Should the Plaintiff, Schedule Servient Heritage in a Suit Claiming Easement?

Saji Koduvath, Advocate, Kottayam.

Should the plaintiff necessarily schedule servient heritage in a suit claiming prescriptive easement?

In P. V. Abdul Majeed Hajiv.  Shorabi, 2020-4 KHC 53; 2020-4 KLT 629, the Kerala High Court answered the question with reference to Order VII Rule 3 CPC.  It is held as under:

  • “4. … For claiming prescriptive right of easement, the servient heritage over which the claim is raised should be specifically and separately scheduled in the plaint so as to grant a decree in accordance with the mandate under Order VII Rule 3 CPC.”

It is difficult to single out ‘easement by prescription’ from other claims of easements (necessity, grant, etc.) in this regard.

In Kizhakke Neliyarambath Rafeek v. Thavararakkattil Choyikutty Master, 2021-5 KHC 592; 2021-5 KLT 574, it is held as under:

  • “12. On a reading of the common judgment of the first appellate court dated 18.6.2019, this Court is of the view that the court correctly analysed the points for consideration in the impugned judgment. The first appellate court mainly arrived at the following conclusions:-
  • …. The pathway claimed by the plaintiff therein alone is scheduled as schedule ‘B’. In a suit for easement right, the servient heritage and dominant heritage must be shown in the plaint as separate schedules.”

End Note:

Order VII Rule 3 CPC reads as under:

  • 3. Where the subject-matter of the suit is immovable property. Where the subject-matter of the suit is immovable property, the plaint shall contain a description of the property sufficient to identify it, and, in case such property can be identified by boundaries or numbers in a record of settlement or survey, the plaint shall specify such boundaries or numbers.

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