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Delhi District Court

Smt. Santosh Tyagi vs Sh. Tapesh Kumar Tyagi on 25 August, 2018

                 Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr.


              IN THE COURT OF SH. ARUN SUKHIJA,
 ADDITIONAL DISTRICT JUDGE - 07, (CENTRAL DISTRICT)
                     TIS HAZARI COURTS, DELHI.
SUIT NO.:­ 436/2017
UNIQUE CASE ID NO.:­ 610117/16



IN THE MATTER OF :­

Smt. Santosh Tyagi
W/o Sh. S.S. Tyagi
R/o RZ/A34, Mahabir Enclave,
Palam, New Delhi.                                        ...Plaintiff


                                VERSUS

1.     Sh. Tapesh Kumar Tyagi
       S/o Sh. S.S. Tyagi

2.     Smt. Sunita Tyagi
       W/o Sh. Tapesh Kumar Tyagi,
       Both R/o RZ/A34, Mahabir Enclave,
       Palam, New Delhi.                 ...Defendants

   SUIT FOR POSSESSION, PERMANENT INJUNCTION AND
             RECOVERY OF MESNE PROFIT.

Date of institution of the Suit                          : 01/10/2005
Date on which Judgment was reserved                      : 28/07/2018
Date of Judgment                                         : 25/08/2018


Suit No. 436/2017                                                     Page 1 of 52
                  Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr.


                                 JUDGMENT

By   way   of   present   judgment,   this   court   shall adjudicate   suit   for   possession,   permanent   injunction   and   for recovery of mesne profit.

CASE OF THE PLAINTIFF AS PER PLAINT Succinctly the necessary facts for just adjudication of the present suit, as stated in the plaint, are as under:­ A) The   Plaintiff   is   a   registered   and   exclusive,   rightful   and legal   owner   of   the   property   bearing   no.   RZ/A34,   Mahabir Enclave, Palam, New Delhi vide Sale Deed dated 05/04/1974 (although   year   wrongly   mentioned   as   1976),   Regn.   No.7727, Book­I,   Volume   No.2285,   pages   122   and   123,   Jilt   No.   2180, registered   with   Sub­Registrar,   Delhi.     The   suit   property   has been   built   by   the   husband   of   the   plaintiff,   who   is   a   retired person from Ministry of Defence.

B) Defendant no.1 being a son and defendant no.2 being a daughter­in­law   of   the   plaintiff   have   been   living   in   the   front portion of the abovesaid property, which is half portion of the Suit No. 436/2017                                         Page 2 of 52 Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr. ground   floor,   consisted   of   two   rooms,   kitchen,   attached bathroom, as shown in red colour in the Site Plan, as a licensee without   paying   a   single   penny   alongwith   their   two   children namely Chitra and Gautam, without any right, interest or claim except the license of the plaintiff.

C) Due   to   misconduct,   adamant   nature,   non­cooperative attitude and threatening atmosphere with greedy eyes upon the properties of the plaintiff and moreover, when all the efforts of persuasion   have   been   failed,   forced   the   plaintiff   to   disinherit both   of   the   defendants   from   her   movable   and   immovable properties   and   break   of   all   kinds   of   relationships   vide   public notice   dated   10/05/2005,   duly   published   in   the   daily newspaper Rashtriya Sahara.

D) The  plaintiff  had  also  suffered  a lot  mentally,   physically and   socially,   which   forced   her   to   separate   the   defendants alongwith her family from her joint family status in the month of   August   2003   and   since   second   week   of   August   2003,   the defendants had been living separately without any relationship Suit No. 436/2017                                         Page 3 of 52 Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr. with the plaintiff in the property in dispute, ground floor, but in spite of separating both of the defendants in the ground floor, the plaintiff and her family still receiving threatening from the hands of defendants without any reason, which has snatched the   peacefulness   and   tranquility   in   the   mind   of   the   plaintiff, which become daily routine in the defendant's occupied portion of the property, causing unnecessarily humiliation, harassment, tension   to   the   plaintiff   and   also   damages   the   goodwill   and reputation in the eyes of local residence, hence the plaintiff has decided to revoke the licence of the defendants alongwith their respective   family   and   does   not   want   to   keep   both   of   the defendants   with   their   families   to   occupy   plaintiff's   occupied portion of the aforesaid property.

E) The   plaintiff   sent   a   legal   notice   dated   10/05/2005 through her counsel thereby revoked the licence to remain in the   property   in   dispute   to   enjoy   the   possession   of   the defendants   and   sought   that   defendant   shall   hand­over   the vacant   peaceful   possession   of   the   suit   within   two   months   of Suit No. 436/2017                                         Page 4 of 52 Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr. receiving   the   legal   notice   which   was   duly   replied   by   the defendants vide reply dated 03/06/2005. F) The   plaintiff   has   been   claiming   damages   @   minimum Rs.3,000/­ per month as the property in dispute could fetch the aforesaid amount as rent to the plaintiff.  The plaintiff had tried her best to persuade the defendants with the help of common friends,   relatives   and   even   with   the   help   of   some   respectable and   responsible   members   of   the   community   but   failed   to change the adamant behaviour.

G) The plaintiff and her husband had went to Ghaziabad to attend certain condolence, due to death of some relatives and friend in the family in the month of June and in the absence of the plaintiff and her husband for the period of 7­9 days in the last   of   May   and   beginning   of   June,   the   defendants   had constructed/   altered   the   property   in   dispute   without   the knowledge   and   consent   of   the   plaintiff   in   most   unlawful   and arbitrary manner.

Suit No. 436/2017                                         Page 5 of 52

Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr. H) Subsequently, the defendant no.1 had filed a suit bearing no. 226/2005 for permanent injunction against the plaintiff and her   family   members   in   civil   court   and   obtained   an   ex­parte status quo order dated 10/06/2005. 

I) The husband of the plaintiff Sh. S.S. Tyagi has lodged the complaint   dated   20/07/2005   against   the   defendants   in   P.S. Dabri, New Delhi.

CASE OF THE DEFENDANTS AS PER WRITTEN STATEMENT Summons   was   issued   to   the   defendants   and   the defendants   have   filed   their   written   statement   in   the   present case. Succinctly, the case of the defendants is as under:­

a) The   suit   of   the   plaintiff   is   liable   to   be   dismissed   under Order 7 Rule 11 CPC

b) the   property   in   dispute   has   already   been   partitioned among the family members and the entire front portion of the property measuring 100 sq. yds. (out of 200 sq. yds.) fell to the share of defendant No.1 Tapesh Tyagi, who after the partition, has constructed and renovated the same at Suit No. 436/2017                                         Page 6 of 52 Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr. his own cost and is in actual physical possession, use and occupation of the same.

c) The Plaintiff in deep collusion with her husband is out to dispossess   the   defendants,   with   malafide   intention   and ulterior motive and design.

d) The defendants are and have been most obedient to their parents.   The   plaintiff   has   admitted   the   factum   of separation of joint status of the family. ISSUES From  the   pleadings   of   the  parties,  following  issues were framed vide order dated 23/02/2007:­

1) Whether   suit   is   malafide   with   ulterior   motives   as alleged? OPD.

2) Whether plaintiff has locus standi to file the present suit against the defendant? OPP.

3) Whether   the   plaintiff   has   not   approached   the   court with clean hands? OPD.

4) Whether   suit   has   been   properly   valued   by   the plaintiff? OPP.

5) Whether plaintiff is entitled to possession of the suit property? OPP.

Suit No. 436/2017                                         Page 7 of 52 Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr.

6) Whether   plaintiff   is   entitled   to   decree   of   permanent injunction as claimed? OPP.

7) Whether   plaintiff   is   entitled   to   mense   profit   against the defendant? OPP.

8) Relief?

EVIDENCE   OF   THE   PLAINTIFF   AND   DOCUMENTS   RELIED UPON BY THE PLAINTIFF Plaintiff,   in   order   to   prove   her   case,   led   plaintiff evidence   and   got   examined   herself   as   PW­1   by   filing   her evidence   by   way   of   affidavit   wherein   she   reiterated   and reaffirmed the contents of the plaint. PW­1 in her testimony has relied upon the documents 

a) Sale Deed dated 05/04/1974 Ex.PW1/1, 

b) Site Plan Ex.PW1/2, 

c) Legal notice dated 18/05/2005 Ex.PW1/3 

d) Police complaint dated 20/07/2005 Mark­A. The   documents   which   were   confronted   during   the cross­examination of PW­1:­ Suit No. 436/2017                                         Page 8 of 52 Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr. Exhibit   PW­1/D­1   (Colly.)   is   the   certified   copy   of   complaint alongwith affidavit & Vakalatnama under Section 125 Cr. P.C. The plaintiff has also examined Sh. Surendra Singh Tyagi as PW­2.

The   defendants   have   led   their   evidence   and   got examined   defendant   no.1   as   DW­1.   The   DW­1   has   filed   his evidence  by  way  of  affidavit  wherein  he  has   improved   certain facts which were not part and parcel of the written statement. DW­1 was cross­examined by counsel for the plaintiff. 

The   defendants   also   examined   the   following witnesses   by   filing   evidence   by   way   of   affidavits.   The   said witnesses   have   been   examined   without   naming   them   in   the written   statement   and   further   they   have   improved   the   facts which were not part and parcel of the written statement:­

a) Smt. Jyoti as DW­2.

b) Shri Dayanand Tyagi as DW­4 The   defendants   have   also   examined   the   following summoned witnesses:­ Suit No. 436/2017                                         Page 9 of 52 Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr.

(a) Sh.   Nagender   Pal   Singh,   Section   Officer,   BSES,   Palam Division, Dabri More, New Delhi as DW­3.

(b) Sh.   Jasbir   Kumar,   JJA,   Record   Room,   Family   Courts, Dwarka, New Delhi as DW­5.

(c) Sh.   Rakesh   Khirbat,   Assistant   Zonal   Inspector,   South Delhi Municipal Corporation, Najafgarh Zone as DW­6.

(d) Sh. Ravinder Kumar, Assistant Section Officer, Delhi Jal Board, Kakrola More, New Delhi as DW­7.

This Court heard the final arguments  as advanced by Ld. counsel for the plaintiff and defendants and perused the material available on record.

ISSUE WISE FINDINGS:

ISSUE NO.4
4) Whether   suit   has   been   properly   valued   by   the   plaintiff?  

OPP The   onus   of   this   issue   has   been   wrongly   placed upon the Plaintiff. The Plaintiff has valued the property as per the Plaint and it is defence of the defendants that the valuation of the property has not been done properly. Therefore, it is the Suit No. 436/2017                                         Page 10 of 52 Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr. defendants who were liable to prove that the valuation has not been done properly. However, the Defendant has failed to lead any   evidence   to   show   that   the   suit   has   not   been   valued properly.   Accordingly,   this   issue   is   decided   in   favour   of   the Plaintiff and against the defendants. ISSUE NOS.1 TO 3 AND 5 T0 7

1) Whether   suit   is   malafide   with   ulterior   motives   as alleged? OPD.

2) Whether plaintiff has locus standi to file the present suit against the defendant? OPP.

3) Whether   the   plaintiff   has   not   approached   the   court with clean hands? OPD.

5) Whether plaintiff is entitled to possession of the suit property? OPP.

6) Whether   plaintiff   is   entitled   to   decree   of   permanent injunction as claimed? OPP.

7) Whether   plaintiff   is   entitled   to   mense   profit   against the defendant? OPP.

Issues Nos.1 to 3 and 5 to 7 are interrelated and in­ ter­connected   to   each   other  and   accordingly  they  are   decided together.

Suit No. 436/2017                                         Page 11 of 52

Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr. ADMITTED   CASE   OF   THE   PARTIES   BY   PLEADING   OR EVIDENCE

1. The   Plaintiff   is   a   registered   and   exclusive,   rightful   and legal owner of the property bearing no. RZ/A34, Mahabir Enclave,   Palam,   New   Delhi   vide   Sale   Deed   dated 05/04/1974 (although year wrongly mentioned as 1976), Regn. No.7727, Book­I, Volume No.2285, pages 122 and 123, Jilt No. 2180,  registered with   Sub­Registrar,  Delhi. This fact is pleaded in para No.2 of the Plaint. In reply to this para the defendants has submitted that it is matter of record. However, it has further been pleaded in the said para   that   the   property   in   dispute   has   already   been partitioned   among   the   family   members   and   the   entire front portion of the property measuring 100 sq. yds. (out of 200 sq. yds.) fell to the share of defendant No.1 Tapesh Tyagi,   who   after   the   partition,   has   constructed   and renovated   the   same   at   his   own   cost   and   is   in   actual physical possession, use and occupation of the same Suit No. 436/2017                                         Page 12 of 52 Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr.

2. The   Defendant   No.1   is   the   son   of   the   Plaintiff   and Defendant   No.2   is   the   daughter   in   law   of   the   Plaintiff. Therefore,   the   relationship   between   the   parties   is   not disputed.

3. The   receipt   of   the   Legal   Notice   issued   by   plaintiff   for vacation   of   the   suit   property   has   been   admitted   by defendants and they have also replied the said notice.

The   Plaintiff   is   entitled   to   the   relief   of   possession merely on the basis of the aforesaid admitted facts. However, the defendants have pleaded in the written statement regarding partition (it is not pleaded whether oral or written) amongst the family   members   and   falling   of   the   suit   property   in   share   of defendant No.1. Therefore, the onus was upon the defendants to   prove   the   Partition   (Whether   Oral   or   written)   in   order   to dislodge the claim of the Plaintiff. There is no written partition deed or Family Settlement on record which has been placed on record   by   the   defendants   therefore   the   entire   claim   of   the defendants   is   based   upon   the   Oral   Family   Settlement   or Partition.

Suit No. 436/2017                                         Page 13 of 52

Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr. CLAIM OF ORAL PARTITION BY DEFENDANTS AND CLAIM OF   OWNERSHIP   OF  THE   SUIT  PROPERTY   IN  FAVOUR   OF DEFENDANT  NO.1   ON  THE   BASIS  OF  SAID  ORAL  FAMILY PARTITION:­ FINDINGS OF THE COURT:­ The moot question before this Court is whether the defendant No.1 was able to prove Oral Partition between the   parties   and   on   account   of   such   Oral   Partition   the defendant   No.1   became   the   owner   of   suit   property   in question. 

The defendants in order to prove Oral Partition has examined Defendant No.1 as DW­1 and also other witnesses as DW­2 to DW­7.

The   following   improvements   were   made   by   the defendants in their evidences which were not the part and parcel of the written statement of the defendants:­

1) The suit property was being purchased from the income derived from the ancestral property of the defendant No.1 in  which  defendant No.1  had legal share.  This is totally Suit No. 436/2017                                         Page 14 of 52 Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr. new fact which was not at all the part and parcel of writ­ ten statement. On the contrary there is categorical admis­ sion   in   written   statement   in   reply   to   para   no.2   of   the plaint that the Plaintiff is the exclusive owner. However, with   the   qualification   that   after   partition   the   defendant no.1 became owner of the suit property.

2) Family Settlement took place amongst the Plaintiff and de­ fendant No.1 family members in the presence of relatives and friends in August, 2003 with regard to the suit prop­ erty. The date, month or year of alleged Family Settlement or the Partition is not mentioned by the defendant in the written statement. It is also not mentioned that the said oral partition was done in the presence of friends and rel­ atives. It is for the first time in the evidence DW­1 the fac­ tum of "Family Settlement was done in presence of the rel­ atives and friends" was brought on record. However, the DW­1 has not mentioned the names of friends and rela­ tives.

Suit No. 436/2017                                         Page 15 of 52

Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr.

3) Slowly and gradually the improvement was done in the ev­ idence by way of Affidavit of DW­2 Jyoti who is alleged to be relative of parties and she has inter­alia deposed the following facts in her evidence:­ "..A   family   settlement   took   place   among   the plaintiff and defendant family in the presence of   relatives   including   myself,   Dinesh,   Babita, Dayanand and friends in August, 2003..." A further new fact stated by DW­2 Jyoti in her evi­ dence regarding partition of House No.70, Sector 12, Raj Nagar, Ghaziabad,  UP   which   was   given   to   Mr.  Rakesh   Kumar  Tyagi. The  aforesaid  fact was  not the part and  parcel of  the written statement.   Even   it   was   not   pleaded   in   the   written   statement that back portion of 100 sq. yds. of Property RZ/A34, Mahabir Enclave, Palam, New Delhi was fallen to the share of Mr. Dinesh Tyagi.

Thus, the name of the relatives and friends was for the first time reflected in evidence of DW­2 Jyoti.  However, the name of Jyoti itself was not reflected in either written statement of defendants or evidence of defendant No.1. Even the name of Suit No. 436/2017                                         Page 16 of 52 Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr. DW­4 i.e. Dayanand or Dayanand Tyagi was not reflected in the written   statement   or   evidence   of   defendant   no.1.   DW­2   has mentioned   the   name   of   Dayanand   in   her   evidence   but   DW­4 has  deposed  that his name  is  Dayanand  Tyagi.  The said  wit­ nesses DW­2 and DW­4 are alleged to have witnessed oral parti­ tion which they have named with Family Settlement.

4) The DW­4 has not stated in the evidence by way of Affi­ davit that he is father in law of defendant No.1 and father of defendant No.2. It is during the cross examination, he has deposed that he is father­in­law of defendant No.1.

5) The defendant No.1 was already prior to alleged partition residing in the share which was fallen to the share of de­ fendant No.1. This fact is not stated in the written state­ ment.

6) The defendant No.1 had spent about Rs.4,00,000/­ from his own pocket for construction of the property which fell to the share of defendant No.1. There was no mention of the amount in the written statement. However, not a sin­ Suit No. 436/2017                                         Page 17 of 52 Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr. gle document has placed on record to show the expenses of construction.

In   the   case   of  Kattinokkula   Murali   Krishna   V. Veeramalla Koteswara Rao, reported in  (2010) 1 SCC 466, the Hon'ble Supreme Court was pleased to held that it was a settled principle of law that evidence beyond the pleadings can neither be permitted to be adduced nor can such evidence be taken into consideration. The Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in 2008 (2) RCR (Civil) 879,  Anathula Sudhakar vs. P. Bushi Reddy (Dead) by LRs & Ors. also held that any amount of evi­ dence beyond pleadings is not to be considered. In view of this law laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India, it is clear that any sort of evidence beyond pleadings is not liable to be considered.

The   DW­1   during   cross   examination   has   admitted one relevant fact that he has filed the Suit for Partition against Plaintiff,   Shri   S.S.   Tyagi,   Shri   Dinesh   Tyagi   and   Shri   Rakesh Tyagi   and   the   said   suit   was   withdrawn   by   him   from   Dwarka Suit No. 436/2017                                         Page 18 of 52 Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr. Courts,  Dwarka. The defendant No.1 has not even mentioned the aforesaid fact of filing of the partition suit and withdrawal of the suit in his written statement or evidence by way of Affidavit. The filing of the partition suit by Defendant No.1 would tanta­ mount that he himself is seeking partition and as per his own admission the partition was not taken place. The said suit for partition   was   withdrawn   but   he   has   not   deposed   that   it   was withdrawn with liberty or without liberty thus, it has to be pre­ sumed that it was withdrawn without liberty. EVIDENCES OF DW­3, DW­5, DW­6 AND DW­7 DW­3   was   summoned   from   electricity   department and he has deposed that defendant No.1 has applied for elec­ tricity   connection   in   his   name   at   premises   bearing  No.RZ­34, First Floor, Mahavir Enclave, Mandir Marg, Delhi and non­do­ mestic   (commercial)   electricity   connection   bearing   CA No.103312765   was   installed   at   the   aforesaid   address.   Smt. Santosh Tyagi W/o Sh. S.S. Tyagi has given no objection dated 24/06/2003 for installation of connection in the aforesaid con­ nection. In the cross examination he has stated that the afore­ Suit No. 436/2017                                         Page 19 of 52 Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr. said NOC was given for separate electric connection to "Institu­ tion   of   Accounts".   Therefore,   the   Electricity   connection   is   re­ lated to non­domestic connection and prior to the month of Au­ gust, 2003 when alleged Oral Family Settlement stated to have entered into between the parties.  Moreover, as per witness, the same was given for first floor of the premises.

DW­5 has brought the judicial file bearing M­105/08 titled as Santosh Tyagi & Anr. V. Tapesh Tyagi & Ors. whereby Exhibit DW­5/1 alleged to be reply filed by Shri Dinesh Tyagi in the contempt filed by Santosh Tyagi against Dinesh Tyagi. The witness categorically stated that he has no personal knowledge. The defendants have not examined Shri Dinesh Tyagi to prove their case. The pleadings of the said case are of no help to the Defendants in the present case. The pleadings are not itself the proof of the case and that too when Sh. Dinesh Tyagi is not the party to this case.   In case the defendants want to prove the facts of the said pleadings, then they ought to have examined Sh.   Dinesh   Tyagi   i.e.   brother   of   the   defendant   no.1   and   he Suit No. 436/2017                                         Page 20 of 52 Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr. ought to have tested at the anvil of cross examination, but they have failed to do so.

DW­6 was summoned from SDMC, Najafgarh Zone, New Delhi. He has stated that as per record Smt. Santosh Tyagi has  paid  the property tax  on  self assessment 2016­2017 and other record in respect of house tax of Smt. Santosh Tyagi is not traceable. He has further stated that as per record Defen­ dant No.1 has paid the property tax on self assessment basis in respect   of   front   portion   of   the   aforesaid   property   on 28/06/2017 for the years 2004­05 and 2009­10 to 2017­2018. In the cross examination he has deposed that there is no re­ quirement to produce the ownership document of any property by the property tax payer at the time payment of property tax. This witness was examined on 17.04.2018 and it appears that after self assessment with the new criteria on  28/06/2017  by defendant No.1, the defendants have summoned this witness in order demonstrate that they are paying the House tax as owner of  the   property.  The   evidence   has  been  created  by  the  defen­ Suit No. 436/2017                                         Page 21 of 52 Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr. dants  about 14  years  from  the  alleged  Oral Partition/ Family Settlement   and   that   too   during   the   pendency   of   the   present suit.  The present suit was instituted on 01.10.2005.

DW­7 was summoned from DJB Office from Kakrola More,  New Delhi.  He has  brought  the  summoned  record.  The Application form which is part of Exhibit DW­7/1(colly.) depicts that water connection was applied for House No.RZ/A­34, Ma­ havir Enclave, Mandir Marg, Delhi (which is shown against the column of the details of premises for which water connection is required).   The   said   application   form   is   signed   by   defendant No.1. Moreover in the said Application against the Area of Plot, it is mentioned 200 sq. yds. It is not written against the details of the property that it is for front portion of the said property or the area is 100 sq. yds. alleged to be fallen to the share of de­ fendant No.1. The defendant No.1 has not mentioned in the said Application   that   as   per   Oral   Family   Settlement/Partition   the Half portion fallen to the share of defendant No.1. The owner­ ship documents i.e. copy of Sale Deed of Plaintiff was annexed for applying the water connection. The NOC in the form of Affi­ Suit No. 436/2017                                         Page 22 of 52 Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr. davit dated 23.08.2004 executed by Plaintiff for the installation of water connection does not reflect that as per Oral Family Set­ tlement/Partition the front half portion of the said property be­ longs to defendant No.1. If the property was segregated and sep­ arated   then   defendant   No.1   ought   to   have   applied   the   water connection only for the front portion as per Oral Partition/Fam­ ily Settlement and declaring himself as owner of the said prop­ erty and more so when the said water connection was applied after one year of the alleged Family Settlement 2003. There was also no requirement of NOC of the plaintiff after one year of the alleged oral partition. The water connection pertains to the en­ tire   property   and   not   to   the   portion   which   is   alleged   to   have fallen in the share of the defendant no.1. RELIANCE OF CROSS EXAMINATION OF PW­1 It is admitted case of the parties that Plaintiff is an illiterate old aged lady. She is Senior Citizen and the court can­ not lose the sight of fact that she might have given evasive an­ swers   to   certain   questions.   However,   the   Plaintiff   has   remain consistent as far as her testimony is concerned that no partition Suit No. 436/2017                                         Page 23 of 52 Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr. was   ever   took   place   between   the   parties.   Shri   S.S.   Tyagi   the husband of the Plaintiff was a Government Servant and retired from Ministry of Defence as Assistant Foreman. The husband of the Plaintiff also stood as witness and interestingly not a single question was put by defendants during cross examination re­ garding   alleged   oral   partition   or   Family   settlement.   No   doubt the Plaintiff has admitted that construction was carried by de­ fendant   No.1   in   the   suit   property   but   it   was   deposed   that Rs.30,000/­ was given by husband of the Plaintiff to defendant No.1. However, it was categorically denied that there was Family partition of the suit property or the suit property fallen to the share of the defendant No.1. She has also denied that she had filed a false case or she was not aware about the facts of the case.  Moreover, in the plaint and evidence, the plaintiff has cat­ egorically   stated   the   plaintiff   and   her   husband   had   went   to Ghaziabad to attend certain condolence, due to death of some relatives and friend in the family in the month of June and in the absence of the plaintiff and her husband for the period of 7­ 9 days in the last of May and beginning of June, the defendants Suit No. 436/2017                                         Page 24 of 52 Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr. had   constructed/   altered   the   property   in   dispute   without   the knowledge   and   consent   of   the   plaintiff   in   most   unlawful   and arbitrary manner.  The aforesaid fact was also consistently de­ posed in the cross­examination by PW­1. RELIANCE OF HON'BLE HIGH COURT JUDGMENT The   defendants   have   relied   upon   the   Judgment passed   by   the   Hon'ble   High   Court   of   Delhi   in   S.   SATINDER SINGH & ORS. Versus S. RAMINDER SARUP SINGH & ANR., 247(2018) DLT 94.  The relevant portion of para No.11 (ii) relied upon by the defendants of the said Judgment is reproduced as under:­ "(ii)   In   fact,   Courts   always   lean   towards   up­ holding of family settlements and not quashing them on technical grounds as so also held by the   Supreme   Court   in   the   case   of  Roshan Singh   Vs.   Zile   Singh   AIR   1988   SC   881 wherein the Supreme Court in spite of the lan­ guage of the document which stated that each party   will  get  the   shares   stated  in   the   agree­ ment   held   that   such   a   document   is   not   one creating  rights   for  the  first  time  but  that  the document is only in the nature of a family set­ tlement.

Suit No. 436/2017                                         Page 25 of 52 Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr.

"(iii) I would also at this stage seek to refer to the observations of the Supreme Court in the oft cited case of Kale and Others Vs. Deputy Director   of   Consolidation   and   Others, (1976)   3   SCC   119,  and   which   judgment   be­ sides   providing   that   even   an   assumed   right can  be a  subject matter  of  family settlement, the   Supreme   Court   further   observed   that Courts   will   try   to   ensure   that   family   settle­ ments are upheld and not questioned. The rel­ evant   paras   of   the   judgment   of   the   Supreme Court in the case of Kale and Others (supra) are paras 9 to 19 and these paras read as un­ der:­ "9.  Before   dealing   with   the   respective   con­ tentions put forward by the parties, we would like to discuss in general the effect and value of   family   arrangements   entered   into   between the   parties   with   a   view   to   resolving   disputes once for all. By virtue of a family settlement or arrangement members of a family descending from   a   common   ancestor   or   a   near   relation seek   to   sink   their   differences   and   disputes, settle   and   resolve   their   conflicting   claims   or disputed   titles   once   for   all   in   order   to   buy peace of mind and bring about complete har­ mony and goodwill in the family. The family ar­ rangements   are   governed   by   a   special   equity peculiar to themselves and would be enforced if   honestly   made.   In   this   connection,   Kerr   in his  valuable  treatise  Kerr on Fraud  at  p. 364 makes the following pertinent observations re­ garding the nature of the family arrangement which may be extracted thus:­ Suit No. 436/2017                                         Page 26 of 52 Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr.
"The principles which apply to the case of ordi­ nary   compromise   between   strangers   do   not equally   apply   to   the   case   of   compromises   in the nature of family arrangements. Family ar­ rangements   are   governed   by   a   special   equity peculiar to themselves, and will be enforced if honestly   made,   although   they   have   not   been meant   as   a   compromise,   but   have   proceeded from an error of all parties, originating in mis­ take or ignorance of fact as to what their rights actually   are,   or   of   the   points   on   which   their rights actually depend."
"The   object   of   the   arrangement   is   to   pro­ tect the family from longdrawn litigation or perpetual   strifes   which   mar   the   unity   and solidarity   of   the   family   and   create   hatred and bad blood between the various members of the family.  Today when we are striving to build up an egalitarian society and are trying for a complete reconstruction of the society, to maintain   .and   uphold   the   unity   and   homo­ geneity  of  the   family  which  ultimately  results in the unification of the society and, therefore, of the entire country, is the prime need of the hour.   A   family   arrangement   by   which   the property is equitably divided between the vari­ ous contenders so as to achieve an equal dis­ tribution of wealth instead of concentrating the same in the hands of a few is undoubtedly a milestone   in   the   administration   of   social   jus­ tice.  That is  why the term "family" has  to  be understood in a wider sense so as to include within its fold not only close relations or legal heirs but even those persons who may have some sort of antecedent title, a semblance Suit No. 436/2017                                         Page 27 of 52 Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr.
of a claim or even if they have a spes succes­ sionis   so   that   future   disputes   are   sealed   for­ ever and the family instead of fighting claims inter se and wasting time, money and energy on such fruitless or futile litigation  is able to devote its attention to more constructive work in   the   larger   interest   of   the   country.  The courts  have,  therefore,  leaned  in favour of upholding a family arrangement  instead of disturbing the same on technical or trivial grounds. Where the courts find that the family arrangement  suffers  from  a  legal lacuna  or a formal   defect   the   rule   of   estoppel   is   pressed into service and is applied to shut out plea of the   person   who   being   a   party   to   family   ar­ rangement seeks to unsettle a settled dispute and   claims   to   revoke   the   family   arrangement under which he has himself enjoyed some ma­ terial   benefits.   The   law   in   England   on   this point is almost the same. In  Halsbury's Laws of England, Vol. 17, Third Edition, at pp. 215­ 216,   the   following   apt   observations   regarding the essentials of the family settlement and the principles governing the existence of the same are made:
"A   family   arrangement   is   an   agreement   be­ tween members of the same family, intended to be generally and reasonably for the benefit of the family either by compromising doubtful or disputed   rights   or   by   preserving   the   family property or the peace and security of the fam­ ily by avoiding litigation or by saving its hon­ our. The agreement may be implied from a long course of dealing, but it is more usual to em­ body or to effectuate the agreement in a deed Suit No. 436/2017                                         Page 28 of 52 Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr.
to which the term "family arrangement" is ap­ plied.   Family   arrangements   are   governed   by principles which are not applicable to dealings between   strangers.   The   court,   when   deciding the   rights   of   parties   under   family   arrange­ ments or claims to upset such arrangements, considers   what   in   the   broadest   view   of   the matter is most for the interest of families, and has regard to considerations which, in dealing with   transactions   between   persons   not   mem­ bers   of   the   same   family,   would   not   be   taken into account. Matters which would be fatal to the   validity   of   similar   transactions   between strangers are not objections to the binding ef­ fect of family arrangements."
"10.  In other words to put the binding effect and the essentials of a family settlement in a concretised   form,   the   matter   may  be  reduced into the form of the following propositions:
"(1) The family settlement must be a bona fide one so as to resolve family disputes and rival claims by a fair and equitable division or allotment of properties between the vari­ ous members of the family;
(2) The said settlement must be voluntary and should   not   be   induced   by   fraud,   coercion   or undue influence;
(3) The family arrangement may be even oral in which case no registration is necessary;
(4) It is well settled that registration would be necessary   only   if   the   terms   of   the   family   ar­ Suit No. 436/2017                                         Page 29 of 52 Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr.

rangement are reduced into writing. Here also, a distinction should be made between a docu­ ment   containing   the   terms   and   recitals   of   a family arrangement made  under the document and   a   mere   memorandum   prepared   after   the family arrangement had already been made ei­ ther for the purpose of the record or for infor­ mation of the court for making necessary mu­ tation. In such a case the memorandum itself does not create or extinguish any rights in im­ movable properties and therefore does not fall within the mischief of Section 17(2) of the Reg­ istration   Act  and  is,  therefore,  not compulso­ rily registrable;

(5) The members who may be parties to the family   arrangement   must   have   some   an­ tecedent title, claim or interest even a pos­ sible   claim   in   the   property   which   is   ac­ knowledged   by   the   parties   to   the   settle­ ment. Even if one of the parties to the set­ tlement has no title but under the arrange­ ment   the   other   party   relinquishes   all   its claims or titles in favour of such a person and acknowledges him to be the sole owner, then the antecedent title must be assumed and the family arrangement  will be upheld and the courts will find no difficulty in giv­ ing assent to the same;

(6)   Even   if   bona   fide   disputes,   present   or possible,   which   may   not   involve   legal claims are settled by a bona fide family ar­ rangement   which   is   fair   and   equitable   the Suit No. 436/2017                                         Page 30 of 52 Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr. family arrangement is final and binding on the parties to the settlement."

11.  The principles indicated above have been clearly enunciated and adroitly adumbrated in a long course of decisions of this Court as also those   of   the   Privy   Council   and   other   High Courts, which we shall discuss presently.

12.  In  Lala   Khunni   Lal  v.  Kunwar   Gobind Krishna Narain  the statement of law regarding the   essentials   of   a   valid   settlement   was   fully approved   of   by   their   Lordships   of   the   Privy Council.   In   this   connection   the   High   Court made   the   following   observations   which   were adopted by the Privy Council:

The learned Judges say as follows:­ "The true character of the transaction appears to   us   to   have   been   a   settlement   between   the several   members   of   the   family   of   their   dis­ putes, each one relinquishing all claim in re­ spect of all property in dispute other than that falling to his share, and recognizing the right of the others as they had previously asserted it to the portion allotted to them respectively. It was in this light, rather than as conferring a new distinct   title   on   each   other,   that   the   parties themselves seem to have regarded the arrange­ ment, and we think that it is the duty of the courts to uphold and give full effect to such an arrangement. Their Lordships have no hesita­ tion in adopting that view."
Suit No. 436/2017                                         Page 31 of 52
Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr.

13. In Sahu Madho Das v. Pandit Mukand Ram this Court appears to have amplified the doc­ trine   of   validity   of   the   family   arrangement   to the   farthest   possible   extent,   where   Bose,   J., speaking for the Court, observed as follows:­ "It   is   well   settled   that   a   compromise   or family arrangement is based on the assump­ tion   that   there   is   an   antecedent   title   of some sort in the parties and the agreement acknowledges and defines what that title is, each party relinquishing all claims to prop­ erty other than that falling to his share and recognising the right of the others, as they had  previously  asserted  it, to the portions allotted to them respectively. That explains why   no   conveyance   is   required   in   these cases   to   pass   the   title   from   the   one   in whom it resides to the person receiving it under   the   family   arrangement.   It   is   as­ sumed that the title claimed by the person receiving   the   property   under   the   arrange­ ment  had  always   resided  in  him or  her  so far   as   the   property   falling   to   his   or   her share   is   concerned   and   therefore   no   con­ veyance   is   necessary.   But,   in   our   opinion, the principle can be carried further and so strongly do the courts lean in favour of fam­ ily arrangements that bring about harmony in   a   family   and   do   justice   to   its   various members   and   avoid   in   anticipation,   future disputes which might ruin them all, and we have no hesitation in taking the next step (fraud apart) and upholding an arrangement Suit No. 436/2017                                         Page 32 of 52 Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr. under which one set of members abandons all claim to all title and interest in all the properties in dispute and acknowledges that the sole and absolute title to all the proper­ ties   resides   in   only   one   of   their   number (provided he or she had claimed the whole and made such an assertion of title) and are content   to   take  such  properties  as   are  as­ signed to their shares as gifts pure and sim­ ple from him or her, or as a conveyance for consideration   when   consideration   is present."

14. In  Ram   Charan   Das   v.   Girjanandini Devi this Court observed as follows:­ "Courts give effect to a family settlement upon the broad and general ground that its object is to settle existing or future disputes regarding property   amongst   members   of   a   family.   The word „family‟ in the context is not to be under ­ stood   in   a   narrow   sense   of   being   a   group   of persons who are recognised in law as having a right of succession or having a claim to a share in   the   property   in   dispute   ....   The   considera­ tion   for   such   a   settlement,   if   one   may   put   it that way, is the expectation that such a settle­ ment   will   result   in   establishing   or   ensuring amity   and   goodwill   amongst   persons   bearing relationship with one another. That considera­ tion   having   been   passed   by   each   of   the   dis­ putants   the   settlement   consisting   of   recogni­ tion of the right asserted by each other cannot be permitted to be impeached thereafter." Suit No. 436/2017                                         Page 33 of 52 Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr.

15. In Tek Bahadur Bhujil v. Debi Singh Bhujil it was pointed out by this Court that a family arrangement   could   be   arrived   at   even   orally and   registration   would   be   required   only   if   it was reduced into writing. It was also held that a document which was no more than a memo­ randum of what had been agreed to did not re­ quire   registration.   This   Court   had   observed thus: 9 .;

"Family arrangement as such can be arrived at orally. Its terms may be recorded in writing as a memorandum of what had been agreed upon between   the   parties.   The   memorandum   need not be prepared for the purpose of being used as a document on which future title of the par­ ties   be   founded.   It   is   usually   prepared   as   a record of what had been agreed upon so that there be no hazy notions about it in future. It is only when the parties reduce the family ar­ rangement in writing with the purpose of using that   writing   as   proof   of   what   they   had   ar­ ranged and, where the arrangement is brought about by the document as such, that the docu­ ment   would   require   registration   as   it   is   then that it would be a document of title declaring for   future   what   rights   in   what   properties   the parties possess."

"16.  Similarly   in  Maturi   Pullaiah  v.  Maturi Narasimham it was held that even if there was no   conflict   of   legal   claims   but   the   settlement was a bona fide one it could be sustained by the Court. Similarly it was also held that even the disputes based upon ignorance of the par­ ties as to their rights were sufficient to sustain Suit No. 436/2017                                         Page 34 of 52 Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr. the family arrangement. In this connection this Court observed as follows:­ "It   will  be   seen   from  the   said   passage   that   a family   arrangement   resolves   family   disputes, and that even disputes based upon ignorance of parties as to their rights may afford a suffi­ cient ground to sustain it.

xxxxx "Briefly stated, though conflict of legal claims in praesenti or in future is generally a condi­ tion for the validity of a family arrangement, it is not necessarily so. Even bona fide disputes, present or possible, which may not involve le­ gal   claims   will   suffice   Members   of   a   joint Hindu   family   may,   to   maintain   peace   or   to bring about harmony in the family, enter into such   a   family   arrangement.   If   such   an   ar­ rangement   is   entered   into   bona   fide   and   the terms thereof are fair in the circumstances of a particular   case,   Courts   will   more   readily   give assent to such an arrangement than to avoid it.

"17. In Krishna Beharilal v. Gulabchand it was pointed out that the word "family" had a very wide   connotation   and   could   not   be   confined only to a group of persons who were recognised by   law   as   having   a   right   of   succession   or claiming to have a share. The Court then ob­ served: [SCC p. 843, paras 7­8] "To consider a settlement as a family arrange­ ment, it is not necessary that the parties to the compromise should all belong to one family. As Suit No. 436/2017                                         Page 35 of 52 Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr. observed by this Court in  Ram Charan Das  v. Girjanandini Devi the word "family" in the con­ text of a family arrangement is not to be un­ derstood in a narrow sense of being a group of persons who are recognised in law as having a right of succession or having a claim to a share in the property in dispute. If the dispute which is   settled   is   one   between   near   relations   then the settlement of such a dispute can be con­ sidered   as   a   family   arrangement   --   see  Ram Charan Das case.

"The   courts   lean   strongly   in   favour   of   family arrangements   to   bring   about   harmony   in   a family   and   do   justice   to   its   various   members and   avoid   in   anticipation   future   disputes which might ruin them all."

"18.  In the recent decision of this Court in  S. Shanmugam Pillai  v.  K. Shanmugam Pillai  the entire case law was discussed and this Court observed as follows: [pp. 319, 321­322, paras 12, 24­25] "If   in   the   interest   of   the   family   properties   or family   peace   the   close   relations   had   settled their disputes amicably, this Court will be re­ luctant to disturb the same. The courts gener­ ally lean in favour of family arrangements. xxxxx "Now   turning   to   the   plea   of   family   arrange­ ment,   as   observed   by   this   Court   in  Sahu Madho   Das   v.   Mukand   Ram  the   Courts   lean strongly in favour of family arrangements that Suit No. 436/2017                                         Page 36 of 52 Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr. bring about harmony in a family and do justice to its various members and avoid, in anticipa­ tion,   future   disputes   which   might   ruin   them all.   As   observed   in   that   case   the   family   ar­ rangement can as a matter of law be inferred from long course of dealings between the par­ ties.

"In  Maturi Pullaiah v. Maturi Narasimham  this Court   held   that   although   conflict   of   legal claims in praesenti or in future is generally a condition   for   the   validity   of   family   arrange­ ments, it is not necessarily so. Even bona fide disputes   present   or   possible,   which   may   not involve legal claims would be sufficient. Mem­ bers of a joint Hindu family may, to maintain peace or to bring about harmony in the family, enter into such a family arrangement. If such an agreement is entered into bona fide and the terms thereto are fair in the circumstances of a particular case, the Courts would more readily give assent to such an agreement than to avoid it."

"19. Thus it would appear from a review of the decisions analysed above that the courts have taken a very liberal and broad view of the va­ lidity of the family settlement and have always tried to uphold it and maintain it. The central idea   in   the   approach   made   by   the   courts   is that if by consent of parties a matter has been settled, it should not be allowed to be reopened by the parties to the agreement on frivolous or untenable grounds." (emphasis added)"

(Certain portions are bolded in order to highlight) Suit No. 436/2017                                         Page 37 of 52 Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr.
The principles, as enunciated above, are not at all in dispute   but  the   defendants   have   to   first   of   all   prove   the   oral family partition and it has to prove that the family settlement must be a bona fide one so as to resolve family disputes and ri­ val claims by a fair and equitable division or allotment of prop­ erties between the various members of the family. The defen­ dant No.1 by way of evidence of DW­2 and DW­4 deposed that entire front portion of property No.RZ­A/34, Mahabir Enclave, Palam, New Delhi measuring 100 sq. yds. was fallen to Defen­ dant No.1 and for the first time deposed that back portion (100 sq. yds.) was fallen to Mr. Dinesh Tyagi and further in said par­ tition the House No.70, Sector 12, Raj Nagar, Ghaziabad, U.P. was fallen to Mr. Rakesh Kumar Tyagi.
Thus, from the alleged Oral Partition or Family Set­ tlement nothing falls to the share of Old aged parents and it is admitted  case the property bearing No.RZ­A/34, Mahabir En­ clave,   Palam,   New   Delhi   belongs   to   Plaintiff   vide   Exhibit   PW­ 1/1. The said alleged Family Settlement or Oral Partition can­ not by any stretch of imagination be termed as equitable distri­ Suit No. 436/2017                                         Page 38 of 52 Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr.
bution.   The   Old   aged   parents   cannot   be   left   at   the   mercy   of their sons and the alleged Oral Partition or Family Settlement cannot be termed as equitable distribution in the eyes of law. It is also admitted by DW­2 and DW­4 that at the time of alleged Oral   Partition/   Family   Settlement   Shri   Rakesh   Kumar   Tyagi and his wife were not present and did not participated in such Family Settlement. The PW­1 has also categorically denied the Oral Partition  and the  defendants  have not put even  a single question to PW­2 i.e. Shri S.S. Tyagi regarding Oral Partition or Family Settlement.
The defendants do not have any independent title in the suit property and their entire claim is based upon Oral Par­ tition. The defendant No.1 is also not having any antecedent ti­ tle   in   the   suit   property   but   at   the   most   the   defendant   No.1 might   be   considered   as   "Spes   Successionis".   The   defendant No.1 was not having any  vested interest, but only an interest expectant   on  the  death  of  the  Plaintiff.   The   defendants   have neither pleaded nor proved that defendant No.1 was having an­ Suit No. 436/2017                                         Page 39 of 52 Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr.
tecedent interest in the suit property at or about the time of al­ leged Oral Partition.
Considered   from  any   view   point   and   from   the   dis­ cussion as adumbrated hereinabove, the defendants have failed to prove the Oral Partition by defendant No.1 and the defendant No.1 is not the owner of suit property.
DEFENDANT PERMISSIVE USER IN THE SUIT PROPERTY The   Plaintiff   is   a   registered   and   exclusive,   rightful and legal owner of the property bearing no. RZ/A34, Mahabir Enclave, Palam, New Delhi vide Sale Deed dated 05/04/1974.
This fact is pleaded in para No.2 of the Plaint. In reply to this para the defendants has submitted that it is matter of record. In this manner the Defendants have admitted the ownership of the Plaintiff.   The   Defendant   No.1   is   the   son   of   the   Plaintiff   and Defendant No.2 is the daughter in law of the Plaintiff. Therefore, the relationship between the parties is not disputed. The legal notice   dated   18/05/2005   for   vacation   of   the   property   was categorically admitted by the defendants. Therefore, at best the defendants   can   be   termed   as   Permissive   users   or   Licencee Suit No. 436/2017                                         Page 40 of 52 Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr.
without any fee. The law of permissive user is discussed herein­ below.
PRINCIPLES OF PERMISSIVE USER It   is   apposite   to   mention   here   the   dictums   of   the Hon'ble   Apex   Court   reported   as  "A.Shanmugam   Vs.   Ariya Kshatriya   Rajakula   Vasathu   Mudalaya   Nandhavana Paripalanai   Sangam   AIR   2012   SC   2010"  &  "Maria Margarida Sequeria Fernandes and Ors. Vs. Erasmo Jack De   Sequeria   AIR   2012   SC   1727".   The   Three   Judge   Bench Judgment   of   "Maria   Margarida   Sequeria   Fernandes"   of   the Hon'ble   Apex   Court   has   held   to   the   following   effect   in   paras no.70 and 101:­ "70.   It   would   be   imperative   that   one   who claims possession must give all such details as enumerated   hereunder.   They   are   only illustrative and not exhaustive.
(a)  who   is  or  are  the   owner or  owners   of   the property;
(b) title of the property;
(c) who is in possession of the title documents;
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Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr.

(d)   identity   of   the   claimant   or   claimants   to possession;

(e) the date of entry into possession;

(f) how he came into possession ­ whether he purchased the property or inherited or got the same in gift or by any other method;

(g) in case he purchased the property, what is the  consideration;   if  he  has  taken   it  on  rent, how   much   is   the   rent,   license   fee   or   lease amount;

(h) If taken on rent, license fee or lease - then insist on rent deed, license deed or lease deed;

(i)   who   are   the   persons   in   possession/ occupation   or   otherwise   living   with   him,   in what   capacity;   as   family   members,   friends   or servants etc.;

(j)   subsequent   conduct,   i.e.,   any   event   which might   have   extinguished   his   entitlement   to possession or caused shift therein; and

(k)   basis   of   his   claim   that   not   to   deliver possession but continue in possession.

"101.   Principles   of   law   which   emerge   in   this case are crystallized as under:­ No   one   acquires  title  to  the   property   if   he   or she   was   allowed   to   stay   in   the   premises gratuitously. Even by long possession of years or decades such person would not acquire any right or interest in the said property.
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1. Caretaker,   watchman   or   servant   can never acquire interest in the property irrespec­ tive   of   his   long   possession.   The   caretaker   or servant has to give possession forthwith on de­ mand.
2. The Courts are not justified in protecting the possession of a caretaker, servant or any person who was allowed to live in the premises for some time either as a friend, relative, care­ taker or as a servant.
3. The protection of the Court can only be granted   or   extended   to   the   person   who   has valid,   subsisting   rent   agreement,   lease   agree­ ment or license agreement in his favour.
4. The caretaker or agent holds property of the principal only on behalf of the principal. He acquires   no   right   or   interest   whatsoever   for himself   in   such   property   irrespective   of   his long stay or possession."

The Hon'ble Apex Court has followed the aforesaid Judgments   in  CIVIL   APPEAL   NO.   150   OF   2017  Behram Tejani & Ors. Versus Azeem Jagani dated January 6, 2017 by   the   para   nos.9,   13   and   14   of   the   said   Judgment   are reproduced as under:­ "9.   Appearing   for   the   defendants­appellants Mr.Dushyant   Dave,   learned   Senior   Advocate submitted   that   the   High   Court   had   erred   in Suit No. 436/2017                                         Page 43 of 52 Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr. granting   interim   relief   in   favour   of   the respondent. He submitted that the reliance on Rame   Gowda   (Dead)   by   LRS.  v.  M. Varadappa   Naidu   (Dead)   by   LRs.   And Anrs.1   was   completely   erroneous;   that   the respondent, at best, was a relative staying with a   gratuitous   licensee;   and   that   the   case   was covered by the decision of this Court in Maria Margarida Sequeira Fernandes and others v. Erasmo Jack De Sequeira (Dead) through LRS.2.Ms.   Indu   Malhotra,   learned   Senior Advocate appearing for the plaintiff­respondent submitted   that   the   respondent   had   been   in settled possession and as such was entitled to protection. In her submission, the matter was fully covered  by the decision  of  this Court  in Rame Gowda (supra)."

"13. The   matter   was   further   elaborated   in subsequent   decision   of   this   Court   in  Maria Margarida (Supra) as under:­ "97.  Principles   of   law   which   emerge   in   this case are crystallized as under:­ No   one   acquires  title  to  the   property   if   he   or she   was   allowed   to   stay   in   the   premises gratuitously. Even by long possession of years or decades such person would not acquire any right or interest in the said property.
(1) Caretaker,   watchman   or   servant   can never acquire interest in the property irrespec­ tive   of   his   long   possession.   The   caretaker   or servant has to give possession forthwith on de­ mand.
Suit No. 436/2017                                         Page 44 of 52

Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr. (2) The courts are not justified in protecting the possession of a caretaker, servant or any person who was allowed to live in the premises for some time either as a friend, relative, care­ taker or as a servant.

(3) The   protection   of   the   court   can   only  be granted   or   extended   to   the   person   who   has valid,   subsisting   rent   agreement,   lease   agree­ ment or license agreement in his favour. (4) The caretaker or agent holds property of the principal only on behalf of the principal. He acquires   no   right   or   interest   whatsoever   for himself   in   such   property   irrespective   of   his long stay or possession."

"14. Thus, a person holding the premises gra­ tuitously or in the capacity as a caretaker or a servant would not acquire any right or interest in   the   property   and   even   long   possession   in that   capacity   would   be   of   no   legal   conse­ quences. In the circumstances City Civil Court was right and justified in rejecting the prayer for interim injunction and that decision ought not to have been set aside by the High Court. We   therefore,   allow   the   appeal,   set   aside   the judgment under appeal and restore the Order dated 29.04.2013 passed by the Bombay City Civil Court in Notice of Motion No.344 of 2013 in Suit No.408 of 2013."

The principles, as deduced above, vividly depict that no one acquires title to the property if he or she was allowed to Suit No. 436/2017                                         Page 45 of 52 Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr. stay in the premises gratuitously. Even by long possession of years or decades such person would not acquire any right or in­ terest   in   the   said   property.  Therefore,   even   if   the   defendants have shown their long possession from the documents, yet they would not acquire any right, title and interest in the property. It is also held that the courts are not justified in protecting the possession of a caretaker, servant or any person who was al­ lowed to live in the premises as a friend, relative, caretaker or as a servant and has to give possession forthwith on demand.

The defendants being in permissive user were/are li­ able to give the possession forthwith on demand. The plaintiff has admittedly served the Legal Notice dated 18.05.2005 on the defendants   but  they have  failed  to   give   the  possession   to   the plaintiff on demand. Accordingly, the plaintiff was constrained to file the present suit.

QUESTION OF INJUNCTION The   defendants   are   claiming   the   ownership   in   re­ spect of the  suit property in  favour of defendant No.1 and in this manner, there is definitely threat to the plaintiff that the Suit No. 436/2017                                         Page 46 of 52 Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr. defendants may not create any third party right or part with the possession of the suit property to some third party. Considering overall facts and circumstances of the present case and on the discussion   made   hereinabove,   the   plaintiff   has   also   able   to prove this issue by cogent and convincing evidence. QUESTION OF MESNE PROFITS:­ The   Plaintiff   has   claimed   a   sum   of   Rs.3,000/­   per month as pendentlite and future mesne profits but the Plaintiff has not led any independent evidence that the suit property can fetch an amount of Rs.3,000/­ per month as rent. The onus to prove   this   issue   was   on   the   plaintiff.   The   Plaintiff   in   her  evi­ dence of affidavit has deposed that she can fetch an amount of Rs.3,000/­ per month from the said property. The defendants have not cross examined on this aspect. 

In  Surinder Singh v. Dr. Davinder Mohan, 2006 (4) R.C.R (Civil) 781, it was held that "mesne profits or compen­ sation for the use and occupation of the premises has to be as­ sessed at the same rate at which the landlord would have been Suit No. 436/2017                                         Page 47 of 52 Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr. able   to   let   out   the  premises   on   being   vacated   by   the   tenant. While determining the quantum of the amount so receivable by the landlord, the landlord is not bound by the contractual rate of rent which was prevalent prior to the date of the decree." 

In this case, the Plaintiff has led her own evidence regarding the rate of mesne profits and she was not cross exam­ ined on this aspect. It has been proved by the Plaintiff that the defendants are in unauthorized possession of the suit premises so the plaintiff is entitled to claim mesne profits. The perusal of the plaint it appears that the Plaintiff has not sought the relief of Mesne Profits but the in pleadings and evidence it has been specifically submitted that Plaintiff is entitled to Rs.3,000/­ per month   as   Mesne   Profits.   The   issue   of   Mesne   Profits   was   also specifically framed vide Issue No.7. Although specific prayer is not made by the Plaintiff but the Court can exercise the discre­ tion in granting the relief considering the overall facts and cir­ cumstances of the case. Further, the amount so claimed by her seems reasonable and justified in the facts and  circumstances of the case. Considering the nature of the size of the property Suit No. 436/2017                                         Page 48 of 52 Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr. the  Plaintiff   is   entitled   to   a   sum  of   Rs.3,000/­   per  month   as Mesne Profits from filing of the suit till the vacation of the suit property by defendants.

From   the   discussion,   as   adumbrated   hereinabove, the aforesaid issue Nos. 1to 3 and 5 to 7 are decided in favour of the Plaintiff and against the defendants. RELIEF From the discussions, as adumbrated hereinabove, I hereby pass the following  FINAL ORDER

(a) A decree of possession is passed in favour of the plaintiff and   against   the   defendants   thereby   directing   them   to hand­over   the   peaceful   physical   possession   of   the property   in   dispute   i.e.   half   portion   of   the   ground   floor consisting of two rooms, kitchen, attached bath room in the   property   bearing   no.   RZ/A34,   Mahabir   Enclave, Palam, New Delhi, more specifically shown in red colour in the Site Plan Ex.PW­1/2.

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Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr.

(b) A decree of permanent injunction is also passed in favour of   the   plaintiff   and   against   the   defendants   thereby restraining   the   defendants,   their   legal   heirs, representatives,   agents,   nominees,   associates   etc.   from demolition, alienating, occupation and creating third party interest in the suit property i.e. half portion of the ground floor consisting of two rooms, kitchen, attached bath room in   the   property   bearing   no.   RZ/A34,   Mahabir   Enclave, Palam, New Delhi, more specifically shown in red colour in the Site Plan Ex.PW­1/2.

(c) a   decree   of   recovery   of   damages/   mesne   profits   is   also passed   in   favour   of   the   plaintiff   and   against   the defendants   for   unlawful   and   unauthorized   use   and occupation of the suit property @ Rs.3,000/­ per month from filing of the suit till recovery of the possession of the suit   property   by   the   Plaintiff   from   the   defendants.   (The Court   fee   till   the   passing   of   decree   is   required   to   be calculated by the Reader and be shown as deficient Court fee recoverable in the decree sheet).

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(d) The cost of the suit is also passed in favour of Plaintiff and against the defendants.

(e) The Plaintiff has filed the present case as pauper under Order   33   CPC,   therefore   in   terms   of   Order   33   Rule   10 CPC, the deficit Court fees whether on account of relief of possession or mesne profits, if any, be recovered from the defendants in the first instance and be deposited in the Treasury in the account of Government of NCT of Delhi.

The Reader of this Court must specify in the decree­ sheet the deficient court fee so that the same can be recovered at first instance as and when the occasion for the same arises by the State Government from the defendants. The Copy of this Judgment be also sent to The Chief Secretary, Govt. Of NCT of Delhi, Delhi Secretariat, I.P. Estate, New Delhi for information as the State Government to be deemed to be party under Rule 13   of   Order   33   CPC   for   the   purpose   of   recovery   of   deficient Court fees.

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Santosh Tyagi V. Tarun Kumar Tyagi & Anr. Decree­sheet be prepared in terms of this Judgment. File   be   consigned   to   Record   Room   after   due compliance.



Announced in the open court                       (ARUN SUKHIJA)
on 25/08/2018                                     ADJ­07 (Central)
                                              Tis Hazari Courts, Delhi




 




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