Full Judgment Text
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NONREPORTABLE
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL NO. 8103 OF 2011
Rengan Ambalam and Anr. .. Appellants
Versus
Sheik Dawood and Ors. .. Respondents
J U D G M E N T
M. R. Shah, J.
1. Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied with the impugned
judgment and order dated 02.07.2007 passed by the High Court
of Madras in Second Appeal No. 1900 of 1991 by which the High
Court has allowed the said appeal preferred by the original
defendant Nos. 3 and 4 and has quashed and set aside the
judgment and order passed by the learned First Appellate Court
as well as the learned Trial Court decreeing the suit and
consequently dismissing the suit, the original plaintiff and
Signature Not Verified
Digitally signed by
VISHAL ANAND
Date: 2019.05.10
11:16:14 IST
Reason:
original defendant No. 2 have preferred the present appeal.
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2. The facts leading to the present appeal in nutshell are as
under:
That appellant No. 1 herein – Rengan Ambalam instituted the
suit against the original defendants before the learned Sub
Court, Pudukkottai, being O.S. No. 73 of 1987 praying for the
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partition claiming his 1/3 share in the joint family properties
and the possession thereon. It is required to be noted that the
original defendant No. 1 was the father of the plaintiff and
defendant No. 2 and therefore the plaintiff claimed that all of
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them have 1/3 share in the joint family properties, more
particularly, the suit “B” Schedule property. It was the case on
behalf of the plaintiff that the suit property belonged to the
grandfather of the plaintiff and defendant No. 2 and father of
defendant No. 1Kuppamuthu Ambalam. The said Kuppamathu
Ambalam had five sons, including defendant No. 1. That, in a
partition in the year 1966, amongst the five brothers the suit
properties came to the share of defendant No. 1 Rengan
Ambalam, father of the plaintiff and defendant No. 2. It was the
case on behalf of the plaintiff that those properties were being
enjoined in common by the plaintiff and defendant Nos. 1 and 2
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and therefore all of them are entitled to 1/3 share each. It was
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also the case on behalf of the original plaintiff that his father
defendant No. 1 was acting adversely to the interest of the
plaintiff and with a view to defeat the rights of the plaintiff,
defendant No. 1father mortgaged the suit “B” schedule
properties for a sum of Rs.3,000/ in favour of one Subbaiya
Nadar. According to the plaintiff, there was no necessity for
mortgaging the suit properties. That the plaintiff objected to
that mortgage. According to the plaintiff, despite his objections,
thereafter the original defendant No. 1father sold the suit “B”
schedule properties in favour of defendant Nos. 3 and 4, as if the
properties belonged to him himself and his brother’s sons. It
was the case on behalf of the plaintiff that in fact the property set
out in schedule “B” is still in the possession and enjoyment of the
plaintiff. According to the plaintiff, relying on his exclusive
possession, the plaintiff caused a notice to his father and the
mortgageeSubbaiah Nadar that they should not trespass in the
suit property. As the suit “B” schedule property was sold by
defendant No. 1father in favour of defendant Nos. 3 and 4, the
plaintiff instituted the aforesaid suit for partition, possession and
mesne profits. It was also the case on behalf of the plaintiff that
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as he is not signatory to the sale deed in favour of defendant Nos.
3 and 4, the said sale deed is not binding on him.
2.1 The suit was resisted by defendant Nos. 3 and 4 by filing the
written statement. It is required to be noted that during the
pendency of the suit, the original defendant No.1father died and,
therefore, he could not be examined before the Trial Court and
therefore the suit was resisted by defendant Nos. 3 and 4 to
protect his rights under the sale deed which was executed by
defendant No. 1 during his lifetime. It was the case on behalf of
defendant Nos. 3 and 4 that the plaintiff was not in possession
and/or enjoyment of the suit property. Defendant No. 1 father
and family manager was managing the properties till his death.
That defendant No. 1’s family was joint and undivided
continuously. That defendant No. 1father and Manager of the
family, was managing the family with great difficulty by obtaining
the loans and therefore, “B” schedule property was mortgaged by
defendant No. 1 to Subbaiah Nadar. That the suit property was
mortgaged due to the legal necessity. That the sale of the “B”
schedule property to defendant Nos. 3 and 4 was necessitated on
account of the insistence of Subbaiah Nadarmortgagee. That
Subbaiah Nadar allowed defendant No. 1 to harvest the crops in
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“B” schedule property, for which a portion of the produce was
paid towards interest. Thereafter, Subbaiah Nadar wanted
return of his money from defendant No. 1, defendant No. 1 has
no other alternative except selling the property to defendant Nos.
3 and 4. Therefore, to pay the mortgaged money and release the
mortgage and to pay other dues/loans, defendant No. 1 sold the
property to defendant Nos. 3 and 4. Therefore, it was the case on
behalf of defendant Nos. 3 that the suit “B” schedule property
was sold by defendant No. 1 as a Manager of the joint family and
due to the legal necessity. Therefore, it was prayed to dismiss the
suit.
2.2 The learned Trial Court framed the following issued:
1. Whether the plaintiff is entitled to get the relief of
partition as asked for by him in the plaint?
2. Whether the plaintiff has got right to ask for reliefs
relating to ‘B’ schedule property?
3. Whether the sale with regard to ‘B’ schedule property on
27.02.1983 would bind on the plaintiff?
4. Whether the plaintiff is in possession of the ‘B’ schedule
property?
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5. In case if the plaintiff is entitled to get the relief of
partition, whether it would be just to allot the ‘B’
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schedule property to the 1 defendant and thereby allow
his vendees to get them?
6. Whether the partition would be effected as asked for by
the plaintiff only after settle for the maintenance of the
family female members, their marriage expenses, and
family loans?
7. To what other reliefs is the plaintiff entitled to?
2.3 On behalf of the plaintiff, he himself stepped into the
witness box. On behalf of defendant Nos. 3 and 4, defendant No.
3 stepped into the witness box as P.W.1. The documentary
evidence were placed on record through the aforesaid witnesses
which include the original mortgage deed; notice given by the
plaintiff; reply to the notice of the plaintiff given by defendant No.
1 and the sale deed executed by defendant No. 1 in favour of
defendant Nos. 3 and 4. That, on appreciation of evidence, the
learned Trial Court decreed the suit and held that the plaintiff
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has 1/3 share in “B” schedule property. The learned Trial Court
also held that as the plaintiff is not signatory to the sale deed, the
same is not binding on him. The appeal filed by defendant Nos.
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3 and 4 before the learned First Appellate Court came to be
dismissed. The original defendant Nos. 3 and 4purchsers filed
the second appeal before the High Court and by the impugned
judgment and order, the High Court has allowed the second
appeal and has quashed and set aside the judgment and decree
passed by the learned Trial Court, confirmed by the learned First
Appellate Court and consequently has dismissed the suit.
Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied with the impugned judgment
and order passed by the High Court, the original plaintiff and
original defendant No. 2 have preferred the present appeal.
3. Shri R. Venkataramani, learned Senior Advocate has
appeared on behalf of the appellants and Shri Vikas Singh,
learned Advocate has appeared on behalf of the respondents.
3.1 Shri Venkataramani, learned counsel appearing on behalf of
the appellants has vehemently submitted that, in the facts and
circumstances of the case, the High Court has committed a grave
error in allowing the Second Appeal and quashing and setting
aside the concurrent findings of fact recorded by both the Courts
below. It is vehemently submitted by the learned counsel
appearing on behalf of the appellants that, in the present case,
the High Court has not exercised its jurisdiction in conformation
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with the provisions of Section 100 of the CPC. It is submitted
that after framing the substantial questions of law, which are
also inappropriately framed, the High Court has merely
undertaken the factual enquiry not warranted by Section 100
CPC. Relying upon the recent decision of this Court in the case
of Gurnam Singh v. Lehna Singh (2019) SCC Online SC 374, it
is prayed to allow the present appeal.
3.2 It is further submitted by the learned counsel appearing on
behalf of the appellants that, in the present case, both the Courts
below the learned Trial Court as well as the First Appellate
Court specifically gave the concurrent findings, which are as
under:
i) the mortgage debt created by the father in 1981 and
the sale deed executed in 1983 to discharge the
mortgage debt cannot be considered as antecedent
debt. A debt to become antecedent debt it should be
antecedent in fact as well as in time.
ii) it is created for the purpose of defeating the
petitioner’s right/share in the suit property at the
instigation of the D.W.3, Alagappan who is inimical
towards the petitioner.
iii) the Ex. A16, sale deed dated 27283 is without
adequate consideration and such sale not a valid one
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because an agreement for sale of the same suit
property was entered in which it was agreed to sell at
Rs.10,500/. Ex. A49, Sale agreement dated 110
82 in favour of one Ramalingam.
iv) the purchasers are not bonafide purchasers since
admittedly they are family friends who are well aware
of the dispute and purchased the property knowing
fully well about the dispute between the father and
son regarding the suit property.
v) Perusal of Ex. A11 dated 10481 police complaint
makes it clear that there was a division in status
between the plaintiff and his father. FIR is evident to
show that there is divisional status of joint family
and hence father cannot act as a manager.
vi) it is clear from the recital of the sale deed that the
plaintiff’s father has not executed the sale deed in a
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capacity as manager of the joint family. The 2 cross
appellant was a minor at the time of executing the
sale deed.
vii) the suit property was purchased from the persons
who are not having right over the property.
viii) the Hon’ble High Court failed to appreciate that the
adult members of the family are well within their
rights in saying that no part of the family property
could be parted with or agreed to be parted with by
the manager on the ground of alleged benefit to the
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family without consulting them. The alienation of the
joint family property in this case was bad.
It is submitted that as the aforesaid findings were recorded by the
Courts below on appreciation of evidence and therefore the High
Court in exercise of powers under Section 100 CPC is not justified
in reversing those findings which were on appreciation of
evidence on record.
3.3 It is further submitted by the learned counsel appearing on
behalf of the appellants that, even otherwise, in the facts and
circumstances of the case, it cannot be said that the initial
mortgage by defendant No. 1 and thereafter the sale deed
executed by defendant No. 1 in favour of defendant Nos. 3 an 4
was due to the legal necessity and/or to pay the “antecedent
debt”. It is submitted that, in the present case, the mortgage
debt was created by the father in 1981 and the sale deed was
executed in 1983 to discharge the mortgage debt and, therefore, it
cannot be considered as “antecedent debt”. It is submitted that
as per the settled law, “antecedent debt” means antecedent in fact
as well as in time i.e. that the debt must be truly independent of
and not part of the transactions impeached. In support of his
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submissions, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the
appellants has relied upon the following decisions of this Court:
Narain Prasad and Another vs. Sarnam Singh and
Another , 44 I.A. 168
Suraj Bunsi Koer vs. Sheo Proshad Singh and others,
6 I.A. 88
Chet Ram and Others vs. Ram Singh and Others , 49
I.A. 228
, 51 I.A. 129
Brij Narain vs. Mangla Prasad and Others
Sahu Ram Chandra and Another vs. Bhup Singh and
Anohter , 44 I.A. 126
,
Panchaiti Akhara Udasi Nirwani vs. Surajpal Singh
A.I.R. (32) 1945 PC 1
3.4 It is further submitted by the learned counsel appearing on
behalf of the appellants that the High Court failed to appreciate
that there was a disruption of the joint family status and the
coparcener did not exist, following a decision in status of joint
family well before the mortgage or sale since the first appellant
demanded partition of the suit property from his father and also
send a legal notice opposing the mortgage of the suit property to
Subbaiah Nadar and further the first appellant gave a protest
petition to the Joint SubRegistrar I, Pudukottai informing that
his father is taking steps to sell the suit property and requested
not to register any sale of the suit property and thus it is clearly
established that there was an unequivocal declaration on the part
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of the appellant to remain separate from his father and thus there
was severance of the joint family status between the first
appellant and his father. It is submitted that, in such
circumstances, defendant No. 1 had no right to mortgage the joint
family property as he no longer continued to be the manager the
Hindu joint family. It is submitted that the High Court has failed
to appreciate that it is well settled law as held by this Court as
well as the Privy Council that for a severance in status all that is
required is a communication to other members of the joint family
of an unequivocal intention to separate.
3.5 It is further submitted by the learned counsel appearing on
behalf of the appellants that, in the present case, the father
acquired the property from his father and therefore the suit
property was an ancestral joint family property. It is submitted
that admittedly there was no partition thereafter. It is submitted
that as held by this Court in the case of
Kalyani (dead) by LRs
v. Narayanan AIR 1980 SC 1173, to constitute a partition all
that is necessary is a definite and unequivocal indication of
intention by a member of a joint family to separate himself from
the family. It is submitted that, as held, the partition in one
sense is a severance of joint status and coparcener of a
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coparcenary is entitled to claim it as a matter of his individual
volition.
3.6 Making the above submissions and relying upon the above
decisions, it is vehemently submitted that the sale deed in favour
of defendant Nos. 3 and 4 cannot be said to be to pay “antecedent
debt”. He submitted that even neither in the mortgage deed nor
in the sale deed it was specifically stated that the mortgage
deed/sale deed has been executed by the father as a manager of
the joint family and for and on behalf of the joint family. It is
submitted that therefore, as rightly held by the Courts below, the
sale deed was no binding on the plaintiff and/or the right of the
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plaintiff to claim the partition and his 1/3 share could not have
been taken away and/or affected.
3.7 Making the above submissions, it is prayed to allow the
present appeal and quash and set aside the impugned judgment
and order passed by the High Court and to restore the judgment
and decree passed by the learned Trial Court and confirmed by
the leaned First Appellate Court.
4. While opposing the present appeal, Shri Vikas Singh,
learned Advocate appearing on behalf of the respondentsoriginal
defendant Nos. 3 and 4 has relied upon the documentary
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evidence on record, more particularly, mortgage deed, lease deed
and sale deed and has vehemently submitted that all the three
aforesaid documents were executed by the fatherdefendant No. 1
for a legal necessity and to clear the debts of the family. It is
submitted that once that is so, thereafter, the plaintiff had no
right to claim the partition of the property which was already sold
to clear the “antecedent debts”. It is submitted that, therefore,
where it was found that the findings recorded by the Courts below
were perverse and contrary to the law, the High Court, in the
present case, is justified in interfering with the findings recorded
by the Courts below and has rightly allowed the appeal. It is
submitted that the High Court has framed and answered the
substantial questions of law. It is submitted that while answering
the substantial questions of law, the High Court is bound to
touch the evidence on record. It is submitted that merely
because while answering the substantial questions of law, the
evidence is discussed, it cannot be said that the High Court has
exceeded in its jurisdiction not vested in it under Section 100
CPC. It is submitted, therefore, in the facts and circumstances of
the case, no interference is called for by this Court.
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4.1 Making the above submissions, it is prayed to dismiss the
present appeal.
5. Heard learned Counsel appearing on behalf of the respective
parties at length. We have considered in depth the impugned
judgment and order passed by the High Court as well as the
judgment and order passed by the Trial Court and the First
Appellate Court. We have also considered the evidences on
record – both oral and documentary.
5.1 That the original plaintiff instituted the suit for partition of
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the suit properties claiming 1/3 share. The suit “B” scheduled
property was sold by defendant No. 1father of the plaintiff in
favour of defendant Nos. 3 and 4. It was the case on behalf of
defendants (except defendant No. 2) that the suit “B” schedule
property was sold by the father during his lifetime to pay the
“antecedent debt”. The learned Trial Court as well as the learned
First Appellate Court did not accept that the “B” schedule
property was sold for the legal necessity and/or to repay the
“antecedent debt” and, therefore, it was held that the sale deed in
favour of defendant Nos. 3 and 4 was not binding on the plaintiff
and consequently decreed the suit. The High Court, on
appreciation of evidence and after considering the substantial
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questions of law, has allowed the appeal and set aside the
judgment and decree passed by the learned Trial Court,
confirmed by the learned First Appellate Court by holding that
the “B” schedule property was sold by original defendant No. 1
father during his lifetime to clear/pay/repay the “antecedent
debt”. Therefore, the short question which is posed for
consideration of this Court is whether, in the facts and
circumstances of the case, can it be said that the sale deed
executed by original defendant No. 1 in favour of defendant Nos. 3
and 4 was due to the legal necessity and/or to pay the
“antecedent debt”?
6. To answer the aforesaid question, few documentary
evidences which ultimately led to the sale of the property by
defendant No. 1 in favour of defendant Nos. 3 and 4 are required
to be considered.
6.1 The suit “B” schedule property was mortgaged on
26.02.1981 and a simple mortgage deed was executed for a sum
of Rs.3,000/. In the document Exh. B2, it is specifically
mentioned that Rs.3,000/ was received by the mortgagerfather
of the plaintifforiginal defendant No. 1 as a simple mortgage loan
for their family expenses. That, on the very day, a lease deed
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was executed in favour of the mortgagee (Exh. B4). From the
document produced at Exh. B6, it appears that a further sum of
Rs.1,000/ was received by the father as an additional loan
amount/additional lease amount. The mortgage deed was
opposed by the plaintiff by notice dated 11.09.1981. However, in
the reply to the notice by the father dated 16.10.1981, it was
specifically stated that he was striving hard to maintain himself,
his wife and two unmarried daughters, one young daughter and
another boy. It was also stated that he was aged coupled with
stonedeafness. It was further stated that the plaintiff has failed
to take care of the family members and he has no money and
therefore for the benefit of the family and in the interest of the
family, he has executed Varthamanan in lieu of the interest for
the mortgage. That, thereafter, defendant No. 1father sold the
suit property in favour of defendant Nos. 3 and 4 in the year 1983
for a sale consideration of Rs.6,700/. In the sale deed itself, it is
specifically mentioned that, out of the sale consideration of
Rs.6,700/, a sum of Rs.3,000/ having been paid to the vendors
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to settle the loan by mortgaging the schedule property by the 3
vendor and for redemption of the sum mortgaged. It was further
stated that the balance consideration i.e. Rs.3,700/ has been
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paid. That the sale deed executed in favour of defendant Nos. 3
and 4 by original defendant No. 1father can be said to be to
clear/pay the “antecedent debt” and for the legal necessity of the
family members. Therefore, in the facts and circumstances of the
case, we are of the firm opinion that no error has been committed
by the High Court in holding that the sale deed executed by
original defendant No. 1 in favour of defendant Nos. 3 and 4 was
for a legal necessity and to pay the “antecedent debt”. From the
evidence on record, it appears that the sale deed executed in the
year 1983 has a direct connection with the mortgage to repay the
mortgage money and to repay the further loan of Rs.1,000/.
Therefore, in the facts and circumstances of the case, the
decisions relied upon by the learned counsel appearing on behalf
of the appellants shall not be applicable to the facts of the case on
hand.
7. Now so far as the submission made on behalf of the
appellants that in exercise of powers under Section 100 CPC, the
High Court ought not to have interfered with the findings of fact
recorded by both the Courts below and ought not have re
appreciated the entire evidence of record is concerned, from the
impugned judgment and order passed by the High Court and in
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the facts and circumstances of the case, we are of the opinion
that the High Court has not exceeded in its jurisdiction while
deciding the appeal under Section 100 CPC. The High Court has
framed and answered the substantial questions of law referred to
in paragraph 7 of the impugned Judgment and Order. The
questions of law framed by the High Court are Substantial
Questions of Law, more particularly question No. 1. While
answering the aforesaid question of law, when the High Court has
discussed the evidence, it cannot be said that the High Court has
reappreciated the entire evidence of record. Many a times, while
deciding/answering the Substantial Question of Law, the
evidence on record is required to be discussed and/or considered.
But, by that itself, it cannot be said that it is a reappreciation of
the entire evidence on record, as sought to be contended on
behalf of the appellants.
8. In view of the above and for the reasons stated above, we see
no reason to interfere with the impugned judgment and order
passed by the High Court dated 02.07.2007. We are in complete
agreement with the view taken by the High Court. Under the
circumstances, the present appeal fails and the same deserves to
be dismissed and is accordingly dismissed. No costs.
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……………………………….J.
[L. NAGESWARA RAO]
NEW DELHI, ……………………………….J.
MAY 09, 2019. [M.R. SHAH]