Allahbad High Court
A.N.VERMA
Rama Shanker - Appellant
Versus
3rd Additional District Judge, Basti - Respondent
Decided On : 10/07/1982
COMPROMISE - VALIDITY - REQUIREMENTS - SEVERABILITY OF INTERESTS - SIGNATURES OF PARTIES - VERIFICATION - JURISDICTION OF COURT - CHALLENGING VALIDITY - NECESSARY PARTIES - U.P. CONSOLIDATION OF HOLDINGS ACT, S. 49 - O. 23, R. 3 C.P.C.
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner challenged the validity of a compromise decree passed in a suit filed by Smt. Lakhpati against him and one Uma Shanker for cancellation of a sale deed. The compromise was signed by the petitioner and his counsel, as well as the counsel for the plaintiff and the proposed heirs of Uma Shanker. The petitioner contended that the compromise was invalid as it was not signed by the plaintiff or her heirs or by the heirs of Uma Shanker, and that the court had no jurisdiction to record it. He also argued that the suit was barred by limitation and by Section 49 of the U.P. Consolidation of Holdings Act.
Finding of the Court:
The court held that the compromise was valid and that the court had jurisdiction to record it. It found that the interests of the petitioner and Uma Shanker were severable, and that the absence of the signatures of the plaintiff's heirs or the heirs of Uma Shanker was not fatal to the validity of the compromise. The court also held that the suit was not barred by limitation or by Section 49 of the U.P. Consolidation of Holdings Act.
Issues: 1. Whether the compromise was valid and the court had jurisdiction to record it. 2. Whether the suit was barred by limitation or by Section 49 of the U.P. Consolidation of Holdings Act.
Ratio Decidendi: 1. The court held that the compromise was valid and that the court had jurisdiction to record it. It found that the interests of the petitioner and Uma Shanker were severable, and that the absence of the signatures of the plaintiff's heirs or the heirs of Uma Shanker was not fatal to the validity of the compromise. The court also held that the suit was not barred by limitation or by Section 49 of the U.P. Consolidation of Holdings Act.
Final Decision: The court dismissed both petitions challenging the validity of the compromise decree.
2. The petitioner was defendant No.2 in suit No.47 of 1968. Uma Shanker was defendant No.1 in that suit. The suit was filed by Smt. Lakhpati for cancellation of a sale deed Dt. 4-10-1963 said to have been executed by her in favour of Rama Shanker. The plaint allegations were that the plaintiffs husband Tapeshwari was the sole proprietor of the plots in suit which were his sir and Khudkasht. Tapeshwari died about 30 years prior to the institution of the suit leaving the plaintiff and his son Parmatma as his heirs. Parmatma also died about 15 or 16 years. The plaintiff thus became the sole owner of the properties of her husband including the plots in dispute of which she became the sole bhumidhar after the abolition of Zamindari. The plaintiff was an illiterate and simple lady depending for everything on Uma Shanker the defendant No.1 in the suit, who was an employee of the plaintiffs husband. The plaintiff reposed full confidence in defendant No.1. Taking advantage of all these things defendant No.1 fraudulently got his own name entered in the revenue records in respect of the disputed plots and thereafter fraudulently got a sale deed executed m favour of her own son-in-law, Rama Shanker, the defendant No.2 in the suit the petitioner herein. The plaintiff never consciously executed any sale deed in favour of defendant No.2 and the same having been obtained by fraud was liable to be cancelled. On these assertions the plaintiff prayed that the sale deed standing in the name of the petitioner be cancelled. This suit was filed on 8-2-1968.
3. On 5-11-1973 Uma Shanker aforesaid died, whereupon the plaintiff filed an application for substitution being paper No.81-82 for bringing on records the name of four persons in place of Uma Shanker namely Rampat, Harbali, Km. Sudha and one Shripat. Shripat is said to have died subsequently. The other three heirs are arrayed in the writ petition respectively as respondents Nos.11, 12 and 13. On the same day another application was filed by the petitioner to be appointed as the guardian of Km. Sudha. A third application was filed on the same day namely paper No.80-A purporting to be a compromise signed by the petitioner as well as his counsel Sri Udai Bhan Satsangi, Karunapati Tripathi counsel for the plaintiff, Girish Chandra Shukla counsel for the proposed heirs of Uma Shanker. On the compromise application the court passed an order that the same be put up after the disposal of the substitution matter. Yet another application was filed by Rama Shanker on 28-11-1973 paper No. 82-C purporting to be under O.32, R.7 of the Code of Civil Procedure with a prayer that he be permitted to compromise the matter on behalf of the minor Km. Sudha. By an order Dt. 12-8-1976 the court substituted only Rampat and Harbali, respondents Nos. 11 and 12 herein as the heirs of Uma Shanker and rejected the claim of others to be substituted as the heirs of Uma Shanker. Shesh Nath, respondent No. 14 herein felt aggrieved by the refusal of the court to substitute him and he took the matter in revision which was dismissed whereupon Sheshnath came to this court by way of writ petition which was allowed and
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