VELAYUDHAN & ORS. v. MOHAMMEDKUTTY & ORS.

Case Details & Bench

Court: High Court
Hon'ble Judges: R. K. Agrawal
Abhay Manohar Sapre
Judgment Date: 2017-04-18
Court Decision / Holding: Appeal partly allowed; remand the case to the High Court to decide the plaintiffs’ Second Appeals afresh on merits, after reframing proper substantial questions of law under Section 100 CPC, and to decide expeditiously.
Final Disposition: Appeal partly allowed

Parties to the Case

Appellants / Petitioners

Velayudhan and others

Respondents

Mohammedkutty and others

Legal Representation & Advocates

Counsels for Petitioners

• M. K. S. Menon
• Ms. Shreya Menon
• Ms. Usha Nandini V.

Counsels for Respondents

• K. Rajeev
• Shinoj K. Narayanan

Case Synopsis & Summary

This appeal arises from a Kerala land dispute where the plaintiffs sought protection of their title and possession over a suit schedule land. The trial court decreed in favour of the plaintiffs; the first appellate court dismissed the suit; and the High Court, in second appeal under Section 100 CPC, allowed the appeals and restored the trial court’s decree. The Supreme Court allowed the appeal in part, remanding the case to the High Court to decide the plaintiffs’ Second Appeals afresh on merits after reframing the proper substantial questions of law, keeping in view the pleadings and prior findings. A central issue was the nature of the suit: whether it was for grant of permanent injunction simpliciter or for a declaration of title with a consequential injunction. The High Court had proceeded on the assumption that relief was solely for injunction, but the plaintiffs’ prayer clause and the plaint reveal that the relief clause contemplates protection of title and possession, making title a relevant factor in granting relief. The Court emphasized reading the plaint as a whole, noting that the issue of title surfaced in the pleadings and is significant to the reliefs sought. The judgment cites Anathula Sudhakar v. P. Buchi Reddy (Dead) by L.Rs. to guide proper framing of issues under Section 100 CPC and remanded for fresh adjudication with expeditious disposal.

Provisions of Law Cited

Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, Section 100

Submissions & Arguments

Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners

The appellants contended that the suit is not merely for permanent injunction, but for a declaration of title with a consequential injunction. The plaint’s reliefs show concern for the title, including an injunction against acts detrimental to title and possession. Reading the plaint as a whole, the issue of title surfaces in the relief clause, indicating that the suit is not injunctive-only. The High Court’s framing of the first substantial question of law was improper, and the case requires reframing to address the true nature of relief and title rights under Section 100 CPC. The appellants urged remand for fresh adjudication on merits with proper substantial questions of law, guided by binding precedents such as Anathula Sudhakar.

Contentions of Respondents

The respondents argued that the suit was essentially for perpetual injunction to protect possession, with the reliefs framed accordingly. They submitted that the reliefs do not necessarily require a declaration of title and that the trial court’s decree, confirmed by the appellate courts, should be upheld. They pointed to the Commissioner’s report and evidence of possession, asserting that there is no need to enter into title disputes in the context of permanent injunction. Under Section 100 CPC, the appellate court should not usurp the trial court’s findings where no substantial question of law arises, and the High Court correctly focused on the nature of the relief sought.

Cited Precedents (1)

Case Name	Citation	Treatment	Explanation
Anathula Sudhakar v. P. Buchi Reddy (Dead) by L.Rs. & Ors.	(2008) 4 SCC 594; [2008] 5 SCR 331	Positive	Cited to guide proper framing of issues under Section 100 CPC and to recognize that title can be relevant to injunction relief; used as binding authority for the need to frame and address title questions in injunction suits.

Extracted Judgment Text

Exact text extracted from official judgment records.

[2017) 3 S.C.R. 533 ## VELAYUDHAN & ORS. A v. ## MOHAMMEDKUTTY & ORS. (Civil Appeal No. 5459 of2007) APRIL 18,2017 B **[R. K. AGRAWAL AND AlllIAY MANOIIAR SAPRE, JJ.]** _Suit- Nature of- For grant of permanent injunction_ simpliciter _or for declaration of title with permanent injunction as_ · _consequential relief_ - _Suit by respondents-plaintiffs in relation to_ - _land, decreed by trial court First appellate court dismissed the_ - _suit by allowing the appeal of appellants-defendants High Court in second appeal by respondents decreed the suit holding that the suit was one for perpetual injunction and thus investigation into the question of title was not necessary_ - _Propriety of_ - _Held: One of the questions, which fell for consideration before the first and second appellate Court was regarding the nature of the suit filed by the respondents and the reliefs claimed therein_ - _High Court proceeded on the assumption that the civil suit filed by the re!>pondents was essentially for grant of permanent injunction_ simpliciter - _The issue of title having swfaced in the relief clause, the same is of some significance over the rights of the parties while considering the grant of the reliefs_ - _Keeping in view the averments made in the plaint read with the prayer clause, it cannot be said that the suit is only for grant of permanent injunction_ simpliciter - _Matter remanded back to High Court_ - _Code of Civil Procedure, 1908_ - _s.100_ - _Substantial question of law._ **Allowing the appeal in part, the Court HELD: 1.1 One of the questions, which fell for consideration before the first and second appellate Court was regarding the nature of the suit filed by the respondents and the reliefs claimed therein. Was it a suit for grant of permanent injunction sim pliciter or a suit to seek a declaration of title with consequential relief of grant of permanent injunction in relation lo the suit land? [Paras 10, 11) [536-D-E)** c D E F G **1.2 Reading the expression** _**"or from doing a11ytlii11g**_ **H** 533 534 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2017] 3 S.C.R. - A _detrimental to the title and possession of the plaintiffs"_ in the prayer clause of the plaint shows that the plaintiffs have also expressed apprehension in relation to their title over the suit properties. [Para 13 ][ 536-ll] - 1.3 Keeping in view the averments made in Para 1 of the - B plaint read with aforementioned words of the prayer clause, it cannot be said that the suit is only fur grant of permanent injunction simpliciter. In other words, the issue of title having surfaced in the relief clause, the same is of some significance over the rights of the parties while considering the grant of the reliefs. It is true that the relief clause in the plaint is not happily worded but the - c reading of the plaint as a whole in the context of the reliefs claimed therein would go to show that the issue of title is not wholly foreign to the controversy and is relevant while considering the grant of permanent injunction. [Paras 14, 15 and 16] [537-A-C) - 1.4 The High Court proceeded to decide the appeal in the - D light of the first substantial·quesii'on of law and thus committed an error. The first error was in framing the wrong question and the second was in proceeding to examine the said question. In view of the aforesaid reasons;· the matter needs a fresh look by the High Court after framing proper questions of law keeping in - E view the pleadings and the findings of the two Courts below. [Paras 17, 19 and 20][537-C-D, E-G) _Anathula Sudhakar v. P Buchi Reddy (Dead) by L.Rs. & Ors._ (2008) 4 sec 594 : [2008] 5 SCR 331 - referred to. ## F Case· Law Reference [2008) 5 SCR 331 referred to Para 18 CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal No. 5459 of2007. G From the Judgment and Order dated 08.03 .2006 of the High Court ofKerala at Ernakulam, in S. A. No. 180/920 & 475/1992. M. K. S. Menon, Ms. Shreya Menon, Ms. Usha Nandini V: (for Jogy Scaria), Advs. for the Appellants. K. Rajeev, Shinoj K. Narayanan, Ad vs. for the Respondents. H VELAYUDHAN & ORS. v. MOHAMMEDKUTTY & ORS. 535 The Judgment of the Court was delivered by ABIIAY MANOUAR SAPRE, J. I. This appeal is filed by the defendants against the final judgment and order dated 08.03.2006 passed by the High Court of Kerala in S.A. No.180 & 475/1992 whereby the High Court allowed the second appeals filed by the plaintiffs-respondents herein and set aside the judgment and decree dated 26.07.1991 of the Subordinate Judge, Tirur in A.S. Nos. 83 & 84of1988 and restored the judgment dated 30.09 .1988 of the Munsif of Parappanangadi in O.S. No. 177 of 1983. 2. We need not burden our j udg1n~nt by mentioning the facts [11 · detail except to the extent necessary to appreciate the issue involved in the appeal.· · ' ' 3. The appellants herein are the defendants whereas the respondents are the plaintiffs in a suit out of which this appeal arises. 4. The respondents filed a civil suit in relation to ihe suit land as described in detail in schedule to the plaint against the appellants before the Munsif of Parappanangadi. The Munsif Court decreed the respondents' suit against the appellants and passed the decree as prayed· by the plaintiffs. 5. The defendants, felt aggrieved, filed the first appeals before the Subordinate Judge Tirur. The first appellate Court allowed the appeals and dismissed the suit. The respondents, felt aggrieved, filed Second Appeals under Section 100 of Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (hereinafter referred to as "the Code"). The High Court admitted the appeals on the following two substantial questions of law: "1. The suit being one for perpetual injunction, whether investigation into the question of title was necessary or called for? 2. Whether, in view of the evidence, including the Commissioner's report, the Appellate Court was justified in coming to the conclusion that the appellants bad no possession?" A B C D E F G 6. By impugned order, the High Court allowed the appeals and while reversing the judgment and decree of the first appellate Court restored that-of the Trial Cou11, which had decreed the respondents' H 536 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2017] 3 S.C.R. - A suit. It is against this order of the High Court, the defendants felt aggrieved and filed this appeal by way of special leave before this Court. 7. Heard Mr. M.K.S. Menon, learned counsel for the appellants and Mr. K. Rajeev, learned counsel for the respondents. B . 8. Having heard learned counsel for the parties and on perusal of the record of the case, we. are inclined to allow the appeal in part and while setting aside of the impugned order consider it just and proper and in the. interest of all parties concerned to remand the case to the High Court for deciding the plaintiffs' Second Appeals afresh on merits by reframing the fresh substantial questions of law. c 9. In our considered opinion, the need to remand the case to the High Court for deciding the Second Appeals afresh has arisen because we find that the High Court proceeded on the assumption that the Civil Suit filed by the respondents out of which this appeal arises is essentially for grant of permanent injunction simpliciter. It would be clear from the D first substantial question oflaw framed by the High Court quoted supra. I 0. One of the questions, which fell for consideration before the first and second appellate Court was regarding the nature of the Suit filed by the respondents and the reliefs claimed therein. 11. Was<it a suit for grant of permanent injunction simpliciter or a E suit to seek a declaration of title with consequential relief of grant of perman~nt injunction in relation to the suit land? 12. On perusal of the plaint, we find that the plaintiffs asked for the following reliefs: F G "A. Issue an order of injunction tffeventing defendants or their men from entering into or taking any usufructs _I_ from the plaint schedule property or from doing anything detrimental to the title and possession of the plaintiffs. B. Direct the defendants to pay all costs in the suit.~ C. Such other or further orders be 11assed in the suit." 13. Reading the expression _"orji-0111 doing anything detrimental to the title and possession of the plaintiffs"_ in prayer clause A quoted above would show that the plaintiffs have also expressed apptehension H in relation to their title over the suit properties. 537 VELAYutrHAN & ORS. v. MOHAMMEDKUTTY & ORS. [ABHAY MANOHAR SAPRE, J.] 14. Keeping in view the averments made in Para 1 of the plaint read with aforementioned words of the prayer clause, we are of the view that it cannot be said that the Suit is only for grant of permanent injunction simpliciter. In other words, the issue of title having surfaced in the relief clause, the same is of some significance over the rights of the pa11ies while considering the grant of the reliefs. A B 15. In our considered opinion, the reading of the plaint as a whole in the context of the reliefs claimed therein would go to show that the issue of title is not wholly foreign to the controversy and is relevant while considering the grant of permanent injunction. I 6. It is true that the relief clause in the plaint is not happily worded but, as observed supra, reading the plaint as a whole along with relief clause does support our observations. 17. Since the High Court proceeded to decide the appeals in the light of first substantial question oflaw and hence it committed an error. The first error was in framing the wrong question and the second was in proceeding to examine the said question. 18. The issue, in our view, was required to be examined by the High Court keeping in view the law laid down by this Court in the case of Anathula Sudhakar vs. P. Buchi Rcddy(Dead) by L.Rs. & Ors., 2008(4) SCC 594. It was, however, not done. . c D E 19. It is due to the aforesaid reasons, we are of the view that matter needs a fresh look by the High Court on the questions which arise in the case. 20. In the light of foregoing discussion, we allow the appeal in part, set aside the impugned judgment and remand the case to the High Court to decide the appeal afresh after reframing the proper substantial questions oflaw kee(}f11gin view the pleadings and the findings of the two Cou11s below as required under Section 100 oftht}Code. 21. Since the appeal is quite old, we request the High Court to decide the appeal expeditiously. F G Divya Pandey Appeal partly allowed.