PARBATI DEVIversusPURNA PATRA AND ORS.
- Citation
- 1996 INSC 1473
- Decided
- 11 December 1996
- Disposal
- Appeal(s) allowed
Holding
The sale certificate and the court register entry together prove that the appellant acquired the specific one‑fourth share, making him a co‑owner, and the partition decree is upheld.
Summary
The appellant purchased a one‑fourth share of land that had been auctioned in 1938 to Babu Suryanarayan, who obtained possession and later sold the same share to Hemamali Devi, who in turn sold it to the appellant in 1950. The appellant filed a suit for partition of that share, and the trial court and the appellate court decreed in his favour, recognizing his title. The Orissa High Court reversed the decree, holding that there was no proof of possession of the property delivered under the court sale and that the appellant had not shown the extent of land purchased. On special leave, the Supreme Court examined the sale certificate issued by the court and the entry in the court register of delivery of possession, concluding that together they clearly identified the property delivered and established the appellant’s co‑ownership. Consequently, the Supreme Court set aside the High Court judgment, confirmed the lower courts' decree, and allowed the appeal.
Issues considered
- Whether the sale certificate and the entry in the court register constitute sufficient proof of possession and description of the land for establishing title.
- Whether the appellant proved the extent of the land purchased.
- Whether the High Court erred in reversing the partition decree of the lower courts.
Subjects
Judgment
PARBATI DEVI A
v.
PURNA PATRA AND ORS.
DECEMBER 11, 1996
[K. RAMASWAMY AND G.T. NANAVATI, JJ.] B
Auction sale by Coult-B purchased I/4th share and sold the same to
H-H in tum sold the property to appellant-Suit for partition filed by appel-
lant-Suit deceased by Trial Court and affirmed by Appellate Court-High
Court reversed the decree holding that there was no proof of possession of C
the property delivered under the court sale, and that the appellant had not
proved what extent of the land they had purchased-Appeal before Supreme
Court-Held sale certificate issued by the Court clearly indicated particulars
of land purchased by B-1Jut when the entry maintained in the court register
of delivery of possession is read with the sale certificate issued by the court, D
it is obvious that what was delivered to B was the property mentioned in the
sale certificate-Thereby he became the co-owner-The appellant being suc-
cessor-in-interest having purchased the self-same property, had become co-
owner along with the respondents-Thereby the suit for partition was rightly
decreed by the courts below-The view taken by the High Court is clearly
illegal. E
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No. 3336 of
1979.
From the Judgment and Order dated 2.8.78 of the Orissa High Court
in S.A. No. 8 of 1975. F
Vmoo Bhagat for the Appellant.
V.J. Francis for the Respondents.
The following Order of the Court was delivered : G
Substitution allowed.
This appeal, by special leave, arises from the reversing judgment of
the High Court of Orissa in Second Appeal No. 8n5, dated 2.8.1978. The
admitted position is that in Suit No. 29/23 of 1937 in the Court of Small H
975
976 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1996] SUPP. 9 S.C.R.
A Causes, execution was laid in M.S. No. 217/37, 1/4th share of the property
bearing Touzi Nos. 2498 and 2503/354 was brought to sale on 16.2.1938. <
One Babu Suryanarayan, a practicing advocate of that court, had beco~e
the auction purchaser. He had the possession of the 1/4th specified share
therein from the court. Subsequently, he sold the self-same property by a
B registered sale deed in 1940 to one Hemamali Devi, daughter of another .
practicing advocate. Hemamali Devi in turn sold the property to the
appellant in 1950 under Ex. 2 (A), dated 14.10.1950. On the basis thereof,
the appellant filed the suit for partition. The respondents had purchased
the property and other properties from the judgment-debtor in the suit.
They disclaimed the purchase made by Babu Suryanarayan and his sale in
C favour of Hemamali Devi and further sale in favour of the appellant. Thus
it is a case of total denial of the title of the appellant. The Trial Court
decreed the suit and the appellate Court confirmed the same for partition
of 1/4th share and delivery of possession by metes and bounds by passing
a final decree. The High Court reversed the said decree primarily on two
D grounds, viz. that there is no proof of possession of the property delivered
under the court sale, and that the appellant has not proved what extent of
the land they had purchased. Under these circumstance§; the appellant
cannot seek possession by partition of the land. The view taken by the High
Court is clearly illegal. It is seen that the Sale Certificate issued by the court
clearly indicates the particulars of the lands mentioned as under :
E
"1. Touzi No. 2498 - Thana No. 214, Mouza - Baharabisnabar in
District Cuttack, P.S., Thana and Sub-registrar Cuttack Sadar, Ph.
Bakhrabad in Khata No. 431 - Area - Ac. 0.19 - rent - Rs. 0.12.6.
From this four annas share of the defendant- debtor is Ac. 0.04 -
7 Kadis rent Rs. 0.3 ..2-1/2. This land is auctioned at a sum of Rs.
F 4.
Schedule
Khasada No. 1609 ... Ac. 0.19.
G Rs. 0.4.0 annas share of the defendant-debtor Ac. 0.04 Kadis 0.07.
2. Touzi No 2502/354 - Thana No. 214 in District Cuttack, P.S. and
Thana and subregistrar Cuttack Sadar Ph. Bakhrabad, Mouza
Baharabisnabar, Khata No. 894 - Area Ac.O. 170 Dec. - rebd Rs.
H 0.9.3. From this the share of the defendant- debtor and his brother
PARBATIDEVI v. PURNAPA1RA 977
is eight annas (Rs. 0.3.0) Area Ac. 0.84 Dec. 10 Kadis - rent - Rs. A
0.4.7-1/2 which is auctioned at a price of Rs. 20.
Description
From the Tafsil No. 811 Ac. 0.170 Dec. the 4 annas share of this
defendant-debtor is Ac. 0.42 dee. 5 Kadis." B
The same was sold with description of boundaries in the sale made
in favour of the Hemamali Devi and also in the subsequent sale to the
appellant under Ex. 2(A). Thus it is clear that Babu Suryanarayan had
purchased the l/4th share in the above described property. Thereby he
became a co-owner with other 3/4th shareholders whose property 'Yas
c
purchased by the respondents. The High Court also is clearly in error in
holding that there is no proof of possession. Since the appellant had sought
summoning of the warrant of delivery of possession, which was not avail-
able, the court register was summoned which contained an entry regarding
delivery of the possession. No doubt the description of the property D
delivered was not mentioned in the delivery warrant. When the entry
maintained in the court register of delivery of possession is read with the
sale certificate issued by the court, it is obvious that what was delivered to
Babu Suryanarayan, a practicing advocate, was the property mentioned in
the sale certificate. The property was leased out and rent was realised.
E
Thereby he became the co-owner. The appellant being successor-in- inter-
est having purchased the self-same property, had become co- owner along
with the respondents. Thereby the suit for partition was rightly decreed by
the courts below.
The appeal is accordingly allowed. The judgment and decree of the F
High Court stands set aside and that of the Trial Court as confirmed by
the appellate Court stand confirmed. It is open to the parties to proceed
with the execution of the decree in filing an application for passing a fmal
decree and take further steps according to law. No costs.
T.N.A. Appeal allowed. G
- ..
Search Indian case law
Ask in plain English, not just keywords. 25,000 AI words free, no card.