Renu Bhuyan v. Ananda Saikia and Anr

JUDGMENT AND ORDER (CAV) Heard Mr. R.K. Bhuyan, learned counsel appearing for the appellant as well as Mr. B.D. Das, learned senior counsel representing the respondents.

¶2This is a Regular Second Appeal under Section 100 of the Civil Procedure Code (CPC) whereby the judgment dated 13.06.2011 passed by the court of learned Munsiff No.2, Jorhat was reversed by the judgment dated 10.09.2012 passed by the court of learned Civil Judge, Jorhat in Title Appeal No.16/2011.

¶3Smti. Bogi Saikia gifted 1 Katha of land to her daughter/the appellant by a registered deed. In the year 1988, the appellant got herself mutated in the records of rights in respect of the said land.

¶4The aforesaid land has two shop rooms rent out to the two respondents on monthly rent w.e.f. 01.03.1986. Subsequently, they defaulted in payment of rent. Therefore, the appellant issued a notice to them asking them to vacate the shop rooms.

¶5In reply to the aforesaid notice, the respondents told her that the said land was purchased by their father Sonaram Saikia from Lakheswar Saikia in the year 1966 by execution of a registered sale deed. Lakheswar Saikia is the father of the present appellant. Page No.# 3/6

¶6Ultimately, the appellant filed the suit praying for the eviction of the respondents and for recovery of vacant possession of the suit property.

¶7The fact that Smti. Bogi Saikia gifted the property to the appellant by execution of a registered sale deed, is not denied by the respondents while filing their written statement. They chose to stick to their plea that in the year 1966, Lakheswar Saikia, the father of the appellant had sold the land to their father Sonaram Saikia.

¶8The learned trial court framed the following issues: I. Whether the plaintiff has right, title and interest over the suit land? II. Whether the suit is bad for non-joinder of necessary parties? III. Whether the suit is undervalued and not properly stamped? IV. Whether the suit is barred by law of limitation? V. Whether the defendants are tenants under the plaintiff? VI. Whether the defendants are defaulters? VII. Whether the suit land/premises are required by the plaintiff for bona fide purpose? VIII. Whether the sale deed executed by the father of the plaintiff in favour of the father of the defendants has no value in the eye of law and therefore, the same is liable to be cancelled? IX. To what relief/reliefs the parties are entitled?

¶9During the trial of the case, the appellant and the respondents examined two witnesses each. Page No.# 4/6

¶10On the basis of the evidence on record, the trial court decreed the suit.

¶11On appeal, the first appellate court reversed the finding and dismissed the suit.

¶12The substantial questions of law on which the appeal is admitted are – i. Whether the provisions of Section 68 of the Evidence Act can be applied in respect of Exhibit-2, the Registered Gift Deed dated

22.08.1974, which was admittedly a 30 year document and execution of which was not challenged by the executor? ii. Whether the learned lower appellate court has rightly decided the title of the suit property in favour of the respondents on the basis of the sale deed (Exhibit-A) (Exhibit-KA) allegedly executed by Lt. Lakheswar Saikia who was not the owner/title holder of property in question?

¶13I have considered the submissions made by the learned counsels of both sides.

¶14Lt. Bogi Saikia gifted 1 Katha of land to the appellant on execution of a registered gift deed. This plea has not been denied by the respondents in their written statement. Order 8 Rule 5 of the CPC, prescribes that every allegation of fact in the plaint if not denied specifically or by necessary implication or stated to be not admitted in the pleadings of the defendant, shall be taken to be admitted except against a person under disability. Similarly, the law of evidence under Page No.# 5/6 Section 58 of the Indian Evidence Act lays down that admitted facts need not be proved.

¶15So, it is proved that Smti. Bogi Saikia had gifted 1 Katha of land to the appellant on execution of a Registered Gift Deed.

¶16The learned trial court held that the respondents failed to prove the title of Lakheswar Saikia over the suit land, which empowered him to sale the same to their father Sonaram Saikia. The trial court held that the simple sale deed does not have a legal value if the vendor did not have right, title and interest over the property sold. I find that the trial court has correctly appreciated the evidence as well as the law.

¶17After going through the judgment of the first appellate court, I find that the appellate judgment is based on some imaginary laws, which do not exist at all.

¶18I have already mentioned hereinbefore that the Registered Gift Deed i.e. the Exhibit-2 is already proved and therefore, there is no need of proving the Gift Deed by examination of attesting witnesses. The respondents have failed to prove the title of Lakheswar Saikia over the suit property. Therefore, the Sale Deed i.e. Exhibit-A has no value in the eye of law. The learned first appellate court erroneously set aside the judgment of the learned trial court.

¶19The first appellate court judgment dated 10.09.2012 passed by the court of learned Civil Judge, Jorhat in Title Appeal No.16/2011, is set aside.

¶20In the result, the second appeal is allowed. Page No.# 6/6 Send back the LCR.

JUDGE Comparing Assistant

PageoNo.#o1/6 GAHC010003432013 ooooooo ooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooTHEoGAUHATIoHIGHoCOURTo (HIGHoCOURToOFoASSAM,oNAGALAND,oMIZORAMoANDoARUNACHALoPRADESH)o CaseoNo.o:oRSA/10/2013ooooooooo RENUoBHUYANo W/O-oLATEoMUKULoBHUYAN,oR/O-oPOTIAGAON,oPOoandoMOUZA-oHEZARI,o DIST-oJORHAT,oPIN-785001 VERSUSo ANANDAoSAIKIAoandoANRo S/O-oLATEoSONARAMoSAIKIA,oR/O-LAKHIMIKHAT,PO-oKARAKAoTOLI,o DIST-oJORHAT,oPIN-o785108,oASSAM 2:NIRAMOYoSAIKIA oS/O-oLATEoSONARAMoSAIKIA oR/O-LAKHIMIKHAT PO-oKARAKAoTOLI oDIST-oJORHAT oPIN-o785108 oASSAo AdvocateoforotheoPetitionerooooo:oMR.oRoKoBHUYANo AdvocateoforotheoRespondento:oMR.SoDUTTAoo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ::kPRESENTk:: THEkHON'BLEkMR.kJUSTICEkPARTHIVJYOTIkSAIKIA oo ooooooooo For the Appellant : Mr. R.K. Bhuyan, oooooooooo Advocate. oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Page No.# 2/6 For the Respondents : Mr. B.D. Das, Senior Advocate. Date of Hearing : 10.08.2023. Date of Judgment : 29.08.2023.