assailing the judgment and decree dated 03.06.2017 passed by Additional Sessions Judge Kekri, District Ajmer in Civil Appeal No.03/2008, affirming the judgment and decree dated 28.02.2008 passed by Civil Judge (Junior Division) and Judicial Magistrate First Class, Kekri, District Ajmer in Civil Suit No.81/92 (133/88) whereby in simpliciter suit for permanent injunction filed by appellant-plaintiff, following decree has been passed:-

2. Heard counsel for appellant and perused the record.

3. Facts of case briefly stated are that appellant-plaintiff has instituted a civil suit for permanent injunction on 15.04.1988 claiming right of easement on the land opened towards southern side of his plot. Plaintiff came out with a case that his plot has an opening towards the eastern side and at the ground floor there is shop and at the first floor there is a residential room. Plaintiff has further averred that towards southern side, an open piece of land belonging to Nagar Palika, Kekri is situated where one channel gate of his shop is opening and one window of his residential house is opening. Plaintiff alleged that Nagar Palika is inclined to sell this open piece of land to private respondent defendant No.3 which is not permissible and easementary rights of plaintiff, having air, light and entrance through the channel gate and window from southern side would be adversely affected/ infringed. With such averments, plaintiff has prayed a decree for permanent injunction against the Nagar Palika, Kekri and private respondents defendants be restrained from selling out the open land or to close his channel gate and window having opening on the open piece of land. It is worthy to note here that plaintiff has not sought any relief of declaration to acquire easementary right either by way of necessity or by way of prescription on the open piece of land of Nagar Palika, Kekri. Both respondents defendants submitted their respective written statements and denied plaintiff's right of easement as well as claim for permanent injunction as prayed for.

The trial Court settled issued as per rival pleadings and recorded evidence of both parties. The trial Court, vide judgment dated 28.02.2008 observed that factual position as depicted by plaintiff in his plaint stands corroborated by the report of Court Commissioner which is available on record. The trial Court observed that it is not in dispute that open piece of land belongs to Nagar Palika, Kekri and neither plaintiff nor private defendants have any ownership rights over the same. If Nagar Palika, Kekri chooses to sell open piece of land treating the same as strip of land to private respondents defendants, it has right according to permissible rules, hence, no orders on this issue are required to be passed by the Court. The trial Court declined to interfere in the regular affairs of Nagar Palika, Kekri in respect of its right and jurisdiction to sell out their piece of land. In relation to right of private defendants to raise construction over the open piece of land and thereby to close the gate and window of plaintiff is concerned, the trial Court has already passed a decree in prohibitory form against defendant No.3 vide its judgment dated 28.02.2008 as indicated above. So far claim of easementary right of plaintiff is concerned, the trial Court has observed that it is not in dispute that plaintiff has opening of his property towards the eastern side and he has right of access to his property from the main road from eastern side. It has been noticed that channel gate opened by plaintiff in his shop at ground floor towards southern side is an alternative gate. In such factual matrix the trial Court has observed that for the property of plaintiff, he has his right of access, easement or having a right of way, air and light from eastern side. As such, the claim of easement from southern side through th

Click Here to Read the rest of this document
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
SupremeToday Portrait Ad
supreme today icon
logo-black

An indispensable Tool for Legal Professionals, Endorsed by Various High Court and Judicial Officers

Please visit our Training & Support
Center or Contact Us for assistance

qr

Scan Me!

India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!

For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :

whatsapp-icon Back to top