Mahboob Sahab Vs. Syed Ismail and Others reported in (1995) 3 SCC 693
held that constructive possession had to be delivered to the donee if actual
possession could not be delivered.
v) The judgment relied upon by the Appellant in Mehboob
Sahab versus Syed Ismail and Others, (1995) 3 SCC 693, relied
upon by the Appellant is not attracted to the facts of the present
case. In the said case, the judgment and decree which was
sought to be considered for operation of res judicata was
passed on 24.09.1951, whereas, the later suit was filed much
later. This case is not a case where the former suit was
simultaneously filed and tried but decided a little prior to the
suit in question. Further, as per the decision in the said case
dealing with the application of the doctrine between Co-
defendants, the very first ingredient held to be necessary is that
there must be a conflict of interest between the Defendants
concerned, and the same is not there in the present case
inasmuch as in the suit filed by Jai Ram, Ram Chand-
Defendant No.1 had pleaded that the suit should be dismissed
as was pleaded by the other Defendants in their respective
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Regular Second Appeal No. 21 of 1991 (O&M) 12
And Other Connected Cases
written statement. The claim in the suit filed by Jai Ram was
based on family settlement in which there was no conflict of
interest between the Co-defendants. Even the second ingredient
that it must be necessary to decide the conflict in order to give
the relief which the Plaintiff claims, is also missing in the
present case and as such, res judicata shall not apply inasmuch
as even if there is conflict between the Defendants, that has to
be such which must be necessarily required to be decided
before giving relief to the Plaintiff. Admittedly, in the former
suit the claim primarily was on the basis of family settlement
and that issue having been decided against the Plaintiff l.e. Jai
Ram, it was not necessary to decide the collateral issue
because that was not substantially or directly required for
deciding the substantial issue of family settlement.
In the decision reported in AIR 1995 Supreme Court 1205, Mahboob Sahab v. Syed Ismail and others, it was held that the doctrine of res judicata must be applied to the co-defendants with great care and caution, in view of the possibility of fraud and collusion. It is appropriate to incorporate paragraph 9 of the said decision:
19. In reply, the counsel for the petitioner refuted the contentions raised by
the counsel for the respondent Nos.3 and 4 and contended that in ARC.No.38 of
2000 both the petitioner and the Society are parties and a finding had been
recorded therein that it was barred by limitation; those findings are binding on
the Society in view of the principle of res judicata being applicable as between
co-respondents; the Society having filed counter in ARC.No.3 of 2002 opposing
the claim of 3rd respondent is estopped from now supporting her in this Writ
Petition. He relied on Makhija Construction and Engg. (P) Ltd. v. Indore
Development Authority and others19; Mahboob Sahab v. Syed Ismail and others20;
and Bojja Subba Rao v. Government of Andhra Pradesh and others21.
The judgment of Hon'ble Supreme Court in Rasheeda
Khatoon case wherein earlier judgment of Hon'ble Supreme Court in
Mahboob Sahab case [Mahboob Sahab v. Syed Ismail and others reported
12/16
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S.A.No.367 of 2021
in (1995) 3 SCC 693] was reiterated, does not come to the aid of the
appellant in the case on hand though the principles and three ingredients that
there should be declaration of gift, acceptance of the gift and delivery of
possession are available. This Court is of the view that Hiba if pleaded has
to be proved by independent witnesses to the transaction. It may not be
necessary to dilate further on this aspect as the pleadings in trial Court are
predicated on Ex.A3 and not on Hiba.
In other words, the first two conditions, namely that, (i) there must
be a conflict of interest between the defendants concerned and (ii) it must be
necessary to decide the conflict in order to give the reliefs which the plaintiff claims,
as specified in the above decision of the Supreme Court, are not fulfilled in this
case. Hence, the contention raised by the appellant/plaintiff regarding res-judicata,
does not arise. Consequently, the submission made by the learned counsel for the
appellant/plaintiff in this regard by relying upon Order 21 Rule 58 CPC that any
dispute regarding the findings of the Court in the order passed, will have to be
adjudicated only in the appeal against that order/judgment of the trial Court and in
the absence of filing of appeal, the order of the trial Court would attain finality and
the same would operate as res-judicata, cannot be countenanced. Even otherwise,
on a perusal of the documents marked in the Garnishee proceedings, it is clear that
there
http://www.judis.nic.in is a categorical recital in the family arrangement, wherein Raghunatha
43/54
S.A.823 of 2016 and A.S.578 of 2016
Chettiar confirmed that he will not be responsible for the liabilities of the partnership
firm and that all the liabilities of the firm would be taken over by Viswanathan
Chettiar and his sons. It also refers to 30% share held in the partnership firm by
Raghunatha Chettiar, which will also be taken over by the branch of Viswanatha
Chettiar. The said family arrangement also confirms that under an oral
arrangement, it was decided that 30% share will go to the branch of Viswanatha
Chettiar and if for any reason, Viswanatha Chettiar requires a release by way of a
document, it will have to be executed by Raghunatha Chettiar within thirty days.
Therefore, it is clear that the letter of retirement dated 01.03.1979 was executed by
Raghunatha Chettiar pursuant to the family arrangement. In any event, the family
arrangement only records the earlier oral partition.
First of all it would be worth mentioning that the
question of registration of the gift deed was not in issue in the
said case as the deed of gift was already registered in that case.
Secondly, if I carefully read the observation, it nowhere says that
if the gift is in writing, it would not be required to be registered. It
simply says that gift by a Mohammadan is not required to be in
writing and if it is not in writing, it need not be registered.
In another decision bearing on the point under discussion, the Apex court in the case of Mahboob Sahab v. Syed Ismail and Ors. reported in AIR 1935 SC 1205 has held thus: