IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 11.06.2010. C O R A M : THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE V.PERIYA KARUPPIAH A.S.No.811 of 1995 1. K.P.Nataraja Gounder (died) 2. K.N.Kanaga Sabapathy 3. K.N.Bhavanandam 4. K.N. Palanisamy .. first defendant /Appellants Brought on record appellants 2 to 4 as Lrs of the deceased sole appellant vide order dated 09.02.2005 made in C.M.P.No.914&915/05 -vs- 1.K.P.Chinnasamy Gounder (died) 2.K.C. Ponnusamy 3.K.S. Kandasamy 4.K.P.Gunasekaran 5.K.P.Venugopal 6.Ranga Gounder 7.Kuppusamy Moopan 8.P.Veerappa Mudaliar 9.R.Kumara Velu 10.K.V. Nachaiya Gounder 11.K.R.Devammal 12.K.R.Sivagami https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 13.Sudakara Sanagiri(Minor) ..Plaintiff, Defendants 6,8 to 13 and 27 to 30/respondents represented by mother and guardian K.R.Sivagami Recorded the 2nd respondent as LR of the deceased 1st respondent vide order of court dated 09.02.2005 made in C.M.P.914&915/2005. Appeal filed under Section 96 C.P.C. against the judgment and decree dated 07.04.1993 passed in O.S.No.127 of 1984 on the file of the learned Subordinate Judge, Erode. For appellants : Mr.T.P.Manoharan For Respondents : Mr.A.K.Kumarasamy for R2 R6 and R9 given up No Appearance for R3 to 5,7,8 and 10 to 13 J U D G M E N T This appeal has been preferred by the aggrieved 1st defendant against the judgment and preliminary decree passed by the lower court in O.S.No.127/1984 dated 07.04.1993. During the pendency of the appal the sole appellant/1st defendant died and his legal representative who were already parties as defendants 2 to 4 were impleaded as appellants 2 to 4 in the appeal. 2. The 1st defendant before the lower court is the original appellant and the defendants 2 to 4 were impleaded subsequently as legal representatives of the deceased appellant. The plaintiff before the lower court are the respondents 1 and 2. During the pendency of the appeal R1 died and the 2nd respondent/2nd plaintiff was ordered to be recorded as sole legal representative. The defendants 6. 8 to 13, 27 to 30 were arrayed as respondents 3 to 13 in the present appeal. The other defendants before the lower court were not added as respondents since they remained ex-parte before the lower court. 3. The brief facts of the case of the plaintiff before the lower court as stated in the plaint would be as follows: The 1st plaintiff is the father of the 2nd plaintiff. The defendants 2 to 4 are the sons of the 1st defendant. The 1st plaintiff and the defendants 1 and 5 are brothers, being the sons https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ of one K.S.Ponnuswami gounder who died intestate about 50 years ago. The said K.A. Ponnuswami gounder died leaving his three sons and wife, Kuppayammal. The said Kuppayammal was maintained by her three sons till she died in 1983. The suit properties are the ancestral joint family properties of the plaintiffs and defendants 1 to 5. They are described in the plaint schedule 'A'. The residential house of the said joint family is described in the plaint 'B' schedule. The 1st plaintiff and defendants 1 and 5 have been living in separate houses bearing door No.1/61, 1/62, 1/63 respectively from the time of their marriages, and they decided that the same enjoyment need not be disturbed and each of them may be allowed to be absolute owners of the respective houses. The properties described in the plaint 'C' schedule are the ancestral vacant sites situated at Kurichi village. The said property remains joint, without partition. The plaintiffs and defendants are in joint possession and enjoyment of the said properties. The same is to be partitioned and separate possession has to be given to the plaintiffs and defendants 1 to 5. The properties described in 'D' schedule is he ancestral vacant site in Bhavani Town which is undivided. There had been no partition of this item by metes and bounds between the plaintiffs and defendants 1 to 4. The 1st defendant had sold his undivided 1/3rd share to Veerappa Mudaliar, the 12th defendant in 1979. It is found out that the sale deed recites that eastern 1/3rd share is sold. Such a recital is not true and valid. The said recitals are done behind the back of the plaintiffs. It will not bind the plaintiffs. The said purchaser is in joint possession of 'D' schedule property. The eastern 1/3rd share is more valuable as it has road margin of 3 sides. The 5th defendant had sold his undivided 1/3rd share to one Arunachalam chettiar, who in turn sold it to Komaravelu, the 13th defendant in the suit. He is in joint possession of the 'D' schedule property and is entitled to 1/3rd share. 'D' schedule property is liable to be partitioned by metes and bounds with reference to good and bad soil into 3 equal shares. Old S.F.No.736, 742-A, 740, 741,734, 733, 735 and 724-B of Kurichi village is in one block called 'Vayalkadu' measuring 30-11 acres. The first plaintiff, defendants 1 and 5 are ancestrally entitled to 5.01 1/2 acres. One K.P.Ganesan of Kurichi is entitled to 1/3 rd share. The remaining extent belongs to defendants 14 to 26 and their predecessors. About 30 years ago, the said land was orally partitioned. K.P.Ganesan got a specific plot of 10.03 acres and he got separate patta. There is no dispute over the said extent, and the defendants 14 to 26 are in possession and enjoyment of specific plots in pursuance of oral partition. The plaintiffs and defendants 1 to 5 are entitled to a specific plot measuring 5.01 acres within the following boundaries: North of the land of K.S.Rangaswami Gounder; South of the land of A.S.Chinnaswami Gounder; https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ West of the S.F.No.274/4 Karadu Poromboke East of the S.F.No.273 patta cart track. The said plot is described in plaint 'E' schedule. The defendants 14 to 26 are added as parties since the patta for 20.07 acres including 'E' schedule stands common. Just to stand by the oral partition, the defendants 14 to 26 are added as parties to the suit. The plaintiffs and defendants 1 to 5 are entitled to the specific plot of 5.01 acres as set out above. This extent of 5.01 acres was allotted to plaintiffs 1 and 2 and defendants 1 to 4 in the family partition. 5th defendant has no share. S.F.No.731/2 measuring an extent 12.01 acres called "Kanakkankadu" K.P.Ganesan got the western 6.0.1/2 acres. In the eastern 6.0 1/2 acres, the plaintiffs and defendants 1 and 5 are entitled to 1/6th share. After 1958, the first plaintiff and first defendant alone are entitled to the said 1/6 share. The defendants 14 and 15 are entitled to 1/6th share Defendant No.16 is entitled to 1/6 share. The defendants 21 to 26 are entitled to 1/6 share. The 27th defendant is entitled 2/6th share. The said eastern half measuring 6.0 ½ acres is described in 'F' schedule. This property remains undivided. This is to be divided by metes and bounds with reference to good and bad soil. The first plaintiff and defendants 1 and 5 have become divided in about 1958. They have orally partitioned their family lands into 3 equal shares by metes and bounds with reference to good and bad soil. Under the said partition, the properties described in 'G' schedule belong to the plaintiffs. The properties described in 'H' schedule belong to defendants 1 to 4. The properties described in 'J' schedule belong to 5th defendant. After resurvey, separate patta for 'J' schedule is issued to the 5th defendant. By oversight separate patta was not issued to G and H schedules to the plaintiffs and defendants 1 to 4. The same would not affect the absolute title of the plaintiffs over the 'G' schedule properties. The plaintiffs and defendants 1 to 5 have been enjoying the said 'G','H','J' schedule properties separately and exclusively and are paying separately. They have made considerable improvements in their respective separate properties. The defendants 1 to 4 have sold an extent of 1.22 acres in (old S.F.No.368/2) New S.No.599/4 called by local name "Periathar" to K.S.Kandaswami, the 6th defendant in the suit, on 21.4.1980. The defendants 1 to 4 have sold another land (old S.F.No.367/1) New S.F.No.599/2, called Chinnathar to the 7th defendant. The said properties are part of the separate property of defendant 1 to 4 described in 'H' schedule. The 5th defendant had sold (old S.F.No.378/A3B) an extent of 2.78 acres and old S.F.No.378/B-3 extent 2.21 acres called 'Sembanan thottam' to defendants 8 and 9 under a sale deed dated 3.1.1977. The defendants 8 and 9 are enjoying the plots only in Sembanan thottam. What was intended to be purchased and paid for is only the said field. From the registration copy of the sale deed dated 3.1.1977 https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ it is seen that S.F.Nos.371-A, 373-A, 378-C, 379-A, and 380-B of Kurichi Village are included therein. It must be a mistake. The above said 5 survey fields relates to puduthottam. The said puduthottam did not belong to the 5th defendant. If the defendants 8 and 9 have knowingly included the said puduthottam in the said sale deed, it would be fraudulent one and could not create right and title to the said properties and it would not bind the plaintiffs. The 5th defendant had sold (old S.F.No.322-B0 New S.F.No.442/2 extent 2.72 acres and (old S.F.No.322 F) New S.F.No.441/1 thottipalayam kadu to defendants 11 and 12 respectively. They are part of the properties of the defendant No.5 described in 'J' schedule. There had been recent misunderstandings and court cases between the plaintiffs and the defendants 1 to 4 over temples lease hold lands and the user of electric motor. The Plaintiffs are entitled to get the suit 'C','D' and 'F' schedule properties by metes and bounds with reference to good and bad soil into 3 equal shares and allotment of one such share. The plaintiffs asked the defendants 1 to 5 to partition the said properties outside court, but they are not co-operating with the plaintiffs. During the year 1969 a dispute arose between the plaintiffs and defendants 1 to 4 over the use of common electric motor and pumpset in the wells of pudu thottam and Bangala Thottam. The electric motor in Pudu thottam was given to the first plaintiff. The electric motor in Bangala thottam was given to the first defendant. The said panchayat was given effect to and acted upon by the parties. Till 1982 the defendants 1 to 4 could not get electric supply for a motor to be installed separately in the well in Puduthottam and they started claiming a right in the electric motor of plaintiffs and that a suit in O.S.No.597 of 1982 on the file of District Munsif Court and Erode was filed, the same is pending. Recently, the defendants 1 to 4 were giving trouble to the plaintiffs in their peaceful possession and enjoyment of the suit 'G' schedule properties. The defendants 1 to 4 are very rich and powerful having the support of rowdies of that locality. The plaintiffs apprehend that the defendants 1 to 4 would disturb the peaceful possession of the 'G' schedule properties and in such an event the plaintiffs would be put to heavy loss. Hence the relief of declaration and permanent injunction are prayed for over the suit 'G' schedule properties. During the pendency of the suit the 5th defendant K.P.Ramaswami Gounder died leaving behind him, his two sons and a minor daughter as his legal representatives. For proper and final adjudication of the matter, the defendants 28 to 30 are impleaded as the legal representatives of the deceased 5th defendant as per order in I.A.No.356 of 1991 dated 29.10.1991. If for any reason this Honourable Court is to hold that the oral partition between the Plaintiffs and 1 to 5 defendants of the year 1958 is not established, alternatively the relief of partition and separate possession of A and B schedule may be granted. The prayer https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ for alternate relief should not be construed that the relief of declaration and permanent injunction is given up. 4. The contentions raised by the 1st defendant would be as follows: The relationship of parties is admitted. The allegations contained in the plaint to the effect that all the properties which are ancestral properties are enjoyed without any division are false and fraudulent. The defendant and his brother have effected a division 20 years back orally in the presence of Panchayatars and parties are in possession of their respective shares. This defendant has also improved the allotted portions to a great extent by investing huge amounts. The allotted shares to this defendant have been subsequently divided between the members of his family such that all ancestral lands have been given to the sons of this defendant who are in possession of the same for beyond 5 years. Plaintiffs are perfectly aware of the same and they have chosen to initiate the instant suit out of ill will and enmity. Thus by reason of the prior partition, plaintiffs cannot seek the relief of division in general. At best plaintiffs 1 and 2 can effectively divide the lands allotted to 1st plaintiff in the family partition between themselves. The plaintiffs are estopped from claiming division of the suit properties having not raised any objection for the partition in 1st defendant's family, by reason of their conduct. The defendant has taken the lands belonging to Madheswara and Varadaraja Perumal Koil lands as a tenant some 30 years ago, in his individual capacity and continues to be in possession as a tenant entitled to the benefits of Madras Acts. He gets the income from those lands alone for his upkeep etc.,While so the plaintiffs who are aware of the same and the temple lands being the boundaries of the family properties have been deliberately stated as "though in the possession of 2nd plaintiff is false. This defendant understands that they have chosen to say due to ill will and to create trouble to this defendant's enjoyment at a later date. The suit itself is malafide. 5. The contentions of the 6th defendant stated in the written statement would be thus. The defendant is the owner of the specific extent of 1-22 acre in S.F.No.368/2. The defendant purchased the same for a sum of Rs.51,000/- under a registered sale deed dated 21.04.1980. The vendor had been in exclusive possession and enjoyment of specific plot measuring 1 acre 22 cents for long years without any interference or hindrance by any other owner. After the purchase the defendant levelled the land at a cost of Rs.3000/- and removed the rocks at several places at a cost of Rs.6000/-. The defendant has made fit for well irrigation. The adjoining eastern land was included in Mettur canal irrigation. The plaintiffs are fully aware https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ of the purchase and exclusive enjoyment of the same by the defendant. The plaintiff has not raised any dispute or objection when substantial improvements were made. Therefore, he is estopped from claiming any share or alternatively. The defendant is entitled to the said specific plot on the ground of equity. This specific S.F. Number could be allotted to his vendors if need be by anyway of adjustments, equated among brothers and the same could be allotted to the defendant at final decree proceedings and prays for a preliminary decree and therefore the plaintiffs are not entitled to alternative reliefs. 6. The contentions raised by the 8th defendant in his written statement would be as follows: The 8th defendant purchased the 1/3 share in S.F.Nos.371A, 373A,37-C,379-A, 378-A3B, and 378 B3 from the 5th defendant under the registered sale deed dated 21.01.1977. The properties found in items 5,15 and 16 of the plaint A schedule property though purchased undividedly as common shares in pursuance of oral arrangements among co-owners for convenient enjoyment, the vendor had been enjoying without any partition by metes and bounds. Subsequent to the purchase, the purchasers namely the defendants 8 and 9 have been in exclusive possession of item 5 of plaint A schedule property. The defendant had made vast improvements in item No.5 Sambala thottam at a cost of Rupees one lakh. The defendant made some improvements in the said land at his own cost. The defendant submits that in any event the item 5 of the plaint A schedule property is now under the exclusive possession of the defendant and his brother and the same may be allotted to the defendant and his brother on the ground of equity. The defendant submits that the suit is highly vexatious and the plaintiffs are not entitled to put forward inconsisten pleas. 7. The defence of the 12th defendant in his written statement would be thus: The defendant submits that there was already partition by metes and bounds with reference to good and bad soil among the 1st plaintiff and his brothers namely the defendants 1 and 5 regarding their properties including the suit D schedule properties. The eastern most share which fell to the share of the vendor of this defendant in their family partition was sold to the defendant. This defendant purchased a specific share and the recitals in the sale deed of the defendant and it is binding on the plaintiffs also. The allegation that the eastern 1/3rd share is more valuable is not admitted. The defendant is in separate possession of his specific share. The plaintiff is not in joint possession of the property held by the 12th defendant. The plaintiffs seem to have filed this suit regarding 'D' schedule property also because of their dispute within pangalies. https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ The defendant accepts the partition referred and adds that the suit 'D' schedule property was also divided. The inclusion of 'D' schedule property also in the suit is only to give a colour to the frivolous suit. The defendant submits that the suit regarding D schedule property may be dismissed with costs. 8. The case of the 28th defendant filed in his written statement would be thus: The defendant has no objection for the retention of the door numbers already in possession of the respective parties in 'B' schedule properties. So far as the 'C' schedule item No.1 is concerned the plaintiffs are in possession of the western portion. The defendant's husband was in possession of the middle portion till his death and thereafter defendants 28 to 30 are in possession of the middle portion. The 1st defendant is in possession of the eastern portion. It is not necessary to divide item 1 of 'C' schedule properties. So far as the 'C' schedule in item No.2 is concerned the site measuring north south 47 feet and east west 52 feets, belongs to defendants 28 to 30. So far as south 89 feet and east west 24 feet is concerned, it has to be divided into two shares and the plaintiffs and defendants 1 to 4 are each entitled. Therefore it is not necessary to divide the 'C' schedule. The defendants 28 to 30 are entitled to 3½ anganaks in the north. The plaintiffs and defendants 1 to 4 are also entitled to southern half of the kalam and defendants 28 to 30 are entitled to the northern half of the kalam. The allegations in the plaint describing it as item No.15 of 'H' schedule are not correct. In Kanakkan gadu bearing S.F.No.731/2 the defendants 28 to 30 are entitled to 1/8th share in the eastern 6.001/2 acres. The said property is described in 'F' schedule. The said statement made by the plaintiffs and defendants 28 to 30 are not correct and they are not entitled to any share. So far as Kutti Thottam item No.1 of 'J' schedule is concerned, the defendants 28 to 30 have right to take carts and lorries. The defendant does not admit the allegation of oral partition made in the year 1958. There was no final partition but only a temporary one. This will be apparent from the fact that rights of way have not been provided. The plaintiff cannot claim absolute title to the 'G' schedule. The defendant therefore prays that a decree for declaration and injunction prayed for cannot be granted. The defendant further prays that a decree may be passed after taking into consideration. 9. The lower court had examined the 2nd plaintiff as P.W.1 and admitted Exs.A1 to A9 and examined the 28th defendant as D.W.1, 12th defendant as D.W.2, 3rd defendant as D.W.3 and 9th defendant as D.W.4. No documentary evidence has been produced on the side of the defendants. However, report of the commissioner and sketches filed https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ by him in the court were admitted as Exs.C.1 to C.3 respectively. The lower court had framed relevant issues and had entered trial. The lower court had appraised the evidence produced on either side and had come to a conclusion of decreeing the suit filed by the plaintiff on alternate relief of partition and separate possession of the suit 'A','C','D','F' schedule properties with costs. Aggrieved against the said findings of the lower court which culminated in passing the judgment and decree, the 1st defendant has preferred the present appeal. The defendants 2 to 4 are continuing the prosecution of the appeal after the demise of the 1st defendant/appellant. 10. Heard Mr.T.P.Manoharan, learned counsel for the appellants and Mr.A.K.Kumarasamy, learned counsel for the 2nd respondent. No representation for any other respondents. 11. On perusal of pleadings, evidence adduced before the lower court, the judgment and decree passed by the lower court, the grounds raised in the appeal memo and on hearing the arguments advanced on either side, this court could find the following points emerged for disposal in this appeal: 1. Whether the plaintiffs cannot maintain the suit for partial partition and separate possession of suit properties? 2. Whether the plaintiffs are not entitled for partition and separate possession of 'A', 'C', 'D', 'E' and 'F' schedule properties in lieu of the main relief ? 3. Whether the judgment and preliminary decree passed by the lower court are liable to be set aside or modified and is the appeal allowable? 4. To what relief the appellants are entitled? 12. For convenience sake, the rank of parties before the lower court are maintained infra in this judgment. 13. Learned counsel for the appellants/defendants 1 to 4 would submit in his argument that the relationship in between parties that the 1st plaintiff, 1st defendant and 5th defendant are the sons of K.S.Ponnusami gounder and 2nd plaintiff is the son of 1st plaintiff and the defendants 2 to 4 are the sons of 1st defendant and the defendants 28 and 29 are the wives of deceased 5th defendant and 30th defendant is the minor son of deceased 5th defendant are not disputed. He would further submit that the family properties which were partitioned long back and the shares were in separate possession and enjoyment of those properties by putting up constructions in those properties and thereafter the passing of preliminary decree in all those properties cannot be sustained and the same would be detrimental to the parties on whom the properties have been allotted and the subsequent alien is the one who https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ purchased the said properties from the sharers and on that score alone the suit for partition filed by the plaintiffs is not entitled. He would also submit in his argument that the case of the plaintiffs was also that there was an oral partition in between brothers and in certain documents the 1st plaintiff as well as 1st defendant signed as witnesses to evidence the oral partition had in between brothers in the sale deeds executed by yet another purchaser namely the 5th defendant and therefore the family properties were already partitioned has been established and in the said circumstances, there cannot be any further partition of family properties once again. 14. He would further submit in his argument that the said transactions had by the 1st defendant and the 5th defendant after the oral partition were not questioned by the plaintiff and therefore it is a clear case that there was an oral partition in between brothers. He would again submit in his argument that it should