MUKHTIAR SINGH Vs. TARA SINGH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) HARBANS Singh and Mukhtiar Singh filed suit for permanent injunction against Tara Singh had others restraining the latter from making any sort of construction over joint property bearing Khewat Khatauni No. 247/293 Khasra No. 250 shown in red in the plan attached to the plaint situated in village Buzurg, Tehsil Jagraon as per jamabandi for the year 1990-91 without getting it partitioned. It was alleged in the plaint that they are co-sharers in the suit property bearing khasra No. 250 measuring No. 14 Marlas ibid. Tara Singh and others defendants No. 1 to 4 are co-sharers in the suit property and are in possession as co-sharers. So far the suit property has not been partitioned and the defendants are taking steps to raise construction on the suit property without getting it partitioned.

(2.) DEFENDANTS contested the suit of the plaintiff. It was that Mukhtiar Singh plaintiff No. 2 had adjoining his property abutting the suit property on the northern side. He sold that property along with share in the suit property to the sons of Sodagar Singh a few years ago. After purchase the sons of Sodagar Singh merged the share of Mukhtiar Singh in the suit property by raising a boundary wall. In this manner, Sodagar Singh's sons are in possession of the share of suit property. Harbans Singh plaintiff No. 1 exchanged his share in the suit property with the defendants. It was an oral exchange followed by delivery of possession about 15 years ago. In that exchange, Harbans Singh delivered his share in the suit property into the possession of the defendants. Defendants in turn gave their share in khasra No. 14R/26 to the plaintiff. Harbans Singh too had thus no share in the suit property and the defendants have become owners in possession of his share in the suit property. Defendants have been in possession of the suit property not as co-sharer but in their own right for the last about 50 years. The other property of the defendants abuts the suit property on western and southern sides. There are spouts of the houses of the defendants through which the water of the houses of the defendants finds outlet through the suit property. Suit property is enclosed by walls. Defendants tether their cattle and also keep their fodder. They are in adverse possession. Their possession is uninterrupted, hostile, open and continuous for the last more than 12 years. Plaintiffs are no longer co-sharers.

(3.) NOT satisfied with the judgment and decree dated 19.2.1997 of Civil Judge, Junior Division, Jagraon, defendants went in appeal, which was allowed by Additional District Judge, Ludhiana vide order dated 4.5.1999. It was found that property was joint but the defendants were in exclusive possession and as they were in exclusive possession, they had a right to use the property. They had right to raise construction on the property to the extent to which their share extends. Construction raised by them will, however, be subject to adjustment at partition and the construction raised by them will be liable to be removed at their expense in case that portion of the property falls to the share of some other co-sharers. Defendants being co-sharers were allowed to raise construction on the property in their exclusive possession to the extent of their share.