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1995 Supreme(Raj) 503

Supreme Court
Honble S.P. BHARUCHA & S.B. MAJMUDAR, JJ.
Mangat Mal (dead) and Another - Appellant
Versus
Smt. Punni Devi (dead) and Others - Respondents
Civil Appeal No. 1304 of 1972
Decided On : September 07, 1995

Headnote:Hindu Succession Act, 1956– Section 14(1) – Property of a Hindu female to be her absolute property – An agreement was entered into between the widow and the family of her-in-laws– Widow was allowed a certain property in lieu for residence and maintenance– She was authorised to use it in any way she liked – Both property and money was thus awarded in lieu of her pre-existing right of maintenance – Held – When the Act came into force the limited rights blossomed into full ownership rights and this empowered her to sale the property owned by her. (Para 17 & 21)

       Upon the coming into force of the Act the limited rights acquired by Sukh Devi in 1934 blossomed into full ownership of the Bidasar property, and she became entitled to sell its ``nohra. In our view, therefore, the High Court was in error in the view that it took. (Para 21)

Honble BHARUCHA, J. – This appeal by special leave impugns the judgment and order dated 8th May, 1970 of the High Court of Rajasthan. The issue in the appeal relates to the application of Section 14(1) of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956. It stands outside the line of cases decided by this Court in that it is argued that, in giving maintenance, provision for residence is not to be made.

(2). One Karam Chand had two sons, Dhanraj and Askaran. Dhanraj died in 1891 leaving no issue. Askaran had two sons, Johri Mal and Bhikam Chand. In 1905 Johri Mal was taken in adoption by Dhanrajs widow. After the adoption of Johri Mal, Askaran and Bhikam Chand remained co-parceners until the death in 1911 of Bhikam Chand. Bhikam Chand left behind his wife Sukh Devi and a daughter. On 7th February, 1928, Askaran executed a will bequeathing his estate to Johri Mal. Sukh Devi, who has been living with her father-in-law Askaran, protested; being the widow of a co- parcener she was entitled to be maintained out of joint family property. An agreement was then entered into between Askaran and Sukh Devi. It was dated 26th June, 1934. It recited that Sukh Devi had been boarding and lodging with Askaran, and that family disputes had arisen. To put an end to the family disputes, Askaran and Sukh Devi, by the agreement, appointed one Mool Chand as arbitrator to ``allot property and cost for executant number 2 for her life for residence and maintenance. The arbitrator Mool Chand entered upon the reference and made an award on 9th July, 1934. He set out the particulars of properties belonging to Askaran at Bidasar and Ladnu and gave the choice of selecting one to Sukh Devi to ``reside till her life time in them or in it and she can use it in any way she likes. On necessity she will get its repairs done with her own money. She will have no right to sell, mortgage or transfer in any other way. After her death, the properties stated in para No.1 or 2 (whichever she might take) will revert to Askaran, his heirs and legal representatives. Her right will be only in her life time. She is authorised to undertake construction for necessity and convenience. She may increase or decrease apartments with her money. But she will not be authorised to destroy, deteriorate its usefulness and condition, etc.

4. For the maintenance of Smt. Sukh Devi, I give my finding that it is better to give a lump sum instead of giving monthly or annually because she wants to receive money in lump sum. By giving lump sum, the disputes, which might arise from time to time at the time of demand and payment, might be avoided. Therefore I give my finding that Askaran will pay a sum of Rs. 45,000/- (rupees forty five thousand only) to Smt. Sukh Devi for maintenance in case she accepts the house at Ladnu and in case she takes the house and the Nohra at Bidasar, she will be given Rs. 37,000/- (rupees thirty seven thousand only). Since there is no apartment in the Nohra, Askaran will pay a sum of Rs. 1,000/- (rupees one thousand only) more besides Rs. 37,000/- (rupees thirty seven thousand only) for constructing Dhalia, room for keeping grass and fodder and a Hauz..............

5. The money which will be given to her for maintenance will be her personal money and she can use it as she likes..........

8. After the execution of the aforesaid terms, Askaran will be free from all kinds of litigations or compensation of Smt. Sukh Devi and she will have no right in the ancestral or personal properties of Askaran or his heirs or legal representatives. Further, Askaran, his heirs or legal representatives will also have no right in Smt. Sukh

Devis any property or her Shtridhan except noted in Para No. 3...........

On 10th July, 1934, Sukh Devi executed a document wherein she stated that she had accepted the property at Bidasar under the terms of Mool Chands award. She would ``have right in the house and Nohra at Bidasar in the manner that I will go on residing in the said house at Bidasar till my life time and go




























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