2000 (1) JLJ 368
(SUPREME COURT)
M.B. Shah and Doraiswamy Raju, JJ.
Roop Singh v. Ram Singh
Civil Appeal No. 4430 of 1996: from the Judgment of MP. High Court passed
in Second Appeal No 255 of 1977;
Decided on 28.3.2000.
(2) Civil P.C., 1908 – S. 100 -- judgment in second appeal -- having no reference of substantial question of law -- such questions framed at time of admission not noticed -- judgment vitiates. [Para 7]
(3) Civil P.C., 1908 -- S 100 -- finding of fact recorded by two Courts -based on evidence -- no perversity, illegality or irregularity pointed out -cannot be disturbed. [Para 7]
(4) Limitation Act, 1963 -- S. 27 and Art. 65 -- permissive possession as a lessee or under batai agreement -- it is for the claimant to prove when it became adverse to the real owner. [Para 7]
(5) Limitation Act, 1963 -- S. 27 and Art. 65 -- mere possession for a long time -- does not result in converting permissive possession into adverse possession. AIR 1995 SC 73 relied on. [Para 7]
(6) Evidence Act, 1872 -- S. 91 -- document of sale or agreement to sell not produced on record -- mere say of party cannot be considered. [Para 8]
(7) Transfer of Property Act, 1882 -- S. 53 -- Limitation Act. 1963 -- S 27 and Art 65 -- plea of possession under agreement to sell -- plea of adverse possession -- are inconsistent with each other. (1996) 1 SCC 639 relied on.
[ Para 9]
¼1½ flfoy çfØ;k lafgrk] 1908&/kkjk 100&f}rh; vihy&mPp U;k;ky; dh vf/kdkfjrk&,slh vihyksa rd lhfer gSa ftuesa fof/k dk lkjoku ç‘u varxZLr gSa&;g rF; ds ‘kq) ç‘u esa gLr{ksi ugha dj ldrkA ¿iSjk 7
¼2½ flfoy çfØ;k lafgrk] 1908&/kkjk 100&f}rh; vihy esa fu.kZ;&fof/k ds lkjoku ç‘u dk funsZ‘k ugha&xzg.k ds le; fojfpr ,sls ç‘u ij /;ku ugha fn;k x;k&fu.kZ nwf"kr gks tkrk gSA ¿iSjk 7
¼3½ flfoy çfØ;k lafgrk] 1908&/kkjk 100&rF dk fu"d"kZ nks U;k;ky;ksa }kjk vfHkfyf[kr&lk{; ij vk/kkfjr&dksbZ foi;kZl] voS/krk vFkok vfu;ferrk minf‘kZr ugha&fo{kqC/k ugha fd;k tk ldrkA ¿iSjk 7
¼4½ ifjlhek vf/kfu;e] 1963&/kkjk 27 rFkk vuq-65&iV~Vsnkj ds :i esa vFkok cVkbZ djkj ds v/khu vuqKs; dCtk&;g nkosnkj dks lkfcr djuk gksxk fd okLrfod Lokeh ds çfrdwy dc gks x;kA ¿iSjk 7
¼5½ ifjlhek vf/kfu;e] 1963&/kkjk 27 rFkk vuq-65&ek= yacs le; rd dCtk&ijh.kke vuqKs; dCts dks çfrdwy dCts esa ifjofrZr gksuk ugha gksrkA , vkb vkj 1995 ,l lh 73 voyafcr gSaA ¿iSjk 7
¼6½ lk{; vf/kfu;e] 1872&/kkjk 91&foØ; dk nLrkost vFkok foØ; djkj vfHkys[k ij çLrqr ugha fd;k x;k&ek= i{kdkj ds dgus ij fopkj ugha fd;k tk ldrkA ¿iSjk 8
¼7½ laifÙk varj.k vf/kfu;e] 1882&/kkjk 53&ifjlhek vf/kfu;e] 1963&/kkjk 27 rFkk vuq- 65&foØ; djkj ds v/khu dCts dk vfHkokd~&çfrdwy dCts dk vfHkokd~&,d nwljs ls vlaxr gSaA ¼1996½ 1 ,l lh lh 639 voyafcrA ¿iSjk 9
Shah, J.–1. This appeal is directed against the judgment and decree dated September 29, 1988 passed by the High Court of Madhya Pradesh at Indore in Second Appeal No. 255 of 1977, whereby the High Court allowed the Second Appeal of respondent-defendant and set-aside the judgment and decree for possession of the suit land.
2. It is the case of the appellant-plaintiff Roop Singh (since deceased) that he owned 15.32 acres of agricultural land bearing Survey No. 106 in village Shivana of Tehsil Bhikangao. As the land was in illegal possession of the respondent Ram Singh (original defendant-since deceased), a notice dated 07.6.1966 was issued by the appellant calling upon the respondent to restore the possession of the suit land The respondent did not hand over the possession of the land. Hence the plaintiff filed Civil Suit No. 10A/1969 before the Civil Judge, Bhikangaon (MP) for possession of the suit land with mesne profit @ Rs.. 500/- per year. The defendant denied the contention that he was trespasser and submitted that 14 years prior to the date of institution of the suit he had purchased the suit land for a consideration of Rs. 611/- and had paid full sale consideration to the plaintiff and since then he was in possession of the suit land. He contended that his possession is protected under Section 53A of the Transfer of Property Act He also pleaded that he has acquired the title by adverse possession. In the alternative, he pleaded that he has made Improvements in the suit land and if order for restoring the possession is passed, plaintiff should be directed to pay the cost of improvements. By Judgment and decree dated 30.7.1971 the Civil Judge passed decree in favour of the plaintiff But the Additional District Judge in Appeal No. 46A/7l allowed the appeal and remanded the matter to the trial Court for disposal after framing neeessa0 issues The trial Court inter alia decided following two Issues. –
"Whether the plaintiff had made a written eon tract for the sale of the disputed land in 1955 or near about it with the defendant or his deceased brother Manohar Singh and delivered the possession of the disputed land to the defendant after receiving the consideration of Rs. 611/- of the disputed land Whether the defendant had acquired the title of the disputed land by adverse possession.
3. After appreciating the evidence, the Court arrived at the conclusion that the defendant has not made all the pleadings which arc necessary for getting protection under Section 53-A of the Transfer of Property Act The Court also held that even if pleadings are presumed, defendant has failed to prove the said contention as so-called sale-deed was not produced on record and it was alleged that the said document was with the brother of the defendant who had expired because of snake bite and the document was lost therefore, Court held that the statement of the defendant was not sufficient to establish the so-called sale For the adverse possession the Court arrived at the conclusion that defendant has failed to prove adverse possession because he has specifically pleaded that he got possession of the suit land as a result of contract with the plaintiff. Hence defendant" s entry on the suit land was permissive and the permissive possession would become adverse only if hostile title is asserted and proved by overt acts. The trial Court therefore. decreed the suit of the plaintiff by Judgment and decree dated 15.3.1976.
4. Civil Appeal No. 20A of 1976 filed by the respondents was dismissed by the Addl. District Judge, Bargon on 24th March, 1977. The appellate Court considered the contention of the defendant for the alleged sale of the suit land and arrived at the conclusion that the defendant has neither produced on record the so-called letter nor document executed in his favour by the plaintiff nor he has taken it as a ground in his pleading that he had lost the said document, nor he has prayed for production of secondary evidence. The Court f
1. Thakur Kishan Singh (Dead) v. Arvind Kumar = [AIR 1995 SC 73
2. Mohan Lal v. Mirza Abdul Gaffar and Anr. = [(1996) SCC 639].
SupremeToday
Login now and unlock free premium legal research
Login to SupremeToday AI and access free legal analysis, AI highlights, and smart tools.
Login
now!
India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!
Copyright © 2023 Vikas Info Solution Pvt Ltd. All Rights Reserved.