IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH AT SHIMLA
Sandeep Sharma, J.
Besru Devi - Appellant
Versus
Bhoop Ram & Ors. - Respondents
CMPMO No. 78 of 2021
Decided On : 24-04-2021
Injunction - Property Dispute - Order 39 Rule 1 and 2 CPC - [PROPERTY DISPUTE] - [Order 39 Rule 1 and 2 CPC] - The court discussed the legal parameters required to be kept in mind while considering the prayer for injunction, and concluded that the plaintiff failed to prove the ingredients for the grant of temporary injunction. The court emphasized the need for a prima facie case, balance of convenience, and irreparable loss or injury, and highlighted the conduct of the party seeking injunction as important. The court also noted that the plaintiff's failure to file an application for injunction in the main suit and the lack of specific details of the property in the plaint were detrimental to her case. The judgment of the learned District Judge, Shimla, was upheld, and the petition was dismissed along with all pending applications.
Fact of the Case:
The plaintiff filed a suit for declaration and an application under Order 39 Rule 1 and 2 CPC, claiming to be a co-owner of the suit land and seeking to restrain the defendants from causing any damage or interfering with the land. The defendants refuted the plaintiff's claims, stating that she voluntarily executed a relinquishment deed in their favor. The trial court granted the application for injunction, but the appellate court set aside the order. The plaintiff approached the court to restore the trial court's order.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the plaintiff failed to prove the ingredients for the grant of temporary injunction, including a prima facie case, balance of convenience, and irreparable loss or injury. The court emphasized the importance of the plaintiff's conduct, the lack of specific details of the property in the plaint, and the delay in taking action against the alleged fraud and misrepresentation. The court upheld the judgment of the learned District Judge, Shimla, and dismissed the petition along with all pending applications.
Issues: The issues revolved around the plaintiff's claim of co-ownership, the execution of the relinquishment deed, and the application for injunction under Order 39 Rule 1 and 2 CPC. The court also considered the plaintiff's conduct, the lack of specific details of the property in the plaint, and the delay in taking action against the alleged fraud and misrepresentation.
Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized the need for a prima facie case, balance of convenience, and irreparable loss or injury in considering the grant of temporary injunction. The court also highlighted the importance of the plaintiff's conduct, the lack of specific details of the property in the plaint, and the delay in taking action against the alleged fraud and misrepresentation. The court upheld the judgment of the learned District Judge, Shimla, based on the proper appreciation of the material available on record.
Final Decision: The judgment passed by the learned District Judge, Shimla, was upheld, and the petition at hand was dismissed along with all pending applications.
JUDGMENT
Sandeep Sharma, J. - Instant petition filed under Art. 227 of the Constitution of India is directed against the judgment dated 15.3.2021 passed by learned District Judge, Shimla, District Shimla, H.P., in CMA No.29-S/14 of 2020, reversing the order dated 3.9.2020 passed by learned Civil Judge, Court No.7, Shimla, District Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, whereby CMA No. 719 of 2019, having been filed by the applicant-plaintiff ( hereinafter 'plaintiff') under Order 39 Rules 1 and 2 CPC, restraining the respondents-defendants (hereinafter, 'defendants') from causing any damage or interfering, selling, alienating, encumbering and mortgaging any portion of the suit land during the pendency of the main suit was allowed.
2. Precisely, the facts of the case as emerge from the material available on record are that the plaintiff claiming herself to be co-owner alongwith the defendants, filed suit for declaration to the effect that the Relinquishment Deed/Release Deed No. 1604, dated 9.9.2013 registered in the office of Sub Registrar, Shimla in favour of defendants No.1 and 2 is illegal, wrong, void and inoperative against the right, title and interest of the plaintiff as the same has been procured unlawfully without her knowledge and consent. Plaintiff averred in the aforesaid suit that about three years back, defendants No.1 and 2 in collusion with other defendants took her to Tehsil Office on the pretext of getting the said land partitioned. In the Tehsil Office, her thumb impression was taken on different documents, which were neither read over nor explained to her. The plaintiff remained under bona-fide belief that the documents were pertaining to the partition and in due course of time, land would be separated/partitioned. However, after about 2 1/2 years, on her inquiry, it was disclosed to her that land stands already transferred in favour of defendants No.1and 2. She alleged that she never intended to transfer her share in favour of defendants No.1 and 2 and they, taking undue advantage of her poverty, illiteracy and helplessness, wrongly and fraudulently executed the relinquishment deed in connivance with defendants No. 3 to 8, and as such, same may be declared as null and void. Apart from aforesaid relief, plaintiff also claimed that the defendants be restrained from interfering with her joint ownership and possession over the suit land situate at villages Chamyana and Shahnan.
3. Alongwith the aforesaid suit, plaintiff filed an application under Order 39 Rule 1 and 2 CPC stating therein that during winter vacation in the year 2020, the defendants started raising construction on the valuable portion of the land, for which they dug pits and also raised retaining walls. Plaintiff claimed that in case defendants are permitted to raise construction, she would be deprived of the best portion of the land. Plaintiff averred in the application that the construction is being raised by the defendants on Khasra No.167, measuring 00-36-18 hectares, Khata/Khatauni No.8min/17min, situated at Mohal Shahnan, Tehsil Shimla (Rural), District, Shimla, H.P.
4. Defendants by way of written statement as well as reply to the stay application refuted the case of the plaintiff. Defendants claimed before the court below that the plaintiff voluntarily executed the relinquishment deed by relinquishing her share in the land situated at village Chamyana and Shahnan in favour of defendants No. 1 and 2. Defendants No.1 and 2 while specifically denying the plea of the plaintiff that her thumb impression was required for getting her share separated, submitted before the court below that deed was executed jointly by plaintiff and defendants No. 3 to 8 and the contents of the same were read over and explained to her before she put the thumb impression. Defendants No.1 and 2 specifically denied the allegation of fraud, if any, played by them, while executing the relinquishment deed. Learned trial Court vide order dated 3.9.2020 allowed the application under Order
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