High Court Punjab-Haryana High Court

Chandan Singh vs Sumitra Devi on 11 August, 2009

Punjab-Haryana High Court
Chandan Singh vs Sumitra Devi on 11 August, 2009
CR No. 2526 of 2006                                                             1

IN THE PUNJAB AND HARYANA HIGH COURT AT
              CHANDIGARH

                                CR No. 2526 of 2006 (O&M)
                                Date of Decision : 11.8.2009

Chandan Singh
                                                             .......... Petitioner
                                Versus

Sumitra Devi
                                                             ...... Respondent

CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VINOD K. SHARMA

Present :    Mr. S.R. Hooda, Advocate
             for the petitioner.

                   ****

VINOD K. SHARMA, J. (ORAL)

This revision petition under Article 227 of the Constitution of

India is directed against the order dated 7.4.2006, passed by the learned

Addl. District Judge, Sonepat, allowing an application moved by the

respondent / plaintiff under Order 39 Rules 1 & 2 of the Code of Civil

Procedure.

The plaintiff / respondent filed a suit by claiming that the suit

property was coparcenary property in the hands of the petitioner, and that

she being widow of the son of defendant had interest in it. The plaintiff

claimed 1/8th share in the suit property. It was further pleaded, that the

petitioner herein was manager/Karta of the family, therefore, had no right to

alienate the coparcenary / joint Hindu property without legal necessity.

The suit was contested, wherein it was pleaded that the

petitioner was absolute owner of the suit property, and further that he was
CR No. 2526 of 2006 2

manager/Karta of the joint Hindu family property. The petitioner further

asserted his right of alienation by placing reliance on the judgment of this

Court in the case of Raghunath Dass Vs. Ranbir Kumar and Ors. 1992(1)

Revenue Law Reporter 147 and Sunil Kumar & Ors. Vs. Ram Prakash &

Ors. 1989 (2) All India Land Laws Report 584.

The learned trial Court held, that the plaintiff had no prima

facie case, and dismissed the application for temporary injunction.

In appeal, the learned Addl. District Judge reversed the finding

by holding that the widow becomes absolute owner of the suit property

which comes to her share being the last female holder of the family

property. It was further held that the petitioner was not entitled to sell her

share of land even if he was held to be the manager of the property.

The findings recorded by the learned lower appellate Court are

not sustainable in law. The daughter in law cannot claim to be coparcener in

ancestral property, so as to seek injunction against sale by the Karta of the

family. Even a coparcener is not entitled to seek injunction against Karta, as

his remedy is to challenge alienation, after the sale. Therefore, even if for

the sake of arguments, she is taken to be coparcener still she has no right to

seek injunction against sale.

The revision is allowed, the order passed by the learned lower

appellate Court is set aside, and that of the learned trial Court is restored but

with no order as to costs.

11.8.2009                                         ( VINOD K. SHARMA )
  'sp'                                                 JUDGE