'
IN THE SUPREMECOURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL NO. 2401 OF 2002
Sankaran Bhaskaran & Ors. ...Appellants
Versus
Kumaran Sarasamma & Ors. ... Respondents
O R D E R
1. This appeal has been preferred against the impugned
judgment and order dated 20.9.2001, passed by the High Court of Kerala
at Ernakulam in Second Appeal No. 941/1982-D, by which the High Court
has reversed the judgment and decree passed by the trial court as well
as by the first appellate court.
2. The case has a chequered history as earlier the matter had
come to this court and the judgment of the High Court was set aside in
Civil Appeal No. 230 of 1992 by order dated 14.2.2001, remanding the
case back to the High Court for reconsideration after formulating the
substantial question of law.
3. The High Court reconsidered the case in view of the order
passed by this court and various issues had been discussed regarding
the law of limitation in filing the suit and allowed the Second Appeal
preferred by the respondents dismissing the Suit.
4. During the hearing of the appeal, we came to the conclusion
that the "Settlement Deed" document involved therein which has been subject matter of suit and appeal itself had wrongly been considered by the courts below and thus the question arose as
what was the nature of the said document executed by the predecessors in interest of the parties.
5. We have heard learned counsel for the parties and the only
question that arose for consideration is as to
whether a document can be treated as a gift
where the executor reserves his interest of maintenance throughout his life with certain other conditions or
will or
rather a mere settlement of its own kind.
6. The provisions of Section 122 of the Transfer of Property
Act, 1882 (hereinafter called as 'Act 1882') defines 'gift' as under:
"'Gift'
is the transfer of certain existing moveable or
immoveable property made voluntarily and without consideration,
by one person, called the donor, to another, called the donee,
and accepted by or on behalf of the donee.
Acceptance when to be made-
Such acceptance must be made
during the lifetime of the donor and
while he is still capable of giving.
If the donee dies before acceptance, the gift is
void."
Thus, Section 122 defines 'gift' as
gift inter vivos
or
an absolute gift.
An absolute gift, (which is the subject matter under
the Act, 1882)
or
gift inter vivos as distinguished from a testamentary gift
or
one made in contemplation of death,
is one by which the donee becomes in the lifetime of the donor,
the absolute owner of the thing given.
Further,
in case of a gift the provision becomes operative immediately and under transfer in praesenti is intended and comes into effect.
Gifts by will are outside the scope of the Act 1882.
Nomenclature is not decisive of the question
whether it's a will
or
a gift
or
a mere settlement which is neither a gift nor will.
Even if
a document contains provisions
which indisputably show that the
disposition must came into existence only on the death of the executant of the document
it may be a gift or will or none of them, merely being a settlement in terms thereof.
In terms of Section 122 of the Act 1882,
it is necessary that
there should be vesting of interest forthwith,
though possession andenjoyment of the property may be postponed to a later date.
Even if a document is styled and registered as a settlement deed
containing the
recital of devolution of interest in the properties to vest on the
death of a settler after his life time,
such a document may be termed
only as a 'Will' and not 'gift deed'.
7. The fact that the document purports to reserve a life
interest in the property to the donor with certain other terms is a
'Will'.
This view stands fully fortified by the judgment of the PrivyCouncil in Thakur Ishri Singh v. Baldeo Singh (1883-84) 11 I.A. 135.
While dealing with a similar situation,
this Court in Baby Ammal v. Rajan Asari (1997) 2 SCC 636, held as under:
"Reading of the above would indicate that the appellant had
retained the title to the enjoyment of the property during
her lifetime as full owner with all rights.
Section 122 of
the Transfer of Property Act defines gift executed in the
manner indicated thereunder divesting the title to and
possession of the donor in the property and vesting the same
in the donee under Section 123.
These must be proof of
delivery and acceptance of possession of the giftedproperty.
In this case, both the title and possession in
respect of the property remained with the plaintiff.
There
is no acceptance of possession by the respondent in the
light of above recital.
As a consequence, the appellant
remained to be the owner during her lifetime.
Under these
circumstances, it cannot be construed to be a gift deed in
favour of the respondents.
At best, it would be only a
licence in favour of the respondent to remain in possession
jointly with the appellant.
Therefore, the High Court was
not right in concluding that Ex. A-1 is a gift deed and that
the appellant has no title to the property for declaration
as he had parted with possession."
8. The case at hand is quite distinguishable on facts from the
cases in Naramadaben Maganlal Thakker v. Pranjivandas Maganlal Thakker
& Ors., (1997) 2 SCC 255; and K. Balakrishnan v. K. Kamalam & Ors.,
AIR 2004 SC 1257,
wherein it has been held that there is no
prohibition in executing a gift deed reserving certain rights for the life time of the donor.
9. In view of the above,
we are of the view that
as the
"Settlement Deed" executed in 1922 is neither a `Will' nor a gift.
However, it did not transfer the title in favour of the second party
therein.
The executor of the said settlement deed sold the land to
the respondents for consideration.
The sale deed was valid and
appellants could not claim any benefit under the said settlement deed,
the title did not vest in favour of their predecessors in interest.
10. Even otherwise, view taken by the High Court cannot be held
to be perverse, warranting interference by this Court.
In view of the above, we do not find any force in this appeal.
It is accordingly dismissed.
...................J.
(Dr. B.S. CHAUHAN)
...................J.
(V. GOPALA GOWDA)
New Delhi,
January 18, 2013
ITEM NO.102-PH COURT NO.8 SECTION XIA
S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
CIVIL APPEAL NO(s). 2401 OF 2002
SANKARAN BHASKARAN & ORS. Appellant (s)
VERSUS
KUMARAN SARASAMMA & ORS. Respondent(s)
(With appln(s) for exemption from filing O.T.,permission to file additional
documents and office report)
Date: 18/01/2013 This Appeal was called on for hearing today.
CORAM :
HON'BLE DR. JUSTICE B.S. CHAUHAN
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE V. GOPALA GOWDA
For Appellant(s) Mr. S. Balakrishnan,Sr.Adv.
Dr. s. Gopakumaran Nair,Sr.Adv.
Mr. T.G. Narayanan Nair,Adv.
Mr. K.N. Madhusoodhanhan,Adv.
For Respondent(s) Mr. A.K.Ganguly,Sr.Adv.
Mr. M.P. Vinod,Adv.
Mr. V. Giri,Sr.Adv.
Ms. Neelam Saini,Adv.
Mr. K. Rajeev ,Adv
UPON hearing counsel the Court made the following
O R D E R
The appeal is dismissed in terms of the signed order.
(O.P. Sharma) (M.S. Negi)
Court Master Court Master
(Signed order is placed on the file)
-----------------------
4
IN THE SUPREMECOURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL NO. 2401 OF 2002
Sankaran Bhaskaran & Ors. ...Appellants
Versus
Kumaran Sarasamma & Ors. ... Respondents
O R D E R
1. This appeal has been preferred against the impugned
judgment and order dated 20.9.2001, passed by the High Court of Kerala
at Ernakulam in Second Appeal No. 941/1982-D, by which the High Court
has reversed the judgment and decree passed by the trial court as well
as by the first appellate court.
2. The case has a chequered history as earlier the matter had
come to this court and the judgment of the High Court was set aside in
Civil Appeal No. 230 of 1992 by order dated 14.2.2001, remanding the
case back to the High Court for reconsideration after formulating the
substantial question of law.
3. The High Court reconsidered the case in view of the order
passed by this court and various issues had been discussed regarding
the law of limitation in filing the suit and allowed the Second Appeal
preferred by the respondents dismissing the Suit.
4. During the hearing of the appeal, we came to the conclusion
that the "Settlement Deed" document involved therein which has been subject matter of suit and appeal itself had wrongly been considered by the courts below and thus the question arose as
what was the nature of the said document executed by the predecessors in interest of the parties.
5. We have heard learned counsel for the parties and the only
question that arose for consideration is as to
whether a document can be treated as a gift
where the executor reserves his interest of maintenance throughout his life with certain other conditions or
will or
rather a mere settlement of its own kind.
6. The provisions of Section 122 of the Transfer of Property
Act, 1882 (hereinafter called as 'Act 1882') defines 'gift' as under:
"'Gift'
is the transfer of certain existing moveable or
immoveable property made voluntarily and without consideration,
by one person, called the donor, to another, called the donee,
and accepted by or on behalf of the donee.
Acceptance when to be made-
Such acceptance must be made
during the lifetime of the donor and
while he is still capable of giving.
If the donee dies before acceptance, the gift is
void."
Thus, Section 122 defines 'gift' as
gift inter vivos
or
an absolute gift.
An absolute gift, (which is the subject matter under
the Act, 1882)
or
gift inter vivos as distinguished from a testamentary gift
or
one made in contemplation of death,
is one by which the donee becomes in the lifetime of the donor,
the absolute owner of the thing given.
Further,
in case of a gift the provision becomes operative immediately and under transfer in praesenti is intended and comes into effect.
Gifts by will are outside the scope of the Act 1882.
Nomenclature is not decisive of the question
whether it's a will
or
a gift
or
a mere settlement which is neither a gift nor will.
Even if
a document contains provisions
which indisputably show that the
disposition must came into existence only on the death of the executant of the document
it may be a gift or will or none of them, merely being a settlement in terms thereof.
In terms of Section 122 of the Act 1882,
it is necessary that
there should be vesting of interest forthwith,
though possession andenjoyment of the property may be postponed to a later date.
Even if a document is styled and registered as a settlement deed
containing the
recital of devolution of interest in the properties to vest on the
death of a settler after his life time,
such a document may be termed
only as a 'Will' and not 'gift deed'.
7. The fact that the document purports to reserve a life
interest in the property to the donor with certain other terms is a
'Will'.
This view stands fully fortified by the judgment of the PrivyCouncil in Thakur Ishri Singh v. Baldeo Singh (1883-84) 11 I.A. 135.
While dealing with a similar situation,
this Court in Baby Ammal v. Rajan Asari (1997) 2 SCC 636, held as under:
"Reading of the above would indicate that the appellant had
retained the title to the enjoyment of the property during
her lifetime as full owner with all rights.
Section 122 of
the Transfer of Property Act defines gift executed in the
manner indicated thereunder divesting the title to and
possession of the donor in the property and vesting the same
in the donee under Section 123.
These must be proof of
delivery and acceptance of possession of the giftedproperty.
In this case, both the title and possession in
respect of the property remained with the plaintiff.
There
is no acceptance of possession by the respondent in the
light of above recital.
As a consequence, the appellant
remained to be the owner during her lifetime.
Under these
circumstances, it cannot be construed to be a gift deed in
favour of the respondents.
At best, it would be only a
licence in favour of the respondent to remain in possession
jointly with the appellant.
Therefore, the High Court was
not right in concluding that Ex. A-1 is a gift deed and that
the appellant has no title to the property for declaration
as he had parted with possession."
8. The case at hand is quite distinguishable on facts from the
cases in Naramadaben Maganlal Thakker v. Pranjivandas Maganlal Thakker
& Ors., (1997) 2 SCC 255; and K. Balakrishnan v. K. Kamalam & Ors.,
AIR 2004 SC 1257,
wherein it has been held that there is no
prohibition in executing a gift deed reserving certain rights for the life time of the donor.
9. In view of the above,
we are of the view that
as the
"Settlement Deed" executed in 1922 is neither a `Will' nor a gift.
However, it did not transfer the title in favour of the second party
therein.
The executor of the said settlement deed sold the land to
the respondents for consideration.
The sale deed was valid and
appellants could not claim any benefit under the said settlement deed,
the title did not vest in favour of their predecessors in interest.
10. Even otherwise, view taken by the High Court cannot be held
to be perverse, warranting interference by this Court.
In view of the above, we do not find any force in this appeal.
It is accordingly dismissed.
...................J.
(Dr. B.S. CHAUHAN)
...................J.
(V. GOPALA GOWDA)
New Delhi,
January 18, 2013
ITEM NO.102-PH COURT NO.8 SECTION XIA
S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
CIVIL APPEAL NO(s). 2401 OF 2002
SANKARAN BHASKARAN & ORS. Appellant (s)
VERSUS
KUMARAN SARASAMMA & ORS. Respondent(s)
(With appln(s) for exemption from filing O.T.,permission to file additional
documents and office report)
Date: 18/01/2013 This Appeal was called on for hearing today.
CORAM :
HON'BLE DR. JUSTICE B.S. CHAUHAN
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE V. GOPALA GOWDA
For Appellant(s) Mr. S. Balakrishnan,Sr.Adv.
Dr. s. Gopakumaran Nair,Sr.Adv.
Mr. T.G. Narayanan Nair,Adv.
Mr. K.N. Madhusoodhanhan,Adv.
For Respondent(s) Mr. A.K.Ganguly,Sr.Adv.
Mr. M.P. Vinod,Adv.
Mr. V. Giri,Sr.Adv.
Ms. Neelam Saini,Adv.
Mr. K. Rajeev ,Adv
UPON hearing counsel the Court made the following
O R D E R
The appeal is dismissed in terms of the signed order.
(O.P. Sharma) (M.S. Negi)
Court Master Court Master
(Signed order is placed on the file)
-----------------------
4
