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
| 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
The sale of minor's property was declared void as it lacked necessary court permission, violating the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act provisions regarding the guardian's authority to alienate pro....
No court permission is required for a Karta to sell joint family property when such sale is established as for family necessity under Hindu law, even involving minor interests.
The burden of proving legal necessity for the alienation of ancestral property lies on the alienee, and the transaction must be for the family's benefit, binding all undivided family members.
Legal necessity must be proven to invalidate a sale deed executed for minors' benefit, with the burden of proof on defendants to contest authenticity.
The court upheld the validity of a sale-deed executed by a father to repay antecedent debt, affirming that minors are bound by such transactions when legal necessity is established.
It is now well settled principles in regard to powers under Section 100 of Code of Civil Procedure that when Courts below record its concurrent findings of facts based on appreciation of facts and ev....
(1) Right of a Karta to sell joint family property is well settled – Karta enjoys wide discretion with regard to existence of legal necessity and in what way such necessity can be fulfilled – Whether....
The burden of proof on the purchaser to establish legal necessity and benefit to the family influenced the court's decision in dismissing the suit.
Login now and unlock free premium legal research
Login to SupremeToday AI and access free legal analysis, AI highlights, and smart tools.
Login
now!
India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!
Copyright © 2023 Vikas Info Solution Pvt Ltd. All Rights Reserved.