SupremeToday Landscape Ad
Back
Next
Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation
Listen Audio Icon Pause Audio Icon
judgment-img

2023 Supreme(Mad) 2392

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
D. KRISHNAKUMAR, P.B. BALAJI, JJ.
R. Sivaguru – Appellant
Versus
M. Thirukumaran @ Kumar & Others – Respondents
W.A. No. 937 of 2014 & M.P. Nos. 1 & 2 of 2014
Decided On : 06-07-2023

Advocates appeared:
For the Appellant:R. Rajarajan, Advocate. For the Respondents:R1, S. Dinesh Babu, Advocate, R2 to R4, E. Veda Bagath Singh, Special Government Pleader.

The main legal point established in the judgment is that disputes regarding property ownership and patta are to be adjudicated by the civil court, and the Tahsildar is not empowered to adjudicate upon a 'title dispute' under the Tamil Nadu Patta Pass Book Act 1983 and Rule 4(4).

Headnote:

Patta Dispute - Property Ownership - Tamil Nadu Patta Pass Book Act 1983, Rule 4(4) - The court discussed the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Patta Pass Book Act 1983 and Rule 4(4) and highlighted that the Tahsildar is not empowered to adjudicate upon a 'title dispute'. The correct procedure is to approach a civil court for adjudication. The patta and title of the property are subject to the outcome of the decision of the civil court.

Fact of the Case:

The appellant challenged the order passed by the Writ Court in W.P.No.8328 of 2013 dated 04.04.2014, which allowed the writ petition by setting aside the impugned order passed by the Revenue Divisional Officer, Ambattur. The dispute arose from the cancellation of patta issued against the first respondent's property.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the patta and title of the property are subject to the outcome of the decision of the civil court. The Writ Court's order was set aside, and the concerned civil court was directed to decide the appeal independently without being influenced by any of the observations made by the Court.

Issues: The issues involved in the matter were related to the ownership and patta of the property, and the jurisdiction of the civil court to adjudicate title disputes.

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the Tahsildar is not empowered to adjudicate upon a 'title dispute' under the Tamil Nadu Patta Pass Book Act 1983 and Rule 4(4). The correct procedure for disputes regarding property ownership is to approach a civil court for adjudication.

Final Decision: The writ appeal was allowed, the Writ Court's order was set aside, and the concerned civil court was directed to decide the appeal independently without being influenced by any of the observations made by the Court.

JUDGMENT

(Prayer: Writ Appeal filed under Section 15 of Letters Patent to set aside the order passed by this Court in W.P.No.8328 of 2014 dated 04.04.2014.) D. Krishnakumar, J.

1. The appellant has filed this intra court appeal, challenging the order passed by this Court in W.P.No.8328 of 2013 dated 04.04.2014.

2. The brief facts leading to file the appeal is as follows. The first respondent herein had filed the above writ petition stating that, he is the absolute owner of the property bearing survey No.35/2A New Survey No.35/32, measuring to an extent of 1710 sq.ft. situated at Chettiar Agaram Village, Ambattur Taluk, Thiruvallur District and he possessed the said property by way of settlement deed dated 11.06.2012, executed by his daughter in favour of him. The property tax and other revenue records had also mutated in his name. In such circumstances, the appellant herein, purchased a property from one Mahdevan, who alleged to be the power agent of one Kirubanidhi in the year 2011, vide document No.4767/2012. Subsequently, he filed an appeal based on the sale deed to cancel the patta stands in the name K.Divya, the daughter of the first respondent/ writ petitioner and the Revenue Divisional Officer, Ambattur, Thiruvallur District had cancelled the patta, vide order dated 04.03.2013. Hence the writ petitioner/ first respondent herein has filed the above said writ petition to quash the order of cancellation of patta issued against him. This Court, vide order dated 04.04.2014 has allowed the writ petition by setting aside the impugned order passed by the Revenue Divisional Officer, Ambattur. Challenging the order passed by the Writ Court, the appellant has filed the present intra court appeal.

3. Heard the learned counsel for the appellant and the respondents and also we have perused the materials on record.

4. According to the appellant, originally the survey No.35/2A belonged to one Kirubanidhi, who had executed a power of attorney deed, vide doecument No.216/1981 in favour of one Mahadevan and subsequently, when the said power was sought to be cancelled by Kirubanidhi, the said Mahadevan had filed O.S.No.554/1983 on the file of the District Munsif, Poonamallee and it was decreed in favour of him. Thereafter, the appeal filed by the said Kirubanidhi in A.S.No.57/1990 on the file of Sub Court, Poonamallee was also dismissed. Subsequently the second appeal in S.A.No.1807/1991 filed by the said Kirubanidhi before this Court also ended against him. Therefore, as per the decree and judgment, Mahadevan has sold the properties, from whom, the appellant had purchased the property for valuable consideration, vide sale deed dated 26.12.2011, vide document No.4767/2011 and he is in possession and enjoyment of the property. When he applied for issuing patta, he came to know that the said property stands in the name of one Divya, daughter of the first respondent and hence, by filing appeal, the patta granted in the name of the Divya was cancelled by the Revenue Divisional Officer, Ambattur. However, the Writ Court has quashed the above said order.

5. The first respondent herein also claimed that he is the owner of the property in question. According to him, originally the property in Plot No.54, survey No.35/2A forms part of 48 cents was sold by one Kirubanidi to one Shanmugamvide document No.1197/1983 and the said Shanmugam has given power to one Satyanaryana, by document No.286/1986, who in turn sold the property to one Vimala Mukundan, vide document No.1276/1987. The said Vimala Mukundan mortgaged the property in Indian Bank, Alwarpet and since she committed default, property was brought for auction and through auction sale, the said property was purchased by one Vinodkumar, vide document No.1093/2007, who in turn, sold to one Srinivas Raman, by document No.7831/2008, from whom, one Latha Kumar purchased the property, vide document No.7630/2010. From the above said Latha Kumar, the writ petitioner''s daughter Divya had purchased the property

Click Here to Read the rest of this document
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
SupremeToday Portrait Ad
supreme today icon
logo-black

An indispensable Tool for Legal Professionals, Endorsed by Various High Court and Judicial Officers

Please visit our Training & Support
Center or Contact Us for assistance

qr

Scan Me!

India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!

For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :

whatsapp-icon Back to top