High Court of Judicature at Madras
THE HONOURABLE MS. JUSTICE K.B.K. VASUKI
Santharaju & Another
Versus
Chinnamma & Others
S.A.Nos.318 & 319 of 1998
Decided On : 11-11-2010
Settlement Deed - Property Dispute - Transfer of Property Act - [Section 123, Section 126] - The court confirmed the findings in favor of the daughter, ruling that the settlement deeds executed by the father and mother in favor of the daughter were valid and irrevocable. The subsequent revocation deed and will executed by the father were held to be invalid and did not affect the daughter's legal rights acquired through the settlement deeds.
Fact of the Case:
The case involved disputes over property ownership and possession between the daughter and daughter-in-law of the original owners. The daughter claimed rights based on settlement deeds, while the daughter-in-law claimed rights based on a revocation of settlement deed and a registered will executed by the father.
Finding of the Court:
The court found in favor of the daughter, confirming the validity of the settlement deeds and rejecting the revocation deed and will claimed by the daughter-in-law. The court held that the daughter had established her right, title, interest, and possession of the properties.
Issues: The main issues were the ownership of the properties and the validity of the settlement deeds, revocation deed, and will.
Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the settlement deeds were valid and irrevocable, as per the Transfer of Property Act. The subsequent revocation deed and will were deemed invalid and did not affect the daughter's legal rights acquired through the settlement deeds.
Final Decision: Both appeals were dismissed, and the court upheld the judgment in favor of the daughter. No costs were awarded due to the relationship between the parties.
1. Both the appeals are arising out of common judgment and decree made in O.S.Nos. 808 and 781 of 1987. O.S.No. 781 of 1987 was filed by the daughter of Peter and Elizabethammal in respect of A and B schedule properties belonging to father and mother respectively, on the strength of Ex.A1 Settlement deed dated 06.06.1978 executed by father and Ex.A4 settlement deed dated 10.04.1987 executed by mother respectively in favour of the plaintiff. The suit is filed against the brothers, for the relief of permanent injunction restraining them from interfering with the plaintiffs peaceful possession and enjoyment of the suit property. Whereas O.S.No.808 of 1987 was filed by the daughter-in-law of Peter and Elizabethammal in respect of the same property, on the ground that the property belonged only to the father-in-law Peter and mother-in-law Elizabethammal, has no right over the same and father-in-law died, leaving behind his sons and daughter and he executed registered Will dated 05.08.1982, bequeathing the property in favour of the second son and his wife and from the date of death of father-in-law, the daughter-in-law, who is the wife of the second defendant in the other suit filed by the daughter and the plaintiff in O.S.No.808/1987 has been in possession and enjoyment of the property and the same was sought to be interfered with. The reliefs sought for in O.S.No. 808 of 1987 filed by daughter-in-law against mother-in-law and sister-in-law are for declaration and injunction on the basis of Ex.B3 Will and Ex.B2 Revocation of settlement deed both executed by the father-in-law.
2. While the daughter of the original owner as the plaintiff in O.S.No.781 of 1987 claims that she has been in possession and enjoyment of the properties on the basis of the settlement deeds, her claim is resisted by the sons and daughter-in-law as if the settlement deed is not acted upon and by reason of the failure on the part of the plaintiff to fulfill the condition, subject to which, settlement deed was executed, the same was subsequently revoked and the owner had, during his lifetime executed a Will in favour of other parties, as such, the daughter cannot claim any right on the basis of the settlement deeds. The trial Court tried both the suits together and decreed the suit in O.S.No.781/1987 filed by the plaintiff/daughter on the ground that the owner having executed Ex.A1 Registered settlement deed in favour of the daughter, had no right to revoke the same and to further execute a registered Will under Ex.B2 revocation deed and under Ex.B3 Will respectively and the daughter-in-law is not the beneficiary under the so called Will and she further failed to prove the genuineness and voluntary execution of Ex.B3 Will and it is the daughter, who has been, from the date of settlement deed, in possession and enjoyment of the suit property on the strength of the settlement deeds executed by both father and mother in respect of A and B schedule properties.
3. Aggrieved against the same, the sons of the original owner and brothers of the plaintiff and who are the defendants in O.S.No. 781 of 1987 and the daughter-in-law who is the plaintiff in O.S.No. 808 of 1987 filed two separate appeals in A.S.Nos.76 and 75 of 1991 respectively and both the appeals are dismissed by common judgment dated 28.02.1994 thereby confirming the findings rendered by the trial Court in favour of the daughter on the ground that A and B schedule properties are assigned to the daughter on the strength of settlement deed executed by the father and mother in respect of the same and she has been in possession and enjoyment of the same and the settlor, after the settlement, had no right to execute Ex.B2 revocation deed and Ex.B3 Will.
4. Hence, these second appeals before this Court by the sons/defendants in O.S.No.781/1987 and by the daughter-in-law/ plaintiff in O.S.No.808/1987. Both the appeals are admitted on the following common substantial questions of law.
a. Whether the C
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