HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
S. NAGAMUTHU, J.
Selvaraj – Appellant
Versus
M. Asaithambi – Respondent
Second Appeal No. 5 of 2015 & M.P. No. 1 of 2015
Decided On : 25-02-2015
Will - Property Dispute - Indian Evidence Act, 1872 - [Indian Evidence Act, 1872, Section 68, Section 69] - The court discussed the alleged will dated 10.06.1984 and its significance in the matter. The failure to prove the will as required under the Indian Evidence Act was found to be not significant in a simple suit for permanent injunction, as the plaintiff had the right to occupy the property even in the absence of the will. The court upheld the lower courts' findings that the plaintiff was in possession and enjoyment of the suit property.
Fact of the Case:
The plaintiff filed a suit for permanent injunction to restrain the defendant from interfering with his possession and enjoyment of the property, claiming to be the absolute owner after the death of his parents.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the plaintiff was in possession and enjoyment of the suit property, and the failure to prove the alleged will was not significant in the context of a simple suit for permanent injunction.
Issues: The issues revolved around the ownership and possession of the suit property, the validity of the alleged will, and the non-impleading of the wife of the defendant.
Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the failure to prove the alleged will was not significant in a simple suit for permanent injunction, and the non-impleading of the wife of the defendant was not a ground for the court to interfere with the lower courts' decrees and judgments.
Final Decision: The second appeal was dismissed, and the decrees and judgments of the lower courts were confirmed. The wife of the defendant was granted liberty to work out her remedies in the manner known to law.
S. Nagamuthu, J.
1. The defendant in O.S.No.304 of 2007 on the file of the learned District Munsif, Nagapattinam is the appellant herein. The respondent is the plaintiff in the suit. The plaintiff filed the said suit for permanent injunction to restrain the defendant from in any manner interfering with his peaceful possession and enjoyment of the suit property. The trial Court decreed the suit as prayed for by decree and judgment dated 21.07.2010. As against the same, the appellant herein filed an appeal before the learned Subordinate Judge, Nagapattinam in A.S.No.56 of 2010. By decree and judgment dated 09.02.2011, the First Appellate Court dismissed the appeal thereby confirming the decree and judgment of the trial Court. Challenging the same, the appellant is before this Court with this second appeal.
2. This second appeal has come up today for admission. I have heard the learned counsel for the appellant and I have also perused the records carefully.
3. The case of the plaintiff is that, the suit property was originally owned by his father. It is his further case that on 10.06.1984 his father had executed a will in favour of the plaintiff thereby bequeathing the suit property in his wife name Mrs.Soundaravalli for her life and thereafter, to the plaintiff. His father died on 26.01.1993 and his mother died on 13.09.2000. Thus, according to the plaintiff, he has become absolute owner of the suit property and he is in possession and enjoyment of the suit property.
4. The defendant is the sister's husband of the plaintiff. From the life time of the parents of the plaintiff, according to the defendant, he along with his wife have been living in the suit property. Thus, the suit is liable to be dismissed as the plaintiff is not in exclusive possession and enjoyment of the suit property.
5. Based on the above pleadings, the trial Court framed appropriate issues. On the side of the plaintiff, two witnesses were examined and seven documents were exhibited. On the side of the defendant, three witnesses were examined and three documents were exhibited.
6. Having considered the above, the trial Court decreed the suit which was confirmed by the First Appellate Court. That is how the appellant is before this Court with this second appeal.
7. In this second appeal, it is contended that the Will dated 10.06.1984 has not been proved by examining any one of the attestors. It is also contended that the Village Administrative Officer and the local panchayat Councilor who have been examined as witnesses on the side of the defendant have categorically stated that the defendant is in possession and enjoyment of the suit property.
8. The learned counsel for the appellant would submit that the Courts below have failed to consider these evidences in their proper perspective. It is also contended that since, the wife of the defendant has got undivided share in the suit property, without impleading her as party, the plaintiff had chosen to file the present suit only against the defendant/appellant herein. Thus, for non impleading of proper party also, the suit is liable to be dismissed, it is contended.
9. I have considered the above submissions.
10. At the outset, I should say that in this second appeal, I do not find any substantial question of law involved so as to admit the same. All the grounds raised in this second appeal are only questions of fact. Admittedly, the suit is a simple suit for permanent injunction to protect the possession of the plaintiff. The two Courts below, based on oral as well as documentary evidences, have held that the plaintiff is in possession and enjoyment of the suit property. Though, it is contended that the Village Administrative Officer and the local Panchayat Councilor have deposed that the defendant is also in possession of the suit property, the Courts below, for sound reasons, have rejected their evidences.
11. Further, so far as the alleged registered Will is concerned, assuming that the Will has not been proved
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