IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE K.T.SANKARAN THURSDAY, THE 19TH FEBRUARY 2009 / 30TH MAGHA 1930 WP(C).No. 5440 of 2009(O) AGAINST THE ORDER IN I.A.NO.2445/2008 IN OS.413/2004 ON THE FILE OF THE I ADDITIONAL.SUB COURT, KOZHIKODE PETITIONERS: --------------- 1. MEKKINI GAURI AMMA D/O. ITHUKUTTY AMMA, KACHERI AMSOM DESOM P.O.ERANHIPALAM,KOZHIKODE. 2. SAUDHAMINI,W/O.SIVASANKARAN NAIR KACHERI AMSOM DESOM P.O.ERANHIPALAM,KOZHIKODE. 3. RAJI, D/O.SIVASANKARAN NAIR KACHERI AMSOM DESOM, P.O.ERANHIPALAM,KOZHIKODE. 4. RAJMOHAN, S/O.SIVASANKARAN NAIR KACHERI AMSOM DESOM, P.O.ERANHIPALAM,KOZHIKODE. BY ADV. SRI.R.BINDU (SASTHAMANGALAM) RESPONDENTS: --------------- 1. M.SANTHAKUMARI,D/O.MALUKUTTY @ LAKSHMIKUTTY AMMA,SANTHI HOUSE, PUNNASSERI PO NARIKKUNI,KOZHIKODE. 2. VIMALNATH, S/O.M.SANTHAKUMARI SANTHI HOUSE, PUNNASSERI PO NARIKKUNI,KOZHIKODE. 3. KOMALAVALLI, D/O.GOVINDAN NAIR CHANDANAKKAVU, CHATHAMANGALAM PO THAMARASSERI AMSOM DESOM,KOZHIKODE. 4. M.SUNDARAN @ GOVINDANKUTTY S/O.GOVINDAN NAIR ,CHANDANAKKAVU.P.O., THAMARASSERI AMSOM DESOM,KOZHIKODE. 5. M.VIJAYAKUMAR, S/O. GANGADHARAN NAIR VALAPPIL VEEDU, KUMARASWAMY,CHELANNUR PO KOZHIKODE. 6. M.RAMUNNI, MOOTTOLI MEETHAL KAKKODI MUKKU, PO,KAKKODY, KOZHIKODE. 7. M.KANAKAMANY MANGALOAM, NEAR ST.VINCENT COLONY ERANJIPALLAM -KOZHIKODE. 8. M.RADHAKRISHNAN JUPITER TYRE WORKS AHMED NAGAR MAHARASHTRA. 9. M.RATNAM, CHALIL THODIKAYIL NEELESWARAM PO, KODUVALLY, KOZHIKODE. 10. THANKALAKSHMY KARUNA VADUTHALA BOAT JETTY ROAD, COCHIN. 11. MEKKINI RATNAKARAN, SAI LAKSHMY NO.1 VAIKAI STREET, RAJAJI NAGAR, VILLIVAKOM,CHENNAI 12. MEKKINI DIVAKARAN P.O.PUNNASSERY, NARIKUNI, KOZHIKODE. 13. MEKKINI PRABHAKARAN, KARTHIKA PENGADU PUTHOKODUE -RAMANATTUKARA. P.O. 14. VALAPPIL SREEDEVI AMMA VALAPPIL, KUMARASWAMY, CHELANNUR PO,KOZHIKODE. 15. SREERAJAN, S/O.SREEDEVI AMMA VALAPPIL ,CHANDANAKKAVU.P.O., THAMARASSERI AMSOM DESOM, KOZHIKODE. 16. VIJAYALAKSHMI, D/O. SREEDEVI AMMA VALAPPIL CHANDANAKKAVU.P.O., THAMARASSERI AMSOM DESOM, KOZHIKODE. 17. SREELATHA, D/O. SREEDEVI AMMA VALAPPIL CHANDANAKKAVU.P.O., THAMARASSERI AMSOM DESOM, KOZHIKODE. 18. JAYAPRAKASAN, S/O. SREEDEVI AMMA VALAPPIL CHANDANAKKAVU.P.O., THAMARASSERI AMSOM DESOM, KOZHIKODE. 19. RAJANI, D/O. SREEDEVI AMMA VALAPPIL, CHANDANAKKAVU.P.O., THAMARASSERI AMSOM DESOM, KOZHIKODE. 20. KAMALAKSHMI AMMA, W/O.NARAYANAN NAIR ASARIKANDI VEEDU PO, CHATHAMANGALAM CHOOLUR AMSOM, KOZHIMANNA DESOM, KOZHIKODE. 21. KANAKALATHA, ASARIKANDI VEEDU PO, CHATHAMANGALAM, CHOOLUR AMSOM KOZHIMANNA DESOM, KOZHIKODE. 22. SUBRAMANYAN, ASARIKANDI VEEDU PO, CHATHAMANGALAM, CHOOLUR AMSOM KOZHIMANNA DESOM, KOZHIKODE. 23. RAVEENDRANATH, ASARIKANDI VEEDU PO, CHATHAMANGALAM, CHOOLUR AMSOM KOZHIMANNA DESOM, KOZHIKODE. 24. SUDHA, DWARAKA PO, CHATHAMANGALAM, CHOOLUR AMSOM KOZHIMANNA DESOM, KOZHIKODE. 25. SATHEESAN, ASARIKANDI VEEDU PO, CHATHAMANGALAM, CHOOLUR AMSOM KOZHIMANNA DESOM, KOZHIKODE. 26. GEETHA, ASARIKANDI VEEDU PO, CHATHAMANGALAM, CHOOLUR AMSOM KOZHIMANNA DESOM, KOZHIKODE. 27. CHANDANAKAVU KARUNAKARAN NAIR PO, CHATHAMANGALAM, CHOOLUR AMSOM KOZHIMANNA DESOM, KOZHIKODE. 28. CHANDANAKAVU NANDINI PO, CHATHAMANGALAM, CHOOLUR AMSOM KOZHIMANNA DESOM, KOZHIKODE. 29. CHANDANAKAVU MADHUSOODHANAN PO, CHATHAMANGALAM, CHOOLUR AMSOM KOZHIMANNA DESOM, KOZHIKODE. 30. CHANDANAKAVU JAYANTHI PO, CHATHAMANGALAM, CHOOLUR AMSOM KOZHIMANNA DESOM, KOZHIKODE. 31. CHANDANAKAVU VIJAYALAKSHMI PO, CHATHAMANGALAM. CHOOLUR AMSOM KOZHIMANNA DESOM, KOZHIKODE. 32. CHANDANAKAVU BINDU PO, CHATHAMANGALAM, CHOOLUR AMSOM KOZHIMANNA DESOM, KOZHIKODE. 33. J.C.LAL, MANGALAM HOUSE NEAR ST.VINCENT COLONY,ERANJIPALAM PO,KOZHIKODE. 34. J.L.MOTI, MANGALAM HOUSE NEAR ST.VINCENT COLONY,ERANJIPALAM PO,KOZHIKODE. 35. UDAYASANKAR, MANGALAM HOUSE NEAR ST.VINCENT COLONY,ERANJIPALAM PO,KOZHIKODE. 36. CHALIL THODIKAYIL RANJINI, NEELESWARAM PO,KODUVALLI, NEELESWARAM AMSOM DESOM KOZHIKODE. 37. CHALIL THODIKAYIL JAYAPRAKASH NEELESWARAM PO,KODUVALLI, NEELESWARAM AMSOM DESOM KOZHIKODE. 38. CHALIL THODIKAYIL RASHMI NEELESWARAM PO,KODUVALLI, NEELESWARAM AMSOM DESOM KOZHIKODE. 39. M.BEENA, SANTHI-PUNNASSERI PO, NARIKUNI-KOZHIKODE. 40. ASWATHI, KARUNA-VADUTHALA BOAT JETTY ROAD, KOCHI. 41. JANAKI AMMA, C/O.KARUNAKARA PILLAI, VAZHAVILA, MALI BHAGOM, CHAVARA SOUTH -OLLAM. 42. MAKOLATH RAJITHA, PYNGOTTUPURAM KUNNAMANGALAM AMSOM, PYNGOTTUPURAM DESOM,KOZHIKODE 43. MAKOLATH CHANDRASEKHARAN PYNGOTTUPURAM, KUNNAMANGALAM AMSOM, PYNGOTTUPURAM DESOM,KOZHIKODE . 44. SAROJINI AMMA, PUTHIYA VEEDU ESTATE PUZHAMURI, KALPETTA-WAYNAD. 45. NARAYANANKUTTY, PUTHIYA VEEDU ESTATE PUZHAMURI, KALPETTA-WAYNAD. 46. JAYALAKSHMI, CHATHANGERI PUNNASSERI PO, NARIKKUNI-KOZHIKODE. 47. JAYAPRAKASHAN, THAZHATHIDATHIL CHATHAMANGALAM PO,R.E.C VIA CHOOLUR AMSOM, KOZHIKODE. 48. THAZHATHIDATHIL MALINI THAZHATHIDATHIL, CHATHAMANGALAM PO, R.E.C VIA CHOOLUR AMSOM, KOZHIKODE. 49. SUMA JAYASANKAR, SHENCY POKERDY AHMED NAGAR, MAHARASHTRA. 50. RAHUL, SHENCY POKERDY AHMED NAGAR, MAHARASHTRA. 51. RUPA, SHENCY POKERDY AHMED NAGAR, MAHARASHTRA. 52. RUKMINI, KOCHIYIL PO,MEENCHANTHA CHERUVANNOOR AMSOM-DESOM ,KOZHIKODE. 53. VIJAYAKUMAR, KOCHIYIL PO,MEENCHANTHA CHERUVANNOOR AMSOM-DESOM ,KOZHIKODE. 54. GOPINATH, KOCHIYIL PO,MEENCHANTHA CHERUVANNOOR AMSOM-DESOM ,KOZHIKODE. 55. GEETHA, KOCHIYIL PO,MEENCHANTHA CHERUVANNOOR AMSOM-DESOM ,KOZHIKODE. 56. NIRMALA , KOCHIYIL PO,MEENCHANTHA CHERUVANNOOR AMSOM-DESOM ,KOZHIKODE. 57. USHA, KOCHIYIL PO,MEENCHANTHA CHERUVANNOOR AMSOM-DESOM ,KOZHIKODE. 58. KOCHIYIL LATHIKA SREERAGAM, KENDICHIRA PO, WAYNAD. 59. NELLIKODUPOIL RAMACHANDRAN P.O.CHATHAMANGALAM, VIA R.E.C CHOOLUR AMSOM KOZHIMANNA DESOM, KOZHIKODE. 60. APPU NAIR @ SANKARAN EDAKKOTHU-KANNIPARAMBU PO MAVOOR -KOZHIKODE. 61. RAMADAS NEAR MANGALAM, ST.VINCENT COLONY ERANJIPPALAM, KOZHIKODE. THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 19/02/2009, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: K.T.SANKARAN, J. ------------------------------------------------------ W.P.(C) NO. 5440 OF 2009 O ------------------------------------------------------ Dated this the 19th February, 2009 JUDGMENT The plaintiffs in O.S.No.413 of 2004, Sub Court, Kozhikode, challenge the order dated 5.1.2009 in I.A.No.2445 of 2008. By the order impugned, the court below rejected the prayer made by the petitioners to direct defendants 7, 12 and 13 to answer the interrogatories. 2. The suit is for declaration that the plaintiffs are not bound by the decree in O.S.No.331 of 1980, on the file of the Munsiff's Court, Kozhikode and for partition. The plaintiffs contended that the properties belonged to one Ramunni Nair. In O.S.No.261 of 1945, Ramunni Nair put forward his claim to certain items of properties. That suit was ultimately dismissed for default. Later, O.S.No.331 of 1980 was filed by some of the defendants in the present suit for partition. According to the petitioners/plaintiffs, they were not parties to the suit and, therefore, the decree in O.S.No.331 of 1980 is not binding on them. The petitioners contended that the properties were taken on oral lease in 1921 by Ramunni Nair and he was in possession of the same. The petitioners claim under registered documents executed in the year 1963. W.P.(C) NO.5440 OF 2009 :: 2 :: 3. Defendants 11 to 13 filed written statement disputing the plaint claim. They contended that the plaintiffs are bound by the decree in O.S.No.331 of 1980. The entitlement of the plaintiffs to get shares is also disputed. The seventh defendant filed a separate written statement wherein he too raised similar contentions. 4. The petitioners filed I.A.No.2445 of 2008 to serve interrogatories on defendants 7, 12 and 13. Five questions were put forward in the application. Question No.1 relates to whether Ramunni Nair had got an oral lease in 1921. Question No.2 is whether the rights of Ramunni Nair were recognised in O.S.No.261 of 1945. The third question is whether Ramunni Nair was in possession of plaint A and B schedule properties on the basis of the oral entrustment in 1921. The fourth question is whether the three documents executed by Ramunni Nair were genuine transactions. The fifth question is whether the aforesaid three documents executed in the year 1963 were challenged by any member of the tarwad. Defendant No.12 filed a counter statement to I.A.No.2445 of 2008. Defendants 7, 34 and 61 filed a separate counter statement. All of them contended that the interrogatories relate to the contentions put forward in the written statement and that it is not necessary to answer any of the questions shown in the application. W.P.(C) NO.5440 OF 2009 :: 3 :: 5. The court below accepted the contentions put forward by the contesting respondents and held that the answers to the interrogatories can be gathered from the written statement. Therefore, the court below thought that separate answers to the interrogatories are not required. It was also held that the application was filed at a belated stage with the mala fide motive of protracting and delaying the disposal of the suit. 6. Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that in the written statement, the contention of the plaintiffs that the properties were orally entrusted to Ramunni Nair is not dealt with. The counsel, therefore, contends that the order passed by the court below is not correct. It is true that the written statements do not as such deal with the case of oral lease in favour of Ramunni Nair in the year 1921. But the defendants contended that the plaintiffs are bound by the decree in O.S.No.331 of 1980 and, therefore, no further enquiry need be made regarding the rights which are being set up by the plaintiffs. Even if there is no denial, that is a matter to be considered at the time of disposal of the suit. For that purpose, it is not necessary to serve interrogatories on the defendants. I do not think that the conclusion arrived at by the court below is erroneous. At the same time, the observations made by the court below against the petitioners are vacated as they are unnecessary. W.P.(C) NO.5440 OF 2009 :: 4 :: Accordingly, the Writ Petition is dismissed with the above observations. (K.T.SANKARAN) Judge ahz/