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2018 Supreme(Ori) 299

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA : CUTTACK
A.K. RATH, J.
Satrughna Parija – Appellant
Versus
Sarat Majhi and Others – Respondents
S.A. No.275 of 1998
Decided On : 03-04-2018

Advocates Appeared:
For the Appellant : Mr. D.P. Mohanty, Adv.

The central legal point established in the judgment is that a suit for permanent injunction may not be maintainable if the suit land is not identifiable.

Headnote:

Identifiable Land - Permanent Injunction - The court held that the suit land was not identifiable, making the simple suit for permanent injunction not maintainable.

Fact of the Case:

The plaintiff claimed ownership of the suit schedule land and alleged that the defendants attempted to encroach upon a portion of the land. The trial court dismissed the suit, and the plaintiff filed an appeal, arguing that the suit land was identifiable.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the suit land was not identifiable as the description provided did not indicate the specific portion of the area that the defendants attempted to encroach upon. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed.

Issues: The issues included the identification of the suit property, the justifiability of the refusal of permanent injunction, and the alleged error in the courts' observations regarding the sketch map attached to the plaint.

Ratio Decidendi: The court's decision was influenced by the lack of specific identification of the portion of the suit land that was subject to the alleged encroachment, rendering the simple suit for permanent injunction not maintainable.

Final Decision: The appeal was dismissed, and no costs were awarded.

JUDGMENT :

DR. A.K. RATH, J.

Plaintiff is the appellant against confirming judgment in a suit for permanent injunction.

2. The case of the plaintiff is that he is the owner of the suit schedule land. The defendants made an attempt to encroach upon a portion of the suit land.

3. The defendants entered contest and filed a written statement stating, inter alia, that they have not encroached upon the suit schedule land.

4. On the inter se pleadings of the parties, learned trial court struck seven issues. Parties led evidence. Learned trial court dismissed the suit holding, inter alia, that the suit land is not identifiable. Unsuccessful plaintiff filed T.A. No. 53/27 of 1997/92 before the learned 2nd Additional District Judge, Bhubaneswar, which was eventually dismissed.

5. The Second Appeal was admitted on the following substantial questions of law enumerated in ground nos.1 (A), (B), (C) and (D) of the appeal memo. The same are:-

“1(A) If the courts below have committed error of record in citing improper description of the suit property as a ground for dismissing the plaintiff’s suit when the plaintiff has described the suit land with reference to survey number, boundary and dimension coupled with a sketch map showing the subject matter of dispute ?

(B) If the courts below are justified in their conclusion that on the description of the suit land, no executable decree can be passed, basing upon the discrepant pleading and evidence of the defendants ?

(C) If the courts below are justified in refusing the plaintiff’s prayer for permanent injunction even after finding that the defendants have no manner of right, title or interest in the suit land and that they have not acquired any title in the suit land by adverse possession ?

(D) If the court below has committed an error of record in over looking the amendment of the plaint and then observing that no sketch map has been attached to the plaint, more so the sketch map has already been proved and maked as Ext.3 ?”

6. Heard Mr. D.P. Mohanty, learned counsel for the appellant. None appears for the respondents.

7. Mr. Mohanty, learned counsel for the appellant submits that the courts below committed a manifest illegality and impropriety in holding, inter alia, that the suit land is not identifiable. The plaintiff has described the suit land mentioning plot no.723, Khata No.100. On the body of the plaint, the plaintiff stated the area which was to be encroached upon by the defendants.

8. In the schedule of the plaint, the suit land has been described as under:-

“Schedule of Property

Mouza-Malipara, P.S. Chandaka, Dist. Puri Plot no. 723, Area-Ac.0.050 decimals, Khata No. 100, Sabik-417 and 418.

Bounded by East-Laxman Parida, Bhagaban Parida, Brahmananda Rout West-Homestead land of the defendants. North-Public Road South”

9. The assertion of the plaintiff is that the defendants made an attempt to encroach upon a portion of the suit land. But then, the suit schedule property does not indicate from which portion of the area the defendants made an attempt to encroach upon. The boundary of the entire suit plot has been given and not the area, which was to be encroached upon by the defendants as alleged. The suit land is not identifiable. Thus the simple suit for permanent injunction is not maintainable. The substantial questions of law are answered accordingly.

10. In the ultimate analysis, the appeal fails and is dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs.

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