High Court of Allahabad
A.N. Dikshita, J.
Krishnawati Devi – Appellant
Versus
Sugia – Respondent
Second Appeal No. 357 of 1977
Decided On : Sep 30, 1986
TRANSFER OF PROPERTY ACT, 1882 - SECTION 108(P) - PERMANENT STRUCTURE - CONSTRUCTION OF A CHHAPPAR (THATCHED HUT) BY A TENANT WITHOUT THE LANDLORD'S CONSENT - WHETHER CONTRAVENES SECTION 108(P) - INTERPRETATION OF 'PERMANENT STRUCTURE' - INTENTION OF THE LESSEE AND NATURE OF CONSTRUCTION AS DETERMINING FACTORS.
Fact of the Case:
The appellant, a landlord, filed a suit for a mandatory injunction to remove a disputed Palani (thatched hut), Nad (threshing floor), and Khunta (cattle shed) constructed by the respondents, tenants, on the appellant's land without consent. The trial court dismissed the suit, finding the Palani unauthorized but not causing inconvenience. The lower appellate court upheld the dismissal, finding the Palani not to be of a permanent nature and not contravening Section 108(p) of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882.
Finding of the Court:
The High Court held that the Palani was not a permanent structure within the meaning of Section 108(p) of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882. The court considered the nature of the construction, made of bamboo sticks and palm leaves, and the intention of the respondents, who intended it to be temporary. The court distinguished between permanent and temporary structures, stating that the real criteria is whether the construction was intended to be retained forever or demolished after achieving certain objects.
Issues: 1. Whether the construction of the Palani by the respondents contravened Section 108(p) of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882, which prohibits a lessee from erecting a permanent structure without the lessor's consent. 2. Whether the Palani was a permanent structure, considering its nature and the intention of the respondents.
Ratio Decidendi: 1. The court interpreted Section 108(p) of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882, and held that the determination of whether a construction is a permanent structure depends on the intention of the party constructing it and the structural quality of the construction. 2. The court found that the Palani was not a permanent structure because it was made of bamboo sticks and palm leaves, indicating a temporary intention, and it was not intended to be retained forever.
Final Decision: The High Court dismissed the appeal, upholding the lower courts' dismissal of the suit. The court found no substantial question of law and agreed with the findings that the Palani was not of a permanent nature and did not contravene Section 108(p) of the Transfer of Property Act, 1882.
A.N. Dikshita, J.
1. THIS second appeal has been filed by the plaintiff-appellant against the judgment and decree dated 13-11-1976 dismissing Civil Appeal No. 192 of 1976 which was preferred against the judgment and decree dated 31-3-1976 in Original Suit No. 503 of 1973 by which the 3rd Additional Munsif, Deoria, had dismissed the suit.
2. THE facts giving rise to this second appeal are : THE appellant had filed a suit for a decree of mandatory injunction for the removal of the disputed Palani, Nad and Khunta from the land situate at Gasalpur Tappa Gobarai, Pargana Salempur Majhauli, district Deoria, and also for a decree of possession over the land in suit or part thereof on the allegations that the respondents who were let out a room of the disputed premises had encroached upon the land vesting with the appellant and had thereafter constructed the impugned Palani, Nad and Khunta. THE respondents contested the suit and denied the plaint allegations it was categorically stated by the respondents that the impugned constructions were neither illegal nor unauthorised and as such were not liable to be removed. Necessary evidence in support of the respective contentions of the parties was adduced. THE trial court though finding the Palani having been constructed without the permission or consent of the landlord and to be unauthorised and of a permanent nature held that the impugned constructions existed on the part of the tenanted portion. It was also found that the impugned constructions did not cause any inconvenience to the appellant or other persons. Considering that the relief claimed was discretionary and was not liable to be granted the suit was dismissed with costs on parties.
Aggrieved by the judgment and decree dated 31-3-1976 dismissing the suit an appeal was preferred. The lower appellate court found that the impugned Palani could not be said to be of a permanent nature and as such the provisions of section 108 (p) of the Transfer of Property Act (hereinafter called the Act) had not been contravened. It was also found that the construction was for the beneficial enjoyment of the tenancy and was not inconsistent with the terms and object of the tenancy. The appeal was, accordingly, dismissed by the judgment and decree dated 13-11-1976 thus giving rise to this second appeal.
3. LEARNED counsel for the parties have been heard. Sri R. S. Parihar, learned counsel for the appellant has submitted that the court below erred in law in holding that the Palani was not of a permanent nature and has tried to persuade me to hold that the nature of the construction whether it be deemed to be of a permanent nature or a temporary one is a substantial question of law. It has been urged that section 108 (p) of the Act provides that a lessee must not, without the lessor's consent, erect on the property any structure of a permanent nature and the contravention of this provision would require the lessee to remove the same and on his failure to do so the lessor has a right to get it removed through the process of the court. I do not find any merit in this submission made on behalf of the appellant that the Palani is a permanent structure. It is well settled that to determine whether a construction is of a permanent nature or not would depend on the intention of the party so raising it as well as the structural quality of the construction. However, whether a particular construction is a permanent structure or not depends upon the facts of each case and it would be difficult to lay a hard and fast rule with regard to this matter. Various circumstances have to be taken into consideration for determining whether or not a particular structure is a permanent structure or not. The nature of the structure or construction and the intention with which it is made would be of Primary importance and are the determinant elements. The meaning of the word permanent structure would be that the lessee intended the enjoyment of such structure as long as
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