2005 Supreme(MP) 1080

2006 (1) JLJ 1
(SUPREME COURT)
R.C. Lahoti, C.J.I., C.K. Thakker and P.K. Balasubramanyan, JJ.
Ramadhar Shrivas v. Bhagwandas
Civil Appeal No. 6597 of 2005: against the judgment and decree of M.P. High Court passed in Second Appeal No. 396 of 1998;
Decided on 27.10.2005

Headnote:(1) Civil P.C. ,1908 - S.11d`res judicala-plaintiff held to be owner of property by purchase-- defendant held to be tenant o/,previous owner in previous suit qua defendant these findings cannot he challenged in subsequent suit for eviction because they operate as res judicata.

       According to the counsel, in earlier proceedings, the ownership of the plaintiff over the suit property was established. In that suit, the case of the appellant was that he had become absolute owner of the property in the light of the sale deed executed by Hiralal in his favour. In those proceedings, it was specifically contended by defendant Bhagwandas that Hiralal was not the owner of the property and the house was a part and parcel of ancestral property and it could not have been sold by Hiralal alone. The contention was expressly negatived by the Court and a finding was recorded that it was self-acquired property of Hiralal. There was no interest of any other member in the said property and sale of house by Hiralal in favour of plaintiff was legal, valid and in accordance with law. The Court observed that defendant-Bhagwandas could not produce any material whatsoever to show as to how he was claiming the ownership right. The Court also recorded a finding that defendant-Bhagwandas was a tenant of part of the property and was paying Rs. 10/- per month to Hiralal. Since Hiralal sold the property to the plaintiff, defendant-Bhagwandas became tenant of new owner-Ramadhar. Defendant-Bhagwandas did not challenge the said finding recorded by the trial Court in the suit. Since no order of eviction was passed against the defendant by civil Court in view of the finding that the defendant could not be held to be ‘trespasser‘ but tenant of the property, the suit against him was dismissed. The plaintiff preferred an appeal which was also dismissed by the appellate Court. It was, therefore, open to the appellant to initiate present proceedings and accordingly a suit for possession was filed by the plaintiff against the defendant. According to the counsel, it was not open to the defendant now to contend in the present proceedings that the suit propel1y was joint family property and Hiralal had no right to sell the property to the plaintiff. The issue as to ownership had been finally and conclusively decided by civil Court and it operated as res judicata and the defendant was bound by it. It was also submitted by the counsel that since the plaintiff had been held to be absolute owner of the property, the defendant could not have denied his title and on that ground also, the plaintiff was entitled to the possession of the property. It was urged that if it was the case of the defendant that he was in lawful possession in any capacity other than tenant, he ‘ought‘ to have raised such defence in the earlier proceedings. The finding recorded in earlier suit would thus operate as constructive res judicata also and the defendant was bound by the said judgment. It was submitted that once the plaintiff was held to be owner of the property, he was entitled to possession and the trial Court was wholly justified in passing the decree in his favour. The appellate Court and the High Count ought not to have set aside the said decree. He, therefore, submitted that the appeal deserves to be allowed by setting aside the judgement and decree passed by the appellate Court and the High Court and by restoring the decree for possession passed by the trial Court.

       The learned counsel for the respondent, on the other hand, supported the order passed by the two Courts below. He submitted that when the defendant was not tenant of the property, the trial Court committed an error of law and of jurisdiction in passing the decree and Courts below were right in setting aside the said decree. He also submitted that the so-called finding recorded by the civil Court as to the status of defendant-Bhagwandas was collateral and incidental in nature and would not operate as resjudicata in subsequent suit. [Paras 6 & 7

       Held: It is clear that the ownership right of the plaintiff came to be established by a competent Court of law in earlier proceedings wherein certain specific findings of fact had been recorded that the property was not joint family property but self-acquired property of Hiralal: Hiralal had sold the said property to the plaintiff for Rs. 12,000/- by a registered sale deed: defendant-Bhagwandas was paying rent of Rs. 10/- per month to Hiralal: and Bhagwandas could not produce any evidence to show his proprietary rights over the property. No decree could be passed against Bhagwandas as the suit was filed by the plaintiff against the owner Hiralal. trespasser Ganpat and defendant Bhagwandas in a civil Court. Since the defendant was not found to be ‘trespasser‘ or in unauthorized occupation, the suit was dismissed against him. In our opinion, therefore. it was not open to defendant-Bhagwandas to put forward the claim in the present proceedings that Hiralal was not the absolute owner of the property and the property was joint family property which Hiralal could not have sold to the appellant. It was also not open to the defendant to deny the title of the plaintiff since in appropriate proceedings, a finding had been recorded as to ownership of property and a decree had been passed by a competent civil Court holding the plaintiff to be the owner who had purchased it from its real owner Hiralal. The trial Court, in our opinion. was wholly justified in passing the decree 111 favour of the plaintiff and against the defendant. (1999) 4, SCC 243. (1994) 4SCC53,(2003) 10 SCC 578.(2000) 6 SCC 735,(l997) 2 SCC 203. (2002) 3 SCC 258 and JT 1995 (2) SC 391 relied on. [Paras 9 & 10

       (2) Accommodation Control Act, 1961 (M.P.) -- Ss.12 (1) (a), 12 (1) (c) and 12 (1) (g) -- relationship of landlord and tenant decided in previous suit between the parties -- suit for eviction call he decreed under the provisions. [Para 17

       (3) Civil P.C. 1908 -- S.11. Expl. IV - constructive res judicata-ground of attack or defence which ought to have been taken in previous suit but not taken -- cannot be taken in subsequent suit between the same parties. [Paras 14 and 16

       ¼1½ flfoy çfØ;k lafgrk] 1908& &/kkjk 11& &iwoZ U;k;& &oknh Ø; }kjk laifÙk dk Lokeh vfHkfu/kkZfjr& &çfroknh dh gSfl;r ls iwoZru okn esa çfroknh iwoZrj Lokeh dk vfHk/kkjh vfHkfu/kkZfjr& &csn[kyh ds fy, ijorhZ okn esa ;g fu"d"kZ vk{ksfir ugha fd, tk ldrs D;kasfd og iwoZ U;k; ds :i esa çofrZr gksrs gSaA

       dkmUlsy ds vuqlkj] iwoZru dk;Zokgh esa] oknxzLr laifÙk ij oknh dk LokfeRo LFkkfir gks x;k FkkA ml okn esa] vihykFkhZ dk i{kdFku Fkk fd ghjkyky }kjk mlds i{k esa fu"ikfnr foØ;&foys[k ds çdk‘k esa] og laifÙk dk vkR;afrd Lokeh cu x;k FkkA ml dk;Zokgh esa çfroknh Hkxokunkl }kjk fofufnZ"V çfrokn fd;k x;k Fkk fd ghjkyky laifÙk dk Lokeh ugha Fkk vkSj edku iSr`d laifÙk dk vfHkUu vax Fkk vkSj ghjkyky vdsys mldk foØ; ugha dj ldrk FkkA ;g çfrokn U;k;ky; }kjk Li"Vr% udkj fn;k x;k Fkk rFkk fu"d"kZ vfHkfyf[kr fd;k x;k Fkk fd og ghjkyky dks LokftZr laifÙk Fkh( vU; fdlh lnL; dk mDr laifÙk esa dksbZ fgr ugha Fkk rFkk ghjkyky }kjk oknh ds i{k esa edku dk foØ; oS/k] fof/kekU; vkSj fof/k ds vuqlkj FkkA U;k;ky; us leqfDr dh fd çfroknh Hkxokunkl ;g n‘kkZus ds fy, fdlh Hkh çdkj dh lkexzh is‘k ugha dj ldk fd og LokfeRo ds vf/kdkj dk nkok fdl vk/kkj ij dj jgk gSA U;k;ky; us ;g fu"d"kZ Hkh vfHkfyf[kr fd;k fd çfroknh Hkxokunkl laifÙk ds ,d Hkkx dk vfHk/kkjh gS rFkk ghjkyky dks #- 10@& çfrekl lanÙk dj jgk FkkA ghjkyky us oknh laifÙk dk foØ; dj fn;k blfy, çfroknh Hkxokunkl u, Lokeh jkek/kkj dk vfHk/kkjh gks x;kA çfroknh Hkxokunkl us ml okn esa fopkj.k U;k;ky; }kjk vfHkfyf[kr mDr fu"d"kZ ij vk{ksi ugha fd;kA mlds fo#) okn [kkfjt dj fn;k x;k D;ksafd flfoy U;k;ky; }kjk çfroknh ds fo#) csn[kyh dk vkns‘k bl fu"d"kZ dh n`f"V ls ikfjr ugha fd;k x;k Fkk fd çfroknh ^vfrpkjh* vfHkfu/kkZfjr ugha fd;k tk ldrk Fkk] vfirq og laifÙk dk vfHk/kkjh FkkA oknh us vihy çLrqr dh] og Hkh vihy U;k;ky; }kjk [kkfjt dj nh xbZA vr% vihykFkhZ çLrqr dk;Zokgh çkjaHk djus ds fy, Lora= Fkk] rnuqlkj oknh }kjk çfroknh ds fo#) dCts ds fy, okn Qkby fd;k x;kA dkmUlsy ds vuqlkj] çfroknh vc çLrqr dk;Zokgh esa ;g çfrokn ugha dj ldrk fd oknxzLr laifÙk vfoHkDr dqVqac dh laifÙk Fkh rFkk ghjkyky dks og laifÙk oknh dks foØ; djus dk vf/kdkj ugha FkkA LokfeRo ls lacaf/kr fook|d dk flfoy U;k;ky; }kjk vafre vkSj fu‘pk;d fofu‘p;u dj fn;k x;k Fkk rFkk og iwoZ U;k; ds :i esa çofrZr gksrk gS vkSj çfroknh mlls vkc) gSA dkmUlsy }kjk ;g fuosnu Hkh fd;k x;k fd oknh laifÙk dk vkR;afrd Lokeh vfHkfu/kkZfjr fd;k x;k gS blfy, çfroknh mlds gd dk çR;k[;ku ugha dj ldrk Fkk rFkk ml vk/kkj ij Hkh oknh laifÙk ds dCts dk gdnkj gSA crk;k x;k fd ;fn çfroknh dk ;g i{kdFku Fkk fd vfHk/kkjh ds vfrfjDr fdlh vU; {kerk esa mldk fof/kiw.kZ dCtk gS rc mls iwoZru dk;Zokgh esa ;g çfrj{kk ysuk ^pkfg, Fkh*A vr% iwoZru okn esa vfHkfyf[kr fu"d"kZ vkUof;d iwoZ U;k; ds :i esa Hkh çofrZr gksxk rFkk çfrokn mDr fu.kZ; }kjk vkc) gSA fuosnu fd;k x;k fd laifÙk dk Lokeh vfHkfu/kkZfjr dj fn, tkus ij oknh dCts dk gdnkj gks x;k vkSj fopkj.k U;k;ky; }kjk mlds i{k esa fMØh ikfjr dh tkuk iw.kZr% U;k;ksfpr gSA vihy U;k;ky; vkSj mPp U;k;ky; dks mDr fMØh vikLr ugha djuk pkfg, FkhA vr% mUgksaus fuosnu fd;k fd vihy U;k;ky; vkSj mPp U;k;ky; }kjk ikfjr fu.kZ; vkSj fMØh vikLr dj rFkk fopkj.k U;k;ky; }kjk ikfjr dCts dks fMØh çR;kofrZr dj vihy eatwj fd, tkus ;ksX; gSA

       nwljh vksj] çR;FkhZ ds fo}ku dkmUlsy us nksuksa fupys U;k;ky;ksa }kjk ikfjr vkns‘k dk leFkZu fd;kA mUgksaus fuosnu fd;k fd tc çfroknh laifÙk dk vfHk/kkjh gh ugha Fkk] fopkj.k U;k;ky; us fMØh ikfjr dj fof/k vkSj vf/kdkfjrk dh xyrh dh rFkk fupys U;k;ky;ksa }kjk fMØh vikLr dh tkuk lgh FkkA mUgksaus ;g Hkh fuosnu fd;k fd flfoy U;k;ky; }kjk çfroknh Hkxokunkl dh gSfl;r ds ckjs esa vfHkfyf[kr rFkkdfFkr fu"d"kZ lkaikf‘Zod vkSj vkuq‘kafxd çÑfr dk gS rFkk ijorhZ okn esa iwoZ U;k; ds :i esa çofrZr ugha gksxkA ¼iSjk 6 ,oa 7½

       vfHkfu/kkZfjr % ;g Li"V gS fd oknh ds LokfeRo dk vf/kdkj iwoZru dk;Zokgh esa fof/k ds l{ke U;k;ky; }kjk LFkkfir fd;k x;k Fkk ftlesa rF; ds dfri; fofufnZ"V fu"d"kZ vfHkfyf[kr fd, x, Fks fd laifÙk vfoHkDr dqVqac dh laifÙk ugha Fkh vfirq ghjkyky dh LokftZr laifÙk Fkh] ghjkyky us mDr laifÙk oknh dks #- 12]000@& ds fy, jftLVªhÑr foØ;&foys[k }kjk foys[k dh Fkh( çfroknh Hkxokunkl #- 10@& çfrekl dk HkkM+k ghjkyky dks lanÙk dj jgk Fkk] rFkk Hkxokunkl laifÙk ij vius lkaifÙkd vf/kdkj n‘kkZus ds fy, dksbZ lk{; is‘k ugha dj ldkA Hkxokunkl ds fo#) fMØh ikfjr ugha dh tk ldh D;ksafd oknh }kjk flfoy U;k;ky; esa okn Lokeh ghjkyky] vfrpkjh xuir vkSj çfroknh Hkxokunkl ds fo#) Qkby fd;k x;k FkkA D;ksafd çfroknh ^vfrpkjh* vFkok vçkf/kÑr dCtk/kkjh ugha fu"df"kZr fd;k x;k Fkk] mlds fo#) okn [kkfjt dj fn;k x;kA vr% gekjh jk; esa] çfroknh Hkxokunkl çLrqr dk;Zokgh esa ;g nkok ugha dj ldrk Fkk fd ghjkyky laifÙk dk vkR;afrd Lokeh ugha gS rFkk laifÙk vfoHkDr dqVqac dh laifÙk Fkh ftls ghjkyky vihykFkhZ dks foØ; ugha dj ldrk FkkA çfroknh] oknh ds gd dk çR;k[;ku Hkh ugha dj ldrk Fkk D;ksafd leqfpr dk;Zokgh esa laifÙk ds LokfeRo ds ckjs esa fu"d"kZ vfHkfyf[kr dj fn;k x;k Fkk rFkk oknh dks] ftlus mls mlds okLrfod Lokeh ghjkyky ls Ø; fd;k Fkk] Lokeh vfHkfu/kkZfjr djrs gq, l{ke flfoy U;k;ky; }kjk fMØh ikfjr dh xbZ FkhA gekjh jk; esa fopkj.k U;k;ky; }kjk oknh ds i{k esa rFkk çfroknh ds fo#) fMØh ikfjr fd;k tkuk iw.kZr% U;k;ksfpr FkkA ¼1994½4 ,l lh lh 243] ¼1994½4 ,l lh lh 53] ¼2003½10 ,l lh lh 578] ¼2000½ 6 ,l lh lh 735] ¼1997½2 ,l lh lh 203] ¼2002½3 ,l lh lh 258 rFkk ts Vh 1995¼2½ ,l lh 391 voyafcrA ¼iSjk 9 ,oa 10½

       ¼2½ LFkku fu;a=.k vf/kfu;e] 1961 ¼e-ç-½& &/kkjk 12¼1½ ¼d½] 12¼1½ ¼x½ rFkk 12¼1½ ¼?k½& &Hkw&Lokeh vkSj vfHk/kkjh dk laca/k i{kdkjksa ds e/; iwoZru okn esa fofu‘pr& μ mica/kksa ds v/khu csn[kyh ds okn fofu‘pr fd;k tk ldrk gSA ¼iSjk 17½

       ¼3½ flfoy çfØ;k lafgrk] 1908& &/kkjk 11 Li"Vhdj.k&4& &vkUofd iwoZ U;k;& &vk{ksi ;k çfrj{kk dk vk/kkj tks iwoZru okn esa fy;k tkuk pkfg, Fkk ijarq ugha fy;k x;k& &mUgha i{kdkjksa ds e/; ijorhZ okn esa ugha fy;k tk ldrkA ¼iSjk 14 ,oa 16½