JUDGMENT

Gopal Sri Ram JCA:

[1] This is a tolerably plain case. The facts of immediate relevance are straightforward; the applicable law well settled. The parties in the appeal are all related by blood. The dispute between them centres upon a piece of land registered in the name of one Tang Kah Choo. The title to the land in question carries an indorsement which absolutely prohibits its transfer to any person for a period of ten years and thereafter permits its transfer only with the consent of the State Authority. The title was issued on 25 September 1996. According to the terms of the indorsement, it could not be transferred at all until 24 September 2006 and thereafter only with the consent of the State Authority. It appears that in 1996, an application was made by Tang Kah Choo (though in his evidence the appellant, who was the defendant in the court below, acknowledged that he was the real applicant) to have the land transferred to the appellant. Despite the express terms of the indorsement, the Director of Lands and Mines purported to approve this transfer and the land was eventually transferred and registered in the appellant's name on 31 March 1998. The respondent (the pers