High Court of Judicature at Madras
THE HONOURABLE MS. JUSTICE R. MALA
D. Sivagnanam
Versus
Thirugnanaprakasham & Others
S.A.No. 2090 of 2000
Decided on : 09-02-2010
Adverse Possession - Property Dispute - Registration Act, 1908, Section 17; Indian Stamp Act, Section 35 - The court held that the partition lists alleged to be executed were not admissible in evidence due to want of registration and stamping. The court also discussed the legal principles regarding the admissibility of unstamped and unregistered documents and their use for collateral purposes.
Fact of the Case:
The suit involved a property dispute between the plaintiff and the defendants regarding the possession and ownership of certain properties. The plaintiff claimed adverse possession of the properties based on alleged partition lists, while the defendants claimed ownership through settlement deeds executed by their father. The trial court granted a decree of injunction in favor of the plaintiff, but the first appellate court set aside the decree and dismissed the suit. The plaintiff filed a second appeal against this decision.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the alleged partition lists were not admissible in evidence due to lack of registration and stamping. It also found that the plaintiff was not in possession of the suit properties based on the evidence presented, and therefore, was not entitled to the injunction as prayed for in the plaint. The court upheld the decision of the first appellate court and dismissed the second appeal.
Issues: The issues involved the admissibility of the alleged partition lists, the possession of the suit properties, and the entitlement to injunction.
Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the alleged partition lists were not admissible in evidence due to lack of registration and stamping, citing relevant provisions of the Registration Act, 1908 and the Indian Stamp Act. The court also discussed the legal principles regarding the admissibility of unstamped and unregistered documents and their use for collateral purposes.
Final Decision: The second appeal was dismissed, and the decree and judgment passed by the first appellate court were confirmed.
The Second Appeal is filed against the judgment and decree dated 112. 1999 made in A.S.No.149/1998 on the file of the Principal Subordinate Judge, Mayiladuthurai, reversing the judgment and decree dated 210. 1998 made in O.S.No. 387/1995 on the file of District Munsif Court, Sirkali.
2. Theaverments in the plaint are as follows:-
(i) The suit properties were owned by the plaintiffs father Duraiappa Padayachi and his brother Ayyadurai Padayachi. They were enjoyed in an undivided state by the joint family of Duraiappa Padayachi and his brother Ayyadurai Padayachi.
(ii) The plaintiff is the eldest son of Duraiappa Padayachi.The defendants 1 and 2 are the plaintiffs brother. The third defendant is the son of Ayyadurai Padayachi.
(iii) After the death of Duraiappa Padayachi, the joint family properties were divided under a family arrangement between the plaintiff and defendants 1 and 2 and the plaintiffs mother since deceased Thangappa Ayal, in respect of the wet lands of the family of Duraiappa Padayachi on 010. 1977. A schedule property mentioned in Karai Olai were allotted to the plaintiff. He is in possession and enjoyment of the same from 1977. So, he prescribed title by adverse possession.
(iv) In respect of dry lands, there was another partition taken place on 14.06.1978 and by which, the plaintiff became the absolute owner of B schedule property. Each party was given a copy of Karai Olai. He is in exclusive possession from 1978, ousting other sharers and adverse to the interest of others and to their knowledge. Hence, he prescribed title by adverse possession.
(v) The plaintiff issued a notice to the defendants on 22.05.1981 to effect the division of the house and partition deed to be executed in a stamp paper and for registration. A reply has been sent by the first defendant.
(vi) The defendants have no right over the property. Now, they attempted to interfere with the possession. Hence, the plaintiff come forward with the suit for injunction restraining the defendants from interfering with the peaceful possession and enjoyment.
3. The gist and essence of written statement filed by the second defendant, adopted by the first defendant, are as follows:-
(i) The plaintiff is not in possession of A schedule property. No cause of action for the suit. The plaintiff and defendants 1 and 2s father Duraiappa Padayachi has executed a settlement deed in favour of plaintiff in the year 1959 and settled 10 acres of land. Likewise, in 1972, he has settled 10 acres of land to the defendants 1 and 2. He also settled 10 acres to his brother Ayyadurai Padayachi. The settlement deeds have been duly executed, validly accepted and acted upon. They are in possession in pursuance of the settlement deeds.
(ii) In A Schedule property - Item Nos. 19/2, 19/6, 60/7, 84/1, 86/1 and 62/3 - 3 acres 74 cents were allotted to the first defendant in the settlement deed. It is in his possession and enjoyment. Likewise, in A Schedule property – Item Nos. 86/2 and 85/4 - 2 acres 41 cents has been settled by father Duraiappa Padayachi in favour of the second defendant. The plaintiff wantonly suppressed the same and come forward with the false suit.
(iii) The plaintiff has not taken possession in pursuance of the partition list dated 010. 1977 and hence, it is not valid in law. On 17.07.1989, a panchayat was convened, in which, both the parties accepted to take the property as mentioned in the settlement deed and in respect of house also, the property has been divided. It was decided to execute a partition deed and got it registered. But the plaintiff has wantonly suppressed all the material facts and come forward with the false suit.
(iv) The plaintiffs father Duraiappa Padayachi filed O.S.No. 526/1961 against the plaintiff and his brother Ayyadurai Padayachi for injunction and obtained an order of injunction, which shows that the plaintiff is not in possession of the suit properties. The plaintiff is never in possession of the suit properties. The
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