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2022 Supreme(Mad) 378

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
P.T. ASHA, J.
M. Venkatachalam - Petitioner
Versus
Karunkarapandian - Respondent
C.R.P.(MD) No.1981 of 2014 and M.P.(MD) No.1 of 2014
Decided on : 01-02-2022

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Petitioner: Mr.H.Lakshmi Shankar
For the Respondent: Mr.V.R.Shanmuganathan

Headnote:

Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 - Order VII Rule 11, Order XXI Rule 47, 97, 99 and 101- Settlement Deed - Suit For Recovery Of Money - 1st respondent has narrated filing of suit O.S. and its dismissal and filing of appeal suit A.S. and also pendency of second appeal - Plaintiff would submit that a settlement deed had been executed by Ramasamy Naidu in favour of revision petitioner nominating his father as his guardian - Plaint would narrate that in this settlement deed, settler had retained a life interest and has also clearly stated that he would have no right to alienate or otherwise create a charge in respect of sale and he can only enjoy property - After his demise, revision petitioner and 2nd respondent were to enjoy property absolutely -1st respondent had further stated that since revision petitioner had not provided food and clothing and failed to maintain the Settlor, Settlor had cancelled settlement deed- Whether such proceedings should be stopped or not; and this discretion has to be exercised with circumspection. [Para 13.]

Finding of the Court: Settlor at time of execution of settlement deed were minors - Even on date of cancellation, they continued to be minors and it is for this reason that cancellation has been questioned by their father as their Guardian - Suit for recovery of money has been filed, when petitioner and his brother through their friend and natural guardian, their father had questioned the cancellation of settlement deed by said one - Knowing fully well that minors had questioned cancellation of settlement deed, said one has allowed property to be brought to Court auction - Once cancellation of settlement deed is found to be invalid, settlement deed would become enforceable and dates back to date of its execution - Courts of law are meant for imparting justice between parties - One who comes to the Court, must come with clean hands, court are constrained to say that more often than not, process of Court is being abused. Property-grabbers, tax evaders, bank-loan-dodgers and other unscrupulous persons from all walks of life find Court process a convenient lever to retain the illegal gains indefinitely – Court have no hesitation to say that a person whose case is based on falsehood, has no right to approach Court - He can be summarily thrown out at any stage of litigation.

Result: Petition allowed.

ORDER :

1. The 1st defendant in the suit O.S.No.119 of 2010 is the revision petitioner before this Court. He has challenged the dismissal of an application filed by him invoking the provisions of Order VII Rule 11 of the Code of Civil Procedure to reject the plaint in O.S.No.119 of 2010.

2. In order to appreciate the grievance of the petitioner herein, it is necessary to set out the following dates and events:-

“CHRONOLOGY OF DATES AND EVENTS

S.No. DATE EVENTS

1 18.12.1982

The paternal grandfather of the revision petitioner and the 2nd respondent, one Ramasamy Naidu executes a settlement deed in their favour retaining a life interest for himself.

2 21.08.1995

Ramasamy Naidu unilaterally cancels the settlement deed

stating that the petitioner and the 2nd respondent have not complied with the terms of settlement.

3 05.09.1995

The revision petitioner herein and the 2nd respondent, who were minors then, had instituted the suit O.S.No.652 of 1995 on the file of the Sub Court, Dindigul, which was later transferred to the District Munsif Court, Palani and numbered as O.S.No.222 of 1996 and once again transferred to the Sub Court, Palani and numbered as O.S.No.160 of 1998 to declare the cancellation of the settlement deed as null and void and for permanent injunction. They were represented by his father as natural guardian.

4 16.11.1998

One V.Kalimuthu obtains a money decree against Ramasamy Naidu in O.S.No.235 of 1998 on the file of the Sub Court, Palani.

5 2000

The decree holder, V.Kalimuthu, files E.P.No.3 of 2000 to

execute the decree by bringing the property settled on the petitioner and the 2nd respondent for sale.

6 19.09.2001

O.S.No.160 of 1998 is dismissed and A.S.No.231 of 2001 is filed by the petitioner herein before the learned Additional District Judge (Fast Track Court), Dindigul.

7 25.11.2002

Auction sale is held in E.P.No.3 of 2000 and on the very same day, the sale was also confirmed in favour of the respondents herein.

8 2004

E.P.No.88 of 2004 is filed by the 1st respondent herein seeking delivery of the property. E.A.No.300 of 2004 is filed by the petitioner under Order XXI Rule 97, 99 and 101 of the Code of Civil Procedure, obstructing the

delivery.

9 12.08.2005

A.S.No.231 of 2001 is allowed and the decree and judgment in O.S.No.160 of 1998 is set aside. The title of the petitioner and the 2nd respondent is declared and

permanent injunction was also granted in his favour.

10 2006

The sons and daughter of Ramasamy Naidu filed S.A.

(MD) No.348 of 2006, challenging the judgment and decree in A.S.No.231 of 2001 (The property has already been sold in Court auction.)

11 13.06.2008

E.A.No.300 of 2004 is dismissed by the Executing Court totally overlooking the judgment and decree in A.S.No. 231 of 2001.

12 2008 A.S.No.99 of 2008 was filed against the dismissal of the

obstruction petition by the Executing Court and I.A.No.

114 of 2008 was filed to stay of all further proceeding in

execution.

13

29.09.2008 I.A.No.114 of 2008 is allowed.

14 29.04.2010

The instant suit O.S.No.119 of 2010 is filed by the 1st respondent herein for bare injunction.

15 14.06.2010

A.S.No.99 of 2008 is allowed upholding the claim of the

revision petitioner.

16 09.07.2018

S.A.(MD) No.348 of 2006 is dismissed for default.

3. From the above chronology of events, it appears that the title of the revision petitioner and his brother had been declared by a competent civil Court and injunction has been granted in their favour. The second appeal, which is filed challenging the judgment in A.S.No.231 of 2001, has been dismissed for default. It is now informed that an application has been moved for restoring the same with a delay.

4. In this backdrop, the 1st respondent herein has filed a suit seeking the following reliefs:-

“jhth gpuhJ nrhj;ij thjp ePjpkd;wk; %yk; Vyk; vLj;j gpwF jhth gpuhJ nrhj;jpy;; gpujpthjpfs; fl;bl mikg;Gfis ,bf;fNth khw;wNth kw;Wk; Gjpjhf fl;blk; fl;lNth $lhJ vd epue;ju cWj;Jf;fl;lis gupfhuk; toq;fpAk;.”

5. The 1st respondent has narrated the filing of the suit O.S.No.

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