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2005 Supreme(P&H) 913

PUNJAB & HARYANA HIGH COURT
M.M.Kumar, J.
Giano
Versus
Puran
Regular Second Appeal No. 2447 of 1995,
Decided On : AUGUST 30, 2005

Headnote:

Gift Deed - Dispute over Ownership of Land - Sections 100 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 - Sections 122, 123 of T.P. Act - Section 68 of the Evidence Act - Summary of Acts and Sections: The judgment discusses the validity of a gift deed, the requirement of attesting witnesses, and the acceptance of the gift by the donee. The court analyzes the evidence and concludes that the gift deed was validly executed and accepted by the plaintiff-appellant.

Fact of the Case:

The case involves a dispute over the ownership of land based on a gift deed and inheritance claims. The plaintiff-appellant, Smt. Giano, filed a civil suit seeking possession of a share of the land based on a registered gift deed and inheritance from Mai Dhan. The defendant-respondents, Puran and Jage Ram, claimed to be the exclusive owners of another piece of land and challenged the mutation orders in favor of the plaintiff-appellant.

Finding of the Court:

The trial court found in favor of the plaintiff-appellant, holding that she was the daughter of Mai Dhan and that the gift deed was valid. The court also found the suit to be within the time limit. The lower appellate court, however, rejected the findings, questioning the validity of the gift deed and the acceptance of the gift by the plaintiff-appellant.

Issues: The main issues revolved around the relationship of the plaintiff-appellant with Mai Dhan, the validity of the gift deed, and the ownership of the land.

Ratio Decidendi: The trial court's findings were based on the oral evidence and the recitals in the gift deed, concluding that the plaintiff-appellant was the daughter of Mai Dhan and had accepted the gift. The lower appellate court's rejection of the evidence was based on no evidence.

Final Decision: The appeal in the first case was allowed, reversing the findings of the lower appellate court, and the judgment and decree of the trial court were restored. The appeal in the second case was rejected, affirming the findings of both lower courts.

Judgment

1. This order shall dispose of R.S.A. No. 2447 of 1995 and R.S.A. No. 2334 of 2001. Parties in both the appeals are the same. The first appeal (for brevity "the first case") arises from a civil suit filed by the plaintiff-appellant Smt. Giano in which she has prayed for possession of ½ share of the suit land on the basis of a registered gift deed No. 1754, dated 3-9-1974. She has further prayed for possession of 1/9th share in the other part of the suit land on the basis of inheritance claiming herself to be the daughter of one Mai Dhan, whose estate is subject-matter of the dispute. There are two judgements and decrees in favour of the defendant-respondents, namely, Puran and Jage Ram, who are admittedly sons of Mai Dhan. Those judgements and decrees dated 31-7-1981 suffered by her father Mai Dhan in favour of her brother Jage Ram in Civil Suit No. 459 of 1981 and the other judgement and decree is in favour of her other brother in Civil Suit No. 56 of 1980, Consequently, mutation Nos. 1659 and 1764 have also been challenged being illegal and void etc. The other appeal (for brevity "the second case") has arisen out of the civil suit filed by Puran and Jage Ram (who are referred to as defendant-respondents). Both the brothers had claimed to be exclusive owners in possession of another piece of land, which is different than the land involved in the first case on the basis of the jamabandi for the year 1990-91. They have also challenged the order dated 31-1-1994 passed by the Assistant Collector 1st Grade. Panipat sanctioning mutation No. 2145 in favour of the plaintiff-appellant and challenge has also been made to the order dated 16-5-1996 passed by the Commissioner, Rohtak upholding the order of the Assistant Collector Ist Grade. The revenue authorities have sanctioned 1/3rd share of the suit land involved in the second case by accepting the plaintiff-appellant as owner being daughter of Mai Dhan. The question of relationship of Smt. Giano plaintiff-appellant with Mai Dhan has been disputed by the defendant-respondents and is common feature in both the appeals. Both the appeals have been filed under Section 100 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908. Ist case

2. The estate of one Mai Dhan is the subject-matter of dispute in the instant appeal. It is admitted fact that Mai Dhan had two sons, namely, Puran and Jage Ram. There is a dispute as to whether the plaintiff-appellant Smt. Giano is their real sister or she was born out of the wedlock of her mother with one Hira, who had died. After the death of Hira, her mother Bhagwani is alleged to have contacted a karewa marriage with Mai Dhan. It is pleaded case of the defendant-respondents that they were born after the solemnization of karewa marriage of Bhagwani with their father Mai Dhan. The plaintiff-appellant has strongly relied upon a gift deed dated 3-9-1974 executed by Mai Dhan gifting her ½ share of the suit property. The original gift deed is alleged to be in possession of Puran, who did not produce it. Certified copy of the gift deed has been produced on record by Shri Kuldeep Singh, Registry Clerk PW3 from the office of the Sub-Registrar, which has been exhibited as PW3/1. The trial Court after the completion of pleadings framed numerous issues. Issues No. 1 to 6, which are pivotal into controversy raised between the parties read as under :-

1. Whether the plaintiff is the daughter of Mai Dhan? OPP

2. Whether the suit of the plaintiff is within time? OPP

3. Whether Mai Dhan gifted 40K-5M of agriculture land being ½ share of 80K-10M of agricultural land as detailed and describing in the head note of the plaint vide registered gift-deed No. 1754, dated 3-9-74? OPP

4. Whether the judgement and decree passed in Civil Suit No. 56 of 1980 titled Puran Singh etc. V/s. Mai Dhan and judgement and decree in Civil Suit No. 459 of 1981 are liable to be set aside as per the averment made in the plaint? OPP

5. Whether the defendants No. 1 and 2 are in cultivating possession as ow



















































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