JUDGMENT

Dr.B.S.Chauhan, J.

Civil Appeal Nos. 2885-2887 of 2005

1. These appeals have been preferred against the judgment and order dated 10.6.2003 by the High Court of Judicature, Andhra Pradesh at Hyderabad in C.C.C.A. Nos.34 and 33 of 1991 and C.C.C.A.No. 92 of 1993, by way of which the appeals filed by the respondents against the common judgment and decree dated 22.3.1991, in O.S. No.30 of 1984 and O.S. No.135 of 1984, passed by the court of the Additional Chief Judge, City Civil Court, Hyderabad, have been partly allowed, by modifying the said judgment and order of the trial court.

2. Facts and circumstances giving rise to these appeals are that: A. The appellant/plaintiff was carrying on business prior to 1.1.1978 in the appurtenant land as a tenant, and had made an offer to purchase the said premises, alongwith two other premises belonging to the landlady Ms. Anjum Jehan - respondent No.1/defendant No.1 (hereinafter referred to as `Res.No.1’).

B. The parties entered into an agreement dated 15.10.1977, for the sale of land admeasuring 1200 square yards situated at Musheerabad, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, for a total consideration of Rs.1,70,070/-. Out of which a sum of Rs.25,000/- was paid as earnest money. The said agreement to sell, provided that the sale deed was to be executed within a period of six months from the date of agreement, or upon intimation by the vendor, as she had to obtain permission from the competent authority under Section 27 of the Urban Land Ceiling Act, 1976 (hereinafter referred to as `the Act 1976), the necessary income tax clearances and the sub division permission from the municipal corporation. The aforesaid suit land was also in the possession of the landlady, and had partly been occupied by defendant no. 2/respondent (Narsoji).

C. After the execution of the said agreement to sell, the appellant/plaintiff paid non-agricultural assessment tax. A legal notice dated 18.6.1979 was received by the appellant from Res. No.1 Ms. Anjum Jehan, stating that she had obtained requisite permission from the statutory authorities under the Act 1976, from the income tax authorities, and also from the sub-divisional authorities.

D. The appellant/plaintiff asked Res. No.1 vide letter dated 2.7.1979, to send the copies of the aforesaid permissions, as well as a copy of the General Power of Attorney (hereinafter referred to as the `GPA’), that had been executed by her.

E. Instead of executing the sale-deed in favour of the appellant/plaintiff, Res. No.1 tried to sell the suit property to other persons. Therefore, the appellant/plaintiff got a public notice published in local newspapers on 29.4.1980 and 30.4.1980, in respect of the suit property, stating that an agreement to sell had been executed between the parties as regards the said land, and that therefore, no other person must purchase the same.

F. Despite the said notice, the GPA holder of Res. No.1 entered into two different agreements to sell with respondent no. 2/defendant no.3 (K.S.R.Murthy) on 29/30.4.1980, for open land admeasuring 510 square yards.

G. The appellant/plaintiff filed a suit bearing O.S. No. 30 of 1984 on 23.6.1983 for specific performance of the agreement to sell dated 15.10.1977, directing the Res. No.1 to execute a registered sale deed in favour of the appellant/plaintiff, and ignoring the agreement to sell in favour of respondent/defendant nos.3, 6 and 7.

H. Respondent no.3/Defendant No. 7 (K.Y. Rajaiah) filed Original Suit No. 135 of 1984 on 27.12.1983, for perpetual injunction, restraining the appellant/plaintiff from interfering with the construction of a theatre building, including the compound wall of the same, which was in close proximity to his land.

I. During the pendency of these two suits, Res.No.1 executed a sale deed, and she got the same registered on 29.4.1985, in favour of respondent no.2/defendant no.3 with respect to the part of the suit property admeasuring 260 square yards, and the recital of the sale deed acknowledg