Madras High Court
Rajeswari vs Murugesan on 18 February, 2021
A.S.(MD)No.8 of 2007
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
DATED : 18.02.2021
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.SATHISH KUMAR
A.S.(MD)No.8 of 2007
Rajeswari ... Appellant
Vs.
1.Murugesan
2.Natarajan
3.A.M.S.Periyasamy
4.Anand
5.M/s.Balaji Chemicals (P) Ltd.
Pirattiyur Main Road, Trichy – 9.
6.Thangamani
7.Varadan ... Respondents
PRAYER: Appeal Suit filed under Section 96 of the Civil Procedure Code,
against the decree and judgment made in O.S.No.49 of 2004, dated 20.05.2005, on
the file of the Additional District Court (Fast Track Court No-II), Tiruchirapalli.
For Appellant : Mr.Raguvaran Gopalan
For Respondents : Ms.S.Vijayashanthi for R3
No Appearance for R4, R2, R5 to R7
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A.S.(MD)No.8 of 2007
JUDGMENT
Aggrieved over the dismissal of the suit filed for partition, the present
Appeal Suit is filed.
2.The parties are referred to as per their rank before the trial Court.
3.The brief facts, leading to the filing of this Appeal Suit are as follows:-
One Sangili Muthiriar had two wives viz., Ponnammal and Ayilambal.
The said Sangili Muthiiar died in the year 1964. The first wife of the said Sangili
Muthiriar viz., Ponnammal died in the year 1965, leaving behind her one son viz.,
Subramainan. The said Subramanian died on 20.12.1994, leaving behind his only
son Murugesan, first defendant herein. The second wife of the said Sangili
Muthiriar died on 03.01.1988, leaving behind the plaintiff herein. The plaintiff and
the first defendant alone are the legal heirs to succeed to the estate of the Sangili
Muthiriar.The said Sangili Muthiriar during his life time, had executed two
settlement deeds in favour of the first defendant herein and Ayilambal mother of
the plaintiff. The defendants 2 to 7 are alienees from the first defendant. As
regards the house property, a portion of the house was given to Ayilambal, enjoyed
by her during her life time. The remaining portion of the house belongs to both the
plaintiff and 1st defendant. Hence, the suit claiming half share in item 1 to 7.
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A.S.(MD)No.8 of 2007
4. Admitting the relationship, it is the contention of the first defendant in
the written statement that plaintiff has issued a legal notice on 30.04.1977 in
respect of item Nos.1 and 2, claiming 1/6th share. Now, the plaintiff has taken a
different stand that the suit properties mentioned in item Nos.1 and 2 were
originally belonged to Late Aravan Muthuraj and the property was acquired by
Sangili Muthuriar as an ancestral property. It is the contention of the first
defendant that the properties mentioned under item No.1 belonged to the first
defendant absolutely and item No.2 also purchased by the 1st defendant and it is
the further contention of the first defendant that in respect of the house property,
the same has not been enlarged as an absolute estate. It is the further contention of
the first defendant that he has perfected title by way of adverse possession. Hence,
prayed for dismissal of the suit.
5. The 5th defendant had claimed independent right in Survey No.118/2.
6. Based on the above pleadings, the trial Court framed the following
issues:
i) Whether the plaintiff has a share in the suit schedule
property?
ii) Whether the suit schedule property belongs to the
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A.S.(MD)No.8 of 2007
joint family of plaintiff and the first defendant?
iii) Whether the plaintiff is entitled for mesne profits of
Rs.12,000/- (Rupees Twelve Thousand only) as prayed for?
iv) Whether the plaintiff is entitled for future mesne
profits?
v) To what other reliefs, the plaintiff is entitled?
7. Before the trial Court, on the side of the plaintiff, two witnesses
were examined as P.W.1 and P.W.2 and Exs.A1 to A13 were marked. On the side
of the defendants, three witnesses were examined as P.W.1 to P.W.3 and Exs.B1 to
B39 were marked.
8. After considering the oral and documentary evidence, the trial Court
has dismissed the suit on the ground that the marriage between the plaintiff's
mother and Sangili Muthiriar has not been established. Besides the first defendant
also proved ouster and adverse possession in respect of item Nos.3 and 7.
Challenging the same, the present Appeal Suit is filed.
9. Though this Appeal Suit has been filed challenging the entire
judgment of the trial Court, it is the contention of the learned counsel appearing
for the appellant that now the appellant is restricting their appeal only in respect of
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A.S.(MD)No.8 of 2007
item Nos.3 and 7 and given up her rights in respect of other items. As far as item
No.3 is concerned, it is not disputed that it is an individual property of the Sangili
Muthiriar. The only contention of the first defendant that he has perfected title by
way of adverse possession. Mere paying the kist receipts in favour of the father,
who was the original owner of the property, such document cannot be used to
contend that the plaintiff is totally ousted from the property. The plea of ouster
has not been proved in the manner known to law. Mere non-possession of house
property by one of the co-owner will not become adverse to the co-owner, unless
hostile intention has been established or the other co-owners were totally excluded
from the property. Hence, it is his contention that the trial Court has not
appreciated the legal position in that aspect, properly. It is the further contention
of the appellant that as far as item No.7 is concerned, a small portion measuring 16
x 26 feet was given in lieu of maintenance to the mother of the plaintiff under
Ex.A3-Gift Deed. Therefore, it is the contention that once the document itself
clearly indicates that the mother of the plaintiff is all along treated as a wife and
she was given property to reside in lieu of maintenance by virtue of Section 14(1)
of the Hindu Succession Act, the limited estate got enlarged into an absolute
estate. Therefore, the plaintiff is certainly entitled to the above property, being the
class-I legal heir of the mother. Hence, submitted that the appeal has to be
allowed in respect of item No.3 and a preliminary decree may be passed in respect
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A.S.(MD)No.8 of 2007
of item No.3, dividing the property into two equal shares and to allot one share to
the plaintiff and similarly allot 16 x 26 feet of the land in back portion of item No.
7 of the suit schedule property to the plaintiff. In support of his submission, he
has also relied upon the following judgements:
(i) Shambhu Prasad Singh Vs. Mst.Phool Kumari and Ors reported in
1971(2) Supreme Court Cases 28;
(ii) V.Tulasamma and others Vs. Sesha Reddy reported in (1977) 3 SCC
99; and
(iii) Meethiyan Sidhiqu Vs. Muhammed Kunju Pareeth Kutty reported
in (1996) 7 Supreme Court Cases 436.
10. The learned counsel appearing for the third respondent contended
that as far as item No.7 is concerned, the plaintiff was never in possession of the
said property. On a perusal of Ex.B1 to B39, the tax receipts and the house-tax
receipts, it is seen that the first defendant and his father have been in continuous
possession and enjoyment of the property. From the above, it is very clear that the
plaintiff was not in possession of the property at any point of time. The legal
notice, dated 27.04.1997, also shows that the plaintiff was not in possession of the
property at any point of time. Hence, the Court below has rightly concluded that
the plaintiff was ousted from the property. Similarly, as far as item No.7 is
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A.S.(MD)No.8 of 2007
concerned, it is the contention that Section 14(1) of Hindu Succession Act alone is
applicable to this case, since what was given in Ex.A1 is only a permission to
reside in the said property and not in lieu of maintenance. Hence, her contention
that the permission to reside in the property would never be enlarged as an
absolute estate. Hence, submitted that the judgments of the Courts below does not
require any interference. Further, it is the contention of the third respondent that
in Ex.A7-Settlement Deed, executed by Ayilambal, mother of the plaintiff, nothing
has been mentioned about her possession in the house property viz., in item No.7
of the suit schedule property. Therefore, her contention is that permission to
reside in the property would never be enlarged as an absolute estate.
11. In the light of the above submissions, now the points that arise for
consideration are as follows:
(i) Whether the restrictive right granted under Ex.A1 in item
No.7 of the property is enlarged as an absolute estate in favour of the
mother of the plaintiff?
(ii) Whether the first defendant has proved the plea of ouster
and adverse possession to exclude one of the co-owner from the suit
property?
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A.S.(MD)No.8 of 2007
12. Though the suit has been filed claiming partition of half share in item
Nos.1 to 6, and portion of item no.7, now in the appeal stage, the plaintiff, who is
an unsuccessful plaintiff before the trial Court, has given up her right in respect of
item Nos.1, 2 and 4 to 6 and canvassed her case in respect of item No.3 and
portion of item No.7. In view of such thing, this Court has dealt with item Nos.3
and 7 alone. Respondent No.3 is a purchaser of item No.2. Though the appellant
has not claim any right in respect of item No.2, the purchaser has opposed the
appeal even in respect of item No.3 and 7. Be that as it may, the relationship of
parties are not in dispute. Item No.3 is purchased by Sangili Muthiriar,
grandfather of the first defendant and father of the plaintiff. The plaintiff is born
through the second wife of Sangili Muthiriar viz., Ayilambal, which is not in
dispute. Ex.A1-Settlement Deed itself makes it very clear that the said Ayilambal
has been referred to as the wife of Sangili Muthiriar. Apart from mere agricultural
property settled in her favour through Ex.A3, she was also permitted to reside in a
portion of item No.7 viz., 16 x 26 feet in the back side of the house property, till
her life time. That right to reside was given till her life time.
13. On an entire reading of the document, it is very clear that the very
arrangement and settlement made in her favour only in lieu of maintenance.
Therefore, merely a right to enjoyment, which was restricted till her life time, in a
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A.S.(MD)No.8 of 2007
portion of the item No.7 of the property, cannot be construed to mean that only the
limited estate was given to her. When such arrangement was made and she was
allowed to enjoy the property till her life time in lieu of maintenance, certainly the
same will clearly fall within the ambit of Section 14(1) of Hindu succession Act.
Even though such a restricted estate was provided under Settlement Deed-Ex.A3,
the very recital of the documents makes it clear that such arrangement was made
by the settler with the intention of providing maintenance to his second wife. In
such view of the matter, advent of the Hindu succession Act, 1956, any property
possessed by a women in lieu of the maintenance, the same would be enlarged as
an absolute estate. Therefore, this Court is of the view that the portion of the
property measuring 16 x 26 feet in item No.7 would be construed only as an
absolute property of the Ayilambal, the mother of the plaintiff.
14. In V.Tulasamma and others Vs. Sesha Reddy reported in (1977) 3
SCC 99, the Apex Court has held that if any property acquired by a female, by
virtue of a pre-existing right of maintenance, it should be enlarged as an absolute
property. Only where the property is acquired by a female under instrument,
without any pre-existing right solely by virtue of the instrument, such property
should be treated as an restricted estate. Admittedly, in this case, the settler
himself has expressed his intention and made a provision for maintenance and
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A.S.(MD)No.8 of 2007
settled the properties. In such view of the matter, this Court is of the view that the
portion of the property viz., 16 x 26 feet given to the plaintiff's mother under
Ex.A3 should be treated only as an absolute property. Plaintiff being the Class-I
legal heir of her mother, is entitled to the above property. Accordingly, the
preliminary decree is passed to divide item No.7 of the property and allot 16 x 26
feet in the back-side of the house property.
15. As far as item No.3 is concerned, it is not disputed that item No.3
purchased in the name of Shangili Muthiriar, father of the plaintiff and grandfather
of the defendant. The only contention of the first defendant is that he has
perfected title by adverse possession. Except tax receipts of house property, no
other documents whatsoever was filed to show that defendant has dealt the
property hostile to the interest of the plaintiff and the plaintiff was totally excluded
from the joint family property It is to be noted that the possession how so ever
long by any of the co-owner, the same will not automatically become an adverse
one as against the co-owner. For proving adverse possession, it has to be
established a specific overt act on the part of the co-owner pleading adverse
possession. Therefore, without the proof of plea as to the specific overt act and
hostile intention to hold the property to exclude other co-owner, one cannot
succeed the estate by adverse possession, merely on the basis of the long
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A.S.(MD)No.8 of 2007
possession. In Law, possession of one co-owner is always deemed to be in
possession of the other co-owner. Therefore, without any pleadings as to when the
possession become adverse to others and what was the specific overt-act shown by
the defendants, the plea of adverse possession cannot be inferred merely on the
basis of kist receipts paid in respect of the property. Normally, kist receipts were
paid to the persons, who is in possession of the property. If any of the co-owner is
in possession of the property, he has to pay the kist normally. The mere payment
of kist will not be a determinative factor to hold that said person perfected tile by
way of adverse possession.
16. Having regard to the above, this Court is of the view that except kist
receipts, no other evidence whatsoever was filed on record that the plaintiff was
totally excluded form the property and the defendant has perfected title by ousting
the plaintiff from the property. The plea of adverse possession has to be failed.
Therefore, the judgment of the trail Court non-suiting the appellant on the plea of
adverse possession and ouster, is not based on proper appreciation of Law.
17. In the result, this Appeal Suit is partly allowed, granting a
preliminary decree in respect of item No.3, in dividing the suit property into two
equal shares and allot one such share to the plaintiff and to divide item No.7 and
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A.S.(MD)No.8 of 2007
allot a portion measuring 16 x 26 feet in the back-side of the house property as
indicated in Ex.A3. In respect of other items of property viz., item Nos.1, 2, 4, 5
and 6, the Appeal Suit is dismissed and the decree and judgment of the trial Court
is confirmed. No costs.
18.02.2021
Index : Yes/No
Internet : Yes/No
vsm
Note: In view of the present lock down owing to COVID-19
pandemic, a web copy of the order may be utilized for official
purposes, but, ensuring that the copy of the order that is presented is
the correct copy, shall be the responsibility of the advocate/litigant
concerned.
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A.S.(MD)No.8 of 2007
To
1.The Additional District Judge, (Fast Track Court No-II), Tiruchirapalli.
2.The Section Officer,
Vernacular Records,
Madurai Bench of Madras High Court,
Madurai.
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A.S.(MD)No.8 of 2007
N.SATHISH KUMAR, J.
vsm
A.S.(MD)No.8 of 2007
18.02.2021
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