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[Cites 11, Cited by 0]

Delhi District Court

Presently At : H. No. H. ­ 32 vs Sh. Ram Nath Yadav on 12 October, 2018

  IN THE COURT OF SH. M.P. SINGH,   ADJ­03 (CENTRAL),
             TIS HAZARI COURTS, DELHI

CS No. 563/16
New CS No. 614191/16

In the matter of: ­

Vandana Garg
W/o Sh. P.K. Garg
R/o H. No. 76, Gali No. 3, Sarpanch Ka Bara
Mandawali, Fazalpur, Delhi­92

Presently at : H. No. H. ­ 32, Pocket - A,
INA Colony, New Delhi - 23.                                      .......Plaintiff

                               Versus

1. Sh. Ram Nath Yadav
   S/o late Kanoji Lal
   R/o H. No. 468, Gali No. 12 - C,
   I - Block, Hari Nagar Extension, 
   Jaitpur, Badarpur, New Delhi - 44 
    Also At:
    Plot No. 486, Gali No. 12 - C
    I - Block, Hari Nagar Extension,
    Jaitpur, Badarpur, New Delhi - 44

2. Sh. Devi Prasad Tiwari
   S/o late D. Tiwari
   R/o H. No. 468, Gali No. 12 - C,
   I - Block, Hari Nagar Extension,
   Jaitpur, Badarpur, New Delhi - 44
    Also At:
    Flat No. D­ 76, Type - I 
    Kidwai Nagar East, New Delhi - 23 



CS No.563//16
New CS No.614191/16                                                Page No.  1 of 22
 3. Arvind Kumar Goswami @ Arvind Goswami
   S/o Sh. Satya Prakash Goswami
   R/o C - 8, Block - D, Jaitpur Extn. 
   P. O. Badarpur, New Delhi - 44
     Also At: 
     C/o Sh. Mahender Singh 
     R/o H. No. D - 75, Hari Nagar Extn.
     Part - I, Attar Singh Public School Road, 
     In front of New Gurudwara
     New Delhi - 44                          ......Defendants

 SUIT FOR DECLARATION, POSSESSION, PERMANENT
 AND MANDATORY INJUCTIONS WITH RECOVERY OF
                             PROFITS
            DAMAGES /  MESNE 

                            Suit filed on - 23.12.2006
                           Date of decision - 12.10.2018

                                  JUDGMENT

1. Facts, as set out in the plaint, are as follows: ­ Plaintiff is the absolute owner of property no./plot no. 468, gali no. 12­ C, I­Block, Hari Nagar Extension, Jaitpur, Badarpur, Delhi (for short the 'suit property') measuring 100 sq. yards out of khasra no. 753/2, 768 and 769. The suit property is bounded as   follows:   ­   East   -   other's   property;   West   -   12   feet   road:

North - Other's property; South - 15 feet road. Plaintiff had purchased   the   suit   property   from   one   Niranjan   Singh   vide notarised   GPA   sale   documents   dt.   13.05.1997   for   a consideration of Rs. 1.20 lacs. She acquired possession of the CS No.563//16 New CS No.614191/16                                 Page No.  2 of 22 suit property.

2. Plaintiff's   husband   was   working   with   Airports Authority of India at its New Delhi office. After purchase of the suit property, her husband was transferred to Babatpur, Varanasi. Plaintiff, her husband and other family members shifted   to   Babatpur,   Varanasi.   They   remained   there   from 24.11.2003   to   06.07.2006.   Before   shifting   to   Babatpur, Varanasi,   plaintiff   had   raised   construction   of   two   rooms, kitchen,   W.C.   and   bathroom   on   the   ground   floor   with   a staircase in  the suit  property  and  also a  door  therein.  The construction done by her spread over 50 sq. yards. Remaining 50 sq. yards was left open. A boundary wall too was raised with a main door.

3. Plaintiff's   husband   was   transferred   back   to   Delhi. Plaintiff   and   her   husband   visited   the   suit   property   on 29.10.2006   at   11:00   am.   Defendant   no.1   Ram   Nath   Yadav was found in illegal possession of about 50 sq. yards portion of   suit   property   (as   shown   in   red   colour   in   site   plan). Defendant   no.2   Devi   Prasad   Tiwari   was   found   in   illegal possession   of   remaining   50   sq.   yards,   which   was   the constructed portion (as shown in green colour in site plan). Plaintiff   asked   defendants   no.1   and   2   to   vacate,   but   they refused.   Defendants   no.1   and   2   disclosed   that   they   had purchased the property from defendant no.3, but they showed CS No.563//16 New CS No.614191/16                                 Page No.  3 of 22 no documents. Defendants no.1 and 2 threatened to sell the suit property to someone else. Plaintiff and her husband met defendant   no.3,  a property  dealer, the very  same day, who denied   selling   the   suit   property   to   defendants   no.1   and   2. Plaintiff   and   her   husband   immediately   approached   the concerned the police station for registration of FIR, but to no avail.

4. Plaintiff's apprehension is that defendants no.1 and 2 trespassed   into   the   suit   property   and   stole   her   household articles   on   the   basis   of   forged   and   fabricated   documents prepared   in   collusion   with   defendant   no.3.   Plaintiff   states defendant no. 3 'was also one of the witness to the deal of the part of plot No. 468, situated in gali No. 12B, I­Block, Hari Nagar Extension, Jaitpur, New Delhi which is measuring 100 sq. yards'. As per her, defendant no.3 was also a 'witness on the sale papers of the said property measuring about 12'X30' = 40 sq. yards to Smt. Kusum w/o Jagdish Saini, belongs to the brother of the husband of the plaintiff namely Tarun Kumar and the said property is adjacent with the suit property'.  On these averments, plaintiff seeks the following reliefs: ­

(a)  Decree   of   declaration   in   declaring   the plaintiff   as   lawful   and   genuine   owner   of   suit property as shown in colours red and green in the site plan attached with the suit;

CS No.563//16 New CS No.614191/16                                 Page No.  4 of 22

(b)  Decree of possession in plaintiff's favour and against defendants by directing defendants no.1 and 2   and   their   attorneys,   servants,   legal   heirs, assignees,   etc.   to   hand   over   vacant   physical possession of the suit property as shown in colour red and green respectively in the site plan attached with the present suit;

(c)  Decree of permanent injunction in plaintiff's favour to restrain defendants no. 1 to 3, their legal heirs, attorneys, servants,  assignees  from   creating third   party   interest,   letting   out,   transferring, selling,   parting   with   possession,   or   alienating   any portion   of   the   suit   property   under   the   illegal possession of the defendants no. 1 and 2 as shown specifically   in   red   and   green   colours   in   site   plan attached with the suit;

(d)  Decree   for   declaration   in   plaintiff's   favour against defendants by declaring the false and forged documents   made   by   defendant   no.1   to   3,   if   any, either in shape of GPA, Agreement to sell, money receipt,   bill   etc.   or   in   another   shape   qua   the   suit property, if any, be declared null, void and forged;

(e) A   decree   for   damages   in   plaintiff's   favour and against defendants no.1 and 2 @ Rs. 2,000/­ per month (Rs. 1,000/­ each for the portion under illegal possession of defendants no. 1 and 2 as shown in red and   green   colours   respectively   in   the   site   plan attached with the suit) from date of filing of present suit   till   realisation   or   execution   of   the   decree against defendants no. 1 and 2 or till handing over of respective portions of suit property by defendants no.1 and 2 to plaintiff;

(f)  Costs   of   the   suit   with  pendente   lite  and CS No.563//16 New CS No.614191/16                                 Page No.  5 of 22 future   interest   over   the   amount   of   damages   in plaintiff's favour and against defendants @ 24% per annum till realization;

(g) A   Decree   of   mandatory   injunction   in plaintiff's favour and against defendants no.1 and 2 thereby   directing   defendants   not   to   cause   any damage   and   change   in   the   shape   of   the   suit property in any manner; and

(h) Any   other   or   further   relief   in   plaintiff's favour and against defendants.

5. Defendants no.1 and 2 filed their written statement on 02.02.2007. They state as follows: ­ that suit property bearing plot no. 468, Block no. I, Hari Nagar Extension is situate is Gali no. 12­B and not in Gali no. 12­C; that portion shown in the   site   plan   to   be   in   possession   of   defendants   no.1   and   2 bears plot no. 478 with 478A being of defendant no.1 and 478­ B of defendant no.2; that '    actually plaintiff is claiming on the land of plot which bears No. 478 while plot of the plaintiff is  468';  that plot no. 468 stands for the portion shown in the site plan   in   possession   of   Om   Prakash   Saini   and   Smt.   Kusum Saini   w/o   Jagdish   Singh   Saini;   that   portion   shown   in   the plaint and in the site plan in possession of defendant no.1 is actually in the name of his wife Rajeshwari; that plaintiff due to misunderstanding  is claiming  right, title and  interest  in their plot. Defendants no.1 and 2 go on to state that they had purchased vacant land with no construction thereon and the CS No.563//16 New CS No.614191/16                                 Page No.  6 of 22 plot   was   full   of   marsh   and   dirty   water;   that   name   of defendant no.2 is Devi Prasad Tripathi and not Devi Prasad Tiwari.   They   state   that   they   are   neither   in   wrongful possession   nor   trespassers   in   the   suit   property.   They   aver that   the   suit   suffers   from   defects   of   misjoinder   and   non­ joinder   of   necessary   parties   as   plot   no.   468   stands   for   the portion shown in the site plan, which is in possession of Om Prakash Saini and Smt. Kusum who have not been arrayed as   parties   Denying   all   other   averments   of   the   plaintiff, defendants no.1 and 2 seek dismissal of the suit.

6. Defendant no.3 was served by the mode of publication in   the   daily  The   Statesman  dt.   12.10.2007.   Defendant   no.3 despite   service   neither   appeared   nor   filed   his   written statement. He suffered the proceedings ex parte vide order dt. 30.10.2007.

7. Plaintiff   in   her   replication   reiterated   and   reaffirmed her averments as set out in the plaint and refuted those of defendants no.1 and 2 as set out in their written statement.

8. Issues framed on 18.07.2008 are as follows: ­

1. Whether   plaintiff   is   the   owner   of   the   suit   property bearing   no.   468,   Block   No.   1,   Hari   Nagar   Extension, Jaitpur, Badarpur, Delhi.

2. Whether plaintiff is entitled to a decree of declaration and possession in respect of the suit property.

CS No.563//16 New CS No.614191/16                                 Page No.  7 of 22

3. Whether plaintiff is entitled to a decree of permanent injunction and damages against the defendant. 

4. Whether   the   documents   of   defendant   no.   1   and   3   are forged / fabricated and liable to be declared void.

5. Relief. 

9. In   plaintiff's   evidence,   the   following   witnesses   were examined:

 PW1   Vandana   Garg   (plaintiff   herself).   She   deposed along   the   same   lines   as   averred   in   the   plaint.   She exhibited the GPA Sale Documents in her favour as Ex. PW1/3 to Ex. PW1/6 and the site plan as Ex. PW1/1. She   was   not   cross­examined   despite   repeated opportunities. 
 PW2 P.K. Garg (plaintiff's husband). He deposed along the same lines as averred in the plaint.  
 PW3 Tarun Kumar Garg (plaintiff's brother­in­law). He deposed that plaintiff purchased the suit property from Niranjan Singh in his presence. He also deposed that he   had   purchased   an   adjacent   plot   that   was subsequently sold  out.  Rest  of his deposition is along the same lines as set out in the plaint. This witness was not cross­examined despite repeated opportunities. 

10. In   defendants'   evidence,   following   witnesses   were CS No.563//16 New CS No.614191/16                                 Page No.  8 of 22 examined:

 DW1 - Ram Nath Yadav (defendant no.1). 
 D2W1 ­ Devi Prasad Tripathi (defendant no.2).
 D1 & 2 ­ W3 / DW3 - K. Sadanandan (stating himself to be neighbour  of plot  no. 478­A  of defendant no.1 and plot   no.   478­B   for   defendant   no.2).   It   is   pertinent   to mention   that   this   witness   in   his   cross­examination deposed   that   he   had   purchased   his   own   plot   from Niranjan Singh.

11. Arguments heard. Record perused.

12.  Issue­wise findings are as follows.

13.  Issue no.1 - The issue is whether plaintiff is the owner of the suit property bearing no. 468, Block No. I, Hari Nagar Extension, Jaitpur, Badarpur, Delhi. It was for the plaintiff to   prove   this   issue.   Plaintiff   relies   on   her   GPA   sale documents (GPA Ex. PW1/3, Agreement to Sell Ex. PW1/4, Affidavit   of  vendor   Niranjan   Singh  Ex.  PW1/5  and   Receipt Ex. PW1/6)  in support  of  her  assertions  that  she owns the suit property. The suit property as reflected in the GPA sale documents Ex. PW1/3 to Ex. PW1/6 is shown to be 'plot no. 468  land measuring 100 sq. yards out of khasra no. 753/2, CS No.563//16 New CS No.614191/16                                 Page No.  9 of 22 768   and   769   situated   at   I­Block,   Hari   Nagar   Extn.,   PO Badarpur, New Delhi - 44 bounded on the North and East by other's property, bounded on the South by 15 feet road and bounded on the West by 12 feet road.' Plaintiff (PW1) in her evidence   deposed  inter   alia  that   she   purchased   the   suit property from Niranjan Singh for a consideration of Rs. 1.20 lacs   vide   the   aforesaid   GPA   sale   documents.   GPA   sale documents dt. 13.05.1997 Ex. PW1/3 to Ex. PW1/6 reflect the vendor to be Niranjan Singh and the consideration amount to be Rs. 1.20 lacs. Plaintiff (PW1) was not cross­examined. Her evidence   therefore   stands   unrebutted   and   unchallenged. Similarly,   the   evidence   of   PW3   Tarun   Kumar   Garg   also remains unrebutted and unchallenged. PW2 P. K. Garg was cross­examined, but nothing came in his cross­examination to create any doubt in plaintiff's case.

14. What lends assurance to the veracity of plaintiff's case is   the   following   circumstance.   DW3   K.   Sadanandan   states that he is a neighbour to the suit property for the reason that his plot is adjacent to it. He in his evidence deposed that he bought   his   own   plot   from   Niranjan   Singh.   Therefore,   on preponderance of probabilities, it does appear that even the suit   property  that  adjoins  the plot  of  DW3  K. Sadanandan must have been sold by none else other than Niranjan Singh.

CS No.563//16 New CS No.614191/16                                 Page No.  10 of 22 This   circumstance,   on   preponderance   of   probabilities,,   only goes to falsify the stand of defendants no.1 and 2 that they had made their purchase(s) from defendant no. 3.

15. Next,   defendants   no.1   and   2   claim   title   in   their   own name.   In   the   written   statement   defendants   no.   1   and   2 claimed that they had purchased vacant land which was full of marsh and dirty water  sans  any construction. As per the stand   of   the   defendants   no.   1   and   2,   the   red   colour (constructed) portion is that of defendant no. 1/his wife and defendant no.2 owns the green colour portion (open space) of the suit property as reflected in site plan Ex. PW1/1. Both of them   claim   to  have  purchased   from   defendant   no.3   Arvind Kumar   Goswami   @   Arvind   Goswami.   However,   defendants no.1 and 2 filed no documents whatsoever on record to show their title. They could neither  explain as to how defendant no.3   Arvind   Kumar   Goswami   @   Arvind   Goswami   acquired title   and   then   sold   portions   of   the   suit   property   to   them. Defendant no. 2 (D2W1) in his cross­examination states that defendant no. 3 Arvind Kumar Goswami had a sale deed in his   name   qua   the   suit   property.   The   best   evidence   in   this regard   could   only   and   only   have   been   the   sale   deed   and nothing else. Such a sale deed in the name of defendant no. 3 Arvind Kumar Goswami never saw the light of the day in this Court.   That   apart,   it   is   very­very   difficult   to   believe   that CS No.563//16 New CS No.614191/16                                 Page No.  11 of 22 vendees (defendants no. 1 and 2) would not have taken any copy   of   the   sale   deed   from   the   vendor   (defendant   no.   3). Further, defendants no. 1 and 2 could neither come up with the exact date of purchase of the portions claimed by them. Although,   defendant   no.1   (DW1)   in   his   cross­examination states that he had been living in his portion since 21.06.2005, but   he   does   not   specify   the   exact   date   when   he   made   the purchase. Neither does defendant no.2 (D2W1) in his cross­ examination   come   up   with   any   date   of   his   claim   to   the purchase. He however states that he has been residing in his portion   since   2004.   It   is   also   pertinent   to   mention   that neither in the written statement did defendants no.1 and 2 specify   the   exact   date   when   they   had   purchased   their respective   portions   from   defendant   no.3.   That   apart,   no witness   to   the   so­called   sale   transaction   in   favour   of defendants no. 1 and 2 stepped into the witness box to say that they had purchased the suit property from defendant no.

3.   Further,   defendants   no.   1   and   2   neither   state   the consideration amount which they had paid for the purchases made by them. Further, it is neither shown as to what were the   nature   of   documents   that   were   executed   in   favour   of defendants no. 1 and 2 by defendant no. 3. All these aspects, individually and cumulatively only go to strengthen plaintiff's case and cast a big doubt in the version of defendants no.1 CS No.563//16 New CS No.614191/16                                 Page No.  12 of 22 and 2. 

16. Next, defendants no.1 and 2 disputed the plot number and the gali number. As per the plaintiff, plot number of the suit   property   is  468  and   the   same   is   in   gali   no.  12­C. Defendants   no.1   and   2   however   in   their   written   statement state that plot number 468 is in fact located in gali no. 12­B and not in 12­C and further that this plot number 468 in fact stands for the portion shown in site plan Ex. PW1/1  under possession of Om Prakash Saini and Ms. Kusum wife of Sh. Jagdish Singh Saini. Defendants no.1 and 2 in their written statement further state that the  suit property in fact bears number   478;   with   478A   pertaining   to   defendant   no.1   and 478B pertaining to defendant no.2. It is pertinent to mention here that in the cross­examination of PW2 a suggestion was put which was replied as follows, "It is wrong to suggest that the   defendant   no.1   and   2   are   in   possession   of   plot   no.   478 which  is   partitioned   and   given   number   478A   and   B."   This stand of defendants no.1 and 2 disputing the plot and the gali number is not credible for the following multiple reasons. In the very first place, defendants no.1 and 2 have no documents to   show   that   the   suit   property   in   fact   bears   no.   478. Defendants no. 1 and 2 neither have any document to show that it is actually the plot of Om Prakash Saini and Kusum Saini wife of Jagdish Singh Saini, as shown in the site plan CS No.563//16 New CS No.614191/16                                 Page No.  13 of 22 Ex. PW1/1, that bears plot no. 468. Going by the version of defendants no. 1 and 2, Om Prakash Saini and Kusum Saini wife   of   Jagdish   Singh   Saini   would   be   their   neighbours; however, neither of them was brought in the witness box to show that number 468 in fact pertains to their (Om Prakash Saini and Kusum) plot. It is pertinent to mention here that the   plot(s)   of   Om   Prakash   Saini   and   Ms.   Kusum   wife   of Jagdish Singh Saini, as per the site plan Ex. PW1/1, is right above the suit property. In other words, Om Prakash Saini and   Ms.   Kusum   wife   of   Sh.   Jagdish   Singh   Saini   are   the northern   neighbours  to  the  suit  property.   On  the   contrary, plaintiff   possesses   documents   (GPA   sale   documents)   in support of her claim that her plot (suit property) bears no.

468. Further, boundaries of the suit property as described in the General Power of Attorney Ex. PW1/3 and Agreement to Sell Ex. PW1/4 matches with the boundaries as shown in the site plan Ex. PW1/1. As per plaintiff's GPA sale documents, on the North and on the East, there exists property of others and this is actually so in the site plan Ex. PW1/1.   As per plaintiff's GPA  sale documents, on  the South there  is a 15 feet road and on the West a 12 feet road and this is actually so   in   the   site   plan   Ex.   PW1/1.   Further,   defendant   no.2 (D2W1)   in   his   cross­examination   admits   that   site   plan   Ex. PW1/1   is   correct   according   to   the   site.   Not   only   this,   even CS No.563//16 New CS No.614191/16                                 Page No.  14 of 22 defendant   no.1   (DW1)   either   in   his   pleadings   or   in   his evidence   did   not   dispute   the   correctness   of   site   plan   Ex. PW1/1.   Defendant   no.1   (DW1)   in   his   cross­examination admits himself to be in possession of red colour portion of the site plan. Defendant no.1 (DW1) also admits that defendant no.   2   is   in   green   colour   portion   of   the   site   plan.   The   crux therefore is that the correctness of site plan Ex. PW1/1 is not at all in dispute. Further, DW3 K. Sadanandan in his cross­ examination states that house of the defendants is in gali no. 12­C.   This   in   effect   means   that   the   house   (suit   property) which   defendants   no.1   and   2   are   currently   occupying   is actually in gali no. 12­C and which version is exactly in tune with plaintiff's version and completely contrary to the very stand   of   defendants   no.1   and   2   that   the   suit   property   is actually located in gali no. 12­B. This deposition of DW3 K. Sadanandan only goes to bolster plaintiff's case and demolish the  stand   of  defendants no.1  and   2.  Thus,   the crux   of  this discussion is that the suit property actually bears no. 468 and it is located in gali no. 12­C. The dispute raised by defendants no.   1   and   2   over   the   plot   number   and   the   gali   number appears to be a blatant lie.

17. Ld.   Counsel   for   defendants   no.   1   and   2   argued   that plaintiff is not sure as to in which khasra number her plot is located out of the three khasra numbers as mentioned in her CS No.563//16 New CS No.614191/16                                 Page No.  15 of 22 GPA sale documents. This aspect can hardly be fatal to the plaintiff's   case.   This   is   for   the   reason   that   identity   of   the property in question is not at all disputed. Plaintiff sued for the very same property which is currently in occupation of defendants   no.   1   and   2.   Further,   the   discussion   in   the preceding paragraph would show that the dispute raised by defendants   no.   1   and   2   over   the   plot   number   and   the   gali number is a false one. Given this, the fact that the plaintiff may   be   unsure   as   to   in   which   khasra   number   the   suit property actually falls, will not suffice to non­suit her. 

18.  Ld. Counsel for defendants no. 1 and 2 further argued that plaintiff's site plan Ex.PW1/1 makes no mention of any khasra number. For the similar reason as in the preceding paragraph   no.   17   (supra)   this   argument   is   of   no   avail.   To repeat, identity of the property in question is not in dispute, and the dispute raised by defendants no. 1 and 2 over plot number and khasra number is a false one.

19. Ld. Counsel for defendants no. 1 and 2 next argued that there   is  a   presumption   under   section   110,   Evidence   Act   in favour   of   defendants   no.1   and   2   and   against   the   plaintiff. Section   110,   Evidence   Act   holds   that   when   the  question   is whether   any   person   is   owner   of   anything   of   which   he   is shown to be in possession, the burden of proving that he is CS No.563//16 New CS No.614191/16                                 Page No.  16 of 22 not the owner is on the person who affirms that he is not the owner. Given the evidence and the circumstances on record, this Court is of the view that the plaintiff has successfully discharged the burden of proving that defendants no. 1 and 2 are not the owners of the suit property.

20. To sum up the discussion on this issue, it is held that the plaintiff has been successful in proving that she owns the suit   property   as   shown   in   red   colour   and   green   colour portions in the site plan Ex. PW1/1.

21. Issue no.2 - The issue is whether plaintiff is entitled to a decree of declaration and possession in respect of the suit property. The onus to prove this issue is on the plaintiff.

22.  Coming   to   the   very   first   limb   of   this   issue  vis­à­vis relief of declaration, plaintiff has proved a better title than defendants no. 1 and 2 qua the suit property. It has already been held hereinabove that plaintiff is the owner of the suit property. In view thereof, it is fit and apposite that plaintiff be granted the relief of declaration of ownership of the suit property.   Ld.   Counsel   for   defendants   no.1   and   2,   however, argued that the GPA sale documents in plaintiff's favour are unregistered   and   on   that   basis   she   cannot   be   granted   a decree for declaration of ownership of the suit property. This argument overlooks certain fundamental aspects. A judgment CS No.563//16 New CS No.614191/16                                 Page No.  17 of 22 granting the relief of declaration of ownership is not one in rem,   but   in  personam.   Relief   of   declaration   of   ownership binds   only   the   parties   to   the   suit   in   terms   of   section   35, Specific Relief Act. As per section 41 of Indian Evidence Act judgment   in   a   civil   suit   declaring   one   to   be   owner   of   an immovable property is not one, which is absolute and in rem. In the  lis  at hand, the plaintiff has proved a better title as against the defendants. This argument also overlooks the fact that the suit property is situate in an unauthorised colony. I doubt if anyone in such an unauthorised colony, wherein the suit   property   is   located,   would   have   registered   documents. Not only this, I also doubt if DW3 K. Sadanandan (brought into the witness box by defendants no. 1 and 2) who claimed himself   to   be   owner   of   a   nearby   plot   had   any   registered documents in his favour. Further, the GPA sale documents in plaintiff's favour pertain to the year 1997, which was much before the amendments made in Transfer of Property Act and Registration   Act   effective   from   24.09.2001.   This   court   is conscious of the verdict of the Apex Court in Suraj Lamps & Industries   Pvt.   Ltd.   Vs.   State   of   Haryana   &   Anr.  183 (2011) DLT 1 (SC). However, subsequent thereto, Delhi High Court in  Shri Ramesh Chand Vs. Shri Suresh Chand & Anr.,   188   (2012)   DLT   538   has   held   that   where   power   of attorney sale documents are coupled with consideration, then CS No.563//16 New CS No.614191/16                                 Page No.  18 of 22 stricto   sensu  complete   ownership   is   not   conferred,   but   the said documents do create rights to the extent provided under section   202   of   Contract,   1872,   section   53A   of   Transfer   of Property Act and ownership on account of devolution in terms of the Will after demise of the testator. Delhi High Court in this regard relied on an observation in Suraj Lamps (supra) to   the   effect   that   power   of   attorney   is   not   revocable   or terminable   at   any   time   unless   it   is   made   irrevocable   in   a manner known to law. It may also be pointed out that under section 202, Contract Act, 1872 if a power of attorney is given for   a   consideration,   then   it   cannot   be   terminated   in   the absence   of   an   express   contract   to   the   prejudice   of   such interest.   I   may   also   add   that   in   terms   of  Suraj   Lamps (supra)   (para   18   of   the   judgment)   a   transaction   involving Agreement   to   Sell/Power   of   Attorney/Will   may   be   used   to obtain   specific   performance.   In   the   case   at   hand,   the   GPA sale   documents   dt.   13.05.1997   in   plaintiff's   favour   were surely coupled with consideration of Rs. 1.20 lacs. As such, this Court is of the view that the plaintiff is certainly entitled to the relief of declaration of ownership of the suit property as shown   in   red   colour   and   green   colour   in   the   site   plan   Ex. PW1/1.  In view  thereof, plaintiff is also entitled to the relief of possession of the suit property as against defendants.

CS No.563//16 New CS No.614191/16                                 Page No.  19 of 22

23. Issue no.3 - The issue is whether plaintiff is entitled to a   decree   of   permanent   injunction   and   damages   against defendants.  Onus to prove this  issue is  on the plaintiff.  In view   of   the   findings   on   issue   no.1,   a   decree   of   permanent injunction   in   plaintiff's   favour   and   against   defendants   is liable   to   be   granted.   Defendants   are   thus   restrained   from letting out, creating third party interest, transferring, selling, parting with possession or alienating the suit property or any portion thereof.

24. In so far as the relief of damages is concerned, plaintiff seeks damages @ Rs. 1,000/­ per month each from defendants no. 1 and 2. Plaintiff led no evidence on the aspect of mesne profits.   There   is   no   evidence   on   record   to   show   as   to   how much market rent would a similarly situated property fetch. Nonetheless, there are catena of decisions that have held that while determining mesne profits the Courts are well entitled to take judicial notice of the increase in rentals of the area where the property is situated. Decisions reported as  State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur Vs. I. S. Ratta & Ors., 120 (2005) DLT 407; National Radio & Electrical Co. Ltd. vs. Motion   Pictures   Association,   122   (2005)   DLT   629   and Motor   &   General   Finance   Ltd.   vs.   Nirulas   &   Ors.,   92 (2001) DLT 97 can be referred in this regard. In the case at CS No.563//16 New CS No.614191/16                                 Page No.  20 of 22 hand, plaintiff's claim to monthly  damages/mesne  profits of Rs. 1,000/­ each from  defendants  no.1 and  2 is a  very­very reasonable   amount.   Plaintiff   is   accordingly   awarded damages/mesne  profits   @   Rs.   1,000/­   per   month   each   from defendants no.1 and 2 from the date of filing of the suit till actual vacation of the suit property by the latter. 

25. Issue no. 4  -  The issue is whether the documents of defendant no.1 and 3 are forged / fabricated and liable to be declared   void.   Onus   to   prove   this   issue   is   on   the   plaintiff. Defendants   filed   no   documents   on   record.   Inasmuch   as   no documents   whatsoever   were   filed   on   record   by   defendants, there is no question of declaring anything to be forged and fabricated   or   to   be   void.   This   issue   accordingly   stands decided. 

26. Relief -  This suit of the plaintiff stands decreed in the following terms: ­ (A) Plaintiff is declared to be the owner of the suit property as shown in red colour and green colour in the site plan Ex. PW1/1. (B) Plaintiff is entitled to the relief of possession  of the suit  property  as shown  in  red  colour  and green colour in the site plan Ex. PW1/1 from the defendants. (C) Plaintiff is awarded damages/mesne  profits @ Rs. 1,000/­ per month each from defendants no.1 and 2 from the date of filing of the suit till actual vacation of the suit property by CS No.563//16 New CS No.614191/16                                 Page No.  21 of 22 the latter. (D) Cost of the suit is awarded in plaintiff's favour and against defendants no. 1 and 2.

27. Decree sheet be drawn up. File be consigned to record room.

Digitally signed by MURARI
                                       MURARI                 PRASAD
                                                              SINGH
                                       PRASAD                 Date:
                                       SINGH                  2018.10.12
                                                              16:31:27
ANNOUNCED IN THE OPEN                                         +0530


COURT ON 12.10.2018
                                      (M.P. SINGH)
                                   ADJ­3 (CENTRAL)
                              TIS HAZARI COURTS
                                            DELHI




CS No.563//16
New CS No.614191/16                                             Page No.  22 of 22