Krishnan v. Backiam

Case Details & Bench

Court: High Court
Hon'ble Judges: A.K. Mathur
Markandey Katju
Judgment Date: 2007-09-11
Court Decision / Holding: Appeal allowed; High Court judgment set aside; First Appellate Court's judgment restored; no order as to costs.
Final Disposition: Appeal Allowed

Parties to the Case

Appellants / Petitioners

Krishnan

Respondents

Backiam
Anr.

Legal Representation & Advocates

Counsels for Petitioners

• P. V. Yogeshwaran
• M.A. Chinnasamy
• H.B. Chauhan
• K. Kumar

Counsels for Respondents

• S.R. Sharma
• S. Srinivasan

Case Synopsis & Summary

Krishnan v. Backiam concerns a suit for declaration and injunction over land that Krishnan contends was mortgaged to him by Ramayee (alias Lakshmi) and subsequently sold by her. The sale deeds, including a rectification, were contested as forged by the defendant. The trial court dismissed the suit; the First Appellate Court held that Ramayee and Lakshmi are one and the same person, and that the sale deed (Exhibit A4) was proved by PW1 and PW3, with the burden on the defendant to prove forgery. The High Court, in second appeal, allowed the appeal and reversed the First Appellate Court’s conclusions. The Supreme Court held that the High Court acted as a de facto First Appellate Court by re-appreciating findings of fact, which is impermissible under Section 100 CPC unless framed substantial questions of law. It noted that the High Court failed to frame such questions regarding whether Ramayee and Lakshmi are the same person and whether the evidence supported the finding. The Court set aside the High Court judgment, restored the First Appellate Court’s judgment dated 13.4.1999, and allowed the appeal with no order as to costs, thereby sustaining the plaintiff’s title and possession as per the First Appellate Court’s findings.

Provisions of Law Cited

Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, Section 100Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, Section 96Transfer of Property Act, Sections 54 and 59Indian Evidence Act, Section 68

Legal Doctrines & Maxims

First Appellate Court under Section 96 CPC is the last court of facts.
In second appeal under Section 100 CPC, the High Court must frame substantial questions of law and cannot interfere with findings of fact unless such questions are framed.

Submissions & Arguments

Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners

Krishnan argues that the suit seeks declaration of his title and an injunction to protect possession of the land as mortgagee and purchaser, supported by the chain of sale deeds and their registration. He relies on the First Appellate Court’s finding that Lakshmi and Ramayee are one and the same person, noting that PW1 and PW3 corroborate the sale deed (Exhibit A4) and that the burden to prove forgery lay on the defendant, which they failed to discharge. He contends that the High Court’s second appeal improperly re-appreciated evidence and framed questions of law after re-evaluating factual evidence, contrary to Section 100 CPC. He stresses that the statutory framework permits challenge to findings of fact only when framed questions of law exist, which did not happen in this case, thus merits restoration of the First Appellate Court’s decision.

Contentions of Respondents

The respondents contend that the documents were forged and that Lakshmi and Ramayee were not proved to be the same person; they argue that the sale deeds and mortgage documents were not proved or properly registered, and that the High Court correctly intervened on substantial questions of law framed under Section 100 CPC. They maintain that the second appeal was properly entertained to determine whether the First Appellate Court’s findings were supported by evidence and legal standards, and that the High Court’s approach was consistent with the statutory requirement to frame substantial questions of law.

Extracted Judgment Text

Exact text extracted from official judgment records.

## KRISHNAN _v._ ## BACKIAM AND ANR. ## SEPTEMBER 11, 2007 ## (A.K.MATHURANDMARKANDEYKATJU,JJ.l _Code of Civil Procedure, 1908-s. JOO-Second appeal-Scope ofHeld: High Court in second appeal cannot interfere with finding of fact recorded by First Appellate Court uls 96 CPC-Finding of fact though can_ C _be challenged in second appeal on the ground that the same is perverse or based on no evidence-But not without framing question to that effect-In the facts of the case, no such question was formulated by High Court-Hence interference of the High Court with the finding of fact by First Appellate Court, not permissible._ D Appellant-plaintiff filed a suit for declaration and injunction against respondent-defendant alleging that the land in question had been mortgaged to him by the owner of the property 'R' (alia.s 'L'). Thereafter, the land was sold to him by a sale deed. The sale deed was later rectified by another sale deed. Defendant contested the suit alleging that the owner of the land was 'R' and he is assisting her in cultivating the land; and that the three documents E were forged. The suit was dismissed. First appeal was decided in favour of the appellant holding that 'R' and 'L' are one and the same person; that the sale deed was proved by PWs 3 and 1; and that the burden to prove the documents as forged was on the defendant. High Court allowed the second appeal thereagainst. Hence the present appeal. F ## Allowing the appeal, the Court HELD: 1. High Court has practically acted as a First Appellate Court and has re-appreciated the findings of fact of the Subordinate Judge which it could not validly do in exercise of its jurisdiction under Section I 00 CPC. G (Para 12] (905-8, CJ 2. Under the amended Section 100 CPC, the High Court has to frame ~ substantial questions of law and can decide the second appeal only on those questions framed. A perusal of the questions framed shows that no question ~1 H [2007] 9 S.C.R. _)._ ## 902 SUPREME COURT REPORTS - A of law was framed as to whether the finding of fact of the First Appellate Court that 'L' and 'R' are one and the same person, is based on no evidence or is perverse. [Para 10) [904-F, G] 3. First Appellate Court under Section 96 CPC is the last court of facts. The High Court in second appeal under Section 100 CPC cannot interfere B with the findings of fact recorded by the First Appellate Court under Section 96 CPC. No doubt, the findings of fact of the First Appellate Court can be challenged in second appeal on the ground that the said findings are based on no evidence or are perverse, but even in that case a question of law has to be formulated and framed by the High Court to that effect. In the present case C no question was framed by the High Court as to whether the finding of the First Appellate Court that 'R' and 'L' are one and the same person, is a finding based on no evidence or is perverse. Hence the findings of the First Appellate Court that 'R' and 'L' are one and the same person, could not have been interfered with by the High Court. (Para 11) (904-G; 905-A, BJ t - D CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION :·civil Appeal No. 3713 of2001. From the Judgment and Order dated 31.1.2000 of the High Court of Madras in Second Appeal No. 1927 of 1999. - P. V. Yogeshwaran, M.A. Chinnasamy, H.B. Chauhan and K. Kumar for - E the Appellant. S.R. Sharma and S. Srinivasan for the Respondents. The Judgment of the Court was delivered by F MARKANDEY KAT JU, J. I. This appeal has been filed against the impugned judgment of the Madras High Court dated 3 I. l .2000 in Second Appeal No.1927of1999. 1 2. We have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the record. G 3. The plaintiff-appellant Krishnan filed a suit for declaration and injunction against the respondent-defendant alleging that the property in dispute had been earlier mortgaged to him on 30.9.1988 and then sold to him by Ramayee (alias Lakshmi) by registered sale deed dated 25.9.1989 which was also rectified by another registered sale deed dated l 0.9 .1990. It was H alleged in the suit that an attempt was being made to dispossess the plaintiff KRISHNAN _v._ BACKIAM [MARKANDEY KA TJU, J. ] 903 A and hence injunction may be granted in his favour. 4. The defendant filed a written statement in the suit in which it was contended that Ramayee had neither executed the registered mortgage deed dated 30.9 .I 9:1!, nor the registered sale deed dated 25.9.1989, nor the rectification deed dated 10.9.1990. It was alleged in the written statement that on the request of the owner of the land, Ramayee, the defendant is assisting her in B l cultivating the said property under her instructions and plaintiff has no right over the property. It was alleged by the defendant-respondent that the mortgage deed dated 30.9.1988, sale deed dated 25.9.1989 and the rectification deed dated 10.9.1990 alleged to have been executed by Ramayee, are in fact forged documents. c _5._ The trial court dismissed the suit, against which the plaintiff-appellant filed a first appeal in the court of subordinate Judge, Sivaganga, which was allowed by the judgment dated 13.4.1999. In this judgment the First Appellate Court held: "It appears from the evidences of the plaintiffs witnesses that D Lakshmi and Ramayee are one and the same persons. Once the plaintiff proves his case through his witnesses, the burden of proof shifts to the defendant. It is for the defendant to prove that Exhibit-A4 sale deed is a forged document or a created one. The law does not require attestation of sale deed as a compulsory one. Section 54 and 59 of E Transfer of Properties do not speak about compulsory attestation. When law does not require compulsory attestation of a document, such unattested document may be proved as per the provisions of Indian Evidence Act. Section 68 of Indian Evidence Act has no application for sale deed. Section 68 of the Indian Evidence Act is F applicable only to the cases where the documents are required to be attested in law." 6. Thus, although the mortgage deed dated 30.9.1988, the sale deed dated 25.9.1989 and the rectification deed dated 10.9.1990 are alleged to have been executed by Lakshmi, it has been found by the First Appellant Court G that Lakshmi and Ramayee are one and the same person. Since admittedly Ramayee was the owner of the property in dispute, the sale deed dated ' 25.9.1989 alleged to have been executed by Lakshmi, Exhibit-A4, was in fact executed by Ramayee, since Lakshmi and Ramayee are the same person. Hence because of the sale deed, title to the property passed to the plaintiffappellant. H [2007] 9 S.C.R 904 A _)._ ## SUPREME COURT REPORTS ## B 7. The First Appellate Court also held that the burden of proving that the sale deed Exhibit-A4 was a forged document on the defendant but he did not discharge his burden. It was further held that the sale deed was proved by PW3 as well as by PW I. The First Appellate Court also held that the plaintiff is in possession of the property in dispute and the sale deed dated 25.9.1989 was valid. 8. Against the judgment of the First Appellate Court the defendantrespondent filed a. second appeal before the High Court which has been allowed. This appeal by special leave has been filed against the said judgment of the High Court dated 31.1.2000. c D E 9. A perusal of the judgment of the High Court shows that the High Court formulated the following three questions as substantial questions of law: - "I. Whether the Lower Appellate Court has not committed an error of law in placing the burden of proof upon the second appellant about the execution and registration of documents under Exx.A3 to A-5? 2. Whether the Lower Appellate Court has not committed an error of law in decreeing the suit when the respondent/plaintiff has failed to prove that the documents under Exx.A-3 to A-5 were executed and registered by the second appellant? And \.... 3. Whether the Lower Appellate Court has not committed an error of law in holding that the respondent is in possession and enjoyment of the suit property in the absence of any materials on record? F I 0. Under the amended Section I 00 CPC the High Court has to frame substantial questions of law and can decide the second appeal only on those questions framed. A perusal of the questions framed shows that no question of law was framed as to whether the finding of fact of the First Appellate. G Court that Lakshmi and Ramayee are one and the same person, is based on no evidence or is perverse. 11. It may be mentioned that the First Appellate Court under Section 96 CPC is the last court of facts. The High Court in second appeal under Section I 00 CPC cannot interfere with the findings of fact recorded by the First H Appellate Court under Section 96 CPC. No doubt the findings of fact of the KRISHNAN _v._ BACKIAM [MARKANDEY KA TJU, J. ] 905 First Appellate Court can be challenged in second appeal on the ground that the said findings are based on no evidence or are perverse, but even in that case a question of law has to be formulated and framed by the High Court to that effect. In the present case no question was framed by the High Court as to whether the finding of the First Appellate Court that Ramayee and Lakshmi are one and the same person, is a finding based on no evidence or is perverse. Hence the findings of the First Appellate Court that Ramayee and Lakshmi are one and the same person, could not have been interfered with by the High Court. ...; 12. A perusal of the judgment of the High Coun; shows that the High Court has practically acted as a First Appellate Court and has re-appreciated C the findings of fact of the learned Subordinate Judge which it could not validly do in exercise of its jurisdiction under Section I 00 CPC. 1 13. In the circumstances, we set aside the impugned judgment of the High Court and restore the judgment of the First Appellate Court dated 13.4.1999. D 14. The Appeal is allowed. There is no order as to costs. Appeal allowed. K.K T.