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1994 Supreme(P&H) 965

PUNJAB & HARYANA HIGH COURT
G.C.Garg, J.
Ashok Kumar
Versus
Kamaljit Singh
Civil Revision No. 35 of 1993,
Decided On : NOVEMBER 22, 1994

A co-owner is entitled to possession from a third party, and such defendants cannot be permitted to raise an objection that a co-sharer is only entitled to joint possession and not actual physical possession.

Headnote:

EXECUTION OF DECREE - JOINT POSSESSION - CO-SHARERS - DELIVERY OF PHYSICAL POSSESSION - CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE, 1908 - ORDER 21, RULE 35(2) - APPLICABILITY - DECREE FOR JOINT POSSESSION - CONDITIONS - CO-OWNER'S RIGHT TO POSSESSION FROM THIRD PARTY - OBJECTION BY NON-OWNER CO-SHARER - MAINTAINABILITY.

Fact of the Case:

Plaintiffs filed a suit for declaration of ownership and possession of a property. The suit was decreed in their favor by the trial court, but the appellate court reversed the decision. On appeal to the High Court, the trial court's decree was restored. The plaintiffs then sought execution of the decree for possession. The defendants, who were in possession of the property, filed objections claiming that they were allotted the property by the State of Punjab/Municipal Committee, who in turn got it from the Central Government. They also argued that the decree was vague as the measurement of the land was not given.

Finding of the Court:

The court held that the decree was not for joint possession, as the defendants were not co-owners of the property. The court also held that the defendants could not object to the delivery of physical possession to the plaintiffs, as they were not owners of the property. The court further held that the pendency of the objection petition filed by the State of Punjab did not bar the execution of the decree against the defendants.

Issues: 1. Whether the decree was for joint possession, entitling the decree holders to only symbolic possession? 2. Whether the defendants, who were not co-owners of the property, could object to the delivery of physical possession to the plaintiffs? 3. Whether the pendency of the objection petition filed by the State of Punjab barred the execution of the decree against the defendants?

Ratio Decidendi: 1. Sub-rule (2) of Rule 35 of Order 21 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 applies only where the decree is for joint possession of immovable property. In such cases, only symbolic possession is delivered, leaving the parties to seek partition in an appropriate forum. 2. A co-owner is entitled to possession from a third party, and such defendants cannot be permitted to raise an objection that a co-sharer is only entitled to joint possession and not actual physical possession. 3. The pendency of an objection petition filed by a third party does not bar the execution of a decree against the defendants who are not parties to the objection petition.

Final Decision: The court dismissed the revision petition and upheld the order of the executing court directing delivery of possession to the plaintiffs.

Judgment

G.C.Garg, J.

1. This revision is directed against the order dated November 26,1992 passed by the executing court.

2. Chet Singh and others filed a suit for declaration that they are owners of the property shown by letters ABCDEFG in red and yellow colours in the site plan attached with the plaint, forming part of Khasra No. 2577 situated within the Municipal Limits of Municipal Committee, Kharar, and for the recovery of possession of the Site ABCG shown in yellow colour in the said plan, and also for the recovery of money on account of mesne profits. The Municipal Committee, State of Punjab and the objectors or their predecessors were impleaded as defendants in the said suit. The suit was decreed by the trial Court by judgment and decree dated February 3, 1975 against defendants 1 and 3 to 14. It was, however, dismissed against defendant 2. Appeal against the judgment and decree of the trial court filed by the Municipal Committee was allowed by the Learned Additional District Judge by judgment and decree dated February 25, 1978. Appeal taken by the plaintiffs against the judgment and decree of the first appellate court was allowed by this Court on May 10,1989, whereby the judgment and decree of the lower appellate court was set aside and that of the trial court restored. The plaintiffs thereafter took out execution and prayed for issuance of warrant of possession in respect of the properties as detailed in the site plan and qua which the suit had been decreed for possession. It may be mentioned at this stage, that the land in dispute is a part of khasra No. 568, measuring 4 kanals 15 Marlas. The Khasra No. of this property prior to consolidation was 2577. Objections were filed by some persons and the same were disposed of by the executing court by orders dated September 23, 1989 and September 18, 1991. Objection petition which is the subject matter of this revision was filed by private defendants or their successors. It was broadly contended by them that they were in possession of the site and have raised construction thereon after the same had been allotted to them by the State of Punjab/Municipal Committee, Kharar, who in turn got this property from the Central Government. It was in this situation contended that the decree could not be executed against the Central Government and consequently against the objectors. It was also submitted that the decree was vague as measurement of the land and not been given. The objection petition was opposed by filing reply. It was stated that the objectors were in unauthorised possession and that the suit against them had already been decreed by this Court. The share of the Central Government in the land in dispute was denied. It was contended that any transfer made during the pendency of the litigation by the State of Punjab in favour of the petitioners or the Municipal Committee, did not affect the right of the decree holders to get possession. Learned executing court on a consideration of the matter dismissed the objection petition by order dated November 26, 1992 as already noticed.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that the plaintiff-decree holders were only co-sharers in the land in dispute, the other co-sharers being the Punjab State and others. In the premises, learned counsel for the petitioners seeking support from the provisions of Sub-rule (2) of Rule 35 of Order 21 of the Code of Civil Procedure submitted that the decree holders being co-sharers were entitled to symbolic possession only and the learned executing court erred in ordering delivery of physical possession. In support of his, submission, reliance was placed on Milkhi Ram and Ors. v. Raghunandan and Ors., A.I.R. 1982 H.P. 87. Learned counsel also submitted that objection petition filed by the State of Punjab against the execution of the decree is also pending and in the absence of decision thereon, objections filed by the petitioners could not be dismissed.

4. After hearing learned counsel for t


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