Holding

The lease granted under the Madras Cultivating Tenants Protection Act, 1955 benefits the whole joint family and does not preclude partition; the civil court retains jurisdiction to order partition, and the appellant is entitled to a one‑fifth share of the Schedule D property while the Schedule B and C properties remain jointly owned.

Summary

The appellant, Thimmappa Raj, son of the late Narayana Rai, sought to enforce a lease granted to him under the Madras Cultivating Tenants Protection Act, 1955 and claimed exclusive ownership of the Schedule B lease‑hold property, while the respondents (Ramanna Raj and others) filed a suit for partition of properties listed in Schedules B, C and D. The lower courts held that the occupancy right granted to the appellant benefited all heirs and that the Schedule B and C properties were jointly owned, but set aside the decree on Schedule D, awarding the appellant a one‑fifth share. On appeal, the Supreme Court examined whether the 1955 Act conferred exclusive title, the scope of the Karnataka Land Reforms Act, 1961 and the jurisdiction of the Land Tribunal versus civil courts, and affirmed that an admission made by a party is admissible under Section 58 of the Evidence Act. The Court held that the 1955 Act does not create exclusive title for the lessee, that joint possession creates a joint family interest even under custom law, and that civil courts retain jurisdiction to order partition. Consequently, the judgments on Schedule B and C were affirmed, while the decision on Schedule D was set aside, granting the appellant a one‑fifth share, and the appeal was partly allowed.

Issues considered

The effect of the Madras Cultivating Tenants Protection Act, 1955 on exclusive ownership of a lease‑hold property
Whether the Karnataka Land Reforms Act, 1961 ousts civil court jurisdiction in partition suits
The admissibility of an admission made by a party in earlier proceedings under the Evidence Act
The determination of joint family ownership where parties are governed by Aliyasanthana custom rather than Mitakshara law
The entitlement of the appellant to a share of the Schedule D property

Legislation cited

Indian Evidence Act, 1872s. 58
Karnataka Land Reforms Act, 1961s. 17, s. 4, s. 45, s. 48A, s. 55(1)

Subjects

partitionleasecultivating tenantjoint familyoccupancy rightadmission evidenceland reformscustomary lawtenants in common

Judgment

THIMMAPPA RAJ A
v.
RAMANNA RA! AND ORS.

MAY9,2007

[S.B. SINHA AND MARKANDEY KATJU, JJ.] B

Partition:

Madras Cultivating Tenants Protection Act, 1955- s.2(a)- Grant of
occupation right in favour of eldest son of original lessee in respect of C
Schedule 'B' property- Other brothers andfather also been in joint possession
of properties and having joint residence at all material times- Held: The
property would vest in all of them, although certificate may be granted in
favour of only one- Suit for partition thus maintainable in respect of Schedule
'B' property-Karnataka Land Reforms Act, 1961-s.17. D
Propirty belonging to a brother who died intestate without leaving
any heir- Finding offact by courts below that said property devolved upon
all the heirs in equal share-Held: Said finding cannot be disturbed.

Evidence Act, 1872: E
Admission-Made by party to suit in an earlier proceedings- Held: Is
admissible as against him-Such admission being a relevant fact, courts
below entitled to take notice thereoffor arriving at a decision relying on or
on the basis thereof together with other materials brought on records by the
parties. F
Appellant and respondents are sons and daughters of 'N'. Wife of 'N'
predeceased him. Respondent filed a suit for partition in respect of properties
described in Schedules 'B', 'C' and 'D' of the plaint. The property in Schedule
'B' was taken on lease by 'N'. The parties had been living together.
G
In 1960, however, the deed oflease was executed in favour of appellant
who was eldest son of 'N'. After coming into force of the Karnataka Land
Reforms Act, 1961, he filed a suit for declaration that he had been cultivating
the said· lease hold property for and on behalf of all the heirs and LRs of 'N'.

283 H
284 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2007] 6 S.C.R.

A Occupancy right was granted in his favour.

One or the respondents 'A' died intestate without leaving any heir and
his I/5th share devolved on appellant and respondent nos. I to 3 and respondent
no.4, widow of brother 'S'. The 'C' schedule property belonged to 'A'. On his
death, it devolved upon all his heirs. Properties described in Schedule 'D'
B was obtained by 'N' in partition between him and his sisters. Thus, on his
death, the same devolved upon his children.

The Trial Judge rejected the claim of the appellant holding that the
settlement made in his favour by grant of occupancy right in the year 1974 •
enured to the benefit of all the heirs and legal representatives of 'N'.
C Admission on the part of the appellant who examined himself as D.W.I,
according to the trial judge, established that it was 'N' who had taken the
said property on lease and only on his advice and at his instance the deed of
lease was executed by the landlord in favour of the appellant. The said finding
of the trial judge has been affirmed by the High Court.

D In appeal to this Court, appellant contended that the grant of lease in
favour of tenant at the material time was governed by the provisions of the
Madras Cultivating Tenants Protection Act, 1955 and that by reason thereof,
the appellant alone became the tenant in respect of the property in suit; that
upon coming into force of the Karnatka Land Reforms Act, 1961 the tenants
were required to file declaration and as the Land Tribunal has the exclusive
E jurisdiction to determine the question as to whether the lease in terms of
1955 Act had been granted in favour of the appellant for the benefit of the
entire joint family or not, even could not have been determined by the Civil
Court; that occupancy right could not have been granted in favour of 'N'
although he might have been the original lessee and that the parties admittedly
F are governed under Aliyasanthana Customary Law and not under the
Mitakshara School of Hindu Law and in that view of the matter, the concept of
joint family property as is ordinarily understood could have been applied for
determination of the issues involved in the suit. The Trial Judge as also the
High Court, therefore, have committed a serious error in passing a decree
for partition in respect of Schedule (B) property.
G
Partly allowing the appeal, the Court

HELD : I. The judgments of the Trial Court as also the High Court in
respect of the properties described in Schedule (B) and (C) of the plaint are ;... -
affirmed. However, in respect of Schedule "D" property, it is set aside.
H [Para 34] [295-8)
THIMMAPPA RAJ v. RAMANNA RAJ 285

2.1. Madras Cultivating Tenants Protection Act, 1955 was enacted for A
protection from eviction of cultivating tenant in certain areas in the then State
of Madras. Cultivating Tenant has been defined in s.2(a), as a person who
carries on personal cultivation of land under a tenancy agreement expressed
or implied, including one who continueetil land after determination of the
tenancy agreement. A landlord is prohibited from evicting him whether in B
execution of a decree or an order of a court or otherwise.
[Para 13 and 141 (290-8, D, El

2.2. The properties described in Schedule (B) of the plaint was, thus,
subject matter of mortgage. 'N' allegedly had become weak and was not in a
position to cultivate the lands personally. The cultivation work, therefore, C
was entrusted to and carried on by his eldest son, the appellant. He, however,
on his own showing, was cultivating the said lands not only on his behalf, but
also on behalf of his brothers and sisters. S.4-8of1955 Act provides for the
mode and manner in which a deed of lease is required to be executed. The
said Act, however, does not contain any prohibition from obtaining a lease by
the cultivating tenant for and on behalf of other members of family. In absence D
of any public policy having been laid down under the statute, the said Act cannot
be construed to provide exclusive title only upon the lessee named in the deed
of lease irrespective of the fact as to whether he himself was a cultivating
tenant or had been continuing in the cultivating possession on behalf of all
members of his family. (Paras 15 and 161 (290-E, F, G, H; 291-AI E
3. Karnataka Land Reforms Act came into force in 1961. Joint family
has been defined in s.17 therein to mean not only an undivided Hindu family
in the case of persons governed by Hindu Law but also a group or a unit, the
members by which are by custom joint in estate or residence. A finding of
fact has been arrived at by the Trial Judge that the parties as also the said F
'N' had been in joint possession of the properties and were having a joint
residence at all material times. [Para 171 (291-A, Bl

Booda Poojary v. Thomu Poojarthy, ILR (1992) Kar. 1359 and
Veerabhadrappam & Ors. v. Virupaxappa Totappa Bilebal, ILR (1998) Kar.
~~~~ G
4. It is not correct to contend that the courts below wrongly proceeded
on the basis that the parties are governed by the Mitakshara School of Hindu
Law. A joint family, as its definition show, may consist a group of persons,
and, thus, they need not be joint tenants. They may be tenants in common but
still then if they are in joint possession of a property, the same would vest in H
286 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007} 6 S.C.R.

A all of them, although certificate may be granted in favour of only one.
[Para 24] [292-F, G]

5.1. An admission made by a party to the suit in an earlier proceedings
is admissible as against him. Such an admission being a relevant fact, the
courts below were entitled to take notice thereof for arriving at a decision
B relying on or on the basis thereof together with other materials brought on
records by the parties. Once a party to the suit makes an admission, the
same can be taken in aid, for determination of the issue having regard to the
provisions of Section 58 of the Indian Evidence Act. In this view of the matter,
the findings of the Trial Judge as affirmed by the High Court could not be
C held to be in law only because the parties are not governed by the Mitakshara
School of Hindu Law. [Paras 25 and 26] [292-H; 293-A, B[

5.2. In a case involving 'Shet Sanadi' land despite Karnataka Village
Offices Abolition Act, 1961, it was held that re-grant in the name of the eldest
son would not take away the right of the junior member of the family who has
D interest in village office to seek partition for possession of his share therein.
Therefore, the findings of the courts below in respect of Schedule (B)
properties cannot be interfered with. [Para 27 and 30] [293-C; 294-D]

Mohamadsa & Ors. v. Allisa & Ors., (1998) 2 KL T 89; Balawwa & Anr.
v. Hasanabi & Ors., [2000] 9 SCC 272 and Mudakappa v. Rudrappa & Ors.,
E [1994] 2 sec 57, referred to.

6. Findings of the courts below, so far as Schedule (C) property is
concerned, is not in issue. A finding of fact has been arrived at that same
belonged to 'A' and thus it devolved upon all the parties in equal shares. The
said finding cannot be disturbed. [Para 11] [289-F, G]
F
7. Finding of the courts below in respect of Schedule (D) appears to be
that although same was the exclusive property of 'N' and thus on his death
the same devolved upon his heirs and legal representatives in equal shares.
As the appellant herein was held to be in cultivating possession of the
G Schedule (B) property, the amount of consideration paid to 'S' for the p11rpose
of obtaining relinquishment of his share was held to have been met from the
joint family. There being absence of any 'joint family' governed by the School
of Hindu Law, there could not have existed any joint fund, which conceptualizes
existence of a nucleus. The parties were tenants in common. They had
definite share in the properties in suit. Only because they were residing
H together or possessing some cultivating lands jointly, the same by itself would
THIMMAPPA RAJ v. RAMANNA RAJ [S.B. SINHA, J.] 287
)
not give rise to a presumption that there existed a joint family fund having a A
joint nucleus. It was for the plaintiff to specifically plead and prove the same.
There is neither any pleading in that behalf far less any proof. A presumption
has been raised by the Trial Judge wherefor there existed no legal basis. The
finding of the Trial Judge or the High Court in this behalf, therefore, cannot
be upheld. The appellant thus was also be entitled to 1/Sth share of 'S' as
also property obtained by him and the first defendant herein jointly from one B
of the sisters.
[Paras 12, 31, 32 and 33) (289-G, H; 290-A; 294, E, F, G; 295-A)

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No. 7133 of2000.

From the Final Judgment and Order dated 04.03.1999 of the High Court C
of Kamataka at Bangalore in R.F.A. No. 377 of 1992.

Kiran Suri and SJ. Amith for the Appellant.

S.N. Bhat, N.P.S. Panwar and D.P. Chaturvedi for the Respondents.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by D

S.B. SINHA, J. I. Defendant in the original suit is the appellant before
us being aggrieved by and dissatisfied with the judgment and decree dated
4.3.1999 passed by the High Court of Karnataka at Bangalore in RFA No. 377
of 1992 affirming the judgment and decree dated 31.3.1992 in a suit for E
partition filed by the respondents herein passed by the Court of Civil Judge,
Puttur, D. Kannada.

2. The relationship between the parties herein is not in dispute which
would appear from the genealogical table given hereinafter.
Narayana Rai F
11

I
I
(Thimmappa (Aithappa (Subbayya (Ramanna (Padmavathi (Savithci
Rai-elder son) Rai Rai (son Rai-son) daughter) (daughter)
(def.I- Younger since dece- (plaintiff- (Def. No. 2- (deft. No. 3-
G
Appellant) son-since ased) = respondent- Respondent respondent
deceased Sunanda) No. I No. 2 No. 3
(wife)
(defendant
no. 4-
respondent
no. 4 H
'

l
A
288 SUPREME COURT REPORTS

3. Wife ofNarayana Rai whose wife pre-deceased him.
[2007] 6 S.C.R.
-
4. Respondent herein filed a suit for partition in respect of the properties
described in schedules "B", "C" and "D" of the plaint. The property described
in schedule "B" of the plaint belonged to one Muddekatta Ramappa Gowda.
The same had been taken on lease by Narayana Rai on 'chalageni' basis long
B back. Allegedly parties hereto were holding the same jointly with the 5aid
Narayana Rai. Improvements have allegedly been effected therein. The
parties had been living together.

5. In or about 1960 a deed of lease was, however, executed in favour
of the appellant. He was aged about 17 or 18 at that point of time. After
C coming into force of the Kamataka Land Reforms Act, 1961 he filed a suit for
declaration that he had been cultivating the said leasehold property for and
on behalfofall the heirs and legal representatives ofNarayana Rai. Occupancy
right was granted in his favour by an Order dated 6.6.1979. A patta was also
granted in his favour by the State of Kamataka on or about 21.12.1980. It
D is not in dispute that Aithappa died intestate without leaving any heir and
his I/5th share devolved on plaintiff and defendant Nos. I to 3 as well as
defendant No. 4 (widow of Subbayya Rai).

6. So far as the "C" Schedule property is concerned, there is not much
dispute in respect thereof. It belonged to Aithappa. He applied for grant
E of sanction of the State therefor, which having been granted, the same was
assigned in his name. It was the self acquired and thus, absolute property
of Aithappa Rai. On his death, it devolved upon all his heirs.

7. Insofar as the properties described in Schedule "D" of the plaint, are
concerned, Narayana Rai obtained the same in a partition by and between him
F and his sisters which took place on 8.8.1962. Thus, on his death the same
devolved upon his children. It was furthermore the case of the first respondent
that late Subbayya Rai relinquished his share and right in favour of the
defendant No. 1 in terms of a registered deed dated 9.3.1978. In a similar
manner, defendant No. 2 who inherited I/5th share in the "D" Schedule
G property exchanged his share with the plaintiff and defendant No. I under
a deed of exchange dated 15.9.1976. The plaintiff, therefore, claimed 2/5th
share in the said property.

8. The learned Trial Judge rejected the claim of the appellant holding
that the settlement made in his favour by grant of occupancy right in the year
H 1974 enured to the benefit of all the heirs and legal representatives ofNarayana
-
THIMMAPPA RAI v. RAMANNA RAI [S.B. SINHA, J.] 289
RaL Admission on the part of the appellant who examined himself as D.W. A
I, according to the learned trial judge, established that it was Narayana Rai
who had taken the said property on lease and only on his advice and at his
instance the deed of lease was executed by the landlord in favour of the
appellant. The said finding of the learned trial judge has been affirmed by
the High Court.
B
9. Ms. Kiran Suri, the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the
appellant, however, would draw our attention to the fact that grant of lease
in favour of a tenant at the material time was governed by the provisions of
the Madras Cultivating Tenants Protection Act, 1955 to contend that by
reason thereof, the appellant alone became the lesser in respect of the property C
in suit as Section 4-B of the said Act provides for the mode and manner in
which a deed of lease is to be executed, from a perusal whereof, it would
appear that it was only the lessee named in the said deed would retain with
him a copy of the deed of lease towards the point at to show that each such
demise must be held to be made in favour of the tenant.
D
10. It was urged that upon coming into force of the Karnataka Land
Reforms Act, 1961 the tenants were required to file declaration and as the
Land Tribunal has the exclusive jurisdiction to determine the question as to
whether the lease in terms of 1955 Act had been granted in favour of the
appellant for the benefit of the entire joint family or not, even could not have
been determined by the Civil Court. The learned counsel would submit that E
occupancy right could not have been granted in favour of Narayana Rai
although he might have been the original lessee. Ms. Suri submitted that the
parties admittedly are governed under Aliyasanthana Customary Law and not
under the Mitakshara School of Hindu Law and in that view of the matter, the
concept of joint family property as is ordinarily understood could have been F
applied for determination of the issues involved in the suit. The learned Trial
Judge as also the High Court, therefore, have committed a serious error in
passing a decree for partition in respect of Schedule (B) property.

11. Findings of the courts below, so far as Schedule (C) property is
concerned, is not in issue. A finding of fact has been arrived at that same G
belonged to Aithappa and thus it devolved upon all the parties in equal
shares. The said finding cannot be disturbed.

12. Finding of the courts below in respect of Schedule (D) appears to
be that although same was the exclusive property of Narayana Rai and thus
on his death the same devolved upon his heirs and legal representatives in H
290 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007] 6 S.C.R.

A equal shares. As the appellant herein was held to be in cultivating possession -f
..
of the Schedule (B) property, the amount of consideration paid to Subbayya
Rai for the purpose of obtaining relinquishment of his share was held to have
been met from the joint family fund.

13. Madras Cultivating Tenants Protection Act, 1955 was enacted for
B protection from eviction of cultivating tenant in certain areas in the then State
of Madras. Cultivating Tenant has been defined in Section 2(a) of the said
Act to mean;

2 (a) "Cultivating tenant" in relation to any land means a person who
carries on personal cultivation on such land, under a_ tenancy
c agreement, express or implied; and includes

(i) any such person who continues in possession of the land
after the determination of the tenancy agreement, and
(ii) the heirs of such person, but does not include a mere
D intermediary or his heirs."

14. Thus, inte~ alia a person, who thus, carries on personal cultivation
of said land under a tenancy agreement expressed or implied, including one
who continues in land after determination of the tenancy agreement in terms
of the provisions of the Act, would be a cultivating tenant under the said Act
E and a landlord is prohibited from evicting him whether in execution of a decree
or an order of a court or otherwise.

15. The properties described in Schedule (B) of the plaint was, thus,
subject matter of mortgage. Narayana Rai allegedly had become weak and
was not in a position to cultivate the lands personally. The cultivation work,
F therefore, was entrusted to and carried on by his eldest son, the appellant
herein. He however, on his own showing, was cultivating the said lands not
only on his own behalf, but also on behalf of his brothers and sisters.
Section 4-8 of 1955 Act to which our attention was drawn by Ms. Suri
provides for the mode and manner in which a deed of lease is required to be
G executed. The said Act, however, does not contain any prohibition from
obtaining a lease by the cultivating tenant for and on behalf of other members
of family.

16. In absence of any public policy having been laid down under the
statute, we are of the opinion that the said Act cannot be construed to
H provide of exclusive title only upon the lessee named in the deed of lease
THIMMAPPA RA! v. RAMANNA RA! [S.B. SINHA, J.] 291

irrespective of the fact as to whether he himself was a cultivating tenant or A
had been continuing in the cultivating possession on behalf of all members
of his family.

17. Karnataka Land Reforms Act came into force in 1961. Joint family
has been defined in Section 17 therein to mean not only an undivided Hindu
family in the case of persons governed by Hindu Law but also a group or B
a unit, the members by which are by custom joint in estate or residence. A
finding of fact has been arrived at by the learned Trial Judge that the parties
herein as also the said Narayana Rai had been in joint possession of the
properties and were having a joint residence at all material times.

18. Section 4 of the 1961 Act provides that a person lawfully cultivating c
any land belonging to another person shall be deemed to be a tenant, if such
land is cultivated personally by the owner.

19. We have noticed hereinbefore that upon constitution of the Land
Tribunal, a declaration was filed by the appellant himself categorically admitting D
and acknowledging his possession to be for and on behalf of all the members
of the family. There was no !is pending before the Land Tribunal on the said
issue and the Court was not required to enter into the question as to whether
the said properties belong to the parties hereto jointly or the appellant herein
exclusively. It is on the basis of the said declaration and keeping in view
the fact that lease had been granted in favour of the appellant herein, it was E
declared to be an occupancy right in terms of Section 45 and Section 48A
of the said Act. Form No. 7 to which our attention has been drawn does
not militate against the contention of the plaintiff that such a declaration on
the part of the appellant is not impermissible in law.

20. A certificate of registration granted in favour of a tenant as an F
occupant under Section 55(1) of the Karnataka Land Reforms Act, 1961 and
Rule 21 of the Kamataka Land Reform Rules, 1974 as specified in form 10 also
is not of much significance. Submission of Ms. Suri that the Civil Courts have
no jurisdiction in this behalf cannot be accepted. It may be true that in terms
of Section 48A of the 1961 Act, the Tribunal has jurisdiction to go into all G
questions of tenancy, grant or refusal of occupancy right and rival claims in
respect of their leasehold right, but this would not mean that although there
had been no determination as such by the learned Tribunal and parties
proceeded on the basis of the admission made by the appellant himself that
the Schedule (B) Properties were jointly possessed by the parties, a suit for
partition would not be maintainable. H
292 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2007] 6 S.C.R.

A 21. Strong reliance has been placed by Ms. Suri on a full bench decision
of the Kamataka High Court in Booda Poojary. v Thomu Poojarthy. reported
in ILR 1992 Kar. 1359, wherein it was held;

" ... The legal position that emerges is, while deciding the rights of
rival claimants, if it becomes necessary to decide questions incidental
B and or ancillary to the main question to be decided, the main question
being who is entitled to be registered as an occupant, the Tribunal
has to necessarily examine the question as to whether the applicant
is a tenant or not and without deciding such question it cannot
effectively discharge its duty of disposing of the applications filed
under Section 48A of the Act. The grant of occupancy rights by the
c Tribunal to an individual in respect of joint family tenanted lands will
not have the effect of converting that into a separate property of that
individual nor the occupancy rights granted in respect of personal
tenancy of that individual would acquire a different character....."

D 22. The said decision therefore does not assist the appellant.

23. On the other hand in Veerabhadrappam & Ors. v. Virupaxappa
Totappa Bilebal, ILR (1998) Kar. 2508, it was categorically held;

"6. This Court has already taken the view that once the tenancy is
granted even to one member of the family, it is for the benefit of the
E
family. In this case, admittedly, it is the joint tenancy. The Tribunal
has declared that it is a joint tenancy or in the eye of law it is a joint
tenancy, even if it is given to one of the members. In my opinion, it
is only an acquisition of the property by two members of the joint
family, and certainly the Civil Court has jurisdiction to decide the same
F is the view expressed by me in SRI RUDRAYYA v. BASAYYA AND
ORS.,"

24. We have noticed hereinbefore the definition of a joint family. It
is not correct to contend that the courts below wrongly proceeded on the
basis that the parties are governed by the Mitakshara School of Hindu Law.
G A joint family, as its definition show, may consist a group of persons, and,
thus, they need not be joint tenants. They may be tenants in common but
-
still then if they are in joint possession of a property, the same would vest
in all of them, although certificate may be granted in favour of only one.

25. An admission made by a party to the suit in an earlier proceedings
H
THIMMAPPA RAJ v. RAMANNA RA! [S.B. SINHA, J.] 293
~is admissible as against him. Such an admission being a relevant fact, the A
courts below in our opinion were entitled to take notice thereof for arriving
at a decision relying on or on the basis thereof together with other materials
,brought on records by the parties. Once a party to the suit makes an
·~dmission, the same can be taken in aid, for determination of the issue having
regard to the provisions of Section 58 of the Indian Evidence Act.
B
26. In this view of the matter, the findings of the learned Trial Judge as
affirmed by the High Court, in our opinion, could not be held to be bad in
law only because the parties are not governed by the Mitakshara School of
Hindu Law.

27. We may, furthermore, notice that in a case involving 'Shet Sanadi'
c
land despite Karnataka Village Offices Abolition Act, 1961, it was held that
re-grant in the name of the eldest son would not take away the right of the
junior member of the family who has interest in village office to seek partition
and for possession of his share therein. [See Mohamadsa & Ors. v Allisa &
Ors.. (1988) 2 KLT 89]. D
28. To the same effect, a division bench of this Court in Balawwa and
Anr. v. Hasanabi and Ors., [2000] 9 SCC 272, wherein the law was stated in
the following terms;

"7. Having examined the provisions of the Kamataka Land Reforms E
Act and the aforesaid two judgments of this Court, we have no doubt
in our mind that the civil court cannot be said to be ousted of the
jurisdiction, in granting the relief sought for. It is too well settled that
when a Special Tribunal is created under a special statute and the
jurisdiction of the civil court is sought to be ousted under the said
statute, it is only in respect of those reliefs which could be granted F
by the Special Tribunal under the special statute, the jurisdiction of
the civil court cannot be said to be ousted.

8. Looking at the provisions of Section 48-A of the Karnataka Land
Reforms Act and the relief which is sought for i11 the present case,
it is difficult to hold that the Tribunal had the jurisdiction to grant the G
said relief so as to oust the jurisdiction of the dvil court. Under
Section 48-A, the Tribunal can only grant the relief of declaring the
. .-.... occupancy right in favour of an applicant provided the preconditions
for the same are satisfied, namely, that the land was in the possession
of the tenant concerned on the relevant date. That being the position H
294 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2007] 6 S.C.R.

A and the Tribunal under the Land Reforms Act not having the~
jurisdiction to grant relief of partition, the civil court itself has the
jurisdiction to entertain the suit for partition. The first contention of
the learned counsel for the appellants is, therefore, devoid of any.
force."

B 29. Reliance, however, has been place"d by Ms. Suri on Mudakappa v.
Rudrappa and Ors., [1994] 2 SCC 57. The said decision has been noticed
in Balawwa (supra). In Mudakappa (supra) itself it was held that such a
question can be gone into by the Tribunal. It was no doubt opined that civil
court's jurisdiction under Section 99, Code of Civil Procedure by necessary
C implication stood ousted, but, apart from the fact that it was rendered in a
case where the decision of the Land Tribunal was in question but in this case
the tribunal had proceeded to grant certificate of occupancy right having
regard to the declarations made by all the members of the family, the suit for&
partition in our opinion was maintainable. Furthermore, the question as to
whether the Civil Court had jurisdiction or not was not in issue in the suit.
D Such a contention has also not been raised before the High Court.

30. We, therefore, are of the opinion that the finding of the courts below ,_
in respect of Schedule (B) properties cannot be interfered with. -4

3 I. Sofar as Schedule (D) properties are concerned, we are, however, of
E the opinion that the learned Trial Judge was not correct in arriving at the
conclusion that only because the appellant herein was in possession of the
Schedule (B) properties on behalf of other co-owners, the same would itself
give rise to a presumption .that the amount of consideration paid for acquisition
thereof, was not from the joint family fund. There being absence of any
F 'joint family' governed by the School of Hindu Law, there could not have
existed any joint fund, which conceptualizes existence of a nucleus. The
parties were tenants in common. They had definite share in the properties
in suit. Only because they were residing together or possessing some
cultivating lands jointly, the same by itself would not give rise to a presumption
that there existed a joint family fund having a joint nucleus.
G
32. It was, for the plaintiff to specifically plead and prove the sam~.
There is neither any pleading in that behalf, far less any proof. A presumption
has been raised by the learned Trial Judge wherefor there existed no legal
;. .
basis. The finding of the learned Trial Judge or the High Court in this behalf,
therefore, cannot be upheld.
H
THIMMAPPA RAJ v. RAMANNA RAJ [S.B. SINHA. J.] 295
I' 33. For the foregoing reasons, the appeal is allowed in part namely in A
respect of the properties described in Schedule (D) of the plaint to the effect
that the appellant herein was also be entitled to 1/5 share of the Subbayya
Rai as also property obtained by him and the first defendant herein jointly
·from one of the sisters.

34. The judgments of the Trial Court as also the High Court in respect B
of the properties described in Schedule (B) and (C) of the plaint are affirmed.
However, in respect of Schedule "D" property, it is set aside. Appeal is
allowed in part. In view of the facts and circumstances of the case, the
..,parties shall pay and bear their own costs.

D.G. Appeal Partly allowed. c