LAWS(KER)-2018-5-322

P.N. VISWAMBARAN Vs. T.P. SANU

Decided On May 24, 2018
P.N. Viswambaran Appellant
V/S
T.P. Sanu Respondents

JUDGEMENT

(1.) What is the effect of a certificate of purchase issued to one of the co-sharers of a land under Sec. 72K (1) of the Kerala Land Reforms Act, 1963 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Act') on other co-sharers Does the provision contained in Sec. 72K (2) of the Act prevent the other co-sharers from claiming right, title and possession over the land in respect of which the certificate of purchase is issued under Sec. 72K (1) of the Act Does the provision contained in Sec. 72K(2) of the Act exclude the operation of Sec. 90 of the Indian Trusts Act, 1882 These are the questions which essentially fall for consideration and determination by this Full Bench.

(2.) This appeal has come up for hearing before the Full Bench on a reference made by a Division Bench of this Court by order dated 30.03.2017 to resolve the conflict between the decisions of this Court in Paul Vs. State of Kerala and Another, (1981) KerLT 721 and Ramakke and Others Vs. Gopi and Others,2011 3 KHC 491.

(3.) The appeal arises out of the suit O.S.No.1901 of 2004 on the file of the Munsiff's Court, Ernakulam. The suit is for partition. The appellant is the plaintiff in the suit. He contended that he is a co-owner of the plaint schedule property and he claimed one-fifth share in the property. His plea in the suit is that Raman, his predecessor-ininterest, had leasehold right over the plaint schedule property and being the son of Karthiyayini, one of the daughters of Raman, he has acquired right over the property. The claim of the appellant/plaintiff is resisted by the contesting defendants by raising the contention that the property exclusively belonged to their predecessor-in-interest Prabhakaran, one of the sons of Raman. They contended that Prabhakaran had purchased the jenm right of the property in his name through the Land Tribunal concerned. According to the plaintiff, the purchase certificate obtained in the name of Prabhakaran enures to the benefit of all the co-owners including him.