L. Atchamma vs Vasavi Cooperative Housing Society on 6 May, 2026

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    Andhra Pradesh High Court – Amravati

    L. Atchamma vs Vasavi Cooperative Housing Society on 6 May, 2026

    APHC010076961994
                       IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH
                                     AT AMARAVATI               [3397]
                              (Special Original Jurisdiction)
    
                       WEDNESDAY,THE SIXTH DAY OF MAY
                        TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX
    
                                    PRESENT
    
         THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE VENUTHURUMALLI GOPALA
                           KRISHNA RAO
    
                          APPEAL SUIT NO: 1585/1994
    
    Between:
    
    L. Atchamma                                          ...APPELLANT
    
                                      AND
    
    The A P State Transport Corpn and Others          ...RESPONDENT(S)
    
    Counsel for the Appellant:
    
      1. 1605/VL N G K MURTHY
    
      2. .
    
      3. K.V.S.S.PRABHAKARA RAO
    
    Counsel for the Respondent(S):
    
      1. M V SURESH
    
    The Court made the following:
                                                           Reserved on 21.04.2026
                                                         Pronounced on 06.05.2026
                                                          Uploaded on 06.05.2026
               HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE V. GOPALA KRISHNA RAO
    
                           APPEAL SUIT No.1585 of 1994
    JUDGMENT:

    This Appeal, under Section 96 of the Code of Civil Procedure [for short

    the C.P.C.’], is filed by the Appellant/Plaintiff challenging the Decree and

    SPONSORED

    Judgment, dated 12.09.1994, in O.S.No.117 of 1988 passed by the learned II

    Additional District Judge, Rajahmundry, East Godavari, [for short ‘the trial

    Court’].

    2. The appellant herein is the plaintiff, and the respondents herein are the

    defendants. During the pendency of the appeal, the sole appellant died, and

    appellant Nos.2 to 6 were added as legal representatives of the deceased

    sole appellant No.1.

    3. Originally, the appellant/plaintiff herein filed the suit in O.S.No.117 of

    1988 against the defendants, seeking to declare the plaintiff’s right, title, and

    interest to the extent of Ac.0.48 cents as per the plaint plan and schedule, and

    direct defendant No.1 or its representatives, employees, agents, to deliver to

    the plaintiff vacant possession of the plaint schedule property marked as ‘A, B,

    C, D’, and direct the defendant Nos. 2 and 3 to suitably revise or amend the

    layout submitted by the plaintiff to defendant No.2 by excluding the plaint

    schedule property from it and carry out necessary and suitable alterations;

    and to grant permanent injunction restraining the defendants, their

    representatives, agents, employees, etc., from carrying out any construction

    or interfering in any manner with the plaint schedule property, and to direct
    VGKR, J.

    AS_1585_1994

    defendant No.1 and whoever happens to be in occupation of the plaint

    schedule property to pay the future profits to be ascertained in an enquiry,

    together with costs.

    4. Both parties in the appeal will be referred to as they were arrayed

    before the trial Court.

    5. The case of the Appellant/Plaintiff as per the plaint averments in

    O.S.No.117 of 1988, in brief, is as follows:

    I. The plaint schedule land, to an extent of Ac.0.31 cents, is part of the

    total extent of Ac.8.12 cents purchased by the plaintiff under a

    registered sale deed dated 27.06.1956, and ever since the purchase,

    the entire extent has been bounded by a hedge, over which the hedge

    plants have been grown. The plaintiff pleaded that at the time of

    purchase, the land was got measured on the ground and found to be

    with the extent noted in the registered sale deed. The plaintiff further

    pleaded that she used to lease out her land, to an extent of Ac.8.12

    cents, which includes the plaint schedule extent, for raising tobacco

    seedlings every year, which has been done by the plaintiff from 1977 to

    1983, and that the plaintiff is in possession and enjoyment of the plaint

    schedule property till defendant No.1 occupied the said property in the

    year 1984. The plaintiff further pleaded that defendant No.1 purchased

    the adjoining land to the plaint schedule land to its south on 07.01.1981,

    after which the agents of defendant No.1, while carrying on the leveling

    operation in the own land of defendant No.1, demolished the boundary
    VGKR, J.

    AS_1585_1994

    hedge lying in the land of the plaintiff demarcating the plaint schedule

    land.

    II. The plaintiff further pleaded that the watchman engaged by the plaintiff

    in her land abstained from attending to work for about three (03) months

    and finally absconded without intimation to the plaintiff; as such, the

    plaintiff could not notice the encroachment into the plaint schedule land

    on the part of defendant No.1. The plaintiff further pleaded that till the

    said encroachment took place, the plaint schedule site, along with the

    remaining extent of land purchased in the year 1956, has been in the

    plaintiff’s possession and enjoyment uninterruptedly. The plaintiff further

    pleaded that in the month of March 1984, she discovered the

    encroachment of defendant No.1 and represented the same to the

    concerned authorities and tried in vain to persuade defendant No.1 to

    hand over the plaint schedule land to the plaintiff. The plaintiff further

    pleaded that defendant Nos.2 and 3 were misled by defendant No.1 in

    approving the layout plan submitted by defendant No.1 by showing the

    plaintiff’s land, to an extent of Ac.0.48 cents, as the own property of

    defendant No.1, and as such, the layout approved by defendant Nos.2

    and 3 in respect of the land of defendant No.1 requires suitable revision

    or amendment. Hence, the plaintiff filed the present suit seeking

    declaration of title over the plaint schedule property.

    6. The defendant No.1 filed the written statement and the case of the

    defendant No.1 as per the written statement is as follows:

    VGKR, J.

    AS_1585_1994

    I. The defendant No.1 purchased the land adjoining the plaintiff’s land,

    and the defendant No.1 purchased the land from late Koduri Rajarao

    Chowdari and his family members in the month of July 1981. The

    defendant No.1 further pleaded that there was no hedge between the

    land of the plaintiff and defendant No.1, and there used to be a ‘Kattava’

    in the land of defendant No.1 demarcating the land of the plaintiff and

    defendant No.1. The defendant No.1 further pleaded that while carrying

    on the leveling operations, defendant No.1 removed the trees and

    leveled the ground so as to make it fit for construction of houses, and

    after purchase of the land by defendant No.1 from late Koduri Rajarao

    Chowdari and his family members, the extent was measured, and all

    the neighboring landowners, including the plaintiff, were present at the

    time of measurement. The defendant No.1 pleaded that the boundaries

    of the land purchased by defendant No.1 were fixed, and all neighboring

    landowners, including the plaintiff, accepted the boundaries. The

    defendant No.1 pleaded that after purchase of the land, ‘Kattava’ was in

    the land of defendant No.1, and while carrying on the leveling

    operations, defendant No.1 leveled the land within the limits of the

    boundaries mentioned in the sale deeds and within the boundaries fixed

    at the time of the measurement.

    II. The defendant No.1 pleaded that the Society was formed to cater to the

    housing needs of the employees of APSRTC, and defendant No.1

    purchased a total extent of Ac.9.29 cents of land from late Koduri
    VGKR, J.

    AS_1585_1994

    Rajarao Chowdari and his family members in R.S.No.398 and 399 of

    Rajahmundry for the purpose of constructing houses for its members.

    The defendant No.1 further pleaded that he purchased an extent of

    Ac.7.67 cents in R.S.No.399, and the balance extent was purchased in

    R.S.No.398, and Sy.Nos.398 and 399 are contiguous plots. The

    defendant No.1 pleaded that the lands purchased by him and the lands

    in the adjacent survey numbers, including the plaintiff’s land, were

    earmarked in the master plan prepared by the Rajahmundry

    Municipality for constructing a sluice for storing and cleaning of sullage

    water, and immediately, defendant No.1 purchased the land and applied

    to the Director of Town Planning to exempt the land from the master

    plan. The defendant No.1 further pleaded that after hectic efforts,

    defendant No.1 could get the required exemption and was accorded

    permission to prepare a layout for construction of houses.

    III. The defendant No.1 further pleaded that as the entire land earmarked in

    the master plan for a sluice was exempted, all the neighboring

    landowners, including the plaintiff, were immensely benefited, and since

    defendant No.1 converted the land into house sites, the prices of the

    lands in the vicinity increased, and as such, the plaintiff wanted to

    convert her land into house sites. The defendant No.1 further pleaded

    that neither the plaintiff nor her predecessors in title ever had

    possession or enjoyment of the plaint schedule land or the ‘Kattava’

    separating the land of the plaintiff and defendant No.1. The defendant
    VGKR, J.

    AS_1585_1994

    No.1 and his predecessors in title, who have been in possession and

    enjoyment of the plaint schedule land, including the ‘Kattava’, for over

    the last 35 years in their own right, openly and publicly and to the

    knowledge and exclusion of one and all, including the plaintiff and her

    predecessor in title, and thus perfected title by adverse possession. The

    defendant No.1 further pleaded that the suit filed by the plaintiff is

    frivolous in nature and vexatious in character and requested dismissal

    of the suit with costs.

    7. Based on the above pleadings, the trial Court framed the following

    issues:

    1) Whether the plaintiff is entitled for the declaration in the plaint schedule

    as per the plan marked ABCD and direct the defendants, their men to

    deliver vacant possession of it?

    2) Whether the defendants are to be directed to revise and amend the

    layout plans submitted by the 1st defendant excluding the plaint

    schedule land?

    3) Whether the plaintiff is entitled for a permanent injunction in respect of

    the plaint schedule property?

    4) Whether the plaintiff is entitled to profits?

    5) Whether the 2nd defendant is not a proper and necessary party to the

    suit?

    6) Whether the court has no jurisdiction against the 2nd defendant in

    respect of the relief claimed against him?

    VGKR, J.

    AS_1585_1994

    7) To what relief?

    On 09.11.1993, the trial Court has framed the following additional issue:

    1) Whether the defendants perfected their title by adverse possession?

    10. During the course of trial in the trial Court, on behalf of the plaintiff,

    P.Ws.1 to 3 was examined and Ex.A-1 to Ex.A-5 were marked. On behalf

    of the defendants, D.Ws.1 & 2 were examined and Ex.B-1 to

    Ex.B-22 were marked.

    11. After completion of the trial and on hearing the arguments of both sides,

    the trial Court dismissed the suit with costs vide its judgment, dated

    12.09.1994, against which the present appeal is preferred by the

    appellant/plaintiff in the suit, questioning one of the findings arrived by the trial

    Court in its decree and judgment.

    12. Learned counsel for the appellant would contend that the judgment and

    decree passed by the trial Court below is erroneous, contrary to law, the

    weight of evidence, and probabilities of the case. He would further contend

    that the trial Court failed to observe that the boundary between the appellant

    and respondent No.1 land has a ‘Kattava’, and the said ‘Kattava’ has been

    included in the land sold to the appellant according to the boundary recitals.

    Learned counsel for the appellant would further contend that the trial Court

    failed to observe that the Advocate Commissioner corroborated and

    substantiated the case of the appellant to the effect that respondent

    No.1/defendant has encroached upon the site of the appellant. Learned

    counsel for the appellant would contend that the trial Court failed to observe
    VGKR, J.

    AS_1585_1994

    that the appellant/plaintiff is in exclusive possession and enjoyment of the

    disputed ‘Kattava’, which is the demarcating land between the properties of

    the appellant and the predecessor in title of respondent No.1/defendant, and

    he would further contend that the trial Court failed to appreciate the evidence

    in a proper manner and dismissed the suit, and he would further contend that

    the appeal may be allowed by setting aside the decree and judgment passed

    by the trial Court.

    13. Per contra, learned counsel for the respondents would contend that on

    appreciation of the entire evidence on record, the learned trial Judge has

    rightly dismissed the suit, and there is no need to interfere with the findings

    arrived at by the trial Court, and that the appeal may be dismissed.

    14. Heard Sri K.V.S.S.Prabhakara Rao, learned counsel for the

    appellant/plaintiff and Sri M.V.Suresh, learned counsel for the

    respondents/defendants.

    15. Now, in deciding the present appeal, the points that arise for

    determination are as follows:

    1) Whether the appellant/plaintiff is having valid right and title in the

    plaint schedule property?

    2) Whether the appellant/plaintiff is entitled for the recovery of

    possession of the plaint schedule property?

    3) Whether the decree and judgment dated 12.09.1994, passed by the

    trial Court needs any interference?

    16. Point No.1:

    VGKR, J.

    AS_1585_1994

    Whether the appellant/plaintiff is having valid right and title in the

    plaint schedule property?

    The case of the appellant/plaintiff is that she purchased the total extent

    of Ac.8.12 cents, including the plaint schedule land of an extent of Ac.0.48

    cents, under a registered sale deed dated 02.06.1956, and since the date of

    purchase, the plaintiff is in possession and enjoyment of the same. The

    plaintiff specifically pleaded in Paragraph No.5 of the plaint that defendant

    No.1 purchased the adjoining land to the plaint schedule land to its south on

    07.01.1981, after which the agents of defendant No.1, while carrying on the

    leveling operations in its own land, demolished the boundary hedge lying in

    the land of the plaintiff demarcating the plaint schedule land and thereafter

    encroached upon the plaint schedule land. There is no whisper in the plaint as

    to when the agents of defendant No.1 demolished the boundary hedge line in

    the land of the plaintiff, which demarcates the land of the plaintiff and the land

    of defendant No.1. There is also no whisper in the plaint as to when defendant

    No.1 encroached upon the plaint schedule land. Since the appellant/plaintiff

    approached the Civil Court for seeking the relief of declaration of title of

    Ac.0.48 cents of immovable property, therefore, it is for the plaintiff to prove

    the title in the plaint schedule land by producing cogent and documentary

    evidence.

    17. As stated supra, the plaintiff is seeking the relief of declaration of title

    and also for recovery of possession of the plaint schedule property, and

    therefore, the entire burden is on the plaintiff to prove the same. The legal
    VGKR, J.

    AS_1585_1994

    position in this regard is no more res integra, and the same has been well

    settled by the Hon’ble Apex Court in a catena of judgments. In a case of

    Union of India and others vs. Vasavi Cooperative Housing Society

    Limited and others1, wherein the Apex Court held as follows:

    “In a suit for declaration of title, burden always lies on the plaintiff to make out and
    establish a clear case for granting such a declaration and the weakness, if any, of the
    case set up by the defendants would not be a ground to grant relief to the plaintiff. The
    legal position, therefore, is clear that the plaintiff in a suit for declaration of title and
    possession could succeed only on the strength of its own title and that could be done
    only by adducing sufficient evidence to discharge the onus on it, irrespective of the
    question whether the defendants have proved their case or not. We are of the view
    that even if the title set up by the defendants is found against, in the absence of
    establishment of plaintiff‟s own title, plaintiff must be non-suited.”

    18. In a case of Moran Mar Basselios Catholicos vs. Thukalan Paulo

    Avira & others2, wherein the Apex Court held as follows:

    “It is perfectly clear that in a suit of this description if the plaintiffs are to succeed they
    must do so on the strength of their own title.”

    In a case of Sajana Granites, Madras and another vs. Manduva

    Srinivasa Rao and others3, wherein the Composite High Court of Andhra

    Pradesh at Hyderabad, held as follows:

    “The Supreme Court in M.P. Athanastus case (supra), M.M. Catholices v. Polo Avira
    case (supra) and this Court in C. Audilakshmamma case (supra) held that plaintiff in a
    suit for declaration of title, and for recovery of possession, can succeed only on the
    strength of his own title and that it is not obligatory on the defendants to plead and
    prove the possible defects in the plaintiffs title and so if the plaintiff fails to establish his
    title, even if the defendant fails to establish his own title, plaintiff must be non suited. In
    this case since appellants are seeking declaration of their title to the suit property they
    have to establish their title; and cannot expect relief on the basis of the weakness of

    1
    (2014) 2 Supreme Court Cases 269
    2
    1958 SCC OnLine Supreme Court 136
    3
    2001 SCC OnLine AP 666
    VGKR, J.

    AS_1585_1994

    the case of respondents 1 and 2, or on the basis that the evidence adduced by
    respondents 1 and 2 does not establish their title to the suit property.”

    In a case of K.Venkatasubba Reddy vs. Bairagi Ramaiah (died) by

    L.Rs. 4 17, wherein the Composite High Court of Andhra Pradesh at

    Hyderabad, held as follows:

    “A Division Bench of this Court also in Chakicherla Adilakshmamma v. Almakuru
    Rama Rao and Ors,- (3) AIR 1973 AP 149. Relying on the judgment of the Supreme
    Court in AIR 1954 SC 526 (cited supra) held that “in a suit for ejectment, the plaintiff is
    liable to be nonsuited, if he fails to establish his own title irrespective of the question
    whether the defendants have proved their case or not.”

    The law laid down by the Supreme Court and also by the Division Bench of this Court
    in the ejectment suits is also applicable to the suits for declaration of title. Thus, the
    plaintiff must succeed by establishing his own title, by adducing satisfactory evidence
    and he cannot succeed on the weakness of the defendant’s case.

    19. Brahma Nand Puri vs. Neki Puri Since deceased represented by

    Mathra Puri and another, the Apex Court held as follows:

    “The plaintiff‟s suit being one for ejnectment he has to succeed or fail on the title that
    he establishes and if he cannot succeed on the strength of his title his suit must fail
    notwithstanding that the defendant in possession has no title to the property, assuming
    learned counsel is right in that submission”.

    In a case of Jagdish Narain vs. Nawab Sai Ahmed Khan, wherein the

    Privy Council held as follows:

    “In a suit in ejectment the plaintiffs can succeed only on the strength of their own title,
    and there is no obligation upon the defendants to plead possible defects in the
    plaintiffs‟ title which might manifest themselves when the title is disclosed. It is
    sufficient that in the written statement the defendants deny the plaintiffs‟ title, and
    under this plea, they can avail themselves of any defect which such title discloses.”

    In a case of A. Ramloo and others vs. G. Sreeramachandra Murthy

    and others, wherein the composite High Court of Andhra Pradesh at

    Hyderabad held as follows:

    4

    1999 (1) APLJ 416 (HC)
    VGKR, J.

    AS_1585_1994

    “In a ruling reported in Moran Mar Basselios Catheolicos and another v. Most Rev. Mar
    Poulose Athanasius and others
    , AIR 1954 SC 526, it has been held by their Lordships
    as under:

    “That the plaintiff in ejectment suit must succeed on the strength of his own title. This
    can be done by adducing sufficient evidence to discharge the onus that is on him
    irrespective of whether the defendant has proved his case or not. A mere destruction
    of the defendants title, in the absence of establishment of his own title carries the
    plaintiff nowhere.”

    20. In the present case, the plaintiff relied on the evidence of P.W.1 to

    P.W.3. P.W.1 is the son of the plaintiff. It is in the evidence of P.W.1 that in the

    year 1983 or in the year 1984, defendant No.1 prepared a layout and

    encroached upon the land by removing the bund, and when defendant No.1

    was trying to encroach, the plaintiff raised resistance, and the removal of the

    bund was temporarily stopped, and till that time, the land of Ac.0.31 cents,

    which was encroached upon by defendant No.1, had been in their possession,

    and the approval of the layout by defendant No.2, which was submitted by

    defendant No.1, is not within their knowledge. He further admits that

    defendant No.1 purchased the extent held by Koduri Rajarao in the year 1981,

    and there was no quarrel or dispute with regard to the southern boundary of

    their land by Rajarao or by defendant No.1 till the disputes arose sometime

    before the filing of the suit. He further admits that he prepared a layout in the

    year 1985 or in the year 1986, and the person who prepared their layout plan,

    by name Janardhan, also helped and prepared the layout for defendant No.1.

    He further deposed that in the month of February-March, 1984, defendant

    No.1 was occupying a portion of their land by engaging a bulldozer, and he

    got issued a legal notice after stopping the work. As per the evidence of

    P.W.1, her layout plan and the layout plan of defendant No.1 were prepared
    VGKR, J.

    AS_1585_1994

    by one Surya Rao. It is undisputed that the layout submitted by defendant

    No.1 was approved, but there is no evidence on record to show whether the

    layout plan submitted by the plaintiff was approved or not.

    21. The undisputed facts of both the parties are that one N.Veeramma was

    having a total extent of Ac.16.24 cents in R.S.No.399, and one Koduri Rajarao

    Chowdari purchased an extent of Ac.8.12 cents from N.Veeramma on

    30.01.1948, and subsequently, the said Rajarao Chowdari also purchased an

    extent of Ac.1.62 cents in R.S.No.398 under Ex.B-2. The plaintiff purchased

    an extent of Ac.8.12 cents from the said Veeramma under Ex.A-1 on

    28.07.1956. It is also evident that the sale deed in favour of the vendor of

    defendant No.1 is much earlier than the sale deed of the plaintiff. The

    document of the vendor of the defendant, which relates to the year 1948, is

    much prior to the plaintiff’s sale deed, it was recited in the said document that

    the boundary between both the parties is a joint ‘Kattava’ belonging to the

    vendor by name N.Veeramma and Rajarao Chowdari. The right of the vendor

    of defendant No.1 in the said joint ‘Kattava’ was never objected to by the

    plaintiff or the predecessors of the plaintiff from 1948 onwards. In the plaint

    also, it was pleaded by the plaintiff that defendant No.1 purchased the suit

    schedule land on its south on 07.04.1981, after which the agents of defendant

    No.1, while carrying on the leveling operations in its own land, demolished the

    boundary hedge lying in the land of the plaintiff demarcating the plaint

    schedule land and the land purchased by defendant No.1 and encroached

    into the plaint schedule property. There is no whisper in the plaint and in the
    VGKR, J.

    AS_1585_1994

    evidence of P.W.1 as to when defendant No.1 demolished the boundary

    hedge. As stated supra, the plaintiff approached the Court for seeking relief of

    declaration of title and also possession, but the evidence of P.W.1 is not

    convincing to support of the case of the plaintiff.

    22. P.W.2 is the Advocate Commissioner who visited the suit schedule

    property. As per the evidence of P.W.2, defendant No.1 also gave his title

    deeds at the time of his inspection, and he localized the land only with

    reference to the field measurement book, and he did not localize the land with

    reference to the title deed of defendant No.1. He further admitted that the

    plaintiff informed him orally that Ac.35.00 cents of land was acquired, and he

    did not produce any document in that behalf. He further admits that he cannot

    say as to how he arrived at the figure of Ac.7.57 cents as mentioned in the

    report. In the Advocate Commissioner warrant, the Advocate Commissioner

    was directed by the Court to localize the disputed schedule land with

    reference to the title deeds of both the parties, but admittedly, the Advocate

    Commissioner/P.W.2 did not execute the warrant with reference to the title

    deeds of both the parties. By assigning reasons, the trial Court rightly ignored

    the evidence of P.W.2.

    23. P.W.3 deposed in his evidence that the ‘Kattava’ is in existence for

    more than twenty (20) years and that the said ‘Kattava’ is the boundary line

    between the suit land and the land of Rajarao. He further admits that one

    Vanumu Abhadham, who is his brother by courtesy, cultivated the land of the

    plaintiff for about 4 or 5 years and that he came to know about the existence
    VGKR, J.

    AS_1585_1994

    of the ‘Kattava’ in the said land. Therefore, his evidence clearly goes to show

    that he is in no way concerned with the suit schedule land and he has no

    personal knowledge about the suit schedule land. For the aforesaid reasons,

    this Court is of the considered view that the evidence produced by the plaintiff

    is not to establish that the plaintiff is having right and title in the plaint schedule

    property.

    24. The learned counsel for the appellant placed a case law in Nilima Das

    Gupta (Deceased) Through its Lrs. Vs. On the Death of Abdur Rouf his

    Legal Heirs & Ors.5, wherein the Hon’ble Apex Court held as follows:

    “Thus, under Sections 118 all persons are competent to testify, unleas the court
    considers that by reason of tender years, extreme old age, disease, or infirmity, they
    are incapable of understanding the questions put to them and of giving rational
    answers. Competency of a person to testify as a witness is a condition precedent to
    the admissibility and credibility of his evidence.”

    In the case at hand, the plaintiff was aged about 81 years at the time of

    filing of the suit, and she is a ‘senior citizen’, and because of her old age of 81

    years, her son gave evidence as P.W.1. P.W.1 is the son of the plaintiff. It was

    not suggested to P.W.1 by the learned counsel for the appellant that P.W.1 is

    not competent to give evidence on behalf of the plaintiff. It is not the case of

    respondent No.1 that P.W.1 is not competent to give evidence on behalf of the

    plaintiff.

    25. The learned counsel for the appellant placed a case law in Dina Malar

    Publications, A Tamil Daily, Reptd., By Its Partner, R.Krishnamoorthy Vs.

    5
    [2025] 8 S.C.R. 740
    VGKR, J.

    AS_1585_1994

    The Tiruchirapalli Municipality, Reptd., By its Executive Authority, The

    Commr., And Ors.6, wherein the High Court of Madras held as follows:

    “9. The property in question bears a subdivided town survey No. 371/2, with an
    extent of 2,400 sq. ft. The property in question is not an unsurveyed area or an area in
    respect of which the extent is in doubt. In laying down the principle that the boundaries
    should prevail over the extent, in the above decisions, the learned Judges have
    applied the following principles:(l)in case of doubtful or varying extents in the
    documents of title relating to the property, boundaries should be preferred to the
    extent; (2) Only in the absence of definite material to show the actual extent intended
    to be sold the boundaries should outweigh the doubtful extent mentioned in the
    document; (3) If the recitals in the documents and the circumstances of the case show
    that a lesser extent only was conveyed than the area covered by boundaries, and
    there is clear evidence as to the intention of the parties with reference to the extent
    conveyed, then the extent should prevail over the boundaries. Bearing in mind the
    above said principles, we will have to examine the facts of this case.”

    In the case at hand, the sale deed of the plaintiff under Ex.A-1 relates to

    the year 1956, whereas the defendant’s vendor’s sale deed relates under

    Ex.B-1 to the year 1948. Therefore, the boundaries in Ex.B-1 i.e. the earlier

    registered sale deed prevail over those in Ex.A-1. It is not in dispute that after

    purchase of the schedule property by the vendor of defendant No.1, his

    possession was uninterrupted by the vendor and also by the plaintiff herein.

    For the aforesaid reasons, this Court is of the considered view that the

    evidence produced by the plaintiff failed to prove the right and title of the

    plaintiff in the plaint schedule property.

    26. To disprove the evidence of the plaintiff and to prove the defence of

    defendant No.1, the defendant No.1 relied on the evidence of D.W.1 and

    D.W.2. As per the evidence of D.W.1, he deposed that after taking

    measurements, the defendants took possession of the land covered under

    6
    1983 0 Supreme(Mad) 340
    VGKR, J.

    AS_1585_1994

    Ex.B-3 to Ex.B-11, and before taking the measurements, they informed the

    plaintiff, and she deputed her son/P.W.1 at the time of taking measurements.

    He further deposed that the adjacent neighbors were also present at the time

    of taking measurements, and as per the measurements, the ridge (‘Kattava’)

    lies within the boundary of defendant No.1 land, and P.W.1 did not raise any

    objection while taking the measurements. He further deposed that when

    defendant No.1 purchased the land, the land was full of shrubs and was

    uneven with ups and downs, and by the time defendant No.1 purchased the

    land from Rajarao Chowdari and his family members, the land of the plaintiff

    was not under cultivation. He further deposed that the Government had

    granted exemption, and the layout was also approved by the Director of Town

    Planning in its proceedings dated 24.11.1983, and before approving the said

    layout, the land was measured by the Municipality, and as the measurements

    were correct, the layout plan was approved. D.W.1 further deposed that the

    disputed site was also included in the layout, and the plots were also

    earmarked in the said site, and they carried out leveling and also laid roads.

    He further deposed that at the time of leveling the ground, the disputed ridge

    was removed and leveled, but neither the plaintiff nor her son raised any

    objection at that time, and as such, the agents of defendant No.1 leveled the

    land with the assistance of the Agro Industries and also with private

    bulldozers. He further deposed that as per the layout plan, there are a total of

    195 plots, and the plots situated in the disputed site are ten (10) in number,

    and defendant No.1 got prepared the layout with the assistance of a private
    VGKR, J.

    AS_1585_1994

    surveyor, and again the said layout was prepared in the year 1983 by the

    Town Surveyor on the application made by defendant No.1 to the

    Rajahmundry Municipality.

    27. D.W.2 is none other than the son of the vendor of defendant No.1. The

    evidence of D.W.2 supports the case of defendant No.1. To prove the title of

    the plaintiff, the plaintiff failed to examine her vendor to show that the vendor

    of the plaintiff had title over the disputed property (‘Kattava’) in the land of the

    plaintiff. On the other hand, to disprove the evidence of the plaintiff and to

    prove the defence of defendant No.1, defendant No.1 relied on the evidence

    of the son of his vendor, since his vendor is no more, and the son of the

    vendor of defendant No.1 was examined as D.W.2. The evidence of D.W.1

    and D.W.2 clearly supports the defence of defendant No.1. For the aforesaid

    reasons, this Court is of the considered view that the appellant/plaintiff failed

    to prove that she is having valid right and title in the plaint schedule property.

    Accordingly, Point No.1 is answered against the appellant.

    28. Point Nos.2 & 3:

    Whether the appellant/plaintiff is entitled for the recovery of

    possession of the plaint schedule property?

    Whether the decree and judgment dated 12.09.1994, passed by the

    trial Court needs any interference?

    As stated supra, in Point No.1, it was held that the appellant/plaintiff to

    prove that she is having valid right and title in the plaint schedule property.

    VGKR, J.

    AS_1585_1994

    Since the appellant/plaintiff has failed to prove the right and title in the plaint

    schedule property, she is not entitled to the relief of recovery of possession of

    the plaint schedule property. In view of my findings on Point Nos.1 and 2, I do

    not find any illegality in the decree and judgment dated 12.09.1994, passed by

    the trial Court, I do not find any reason to interfere with the impugned

    judgment and decree passed by the trial Court.

    Accordingly, Point Nos.2 and 3 are answered.

    29. In the result, the appeal suit in A.S.No.1585 of 1994 is dismissed.

    Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, each party do bear their

    own costs in the appeal.

    As a sequel, miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending in the Appeal shall

    stand closed

    __________________________
    V. GOPALA KRISHNA RAO, J.

    Date: 06.05.2026
    SRT



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