Citation : 2025 Latest Caselaw 6186 Guj
Judgement Date : 1 September, 2025
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IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
R/SECOND APPEAL NO. 311 of 2025
With
CIVIL APPLICATION (FOR STAY) NO. 1 of 2025
In R/SECOND APPEAL NO. 311 of 2025
FOR APPROVAL AND SIGNATURE:
HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE SANJEEV J.THAKER Sd/-
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Approved for Reporting Yes No
✔
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PRAVINKUMAR SHANKARLAL PATEL
Versus
JADIBEN SOMABHAI SENMA & ORS.
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Appearance:
JAYDEEPSINH H RAJPUT(8185) for the Appellant(s) No. 1
MR ABHISHEK R SHARMA(10751) for the Appellant(s) No. 1
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CORAM:HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE SANJEEV J.THAKER
Date : 01/09/2025
ORAL JUDGMENT
1. The present Second Appeal has been filed under section 100 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (for short "the Code") challenging the judgement and decree passed by the 3 rd Additional District Judge, Mahesana, in Regular Civil Appeal no.73 of 2025, whereby the judgement and decree passed by Additional Civil Judge, Vijapur, in Regular Civil Suit no.14 of 2025 rejecting the plaint has been confirmed.
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2. For the sake of brevity and convenience the parties are referred to as per their original status as that in the suit.
3. The brief facts arising in the present Second Appeal are that the plaintiff filed Regular Civil Suit no.14 of 2025, challenging the sale deed executed by defendant nos.1 to 4 in favour of the defendant nos.5 and 6, dated 13.01.2025, to be illegal, ultra vires, null and void and void-ab-initio. It is the case of the plaintiff that the father of the defendant nos.1 to 4 had agreed to sell the suit property to the plaintiff in the year 2005 and in view of the fact that the suit property was a new tenure land i.e. restricted land and as sale deed could not be executed, the father of the defendant nos.1 to 4 did not execute the sale deed and it is the case of the plaintiff that father of the defendant nos.1 to 4 had taken entire sale consideration by cash and therefter, the possession of the suit property was handed over to the plaintiffs on 23.05.2005, and since then, the plaintiff is in possession of the suit property and since last more than 20 years, the plaintiff is in possession without any objection from the father of the defendant or defendant nos.1 to 4 and in view of the fact that the suit property was a new tenure land, the name of the defendants were stated to be owner of the property and in view of the fact that the plaintiff could not seek specific performance of the contract the defendant nos.1 to 4 in collusion with each other, executed
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sale deed in favour of the defendant nos.5 and 6 on 13.01.2025 and as defendant nos.5 and 6 tried to object the plaintiff's possession of the suit property, the plaintiff filed a suit on the ground that, as the plaintiff has purchased the property from defendant nos.1 to 4 since 23.05.2005, by taking the entire sale consideration, the plaintiff has become owner of the property and the fact that the plaintiff is in possession of the property since 23.05.2005 by virtue of agreement between the plaintiff and father of the defendant nos.1 to 4, the plaintiff has sought title by way of adverse possession. The Trial Court suo motu held that the plaintiff's claim of occupying the premises based on the fact that the possession was handed over was with respect to a property which is a new tenure land.
4. Moreover, the plaintiff's entire case is based on the fact that the plaintiff is in possession of the property by virtue of the understanding that the father of the defendant nos.1 to 4 have sold the suit property to the plaintiff and therefore, the plaintiff claimed adverse possession of the suit property. Moreover, it has also been observed in the order passed by the Trial Court while rejecting the plaint that the plaint is barred by law on the ground that, the plaint is hit by Section 43 of the Gujarat Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act, 1948, and that there are no averments in the plaint to justify the case of the plaintiff on adverse possession and therefore by an order dated
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03.04.2025, the plaint was rejected. Aggrieved by the said order, the plaintiff filed Regular Civil Appeal no.73 of 2025 and after reappreciating the facts the said Appeal was dismissed, hence the present second appeal.
5. Learned advocate for the plaintiff has mainly argued that the fact that as the plaintiff was claiming title by way of adverse possession the same could not be a ground for the Court to reject the plaint. It has been argued by the learned advocate for the plaintiff that the plaintiff has not sought for specific performance of the understanding and therefore also the Trial Court could not have held that the plaint is barred under the provisions of Section 43 of the Gujarat Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act, 1948.
6. Learned advocate for the plaintiff has also argued that the Trial Court also could not have come to the conclusion that there are no averments made in the plaint that since, which date and how the possession of the suit property, has become hostile to the owner of the property and as to on which date, the plaintiff has claimed right by way of title by adverse possession.
7. Learned advocate for the plaintiff has relied upon judgement
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reported in 2007 14 SCC 792 in case of Utha Moidu Haji vs Kuningarath Kunhabdulla And Ors and has argued that the transaction by which the plaintiff entered into possession of the land was a void transaction, the possession of the plaintiff had become adverse from the date he is in possession and therefore, the Trial Court and the First Appellate Court could not have rejected the plaint under the provisions of Order VII Rule 11 of the Code and in view of the same, it has been argued that the present Second Appeal is required to be admitted on the following substantial questions of law:
"A.Whether the plaint seeking declaration of ownership by way of adverse possession can be rejected at the threshold under Order VII Rule 11(d) of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 merely on teh ground that the initial possession was based on an alleged void agreement to sell, without affording the plaintiff an opportunity to lead evidence in support of the plea of advserse possession?
B. Whether the plaintiff's claim of adverse possession is liable to be rejected in law solely on the ground that the plaint does not specify the exact date on which possession
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became hostile, despite clear averments of continuous, open, and exclusive possession for over twelve years in denial of the true owner's title?
C. Whether the possession obtained under a void or unenforceable agreement can, in law, be treated as permissive, when such agreement is non est and incapable of conferring legal rights, thereby necessitating a fact-based inquiy into the nature of possession rather than a presumption of permissiveness?"
8. Having heard learned advocate for the plaintiff and having considered the plaint and judgement and decree passed by the Trial Court and confirmed by the First Appellate Court, the following are the undisputed facts:
(i) The plaintiff has filed a suit on the ground that on 23.05.2005, there was an understanding between plaintiff and father of defendant nos.1 to 4, whereby the suit property was to be sold to the plaintiff.
(ii) At the time of the said understanding of selling the suit
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property to the plaintiff, the suit property was a new tenure land (restricted land) and pursuant to the payment of entire sale consideration, the possession of the property was handed over to the plaintiff on 23.05.2005.
(iii) A power of attorney was also executed by father of the defendent nos.1 to 4, whereby all powers including the power to convert the suit property from new tenure land to old tenure land was also given.
(iv) In the plaint the plaintiff has pleaded that as the suit property was a new tenure land, a registered sale deed could not be executed but on 23.05.2005, the plaintiff has become owner of the property and defendant nos.1 to 4 did not have any right, title, interest in the property.
(v) In the plaint, the plaintiff has also stated that, time and again the plaintiff has tried to approach defendent nos.1 to 4 to request them to execute sale deed in favour of the plaintiff and that defendant nos.1 to 4 have given false and evasive replies.
(vi) On 10.01.2025, by way of Revenue Entry No.6617, the names of defendant nos.1 to 4 were entered in the revenue record, in view of the death of the father of defendant nos.1 to 4 i.e. Somabhai Manibhai.
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(vii) On 13.01.2025, the defendant nos.1 to 4 executed sale deed in favour of defendent nos.5 to 6.
(viii) Even at para no.10 of the plaint, the plaintiff has stated that the cause of action has arisen in view of the fact that the defendant nos.1 to 4 had given assurances and promises to execute sale deed in favour of the plaintiff and have failed to execute a sale deed.
9. In view of the same, the fact remains that the plaintiff has not filed a suit for specific performance, though it is a specific case of the plaintiff that the plaintiff is occupying the premises by virtue of an agreement between the plaintiff and father of the defendant nos.1 to 4 in 2005.
10. If the entire plaint is carefuly considered, the plantiff has nowhere stated that, as to on which and how his possession has become hostile as to that of the original owners i.e. defendant nos.1 to 4.
11. The entire suit is based on the fact that the plaintiff is in possession of the property by virtue of an understanding in the year 2005, and that the father of defendant nos.1 to 4 shall execute sale deed in favour of the paintiff. The Fact remains that Agreement on which the Plaintiff is seeking specific
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performance also states that the suit property is a new tenure land and in the Plaint also, there is a clear averment that the suit property is a new tenure land. At the time when the Agreement, dated 17.03.1995, was entered into between the parties, the suit property was new tenure land and the same was to be converted into an old tenure land and thereafter the sale-deed was to be executed between the parties. Therefore, the admitted position before the Court is that, an Agreement that was entered into between the parties was with respect to new tenure land and hence, its sale or agreement to sell was barred by law under Section 43 of the Tenancy Actwhich reads as under:
"43. (1) No land or any interest therein purchased by a tenant under section 17B, 32, 32F, 32-I. 6[*], 7[32U, 43-1D or 88E] or sold to any person under section 32P or 64 shall be transferred or shall be agreed by an instrument in writing to be transferred, by sale, gift, exchange, mortgage, lease or assignment, without the previous sanction of the Collector and except in consideration of payment of such amount as the State Government may by general or special order determine; and no such land or any interest, therein shall be partitioned without the previous sanction of the Collector.
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[Provided that no previous sanction of the Collector shall be required, if the partition of the land is among the members of the family who have direct blood relation or among the legal heirs of the tenant:
Provided further that the partition of the land as aforesaid shall not be valid if it is made in contravention of the provisions of any other law for the time being in force: Provided also that such members of the family or the legal heirs shall hold the land, after the partition, on the same terms, conditions and restrictions as were applicable to such land or interest therein purchased by the tenant or the person.
12. The Division Bench of this Court in the case of Bharatbhai Devashibhai Ukani vs. Vinaben Babaji and ors. in First Appeal No. 4023 of 2023 in Para 11, has referred to the issue in question that has been decided by the Full Bench in the case of deceased Shaikh Ismailbhai Husenbhai thro' Legal Heirs (supra), which reads as under:
"11. Issue, in question is no longer res-integra in view of the recent judgment of the Full Bench, in the case of deceased Shaikh Ismailbhai
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Hushainbhai through legal heirs (supra). The Full Bench, has confined its examination to the provision of Section 43 of the Act of 1948. Paragraph 21 in this behalf reads thus;
"21. Furthermore, in light of the controversy before us, as can be seen from the previous decisions of this Court noted hereinbefore, we do not find any reason to enlarge the scope of the reference and confine ourselves to the question of reference to examine "whether a plaint is liable to be rejected on the ground that the suit for specific performance of contract based on an illegal or invalid agreement to sell, hit by Section 43 of the Tenancy Act,1948, is not maintainable?"
13. In view of the said judgment it has been held and observed that it is only the Civil Court that can look into the fact as to whether the agreement on the basis of which the suit for specific performance is instituted is a valid agreement and not hit by any statutory provisions or forbidden by law or opposed to public policy.
14. If the agreement itself is invalid being hit by section 43 of the Tenancy Act, no cause of action can be said to have arisen asking
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Defendant to perform his part of the contract and there is no sanction and the agreement itself is illegal and invalid. Para 12 of the decision rendered in First Appeal No. 4023 of 2023 reads as under:
"12. It has been held and observed that the Civil Court, alone can look into the fact that as to whether the agreement on the basis of which, the suit for specific performance is instituted is a valid agreement, not hit by any statutory provision, or forbidden by law or oppose to public policy. The Full Bench, has also considered the object and scope of Order VII Rule 11 of the Code, and referred to the judgment in the case of Dahiben vs. Arvindbhai Bhanusali (Gajara) dead through LHS., reported in (2020) 7 SCC 366, wherein, it has been held and observed that the cause of action for a suit for specific performance of an agreement of refusal by the Vendor inspite of readiness and willingness of the vendee to execute the sale deed, will not be existing in a case where the agreement itself is invalid being hit by Section 43 of the Act of 1948, inasmuch as, no cause of action can be said to have arisen, asking the Defendant to perform his part of the contract when there is no sanction and the agreement itself is illegal or invalid. Paragraphs 138, 139, 151 and 153 of the judgment of Full
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Bench, read thus:
"138. We may clarify that we are not concerned with the dispute pertaining to the validity of an agreement, i.e. the dispute whether an agreement is hit by Section 43 or not, i.e. whether it is valid or not? The issue before us is plain and simple; as to whether the agreement which has been executed with a view to transfer a restricted tenure land as prescribed in Section 43(1), without the permission of the Collector, can be specifically enforced by the Civil Court by granting a decree of specific performance of such an agreement." Our concern is about the jurisdiction of the Civil Court to decide on the question of enforceability of such an agreement of sale, which in our considered opinion clearly resides in the Civil Court as held by the Division Bench in Ganpatlal (supra). The Civil Court alone will have jurisdiction to adjudicate on the question of enforceability of the agreement of sale, on the basis of which the suit for specific performance has been executed. It is the Civil Court which alone can look into the fact as to whether the agreement on the basis of which the suit for specific performance is instituted is a valid agreement, not hit by any statutory provision, or forbidden by law or opposed to public policy.
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139. The question as to enforceability of an agreement hit by Section 43 of the Tenancy Act, 1948, to grant a decree of specific performance, cannot be by any stretch of imagination, a question within the scope of the jurisdiction of the revenue authority under the Tenancy Act, 1948. There is no gainsaying that Civil Court will not be required to stay a suit for specific performance based on an agreement hit by Section 43(1) of the Tenancy Act, 1948 and relegate the parties to approach the Mamaltdar to decide on the question of validity of such an agreement. (g) Enforceability of the agreement hit by Section 43 of the Tenancy Act:-
151. On a careful reading of the provision in Order VII, Rule 11 of the Code of Civil Procedure and the law laid down by the Apex Court in Dahiben (supra), in light of the dispute before us, we may note that in order to maintain the suit for specific performance of agreement, which is hit by Section 43(1) of the Tenancy Act, 1948, the Plaintiff would be required to disclose the cause of action for seeking a decree of specific performance of such an agreement. The cause of action for a suit for specific performance of an agreement of refusal by the Vendor inspite of readiness and willingness of the
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vendee to execute the sale deed, will not be existing in a case where the agreement itself is invalid being hit by Section 43(1), inasmuch as, no cause of action can be said to have arisen asking the Defendant to perform his part of the contract when there is no sanction and the agreement itself is illegal or invalid. Further, on the averments made in the plaint, in conjunction with the documents relied upon by the Plaintiff, the Civil Court will be in a position to ascertain the question of enforceability of the agreement. It will be in a position to ascertain that the agreement, which is the basis of the suit, whether is hit by Section 43(1) or not, inasmuch as, to seek a decree of specific performance of agreement, the Plaintiff is required to disclose and establish two circumstances: (I) firstly, that the documents, which is the basis of the suit is a valid document in the eye of law and (ii) secondly, that the cause of action has arisen prior to the presentation of the plaint. If the documents, i.e. the agreement is an illegal or invalid document in the eye of law, the Civil Court from the statement in the plaint itself will ascertain the suit being barred by law.
In any case, a suit basis of which is an invalid document in the eye of law or where there exists no cause of action to institute the suit on the date of the presentation of the plaint, the Civil Court will have no
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option but to reject the plaint, at the threshold, under Order VII, Rule 11 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The arguments that the Civil court will be required to frame the issue as to the validity of the agreement, which is the basis of the suit and must necessarily proceed with the trial to arrive at the decision as to whether the decree of specific performance of an agreement hit by law, is to be granted or not, does not appeal to us.
153. We are in respectful agreement with the decision of the Division Bench in Naranbhai Kanjibhai Gajera (supra), holding that the Division Bench decision in Amarben (supra) can be said to be 'per incuriam' ignoring statutory provisions and in view of the decision of another Division Bench dated 21.06.2021 in Vijaybhai Shambhubhai Patel (supra), which was challenged in Special Leave to Appeal (Civil) No.5124 of 2022, and which has been dismissed vide judgement and order dated 10.11.20222 affirming the Division Bench judgement in Vijaybhai Shambhubhai Patel (supra)."
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15. In any case, this Court is bound by the judgment of the Hon'ble Full Bench in Shaikh Ismailbhai Hushainbhai through legal heirs (supra) and Hon'ble Division Bench in Bharatbhai Devashibhai Ukani vs. Vinaben Babaji and ors. (supra). These judgments squarely cover the position of law on the application of Order VII Rule 11 to Agreements hit by Section 43 of the Tenancy Act and hence, they squarely apply to the facts of the present case.
16. Therefore, in view of provisions of Section 43 of the Tenancy Act and the admitted position that the suit property was a new tenure land, the plaint was liable to be rejected under provisions of Order VII Rule 11 of the CPC on the ground that the suit was based on illegal and invalid agreement which is hit by section 43 of the Tenancy Act and hence, is not maintainable.
17. Therefore, the fact remains that neither the plaintiff has sought for relief for specific performance and the plaintiff has come forward with the case that time and again defendant nos.1 to 4 have assured and acknowledged that the sale deed will be executed in view of the agreement of 2005.
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18. In this background, it will be important to consider the fact that plaintiff has not produced any document to prove his case of claiming ownership. It is required that there has to be some pleadings on the said fact of plaintiff having acquired title by way of adverse possession. The pleadings must set- forth sufficient factual details to the extent that it reduces the ability to put-forth a false or exaggerated claim and pleadings must inspire confidence and credibility and as held in the judgment reported in Maria Margarida Sequeria Fernandes vs. Erasmo Jack De Sequeria (Dead) Through Lrs. (supra) on vague pleadings, no issue arises. Only when the plaintiff establishes the fact by giving details and prays in his pleadings, the question of framing issue arises. It is mandatory for the plaintiff to give details and produce documents sufficient and give material particulars of his title by adverse possession failing which, the plaintiff could not succeed. In the present case, except for the fact in the relief claimed by plaintiff to be owner by way of adverse possession, there are no pleadings as to how the plaintiff is having title by way of adverse possession.
19. Moreover the fact remains that, the plaintiffs who are claiming adverse possession, have miserably failed to show that, on what date he came into possession and that what was the nature of his possession and whether the factum of
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possession, was known to the defendant and since how long his possession has continued and the plaintiffs have also miserably failed to prove that his possession was open and undisturbed. All the above referred ingredients are not mentioned in the pleadings and are also not proved in evidence and therefore, when there are no proof in the pleadings and there is no oral or documentary evidence, the case of the plaintiffs without evidence will not establish a case in law. Moreover, mere possession of the land by the plaintiffs would not ripen into possessory title. The plaintiffs to claim right by adverse possession must have intention and hold the suit property adverse to the title of the defendant.
20. With respect to the claim of the plaintiffs to be in adverse possession, the possession of the suit property by the plaintiffs contemplates a hostile possession i.e. a possession which is impliedly or expressly in denial of the title of the true owner and for claiming possession to be adverse, the same must be a possession by the plaintiffs, who does not acknowledge either the defendant's right or anybody else's right, but also denies the said right. The plaintiffs possession for claiming adverse possession had to imply a control and consciousness in the mind of the plaintiffs having dominion over an object that plaintiffs have adverse possession and only then can plaintiffs exercise it, and therefore by only holding
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possession of the suit property would not entitle the plaintiffs into possessory title as there has to be an element to hold the suit property adverse to the title of the true owner.
21. The possession of the premises of the plaintiffs only implies the bare use of the suit premises land without any right to retain it and therefore, in order to constitute adverse possession, the plaintiffs must prove that the actual possession of the plaintiffs was claimed by the plaintiffs as of right by himself or by persons deriving title from him and therefore, it was not sufficient for the plaintiffs to prove adverse possession to show just the possession of property and for the claim of adverse possession, the said possession along with being actual, visible, exclusive has to be hostile and continued during the time necessary to create a bar under the statute of limitation. It is not enough for the plaintiffs to prove that he was in actual possession of the property within period of limitation, but the plaintiffs must establish his title to the property and if the plaintiffs fail to prove his title, the suit fails and the question of adverse possession does not arise in such a case.
22. The judgment relied upon by learned advocate for the defendant in the case of Rajendra Bajoria vs. Hemant Kumar Jalan (supra) will also be of assistance to the defendant, in the
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facts of the present case in view of the fact in the said case Apex Court has held that if the cause of action pleaded and the relief claimed are not recognized by law of land such suit cannot be kept alive to go to trial and the judgment Ram Nagina Rai vs. Deo Kumar Rai (Deceased) (supra) will be also of assistance to the defendant as in the present case also there is nothing on record to show that the defendant's possession over the property becomes adverse to the interest of real owners at any point of time.
23. In view of the said facts and the fact that as per law laid down in the case of Government of Kerala & Anr. vs. Joseph and others reported in 2023 LiveLaw (SC) 621 : 2023 INSC 693, the proper and concrete proof as required would need for the claimant to show some proof of possession and merely long period of possession does not translate into the right of adverse possession.
24. Similarly, in case of Gaya Prasad Dikshit vs. Dr. Nirmal Chander and Another reported in 1984 (2) SCC 286 it is held that mere continuance of unauthorised possession even for a period of more than 12 years is not enough. Wherein in the case of Thakur Kishan Singh vs. Arvind Kumar reported in (1994) 6 SCC 591 it is held that "A possession of a co-owner or of a licensee or of an agent or a permissive possession to
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become adverse must be established by cogent and convincing evidence to show hostile animus and possession adverse to the knowledge of real owner. Mere possession for howsoever length of time does not result in converting the permissive possession into adverse possession ..." (emphasis applied).
25. This Court would apt to refer also the judgment rendered in the case of Annakili vs. A. Vedanayagam (2007) 14 SCC 308 (Two-Judges' Bench), more particularly para:24 which reads as under:
"24. Claim by adverse possession has two elements :-
(1) the possession of the defendant should become adverse to the plaintiff; and (2) the defendant must continue to remain in possession for a period of 12 years thereafter.
Animus possidendi as is well known is a requisite ingredient of adverse possession. It is now a well-settled principle of law that mere possession of the land would not ripen into possessory title for the said purpose. Possessor must have animus possidendi and hold the land adverse to the title of the true owner. For the said purpose, not only animus possidendi must be shown to exist, but the same must be shown to exist at the commencement of the possession....."(emphasis supplied)
26. In case of Des Raj and others vs. Bhagat Ram reported in (2007) 9 SCC 641 (Two Judges' Bench), in para:21, it is observed thus:
"21. In a case of this nature, where long and continuous possession of the plaintiff-respondent stands admitted, the only question which arose for consideration by the courts
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below was as to whether the plaintiff had been in possession of the properties in hostile declaration of his title vis-a-vis his coowners and they were in know thereof."
27. In case of L. N. Aswathama vs. P. Prakash reported in (2009) 13 SCC 229 (Two Judges' Bench) it has been observed that permissive possession or possession in absence of Animus possidendi would not constitute the claim of adverse possession.
28. It is held in case of Chatti Konati Rao vs. Palle Venkata Subba Rao (Two Judges' Bench) reported in (2010) 14 SCC 316, in para:15 as under:
"15. Animus possidendi as is well known is a requisite ingredient of adverse possession. Mere possession does not ripen into possessory title until the possessor holds the property adverse to the title of the true owner for the said purpose. The person who claims adverse possession is required to establish the date on which he came in possession, nature of possession, the factum of possession, knowledge to the true owner, duration of possession and that possession was open and undisturbed.......(emphasis supplied)"
29. In the present case, the plaintiff has miserably failed to prove that he has become owner by way of adverse possession and in view of the fact that the trial Court and the appellate Court have rightly taken into consideration the plaint and documentary evidence produced with the plaint. In view of the same, no interference appears to have been called for in the orders passed by both the Courts below.
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30. Under the circumstances, this Second Appeal is devoid of any substantial question of law. Both the learned Trial Court and first appellate Court have rightly decided the dispute between the parties in the right perspective and as stated above no substantial question of law arises in the present appeal. The appellants have failed to prove their case before the learned Trial Court as well as before the First Appellate Court. This Court does not find any substance in the present Second Appeal as the same is devoid of any merit both on facts and law and the same is dismissed at admission stage. The connected application stands disposed of accordingly.
Sd/-
(SANJEEV J.THAKER,J) URIL RANA
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