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Sri M Tejkumar vs Sri H M Shashidhara
2023 Latest Caselaw 7043 Kant

Citation : 2023 Latest Caselaw 7043 Kant
Judgement Date : 6 October, 2023

Karnataka High Court
Sri M Tejkumar vs Sri H M Shashidhara on 6 October, 2023
Bench: H.P.Sandesh
                                              -1-
                                                            NC: 2023:KHC:36732
                                                       RSA No. 1291 of 2017
                                                     C/W MSA No. 41 of 2017



                     IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

                           DATED THIS THE 6TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2023

                                            BEFORE
                             THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE H.P.SANDESH
                        REGULAR SECOND APPEAL NO. 1291 OF 2017 (PAR)
                                           C/W
                         MISCELLANEOUS SECOND APPEAL NO. 41 OF 2017

                   IN R.S.A. NO.1291/2017:

                   BETWEEN:

                   1.     SRI M. TEJKUMAR
                          AGED ABOUT 63 YEARS,
                          S/O LATE SRI G.H. MARIYAPPA,
                          R/AT HUDIKERE VILLAGE AND POST,
                          TARIKERE TALUK,
                          CHICKMAGALUR DISTRICT-577228.          ... APPELLANT

                              (BY SRI C. SHANKAR REDDY, ADVOCATE)
                   AND:

                   1.     SMT. M. THRILAKSHI
                          AGED ABOUT 66 YEARS,
Digitally signed
by SHARANYA T             W/O LATE SRI CHANNABASAPPA,
Location: HIGH
COURT OF           2.     SMT. H.M. SUMITHRA
KARNATAKA                 AGED ABOUT 60 YEARS,
                          W/O SRI H.K. BASAVARAJA,

                          THE RESPONDENTS NO.1 AND 2 ARE
                          RESIDING AT D.NO.263, 9TH CROSS
                          SRIRAMPURA 2ND STAGE
                          MYSORE-570 023.

                   3.     SMT. H.M. BHUVANESHWARI
                          AGED ABOUT 56 YEARS,
                          W/O SRI RUSHIKUMAR,
                          R/AT DHORANALU VILLAGE
                            -2-
                                         NC: 2023:KHC:36732
                                       RSA No. 1291 of 2017
                                     C/W MSA No. 41 of 2017



      AND POST, TARIKERE TALUK,
      CHICKMAGALUR DISTRICT-577228.

4.    SRI H.M. SHASHIDHARA
      AGED ABOUT 54 YEARS,
      S/O LATE SRI G.H. MARIYAPPA,
      R/AT D.NO.1548,
      1ST FLOOR, 14TH CROSS,
      1ST STAGE, SRIRAMPURA,
      MYSORE-570023

5.    SRI H.M. KUMARASWAMY
      AGED ABOUT 51 YEARS,
      S/O LATE SRI G.H.MARIYAPPA,
      R/AT NO.274, 14TH CROSS,
      LIC COLONY, SRIRAMPURA,
      2ND STAGE,
      MYSORE-570023.

6.    SRI MURUGENDRAPPA
      AGED ABOUT 67 YEARS,
      S/O LATE SRI BASAPPA GOWDA,

7.    SRI M. PRADEEP
      AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS,
      S/O LATE SRI BASAPPA GOWDA

8.    SRI M. PRASHANTH
      AGED ABOUT 32 YEARS,
      S/O SRI MURUGENDRAPPA,
      THE RESPONDENTS
      NO.6 TO 8 ARE
      RESIDING AT D.NO.69,
      VENKATAMMA MSR COLONY,
      6TH MAIN, MATHIKERE,
      BENGALURU-560 054.               ... RESPONDENTS

      (BY SRI H.B.RUDRESH, ADVOCATE FOR C/R1 AND R2;
           SRI KALYAN R., ADVOCATE FOR R4 AND R5;
                R6 TO R8 ARE DISPENSED WITH,
                VIDE ORDER DATED 17.02.2023;
     R3 HELD SUFFICIENT, VIDE ORDER DATED 17.02.2023)
                             -3-
                                         NC: 2023:KHC:36732
                                       RSA No. 1291 of 2017
                                     C/W MSA No. 41 of 2017



      THIS R.S.A. IS FILED UNDER SECTION 100 R/W ORDER
XLII RULES 1 OF CPC, AGAINST THE JUDGEMENT DECREE
DATED 05.04.2017 PASSED IN R.A.NO.87/2014 ON THE FILE
OF THE PRINCIPAL DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE.,
CHIKKAMAGALURU, ALLOWING THE APPEAL AND SETTING
ASIDE THE JUDGMENT AND DECREE DATED 27.08.2014
PASSED IN O.S.NO.24/2011 ON THE FILE OF THE SENIOR
CIVIL JUDGE AND PRINCIPAL JMFC., TARIKERE.

IN M.S.A. NO.41/2017:

BETWEEN:

1.     SRI M. TEJKUMAR
       AGD BOUT 63 YEARS
       S/O LATE SRI G.H.MARIYAPPA
       R/AT HUDIKERE VILLAGE AND POST
       TARIKERE TLAUK
       CHICKMAGALUR DISTRICT-577 228.         ... APPELLANT

           (BY SRI C. SHANKAR REDDY, ADVOCATE)
AND:

1.     SRI H.M. SHASHIDHARA
       AGED ABOUT 54 YEARS
       S/O LATE SRI G.H. MARIYAPPA
       R/AT D.NO.1548, 1ST FLOOR
       14TH CORSS, 1ST STAGE
       SRIRAMPURA
       MYSORE-570 023.

2.     SRI H.M. KUMARASWAMY
       AGED ABOUT 51 YEARS
       S/O LATE SRI G.H. MARIYAPPA
       R/AT NO.274,
       14TH CROSS, LIC COLONY,
       SRIRAMPURA 2ND STAGE
       MYSORE-570023

3.     SMT. M. THRILAKSHI
       AGEDA BOUT 66 YEARS
       W/O LATE SRI CHANNABASAPPA
                          -4-
                                       NC: 2023:KHC:36732
                                    RSA No. 1291 of 2017
                                  C/W MSA No. 41 of 2017




4.   SMT. H.M. SUMITHRA
     AGED ABOUT 60 YEARS
     W/O LATE SRI H.K. BASAVARAJA

     THE RESPONDENTS NO.3 AND 4 ARE
     RESIDING AT D.NO.263, 9TH CROSS
     SRIRAMPURA 2ND STAGE
     MYSORE-570 023.

5.   SMT. M. BHUVANESHAWARI
     AGED ABOUT 56 YEARS
     W/O SRI RUSHIKUMAR
     R/AT DHORANALU VILLAGE AND POST
     TARIKERE TALUK
     CHICKMAGALUR DISTRCIT-577 228.

6.   SRI MURUGENDRAPPA
     AGED ABOUT 67 YEARS
     S/O LATE SRI BASAPPA GOWDA

7.   SRI M. PRADEEP
     AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS
     S/O SRI MURUGENDRAPPA

8.   SRI M. PRASHANTH
     AGED ABOUT 32 YEARS
     S/O SRI MURUGENDRAPPA

     THE RESPONDENTS NO.6 TO 8 ARE
     RESIDING AT D.NO.69
     VENKATAMMA MSR COLONY
     6TH MAIN, MATHIKERE
     BENGALURU-560 054.           ... RESPONDENTS

      (BY SRI KALYAN R., ADVOCATE FOR R1 AND R2;
      SRI H.B.RUDRESH, ADVOCATE FOR R3 AND R4;
       R5-SERVED; R6 TO R8 ARE DISPENSED WITH
             VIDE ORDER DATED 02.03.2018)
                               -5-
                                            NC: 2023:KHC:36732
                                         RSA No. 1291 of 2017
                                       C/W MSA No. 41 of 2017



     THIS M.S.A. IS FILED UNDER ORDER XLIII RULE (1) (U)
OF THE CPC, AGAINST THE JUDGMENT AND DECREE DATED
05.04.2017 PASSED IN R.A.NO.86/2014 ON THE FILE OF THE
PRL. DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, CHIKKAMAGALURU,
ALLOWING THE APPEAL AND SETTING ASIDE THE JUDGMENT
AND DECREE DATED 27.08.2014 PASSED IN O.S.NO.24/2011
ON THE FILE OF THE SENIOR CIVIL JUDGE AND PRL. JMFC,
TARIKERE. DISMISSING THE SUIT FOR PARTITION AND
SEPARATE POSSESSION AND THE MATTER IS REMANDED TO
THE TRIAL COURT.

    THESE APPEALS HAVING BEEN HEARD FOR ORDERS ON
ADMISSION ON 29.09.2023 THIS DAY, THE COURT
PRONOUNCED THE FOLLOWING:

                         JUDGMENT

Heard the learned counsel for the appellant and learned

counsel for the Caveator-respondent Nos.1 and 2 and learned

counsel for respondent Nos.4 and 5.

2. These regular second appeal and miscellaneous

second appeal are filed against the judgment and decree

passed in R.A.Nos.87/2014 and 86/2014 respectively for

setting aside the judgment of the Trial Court and remanding

the matter to the Trial Court to consider the same afresh, in

view of allowing the application filed under Order 41, Rule 27

read with Section 151 of C.P.C. in R.A.No.86/2014.

3. The appellant in R.S.A.No.1291/2017 and

M.S.A.No.41/2017 is the defendant No.1 in O.S.No.24/2011

NC: 2023:KHC:36732 RSA No. 1291 of 2017 C/W MSA No. 41 of 2017

and the respondent Nos.1 and 2 are the plaintiffs in

O.S.No.24/2011 i.e., the daughters of G.H. Mariyappa have

filed the suit for the relief of partition and separate possession

of their 1/7th share by metes and bounds claiming that they are

entitled for share in the suit schedule properties. It is

contended that the suit schedule properties are joint family

properties of plaintiffs and the defendants. The plaintiffs and

defendant Nos.1 to 4 and deceased Bharathi are children of

G.H. Mariyappa. The said G.H. Mariyappa died leaving

behind his wife and children and subsequently, the mother of

them also died and one Bharathi, who is the daughter of G.H.

Mariyappa also died leaving behind her husband and two

children, who are defendant Nos.5 to 7 and they are also made

as parties.

4. It is the contention of the plaintiffs that suit

schedule properties are in joint possession and enjoyment of

the plaintiffs and defendants as coparceners which originated

from original propositor Gurushanthappa and Kallavva. The

family originally consists of Gurushanthappa, Gangappa and

Gangadharappa and they got divided their properties.

Gurushanthappa was the kartha of their joint family and he had

NC: 2023:KHC:36732 RSA No. 1291 of 2017 C/W MSA No. 41 of 2017

one son by name G.H. Mariyappa. After the death of G.H.

Mariyappa, his wife Gowramma, the mother of the plaintiffs and

defendant Nos.1 to 4 and Bharathi succeeded to the joint family

properties as the legal heirs. The defendant Nos.3 and 4 are

settled in Mysuru. The defendant No.1 is looking after the joint

family properties as kartha. The defendant No.1 in the last 7 to

8 years is not distributing the profits of the joint family. There

is a misunderstanding between the plaintiffs and defendant

No.1. The other defendants are colluding with the defendant

No.1 supporting him blindly. The defendant No.1 stopped the

distribution of the profit of the joint family income among the

joint family members altogether and completely. When the

demand was made to partition the properties, the defendant

No.1 declined to allot the share. Hence, legal notice was issued

and notice issued against the defendant Nos.3 and 4 was

returned unserved with an endorsement that intimation is

delivered but, not received. But, the defendants have not

replied to their notice. The plaintiffs were constrained to

publish paper publication on 31.01.2011 in local news daily.

The defendant No.1 goes on making false promises and not

shown any inclination for effecting division in the family. The

NC: 2023:KHC:36732 RSA No. 1291 of 2017 C/W MSA No. 41 of 2017

defendant No.1 is making effort to alienate the suit schedule

properties. Hence, the plaintiffs, without any other alternative,

filed the suit for the relief of partition and separate possession.

5. In pursuance of the suit summons issued to the

defendants, the defendant Nos.2, 5 to 7 not appeared before

the Court and placed exparte and defendant Nos.1, 3 and 4

appeared through their advocates and filed the written

statement separately. The defendant No.1 in his written

statement contended that suit schedule properties were already

partitioned after the death of their mother Gowramma under

registered partition deed dated 30.01.2002 and hence, the

plaintiffs are not entitled for any share in the suit schedule

properties. The defendant No.1 also took the contention that

plaintiffs and defendant No.2 were married prior to 1985 and

hence, they are not entitled for any share in the suit schedule

properties. The defendant Nos.3 and 4 took the contention

that they are also entitled for 1/7th share each in suit schedule

properties and also contend that the registered partition deed

dated 30.01.2002 was executed only for the limited purpose of

raising loans and no partition was effected.

NC: 2023:KHC:36732 RSA No. 1291 of 2017 C/W MSA No. 41 of 2017

6. The Trial Court, having considered the pleadings of

the parties, framed appropriate issues and allowed the parties

to lead evidence. The plaintiff No.1 examined herself as P.W.1

and got marked the documents as Exs.P1 to P18. On the other

hand, the defendant No.1 examined himself as D.W.1 and

defendant No.4 examined himself as D.W.2 and got marked the

documents as Exs.D1 to D43.

7. The Trial Court having considered both oral and

documentary evidence placed on record, dismissed the suit and

also dismissed the counter claim made by the defendant Nos.3

and 4. Being aggrieved by the judgment and decree of the Trial

Court, the defendant Nos.3 and 4 have filed the appeal in

R.A.No.86/2014 and plaintiffs have filed the appeal in

R.A.No.87/2014 before the First Appellate Court. The First

Appellate Court, having considered the grounds urged in the

appeals and the application filed under Order 41, Rule 27 read

with Section 151 of C.P.C., formulated the point whether the

appellants in R.A.No.86/2014 have made out sufficient grounds

to produce additional evidence at appellate stage and also

formulated the point whether the Trial Court has committed an

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NC: 2023:KHC:36732 RSA No. 1291 of 2017 C/W MSA No. 41 of 2017

error of law and fact and interference by this Court in the

judgment and decree passed by the Trial Court is necessary.

8. The First Appellate Court, having reassessed the

material on record and also the application filed under Order

41, Rule 27 read with Section 151 of C.P.C. and the documents

which have been produced before the Court, considered both

the points together and comes to the conclusion that the Trial

Court has dismissed the claim of the plaintiffs with reference to

their share under Hindu Succession Act, 1956 in the share of

their father only on the ground that they have not challenged

the partition deed Ex.D4 and with reference to the plaintiffs,

Ex.D4 is not binding on them, as they are not parties to the

partition deed and the suit is filed within 12 years from the date

of partition deed. Hence, the Trial Court committed an error in

dismissing the suit in entirety and also considering the

application filed under Order 41, Rule 27 read with Section 151

of C.P.C. and in Para No.25 of the judgment, an observation is

made by the First Appellate Court that no relief is sought in

respect of Ex.D4 challenging the partition deed and defendant

Nos.3 and 4 have also not challenged the document of Ex.D4.

Hence, set aside the judgment of the Trial Court and allowed

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NC: 2023:KHC:36732 RSA No. 1291 of 2017 C/W MSA No. 41 of 2017

both the appeals and remanded the matter to the Trial Court

with a direction to receive the additional evidence sought to be

produced by the appellants in R.A.No.86/2014 and give

opportunity to both the sides to lead additional evidence, if any

and consider the present suit along with O.S.No.3/2014 which

was filed by the defendant Nos.3 and 4 questioning the very

document of Ex.D4-partition deed before the Trial Court. Being

aggrieved by setting aside the judgment of the Trial Court and

remanding the matter, these two appeals i.e., regular second

appeal and miscellaneous second appeal are filed before this

Court.

9. The main contention of the appellant-defendant

No.1 in the regular second appeal before this Court is that the

First Appellate Court has committed gross error in setting aside

the judgment and decree passed by the Trial Court and the

same reflects non-application of mind of the First Appellate

Court in allowing R.A.No.87/2014, as except Para Nos.23 and

24 of the judgment, the whole judgment speaks about allowing

the application filed by the respondent Nos.1 and 2 under Order

41, Rule 27 read with Section 151 of C.P.C. and ordering for

remanding the suit and nowhere, cogent reasons have been

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NC: 2023:KHC:36732 RSA No. 1291 of 2017 C/W MSA No. 41 of 2017

assigned as to what made the First Appellate Court to arrive at

such a conclusion.

10. It is also contended that the First Appellate Court

failed to note that the females were considered as coparceners

only from the date of the amendment of Section 6 of the Hindu

Succession Act, 2004 and to seek for an equal share and

coparcenaryship, father should be alive as on the date of the

amendment and in the present case, the father of the

respondent Nos.1 and 2 expired in the year 1998 itself and

even the partition deed was registered way back in the year

2002 itself. Hence, the very approach of the First Appellate

Court is erroneous and the First Appellate Court nowhere in the

whole body of its judgment has endeavored to render any

rational and level headed finding as to why the judgment of the

Trial Court needs to be reversed and no cogent reasons are

assigned. Hence, it requires interference of this Court to set

aside the judgment and decree passed in R.A.No.87/2014 and

the same requires to be set aside. The counsel also would

submit that this Court has to admit the appeal and frame

substantial question of law and in the absence of specific prayer

for declaration sought by the defendant Nos.1 and 2

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NC: 2023:KHC:36732 RSA No. 1291 of 2017 C/W MSA No. 41 of 2017

challenging the registered partition deed dated 30.01.2002, the

First Appellate Court has committed an error in setting aside

the judgment.

11. The main contention of the learned counsel for the

appellant-defendant No.1 in the miscellaneous second appeal

which was filed challenging the judgment and decree passed in

the appeal in R.A.No.86/2014 is that the First Appellate Court

committed an error in setting aside the judgment and decree

by allowing the application filed under Order 41, Rule 27 read

with Section 151 of C.P.C. and the documents sought to be

produced as additional evidence are not necessary for deciding

the case and those documents are only plaint, written

statement, issues and order sheet in O.S.No.3/2014 and the

production of documents clearly demonstrates the conduct of

the respondent Nos.1 and 2 and the First Appellate Court

without evaluating this aspect has blindly without application of

mind, erroneously allowed the application. The First Appellate

Court committed gross error in not noting that application for

leading additional evidence were filed by the parties, who are

defendant Nos.3 and 4 in the original suit and the documents

which have been sought to be produced as additional evidence

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NC: 2023:KHC:36732 RSA No. 1291 of 2017 C/W MSA No. 41 of 2017

are nothing but order sheet, plaint copy and written statement

in O.S.No.3/2014 and the First Appellate Court should have

been more cautious in allowing such an application. Hence, the

Trial Court rightly comes to the conclusion that the document of

Ex.D4 has not been challenged either by the plaintiffs or by the

defendant Nos.3 and 4 and not assigned sufficient reasons and

also not looked into very proviso of Order 41, Rule 27 read with

Section 151 of C.P.C. and even though there are no grounds to

allow the application filed under Order 41, Rule 27 read with

Section 151 of C.P.C., the First Appellate Court committed an

error in allowing the application and permitting the appellants

to produce additional documents before the Trial Court and

committed an error in remanding the matter to the Trial Court

to consider the suit afresh along with other suit in

O.S.No.3/2014. Hence, the very approach of the First

Appellate Court is erroneous.

12. Learned counsel appearing for the respondent

Nos.4 and 5 in both the appeals would vehemently contend

that the First Appellate Court rightly comes to the conclusion

that when the father namely, G.H. Mariyappa passed away

without executing any testamentary document and when the

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NC: 2023:KHC:36732 RSA No. 1291 of 2017 C/W MSA No. 41 of 2017

suit is filed for the relief of partition, the Trial Court ought to

have considered the claim of the plaintiffs and the same has

not been considered and the First Appellate Court, considered

the same and comes to the conclusion that since the properties

are ancestral joint family properties, rightly set aside the

judgment of the Trial Court and remanded the matter for fresh

consideration on account of additional documents which have

been placed before the First Appellate Court by the defendant

Nos.3 and 4 in other connected appeal.

13. It is the contention of the defendant Nos.3 and 4

that item Nos.6 to 8 of the suit schedule properties are their

self-acquired properties and the very approach of the Trial

Court is erroneous in dismissing the suit and also the counter

claim made by the defendant Nos.3 and 4. The learned counsel

for the defendant Nos.3 and 4 also vehemently contend that

the partition deed is executed only for borrowing loan and not

for partitioning the properties by metes and bounds and the

very observation of the Trial Court that suit is not filed

challenging the partition deed is erroneous when the suit was

also filed in O.S.No.3/2014 for the relief of declaration to

declare that the partition deed as null and void. It is also

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NC: 2023:KHC:36732 RSA No. 1291 of 2017 C/W MSA No. 41 of 2017

contended that the Trial Court ought to have considered both

the suits in O.S.Nos.24/2011 and 3/2014 and the same has not

been done and the judgment and decree in O.S.No.24/2011

was passed on 27.08.2014 without considering the fact that

already suit in O.S.No.3/204 was pending before the Court and

the very approach of the Trial Court is erroneous. Hence, the

First Appellate Court, taken note of the said fact into

consideration and the very contention of the learned counsel for

the appellant that the judgment and decree of the Trial Court is

set aside, in view of filing an application under Order 41, Rule

27 read with Section 151 of C.P.C. is not correct and in Para

No.22 of the judgment, the First Appellate Court comes to the

conclusion that the plaintiffs are also entitled for share in the

property of the father which was left by him without executing

any testamentary document and also considered the application

filed under Order 41, Rule 27 read with Section 151 of C.P.C.

14. It is also the contention of the learned counsel for

the defendant Nos.3 and 4 that the First Appellate Court taken

note of the fact that the documents sought to be produced by

way of additional evidence pertains to filing of suit in

O.S.No.3/2014, wherein specific relief is sought for a

- 17 -

NC: 2023:KHC:36732 RSA No. 1291 of 2017 C/W MSA No. 41 of 2017

declaration to declare that the partition deed dated 30.01.2002

as null and void but, the Trial Court dismissed the suit on the

ground that either the plaintiffs or the defendant Nos.3 and 4

have not challenged the partition deed. Hence, the very

approach of the Trial Court is erroneous and the First Appellate

Court rightly set aside the judgment by allowing

R.A.Nos.86/2014 and 87/2014 and remanded the matter to

consider the same afresh along with the suit in O.S.No.3/2014.

Hence, no grounds are made out to allow the appeals and set

aside the judgment and decree of the First Appellate Court.

Therefore, no interference of this Court is warranted to admit

the appeals and frame substantial question of law.

15. Having heard the learned counsel for the appellant

and learned counsels for the respondents and also considering

the material available on record, this Court has to consider the

reasoning given by the First Appellate Court in setting aside the

judgment and decree of the Trial Court and allowing both the

appeals and remanding the matter to the Trial Court for fresh

consideration. Having perused the material on record, it is the

case of the plaintiffs before the Trial Court that suit schedule

properties are ancestral joint family properties. It is also their

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NC: 2023:KHC:36732 RSA No. 1291 of 2017 C/W MSA No. 41 of 2017

claim that their father G.H. Mariyappa got share when partition

took place between the father of the plaintiffs and his brothers

and the properties are Hindu joint family properties. Hence,

they are entitled for share in the properties. Though the

defendant No.1 denied the relationship between the parties,

but, no dispute with regard to the fact that the plaintiffs are the

sisters of defendant No.1 and defendant No.2 is also sister of

the plaintiffs and defendant Nos.1, 3 and 4 and no dispute with

regard to the relationship between the parties and the same

was also considered by the Trial Court.

16. It has to be noted that the averments of the plaint

is very clear that the other sister by name Bharathi died leaving

behind her husband, the two children, who are defendant Nos.5

to 7, who are also made as parties. It is also important to note

that there is no dispute with regard to the that G.H. Mariyappa,

got the property in the partition among the brothers. It is also

not in dispute that said G.H. Mariyappa passed away in the

year 1998 leaving behind the plaintiffs, his wife and other

children and the wife also passed away subsequently. The

records also disclose that the plaintiffs got married prior to

1985 and the fact that the father is one of the coparcener died

- 19 -

NC: 2023:KHC:36732 RSA No. 1291 of 2017 C/W MSA No. 41 of 2017

intestate is not in dispute. However, the Trial Court committed

an error in not allotting share of the father to his legal heirs

and the same has been considered by the First Appellate Court

and in Para No.16 of the judgment of the Trial Court, the Trial

Court comes to the conclusion that partition took place on

30.01.2002 and the defendant Nos.3 and 4 have not challenged

the partition by filing the suit and the plaintiffs have not

challenged the partition deed dated 30.01.2002 and they have

instituted the suit for simple partition without seeking any

declaration and the very suit is not maintainable and this

reasoning is erroneous and the same is taken note of by the

First Appellate Court, while reversing the finding, particularly in

Para No.22 of the judgment, the First Appellate Court comes to

the conclusion that, on going through the judgment of the Trial

Court, it is clear that the Trial Court has dismissed the claim of

the plaintiffs with reference to their share under Hindu

Succession Act, 1956 in the share of their father only on the

ground that they have not challenged the partition deed Ex.D4

and with reference to the plaintiffs, Ex.D4 is not binding on

them, as they are not parties to the partition deed and the suit

is filed within 12 years from the date of partition deed. Hence,

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NC: 2023:KHC:36732 RSA No. 1291 of 2017 C/W MSA No. 41 of 2017

the Trial Court committed an error in dismissing the suit in

entirety and the reasoning of the First Appellate Court not

suffers from any infirmity.

17. It is also important to note that in the other appeal

in R.A.No.86/2014 filed by defendant Nos.3 and 4, they have

also filed an application under Order 41, Rule 27 read with

Section 151 of C.P.C. seeking permission of the Court to

produce additional evidence and the First Appellate Court taken

note of the scope of Order 41, Rule 27 read with Section 151 of

C.P.C. and considered the said application on three grounds

i.e., if the Trial Court rejected to receive the additional

evidence, which ought to have received it and if the parties

after exercise of due diligence it is not possible for them to

produce such evidence before the Trial Court or if the

documents or additional evidence are necessary for just

decision in the case. Under such circumstances, the Court can

receive those documents and also made an observation that, it

is the case of the appellants in R.A.No.86/2014 that the

proposed documents sought to be produced are essential

documents for just decision of the case and in Para No.26 of

the judgment, made an observation that on going through the

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NC: 2023:KHC:36732 RSA No. 1291 of 2017 C/W MSA No. 41 of 2017

judgment of the Trial Court, it is clear that the claim of the

plaintiffs i.e., their share in the property of their father was

rejected only on the ground that the relief of declaration

challenging Ex.D4 partition deed is not filed by defendant Nos.3

and 4 or the plaintiffs in the suit and the documents sought to

be produced are necessary for just decision in the case. Hence,

allowed the application.

18. It has to be noted that during the pendency of the

suit in O.S.No.3/2014, the suit in O.S.No.24/2011 was decided

though the defendant Nos.3 and 4 have already filed the suit

for the relief of declaration to declare that Ex.D4 partition deed

as null and void and in the suit in O.S.No.24/2011, they took

the specific contention that the said partition deed came into

existence only for the purpose of availing loan. The Trial Court

in O.S.No.24/2011 also framed additional issue whether the

defendant Nos.3 and 4 prove that registered partition deed

dated 30.01.2002 was executed for the limited purpose of

raising loans as alleged and when the other suit is filed to

declare the partition deed as null and void and the said suit is

also pending in O.S.No.3/2014 before the very same Court, the

Trial Court ought to have clubbed the same together and

- 22 -

NC: 2023:KHC:36732 RSA No. 1291 of 2017 C/W MSA No. 41 of 2017

decided the same, since the issue involved in O.S.No.24/2011

and also the allegations made in O.S.No.3/2014 also have

bearing on the issue involved between the parties and the fact

that O.S.No.3/2014 was also pending is not in dispute and

when the additional documents are produced, particularly plaint

stating that the suit is filed seeking the relief of declaration to

declare the document of Ex.D4-partition deed as null and void

and the very observation is also made by the Trial Court in Para

No.16 of the judgment.

19. I have already pointed out that the observation

made by the Trial Court that both the plaintiffs as well as the

defendant Nos.3 and 4 have not challenged the partition deed

at Ex.D4 is an error and when the issue involved between the

parties is with regard to the document of Ex.D4-partition deed

and also with regard to the share is concerned, the First

Appellate Court has not committed any error in setting aside

the judgment and decree by allowing both the appeals and the

very contention of the learned counsel for the appellant that

the First Appellate Court ought not to have set aside the

judgment in R.A.No.87/2014 merely because an application is

filed under Order 41, Rule 27 read with Section 151 of C.P.C.

- 23 -

NC: 2023:KHC:36732 RSA No. 1291 of 2017 C/W MSA No. 41 of 2017

cannot be accepted and while setting aside the judgment

passed in O.S.No.24/2011, in Para No.22 of the judgment, the

First Appellate Court rightly comes to the conclusion that the

Trial Court has committed an error in dismissing the suit of the

plaintiffs in entirety and ought to have considered the fact that

the legal heirs of father, who died intestate have right in the

suit schedule properties and not only considered the said

ground and also taken note of the application filed under Order

41, Rule 27 read with Section 151 of C.P.C. and those

documents are also necessary to decide the issue involved

between the parties and when the suit is also pending before

the Trial Court in O.S.No.3/2014 and the issue involved

between the parties are interconnected, the First Appellate

Court rightly remanded the matter to the Trial Court with a

direction to receive additional evidence sought to be produced

by the appellants in R.A.No.86/2014 directing the Trial Court to

give opportunity to both the parties to lead additional evidence,

if any and also specifically made it clear that the present suit in

O.S.No.24/2011 has to be considered along with the suit in

O.S.No.3/2014.

- 24 -

NC: 2023:KHC:36732 RSA No. 1291 of 2017 C/W MSA No. 41 of 2017

20. When such finding is given by the First Appellate

Court to give opportunity to all the parties to lead additional

evidence, if any to decide the issue involved between the

parties, I do not find any error committed by the First Appellate

Court in setting aside the judgment and decree of the Trial

Court and reasons are assigned by the First Appellate Court

while setting aside the judgment and decree of the Trial Court

by allowing R.A.Nos.87/2014 and 86/2014 in entertaining the

application filed for adducing additional evidence which are

necessary since, the Trial Court committed an error in coming

to the conclusion that the very partition deed at Ex.D4 was not

challenged either by the plaintiffs or by the defendants and

already suit was filed challenging the same in O.S.No.3/2014.

When such materials are available on record, the First Appellate

Court rightly comes to the conclusion that the judgment and

decree of the Trial Court requires to be set aside and matter

has to be considered afresh and rightly remanded the matter.

Hence, I do not find any error committed by the Trial Court in

setting aside the judgment and decree of the Trial Court and

remanding the matter and though the learned counsel for the

appellant raised some of the substantial question of law, the

- 25 -

NC: 2023:KHC:36732 RSA No. 1291 of 2017 C/W MSA No. 41 of 2017

same cannot be entertained and while setting aside the

judgment of the Trial Court, reasons are given by the First

Appellate Court. Hence, no grounds are made out to invoke

Section 100 of C.P.C. to admit the regular second appeal and

the miscellaneous second appeal and frame any substantial

question of law.

21. In view of the discussions made above, I pass the

following:

ORDER

The regular second appeal in R.S.A.No.1291/2017 and miscellaneous second appeal in M.S.A.No.41/2017 are dismissed.

Sd/-

JUDGE

ST

 
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