Andhra Pradesh High Court
Judges : MANOHAR PERSHAD, MOHAMMED AHMED ANSARI
G.Balakishtiah - Appellant
Versus
B.Ranga Reddy - Respondent
Decided On : 03-13-59
ADMISSIBILITY OF UNREGISTERED LEASE DEEDS - PROOF OF TITLE AND POSSESSION - RELEVANCE OF ADMISSIONS IN UNREGISTERED DOCUMENTS - INTERPRETATION OF SECTION 49 OF THE REGISTRATION ACT.
Fact of the Case:
Plaintiff-appellant filed a suit for possession and mesne profits against the defendant-respondent, claiming ownership of the suit land through a registered sale deed and alleging dispossession by the defendant in collusion with the lessees. The defendant denied the allegations, claimed ownership, and asserted that he had purchased the right of ownership and possession of the land from the plaintiff's lessees.
Finding of the Court:
The court held that the unregistered lease deeds were admissible in evidence to prove the admission of title by the plaintiff's kauldar, Ahmed Sherif, contained therein. The court also found that the plaintiff had sufficient evidence to prove his ownership and possession of the suit property, including the registered sale deed, pauti bahi, revenue receipts, and oral testimony.
Issues: 1. Whether unregistered lease deeds are admissible in evidence to prove title and possession. 2. Whether the plaintiff had sufficient evidence to prove his ownership and possession of the suit property.
Ratio Decidendi: 1. Unregistered lease deeds are admissible in evidence for collateral purposes, such as proving the admission of title by a party to the lease. 2. The admission of title in an unregistered lease deed is admissible against a person who derives title through the party who made the admission.
Final Decision: The appeal was allowed, the judgment and decree of the lower court were set aside, and the judgment of the trial court was restored. The plaintiff was entitled to possession of the suit property and mesne profits from the date of the suit till the date of possession, to be determined by the trial court under Order 20, Rule 12, C. P. C.
( 1 ) THE plaintiff-appellant herein filed a suit for possession and mesne profits against the defendant-respondent alleging that on 6th Meher 1343 F, the owners of the suit land transferred the same in his favour through a registered sale deed and he has been in possession by leasing it on kaul to Ismail Sherif and alter his death to Ahmad Sherif and thereafter to his two sons Khaja Sherif and Maqdoom Sherif, who agreed orally to continue us lessees on the basis of the previous agreement. He further avers that later on the lessees in collusion with the defendant dispossessed him. The defendant (respondent) has denied all the allegations contained in the plaint, claimed ownership of the land and stated that he and his ancestors had leased out the land in dispute to Gul Farosh (flower vendors) and according to the custom prevailing, if the owner of the land desired to evict the Gul Farosh, he had to pay money towards the right of ownership and possession of the lease and in pursuance of this practice, he purchased the right of ownership and possession of the Phool Bagh from his Kauldars Khaja Sherif and Makdoom Sherif through a registered sale deed 18-3-51f. In the rejoinder, the appellant admitted that the flower garden had a permanent characteristic and alleged that his ancestors had erected flower garden on the disputed land which was taken on lease by the Gul Farosh from him and his father. In all 8 issues were framed. Evidence was led by the parties. On the evidence produced, the lower Court decreed the suit of the plaintiff for possession and mesne profits at the rate of Rs. 350. 00 per year till the delivery of possession holding that the title and possession of the appellant was proved. He also held that the defendant had no right and title. Aggrieved by the judgment and decree of the trial Court, the respondent herein went in appeal. The appellate Court, retaining the case on its file, remanded the case to the trial Court for evidence of the parties. Alter remand, the trial court on the evidence produced expressed the opinion that the evidence on record was not sufficient to give a decree for mesne profits, but that the plaintiff was entitled to a decree: for possession. When the matter came up before the learned Judge again, he dismissed the entire claim of the plaintiff. Hence this appeal.
( 2 ) IT is contended on behalf of the appellant that the lower appellate Court has erred in holding that unregistered lease deeds were not admissible in evidence and that the other evidence on record was not sufficient to establish title and possession of the plaintiff.
( 3 ) THE sole question that has to be determined in this appeal is whether the appellant has any right and title to the suit property and whether he was in possession and has been dispossessed by the respondent. In order to prove title and possession, the appellant relies on the registered sale deed, two lease deeds, pauti bahi the revenue receipts from 1337 F. to 1355 F. and the oral testimony of five witnesses. So far as the pattedari of the plaintiff is concerned, the defendant has denied that he is a pattedar. The appellant has filed the pauti bahi, murasala of the Tahsil and the mutation record. All these go to prove that the patta of the suit land stands in the name of the plaintiff. It is also evident that previous to this, the patta stood in the name of the plaintiffs father. As against this there is no evidence on behalf of the respondent. The next question is who is the owner of the suit property. The plaintiffs case is that he and his ancestors had been in possession of the suit land for over 50 years and admitting their possession, the owners of the land transferred the same in his possession. The vendor Shankeriah has been examined and he States that he transferred the suit property in favour of the plaintiff. As against this, the case of the respondent is that he was the owner and he had leased out the suit land to Ahmed Sherif and accord
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