2010 Supreme(All) 2414
ALLAHABAD HIGH COURT
Tarun Agarwala, J.
Razia Parvez & Ors. -Appellant
Versus
Sikander Parvez & Anr. -Respondent
Appeal From Order No. 71 of 2009
Decided On : 27-07-2010
The exceptional nature of appointing a receiver, the requirement for a prima facie case and evidence of potential loss of the property, and the absence of mismanagement or misappropriation were central to the court's decision.
Headnote:
Partition - Property Dispute - Order 40 Rule 1 C. P. C. - [Order 40 Rule 1 of the C. P. C.] - The court discussed the application of Order 40 Rule 1 of the C. P. C. and the principles guiding the discretion of the court for appointment of a receiver. The court emphasized that the appointment of a receiver is to protect and preserve the property in suit and can only be ordered in exceptional cases. The court also highlighted the requirement for the plaintiff to show a prima facie case and the danger of loss of the property in suit before appointing a receiver.
Fact of the Case:
The plaintiffs filed a suit for partition and accountancy alleging co-ownership of the property with the defendants. They also filed applications for a temporary injunction and appointment of a receiver. The defendants claimed an oral gift of the property from the plaintiff's husband and resisted the applications.
Finding of the Court:
The trial court found a prima facie case in favor of the plaintiffs and granted the injunction but rejected the application for a receiver. The appellate court upheld the trial court's decision, emphasizing the lack of evidence of mismanagement or misappropriation by the defendants and the long delay in filing the suit.
Issues: Dispute over co-ownership and alleged oral gift, application of Order 40 Rule 1 C. P. C., and the requirement for appointment of a receiver.
Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized the exceptional nature of appointing a receiver, the need for a prima facie case and evidence of potential loss of the property, and the absence of mismanagement or misappropriation.
Final Decision: The appeal was dismissed, affirming the trial court's decision to grant the injunction but reject the application for a receiver.
2. Along with the suit the plaintiffs also filed an application under Order 39 Rules 1 and 2 C. P. C. for grant of a temporary injunction. The plaintiffs also filed an application under Order 40 Rule 1 of the Code of Civil Procedure for an appointment of a receiver.
3. Both the applications were resisted by the defendants admitting that the property was ancestral in nature and that the plaintiff's husband had made an oral gift, gifting the land and building to the defendants. This oral gift was subsequently reduced in writing on 1st March, 1991. The defendants further contended that the hotel was being run by the defendants, who had constructed the same from his own funds and that the school was being run by a registered society. Consequently, the plaintiffs are not entitled for any relief.
4. The trial Court, after considering the evidence on record, found that a prima facie case was made out by the plaintiffs. The trial Court found that the hotel was running since 1982 and the school was running since 1986, and at that point of time, the property was joint and at that stage no oral gift, if any had been executed in favour of the defendants. The trial Court, consequently allowed the injunction application and restrained the defendants from alienating the property during the pendency of the suit. The trial Court, however, found that the plaintiffs were not entitled for an appointment of a receiver and consequently, rejected the said application. The plaintiffs, being aggrieved by the rejection of the application for an appointment of a receiver, has filed the present appeal under Order 43 Rule l(s) of the Code of Civil Procedure.
5. Heard Mr. Kanwaljit Singh, the learned counsel for the appellants and Mr. T. S. Bindra the learned counsel for the respondents.
6. Learned counsel for the plaintiffs/appellants submitted that the defendants had taken advantage of the absence of the plaintiffs and her husband, who were residing in Sweden and were, therefore, unable to look after the property and that the defendants have illegally manufactured an oral gift, which cannot be taken into consideration and in any case could not be relied upon since the said oral gift was not registered, and which was compulsorily required to be registered under the Registration Act. In support of his submission, the learned counsel placed reliance upon the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Radhakrishan Laxminarayan Toshniwal v. Shridhar Ramchandra Alshi and others reported in AIR 1960 SC 1368 and in the case of Kumar Gonsusab and others and Mohammed Miyan Urf Baban and others reported in 2008 (73) ALR 496 : (AIR 2009 SC (Supp) 1254). The learned counsel submitted that the Court below found that a prima facie case was made out and found that the property was an ancestral property in which a hotel and a school was being run and that the property was let out to the various tenants. The learned counsel submitted that the trial Court in order to protect the property should have appointed a receiver. The learned counsel submitted that it was just and convenient that the trial Court should have appointed a receiver and had committed an error in rejecting the application. Learned counsel submitted that the plaintiff is a widow and is in dire need of funds. It was further contended that the property being ancestral, no part of income was being given by the defendants and