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2004 Supreme(Mad) 465

High Court of Judicature at Madras
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE M.CHOCKALINGAM
R.Prabakaran - Appellant
Versus
Ambujathammal & Others - Respondents
SECOND APPEAL No.147 of 1993
Decided On : 18 March 2004

Advocates Appeared:For The Petitioner:P.Gopalan, Advocate.

The main legal point established in the judgment is that easement of necessity cannot be extinguished due to non-mention in documents, as emphasized by the provisions of Sec. 47 of the Indian Easements Act.

Headnote:

Easementary Right - Pathway - Indian Easements Act, Sec. 47 - The judgment discusses the plaintiff's claim for a declaration of easementary right over a pathway in the defendants' property. The court analyzes the historical partition deed, the plaintiff's purchase of the property, and the non-mention of the pathway in sale deeds. The court emphasizes the provisions of Sec. 47 of the Indian Easements Act, highlighting that easement of necessity cannot be extinguished due to non-mention in documents.

Fact of the Case:

The plaintiff sought a declaration of easementary right over a pathway in the defendants' property, which was originally set apart in a historical partition deed. The lower courts denied the reliefs, citing non-mention of the pathway in sale deeds and the existence of an alternative pathway.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the historical partition deed specifically reserved the pathway for the use of the parties and was not extinguished by non-mention in subsequent sale deeds. The court disagreed with the lower courts' view and granted the plaintiff a decree for declaration and mandatory injunction in respect of the pathway.

Issues: The main issue was whether the plaintiff had a valid claim for easementary right over the pathway in the defendants' property, considering the non-mention of the pathway in sale deeds and the existence of an alternative pathway.

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the historical partition deed reserved the pathway and that non-mention in subsequent sale deeds did not extinguish the easement of necessity. The court emphasized the provisions of Sec. 47 of the Indian Easements Act, highlighting that easement of necessity cannot be extinguished due to non-mention in documents.

Final Decision: The second appeal was allowed, setting aside the judgments and decrees of the lower courts. The plaintiff was granted a decree for declaration and mandatory injunction in respect of the pathway.

Judgment :-

Aggrieved over the refusal of the relief in respect of easementary right by both the Courts below, the plaintiff has brought forth this second appeal.

2. The plaintiff filed the suit seeking for a declaration that there is a pathway in the properties of the defendants, shown as C,D,F,F1, C,E,F, M, N, F1, G, H, I, J, K, L1, M in the plaint plan to reach his lands called Chekkadi Kollai, for a mandatory injunction for the removal of the obstructions made therein, for a declaration of his right to draw water from the well shown in the second item of property and for permanent injunction that the defendants should be restrained from interfering with his right. It was alleged by the plaintiff that the suit property originally belonged to one Ramasamy Chettiar, and on his death, it devolved upon his son Chidambaram Chettiar; that on his death, his three sons, Ramasamy Chettiar, Kandasamy Chettiar and Nataraja Chettiar made a division of their family properties on 11.3.1930 under Ex.A6; that in that partition deed, a passage with a width of 5 feet was left for the use; that the said passage has all along been used; that even in the partition deed, it has been specifically recited that the father and three sons should have the use of the said property as commonly left passage; that in that deed of partition, some of the properties in 'A' Schedule property were in the hands of the first defendant by way of purchase, while 'B' Schedule property was allotted to Ramasamy Chettiar, 'C' Schedule to Kandasamy Chettiar and 'D' Schedule to Nataraja Chettiar; that the said Ramasamy Chettiar conveyed all the properties except the said Chekkadi Kollai; that the third defendant is the son of the said Nataraja Chettiar; that the plaintiff purchased the said Chekkadi Kollai from one Renganatha Iyengar, the predecessor-in-title, by a sale deed dated 17.1.1983; that even during the life time of Chidambaram Chettiar and his sons and also during the enjoyment of the property by Renganatha Iyengar, the said passage referred to above, was being used to reach the main road; that there is no other alternative pathway; that as an easement of necessity, the said pathway has been put to long user; that while so, the first defendant has raised the obstructions at CD and FF1 points; that the second and third defendants have also obstructed the said passage at C, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L,M,N,T, and hence, there arose a necessity for filing the suit for declaration and mandatory injunction also in that regard; that insofar as the second item of property, the well was being used by the plaintiff all along, and thus, he wanted to have a declaration of his right and permanent injunction restraining the defendants not to interfere in the same.

3. The suit was resisted by the defendants inter alia stating that there was no passage as put forth in the plaint, at any point of time; that the passage was never used by either Chidambaram Chettiar or his sons or Renganatha Chettiar; that even in the sale deed, executed in favour of Renganatha Chettiar, there is no mention of this passage; that apart from that, there was an alternative pathway, and hence, the suit was to be dismissed.

4. The trial Court framed the necessary issues, tried the suit and refused the reliefs in respect of the first item, while it granted the reliefs in respect of the second item. Aggrieved, the plaintiff took it on appeal in respect of the denial of the reliefs of declaration and mandatory injunction also in respect of the pathway. The first appellate Court on enquiry dismissed the appeal, affirming the judgment of the trial Court. The defendants have not preferred any appeal challenging the grant of the relief in respect of the second item, and thus, it has become final. Aggrieved by the judgment of both the Courts below, denying the reliefs in respect of the first item, the plaintiff has brought forth this second appeal.

5. At the time of admission, the following substantial question of l



















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