Citation : 2022 Latest Caselaw 100 Kant
Judgement Date : 4 January, 2022
1
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 4TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2022
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE N.S.SANJAY GOWDA
R.S.A. No.2776/2006 (INJ)
BETWEEN:
SHRI. B.S.NANJUNDAPPA,
S/O LATE B.SOMASHEKARAPPA,
SINCE DEAD BY HIS LRs.:
1(i) SMT. RUDRAMMA,
W/O B.S.NANJUNDAPPA,
AGED ABOUT 64 YEARS,
GANGADHARAPURA,
BASAVABHAVANA BACK SIDE,
DODDABALLAPURA(T)
BENGALURU RURAL - 561 203.
1(ii) B.N.NATARAJ,
S/O B.S.NANJUNDAPPA,
AGED ABOUT 46 YEARS,
R/AT OPPOSITE SUGAR FACTORY,
B H ROAD, GOWRIBIDANUR,
CHIKABALLAPUR POST - 561 208.
1(iii) B N BHRAMARAMBHA,
W/O MANJUNATH,
AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS,
COURT ROAD,
DODDABALLAPUR - 561 203.
... APPELLANTS
(BY SMT. APARNA.N., ADV., FOR GKM ASSOCIATES)
2
AND:
SHRI.ANJINAPPA,
S/O NARASIMHAPPA,
SINCE DECEASED BY LRs.:
1(a) SHRI TIPPANNA,
S/O LATE ANJINAPPA,
DIED--NO CLASS-I HEIR
R-1(b) IS CLASS-II HEIR,
WHO IS ALREADY ON RECORD.
1(b) SMT.LAKSHMAMMA,
D/O ANJINAPPA,
W/O SHRI SANJEEVAPPA,
AGED ABOUT 34 YEARS,
E DIVISION, UPPARA COLONY,
GOWRIBIDANUR - 562 101.
... RESPONDENTS
(R-1(b) IS THE LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR R-1(a)
WHO IS SERVED AND UNREPRESENTED)
THIS APPEAL IS FILED UNDER SECTION 100 OF CPC
AGAINST THE JUDGMENT AND DECREE DATED: 07.07.2006
PASSED IN R.A. No.146/2002 ON THE FILE OF THE ADDL.
SESSIONS JUDGE, PRESIDING OFFICER, FAST TRACK
COURT-V, CHICKBALLAPUR, DISMISSING THE APPEAL AND
CONFIRMING THE JUDGMENT AND DECREE DATED:
12.07.2002 PASSED IN O.S.No.547/1993 ON THE FILE OF
THE PRL. CIVIL JUDGE (JR.DN) & JMFC., GOURIBIDANUR.
THIS APPEAL COMING ON FOR FINAL HEARING THIS
DAY, THE COURT DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
3
JUDGMENT
1. This second appeal is by the plaintiff
B.S.Nanjundappa.
2. Nandjundappa instituted the suit seeking for a
declaration that he was the owner in possession and
enjoyment of the suit schedule property and he also
sought for the consequential relief of perpetual
injunction.
3. The suit property was a vacant site situated at
Karekalla Halli Branch Town, Gowribidanuru (E-Division),
bearing Municipal Assessment No.2103, measuring East
to West: 58 feet, and North to South: 30 feet.
4. It was the case of Nanjundappa that the suit
schedule property was a part of the land bearing
Sy.No.139/2A I(b) and 139/2F measuring 22'X30' and
0.01 gunta respectively. He stated that this property had
been purchased from Sri.Venkata Laxmamma wife of
M.Rangappa under the registered sale deed dated
14.08.1991. He stated that he had also got this land
converted for being used for non-agricultural purposes
i.e., for constructing a residential premises under an
order dated 20.02.1993. He stated that the Municipality
had also allotted a Municipal Assessment Number to this
converted land after collection of the required
betterment charges.
5. He stated that originally the property had been
acquired by his vendor's husband M.Rangappa under two
registered sale deeds dated 11.11.1965 and 10.11.1965.
The sale deed dated 10.11.1965 was in respect of the
land bearing Sy.No.139/2F measuring 0.01 gunta and
the sale deed dated 11.11.1965 was in respect of the
land bearing Sy.No.139/2A I(b) measuring 22'X30'. It
was stated that after the death of Rangappa, his wife
VenkataLaxmamma has succeeded to the said property
and the Khata was also transferred in her name, and he
had acquired valid title. He stated that as the
defendants sought to interfere with his possession he
was constrained to approach the Court with the suit.
6. On service of summons, the defendants, who were
the husband and wife, entered appearance and
contested the suit. The contention put forth was, the
plaintiff was not entitled for any relief since the
defendants were in possession of the suit property for
more than twenty years and they had constructed a hut
measuring 35'X30' and were living there without any
obstruction.
7. It was stated that the property originally belonged
to one Gangappa, who had sold it to Chennabi under a
sale deed dated 05.08.1972 and Chennabi had, in turn,
sold it to one K.V.Ashwathaiah. It was stated that the
defendants were in possession of the property measuring
35'X30' by constructing a hut. A statement was also
made that the defendants had perfected the title by way
of adverse possession against the true owners.
8. The trial court on consideration of the pleadings,
framed five issues. On behalf of the plaintiff, five
witnesses were examined, including the plaintiff who was
examined as PW-1, and ten documents were marked on
behalf of the plaintiff. On behalf of the defendants,
defendant No.1 got himself examined as DW-1 and two
more witnesses were examined on his behalf. In all,
eleven documents were marked on behalf of the
defendants.
9. The trial court, on analysis of the evidence adduced
before it, came to the conclusion that the plaintiff had
failed to prove his title and possession over the suit
schedule property and he had also failed to prove that
there was interference with his possession by the
defendants. The trial court concluded that the
defendants had proved the construction of a hut on the
land measuring 35'X30'. The trial court accordingly
dismissed the suit.
10. To come to this conclusion, the trial court, after
examining the two sale deeds dated 10.11.1965 and
11.11.1965, which were the sale deeds under which the
plaintiff's vendor's husband had purchased the property,
indicated that a total extent of property measuring
62'X72' had been purchased, whereas, the suit schedule
indicated that the suit schedule property was only
58'X30'. The trial court concluded that even though the
sale deed had been proved, the measurements indicated
in the plaint schedule were completely different and no
independent witnesses had been examined to prove his
possession over the suit schedule property.
11. Being aggrieved, the plaintiff preferred an appeal.
The appellate court also concluded that if the extent of
both pieces of land purchased under registered sale
deeds at Exs.P-9 and 10 were combined, it would
amount to purchasing the land totally measuring
62'X72', but the suit property was only land measuring
58'X30'. The appellate court took the view that the
measurements put forth by the plaintiff did not tally and
therefore, the trial court was justified in dismissing the
suit.
12. Being aggrieved by these concurrent findings, the
present second appeal has been preferred.
13. This Court admitted the appeal to consider the
following substantial questions of law:
"1) Whether the courts below have erroneously understood the extent of the property mentioned in documents Ex.P.9 and Ex.P.10 while considering the size of the same in relation to the extent mentioned in Ex.P.1 and in that circumstance as to whether courts below have erred in dismissing the suit of the plaintiff?
2) Whether the courts below have committed an error and whether there is perversity in the manner of appreciation of the evidence in coming to the conclusion that the defendants have established their right over the suit property under Ex.D.1 to Ex.D.2?"
14. The fact that the plaintiff purchased the suit
schedule property under the registered sale deed was
not in serious dispute. In order to prove the title of the
plaintiff, two sale deeds of the plaintiff's vendor's
husband were produced i.e., the sale deeds dated
10.11.1965 and 11.11.1965 (Exs.P-10 and 9
respectively). Ex.P-10 indicated that an extent of 0.01
gunta in Sy.No.139/2F was purchased. The relevant
portion of the sale deed Ex.P-10 reads as follows:
"¸À£ï ¸Á«gÀzÀ MA¨sÉÊ£ÀÆgÀ CgÀªv À öÉÛ ÊzÀ£ÃÉ E¸À« £ÀªA É §gï ªÀiÁºÉ vÁjÃRÄ ºÀvÀÛg° À è UËjézÀ£ÀÆgÀÄ mË£ï£À°g è ÀĪÀ AiÀÄ®ºÀAPÀz À À ¥Á¼ÀåzÀ ªÀÄĤ±ÁªÀÄ¥À࣪ À g À À ªÀÄUÀ jmÉÊgïØ CVæP¯ À ïZÀgï JPÀìm£ É ïë£ï D¦üøÀgï gÀAUÀ¥£ Àà ª À j À UÉ EzÉà UËjézÀ£ÀÆgÀÄ mË£ï PÀgPÉ ¯ À ïºÀ½î ¨ÁæAZï mË£ï £À°g è ÀĪÀ ªÀÄĸÀ¯ïä£ï zÀ¸V ÀÛ j ¸ÁºÉçgÀ ªÀÄUÀ C§ÄÝ¯ï ºÀ«ÄÃzï ¸ÁºÉÃ¨ï §gɹPÉÆlÖ d«ÄãÀÄ PÀæAiÀÄ ¥ÀvÀæ. £Á£ÀÄ ¸Á«gÀzÀ MA¨sÉÊ£ÀÆgÀ CgÀªv À ÉÆA Û §vÀ£ Û ÃÉ E¹é r¸ÉA§gï vÁjÃRÄ E¥Àv à ÉÛgq À g À ® À Äè UËjézÀ£ÀÆgÀÄ vÁ®ÆèPÀÄ ¸À¨ï gÉf¸ÁÖçgïgÀªg À À D¯ï RAzÀ£A É iÀÄ JAlÄ£ÀÆgÀ LªÀvÁÛªÀÄÆgÀ£É ªÁ®ÆåA ªÀÄÆªÀvÉÆÛA§vÀÄÛ £À®ªÀv£ ÀÛ É ¥ÀÄlUÀ¼° À è JgÀqÀÄ ¸Á«gÀzÀ ªÀÄÆgÀÄ£ÀÆgÀ ºÀ¢£ÉÊzÀ£É £ÀA§jUÉ jf¸ÀÖçgï CVgÀĪÀ PÀæAiÀÄ ¥ÀvÀæzÀ ªÀÄÆ®PÀ £Á£ÀÄ EzÉÃ
UËjézÀ£ÀÆgÀÄ mË£ï£À°ègÀĪÀ ºÁ®Ä ªÀÄvÀ UÀAUÀ¥¤ Àà AzÀ PÀæAiÀÄPÉÌ ¥Àqz É ÀÄ £À£Àß ¸Áé¢Ãü £Á£ÀĨsª À z À ° À ègÀĪÀ EzÉà UËjézÀ£ÀÆgÀÄ vÁ®ÆèPÀÄ PÀ¸À¨Á ºÉÆÃ§½ PÀgÉPÀ¯ï ºÀ½î UÁæªÀÄzÀ ¸ÀªÉð MAzÀÄ £ÀÆgÀ ªÀÄÆªÀvÀÆAÛ ¨sÀv£ ÀÛ É ¸À¨ï JgÀqÀ£É J¥sï JgÀqÀÄ JPÀgÉ ºÀ¢£Á®ÄÌ UÀÄAmÉUÉ DPÁgÀ ªÀÄÆgÀÄ gÀÆ¥Á¬Ä G¼Àî d«ÄãÀÄ ¥ÉÊQ ¥ÀƪÀð ¥À²ÑªÀÄ £À®ªÀvÀÄÛ Cr, GvÀgÛ À zÀQët £À®ªÀvÉÛgÀqÀÄ Cr ªÀżÀî eÁUÀPÉÌ ZÀPÀÄÌ §A¢, ¥ÀƪÀðPÉÌ ªÀÄzsÀÄVj gÀ¸ÉÛ, ¥À²ÑªÀÄPÉÌ £ÀAd¥Àà£À ªÀÄUÀ UÀAUÀ¥Àà£À d«ÄãÀÄ, GvÀgÛ ÀPÉÌ UÀAUÁzsÀgÁZÁj ªÀÄUÀ¼ÁzÀ PÀªÀÄ®ªÀÄä¼À d«ÄãÀÄ, zÀQëtPÉÌ N§¼À¥Àà£À ªÀÄUÀ¼ÁzÀ ¦gÀªÀÄä£À d«ÄãÀÄ, F ªÀÄzsÉå EgÀĪÀ d«ÄãÀ£ÀÄß F ¢£À ¤ªÀÄUÉ U˪ÀgÉäÃAmï LzÀÄ£ÀÆgÀÄ gÀÆ¥Á¬ÄUÀ½UÉ ±ÀÄzÀÞ PÀæAiÀÄ ªÀiÁr PÀæAiÀÄzÀ ªÉƧ®UÀÄ ¥ÀÆgÀ UËjézÀ£ÀÆgÀÄ ¸À¨ï gÉf¸ÁÖçgïgÀªg À À gÉÃSï £ÀUz À ÁV vÉUz É ÀÄPÉÆArgÀÄvÉÛÃ£É ªÀÄvÀÄÛ ¸Àzj À ¸ÀévÀÛ£ÀÄß F ¢£ÀªÃÉ ¤ªÀÄä ¸Áé¢Ãü £À¥q À ɹgÀÄvÉÃÛ £É.
PÀæAiÀÄPÉÌ PÉÆnÖgÀĪÀ d«ÄãÀÄ ¥ÉÊQÌ GvÀgÛ ÀzÀ PÀqÉ gÉÆÃrUÁV JAlÄ Cr, zÀQëtzÀ PÀqÉ zÁjUÁV £Á®ÄÌ Cr ©lÄÖ, ¥ÀƪÀð - ¥À²ÑªÀÄ £À®ªÀvÀÄÛ Cr, GvÀgÛ À - zÀQët ªÀÄÆªÀvÀÄÛ Cr eÁUÀz° À è ªÀiÁvÀæ ªÀÄ£É PÀnÖPÉÆ¼ÀîvÀPÀÌzÀÄÝ. E£ÀÄß ªÀÄÄAzÉ EzÀg° À è zÀÉÆgÉAiÀħºÀÄzÁzÀ d®, vÀgÀÄ, ¥ÁµÀt¢ ¤¢ü CµÀÖ ¨sÉÆÃUÀ vÉÃd ¸ÁéªÀÄåAUÀ½UÀÄ PÀæAiÀÄ zÁ£À¢ ªÀåªÀºÁgÀ dvÀĵÀÖAiÀÄPÀÆÌ ¤ÃªÉà ¨ÁzsÀågÁV C£ÀĨs« À ¸ÀvPÀ ÀÌzÀÄ. F £ÀA§j£À C¼ÀvÉ ªÉÄîÌAqÀ UÀAUÀ¥Àà£ÀÄ ¥Àq¢ É gÀĪÀ JgÀqÀÄ ¸Á«gÀzÀ ªÀÄÆgÀÄ£ÀÆgÀ ºÀ¢£ÉÊzÀ£É PÀæAiÀÄ ¥ÀvÀæzÀ DzsÁgÀzÀ ªÉÄÃ¯É PÉÆnÖgÀÄvÉÛãÉÃ. ªÉÄîÌAqÀ F ¸ÀéwÛUÉ
¸ÀA§Azs¥ À ÀlÖ PÀæAiÀÄ ¥ÀvÀæ zÁR¯ÉUÁV PÉÆnÖgÀÄvÉÃÛ ªÉ JA§ÄzÁV £À£Àß RÄzÀÄÝ gÁf¬ÄAzÀ §gɹPÉÆlÖ d«ÄãÀÄ PÀæAiÀÄ ¥Àvæ.À "
(emphasis supplied)
15. The sale deed dated 11.11.1965 which is produced
as Ex.P-9 was in relation to a piece of property
measuring 22'X30' situated in Sy.No.139/2A. The
relevant portion of the sale deed Ex.P-9 reads as follows:
"¸À£ï ¸Á«gÀzÀ MA¨sÉÊ£ÀÆgÀ CgÀªv À öÉÛ ÊzÀ£ÃÉ E¸À« £ÀªA É §gï ªÀiÁºÉ vÁjÃRÄ ºÀ£ÉÆßAzÀg° À è UËjézÀ£ÀÆgÀÄ mË£ï£À°g è ÀĪÀ AiÀÄ®ºÀAPÀz À À ¥Á¼ÀåzÀ ªÀÄĤ±ÁªÀÄ¥À࣪ À g À À ªÀÄUÀ jmÉÊgïØ CVæP¯ À ïZÀgï JPÀìm£ É ïë£ï D¦üøÀgï gÀAUÀ¥£ Àà ª À j À UÉ EzÉà UËjézÀ£ÀÆgÀÄ mË£ï £À°ègÀĪÀ ºÁ®Ä ªÀÄvÀzÀ fgÁ¬ÄÛ PÀ¸ÀÄ©£À £ÀAd¥Àà£À ªÀÄUÀ ¸ÀĪÀiÁgÀÄ ªÀÄÆªÀvÉÛüÀÄ ªÀµð À zÀ UÀAUÀ¥Àà §gɹPÉÆlÖ d«ÄãÀÄ PÀæAiÀÄ ¥ÀvÀæ. £Á£ÀÄ ¸Á«gÀzÀ MA¨sÊÉ £ÀÆgÀ LªÀvÃÉÛ Al£É E¹é DUÀµÀÄÖ ªÀiÁºÉ vÁjÃRÄ E¥ÀàvÉÆA Û zÀg® À Äè EzÉà UËjézÀ£ÀÆgÀÄ mË£ï£À G¥ÀàgÀ £ÀAdÄAqÀ¥àÀ ªÀUÉÊgÉÃgÀªÀjAzÀ PÀæAiÀÄPÉÌ ¥Àqz É ÀÄ £À£Àß ¸Áé¢Ãü £Á£ÀĨsª À z À À°g è ÀĪÀ EzÉà UËjézÀ£ÀÆgÀÄ vÁ®ÆèPÀÄ PÀ¸À¨Á ºÉÆÃ§½ PÀgÉPÀ¯ï ºÀ½î UÁæªÀÄzÀ ¸ÀªÉð MAzÀÄ £ÀÆgÀ ªÀÄÆªÀvÆ À AÛ §vÀ£ Û É ¸À¨ï JgÀqÀ£É RÄ¶Ì JgÀqÀÄ JPÀgÉ ºÀ¢£Á®ÄÌ UÀÄAmÉUÉ DPÁgÀ ªÀÄÆgÀÄ gÀÆ¥Á¬Ä G¼Àî d«ÄãÀÄ ¥ÉÊQ £À£ÀUÉ PÀæAiÀĪÁVgÀĪÀ MAzÀÄ JPÀgÉ ºÀ¢£ÉAlÄ UÀÄAmÉ d«ÄãÀÄ
¥ÉÊQ F ªÉÆzÀ¯Éà £Á£ÀÄ EvÀgÉAiÀĪÀjUÉ PÀæAiÀÄ ªÀiÁrgÀĪÀÅzÀÄ eÁvÁ. ¤ªÀÄUÉ F ¢£À PÉÆnÖgÀĪÀ ¥ÀƪÀð ¥À²ÑªÀÄ E¥ÀàvgÉÛ ÀqÀÄ Cr, GvÀgÛ À zÀQët ªÀÄÆªÀvÀÄÛ Cr G¼Àî d«ÄäUÉ ZÀPÀÄÌ §A¢ ¥ÀƪÀðPÉÌ ¤ÃªÀÅ ¤£Éß C§ÄÝ¯ï ºÀ«ÄÃzï ¸ÁºÉçjAzÀ PÀæAiÀÄPÉÌ ¥ÀqÉ¢gÀĪÀ d«ÄãÀÄ, ¥À²ÑªÀÄPÉÌ £Á£ÀÄ G½¹PÉÆArgÀĪÀ d«ÄãÀÄ GvÀgÛ ÀPÉÌ UÀAUÁzsÀgÁZÁj ªÀÄUÀ¼ÁzÀ PÀªÀÄ®ªÀÄä£À d«ÄãÀÄ, zÀQëtPÉÌ N§¼À¥Àà£À ªÀÄUÀ¼ÁzÀ ¦gÀªÀÄä£À d«ÄãÀÄ, F ªÀÄzsÉå EgÀĪÀ d«ÄãÀ£ÀÄß F ¢£À ¤ªÀÄUÉ U˪ÀgÉäÃAmï £Á®ÄÌ£Æ À gÀÄ gÀÆ¥Á¬ÄUÀ½UÉ ±ÀÄzÀÞ PÀæAiÀÄ ªÀiÁr PÀæAiÀÄzÀ ªÉƧ®UÀÄ ¥ÀÆgÀ ¤«ÄäAzÀ ¸ÉÃj ¸À¨ï jf¸ÁÖçgï gÀªg À À gÉÃSï £ÀUz À ÁV vÉUz É ÀÄ PÉÆArgÀÄvÉÃÛ £É ªÀÄvÀÄÛ ¸Àzj À ¸ÀévÀÛ£ÀÄß F ¢£ÀªÃÉ ¤ªÀÄä ¸Áé¢Ãü £À ¥Àr¹jvÉÛêÉ. E£ÀÄß ªÀÄÄAzÉ EzÀg° À è zÀÉÆgÉAiÀħºÀÄzÁzÀ d®, vÀgÀÄ, ¥ÁµÁuÁ¢ü, ¤¢ü, ¤PÉÃ¥ ó ,À CµÀÖ ¨sÉÆÃUÀ vÉÃd ¸ÁéªÀÄåAUÀ½UÀÄ PÀæAiÀÄ zÁ£À¢ ªÀåªÀºÁgÀ dvÀĵÀÖAiÀÄPÀÆÌ ¤ÃªÉà ¨ÁzsÀågÁV C£ÀĨs« À ¹PÉÆAqÀÄ §gÀĪÀÅzÀÄ JAzÀÄ £À£Àß RÄzÀÄÝ ªÀģɯÃgÁf¬ÄAzÀ §gɹPÉÆlÖ d«ÄãÀÄ PÀæAiÀÄ ¥ÀvÀæ."
(emphasis supplied)
16. As could be seen from the above deeds, Exs.P-9
and 10, both the properties were situated abutting each
other. In Ex.P-9, the eastern boundary is shown as
property which the plaintiff had purchased from Abdul
Hamid. In Ex.P-10, which was dated 10.11.1965, the
western property is shown as Gangappa's land.
Admittedly, Gangappa was the vendor of Rangappa i.e.,
the plaintiff's vendor's husband.
17. The schedule to Ex.P-10 also indicates that on the
northern side, an extent of 8 feet has been set apart for
road and on the southern side, an extent of 4 feet had
been set aside for the purpose of a lane. In fact, Ex.P-10
indicates that the total extent is 40'X42'. If 8 feet that is
mentioned in the sale deed on the northern side towards
the road and 4 feet towards the lane on the southern
side are excluded, the total length of the property would
stand reduced to 30 feet [i.e., 42'-(8'+4')=30'].
18. In other words, the plot measuring 40'X30' was
purchased under Ex.P-10 and this was immediately
followed by the purchase of another plot lying to the
west of this plot measuring 22'X30'. Thus, if the width of
both the properties are measured together, it would
amount to a property measuring 62'X30'.
19. The plaintiff purchased this property under Ex.P-1.
In Ex.P-1 the extent mentioned is 30'X62'. The schedule
to the sale deed indicates that to the east of this
property was Madhugiri road; towards the west was the
remaining land of the vendor; to the north of this
property, it has been shown that the road was existing
and towards the south, the property of Gouramma is
shown.
20. A comparison of the schedule of Ex.P-1 i.e., the
sale deed of the plaintiff and the sale deeds of the
plaintiff's vendor's husband i.e., Exs.P-9 and 10 would
indicate that the property abutting Madhugiri road to the
extent of 62'X30' had been purchased by the plaintiff.
This purchase is also acknowledged by the municipal
authorities by registering the Khata in favour of the
plaintiff and before that by registering the Khata in
favour of Rangappa--the plaintiff's vendor's husband and
after his death in the name of the plaintiff's vendor.
21. The plaintiff after purchasing the property had also
obtained the permission from the revenue authorities for
using the said land for non-agricultural purposes and
that has been evidenced by Ex.P-7. In this Conversion
Certificate also the property has been indicated as a
property measuring 22'X30' and 0.01 gunta and that is
as per the sale deed at Ex.P-1. These facts clearly
establish that the plaintiff had acquired title over the suit
schedule property.
22. As against this documentary evidence, the
defendants, initially, pleaded in the written statement
that the property had been purchased by Ashwathaiah,
but throughout, the defendants were in possession of the
property measuring 35'X30'. In other words, in the
pleadings it was not the case of the defendants that the
defendants had purchased the suit schedule property.
They also did not set up any title under any specific
instrument. In fact, they set up a plea of adverse
possession against the true owners.
23. However, during the course of their evidence, the
defendants put forth the plea that they had purchased a
property measuring 35'X30' under a registered sale deed
dated 28.06.1993. They contended that a piece of
property measuring 30'X35' had been sold by
K.V.Ashwathaiah Shetty in favour of one Thippaiah S/o.
Narasimhaiah. They claimed that this Thippaiah was
none other than their own son.
24. However, Ex.D-1, the sale deed indicates that
Thippaiah who had purchased the property was the son
of Narasimhaiah, whereas the defendant No.1 is
admittedly the son of Anjanappa. In the light of this
indisputable fact, the contention of the defendants that
their son had purchased plot measuring 30'X35' cannot
be accepted since Thippaiah, as described in Ex.D-1/sale
deed, is stated to be one Thippaiah S/o. Narasimhaiah.
25. In view of the fact that the defendants did not
establish their title in a manner known to law and
further, having regard to the plea of adverse possession
taken up, it is obvious that the defendants did not have
any title over the suit schedule property at all.
26. It is also pertinent to state here that the defendant
No.1 during the course of his cross-examination stated
as follows:
" ... £Á£ÀÄ FUÀ ºÉüÀĪÀ ¥ÀæPÁgÀ 35 Cr ¥ÀÆ-¥À eÁUÀ £À£U À É ¸ÉÃjzÀÄÝ EgÀÄvÀz Û .É CzÀgÀ ªÀÄÄA¢gÀĪÀ RÄ®è eÁUÉAiÀÄÄ £À£U À É ¸ÉÃjgÀĪÀÅ¢®è. FUÀ ªÀÄvÉÛ ºÉüÀÄvÉÃÛ £É. ¥ÀƪÀð ¢QÌUÉ EgÀĪÀ 15 Cr eÁUÀ £À£ÀßzÀÄ EgÀÄvÀz Û .É £Á£ÀÄ £À£Àß UÀÄr¸À®£ÀÄß ¥ÀÆ- ¥À:20 CrUÀ¼ÀµÀÄÖ PÀnÖgÀÄvÉÛãÉ. EzÀgÀ ªÀÄÄAzÉ EgÀvPÀ ÀÌAvÀºÀ 15 CrUÀ¼À eÁUÀ £À£U À É ¸ÉÃjgÀÄvÀz Û .É £À£Àß 35 CrUÀ¼µ À ÄÀ Ö ¥ÀƪÀð ¢QÌUÉ eÁUÉAiÀÄ £ÀAvÀgÀ gÀAUÀ¥Àà£À d«ÄãÀÄ §gÀÄvÀz Û .É D d«ÄãÀÄ JµÀÄÖ EgÀÄvÀÛzÉ JAzÀÄ UÉÆwÛ®è. CzÀÄ ªÉÆzÀ®Ä ¸Àªð É £ÀA§gï EvÀÄÛ FUÀ CzÀ£ÀÄß ªÁ¢ J£ï.J. ªÀiÁr¹gÀ§ºÀÄzÀÄ. CzÀgÀ «¹ÛÃtð £À£U À É UÉÆwÛgÀĪÀÅ¢®è. F zÁªÉAiÀÄ£ÀÄß ºÁQzÀ £ÀAvÀgÀ D eÁUÉAiÀÄ£ÀÄß C¼ÀvÉ ªÀiÁrgÀĪÀÅ¢®è. ¸Àzj À eÁUÉAiÀÄÄ CAzÁf£À ¥ÀæPÁgÀ ¥ÀÆ-¥À 60 CrUÀ¼ÀÄ, G-zÀ 30 CrUÀ¼ÀÄ EgÀ§ºÀÄzÀÄ. CPÀgÀ ZÉPÀÄ̧A¢ ºÉüÀ®Ä §gÀĪÀÅ¢®è. ..."
27. As could be seen from the said deposition, the
defendant No.1 categorically stated that the property of
Rangappa was situated next to the property of the
defendants, which measures 35 feet. This admission
itself clearly indicated that the property being claimed by
the defendant No.1 was different than the property
claimed by the plaintiff.
28. It may also be pertinent to state here that
Rangappa referred to by the defendant No.1 is none
other than the husband of the plaintiff's vendor. It is
therefore clear that the defendant No.1 admitted that
the plaintiff's vendor's husband did own the property
beyond the extent of 35' of the property of defendant
No.1.
29. The defendant No.1 had also stated as follows:
" ..... JA.gÀAUÀ¥Àà EªÀgÀ ªÀÄgÀtzÀ £ÀAvÀgÀ DvÀ¤UÉ ¸ÀA§AzÀ¥ÀlÖAvÀºÀ d«Ä£ÀÄUÀ¼° À è £Á£ÀÄ ¸Áé¢Ãü £ÀvÉ ºÉÆA¢gÀĪÀÅ¢®è ªÀÄvÀÄÛ £À£U À É CzÀgÀ°è AiÀiÁªÀÅzÉà C¢üPÁgÀªÀÇ ¸ÀºÀ EgÀĪÀÅ¢®è. 1991gÀ°è ¸Àzj À d«ÄãÀ£ÀÄß ªÁ¢AiÀÄÄ Rjâ ªÀiÁrzÀ £ÀAvÀgÀ 1993gÀ°è ªÁ¢AiÀÄÄ ªÀÄ£ÉAiÀÄ£ÀÄß PÀlÄÖªÀ ¸À®ÄªÁV ¸Àzj À d«ÄãÀÄUÀ¼À°è ªÁ¢AiÀÄÄ vÀº¹ À ïÁÝgï
UËjézÀ£ÀÆjUÉ J£ï.J. ªÀiÁr¸À®Ä CfðAiÀÄ£ÀÄß ºÁQ ªÀiÁr¹PÉÆArgÀÄvÁÛgÉ JAzÀgÉ ¸ÁQëAiÀÄÄ ªÀiÁr¹PÉÆArgÀ§ºÀÄzÀÄ J£ÀÄßvÁÛg.É F ¸ÀªÀÄAiÀÄzÀ°è £Á£ÀÄ vÀPg À ÁgÀ£ÀÄß ¸À°¹ è ¢ÝgÁ JAzÀÄ PÉüÀĪÀ ¥Àæ±ÉßUÉ ¸ÁQëAiÀÄÄ £À£U À É ªÁ¢AiÀÄÄ D §UÉÎ w½¹gÀĪÀÅ¢®è JAzÀÄ £ÀÄrAiÀÄÄvÁÛg.É £Á£ÀÄ ¨ÁdÆzÁgÀ£V À zÀÝjAzÀ ªÁ¢AiÀÄÄ J£ï.J. ªÀiÁr¸ÀĪÀ ¸ÀªÀÄAiÀÄzÀ°è £À£U À É w½¸À¨ÃÉ PÁVvÀÄÛ DzÀgÉ £À£U À É w½¹gÀĪÀÅ¢®è. ....."
30. A reading of the said deposition would also go to
show that the defendant No.1 admitted that he was a
neighbour and this implies that the property claimed by
him and the property claimed by the plaintiff were
completely different and distinct. This being the factual
situation, the trial court has committed a serious error in
coming to the conclusion that the total extent of the
property purchased under Exs.P-9 and 10 was 61'X72'.
31. The affirmation of this finding by the appellate
court would also be, therefore, incorrect. As stated
above having regard to the description of the properties
in the schedules in Exs.P-9 & 10, and Ex.P-1, the two
properties which were abutting each other, which totally
measured approximately 60'X30' were purchased. The
manner in which the trial court as well as the appellate
court have come to the conclusion that the property
measured 61'X72' is fundamentally incorrect and the
judgments that had been passed on the basis of the said
reasoning cannot therefore be sustained.
32. Thus, the substantial questions of law framed by
this Court above are answered in the affirmative and in
favour of the appellant.
33. As a consequence, the impugned judgments and
decrees of both the Courts are set aside and the suit of
the plaintiff is decreed.
34. The second appeal is accordingly allowed.
Sd/-
JUDGE
RK CT:SN
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