Gujarat High Court
Manishaben D/O Babubhai Majethiya W/O ... vs Na on 29 October, 2024
NEUTRAL CITATION
C/FA/1727/2024 ORDER DATED: 29/10/2024
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IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD
R/FIRST APPEAL NO. 1727 of 2024
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MANISHABEN D/O BABUBHAI MAJETHIYA W/O GOVINDBHAI HIRABHAI
KESHWALA & ORS.
Versus
NA
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Appearance:
DENISH V MAVADHIYA(9207) for the Appellant(s) No. 1,2,3,4
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CORAM:HONOURABLE MS. JUSTICE NISHA M. THAKORE
Date : 29/10/2024
ORAL ORDER
1. Heard Mr. Chintan Adeshara, learned advocate for Mr.Denish V. Mavadhiya, learned advocate on record for the appellants.
2. Present appeal is filed under Section 47 of the Guardian and Wards Act, 1890, challenging the judgment and order dated 05/10/2023 passed by the learned Additional District and Sessions Judge, Keshod in Civil Misc. Application No.32 of 2022, whereby the application of the appellant seeking permission to appoint appellant no.4 as guardian of appellant no.3 and to sale the share of appellant no.3 to receive property, came to be rejected.
3. The brief facts leading to the present appeal as contended by the appellant herein in nutshell are as under:
Page 1 of 17 Uploaded by PATEL ILA KANTIBHAI(HC00194) on Thu Nov 21 2024 Downloaded on : Fri Nov 22 21:47:51 IST 2024NEUTRAL CITATION C/FA/1727/2024 ORDER DATED: 29/10/2024 undefined 3.1. The dispute surrounds to the land bearing revenue survey no.139/p/3, Block No.216, admeasuring H-0-86-G-00 mtrs situated at Moje-Galodar, Taluka Maliya Hatina, District Junagadh. The subject land was originally owned and occupied by one Hardasbhai Polabhai Majethiya. His only son namely Babubhai Hardasbhai Majethiya, pre-deceased, was survived by three daughters which includes the present appellant no.1 Manishaben, appellant no.2 Chandrikaben and Savitaben (Sangitaben) i.e. mother of appellant no.3 (minor) and and wife of appellant no.4 herein. On 27/11/2001, a heir-
ship entry of Hardsbhai was entered in the revenue record vide mutation Entry No.2070 whereby the names of appellant nos.1, 2 and mother of appellant no.3 came to be mutated in the revenue record of land in question. The mother of the appellant no.3 expired and appellant no.3 being her sole heir was entered into revenue record on 23/06/2022. Since the appellant no.3 is minor, his name was entered through his natural guardian i.e. appellant no.4 being father of appellant no.3.
4. It is the case of the appellants that since the family were facing difficulties in management of the land, as the family were residing separately at their respective native places, it was therefore decided to sale the subject land. Considering the rights of the minore in the subject land, the appropratie application under Section 6 of the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890 was preferred which was registered as Civil Misc. Application No.32 of 2022 before the court of learned Additional District and Sessions Judge, Keshod, Junagadh. The learned judge, without appreciating the facts of the case Page 2 of 17 Uploaded by PATEL ILA KANTIBHAI(HC00194) on Thu Nov 21 2024 Downloaded on : Fri Nov 22 21:47:51 IST 2024 NEUTRAL CITATION C/FA/1727/2024 ORDER DATED: 29/10/2024 undefined and the provisions of law, proceeded to reject the application vide impugned judgment dated 05/10/2023. Hence, this appeal under Section 47 of the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890.
5. Learned advocate for the appellants has placed on record the paper-book of relevant documents. At the outset learned advocate had invited attention of this Court to findings and reasons assigned by the leaned judge while not entertaining their application under Section 6 of the Guardians and Wards Act,1890. It was submitted that indisputably the appellant no.4 is the natural guardian of appellant no.3. The appellant no.3 has by inheritance derived undivided interest in the subject land. It was further submitted that in fact upon plain reading of the provisions of Section 6 (Sections-7, 8 and 29) of the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890, there was no need to apply for obtaining such permission from the court. It was on misconception of law and upon wrong legal advice, the application was moved. The reliance was placed on the decision of this Court dated 13/01/2023 passed in case of Jagrutiben Dharmeshbhai Suhagiya vs. None in First Appeal No.4894 of 2022, wherein the Court after considering various decisions of the co- ordinate bench of this Court, following the judgment of the Hon'ble Apex Court, has categorically held that there is no requirement of filing any application for permission under Section 8(2) of the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act,1956. The Court has also clarified that since Section 8(5) of the said Act contemplates that the provisions of the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890 shall apply to and in respect Page 3 of 17 Uploaded by PATEL ILA KANTIBHAI(HC00194) on Thu Nov 21 2024 Downloaded on : Fri Nov 22 21:47:51 IST 2024 NEUTRAL CITATION C/FA/1727/2024 ORDER DATED: 29/10/2024 undefined of an application for obtaining permission of a court under sub-section 2 as referred to, this Court had quashed and set aside the order under challenge of the court below refusing to grant permission to sale the share of the minor in the immovable property. By making the aforesaid submissions, learned advocate had urged to quash and set aside the impugned order passed by the learned judge in the proceedings arising under Section 7 of the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890.
6. Considering the submissions made by learned advocate for the appellant and having perused the impugned judgment and order, in light of the relevant documents placed on record in the form of paper-book, the learned Judge has committed serious error in dismissing the application on irrelevant considerations. The reasons as assigned by the learned Judge indicates that the Government was not joined as party respondent. The Court further finds that the share of the minor and his interest was not specified and the guardian had failed to mention his responsibilities towards the minor as no provision was made with regard to securing the interest of the minor. By referring to the aforesaid reasons, the learned Judge has discarded the prayer of the appellant seeking permission to sale the undevided share of the minor in the subject land. Indisputably the permission is sought for sale in respect of the minor in the subject land. The copy of 7/12 extract has been placed on record where the name of appellant no.3 appears with the name of other co-owners namely Manishaben appellant no.1 and Chandrikaben appellant no.2. Thus, what was prayed for was seeking Page 4 of 17 Uploaded by PATEL ILA KANTIBHAI(HC00194) on Thu Nov 21 2024 Downloaded on : Fri Nov 22 21:47:51 IST 2024 NEUTRAL CITATION C/FA/1727/2024 ORDER DATED: 29/10/2024 undefined permission of the court in respect of the undivided share in the joint family property. Indisputedly, appeellant no.4 is the natural guardian of appellant no.3 and is competent to act as a guardian on behalf of the minor in absence of the mother. However, the practise seeking permission of Courts enroute through Section 8 of the Hindu Minoroty and Guardianship Act, 1956 is not recognized. So far as maintainability of such application seeking permission from the court, in respect of the sale of share of undivided interest of the minor in the joint family property is concerned in terms of Section 8(2) of the Hindu Minority and Guartdianship Act 1956, is misconceived, in view of the judgment of this Court as relied upon by learned advocate for the appellant. The observations of this Court as recorded in the case of Jagrutiben Dharmeshbhai Suhagiya (supra) binds this Court to follow the legal precedent. Relevant observations reads as under:
7. The very first decision on this aspect in case of Krishnakant Maganbhai Vs. State of Gujarat (supra), the learned Coordinate Bench has observed at paragraphs 5, 6, 7, and 8 as under:-
"5. The argument of Mr. B. J. Shelat in the main has been that Section 8 deals with the powers of a natural guardian and along with the powers, the Parliament has also presented certain restrictions in the said section and every natural guardian who wants to deal with the property of a minor can do so only in accordance with and sub-feet to the restrictions contained in the said section. It has been urged by Mr. B. J. Shelat that the reference to the 'minor's estate' and the 'immovable property of the minor' in the said section is not limited to the separate property of the minor but also extends to the undivided share of the minor in joint family property. According to Mr. B. J. Shelat there is Page 5 of 17 Uploaded by PATEL ILA KANTIBHAI(HC00194) on Thu Nov 21 2024 Downloaded on : Fri Nov 22 21:47:51 IST 2024 NEUTRAL CITATION C/FA/1727/2024 ORDER DATED: 29/10/2024 undefined nothing in the said section which requires that the words 'the minor's estate' and 'the immovable property of the minor' should be read in any narrow sense as excluding the un-divided share of the minor in joint family property. The undivided share of the minor in joint family property is as much a part of his estate or immovable property as his separate property and there is no justification, argues Mr. B. J. Shelat, for excluding the undivided share of the minor In joint family property from the scope find meaning of the words 'the minor's estate' and 'the immovable property of the minor' occurring in the said section. It has been urged by Mr. B. J. Shelat that if these words are given their plain and natural meanings as they ought to be given, the restrictions contained in the said section would apply equally in respect of the undivided share of a minor in joint family property as they apply in respect of the separate property of the minor and the natural guardian, even though he be the manager and Karta, cannot sell or mortgage the undivided share of the minor in joint family property without the previous permission of the Court. This permission has to be obtained from the Court and the said section lays down the principles governing the exercise of the Court's discretion in granting or refusing such permission. According to Mr. B. J. Shelat, the learned District Judge had, therefore, jurisdiction to make the said order dated 30th April 1960 under Section 8 of the Act.
6. It is a well settled principle of construction that every statute must be construed ex visceribus actus i.e., within the four comers of the Act. "The office of a good expositor of an Act of Parliament"
said Coke in the Lincoln College Case "is to make construction on all parts together and not of one part only by itself". When construing the terms of any provision found in a statute, the Court is bound to consider other parts of the statute which throw light on the intention of the Legislature and serve to show that the particular provision ought not to be construed as it would be alone and apart from Page 6 of 17 Uploaded by PATEL ILA KANTIBHAI(HC00194) on Thu Nov 21 2024 Downloaded on : Fri Nov 22 21:47:51 IST 2024 NEUTRAL CITATION C/FA/1727/2024 ORDER DATED: 29/10/2024 undefined the rest of the statute. Every clause of a statute should be construed with reference to the context and other clauses in the statute so, as far as possible, to make a consistent enactment of the whole statute. No part of a statute should be construed in isolation for the intention of the law- maker is to be found not in one part of the statute or another but in the entire enactment and that intention can best be gathered by viewing a particular part of the statute not detached from its context in the statute but in connection with its whole context. It is in the light of these prefatory observations that I will now proceed to examine the arguments advanced by Mr. B. J. Shelat.
7. As the preamble suggests, the Act is passed to amend and codify certain parts of the law relating to minority and guardianship among Hindus. The Act is thus a codifying enactment in respect of the subjectmatter with which it deals. The question, however, is what is the extent and coverage of this subject-matter. The Act deals with three types of guardians viz., natural guardians, testamentary guardians and guardians appointed or declared by Court. The definition of "guardian" in Section 4(b)includes a natural guardian, a guardian appointed by the will of the minor's father or mother i.e., a testamentary guardian and a guardian, appointed or declared by Court. Sections 4(c), 6, 7 and 8 deal with natural guardians; Section 9 deals with testamentary guardians while Sections 12 and 13 deal with guardians appointed or declared by Court. One central idea which runs through all these sections is that under the Act there cannon be a natural guardian or a testamentary guardian or guardian appointed or declared by Court in respect of the undivided interest of a minor in joint family property. In respect of each of these three types of guardians, specific provision is made in language clear and explicit that the guardian in respect of a minor's property shall be only in respect of his property other than undivided interest in joint family Page 7 of 17 Uploaded by PATEL ILA KANTIBHAI(HC00194) on Thu Nov 21 2024 Downloaded on : Fri Nov 22 21:47:51 IST 2024 NEUTRAL CITATION C/FA/1727/2024 ORDER DATED: 29/10/2024 undefined property. Section 6 mentions the natural guardians of a Hindu minor, in respect of bis person as well as in respect of his property, but the undivided interest of the minor in joint family properly is specifically excluded from the scope and purview of the said section and the natural guardians in respect of the minor's property mentioned in the said section are only in respect of his property other than undivided interest in joint family property. Section 9 deals with the power of a Hindu father, mother and widow to appoint a testamentary guardian in respect of the minor's person or in respect of his property, but by the very language of the said section, that power is, in so far as it relates to the appointment of a testamentary guardian in respect of the minor's property, limited to property other than his undivided interest in joint family property. Section 12 which deals with guardians appointed or declared by Court specifically provides that no guardian shall be appointed for a minor in respect of his undivided interest in joint family property. It will thus be seen that all the three types of guardians dealt with by the Act, viz., natural guardians, testamentary guardians and guardians appointed or declared by Court are either guardians in respect of the minor's person or guardians in respect of the minor's property other than his undivided interest in joint family property and that the Act does not contemplate and deal with any guardian in respect of the undivided interest of a minor in joint family property. The subject-matter with which the Act deals is limited to guardians in respect of the minor's person or in respect of the minor's property other than his undivided interest in joint family property, whether they be natural guardians Or testamentary guardians or guardians appointed or declared by Court, and the concept of a guardian in respect of the undivided interest of a minor in joint family property is not only foreign to the Act but is specifically excluded from the scope and purview of the Act by express enactment. It is against this Page 8 of 17 Uploaded by PATEL ILA KANTIBHAI(HC00194) on Thu Nov 21 2024 Downloaded on : Fri Nov 22 21:47:51 IST 2024 NEUTRAL CITATION C/FA/1727/2024 ORDER DATED: 29/10/2024 undefined background that I must now proceed to examine the language of Section 8 which is the section with which I am concerned in the present application.
8. Section 8 deals with the powers of a natural guardian in relation to the minor's estate. It empowers the natural guardian to do all acts which are necessary or reasonable and proper for the benefit of the minor or for the realisation, protection or benefit of the minor's estate, but lays down that the natural guardian cannot, in any case, bind the minor by a personal covenant. It also prescribes certain restrictions on the powers of the natural guardian and provides that the natural guardian shall not, without the previous permission of the Court, mortgage or charge, or transfer by sale, gift, exchange or otherwise, any part of the immovable property of the minor, or lease any part of such property for a term exceeding five years or for a term extending more than one year beyond the date on which the minor will attain majority. Now the term 'natural guardian' has been defined in Section 4(c) to mean any of the guardians mentioned in Section 6. In order, therefore, to determine the scope and coverage of Section 8, one must turn to the previsions of Section 8 and see who are the natural guardians mentioned in that section, for the powers set out in Section 8 are those of the natural guardians mentioned in Section 6 and so also are the restrictions set out in that section. The term 'natural guardian' having been defined in Section 4(c) and the natural guardians contemplated and dealt with by the Act having been mentioned in Section 6, the ambit and operation of Section 8 must be limited to the natural guardians mentioned in Section 6 and Section 8 must not be construed so as to embrace within its scope the concept of a natural guardian in respect of the undivided interest of a minor in joint family property. The natural guardians whose powers are prescribed by Section 8 are thus natural guardians in respect of the minor's property other than his undivided interest in joint Page 9 of 17 Uploaded by PATEL ILA KANTIBHAI(HC00194) on Thu Nov 21 2024 Downloaded on : Fri Nov 22 21:47:51 IST 2024 NEUTRAL CITATION C/FA/1727/2024 ORDER DATED: 29/10/2024 undefined family property and the restrictions laid down in that section also relate to the same natural guardians. The entire scheme of the Act which I have analysed in the preceding paragraph shows that the concept of a guardian in respect of the undivided interest of a minor in joint family property is excluded from the scope and purview of the Act and the Act does n t contemplate and deal with any guardian in respect of the undivided interest of a minor in joint family property. Since Section 8 deals only with the powers and restrictions on powers of natural guardians in respect of the minor's property other than undivided interest in joint family property, the words 'the minor's estate' and 'the immovable property of the minor' must be construed so as to mean minor's estate or immovable property other than his undivided interest in joint family property. It is a general rule of construction that the Court must not only look at the words but must also look at the context, the collocation and the object of such words relating to such matter and interpret the meaning according to what would appear to be the meaning intended to be conveyed by the use of words under the circumstances. The words 'the minor's estate' and 'the immovable property of the minor' having been used in Section 8 in relation to natural guardians in respect of the minor's property other than his undivided interest in joint family property, they must be limited to mean minor's estate or immovable property other than his undivided interest in joint family property and cannot be construed so as to include the undivided interest of the minor in joint family properly. The restrictions contained in Section 8 do not, therefore, apply in respect of the undivided interest of a minor in joint family property and a father who is the Manager and Karta of the joint and undivided Hindu family consisting of himself and his sons can alienate joint family property in its entirety including the undivided share of his minor sons in such property without obtaining the previous permission of the Court provided the Page 10 of 17 Uploaded by PATEL ILA KANTIBHAI(HC00194) on Thu Nov 21 2024 Downloaded on : Fri Nov 22 21:47:51 IST 2024 NEUTRAL CITATION C/FA/1727/2024 ORDER DATED: 29/10/2024 undefined alienation is one otherwise justified under Hindu Law. Merely because he as the father happens to be the natural guardian in respect of the person and separate property of his minor sons within the meaning of Section 6, it does not mean that he cannot in his capacity as the Manager and Karta of his joint family alienate the entire joint family properly, including the undivided share of his minor sons in such property, without the previous permission of the Court even in cases where such alienation, is permitted under Hindu Law. It is a well settled proposition of Hindu Law that a Manager and Karta of a joint family can alienate joint family property so as to bind the interest of minor coparceners in such property provided that the alienation is either for legal necessity or for the benefit of the estate. If the Manager and Karta is a father, he has certain additional powers of alienation under Hindu Law and in exercise of those powers, he can alienate joint family property so as to bind the interest of his minor sons in such property. These powers are not sought to be affected in any way by the Act. The consequence of accepting Mr. B. J. Shelat's arguments would be that even in cases where a father who is the Manager and Karta of his joint family was entitled under Hindu Law to alienate joint family property so as to bind the interest of his minor sons in such property, he would not now be entitled to do so without obtaining the previous permission of the Court under Section 8 of the Act. Mr. B. J. Shelat's argument would come to this namely that after the coming into force of the Act, a father who is (he Manager and Karta of his joint family, cannot alienate joint family property so as to bind the interest of his minor sons in such property even in those cases where Hindu Law otherwise permits him to do so, and that he can effect such alienation only after obtaining the previous permission of the Court which permission can be granted by the Court only in case of necessity or for an evident advantage of the minor, The result would be that a father who is the Manager and Karta of his joint Page 11 of 17 Uploaded by PATEL ILA KANTIBHAI(HC00194) on Thu Nov 21 2024 Downloaded on : Fri Nov 22 21:47:51 IST 2024 NEUTRAL CITATION C/FA/1727/2024 ORDER DATED: 29/10/2024 undefined family would no longer have. the power to make a gift within reasonable limits of ancestral immovable property for pious purposes or to sell or mortgage ancestral immovable pro-perty for payment of his own debts provided the debts were antecedent debts and were not incurred for immoral or illegal purposes, and these powers which he enjoys under Hindu Law would be gone. I have no doubt that the Act was not intended to make such a serious inroad into Hindu Law. The language of the Act does not justify the construction contended for by Mr. B. J. Shelat and unless the language is clear and explicit, would not be inclined to put such construction which has the effect of seriously impairing the powers of alienation enjoyed by a father who is the Manager and Karta of his joint family under Hindu law. Such a construction would have the effect of placing greater restrictions on a father who is the Manager and Karta of his joint family in the matter of alienation of joint family property than on a Manager and Karta who is not the father but a brother or an uncle or a cousin. A Manager and Karta who is a brother or an uncle or a cousin would be entitled to alienate joint family property so as to bind the interest of minor coparceners without obtaining the previous permission of the Court whereas a Manager and Karta who is a father and who would therefore be expected to be more particular about the welfare of his minor coparceners who are his sons would not be entitled to alienate joint family property so as to bind the interest of his minor sons without obtaining the previous permission of the Court. This would indeed be an anomalous result. I am, therefore, of the Opinion that the restrictions contained in Section 8 do not apply in respect of the undivided interest of a minor in joint family property and that Section 8 does not debar a Manager and Karta of a joint family from alienating joint family property without obtaining the previous permission of the Court even if the Manager and Karta happens to be the natural guardian in respect of the separate Page 12 of 17 Uploaded by PATEL ILA KANTIBHAI(HC00194) on Thu Nov 21 2024 Downloaded on : Fri Nov 22 21:47:51 IST 2024 NEUTRAL CITATION C/FA/1727/2024 ORDER DATED: 29/10/2024 undefined property of any one or more of the minor coparceners. Of course the alienation would have to be justified under Hindu Law, but Section 8 does not require that any previous permission of the Court should be obtained before effecting such alienation. No application can, therefore, be maintained under Section 8 of the Act by a Manager and Karta of a joint family for permission to mortgage or charge, or transfer by sale, gift, exchange or otherwise or lease the undivided interest of a minor coparcener in joint family property even if the Manager and Karta happens to be the natural guardian in respect of the person and separate property of such minor coparcener under Section 6 of the Act. The application made by the petitioner before the District Court was, therefore, misconceived and the learned District Judge had no jurisdiction to make the said order dated 30th April 1960 under Section 8 of the Act."
8. It appears from the law laid down by this Court that as far as Section 8 of the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956 is concerned, while the same provides that the natural guardian shall not, without previous permission of the Court, alienate any immovable property of a minor, the learned Coordinate Bench has differentiated between the property of a minor and the undivided interest of a minor in the joint family property. It clearly appears that the learned Coordinate Bench has laid down the law, which is still in force, as much as it was on the date of the judgement that 'the restrictions' contained in Section 8 i.e. the requirement of obtaining previous permission of the Court before alienating immovable property of a minor would not apply in respect of an undivided interest of a minor in joint family property and whereas the Manager or Karta of the joint property could alienate the property without obtaining prior permission of the Court. It is also clarified that the concept of a guardian in respect of an undivided interest of a minor in joint family property is excluded from the scope and purview of the Act and whereas the Act does not contemplate and deal with any guardians in respect of an undivided interest of a minor Page 13 of 17 Uploaded by PATEL ILA KANTIBHAI(HC00194) on Thu Nov 21 2024 Downloaded on : Fri Nov 22 21:47:51 IST 2024 NEUTRAL CITATION C/FA/1727/2024 ORDER DATED: 29/10/2024 undefined in a joint family property. According to the learned Coordinate Bench, Section 8 only deals with the powers and restrictions on powers of the natural guardians in respect of a minor's property, other than undivided interest in joint family property and whereas the words 'minors estate' and 'immovable property' of the minor must be construed, so as to mean, other than undivided interest of a minor in joint family property. It also appears that having held as above, the learned Coordinate Bench had come to the conclusion that since the way the law does not require any permission for alienating undivided interest of a minor in joint family property, therefore, an application for such permission was misconceived.
9. It also appears that the Hon'ble Apex Court in case of Narayan Lal (supra) had, though not referred to the decision of this Court referred to herein above, yet the very view had been reiterated by the Hon'ble Court at paragraph 5 of the said decision and whereas the said paragraph is reproduced herein below for benefit:-
"5. With regard o the undivided interest of the Hindu minor in joint family property, the provisions afore-culled are beads of the same string and need be viewed in a single glimpse, simultaneously in conjunction with each other. Each provisions, and in particular Section 8, cannot be viewed in isolation. If read together the intent of the legislative in this beneficial legislation becomes manifest. Ordinarily the law does not envisage a natural guardian of the undivided interest of a Hindu minor in joint family property. The natural guardian of the property of a Hindu minor, other than the undivided interest in joint family property, is alone contemplated under Section 8, whereunder his powers and duties are defined. Section 12 carves out an exception to the rule that should there be no adult member of the joint family in management of the joint family property, in which the minor has an undivided interest, a guardian may be appointed; but ordinarily no guardian shall be appointed for such undivided Page 14 of 17 Uploaded by PATEL ILA KANTIBHAI(HC00194) on Thu Nov 21 2024 Downloaded on : Fri Nov 22 21:47:51 IST 2024 NEUTRAL CITATION C/FA/1727/2024 ORDER DATED: 29/10/2024 undefined interest of the minor. The adult member of the family in the management of the Joint Hindu Family property may be a male or a female, not necessarily the Karta. The power of the High Court otherwise to appoint a guardian, in situations justifying, has been preserved. This is the legislative scheme on the subject. Under Section 8 a natural guardian of the property of the Hindu minor, before he disposes of any immovable property of the minor, must seek permission of the court. But since there need be no natural guardian for the minor's undivided interest in the joint family property, as provided under sections 6 to 12 of the Act, the previous permission of the Court under Section 8 of disposing of the undivided interest of the minor in the joint family property is not required. The joint Hindu family by itself is a legal entity capable of acting through its Karta and other adult members of the family in management of the joint Hindu family property. Thus section 8 in view of the express terms of Sections 6 and 12, would not be applicable where a joint Hindu family property is sold/disposed of by the Karta involving an undivided interest of the minor in the said joint Hindu family property. The question posed at the outset therefore is so answered."
10. It also appears that later decisions of learned Coordinate Benches of this Court, more particularly in case of Sankhala (Mali) Kantaben Wd/o Bharatbhai Laljibhai (supra), Kailashben W/o Keshavbhai Chhaganbhai Patel (supra), Krishnakant Maganbhai (supra) and Kantaben Jayendrabhai Savla (supra), have reiterated the very same view that there is no requirement for obtaining permission of the Court under Section 8(2) of the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956 for alienating undivided interest of minor in joint family property. Having regard to the law laid down by this Court and further considering that the said law has been reiterated by the Hon'ble Apex Court, in the considered opinion of this Court, no further discussion on this aspect is required, except for reiterating the obvious, that is to reiterate that Section 8(2) of the Act Page 15 of 17 Uploaded by PATEL ILA KANTIBHAI(HC00194) on Thu Nov 21 2024 Downloaded on : Fri Nov 22 21:47:51 IST 2024 NEUTRAL CITATION C/FA/1727/2024 ORDER DATED: 29/10/2024 undefined does not require or contemplate requirement of permission of a Court to be obtained in case of alienation of undivided interest of a minor in joint family property.
10.1. It is clarified that the applicant was not required to file any application for permission under Section 8(2) of the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956 and whereas it is also clarified that since Section 8(5) of the said Act contemplates that the provisions of the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890 shall apply to and in respect of an application for obtaining permission of a Court under Sub-section (2) as referred to herein above, as if it were an application for obtaining the permission of a Court under Section 29 of the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890 and whereas since the judgement and order, which is impugned in this appeal arises from application under Section 8 of Guardians and Wards Act, 1890, the observations of the learned Coordinate Benches of this Court as well as of the Hon'ble Apex Court would be squarely applicable mutatis mutandis to the facts of the present case.
11. Having regard to the discussion as herein above, the impugned judgement and order dated 25.2.2022 passed by the learned 7th Additional District Judge, Surat in CMA DC No.80 of 2020 is quashed and set aside. It is clarified that the undivided interest of the minors in the joint family property can be sold by the appellant as Karta of HUF without permission from the Court.
12. With these observations and directions the present First Appeal stands disposed of as allowed. Direct service is permitted."
7. In view of aforesaid settled legal position and for the reasons recorded herein above, the impugned judgment and order dated 05/10/2023 passed by learned Additional District Judge, Keshod in Civil Misc. Application No.32 of 2022 is Page 16 of 17 Uploaded by PATEL ILA KANTIBHAI(HC00194) on Thu Nov 21 2024 Downloaded on : Fri Nov 22 21:47:51 IST 2024 NEUTRAL CITATION C/FA/1727/2024 ORDER DATED: 29/10/2024 undefined hereby quashed and set aside.
8. In view of the aforesaid legal position, it is needless to clarify that as regards the undivided interest of the minor in the subject land is concerned, it shall be always open for the appellant no.4 being a natural guardian of appellant no.3 without permission from the court, to proceed for sale.
9. With these observations and directions the present First Appeal stands disposed of in the aforesaid terms.
Direct service is permitted.
(NISHA M. THAKORE,J) ILA Page 17 of 17 Uploaded by PATEL ILA KANTIBHAI(HC00194) on Thu Nov 21 2024 Downloaded on : Fri Nov 22 21:47:51 IST 2024