Ishwara Bhat vs Annappa Naika on 30 January, 1997
In the case of Ishwara Bhat v. Annappa Naik (supra) the plaintiff filed the suit for permanent prohibitory injunction on the plea that he has been in possession and enjoyment of the suit property, but the defendant who is owner of the adjacent property was interfering with his possession. There the possession of the plaintiff over the suit land was not disputed although the land was Government land. Therefore, the Court observed that the person in possession is entitled to a decree for permanent prohibitory injunction against the trespassers. In all these cases the possession of the plaintiff over the suit land was not in dispute and impletion of the State was not necessary for effective adjudication of the issues. Accordingly, it was held that the State was not necessary party and the suit would not be invalid for non-joinder of the State Government. The ratio of these cases is of no help to the plaintiff-appellant because right, title and possession of part of the suit property have been declared in favour of Kasinath Sahu by a competent Court, some part of the suit property has been recorded in the name of Gopinath Sahu, who claims possession over that land and encroachment proceeding is pending against Ratnamani Padhi for his unauthorized occupation of a portion of the suit land. There were also other evidence, which have been reflected in the impugned judgment showing that the plaintiff is not in exclusive possession of the suit property. That being so, a suit for permanent injunction relating to the entire suit property at the behest of the plaintiff was not maintainable without impleading the persons, who have been declared in possession or are claiming possession over portion of the suit property. The Courts below were, therefore, justified in observing that Kasinath Sahu was a necessary party and the plaintiff was estopped from bringing any suit for injunction with respect to the lands which have been decreed in favour of Kasinath Sahu in Title Suit No. 9 of 1978.