2025 Supreme(Mad) 3633
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
P.T. ASHA, J.
N. Subramaniam - Appellant
Versus
P. Kumarasamy - Respondent
S.A. Nos. 19, 20 of 2013, C.M.P. No. 4363 of 2022, M.P. Nos. 1, 2, 3 of 2013
Decided On : 14-02-2025
Important Points
Subject
Property Law - Tenancy Rights
Headnote
(B) Tenancy Rights - The court emphasized that the burden of proof lies on the party claiming tenancy rights, requiring detailed pleadings and evidence to establish such claims. The appellate court's finding that the plaintiff was a cultivating tenant was deemed perverse due to lack of evidence. (Paras 10, 14)
Facts of the case:
The plaintiff claimed rights over properties leased by his deceased father, asserting continuous possession and cultivation. The defendants argued that the plaintiff was a caretaker and had no tenancy rights, having sold the properties to a third party. (Paras 4, 5)
Findings of Court:
The appellate court's conclusion that the plaintiff was a cultivating tenant was overturned, reaffirming the trial court's finding that the plaintiff was merely a caretaker without tenancy rights. (Paras 10, 14)
Issues: The main issues were whether the appellate court erred in finding the plaintiff a cultivating tenant and whether it disregarded the legal requirements for eviction. (Paras 10, 11)
Ratio Decidendi: The court ruled that the plaintiff failed to provide sufficient evidence to establish his claim as a cultivating tenant, emphasizing that caretakers do not acquire tenancy rights merely through long possession. (Paras 10, 14)
Result: Second appeals allowed, confirming the trial court's judgment. (Para 14)
Advocate Appeared:
For the Appellant : N. Manokaran
For the Respondent: S. Kamadevan
ORDER :
1. S.A.No.19 of 2013 arises out of the judgment and decree passed in O.S.No.673 of 2009 dated 04.07.2012 on the file of the Principal District Munsif Court, Erode which was a suit filed for a bare injunction filed by the respondent herein. Against this suit, the plaintiff had filed A.S.No.1 of 2012 on the file of the Sub Court, Sathyamangalam.
2. S.A.No.20 of 2013 arises out from out of the judgment and decree passed in O.S.No.673 of 2009 dated 04.07.2012 on the file of the Principal District Munsif Court, Erode against which the respondent herein had filed A.S.No.1 of 2012 on the file of the Sub Court, Sathyamangalam. O.S.No.675 of 2009 is also a suit for bare injunction filed by the appellant herein against the respondent.
3. The facts of the two suits are herein below set out. The parties are referred to in the ranking as in the suit O.S.No.673 of 2009.
4. Plaintiff's case in O.S.No.673 of 2009: (Respondent in this Second Appeal)
(i) The plaintiff would submit that the two properties described in the schedule of properties in the plaint belonged to defendants 1, 2 and the husband of the 3rd defendant. The 4th defendant and the 5th defendant are the son and daughter-in-law of the 1st defendant, respectively. It is the case of the plaintiff that his father, late Palaniappa Gounder, had taken on lease the suit properties for cultivation and was paying the lease amount to the defendants 1, 2 and the 3rd defendant's husband, late Venkatanarayanan. The plaintiff would also submit that his father, in his capacity as lessee, had entered into an agreement with Bannariamman Sugar Factory to cultivate sugar in the Item-I of the suit property. That apart, he had also addressed the Junior Engineer of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board regarding the rectification of electricity bill in connection with the service connection No.5 which has been installed in the suit property.
(ii) The plaintiff would submit that his father passed away on 29.03.2001 leaving behind him surviving, the plaintiff as his only legal heir. The plaintiff had continued to contribute his physical labour as a cultivating tenant and was paying annual lease amount to the 2nd defendant for which the 2nd defendant has himself given a receipt in his own handwriting. The kists and house taxes were paid by his plaintiff's father, Palaniappa Gounder and after his demise, the plaintiff has been paying the same. That apart, due to drought and the non availability of water, the plaintiff had installed several bore wells by spending several lakhs of rupees in the suit property and had also purchased motor and other accessories. It is his case that for the last 40 years, the plaintiff and prior to him, his father had been in possession and enjoyment of the property and were paying the annual lease amount to the 2nd defendant. While so, on 20.07.2007, the defendants 4 and 5, with the active support of defendants 1 to 3, had started questioning the plaintiff's right to continue in possession of the property. Therefore, the plaintiff had filed a petition to declare himself as a cultivating tenant in respect of the suit properties.
(iii) The plaintiff would submit that, all of a sudden on 24.07.2009, the defendants along with their musclemen had attempted to forcibly enter the suit properties which was thwarted by the plaintiff. Later, the plaintiff came to learn that the defendants 1 to 5 had sold the suit properties to one Subramaniam (who was subsequently brought on record as the 6th defendant in this suit) and in the Sale Deed, there was a false recital that the 6th defendant had been put in possession of the property in question. He would submit that once again on 22.12.2009, the defendants had tried to forcibly enter the suit property which was also successfully prevented by him. Therefore, the plaintiff has come forward with the suit in question.
5. Written statement of the defendants in O.S.No.673 of 2009:
(i) The defendants had filed a written statement inter-alia denying the l

