High Court Of Madhya Pradesh
V. R. Newaskar, J.
RAWAJI GOKKAL KULMI - Appellant
Versus
KESHAV RAMJI KULMI - Respondents
Second Appeal 269 Of 1959
Decided On : 11/02/1961
EASEMENT - RIGHT OF WAY - SECTION 15 OF THE EASEMENTS ACT, 1882 - PRESUMPTION OF LOST GRANT - INTERPRETATION AND APPLICATION - LEGAL PRINCIPLES AND JUDICIAL FINDINGS.
Fact of the Case:
Plaintiff claimed a right of way through defendant's land, alleging easement acquired through long-standing use by his ancestors for over 50 years. Defendant denied the right of way and asserted permissive use. The trial court dismissed the suit, finding no obstruction within the limitation period. The appellate court reversed, finding obstruction within the limitation period.
Finding of the Court:
The High Court held that the plaintiff's claim could not be based solely on Section 15 of the Easements Act, as the land belonged to the State and required 60 years of enjoyment. However, the court found that the plaintiff's pleadings also supported a claim based on presumption of lost grant, which did not require a specific duration of enjoyment.
Issues: 1. Whether the plaintiff's claim for a right of way could be based solely on Section 15 of the Easements Act, given that the land belonged to the State. 2. Whether the plaintiff's pleadings supported a claim based on presumption of lost grant.
Ratio Decidendi: 1. Section 15 of the Easements Act requires 60 years of enjoyment for acquiring an easement over land belonging to the State. 2. The plaintiff's pleadings, alleging long-standing use of the way for over 50 years, were sufficient to support a claim based on presumption of lost grant, even though the specific duration of enjoyment was not mentioned.
Final Decision: The High Court dismissed the defendant's appeal, holding that the plaintiff's claim could be based on presumption of lost grant and that the defendant had failed to prove permissive use or limitation.
( 1 ) THIS is a defendant's second appeal. The dispute relates to right of way through land Khasara No. 236 in Mouja Dohad which is in the possession of defendant No. 1 Rawaji but stood in the revenue papers in the names of defendants 2 to 5. The right of way is claimed by the plaintiff Keshav whose house is situated at the southern end of Khasara No. 236. The plaintiff claims the right for going from his house through Khasara No. 236 of Rawaji and also through Khasara No. 242/2 which stood in the name of defendant No. 6 Udhav to the land which stood jointly in the name of plaintiff and his brother Kasana but which had been in his exclusive possession for the last 30 or 32 years and bore Khasara Nos. 242/1 and 243/1.
( 2 ) THE plaintiff's case is that this right of way starting from the door of his house opening in Khasara No. 236 and passing through Khasara No. 242/2 towards his land Khasara Nos. 242/1 and 243/1 had existed from the time of his ancestors for the last 50 or 60 years as an easement and as of right and that consequently it had crystallised into an easement. The defendant however had obstructed the same by raising wooden barrier across the borders of Khasara Nos. 236 and also of 242/2 which adjoined Khasara No. 236 thereby preventing the plaintiff the use of the way for reaching his Khala in Khasara Nos. 242/1 and 243/1. This was done by defendant No. 1 sometime in May 1953. The plaintiff therefore claimed a declaration regarding this right of way, for a mandatory injunction for the removal of obstruction caused in it by defendant No. 1 and for a permanent injunction restraining all the defendants from interfering with this right. Plaintiffs brother kasana supported the plaintiff's claim. The case proceeded ex parte against defendants 2 to 6.
( 3 ) THE only defendant who resisted the plaintiffs claim was defendant No. 1 rawaji. He denied that the plaintiff has any right of way through the Northern door of his house through his Khala bearing Khasara No. 236. It was denied that the plaintiff and his ancestors used to pass through his Khala and through that of udhav to his Khala Khasara Nos. 242/1, 243/1 so as to crystallise into a right of easement. It was asserted that the way of the plaintiff is from his Southern door by a public way. According to the defendant a small door on the Northern side of his house had been kept with the permission of the defendant's father Gokul and the plaintiff used to pass on foot, through the Khala of defendant No. 1 during gokul's life-time. This was due to the fact that the relations between Gokul and the plaintiff were cordial. After Gokul's death five years before the suit this way was stopped by raising wooden fencing. The defendant No. 1 therefore contended that the plaintiff had neither any right nor was the claim within limitation. Plea regarding misjoinder of parties and causes of action was also raised.
( 4 ) ON these respective pleadings the trial Court framed issues regarding the misjoinder of parties and causes of action, the use of the way starting from the northern door of plaintiff's house through Khasara No. 236 and 242/2 for the last 50 or 60 years and its obstruction said to have been caused by defendant No. 1 rawaji in May, 1955. Issues covering the contention of defendant No. 1 regarding permissive user of the way, its stoppage five years back and bar of limitation were also framed.
( 5 ) THE issue regarding misjoinder was treated as preliminary and was found in plaintiff's favour. The trial Co'urt thereafter recorded evidence.
( 6 ) ON consideration of the materials produced by the parties it held that the plaintiff had been using the way for more than 20 years. It further found that defendant No. 1's plea regarding permissive character of this user was not established. It however came to the conclusion that the plaintiff had failed to establish that the obstruction had been made by the defendant No. 1 in May, 1955, or any time within two yea
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