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IN THE COURT OF THE I. ADDL. JUNIOR CIVIL JUDGE AT VIKARABAD,
RANGA REDDY DISTRICT
PRESENT: Smt.T. Lakshmi
I Addl. Junior Civil Judge, Vikarabad
Ranga Reddy District.
Dated, this the 28 th day of December, 2019.
O.S.No. 14 OF 2009
Between:
Smt. Gongloor Padma W/o Bichaiah, Age: 33 years, occ: Household, R/o Ananthsagar Village, Kondapur Mandal, Sangareddy District. … Plaintiff
AND
1. Smt. Mangali Galamma (died) per L.rs.
2. Mangali Ramchandraiah S/o Adivaiah, Age: 65 years, Occ: Agriculture, R/o Konkunde Village, Mominpet Mandal, Vikarabad District.
3.Smt. Mangali Jagadamba W/o Narsimulu, Age: 38 years, Occ: Household.
4. Smt. Mangali Chandrakala W/o Ramesh, Age: 35 years, Occ: House hold.
5. Smt. Mangali Amreshwari W/o Ashok, Age: 32 years, Occ: Household.
6. Mangali Amarnath S/o Ramchandraiah, Age: 28 years, Occ: Agriculture, All C/o Mangali Ramchandraiah, R/o Konkunde Village, Mominpet Mandal,Vikarabad District. ( Defendant No. 2 to 6 are added as per orders in I.A.No. 187/19, dt: 10.5.2019) … Defendants
This Original Suit is coming before me for final hearing in the presence of Sri M. Goverdhan Rao, Advocate for the Plaintiff and of Sri P. Goverdhan Reddy, Advocate for the defendants and upon perusing the material papers on record and upon hearing the Counsel for plaintiffs and having stood over for consideration till this day, this court delivered the following:
J U D G M E N T
This suit is filed by the plaintiff for Partition and Separate possession of plaint schedule agricultural lands into two equal shares and allot one share to the plaintiff.
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2. The averments of the Plaint in brief, are as follows:
The father of the plaintiff and defendant namely Late Mangali Hanmaiah died intestate about 18 years back leaving behind plaintiff, defendant and his wife Smt. Rukkamma as his legal heirs in respect of agricultural land bearing
Sy.No. 69/E1 extent of Ac. 133 guntas, 92/E extent Ac. 106 guntas, 198/A extent Ac. 234 guntas and 218/EE extent 0.29 guntas respectively situated at
Konkunde Village of Mominpet Mandal, Ranga Reddy District. Rukkamma the mother of plaintiff and defendant also died about 10 years back. After the death of Late Hanmaiah and Smt. Rukkamma the plaintiff and defendant are in joint possession and enjoyment of the suit schedule property. The defendant being the eldest daughter of Late Hanmaiah used to look after the joint family property and cultivation of the suit lands on behalf of joint family and shared the agricultural produce with plaintiff every year. But for the past two years, defendant changed her attitude and not giving any share out of the agricultural produce received from the suit lands to the plaintiff and whenever the plaintiff demanded for her share out of the agriculture produce, the defendant used to postpone the matter for one or other reason. By seeing the attitude of the defendant, plaintiff expressed her intention for partition of the suit lands and for allotment of her separate share in all the suit lands on 18th November 2008, but, the defendant refused for partition of the suit lands and openly declared that the suit lands are her exclusive properties. Further, plaintiff submitted that after death of Hanmaiah, the defendant got mutated the suit lands in her name and now defendant is taking advantage of the said entries is trying to alienate the suit lands to third parties in order to deprive the legitimate right of the plaintiff in the suit lands. Hence, the suit.
3.On receipt of the summons, the defendant filed written statement and denied the averments made in plaint. The defendant contention is that during the life time of Late Mangali Hanmaiah a will deed was executed in her favour 3 on 1981983 and since then the defendant is enjoying the suit property as absolute owner, in pursuance of will deed the defendant filed an application
before the Revenue authorities for issuing passbooks and title deed in her
favour in respect of the suit schedule properties and after through enquiry the revenue authorities have issued passbooks and title deeds in favour of the defendants in respect of the suit lands and hence the defendant is in exclusive possession and enjoying the property as absolute owner. Hence, when the defendant is having exclusive possession and absolute ownership over the property, partition of plaint schedule property to plaintiff does not arise and as the property is not a joint property the plaintiff is having no right or interest over the suit schedule property hence prayed the Court to dismiss the suit.
4.Plaintiff filed rejoinder to the written statement filed by the defendant contending that alleged will deed purported to be executed by the Hanumaiah in favour of defendant in respect of suit schedule property is fabricated one and plaintiff has no knowledge about the execution of alleged will deed. Thus there is no chance to plaintiff to object the alleged will. Further plaintiff and defendant are in joint possession in respect of suit schedule property and defendant was never in exclusive possession of suit schedule property.
Moreover, the marriage of plaintiff was performed by her parents and defendant never performed the marriage of plaintiff defendant with malafide intention to usurp the suit lands making false and baseless allegation against the plaintiff.
5.On the basis of the pleadings the following issues are settled for trial:
1. Whether the will deed executed by Late Hanmaiah on 19.8.1983 is true, valid and binding on the plaintiff.
2. Whether the plaintiff is entitled to partition as prayed for?
3. Whether the Court fee paid by the plaintiff is insufficient?
4. To what relief?
6. On behalf of the plaintiff, PW1 and PW2 are examined and exhibited A1 to A9. On behalf of defendants DW1, DW4 were examined and exhibited B1 to 4
B9 documents. Though DW2, DW3 filed the affidavits they failed to enter the witness box, hence their evidence was eschewed.
7.Heard, the learned Counsel for the plaintiff and defendants.
8.Issue No. 1 to 3:
The relationship of plaintiff and defendant is not in dispute. Plaintiff and defendants are the daughters of Late Mangali Hanumaiah who died intestate about 18 years back leaving behind the plaintiff and defendant and Rukkamma their mother as his legal heirs. Later Rukkamma also died. The plaintiff submit that suit schedule properties are ancestral properties inherited by her father from her grandfather Ramaiah. After the death of her parents the plaintiff and defendants are the legal heirs. It is also admitted fact that parents of plaintiff and defendant died and father of plaintiff was in possession and enjoyment of the suit schedule property during his life time which is evident from Ex.A1, A5 to A8. Ex.A2 shows that defendant was pattedar and Ex.A3, A4
9.The plaintiff herself examined as PW1 who filed affidavit in lieu of her evidence under order XVIII R 4 (1) CPC. Her evidence is nothing but reiterated the version of plaint pleadings. It is in the evidence of PW1 that, she is the sister of defendant and suit schedule properties are her ancestral properties and her father inherited the properties from grandfather. Hanumaiah their father died intestate leaving behind herself, defendant and their mother as legal heirs. After the death of their mother herself and defendant succeeded the suit schedule properties and they are in joint possession and enjoyment over the same and no partition of suit schedule properties was effected between herself and defendant. PW1 further pleaded that, without her knowledge defendant got mutated the suit lands in her favour and now taking advantage of the illegal entries trying to alienate the properties in favour of third parties thereby depriving the legitimate right of the plaintiff. PW1 also pleaded in her evidence that, defendant averred in written statement that her father 5
Hanumaiah executed the will deed in the year 1983 during his life time bequeathing entire properties in favour of defendant which is false. The defendant relying on will deed is a fabricated one. In cross examination PW1 denied that Rachaiah, Narsaiah, Buchiaha and Galamma, defendant in possessory coloumn in Ex.A1 as they are not in possession and she do not know how their names were entered in possessory coloumn. Plaintiff admitted that she has not taken any steps for cancellation of will deed as alleged by defendants also admitted that defendant only in possession of suit schedule property since the date of death of her father. The evidence of PW2 is also in the same lines of PW1.
10.The main contention of the plaintiff is that suit schedule properties are ancestral properties and she is entitled to half share in the properties and the alleged will deed is fabricated one. Per contra, the contention of the defendant is that the suit schedule properties are self acquired properties of her father who executed a will deed during his life time in her favour as such plaintiff has no right or claim in the suit schedule property thereby depriving the legitimate right of the plaintiff in the suit lands.
11.In support of her contention the learned Counsel for plaintiff relied on citation
1. P. Lakshmi Reddy Vs L. Lakshmi Reddy reported in AIR 1957 SC 314 wherein the Honble Apex Court held that: “The possession of one coheir is considered, in law as possession of all the coheirs. When properties it is presumed to be on the basis of joint title. The co heir in possession cannot render his possession adverse to the other cheir, not in possession, merely by any secret hostile animus on his own part in derogation of the other coheirs’ title.
2. H. Venkatachala Iyengar Vs B.N. Thimmarajamma and others reported
in AIR 1959 Supreme Court 443 wherein Hon’ble Supreme Court held
that: 6 “ However there is one important feature which distinguishes will from other documents. Unlike other documents the will speaks from the death of the testator, and so, when it is propounded or produced before a Court, the testator who has already departed the world cannot say whether it is his will or not”.
3. B.G. Laxman died per L.rs Vs Joint Collector Ranga Reddy District and others reported in 2003 (1) ALT 3 (DB) where in it is held that: “mutation entries in revenue records do not decide title to land”.
12.The contention of defendant is that the suit schedule properties are not the ancestral properties and self acquired properties of her father who purchased the same from one Adivappa of Kolkunde village. However, she has not filed any document to substantiate her plea. On the other hand plaintiff filed Ex.A6, Sessala Pahani, A7 and A8/ pahanies where grandfather of plaintiff and defendant were shown as Pattedar and father of plaintiff and defendant shown as Hissedar proving the contention of the plaintiff that suit schedule properties are ancestral properties. Even DW4 admitted in cross examination that the suit schedule properties are ancestral properties of plaintiff and defendant.
13.Ex.A1, A5, A6, A7, A8 show that father of plaintiff as Pattedar and
Inamdar. In Ex.A1, A5, A6 to A8 Hanumaiah, father of plaintiff and defendant shown as pattedar, inamdar and also Hissedar of suit schedule properties.
Now defendant has not placed sufficient evidence whether any notice was given to plaintiff at the time of mutation and on what basis the mutation was effected and even failed to file the faisal patti to establish, her contention that basing on the will deed the mutation was effected on her name.
14.The DW1 in her evidence alleged that her father executed a will deed during his life time i.e on 19.8.1983 since then she is enjoying the suit schedule property as absolute owner and possessor and basing on the will deed she mutated the suit schedule property on her name. Further submitted that 7 plaintiff has knowledge of alleged will deed and she never objected the same, as such she is only in exclusive owner and possessor of suit schedule property as absolute owner. If for while if we think that the alleged facts are known to plaintiff no prudent man will keep quiet when all of the properties were bequeathed to her sister alone and no father will give entire property to only one daughter.
15.To prove the case of defendants DW1 exhibited Ex.B1 to B9 documents.
Ex.B1 shows that defendant was Pattedar and possessor of suit schedule property. Ex.B2 shows that the father of plaintiff and defendant registered will deed in favour of defendant in respect of suit schedule property. Ex.B3 shows that the father of plaintiff Mangali Hanmaiah was Pattedar and possessor of
Sy.No. 69/E to an extent of 2 acre 17 guntas, Sy.No. 92/E to an extent of 1 acre 06 guntas and Sy.No. 198/AA to an extent of Ac 234 guntas. Ex.B4 to B9 show that defendant was Pattedar and possessor of suit schedule property.
Further defendant failed to examine the attestors to the will deed to prove her contention that, will was executed by her father during his life time. When will is disputed, then burden is on the person who propounds a will to establish the same.
16.To establish the contention of the defendant, the Counsel for defendant relied on Citations:
1. V. Srisailam (Vs) V. Krishna Murthy & others reported in 2003(1) ALD 500 of Hon’ble High Court of Andhra Pradesh where in it is held that: “ WillProof of –
Registered will proved by the two attesters and the scribeAdvocate who prepared the Will at the request of the testator also examined in support of the
WillPlea that the Will was prepared on blank papers signed by the testator not established Further it is proved by the Registrar who registered the Will that he registered it after satisfying himself about the testator signing the document, knowing it to be his will Mere exclusion of some natural heirs cannot be taken as a suspicious circumstance surrounding the willNo evidence to show that the 8 propounder of the Will has taken a prominent role in execution and registration of the will Held, in the circumstances, the Court below is not justified in rejecting the Will.
2. Pentakota Sathyanarayana and others (Vs) Pentakota Seetharatnam and
others reported in AIR 2005 Supreme Court 4362 where in Hon’ble Apex
Court held that: “document also contained signatures of attesting witnesses and scribe held burden of proof to prove will had been duly and satisfactorily discharged by claimants”.
Mode of Proof of wills: if a document is alleged to be signed or to have been written wholly or in part by any person, the signature or the handwriting of so much of the document as is alleged to be in that person’s handwriting of so much of the document as is alleged to be in that person’s handwriting must be proved to be in his handwriting.
Section 68 of the Evidence Act: Proof of document required by law to be
attested. If a document is required by law to be attested, if shall not be used as evidence until one attesting witness at least has been called for the purpose of proving its execution, if there being an attesting witness alive and subject to the process of the Court and capable of giving evidence.
Section 63 of the Indian evidence Act, 1925 the “ Will is compulsorily to be attested by two or more witnesses.
Under Section 45 and 47 of the Evidence Act, the opinion of the experts and of person acquainted with the handwriting of the persons concerned are relevant.
Thus the provisions mentioned above is that the Will has to be proved in the manner prescribed therein. A will has to be proved like any other document except to the special requirement of attestation prescribed by section by Sec.
9 63 the test to be applied would be the usual test of satisfaction of the prudent mind in such matter.
In Girja Dutt Vs Gangotri, AIR 1995 SC 346 it was held that in order to prove due execution and attestation of the will the propounder of the will has to prove that the two witnesses saw the testator sign the will and they themselves signed the same in the presence of the testator.
17.As per Sec. 63 of Indian Evidence Act, the will has to be attested, it cannot be used in evidence until one attesting witness at least is examined to prove its execution. The defendant failed to take steps to prove the execution of will in her favour by her father. The Counsel for defendant argued that attestors to the will are no more however he failed to file any documentary proof to establish his contention. DW4 was examined, however he is not the attestor of alleged will. Defendant also failed to examine the scribe of will.
18.Simply because, the father executed will in favour of defendant in respect of the suit schedule properties that too ancestral properties that will not disentitle the plaintiff to claim the share in the ancestral properties. 13.
Except taking plea there is no piece of paper to accept the contention of the defendant that the properties are not the ancestral properties and mutation was effected basing on the will deed. Therefore, on perusal of oral and documentary evidence, this Court hold that suit schedule properties available as on the date of filing of suit are ancestral properties of the plaintiff and defendant.
19.Further, specific date of death of father of plaintiff and defendant was not mentioned by both the plaintiff or defendant. Though specific date of death of
Hanumaiah was not mentioned and though there is discrepancy as to how many years ago Hanumaiah died as per the pleadings. It is clear that
Hanumaiah died much prior to Amendment Act, 2005. Basing on the Act, 2005 both the daughters will get equal share in the ancestral properties.
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20.It is well established principle that propounder of “will” has to remove the suspicious circumstances in execution of will and the burden lies on defendant who alleged that Hanumaiah executed the will during his life time. The burden of proof that the will has been validly executed and is a genuine document on the propounder. The propounder has to place sufficient cogent evidence to discharge his burden that alleged will is genuine.
21.In the absence of proof of will deed, it has to be held that defendant alone is not the owner of the suit properties. Therefore, it has to be held that the plaintiff and the defendants being the class I heirs of the late Hanumaiah will succeed to the suit schedule properties by virtue of Sec 8 (a) of Hindu
Succession Act, 1956.
22. The issuance of pattadar passbook in the name of defendant by revenue authorities basing on the will deed said to have been executed by late
Hanumaiah in favour of the defendant is illegal, as laid down by Hon’ble
Andhara Pradesh High Court in A. Rani Vs the Joint Collector and others 2007(5) ALD 88 and 2007(6) ALT 513. Further Revenue records are not the title documents and basing on it defendant cannot establish her title over the suit schedule property.
23.In view of the discussion it is held that the plaintiff and defendant being class I heirs of Late Hanumaiah are entitled to get equal right over the suit schedule properties by virtue of Sec 8 of Hindu Succession Act, 1956 and plaintiff and defendant No. 2 to 5 are entitled for half (½) share each in the suit schedule property. The defendant failed to remove the suspicious circumstances with regard to execution of will deed. Thus defendant failed to prove the execution of will in accordance to provisions of 63(3) of Indian
Evidence Act.
24.In the result, the suit of the plaintiff decreed and Preliminary decree of
Partition is hereby passed as under.
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1. That the suit schedule properties No. 1 to 4 are divided in two equal shares and plaintiff shall be allotted one share.
2. The entries in the Revenue records may be rectified as per the shares.
3. The equities if any shall be worked out on separate application in the final decree proceedings.
4. That in view of the close relationship between the parties, there is no order as to costs.
Typed to my dictation, corrected and pronounced by me in open
court on this the 28 th Day of December, 2019.
I ADDL.JUNIOR CIVIL JUDGE
VIKARABAD
APPENDIX OF EVIDENCE
WITNESSES EXAMINED
FOR PLAINTIFF FOR DEFENDANTS
PW1: G. PadmaDW1: M. Galamma PW2: B. SangaiahDW2: B. Rachappa ( eschewed) DW3: G. Shaker ( eschewed) DW4: L. Ram Reddy.
EXHIBITS MARKED
FOR PLAINTIFF:
Ex.A1: Attested copy of Pahani for the year 198990(4 sheets) issued by Deputy Tahasildar. Ex.A2: Attested copy of Pahani for the year 199495 (7 sheets) issued by Deputy Tahasildar. Ex.A3: Attested copy of Pahani for the year 19992000 (6 sheets) issued by Deputy Tahasildar Ex.A4: Pahani for the year 200708 (4 sheets) issued by Deputy Tahasildar Ex.A5: Certified copy of pahani for the year 197879 (4 sheets) Ex.A6: Certified copy of Chesala Pahani for the year 195455(5 sheets). Ex.A7: Certified copy of Sesala pahani for the year 195658 (7 sheets) Ex.A8: Certified copy of Pahani for the year 196061 (5 sheets). Ex.A9: Memo issued by Tahasildar Mominpet, dt: 1.11.2014.
FOR DEFENDANTS:
Ex.B1: Original pattadar passbook of defendant No.1. Ex.B2: Registered will deed dated 19.8.1983. Ex.B3: Certified copy of Pahani for the year 198586. Ex.B4: Certified copy of Pahani for the year 199091. Ex.B5: Certified copy of Pahani for the year 199495. Ex.B6: Certified copy of Pahani for the year 200304.
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Ex.B7: Certified copy of Pahani for the year 200506. Ex.B8: Certified copy of 1B Pahani dated 12.12.2017. Ex.B9: Certified copy of Pahani for the year 1427 Fasli (4 in number).
I ADDL.JUNIOR CIVIL JUDGE
VIKARABAD.
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Mode of Proof of Wills: “The revocation of the will (unprivileged will) is an act only a little less solemn than the making of the will itself and has to comply with statutory requirements contained in section 70 of the Succession Act”
The revocation of the will can be made only by one or other of the modes specified in Section 70. There cannot be a revocation by necessary implication. A will can only be revoked by a document executed in the same manner as a will or by tearing or by destroying the will. Merely because the will is not forthcoming, presumption cannot be drawn that the testator would have destroyed the will.
Revocation of Joint wills: The general principle of law is that a joint will is revocable at any time by eight of the testators duing their joint life or after the death of theof one of them by survivor.