Kusum Gajanan Deolalikar And ... vs Gajanan Murlidhar Deolalikar And ...

Citation : 2017 Latest Caselaw 9766 Bom
Judgement Date : 19 December, 2017

Bombay High Court
Kusum Gajanan Deolalikar And ... vs Gajanan Murlidhar Deolalikar And ... on 19 December, 2017
Bench: K.L. Wadane
                                                 AO68-15&19-16.odt
           IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
                      BENCH AT AURANGABAD
                   APPEAL FROM ORDER NO. 68 OF 2015
                    WITH CA/9476/2015 IN AO/68/2015

1.      Sou.Kusum w/o Gajanan Deolalikar
2       Smt. Jyoti d/o Gajanan 
        Deolalikar
3       Shrikant s/o Gajanan Deolalikar               Appellants
                                                      (Original 
        All- R/o 418/19, Somvar Peth,                 Plaintiff)
        Pune-1
        VERSUS
1       Gajanan Murlidhar Deolalikar
        (Died, through LRs. i.e. 
        Appellant Nos. 1 to 3 and 
        Respondent Nos. 13 & 14)
2       Ravishankar Murlidhar Deolalikar
3       Deepak Gajanan Deolaikar
        Died, having no heirs.
4       Surendra Sitaram Varvadkar
5       Madhu Anna Jangwali
        Died-Through LRS.

        5-A) Sau. Lata w/o Dnyaneshwar 
        Misal
        5-B)  Sau Asha w/o Vijay Sathe
        5-C) Mangal Laxman Bedre 
        (Deceased, through LRs.

        5-C-1) Rahul s/o Laxman Bedre
        R/o House No.189/1861/1862
        Zendigate, Gawaliwada, CTS 
        No.1899, Talmicha Wada, 
        Ahmednagar,
6       Shaikh  Saleemabi Musa Kureshi
7       Shaikh Iliyas Babubhai Kureshi
8       Shaikh  Maiambi Khalid Kureshi
9       Shaikh Shakilabai Kadir Kureshi

                                                                       1/12


     ::: Uploaded on - 19/12/2017          ::: Downloaded on - 20/12/2017 02:19:41 :::
                                                AO68-15&19-16.odt
10      Shaikh   Rahim   Munnisa   Isak 
        Kureshi 
11      Rajendra  Motilal Munot
12      Sau Shobha Rajendra Munot
13      Sunil Gajanan Deolalikar
14      Jagdsh Gajanan Deolalikar
15      Vastalabai Pancharinath Mahale
        Deceased,   through     her   Legal 
        Heirs.
        15-a) Karuna Rajendra Udawant
        15-b) Kalpana Kalyan Misal
        15-c) Meena Shantaram Pawatekar
16      Suresh  Sakharam Deolalikar
17      Sindhu d/o Murlidhar Deolalikar
        Deceased,   through   her   Legal 
        heirs.
        17-a) Shobha Suresh Mahale
        17-b) Sanjay Mohan Bhadkwan
        17-c) Ajay Mohan Bhadkwan
        17-d) Dhananjay Mohan Bhadakwan
        17-e) Bandu @ Vijay @ Trijay s/o 
        Mohan Bhadakwan
18      Sulochana w/o Govind Burhade
        (Deleted   as   per   order   dated 
        21.07.2017)
19      Ratan w/o Surendra Warvarkar
20      Lalita w/o Ashok Nagre
21      Anand Omprakash Khandelwal
22      The Chairman of Rajiv gandhi 
        Nagri Sah. Patsanstha Ltd., 
        Bhistbaug Naka, Pipe line Road, 
        Ahmednagar,
23      The Chairman of Bhairavnath 
        Gramin Bigarsheti Sah. Pat 
        Sanstha Ltd., Kedgaon, Tq. 
        Nagar, Dist. Ahmednagar.
24      Tukaram Anna Gawale (Jangawali)
25      Ganesh Namdeo Gawali(Jangawali)

                                                                    2/12


     ::: Uploaded on - 19/12/2017       ::: Downloaded on - 20/12/2017 02:19:41 :::
                                                  AO68-15&19-16.odt
26      Manoj Namdeo Gawali (Jangawali)
27      Santosh Mahadu Gawali                    .. Respondents
        (Jangawali)  Died, through his           .
        legal heirs

        27-1)Smt. Rani Santosh Gawali,
        27-2)Vishal Santosh Gawali
        27-3)Kum. Gavri  Santosh Gawali


Mr Kishor C. Sant, Advocate for the appellants.
Mr Prasanna Kutti, Advocate for respondent No.1
Mr Anil S.Bajaj, Advocate for respondent Nos.11 & 12
Mr. Ankush Gade h/for Mr. S. J. Salunke, Advocate 
for respondent Nos. 15-A to 15-C
                                    WITH
                    APPEAL FROM ORDER NO.19 OF 2016
                 CA/4640/2016 IN AO/19/2016
1.      Rajendra Motilal Munot
2       Sau. Shobha Rajendra Munot            ... Appellants
        R/o Khristgalli, Ahmednagar               Original 
                                                  respondents 
                                                  11 and 12
        VERSUS
1       Sou. Kusum w/o Gajanan 
        Deolalikar
2       Smt. Jyoti d/o Gajanan 
        Deolalikar
3       Shrikant s/o Gajanan Deolalikar

        All- R/o 418/19, Somvar Peth, 
        Pune-1
4       Gajanan Murlidhar Deolalikar

5       Ravishankar Murlidhar 
        Deolalikar
6       Surendra Sitaram Varvadkar
7       Madhu Anna Jangwali



                                                                       3/12


     ::: Uploaded on - 19/12/2017          ::: Downloaded on - 20/12/2017 02:19:41 :::
                                                   AO68-15&19-16.odt
8       Shaikh  Saleemabi Musa Kureshi
9       Shaikh Ilyas Babubhai Kureshi
10      Shaikh  Maiyambi Khalid Kureshi
11      Shaikh Shakilabi Kadir Kureshi
12      Shaikh Rahim Munnisa Isak 
        Kureshi 
13      Sunil Gajanan Deolalikar
14      Jagdish Gajanan Deolalikar
15      Vastalabai Pandharinath Mahale
        Deceased,   through     her   Legal 
        Heirs.
        15-a) Karuna Rajendra Udawant
        15-b) Kalpana Kalyan Misal
        15-c) Meena Shantaram Pawatekar
16      Suresh Sakharam Deolalikar
17      Sindhu d/o Murlidhar Deolalikar
        Deceased,   through   her   legal 
        heirs.
        17-a) Shobha Suresh Mahale
        17-b) Sanjay Mohan Bhadkwan
        17-c) Ajay Mohan Bhadkwan
        17-d) Dhananjay Mohan Bhadakwan
        17-e)   Bandu   @   Vijay   @   Trijay 
        s/o Mohan Bhadakwan
18      Sulochana w/o Govind Burhade

19      Ratan w/o Surendra Warvarkar
20      Lalita w/o Ashok Nagre
21      Anand Omprakash Khandelwal
22      The Chairman of Rajiv gandhi 
        Nagri Sah. Patsanstha Ltd., 
        Bhistbaug Naka, Pipe line Road, 
        Ahmednagar,
23      The Chairman of Bhairavnath 
        Gramin Bigarsheti Sah. Pat 
        Sanstha Ltd., Kedgaon, Tq. 
        Nagar, Dist. Ahmednagar.


                                                                        4/12


     ::: Uploaded on - 19/12/2017           ::: Downloaded on - 20/12/2017 02:19:41 :::
                                                      AO68-15&19-16.odt
24      Tukaram Anna Gawale (Jangawali)
25      Ganesh Namdeo Gawali(Jangawali)
26      Manoj Namdeo Gawali (Jangawali)
27      Santosh Mahadu Gawali           ... Respondents 
        (Jangawali)  Died, through his 
        legal heirs

        27-1)Smt. Rani Santosh Gawali,
        27-2)Vishal Santosh Gawali
        27-3)Kum. Gavri  Santosh Gawali

Mr. Anil S. Bajaj, Advocate for the appellants,
Mr. K. C. Sant, Advocate for Respondents 1 to 3

                           CORAM         : K. L. WADANE, J.

                           RESERVED ON   : 13.12.2017
                           PRONOUNCED ON : 19.12.2017

J U D G M E N T:    

1. The above referred appeals are arising out of the judgment and order dated 08.06.2015 passed by the District Judge-4, Ahmednagar in Regular Civil Appeal No. 188/2012, by which the judgment and decree of dismissal Regular Civil Suit No. 41/2000, dated 15.03.2003 is set aside and suit is remanded to the trial court for its decision afresh, as per the observations made in the order. (The parties are referred to by their original status).

2. Being aggrieved with the impugned order, original plaintiffs have preferred Appeal from Order 5/12 ::: Uploaded on - 19/12/2017 ::: Downloaded on - 20/12/2017 02:19:41 ::: AO68-15&19-16.odt No. 68/2015 contending that the learned District Judge has remanded the suit only to the extent of two properties i.e. CTS Nos. 1469 and 1470 excluding the property bearing CTS No. 1899 and it is prayed that the matter be remanded for its disposal including property CTS No.1899.

3. Original defendant Nos. 12 and 13, purchaser of the property CTS No. 1899 have presented the Appeal from Order No.19/2016 only for clarification that suit is remanded to the extent of two properties i.e. CTS Nos. 1469 and 1470 only.

4. I have heard the arguments of Mr. Sant, the learned counsel appearing for the appellants/ plaintiffs and Mr. Bajaj, the learned counsel appearing for appellants/defendant Nos. 12 and 13.

5. On perusal of the record and upon hearing both the sides, it appears that the learned trial court has dismissed the suit for partition and separate possession. The suit was filed by the plaintiffs for partition and separate possession, contending that the suit properties i.e. CTS Nos. 1469, 1469 and 1899 are ancestral properties of 6/12 ::: Uploaded on - 19/12/2017 ::: Downloaded on - 20/12/2017 02:19:41 ::: AO68-15&19-16.odt defendant Nos. 1 and 2, Gajanan Murlidhar Deolalikar and Ravishankar Murlidhar Deolalikar respectively and after death of Murlidhar, the plaintiffs are entitled to have their shares in the suit properties.

6. In the trial Court, on behalf of the plaintiffs, Plaintiff No.1 Kusum Deolalikar deposed at Exh.59, one witness Chandrakant Kulthe deposed at Exh.62 and plaintiff No.3 Shrikant Deolalikar at Exh.91. As against this, defendant No.1 Gajanan Deolalikar deposed at Exh.67 and Defendant No.12 Rajendra deposed himself at Exh.77. Besides the oral evidence, the parties have relied on the documentary evidence on record.

7. After considering the evidence on record, the learned trial court has held that the property at CTS No. 1899 is self acquired property of defendant Nos. 1 and 2 and rest of the properties i.e. property Nos. 1469 and 1479 are the ancestral properties of defendant Nos. 1 and 2. Further it is observed by the trial court that the suit is bad for non-joinder of necessary parties. Hence, the suit was dismissed, against which, the plaintiffs 7/12 ::: Uploaded on - 19/12/2017 ::: Downloaded on - 20/12/2017 02:19:41 ::: AO68-15&19-16.odt have preferred Regular Civil Appeal before the learned District Judge, Ahmednagar/First Appellate Court. During the pendency of the Regular Civil Appeal, other legal representatives i.e. daughters of deceased Murlidhar were brought on record. In view of the amendment in the Succession Act, daughters are also entitled for share in the properties left by the deceased Murlidhar. Hence, the matter was remanded for re-determination/ calculation of shares after including of the female members in the family.

8. The learned trial court has held that the property Nos. 1469 and 1470 are the ancestral properties of Defendant Nos.1 and 2 as they have specifically admitted the same in their written statement. Further, from the record, it appears that the property CTS No. 1899 was sold by the father of defendant Nos. 1 and 2 namely Murlidhar in the year 1957 to one Shankar Dahale. Murlidhar died in the year 1963. Subsequently, in the year, 1973, defendant Nos. 1 and 2 have purchased the same property from Shankar Dahale. Thus, from the record, it appears that the learned trial court has 8/12 ::: Uploaded on - 19/12/2017 ::: Downloaded on - 20/12/2017 02:19:41 ::: AO68-15&19-16.odt observed that the property at CTS No. 1899 is self acquired property of defendant Nos.1 and 2. Further, there is no evidence on record that defendant Nos. 1 and 2 have purchased property CTS No.1899 from the nucleus of the jointly family. In the Appeal, the First Appellate Court also observed the same thing.

9. So, looking to the observations of the trial court as well as the First Appellate Court, it appears that the finding as regards self acquired property of defendants Nos. 1 and 2 is concurrent and no contrary evidence is adduced on record. After addition of the female members i.e. daughters of Murlidhar as party respondents, the matter was remanded to the trial court only for re- determination/calculation of shares of the plaintiffs, defendant Nos.1 and 2 added daughters of Murlidhar.

10. Mr. Sant, the learned counsel appearing for the plaintiffs, during the course of argument, has stated that the order remanding the suit only to the extent of two properties is illegal since the property i.e. CTS No. 1899 is also liable to be 9/12 ::: Uploaded on - 19/12/2017 ::: Downloaded on - 20/12/2017 02:19:41 ::: AO68-15&19-16.odt partitioned and therefore the matter may be remanded inclusive of the property CTS No. 1899.

11. I do not agree with the submissions of Mr. Sant, simply because the trial Court as well as First appellate court, upon scrutiny of the evidence on record, have held that CTS No. 1899 is self acquired property of defendant Nos.1 and 2 and therefore the same is not liable for partition. Consequently, there is no substance in Appeal From Order No. 68 of 2016.

12. To consider the appeal of defendant Nos. 12 and 13 (purchasers) i.e. Appeal from Order No. 19/2016, it appears that this appeal is presented by them only to the extent of clarification that the suit is remanded only for the purpose of redetermination/calculation of shares in the two properties i.e. CTS Nos. 1469 and 1470 and not in respect of the self acquired property of defendant Nos.1 and 2 i.e. CTS No.1899 from which defendant Nos. 11 and 12 have purchased some part.

13. The First Appellate Court has held that two properties i.e. properties at CTS Nos. 1469 and 10/12 ::: Uploaded on - 19/12/2017 ::: Downloaded on - 20/12/2017 02:19:41 ::: AO68-15&19-16.odt 1470 are the joint family properties and one i.e. CTS No.1899 is self acquired property of defendant Nos. 1 and 2. However, in the operative part of the impugned judgment and order, Clause 1-(a) reads as follows:

"1-(a)The decree of dismissal of the suit dated 15.03.2003 is set aside and the suit is remanded back to the Trial Court for decision afresh as per the observations made above."

In the reasons recorded in the judgment and order, the First Appellate Court has clearly observed that CTS No. 1899 is a self acquired property of defendants 1 and 2, however, it is ordered by the First Appellate Court that the suit is remanded to the learned Trial Court for its decision afresh as per the observations made in the order, due to which the confusion is created as to whether the matter is remanded only to the extent of two properties or three properties. To that extent, defendant Nos.12 and 13 have preferred this Appeal from Order seeking clarification.

14. Since, the Trial Court as well as First 11/12 ::: Uploaded on - 19/12/2017 ::: Downloaded on - 20/12/2017 02:19:41 ::: AO68-15&19-16.odt Appellate Court have clearly held that CTS No. 1899 is a self acquired property of defendant Nos.1 and 2, therefore the question of its partition in the remanded suit will not arise. Hence, with this clarification, the Appeal From Order No. 19/16 is liable to be disposed of. Hence following order:

O R D E R i. Appeal from Order No. 68/2015 is dismissed. ii. Appeal from Order No. 19/2016 is disposed of with the clarification that the suit is remanded only for partition of CTS Nos. 1469 and 1470.

iii. In view of disposal of the Appeals from order, pending civil applications also stand disposed of.

iv.     No order as to costs.




                                              (K. L. WADANE, J.) 
JPC



                                                                           12/12


  ::: Uploaded on - 19/12/2017                  ::: Downloaded on - 20/12/2017 02:19:41 :::