1
NONREPORTABLE
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL NO.6111 OF 2009
KRISHNAMURTHY S. SETLUR (D)
THROUGH LRS. …APPELLANT(S)
VERSUS
O.V. NARASIMHA SETTY (D) BY LRS. & ORS …RESPONDENT(S)
WITH
CIVIL APPEAL NO. 12267 OF 2018
(ARISING OUT OF SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (C) NO.2760 OF 2011)
NAGAR COUNCIL SIRHIND …APPELLANT(S)
VERSUS
BHAGAT RAM & ORS. …RESPONDENT(S)
WITH
CIVIL APPEAL NO. 10332 OF 2018
(ARISING OUT OF SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (C) NO.10343 OF 2016)
M.E. MUNIRAJEGOWDA & ORS. …APPELLANT(S)
VERSUS
SRI UTHANALLAPPA @ UTHANALLIGA
SINCE DECEASED BY HIS LRS. …RESPONDENT(S)
O R D E R
1. The instant appeals involve a preliminary issue as to whether
plaintiff can take the plea of adverse possession in view of the
interpretation of Article 65 of the Limitation Act, 1963. A ThreeJudge
2
Bench of this Court in Ravinder Kaur Grewal & Ors. v. Manjit Kaur &
Ors. (Civil Appeal No.7764 of 2014) has decided the similar issue on
7
th August, 2019, by holding as under:
“56. Possession is the root of title and is right like the property.
As ownership is also of different kinds of viz. sole ownership,
contingent ownership, corporeal ownership, and legal equitable
ownership. Limited ownership or limited right to property may
be enjoyed by a holder. What can be prescribable against is
limited to the rights of the holder. Possession confers enforceable
right under Section 6 of the Specific Relief Act. It has to be
looked into what kind of possession is enjoyed viz. de facto i.e.,
actual, ‘de jure possession’, constructive possession, concurrent
possession over a small portion of the property. In case the
owner is in symbolic possession, there is no dispossession, there
can be formal, exclusive or joint possession. The joint
possessor/coowner possession is not presumed to be adverse.
Personal law also plays a role to construe nature of possession.
57. The adverse possession requires all the three classic
requirements to coexist at the same time, namely, necvi i.e.
adequate in continuity, necclam i.e., adequate in publicity and
necprecario i.e. adverse to a competitor, in denial of title and his
knowledge. Visible, notorious and peaceful so that if the owner
does not take care to know notorious facts, knowledge is
attributed to him on the basis that but for due diligence he would
have known it. Adverse possession cannot be decreed on a title
which is not pleaded. Animus possidendi under hostile colour of
title is required. Trespasser’s long possession is not synonym
with adverse possession. Trespasser’s possession is construed to
be on behalf of the owner, the casual user does not constitute
adverse possession. The owner can take possession from a
trespasser at any point in time. Possessor looks after the
property, protects it and in case of agricultural property by and
the large concept is that actual tiller should own the land who
works by dint of his hard labour and makes the land cultivable.
The legislature in various States confers rights based on
possession.
58. Adverse possession is heritable and there can be tacking of
adverse possession by two or more persons as the right is
transmissible one. In our opinion, it confers a perfected right
which cannot be defeated on reentry except as provided in Article
65 itself. Tacking is based on the fulfillment of certain
conditions, tacking maybe by possession by the purchaser,
legatee or assignee, etc. so as to constitute continuity of
3
possession, that person must be claiming through whom it is
sought to be tacked, and would depend on the identity of the
same property under the same right. Two distinct trespassers
cannot tack their possession to constitute conferral of right by
adverse possession for the prescribed period.
59. We hold that a person in possession cannot be ousted by
another person except by due procedure of law and once 12
years' period of adverse possession is over, even owner's right to
eject him is lost and the possessory owner acquires right, title
and interest possessed by the outgoing person/owner as the case
may be against whom he has prescribed. In our opinion,
consequence is that once the right, title or interest is acquired it
can be used as a sword by the plaintiff as well as a shield by the
defendant within ken of Article 65 of the Act and any person who
has perfected title by way of adverse possession, can file a suit for
restoration of possession in case of dispossession. In case of
dispossession by another person by taking law in his hand a
possessory suit can be maintained under Article 64, even before
the ripening of title by way of adverse possession. By perfection
of title on extinguishment of the owner’s title, a person cannot be
remediless. In case he has been dispossessed by the owner after
having lost the right by adverse possession, he can be evicted by
the plaintiff by taking the plea of adverse possession. Similarly,
any other person who might have dispossessed the plaintiff
having perfected title by way of adverse possession can also be
evicted until and unless such other person has perfected title
against such a plaintiff by adverse possession. Similarly, under
other Articles also in case of infringement of any of his rights, a
plaintiff who has perfected the title by adverse possession, can
sue and maintain a suit.
60. When we consider the law of adverse possession as has
developed visàvis to property dedicated to public use, courts
have been loath to confer the right by adverse possession. There
are instances when such properties are encroached upon and
then a plea of adverse possession is raised. In Such cases, on
the land reserved for public utility, it is desirable that rights
should not accrue. The law of adverse possession may cause
harsh consequences, hence, we are constrained to observe that it
would be advisable that concerning such properties dedicated to
public cause, it is made clear in the statute of limitation that no
rights can accrue by adverse possession.
61. Resultantly, we hold that decisions of Gurudwara Sahab v.
Gram Panchayat Village Sirthala (supra) and decision relying on it
in State of Uttarakhand v. Mandir Shri Lakshmi Siddh Maharaj
(supra) and Dharampal (dead) through LRs v. Punjab Wakf Board
(supra) cannot be said to be laying down the law correctly, thus
4
they are hereby overruled. We hold that plea of acquisition of title
by adverse possession can be taken by plaintiff under Article 65
of the Limitation Act and there is no bar under the Limitation
Act, 1963 to sue on aforesaid basis in case of infringement of any
rights of a plaintiff.
62. Let the matters be placed for consideration on merits before
the appropriate Bench.”
2. The preliminary issue involved in the instant appeals is wholly
covered by the above decision. In view of the answer, let the matters be
placed for consideration on merits before the appropriate Bench.
……………………..J.
(Arun Mishra)
New Delhi; .…………………….J.
August 08, 2019. (Vineet Saran)
NONREPORTABLE
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL NO.6111 OF 2009
KRISHNAMURTHY S. SETLUR (D)
THROUGH LRS. …APPELLANT(S)
VERSUS
O.V. NARASIMHA SETTY (D) BY LRS. & ORS …RESPONDENT(S)
WITH
CIVIL APPEAL NO. 12267 OF 2018
(ARISING OUT OF SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (C) NO.2760 OF 2011)
NAGAR COUNCIL SIRHIND …APPELLANT(S)
VERSUS
BHAGAT RAM & ORS. …RESPONDENT(S)
WITH
CIVIL APPEAL NO. 10332 OF 2018
(ARISING OUT OF SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (C) NO.10343 OF 2016)
M.E. MUNIRAJEGOWDA & ORS. …APPELLANT(S)
VERSUS
SRI UTHANALLAPPA @ UTHANALLIGA
SINCE DECEASED BY HIS LRS. …RESPONDENT(S)
O R D E R
1. The instant appeals involve a preliminary issue as to whether
plaintiff can take the plea of adverse possession in view of the
interpretation of Article 65 of the Limitation Act, 1963. A ThreeJudge
2
Bench of this Court in Ravinder Kaur Grewal & Ors. v. Manjit Kaur &
Ors. (Civil Appeal No.7764 of 2014) has decided the similar issue on
7
th August, 2019, by holding as under:
“56. Possession is the root of title and is right like the property.
As ownership is also of different kinds of viz. sole ownership,
contingent ownership, corporeal ownership, and legal equitable
ownership. Limited ownership or limited right to property may
be enjoyed by a holder. What can be prescribable against is
limited to the rights of the holder. Possession confers enforceable
right under Section 6 of the Specific Relief Act. It has to be
looked into what kind of possession is enjoyed viz. de facto i.e.,
actual, ‘de jure possession’, constructive possession, concurrent
possession over a small portion of the property. In case the
owner is in symbolic possession, there is no dispossession, there
can be formal, exclusive or joint possession. The joint
possessor/coowner possession is not presumed to be adverse.
Personal law also plays a role to construe nature of possession.
57. The adverse possession requires all the three classic
requirements to coexist at the same time, namely, necvi i.e.
adequate in continuity, necclam i.e., adequate in publicity and
necprecario i.e. adverse to a competitor, in denial of title and his
knowledge. Visible, notorious and peaceful so that if the owner
does not take care to know notorious facts, knowledge is
attributed to him on the basis that but for due diligence he would
have known it. Adverse possession cannot be decreed on a title
which is not pleaded. Animus possidendi under hostile colour of
title is required. Trespasser’s long possession is not synonym
with adverse possession. Trespasser’s possession is construed to
be on behalf of the owner, the casual user does not constitute
adverse possession. The owner can take possession from a
trespasser at any point in time. Possessor looks after the
property, protects it and in case of agricultural property by and
the large concept is that actual tiller should own the land who
works by dint of his hard labour and makes the land cultivable.
The legislature in various States confers rights based on
possession.
58. Adverse possession is heritable and there can be tacking of
adverse possession by two or more persons as the right is
transmissible one. In our opinion, it confers a perfected right
which cannot be defeated on reentry except as provided in Article
65 itself. Tacking is based on the fulfillment of certain
conditions, tacking maybe by possession by the purchaser,
legatee or assignee, etc. so as to constitute continuity of
3
possession, that person must be claiming through whom it is
sought to be tacked, and would depend on the identity of the
same property under the same right. Two distinct trespassers
cannot tack their possession to constitute conferral of right by
adverse possession for the prescribed period.
59. We hold that a person in possession cannot be ousted by
another person except by due procedure of law and once 12
years' period of adverse possession is over, even owner's right to
eject him is lost and the possessory owner acquires right, title
and interest possessed by the outgoing person/owner as the case
may be against whom he has prescribed. In our opinion,
consequence is that once the right, title or interest is acquired it
can be used as a sword by the plaintiff as well as a shield by the
defendant within ken of Article 65 of the Act and any person who
has perfected title by way of adverse possession, can file a suit for
restoration of possession in case of dispossession. In case of
dispossession by another person by taking law in his hand a
possessory suit can be maintained under Article 64, even before
the ripening of title by way of adverse possession. By perfection
of title on extinguishment of the owner’s title, a person cannot be
remediless. In case he has been dispossessed by the owner after
having lost the right by adverse possession, he can be evicted by
the plaintiff by taking the plea of adverse possession. Similarly,
any other person who might have dispossessed the plaintiff
having perfected title by way of adverse possession can also be
evicted until and unless such other person has perfected title
against such a plaintiff by adverse possession. Similarly, under
other Articles also in case of infringement of any of his rights, a
plaintiff who has perfected the title by adverse possession, can
sue and maintain a suit.
60. When we consider the law of adverse possession as has
developed visàvis to property dedicated to public use, courts
have been loath to confer the right by adverse possession. There
are instances when such properties are encroached upon and
then a plea of adverse possession is raised. In Such cases, on
the land reserved for public utility, it is desirable that rights
should not accrue. The law of adverse possession may cause
harsh consequences, hence, we are constrained to observe that it
would be advisable that concerning such properties dedicated to
public cause, it is made clear in the statute of limitation that no
rights can accrue by adverse possession.
61. Resultantly, we hold that decisions of Gurudwara Sahab v.
Gram Panchayat Village Sirthala (supra) and decision relying on it
in State of Uttarakhand v. Mandir Shri Lakshmi Siddh Maharaj
(supra) and Dharampal (dead) through LRs v. Punjab Wakf Board
(supra) cannot be said to be laying down the law correctly, thus
4
they are hereby overruled. We hold that plea of acquisition of title
by adverse possession can be taken by plaintiff under Article 65
of the Limitation Act and there is no bar under the Limitation
Act, 1963 to sue on aforesaid basis in case of infringement of any
rights of a plaintiff.
62. Let the matters be placed for consideration on merits before
the appropriate Bench.”
2. The preliminary issue involved in the instant appeals is wholly
covered by the above decision. In view of the answer, let the matters be
placed for consideration on merits before the appropriate Bench.
……………………..J.
(Arun Mishra)
New Delhi; .…………………….J.
August 08, 2019. (Vineet Saran)
