Krishnananda v. Kattu Siva Ashram and Ors.
S.B. SINHA, J. : l. The defendant No. 4 in the original suit is the
appellant before us. The plaintiff is the first respondent herein. The suit of
the original plaintiff was dismissed. The defendant No. 4 did not prefer any
appeal thereagainst.
2. Appellant claimed title over the land by adverse possession. The
said claim was negatived by the learned Trial Judge. The First Appellate
Court, however, opined that both the plaintiff (respondent No. I herein) and
defendant No. 4 (appellant herein) had not acquired any title to the property.
3. Aggrieved by certain findings arrived at by the First Appellate
Court, the appellant preferred a second appeal before the High Court of
Madras which was dismissed summarily. The High Court opined that as
defendant No. 4 did not file any suit nor the Trial Court having given any
relief in that behalf, the appeal was not maintainable.
4. The appellant is before us aggrieved by the said order of the High
Court.
5. There cannot be any doubt that the second appeal filed a the
instance of the appellant herein was not maintainable as the First Appellate
Court had merely arrived at certain findings which might be relevant for the
purpose of determination of an issue by and between the appellant and the
original plaintiff, but the same were not relevant for determination of an issue
amongst the defendants inter se. Moreover, no decree against the appellant
was preferred.
6. It is stated before us by Mr. Sundaravaradan, learned senior counsel
appearing on behalf of respondent Nos. 2 to 4, that in view of the fact that
the aforementioned Raman Pillai died without leaving behind any issue;
escheat proceeding has been initiated. If that be so, there cannot be any
doubt, whatsoever, that the appellant herein would be entitled to raise all H
contentions in regard to his title in appropriate proceedings, if initiated
against him. He may even bring a fresh proceedings against the said
respondent.
7. The appellant has sought to produce before us a purported Will
dated 5.1.1965, executed by the said Raman Pillai. We, however, reject the
prayer of the appellant to take the said Will on record as the contention that
Raman Pillai bequeathed his entire property in his favour should not be
allowed to be raised before us at this stage for the first time. This appeal
is dismissed with the aforementioned observations. No costs.
C K.K.T. Appeal dimissed.
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