IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
R.N. MANJULA, J.
L.H. Krishnan & Others – Appellants
Versus
Singu R. Mangaleshkar & Others – Respondents
Application No. 3856 of 2022 in C.S. No. 390 of 2020
Decided On : 31-07-2023
Impleadment - Partition Suit - CS.No.390 of 2020 - O.S. Rules - CPC - 151 CPC - CS.No.522 of 1992 - OSA.Nos.147 and 148 of 2002
Fact of the Case:
The plaintiff filed a suit for partition of properties left by his mother. The defendants sought to be impleaded claimed their shares in the properties based on a previous compromise decree.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the defendants were unnecessary parties to the suit as they had already contested and obtained their shares in the properties through a previous suit and compromise decree.
Issues: Whether the defendants should be impleaded as necessary parties in the partition suit.
Ratio Decidendi: The defendants, having obtained their shares through a previous suit and compromise decree, were unnecessary parties to the current suit and should seek remedy through execution petition.
Final Decision: The application for impleadment was dismissed.
JUDGMENT
(Prayer: Application filed under Order XIV Rule 8 of O.S. Rules read with Order 1 Rule 10(2) of CPC read with 151 CPC, praying to implead the applicants as necessary parties and arraigned as defendants 7 to 14 in C.S.No.390 of 2020.)
1. This Application has been filed seeking to implead the applicants are necessary parties and arraigned as defendants 7 to 14 in C.S.No.390 of 2020.
2.The averments of the plaint in brief: The applicants are the proposed defendants. The 1st respondent/plaintiff has filed a suit for partition of the suit properties left by his mother late Padmavathy. ''A'' Schedule property was the self acquired property of the said Padmavathy and Schedule ''B'' , ''C'' and ''D'' properties were inherited from her ancestors. The plaintiff has claimed 1/2 share out of her share inherited from her mother in respect of ''B'' , ''C'' and ''D'' Schedule Properties; the applicants/ proposed defendants are also entitled to their respective shares in ''B'' , ''C'' and ''D'' Schedule Properties. The said properties were the subject matter of C.S.No.522 of 1992, OSA.Nos.147 and 148 of 2002. The final decree has been passed on 06.12.2017 in CS.No.522 of 1992 based on the Memo of Compromise filed by all the parties.
2.1. The mother of the plaintiff late Padmavathy was also one of the legal heirs along with the applicants and she was allotted a share in the suit ''B'' , ''C'' and ''D'' Schedule Properties. Though the plaintiff had stated that the ''B'' , ''C'' and ''D'' Schedule Properties were the ancestral properties inherited by his late mother, he had not chosen to implead the applicants/ proposed defendants in the above suit. The plaintiff had also sought a relief of Permanent Injunction restraining the defendants from alienating ''A'', ''B'', ''C'' and ''D'' Schedule Properties without specially mentioning the respective shares inherited by his late mother.
2.2.The suit between the plaintiff and the defendants 1 and 2 cannot deprive the rights of the applicants to enjoy the property in any manner. The applicants are taking steps to sell the ''C'' Schedule Property in terms of the earlier compromise. Now, in view of the suit filed by the 1st respondent /plaintiff, their rights are in jeopardy. Hence the application has been filed to implead the defendants 7 to 14 as parties to this suit.
3.The counter filed by the 1st respondent/plaintiff is in brief: The ''A'' Schedule Property was purchased by the mother of the plaintiff and Schedule ''B'' , ''C'' and ''D'' are the ancestral properties acquired by her parents. The 1st respondent''s mother got a share in the year 2017 and she was in exclusive possession and enjoyment of the same. After the death of his mother the respondents 2 and 3 colluded with each other and tried to get a major share and they took steps to sell away the entire property without the consent of the 1st respondent/plaintiff. In the plaint itself the 1st respondent / plaintiff has stated that he claims ½ share, in whatever the share the 1st and 3rd respondents have in Schedule ''B'' , ''C'' and ''D''. The applicants are not necessary parties to the suit. The 1st respondent/ plaintiff seeks respective shares of his mother''s share only and he does not seek any relief in respect of the properties already sold; the applicants already got their share in respect of the Schedule ''B'' , ''C'' and ''D'' properties and hence, they are entitled to file an execution petition before the Master Court to execute the Compromise decree. The 2nd respondent is collecting the monthly rent of Rs.80,000/- in the ''A'' Schedule Property without giving any share to the 1st respondent. The 3rd respondent is also collecting the rent from the 2nd respondent. The application has been filed only at the instigation of the respondents 2 and 3. Hence the petition should be dismissed.
4.Heard the submissions made by both sides learned counsels and perused the materials available on record.
5. The pl
AI
In proceedings for partition, parties with potential rights to the property are necessary for adjudication to ensure complete justice and fair representation.
In a suit for partition of property, all the members of the family, who have interest and claim over the joint family properties are required to be impleaded. However, if the plaintiff is not claimin....
A necessary party with a direct interest in property may be added to ensure effective adjudication, according to Order 1 Rule 10 of the CPC.
The court allows the impleadment of parties in partition suits when they provide sufficient evidence of ownership despite prior non-production of documents.
A party seeking impleadment must demonstrate a fair semblance of title or interest over the property in question, and failure to seek final decree proceedings in a partition suit may impact the claim....
Necessary parties must be included in legal proceedings; amendments to pleadings allowed to ensure fair adjudication.
The main legal principle established is that the Court has the discretion to add parties to a suit, with or without application, in order to effectively adjudicate and settle all the questions involv....
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