2024 INSC 165 Page 1 of 21

REPORTABLE

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CIVIL APPEAL NO(S). 7293-7294 OF 2010

SRINIVAS RAGHAVENDRARAO

DESAI (DEAD) BY LRS. … Appellant(s)

VERSUS

V. KUMAR VAMANRAO @ ALOK AND ORS. … Respondent(s)

J U D G M E N T

Rajesh Bindal, J.

1. The appeals

1

filed by the plaintiffs having been partly allowed

by the High Court

2

, the defendant No. 7 has challenged the judgment and

decree

3

of the High Court before this Court.

1

R.F.A. No. 1463 of 2007 and R.F.A. No. 1782 of 2007

2

High Court of Karnataka, Circuit Bench at Dharwad

3

Judgement and decree dated 19.12.2008

Page 2 of 21

Facts of the case

2. A suit

4

was filed by Kumar Vamanrao alias Alok son of

Sudheendra Desai(plaintiff No.1), Kumar Vyas alias Prateek Sudheendra

Desai (plaintiff No. 2) and Aruna wife of Sudheendra Desai (plaintiff No.3),

sons and wife of Sudheendra (defendant No. 1) respectively, impleading

the parents of defendant No.1 and great grant mother of the plaintiffs No.1

and 2. Kumari Arundhati (defendant No. 5) was daughter of Ramarao

(defendant No.2 and sister of defendant No.1. Martandappa (defendant

No.6) was said to be proposed purchaser of the part of the land. Srinivas

Raghavendrarao Desai (defendant No.7) was impleaded in the suit vide

order dated 02.01.2001.

2.1 Defendant No.7 is in appeal before this Court against the

judgment and decree of the High Court. He having died during the

pendency of the Special Leave Petitions, his legal representatives have

been brought on record vide order dated 23.03.2015. Prahlad (defendant

No.8) brother of defendant No. 7 was impleaded in the suit vide order

dated 11.07.2003. Whereas Administrative Officer-Murugharajendra

Vidyapeeth (defendant No. 9) was impleaded vide order dated

4

O.S.No.60 of 1999

Page 3 of 21

08.06.2005, as defendant No. 7 had sold Regular Survey No.106/2 in

favour of defendant No. 9 by executing sale deed dated 25.07.2001.

3. The suit was filed by the plaintiffs claiming 5/9

th

share in the

suit schedule properties. Further prayer was made for grant of mesne

profits. Along with the plaint, the following schedule of the properties was

attached of which partition was sought:

“SCHEDULE- ‘A’

The properties standing in the name of defendant No. 1

S. No. TALUKA VILLAGE R.S.NO.

BLOCK

NO.

AREA A-G ASST.Rs.PS. VALUATION

1. Dharwad Dhandikoppa 50/1 4-6-1/2 11-49 Rs. 50,000/-

2. Dharwad Saptapur 106/2 3-14 9-28 Rs. 50,000/-

3. Dharwad Lakamanahalli 86/2B 7-32 26-32 Rs. 80,000/-

4. Dharwad Kelgeri 69 6-10 6-53 Rs. 50,000/-

5. Dharwad Kelgeri 152/4 7-01 20-82 Rs. 70,000/-

SCHEDULE- ‘B’

The properties standing in the name of D.2

S. No. TALUKA VILLAGE R.S.NO.

BLOCK

NO.

AREA A-

G

ASST.Rs.PS. VALUATION

1. Dharwad Saptapur 120 3-20 5-36 Rs. 40,000/-

2. Dharwad Kanavi

Honnapur

87A 2-06 0-51 Rs. 10,000/-

3. Hubli Sutagatti 9A/2 2-01 1-11 Rs. 10,000

[1/2 share in

this property

to RV Desai

D-1]

4. Dharwad city R.S. No. 55A flat in plot No. F-2

Lakamanahalli village in ground floor VCidyagiri, the

House in Century Park bearing Municipal No. 14184/A//0B2 Rs. 2,00,000/-

Page 4 of 21

5. Dharwad Nuggikeri

Village

R.S. No. 44/4 7-00 1-12 Rs. 70,000/-

SCHEDULE – ‘C’

Standing in the name of defendant No.4’s husband V. H. Desai

S. No. TALUKA VILLAGE R.S.NO.

BLOCK NO.

AREA A-

G

ASST.Rs.PS. VALUATION

1. Hubli

Taluka

Suttagatti 9A/9 1-18 1-53 Rs. 10,000/-

SCHEDULE- ‘D’

Standing in the name of defendant No.4’s husband V. H.Desai

S. No. TALUKA VILLAGE R.S.NO.

BLOCK NO.

AREA A-

G

ASST.Rs.PS. VALUATION

1. Dharwad Dhandikoppa Block No. 9 5-33 20-81 Rs. 50,000/-

standing in

the name of

D2 and D4]

2. Dharwad Hosayallapur Block No. 170 16-32 46-37 Rs. 60,000/-

[1/2 share in

the land

standing in

the name of

D2 and D4]

3. Dharwad Murakatti Block No. 69 13-10 22-99 Rs. 70,000/-

[standing in

the name of

D1 and D3]

4. HOUSE PROPERTIES

a) Desai Galli

House

CTS No. 1292 32 Sq.

yard

Rs. 50,000/-

Standing in

the name of

D2 and D4

b) Desai Galli

House

CTS No. 1295 676 Sq.

yard

Rs.

1,00,000/-

Standing in

the name of

D2 and D4

Page 5 of 21

4. Vide judgment and decree

5

, the Trial Court

6

held the plaintiffs

No.1 and 2 and defendants No.1 to 3 and 5 entitled to 1/6

th

share in the

following property:

“A schedule: Survey No.50/1, 86/2B, 69, 152/4

B schedule: 87/A, 9A/2

D schedule: Block No.9, B.No.170(8 Acres gunthas), CTS

No.1292, CTS No.1295

Defendant no.2 was held entitled to Item 4 in Schedule-B.

Defendant no.1 was held entitled to Item 3 in the

Schedule-D.”

The suit pertaining to Regular Survey Nos.106/2, 120 and 9A/9 was

dismissed. No mesne profits were granted. The suit was also dismissed

against defendants No.6 to 9.

5. Aggrieved against the judgment and decree of the Trial Court,

two appeals were preferred before the High Court. R.F.A. No.1463 of

2007 was filed by the plaintiffs raising a grievance of rejection of their part

claim. R.F.A. No.1782 of 2007 was filed by defendants No.1 to 3 and 5,

aggrieved against grant of 1/6

th

share each to the plaintiffs being

5

Judgement and decree dated 21.04.2007

6

The III Additional Civil Judge (Senior Division) & CJM, Dharwad

Page 6 of 21

excessive. Findings of the Trial Court with regard to the property at

Sr.No.5 in Schedule-B (Regular Survey No.44/4) was also challenged. The

High Court disposed of both the appeals by a common judgment holding

that:

* Schedule-A properties (Regular Survey No(s).50/1, 106/2,

86/2B, 69 & 152/4) are exclusive properties of defendant

No.1 as these were allotted to him in the partition in the year

1965. Hence, the plaintiffs as well as the defendant No.1 will

have 1/4

th

share each in the aforesaid properties.

* The claim of the plaintiffs, for share in Schedule-B (Regular

Survey No(s).120, 87A, 9A/2, 44/4) and Schedule -C

properties (Regular Survey No.9A/9) and Item no.1 (Block

No.9) and Item No.2 (Block No.170) of Schedule-D, was

rejected.

* Sale of Item No.2 (Regular Survey No.106/2) of Schedule-A

property by defendant No.7 in favour of defendant No.9 was

held to be null and void and not binding on the plaintiffs and

defendant no.1.

* Property at Item no.4 (CTS No(s).1292 & 1295) in Schedule-

D was to be shared equally by the plaintiffs and the

defendant No.1 (1/12

th

share).

* The matter regarding half share in Item No.3 (Block No.69)

of Schedule-D was remitted to the Trial Court to allow the

Page 7 of 21

plaintiffs to adduce the evidence to prove that the same was

purchased by the defendant No.1 out of the joint family

funds.

* The matter regarding Item no.5 (Regular Survey No.44/4) of

Schedule-B was also remitted to the Trial Court. The

plaintiffs were held entitled to mesne profits from defendant

No.1 of the properties in which they have been granted

share.

6. Aggrieved by the aforesaid judgment and decree of the High

Court, the defendant No.7 (Srinivas Raghavendrarao Desai) filed two

Special Leave Petitions. Leave was granted. As he expired during the

pendency of the matters before this Court, his legal representatives have

been brought on record. The issue raised in the present appeals is only

pertaining to Regular Survey No. 44/4 and Regular Survey No.106/2,

which was sold to defendant No.9 by defendant No.7 vide sale deed dated

25.07.2001.

Arguments

7. Learned counsel for the appellants submitted that the

judgment of the High Court deserves to be set side for the reason that

reliance has been placed upon 1965 partition which was not the pleaded

case in the plaint initially filed. No evidence led, which was beyond

Page 8 of 21

pleadings could be considered. An application seeking amendment of

the plaint was filed to take up that plea, however, the same was declined

by the Trial Court vide order dated 11.10.2006 and the order was not

challenged any further. Even the pleadings to that effect sought to be

taken in the replication filed by the plaintiffs were struck off by the Trial

Court. The pleaded case of the defendants before the Trial Court was that

there was a partition amongst the family members on 30.08.1984. The

aforesaid partition deed was subject matter of litigation in Civil Suit No.

80 of 1995 filed by the defendant No. 2 wherein the same has been noticed

and an order passed thereon.

7.1 The High Court had totally gone wrong in setting aside the

decree dated 23.06.1995 without there being any challenge to the same

by any of the parties. That issue did not arise out of the judgment of the

lower Appellate Court. It was further submitted that the

appellant/defendant No. 7 had not violated any interim order passed by

the Trial Court as on the date such an order was passed, he was not even

party to the litigation. He was impleaded only on 02.01.2001.

8. On the other hand, learned counsel for the respondents No. 1

to 3/plaintiffs submitted that the entire effort of the appellants is just to

Page 9 of 21

deprive respondents No. 1 to 3 of their rightful share in the family

property. The partition of 1965 was rightly relied upon by the High Court

as against the partition of 1984, the genuineness of which is quite doubtful.

In fact, all the family members had connived to deny rightful claim of the

plaintiffs. It was further submitted that the sale deed which was executed

by the appellant-defendant No. 7 in favour of defendant No. 9 in violation

of the interim order passed by the Trial Court is non-est and deserves to

be ignored. In support, reliance was placed upon the judgments of this

Court in Jehal Tanti and others v. Nageshwar Singh (dead) through

LRs,

7

and Ghanshyam Sarda v. Sashikant Jha, Director, M/s J. K. Jute

Mills Company Limoited and others

8

. He further argued that once the

parties go to trial knowing the issues involved, the evidence led even

without pleadings can very well be appreciated. In support, reliance was

placed upon the judgment of this Court in Bhagwati Prasad v.

Chandramaul

9

.

8.1 The property bearing Regular Survey No. 106/2 was sold by

defendant No. 7 to defendant No. 9 to protect his interest. Even though the

7

2013(14) SCC 689

8

(2017) 1 SCC 599

9

AIR 1966 SC 735

Page 10 of 21

sale was held to be bad by the High Court, no appeal has been preferred

by defendant No. 9. Only defendant No. 7 has challenged the same. No

doubt, the application for amendment of plaint to raise the pleading

regarding 1965 partition was rejected, however, the High Court had

made observations that defendant No. 7 is entitled to argue on the basis

of the pleadings and documentary evidence to vindicate his right and also

that the Trial Court is not barred to mould the relief and allot shares in

accordance with law in a suit of partition.

8.2 Learned counsel for defendant No. 9 adopted the arguments

which were raised by learned counsel for the appellants as their interest

is common and he is the bonafide purchaser of the property, which is a

public institution, from defendant No. 7 on payment of consideration.

9. In response to the submissions made by learned counsel for

respondents No. 1 to 3, learned counsel for the appellant submitted that

the stand taken by defendant No. 1 before the High Court was a clear

somersault as his counsel sought to argue relying upon the proceedings

before the Land Tribunal which was not even his pleaded case before the

Trial Court. The sale deed was executed by defendant N o. 7 on

25.07.2001. The same was well within the knowledge of defendant No. 1,

Page 11 of 21

however, he did not challenge the same during his life time, in case there

was any error committed by defendant No.7. It was for the reason that the

property had come to the share of defendant No. 7.

10. Heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the

relevant referred record.

11. To understand the relations between the parties, we deem it

appropriate to frame the family tree, as is evident from the material on

record:

Hanamanthrao

Vyasrao Hanamanthrao

Desai

Raghvendrarao

Hanamantharao Desai

Sudhabai

W/O Ramrao

(Defendant No. 3)

Ramrao

(Defendant No. 2)

Prahlad

(Defendant No. 8

Srinivas Raghvendrarao

(Defendant No. 7)

Sudheendra

(Defendant No. 1)

Aruna

W/O Sudheendra

(Plaintiff No. 3)

Vamanrao alias Alok

(Plaintiff No. 1)

Vyas alias Prateek

(Plaintiff No. 2)

Arundhati

(Defendant No. 5)

Padma S Desai

(Appellant No. 1)

Sanjay Desai

(Appellant No. 2)

Sudarshan Desai

(Appellant No. 3)

Shantabai

W/O Vyasrao

(Defendant No. 4)

Page 12 of 21

12. The High Court finally found that the properties forming part

of Schedule ‘A’ are exclusive properties of defendant No. 1 allotted in the

partition in the year 1965. The plaintiffs and defendant No. 1 will have 1/4

th

equal shares each.

12.1 The claim of the plaintiffs for share in Schedule ‘B’, ‘C’ and item

Nos. 1 and 2 of Schedule ‘D’ properties was rejected.

12.2 Sale of Item No. 2 of Schedule ‘A’ property by defendant No. 7

to defendant No. 9 was declared to be null and void, hence not binding on

the plaintiffs and defendant No. 1.

12.3 The plaintiffs and defendant No. 1 were held entitled to 1/4

th

share in item No. 4 of Schedule ‘D’. Meaning thereby 1/12

th

share each.

12.4 With regard to ½ share of item No. 3 of Schedule ‘D’

properties, the matter was remitted to the Trial Court to allow plaintiff No.

1 to adduce evidence to prove that ½ share in item No. 3 was purchased

by defendant No. 1 out of joint family funds.

12.5 In respect of item No. 5 of ‘B’ Schedule also, the matter was

remitted to the Trial Court to allow defendants No. 2 and 7 to adduce

necessary evidence as to extent of land allotted to the share of defendant

No. 7 in the partition. In other words, it was to be decided whether it is 4

Page 13 of 21

acres in Sy. No. 44/4 of Nuggikere village is allotted to the share of

defendant No. 7 or entire extent of 7 acres is allotted. The defendant No.

7 and defendant No. 2 were permitted to file additional pleadings and

adduce evidence available with them to prove their respective cases.

13. In the written statement filed by defendants No. 1 to 3 (father

and grand parents of plaintiffs No. 1 and 2) to the suit filed by the plaintiffs,

the definite stand taken is that the property bearing Regular Survey No.

106/2 does not belong to the joint family of the answering defendants,

rather it had gone to the branch of Raghvendrarao, hence cannot be made

subject-matter of partition.

14. As is evident from the judgment of the High Court, much

reliance was placed upon the oral partition effected between the parties

in the year 1965. In our opinion, the High Court committed a grave error

in placing reliance upon the partition allegedly effected in the year 1965,

in terms of which Schedule ‘A’ properties were allotted exclusively to the

share of defendant No.1. The fact remains that it is not even the pleaded

case of the plaintiffs in the suit that there was any partition of the family

properties in the year 1965. The suit was filed on 26.05.1999. Even the

pleaded case of the defendants, especially defendant No. 1 who is the

Page 14 of 21

husband of plaintiff No. 3 and father of plaintiffs No. 1 and 2, in the written

statement filed by him was not that there was any partition in the year

1965. Quite late, the plaintiffs sought to amend the plaint seeking to raise

pleadings regarding 1965 partition. The Trial Court, vide order dated

11.10.2006 rejected the application for amendment of the plaint. The

aforesaid order was not challenged any further. Meaning thereby, the

same attained finality as far as the case sought to be set up by the plaintiffs

based on 1965 partition.

15. There is no quarrel with the proposition of law that no

evidence could be led beyond pleadings. It is not a case in which there

was any error in the pleadings and the parties knowing their case fully

well had led evidence to enable the Court to deal with that evidence. In

the case in hand, specific amendment in the pleadings was sought by the

plaintiffs with reference to 1965 partition but the same was rejected. In

such a situation, the evidence with reference to 1965 partition cannot be

considered.

16. The plea sought to be taken by the plaintiffs regarding 1965

partition in the replication filed by them would not come to their rescue

Page 15 of 21

for the reason that the amendment application filed to raise that plea was

specifically rejected. The Trial Court had rightly ignored the plea taken

in the replication by the plaintiffs regarding oral partition of 1965, as

amendment sought to that effect had already been declined. What was

not permitted to be done directly cannot be permitted to be done

indirectly.

17. In the written statement filed by defendant No. 7, a specific

plea was raised regarding 1984 partition and the property bearing

Regular Survey No. 106/2 coming to his share. In the additional written

statement filed by defendant No. 7 before the Trial Court, a specific plea

was raised that the property bearing Regular Survey No. 44/4 had

exclusively fallen to his share in the family partition effected on

30.08.1984. This gets credence from a decree passed by the Civil Court

in Civil Suit No. 80 of 1995, titled as “Sri Ramarao Vyasarao Desai v. Dr.

Shriramarao Raghavendrarao Desi and another ”, decided on

23.06.1995, which notices the partition of 1984. In the aforesaid suit, father

of defendant No. 1, who was the only son of Vyasrao and two sons of

Raghvendrarao, namely, Prahlad and Srinivas Raghvendrarao were

parties. The High Court had gone wrong in holding the aforesaid

Page 16 of 21

compromise decree to be bad without there being any challenge to the

same by the parties. It is not even the case set up before the Trial Court.

18. As a consequence, the finding recorded by the High Court that

all Schedule ‘A’ properties were allotted to defendant No. 1 is liable to be

set aside. Ordered accordingly.

19. Strangely enough, there is somersault in the stand taken by

defendant No. 1. It is for the reason that earlier the plaintiffs and

defendant No. 1 were stated to be at loggerheads as lot of allegations had

been made by the plaintiffs in the plaint, such as playing cards, drinking

etc. It is for that reason that the suit for partition was filed during the life

time of the defendant No. 1. However, now they have joined hands. As a

result, defendant No. 1 before this Court is now seeking to support the

case of the plaintiffs. Such conduct of the parties, like a pendulum in the

clock in fact puts the Court on trial.

20. If the contents of partition dated 30.08.1984 are perused, the

property bearing Regular Survey No. 106/2 goes to the share of the

appellant. Even otherwise, the property in question, namely, Regular

Survey No. 106/2, on which the plaintiffs and defendant No. 1 are now

staking claim was sold by defendant No. 7 to defendant No. 9 vide

Page 17 of 21

registered sale deed dated 25.07.2001. It was well within the knowledge

of defendant No. 1. The Trial Court categorically recorded that even if the

signatures on the sale deed were effected by defendant No. 7, stated to

be executed on behalf of defendant No. 1, but still defendant No. 1 did not

object to the same and in fact supported the stand of defendant No. 7 as

the property in question had gone to his share in the family partition.

Further, if defendant No. 1 was the true owner of the property in question

and had any objection to the aforesaid sale transaction, during his life

time he never challenged the same despite being in knowledge thereof.

This also establishes that in fact in 1984 partition, the property had gone

to the share of defendant No. 7. The partition deed dated 30.08.1984

between Vyasrao Hanamanthrao Desai and Raghavendrarao

Hanamanthrao Desai, whose descendants are litigating with reference to

their respective shares is extracted below:

“The portion of the property belonging to Sri Vyasrao

Hanamanthrao Desai and Late Capt. Raghavendrarao

Hanamanthrao Desai was discussed in detail and the following

agreements were agreed to by me. People who attended on

Thursday 30th August, 1984.

The persons attended are as follows:

Page 18 of 21

1. Sri R.V. Desai (Son of Sri V.H. Desai)

2. Major P.R. Desai

3. Dr. R. S. Desai

(Sons of Late Capt. R. H. Desai)

in attendance and according to the advise of Sri V.H. Desai.

The partition has been agreed to and done in the following

manner:

SRI V.H. DESAI LATE CAPT. R.H. DESAI

Village AG S. No./Bl.No. Village AG S. No./Bl.No.

1) Kelgeri 4-18 69 1) Saptapur 3-00 108/2

2) -do- 4-10 152/2 2) -do- 3-14 106/2

3) Nuggikeri 5-03 37 3) Nuggikeri 13-37 31

4) Lakamanahalli 4) -do- 07-00 44

7-37 86/2B

5) Dondikoppa 5) Lakamanahalli

5-35 9 06-08 3/2

6) Sutagatti 3-37 13 6) Narayanpur

5-19 7+14B/2

7)Hosayallapur 7) Hosayallapur

8-16 126/1 8-16 126/2

------------- ----------

48-30 48-10

--------------- -------------

Survey No. 109 of Saptapur has not been shown but, it has been

included equally among the both the parties and consists of

Guava garden.

Page 19 of 21

Following lands have not been divided as they are not in

physical position and cases regarding them are pending and

they will be equally distributed after the settlement of cases. The

above mentioned are as under:

Village A-G Sl-No-/

B1.No.

1) Nuggikeri 3-34 129

2) Nuggikeri 1-00 31

3) Nuggikeri 1-00 37

4) Kanavihonnapur 2-09 87/A

5) Kanavihonnapur 1-38 81”

21. Even with reference to property bearing Regular Survey No.

44/4, also we do not find that the matter needs to be remanded back for

the reason that in the family partition held in the year 1984 clearly the

aforesaid Regular Survey No. was assigned to the share of late

Raghavendrarao Hanamanthrao Desai, who was the predecessor-in-

interest of the appellants. The area clearly mentioned therein was seven

acres, hence there is no dispute.

22. So far as the argument raised by learned counsel for the

respondents regarding sale conducted by defendant No. 7 in favour of

defendant No. 9 to be in violation of the interim order passed by the Trial

Court is concerned, suffice it to state that the interim order restraining

Page 20 of 21

defendants No.1 to 4 from alienating the property in question was passed

by the Trial Court on 31.05.1999. As on that date, defendant No. 7 was not

party to the suit as he was impleaded only on 02.01.2001. There is no

order passed by the Trial Court thereafter directing that the interim order

was further extended qua the newly impleaded defendant also, hence it

cannot be said to be a case of wilful violation of the order passed by the

Trial Court.

23. The order passed by High Court in Writ Petition No. 11431 of

1977 filed by Sudheendra, decided on 25.03.1983, does not come to the

rescue of the respondents for the reason that the same was passed before

the partition was effected between the parties on 30.08.1984. Secondly, it

was a Writ Petition filed by defendant No. 1 through his grand father as he

was minor at that time. The Writ Petition was filed against the State

seeking quashing of order dated 21.05.1976 passed by Special Land

Tribunal, Dharwad. Without there being any material and the parties

affected or beneficiary of 1965 partition being party, the Court recorded

that there is no dispute that there was such a partition.

24. For the reasons mentioned above, the appeals are allowed.

The findings of the High Court with reference to Regular Survey Nos.

Page 21 of 21

106/2 and 44/4 are set aside. The same are held to be the properties

coming to the share of the appellants. The sale deed executed by the

appellant (since deceased) in favour of defendant No. 9 regarding Survey

No. 106/2 is upheld.

……………….……………..J.

(C.T. RAVIKUMAR)

……………….……………..J.

(RAJESH BINDAL)

New Delhi

March 04, 2024.