IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S.S.SATHEESACHANDRAN MONDAY, THE 1ST FEBRUARY 2010 / 12TH MAGHA 1931 WP(C).No.16882 of 2006(I) -------------------------- OS.27/1978 of MUNI-MAGI.COURT,PATTAMBI .................... PETITIONER(S): --------------- 1. PRABHAVATHI, D/O.LATE PADMAVATHI AMMA, VALLIKKAT THEKKEDATHU, KALALAMBU AMSOM, AYILAKKATU DESOM, PONANI TALUK,MALAPPURAM DISTRICT 2. JAYAPRAKASAN, S/O.LATE PADMAVATHI AMMA, VALLIKKAT THEKKEDATHU, KALALAMBU AMSOM, AYILAKKATU DESOM, PONANI TALUK, MALAPPURAM DIST. 3. MURALEEDHARAN, S/O.LATE PADMAVATHI AMMA, VALLIKKAT THEKKEDATHU, KALALAMBU AMSOM, AYILAKKATU DESOM, PONANI TALUK,MALAPPURAM DISTRICT BY ADV. SRI.P.CHANDRASEKHAR RESPONDENT(S): --------------- 1. K.T. PADMAVATHI AMMA, W/O.DAMODARA MENON VALLIKKAT THEKKEDATH VALAPPIL,KUKMARANELLUR (PO), PALAKKAD DISTRICT. 2. SANTHI, D/O. K.T.PADMAVATHI AMMA, VALLIKKAT THEKKEDATH VALAPPIL, KUMARANELLUR (PO), PALAKKAD DISTRICT. 3. MURUKANANDAN, S/O.K.T.PADMAVATHI AMMA, VALLIKKAT THEKKEDATH VALAPPIL,KUMARANELLUR (PO), PALAKKAD DISTRICT. 4. KRISHNAKUMAR,S/O.K.T.PADMAVATHI AMMA, VALLIKKAT THEKKEDATH VALAPPIL,KUMARANELLUR (PO), PALAKKAD DISTRICT. 5. LAKSHMI DEVI, D/O.K.T.PADMAVATHI AMMA, VALLIKKAT THEKKEDATH VALAPPIL,KUMARANELLUR (PO), PALAKKAD DISTRICT. WP(C).16882/06 6. LEELAVATHI, D/O.AMMU @ GOURI AMMA, VALLILKKATTU THEKKEDATHU VALAPPIL,EDAPAL AMSOM, NADUVATTOM DESOM, EDAPAL (PO), MALAPPURAM DIST. 7. KOMALAKUMARI, D/O.AMMU @ GOURI AMMA, VALLIKKATTU THEKKADATH VALAPPIL, KUMARANELLUR AMSOM, (PO) KUMARANELLUR, PALAKKAD DISTRICT. 8. RATNAKUMARI, D/O.AMMU @ GOURI AMMA, VALLIKKATTU THEKKADATH VALAPPIL, KUMARANELLUR AMSOM, (PO) KUMARANELLUR, PALAKKAD DISTRICT. 9. KALLYANIKUTTY, D/O.AMMU @ GOURI AMMA, VALLIKKATTU THEKKADATH VALAPPIL, KUMARANELLUR AMSOM,(PO) KUMARANELLUR, PALAKKAD DISTRICT. 10. ACHUTHANKUTTY, S/O.AMMU @ GOURI AMMA, VALLILKKATTU THEKKADATH VALAPPIL, KUMARANELLUR AMSOM, (P.O) KUMARANELLUR, PALAKKAD DISTRICT. 11. PRABHAKARAN, S/O.VALLIKKATTU VALAPPIL LAKSHMIKUTTY AMMA, EDAPAL AMSOM, EDAPAL, NADUVATTOM (P.O), MALAPPURAM DISTRICT. 12. VISWANATHAN, S/O. VALLIKKATTU VALAPPIL LAKSHMIKUTTY AMMA, EDAPAL AMSOM, EDAPAL, NADUVATTOM (P.O), MALAPPURAM DISTRICT. 13. SATHYAVATHI, D/O. VALLIKKATTU VALAPPIL LAKSHMIKUTTY AMMA, EDAPAL AMSOM, EDAPAL, NADUVATTOM (PO), MALAPPURAM DISTRICT. 14. SUJATHA, D/O. VALLIKKATTU VALAPPIL LAKSHMIKUTTY AMMA, EDAPAL AMSOM, EDAPAL, NADUVATTOM (PO), MALAPPURAM DISTRICT. 15. VIJAYAN, S/O. MANGALAKUMARI, VALLIKKATTU THEKKEDATHU VALAPPIL HOUSE, EDAPAL, NADUVATTOM (PO), MALAPPURAM DISTRICT. 16. PADMAKUMAR, S/O. LEELAVATHI, VALLIKKATTU THEKKEDATHU VALAPPIL HOUSE, EDAPPAL, NADUVATTOM (PO), MALAPPURAM DISTRICT. 17. SILU, D/O. LEELAVATHI, VALLIKKATTU THEKKEDATHU VALAPPIL HOUSE, EDAPAL, NADUVATTOM (PO), MALAPPURAM DISTRICT. WP(C).16882/06 18. SINI, S/O. LEELAVATHI, VALLIKKATTU THEKKEDATHU VALAPPIL HOUSE, EDAPPAL, NADUVATTOM (PO), MALAPPURAM DISTRICT. 19. REMADEVI, D/O. KOMALAKUMAR, VALLIKKATTU THEKKEDATHIL, KUMARANELLUR (PO), KALLADATHUR, PALAKKAD DISTRICT. 20. PRADEEPKUMAR, S/O. KALLIYANIKUTTY, VALLIKKATTU THEKKEDATHIL, KUMARANELLUR (P.O), KALLADATHUR, PALAKKAD DISTRICT. 21. MANOMOHANAN, S/O. UNNIKRISHNA MENON, THOTTATHIL, EDAPAL, THALAMUNDA, AYILAKAT (PO), MALAPPURAM DISTRICT. 22. VIJAYAKUMARI, D/O.UNNIKRISHNA MENON, THOTTATHIL, EDAPAL, THALAMUNDA, AYILAKAT (PO), MALAPPURAM DISTRICT. 23. PREMALATHA, D/O.UNNIKRISHNA MENON, THOTTATHIL, EDAPAL, THALAMUNDA, AYILAKAT (PO), MALAPPURAM DISTRICT. 24. VENUGOPALA MENON, S/O.VALLIKKATTU THEKKEDATHU VALAPPIL AMMU @ GOURI AMMA, KUMARANELLUR, KALLADATHUR (PO), PALAKKAD DISTRICT. 25. DAKSHAYANI AMMA, W/O.GOVINDA MENON, MOOKKASATTIL VEEDU, KUKMARANELLUR, KALLADATHUR (PO), PALAKKAD DISTRICT. 26. NARAYANAN, S/O. GOVINDA MENON, MOOKKASATTIL VEEDU, KUMARANELLUR, KALLADATHUR (PO), PALAKKAD DISTRICT. 27. BHANU, D/O. GOVINDA MENON, MOOKKASATTIL VEEDU, KUMARANELLUR, KALLADATHUR (PO), PALAKKAD DISTRICT. 28. KUNHILAKSHMI, D/O. GOVINDA MENON, MOOKKASATTIL VEEDU, KUMARANELLUR, KALLADATHUR (P.O), PALAKKAD DISTRICT. 29. BHASKARAN, S/O. GOVINDA MENON, MOOKKASATTIL VEEDU, KUMARANELLUR, KALLADATHUR (PO), PALAKKAD DISTRICT. 30. REMA, D/O. GOVINDA MENON, MOOKKASATTIL VEEDU, KUMARANELLUR, KALLADATHUR (PO), PALAKKAD DISTRICT. WP(C).16882/06 31. SARAWSATHY, D/O. GOVINDA MENON, MOOKKASATTIL VEEDU, KUMARANELLUR, KALLADATHUR (PO), PALAKKAD DISTRICT. ADV. SRI.P.N.RAVINDRAN FOR R1TO3, 5,10 SMT.PREETHY KARUNAKARAN FOR R1TO3,5,10 SMT.MEENA.A. FOR R1TO3,5,10 SMT.M.R.MINI FOR R1TO3,5,10 SRI.JAYKAR.K.S. FOR R1TO3,5,10 SRI.P.N.RAVINDRAN FOR R6 & 14 TO 18 SMT.PREETHY KARUNAKARAN FOR R6 & 14 TO 18 SMT.MEENA.A. FOR R6 & 14 TO 18 SMT.M.R.MINI FOR R6 & 14 TO 18 SRI.JAYKAR.K.S. FOR R6 & 14 TO 18 SRI.P.N.RAVINDRAN FOR R9 & 20 SMT.MEENA.A. FOR R9 & 20 SRI.JAYKAR.K.S. FOR R9 & 20 SMT.PREETHY KARUNAKARAN FOR R9 & 20 THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 01/02/2010, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: WP(C).16882/06 APPENDIX PETITIONER'S EXHIBITS: EXT.P1: COPY OF THE JUDGMENT DATED 22.7.1993 IN S.A.NO.616/1985 OF THIS HONOURABLE COURT. EXT.P2: COPY OF THE JUDGMENT OF THE HONOURABLE SUPREME COURT DATED 29.11.1996 IN CIVIL APPEAL.NO.15610/1995. EXT.P3: COPY OF THE REPORT AND PLAN DATED 1.3.2005 SUBMITTED BY THE ADVOCATE COMMISSIONER IN I.A.NO.72/94 IN O.S.NO.27/78 BEFORE THE COURT OF THE MUNSIFF MAGISTRATE COURT, PATTAMBI. EXT.P4: COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 14.6.2006 IN I.A.NO.511/2005. /TRUE COPY/ P.A. TO JUDGE S.S.SATHEESACHANDRAN, J. ------------------------------- W.P.(C).NO.16882 OF 2006 () ----------------------------------- Dated this the 1st day of February, 2010 J U D G M E N T The writ petition is filed seeking mainly the following reliefs: i. to call for the records leading to Ext.P4 and set aside the same. ii. to issue a direction directing the court of the Munsiff-Magistrate, Pattambi not to evict the petitioners without determining the value of the improvements and without paying to them the value so determined. 2. Ext.P4 order passed by the learned Munsiff- Magistrate, Pattambi in the execution proceedings of a decree passed in a suit for partition and redemption, declining the request of the petitioners for assessment of the value of improvements and payment of compensation invoking the provisions of the Kerala Compensation for Tenants WPC.16882/06 2 Improvements Act, 1958, is challenged in the writ petition. 3. Petitioners are the legal heirs of the 3rd defendant in O.S.No.27 of 1978 on the file of the Munsiff-Magistrate Court, Pattambi. Admittedly, the 3rd defendant as one of the co-mortgagors redeemed the mortgage, and thereafter, plaintiffs, the other co-owners applied for partition and redemption instituting the above suit. Parties had gone up to the apex court over the disputes covered by the suit and by Ext.P2 judgment, the apex court directed for passing of a preliminary decree holding that the suit has been filed within the period of limitation and the redeeming mortgagor by subrogation has a status of a mortgagee and the non-redeeming co-mortgagors remitting the share of the mortgage price from them can get partition of the property. Admittedly, pursuant to Ext.P2 judgment, preliminary and final decrees have been passed in the suit. In execution of the decree, the present petitioners/legal heirs of the 3rd defendant raised the plea of valuation of improvements invoking the provisions under the Compensation for Tenants Improvements WPC.16882/06 3 Act, 1958. The decree holder filed objections to that claim and the learned Munsiff, after hearing both sides, declined the request made by the petitioners for valuation of improvements vide Ext.P4 order. Propriety and correctness of Ext.P4 order is challenged in the writ petition. I heard the learned counsel on both sides. Admittedly, before passing of the preliminary decree, no claim for value of improvements was canvassed nor assessed, and further, the share of the mortgage amount due from the plaintiffs had already been deposited by them. So much so, there is cessation of the relationship of mortgagor-mortgagee between the parties. Then the only question is whether the petitioners/legal heirs of the 3rd defendant are entitled to canvass and claim the benefit under the Compensation for Tenants Improvements Act, 1958. Section 5 (3) of the above Act makes it abundantly clear that the compensation for improvements made subsequent to the date up to which compensation for improvements has been adjudged in the decree and the re-valuation of an improvement can be WPC.16882/06 4 canvassed by a tenant, provided there was a claim for improvement, its determination and awarding of compensation under the decree. In the present case, there was no claim nor any adjudication as to valuation of improvements before passing of the decree. That itself is sufficient to conclude that the present petitioners are incompetent to canvass any claim under the above Act. On that ground, without going into the other aspects covered by Ext.P4 order, I find no interference is called for, and the writ petition is closed. S.S.SATHEESACHANDRAN JUDGE prp