NEELAKANTA PILLAI BHARGAVA PANICKER Vs. MADHAVAKURUP DASAPPAN PILLAI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The question involved in this revision is whether the plaintiffs in a suit could be granted permission to withdraw the suit with liberty to institute another suit on the basis of a cause of action different from the one involved in the suit.

(2.) The revision petitioners filed OS No. 16 of 1992, on the file of the Court of the Munsiff of Haripad against respondents for permanent prohibitory injunction, for fixation of boundary and for mandatory injunction. The plaintiffs claimed title to an extent of one cent 650 Sq. links of land (plaint A schedule property). They purchased it from a larger area having an extent of 22 cents. The plaintiffs have constructed a building in the property purchased by them and are doing business there. Plaint B schedule item Nos. 1 and 2 admittedly belonged to the first defendant. The first defendant had also purchased B schedule item Nos. 1 and 2 from out of the total extent of 22 cents. The plaintiffs alleged that under the pretext of making certain constructions, the defendants removed the boundary stones demarcating plaint A and B schedule properties and in that process encroached upon a small portion of plaint A schedule property. The defendants denied the allegations made in the plaint. On the other hand, the defendants contended that the plaintiffs have encroached upon their property and on that allegation, they filed OS No. 57 of 1993 for recovery of possession of the encroached portion.

(3.) The Trial Court partly decreed OS No. 16 of 1992 in favour of the revision petitioners/plaintiffs. The prayer for mandatory injunction was granted and the other reliefs prayed for were rejected. Challenging the judgment and decree of the Trial Court, the revision petitioners filed AS No. 86 of 1995. The Appellate Court confirmed the findings of the Trial Court. However, The Appellate Court found that it is necessary to determine the right and title in respect of the 560 Sq. links. Accepting the submissions made by the revision petitioners/appellants, the case was remanded to the Trial Court, enabling the revision petitioners herein to seek the necessary relief for declaration of title and recovery of possession in respect of the small extent of land mentioned above. After remand, the revision petitioners amended the plaint and incorporated the prayer for declaration of title and recovery of possession. As against the decree in OS No. 57 of 1993, the plaintiffs therein had filed an appeal before the District Court, Mavelikkara, which was allowed and the suit was remanded to the Trial Court for fresh disposal along with OS No. 16 of 1992.