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2002 Supreme(HP) 295

High Court Of Himachal Pradesh
M.R.VERMA
GEETA DEVI - Appellant
Versus
DIBRU RAM ALIAS RAM RAKHA - Respondent
Regular Second Appeal No. 443 of 1994
Decided On : 11/12/2002

Advocates Appeared:
Ajay Sharma, for Appellants; D. D. Sood with D. Dadwal, for Respondent.

Concurrent findings of facts recorded by the trial Court and the appellate Court are not interfered with in second appeal unless based on no evidence or inadmissible evidence.

Headnote:

ownership - property dispute - [Transfer of Property Act, Section 54; Specific Relief Act, Section 34] - The court discussed the ownership and possession of the suit land, the historical records of the land, and the evidence presented by both parties. The court emphasized the importance of documentary evidence and the need for the appellants to prove how they acquired ownership and possession of the suit land. The court also highlighted the principle that concurrent findings of facts recorded by the trial Court and the appellate Court are not interfered with in second appeal unless based on no evidence or inadmissible evidence.

Fact of the Case:

The appellants filed a suit for injunction against the respondent, claiming ownership and possession of a piece of land and alleging interference by the respondent.

Finding of the Court:

The trial Court partly ruled in favor of the appellants, but the appellate Court dismissed the appeal, upholding the respondent's claim of ownership and possession of the suit land.

Issues: Ownership and possession of the suit land, misappreciation of evidence, and concurrent findings of facts.

Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized the importance of documentary evidence and the need for the appellants to prove how they acquired ownership and possession of the suit land. The court also highlighted the principle that concurrent findings of facts recorded by the trial Court and the appellate Court are not interfered with in second appeal unless based on no evidence or inadmissible evidence.

Final Decision: The appeal was dismissed with costs throughout.

JUDGMENT

1. This second appeal has been preferred by the appellants/plaintiffs (hereinafter referred to as the appellants) against the judgment and decree dated 6-9-1994 passed by the learned District Judge, Kangra at Dharamshala thereby dismissing Civil Appeal No. 60-P/XIII of 1993 against the judgment and decree dated 23-4-1993 passed by the learned Sub-Judge (1), Palampur, dismissing the suit of the appellants.

2. Brief facts leading to the presentation of this appeal are that Madho Ram, predecessor-in-interest of the appellants 1(a) to 1(d) and appellant No. 2 instituted a suit for perpetual prohibitory injunction and in the alternative for mandatory injunction against the respondent/defendant (hereinafter referred to as the respondent). Case of the appellants, as made out in the plaint, is that they are the owners in possession of Abadi Deh land comprising Khasra No. 165 measuring 0-00-78 hectares situate in Mohal Kunsal Uperli, Mauza and Tehsil Baijnath. The respondent is the owner of the land adjacent to the said land and started interfering with the possession of the appellants in the land in suit by collecting material to raise construction on the suit land and also cut and removed some branches of Palm trees therefrom. In view of the threat of forcible dispossession by the respondent, suit was instituted claiming permanent injunction restraining the respondent from interfering in the possession of the appellants over the suit land and in the alternative for mandatory injunction for removal of the structure if the respondent succeeded in raising any construction over the suit land during the pendency of the suit.

3. The respondent contested the suit and filed written statement wherein he raised the preliminary objections that the suit was not maintainable in the present form, that the appellants have no locus standi or cause of action against the respondent, that the appellants is estopped from filing the suit by their act and conduct, that the suit is not properly valued for the purposes of Court-fee and jurisdiction and the suit is bad for want of correct description of the suit land. On merits, it was denied that the appellants were the owners in possession of the suit land. It was claimed that the suit land was in possession of the respondent and had been acquired by the Public Works Department. It was further denied that the respondent had raised any construction over the suit land and it was claimed that he has started construction on land Khasra No.

164. Thus, the claim of the appellants has been denied in toto.

4. In the replication, the grounds of defence, as taken in the written statement, has been denied and the claim, as made out in the plaint, has been reaffirmed.

5. On the pleadings of the parties, the trial Court framed the following issues;

1. Whether the plaintiffs are owners in possession of the suit land, as alleged? OPP

2. Whether the defendant has raised construction on the suit land during the pendency of the suit, if so, its effect? OPP

3. Whether the plaintiff is entitled to the relief of permanent prohibitory and mandatory injunction, as prayed for? OPP

4. Whether the defendant has raised construction in Khasra No. 164, if so, to what effect? OPD

5. Whether the suit of the plaintiff is not maintainable in the present form? OPD

6. Whether the plaintiff has no locus standi to sue? OPD

7. Whether the plaintiff is estopped by his act and conduct from filing the present suit? OPD

8. Whether the suit of the plaintiff is not properly valued for the purposes of Court-fee and jurisdiction? OPD

9. Relief.

6. The trial Court vide its judgment dated 23-4-1993 held Issue No. 2 in favour of the appellants, Issue No. 1 was partly held in their favour whereas Issue No. 3 was held against them. Issue Nos. 4, 7 and 8 were decided against the respondent and Issue Nos. 5 and 6 were held in favour of the respondent and as a consequence the suit was dismissed. Being aggrieved, predecessor-in-interest of appellants No. 1(a) to 1(d)















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