Holding

The Court held that under Section 119 the remainder vested in the son at the testator’s death, the 1955 settlement was not a transfer, Section 14 gave the wife absolute ownership of the first floor, and the sale deed is valid for the ground floor while the daughters share the first floor equally.

Summary

Ram Nath Dewan executed a 1942 will granting his wife Satyawati a life estate in the Doctor's Lane house and directing that after her death the property go to his legal heirs. After Ram Nath's death, the son (first defendant) contested the will, claiming a later 1950 will, and the parties litigated until a 1955 settlement where Satyawati retained a right of residence in the first floor and the son was declared owner of the house. The Supreme Court examined whether the remainder interest vested at the testator's death under Section 119 of the Indian Succession Act or fell under the exception to Section 111, and held that Section 119 applied, vesting the interest in the son at the testator's death. The Court also held that the 1955 settlement was not a prohibited transfer, and that Section 14 of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 converted Satyawati's life estate into absolute ownership of the first floor. Consequently, the sale deed executed by the son’s attorney was valid for the ground floor, while the daughters each received a one‑fifth share of the first floor, and the appeal was allowed in part.

Issues considered

The date of vesting of the legacy to "legal heirs of the testator" under the 1942 will: whether Section 119 or the exception to Section 111 or Section 120 applies.
Whether the 1955 settlement between the wife and son amounted to a prohibited transfer of the property.
The effect of Section 14 of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 on the wife’s life estate and whether it ripened into absolute ownership.
The validity of the sale deed executed by the son’s attorney in favour of the third defendant and his sons.
The maintainability of the plea of limitation/adverse possession raised by the defendants.
The entitlement of the daughters to a share in the property under the Hindu Succession Act.

Legislation cited

Code of Civil Procedure, 1908s. Order 6 Rule 2
Constitution of Indias. 133, s. 136
Hindu Succession Act, 1956s. 14(1), s. 15
Indian Succession Act, 1925s. 111, s. 119, s. 120, s. 121
Limitation Act, 1963s. 65
Transfer of Property Act, 1882s. 53

Subjects

successionwilllife estatelegal heirsSection 119Hindu Succession Actsettlementadverse possessionlimitationpartitionsale deed

Judgment

DR. MAHESH CHAND SHARMA A
v.
SMT. RAJ KUMAR! SHARMA AND OTHERS

DECEMBER 1, 1995

[B.P. JEEVAN REDDY AND S.B. MAJMUDAR, JJ.] B

Indian Succession Act, 1925-Section 119-Applicability-Date of vest-
ing of legacy-Property bequeathed by the testator to his wife for life and after
her death to his legal heirs-On the date of testator's death son was the only
legal heii--Held, legacy becomes vested in the son on the death of testator. C
Indian Succession Act, 1925-S ection II 1-Exception-Applicability-J'
A specified individual"-Meaning of-Cannot refer to or mean the testator.

Indian Succession Act, 1925-Section 121>-Applicability-Applies only
in case of happening of a specified uncertain event-Death is not an uncertain D
event.

Transfer of Prope1ty Act, 1882-Section ~"Transfer''-Meaning a/-
Settlement dwing pendency of suits between mother and son-Son challeng-
ing validity of Will made in favour of mothe1-Mother settling dispute by
accepting son's title to the property in lieu of monthly maintenance-Held, it E
is not a transfer of the property.

Hindu Succession Act, 1956-Section 14(1) and (2}-Applicability
of-Right of residence to a Hindu female alongwith a sum of money in lieu
of maintenance-Whether ripens into full ownership on commencement of F
the Act.

Hindu Succession Act, 1956-Section 14(1)-.J'Possessed''-Meaning
of-Whether actual or physical possession is necesswy.

Limitation Act, 1963-A.rticle 65-Plea of adverse possessiott-Nature G ;
or-Mixed question of law and fact-All facts necessary to establish adverse
possession must be pleaded.

Constitution of Indirr-A.rtic/es 133 and 136-Finding of Tlial Court on
limitation no contested in appeal-Held, plea of limitation cannot be raised
before the Supreme Court. H
41
42 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995] SUPP. 6 S.C.R.

A On 10.4.1942, one R made a Will bequeathing one of his properties
(Doctor's Lane property) to his wife S for life and to his legal heirs after
her death. The Will prohibited any transfer of the property by S. R died
in 1953 leaving behind his wife, one son (first defendant) and four
danghters. At the time of his death, as per the prevalent law, only the son
was the legal heir. There was litigation between the son and the mother,
B and as many as seven suits were filed. The son claimed that R has made
another Will dated 26.9.1950 superseding his earlier Will. The suits were
finally settled on 27.1.1955 and the mother accepted the title of the son
over the Doctor's Lane property. The mother was given a right of residence
in the first floor of the property. The son was to pay S maintenance
c allowance of Rs. 125 per month and in the event of the mother's decision
not to reside in the property, a maintenance allowance of Rs. 150 per
month was to be paid to her. After the death of the mother, the son's wife
was to become the owner of the property.

D The son, who was abroad, appointed the second defendant as bis
general power of attorney in respect of his properties in India. The second
defendant sold the Doctor's Lane property to his brother (third defendant)
and his own two sons (defendant Nos. 4 and 5).

S died in 1972, after coming into force of the Hindu Succession Act,
E 1956. One of the daughters filed a partition suit in the High Court in
respect of all properties left behind by R and S claiming l/stb share in the
property on the ground that by virtue of the provisions of the Hindu
Succession Act, the daughters of R also became the legal heirs of his
property. The learned Single Judge dismissed the suit of the daughter in
respect of the Doctor's Lane Property. In respect of all other properties
F his suit was decreed.

The daughter appealed under clause 10 of the Letters Patent against
the order of the Learned Single Judge. The appeal of the daughter was
allowed by the Division Bench which held that :
G
(a) The Will dated 10.4.1942 in favour ofS is true, valid and dTective;

(b) the Will dated 25.9.1950 alleged to have been made in favour of
the son was not proved;

H (c) the interest created in S was a life estate and not a widow's estate
M.C. SHARMA v. R.K. SHARMA 43
~·

and therefore, could not be surrendered in favour of the son; A
(d) the alleged surrender under settlement dated 27.1.1955 was not
totai and complete and, therefore, no surrender in the eyes of law;

(e) the Will dated 10.4.1942 contemplates that the property shall
devolve on legal heirs of Ron the death of his wife and at the time of wife's B
death, there were five legal heirs of R due to the operation of Hindu
Succession Act, 1956 and therefore, the property would devolve on all five
heirs; and

(I) the Will dated 10.4.1942 was a bequest to a class and therefore
the exception to the Section 111 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925 was c
applicable and not Section 119 or Section 120.

On appeal by the third defendant who had purchased the property;
partly allowing the appeal, this Court

HELD : 1.1. The present case squarely falls within the four corners
D
of Section 119 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925. It fits in neatly into
Illustration (iii) to Section 119. By virtue of Section 119 of the Indian
Succession Act, the bequest to "the legal heirs of the testator" vested in the
first defendant, he alone being the legal heir of the testator on the date of
death of R (testator). The vesting of bequest to "the legal heirs of the E
testator" was not postponed till the death of interposer, S. [63-H, 64-A)

1.2. Once the bequest to 'the legal heirs of the testator" provided by
the Will got vested in the first defendant on the date of the death of the
testator, there is no question of the first defendant being divested there-
from. On the death of S, the first defendant became entitled to possession F
of the Doctor's Lane house which had already vested in him. [64-C]

Chilanakuri Pullappa v. Gunika Bayanna, AIR (1962) AP 54 and P.
Somasundaram v. K Rajammal, AIR (1976) Mad 295, referred to.

2.1. For the exception to Section 111 of the Indian Succession Act, G
1925 to apply, it must first be shown that the bequest is to a class of
.;
persons. Then it must be shown that the said class of persons is described
as standing in a particular degree of kindred to a specified individual. The
third requirement is that the possession of the bequest is deferred until a
time later than the death of the testator for one or the other reason. If the H
.#
44 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995] SUPP. 6 S.C.R.

A above ingredients are satisfied then the property bequeathed devolves
upon such persons of the class as are alive on the date of death of the
interposer (prior bequest) and upon the representatives of such of those
who may have died after the death of the testator but before the death of
the interposer. (65-C]

B 2.2. The words "a specified individual" as used in exception to Section
Ill of the Indian Succession Act, 1925 cannot refer to or mean "the
testator". The very Explanation uses both the words 'testator" and "a
specified individual". If the idea behind the exception was to refer to
testator, then it would not have employed the words "a specified in-
C dividual'. Nothing was more simpler than using the words 'the testator"
instead of the said words actually used. This means that the words "a
specified individual" refer to an individual other than the testator. This
understanding is re-enforced by the several illustrations appended to the
section. In each of those illustrations, the class of persons is described as
children (or the relatives ol) a person other than the testator. None of them
D speaks of a class of persons related as aforesaid to the testator. (65-E-F]

2.3. In the present case, the legal heirs of testator are described as
standing in a particular degree of kindred to the testator - and not to "a
specified individual". Therefore, the exception to Section 111 of the Indian
E Succession Act, 1925 becomes inapplicable in the present case. [65-G-H]

3. A mere reading of Section 120 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925
would indicate that it is not attracted in the present case. The death of S
was not a specified uncertain event. In the present case, the bequest is not
a contingent one. If so, the bequest is not postponed within the meaning
F of Section 120. [66-t'] _

N. Krishnammal v. R. Ekambaram & Q,,._, [1979] 3 SCC 273, distin-
guished.

4. The settlement of 1955 does not amount to a transfer and is not
G incompetent and ineffective for being inconsistent with the terms of the 1942
Will. One must look at the situation obtaining in the year 1955 in order to
examine if the settlement amounted to a transfer. Seven suits were pending
between mother and the son. The validity of 1942 Will was in dispute
because the son relying on another Will of R, said to have been executed in
H the year 1950, superseding the 1942 Will. No Court had pronounced till then
M.C. SHARMA v. R.K. SHARMA 45

as to which Will was the last Will and testament of R. The right given to S A
under the 1942 Will was itself in dispute in those suits. Jn such a situation,
a compromise, a settlement was arrived at between the parties, whereunder
S acknowledged and accepted the first defendant's title to the Doctor's Lane
house in lieu of right of residence in the first floor and cash maintenance of
Rs. 125 per month. The settlement does not say which of the said two Wills B
is true and valid. The settlement was de ho1'· the claims and contentions of
both the parties including their claims and contentions under the respective
wills espoused by them. (68-C-E]

5.1. A right of residence given for life to a female Hindu in a property
plus a sum of money in lieu of her right to maintenance ripens into full C
ownership on the coming into force of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956.
Under the 1955 settlement, S was given not only the right of residence in
the first floor but also a sum of Rs. 125 per month in cash towards her
maintenance. It was further provided under the settlement that if S did
not intend to reside in the aforesaid portion, the first defendant shall pay D
her Rs. 150 per month as maintenance instead of Rs. 125 per month. This
clearly indicates that the right of residence was given to her in lieu of and
in recognition of her per-existing right to maintenance. Once this is so, it
is sub-section (l) of Section 14 of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 that
applies and not sub-section (2). (69-E]
E
Tu/asamma v. Sesha Reddi, (1977] 3 SCC 99; Mangat Mal v. Pumii
Devi, (1995] 6 SCC 88, relied on.

5.2. The expression "possessed" in Section 14(1) of the Hindu Suc-
cession Act, 1956 means and refers to a right to possession and not
necessarily actual or physical possession. So long as she has a right to F
possession, the mere fact the the female Hindu was not in physical posses-
sion matters very little. (70-G]

M¥lla's Hindu Law (16th Edn.) at p. 810, referred to.

5.3. By virtue of Section 14(1) of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 the G
limited estate of S (given to her under the 1942 Will) would have ripend
into absolute estate if S had been "possessed" of the entire Doctor's Lane
house on the date of commencement of the Hindu Succession Act. Rut she
was not. She had given up her possession and right to possession over the
first floor under the 1955 Settlement. Atcordingly, it must be held that on H
46 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995j SUPP. 6 S.C.R.

A the date of coming into force of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956, S became
the absolute owner of the first floor of the Doctor' lane house property.
[71-E-F, 72-A)

5.4. Section 14 of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 operates on its own
force once the facts ret1uisite for attracting its application are established.
B Though there is no specific reference to Section 14 of the Hindu Successioi1
Act in the plaint, having regard to the law applicable to pleadings (Order 6
Rule 2 of the Civil Procedure Code), it would not be just and proper not to
give effect to the said highly salutary provision on the above ground which,
a
in the facts and circumstances of the case, is mere technicality. (70-D)

c Kedar Lal Seal &Anotherv.Hari Lal Sea4 AIR (1952) SC 47, referred
to.

6.1. It is well settled that the plea of adverse possession is not a pure
question of law but a mixed question of fact and law. It is also well
D established that the party pleading adverse possession must state with
sufficient clarity as to when his adverse possession commenced and the
nature of its possession. A person pleading adverse possession has no
equities in his favour. Since he is trying to defeat the rights of the true
owner, it is for him to clearly plead and establish all the facts necessary
to establish his adverse possession. (73-E, 75-E]
E
6.2. The defendants' case was that the 1942 Will was not true and that
after the death of R first defendant came into possession of all the proper-
ties including the Doctor's Lane house and was in adverse possession
thereof since 1954 the plea of limitation was not based upon any other
F ground or fact. The defendants have not suggested that their adverse pos-
session commenced at any later point of time. Once it is held that (a) the
1942 Will is true, and (b) the remainder bequest vested in the first defen-
dant on the death of R, the bottom gets knocked out of this plea. (73-C)

6.3. So far as the 1955 settlement is concerned, there can be no
G question of adverse possession by the first defendant commencing there-
under or from its date. Under the said settlement, the first defendant was
declared to be the owner of Doctor's Lane House and S was given the right
of residence in the first floor thereof. Once the first defendant is declared
to be the owner of the said property, there is no question of adverse
H possession by him. [73-H, 74-A]
M.C. SHARMA v. R.K. SHARMA [B.P. JEEVAN REDDY, J.] 47

7. A party who abandons a particular plea at a particular stage A
cannot be allowed to re-agitate in appeal. Among the issues framed in the
suit, Issue No. 5 pertains to the plea of limitation. On this issue, the
learned Single Judge recorded a finding in favour of the plaintiff. The
decision on the above issue was not contested by the parties before the
Division Bench. Once this is so, it is not open to the appellant in these
B
appeals to seek to re-agitate the said plea. [72-H, GI

8. The sale deed executed by the second defendant as the General
Power of Attorney of the first defendant in favour of Defendant Nos. 3 to
5 is valid and effective insofar as the ground floor of the Doctor's Lane
house is concerned. So far as the first floor of the said Doctor's Lane C
house is concerned, it became the absolute property of S on the coming
into force of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956, i.e., by operation of Section
14(1) of the said. On her death, the said first floor devolved upon her son
and four daughters in equal shares under Section 15 of the Hindu Succes-
sion Act, 1956. [75-H, 76-A-B]
D
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal Nos. 547-48
of 1991.

From the Judgment and Order dated 25.3.87 of the Delhi High Court
in R.F.A. (OS) Nos. 14 and 15 of 1984.
E
Arun Mohan, Ms. Chitra Mahendale and Ashok Grover for the
Appellant.

M. C. Bhandare, M.R. Chawla, KN. Tripathi, J.R. Das and S.S.
Jauhar for the. Respondents. F
The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

R.P. JEEVAN REDDY, J. Third defendant is the appellant. He along
with Defendant Nos. 4 and 5 is the alienee of the house property, which is
the subject-matter of these appeals. Second defendant is the brother of G
third defendant and father of Defendant Nos. 4 and 5. Defendant Nos. 2,
4 and 5 are figuring as respondents in these appeals but are supporting the
third defendant.

Plaintiff and Defendant Nos. 6 to 8 are the daughters of late Ram
Nath Dewan while the first defendant is the son of Ram Nath Dewan. First H
48 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995] SUPP. 6 S.C.R.

A defendant and second defendant have married sisters. First defendant was
practically settled in U.S.A. along with his family. He appointed the second
defendant as his General Power of Attorney. Acting as the General Power
of Attorney of fi"t defendant, the second defendant executed a sale deed
in respect of No. 5, Doctor's Lane, New Delhi (the house property which
is the subject-matter of these appeals, which shall be referred to hereinafter
B
as "Doctor's Lane") .in favour of his brother (Defendant No. 3} and sons
(Defendant Nos. 4 and 5).

The plaintiff, daughter of late Ram Nath is seeking to avoid the sale
of the said house property in the present suit for partition and separate
C possession of her 1/5th share. The other daughters, Defendant Nos. 6 to 8,
are tacitly supporting the plaintiff, though they have remained ex parte. The
first defendant too has remained ex parte. He did not even filed a written
statement. He died pending the suit. His legal representatives, all of whom
are residing in U.S.A., have also not chosen to appear in the suits/appeals.
Thus, the contest has been between plaintiff on one side and Defendant
D Nos. 2 to 5 on the other.

RELEVANT FACTS:

Ram Nath Dewan was a self-made man. He earned substantial
properties in Delhi. He married a little late in life. His wife, Satyawati,
E was younger to him by atleast fifteen years, if not more. They had a son
(first defendant) and four daughters (plaintiff and Defendant Nos. 6, 7 and
8). With a view to provide a secure life to his wife, Ram Nath made a Will
on 10th day of April, 1942 whereunder he bequeathed one of his proper-
ties, viz., No. 5 Doctors Lane, New Delhi to Satyawati for life. He provided
F that after Satyawati's death, the said property shall go to his legal heirs.
Ram Nath died in the year 1953.

Soon after the death of Ram Nath, disputes arose between the
mother and the son. The son (first defendant) put forward another Will
said to have been executed by Ram Nath on September 26, 1950 supersed-
G ing the earlier Will. As many as seven suits came to be instituted between
the mother and the son. In January 1955, a settlement was arrived at
between them. Under this settlement, the mother, Satyawati, was given a
right to reside in the first floor of the Doctor's Lane house. The son was
to pay her Rs. 125 per month as maintenance allowance. If the mother did
H not intend to reside in the said first floor, the son was to pay her Rs. 150
M.C. SHARMA v. R.K SHARMA [B.P.JEEVAN REDDY, J.] 49

per month as maintenance allowance. Provision was made for the marriage A
of the youngest daughter. It was affirmed that No. 58, Todar Mal Road,
New Delhi, is the exclusive property of the mother but she undertook not
to transfer the property in any manner whatsoever. After her death, the
wife of the first defendant was to be the owner of tho. said property. Certain
jewellery and other articles were also given to the mother. A joint statement
B
in the above terms was submitted into the Court on January 27, 1955 and
the suits disposed of in terms of the settlement on the same day.

The first defendant, Rajender Nath, was practically settled in U.S.A.
along with his family. He appointed his co-son-in-Jaw, Sri G.C. Sharma
(second defendant) as his General Power of Attorney in respect of his C
properties in India. On March 4, 1971, the second defendant executed a
sale deed in respect of the Doctor's Lane house in favour of his brother
(third defendant) and his own two sons (Defendant Nos. 4 and 5).
Satyawati died on July 2, 1972. Soon thereafter, the present suit for parti-
tion was filed in respect of all the properties left by Ram Nath and D
Satyawati. The plaintiff disputed the validity of the sale deed executed by
the second defendant on more than one ground. She asked for a declara-
tion to that effect. She claimed a Vsth share in all the properties including
the suit house. According to her, each of the Defendant Nos. 1 and 6 to 8
were entitled to Vsth share.
E
The plaintiffs case in brief, as set out in the plaint, is this: the
Doctor's Lane house was constructed by Ram Nath on the land obtained
by him on perpetual lease from the Secretary of State for India in Council.
Ram Nath made a Will on April 10, 1942 bequeathing the said house to
his wife, Satyawati, for her life. He provided that on her death, it will F
devolve upon his "legal heirs". Ram Nath and Satyawati owned certain
other properties also in Delhi. All the said properties are liable to be
divided among plaintiff, Defendant No. 1 and Defendant Nos. 6 to 8 in
equal shares. The plaintiff is in joint possession of the said properties along
with Defendant Nos. 1 and 6 to 8. Only after the death of her mother, has G
to plaintiff come to know of the General Power of Attorney executed by
the first defendant in favour of the second defendant and the sale of the
Doctor's Lane house by the second defendant to Defendant Nos. 3 to 5.
When she demanded partition of all the properties including the Doctor's
Lane house, the first defendant demurred. He alleged that in the year 1955,
there was a settlement between himself and Satyawati whereunder she had H

•
50 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1995] SUPP. 6 S.C.R.

A surrendered the Doctor's Lane house in his favour retaining only a right
of residence in the first floor. The plaintiff does not admit the truth and
validity of the said settlement. In any event, the settlement, if any, cannot
affect the rights of the daughters (Plaintiff and Defendant Nos. 6 to 8) in
the said properties since they were not parties to the said settlement. The
first defendant had no right whatsoever in the Doctor's Lane house during
B the life time of Satyawati. He or his Power of Attorney holder had,
therefore, no right to execute a sale deed in respect of the said Doctor's
Lane house. The Power of Attorney and the sale deed are both illegal,
invalid, fictitious, sham, collusive, void and without consideration and are
not binding upon the plaintiff and her sisters. Pending the suit, the plaintiff
c asked for an amendment of the plaint seeking relief of possession of her
l/5th share in the Doctor's Lane house. The amendment was allowed on
December 6, 1983 with a direction that the said amendment shall be
effective only from the date of the said order.

D The second defendant filed a written statement disputing the several
averments in the plaint insofar as they concerned him. Defendant Nos. 3
to 5 filed a joint written statement defending the alienation in their favour.
They submitted that the Will dated April 10, 1942 was revoked by another
Will dated September 26, 1950 made by Ram Nath. In any event, the
settlement arrived at between Satyawati and the first defendant on January
E 27, 1955 is binding upon all who claim through Satyawati. Under the said
settlement, Satyawati surrendered all her right, title and interest (life
interest) in the Doctor's Lane house in favour of the first defendant ,
retaining a mere right of residence in the first floor. The first defendant
thus became the absolute owner of the Doctor's Lane house and, therefore,
F the sale deed executed by his Power of Attorney is good and valid. As a
matter of fact, the Doctor's Lane property was resumed and entered upon
by the President of India. At the intervention of Defendant Nos. 3 to 5,
however, a supplementary lease deed (perpetual lease) dated June 3, 1952
was executed by the President of India in favour of Defendant Nos. 3 to 5.

G The learned Single Judge of the Delhi High Court, who tried the suit,
dismissed the suit insofar as the Doctor's Lane house is concerned but
decreed it insofar as other properties are concerned. The learned Judge
held that by virtue of the settlement dated January 27, 1955, Satyawati
surrendered all her right, title and interest in the Doctor's Lane house in
H favour of her son, first defendant, who was the only legal heir of Ram Nath

•
M.C.SHARMA V. R.KSHARMA[B.P.JEEVANREDDY,J.] 51

on the date of the said settlement. The first defendant thus became the A
absolute owner of the Doctor's Lane house. Inas111uch as the first defen-
dant has not disputed the correctness of the sale deed executed by the
second defendant in favour of Defendant Nos. 3 to 5, the sale of the
Doctor's Lane house in favour of the said defendants is good and valid. B
Only the plaintiff appealed under Clause 10 of Letters Patent a~st
the judgment of the learned Single Judge*. The Division Bench allowe-a ·..
the appeal on the following findings:
c
(1) The Will dated April 10, 1942 made by Ram Nath is true, valid
and effective.

(2) The Will put forward by Defendant Nos. 2 to 5, said to have been D
executed by Ram Nath on September 25, 1950 in favour of the first
., defendant is not proved to have been executed by Ram Nath .

· (3) The interest created in Satyawati under the 1942 Will is a life E
estate and not a widow's estate. While a widow's estate could be sur-
rendered in favour of the neartst reversioner(s), the life estate cannot be
so surrendered. In any event, since the alleged surrender under the settle-
ment dated January 27, 1955 was not total and complete, it was no F
surrender in law. As a matter of fact, the 1942 Will expressly prohibited
Satyawati from transferring the said property during her life time .
.....
(4) While it is true that in the year 1942 when the Will was executed, G
first defendant, Raj ender Nath,, was the only "legal heir" of Ram Nath but
the Will contemplates that the Doctor's Lane house shall devolve upon the
legal heirs of the testator on the death of Satyawati. On the date of the
death of Satyawati, not only the first defendant (the son) but the daughters H
also were the "legal heirs" by virtue of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956.
Each of them is entitled to 1/5th share in the disputed house.

(5) On the languag_e of the 1942 Will, it is the exception to Section
111 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925 that applies and not Section 119 or
for that matter Section 120. Since it was a bequest to a class, the class has
The legal representatives of the first defendant also filed an appeal, R.F.A. No. 15 of
1984 but that appeal related to son1e other property and hence has no relevance herein.
The said appeal was disposed of by the Division Bench on the san1e day, i.e., March
25, 1984. The legal representatives of the first defendant have not preferred any appeal
to this Court.
52 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995j SUPP. 6 S.C.R.

A to be ascertained on the death of the interposer. "To the extent of the
application of exception to Section 111 of the Succession Act, it (bequest
under the Will in favour of legal heirs) was contingent".

On the above findings, the Division Bench held that Plaintiff, first
defendant and Defendant Nos. 6 to 8 arc entitled to Vsth share each in the
B Doctor's Lane house. Inasmuch as the first defendant or his legal heirs did
not question the sale deed dated March 4, l971, Defendant Nos. 3 to 5 will
be entitled only to the l/5th interest of the first defendant in the Doctor's
Lane house. The judgment of the Division Bench is questioned by the third
defendant in these appeals who is supported, as stated above, by Defendant
c Nos. 2, 4 and 5.

CONTENTIONS OF THE PARTIES:

Shri Arun Mohan, learned counsel for the appellant, urged the
following contentions :
D
(i) Even if the Will dated September 25, 1950 is held not established
and the 1942 Will is taken to be the true and effective Will, even then the
Doctor's Lane house must be held to have become the absolute property
of the first defendant under and by virtue of the settlement dated January
27, 1955. Satyawati had only a right to reside on the first floor during her
E
life time and no more. The plaintiff has neither pleaded nor relied upon
Section 14 of the Hindu Succession Act, l956 nor is it her contention that
Satyawati became the absolute owner of the first floor by virtue of Section
14. She cannot, therefore, be allowed to raise the said plea for the first time
in these appeals. As a matter of fact, the Doctor's Lane house was resumed
F by the President of India in terms of the grant and later granted on
perpetual basis to Defendant Nos. 3 to 5 by order dated June 3, 1952.

(ii) In la\v, succession is never in abeyance. On the language of the
Will, it is Section 119 - and in particular Illustration (iii) thereto - that
G applies. It means that while the life estate devolved upon Satyawati on the
death of Ram Nath, the remainder interest vested simultaneously in the
first defendant, he being the ,m]y legal heir on the date of the death of
Ram Nath. The vesting of remainder interest is not postponed till the date
of death of the interposer, Satyawati.

H (iii) The Division Bench of the High Court was in error in holding
M.C. SHARMA v. R.K. SHARMA [B.P. JEEVAN REDDY, J.] 53

that the exception to Section 111 applies in this case. The said exception A
contemplates bequest 1to "a class of persons described as standing in a
particular degree of kitidred to a specified individual". In this case, neither
the bequest is to a class of persons nor were the persons in whose favour
the bequest was made stood in a particular degree of kindred to a specified
indi\odual. The words "a specified individual" in the said exception do not
B
and cannot comprehend the testator. They refer to a person other than the
testator. The High Court was also in error in holding that Section 120 of
the Indian Succession Act is attracted. That section applies only to a
bequest which is contingent and here the bequest is certainly not contin-
gent.
c
(iv) Though Satyawati was alive for about seventeen years after the
1955 settlement, she never questioned the said settlement. On the contrary,
by her conduct, she always affirmed the ownership of the first defendant
over the Doctor's Lane house. As a matter of fact, she was not even living
in the first floor wherein she was given a right to reside under the said
settlement. In such a situation, Section 14 of the Hindu Succession Act has D
no application since she was not possessed of the said property - not even
of the first floor, on the date of the coming into force of the said Act.

(v) The life estate holder is also entitled to surrender his/her interest
in favour of the remainder-men. The requirement of a total and complete E
surrender applicable in the case of widow's estate is not applicable in the
case of a limited estate.

(vi) The suit is barred by limitation. This snit, as originally filed, was
based upon the plea of joint possession even with respect to the Doctor's
Lane house which is admittedly untrue and untenable. The relief of pos- F
session was added by amending the plaint only on December 6, 1983. This
date is beyond twelve years from the date of sale in favour of Defendant
Nos. 3 to 5. Defendant Nos. 3 to 5 have perfected their title by adverse
possession, in any event.
G
On the other hand, Shri M.C. Bhandare, learned counsel for the
respondent-plaintiff, urged the following contentions while supporting the
reasoning and conclusion of the Division Bench :

(I) The case of Defendant Nos. 2 to 5 is not only unjust but is based
upon fraud. The second defendant, who is a senior advocate prnctising at H
54 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1995] SUPP.6 S.C.R.

A Delhi, took unfair advantage of the faith reposed in him by the first
respondent, his co-son-in-law, and cheated him out of his property by
executing a sale deed for a nominal consideration in favour of his own
brother and sons. Because the first defendant was settled in America along
with his family and was not taking proper interest in his properties and
affairs in India, the second defendant got an opportunity which he made
B
full use of for his own unjust enrichment. This factor is relevant because
these appeals are filed under Article 136 of the Constitution of India.

(II) The alleged family settlement arrived at on January 27, 1955 was
not a voluntary one. The defenceless widow was confronted by her own son
C who put forward a rival but false Will said to have been executed by Ram
.
Nath whereunder he sought to deprive Satyawati of all her interest in the .
Doctor's Lane house under the 1942 Will. As many as seven suits were
pending. There was also an arbitration by one Chanan Ram, referred to in
the said joint statement. Under the settlement, Satyawati was deprived of
D her life estate in the Doctor's Lane house and she was given a partly sum
of Rs. 125 per month along with a mere right of residence in the first floor.
It was further provided that if she did not choose to reside in the said first
floor, she would be given extra Rs. 25 per month. The entire settlement
was unjust and unfair to the widow.

E (III) That the interest created in Satyawati under the 1942 Will is a
life estate and not a widow's estate as rightly held by the Division Bench.
The 1942 Will placed an express prohibition against transfer of her interest
by Satyawati. The so-called surrender is in reality a transfer of her interest
and hence barred by the Will. Once the said settlement goes, the 1942 Will
p stands io its full effect. Satyawati became the absolute owner of the said
property by operation of law, viz., Section 14 of the Hindu Succession Act,
1956. The sale of the Doctor's Lane house by the first defendant or his
Power of Attorney holder is, therefore, of no effect and incompetent.

(IV) On the clear language of the Will, Section 119 of the Indian
G Succession Act is not attracted. The Will clearly indicates that the devolu-
tion of interest upon the legal heirs of the testator was to take place on the
death of Satyawati. It was a case of bequest to a class within the meaning
of the exception to Section 111. Because of the said contrary intention in
the Will, Section 119 is not at all attracted. It is the exception to Section
H 111 that applies.
M.C. SHARMA v. R.K. SHARMA fB.P. JEEVAN REDDY, J.] 55

(V) The duty of court in the case of construction of a Will is always A
to give effect ,to the intention of the testator. The intention of Ram Nath
is made clear beyond any doubt by the clear words used in the Will,
according to which Satyawati was to be the life estate holder and that "after
her (devisee) death" the property was to go to the "legal heirs of the
testator". On the death of Satyawati (devisee), the legal heirs of the testator
were the son and four daughters of Ram Nath and it is they who succeeded B
to the said property in equal shares.

(VI) Even if the plaintiff has not expressly pleaded or relied upon
Section 14 of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 in the plaint, she is yet
entitled to rely upon the said provision. The plaintiff had made it clear at C
more than one place in the plaint that she is claiming her right in the
Doctor's Lane house and other suit properties not only under her father,
Ram Nath, but also under her mother, Satyawati. In the light of the said
specific pleading, the plaintiff is entitled to rely upon Section 14 of the
Hindu Succession Act. -
D
(VII) The plea of limitation is wholly untenable. The plaintiff and
other legal heirs of Ram Na.th succeeded to the Doctor's Lane house only
on the death of Satyawati who was the limited estate holder, During the
life time of Satyawati, they had no right to, nor were they obliged to,
challenge the alienation of the Doctor's Lane house from the date of death
of Satyawati. Even the amendment of the plaint including the relief of E
possession, granted on December 6, 1983 is within a period of twelve years.

THE 1942 WILL AND THE 1955 SETTLEMENT:

For a proper appreciation of the contentions, it is necessary to set
out the 1942 Will as a whole : ' F
"DEED OF WILL

I Mr. Ram Nath Dewan S/o. Pt. Moo! Raj caste Brahmin
resident of No. 5 Doctors Lane, New I;Jelhi hereinafter called the
testator made this Will without any persuasion fraud and collusion G
in favour of my wife, Shrimati Satya Vati Dewan daughter of Pt.
Atma Ram Vedi hereinafter called the Devisee. Now this deed ·
witnesses as follows :

1. That the testator bequeatjJ.s the use, enjoyment and interest
of my house on part plot No. 5, in block No. 88, Doctors H
56 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995] SUPP. 6 S.C.R.

A Lane, New Delhi worth Rs. 50,000 in my said wife, the devise
during her life after his (testator) death and declares that
after her (devisee) death the property will go to the legal
heirs of the testator.

2. That the said devisce will continue to live in the said house
B according to her sweet will and shall also have a right to give
the said properly on rent to any tenants.

3. That the said devisee shall have no right lo transfer the
property in any way whatsoever.

c 4. That the said devisee \viii be whole and sole manager and
beneficiary of the said property during her life and shall
possess a right lo make any alteration and addition in the
building accommodation in accordance of her sweet will and
desire. No legal heir of the testator shall have any right to
D object to that.

5. That the devisee will realise the rent of the said property
if any and appropriate and spend it on herself or anyone else
in accordance of her sweet will. No legal heir of the testator
shall have any right to interfere in that.
E
6. That. no legal heir of the testator shall be entitled to live
in the said house without permission of the said devisee
during her life and said devisee will have right to eject any
person living in the house at the time of the testator's death.

F 7. That the said devisee shall be liable to pay the lease money
(Land Rent) to the Government either from the income
derived from the house or from her own pocket.

8. That the repair of the house will depend upon the sweet
G will of the devisee.

In witnesses whereof, I, Mr. Ram Nath Dewan, the testator have
put my signature to this my Will this 10th day of April 1942 in
present of the attending witnesses:

H sd/- Ram Nath Dewan

l
M.C. SHARMA v. R.K SHARMA (B.P. JEEVAN REDDY, J.] 57

We are not setting out the 1950 Will put forward by Defendant Nos. A
3 to 5 inasmuch as it is held not proved by both the learned Single Judge
and the Division Bench of the High Court and no effort was made before
us to challenge the said concurrent finding. It is, however, necessary to set
out the settlement arrived at between Satyawati and the first defendant on
January 27, 1955. It reads :
B
"Joint statetnent of Shri Rajender Nath Dewan Plaintiff and Smt.
Satyavati Defendant dated 27.1.1955 recorded in Suit No. 689/54
titled 'Rajender Nath Dewan versus Satyavati' decided on
27.1.1955 by Shri S.S. Kalha, SJIC Delhi.
c
ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Statement of Shri Rajender Nath Dewan Plaintiff and Smt.
Satyavati defendant on Solemn affirmation: The parties have com-
promised to the effect that the award of Shri Chanan Ram Ar- D.
bitrator be set aside. The defendant will reside on the !st floor of
No. 5, Doctors Lane, New Delhi. The plaintiff will pay her Rs. 125
per month as rnaintenance allowance. The defendant will arrange
for her food separately at her own expense. In case the defendant
does not intend to reside in the aforesaid portion, the plaintiff will
pay her Rs. 150 per month as maintenance allowance. In case the E
defendant resides at the aforesaid place but take meal with the
plaintiff then the plaintiff will pay her Rs. 50 per month as main-
tenance allowance. The defendant shall not sllblet the aforesaid
property and she will not keep Mayadevi (and another person
whose name is illeglible) with her. Dr. Vidyavati or Shri Rishikesh F
or their family members also will not reside with the defendant but
they will be free to visit the defendant at the said place. There are
Postal Certificates of the value of Rs. 5000 in the name of defen-
dant and the deceased Dewan Ram Nath which certificates are
lying in safe custody with the Palai Central Bank, New Delhi. The
defendant will encash these certificates at the time of the marriage G
of Kumari Ramakanta Dewan and utilise the proceeds for her
marriage expenses. Before that the defendant will not be entitled
to encash these certificates nor will she be able to remove them
from the safe custody of the bank. There is also a fixed deposit
receipt of the Palai Central Bank, New Delhi in the name of H
58 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1995] SUPP. 6 S.C.R.

A defendant for the sum of Rs. 3,139/15. The defendant shall be the
owner of this deposit and she will be free to utilise it as per her
own Will or al the time of necessity. The family Jewellery is lying
in Locker No. 664, Type C with Punjab National Bank, Tropical
Building, New Delhi. The parties to the suit will not remove the
Jewellery from the Locker and this Locker will be operated only
B
at the time of the marriage of Km Ramakanta. After removing
such part of the jewellery as may be considered proper to be given
on Ramakanta's marriage to Ramakanta, the locker shall be re-
sealed and the remaining jewellery will be owned by the plaintiff
after the death of the defendant. There is another locker with
c Imperial Bank of India, New Delhi in the name of the defendant.
Shri Shyam Kishore and Shri Sukhbir Prasad Jain, Advocates
accompanied by the parties shall prepare an inventory of the
articles in the locker. Those articles which belong to Thakurji
Maharaj (God) will be handed over to the defendant and shall be
placed by her in the Temple. Out of the contents of the locker the
D
Necklace, the watch and one ring, which belong to defendant along
with her papers including a fixed deposit receipt, will be handed
over to the defendant. The shares scrips and the other articles
including a watch belonging to the father of the plaintiff shall be
handed over to the plaintiff. There are two watches with the
E defendants (one gents and one ladies) which shall be returned by
the defendant to the plaintiff. In case, the plaintiff fails to pay the
above said maintenance allowance to the defendant the defendant
shall be entitled to recover that from the rents from the property
in the possession of the plaintiff over which rents she shall have a
F first charge. The following are the particulars of the property :

1. 5. Doctors Lane, New Delhi;

2. 56-58 Todar Mal Road, New Delhi;

3. Some land in Shahadra.
G
The rent of the above property shall be realised by the plaintiff.
The defendant is the owner of property No. 58, Todar Mal Road,
New Delhi. She shall not transfer the prope:iy in any manner
whatsoever. The right to realise rent and gi'!~ the premises on rent
H shall vest in Smt. Vinodni Dewan. After the death of the defendant,
M.C. SHARMA v. R.K. SHARMA [B.P. JEEVAN REDDY, J.] 59

Smt. Viilodni Dewan shall be the owner of the property. The above A
statement of the parties may also be read as their statement in
Civil Suit Numbers 682 of 1954, 40 of 1954, 442 of 1954 aod 683
of 1954, aod by virtue of this statement these Suits may be dis-
missed. The Plaintiff shall have the right to withdraw all rents which
have been deposited in various Courts by the tenants. Out of this
B
one-tenth proceeds will be paid over by the plaintiff to the defen-
daot. Except property No. 58, Todar Mal Road, the plaintiff shall
be the owner of rest of the property.

R.O. & AC.

sd/- Satyavati Dewan sd/- Sukhbir Prasad Advct
c
sd/- R.N. Dewan sd/- Shyam Kishore Advct

27.1.1995

Sd/- SJIC D
ORDER : In terms of the statements of the parties the suit is
dismissed. The parties are left to bear their own costs. The parties
shall remain bound by the compromise and by their statements.
Order announced. E
Sd/- S.S. Kalha.

SJIC Delhi

27.1.1955."
F
(In the above joint statement, plaintiff meaos the first defendant
herein aod the defendant means Satyawati Dewan. Smt. Vinodni Dewan is
the wife of the first defendant.)

The 1942 Will - its meaning and effect : G
We shall first examine the effect of the Will executed by Ram Nath
in the year 1942, the correctness or validity whereof is not in question
before us. On the date he executed the Will, he had a son and four
daughters. Out of the properties held by him, he gave one house property,
viz., No. 5, Doctor's Lane, New Delhi to his wife, Satyawati, for her life. H
60 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995} SUPP. 6 S.C.R.

A He declared that during her life time, she shall have the exclusive right to
reside therein but that she shall not be entitled to transfer it in any manner.
After her death, he declared, the property will go to "the legal heirs of the
testator". On the date of death of Rdill Nath, it is agreed by all the parties
before us, first defendant was the only "legal heir of the testator". It is
equally not in dispute before us that on the date of death of Satyawati, the
B
"legal heirs of the testator" are the first defendant, the plaintiff and Defen-
dant Nos. 6 to 8 by virtue of the provisions contained in the Hindu
Succession Act, 1956.

The first and crucial question is whether on the language of the Will
C and the law governing the Wills, the vesting in "the legal heirs of the
testator" took place on the date of death of testator (as contended by the
·appellant) or on the date of death of Satyawati (as contended by the
plaintiff-respondent). In other words, the question is whether it is Section
119 of the Indian Succession Act that is attracted or the exception to
D Section 111 of the said Act. If it is Section 119 that is attracted, the position
would be that the remainder interest did vest in the first defendant on the
date of death of Ram Nath which means that the daughters will have no
right in the Doctor's Lane House. On the other hand, if it is the exception
to Section 111 that applies, the vesting takes place on the date of death of
Satyawati, which means son and four daughters together will be "the legal
E heirs of the testator". Sections 119 and 111 read as follows:

"ll9. Date of vesting of legacy when payment or possession
postponed. - Where by the terms of bequest the legatee is not
·entitled to immediate possession of the thing bequeathed, a right
F to receive it at the proper time shall, unless a contrary intention
appears by the will, become vested in the legatee on the testator's
death, and shall pass to the legatee's representatives if he dies
before that time and without having received the legacy, and in
such cases the legacy is from the te~tator's <leath said to be vested
interest.
G
Explanation - An intention that a legacy to any person shall not
become vested in interest in him is not to be inferreJ merely from
a provision whereby the payment or possession of the thing be-
queathed is postponed, or whereby a prior interest therein is
H bequeathed to some other person, or whereby the income arising
M.C. SHARMA v. R.K. SHARMA [B.P. JEEV AN REDDY, J.J 61

from the fund bequeathed is directed to be accumulated until the A
time of payment arrives, or fron1 a provision thati if a particular
event shall happen, the legacy shall go over to another person.

Illustrations

(i) A bequeathed to B 100 rupees, to be paid to him at the B
death of C. On A's death the legacy become vested in interest
in B, and if he dies before C, his representatives are entitled
to the legacy.

(ii) A bequeaths to B 100 rupees, to be paid to him upon his c
attaining the age of 18. On A's death the legacy becomes
vested in interest in B.

(iii) A fund is bequeathed to A for life, and ·after his death
to B. On the testator's death, the legacy to B becomes vested
in interest in B. D

(iv) A fund is bequeathed to A until B attains the age of 18
and then to B. The legacy to B is vested in interest from the
testator's death.
E
(v) A bequeaths the whole of his property to B upon trust to
pay certain debts out of the income, and then to make over
the fund to C. At A's death the gift to C becomes vested in
interest in him.

(vi) A fund is bequeathed to A, B and C in equal shares to F
be paid to them on their attaining the age of 18, respectively,
with a proviso that, if all of them die under the age of 18, the
legacy shall devolve upon D. On the death of the testator, the
shares vested in interest in A, B and C, subject to be divested
in case A, B and C shall all die under 18 and, upon the death G
of any of them (except the last survivor) under the age of 18,
his vested interest passes so subject, to his representatives.

I I I. Swvivor.<hip in case of bequest to described class. - Where
bequest is made simply to a described class of persons, the thing
bequeathed shall go only to such as are alive at the testator's death. H
62 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995J SUPP. 6 S.C.R.

A Exception. - If property bequeathed to a class of persons described
as standing in a particular degree of kindred to a specified in-
dividual, but their possession of it is deferred until a time later
than the death of the testator by reason of a prior bequest, or
otherwise, the property shall at that time go to such of them as are
then alive, and to the representatives of any of them who have died
B since the death of the testator.

Illustrations

(i) A bequeaths 1,000 rupees to 'the children of B' without
c saying when it is to be distributed among them. B has died
previous to the date of the will, leaving three children C, D
and E. E died after the date of the will, but before the death
of A. C and D survives A. The legacy will belong to C and
D, to the exclusion of the representatives of E.

D (ii) A lease for years of a house was bequeathed to A for his
life, and after his decease to the children of B. At the death
of the testator, B had two children living, C and D, and he
never had any other child. Afterwards during the lifetime of
A, C dies, leaving E, his executor. D has survived A, D and
E are jointly entitled to so much of the leasehold term as
E
remaining unexpired.

(iii) A sum of money was be4ueathed to A for her life, and
after her decease, to the children of B. At the death of the
testator, B had two children living, C and D, and after that
F event, two children, E and F, were born to B. C and E died
in the lifetime of A, C having made a Will, E having made
no will. A has died, leaving D and F surviving her. The legacy
is to be divided into four equal parts, one of which is to be
paid to the executor of C, une to D, one to the administrator
of E and one to F.
G
(iv) A bequeaths one-third of his lands to B for his life, and
after his decease to the sisters of B. At the death of the
testator, B had two sisters living, C and D, and after that
event another sister E was born. C died during the life of B,
H D and E have survived B. One-third of A's lands belong to
M.C. SHARMA v. R.K. SHARMA [B.P. JEEVAN REDDY, J.] 63

D, E and the representatives of C, in equal shares. A
(v) A bequeaths 1,000 rupees lo B for life and after his death
equally among the children of C. Up to the death of B, C had
not had any child. The bequest after the death of B is void.

(vi) A bequeaths 1,000 rupees to 'all the children born or to B
be born' of B to be divided among them at the death of C.
Al the death of the testator, B has two children living D and
E. After the death of the testator but in the lifetime of C two
other children, F and G, are born to B. After the death of C
another child is born to B. The legacy belong to D, E, F and C
G, to the exclusion of the after-born child to B.

(vii) A bequeaths a fund to the children of B, to be divided
among them when the eldest shall attain majority. At the
testator's death, B had one child living, named C. He after-
wards had two other children named D and E. E died, but D
C and D were living, when C attained majority. The fund
belongs to C, D and the representatives of E, to the exclusion
of any chiit: who may be born to B after C's attaining
majority. 11

Let us first analyse Section 119 from the point of view of the facts of E
this case and see what does it say. According to it, unless a contrary
intention appears from the Will, a bequest made to a legatee, who is not
entitled to immediate possession of bequest, gets vested in such legatee on
the date of death of the testator. The Explanation appended to the section
, eludicates the words "unless a contrary intention appears by the Will" F
occurring in the main limb of the section. The Explanation says inter alia
that merely because a prior interest in the bequest is given to some other
person, it does not mean that a contrary intention is indicated in the Will.
Illustration (iii) is of crucial relevance. It says that where a fund is be-
queathed to A for life and alter A's death to B, the legacy lo B becomes G
vested in interest in B on the testator's death. If we read the principle
underlying the main limb of Section 119 along with the Explanation and
Illustration (iii), it becomes abundantly clear that the present case squarely
falls within the four corners of this section. It fits in neatly into Illustration
(iii) to Section 119. Here, the Doctor's Lane house is bequeathed to
Satyawati for life and after her death to the legal heirs of the testator. Once H
64 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995] SUPP. 6 S.C.R.

A this is so, the legacy to the legal heirs of the testator became vested in such
legal heir(s) on the date of death of the testator - and admittedly on that
death, first defendant was the only legal heir of the testator. We may
mention that merely because a prior interest in the bequest is given to
Satyawati, it cannot be said that the Will indicates a contrary intention
within the meaning of the main limb of Section 119. See Chilanakuri
B Pul/appa v. Gwuka Baya1111a, A.LR. (1962) A.P. 54 and P. Somaswidaram
v. K Rajammal, A.LR. (1976) Mad. 295 in this behalf. Now, once the
bequest to "the legal heirs of the testator" provided by the Will got vested
in the first defendant on the date of the death of the testator, there is no
question of the first defendant being divested therefrom. On the death of
c Satyawati, the first defendant became entitled to possession of the Doctor's
Lane house which had already vested in him.

Sri Bhandare, learned counsel for the respondent plaintiff, submitted
repeatedly that the above interpretation would be inconsistent with the
intention of the te~tator as clearly expressed in the Will. He submitted that
D the first and the foremost rule of interpreting the Will is to ascertain the
intention of the testator and to give effect to it. The learned counsel
submitted that according to the Will, the Doctor's Lane house was to
devolve upon the legal heirs of the testator only on the death of Satyawati
and not at any earlier point of lime. He emphasised the words "and
E declares that after her (devisee's) death, the property will go to the legal
heirs of the testator" occurring in clause (i) of the Will. It is true that that
is what the testator said but then the said Will has to be understood and
construed in the light of the statutory rules governing lhe Will, viz., the
provisions of the Indian Succession Act, 1925. Section 119 of this Act,
which applies to the Will in question by its own force, says, to repeat, that
F where a property is bequeathed to A for life and after his death to B, the
legacy to B becomes vested in interest in B on the death of the testator.
As pointed out earlier, the bequest in the Will squarely falls within the four
corners of Section 119 and in particular of Illustration (iii) thereto. It may
be remembered that Illustrations lo the section are parts of the Section and
help to eludicate the principle of the section.
G
Now, let us examine whether the exception to Section 111 of the
Indian Succession Act is attracted herein - and not Section 119 - as
contended by Sri Bhandare. The main limb of Section 111 says that where
bequest is made simply to a described class of persono, the bequest shall
H devolve only upon such members of the class as arc alive on the date of
M.C. SHARMA v. R.K. SHARMA[B.P. JEEVAN REDDY, J.] 65

the testator's death. The exception appended to Section 111 says that if A
property is bequeathed to a class of persons/described as standing in a
particular ·degree of kindred/to a specified individual/but their possession
of it is deferred until a time later than the death .of the testator by reason
of a prior bequest, or otherwise/the property shall at that time go to such
of them as are alive and to the representatives of any of them who have B
died since the death of the testator. For the exception to apply, it must first
be shown that the bequest is to a class of persons. Then it must be shown
that the said class of persons is described as standing in a particular deg(ee
of kindred to a specified individual. The third requirement is that the
possession of the bequest is deferred until a time later than the death of C
the testator for one or the other reason. If the above ingredients are
satisfied then the property bequeathed devolves upon such persons of the
class as are alive on the date of death of the interposer (prior bequest) and
upon the representatives of such of those who may have died after the
death of the testator but before the death of the interposer. Now, let us
assume in these appeals that bequest is to a class of persons. The next D
question is whether the said class of persons is "described as standing in a
particular degree of kindred to a specified individual"? We are of the
opinion that the words "a specified individual" cannot refer to or mean "the
testator 11 • The very Explanation uses both the words 11 testator11 and "a
specified individual". If the idea behind the exception was to refer to E
testator, then it would not have employed the words "a specified in-
dividual". Nothing was more simpler than using the words "the testator"
instead of the said words actually used. This means that the words "a
specified individual" refer to an individual other than the testator. This
understanding of ours is re-inforced if we look at the several illustrations
appended to the section. In each of those illustrations, the class of persons
F
is described as children or (or the relatives of) a person other than the
testator. None of them speaks of a class of persons related as aforesaid to
the testator. Once this is so, the exception goes out of the picture. In the
case before us, the legal heirs of testator - assuming that they constitute a
class of persons within the meaning of the exception - are described as G
standing in a particular degree of kindred lo the testator - and not to "a
specified individual". Indeed, there was a good amount of controversy
before us as to the meaning to the words "particular degree of kindred".
We need not, however, go into that aspect because once we come to the
conclusion that the words "a specified individual" cannot and do not refer H
66 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1995] SUPP. 6 S.C.R.

A to the testator, the exception becomes inapplicable.

Sri Bhandare, learned counsel for the respondent-plaintiff, put for-
ward an alternative argument, viz., that it is Section 120 of the Indian
Succession Act that applies. According to him, it is a case of a contingent
bequest within the meaning of the said section, which reads as follows :
B
"120. Date of vesting when legacy contingent upon specified unce1tain
event. - (1) A legacy bequeathed in case a specified uncertain event
shalt happen does not vest until that event happens.

c (2) A legacy bequeathed in case a specified uncertain event shall
happen docs not vest until the happening of that even becomes
impossible.

(3) In either case, until the condition has been fulfilled, the interest
of the legatee is called contingent.
D
Explanation. - Where a fund is bequeathed to any puson upon his
attaining a particular age, and the Will also gives to him absolutely
the income to arise from the fund before he reaches that age, or
directs the income, or so much of it as may be necessary, to be
supplied for his benefit, the bequest of the fund is not contingent."
E
(Illustrations omitted as unnecessary)

A mere reading of Section 120 would indicate that it is not attracted
in the present ease. The death of Satyawati was not a specified uncertain
F event. The decision of this Court in N. f(Jishnammal v. R. Ekambaram &
010·., (1979] 3 S.C.C. 273 is of no relevance herein. That was a clear case
of contingent bequest. In the present case, the bequest is not a contingent
one. If so, the bequest is not postponed within the meaning of Section 120.

We are, therefore, of the opinion Lhat hy operation of la\v, i.e.i by
G virtue of Section 119 of the Indian Succession Act, the bequest to "the legal
heirs of the testator" vested in the first defendant - he alone being the legal
heir of the testator on that date - on the <late of death of Ram Nath
1
(tcslator). The vesting of bequest to "tht: legal heirs of the te!itator ' was not
pusqioncd till the lh~ath of interposer. Saty1.nvati. The langui:ige of clause
H (i) of the Will cannot be con>lrncd otherwise.
M.C. SHARMA v. R.K. SHARMA [B.P. JEEV AN REDDY, J.] 67

Sri Bhandare then contended that the use of the plural "heirs" - and A
not the singular "heir" - in clause (i) is indicative of the intention of the
testator that he was referring to his legal heirs as may be in existence on
the death of Satyawati. In our opinion, this argument is plainly unaccep-
table. In the year 1942, Ram Nath could not have foreseen the enactment
of Hindu Succession Act, 1956 or that in future his daughters would also
B
become his "legal heirs" by some change in law. The language of clause (i)
does, no doubt, convey the intention of the testator, viz., immediate bequest
(for life) is to Satyawati and the ultimate (absolute) bequest is to his legal
heirs after the death of Satyawati. But this clause has to be read, under-
stood and construed in the light of the rule contained in Section 119 of the
Indian Succession Act, as explained her:inabove - with the necessary C
consequence, which too has been set out hereinabove.

For the above reasons, we disagree with the findir.g of the Division
Bench of the High Court on this aspect.
D
THE SETTLEMENT OF 1955 AND ITS EFFECT:

The next question is, what happened in the year 1955 when there was
a settlement between Satyawati and the first defendant and what is its
effect? As mentioned hereinbefore, soon after the death of Ram Nath in
the year 1953, disputes arose between Satyawati and the first defendant. E
As may as seven suits were filed by one against the other. The first
defendant had put forward a rival Will, said to have been executed by Ram
Nath in the year 1950, whereunder the Doctor's Lane house was given to
the first defendant. It appears that pending the said suits, there was a
reference to arbitration and an award was also rendered by the Arbitrator, F
one Sri Chanan Ram. Obviously, the award did not put an end to the
disputes between the mother and the son. Only later and evidently at the
intercession of certain mutual well-wishers, the parties arrived at a settle-
ment whereunder the said award was declared ineffective and a different
arrangement arrived at. Under this settlement, the first defendant
(described as 'plaintiff) was declared to be the owner of all the properties G
left by Ram Nath including.Doctor's Lane house - except No. 58, Todar
Mal Road, New Delhi. Al the same time, Satyawati was given the right of
residence in the first floor of the Doctor's Lane house along with cash
maintenance of Rs. 125 per month. It was stipulated that if she resides in
the said portion, the first defendant shall pay her only a monthly main- H
68 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995] SUPP. 6 S.C.R.

A tenance of Rs. 125. But if she did not intend to reside in the said portion,
the first defendant was to pay her Rs. 150 per month. Thus, on the plain
language of the settlement, the Doctor's Lane house became the property
of the first defendant subject to the right of residence given to Satyawati in
the first floor thereof. Shri Bhandare, learned counsel for the rcspondent-
plaintiff, contended that inasmuch as the interest given to Satyawati under
B the 1942 Will was a life estate and not widow's estate - with which
proposition we agree - and because the Will prohibited her from transfer-
ring the said property, the said settlement is incompetent and void since it
amounts to a transfer. We are not prepared to agree. One must look at the
situation obtaining in the year 1955 and not to the situation obtaining, or
C findings recorded, in the present proceedings. Seven suits were pending
between mother and rhc son. The validity of 1942 Will was in dispute,
because the son (first defendant) was relying on another Will of Ram Nath,
said to have been executed in the year 1950, superseding the 1942 Will. No
Court had pronounced till then as to which Will was the last Will and
D testament of Ram Nath. In other words, the right given to Satyawati under
the 1942 Will was itself in dispute in those suits. In such a situation, a
compromise, a settlement was arrived at bet\veen the parties, whereunder
Satyawati acknowledged and accepted the first defendant's title to the
Doctor's Lane house in lieu of right residence in the first floor and cash
maintenance of Rs. 125 per month. The settlement does not say which of
E the said two Wills is true and valid. The settlement was de hors the claims
and contentions of both the parties including their claims and contentions
under the respective Wills espoused by them. (It is only in this suit that it
has been held by the learned Trial Judge that the 1942 Will is the last Will
of Ram Nath inasmuch as Defendant Nos. 2 to 5 have failed to establish
F the truth and correctness of the 1950 Will put forward by their first
defendant in the said earlier suits and by them in the present suit. The
finding of the learned Single Judge on the issue was not challenged by
Defendant Nos. 3 to 5 in the appeal.) It may be remembered that unaer
the 1942 Will Salyawali was not entitled lo any maintenance amount from
the first defendant. The said monthly maintenance was provided to her,
G payable by the first defendant, under and as part of the said settlement.
We are, therefore unable to agree with Sri Bhandare that the said settle-
ment amounts to a transfer or that it is incompetent and ineffective for
being inconsistent with the terms of the l 942 Will.

H For the same reasons, the contention that a surrender by a widow
M.C.SHARMA v. R.K.SHARMA[B.P.JEEVANREDDY,J.] 69

must be total and complete is wholly beside the point. Neither the interest A
given to Satyawati was a widow's estate (as rightly found by the Division
Bench) nor was it a case of surrender. It was compromise, a settlement, of
conflicting claims.

THE RELEVANCE AND EFFECT OF THE HINDU SUCCESSION B
ACT, 1956:

Now, we come to the third imported event, viz., the enforcement of
the Hindu Succession Act and its effect. The Act came into force in June.

-- 1956. By operation of Section 14 of the said Act, the right of residence
given to Satyawati in the first floor of the Doctor's Lane house repend into C
an absolute title inasmuch as the said right was given to her in recognition
of a pre-existing right to maintenance inhering in her. Even under the
Hindu Law obtaining prior to the enforcement of Hindu Adoptions and
Maintenance Act, 1956, the son was under a personal obligation to main-
tain his mother and he was bound to maintain her whether or not he D
inherited property from his father. [See para 548 of Mulla's Hindu Law at
P.552 (16th Edn.)] Under the settlement, Satyawati was given not only the
right of residence in the first floor but also a sum of Rs. 125 per month in
cash towards her maintenance. It was further provided under the settle-
ment that if Satyawati did not intend to reside in the aforesaid portion, the
first defendant shall pay her Rs. 150 per month as maintenance of Rs. 125 E
per month. This clearly indicates that the right of residence was given to
her in lieu of and in recognition of her pre-existing right to maintenance.
Once this is so, it is sub-section (1) of Section 14 that applies and not
sub-section (2) vide V. Tulasamma v. V. Sesha Reddi, [1977] 3 S.C.C. 99.
It has recently been held by a Bench of this Court (S.P. Bharucha, J. and F
one of us, S.B. Majmudar, J.) In Mangat Mal v. Pwini Devi, (1995] 6 S.C.C.
88 that a right of residence given for life to a female Hindu in a property
plus a sum of money in lieu of her right to maintenance ripens into full
ownership on the coming into force of the Act. Accordingly, it must be
held that on the date of coming into force of the Hindu Succession Act,
1956, Satyawati became the absolute owner of the first floor of the Doctor's G
lane house property .

. Sri Arnn Mohan, learned counsel for the appellant-third defendant,
submitted that inasmuch as the plaintiff has not invoked or relied upon
Section 14 of the Hindu Succession Act and also because no reference to H
70 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995] SUPP. 6 S.C.R.

A the said provision is found in the judgment of the learned Single Judge or
the Division Bench, she should not now be allowed to invoke the said
provision for the first time in these appeals. Learned counsel submitted
that neither in the plaint nor al any time during the arguments in the Courts
below was this contention urged by the plaintiff. Counsel also submitted
that had the plaintiff raised this contention in the plaintiff, the defendant-
B
appellant would have had an opportunity of establishing that Section 14
has no application for the reason that she was not "possessed" of the said
first floor on the date of coming into force of the Act. Counsel submitted
that Satyawati was never living in the first floor; she was either living with
the first defendant or with other relatives. We have given our anxious
c consideration to the said submi'5ion but are unable to agree with it. In the
plaint, it is repeatedly stated that the plaintiff is claiming the suit property
both through Ram Nath and Satyawati. It is true that there is no specific
reference to Section 14 of the Hindu Succession Act but we are of the
opinion, having regard to the law applicable to pleadings (Order 6 Rule 2
D of the Civil Procedure Code) and the decisions of thi' Court in that behalf .
- [See Kedar Lal Seal & Anr. v. Harl Lal Seal, A.LR. (1952) S.C. 47] that
it would not be just and proper not to given effect to the said highly salutary
provision on the above ground which, in the facts and circumstances of the
case, is a mere technicality. Section 14 operates on its own force once the
E facts requisite for attracting its application are established. It must be
remembered that the settlement between Satyawati and the first defendant
was arrived at on January 27, 1955 whereas the Hindu Succession Act came
into force in June, 1956, i.e., within less then seventeen months. Moreover,
we are concerned with right to possession and not physical possession. It
has been repeatedly held by this Court [See the several decisions referred
F to under the heading "possessed - meaning of' in Mulla's Hindu Law
(Sixteenth Edition at Page 810) J while construing the expression "pos-
sessed" in Section 14(1) that the said expression means and refers to a right
to possession and not necessarily actual or physical possession. So long as
she has a right to possession, the mere fact that the female Hindu was not
G in physical possession matters very little. Therefore, it is immaterial
whether Satyawati was physically occupying the said first floor or not. So
long as she had the right to possession over the said first floor, Section
14(1) is attracted. There has never been any suggestion by Defendant Nos.
2 to 5 that Satyawati had given up the said right. On the contrary, Exh.
H D-28 (a former statement of Satyawati in a suit), filed and relied upon by
M.C. SHARMA v. R.K. SHARMA [B.P. JEEVAN REDDY, J.] 71

the appellant, shows that Satyawati herself was holding a General Power A
of Attorney from the first defendant (executed in 1960 and in 1964) and
was managing all his properties in India. This is also the testimony of the
plaintiff in this suit. She has deposed Page 47 of Vol,. 11 Paper Book) that
till three months before her death, Satyawati was residing in the said house
along with a maid servant and her son. Nothing worthwhile has been
B
brought out in her cross-examination to doubt this statement of hers. We
accept her statement. The facts established herein do clearly attract Section
14 of the Hindu Succession Act. The ends of justice demand that the said
provision is given effect to. The plea of lack of opportunity is at best a
technical one, in the particular faets and circumstances of the case. We are,
therefore, not inclined to accept Sri Arnn Mohan's plea that Section 14(1) c
should not be allowed to be invoked by the respondent in these appeals.

We may pause here and append a note of explanation. It is true that
under the 1942 Will, the bequest to Satyawati was only for her life and the
bequest to "the legal heirs of the testator" i.e., to the first defendant, vested D
in him on the death of the testator, as held by us and for the reasons
assigned hereinbefore. But all this is subject to the statutory provisions
contained in Section 14(1) of the Hindu Succession Act. This statutory
provision supersedes the recitals in the Will. By virtue of Section 14(1) of
the said Act, the limited estate of Satyawati (given to her under the 1942
Will) would have ripend into absolute estate if Salyawati had been "pas- E
sessed" of the entire Doctor's Land house on the date of commencement
of the Hindu Succession Act. But she was not. She had given up her
possession and right to possession over the first floor under the 1955
Settlement. She was "possessed" of only the first floor of the house. Second-
ly, and more important, first defendant is basing his title to the Doctor's F
Lane house on the 1955 settlement. As stated hereinbefore, both Satyawati
and the first defendant arrived at a particular settlement notwithstanding
their respective claims and contentions. Satyawati never challenged the said
settlement during her life-time. The settlement cannot, therefore, be held
to be involuntary or inoperative. Satyawati, in fact, acted for a number of G
years as the General Power of Attorney of her son, the first defendant, and.
managing his properties in India. Merely because in these proceedings, the
1942 Will is held to be the last and valid Will of Ram Nath, the settlement
of 1955 cannot be ignored or brushed aside. It is also nobody's case that
the settlement was not bonafide or that it was not acted upon. For these
reasons, it must be, and is, held that Satyawati became the absolute owner H
72
·-
SUPREMECOURTREPORTS [1995]SUPP.6S.C.R.

A only of the first floor of the Doctor's Lane house - and not of the whole
house.

THE PLEA OF LIMITATTON:

The sale of the Doctor's Lane house in favour of Defendant Nos. 3,
B
4 and 5 is dated March 4, 1971. The sale deed was executed by the second
defendant acting as the General Power of Attorney of the first defendant.
The sale deed pertains to the entire house property, viz., No. 5, Doctors
Lane, New Delhi. On the date of sale, Satyawati was alive. She died on July
2, 1972. On the death of Satyawati, her interest devolved upon her four
c daughters (plaintiff and Defendant Nos. 6 to 8) and the son (first defen-
dant) under Section 15 of the Hindu Succession Act. The present suit was
instituted soon after the death of Satyawati. The plaintiff claimed partition
and separate possession of her 1/5th share in all the properties including
the Doctor's Lane house. The suit was originally filed on the basis of
D plaintiff being in joint possession along with other heirs or Ram Nath and
Satyawati of all the suit properties including Doctor's Lane house. Later,
however, the plaintiff applied for amendment of plaint adding the relief of
possession insofar as the Doctor's Lane house is concerned. The amend-
ment was granted on December 6, 1983 with a direction that the said
amendment shall be effective only from the date of the said order.
E
The plea of limitation raised by the defendant-appellant cannot be
upheld for more than one reason. The reasons are the following:

(a) Among the issnes framed in the suit, Issue No. 5 pertains to the
F plea of limitation put forward by defendant Nos. 2 to 5. The issue runs
thus: "Whether the suit is within time?" On this issue, the learned Single
Judge (Trial Judge) recorded a finding in favour of the plaintiff. He found
the suit within limitation. The decision on the above issue was not contested
by the parties before the Division Bench. The Division Bench has express-
ly recorded that "the decisions on the above issues (Issues 1, 2, 3, 4, S and
G and 6) are not contested by the parties in this appeal and, therefore, the.
findings of the learned Single Judge are hereby affirmed". Once this is so,
it is not open to the third defendant-appellant in these appeals to seek to
re-agitate the said plea. We cannot allow him to do so. A partly who
abandons a particular plea at a particular stage cannot be allowed to re-
H agitate in appeal.
M.C. SHARMA v. R.K. SHARMA [B.P. JEEVAN REDDY, J.] 73

(b) The plea of limitation raised in Para (8) of the defendant's A
written statement was in the following words: "8. It is denied that the suit
of the plaintiff is within limitation. The answering defendants and the
predecessor-in-interest, Rajender Nath, have been in any case in adverse
possession of the property in suit since 1954". It is on the basis of the said
plea that Issue No. 5 aforementioned was framed. Now, let us examine what B
does the said plea signify? The plea has to be understood in the context of
other pleas raised in their written statements. The defendant's case was
that the 1942 Will is not true and that after the death of Ram Nath, first
defendant came into possession of all the properties including the Doctor's
Lane hou-'e and was in adverse possession thereof since 1954. The plea of
limitation was not based upon any other ground or fact. Once it is held C
that (a) the 1942 Will is true, and (b) the remainder bequest vested in the
first defendant on the death of Ram Nath (as held by us hereinabove
accepting the plea of the appellant), the bottom gets knocked out of this
plea. It is also necessary to point out that there is no plea in the written
statement that the adverse possession of the first defendant commenced D
under and by virtue of the 1955 settlement. There is also no plea that the
adverse possession of the defendant commenced at any later point of time.
It is well settled that the plea of adverse possession is not a pure question
of law but a mixed question of fact and law. It is also well established that
the party pleading adverse possession must state with sufficient clarity as
to when his adv_erse possession commenced and the nature of its posses- E
sion. In this case, the defendant's plea is that the adverse possession of the
predecessor-in-interest, i.e., the first defendant, commenced in 1954. Once
that plea falls to ground, as held hereinabove, there is no alternate plea.
To repeat, the defendants have not suggested that their adverse possession
commenced at any later point of time. F

Sri Arun Mohan, learned counsel for the appellant, sought to con-
tend that the adverse possession of Defendant Nos. 3 to 5 commenced
under the 1955 settlement and in any event with effect from the date of
sale in their favour. In the first instance, this was not the plea in the written
statement and, therefore, we cannot allow the learned counsel to raise such G
a plea for the first time in these appeals, more particularly in view of the
fact that Defendant Nos. 3 to 5 did not contest the finding of the learned
Single Judge on Issue No.5 as aforementioned. Even otherwise, we are of
the opinion that there is no substance in this contention. So far as the 1955
settlement is concerned, there can be no question of adverse possession by H
74 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995] SUPP. 6 S.C.R.

A the first defendant commencing thereunder or from its date. Under the
said settlement, the first defendant was declared to be the owner of the
Doctor's Lane house and Satyawati was given the right of residence in the
first floor thereof. Once the first defendant is declared to be the owner of
the said property, there is no question of adverse possession by him. Yet
another circumstance: Satyawati become the absolute owner of the first
B
floor by virtue of the operation of Section 14 of the Hindu Succession Act,
as held by us hereinabove. There is no plea by the defendants that at any
point of time after the commencement of the Hindu Succession Act, the
first defendant dispossessed Satyawati and was in possession of the fast
floor also.
c
Now, coming to the submission of Sri Arnn Mohan that the adverse
possession commenced on the date of sale in their favour, viz., March 6,
1971, this again is not the plea of the defendants. In any event, the sale
deed does not expressly recite that possession of the house was delivered
by the first defendant to the purchasers at the time of execution of sale
D deed.* Further, plaintiff has stated in her deposition (See page 47 of the
Paper Book - Vol. II) that till three months before her death, Satyawati
was living in the house along with a maid servant and her son. Nothing
worthwhile has been brought out in her cross- examination to doubt her
testimony on this aspect. We accept her statement. If so, the suit will be
E within twelve years, even assuming that the suit is deemed to have been
filed on December 6, 1983, i.e., the date on which plaint was amended
incorporating the relief of possession.

(Satyawati died on July 2, 1972.) In this behalf, we may mention that
the learned Trial Judge had framed additional issues (See Page 46 of Vol.
F I Paper Book) with respect to the validity and legality of this sale deed.

There is yet another way of looking at this issued.
Clause (3) of the sale deed, which is the clause. touching upon the possession of the
propeny sold, read: 'The Vendor hereby convcnants with the Vendees that the l><lid
G pren1ises shall be quietly entered into and upon and hold and enjoyed and the rents
and profits received therefron1 by the Vendces wilhout any interruption or disturbance
by the Vendor or any person claiming through or under him and, without any lawful
disturbance or, interruption by and other persons whomsoever." Clauses (7) (which is
\vrongly numbered as clause (4)] entitles the vendees to recover the rent<; due from
the tenants. At an earlier stage, the sale deed recites that na portion of the property"
had been leasCd out to Defendant Nos. 4 and 5 on a rent ur Rs.300 p.m. But for these
H recitals, there is not recital relevant to dclivecy of possession.
M.C. SHARMA v. R.K SHARMA [B.P. JEEVAN REDDY, J.] 75

We have found hereinabove that the first defendant became full A
owner of Doctor's Lane house on the death of Ram Nath and that pursuant
to the 1955 settlement read with Section 14 of the Hindu Succession Act.
Satyawati became full owner of the firsUloor of the house which means ·
that both of them remained as independent owners of ground and first
floors of the house respectively. Thereafter, when the entire house was sold B
to Defendant Nos. 3 to 5 on March 4, 1971, their possession-assuming for
. the sake of argument that they came into possession of the house on the
date of sale can be treated to be adverse to Satyawati. However, the
plaintiff who is found to be co-owner of the first floor along with the first
defendant (who passed his interest in favour of Defendant Nos. 3 to 5) filed
the present suit within twelve years of the date of the sale deed. She had C
already joined Defendant Nos. 3 to 5 as parties to the suit and had brought
in challenge the right of these defendant to occupy the house by virtue of
the sale deed in their favour. The suit was filed for the relief of partition
of the co-ownership property on the basis of joint possession. So far as the
first floor is concerned, it is covered by the main relief in ihe suit which D
was prayed for within twelve years from the date of the sale deed. Conse-
quently, the suit cannot be treated· as time barred for the said relief of
partition which is being confirmed by us.

In this connection, we may emphasis that a person pleading adverse
possession has no equities in his favour. Since he is trying to defeat the E
rights of the true owner, it is for him to clearly plead and establish all the
facts necessary to establish his adverse possession. For all the above
reasons, the plea of limitation put forward by the appellant, or by Defen-
dant Nos. 2 to 5 as the case may be, is rejected.
F
So far as the plea of resumption of the plot (Doctor's Lane house)
by the President of India and its re-grant to Defendant Nos. 3 to 5 is
concerned, it is of little consequence .. The re-grant, if any, was i~recogni
tion and in continuation of earlier grant. We have· not b~en shii\vn the
documents relevant in this behalf nor any serious argument addressed on
this score. G

The result of the above discussion is that the sale deed executed by
the second defendant as the General Power of Attorney of the first
defendant in favour of Defendant Nos. 3 to 5 must be held to be valid and
effective insofar as the gronnd floor of the house property comprised in H
76 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995] SUPP. 6 S.C.R.

A No. 5, Doctors Lane, New Delhi is concerned. (This is so because the first
defendant or his legal representatives have not chosen to question or
impugn the said sale.) So far as the first floor of the said Doctor's Lane
house is concerned, it became the absolute property of Satyawati on the
coming into force of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956, i.e., by operation of
Section 14(1) of the said Act. On her death, the said first floor devolved
B upon her son (first defendant) and four daughters (plaintiff and Defendant
Nos. 6 to 8) in equal shares under Section 15 of the Hindu Succession Act.
Defendant Nos. 3 to 5 will be entitled only to the 1/5th share of the first
defendant in the first floor. The remaining 4/5th share in the first floor is
allotted to plaintiff and Defendant Nos. 6 to 8, each 1/5th. The decree
c passed by the Division Bench of the Delhi High Court is modified accord-
ingly and is restricted to the first floor of the hose property comprised in
No. 5, Doctors Lane, New Delhi. All other directions given by the Division
Bench in respect of the Doctor's Lane house are affirmed but restricted to
the first floor thereof.

D The appeals are allowed in part accordingly. No order as to costs.

B.K.M. Appeal allowed partly.