{"id":120536,"date":"2010-10-08T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2010-10-07T18:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/d-r-rathna-murthy-vs-ramappa-on-8-october-2010"},"modified":"2015-04-25T04:48:17","modified_gmt":"2015-04-24T23:18:17","slug":"d-r-rathna-murthy-vs-ramappa-on-8-october-2010","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/d-r-rathna-murthy-vs-ramappa-on-8-october-2010","title":{"rendered":"D.R. Rathna Murthy vs Ramappa on 8 October, 2010"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"docsource_main\">Supreme Court of India<\/div>\n<div class=\"doc_title\">D.R. Rathna Murthy vs Ramappa on 8 October, 2010<\/div>\n<div class=\"doc_author\">Author: . B Chauhan<\/div>\n<div class=\"doc_bench\">Bench: P. Sathasivam, B.S. Chauhan<\/div>\n<pre>                                                                       REPORTABLE\n\n\n        IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA\n\n          CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION\n\n\n          CIVIL APPEAL NO. 6396 OF 2002\n\n\n\n\nD.R. Rathna Murthy                                               ...\n\nAppellant\n\n\n\n\n\n                                  Versus\n\n\n\n\n\nRamappa                                                     ...Respondent \n\n\n\n\n                           J U D G M E N T\n<\/pre>\n<p>Dr. B.S. CHAUHAN, J.\n<\/p>\n<p>1.    This appeal has been filed against the judgment and order dated <\/p>\n<p>      2nd  April,   2002   passed   by   the   High   Court   of   Karnataka   at <\/p>\n<p>      Bangalore in R.S.A No. 446 of 1996, reversing the judgment of <\/p>\n<p>      the   First   Appellate   Court   dated   10.3.1999,   passed   in   RFA <\/p>\n<p>      No.133 of 1995; and restoring the judgment and decree of the <\/p>\n<p>      trial court dated 15.11.1995 in O.S. No. 122 of 1992. The trial <\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                                             1<\/span><\/p>\n<p>      court   had   dismissed   the   suit   of   the   plaintiff\/appellant <\/p>\n<p>      (hereinafter called the appellant) for specific performance.\n<\/p>\n<p>2.    Facts and circumstances  giving rise to this appeal are that the <\/p>\n<p>      appellant,   D.R.   Rathna   Murthy,   had   purchased   the   land   in <\/p>\n<p>      question vide registered sale deed dated 23rd  April, 1986 from <\/p>\n<p>      one   A.M.   Venkatachalapathy   Setty   for   a   consideration   of   Rs.\n<\/p>\n<p>      10,000\/-.  On the very next day, the appellant sold the said land <\/p>\n<p>      vide   registered   sale   deed   dated   24th  April,   1986,   to   the <\/p>\n<p>      defendant\/respondent   (hereinafter   called   the   respondent)   for <\/p>\n<p>      consideration of Rs.10,000\/- only and delivered the possession <\/p>\n<p>      to   him.       In   pursuance   of   the   said   sale   deed   dated   24th  April, <\/p>\n<p>      1986,   the   respondent   is   in   possession   of   the   suit   land.     The <\/p>\n<p>      appellant   subsequently   served   a   legal   notice   upon   the <\/p>\n<p>      respondent in the year 1991-1992 demanding the reconveyance <\/p>\n<p>      of   the   suit   property   on   the   ground   that   registered   sale   deed <\/p>\n<p>      executed in favour of respondent dated 24th  April, 1986 was a <\/p>\n<p>      conditional sale deed and appellant had a right to repurchase the <\/p>\n<p>      sale   land   for   the   same   consideration   of   Rs.10,000\/-   within   a <\/p>\n<p>      period of ten years from the date of execution of the sale deed.\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                                                       2<\/span><\/p>\n<p>3.     The   respondent   did   not   make   any   response   to   the   said   legal <\/p>\n<p>       notice, thus, the appellant filed Original Suit No. 122 of 1992 <\/p>\n<p>       before   the   court   of   Munsiff   and   JMFC   Court,   Mulbagal, <\/p>\n<p>       seeking  the relief of specific performance.    The said  Suit was <\/p>\n<p>       contested   by   the   respondent   contending   that   there   was   an <\/p>\n<p>       absolute sale deed in his favour and it was not a conditional sale <\/p>\n<p>       deed, the term of reconveyance had been fraudulently inserted <\/p>\n<p>       by   the   appellant   after   the   execution   of   the   document.\n<\/p>\n<p>       Manipulation  had  been  done at  several  places  in  the said   sale <\/p>\n<p>       deed after the execution and the appellant had put in the word <\/p>\n<p>       &#8220;Avadhi&#8221;,   which     means   tenure,   just   to   make   the   same   a <\/p>\n<p>       conditional   sale   deed.     The   trial   court   considered   the   case   of <\/p>\n<p>       both   the   parties   and   dismissed   the   Suit   vide   judgment   and <\/p>\n<p>       decree dated 15th November, 1995.\n<\/p>\n<p>4.     Feeling aggrieved, the appellant approached the First Appellate <\/p>\n<p>Court by filing RFA No.133\/1995, and the appeal was allowed vide <\/p>\n<p>judgment   and   decree   dated   10th  March,   1999.   The   First   Appellate <\/p>\n<p>Court held  that it was a conditional sale deed, thus, the Court directed <\/p>\n<p>the respondent to execute the sale deed in favour of the appellant. The <\/p>\n<p>respondent approached the High Court by filing the Regular Second <\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                                                    3<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Appeal   i.e.   R.S.A.   No.   446   of   1999   under   Section   100   of   Code   of <\/p>\n<p>Civil Procedure, 1908 (hereinafter referred to as `C.P.C.&#8217;) and the said <\/p>\n<p>appeal has been allowed by the High Court vide judgment and order <\/p>\n<p>dated 2nd April, 2002.  Hence, this appeal.\n<\/p>\n<p>5.     Shri   Naveen   R.   Nath,   learned   counsel   appearing   for   the <\/p>\n<p>appellant   has   submitted   that   the   sale   executed   by   the   appellant   in <\/p>\n<p>favour of the respondent was a conditional sale deed and thus, he had <\/p>\n<p>a right  to repurchase  the land any time within  a period  of ten years <\/p>\n<p>from   the   date   of   the   execution   of   the   sale   deed.   The   appellant <\/p>\n<p>exercised   his   option   within   the   period   prescribed   in   the   conditional <\/p>\n<p>sale deed. The trial court has erred in dismissing the suit, however, the <\/p>\n<p>First Appellate Court after proper appreciation of the entire evidence <\/p>\n<p>on record came to the conclusion   that it was a conditional sale deed <\/p>\n<p>and  not a  case   of  absolute  sale.     The  High Court  ought not to  have <\/p>\n<p>reversed the said findings of fact as it is not permissible to appreciate <\/p>\n<p>the evidence in second appeal, and no substantial question of law was <\/p>\n<p>involved   in   the   appeal.   The   High   Court   recorded   a   totally   perverse <\/p>\n<p>finding that it was a case of absolute sale.  Hence, the appeal deserves <\/p>\n<p>to be allowed.\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                                                   4<\/span><\/p>\n<p>6.      On the contrary, Shri Girish Anantha Murthy, learned counsel <\/p>\n<p>appearing   for   the   respondent,   has   vehemently   opposed   the   appeal <\/p>\n<p>contending that the sale deed in favour of respondent was an absolute <\/p>\n<p>sale deed and it is not a conditional sale deed. The word &#8220;Avadhi&#8221; was <\/p>\n<p>inserted   in   the   margin   of   said   deed   at   three   places   and   a   term   of <\/p>\n<p>reconveyance   within   a   period   of   ten   years   was   added   in   the   same <\/p>\n<p>after its execution and prior to registration.  Such an insertion of said <\/p>\n<p>word   &#8220;Avadhi&#8221;   at   three   places   and   the   addition   of   the   last   clause <\/p>\n<p>providing for reconveyance  was without  the consent and knowledge <\/p>\n<p>of the respondent; therefore, he cannot be bound by the said terms. In <\/p>\n<p>case of contradictions between the oral evidence of the witnesses of <\/p>\n<p>both   the   sides,   the   First   Appellate   Court   should   not   have   re-\n<\/p>\n<p>appreciated the entire evidence and thus, there was no occasion for the <\/p>\n<p>First Appellate Court to reverse the findings of fact recorded by the <\/p>\n<p>trial   court.     The   judgment   and   order   of   the   High   Court   does   not <\/p>\n<p>require   any   interference,   the   appeal   lacks   merit   and,   accordingly,   is <\/p>\n<p>liable to be dismissed.\n<\/p>\n<p>7.      We   have   considered   the   rival   submissions   made   by   learned <\/p>\n<p>counsel for the parties and perused the record.\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                                                       5<\/span><\/p>\n<p>        Undoubtedly, the High Court can interfere with the findings of <\/p>\n<p>fact even in the Second Appeal, provided the findings recorded by the <\/p>\n<p>courts   below   are   found   to   be   perverse   i.e.   not   being   based   on   the <\/p>\n<p>evidence or contrary to the evidence on record or reasoning is based <\/p>\n<p>on  surmises  and  misreading   of  the evidence  on  record  or where  the <\/p>\n<p>core   issue   is   not   decided.     There   is   no   absolute   bar   on   the   re-\n<\/p>\n<p>appreciation of evidence in those proceedings, however, such a course <\/p>\n<p>is   permissible   in   exceptional   circumstances.     <a href=\"\/doc\/849012\/\">(Vide  Rajappa <\/p>\n<p>Hanamantha Ranoji v. Mahadev Channabasappa &amp; Ors., AIR SC<\/a> <\/p>\n<p>2000   2108;  <a href=\"\/doc\/1269538\/\">Hafazat   Hussain   v.   Abdul   Majeed   &amp;   Ors.,<\/a>  (2001)   7 <\/p>\n<p>SCC 189;  and <a href=\"\/doc\/1513913\/\">Bharatha Matha &amp; Anr. v. R. Vijaya  Renganathan <\/p>\n<p>&amp; Ors., JT<\/a> 2010 (5) SC 534)<\/p>\n<p>8.      The sale deed dated 24th  April, 1986, is a registered document.\n<\/p>\n<p>The document is admitted by the other side.  Most of the contents are <\/p>\n<p>also   admitted.     However,   it   is   disputed   that   the   word   &#8220;Avadhi&#8221;   and <\/p>\n<p>last   clause   have   been   inserted   subsequent   to   execution   of   the <\/p>\n<p>document.  In such a fact-situation, the probative value of that part of <\/p>\n<p>the document is required to be assessed. It becomes a case as if the <\/p>\n<p>respondent   had   never   intended   to   have   conditional   sale   deed.     He <\/p>\n<p>never intended to enter into a contract to which certain part was not <\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                                                     6<\/span><\/p>\n<p>even known to him. The part of the contract as had been inserted after <\/p>\n<p>his signature i.e., after execution of the document cannot be binding <\/p>\n<p>upon him. If such averments are accepted, it becomes a clear cut case <\/p>\n<p>of   manipulation\/fraud   by   the   appellant.   (Vide  Dularia   Devi   v.\n<\/p>\n<p>Janardan Singh &amp; Ors.,  AIR 1990 SC 1173) <\/p>\n<p>9.     The appellant has examined himself and two other witnesses as <\/p>\n<p>PW.1 to PW.3.   The other persons had been the scribe and attesting <\/p>\n<p>witnesses   to   the   document.   Copies   of   the   said   sale   deed   were <\/p>\n<p>produced   and  marked   as   Ex.   P-1   to  P-4.     The   respondent   examined <\/p>\n<p>himself as DW-1. Two other witnesses including one attesting witness <\/p>\n<p>were also examined by him in defence.   The trial court framed four <\/p>\n<p>issues :\n<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>       1)     Whether plaintiff proves that under sale deed dated <\/p>\n<p>              24.4.86   he   has   got   right   to   purchase   the   suit <\/p>\n<p>              schedule property?\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>       2)     Whether plaintiff further proves that he is entitled <\/p>\n<p>              for   the   specific   relief   of   specific   performance   of <\/p>\n<p>              contract?\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>       3)     Whether   the   defendant   proves   that   suit   is   not <\/p>\n<p>              maintainable and not complied with the mandatory <\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                                                   7<\/span><\/p>\n<p>                provisions   required   under   Section   16(3)   of   the <\/p>\n<p>                Specific Relief Act?\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><\/blockquote>\n<p>        4)      To what relief the parties are entitled?<\/p>\n<p>10.     The trial court appreciated the evidence of the parties and their <\/p>\n<p>witnesses and came to the conclusion that the word &#8220;Avadhi&#8221; and the <\/p>\n<p>last   part   of   the   sale   deed   were   inserted   after   the   execution   of   the <\/p>\n<p>document making it a conditional sale deed from absolute sale deed.\n<\/p>\n<p>The   trial   court   while   reaching   this   conclusion   relied   upon   the <\/p>\n<p>deposition of Gopalakrishna (PW.2), the attesting witness of the sale <\/p>\n<p>deed, wherein he had admitted in cross-examination that there was no <\/p>\n<p>clause as to after how many years the suit land has to be repurchased <\/p>\n<p>and the word &#8220;Avadhi&#8221; was written in the margin after completion of <\/p>\n<p>the document.  The last part i.e. Ex. D-2 was added after the execution <\/p>\n<p>of the sale deed i.e. Ex. P-4, thus, it was evident that the appellant and <\/p>\n<p>his scribe inserted the word &#8220;Avadhi&#8221; in Ex.P-4 and also inserted the <\/p>\n<p>portion Ex.D-2 and it is so evident even to the naked eyes.  In view of <\/p>\n<p>the   aforesaid   findings,   the   suit   was   dismissed.     The   First   Appellate <\/p>\n<p>Court   had   unnecessarily   laboured   to   find   fault   with   the   trial   court&#8217;s <\/p>\n<p>judgment and without realising that there was contradiction in the oral <\/p>\n<p>testimony   of   two   marginal   witnesses,   re-appreciated   the   entire <\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                                                       8<\/span><\/p>\n<p>evidence   and   reached   the   contrary   conclusion.     The   High   Court <\/p>\n<p>realising   that   the   findings   of   facts   recorded   by   the   First   Appellate <\/p>\n<p>Court   were   perverse,   proceeded   with   appreciation   of   evidence   and <\/p>\n<p>came to the conclusion that the trial court was right in holding that the <\/p>\n<p>word &#8220;Avadhi&#8221; had been inserted at three places in the margin and last <\/p>\n<p>part of the sale deed Ex.D-2 in Ex.P-4 had been added subsequent to <\/p>\n<p>the execution of the sale deed.  The findings so recorded by the High <\/p>\n<p>Court are based on a proper appreciation of evidence and the statutory <\/p>\n<p>provisions   applicable   in   the   case.     Admittedly,   there   had   been <\/p>\n<p>interlineations in the sale deed.\n<\/p>\n<p>11.     Section 20 of the Registration Act, 1908 reads as under:\n<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>        &#8220;Documents   containing   interlineations,   blanks, <\/p>\n<p>        erasures or alterations.-\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>        (1)   The   registering   officer   may   in   his   discretion <\/p>\n<p>        refuse   to   accept   for   registration   any   document   in <\/p>\n<p>        which   any   interlineations,   blank,   erasure   or <\/p>\n<p>        alteration appears, unless the persons executing the <\/p>\n<p>        document   attest   with   their   signatures   or   initials <\/p>\n<p>        such interlineations, blank, erasure or alteration.<\/p>\n<p>        (2)     If   the   registering   officer   registers   any   such <\/p>\n<p>        document,   he   shall,   at   the   time   of   registering   the <\/p>\n<p>        same,   make   a   note   in   the   register   of   such <\/p>\n<p>        interlineations, blank, erasure or alteration.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                                                    9<\/span><\/p>\n<p>       It appears that vide Karnataka Act No. 41 of 1984, Clause 2 of <\/p>\n<p>Section   20   has   been   deleted,   w.e.f.   7th  November,   1986,   however, <\/p>\n<p>corresponding   provisions   in   Karnataka   Registration   Rules,   1965 <\/p>\n<p>(hereinafter called the Rules), providing for similar requirement have <\/p>\n<p>not been amended.  Rule 41 of the said Rules provided examination of <\/p>\n<p>a document by the Registering Officer and made an obligation on his <\/p>\n<p>part that if there are unattested interlineations,  alterations, erasures or <\/p>\n<p>blanks, which the Registering Officer considers should be attested, by <\/p>\n<p>the signatures of the executant, he shall not alter the document himself <\/p>\n<p>in any way.\n<\/p>\n<p>12.    Rule 42 of Rules reads as under:\n<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>       &#8220;Manner   of   noting   interlineations,   etc.-   Each <\/p>\n<p>       important   interlineations,   erasure   or   alteration <\/p>\n<p>       occurring in a document shall, whenever possible, <\/p>\n<p>       be   caused   to   be   noted   or  described   at   the  foot   of <\/p>\n<p>       the   document   and   to   be   signed   by   the   executant <\/p>\n<p>       before the document is accepted for registration&#8230;.<\/p>\n<p>       &#8220;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>       Therefore,   Rule   42   mandatorily   requires   that   if   there   is   any <\/p>\n<p>interlineation,   erasure,   alteration   etc.,   it   must   be   mentioned   and <\/p>\n<p>described at the foot of the document and must be duly signed by the <\/p>\n<p>executant before the document is accepted for registration.\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                                                 1<\/span><\/p>\n<p>13.     In the instant case, we have, ourselves examined certified copy <\/p>\n<p>of the said sale deed, and found that the provisions of Rule 42 have <\/p>\n<p>not been complied with.  Nothing has been endorsed at the foot of the <\/p>\n<p>sale   deed,   nor   it   bears   signatures   of   the   executant.     The   word <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Avadhi&#8221; has been inserted at three places in the margin of the sale <\/p>\n<p>deed.   It has not be attested by the executant.   The part Ex. D-2 had <\/p>\n<p>been inserted in Ex.P-4 in an unusual manner.   The entire sale deed <\/p>\n<p>has   been   scribed   in   double   space   while  the   part   Ex.D-2   is   in   single <\/p>\n<p>space. It was necessary to do so as the parties had already signed the <\/p>\n<p>document. Had it been written in ordinary course, it could have gone <\/p>\n<p>below the signatures of the parties in the sale deed.   Therefore, it is <\/p>\n<p>crystal clear that such insertion had been made to convert the absolute <\/p>\n<p>sale deed into a conditional sale deed.  Thus,  we are of the view that <\/p>\n<p>the trial court and the High Court have rightly  believed the testimony <\/p>\n<p>of   the   respondent   that   there   was   no   mention   of   Ex.D-1   and   D-2   in <\/p>\n<p>Ex.P-4 and the appellant was not entitled for reconveyance of the suit <\/p>\n<p>property. The manner in which interlineations have been made in the <\/p>\n<p>document   itself   reveal   that   addition   was   made   subsequent   to   the <\/p>\n<p>execution of the document otherwise there was enough space to insert <\/p>\n<p>such a clause in the same manner in which the   entire sale had been <\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                                                      1<\/span><\/p>\n<p>scribed.     This  particular  clause  had  to be  squeezed   in a  small   space <\/p>\n<p>and   to   adjust   the   same   before   the   signature   already   made   by   the <\/p>\n<p>appellant.   The   First   Appellate   Court   committed   grave   error   in   not <\/p>\n<p>properly appreciating the evidence of D.R. Rathna Murthy (PW.1) and <\/p>\n<p>Gopalakrishna   (PW.2)   in  this   regard,   though   the  Court   took  note   of <\/p>\n<p>the  admission made by Gopalakrishna (PW.2), the attestator, that no <\/p>\n<p>time was fixed for reconveyance, thus, the term &#8220;Avadhi&#8221; was written <\/p>\n<p>in `margin&#8217; and also Ex.D-2 was written after Ex.P-4 has completely <\/p>\n<p>been written.\n<\/p>\n<p>14.    D.R. Rathna Murthy (PW.1) had also admitted that he sold the <\/p>\n<p>land to the respondent as he was in dire need of money to pay to his <\/p>\n<p>Vendee. He had himself purchased the property only one day before <\/p>\n<p>i.e. on 23rd April, 1986. We fail to understand if the appellant was not <\/p>\n<p>having money, why did he purchase the property from his vendor on <\/p>\n<p>23rd April, 1986 and in order to pay him the sale consideration sold it <\/p>\n<p>to the respondent on the very next day i.e. on 24th April, 1986 for the <\/p>\n<p>same   amount.     There   is   nothing   on   record   to   show   as   under   what <\/p>\n<p>circumstances   the   sale   deed   had   been   executed   in   favour   of   the <\/p>\n<p>appellant  by his vendor without receiving the sale consideration  and <\/p>\n<p>how could he be put in possession.\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                                                 1<\/span><\/p>\n<p>15.    The First Appellate Court failed to appreciate that there was no <\/p>\n<p>shara  (noting)   in   respect   of   interlineations   in   the   sale   deed.     The <\/p>\n<p>respondent had deposed as under:\n<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>       &#8220;At   that   time  there   was   no   mention   in   respect   of <\/p>\n<p>       conditional   sale   deed.     In   front   of   sub   registrar <\/p>\n<p>       nothing   was   spoken   about   the   conditional   sale <\/p>\n<p>       deed.     At   the   time   of   purchase   the   suit   land   was <\/p>\n<p>       fallen land.   After purchase I formed the land and <\/p>\n<p>       improved its fertility.  I spent about 10 to 15,000\/- <\/p>\n<p>       for the improvement of the land.   I grow ragi and <\/p>\n<p>       ground nut crops.  I dig one Well in the suit land.  I <\/p>\n<p>       spent Rs.20,000\/- to dug the Well.   Prior to filling <\/p>\n<p>       of   this   suit   plaintiff   did   not   approach   me   with   a <\/p>\n<p>       request   to   execute   sale   deed   in   his   favour.     No <\/p>\n<p>       panchayat   was   held   in   respect   of   the   suit   lands. <\/p>\n<p>       Neither   witnesses   nor   scribe   intimated   me   about <\/p>\n<p>       the Avadhi transaction in respect of suit lands.  At <\/p>\n<p>       the time of change of revenue records the plaintiff <\/p>\n<p>       did not file any objections contending that the sale <\/p>\n<p>       is   conditional   one.       I   came   to   know   about   the <\/p>\n<p>       Avadhi  only  after   filing  of  this  suit.    I  sent   reply <\/p>\n<p>       notice to the plaintiff&#8217;s legal notice.  After sale the <\/p>\n<p>       plaintiff   is   not   related   to   suit   land.     I   have   not <\/p>\n<p>       agreed for re sale of suit land&#8221;.   <\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>       Had it been a case of conditional sale, the appellant could have <\/p>\n<p>asked the respondent to wait for mutation or raise the objection before <\/p>\n<p>the Revenue Authorities in spite of the fact that mutation is a revenue <\/p>\n<p>entry and does not refer to the title of the land.  Had it been the case of <\/p>\n<p>conditional sale deed enabling the appellant to repurchase the land any <\/p>\n<p>time   within   ten   years,   the   respondent   could   not   have   spent   huge <\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                                                   1<\/span><\/p>\n<p>amount of his life savings for improving the land, nor would he have <\/p>\n<p>dug a Well in the suit land spending twenty thousand of rupees.  The <\/p>\n<p>aforesaid   circumstances   make  it   clear   that   the  respondent   had   never <\/p>\n<p>agreed for reconveyance.\n<\/p>\n<p>15.    The   interlineations   had   been   made   at   four   places   in   the   sale <\/p>\n<p>deed.   Word   &#8220;Avadhi&#8221;   had   been   mentioned   at   three   places   in   the <\/p>\n<p>margin of the sale deed.  The appellant did not attest the said word by <\/p>\n<p>putting   his   signatures   at   the   time   of   registration.   Attestation <\/p>\n<p>testifies\/certifies   the  genuineness  of  the  document.    Attestation     and <\/p>\n<p>execution   are   different   acts,   one   following   the   other.   Execution <\/p>\n<p>includes delivery and signing of the document in the presence of the <\/p>\n<p>witnesses   and also  the  whole  series  of  acts  or formalities  which  are <\/p>\n<p>necessary   to   render   the   document  valid.     Attestation   of  sale   deed   is <\/p>\n<p>imperative. In the instant case, we find that the animus to attestation <\/p>\n<p>remain totally absent.  It is settled legal proposition that the document <\/p>\n<p>may be admissible but probative value of the entries contained therein <\/p>\n<p>may still be required to be examined in the fact and circumstances of a <\/p>\n<p>particular case.  <a href=\"\/doc\/275235\/\">(Vide State of Bihar &amp; Ors. v. Sri Radha Krishna <\/p>\n<p>Singh &amp; Ors.,   AIR<\/a> 1983 SC 1984;   and  Bharatha Matha &amp; Anr.\n<\/p>\n<p>(Supra).\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                                                   1<\/span><\/p>\n<p>16.     The   case   is  required   to  be  examined  from another  angle  also.\n<\/p>\n<p>The   appellant   had   purchased   the   land   for   a   consideration   of <\/p>\n<p>Rs.10,000\/-.   On   23rd  April,   1986,   he   sold   the   land   on   the   very   next <\/p>\n<p>date for a sum of Rs.10,000\/- reserving his right to purchase the land <\/p>\n<p>for   the   same   consideration   within   a   period   of   ten   years.     In   normal <\/p>\n<p>circumstances,  the vendor would not agree for reconveyance  for the <\/p>\n<p>same consideration for the reason that the value of the land generally <\/p>\n<p>goes upwards and within a period of ten years it could have at least <\/p>\n<p>become double. (See Sardar Jogender Singh v. State of U.P., (2008) <\/p>\n<p>17 SCC 133; and  <a href=\"\/doc\/1377036\/\">Satish &amp; Ors. v. State of U.P. &amp; Ors.,<\/a> (2009) 14 <\/p>\n<p>SCC 758).\n<\/p>\n<p>17.     The aforesaid  circumstances  make it abundantly clear  that the <\/p>\n<p>appellant has made inter-lineations after the document stood executed.\n<\/p>\n<p>The said additions were made without the consent and knowledge of <\/p>\n<p>the respondent. In fact the mind of the respondent did not actuate with <\/p>\n<p>his hand while putting his thumb impression on the said sale deed at <\/p>\n<p>the time of registration. Thus, the additions so made by the appellant <\/p>\n<p>cannot   be   binding   on   the   respondent.   The   additions   in   question   are <\/p>\n<p>surrounded   by   the   suspicious   circumstances   of   a   grave   nature   and, <\/p>\n<p>therefore,   the   same   are   required   to   be   ignored.   The   contract   being <\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                                                      1<\/span><\/p>\n<p>severable,   the   terms   of   contract   included   by   these   additions   being <\/p>\n<p>void, cannot be taken note of.\n<\/p>\n<p>           In view of the above, we find no force in the appeal and it lacks <\/p>\n<p>merit   and,   is   accordingly,   dismissed.     There   shall   be   no   order   as   to <\/p>\n<p>costs.\n<\/p>\n<p>                                                          &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;.J.\n<\/p>\n<p>                                                          (P. SATHASIVAM)<\/p>\n<p>                                                          &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;J.\n<\/p>\n<p>                                                          (Dr. B.S. CHAUHAN)<\/p>\n<p>New Delhi,<\/p>\n<p>October 8, 2010<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">                                                                                       1<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Supreme Court of India D.R. Rathna Murthy vs Ramappa on 8 October, 2010 Author: . B Chauhan Bench: P. Sathasivam, B.S. Chauhan REPORTABLE IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CIVIL APPEAL NO. 6396 OF 2002 D.R. Rathna Murthy &#8230; Appellant Versus Ramappa &#8230;Respondent J U D G M E N T Dr. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-120536","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-supreme-court-of-india"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>D.R. 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