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

2023 MarsdenLR 434

HIGH COURT MALAYA SEREMBAN
NKS THARMASEELAN NK SINNADORAI – Appellant
Versus
AMARATHAM RAMIAH & ORS – Respondent
[Civil Suit No: NA-22NCVC-40-06/2018]



Petitioner Advocates:Thinesh Bathmala,Cheong Tick Soon ,Respondent Advocate: Ravin Woodhull,Yong Chee Kong,Marcus Yong

The court ruled that a constructive trust requires evidence of unconscionable conduct, which was absent, leading to the dismissal of the Plaintiff's claims and the acceptance of the First Defendant's counterclaims.

Headnote:(A) National Land Code 1965 (now 2020) - Section 344 - Constructive Trust - The Plaintiff sought declarations concerning proprietary interest in a property, claiming the First Defendant held it in trust due to financial contributions. The First Defendant counterclaimed for damages due to a caveat lodged by the Plaintiff, asserting rightful ownership. The Court found no evidence of dishonest conduct or a valid trust, dismissing the Plaintiff's claims and allowing the First Defendant's counterclaims. (Paras 49-60)

(B) Trust Law - The Court emphasized that constructive trusts arise by operation of law and require evidence of unconscionable conduct, which was absent in this case. (Paras 51-60)

(C) Unjust Enrichment - The Court ruled that the First Defendant's actions did not amount to unjust enrichment, as she maintained financial control over the property. (Paras 52-60)

Facts of the case:
The Plaintiff made payments towards the purchase of property on behalf of the First Defendant, who later sought to sell it. Disputes arose over ownership and the validity of a caveat lodged by the Plaintiff.

Findings of Court:
The Court found no basis for a constructive trust and ruled in favor of the First Defendant's counterclaims for damages and ownership.

Issues: The main issues included the validity of the Plaintiff's claims to ownership and the existence of a constructive trust.

Ratio Decidendi: The Court ruled that the absence of evidence of dishonest conduct or a mutual agreement negated the imposition of a constructive trust.

Result: Plaintiff's claims dismissed; First Defendant's counterclaims allowed.

Table of Content
1. plaintiff's claims and defendants' counterclaims. (Para 1 , 2 , 3)
2. factual background of property ownership dispute. (Para 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15)
3. plaintiff's argument on constructive trust. (Para 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23)
4. defendant's counterarguments and submissions. (Para 24 , 25 , 26 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48)
5. court's observations on constructive trust. (Para 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59)
6. court's final decision and order. (Para 60)
Azman Abdullah J

Introduction

[1] The Plaintiff, through the Statement of Claims applied for the following orders:

"(a) satu pengisytiharan bahawa Plaintif mempunyai kepentingan proprietari dalam Hartanah tersebut;

(b) suatu injunksi untuk menghalang Defendan-defendan atau sesiapapun, sama ada dengan sendirinya, melalui agennya atau dengan apa jua cam lain daripada membatalkan Kaveat Persendirlan yang dimasukkan terhadap Hartanah tersebut;

(c) suatu perintah pelaksanaan spesifik terhadap Defendan Pertama bahawa Hartanah tersebut dipindahmilik kepada Plaintif selepas bayaran penuh diselesaikan;

(d) sebarang relif lanjut dan lain-lain yang dianggap wajar dan adil oleh Mahkamah yang Mulia ini; dan

(e) kos."

[2] The First Defendant then filed Statement of Defence together with counterclaims in which she stated as follows:

"15. Segala perancangan Defendan Pertama untuk uruskan penjualan hartanah tersebut dengan seorang prospek pembeli telah tergendala dan/atau tidak dapat diteruskan akibat kewujudkan dan/atau kemasukkan kaveat persendirian oleh Plaintif. Defendan Pertama telah mengalami kerugian kewangan sebanyak RM490,000.00 disebabkan kemasukan kaveat tersebut dimana sebarang proses di pejabat tanah untuk uruskan jualan hartanah tersebut tidak dapat disempurnakan akibat kaveat persendirian tersebut yang dimasukkan oleh Plaintif.

(Butir-butir urusan penjualan akan dirujuk pada masa perbicaraan kelak)

16. Defendan Pertama mengalami kesusahan yang serius kerana tidak boleh dapat prospek pembeli yang baru. Sehingga kini Defendan Pertama tidak dapat menjual hartanah tersebut dan terpaksa berulang-alik dari Singapura untuk rnengendalikan urusan hartanah tersebut. Defendan Pertama mengalami kerugian kewangan yang dianggarkan adalah sekurang-kurangnya sebanyak RM500.00 untuk setiap bulan. Selepas berkahwin dan berpindah ke Singapura, kerugian kewangan yang saya alami dianggarkan adalah sekurang-kurangnya sebanyak RM3,000.00 setakat bulan Julai 2018 dan masih berterusan. (Butir-butir kerugian akan dirujuk pada masa perblcaraan kelak)

17. Oleh yang demikian, Defendan Pertama memohon untuk perintah dan/atau relif seperti berikut:

i. tuntutan balas Defendan Pertama terhadap Plaintif dibenarkan dengan kos;

ii. satu pengisytiharan bahawa Defendan Pertama adalah pemilik sah hartanah tersebut dan mempunyai kepentingan proprietari dalam hartanah tersebut;

iii. suatu perintah pelaksanaan spesifik terhadap Plaintif untuk kaveat persendirian tersebut dibatalkan dan/atau di tarik balik kerana Plaintif tidak mempunyai kepentingan proprietari dalam hartanah tersebut;

iv. relif lanjut dan difikirkan wajar dan patut oleh Mahkamah yang Mulia ini."

[3] On 27 February 2023, this Court had dismissed the Plaintiff's claims against all the Defendants with costs. This Court had also allowed the First Defendant's counterclaims and this Court order the following:

"1. Bahawa tuntutan Plaintif terhadap Defendan Pertama ditolak dengan kos sebanyak RM58,000.00 yang perlu dibayar oleh Plaintif kepada Defendan Pertama;

2. Bahawa tuntutan balas oleh Defendan Pertama terhadap Plaintif untuk kesalahan kemasukkan Kaveat pensendirian No Perserahan 150/2018 bertarikh 2 Mac 2018 (selepas ini dirujuk sebagai "Kaveat persendirian tersebut") ke atas sebuah rumah berkembar satu tingkat di Geran Mukim 3160 Lot 30694, Pekan Port Dickson, Daerah Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan (dulunya dikenali sebagai H.S.

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