Madhavan
Pillai Gopinathan Nair & Anr Vs. Suobtbhaeyrysan Chettiar Karthikayan and
[2002] Insc 288 (11
July 2002)
D.P.Mohapatra,
Brijesh Kumar. D.P.Mohapatra,J.
Having
lost the case before the trial court, the single Judge and Division Bench of
the High Court of Kerala, defendants 7 and 8 have filed these appeals assailing
the judgment rendered by the Division Bench on 13.8.1992 in AFA No.44/1992 and
47/1992.
The
suit OS No.246 of 1978 was instituted by respondents 1 and 2 herein alleging,
inter alia, that they, the defendants 1 to 4 and mother of defendant no.5 are
the children of late Muthammal wife of Subbayyan Chettiar.
The
parties belong to Thelunkchetty caste and are governed by Hindu Mitakshara Law.
The suit property as described in the schedule to the plaint is 93 cents of
land under survey No.86/7 in Niyamam village. It was the self- acquired
property of Muthammal. She mortgaged the said property with one Velayudhan Pillai
for Rs.2,000/- on 9.8.1956. It was stipulated in the mortgage deed that the mortgagee
would not spend more than Rs.500/- for construction of a house on the mortgage
property and he would not claim anything more than Rs.500/- towards value of
the building constructed by him in the property, at the time of redemption. Muthummal
died on 13.6.1962.
On her
death the property devolved on her seven children, the plaintiffs, defendants 1
to 4 and Leelammal, mother of 5th defendant. Leelammal died on 1.5.1979 and her
rights devolved on her only daughter the 5th defendant. Shortly after the death
of Muthummal, Subbayyan Chettiar father of the plaintiffs married one Pappammal
on 24th November, 1962. Under the influence of his second
wife Subbayyan Chettiar neglected the plaintiffs and their brothers and sisters
and resided separately along with Pappamal and the 4 children begotten through
her. Being neglected by their father the plaintiffs and their brothers and
sisters were maintained by their uncle Venkitachalam Chettiar brother of Subbayyan
Chettiar . Subbayyan Chettiar died on 6.1.1975. During his life time Subbayyan Chettiar
claiming himself as guardian of the plaintiffs and his other minor children
through deceased Muthummal got executed a partition deed, on 19.9.1963 under
which the plaint schedule property was partitioned amongst the children of Muthummal
and Subbayyan Chettiar in equal shares. In the plaint it was alleged that the
said partition deed was void and liable to be set aside for various reasons. It
was the case of the plaintiffs that Subbayyan Chettiar was neither entitled to
a share in the property of Muthummal nor was he entitled to represent the minor
children of Muthummal after his second marriage. It was further alleged in the
plaint that division of the property was not effected in an equitable manner
and it was prejudicial to the interest of the minors. Subbayyan Chettiar and
the 1st defendant Renkaswamy Chettiar who was the only major son at the time,
sold 23 cents of property which was allotted to them under the partition deed
to one Gopala Krishnan and he had redeemed that property (23 cents) on payment
of a portion of the mortgage amount to the original mortgagee. It was the case
of the plaintiffs that neither Subbayyan Chettiar nor the 1st defendant had any
right to execute sale deed in favour of Gopala Krishnan and the said sale deed
was not binding on the plaintiffs.
On
1.9.1964 Subbayyan Chettiar as guardian of his minor children mortgaged the
remaining 70 cents of property which was allotted to his minor children under
the partition deed to one Krishnamurthy for a sum of Rs.5500/-, and the said
Krishnamurthy redeemed the prior mortgage of the year 1956 executed by deceased
Muthummal and obtained possession of the property.
Again
on 23.6.1965 Subbayyan Chettiar executed a Purakkadam document in favour of
Krishnamurthy for a sum of Rs.2000. It was the case of the plaintiffs that the
aforementioned mortgage deed and Purakkadam document were void and they were
liable to be set aside for the reasons that Subbayyan Chettiar was incompetent
to act as guardian of the minor; that there was no necessity for mortgaging the
property and that there was no consideration for the mortgage deed and the Purakkadam
document. It was further alleged by the plaintiffs that the consideration
received for execution of these documents was not utilized for the benefit of
the minors; though the original mortgagee had agreed that he would not be
entitled to spend more than Rs.500 towards value of improvement, Subbayyan Chettiar
had granted a sum of Rs.2,500/- towards value of improvement effected by the
mortgagee; he had no authority to do so; Leelammal, mother of the 5th defendant
was shown as a minor on the date of the mortgage deed and Purakkadam document
even though she was a major then, and for executing the documents on behalf of
the minors Subbayyan Chettiar had not obtained sanction from the Court. The
properties covered under the mortgage deed and the Purakkadam document were
subsequently transferred to defendants 6,7 & 8 on different dates. On these
allegations the plaintiffs sought the following reliefs :
"a)
to set aside the partition deed No.5578 of 1963, the sale deed Nos.5579 and
6569 of 1963 created by Subbayyan Chettiar along with 1st defendant and also
the simple mortgage created vide document no.3867 of 64 as well as subsequent
mortgage vide document no.2873 of 65 created by Subbayyan Chettiar by declaring
them to be invalid since they were created without bona fides and also not for
the necessity of the family and also because these documents are falsely
created and therefore liable to be declared as not binding on the plaintiffs as
well as the plaint schedule property.
b) The
plaint schedule property may be partitioned by metes and bounds into 7 equal
shares and 2/7th of the share allotted for the plaintiffs separately.
c) By
permitting the plaintiffs to deposit the mortgage money as per document
No.2452/56 mortgage representing their share and to get vacant possession from
the defendants who are in possession.
d) In
case it is found that the mortgage as per the documents No.2452 of 1956 cannot
be split up, the plaintiffs may be permitted to deposit the entire mortgage
money of Rs.2000/- along with the cost of improvements, if it is found to the
maximum, as provided for in the documents and direct the defendants to put the
plaintiffs in possession of the entire property.
e)
From the date of depositing the cost of improvements to the date of vacating
the property, Purakkadam Deed interest may be directed to be paid by the
defendants.
f) All
the cost of litigation may be recovered from the defendants and their property
and paid to the defendants.
g) For
granting the relief to the defendants, all necessary orders regarding
injunction, receiver appointment etc., all that is found necessary by the
courts also may kindly be granted." The first defendant remained ex-parte.
Defendants
2 to 5 filed joint written statement supporting the plaint and claiming
partition and separate allotment of their 4/7th share of the plaint schedule
property.
Defendant
no.6 took the plea that restrictions imposed in the original mortgage deed
regarding value of the improvements on the mortgage property was invalid and
the mortgagee was entitled to get the value of improvements under the
provisions of the Kerala Compensation for Tenanats Improvements Act, 1958. The
said defendant generally denied the allegations made in the plaint.
Defendants
7 and 8, who were the main contesting defendants in the suit, refuted the
allegations made in the plaint, raised the plea of suit being barred by
limitation and the plea of non-joinder of Leelammal's husband who was a
necessary party in the suit. The said defendants also denied that Subbayyan Chettiar
had neglected his children through Muthummal; that the mortgage deed and Purakkadam
document were not supported by consideration; that the consideration received
under these documents was not spent for the benefit of the minors etc.
On the
pleadings of the parties the trial court framed the following seven issues :
"1.
Whether the impugned documents are liable to be set aside for the reasons alleged
?
2
Whether the plaintiffs are entitled to get partition and redemption as prayed for
?
3
What, if any, is the value of improvements ?
4
Whether the suit is barred by limitation?
5
Whether the suit is bad for non- joinder of necessary parties?
6
Whether the documents are competent and supported by consideration and
necessity?
7 Reliefs
and costs ?"
Considering
issue No.4 the trial court held that since the suit was filed within 8 years
after the first plaintiff attained majority the suit was not barred by
limitation. Under issue No.5 the trial court held that PW 4 husband of Leelammal
was a necessary party to the suit and since he had not been made a party in the
suit it was bad for non-joinder of necessary party.
Considering
issues 1 & 6 the trial court held that Ext.A3, partition deed, was not
invalid and therefore Subbayyan Chettiar and the first defendant were quite
competent to execute the sale deed in respect of properties allotted to them
under the partition deed and that the plaintiffs were not entitled to have Exts.
A-4 and A-5, sale deeds, set aside. The trial court further found that Ext.
A-6, mortgage deed and Ext.A-7, Purakkadam document, were not competent and not
supported by consideration and necessity; therefore the said documents were
liable to be set aside. The issues were answered accordingly.
Under
issue No.2 the trial court found that since the shares allotted to the
plaintiffs under Ext. A3, partition deed, were not scheduled in the plaint and
since the plaintiffs had not prayed for redemption of their shares as per Ext.
A-3, partition deed, they were not entitled to redeem their shares in the same.
Consequently,
the trial court answered the issue no. 2 against the plaintiffs.
On the
above findings the trial court decreed the suit in part declaring that Ext.
A-6, mortgage deed, and Ext. A-7, Purakkadam document, were not supported by
consideration and necessity and that they were not binding on the plaintiffs.
Ext A-6, mortgage deed, and Ext.A-7, Purakkadam document, were set aside. The
parties were directed to bear their own costs.
The
judgment of the trial court was challenged by the contesting parties.
Defendants 7 and 8 filed As No.238 of 1981 while the plaintiffs filed AS No.216
of 1981. Both the appeals were heard together and decided by the learned single
Judge by the judgment dated 2.7. 1991 in which AS No.238/81 was dismissed and
AS No.216 of 1981 was allowed and a preliminary decree for redemption was
passed in favour of the plaintiffs. The plaintiffs were directed to deposit a
sum of Rs.2500/- within a period of two months and on such deposit defendants 7
and 8 were directed to deliver possession of the properties described in
schedules 2 to 7 of Ex.A-3, partition deed.
Against
the said judgment the defendants 7 and 8 filed appeals AFA Nos.44/92 and 47/92
which were decided by the Division Bench on 13.8.1992. Both the appeals were
dismissed. The judgment of the Division Bench is under challenge in the present
appeals.
The
learned counsel appearing for the parties before us reiterated the stand taken
by the parties before the High Court. The finding of the trial court that A-6
-the mortgage deed and A-7 -the Purakkadam document were supported by necessity
and/or consideration was confirmed by the learned single Judge on independent
assessment and appreciation of the evidence on record. The Division Bench found
no acceptable ground to interfere with the said finding. In view of the said
concurrent findings of fact of the courts below no exception could be taken to
the direction of the single Judge as confirmed by the Division Bench that the
plaintiffs were entitled to redeem the original mortgage to the extent of 70
cents of land covered under the mortgaged deed and Purakkadam document on
payment of mortgage amount. The contention raised on behalf of the appellants
herein that unity of the mortgage was broken since one of the co-mortgagers was
permitted to redeem a part of the mortgaged property on payment of
proportionate mortgage amount was rightly rejected by the courts below. As
noted earlier the entire 70 cents of suit property was covered under Ext. A-6,
mortgage deed, and Ext. A-7, Purakkadam document, which were held to be invalid
and not binding on the plaintiffs. In that view of the matter the question of breaking
of unity of the mortgage does not arise. We are of the view that in the facts
and circumstances of the case the contention was rightly rejected by the High
Court.
In the
result, the appeals being devoid of merit are dismissed with costs. Hearing fee
is assessed at Rs.10,000/-.
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