SOHAN LAL Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This appeal arises from the judgment of the Delhi High Court dated 7-11--1974 in Regular First.Appeals Nos. 156-D and 167-D of 1963. The appellant, Sohan Lal, is the second defendant in the. civil suit instituted in the Court of the Senior Sub-Judge, Delhi by the second respondent herein, Jagan Nath Bhayana. The first respondent in this appeal, the Union of India, is the first defendant in the suit.

(2.) The main relief sought by the plaintiff in the suit was for possession of House No. 35, Block No. 21, Box-type tenement in West Patel Nagar, New Delhi, or in the alternative for specific performance of sale of the aforesaid house, or for damages in the sum of Rs. 13,000/ - together with costs. The suit was dismissed by the learned Sub-Judge against the second defendant, Sohan Lal, the appellant herein. But it was decreed against the first defendant - the Union of India - the first respondent herein, to the extent of awarding damages in the sum of Rs. 13,069.31 with proportionate costs. That was the only relief which was granted by the learned Sub-Judge. Both the Union of India and Jagan Nath Bhayana filed Regular First Appeals Nos. 156-D and, 167-D of 1963 respectively in the High Court. The High Court by the impugned judgment dismissed the Regular First Appeal No. 156-D of 1963 preferred by the Union of India, but allowed the Regular First Appeal No. 167-D of 1963, filed by the plaintiff. The High Court observed:

(3.) The case of the plaintiff is that he had entered into a contract with the Union of India in terms of which the Union of India had undertaken to allot to him the house in question and execute the necessary documents of title in his favour. Although the Union of India made an order allotting the house and the plaintiff was put in possession of it, the allotment was subsequently cancelled and the plaintiff was dispossessed of the house. In his place, the appellant-Sohan Lal the second defendant, was put into possession of the house by allotting the same to him and executing the necessary documents of title in his favour.