SupremeToday Landscape Ad
Back
Next
Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation
Listen Audio Icon Pause Audio Icon
judgment-img

GAUHATI HIGH COURT - PRINCIPAL SEAT AT GUWAHATI
Mir Alfaz Ali, J
PARTHA SARATHI CHAKRABORTY and ORS – Appellant
Versus
GOPAL NANDA GOSWAMI and ANR – Respondent
RSA 99/2009



Advocates:
For the Appellants/Petitioners: MR. D MAZUMDAR
For the Respondents: MR. B C DAS

Objections to admissibility of evidence must be raised timely; failure to do so waives further claims regarding procedural compliance.

Headnote:(A) Civil Procedure Code, 1908 - Section 100 - Indian Evidence Act, 1872 - Sections 65, 67 - Title dispute - Appellants challenge dismissal of suit by the First Appellate Court based on erroneous findings regarding document admissibility and identity of suit land - Court asserts no timely objection regarding document admission can be raised later; identity established via evidence - Judgment of lower court reversed. (Paras 1 to 28)

(B) Admissibility of evidence - A document admissible in evidence cannot be later questioned regarding compliance with procedural requirements if no objection is raised at the time of its admission. (Paras 9 to 20)

Facts of the case:
The appellants are legal heirs of the original plaintiff who filed a suit alleging unlawful occupation by defendants over specific land. Defendants claim no ownership of the land in question. Evidence shows prior transfer of the land. Appellants sought title restoration.

Findings of Court:
Appellants demonstrated ownership by lawful transfer. Errors in appellate findings regarding document admissibility and property identity addressed.

Issues: The main issues were the admissibility of certified documents and whether the plaintiff could establish rightful title.

Ratio Decidendi: The court reiterated that objections to admissibility must be timely and clarified the standards of proving ownership through certified copies, leading to the conclusion that the findings of the previous court lacked solid legal grounding.

Result: The impugned judgment and decree is restored and the second appeal is allowed.

Table of Content
1. facts establishing title and ownership of disputed land. (Para 2 , 3 , 4 , 20 , 24)
2. previous court findings challenged as perverse. (Para 8 , 11 , 15 , 23)
3. rules on admissibility regarding document proof and objections. (Para 9 , 12 , 17 , 19)
4. final decision to restore original judgment in favor of appellants. (Para 26 , 27 , 28)

JUDGMENT

Date : 17-07-2018 This second appeal is filed challenging the judgment and decree dated 31.03.2009 passed by the learned Civil Judge No.1, Cachar at Silchar in Title Appeal No.4/2008, whereby learned Appellate Court reversed the judgment and decree passed by the learned Munsiff No.1 in Title Suit No.113/2006 and dismissed the suit of the plaintiff/appellant.

[2] Facts leading to the present second appeal may be stated as follows :- Gopendra Bhusan Chakraborty, the predecessor of the present appellant, filed a suit being Title Suit No.113/2006 (48/2004) against the respondents, Gopal Nandan Goswami and Gita Rani Namasudra for declaration of right title and interest, recovery of khas possession, permanent injunction and other reliefs. During pendency of the suit, Gopendra Bhusan Chakraborty died and his legal heirs were brought on record. The defendant Nos. 3, 4 and 5 were also subsequently impleaded as proforma defendants by way of amendment. The case of the plaintiff was that Prakriti Rani Chakraborty, wife of late Gopendra Bhusan Chakraborty was the owner of the land measuring 3 Katha 8 Chataks covered by Second RS. Patta No.163 and Dag No.713/724. Prakriti Rani Chakraborty died in the year 1998 and her legal heirs by executing a registered gift deed on 19.03.2001, gifted the aforesaid 3 kathas 8 chataks of land along with other land to Abhra Kanti Chakraborty, the youngest son of Prakriti Rani Chakraborty. Later on, the said Abhra Kanti Chakraborty sold the suit land along with other land to one Ujjal Seal and Amal Mazumdar. Subsequently, the suit land was repurchased by the plaintiff from the said Ujjal Seal and Amal Mazumdar vide registered sale deed dated 26.03.2002. After purchasing the land from Ujjal Seal and Amal Mazumdar, the plaintiffs have been possessing the suit land. The plaintiffs allowed the defendants to occupy 1 (one) katha of land out of the suit land as permissive occupier. Subsequently, the defendants illegally occupied another 1 (one) katha of land out of the 3 katha 8 chataks. The land illegally occupied by the defendants has been shown in Schedule 2 and 3 and the entire suit land has been shown in Schedule 1 of the plaint. When the plaintiffs asked the defendants to vacate the suit land covered by Schedule 2 and 3, the defendants initially sought for time, however, ultimately refused to vacate the suit land and therefore, the plaintiffs filed the suit for declaration of right title and interest in Schedule A land measuring 3 katha 8 chataks and recovery of possession in respect of land described in Schedule 2 and 3 of the plaint.

[3] The case of the defendants was that the plaintiffs have no right tile and interest over the suit land, as the suit land was sold to Ujjal Seal and Amal Mazumdar by registered sale deed and possession was delivered to them. Further case of the defendants was that the defendants have been possessing the land measuring 3 katha covered by Khas Dag No. 637, and not the land covered by RS Patta No.163. On the basis of the above pleadings of the parties, learned Munsiff framed the following issues:

1. Whether there is cause of action for the suit?

2. Whether the suit is maintainable in the present form and manner?

3. Whether the suit is barred by law?

4. Whether the suit is bad for defect of parties?

5. Whether the plaintiffs have right, title and interest over the suit land?

6. Whether the plaintiffs are entitled to get any relief as prayed for?

[4] Both the parties adduced evidence, oral as well as documentary and after hearing both the sides, learned Munsiff decreed the suit in favour of the plaintiffs. Being aggrieved, the defe

Click Here to Read the rest of this document
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
SupremeToday Portrait Ad
supreme today icon
logo-black

An indispensable Tool for Legal Professionals, Endorsed by Various High Court and Judicial Officers

Please visit our Training & Support
Center or Contact Us for assistance

qr

Scan Me!

India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!

For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :

whatsapp-icon Back to top