PUNJAB & HARYANA HIGH COURT
M.L.Singhal, J.
Tara Mani
Versus
Narinder Kumar
Second Appeal No. 688 of 1979,
Decided On : MAY 2, 2002
WILL - Property Rights - S. 14(1) of the Hindu Succession Act - S. 14(2) of the Hindu Succession Act - Miss Ram Piari and Smt. Tara Mani - 23-11-1941, 9-11-1943
Fact of the Case:
The case involved a dispute over the ownership and possession of a property in Ludhiana. The property was initially given to Miss Ram Piari and Smt. Tara Mani for their residence by their father's will dated 23-11-1941 and a compromise decree dated 9-11-1943. After the death of Miss Ram Piari, the property was claimed by Narinder Kumar, the son of Shri Basant Lal.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that Miss Ram Piari and Smt. Tara Mani had a pre-existing right to the property as daughters of Lahori Mal. The compromise decree and the will recognized their right to the property. The court held that the rights of Miss Ram Piari and Smt. Tara Mani were enlarged into absolute ownership under S. 14(1) of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956, after the death of Miss Ram Piari.
Issues: The main issues included the ownership of the property, the validity of the will left by Lahori Mal, and the effect of the compromise decree on the rights of Miss Ram Piari and Smt. Tara Mani.
Ratio Decidendi: The court interpreted S. 14(1) and S. 14(2) of the Hindu Succession Act and held that the rights of Miss Ram Piari and Smt. Tara Mani were enlarged into absolute ownership under S. 14(1) after the death of Miss Ram Piari. The court also found that the compromise decree and the will recognized their pre-existing right to the property.
Final Decision: The court allowed the appeal, set aside the judgment and decree passed by the Additional District Judge, Ludhiana, and dismissed the suit of the plaintiff. The court held that there will be no order as to costs and parties shall bear their own costs.
1. There was one Raisahib Balla Ram. He had two sons, namely, Lahori Mal and Basant Lal. Lahori Mal had two daughters, namely, Miss Ram Piari and Smt. Tara Mani. Narinder Kumar plaintiff is the son of Shri Basant Lal. On 28-4-1943, Civil Suit No. 199 of 1943 was filed by Miss Ram Piari now (since dead) and Smt. Tara Mani now (since dead), daughters of Lahori Mal against Shri Basant Lal, father of Shri Narinder Kumar plaintiff now (since dead) and Rajinder Lal, minor son of Shri Basant Lal, for declaration to the effect that Miss Ram Piari was in possession as owner of the property in suit including residential house, situated in Maliganj, Ludhiana bearing No. B-IV-691 as legal heir of her father late Lahori Mal and that Tara Mani plaintiff No. 2 is in joint possession with plaintiff No. 2 with her permission and consent and that defendants have no right in the presence of plaintiffs and the male issue of plaintiff No. 2 and for permanent injunction, restraining the defendants from interfering with their possession. The said suit was decided on 9-11-1943 by Suri Maharaj Kishore, Senior Sub Judge, Ludhiana, in accordance with for compromise arrived at between the parties thereto. Parties to that suit made statements to the effect that the house in dispute was given to Miss Ram Piari and Smt. Tara Mani (defendant No. 1) for their residence and Shri Basant Lal will have no right to interfere in any way with their right of residence till the life time of Miss Ram Piari, after whose death, the house would revert to Shri Basant Lal. Parties to the suit signed the statements made by them before the Court. Decree was accordingly passed incorporating therein the details of the compromise arrived at between the parties to that suit (Civil Suit No. 199 of 1943 decided by Senior Sub Judge, Ludhiana on 4-11-1943). Basant Lal died on 7-11-1974. During his life time, he had executed a Will on 25-6-1971 which was duly registered in the office of Sub Registrar, Ludhiana, while in sound disposing mind. As per that Will, the house in dispute was to devolve upon Narinder Kumar son of Basant Lal plaintiff. Miss Ram Piari died on 2-1-1976. Similarly, in accordance with decree dated 9-11-1913 based on compromise and the Will left by Shri Basant Lal. Narinder Kumar became owner and is entitled to possession of the house in dispute. Miss Ram Piari was given only the right of residence. She had no right to transfer the house to anybody in any manner, She and her sister Smt. Tara Mani could enjoy the right of residence only till the life time of Miss Ram Piari. None of them had any right to accommodate any other person or to part with possession of the house in any way. But wrongly and illegally, Miss Ram Piari during her life time allowed to accommodate Surinder Kumar, Om Parkash and Smt. Parvati Devi (defendants Nos. 2 to 4) in different portions of the house in dispute shown in red, yellow and blue colour respectively, while the portion shown in green is in possession of Smt. Tara Mani (defendant No. 1 herself). Possession of the said portion is wrongful and unjustified qua plaintiff Narinder Kumar. They are accordingly trespassers and are bound to deliver vacant possession of the house in dispute to the plaintiff. On these allegations, Narinder Kumar son of Basant Lal filed suit for possession of H. No. IV-691 situated in Maliganj, Ludhiana shown in red, yellow, blue, green and white colour in the plan attached to the plaint against Smt. Tara Mani (defendant No. 1), Surinder Kumar son of unknown, Om Parkash son of unknown and Smt. Parvati Devi wife of unknown.
2. Smt. Tara Mani defendant No. 1 contested the suit of the plaintiff urging that she and Miss Ram Piari were the owners of the house in dispute and they filed suit in the Civil Court which was compromised. (Reference is to suit No. 1999 of 1993 decided by Senior Sub Judge, Ludhiana on 9-11-1943). On the death of Lahori Mal, she and her sister Miss Ram Piari inherited their father Shri
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