Page No. 1 (O.S.No.382/2018) // Fair //
IN THE COURT OF ADDITIONAL CIVIL JUDGE
(SENIOR DIVISION) AT TIRUPATI
Present: Smt A.Sunitha rani,
Additional Civil Judge (Senior Division), Tirupati.
Monday, this the 20th day of April, 2026
O.S.No.382 of 2018
Between:-
K.Harisha, w/o A.Rajiv, Hindu, aged about 33 years, Software Engineer, R/at 16, Viceroy Emarold, P.H.Haralur Road, Opp.S.J.R.Redwood, Amablipura, Bangalore-560 102, Karnataka, rep by her Agent/father K.Nagi Reddy, S/o K.Pulla Reddy, Hindu, aged about 73 years, Retired Professor, R/at D.No.24-11-52, Post Office Street, SV Nagar, Tirupati. . . . Plaintiff.
And
[1]Yellamraju Subrahmanyam, S/o Y.Venkateswara Rao, Hindu, aged about 55 years, Telephone Supervisor, O/o General Manager, BSNL, Tirupati, R/at D.No. 4-16, Padmavathipuram, Tiruchanur Road, Tirupati [2]The Executive Officer, Tiruchanur Gram Panchayat, Tiruchanur. . . . Defendants. -o0o-
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This suit came before me for final hearing and disposal in the presence of Sri A.Mohan, Learned counsel for plaintiff and of Sri B.K.Ramesh, learned counsel for defendant no.2; and none on behalf of defendant no.1 as he was remained exparte; and upon hearing the arguments of learned counsel for plaintiff, and upon perusing the material papers on record, and having stood over for consideration, till this day, this court delivered the following;
J U D G M E N T
[1] This is a suit filed U/sec.26 r/w Order VII Rule 1 of C.P.C, by the plaintiff, seeking the reliefs (i) to declare the plaintiff is the absolute owner of the plaint schedule property; (ii) direct the defendant to deliver the possession of suit schedule property; (iii) to direct the defendant no.2 to remove the road laid in the part of the plaint schedule property by way of mandatory injunction and (iv) to award costs.
[2] Pleading of plaintiff:- The father of plaintiff being a GPA holder represent the matter on behalf of plaintiff. His daughter i.e., plaintiff purchased the plaint schedule property from one C.Sarala for valid consideration of Rs.10,56,000/- on 17-05-2017 vide doc.no.
2043/2017. The property which is situated in Sy.Nos.434/2 and 434/3 belongs to one A.Narasimhulu Naidu and others of Tiruchanur village,
Chandragiri. The said A.Narasimhulu Naidu sold the property situated in Sy.no.434/2 to one Gudi Ramachandra Naidu under a registered sale deed dt. 16-06-1983 vide doc.no. 3517/1983 for a valid consideration of Rs.20,000/-. Inturn, he sold the same to one
G.Jayanna under registered sale deed dt.16.06.1983 vide doc.no.
Page No. 3 (O.S.No.382/2018) // Fair // 3515/1983 for valid consideration of Rs.26,000/-. Subsequently, the said G.Ramachandra Naidu and G.Jayanna sold the property covered under the sale deeds No.3515/1983 and 3517/1983, dt. 16.06.1983 to one M.Ramachandra Raju on 15.05.1987 vide doc.no.3548/1987 and 3549/1987 for valid consideration Rs.40,000/- each and put him in possession. One G.Akkamma who is the wife of G.Ramanaiah Naidu sold the land situated in sy.no.434/3 to an extent of Ac.1.00 cent to the said G.Ramachandra Raju through a registered sale deed dated 21-08-1987 vide doc.no. 3550/1987 for a valid consideration of
Rs.40,000/- and put him in possession of the property. Similarly, the said G.Ramachandra Naidu also sold the land situated in sy.no. 434/2 in an extent of Ac.1.00 cents to the said M.Ramachandra Raju on 21.08.1987 for valid consideration of Rs.40,000/- vide registered sale deed No.3551/1987 and put him in possession of the property with full rights.
[2.1] Further, the said M.Ramachandra Raju laid an unapproved layout in the property under the said registered sale deeds and sold the property as house sites to various individuals. The vendor of plaintiff purchased the schedule house plot bearing No.74-A from the said M.Ramachandra Raju on 19.02.2007 for valid consideration and took possession of the property and in peaceful possession and enjoyment of the property. Subsequently, the plaintiff purchased the said property from C.Sarala on 17.05.2017 for valid consideration of
Rs.10,56,000/- under registered sale deed No.2043/2017 and took possession and enjoying since then. While so, defendant No.2 without any intimation or required statutory proceedings had illegally trespassed into part of schedule property and laid road in between the
Page No. 4 (O.S.No.382/2018) // Fair // plot leaving vacant strip of site and that she approached the
Panchayat Officials and enquired about the illegal act and questioned as to how the road has been laid in part of the plot without any right but the officials did not give any reply and made her to wander around them many times since two months and that she gave written objections/notice dated 20.07.2018 to the illegal act of laying road in her site and intimated that she will initiate legal proceedings by filing a suit for the legal remedy. On enquiry, she came to know that the defendant No.1 who purchased a house plot in triangular shape on the northern side of the schedule plot from the original owner who laid the layout, with a malafide intention gained over and influenced the officials of the Panchayat and made them to lay a road on the southern side of his plot to make the plot as a corner plot having access on both west and southern side. Hence the suit.
[3] Pleading of written statement of defendant no.2:- As stated supra, defendant No.1 remained Exparte and defendant no.2 entered contest and filed written statement denying the material allegations mentioned in the plaint. It is the version of defendant no.2 that, there was existing road from Vemanachary house to others houses in
Sivagiri Nagar of Tiruchanur Gram Panchayat and as the road was only gravel road formed so many years back and it was uneven and has become trouble to some of the residents of the street especially during the rains and that they submitted representation on 14.08.2017, 13.10.2017 and 15.11.2017 to lay cement road on the existing gravel road to avoid accidents to old aged persons, ladies and school going children. Thereby the matter was discussed in Gram Panchayat meeting which was held on 13-12-2017 and the Gram Panchayat
Page No. 5 (O.S.No.382/2018) // Fair // made resolution No.32(64) and 32(65) for consideration of C.C road on the existing gravel road. The engineering authorities prepared estimations as per Grama Panchayat resolution and the work was completed on 28.02.2018. The Gram Panchayat works for public interest and not for any individual muchless with the defendant no.1 as alleged in the plaint. Hence, the suit is not maintainable in law, and the above suit ought not to have been numbered, as the same is in total derogation of sec.138-A of Gram Panchayat Act, and for all these reasons and grounds, the suit is liable to be dismissed.
[4] Issues:- Basing on the rival pleadings of the parties one of my learned predecessor in office framed the following issues for trial;
1. “ Whether the plaintiff is entitled for declaration of title and for recovery of possession in respect of the suit schedule property.?”
2. “ Whether the plaintiff is entitled for the relief of mandatory
injunction against defendant no.2, as prayed for.?
3. “ To what relief.?” [5.] After framing of issues, both the parties let in their respective evidence. The evidence of D.W.1 was eschewed, as inspite of passing conditional order, DW.1 did not turn up to court to depose evidence.
[6] Heard the arguments of learned counsels for the parties to the lis.
Page No. 6 (O.S.No.382/2018) // Fair // [7] EVIDENCE ON RECORD:- At the event of trial, the GPA holder of plaintiff, got examined himself as P.W.1 and also examined one A.Thima Reddy, who is third party to the suit proceedings as
P.W.2 and got marked Exs.A1 to A.11 and those are Ex.A.1 is original power of attorney dt. 25-08-2018, Ex.A.2 is C.C of sale deed dated 16-06-1983 vide doc.no. 3517/1983, Ex.A.3 is C.C. of sale deed dated 16-06-1983 vide doc.no.3515/1983, Ex.A.4 is original copy of sale deed dated 19-02-2007 vide doc.no.1087/2007, Ex.A.5 is original rectification deed vide doc.no. 2033/2017, Ex.A.6 is original sale deed
dated 17-05-2017 in favour of plaintiff vide doc.no. 2043/2017, Ex.A.7
is office copy of notice dated 20-07-2018, Ex.A.8 is C.C. of sale deed bearing No.3548/1989 along with typed copy, Ex.A.9 is C.C. of sale deed vide doc.no.3549/1989 along with typed copy, Ex.A.10 is C.C. of sale deed vide doc.no.3550/1989 along with typed copy and Ex.A.11 is C.C. of sale deed vide doc.no. 3551/1989 along with typed copy.
[7-1.] On the other hand, on behalf of 2nd defendant, initially, one
R.Madhuri, who is the then Panchayat Secretary of Tiruchanur has filed chief affidavit and failed to appear before this Court for deposing evidence, hence, her evidence was eschewed by this Court by docket order dated 28-08-2025. The present panchayat secretary by name
P.N.Mani was examined as D.W.2 and got marked Ex.B1 and Ex.B.2 documents and those are Ex.B.1 is ten photographs along with pen drive and Ex.B.2 is attested copy of resolution dt. 13-12-2017.
[8.] To prove the case of plaintiff, as stated supra, the GPA holder of Plaintiff got examined as P.W.1 and he reiterated the averments in plaint and got marked Exs.A.1 to A.11 documents.
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P.W. 2, who is the third party to the suit also supported the version of
P.W.1, but the defendant failed to cross examine the plaintiff witnesses.
[8.1.] On the other hand, as stated supra, one R.Madhuri who is the then Panchayat Secretary was examined in chief as D.W.1, and when the matter is coming for marking of documents and cross examination, DW.1 did not turn up inspite of passing conditional order, hence, the evidence of DW.1 was eschewed by docket order dated 28-08-2025.
[8.2.] On behalf of defendant no.2, the present panchayat secretary was examined as D.W.2 and he reiterated the averments in written statement and got marked Exs.B.1 & B.2. The relevant material aspects of cross-examination of D.W.2 are as follows; D.W.2 denied the suggestion that panchayat laid a road in the private property in a hasty manner and that Exs.B.1 and B.2 were created for the purpose of this suit.
[9.] ISSUE No.1 & 2:- The issued 1 & 2 are inter related, and that this court intends to discuss these two issues under one head.
[10.] The object of every judicial enquiry or trial is to create a belief in the mind of the court as to the existence or non-existence of certain facts on which rights or liabilities of the parties and the decision of the case depends. With regard to standard of proof to be applied in
Page No. 8 (O.S.No.382/2018) // Fair // civil cases, the Hon’ble Supreme Court in a landmark decision decided in between ‘Dr N.G. Dastane Vs Mrs S. Dastane’ reported in ‘1975(2) S.C.C 326’ pleased to held that; “The normal rule which governs civil proceedings is that a fact can be said to be established if it is proved by a preponderance of probabilities. This is for the reason that under the Evidence Act, section 3, a fact is said to be proved when the court either believes it to exist or considers its existence so probable that a prudent man ought, under the circumstances of the particular case, to act upon the supposition that it exists. The belief regarding the existence of a fact may thus be founded on a balance of probabilities. A prudent man faced with conflicting probabilities concerning a fact-situation will act on the supposition that the fact exists, if on weighing the various probabilities he links that the preponderance is in favour of the existence of the particular fact. As a prudent man, so the court applies this test for finding whether a fact in issue can be said to be proved. The first step in this process is to fix the probabilities, the second to weigh them, though the two may often intermingle. The impossible is weeded out at the first stage, the improbable at the second. Within the wide range of probabilities the court has often a difficult choice to make but it is this choice which ultimately determines where the preponderance of probabilities lies.” [11.] The plaintiffs mainly seeking for three reliefs viz., declaration, recovery of possession and Mandatory injunction. In specific, the plaintiff is praying to declare the plaintiff as absolute title holder of the plaint property, and for recovery of possession and for mandatory injunction to direct the defendant no.2 to remove the road laid in the part of the plaint schedule property.
Page No. 9 (O.S.No.382/2018) // Fair // [12.] Here at this stage we will see what is declaration. The jurisdiction of courts to grant a declaratory decree is salutary. The utility and importance of the remedy of declaratory suits are manifest, for its object is to prevent future litigation by removing existing cause of controversy. Chapter VI of the Specific Relief Act, 1963, provides for declaratory decrees under Section 34 of the Act and it is providing that; Discretion of court as to declaration of s tatus or right; “Any person entitled to any legal character, or to any right as to any property, may institute a suit against any person denying, or interested to deny, his title to such character or right, and the Court may in its discretion make therein a declaration that he is so entitled, and the plaintiff need not in such suit ask for any further relief.” [13.] Section 34 of the Specific Relief Act, 1963, contemplates certain conditions which are to be fulfilled by plaintiff. In order to obtain the relief of declaration the plaintiff must establish that he is entitled; (i) to a legal character, (ii) to a right as to property, (iii) that the defendant has denied or is interested to deny his title to such character or right, and (iv) he has sought all reliefs in the suit.
[14.] The plaintiff has to prove that the defendants have denied or interested in denying to the character or title of the plaintiff. There must be some present danger or detriment to her interest so that a declaration is necessary to safeguard her right and clear the mist. The denial must be communicated to the plaintiff in order to give her cause
Page No. 10 (O.S.No.382/2018) // Fair // of action. In declaratory suits, plaintiff's task is not completed once she proves that she is entitled to the legal character or right to property, but it is also for her to convince the court that the defendant has denied or interested to deny that legal character or right of the plaintiff, then only she can succeed in obtaining the declaration sought.
[15.] The Hon’ble Supreme Court in a decision decided in between ‘Union of India & O hers Vs Vasavi Co - operative Hous ing
Society ’ reported in ‘AIR 2014 SC 937’ pleased to held that; “it is trite law that, in a suit for declaration of title, burden always lies on the plaintiff to make out and establish a clear case for granting such a declaration and the weakness, if any, of the case set up by the defendants would not be a ground to grant relief to the plaintiff.” [16.] In addition to declaration of title, the plaintiffis also claiming grant of mandatory injunction and recovery possession. Now we will see whether the plaintiff proved her case by adducing cogent evidence.
[17.] Issue No.1: Issue No.1 framed is ‘Whether the plaintiff is entitled for declaration of title and for recovery of possession in respect of the suit schedule property?’.
[17.1] The burden of proving this issue squarely lies upon the plaintiff. The plaintiff claims title over the suit schedule property under
Ex.A.6 / registered sale deed dated 17.05.2017, and has attempted to trace her title through a series of antecedent sale transactions marked
Page No. 11 (O.S.No.382/2018) // Fair // under Exs.A.2 to A.11. It is the specific case of the plaintiff that the defendants have encroached upon a portion of her property and laid a road therein without any authority.
[17.2] Though the plaintiff has filed several registered documents to show the flow of title, a careful scrutiny of the same reveals that the plaintiff has not produced any approved layout plan, survey sketch, or any authenticated document to precisely identify the suit schedule property on ground vis-à-vis the alleged encroached portion.
[17.3.] It is a settled principle of law that in a suit for declaration of title coupled with recovery of possession, the plaintiff must not only prove title but also establish the identity and exact location of the property. In the present case, except the recitals in the sale deeds, no cogent evidence such as a surveyor’s report or commissioner’s report is placed before the Court to clearly demarcate the suit property and to show that the road in question falls within the boundaries of the plaintiff’s land.
[17.4] Further, the evidence of P.W.1, who is only a GPA holder, is largely based on the documents and does not convincingly establish actual possession of the plaintiff over the disputed portion at any point of time. The independent witness examined as P.W.2 also does not speak with clarity regarding the exact encroachment or the boundaries.
[18.] On the other hand, defendant No.2 has taken a consistent stand that there existed a road in the locality for several years, which
Page No. 12 (O.S.No.382/2018) // Fair // was being used by the residents, and that the Gram Panchayat, pursuant to representations from the public and resolution dated 13.12.2017 (Ex.B.2), has only laid a cement road over the already existing gravel road. The photographs produced under Ex.B.1 probabilise the existence of a road being used by the public. Though the evidence of D.W.1 was eschewed, the testimony of D.W.2 coupled with documentary evidence lends support to the version of defendant
No.2.
[18.1] Significantly, the plaintiff has not taken any steps to get the suit property measured through a competent authority or by appointment of an Advocate Commissioner to substantiate her allegation that the road has been laid within her property. In absence of such crucial evidence, the plea of encroachment remains unsubstantiated.
[18.2] Moreover, when the defendant no.2 asserts existence of a public road from prior point of time, the burden shifts on the plaintiff to establish that the same forms part of her private property. The plaintiff has failed to discharge such burden.
[18.3] The another important point to be noted here is that, whether non examination of plaintiff is fatal to the case? Though the suit is instituted through a GPA holder, the law is well settled in ‘Janki
Vashdeo Bhojwani v. Indusind Bank Ltd.’ that a power of attorney holder can depose only with regard to facts within his personal knowledge and cannot depose in place of the principal on matters which are exclusively within the knowledge of the plaintiff. In the
Page No. 13 (O.S.No.382/2018) // Fair // present case, the relief sought is one of declaration of title, which necessarily requires proof of foundational facts relating to title, possession, and other personal assertions of the plaintiff. However, the plaintiff has not stepped into the witness box to substantiate her case, and no satisfactory explanation is offered for such non- examination. The GPA holder, though examined, cannot speak to all material aspects of the case, particularly those within the exclusive knowledge of the plaintiff. Hence, an adverse inference has to be drawn against the plaintiff under Section 114(g) of the Evidence Act. In the absence of cogent and satisfactory evidence from the plaintiff herself, this Court is of the considered view. that the plaintiff has failed to discharge the burden of proof cast upon her.
[18.4] In view of the above deficiencies, this Court is of the opinion that the plaintiff has failed to prove her exclusive title over the disputed portion and also failed to establish unlawful dispossession by the defendants. Accordingly, the plaintiff is not entitled for declaration of title or recovery of possession. Issue No.1 is answered against to the plaintiff.
[19] Issue No.2: Issue No.2 framed is ‘Whether the plaintiff is entitled for the relief of mandatory injunction against defendant No.2, as prayed for?’ The relief of mandatory injunction is consequential in nature and can be granted only when the plaintiff establishes a clear legal right and its violation.
In the present case, as discussed under Issue No.1, the plaintiff has failed to establish that the road in question has been laid in her
Page No. 14 (O.S.No.382/2018) // Fair // property. Further, the material on record indicates that the road was laid by the Gram Panchayat pursuant to a resolution and for the benefit of the public at large. When the existence of a road is shown to be in public use and its exact location vis-à-vis the plaintiff’s property is not established, this Court cannot grant a relief directing removal of such road, as it would affect public interest. Additionally, the contention raised by the defendant no.2 regarding maintainability of the suit in view of statutory provisions governing acts of the Gram Panchayat also gains significance, particularly when the act complained of relates to execution of public works pursuant to a resolution. Therefore, in absence of clear proof of encroachment and in view of the public nature of the work, the plaintiff is not entitled for mandatory injunction.
Issue No.2 is answered accordingly.
[20] Issue No.3: Issue No.3 framed is ‘To what relief?’
In view of the findings recorded on Issue Nos.1 and 2, the plaintiff is not entitled to any of the reliefs as prayed for.
[21.] In the result, the suit is dismissed without costs.
Directly typed to my dictation by the stenographer, and the Judgment is delivered and operative part of the same is pronounced by me in the open court, today, this the 20th day of April, 2026, under the hand and seal of this court.
(Sd/-Smt.A.Sunitha rani)
Additional Civil Judge (Senior Division),
Tirupati.
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Appendix of Evidence Witnesses examined: For plaintiff:
P.W.1: K.Nagi Reddy P.W.2: A.Thima Reddy.
For defendant no.1:
- Exparte-
For defendant no.2:
D.W.1: R.Madhuri (Eschewed) D.W.2: P.N.Mani
Documents marked:
For plaintiff:
Ex.A.1 : Original power of attorney dt. 25-08-2018.
Ex.A.2: Certified copy of sale deed dt.16-06-1983 vide doc.no. 3517/1983.
Ex.A.3: Certified copy of sale deed dt. 16-06-1983 vide doc.no.3515/1983.
Ex.A.4 : Original copy of sale deed dt. 19-02-2007 vide doc.no. 1087/2007.
Ex.A.5: Original rectification deed vide doc.no. 2033/2017.
Ex.A.6: Original sale deed dt. 17-05-2017 in favour of plaintiff vide doc.no.2043/2017.
Ex.A.7: Office copy of notice dt. 20-07-2018.
Ex.A.8: Certified copy of sale deed bearing No.3548/1989 along with typed copy.
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Ex.A.9: Certified copy of sale deed vide doc.no.3549/1989 along with typed copy.
Ex.A.10: Certified copy of sale deed vide doc.no.3550/1989 along with typed copy.
Ex.A.11: Certified copy of sale deed vide doc.no. 3551/1989 along with typed copy.
For defendant No.1:
-Nil-
For defendant No.2:
Ex.B.1 : Ten photographs along with pen drive.
Ex.B.2 : Attested copy of resolution dated 13-12-2017.
(Id/-A.S.R) Addl.C.J (Sr.D), TPT.