Case: Raghavan Sasikumar Vs. Parameswaran Nadar Sathyananadhan Nadar Kanakottu Padippura Veedu and Ors

The defendants filed the written statement disputing the description of the plaint schedule properties. They also contended that they are in possession of properties in excess of kudikidappu right and they are legally entitled to possess the same. It was the case on behalf of the defendants that they have perfected their title over a property having more than 10 cents in extent. A Court Commissioner was appointed, who submitted his report - Court Commissioners Report (Exts. C1 and C2). On appreciation of evidence, the learned Trial Court dismissed the suit, which came to be confirmed by the First Appellate Court. Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied with the judgment and decree passed by the learned Trial Court dismissing the suit and which was confirmed by the First Appellate Court, the original plaintiffs filed the Second Appeal No. 39 of 2000 before the High Court. The appeal was admitted on the following substantial questions of law:- 1. When the lower court has found that the defendants have not perfected their title over plaint D schedule by adverse possession and limitation, should not the lower court grant a decree to the plaintiff allowing the p put up boundary to separate plaint D schedule from B and C schedule properties? 2. Is the finding of the lower court dismissing the suit valid on the ground that the plaintiff has not prayed for recovery of the property from the receiver? 3. If the title of the plaintiff over the plaint D schedule property is found in favour of the plaintiff, can the prayer for putting up boundary be rejected on the ground that the said property is in the possession of the receiver on behalf of the plaintiff? 4. When the plaintiff has admitted that the defendants are in the possession of B and C schedule, can the suit be dismissed on the ground that defendants have not obtained pattayam for the said properties from the Land Tribunal? 5. Can the suit be dismissed on the ground that defendants have not obtained pattayam from the Land Tribunal? 2.3 By the impugned judgment and order, the High Court has allowed the said second appeal and has decreed the suit by upsetting the concurrent findings recorded by both the Courts below and holding that defendant Nos. 1 to 3 cannot have more than 10 cents of land as a kudikidappukars and therefore, plaintiffs are entitled to put up the boundary as per the Commissioners Plan and Report beyond the excess of 10 cents land. 2.4 Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied with the impugned judgment and order passed by the High Court allowing the second appeal and quashing and setting aside the judgment and decree passed by the learned Trial Court dismissing the suit and consequently decreeing the suit, original respondent No.4 before the High Court has preferred the present appeal. 3. We have heard Shri C.N. Sreekumar, learned Senior Advocate appearing on behalf of the appellant and Mr. Jose Abraham, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the respondents – appellants before the High Court – original plaintiffs. 4. Having heard the learned counsel for the respective parties and considered the evidence on record, more particularly, the fact that in the earlier round of litigation instituted by the original landowner - Parameswaran Nadar – predecessor-in-title of the plaintiffs, being O.S. No. 833 of 1961, he was held to be entitled to plaint A schedule land to the extent of 2 acres and 35 cents. Therefore, the predecessor-in-title of the plaintiffs, was having the title to and possession over the plaint A schedule land admeasuring 2 acres and 35 cents only. Therefore, to that extent only the plaintiffs can protect their possession by putting up the boundary wall/fence and not beyond 2 acres and 35 cents. Therefore, the original plaintiffs can put up the boundary wall/fence within 2 acres and 35 cents. They have no right to put up any boundary wall/fence beyond 2 acres and 35 cents. If the plaintiffs are permitted to put up the boundary wall beyond 2 acres and 35 cents, in that case, it would be contrary to the earlier judgment and decree passed in O.S. No. 833 of 1961. Also, if the plaintiffs are permitted to put up the boundary wall/fence beyond 2 acres and 35 cents, in that case, it can be said to be conferring title on them beyond 2 acres and 35 cents contrary to the judgment and decree passed in O.S. No.833 of 1961 in which they were held to be entitled to plaint A schedule land admeasuring 2 acres and 35 cents only. 5. Now, so far as the reliance placed upon the Commissioners Report, which suggests that the plaintiffs were in possession of 2 acres and 77 cents is concerned, it is to be noted that plaintiffs may be found to be in possession of 2 acres and 77 cents. However, any possession beyond 2 acres and 35 cents can be said to be unauthorized possession. 6. As observed hereinabove, the plaintiffs can protect their possession by putting up the boundary wall/fence to the extent of 2 acres and 35 cents only. By praying to permit the plaintiffs to put up the boundary wall/fence beyond 2 acres and 35 cents, the plaintiffs are asking for the reliefs permitting them to retain the possession of land beyond 2 acres and 35 cents, which otherwise they are not entitled to in view of the specific findings recorded by the Civil Court in the earlier round of litigation namely O.S. No. 833 of 1961. 7. From the impugned judgment and order passed by the High Court, it appears that what is weighed with the High Court is that the defendant Nos. 1 to 3 are entitled to only 10 cents as kudikidappukars. However, in a suit praying for putting up a boundary wall/fence filed by the plaintiffs, the High Court in a second appeal could not have given the findings that the defendants were entitled to only 10 cents as kudikidappukars.

Decision (1 = appeal accepted, 0 = rejected): 1

Explanation:
1[ds]4. Having heard the learned counsel for the respective parties and considered the evidence on record, more particularly, the fact that in the earlier round of litigation instituted by the original landowner - Parameswaran Nadar – predecessor-in-title of the plaintiffs, being O.S. No. 833 of 1961, he was held to be entitled to plaint A schedule land to the extent of 2 acres and 35 cents. Therefore, the predecessor-in-title of the plaintiffs, was having the title to and possession over the plaint A schedule land admeasuring 2 acres and 35 cents only. Therefore, to that extent only the plaintiffs can protect their possession by putting up the boundary wall/fence and not beyond 2 acres and 35 cents. Therefore, the original plaintiffs can put up the boundary wall/fence within 2 acres and 35 cents. They have no right to put up any boundary wall/fence beyond 2 acres and 35 cents. If the plaintiffs are permitted to put up the boundary wall beyond 2 acres and 35 cents, in that case, it would be contrary to the earlier judgment and decree passed in O.S. No. 833 of 1961. Also, if the plaintiffs are permitted to put up the boundary wall/fence beyond 2 acres and 35 cents, in that case, it can be said to be conferring title on them beyond 2 acres and 35 cents contrary to the judgment and decree passed in O.S. No.833 of 1961 in which they were held to be entitled to plaint A schedule land admeasuring 2 acres and 35 cents only.5. Now, so far as the reliance placed upon the Commissioners Report, which suggests that the plaintiffs were in possession of 2 acres and 77 cents is concerned, it is to be noted that plaintiffs may be found to be in possession of 2 acres and 77 cents. However, any possession beyond 2 acres and 35 cents can be said to be unauthorized possession.6. As observed hereinabove, the plaintiffs can protect their possession by putting up the boundary wall/fence to the extent of 2 acres and 35 cents only. By praying to permit the plaintiffs to put up the boundary wall/fence beyond 2 acres and 35 cents, the plaintiffs are asking for the reliefs permitting them to retain the possession of land beyond 2 acres and 35 cents, which otherwise they are not entitled to in view of the specific findings recorded by the Civil Court in the earlier round of litigation namely O.S. No. 833 of 1961.7. From the impugned judgment and order passed by the High Court, it appears that what is weighed with the High Court is that the defendant Nos. 1 to 3 are entitled to only 10 cents as kudikidappukars. However, in a suit praying for putting up a boundary wall/fence filed by the plaintiffs, the High Court in a second appeal could not have given the findings that the defendants were entitled to only 10 cents as kudikidappukars.