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Smart Summary

Structured Summary of the Opinion by S.S. Grewal, J.

Factual and Procedural Background

This revision petition challenged the Appellate Court's order dated 18 March 1992 which set aside the order of the Senior Sub Judge dated 10 March 1992 and granted a temporary injunction restraining the defendants from raising any construction on the suit land until the suit was decided on merits. The Appellate Court directed the trial court to decide the case expeditiously, within six months.

The underlying suit was instituted by Chhajju Ram (plaintiff) against Om Parkash and others (defendants) to restrain construction on a parcel of land measuring 12 Kanals 15 Marlas in Village Bir Pipli, District Kurukshetra. The plaintiff alleged that Ram Saran Dass had been the owner and, after his death, the property was inherited by his widow Smt. Rameshwari Devi and daughters. One heir, Smt. Rekha, sold her 1/6th share to the plaintiff by registered sale deed dated 28 May 1991; the plaintiff claimed joint possession.

The plaintiff alleged that defendant Nos. 1 and 2, in collusion with defendant No. 3 (Halqa patwari), procured a partition by fraud and that the resulting mutation was illegal; the plaintiff sought declaration to that effect and a temporary injunction to restrain construction on the land. The defendants contended that a private partition (Mutation No. 1092, sanctioned 16.8.1991) had allotted exclusive possession to co-owners, that plaintiff only received a specific plot and had no title to the remainder, and that some of the defendants had purchased specific portions by registered sale deeds (including a purchase by Jiwan Dass on 3 May 1991). The defendants also asserted that construction was already in progress and building material was at the site.

Legal Issues Presented

  1. Whether, on the material placed before the Court, a private partition of the entire suit land among co-owners had in fact taken place such that certain defendants had become exclusive owners in possession of specific portions.
  2. Whether a co-sharer who is in exclusive possession of part of joint land may be restrained from raising construction on that portion during the pendency of a suit challenging the partition or mutation.
  3. Whether the Appellate Court erred in setting aside the trial court's order and granting a temporary injunction restraining defendants from raising construction on the suit land.

Arguments of the Parties

Plaintiff's Arguments

  • The plaintiff alleged that the mutation/partition was procured by fraud by defendant Nos. 1 and 2 in collusion with defendant No. 3 (Halqa patwari).
  • The plaintiff relied on a registered sale deed dated 28 May 1991 by which Smt. Rekha sold her 1/6th share to the plaintiff and asserted joint possession of the suit land.
  • The plaintiff maintained that defendants intended to raise construction on the front portion of the suit land and would cause irreparable loss; hence a temporary injunction was necessary.

Defendant-Petitioners' Arguments

  • The defendants contended that Mutation No. 1092 (16.8.1991) partitioned the land and allocated exclusive possession to each co-owner of their respective shares.
  • It was argued that the plaintiff only received plot No. 5 (1 Kanal) and had no right or title in the remaining suit land which fell to other co-owners.
  • Defendant No. 2 (Jiwan Dass) relied on a registered sale deed dated 3 May 1991 for specific lands; some portions were said to have been sold further to defendant No. 3.
  • The defendants submitted that the partition took place with the consent of all co-owners and that construction work and building materials were already at the site.
  • In the revision, the defendants principally argued that after private partition they were in exclusive possession of specific portions and that the Appellate Court erred in reversing the trial court's decision.

Table of Precedents Cited

Precedent Rule or Principle Cited For Application by the Court
Bhartu v. Ram Sarup, Full Bench, 1981 PLJ 204 Authoritative exposition of co-owners' rights: co-owner has interest in whole, possession of one is possession in law for all unless ouster, transferee gets transferor's rights; effect of sale by co-owner is a sale of portion of his share. The Court relied on this Full Bench authority to support the proposition that joint owners remain co-owners of the entire holding until regular partition; it was a principal authority supporting restraint on construction by a co-sharer in exclusive possession until partition.
Sant Ram Nagina Ram v. Day a Ram Nagina Ram and others, Division Bench, AIR 1961 Punjab 528 Set out inter se rights and liabilities of co-owners (enumerated rules (1)–(7) reproduced in the opinion). The Court relied on and followed those inter se principles to conclude that exclusive possession by one co-owner does not automatically oust others and to justify injunction against construction pending partition.
Mst. Parsini alias Mono v. Mohan Singh and others, Single Bench, 1982 PLJ 280 Held that a co-sharer in exclusive possession of a part of joint land cannot raise construction on that part as every co-sharer remains joint owner of the whole. The Court cited this Single Bench authority as supportive of the view that construction cannot be permitted by a co-sharer in exclusive possession prior to partition.
Daulat Ram v. Dalip Singh and others, Single Bench, 1989 (1) RLR 523 Authority to the same effect as Mst. Parsini: restriction on co-sharer raising construction on joint land while partition is pending. Used by the Court as further support for restraining defendants from raising construction during pendency of suit.
Jiwan Singh and others v. R. Kant and another, Single Bench, 1985 PLJ 193 Held that a co-sharer in exclusive possession of part not in excess of his share may raise construction and a joint owner not in possession may not restrain him. The defendants relied on this authority; the Court noted this view but observed that it did not notice Mst. Parsini's contrary view and that the Full Bench authority (Bhartu) takes precedence.
Pishora Singh v. Shrimati Lajo Bai, Single Bench, 1974 RLR 644 (also cited as 1974 Cur. LJ. 626) Earlier Single Bench authority supporting the proposition that a co-sharer in exclusive possession (within his share) can raise construction. The defendants relied on this decision; the Court observed it runs counter to the Full Bench decision and therefore cannot be relied upon over the Full Bench precedent.
Amar Singh and others v. Hira Singh and others, Single Bench, 1986 PLJ 41; Babu Ram and others v. Harjit Kaur and others, 1987 PLJ 122 Single Bench views running counter to the Full Bench in Bhartu's case. The Court held these Single Bench views could not be relied upon where they conflict with the Full Bench and Division Bench authorities relied upon by the Court.

Court's Reasoning and Analysis

The Court conducted a fact-sensitive analysis focused on the existence and proof of partition and the legal consequences of exclusive possession by a co-sharer prior to partition:

  1. The Court observed the alleged partition deed was not a registered document and remained to be proved on record; entries in the latest jamabandi (1986–1987) did not show any private partition among co-owners and, in fact, showed Ram Saran Dass as in exclusive possession of the entire suit land.
  2. Although a Khasra girdawari (kharif 1990–1991) indicated that 7 Marlas (Khasra No. 28/20/3) came to Jiwan Dass in partition proceedings, the Court found that in the absence of further cogent legal evidence it could not reasonably infer that a comprehensive partition of the entire suit land among all co-owners had taken place.
  3. The Court noted the defendants wished to construct or finish partially constructed shops on the front portion. Because the entire land was chahi (agricultural), construction would change the user of the land and would prejudice the rights of the plaintiff and other co-sharers.
  4. The Court rejected the sufficiency of the defendants' offer to undertake demolition/removal of malba if the plaintiff succeeded, holding such undertakings would not adequately compensate for the potential loss; thus the balance of convenience favoured the plaintiff.
  5. Legally, the Court relied on Full Bench and Division Bench authorities (Bhartu and Sant Ram Nagina Ram) to restate principles of co-ownership: one co-owner's possession is in law possession of all absent proof of hostile ouster; transferees acquire the transferor's rights under Section 44 of the Transfer of Property Act; sale of specified portions by a co-sharer is effectively sale of part of his share only until partition by meets and bounds.
  6. Given the lack of reliable proof of partition of the whole holding and the strong precedents endorsing constructive joint possession, the Court concluded that a co-sharer in exclusive possession could not be permitted to raise construction that would alter the nature/use of the joint land until regular partition was effected or until the suit determined rights on merits.
  7. The Court also considered, and rejected as controlling, various single-bench authorities relied upon by the defendants where those ran counter to the Full Bench precedent which the Court found binding.

Holding and Implications

REVISION PETITION DISMISSED

Direct effects on the parties:

  • The Court upheld the Appellate Court's order granting a temporary injunction restraining the defendants from raising new or further construction over the suit land during the pendency of the suit.
  • The revision petition was dismissed as without merit and the dismissal was made with no order as to costs.
  • The Court clarified that nothing in this order is intended to affect the parties' substantive rights on merits; the trial court was directed to dispose of the case expeditiously as previously directed by the lower Appellate Court, and a copy of the order was to be sent to the trial court for compliance.

Broader implications:

  • The decision applies established Full Bench and Division Bench principles concerning co-ownership and the limits on a co-sharer raising construction on jointly held land prior to partition. The Court declined to follow contrary single-bench authorities where they conflicted with the Full Bench pronouncement.
  • The opinion did not purport to lay down any new legal principle beyond applying existing authority; it remained a fact-specific application of recognized co-ownership rules pending adjudication on merits.

End of summary (prepared strictly on the basis of the text of the provided opinion).

    Om Parkash Petitioner, v. Chhaju Ram .

    S.S Grewal, J. — This revision petition is directed against the order of Addl. District Judge, Kurukshetra, dated 18th of March, 1992, whereby the order passed by Senior Sub Judge, Kurukshetra dated 10th of March, 1992, was set aside and temporary injunction was granted restraining the defendants from raising any sort of construction over the suit land till the decision of the suit on merits. The trial court was directed by the Appellate Court to decide the case expeditiously not later than six months.

    2. In brief, facts relevant for the disposal of this revision, petition are that Chhajju Ram plaintiff filed a suit against Om Parkash and other defendants from raising any type of construction over the suit land measuring 12 Kanals 15 Marlas situated in Village Bir Pipli District Kurukshetra, on the averments that Ram Saran Dass was owner in possession of the suit land, which, after his death was inherited by his widow Smt. Rameshwari Devi and his daughters. Smt. Rekha, one of he heirs, sold her 1/6th share out of the suit land to the plaintiff vide registered sale deed dated 28th of May, 1991 and as such the plaintiff is in joint possession of the suit land. It was further pleaded that defendant Nos. 1 and 2 in collusion with defendant No. 3 Halqa patwari got the suit land partitioned by playing fraud upon the plaintiff and therefore the plaintiff was constrained to file present suit for the declaration that the mutation on the basis of the petition is illegal, void and is an act of fraud, which is still pending. It was further pleaded that defendant Nos. 1 and 2 in collusion with defendant No. 3 are adamaant to raise construction on the front portion of the land in suit and in case the defendants are not restrained from doing so, the plaintiff shall suffer irreparable loss. On similar grounds, application for grant of temporary injunction was moved.

    3. The defendants pleaded that vide Mutation No. 1092 sanctioned on 16.8.1991, the land in suit stands partitioned between the co-owners and each co-owner has become exclusive owner in possession of land which fell to his share. It was pleaded that in partition plaintiff got plot No. 5 measuring 1 Kanal comprised in Khasra No. 28/21/4 and had no right or title in the remaining suit land which fell to the share of other co-owners. Even otherwise, the plaintiff has no right to file the suit and cannot seek injunction prayed for as Jiwan Dass defendant No. 2 purchased specific land measuring 2 Kanals 1 Marlas situated in Rect. No. 28 Khasra No. 20/6(1-1), 20/3(0-7), 21 min north (0-13) from smt. Rameshwari Devi widow of Ram Saran Dass, for a sum of Rs. 1,40,000/- vide registered sale deed dated 3rd of May, 1991. It was further pleaded that in the partition defendant No. 2 was allotted some land out of which plot measuring 70 square years (2 Marlas) was sold to defendant No. 3 and thus defendant Nos. 2 and 3 are exclusive owners in possession of the said land and have every right to raise construction thereon. It was next pleaded that the partition took place with the consent and free will of all the co-owners and that the construction work is going on at the spot and building material is also lying there.

    4. The learned counsel for the parties were heard. On behalf of the defendant-petitioners, it was mainly submitted that after the private partition took place between the co-owner on 15.6.1991, the defendants are in exclusive possession of specific portion of land which had fallen to their share in the partition proceedings and as such the plaintiff has no right or title in the suit land which is in exclusive possession of defendant Nos. 2 and 3 and that the Appellate Court had erred in law in reversing the well considered judgment of the trial court.

    5. The parties are at variance as far as the question of partition of land in suit amongst all the co-owner including the plaintiff is concerned. Thus the partition deed, which admittedly, is not a registered document, is yet to be proved on the record. Entries in the latest jamabandi for the year 1986-1987 produced before this Court by the learned counsel for the petitioners do not in any manner indicate that any private partition has taken place between the co-owners. Rather, Ram Saran Dass is shown to be in exclusive possession of the entire suit land. Copy of Khasra girdawari for kharif 1990-1991 does indicate that partition of land measuring 7 Marlas comprised in Khasra No. 28/20/3(0-7), came to the share of Jiwan Dass (defendant vendee) in partition proceedings. However, in the absence of other legal and cogent material on the record at this stage, it can not be reasonably inferred that any partition has taken place with regard to the entire suit land, between all the co-owners or that the joint owners became exclusive owners in possession of specific portion of suit land. Admittedly, the defendants want to construct/give finishing touch to the partially constructed shops on the front portion of the suit land. The entire land in suit being chahi, as such the construction would obviously change the user of the land in suit. Such an eventuality would also prejudice the rights of the plaintiff and other co-sharers in the suit land. Mere fact that defendants are ready and willing to give an undertaking to demolish such construction and taking away malba (if plaintiff succeeds), would not be sufficient to compensate loss or damage caused to the plaintiff. Rather, balance of convenience at this stage would be to restrain the defendants from raising any new/further construction over the land in dispute during the pendency of the suit. Thus the balance of convenience is also in favour of the plaintiff who has approached this Court for the redressal of his grievances at the earliest and has also been able to make out a prima facie case for the grant of temporary injunction. I find support in my view from the Full Bench Authority of this Court in Bhartu v. Ram Sarup, 1981 PLJ 204. In the latter authority reliance was placed on the Division Bench Authority of this Court in Sant Ram Nagina Ram v. Day a Ram Nagina Ram and others, AIR 1961 Punjab 528, wherein inter se rights and liabilities of the co-owners were settled as follows:—

    (1) A co-owner has an interest in the whole property and also in every parcel of it

    (2) Possession of joint property by one co-owner is in the eye of law, possession of all, even if all but one are actually out of possession.

    (3) A mere occupation of a larger portion, or even of an entire joint property does not necessarily amount to ouster as the possession of one is deemed to be on behalf of all.

    (4) The above rule admits of an exception when there is ouster of a co-owner by another. But in order to negative the presumption of joint possession on behalf of all, on the ground of ouster, the possession of a co-owner must not only be exclusive but also hostile to the knowledge of the other as, when a co-owner openly asserts his own title and denies that of the other.

    (5) Passage of time does not extinguish the right of the co-owner who has been out of possession of the joint property except in the event of ouster or abandonment.

    (6) Every co-owner has a right to use the joint property in a husband like manner not inconsistent with similar rights of other co-owners.

    (7) Where a co-owner is in possession of separate parcels under an arrangement consented to by the other co-owners, it is not open to any body to disturb the arrangement without the consent of others except by filing a suit for partition.

    In the abovesaid Full Bench authority in Bhartu's case, it was further observed that when a co-sharer is in possession exclusively of some portion of the joint holding, he is in possession thereof as a co-sharer and is entitled to continue in its possession if it is not more than his share till the joint holding is partitioned. It is also undisputed that a vendor cannot sell any property with better rights than he himself has. Consequently, when a co-sharer sells his share in the joint holding or any portion thereof and puts the vendee into possession of the land in his possession, what he transfers is his right as co-sharer in the said land and the right to remain in its exclusive possession till the joint holding is partitioned amongst all the co-sharers.

    6. Dealing with he rights of transferee from a co-owner, it was observed by the Full Bench in Bhartu's case supra, as follows:—

    “The rights of a transferee form a co-owner are not entirely dependent on judicial decisions but are regulated by Section 44 of the Transfer of Property Act which provides that where one or two or more co-owners of the immovable property legally competent in that behalf transfers his share of such property or any interest therein, the transferee acquires as to such share or interest and so far as is necessary to give effect to the transfer, the transferor's right to joint possession or other common or part enjoyment of the property, and to enforce a partition of the same but subject to the conditions and liabilities affecting at the date of the transfer, the share or interest so transferred. According to this statutory provision also what transferee gets is the right of the transferor to joint possession and to enforce a partition of the same irrespective of the fact whether the property sold is fractional share or specified portion, exclusively in possession of the transferor. Again, it cannot be disputed that when a co-sharer is in exclusive possession of the specified portion of the joint holding, he’ is in possession thereof as a co-sharer and all other co-sharers continue to be in its constructive possession. By the transfer of that land by one co-owner, can it be said that other co-sharers cease to be co-sharers in that land or to be in its constructive possession. The answer obviously would be in the negative.”

    It was further held by the Full Bench of this Court in Bhartu's case (supra) that “the effect in law of sale of even of specified portion of joint land is that it is only a sale of portion of share by one of the co-owners.”

    7. Thus, it is quite obvious that a co-sharer who is in exclusive possession cannot be permitted to raise construction on the land in his possession as every other co-sharer is also a joint owner of every inch of the entire joint holding till the same is regularly partitioned by meets and bounds. I find support on this point from the Single Bench authority of this court in Mst. Parsini alias Mono v. Mohan Singh and others, 1982 PLJ 280 wherein it was held that a co-sharer in exclusive possession of a part of joint land cannot raise construction on the land as every co-sharer is a joint owner of every inch of the whole land. To the same effect is the latest single Bench authority of his Court in case Daulat Ram v. Dalip Singh and others, 1989 (1) RLR 523.

    8. The learned counsel for the defendant-petitioners placed reliance on Single Bench Authorities of this Court in Jiwan Singh and others v. R. Kant and another, 1985 PLJ 193 and Pishora Singh… v. Shrimati Lajo Bai…., 1974 RLR 644 in support of the proposition that a co-sharer in exclusive possession of part of the land which is not in excess of his share can raise construction thereon and a joint owner not in possession of the same cannot restrain him from raising the construction.

    9. The view expressed in Mst. Parsini's case (supra) was not noticed in the aforesaid authority in Jiwan Singh's case. Even otherwise, the view taken by the Full Bench of this Court in Bhartu's case (supra) and by the Division Bench in Sant Ram Nagina Ram's case (supra) has to be followed. Thus the view expressed in Single Bench Authorities of this court in Amar Singh and others v. Hira Singh and others, 1986 PLJ 41; Babu Ram and others v. Harjit Kaur and others, 1987 PLJ 122 and Pishora Singh v. Shrimati Lajo Bai 1974 Cur. LJ. 626, which runs counter to the views expressed by Full Bench in Bhartu's case (supra) and Division Bench in Sant Ram Nagina Ram's case, cannot be relied upon.

    10. Mere fact that the defendant-petitioners in the instant case are ready and willing to give an undertaking to remove the malba in case the plaintiff succeeds in establishing his case, cannot be considered to be a cogent ground to permit the defendants to raise further construction over the land in suit.

    11. In the present case, as already discussed above, in the absence of any legal, cogent and reliable evidence about partition of the joint holding, the defendants cannot be permitted to raise construction over the suit land during the pendency of the present suit. The view taken by the Appellate Court cannot said to be illegal. Nor the same suffers, from any material irregularity. This revision petition is without any merit and is hereby dismissed with no order as to costs. However, it is clarified that nothing herein observed for disposal of this petition, shall in any manner be construed to affect the rights of the parties on merits. The trial court is further directed to dispose of this case expeditiously (as already directed by the lower Appellate Court). Copy of this order be sent to the Trial Court for compliance.

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    Comments

    Om Parkash Petitioner, v. Chhaju Ram .
    (Apr 1, 1992)