Ajay Rastogi, J
1. This appeal is directed against the judgment and decree dated 18th August, 2008 passed by the High Court of Uttarakhand in Second Appeal No.
1341 of 2001.
2. The facts in brief are that the first respondentÂplaintiff filed a suit against the defendantÂappellant for cancellation of sale deed dated 10th May,
1995 registered in SubÂRegistrar Office, Jagadari, Roorkee on 22nd May, 1995. According to the plaint, the plaintiffÂfirst respondent Smt. Rabiya
inherited the property shown in the schedule of property indicated at the foot of the plaint, from her father late Sri Ahamad and is the owner and in
possession of the suit property in question. It was further averred that the impleaded defendants in the suit (defendant nos.1 and 3, Ali Hussain and
Abdul Hassan) are the sons of her great grandfather and impleaded defendant no. 2 Smt. Raquiba, is the wife of Ali Hussain (impleaded defendant
no. 1).
3. It was averred in the plaint that the impleaded defendant no.1 (appellant) in order to grab the suit property of the plaintiffÂrespondent, got prepared
a forged registered power of attorney, in the name of the plaintiffÂfirst respondent on 25th April, 1995 and on the basis of the forged power of
attorney, sold the suit property by a registered sale deed for a consideration of Rs. 1,50,000/Â on 10th May, 1995 in favour of defendant nos. 2 and 3
(Smt. Raquiba and Abdul Hassan). According to the plaintiffÂfirst respondent, the sale price of the suit property could not be less than Rs.
3,00,000/Â. It is also alleged in the plaint that there is no recital as to who had actually received the sale consideration and she is in actual possession
of the suit property and the forged sale deed was never acted upon. It was prayed for the decree for cancellation of power of attorney and the sale
deed obtained by playing fraud.
4. Before the trial Court, on the basis of pleadings of the parties, following issues were framed:Â
1. Whether the sale deed dated 10.05.1995 executed by defendant no. 1 in favour of defendant nos. 2 and 3 is liable to be cancelled on the grounds set
in the plaint?
2. Whether the alleged power of attorney dated 25.04.1995 executed by plaintiff in favour of defendant no. 1 is forged document and the plaintiff did
not execute the same? If so, its effect?
3. Whether the plaintiff received the sale consideration in respect of sale deed from defendant no. 1 in favour of defendant nos. 2 & 3.
4. Whether the plaintiff is owner and in possession of the property in dispute?
5. Whether the plaintiff is entitled for any relief?
6. Whether after selling the property in dispute to Mohammad Mateen by the plaintiff, the suit rendered infructuous?
7. Whether the suit is barred by principle of estoppel and acquiescence?
8. Whether the suit rendered infructuous in view of the contention raised in para no. 13ÂA of the written statement?
5. Both the parties adduced their oral as well as documentary evidence in support of their defence. The trial Judge, after hearing the parties and
considering the evidence on record, dismissed the suit filed by the plaintiffÂfirst respondent vide judgment and decree dated 19th January, 2001 which
was further assailed at the instance of the plaintiffÂfirst respondent in first appeal which was dismissed vide judgment and decree dated 27th August,
2001, further assailed in second appeal before the High Court of Uttarakhand.
6. It may be relevant to note that at the time of admission of second appeal, the High Court admitted the appeal on the following substantial questions
of law:Â
1. As to whether both the courts below were justified placing burden of proof on the plaintiff/appellant to prove negative fact that power of attorney is
not executed by her?
2. Whether burden/onus of proof lies on the transferee when transferor totally denies execution of the deed by himself? If so, its effect?
7. The High Court after hearing the parties proceeded on the premise that the plaintiffÂfirst respondent was the pardanasheen illiterate lady and
taking note of the judgment of this Court in Mst. Kharbuja Kuer Vs. Jangbahadur Rai and Others AIR 1963 SC 120, 3relying on the judgment of the
Privy Council (FaridÂUnÂNisa(Plaintiff) Vs. Mukhtar Ahmad and Another(Defendants) AIR 1925 PC 204) held that burden of proof in such a case
rest, not with those who attack, but with those who found upon the deed, and the proof must go so far as to show affirmatively and conclusively that
the deed was not only executed by, but was explained to, and was really understood by the grantor.
8. The High Court held that the burden to prove that the alleged power of attorney is not a result of fraud and misrepresentation lie on the shoulder of
the appellantÂdefendant because they are the beneficiaries and the trial Court and the first Appellate Court has committed a manifest error in shifting
the burden on the shoulders of the plaintiffÂfirst respondent and accordingly set aside the judgment and decree of the Courts below and remitted the
matter back to the trial Judge to decide the suit afresh in view of the evidence available on record taking note of the observations made by the High
Court in the impugned judgment dated 18th August, 2008 which is a subject matter of challenge at the instance of the appellantÂdefendant no. 1
before us.
9. This Court, while issuing notice on 14th November, 2008 stayed the operation of the impugned judgment dated 18th August, 2008.
10. Learned counsel for the appellants submits that the very foundation on which the High Court has proceeded that the plaintiffÂfirst respondent was
a pardanasheen illiterate lady and shifting the burden of proof on the shoulder of the appellantÂfirst defendant to establish that the document was
explained to the plaintiffÂfirst respondent and she understood it and thereafter transaction was entered into, is against the pleadings on record. From
the perusal of the copy of the plaint annexure P/1 on record filed by the plaintiffÂfirst respondent, it is nowhere pleaded that she was a pardanasheen
illiterate lady and in absence whereof, the very proposition which has been examined by the High Court under the impugned judgment is unsustainable
and so far as the issues which are framed by the trial Judge on the basis of the pleadings on record, all have been negated against the plaintiffÂfirst
respondent and in the given circumstances, the finding recorded by the High Court in remitting the matter to the trial Judge to revisit the same on the
basis of principles laid down deserves to be interfered by this Court.
11. Per contra, learned counsel for the respondents, while supporting the finding recorded by the High Court under the impugned judgment, submits
that it is indisputed fact that the plaintiffÂfirst respondent is a pardanasheen illiterate lady and still the case was proceeded with the burden of proof on
her shoulders to establish that the power of attorney executed by the plaintiff in favour of defendantÂappellant was a forged document was a patent
error of law. In the given circumstances, the burden of proof was upon the defendant no.1Âappellant to establish that the registered power of attorney
executed on 25th April, 1995 was a genuine document and only thereupon the onus could have been shifted to the plaintiffÂfirst respondent and this is
an apparent manifest error which was committed by the trial Judge but noticed by the High Court in the impugned judgment and it needs no further
interference by this Court.
12. We have heard learned counsel for the parties and with their assistance perused the material available on record.
13. The plaintiffÂfirst respondent filed a Suit No. 155 of 1996 before the Civil Judge (J.D.), Roorkee. A copy of the plaint has been placed on record
(Annexure P/1). On perusal of the plaint, it reveals that it has nowhere been pleaded that the plaintiffÂfirst respondent is a pardanasheen illiterate
lady. In the ordinary course the burden of proof rest, on who attack. On the contrary, it was pleaded in the plaint that defendant nos.1 and 3 are the
sons of her uncle Mangta and defendant no. 2 is the wife of defendant no. 1 and they hatched a conspiracy to grab the land of the plaintiffÂfirst
respondent and with connivance, the power of attorney was prepared & registered on 25th April, 1995 in the registry office, in the name of the
plaintiff and pursuant thereto, suit land was sold by a registered sale deed. On the basis of pleadings on record, the aboveÂmentioned eight issues
were framed on which both the parties have adduced oral and documentary evidence and the trial Judge, after considering the evidence, dismissed the
suit vide judgment and decree dated 19th January, 2001 and that came to be affirmed on dismissal of the appeal filed at the instance of the plaintiffÂ‐
first respondent dated 27th August, 2001. It reveals from the record that without there being any factual foundation, the High Court, while admitting
the appeal, framed two substantial questions of law in reference to which there was no supporting pleadings on record.
14. We still, for our satisfaction have gone through the plaint placed on record at Annexure P/1 and we are unable to find the pleadings in support that
she was a pardanasheen illiterate lady and was entitled for protection of law and the burden was on the defendantÂappellant to prove that the alleged
power of attorney was the result of fraud.
15. After we have heard the parties, we are of the view that the High Court has committed a manifest apparent error in reversing the concurrent
finding of the two Courts below and on this score the impugned judgment is not sustainable.
16. Consequently, the appeal succeeds and accordingly allowed. The judgment of the High Court in second appeal dated 18th August, 2008 is hereby
set aside. No costs.
17. Pending application(s), if any, stand disposed of.
