# RANI BAI v. SURI YADUNANDAN RAM & ANR

- **Citation:** [1969] 3 S.C.R. 789
- **Court:** Supreme Court of India
- **Decided:** 1969-02-19
- **Case number:** Civil Appeal No. 532 of 1966
- **Bench:** J. C. Shah, V. Ramaswami, A. N. Grover
- **Source:** https://unisonlegal.in/judgment/supreme-court-of-india/rani-bai-v-suri-yadunandan-ram-anr-4642
- **Pages:** 7

## Headnote

Hindu Women's Right to Property A.ct, 1937, s. 3(2)-Righ( of predeceastd son's widow to hold father-in-law's property for maintenanctScope of.
J owned certain inherited properties and
his son
predeoeased him
leaving the appellant his widow as hi• heir and legal representative. After
the son's death, J married B in 1948. J himself died in 1950 and after
his death the first respondent claimed the properties by virtue of a gift
deed.
On this basis he obtained posse<sion of the properties from the
appellant under s. 145 Cr.P.C. in December 1962.
The appellant, together with J's widow B instituted a suit for declaration in respect of her
rights and for pos•ession of the properties. Duririg the pendency of the
suit B entered into a compromise with the first respondent giving up all
her claims. The Trial Court found that the appellant was in possession
until dispDSsessed by the first respondent un.der s. 145 Cr.P.C. and that
the respondent had illegally occupied the properties. However, the Court
non-suited the appellant on the Jiround that since her husband had died in
the life-time of I. the latter's assets devolved on his widow B who would
be his only heir. Although the District Judge allowed the first appeal and
remanded the case, a further appeal by the first respondent was allowed
by the High Court on the view that the appellant could have no interest
in the properties left by J and she could not take advantage of the provisions of s. 3(2) of the Hindu Women's Right to Properties Act, 1937
which confe'rred certain rights on the widow of a predeceased son. It
further held that the rightful claimant of the properties of J was. B alone
and owing to the comproffiise entered into by her, the first respondent was
"clothed with the same rights which were possessed by her".
On appeal to this Court,
HELD : Allowin~ the appeal : The High Court's decision must be
reversed and that of the District Judge restored.
It could not be disputed that the appellant who was the widow of the
p~e-deceased son of J was entitled to receive maintenance, so long_ as she
did. not re-m~rry. out of the estate of her father-in-law.
Althou~h her
claim for maintenance was not a charge uoon the estate until it had been
fixed and specifically charged thereupon. her right was not liable to be
defeated except by tiansfer to a borra fide purchaser for value without
notice of a claim or even with notice of the claim unless the transfer was
made with the intention of defeatin~ her right. (793 BJ
The ~ppellant ~as presumably in possession of the properties in lieu
of her nght of maintenance and could not be deprived of them even by
B without first securin11 proper maintenance for her out of the properties.
Rachawa & othm v. Shlvayogappa, I.L.R. 18 Bom. 679 and Y•llawa
cl Ors. v. Bhimangavda, I.L.R. 18 Born. 452; referred to.
790
SUPREME COURT REPORTS
[1969] 3 s.c.R.
The Hi2h Court was in error in holdinii that the first respondent WB$
"clothed with the very same rights which were possessed" by B. If the
Trial Court's finding that the first respondent was a mere trespasser was
right, it was not possible to see how B could effect the transfer of all her
rights by merely filing a petition to the effect that she did not wish to
prosecute a suit as a plaintiff. [794 E-G]
Ismail Arif] v. Mohomed Ghous., 20 I.A. 99, referred to.

## Text

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RANI BAI
v.
SURI YADUNANDAN RAM & ANR.
February 19, 1969
[J. C. SHAH, V. RAMASWAMI AND A. N. GROVER, JJ.)
Hindu Women's Right to Property A.ct, 1937, s. 3(2)-Righ( of predeceastd son's widow to hold father-in-law's property for maintenanctScope of.
J owned certain inherited properties and
his son
predeoeased him
leaving the appellant his widow as hi• heir and legal representative. After
the son's death, J married B in 1948. J himself died in 1950 and after
his death the first respondent claimed the properties by virtue of a gift
deed.
On this basis he obtained posse<sion of the properties from the
appellant under s. 145 Cr.P.C. in December 1962.
The appellant, together with J's widow B instituted a suit for declaration in respect of her
rights and for pos•ession of the properties. Duririg the pendency of the
suit B entered into a compromise with the first respondent giving up all
her claims. The Trial Court found that the appellant was in possession
until dispDSsessed by the first respondent un.der s. 145 Cr.P.C. and that
the respondent had illegally occupied the properties. However, the Court
non-suited the appellant on the Jiround that since her husband had died in
the life-time of I. the latter's assets devolved on his widow B who would
be his only heir. Although the District Judge allowed the first appeal and
remanded the case, a further appeal by the first respondent was allowed
by the High Court on the view that the appellant could have no interest
in the properties left by J and she could not take advantage of the provisions of s. 3(2) of the Hindu Women's Right to Properties Act, 1937
which confe'rred certain rights on the widow of a predeceased son. It
further held that the rightful claimant of the properties of J was. B alone
and owing to the comproffiise entered into by her, the first respondent was
"clothed with the same rights which were possessed by her".
On appeal to this Court,
HELD : Allowin~ the appeal : The High Court's decision must be
reversed and that of the District Judge restored.
It could not be disputed that the appellant who was the widow of the
p~e-deceased son of J was entitled to receive maintenance, so long_ as she
did. not re-m~rry. out of the estate of her father-in-law.
Althou~h her
claim for maintenance was not a charge uoon the estate until it had been
fixed and specifically charged thereupon. her right was not liable to be
defeated except by tiansfer to a borra fide purchaser for value without
notice of a claim or even with notice of the claim unless the transfer was
made with the intention of defeatin~ her right. (793 BJ
The ~ppellant ~as presumably in possession of the properties in lieu
of her nght of maintenance and could not be deprived of them even by
B without first securin11 proper maintenance for her out of the properties.
Rachawa & othm v. Shlvayogappa, I.L.R. 18 Bom. 679 and Y•llawa
cl Ors. v. Bhimangavda, I.L.R. 18 Born. 452; referred to.
790
SUPREME COURT REPORTS
[1969] 3 s.c.R.
The Hi2h Court was in error in holdinii that the first respondent WB$
"clothed with the very same rights which were possessed" by B. If the
Trial Court's finding that the first respondent was a mere trespasser was
right, it was not possible to see how B could effect the transfer of all her
rights by merely filing a petition to the effect that she did not wish to
prosecute a suit as a plaintiff. [794 E-G]
Ismail Arif] v. Mohomed Ghous., 20 I.A. 99, referred to.
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal No. 532 of
1966.
(In forma pauperis).
Appeal by special leave from the judgment and order dated
September 17, 1962 of the Madhya Pradesh High Court in Misc.
Appeal No. 22 of 1962.
M. V. Goswami, for the appellant.
S. C. Agarwala and D. P. Singh, for respondent No. I.
The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
Grover, J.
Titis is an appeal in former pauperis by special
leave from a judgment of the Madhya Pradesh High Court at
J abalpur dismissing the suit of the appellant for a declaration
that she was the owner of the suit properties and for possession
thereof.
Jangi Jogi had inherited from his father properties consisting
of some groves and a house in village MuklJ?Cfpur which was in
the erstwhile State of Rewa which later became a oart of the State
now called Madhya Pradesh.
He had a son Laldas who is stated
to have died in 1945 leavin~ the appe!Jant, hi< widow, as his heir
and· legal representative.
After the death of Laldas Jangi Jogi is
alleged to have married Mst. Jugli Bai in the year 1948.
Jangi
Jogi himself died sometime in 1950.
Respondent No. 1 is state!l
to have raised a claim to the properties of Jangi Jogi by virtue of
a gift deed.
On the basis of that deed he moved the criminal
courts under s. 145, Criminal Procedure Code and on December
29, 1962 an order was made directin,g the possession of the properties to be delivered to the said respondent.
The appellant,
therefore. instituted a suit in the coun of Civil Judge at Rewa
for a declaration in respect of her ri)!hts and for possession of the
properties mentioned in the pfaint.
The suit was instituted by the
appellant along with Jugli Bai the widow of Jangi Jogi.
Respondent No. 1 who was the sole defendant in the suit put up
several oleas claiming, inter alia. that he had been in continuous
oossession of the suit properties for more than twelve years and
had become the ow,nl:r.
Alternativelv it was pleaded if any one
could have any interest it would be plaintiff No. 2 Jug-Ii Bai but
she had as a matter of fact not joined in the suit and her thumb
impression on the plaint had been obtained by fraud. On the
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RANI BAI v. YADUNANDAN (Grover, I.)
791
pleadings of the parties the trial court framed as many as 12
issues.
DUiing the pendency of the suit plaintiff No. 2 Jugli
Bai entered into compromise with respondent No. 1 giving up al!
her claims.
The trial -.:ourt found that the thumb impression of plaintiff
had not been obtained by fraud but that she had changed side~
much to the disadvantage of the appellant. As regards the deed
of gift set up by respondf\!lt No. I, it was found that Jangi Jogi
had never made such a gift. It was further found that the appellant was in possession until she had been dispossessed by resoOT•-
dent No. I by means of the proceedings under s. 145. Cr.P.C.
According to the trial court the said respondent had illegally
occupied the lands for some time ~
since the proceedings under
s. 145. Cr.P.C., resulted in his favour he was put into possession
through the process taken under those proceedings.
So far as the
title of respondent No. 1 was concerned it was found that his position was that of a mere tresoasser.
The trial court, however. nonsuited the aooellant on the- ~rolll'ld that since her
husban~ had
died in the Wetime of Jangi Jogi the Jater's estate devolved on his
widow Jugli Bai who would be his only heir and she had entered
into a compromise with resoondent No. 1.
The appellant went
up in appeal to the court of District Judge, Rewa.
The learned
District Judge examined the point whether the compromise C\lltered into bv one of the plaintiffs Jugli Bai with the defendant was
valid and should have been given effect to by the trial court.
According to him it could not be said that the ap])ellant had no
right or interest in the properties left bv Jangi Jogi.
He felt that
the compromise which had beC\ll entered into by Jugli Bai and the
defendant should not have been accepted as the appellant was not
a party to that compromise.
He was further of the view that the
trial court had not decided all the matters which arose for decision.
He, therefore, set aside the decree of the trial court and
remanded the case with directions to re-admit the suit under its
original number and dispose it of in accordance with law. Respondent No. I filed a seco.111:1 aooeal before the High Court. The
High Court took the view that the nresent apoelhnt coul<:l h?.Ve
no interest in the properties left bv Jan~i Jogi.
Sbe could D"t
t"ke advantage of the orovision of s. 312) of the Hinnu Women's
Ri!!ht to Prooertv Act 1937 which conferred certain ri<>hts on the
widow of ~ ore-deceased son. in view of the dec;sion of Federal
Court i'n Umaya/ Achl v. Lt1kshmi Achi(1). The aforesaid Act
had been e~tended to Rewa State by the Part C (State Laws) Act
1950 which came into force on April 16. 1950. It was urged.
inter a/ia before the High Court that the aooellant could take a
boy in adootion and as soon as such an adoption was made its
effect would be that the adoptee would be the son not only of the
(I) {1945) F.C'.R. I,
792
SUPREMB COURT REPORTS
[1969] 3 S.C.R.
widow but of her deceased husband as well and further
that
she had a claim for maintenance over the suit lands.
The High
Court disposed of this contention by saying
"It is not possible to prejudge the results of an
adoption which may, or may not, be made by Smt.
Ranibai at all.
Similarly, this is not a case in which
the right of maintenance was sought to be enforced
against Smt. Juglibai on the property which was inherited by her from the last male holder, Jangi Jogi.
It
may be possible to take u,p these questions in appropriate proceedings."
According to the High Court the compromise which had been
entered into between Jugli Bai and respond(lnt No. 1 did not
adversely affect the right, title or interest of the appellant as she
had no right, title or interest in the suit lands.
It was contended
on behalf of the appellant that she was in possession of the properties at the time respoodent No. 1 dispossessed her by committinl( an act of trespass and, therefore, she was entitled to restoration <>f possession of those properties from the trespasser.
The
High Court disposed this of by saying that the rightful claimant
on the death of Jangi Jogi was Jugli Bai alone and owing to the
compromise entered into by her respondent No. 1 was clothed
with the same rights which were possessed by her.
It was further held by the High Court that the compromise had bee.n properly and lawfully recorded and given effect to by the trial court
under 0. 23, r. 3 of the Civil Procedure Code.
Now Jugli Bai had filed an application under 0. 23, r. 1,
Civil Procedure Code, on February 19, 1959 before the trial
court saying, inter alia, that her signature or thumb impression o,n
the plaint had been obtained by misrepresentatiQn by the appellant.
The application stated that she was not interested in prosecuting the suit and therefore she was withdrawing the same. The
following portion from that application may be reproduced :
" ........ plaintiff No. 2 withdraws her plaint aind
the statement of claim made therein, and so far as she
is concerned she withdraws the suit and prays that no
claim be decreed in her :avour nor any relief mentioned in plaint be granted iin her favour.
On the other
hand, the plaint may be dismissed to the extent of her
claim.
She i~ also filing herewith a compromise to that
effect arrived at with the defendant, which may be
accepted ...... "
An application was also filed under 0. 2'.I, r. 3 of ~
CiVJ1. Procedure Code, which purported to bear the thumb unpression of
Jugli Bai and was signed by respondent No. 1.
All that was
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RANI BAI v. YADUNANDAN (Grover, I.)
793
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(!) l.L.ll. 18 Bom. 67'.
(3) 20 I.A. 99.
(2) LL.It. 18 Bom. 452.
794
SUP.IU!ME COUllT llPOllTS
(1969] 3 S.C:R
favour of the plaintiff's possession, and that the defendant was not
the mutwali nor possessed of any interest in the land, but differed
as to the dedication.
It was held that the plaintiff was entitled to
a declaration as against the defendant that he was lawfully entitled
to possession and the relief consequent thereon.
The following
observation of Sir Richard Couch may
be reproduced with
advantage:
"It appears to their Lordships that there is here a
misapprehqmion of the nature of the plaintiff's case
upon the facts stated in the judgment.
The possession
of the plaintiff was sufficient evidence of title as owner
against the defendant.
By s. 9 of the Specific Relief
Act (Act 1 of 1877), if the plaintiff had been dispossessed otherwise than in due course of Jaw, he could, by
a suit instituted within six months from the date of the
dispossession, have recovered possession, notwithstanding any other title that might be set up in such suit. If
he could thus recover possession from person who might
be able, to prove a Utle, it is certainly right and just
that he should be able, against a person who has no
title and is a mere wrong-doer, to obtain a declaration of
title as owner, and an injunction to restrain the wrongdoer from interfering with his possession."
Keeping the above statement of law in view it must be held
that the High Court was in error in cqooidering that since J ugli
Bai had entered into some compromise with respondent No. 1 the
trial court was justified in dismissing the appellant's suit.
It is
somewhat difficult to understand tl1e observation ot the High Court
that respondent No. 1 was "clothed witli tlie very same rights
which were possessed by Jugli Bai". If the findmgs of the trial
court was right that respopdQllt No. 1 was a mere trespasser, it
is no~ possible to see ~ow Jugli. ~ai could effect a transfer of a!l
her nghts by merely filing a petl!Ion to the effect tliat she clid not
wish to prosecute the suit as a co-plaintiff.
As has been pointed
out the appellant had a possessory title and was entitled to restoration of possession in case it was found that respondemt No. 1
had no right, title or interest whatsoever and was a mere trespasser.
The appellant was further entitled to remain in possession if she could establish that she had entered into possession by
virtue of her claim or right to mainte:nklnce until the person laying
a claim to the estate of Jangi Jogi made some proper arrangement
for the payment of maintenance to her.
These are, however,
matters on which no final opinion need be expressed as the District Judge was of the opinion that the trial court had not given a
proper decision on all the issues and for that reason the suit !rad
been remanded for a fresh decision on all the questions of fact
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RANI BAI v. YADUNANDAN (Grover, J.)
795
and law. In the view that we have taken the decision of the High
Court has to be reversed and that of ·the District Judge restored.
The appeal is thus allowed with costs here and in the High
Court.
The amount of court fee shall be recovered by the
Government from respondent No. 1 in accordance with Order 17,
Rule 8 of the Supreme Court Rules. Costs of appellant's Advocate to be taxed against Respondent No. I and made recoverable
from him.
R.K.P.S.
Appeal aNowed.