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1999 Supreme(Mad) 921

High Court of Judicature at Madras
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE R. BALASUBRAMANIAN
S.Thiagarajan
Versus
Saraswathy Kittu and 6 others
A.S.No.1062 of 1987 And Cross Objections
Decided On : 10-09-1999

Advocates:
Mr. N.S. Varadhachari, Advocate for Appellant. Mrs. Hema Sampath, Advocate for respondent.

Headnote:

SPECIFIC RELIEF ACT, 1963 - SECTION 34 - SUIT FOR DECLARATION OF TITLE - POSSESSION - INJUNCTION - MAINTAINABILITY - POSSESSION WITH TENANTS - CONSTRUCTIVE POSSESSION - REVOCATION OF SETTLEMENT DEED - GROUNDS - SECTION 126 OF THE TRANSFER OF PROPERTY ACT, 1882 - ACCEPTANCE OF GIFT - SECTION 123 OF THE TRANSFER OF PROPERTY ACT, 1882.

Fact of the Case:

The plaintiff filed a suit for declaration of title, injunction restraining the defendants from alienating the suit property, restraining defendants 3, 4, 6 and 7 from paying the rent to defendants 1 and 2 and for other incidental reliefs. The first defendant is the appellant in this appeal; the plaintiff in that suit is the first respondent herein and defendants 2 to 7 are the other respondents in this appeal. The suit was filed for declaration of title; for an injunction restraining the first and the second defendants from alienating the suit property; restraining defendants 3, 4, 6 and 7 from paying the rent to defendants 1 and 2 and for other incidental reliefs. On merits the learned trial Judge granted a declaratory decree as prayed for, but however denied the plaintiff the relief of injunction as prayed for by her in the manner referred to above. Aggrieved over the declaratory decree granted by the learned trial Judge, the first defendant is before this court in this appeal. As far as that portion of the decree of the lower court negativing the relief of injunction, the plaintiff had filed the cross objections in the pending appeal.

Finding of the Court:

The court held that the suit for declaration of title without a further relief of recovery of possession is maintainable in view of the proviso to section 34 of the Specific Relief Act 1963. The court also held that the settlement deed in favour of the plaintiff is true and valid and is not capable of being revoked. The court further held that the revocation deed and the subsequent release deed in favour of the first defendant are not true, valid and binding on the plaintiff.

Issues: 1. Whether the suit for declaration of title without a further relief of recovery of possession is maintainable in view of the proviso to section 34 of the Specific Relief Act 1963? 2. Whether the settlement deed in favour of the plaintiff is true and valid and is it capable of being revoked? 3. Whether the revocation deed and the subsequent release deed in favour of the first defendant are true, valid and binding on the plaintiff? 4. Is not the first defendant in possession of the suit properties?

Ratio Decidendi: 1. A suit for declaration of title without a further relief of recovery of possession is maintainable in view of the proviso to section 34 of the Specific Relief Act 1963, if the plaintiff is in possession of the suit property through tenants. 2. A settlement deed is true and valid and is not capable of being revoked if it is executed voluntarily and without consideration by one person called the donor to another person called the donee and accepted by or on behalf of the donee. 3. A revocation deed and a subsequent release deed are not true, valid and binding on the plaintiff if they are not executed on any of the grounds enumerated under section 126 of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882.

Final Decision: The appeal is dismissed with costs throughout. The cross objections are allowed with costs throughout.

Judgment :

1. The first defendant in O.S.No. 54 of 1986 on the file of the Sub-Judge, Villupuram is the appellant in this appeal; the plaintiff in that suit is the first respondent herein and defendants 2 to 7 are the other respondents in this appeal. It is stated before this Court at the time of argument that the second defendant is no more and her legal representatives are the appellant and the first respondent herein. However the fact remains that no steps have been taken to have the legal representatives of the deceased second respondent recorded in this appeal. In this judgment the parties to the appeal will hereinafter be referred to as the plaintiff and the defendants. The suit was filed for declaration of title; for an injunction restraining the first and the second defendants from alienating the suit property; restraining defendants 3, 4, 6 and 7 from paying the rent to defendants 1 and 2 and for other incidental reliefs. On merits the learned trial Judge granted a declaratory decree as prayed for, but however denied the plaintiff the relief of injunction as prayed for by her in the manner referred to above. Aggrieved over the declaratory decree granted by the learned trial Judge, the first defendant is before this court in this appeal. As far as that portion of the decree of the lower court negativing the relief of injunction, the plaintiff had filed the cross objections in the pending appeal.

2. The facts on which the plaintiff went before the lower court can be briefly stated as follows:

One Subbarayan (since deceased) is the husband of the second defendant. The plaintiff is their daughter and the first defendant is their son. Defendants 3 to 7 are the tenants occupying various portions of the house property described in Schedule ‘A’ to the plaint. Schedule ‘A’ property originally belonged to one Chellam. He executed a registered “will” on 20.7.1915 in favour of Subbarayan and his brother Gopal. Gopal died leaving behind his sons Muthukrishnan and Haridoss. As the sons of Gopal were very young at the time of their father’s death, both of them came into the care and custody of the second defendant and her husband. On 30.11.1975 there was a partition, to which Subbarayan, the second defendant and the sons of Gopal were parties. Schedule ‘A’ property shown in the plaint is described as Schedule ‘B’ property in that partition deed. That property namely Schedule ‘B’ property in the partition deed was allotted to the second defendant. Schedule ‘A’ and Schedule ‘C’ properties to the partition deed were allotted to Subbarayan and the heirs of Gopal respectively. Since the date of partition the sharers were enjoying their properties separately. Schedule ‘B’ property in the plaint (landed property) was purchased by the second defendant with her own funds. She is therefore the absolute owner of the ‘B’ Schedule property besides the ‘A’ Schedule property. On 210. 1982 the second defendant executed a settlement deed in favour of the plaintiff out of love and affection in respect of the suit properties. The second defendant continued to live with the plaintiff after the death of her husband. The settlement deed was duly executed, validly attested and acted upon. After the settlement deed, the plaintiff executed a mortgage deed, in favour of one Veerapan in respect of ‘B’ Schedule property on 210. 1984. The plaintiff accepted the settlement deed and the same was acted upon. The first defendant has nothing to do with the suit properties and he is denying the plaintiff’s title to the same. He is also the attempting to sell the suit properties. Having regard to the relationship between the parties, the first and the second defendants were asked by the plaintiff to collect the rent from defendants 3 to 7. In respect of the ‘A’ Schedule property the tenant were inducted into possession by the second defendant even before the settlement deed. The 5th defendant is paying rent now to the plaintiff. Defendants 3, 4, 6 and 7 are refusing



























































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