Saji Koduvath, Advocate, Kottayam.
Abstract
- The answer is that such claims are mutually destructive and defeat each other.
- However, in cases involving alternative pleadings of ‘title’ and ‘adverse possession’, it appears that our Apex Court tends to favour the doctrine of ‘mutual inconsistency’ over ‘mutual destructiveness’— perhaps as a pragmatic approach to manage and circumvent the inherent complexities arising from conventional pleading practices in such matters.
Introduction
The plea on claim of title and that on adverse possession are inherently contradictory and cannot logically coexist within the same suit, as they originate from fundamentally different legal premises.
The simultaneous assertion of both claims would be akin to advancing the following two mutually exclusive assertions:
- (i) “I lawfully own the property.”
- (ii) “I do not own it lawfully, but I have acquired title by possessing it unlawfully for a sufficient period to attract the doctrine of adverse possession.”
Origin and Nature of Enjoyment Make Certain Dual Pleas Inconsistent
In Kerala State v. Brijit (A. Hariprasad, J.), ILR 2018-2 (Ker) 483; 2018-2 KHC 521; 2018-2 KLT(SN) 53, it is pointed out as under:
- “53. As we all know, there are certain claims which are mutually inconsistent and exclusive, like
- easement by prescription and easement of necessity,
- ownership and easement,
- lease and license, etc.
- In the case of easement by prescription and easement of necessity, origin of the rights are entirely different. Easement right by prescription arises by proving the ingredients under Section 15 of the Easements Act, 1882, whereas a claim for easement of necessity, under Section 13, essentially arises out of severance of the tenements by transfer, partition or bequest. It is therefore clear that they cannot be claimed together as they originate from different sources.
- Likewise, easement and ownership cannot be claimed together for the reason that easement is a right not claimable on one’s own property going by the definition in Section 4 of the Easements Act.
- Lease and license also cannot be claimed together because a lease is a transfer of property falling within the provisions of the TP Act and a license is in the nature of a permission granted to one person for doing something in or upon the immovable property of the grantor, under the provisions of Section 52 of the Easements Act, which does not involve a transfer of property. Such incompatible rights originate from different sources and, therefore, nature of their enjoyment also would be different.”
The pleas of title and adverse possession are based on fundamentally different legal principles that cannot coincide without inherent contradiction.
- Government of Kerala v. Joseph, AIR 2023 SC 3988,
- Karnataka Board of Wakf v. Government of India, AIR 2004 SC 2096; 2004-10 SCC 779,
- P. T. Munichikkanna Reddy v. Revamma, AIR 2007 SC 1753; 2007-6 SCC 59 (S.B. Sinha, J.);
- Narasamma v. A. Krishnappa, AIR 2020 SC 4178; 2020-15 SCC 218.
See also:
- Prabhakar Gones Prabhu Navelkar v. Saradchandra Suria Prabhu Navelkar, 2020-20 SCC 465
- T. Ravi v. B. Chinna Narasimha, 2017-7 SCC 342,
- L.N. Aswathama v. V.P. Prakash, 2009-13 SCC 229 (R.V. Raveendran, J.),
- Arundhati Mishra v. Shri Ram Charita Pandey, (1994) 2 SCC 29.
‘Mutually Destructive‘ Pleas Cannot Co-exist
When these two propositions are presented in a party’s pleadings that contradict or destroy each other, and both cannot be true simultaneously, they are considered “mutually destructive”. Such inconsistency renders both pleas unreliable, and consequently, both are liable to be rejected. Example:
- 1. Claim of title and adverse possession.
- 2. Claim of title and benefits under Section 60(b) Easements Act.
- 3. Easement by prescription and easement of necessity.
- 4. Ownership and easement.
In Vimal Chand Ghevarchand Jain v. Ramakant Eknath Jajoo, 2009-5 SCC 713 (S.B. Sinha, Dr. Mukundakam Sharma, JJ.), it is held as under:
- “Pleadings of the parties, it is trite, are required to be read as a whole. Defendants, although are entitled to raise alternative and inconsistent plea but should not be permitted to raise pleas which are mutually destructive of each other.”
The Supreme Court in Steel Authority of India Ltd v. Union of India, AIR 2006 SC 3229, 2006-12 SCC 233, (S.B. Sinha, Dalveer Bhandari) held as under:
- “To raise such a mutually destructive plea is impermissible in law. Such mutually destructive plea, in our opinion, should not be allowed to be raised even in an industrial adjudication. Common law principles of estoppel, waiver and acquiescence are applicable in an industrial adjudication.”
In Damodhar Narayan Sawale v. Tejrao Bajirao Mhaske, AIR 2023 SC 3319; it is pointed out as under:
- “Contextually, it is apposite to state that though in a suit a defendant is entitled to raise alternative inconsistent plea he could not be permitted to raise pleas which are mutually destructive of each other and raising such pleas would only work out to his detriment.”
In Gautam Sarup v. Leela Jetly, 2008-7 SCC 85 (V.S. Sirpurkar, S.B. Sinha, JJ.) it is held as under:
- “22. What, therefore, emerges from the discussions made hereinbefore is that a categorical admission cannot be resiled from but, in a given case, it may be explained or clarified. Offering explanation in regard to an admission or explaining away the same, however, would depend upon the nature and character thereof. It may be that a defendant is entitled to take an alternative plea. Such alternative pleas, however, cannot be mutually destructive of each other.” (Quoted in: Biswanath Agarwalla v. Sabitri Bera, 2009-15 SCC 693)
In Biswanath Agarwalla v. Sabitri Bera, 2009-15 SCC 693 (Deepak Verma, S.B. Sinha JJ.), pointed out as under:
- “A defendant, as is well known, may raise inconsistent pleas so long as they are not mutually destructive.“
Following cases also dealt with ‘mutually destructive’ pleas:
- Steel Authority of India Ltd v. Union of India, AIR 2006 SC 3229, 2006-12 SCC 233
- Damodhar Narayan Sawale v. Tejrao Bajirao Mhaske, AIR 2023 SC 3319
- Vimal Chand Ghevarchand Jain v. Ramakant Eknath Jajoo, 2009-5 SCC 713
- Narayan Sawale v. Tejrao Bajirao Mhaske, AIR 2023 SC 3319
- Biswanath Agarwalla v. Sabitri Bera, 2009-15 SCC 693
- Gautam Sarup v. Leela Jetly, 2008-7 SCC 85.
Read Also:
Time to Choose and Confine to One of the Alternative Pleadings
Different views:
- 1. Before the commencement of the trial and taking evidence.
- 2. At least at the time of arguments.
- 3. During trial.
One thing is definite – the stance on ‘election’ must have reflected in the trial.
The pleas on title and adverse possession are mutually inconsistent, and the latter does not begin to operate until the former is renounced. Therefore, the time to choose and confine to one of the alternative inconsistent pleadings is before the commencement of the trial and taking evidence, so that the opposite party may not be prejudiced (See: P. V. Abdul Majeed Haji v. Shorabi, 2020-4 KerHC 53; 2020-4 KerLT 629).
But, according to the Andhra High Court, as held in Kavitha Goud v. Nookala Sudarshan Reddy, AIR 2004 AP 326; 2004-4 ALD 324; 2004-5 ALT 293, it is ‘at least at the time of arguments‘. In this case, it is said as under:
- “It is true that a party can take inconsistent pleas, and can adduce evidence in respect of both the inconsistent pleas taken by him. But at least at the time of arguments, he must choose and confine his case to one of those pleas only, but cannot be permitted to urge the inconsistent pleas as grounds of attack or defence till the end of the lis, because the other side should know what exactly is his case.”
The Andhra High Court, in Atluri Prabhakara Rao v. Chalasani Krishna Kumari, 2017-2 ALT 240; 2017 3 ALT 785 (M. Satyanarayana Murthy, J.), observed that the time to confine to any one of the pleas is ‘during trial’. It is said as under:
- “These two pleas are inconsistent to one another. Forgery is totally distinct from the fabrication. However, the defendant may take inconsistent pleas but she has to confine to any one of the pleas during trial.”
In Kuriakose v. Varkey, 1 August, 2017, (A. Muhamed Mustaque), it is pointed out as under:
- “It is true that the defendant is entitled to take inconsistent pleas, but at the time of trial, he will have to stick on to one case.”
Plea of Title and Adverse Possession: ‘Mutually Inconsistent’
In Karnataka Board of Wakf v. Government of India, AIR 2004 SC 2096; 2004-10 SCC 779, it is held as under:
- “The pleas on title and adverse possession are mutually inconsistent, and the latter does not begin to operate until the former is renounced.”
- (Quoted in: P. T. Munichikkanna Reddy v. Revamma, AIR 2007 SC 1753; 2007-6 SCC 59 (S.B. Sinha, J.); Narasamma v. A. Krishnappa, AIR 2020 SC 4178; 2020-15 SCC 218.)
In L.N. Aswathama v. V.P. Prakash, 2009-13 SCC 229 (R.V. Raveendran, J.) also it was held that the pleas based on title and adverse possession are mutually inconsistent.
RC Lahoti J., opined in Kedar Nath v. Ram Parkash, 1997-2 AD(Del) 761; 1999-1 CLT 1; 1997-67 DLT 106, as under:
- “However, a party would be better advised to abandon one of the two inconsistent pleas before going to the trial because contradictory inconsistent pleas may lead to effect associated with the peril of Court’s confidence being denied to both. Take the case of a person in possession pleading license and adverse possession in the alternative in an effect to protect his possession.”
In L.N. Aswathama v. V.P. Prakash, 2009-13 SCC 229, it is held as under:
- “17. … The pleas based on title and adverse possession are mutually inconsistent and the latter does not begin to operate until the former is renounced. Unless the person possessing the property has the requisite animus to possess the property hostile to the title of the true owner, the period for prescription will not commence.
- 18. …When a person is in possession asserting to be the owner, even if he fails to establish his title, his possession would still be adverse to the true owner. Therefore, the two pleas put forth by the defendant in this case are not inconsistent pleas but alternative pleas available on the same facts. Therefore, the contention of the plaintiffs that the plea of adverse possession is not available to defendant is rejected.”
In Arundhati Mishra v. Shri Ram Charita Pandey, (1994) 2 SCC 29, it is held as under:
- “4. The question in this case is whether the plea of adverse possession sought to be set up by the respondent could be permitted to be raised. The pleas based on title and adverse possession are mutually inconsistent and the latter does not begin to operate until the former is renounced.”
In Om Prakash v. Bhaurao, 2022, it is held as under:
- “18. The defendants are certainly entitled to take inconsistent pleas. However, mutually destructive or exclusive pleas stand on a different pedestal. A person who has set a title in himself cannot be permitted to alternatively plea perfection of title by adverse possession. The concept of adverse possession pre-supposes that the claimant accepts the title of the adversary. Adverse possession cannot begin to operate until the claimant renounces title and accepts the title of the adversary.”
In Government of Kerala v. Joseph, AIR 2023 SC 3988, the Supreme Court has affirmed the law as under:
- “49. Claim of independent title and adverse possession at the same time amount to contradictory pleas.”
In Vidya Shanker v. Suresh Chandra, 2020-4 ADJ 547; 2020-5 AllLJ 290; 2020 142 AllLR 353; 2020 4 AWC 3430 (Sudhir Agarwal, J.) it is said as under:
- “39. In the matter of plea of adverse possession, mutually inconsistent or mutually destructive pleas must not be taken in the plaint. Whenever the plea of adverse possession is raised, it pre supposes that owner is someone else and the person taking the plea of adverse possession is not the actual owner but has perfected his title by prescription since the real owner failed to initiate any proceeding for restoring the possession within the prescribed period under the statute.”
Sudhir Agarwal, J. then pointed out as under:
- “40. In P. Periasami v. P.Periathambi, 1995 (6) SCC 523, it was said:
- “Whenever the plea of adverse possession is projected, inherent in the plea is that someone else was the owner of the property.”
- 41. In Mohan Lal v. Mirza Abdul Gaffar, (1996) 1SCC 639, the Court said:
- “As regards the first plea, it is inconsistent with the second plea. Having come into possession under the agreement, he must disclaim his right thereunder and plead and prove assertion of his independent hostile adverse possession to the knowledge of the transferor or his successor in title or interest and that the latter had acquiesced to his illegal possession during the entire period of 12 years, i.e., up to completing the period his title by prescription nec vi, nec clam, nec precario.”
- 42. In Karnataka Board of Wakf Vs. Government of India, (2004) 10 SCC 779, Court held that whenever the plea of adverse possession is projected, inherent therein is that someone else is the owner of the property. In para 12 it said:
- “The pleas on title and adverse possession are mutually inconsistent and the latter does not begin to operate until the former is renounced.”
Plea of Title and Adverse Possession: Mutually Destructive
The Kerala High Court, in P. S. George v. Balakrishnan, 2015-1 CivCC 26; ILR 2014-4 (Ker) 966; 2014-4 KHC 725; -2014-4 KLT 788, pointed out as under:
- “Put it differently, he had been enjoying the disputed property as his own property. So also, there is no pleading either recognising or acknowledging the plaintiffs as the true owners of the property. Needless to say, the element of ‘animus possidendi’ is totally absent. I have already held that alternative plea of adverse possession is unsustainable, mutually destructive and liable to be rejected.”
In Kuriakose v. Varkey, 1 August, 2017, (A. Muhamed Mustaque), it is held as under:
- “It is settled law that, claiming title in one self and claiming title by adverse possession will not go together and they are mutually exclusive and destructive to each other. It is true that the defendant is entitled to take inconsistent pleas, but at the time of trial, he will have to stick on to one case.”
In Rama Kanta Jain v. M.S. Jain, AIR 1999 (Del) 281, it was held as under:
- “18. There is another aspect of the matter. The mere fact that the defendants have come forward with a plea of adverse possession, means that they admit the plaintiff to be the true owner. For a plea of ownership on the basis of adverse possession, the first and the foremost condition is, that the property must belong to someone else other than the person pleading his title on the basis of adverse possession, In the instant case the defendants have put forward defences which are irreconcilable’ and mutually destructive and inconsistent with one another.’” (Quoted in: Anu Gupta v. Vijay Gupta, 08 Aug 2022.
In Rattan Lal v. Ragunath, 18 Aug 2023, 2023 Supreme (Del) 3938, quoting Government of Kerala v. Joseph, AIR 2023 SC 3988, it is held as under:
- “11.2. Therefore, the plea of adverse possession raised by the Appellants as a new plea in first appeal is inconsistent with the case setup in the written statement and the trial. In law, the Appellants are precluded from taking the said plea in view of the decision of the Coordinate Bench of this Court in Bharat Bhushan Jain & Anr. v. UOI & Ors., 2014 SCC OnLine Del 3577, wherein this Court has held that the plea of ownership by title and adverse ownership cannot be raised together being inconsistent and mutually destructive. The plea of adverse possession is a question of fact and cannot be raised in appeal only on the basis of prolonged possession of suit property in the absence of the proof of the other ingredients necessary for proving the said defence including the fact that the possession was hostile to the true owner of the property.”
No Impediment in ‘Claiming’ Ownership and Adverse Possession
In Kerala State v. Brijit, ILR 2018-2 (Ker) 483; 2018-2 KHC 521; 2018-2 KLT(SN) 53, emphasised that there is no impediment in ‘claiming’ ownership and, in the alternative, a prescriptive title to it by adverse possession. The learned Judge stressed his point as under:
- “54. … Exclusive possession of the thing owned and the right to exclude others from possession are two essential components in the bundle of rights called “title” or “ownership”. In other words, every owner has a right to possess property in exclusion of all the others. Every person holding property under a claim of adverse possession keeps possession of the same with a hostile animus to exclude all others, including the true owner. Therefore, both in a claim of ownership and adverse possession, assertive possession is an essential component. In the case of a person claiming adverse title by prescription, he must have been holding possession with an open hostile animus for the prescribed period. Therefore, I find no reason to think that there is any impediment in claiming ownership of property and in the alternative, a prescriptive title to it by adverse possession and limitation.”
Mutually Destructive Pleas Cannot be Permitted
In Mrs. Adarsh Kaur Gill v. Smt. Surjit Kaur Gill, FAO(OS) No.634/2009, decided on 15th January, 2009, it is held as under:
- “13. The plea of ownership by way of adverse possession now sought to be taken is found to be mutually destructive to the plea of possession as co-owner, as a subrogatee-mortgagee in possession and as a tenant. The Supreme Court in L.M. Aswathama v. P. Prakash, MANU/SC/1222/2009 has also held that pleas based on title and adverse possession are mutually destructive; adverse possession does not begin to operate until title is renounced; unless the person possessing the property has the requisite animus to possess the property hostile to the title of the true owner, the period of prescription will not commence.” (Quoted in: Rishi Rathi v. Rishi Rathi, AIR 2022 (Del)(NOC) 585; Kewal Kishan v. Delhi Development Authority, 2013-137 DRJ 267)
In Combi v. K. S. Ramachandran, 2021-6 KerHC 790; 2021-6 KerLT 379, it is held as under:
- “3. The contention of tenancy right and adverse possession is mutually destructive and hence cannot be sustained. The tenancy right claimed was rejected by the Land Tribunal on a reference under Section 125 of the KLR Act due to lack of evidence. Nothing was brought to the notice of this court regarding any acceptable proof or evidence showing any existing tenancy right. As discussed earlier, the claim of adverse possession is mutually destructive and inconsistent, hence cannot be sustained.”
In Radheshyam Pathak v. Kanhaiyaa Gond, 2021, it is held as under:
- “Plea of title and adverse possession, both, are mutually destructive plea and inconsistent as well. Therefore, the defendants cannot be permitted to raise mutually destructive plea.”
In Laxmi Narain v. Kartar Singh, 2021-1 LawHerald 322; 2021-2 RCR(Civ) 780, it is held as under:
- “In the case titled Rama Kanta Jain v. M.S. Jain. Delhi High Court, 1999(2) RCR (Civil) page 685, it has been laid down that a person who traces his possession to a lawful title can never become an owner by adverse possession. The mere fact that the respondent has come forward with a plea of adverse possession means that he admits the appellant to be true owner. For a plea of ownership on the basis of adverse possession, the first and foremost condition is that the property must belong to someone else other than the person pleading his title. In the instant case, the respondent has put forward the defences which are irreconcilable and mutually destructive and inconsistent with one another.”
In Krishna Chandra v. Sarju Dei 2020-7 ADJ 416; 2020-5 AllLJ 363, it is held as under:
- “34. Besides, alternative plea may be permissible, but mutually destructive pleas are not permissible. The defendants may raise inconsistent pleas so long as they are not mutually destructive as held in Biswanath Agarwalla v. Sabitri Bera. [JT 2009 (10) SC 538].
- 35. In Gautam Sarup v. Leela Jetly, [(2008) 7 SCC 85] the Court said that a defendant is entitled to take an alternative plea but such alternative pleas, however, cannot be mutually destructive of each other.”
No Adverse Possession Without Admitting Title of Real Owner
In Nand Ram v. Jagdish Prasad, AIR 2020 SC 1884; (2020) 9 SCC 393, it was pointed out by the Apex Court :
- “The question of adverse possession without admitting the title of the real owner is not tenable.”
Our Apex Court, in Ayodhya case Judgment, M Siddiq v. Mahant Suresh Das, 2020-1 SCC 1, it is held as under:
- “747. A plea of adverse possession is founded on the acceptance that ownership of the property vests in another against whom the claimant asserts a possession adverse to the title of the other.”
This principle is laid down in the following decisions also:
- The State of Haryana v. Amin Lal, 2024-4 CurCC(SC) 222,
- Kurella Naga Druva Vudaya Bhaskara Rao v. Galla Jani Kamma, (2008) 15 SCC 150,
- Uttam Chand v. Nathu Ram, 2020-11 SCC 263, AIR 2020 SC 461.
Conclusion
The law is well settled:
- Mutually destructive pleas cannot co-exist.
- If a party to the suit raises mutually inconsistent (but not mutually destructive) pleas, he must elect and confine himself to one in the trial.
With respect to alternative pleadings of title and adverse possession, there remains a divergence in judicial opinion on one key issue:
- whether the alternative pleadings of ‘title and adverse possession’ are to be regarded as ‘mutually inconsistent’ or ‘mutually destructive’.
The fundamental difference in the origin of the rights, the claim of title and adverse possession cannot coexist in the same case. One is destructive to the other, also. Because, it involves two inherently contradictory pleas:
- (i) “I own the lawful owner of the property”, and
- (ii) “I do not own it lawfully; the true owner is someone else’’.
Therefore, the simple and clear answer is that such claims are, for obvious reasons, mutually destructive and defeat each other.
- However, in cases involving alternative pleadings of ‘title’ and ‘adverse possession’, it appears that our Apex Court tends to favour the doctrine of ‘mutual inconsistency’ over ‘mutual destructiveness’— perhaps as a pragmatic approach to manage and circumvent the inherent complexities arising from conventional pleading practices in such matters.
While courts may show some leniency in permitting divergent pleas at the trial stage, appellate courts generally do not entertain a position that contradicts the stance previously ‘elected’ or opted at trial.
End Notes:
Sec. 11 Civil Procedure Code, 1908, reads as under:
- Res Judicata -No Court shall try any suit or issue in which the matter directly and substantially in issue has been directly and substantially in issue in a former suit between the same parties, or between parties under whom they or any of them claim, litigating under the same title, in a Court competent to try such subsequent suit or the suit in which such issue has been subsequently raised, and has been heard and finally decided by such Court.
- Explanation I– The expression “former suit” shall denote a suit which has been decided prior to the suit in question whether or not it was instituted prior thereto.
- Explanation II.- For the purposes of this section, the competence of a Court shall be determined irrespective of any provisions as to a right of appeal from the decision of such Court.
- Explanation III.- The matter above referred to must in the former suit have been alleged by one party and either denied or admitted, expressly or impliedly, by the other.
- Explanation IV.- Any matter which might and ought to have been made ground of defence or attack in such former suit shall be deemed to have been a matter directly and substantially in issue in such suit.
- Explanation V.- Any relief claimed in the plaint, which is not expressly granted by the decree, shall, for the purposes of this section, be deemed to have been refused.
- Explanation VI– Where persons litigate bona fide in respect of public right or of a private right claimed in common for themselves and others, all persons interested in such right shall, for the purposes of this section, be deemed to claim under the persons so litigating.
- Explanation VII.- The provisions of this section shall apply to a proceeding for the execution of a decree and reference in this section to any suit, issue or former suit shall be construed as references, respectively, to proceedings for the execution of the decree, question arising in such proceeding and a former proceeding for the execution of that decree.
- Explanation VIII.-An issue heard and finally decided by a Court of limited jurisdiction, competent to decide such issue, shall operate as res judicata in as subsequent suit, notwithstanding that such Court of limited jurisdiction was not competent to try such subsequent suit or the suit in which such issue has been subsequently raised.
How to Subscribe ‘IndianLawLive’? Click here – “How to Subscribe free “
Read in this cluster (Click on the topic):
Civil Suits: Procedure & Principles
Book No, 1 – Civil Procedure Code
- Time City Infrastructure and Housing Ltd v. State of UP: Non-Compliance in taking Postal Steps – Court Should Vacate the Ad-Interim Injunction Order
- “Due Process of Law” in Civil Suits
- Can a suit be Rejected (Order VII rule 11 CPC) on the Ground of Res Judicata?
- Operation Asha v. Shelly Batra, a Landmark Judgment on Sec. 92 CPC– Critical Appreciation
- If a Sharer Dies & the LRs are Not Impleaded – Partition Suit as a Whole Abates. But the Court SHOULD Direct Either Side to Take Steps to Bring in the Legal Heirs
- Order IX Rule 9 CPC: Earlier Suit for Injunction; Subsequent Suit for Recovery & Injunction – No Bar
- H. Anjanappa v. A. Prabhakar: An ‘Aggrieved’ Stranger or a ‘Prejudicially Affected’ Third-Party (also) Can File Appeal with the ‘Leave of the Court’.
- Replication, Rejoinder and Amendment of Pleadings
- Can a Suit be Withdrawn in Appeal, on the Ground that Appeal is Continuation of the Suit?
- Does Registration of a Document give Notice to the Whole World?
- Suit under Sec. 6, Specific Relief Act – Is it a ‘Summary Suit’ under Order XXXVII CPC?
- Is it Mandatory to Lift the Attachment on Dismissal of the Suit? Will the Attachment Orders Get Revived on Restoration of Suit?
- Will Interlocutory Orders and Applications Get Revived on Restoration of Suit?
- Can an ‘Ex-parte’ Defendant Cross Examine Plaintiff’s Witness?
- Proof on ‘Truth of Contents’ of Documents, in Indian Evidence Act
- Civil Rights and Jurisdiction of Civil Courts
- Res Judicata and Constructive Res Judicata
- Res Judicata and Judicial Precedent
- No Res judicata on Finding on Title in an Injunction Suit
- Order II, Rule 2 CPC – Not to Vex Defendants Twice
- A Land Mark Decision on Order II rule 2, CPC – Cuddalore Powergen Corporation Ltd. v. Chemplast Cuddalore Vinyls Ltd., Neutral Citation: 2025 INSC 73
- Order I rule 8, CPC (Representative Suit) When and How? Whether Order I rule 8 Decree is Enforceable in Execution?
- Pleadings Should be Specific; Why?
- Pleadings in Defamation Suits
- Previous Owner is Not a Necessary Party in a Recovery Suit
- UNDUE INFLUENCE and PLEADINGS thereof in Indian Law
- PLEADINGS IN ELECTION MATTERS
- Declaration and Injunction
- Law on Summons to Defendants and Witnesses
- Notice to Produce Documents in Civil Cases
- Production of Documents: Order 11, Rule 14 & Rule 12
- Sec. 91 CPC and Suits Against Wrongful Acts
- Remedies Under Sec. 92 CPC
- Mandatory Injunction – Law and Principles
- INJUNCTION is a ‘Possessory Remedy’ in Indian Law
- Interrogatories: When Court Allows, When Rejects?
- Decree in OI R8 CPC-Suit & Eo-Nomine Parties
- Pecuniary & Subject-Matter Jurisdiction of Civil Courts
- Transfer of Property with Conditions & Contingent Interests
- Doctrine of Substantial Representation in a Suit by or against an Association
- Who are Necessary Parties, Proper Parties and Pro Forma Parties in Suits
- What is Partnership, in Law? How to Sue a Firm?
- ‘Legal Representatives’, Not ‘Legal Heirs’ to be Impleaded on Death of Plaintiff/Defendant
- Powers and Duties of Commissioners to Make Local Investigations, Under CPC
- Burden of Proof – Initial Burden and Shifting Onus
- Burden on Plaintiff to Prove Title; Weakness of Defence Will Not Entitle a Decree
- Is it Mandatory to Set Aside the Commission Report – Where a Second Commissioner is Appointed?
- Can a Commission be Appointed to Find Out the Physical Possession of a Property?
- Withholding Evidence and Adverse Inference
- Pendente Lite Transferee Cannot Resist or Obstruct Execution of a Decree
- Family Settlement or Family Arrangement in Law
- ‘Possessory Title’ in Indian Law
- Will Findings of a Civil Court Outweigh Findings of a Criminal Court?
- Relevancy of Civil Case Judgments in Criminal Cases
- Waiver and Promissory Estoppel
- Can a Christian Adopt? Will an adopted child get share in the property of adoptive parents?
- Principles of Equity in Indian Law
- Thangam v. Navamani Ammal: Did the Supreme Court lay down – Written Statements which deal with each allegation specifically, but not “para-wise”, are vitiated?
- No Criminal Case on a Dispute Essentially Civil in Nature.
- Doctrine of Substantial Representation in Suits
- Order I rule 8, CPC (Representative Suit) When and How? Whether Order I rule 8 Decree is Enforceable in Execution?
- Appointment of Guardian for Persons Suffering from Disability or Illness: Inadequacy of Law – Shame to Law Making Institutions
- Can Documents be Marked In Cross Examination, If Witness Admits Them?
Principles and Procedure
- Relevancy of a Civil Case Judgment in Criminal Cases: Does a Civil Court Judgment Bind a Criminal Court?
- When can (i) a ‘Victim’ File an Appeal in a Criminal Case and (ii) an ‘Aggrieved Person’ File an Appeal in a Civil Case?
- Asian Paints Limited v. Ram Babu, 2025 INSC 828 – ‘Victim’ Can File an Appeal in a Criminal Case
- BURDEN of PROOF: Initial Burden and Shifting the Onus in Indian and English Law
- H. Anjanappa v. A. Prabhakar: An ‘Aggrieved’ Stranger or a ‘Prejudicially Affected’ Third-Party (also) Can File Appeal with the ‘Leave of the Court’.
- Our Courts Apply Different ‘STANDADARDS of Proof’
- Ratio Decidendi (alone) Forms a Precedent, Not a Final Order
- BNSS – Major Changes from CrPC
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023: Important Changes from the Indian Penal Code
- Substantive Rights and Mistakes & Procedural Defects in Judicial Proceedings
- Can Documents be Marked In Cross Examination, If Witness Admits Them?
- Will Boundaries of Properties (Always) Preferred Over Survey Number, Extent, Side Measurements, etc.?
- All Illegal Agreements are Void; but All Void Agreements are Not Illegal
- Doctrines on Ultra Vires, Rule of Law, Judicial Review, Nullification of Mandamus, and Removing the BASIS of the Judgment
- Can an ‘Ex-parte’ Defendant Cross Examine Plaintiff’s Witness?
- Will – Probate and Letters of Administration
- Appreciation of Evidence by Court and ‘Preponderance of Probabilities’ & ‘Probative Value of Evidence
- Effect of Not Cross-Examining a Witness & Effect of Not Facing Complete Cross-Examination by the Witness
- Suggestions & Admissions by Counsel, in Cross Examination to Witnesses
- Admission by itself Cannot Confer Title
- Best Evidence Rule in Indian Law
- Declaration and Injunction
- Pleadings Should be Specific; Why?
- Does Alternate Remedy Bar Civil Suits and Writ Petitions?
- Void, Voidable, Ab Initio Void, and Sham Transactions
- Can Courts Award Interest on Equitable Grounds?
- Natural Justice – Not an Unruly Horse
- Krishnadatt Awasthy v. State Of M.P, 29 January, 2025 – Law on Natural Justice Revisited
- ‘Sound-mind’ and ‘Unsound-Mind’
- Prescriptive Rights – Inchoate until the Title thereof is Upheld by a Competent Court
- ‘Title’ and ‘Ownership’ in Indian Law
- Can a Party to Suit Examine Opposite Party, as of Right?
- Forfeiture of Earnest Money and Reasonable Compensation
- Doctrine of ‘Right to be Forgotten’ in Indian Law
- Proof on ‘Truth of Contents’ of Documents, in Indian Evidence Act
- Cheating and Breach of Contract: Distinction – Fraudulent Intention at the time of Promise.
- Declaration of Title & Recovery of Possession: Art. 65, not Art. 58, Limitation Act Governs
- What is COGNIZANCE and Application of Mind by a Magistrate?
- Shri Mukund Bhavan Trust v. Shrimant Chhatrapati Udayan Raje Pratapsinh Maharaj Bhonsle: Rejection of Plaint on ‘Bar of Limitation’ on Plea of Fraud.
- Pradeep Nirankarnath Sharma v. The State of Gujarat: The Police have No Discretion to conduct a Preliminary Inquiry Before Registering an FIR in Cognizable Offences
PROPERTY LAW
Title, ownership and Possession
- ‘Nemo Dat Quod Non Habet’
- Section 27, Limitation Act Gives-Rise to a Substantive Right so as to Seek Declaration and Recovery
- Sale Deeds Without Consideration – Void
- Tenancy at Sufferance in Indian Law
- “Due Process of Law” in Civil Suits
- Revenue Settlement Registers of Travancore in 1910, Basic Record of Land matters
- Recovery of Possession:
- Recovery of Possession Based on Title and on Earlier Possession
- Declaration of Title & Recovery of Possession: Art. 65, not Art. 58, Limitation Act Governs
- Title and Ownership and Possessory Title in Indian Law
- Does Registration of a Document give Notice to the Whole World?
- Admission by itself Cannot Confer Title
- POSSESSION is a Substantive Right in Indian Law
- 22nd Law Commission Report on ‘Law on Adverse Possession’
- Adverse Possession Against Government
- Government of Kerala v. Joseph – Law on Adverse Possession Against Government
- Should the Government Prove Title in Recovery Suits
- How to Plead Adverse Possession? Adverse Possession: An Evolving Concept
- Adverse Possession: Burden to Plead Sabotaged
- Does ‘Abandonment’ Give rise to a Recognised Right in Indian Law?
- When ‘Possession Follows Title’; ‘Title Follows Possession’?
- Ultimate Ownership of All Property Vests in State; It is an Incident of Sovereignty.
- ‘Mutation’ by Revenue Authorities & Survey will not Confer ‘Title’
- Preemption is a Very Weak Right; For, Property Right is a Constitutional & Human Right
- Transfer of Property with Conditions & Contingent Interests
- Family Settlement or Family Arrangement in Law
- INJUNCTION is a ‘Possessory Remedy’ in Indian Law
- ‘Possessory Title’ in Indian Law
- Kesar Bai v. Genda Lal – Does Something Remain Untold?
- Grant in Law
- Termination of Tenancy (& Grant) by Forfeiture (for Claiming Title)
- Survey under Survey Act – Raises a Presumption on Boundary; though Not Confer Title
- SUIT on TITLE: Landlord can Recover Property on GENERAL TITLE (though Tenancy Not Proved) if Defendant Falsely Claimed Independent Title
- Even the Rightful Owner is NOT entitled to Eject a Trespasser, by Force
- Ryotwari System in Madras
Adverse Possession
- What is Adverse Possession in Indian Law?
- Neelam Gupta v. Rajendra Kumar Gupta (October 14, 2024) – Supreme Court Denied the Tenant’s Claim of Adverse Possession
- Adverse Possession: How to Plead Adverse Possession? Adverse Possession: An Evolving Concept
- Adverse Possession Against Government
- Adverse Possession: Burden to Plead Sabotaged
- Does ‘Abandonment’ Give rise to a Recognised Right in Indian Law?
- When ‘Possession Follows Title’; ‘Title Follows Possession’?
- Government of Kerala v. Joseph – Law on Adverse Possession Against Government
- Should the Government Prove Title in Recovery Suits
- ‘Possessory Title’ in Indian Law
- Admission by itself Cannot Confer Title
- Ouster and Dispossession in Adverse Possession
- Declaration of Title & Recovery of Possession: Art. 65, not Art. 58, Limitation Act Governs
- Mallavva v. Kalsammanavara Kalamma, 2024 INSC 1021, Composite Suit (Cancellation & Recovery) – Substantive Relief Determines Limitation
- The Laws of ‘Doctrine of Election’ and ‘Doctrine of Waiver’
Land Laws/ Transfer of Property Act
- Bona Fide Purchaser for Value Deserves Stronger Equity than a Prior Contract Holder
- Travancore Royal Pattom Proclamations of 1040 (1865 AD) and 1061 (1886 AD), And 1922 Devaswom Proclamation
- Revenue Settlement Registers of Travancore in 1910, Basic Record of Land matters
- Tenancy at Sufferance in Indian Law
- Freehold Property in Law
- What is Patta or Pattayam?
- Does ‘Pandaravaka Pattom’ in Kerala Denote Full-Ownership?
- Transfer of Property with Conditions & Contingent Interests
- Previous Owner is Not a Necessary Party in a Recovery Suit
- Recovery of Possession Based on Title and on Earlier Possession
- Vested Remainder and Contingent Remainder
- Vested interest and Contingent Interest
- Ultimate Ownership of All Property Vests in State; It is an Incident of Sovereignty.
- Land Acquired Cannot be Returned – Even if it is Not Used for the Purpose Acquired
- ‘Mutation’ by Revenue Authorities & Survey will not Confer ‘Title’
- FERA, 1973 And Transfer of Immovable Property by a Foreigner
- Marumakkathayam – A System of Law and Way of Life Prevailed in Kerala
- Land Tenures, and History of Land Derivation, in Kerala
- Glen Leven Estate v. State of Kerala: Not Correctly Decided?
- Sale Deeds Without Consideration – Void
- Law on SUCCESSION CERTIFICATE and LEGAL HEIRSHIP CERTIFICATE
- Sec. 7 Easements Act – Natural Advantages Arising from the Situation of Land & Natural Flow of Water
- Grant in Law
- Should the Government Prove Title in Recovery Suits
- Survey under Survey Act – Raises a Presumption on Boundary; though Not Confer Title
Land Reform Laws
- Plantation-Tenants Not Approached The Land Tribunal are Ineligible for Plantation-Exemption-Orders from the Land Board
- Acquisition of (Exempted) Plantation Property: Should the Govt. Pay Full Land Value to Land Owners?
- Relevant provisions of Kerala Land Reforms Act in a Nutshell
- Land Tenures, and History of Land Derivation, in Kerala
- Should the Government Prove Title in Recovery Suits
- ‘Janmam’ Right is FREEHOLD Interest and ‘Estate’ in Constitution – By Royal Proclamation of 1899, The Travancore Sircar became Janmi of Poonjar Raja’s Land
- Government is the OWNER of (Leasehold) Plantation Lands in Kerala.
- Glen Leven Estate v. State of Kerala: Not Correctly Decided?
- Law on Acquisition of Private Plantation Land in Kerala
- Plantation Exemption in Kerala Land Reforms Act–in a Nutshell
- Kerala Land Reforms Act – Provisions on Plantation-Tenancy and Land-Tenancy
- Grant in Law
- Balanoor Plantations & Industries Ltd. v. State of Kerala – Based on the Principle: LT to fix Tenancy’; TLB to Fix Plantation Exemption.
- 1910 Settlement Register of Travancore – Basic Record of Land Matters
Power of attorney
- M.S. Ananthamurthy v. J. Manjula: Mere Word ‘Irrevocable’ Does Not Make a POWER OF ATTORNEY Irrevocable
- Can a Power of Attorney file a Civil Suit? Is there any bar by virtue of Manisha Mahendra Gala v. Shalini Bhagwan Avatramani, 2024-6 SCC 130?
- No Adjudication If Power of Attorney is Sufficiently Stamped
- Notary Attested Power-of-Attorney Sufficient for Registration
- Notary-Attested Documents and Presumptions
- Permission when a Power of Attorney Holder Files Suit
- If Power of Attorney himself Executes the Document, S. 33 Registration Act will NOT be attracted
- Should a Power of Attorney for Sale must have been Registered –
- Is Registered Power of Attorney Necessary for Registration of a Deed? No.
Evidence Act – General
- Newspaper Reports are ‘Hearsay Secondary Evidence’
- Major Changes in the Evidence Act by Bhartiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023
- Sec. 27 Recovery/Discovery in Evidence Act and Bhartiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023
- Evidence in Court – General Principles
- Expert Evidence and Appreciation of Evidence
- Handwriting Expert Evidence: Relevant, But Merely an Opinion
- How to Contradict a Witness under Sec. 145, Evidence Act
- Withholding Evidence and Adverse Inference
- Best Evidence Rule in Indian Law
- What is Collateral Purpose?
- Burden of Proof – Initial Burden and Shifting Onus
- Appreciation of Evidence by Court and ‘Preponderance of Probabilities’ & ‘Probative Value of Evidence
- Effect of Not Cross-Examining a Witness & Effect of Not Facing Complete Cross Examination by the Witness
- Suggestions & Admissions by Counsel, in Cross Examination to Witnesses
- Proof of Documents – Admission, Expert Evidence, Presumption etc.
- Public Documents: Proof and Presumption
- Admission by itself Cannot Confer Title
- How to Prove a Will, in Court?Is Presumption enough to Prove a Registered Will?
- Significance of Scientific Evidence in Judicial Process
- Polygraphy, Narco Analysis and Brain Mapping Tests
- What is Section 27 Evidence Act – Recovery or Discovery?
- How ‘Discovery’ under Section 27, Evidence Act, Proved?
- Pictorial Testimony Theory and Silent Witnesses Theory
- Sec. 35 Evidence Act: Presumption of Truth and Probative Value
- Proof on ‘Truth of Contents’ of Documents, in Indian Evidence Act
Sec. 65B
- Hash Value Certificate – Mandatory or Directory
- Sakshya Adhiniyam (Literally) Mandates Hashing the Original. But the Established Jurisprudence Requires Hashing the Copy.
- Sec. 27 Recovery/Discovery in Evidence Act and Bhartiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023
- Sec. 65B (Electronic Records) and Bhartiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023
- Sec. 65B, Evidence Act: Arjun Paditrao Criticised.
- Sec. 65B Evidence Act Simplified
- ‘STATEMENTS’ alone can be proved by ‘CERTIFICATE’ u/s. 65B
- Sec. 65B, Evidence Act: Certificate forms
- Certificate is Required Only for ‘Computer Output’; Not for ‘Electronic Records’: Arjun Panditrao Explored.
- How to Prove ‘Whatsap Messages’, ‘Facebook’ and ‘Website’ in Courts?
Admission, Relevancy and Proof
- ‘Admission’ in Indian Law
- Relevancy, Admissibility and Proof of Documents
- Handwriting Expert Evidence: Relevant, But Merely an Opinion
- Admission of Documents in Evidence on ‘Admission’
- Admission by itself Cannot Confer Title
- Judicial Admissions in Pleadings: Admissible Proprio Vigore Against the Maker
- Document Exhibited in the Writ Petition as ‘True Copy’ – Can it be Used in a Civil Suit as ‘Admission’?
- Modes of Proof of Documents
- Proof of Documents & Objections To Admissibility – How & When?
- Should Objection to Marking Documents be Raised When it is Admitted; Is it Enough to Challenge them in Cross-Examination?
- Burden of Proof – Initial Burden and Shifting Onus
- Burden on Plaintiff to Prove Title; Weakness of Defence Will Not Entitle a Decree
- Appreciation of Evidence by Court and ‘Preponderance of Probabilities’ & ‘Probative Value of Evidence
- Production, Admissibility & Proof Of Documents
- Proof of Documents – Admission, Expert Evidence, Presumption etc.
- Marking Documents Without Objection – Do Contents Proved
- Can Documents be Marked In Cross Examination, If Witness Admits Them?
- Substantive Documents, and Documents used for Refreshing Memory and Contradicting
- Oral Evidence on Contents of Document, Irrelevant
- Proof on ‘Truth of Contents’ of Documents, in Indian Evidence Act
- Relevancy of Civil Case Judgments in Criminal Cases
- Prem Raj v. Poonamma Menon (SC), April 2, 2024 – An Odd Decision on ‘Civil Court Judgment does not Bind Criminal Court’
Law on Documents
- Public Documents: Proof and Presumption
- Public Documents Admissible Without Formal Proof
- Admitted Documents – Can the Court Refrain from Marking, for no Formal Proof?
- Does Registration of a Document give Notice to the Whole World?
- Production, Admissibility & Proof Of Documents
- Relevancy, Admissibility and Proof of Documents
- Admission of Documents in Evidence on ‘Admission’
- Effect of Marking Documents Without Objection – Do Contents Stand Proved?
- Time Limit for Registration of Documents
- Registration of Documents Executed out of India
- How to Prove a Will, in Court?Is Presumption enough to Prove a Registered Will?
- Are RTI Documents Admissible in Evidence as ‘Public Documents’?
- Oral Evidence on Contents of Document, Irrelevant
- Proof of Documents & Objections To Admissibility – How & When?
- Notary-Attested Documents and Presumptions
- What is Collateral Purpose?
- No Application Needed for Filing or Admitting Copy
- Presumptions on Documents and Truth of Contents
- Presumptions on Registered Documents & Truth of Contents
- Notice to Produce Documents in Civil Cases
- Production of Documents: Order 11, Rule 14 & Rule 12
- Modes of Proof of Documents
- Secondary Evidence of Documents & Objections to Admissibility – How & When?
- Should Objection to Marking Documents be Raised When it is Admitted; Is it Enough to Challenge them in Cross-Examination?
- 30 Years Old Documents and Presumption of Truth of Contents, under Sec. 90 Evidence Act
- Unstamped & Unregistered Documents and Collateral Purpose
- Adjudication as to Proper Stamp under Stamp Act
- Marking Documents Without Objection – Do Contents Proved
- Cancellation of Sale Deeds and Settlement Deeds & Powers of Sub-Registrar in cancelling Deeds
- Cancellation, Avoidance or Declaration of a Void or Voidable Deed
- Can the True Owner Seek Cancellation of a Deed, Executed by a Stranger to the Property
- Substantive Documents, and Documents used for Refreshing Memory and Contradicting
- How to Contradict a Witness under Sec. 145, Evidence Act
- Visual and Audio Evidence (Including Photographs, Cassettes, Tape-recordings, Films, CCTV Footage, CDs, e-mails, Chips, Hard-discs, Pen-drives)
- Pictorial Testimony Theory and Silent Witnesses Theory
- No Adjudication Needed If Power of Attorney is Sufficiently Stamped
- Can an Unregistered Sale Agreement be Used for Specific Performance
- Impounding of Documents – When Produced; Cannot Wait Till it is Exhibited
- Sec. 35 Evidence Act: Presumption of Truth and Probative Value
- How to Prove Resolutions of a Company; Are Minutes Necessary?
Documents – Proof and Presumption
- Handwriting Expert Evidence: Relevant, But Merely an Opinion
- Public Documents: Proof and Presumption
- Can the Court Refuse to Mark a (Relevant and Admissible) Document, for (i) there is No Formal Proof or (ii) it is a Photocopy?
- Marking of Photocopy and Law on Marking Documents on Admission (Without Formal Proof)
- Proof of Documents – Admission, Expert Evidence, Presumption etc.
- Proof on ‘Truth of Contents’ of Documents, in Indian Evidence Act
- Modes of Proof of Documents
- ‘Admission’ in Indian Law
- Marking Documents Without Objection – Do Contents Proved
- Proof on ‘Truth of Contents’ of Documents, in Indian Evidence Act
- Admitted Documents – Can the Court Refrain from Marking, for no Formal Proof?
- Admission of Documents in Evidence on ‘Admission’
- Effect of Marking Documents Without Objection – Do Contents Stand Proved?
- Proof of Documents & Objections To Admissibility – How & When?
- Should Objection to Marking Documents be Raised When it is Admitted; Is it Enough to Challenge them in Cross-Examination?
- Presumptions on Documents and Truth of Contents
- Presumptions on Registered Documents & Truth of Contents
- Secondary Evidence of Documents & Objections to Admissibility – How & When?
- 30 Years Old Documents and Presumption of Truth of Contents, under Sec. 90 Evidence Act
Interpretation
- Interpretation of Documents – Literal Rule, Mischief Rule and Golden Rule
- Golden Rule of Interpretation is Not the Application of Plain Meaning of the Words
- Interpretation of Wills
- Appreciation of Evidence by Court and ‘Preponderance of Probabilities’ & ‘Probative Value of Evidence
Contract Act
- Can Filing a Suit Amount to Notice of Termination of Contract
- Godrej Projects Development Limited v. Anil Karlekar, 2025 INSC 143 – Supreme Court Missed to State Something
- ‘Sound-mind’ and ‘Unsound-Mind’ in Indian Civil Laws
- Forfeiture of Earnest Money and Reasonable Compensation
- Who has to fix Damages in Tort and Contract?
- UNDUE INFLUENCE and PLEADINGS thereof in Indian Law
- All Illegal Agreements are Void; but All Void Agreements are Not Illegal
- Can an Unregistered Sale Agreement be Used for Specific Performance
- Cheating and Breach of Contract: Distinction – Fraudulent Intention at the time of Promise.
Law on Damages
- Law on Damages
- Who has to fix Damages in Tort and Contract?
- Law on Damages in Defamation Cases
- Pleadings in Defamation Suits
- Godrej Projects Development Limited v. Anil Karlekar, 2025 INSC 143 – Supreme Court Missed to State Something
Easement
- Easement Simplified
- What is Easement? Does Right of Easement Allow to ‘Enjoy’ Servient Land After Making Improvements Therein ?
- “Implied Grant” in Law of Easements
- Implied Grant: A Valid Mode of Creation of Easement under Indian Law
- “Title Thereto” in the Definition of ‘Prescriptive Easement’ in Sec. 15 of the Indian Easements Act, 1882
- Prescriptive Rights – Inchoate until the Title thereof is Upheld by a Competent Court
- Will Easement of Necessity Ripen into a Prescriptive Easement?
- What is “period ending within two years next before the institution of the suit” in Easement by Prescription?
- Is the Basis of Every Easement, Theoretically, a Grant
- Extent of Easement (Width of Way) in Easement of Necessity, Quasi Easement and Implied Grant
- Easement of Necessity and Prescriptive Easement are Mutually Destructive; But, Easement of Necessity and Implied Grant Can be Claimed Alternatively
- Can Easement of Necessity and of Grant be Claimed in a Suit (Alternatively)?
- Can an Easement-Way be Altered by the Owner of the Land?
- Village Pathways and Right to Bury are not Easements.
- Custom & Customary Easements in Indian Law
- ‘Additional Burden Loses Lateral Support’ – Incorrect Proposition
- Grant in Law
- Right of Private Way Beyond (Other Than) Easement
- Easement – Should Date of Beginning of 20 Years be pleaded?
- What is Easement, in law? Right of Easement Simplified
- One Year Interruption or Obstruction will not affect Prescriptive Easement
- Should the Plaintiff Schedule Servient Heritage in a Suit Claiming Perspective Easement?
- Necessary Parties in Suits on Easement
- Easement by Prescription – Grant or ‘Acquiring’ by “Hostile Act”
- Sec. 7 Easements Act – Natural Advantages Arising from the Situation of Land & Natural Flow of Water
- Licence and Irrevocable Licence: Section 60 Easements Act Applies only to ‘Bare Licences’ and Not to ‘Contractual Licences’
Stamp Act & Registration
- Sub-Registrar has no Authority to Ascertain whether the Vendor has Title
- Title Enquiry by the Sub Registrar is Illegal
- Cancellation of Sale Deeds and Settlement Deeds & Powers of Sub-Registrar in Cancelling Deeds
- Time-Limit For Adjudication of Unstamped Documents, before Collector
- Time Limit for Registration of Documents
- Presumptions on Registered Documents & Truth of Contents
- Registration of Documents Executed out of India
- LAW ON INSUFFICIENTLY STAMPED DOCUMENTS
- Adjudication as to Proper Stamp under Stamp Act
- Unstamped & Unregistered Documents and Collateral Purpose
- Can an Unregistered Sale Agreement be Used for Specific Performance
- Impounding of Documents, When Produced; Cannot Wait Till it is Exhibited
- No Adjudication Needed If Power of Attorney is Sufficiently Stamped
- Notary Attested Power-of-Attorney Sufficient for Registration
- What is Torrens System
Divorce/Marriage
- Presumption of Valid Marriage – If lived together for Long Spell
- Validity of Foreign Divorce Decrees in India
- Is ‘Irretrievable Brake-down of Marriage’, a Valid Ground for Divorce in India?
- Foreign Divorce Judgment against Christians having Indian Domicile
Negotiable Instruments Act
- Presumptions Regarding Consideration in Cheque Cases under the NI Act
- An Inchoate Cheque (Signed Blank Cheque or Incomplete Cheque) Cannot be Enforced Through a Court of Law Invoking Presumptions under the NI Act
- Does Cheque-Case under Sec. 138, NI Act Lie Against a Trust?
- Sec. 138 NI Act (Cheque) Cases: Presumption of Consideration u/s. 118
- Even if ‘Signed-Blank-Cheque’, No Burden on Complainant to Prove Consideration; Rebuttal can be by a Probable Defence
- “Otherwise Through an Account” in Section 142, NI Act
- Where to file Cheque Bounce Cases (Jurisdiction of Court – to file NI Act Complaint)?
- Cheque Dishonour Case against a Company, Firm or Society
- What is ‘Cognizance’ in Law
- What is COGNIZANCE and Application of Mind by a Magistrate?
Criminal
Arbitration
- Seesaw of Supreme Court in NN Global Mercantile v. Indo Unique Flame
- N.N. Global Mercantile (P) Ltd. v. Indo Unique Flame Ltd. and Ground Realities of Indian Situation
- What are Non-Arbitrable Disputes? When a Dispute is Not Referred to Arbitration in spite of Arbitration Clause
- Termination or Nullity of Contract Will Not Cease Efficacy of the Arbitration Clause
- No Valid Arbitration Agreement ‘Exists’ – Can Arbitration Clause be Invoked?
Will
- Witnesses to the Will Need Not See the Execution of the Will
- Interpretation of Wills
- Interpretation of Inconsistent Clauses in a Will
- Will – Probate and Letters of Administration
- Executors of Will – Duties & their Removal
- How to Prove a Will, in Court?Is Presumption enough to Prove a Registered Will?
- How to Write a Will? Requirements of a Valid Will
- When Execution of a Will is ‘Admitted’ by the Opposite Side, Should it be ‘Proved’?
- A Witness to Hindu-Will will not Lose Benefit
Book No. 2: A Handbook on Constitutional Issues
- Judicial & Legislative Activism in India: Principles and Instances
- Can Legislature Overpower Court Decisions by an Enactment?
- Separation of Powers: Who Wins the Race – Legislature or Judiciary?
- Kesavananda Bharati Case: Never Ending Controversy
- Mullaperiyar Dam: Disputes and Adjudication of Legal Issues
- Article 370: Is There Little Chance for Supreme Court Interference
- Maratha Backward Community Reservation: SC Fixed Limit at 50%.
- Polygraphy, Narco Analysis and Brain Mapping Tests
- CAA Challenge: Divergent Views
- FERA, 1973 And Transfer of Immovable Property by a Foreigner
- Doctrine of ‘Right to be Forgotten’ in Indian Law
- Doctrines on Ultra Vires and Removing the BASIS of the Judgment, in ED Director’s Tenure Extension Case (Dr. Jaya Thakur v. Union of India)
- Dr. Jaya Thakur v. Union of India – Mandamus (Given in a Case) Cannot be Annulled by Changing the Law
- Art. 370 – Turns the Constitution on Its Head
Religious issues
- Secularism and Art. 25 & 26 of the Indian Constitution
- Secularism & Freedom of Religion in Indian Panorama
- ‘Ban on Muslim Women to Enter Mosques, Unconstitutional’
- No Reservation to Muslim and Christian SCs/STs (Dalits) Why?
- Parsi Women – Excommunication for Marrying Outside
- Knanaya Endogamy & Constitution of India
- Sabarimala Review Petitions & Reference to 9-Judge Bench
- SABARIMALA REVIEW and Conflict in Findings between Shirur Mutt Case & Durgah Committee Case
- Ayodhya Disputes: M. Siddiq case –Pragmatic Verdict
Book No. 3: Common Law of CLUBS and SOCIETIES in India
- General
- Property & Trust
- Suits
- Amendment and Dissolution
- Rights and Management
- Election
- State Actions
Book No. 4: Common Law of TRUSTS in India
- General Principles
- Dedication and Vesting
- Trustees and Management
- Breach of Trust
- Suits by or against Trusts
- Law on Hindu Religious Endowments
- Temples, Gurudwaras, Churches and Mosques – General
- Constitutional Principles
- Ayodhya and Sabarimala Disputes
- General