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

2014 Supreme(HP) 276

IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA
Tarlok Singh Chauhan, J.
Dhani Ram - Appellant
Vs.
Ramesh Kumar & anr. - Respondents
RSA No. 387 of 2012.
Decided on : 28.3.2014.

Advocates appeared:
For the Appellants :Mr. Naveen Kumar Bhardwaj, Advocate.
For the Respondents:Mr. Bhupender Gupta, Senior Advocate with Mr. Neeraj Gupta, Advocate.

The demarcation report and Tatima must be carried out in accordance with the law, and the scope of interference under Section 100 CPC is limited to substantial questions of law.

Headnote:

Boundary Dispute - Demarcation Report - H.P. Land Revenue Act - Section 100 CPC

Fact of the Case:

The plaintiff filed a suit for injunction and possession claiming ownership of a piece of land, alleging encroachment by the defendants. The trial court dismissed the suit, and the lower appellate court affirmed the decision.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the demarcation report and Tatima submitted by the plaintiff's witness were not carried out in accordance with the H.P. Land Record Manual, and therefore, were not legal pieces of evidence. The court also held that no substantial question of law arose for decision.

Issues: The issues included the entitlement for injunction and possession, maintainability of the suit, completion of construction before filing the suit, locus standi of the plaintiff, and encroachment by the defendants.

Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized that the demarcation report and Tatima were not carried out as per the law laid down by the Himachal Pradesh High Court, and therefore, could not be relied upon as legal evidence. The court also highlighted the limited scope of interference under Section 100 CPC, allowing second appeal only when substantial questions of law are involved.

Final Decision: The appeal was dismissed, and the parties were left to bear their own costs.

Judgment :

Tarlok Singh Chauhan, Judge (Oral).

This regular second appeal is directed against the judgement and decree dated 27.6.2011 passed by learned District Judge, Fast Track Court, Chamba, whereby he affirmed the judgement and decree dated 15.1.2010 passed by the learned Civil Judge (Sr. Divn.), Chamba.

2. The plaintiff- appellant filed a suit for permanent prohibitory and mandatory injunction and possession that he is owner in possession of land comprised in Khata Khatoni No. 88/150, Khasra No. 863, measuring 1-6 bighas situated in Mohal Mugla, Pargna Panjla Tehsil and District Chamba, H.P, whereas the defendant- respondent No.1 is owner of land comprised in khata Khatoni No. 505/609, khasra No. 1949/1775, measuring 0-3-8 bighas situated at Mouza Mugla, Tehsil and District Chamba. It is pleaded that khasra No. 1949/1775 is min khasra and having been carved out from khasra No. 856 and that the suit land and the land of defendant- respondent No. 1 abut each other but without getting the boundaries settled, the respondents- defendants No. 1 and 2 started construction work and thereby encroached upon the suit land and though the respondent No. 1 is recorded owner of khasra No. 1949/1775 but the possession is of respondent No. 2. It is also pleaded that defendants-respondents have forcibly and illegally raised construction of their house by making encroachment in an area measuring 00-00-08 bighas of suit land during the pendency of the suit which is evident from the copy of demarcation report dated 28.2.2005 and, therefore, the appellant- plaintiff is entitled to the possession by demolition of illegal construction. It is also averred that defendants were requested time and again to get the boundaries settled and not to encroach upon the suit land and notice to this effect was served upon respondent No. 2, but respondents continued with construction. It is lastly pleaded that cause of action arose in favour of the plaintiff during the month of March 2002, when the respondents started construction on the suit land and failed to accede to the request.

3. The respondent No.2 contested the suit by filing written statement wherein preliminary objections inter-alia that suit is not maintainable, construction was complete in every respect before filing the suit, appellant has no locus standi to file the suit as construction has been raised by respondent No. 2 upon his own land and that the plaintiff is estopped from filing the suit were raised. On merits, it is pleaded that defendant No. 2 purchased the land from respondent No. 1 and thereafter, raised construction of his house over khasra No. 1949/1775 which was completed in the year 2001. It is denied that any encroachment has been made in the suit land. It is further pleaded that demarcation had not been carried out legally as per instructions laid down in H.P. Land Record Manual. It is denied that any notice was sent to the respondent No. 2 and any cause of action had accrued. Replication to the written statement controverting the contents thereof and reasserting those made in the plaint was filed. On the pleadings of the parties, the following issues were framed by the trial court on 9.10.2006:-

1. Whether plaintiff is entitled for decree of permanent prohibitory injunction restraining defendants from raising any construction or encroaching in any manner upon the suit land as prayed for? OPP

2. Whether plaintiff is entitled for decree of mandatory injunction as prayed for? OPP

3. Whether the plaintiff is entitled for decree of possession and defendants had encroached upon the portion of suit land measuring 00-00-08 Bighas comprised in Khatta Khatoni No. 88/150, Khasra No. 863 situated in Mouza Mugla, Pargna Panjla, Tehsil and District Chamba during the pendency of the suit as alleged? OPP.

4. Whether the suit is not maintainable in the present form? OPD.

5. Whether the construction has been completed in all respects prior to the filing of this suit? OPD

6. Whether the plaintiff

























Click Here to Read the rest of this document

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Judicial Analysis

AI

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