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2023 Supreme(Raj) 2241

IN THE HIGH COURT OF RAJASTHAN AT JAIPUR BENCH
MAHENDAR KUMAR GOYAL, J.
Umesh Soni - Appellant
Versus
Smt. Kamla and others - Respondents
S.B. Civil Second Appeal No. 154 of 2017
Decided on : 20-02-2023

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Appellant :Shri Bipin Gupta, Advocate

Headnote:(A) Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956 - Section 8 - Civil Suit seeking declaration and possession - Plaintiff challenged the sale of joint family property executed by his mother without court permission, claiming it was void - Defendants argued it was for family necessity - Trial court upheld sale; appellate court affirmed - Court found valid legal necessity for sale, denying relief - Concurrent findings not perverse. (Paras 8-10)

(B) Legal Ensurement - While mother can act as guardian for minor children, no court permission necessary for family necessities when minority is involved; statutory provisions do not impede necessary transactions. (Paras 8-9)

Facts of the case:
The plaintiff, as a co-owner of deceased father's property, contested a sale deed executed by his mother during their minority, alleging no legal necessity or proper authorization for the disposal.

Findings of Court:
The sale deed was valid and executed for family necessity. The court confirmed existence of debt and financial hardship justifying the sale by the mother as natural guardian.

Issues: The main issues included the validity of the sale deed executed for family necessity and the requirement of court permission for minority transactions.

Ratio Decidendi: The court ruled that the mother had the legal capacity to act without court permission for family necessity, establishing a precedent for transactions involving minors and joint family properties.

Result: Appeal dismissed.

Table of Content
1. ownership and sale in joint hindu family property. (Para 1 , 2 , 3 , 4)
2. challenge to validity of sale due to lack of permission. (Para 5)
3. court's findings on necessity and mother's guardianship. (Para 6 , 8 , 11 , 12)
4. precedent on mother's power to sell for family necessity. (Para 9 , 10)
5. appeal dismissal and affirmation of lower court's decision. (Para 13)

JUDGMENT :

Mr. Mahendar Kumar Goyal, J. - This civil second appeal is preferred by the unsuccessful plaintiff against the judgement and decree dated 6.12.2016 passed by the learned Additional District Judge No.1, Kota (for brevity-"the learned appellate court") in Civil Regular Appeal No.38/2006 whereby, while dismissing the appeal, the judgement and decree dated 26.7.2006 passed by the learned Additional Civil Judge (Senior Division) No.2, Kota (for brevity-"the learned trial court") dismissing the Civil Suit No.30/1998 filed for declaration and possession of the suit shop, has been affirmed.

2. The relevant facts in brief are that the plaintiff filed a suit against the respondents/defendants (for brevity-`the defendants') stating therein that in a joint hindu family property comprising of a house with three shops situated in Agrasen Bazar, Purani Dhan Mandi, Kota as described in para no.1 of the plaint, he acquired co-ownership along with his mother and two siblings after the death of his father in the year 1980. It was alleged that without any legal necessity or without seeking prior permission of the Court, his mother, the defendant no.3, sold a shop, a part of joint hindu family property, in favour of respondents no.1 and 2 vide registered sale deed dated 8.9.1987 which was void ab initio. It was therefore prayed that the sale deed dated 8.9.1987 be declared null and void against his rights and possession of the suit shop be restored to him. The defendants no.1, 2 and 6 stated in their joint written statement that plaintiff's mother has sold the subject shop for family necessity in her capacity as natural guardian of the plaintiff and her two other children as they all were minor at the relevant time. It was averred that financial condition of Shri Shanti Lal, late father of the plaintiff, was not healthy and he died leaving behind a huge debt which was paid by the defendant no.3 and to meet day to day requirement of the family, the subject shop was sold by her.

3. The defendants no.7 and 8 stated in their joint written statement that they have purchased the suit shop from the defendants no.1 and 2 bonafidely without being aware of the pendency of the suit. The plaintiff in his rejoinder to the written statement filed by the respondents no.7 and 8, averred that since they have purchased the suit shop despite intimation by him of the stay order by the learned trial court, they were not bonafide purchaser.

4. On the basis of pleadings of the parties, the learned trial court framed eight issues. After recording evidence of the respective parties, the learned trial court dismissed the suit vide its judgement and decree dated 26.7.2006 which has been affirmed and upheld by the learned appellate court vide its judgement and decree dated 6.12.2016.

5. Assailing the impugned judgement and decree, the learned counsel for the plaintiff contended that he acquired an interest in the subject property along with his mother and siblings after the death of his father and at the relevant time when the registered sale deed dated 8.9.1987 was executed by his mother in favour of the defendants no.1 and 2, he being minor, in absence of prior permission from the competent court, the sale deed was null and void. He further submits that even if it is assumed that the respondent no.3 executed the subject sale deed being Karta of the HUF, the defendants have failed to establish that it was for legal necessity. He further submitted that the defendants no.1 and 2, the purchaser under the sale deed dated 8.9.1987, did not appear in the witness box and the defendant no.8, the s

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