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NC: 2023:KHC-D:6779
RFA No. 4205 of 2013
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, DHARWAD BENCH
DATED THIS THE 6TH DAY OF JULY, 2023
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE M.G.UMA
REGULAR FIRST APPEAL NO.4205/2013 (PAR/POS)
BETWEEN:
1.
SHIVPRASAD S/O. PRAKASH SABNIS,
AGE: 29 YEARS, OCC: SERVICE,
R/O. H NO. 14,
SUBHASHCHANDRA NAGAR,
3RD CROSS, TILAKWADI,
BELGAUM 590 006.
2.
MANDAR S/O. PRAKASH SABNIS,
AGE: 28 YEARS, OCC: STUDENT,
R/O. H NO. 14,
SUBHASHCHANDRA NAGAR,
3RD CROSS, TILAKWADI, BELGAUM,
BELGAUM 590 006.
3.
SMT. SHAYAMAL D/O. PRAKASH SABNIS,
AGE: 30 YEARS, OCC: SERVICE
R/O: H NO.14,
SUBHASHCHANDRA NAGAR,
3RD CROSS, TILAKWADI, BELGAUM,
BELGAUM 590 006.
4.
SMT. VAISHALI D/O. PRAKASH SABNIS,
AGE: 32 YEARS, OCC: SERVICE
R/O: H NO. 14,
SUBHASHCHANDRA NAGAR,
3RD CROSS, TILAKWADI, BELGAUM,
BELGAUM 590 006.
…APPELLANTS
(BY SRI V. P. KULKARNI, ADVOCATE)
AND:
Digitally
signed by
ROHAN
HADIMANI
T
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NC: 2023:KHC-D:6779
RFA No. 4205 of 2013
1.
SMT. APARNA W/O. UMESH SANT,
AGE: MAJOR, OCC: HOUSEHOLD WORK,
R/O: 38/3, TABBU APARTMENT,
RAJYOPADHYA NAGAR,
RADHA NAGARI RAOD,
KOLHAPUR - 416 012.
2.
BANK OF MAHARASHTRA,
REPRESENTED BY ITS
SENIOR MANAGER,
PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT,
1501, LOKMANGAL,
SHIVAJI NAGAR,
PUNE (MAHARASHTRA) 411 001.
3.
BRANCH MANAGER,
BANK OF MAHARASHTRA,
TILAKWADI BRANCH,
TILAKWADI, BELGAUM - 590 006.
…RESPONDENTS
(BY NOTICE TO R1 TO R3 IS SERVED)
THIS RFA IS FILED UNDERE SECTION 96 OF CODE OF CIVIL
PROCEDURE, AGAINST THE JUDGMENT AND DECREE DATED
28.06.2013 PASSED IN O.S.NO.468/2006 ON THE FILE OF THE
PRINCIPAL SENIOR CIVIL, BELGAUM, DECREEING THE SUIT FILED
FOR PARTITION AND SEPARATE POSSESSION & ETC.
THIS RFA, COMING ON FOR FURTHER HEARING, THIS DAY,
THE COURT DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
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NC: 2023:KHC-D:6779
RFA No. 4205 of 2013
The defendants in O.S. No. 468/2006 on the file of the
learned Civil Judge (Sr. Dn.), Belgaum (hereinafter referred to
as the trial Court), are impugning the judgment and decree
dated 28.06.2013 decreeing the suit of the plaintiff with costs,
declaring that plaintiff No.2 is entitled for 1/3rd share in the
suit house property and also in the gratuity and provident fund
left behind by late Sri Prakash Sabnis.
Parties shall be referred to as per their ranking before the
trial Court.
Brief facts of the case are that plaintiff nos.1 and 2 filed
the O.S. No. 468/2006 against defendant nos.1 to 6 seeking
partition and separate possession of the schedule properties by
allotting their 1/3rd share by metes and bounds. It is the
contention of the plaintiffs that the house property bearing No.
14 in R.S. No. 678/1/2/3 situated at Subhashchandra Nagar,
Angol, Belgaum and the amount of Rs.11,26,264.84 which is in
Maharashtra Bank, Tilakwadi branch, Belgaum, were the
properties of Prakash Sabnis who is the propositor of the family
of plaintiffs and defendants. Plaintiff No.1 is the legally wedded
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wife of the propositor Prakash Sabnis, while plaintiff No.2 is her
daughter. Later the said Prakash Sabnis married another lady
during the subsistence of the first marriage and begotten
defendant nos.1 to 4 through the second wife. The propositor
Prakash Sabnis died on 15.12.2005, leaving behind the
plaintiffs and defendant nos.1 to 4 as his legal heirs. The
house in question was constructed by him and he is the
absolute owner of the properties. The deceased was an
employee of Maharashtra Bank and was working as a Cashier in
Tilakwadi branch at the time of his death. He opted for his
terminal benefits. He was having the account and the fixed
deposits in the said bank. Defendant nos.5 and 6 were not
ready to furnish the details of the amount in the account of
deceased Prakash Sabnis. Therefore, they are also arrayed as
defendants.
The plaintiffs also stated that they got information
through Right To Information Act from defendant Nos.5 and 6
about the amount that is lying in Maharashtra Bank, Belgaum
and amended the plaint in which they are entitled for 1/3rd
share. Accordingly, prayed for decreeing the suit. During the
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pendency of the suit, plaintiff No.1 died leaving behind plaintiff
No.2 as her only legal representative.
Defendant Nos.1 to 4 have filed their written statement
denying the contentions taken by the plaintiffs in the plaint.
The description of the properties in the plaint are also denied.
It is contended that late Prakash Sabnis was never the owner of
the property at any point of time. The description of the
property described in para no. 1(b) is vague and the same
cannot be taken into consideration. The marriage of Prakash
Sabnis with plaintiff No.1 and that he begotten the plaintiff
No.2 are denied. It is contended that late Prakash Sabnis
never constructed any house as contended by the plaintiff and
therefore there is no question of the plaintiffs inheriting the
same. It is admitted that Prakash Sabnis was working as
Cashier in Maharashtra Bank, Belgaum but denied the other
contention of the plaintiffs. It is also denied that plaintiffs are
in joint possession and enjoyment of the property. It is stated
that there is no cause of action for the plaintiff to file and
maintain the suit. It is contended that Prakash Sabnis died on
11.12.2005. He had executed the Will dated 10.01.2005
bequeathing the house he had constructed by availing loan
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from his bank in favour of his wife Shubhangi during her
lifetime and thereafter to the absolute share of defendant nos.1
and 2. It is defendant No.1 alone who is entitled for the
gratuity and Provident Fund as per the recitals found in the
Will. Therefore, the defendants prayed for dismissal of the suit.
The additional written statement was also filed by
defendant nos.1 to 4 stating about availing of the loan by
Prakash Sabnis from various b