IN THE HIGH COURT OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR AT JAMMU
Jaswant Singh,Anant Singh, JJ.
Radha Krishan Tickoo & Anr. - Appellant
Versus
Bhushan Lal Tickoo & Anr. - Respondent
Second Appeal No. 14/1969
Decided On : 26 August, 1970
HINDU LAW - ALIENATION - SALE OF ANCESTRAL PROPERTY BY FATHER - VALIDITY - LEGAL NECESSITY - BURDEN OF PROOF - COPARCENER - MINOR - SUIT FOR POSSESSION - LIMITATION - ADVERSE POSSESSION - COMPENSATION FOR IMPROVEMENTS - MESNE PROFITS.
Fact of the Case:
A minor Hindu son filed a suit for possession of his half share in an ancestral house sold by his father to the defendants. The plaintiff claimed that the sale was without legal necessity and, therefore, not binding on him. The defendants resisted the suit on the ground that the plaintiff was not even born on the date of the alienation, and, therefore, he had no share in the house sold. They also claimed that the house belonged exclusively to the father, and that he sold it as the Karta of his family for legal necessity, and for benefit of the estate, in that, the house being in a dilapidated condition beyond all repairs had to be sold so as to make some money out of it. They further asserted that they had spent about Rs. 4,000/- towards the improvements of the house by repairing it, and were, therefore, entitled to compensation in the event of the plaintiff's success.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the plaintiff was born before the date of the alienation, and, therefore, he had a half share in the house. The court also found that the sale was not for legal necessity or for the benefit of the estate, and, therefore, it was not binding on the plaintiff. The court further found that the defendants were entitled to compensation for the improvements made by them in the house.
Issues: 1. Whether the plaintiff was born before the date of the alienation of the house in dispute, entitling him to one half share in it? 2. Whether the sale deed was "for a legal necessity or to effect the repairs to the house to prevent it from being dilapidated." 3. Whether the defendants are entitled to compensation for the improvements made by them in the house?
Ratio Decidendi: 1. The burden of proving that the plaintiff was not born before the date of the alienation lies on the defendants. The defendants have failed to discharge this burden. 2. The sale deed does not recite any legal necessity for the sale. The defendants have also failed to prove that the sale was for legal necessity or for the benefit of the estate. 3. The defendants are entitled to compensation for the improvements made by them in the house.
Final Decision: The appeal by the defendants is dismissed. The cross-objections of the plaintiff are allowed in part. The judgment and the decree of the learned District Judge are modified accordingly.
2. The plaintiff-respondent also has filed before us cross-objections, asking for cost and mesne profits from the date of the suit. He has also challenged the order of the learned District Judge for payment of the compensation to the appellants.
3. The plaintiff, Shri Bhushan Lal Taploo, is the only son of Pt. Jia Lal Taploo, who was pro forma defendant No. 3, in the suit, and now respondent No. 3 in this appeal. Raja Ram was the father of Sridhar Joo Tickoo, the Original defendant No. 1, and Vaid Lal Tickoo defendant No. 2. Sridhar died after the filing of the suit, and his son Radha Krishen was since substituted in his place as defendant No. 1.
4. The house which is the subject-matter of the suit was admittedly an ancestral property of pro forma defendant No. 3, Jia Lal, having been acquired by his father. Jia Lal sold the entire house to Pt. Shridhar, since dead, and his brother Vaid Lal by a sale deed dated 23rd of Sawan 2001 equivalent to 7th August, 1944 for a consideration of Rs. 2000/-. The plaintiff filed the suit giving rise to the appeal on 26-6-1957 as a minor through his next friend with an averment that he was a coparcener with his father, having one half share in the house, sold by his father to the appellants and that the sale was without any legal necessity, and, therefore not binding on the plaintiff in respect of is half share. He therefore, sought a declaration to that effect, and asked for joint possession over his half share in the house with a further prayer for injunction restraining the appellants from changing the condition of the house which is described in para 3 of the plaint.
5. The pro forma defendant No. 3, Jia Lal, did not appear at any stage to contest or support the plaintiffs suit.
6. The suit was contested only by defendants 1 and 2. They resisted it on the ground that the plaintiff was not even born on the date of the alienation, and, therefore, he had no share in the house sold. It was claimed that the house belonged exclusively to Jia Lal, and that he sold it as the Karta of his family for legal necessity, and for benefit of the estate, in that, the house being in a dilapidated condition beyond all repairs had to be sold so as to make some money out of it. They further asserted that they had spent about Rs. 4,000/- towards the improvements of the house by repairing it, and were, therefore, entitled to compensation in the event of the plaintiffs success.
7. The trial Court framed some 10 issues. The important issues are Nos. 1 and 2 bearing on the question if the plaintiff was born before the date of alienation of the house in dispute, entitling him to one half share in it.
8. Another issue, being issue No. 7, was, whether the sale deed was "for a legal necessity or to effect the repairs to the house to prevent it from being dilapidated."
9. Issue Nos. 8 and 9 are on limitation including adverse possession of the contesting defendants.
10. Issue Nos. 4, 5 and 6 relate to the claim of the contesting defendants regarding improvements said to have been made by repairing the house.
11. Issue Nos. 3 and 10 are only formal.
12. On behalf of the plaintiff, a number of documents were filed, and witnesses examined to show that the plaintiff was born on the 17th of Sawan 1999 Bk. equivalent to 1-8-42, about two years prior to the date of the alienation made on 7th August, 1944, entitling him to one half share in the house. The evidence consisted of a horoscope exhibit PI, said to have been prepared by
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