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2023 Supreme(P&H) 1382

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH
H.S. Madaan, J.
Suraj Bans Singh (since deceased) through LRs – Appellant
Versus
Pritpal Singh (since deceased) through LRs & Ors. – Respondents
R.S.A.No. 3449 of 2018
Decided On : 28-03-2023

Advocates appeared:
For the Parties :Mr. Kanwaljit Singh Senior, Advocate, Mr. Vaibhav Katoch, Mr. H.K. Aurora

Headnote:(A) Hindu Succession Act, 1956 - Section 22 - Limitation Act, 1963 - One year limitation for challenging sale deed under Section 22 - Suit for declaration of ownership and injunction - The plaintiff was declared joint owner to the extent of 5/9 share, while the suit was partly decreed due to time-bar issues related to the sale deed. (Paras 14-20)

(B) Tenancy and Joint Ownership - A tenant acquiring a share from co-owners does not automatically extinguish tenancy rights unless entire ownership is transferred; continuing possession requires tenants to work through partition claims. (Paras 21-24)

Facts of the case:
The case involves a dispute where the plaintiff claims joint ownership against acts by defendants who sold property rights to defendant No.1, arguing mala fide intentions and legal entitlement.

Findings of Court:
Courts affirmed the plaintiff's joint ownership claim to 5/9 share but dismissed claims of trespass for lack of timely action to challenge the sale deed.

Issues: The primary issues involved the correct application of tenancy rights and the validity of claims concerning sale deed rights under the Hindu Succession Act.

Ratio Decidendi: The court concluded that the plaintiff's failure to act within the one-year limitation period barred his claims against the sale deed; the status of defendants as co-owners is affirmed based on statutory provision.

Result: Appeal dismissed with costs.

Table of Content
1. plaintiff's claim of joint ownership. (Para 1 , 2 , 3)
2. defendants challenging plaintiff's claims. (Para 4 , 5 , 6)
3. overview of prior court decisions. (Para 9 , 10 , 11 , 12)
4. preferential right under section 22. (Para 14 , 15)
5. limitation period for suit filing. (Para 19 , 20 , 21)
6. nature of possession post-sale. (Para 22 , 23 , 24)
7. affirmation of trial court's findings. (Para 25 , 26)
8. dismissal of appeal with costs. (Para 27 , 28 , 29)

Judgment

Mr. H.S. Madaan, J.

Briefly stated, facts of the case are that plaintiff Suraj Bans Singh son of Amolak Singh, resident of WC-134, Opposite Civil Hospital, GT Road, Jalandhar (since dead) represented by his LRs had brought a suit against Pritpal Singh and others, seeking a declaration that plaintiff is joint owner and in joint possession to the extent of 5/9 share in the suit property bearing WC 134 situated at GT Road Opposite Civil Hospital, Jalandhar and sale deed dated 3.12.1999 registered on 10.12.1999 executed by defendant No.2 to 8 in favour of defendant No.1 in respect of specific portion measuring 3 marlas in the house in question is illegal, null and void not binding upon rights of the plaintiff and by way of permanent injunction restraining defendant No.1 from exercising any act of joint possession in respect of the portion of the joint property purchased by him on the basis of impugned sale deed dated 10.12.1999 and from claiming rent from the tenants, namely Raman Kumar and Arun Pathak in respect of shop marked X and Maini Marked Y till the partition in due course and further for declaration that possession of defendant No.1 over the shop Marked 1 is that of trespasser besides seeking possession by ejectment of defendant No.1 out of that shop.

2. As per the version of the plaintiff his father Amolak Singh was the original owner of the suit property, which was in the form of dwelling house; Amolak Singh died intestate in the year 1971; thereafter Sant Kaur, Manmohan Singh, Kuldip Singh, Harpreet Kaur, Narinder Singh had died leaving behind their respective legal heirs; Davinder Singh and Baljit Singh – sons and Smt.Narinder Kaur daughter of Amolak Singh had sold their 1/9th share each in the suit property in favour of the plaintiff vide sale deeds dated 11.6.1997, 27.8.2001, registered on 27.8.2001, 12.9.2001 and .1.4.2002, respectively, in that way the plaintiff became owner to the extent of 5/9 share in the suit property; the suit property is still joint; 1/9 share belongs to defendants No.9 to 12, LRs of Kuldeep Singh son of Amolak Singh, Harjit Kaur wife of Narinder Singh on her own behalf and as a attorney of Jaswinder Singh son of Rani alias Harpreet Kaur, Micky, Himantika, Rubina and Rajbans Kaur had sold their respective share measuring 3 marlas, which is the property in dispute comprising one shop, room on the backside, chubara passage, courtyard and staircase along with all rights appurtenant thereto for Rs.12,50,000/- to defendant No.1 Pritpal Singh.

3. According to the plaintiff, since the whole house was joint of all the LRs of Amolak Singh, therefore defendants No.2 to 8 had no right to sell specific portion to defendant No.1, who was not member of the family of Amolak Singh; defendant No.1 had purchased the alleged specific portion knowing fully well of pre-existing right of the plaintiff over the portion being tenant in shop since days of Amolak Singh; defendant No.1 is not member of the family of Amolak Singh, therefore is not entitled to joint possession with family members of Amolak Singh of any part of the house; however, on account of mala fide intention of defendants No.1 to 8, a cloud has been cast on the legal rights of the plaintiff; defendant No.1 refused to accept the genuine request of plaintiff and to take the sale deed in his favour to be sale of a share and not of specific portion but to no effect, giving rise to a cause of action to the plaintiff to bring the suit in question.

4. On notice, defendants No.1 and 2 appe

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