As per case facts, appellants purchased land, and respondents later initiated proceedings under the M.P. Land Revenue Code claiming an existing road on this land. The revenue authorities ruled against ...
IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH
<>
AT INDORE
<>
BEFORE
<>
HON'BLE SHRI JUSTICE ALOK AWASTHI
<>
SECOND APPEAL No. 1582 of 2025
<>
DHARMANAND @ DHANNALAL AND OTHERS
<>
Versus
YASHWANT AND OTHERS
<>
Appearance:
<>
Shri Ashish Gupta, learned counsel for the appellant.
<>
Reserved on : 28.11.2025
<>
Pronounced on : 19.01.2026
<>
JUDGMENT
<>
Heard on the question of admission.
2-
<>
The appellants have preferred present appeal under Section 100 of
the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (hereinafter referred to as "CPC") being
aggrieved by the judgment and decree dated 06.05.2025 passed by learned
Additional District Judge, Dr. Ambedkar Nagar, District Indore in RCA No.
10/2025 whereby judgment and decree dated 23.12.2024 passed by learned
Civil Judge, Junior Division, Dr. Ambedkar Nagar, District Indore in RCS A
No. 478-A/2018 partially dismissed the suit filed by the appellants/plaintiff,
has been affirmed and appeal filed by the appellants has been dismissed.
3-
<>
Necessary facts for disposal of this appeal, in brief are that
the appellants/plaintiffs had purchased the land bearing Survey No. 84/1 area
2.223 hectare situated at Village Jafarabad, Tehsil Dr. Ambedkar Nagar,
1 SA-1582-2025
District Indore from the previous owner of the land namely Bheru Singh @
Bherulal S/o Moti Singh through a registered sale deed dated 04.07.1998.
The name of the appellants have also been recorded in the revenue records as
the landowner of the disputed land. To the West side of the land of Survey
No. 84/1, land of Survey No. 84/2 owned by respondent No. 1/defendant No.
1 Yashwant S/o Ratan Singh Yadav, is situated. On 01.08.2016, respondent
Nos. 1 & 2/defendant Nos. 1 & 2 submitted an application under Section 32
of the M.P. Land Revenue Code, 1959 (for brevity "MPLRC") before the
Court of Naib Tehsildar, Tappa Manpur, Tehsil Mhow, District Indore. In
this application, it was stated that Ratan Singh, father of respondent Nos. 1
and 2, had submitted an application under Section 131 of the MPLRC in
respect of the said land, which was registered as case No. 06-A/2013/1994-
95 and was considered a road upon Survey No. 84/1 vide order dated
15.03.1995. The said application was decided against the appellants in
absence of the appellants.
4-
<>
Further, appellants preferred an appeal before SDO, Mhow, the
same was also dismissed vide order dated 13.04.2017. Against which, a
second appeal was filed before the Additional Commissioner, again, it was
dismissed vide order dated 02.01.2018. Thereafter, on presentation of
Revision Petition No. 1417/2018 by the appellants before Revenue Board,
Gwalior, the Revision Petition was also dismissed by the Revenue Board
vide order dated 03.04.2018.
5-
<>
It was further pleaded that the Revenue Authorities passed the
order illegally without providing any opportunity to cross-examine the
2 SA-1582-2025
respondents and without investigating the existence of the alleged road.
Upon receiving a certified copy of the order dated 15.03.1995, passed in
Case No. 06/2013/1994-95, the appellants came to know that Bhairulal,
previous owner of the disputed land, had not signed any of the proceedings,
resulting in the proceedings being conducted in the absence of appellants. No
road exists on the south side of the disputed land, and a deep drain runs from
north to south at the said location. The respondents have been using the route
available from the Manpur-Jafrabad road through the land of another farmer,
Dhan Singh, to access the land, Survey No. 84/2. The respondents intended
to construct a new road in Survey No. 84/1. On 17.05.2018, respondent Nos.
1 & 2 threatened to seize possession of the disputed land. No road existed on
Survey No. 84/1. Therefore, this suit was filed by the appellants seeking a
declaration and permanent injunction that no road ever existed from Survey
No. 84/1, an area of 2.223 hectares, to survey No. 84/2.
6-
<>
The respondents, have categorically denied the averments of the
plaint and have stated that the fathers of the appellants and respondents are
real brothers and members of the same family. Survey No. 84/1 and 84/2
were the land of the original Survey No. 84 and after the division of Survey
No. 84 between the fathers of the appellants and respondents, the land of
Survey No. 84/1 was received by the appellants and the land of Survey No.
84/2 was received by the respondents. There was a traditional customary path
from Survey number 84/1, which was stopped by the appellants' father
Bhairulal in the year 1994-95. After Bhairulal blocked the road, the
respondents' father Ratan Singh submitted an application under Section 131
3 SA-1582-2025
of MPLRC.
7-
<>
The learned Trial Court, by judgment dated 23.12.2024,
dismissed the suit in favour of the respondent/defendants. Aggrieved thereby,
the appellants/plaintiffs preferred a first appeal, Civil Regular Appeal No.
10/2025. The First Appellate Court, by judgment dated 06.05.2025,
dismissed the appeal, held that the respondents have not interfere in the
path/road owned by the appellants and affirmed the findings of the Trial
Court.
8-
<>
Being aggrieved by the concurrent findings and judgments passed
by the Courts below, the appellants/plaintiffs have preferred the present
Second Appeal.
9-
<>
Learned counsel for the appellant submitted that the findings of the
learned Courts below were incorrect in the eyes of law and facts. He also
submitted that the Trial Court and Appellate Court has not property
considered the fact that no path of any kind ever existed on the land in
question. Learned Court below has committed a serious error in dismissing
the suit of the appellants by going against the said document in Ex. P/3 and
P/4, which was related to the dispute regarding the path in the same disputed
land. It was proved that the respondents No. 1 and 2 were trying to forcibly
make a new road illegally on the agricultural land situated at Survey No.
84/1 in village Jafarabad Tehsil, Mhow, in the evidence filed by the
appellants and the as well as Appellate Court also serious error in passing the
judgment and decree against the appellants. There is a public road from north
to south of the land of Survey No. 84/1 measuring 2.223 hectares and that a
4 SA-1582-2025
culvert has been constructed on the said road at the corner of the south and
west side of the disputed land, in which the water of the road flows towards
west from under the culvert and a drain has been constructed under the said
proceedings, hence, proceedings were conducted in absence of appellants.
He further submitted that learned trial Court has committed a serious error in
passing the impugned order by arbitrarily interpreting the evidence presented
by the appellant and not believing the evidence filed by the appellants. On
the aforementioned grounds, it is prayed that the present appeal be allowed
by setting aside the impugned order.
10-
<>
Having heard the submissions advanced by learned counsel for the
appellant, I have perused the record.
11-
<>
The Second Appeal is filed under the provisions of Section 100 of CPC
which provides that Second Appeal is entertainable by the High Court if it is satisfied
that the case involves a substantial question of law. Section 101 of CPC provides that
no second appeal shall lie except on the ground mentioned in section 100 of CPC.
12-
<>
<>
At the outset the question of entertaining the second appeal is required to
be considered. On this aspect the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Municipal
<>
Committee, Hoshiarpur Vs. Punjab SEB
<>
, reported in (2010) 13 SCC 216
<>
<>
has held as
under:-
“16.
<>
Thus, it is evident from the above that the right to appeal is a creation
of statute and it cannot be created by acquiescence of the parties or by the
order of the court. Jurisdiction cannot be conferred by mere acceptance,
acquiescence, consent or by any other means as it can be conferred only by
the legislature and conferring a court or authority with jurisdiction, is a
legislative function. Thus, being a substantive statutory right, it has to be
regulated in accordance with the law in force, ensuring full compliance
with the conditions mentioned in the provision that creates it. Therefore,
the court has no power to enlarge the scope of those grounds mentioned in
the statutory provisions. A second appeal cannot be decided merely on
equitable grounds as it lies only on a substantial question of law, which is
something distinct from a substantial question of fact. The Court cannot
5 SA-1582-2025
entertain a second appeal unless a substantial question of law is involved,
as the second appeal does not lie on the ground of erroneous findings of
fact based on an appreciation of the relevant evidence. The existence of a
substantial question of law is a condition precedent for entertaining the
second appeal; on failure to do so, the judgment cannot be maintained.
The existence of a substantial question of law is a sine qua non for the
exercise of jurisdiction under the provisions of Section 100 CPC. It is the
obligation on the court to further clear the intent of the legislature and not
to frustrate it by ignoring the same. (Vide Santosh Hazari v. Purshottam
Tiwari; Sarjas Rai v. Bakshi Inderjit Singh; Manicka Poosali v. Anjalai
Ammal; Sugani v. Rameshwar Das; Hero Vinoth v. Seshammal; P.
Chandrasekharan v. S. Kanakarajan; Kashmir Singh v. Harnam Singh; V.
Ramaswamy v. Ramachandran and Bhag Singh v. Jaskirat Singh.)
17.
<>
In
<>
Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.
<>
v.
<>
Union of India, AIR 1979 SC 798,
<>
this Court observed :
“ 12. … it is not every question of law that could be permitted to be raised
in the second appeal. The parameters within which a new legal plea could
be permitted to be raised, are specifically stated in subsection (5) of
Section 100 CPC. Under the proviso, the Court should be ‘satisfied’ that
the case involves a ‘substantial question of law’ and not a mere ‘question
of law’. The reason for permitting the substantial question of law to be
raised, should be ‘recorded’ by the Court. It is implicit therefrom that on
compliance of the above, the opposite party should be afforded a fair or
proper opportunity to meet the same. It is not any legal plea that would be
alleged at the stage of second appeal. It should be a substantial question of
law. The reasons for permitting the plea to be raised should also be
recorded.” [ Kshitish Chandra Purkait v. Santosh Kumar Purkait, (1997) 5
SCC 438, pp. 445- 46, para 10].
18.
<>
In Madamanchi Ramappa
<>
v.
<>
Muthaluru Bojjappa, AIR 1963 SC
<>
1633,
<>
this Court observed:-
“ 12. … Therefore, whenever this Court is satisfied that in dealing with a
second appeal, the High Court has, either unwittingly and in a casual
manner, or deliberately as in this case, contravened the limits prescribed
by Section 100, it becomes the duty of this Court to intervene and give
effect to the said provisions. It may be that in some cases, the High Court
dealing with the second appeal is inclined to take the view that what it
regards to be justice or equity of the case has not been served by the
findings of fact recorded by courts of fact; but on such occasions it is
necessary to remember that what is administered in courts is justice
according to law and considerations of fair play and equity however
important they may be, must yield to clear and express provisions of the
law. If in reaching its decisions in second appeals, the High Court
contravenes the express provisions of Section 100, it would inevitably
6 SA-1582-2025
introduce in such decisions an element of disconcerting unpredictability
which is usually associated with gambling; and that is a reproach which
judicial process must constantly and scrupulously endeavour to avoid.”
19.
<>
In Jai Singh
<>
v.
<>
Shakuntala, AIR 2002
<>
SC 1428,
<>
this Court held as
under:
“ 6. … it is only in very exceptional cases and on extreme perversity that
the authority to examine the same in extenso stands permissible — it is a
rarity rather than a regularity and thus in fine it can be safely concluded
that while there is no prohibition as such, but the power to scrutiny can
only be had in very exceptional circumstances and upon proper
circumspection.”
Further Hon'ble Apex Court endorsing its another judgment pen down as
under:
23.
<>
In
<>
Kulwant Kaur
<>
v.
<>
Gurdial Singh Mann (dead) by LRs & Ors., AIR
<>
2001 SC 1273,
<>
this Court observed as under:-
“ 34. Admittedly, Section 100 has introduced a definite restriction on to the
exercise of jurisdiction in a second appeal so far as the High Court is
concerned. Needless to record that the Code of Civil Procedure
(Amendment) Act, 1976 introduced such an embargo for such definite
objectives and since we are not required to further probe on that score, we
are not detailing out, but the fact remains that while it is true that in a
second appeal a finding of fact, even if erroneous, will generally not be
disturbed but where it is found that the findings stand vitiated on wrong
test and on the basis of assumptions and conjectures and resultantly there
is an element of perversity involved therein, the High Court in our view
will be within its jurisdiction to deal with the issue. This is, however, only
in the event such a fact is brought to light by the High Court explicitly and
the judgment should also be categorical as to the issue of perversity vis-à-
vis the concept of justice. Needless to say however, that perversity itself is
a substantial question worth adjudication — what is required is a
categorical finding on the part of the High Court as to perversity.
… The requirements stand specified in Section 103 and nothing short of it
will bring it within the ambit of Section 100 since the issue of perversity
will also come within the ambit of substantial question of law as noticed
above. The legality of finding of fact cannot but be termed to be a question
of law. We reiterate however, that there must be a definite finding to that
effect in the judgment of the High Court so as to make it evident that
Section 100 of the Code stands complied with.”
13-
<>
In view of the aforesaid principle settled by Hon'ble Apex Court, every
7 SA-1582-2025
question of law could not be permitted to be raised in Second Appeal, there ought to
be substantial question of law for entertaining such appeal and such appeal is
entertainable in very exceptional cases and on extreme perversity. It is a rarity rather
then regularity but where it is found that the findings stand vitiated on wrong test and
on the basis of assumptions and conjectures and resultantly there is an element of
perversity involved therein, then Second Appeal should be entertained. In other
words, perversity itself is a substantial question worth adjudication. Here in this
appeal, it is to be seen as to whether any perversity was committed by the Courts
below and as to whether any substantial question of law is involved in this Second
Appeal?
14-
<>
So far as the 'perversity' is concerned, the Supreme Court in the case of
Damodar Lal Vs. Sohan Devi and others
<>
reported in (2016) SCC 78
<>
has held as under
:-
"8. ‘Perversity’ has been the subject matter of umpteen number of
decisions of this Court. It has also been settled by several decisions of this
Court that the first appellate court, under Section 96 of The Civil
Procedure Code, 1908, is the last court of facts unless the findings are
based on evidence or are perverse.
9. In Krishnan v. Backiam and another
<>
[2207 INSC 908]
<>
, it has been held
at paragraph-11 that:
“11. It may be mentioned that the first appellate court under Section
96 CPC is the last court of facts. The High Court in second appeal
under Section 100 CPC cannot interfere with the findings of fact recorded
by the first appellate court under Section 96 CPC. No doubt the findings
of fact of the first appellate court can be challenged in second appeal on
the ground that the said findings are based on no evidence or are perverse,
but even in that case a question of law has to be formulated and framed by
the High Court to that effect. …”
10. In Gurvachan Kaur vs. Salikram (Dead) through Lrs. [
<>
2010 (15) SCC
<>
530]
<>
this principle has been reiterated:
"It is settled law that in exercise of power under Section 100 of the Code
of Civil Procedure, the High Court cannot interfere with the finding of fact
recorded by the first appellate court which is the final court of fact, unless
8 SA-1582-2025
the same is found to be perverse. This being the position, it must be held
that the High Court was not justified in reversing the finding of fact
recorded by the first appellate court on the issues of existence of landlord-
tenant relationship between the plaintiff and defendant and default
committed by the latter in payment of rent."
15-
<>
Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of Pakeerappa Rai Vs. Seethamma
<>
Hengsu Dead by L.R.s
<>
<>
and others
<>
<>
reported in (2001) 9 SCC 521
<>
<>
has again held as
under :
" 2...But the High Court in exercise of power under Section 100 CPC
cannot interfere with the erroneous finding of fact howsoever the gross
error seems to be...."
16-
<>
Further in this context, Hon'ble Supreme Court, in the case of Gurdev
<>
Kaur vs. Kaki
<>
<>
reported in (2007) 1 SCC 546
<>
,
<>
has held as under :.
" 46. In Bholaram v. Amirchand (1981) 2 SCC 414
<>
a three- Judge Bench
of this Court reiterated the statement of law. The High Court, however,
seems to have justified its interference in second appeal mainly on the
ground that the judgments of the courts below were perverse and were
given in utter disregard of the important materials on the record
particularly misconstruction of the rent note. Even if we accept the main
reason given by the High Court the utmost that could be said was that the
findings of fact by the courts below were wrong or grossly inexcusable but
that by itself would not entitle the High Court to interfere in the absence of
a clear error of law.
47. In Kshitish Chandra Purkait v. Santosh Kumar Purkait [(1997) 5 SCC
<>
438]
<>
, a three judge Bench of this Court held: (a) that the High Court
should be satisfied that the case involved a substantial question of law and
not mere question of law; (b) reasons for permitting the plea to be raised
should also be recorded; (c) it has the duty to formulate the substantial
questions of law and to put the opposite party on notice and give fair and
proper opportunity to meet the point. The Court also held that it is the duty
cast upon the High Court to formulate substantial question of law involved
in the case even at the initial stage.
48. This Court had occasion to determine the same issue in Dnyanoba
<>
Bhaurao Shemade v. Maroti Bhaurao Marnor (1999) 2 SCC 471
<>
. The
Court stated that the High Court can exercise its jurisdiction under Section
100 C.P.C. only on the basis of substantial questions of law which are to
be framed at the time of admission of the second appeal and the second
appeal has to be heard and decided only on the basis of the such duly
9 SA-1582-2025
framed substantial questions of law.
49. A mere look at the said provision shows that the High Court can
exercise its jurisdiction under Section 100 C.P.C. only on the basis of
substantial questions of law which are to be framed at the time of
admission of the second appeal and the second appeal has to be heard and
decided only on the basis of such duly framed substantial questions of law.
The impugned judgment shows that no such procedure was followed by
the learned Single Judge. It is held by a catena of judgments by this Court,
some of them being, Kshitish Chandra Purkait v. Santosh Kumar
<>
Purkait (1997) 5 SCC 438 and Sheel Chand v. Prakash Chand
<>
(1998) 6
<>
SCC 683
<>
that the judgment rendered by the High Court under Section
100 C.P.C. without following the aforesaid procedure cannot be sustained.
On this short ground alone, this appeal is required to be allowed.
50. In Kanai Lal Garari v. Murari Ganguly
<>
(1999) 6 SCC 35
<>
the Court has
observed that it is mandatory to formulate the substantial question of law
while entertaining the appeal in absence of which the judgment is to be set
aside. In Panchugopal Barua v. Umesh Chandra Goswami (1997) 4 SCC
<>
713 and Santosh Hazari v. Purushottam Tiwari
<>
(2001) 3 SCC 179
<>
the
Court reiterated the statement of law that the High Court cannot proceed to
hear a second appeal without formulating the substantial question of
law. These judgments have been referred to in the later judgment of K. Raj
<>
and Anr. v. Muthamma
<>
(2001) 6 SCC 279
<>
. A statement of law has been
reiterated regarding the scope and interference of the Court in second
appeal under Section 100 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
51. Again in Santosh Hazari v. Purushottam Tiwari (deceased) by Lrs.
<>
(2001) 3 SCC 179
<>
, another three-Judge Bench of this Court correctly
delineated the scope of Section 100 C.P.C.. The Court observed that an
obligation is cast on the appellant to precisely state in the memorandum of
appeal the substantial question of law involved in the appeal and which
the appellant proposes to urge before the Court. In the said judgment, it
was further mentioned that the High Court must be satisfied that a
substantial question of law is involved in the case and such question has
then to be formulated by the High Court. According to the Court the word
substantial, as qualifying "question of law", means of having substance,
essential, real, of sound worth, important or considerable. It is to be
understood as something in contradistinction with technical, of no
substance or consequence, or academic merely. However, it is clear that
the legislature has chosen not to qualify the scope of "substantial question
of law" by suffixing the words "of general importance" as has been done
in many other provisions such as Section 109 of the Code of Article
133(1) (a) of the Constitution.
52. In Kamti Devi (Smt.) and Anr. v. Poshi Ram
<>
(2001) 5 SCC 311
<>
the
Court came to the conclusion that the finding thus reached by the first
10 SA-1582-2025
appellate court cannot be interfered with in a second appeal as no
substantial question of law would have flowed out of such a finding.
53. In Thiagarajan v. Sri Venugopalaswamy B. Koil
<>
[(2004) 5 SCC 762],
<>
this Court has held that the High Court in its jurisdiction under Section
100 C.P.C. was not justified in interfering with the findings of fact. The
Court observed that to say the least the approach of the High Court was
not proper. It is the obligation of the Courts of law to further the clear
intendment of the legislature and not frustrate it by excluding the same.
This Court in a catena of decisions held that where findings of fact by the
lower appellate Court are based on evidence, the High Court in second
appeal cannot substitute its own findings on reappreciation of evidence
merely on the ground that another view was possible.
54. In the same case, this Court observed that in a case where special leave
petition was filed against a judgment of the High Court interfering with
findings of fact of the lower Appellate Court. This Court observed that to
say the least the approach of the High Court was not proper. It is the
obligation of the Courts of law to further the clear intendment of the
legislature and not frustrate it by excluding the same. This Court further
observed that the High Court in second appeal cannot substitute its own
findings on reappreciation of evidence merely on the ground that another
view was possible.
55. This Court again reminded the High Court in Commissioner, Hindu
<>
Religious & Charitable Endowments v. P. Shanmugama
<>
[(2005) 9 SCC
<>
232]
<>
that the High Court has no jurisdiction in second appeal to interfere
with the finding of facts.
56. Again, this Court in the case of State of Kerala v. Mohd. Kunhi [(2005)
<>
10 SCC 139
<>
] has reiterated the same principle that the High Court is not
justified in interfering with the concurrent findings of fact. This Court
observed that, in doing so, the High Court has gone beyond the scope
of Section 100 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
57. Again, in the case of Madhavan Nair v. Bhaskar Pillai [(2005) 10 SCC
<>
553],
<>
this Court observed that the High Court was not justified in
interfering with the concurrent findings of fact. This Court observed that it
is well settled that even if the first appellate court commits an error in
recording a finding of fact, that itself will not be a ground for the High
Court to upset the same.
58. Again, in the case of Harjeet Singh v. Amrik Singh [(2005) 12 SCC
<>
270],
<>
this Court with anguish has mentioned that the High Court has no
jurisdiction to interfere with the findings of fact arrived at by the first
appellate court. In this case, the findings of the Trial Court and the lower
Appellate Court regarding readiness and willingness to perform their part
11 SA-1582-2025
of contract was set aside by the High Court in its jurisdiction
under Section 100 C.P.C.. This Court, while setting aside the judgment of
the High Court, observed that the High Court was not justified in
interfering with the concurrent findings of fact arrived at by the Courts
below.
59. In the case of H. P. Pyarejan v. Dasappa
<>
[(2006) 2 SCC 496]
<>
delivered
on 6.2.2006, this Court found serious infirmity in the judgment of the High
Court. This Court observed that it suffers from the vice of exercise of
jurisdiction which did not vest in the High Court. Under Section 100 of the
Code (as amended in 1976) the jurisdiction of the Court to interfere with
the judgments of the Courts below is confined to hearing of substantial
questions of law. Interference with the finding of fact by the High Court is
not warranted if it invokes reappreciation of evidence. This Court found
that the impugned judgment of the High Court was vulnerable and needed
to be set aside.
1
<>
7-
<>
With regard to fact findings of trial Court as well as the appellate Court
in order to frame substantial question law in second appeal, the following view of the
Hon'ble Apex Court rendered in the case of Kondiba Dagadu Kadam v. Savitribai
<>
Sopan Gujar; (1999) 3 SCC 722
<>
, is condign to quote here under:-
"5. It is not within the domain of the High Court to investigate the grounds
on which the findings were arrived at, by the last court of fact, being the
first appellate court. It is true that the lower appellate court should not
ordinarily reject witnesses accepted by the trial court in respect of
credibility but even where it has rejected the witnesses accepted by the
trial court, the same is no ground for interference in second appeal when it
is found that the appellate court has given satisfactory reasons for doing
so. In a case where from a given set of circumstances two inferences are
possible, one drawn by the lower appellate court is binding on the High
Court in second appeal. Adopting any other approach is not permissible.
The High Court cannot substitute its opinion for the opinion of the first
appellate court unless it is found that the conclusions drawn by the lower
appellate court were erroneous being contrary to the mandatory provisions
of law applicable or its settled position on the basis of pronouncements
made by the Apex Court, or was based upon inadmissible evidence or
arrived at without evidence.
6. If the question of law termed as a substantial question stands already
decided by a larger Bench of the High Court concerned or by the Privy
Council or by the Federal Court or by the Supreme Court, its merely
wrong application on the facts of the case would not be termed to be a
substantial question of law. Where a point of law has not been pleaded or
12 SA-1582-2025
is found to be arising between the parties in the absence of any factual
format, a litigant should not be allowed to raise that question as a
substantial question of law in second appeal. The mere appreciation of the
facts, the documentary evidence or the meaning of entries and the contents
of the document cannot be held to be raising a substantial question of law.
But where it is found that the first appellate court has assumed jurisdiction
which did not vest in it, the same can be adjudicated in the second appeal,
treating it as a substantial question of law. Where the first appellate court
is shown to have exercised its discretion in a judicial manner, it cannot be
termed to be an error either of law or of procedure requiring interference in
second appeal. This Court in Reserve Bank of India v. Ramkrishna Govind
Morey [AIR 1976 SC 830]held that whether the trial court should not have
exercised its jurisdiction differently is not a question of law justifying
interference"
13.
<>
In this regard, in the case of
<>
Laxmidevamma v. Ranganath; (2015) 4 SCC
<>
264
<>
, again the Apex court has held as under:-
"16. Based on oral and documentary evidence, both the courts below have
recorded concurrent findings of fact that the plain-tiffs have established
their right in A schedule property. In the light of the concurrent findings of
fact, no substantial questions of law arose in the High Court and there was
no substantial ground for reappreciation of evidence. While so, the High
Court proceeded to observe that the first plaintiff has earmarked the A
schedule property for road and that she could not have full-fledged right
and on that premise proceeded to hold that declaration to the plaintiffs'
right cannot be granted. In exercise of jurisdiction under Section 100 CPC,
concurrent findings of fact cannot be upset by the High Court unless the
findings so recorded are shown to be perverse. In our considered view, the
High Court did not keep in view that the concurrent findings recorded by
the courts below, are based on oral and documentary evidence and the
judgment of the High Court cannot be sustained."
18-
<>
So also the Hon'ble Apex Court in case of Adiveppa & Others Vs.
<>
Bhimappa & Others; (2017) 9 SCC 586
<>
has held as under:-
"17. Here is a case where two Courts below, on appreciating the entire
evidence, have come to a conclusion that the Plaintiffs failed to prove their
case in relation to both the suit properties. The concurrent findings of facts
recorded by the two Courts, which do not involve any question of law
much less substantial question of law, are binding on this Court.
18. It is more so when these findings are neither against the pleadings nor
against the evidence and nor contrary to any provision of law. They are
13 SA-1582-2025
also not perverse to the extent that no such findings could ever be recorded
by any judicial person. In other words, unless the findings of facts, though
concurrent, are found to be extremely perverse so as to affect the judicial
conscious of a judge, they would be binding on the Appellate Court."
19-
<>
In the present case, learned trial Court has found that no access road
has ever existed from the land owned by the appellants/plaintiffs bearing
Survey No. 84/1, admeasuring 2.223 hectares, situated at Village Jafrabad,
Tehsil Mhow, District Indore to Survey No. 84/2. Whereas, the appellants
paid sufficient Court fees. That apart, it is also found that the cause of action
arose after filing of an application under Section 32 of MPLRC by the
respondents against the appellants before Naib Tehsildar on 01.08.2016 and
on the said application, order was passed against the appellants. Against
which, an appeal was also preferred, the same has also been dismissed.
Thereafter, a suit was filed before Trial Court seeking relief of an injunction.
Therefore, the appellants'/plaintiffs' attempt to use and enjoy the path
through the appellants'/plaintiffs' land appears to have given them cause of
action to file the present suit. The findings of facts arrived by the Trial Court on
the relevant issues, have been confirmed by the First Appellate Court. The learned
Trial Court as well as the learned Appellate Court have discussed the oral and
documentary evidence in proper perspective of law and thereafter as per the
concurrent findings, it is conclusively established that the appellants'/plaintiffs'
attempt to use and enjoy the path through the land in question appears to
have given them cause of action to file the present suit.
20-
<>
<>
In upshot of the aforesaid proposition of law, having examined
the facts and circumstances of the case in this second appeal, it stands that no
access road ever existed from Survey No. 84/1 to Survey No. 84/2. The
14 SA-1582-2025
(ALOK AWASTHI)
<>
JUDGE
<>
cause of action arose only after the respondents initiated proceedings under
Section 32 of MPLRC and obtained an order against the appellants, which
was upheld in appeal. Consequently, suit for injunction was founded solely
on the appellants’ attempt to use a non-existent pathway/road through the
disputed land. Thus, this Court is of the considered opinion that no perverse
finding was rendered by the Trial Court as well as the Appellate Court.
21-
<>
Accordingly, this Court is of the view that concurrent findings of
trial Court as well as appellate Court do not warrant any interference and in
the result thereof, this Second Appeal is hereby dismissed
<>
.
Vindesh
15 SA-1582-2025
Legal Notes
Add a Note....