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2007 YLR 2735

MUHAMMAD YOUSUF and 2 others vs MUHAMMAD ALAM USMANI and others

Citation2007 YLR 2735
CourtLahore High Court
Case No.Civil Revision No.370 of 2003
Date2007-06-29
Judge(s)Sardar Muhammad Aslam
ResultRevision dismissed

' SARDAR MUHAMMAD ASLAM, J.-This Civil Revision by the petitioners, subsequent transferee, claiming to be bona fide purchasers, is directed against the concurrent judgments and decrees of the learned Courts below decreeing the suit of respondent No. 1 against the petitioners as well as respondents Nos.2 to 5.

2. Briefly the facts giving rise to the Civil Revision are that Muhammad Asiru Usmani (respondent No. 1 hereinafter called plaintiff) filed a suit for declaration claiming to be owner of the land measuring 103 Kanals, 6 Marlas fully detailed and described in the head note of the plaint. Sadar ul Ala, defendant No.l and Ilam ud Din defendant No.5 hatched conspiracy in order to secure the land.

A fictitious civil suit against the plaintiff was got filed by defendant No.l. Defendant No.l was a relation of plaintiff; came to him and persuaded him to appoint him as his attorney to.Defend the suit filed against both of them by defendant No.5. He constituted, Sadar-ul-Ala, as his attorney. He appeared in person on his own behalf and as attorney for the plaintiff. The suit was fixed for filing of written statement on 5-9-1987. Defendant No. l and defendantf' No.5 submitted an application for accelerated hearing of the matter on 30-7-1987. Suit was taken up on the said date. He made a statement that Ilam Din; (plaintiff in the said suit) has delivered possession of the suit-land to him and withdrew the suit. [8] commencing from appointment of General Attorney, culminating into transfer of land through gift was wholly without jurisdiction, secured by way of misrepresentation, and, thus,' nullity in the eye of law. Defendant No. 2 sold out parcels of land measuring 16 Kanals 8 Marlas, 19 Kanals 7 Marlas, 67 Kanal, 1 Marla out of the suit property to petitioners by various deeds.

Separate written statement -was filed by Sadar-ul- Ula., defendant No.l; defendants Nos.2 and 5, jointly, filed their written statement. Similarly, defendants Nos.3 and 4 filed joint written statement while defendant No.6 filed his separate written statement.

4. The Revision petitioners are vendees from Muhammad Hamad Usmani, defendant No.2 and claimed protection under section 41 of Transfer of Property Act. On the pleadings of the parties issues were framed. Both the side produced their evidence oral as well as documentary. Trial Court decreed the plaintiff suit. The petitioners have assailed the judgments and decrees. The findings on issues Nos.l-A, 1-B, 1-C, 1-D, 6, 7, 7-A, 7-B, 7-C were challenged before the appellate Court. The plaintiff's legal heirs also challenged the findings on issues Nos.l-A and 1-B, through cross objections. Revision petitioners did not press findings on issues Nos.5 and 7-C. Cross-objections were allowed to the extent of findings recorded on issue No. 1-B. 'Appeal was dismissed on 25-2- 2003 by a learned Additional District Judge.

5. Learned counsel for the petitioners contends that both the Courts below failed to frame proper issues arising out of pleadings; the sale in favour- -of the petitioners was with consideration; that both the Courts below have rendered decision answering issue No.l-A against, the plaintiff holding that he has executed General Power of Attorney, whereafter transfer made in their favour of the petitioner cannot be nullified; that findings on issues Nos.l-A, 1-B, 1-C, 1-D, 2 to 7, 7-B and 7-C are not sustainable in law; and, that both the Courts have misread evidence.

6. On the other hand, learned counsel for respondent No. 1-plaintiff, in opposition, vehemently defended the concurrent findings recorded by two Courts below. He argued that the petitioners were not bona fide purchaser for consideration, as no lawful title was possessed by their vendor (defendant No.2).

7. Heard. Record perused.

8. Even, if, it is conceded that the plaintiff has appointed defendant No, 1, Sadar-ul-Ula, as his General Attorney, this transfer by the said General Attorney, in favour of his son through a gift without adverting to the plaintiff or seeking his permission was not sustainable in law. Reference can be had to Fida Muhammad v. Pir Muhammad Khan, deceased through legal heirs and others (PLD 1985 SC 341). Mst. Shumal Begum v. Mst. Gulzar Gegum and 3 others (1994 SCM R 818) and Haji Faqir Muhammad and others v. Pir Muhammad and another (1997 SCM R 1811).

9. It. Has been held in the above judgments that transfer by way of gift by the donor in favour of his own relation falling in prohibited degree, without reference to the principal, is of no avail and such transaction is not sustainable. When confronted, petitioner's learned counsel has expressed no cavil to the above proposition of law. He argued that factually his petition for additional evidence has been dismissed on wrong premises, and, secondly he has proved through documentary evidence that transaction in favour of defendant No.2 was mot of gift, though it was given such a colour, to avoid pre-emption suit and evidence in this context has been misread.

10. Firstly dealing with the application for additional evidence seeking permission to prove that amount through Bank Draft Exh.D.5 (Rs.70,000) dated 6-3-1991, Exh.D.6 (Rs.35,000) dated 12-2-1991 and Exh.D.7 (Rs. 1,50,000 dated 13-1-1991) issued in the name of Muhammad Azam Usmani, were in fact meant for Muhammad Asim Usmani, the plaintiff who has appeared as P.W.l. Except bare suggestion, that he had authorized Muhapimad Sadar-ul-Ala, defendant No.l to sell his property and received an amount of Rs.2,20,000 through his son Azam Usmani by way of different bank drafts, no evidence is available. Whether drafts were encashed or not and, if, en-cashed whether on the instruction of the plaintiff. Muhammad Azam Usmani was a Vice- President in the Bank.

11. Sales were made in favour of revision petitioners by Muhammad Hamad Ullah Usmani, defendant No.2. There is no evidence as to who was prospective pre- emptor, which .Compelled to give the transaction colour of gift. Revision petitioners raised a bald plea without rendering any proof. Case of the defendants/revision petitioners will not be improved in any manner, even, by allowing the evidence sought to be produced by the petitioners. Learned Appellate Court rightly rejected the petition for additional evidence.

12. Plea of bona fide purchaser for consideration raised by the petitioner under section 41 of the Transfer of Property Act does not come to their rescue. The gift was allegedly made on 25-4-1991.

Sale-deed in favour of Muhammad Yousaf, revision petitioner was executed on 7-7-1991, while in favour of Muhammad Hanif on 12-6-1991 and of Muhammad Yaqoob on 29-10-1991. If entire land was sold allegedly at the instance of the plaintiff for a sum of Rs.2,20,000 on 25-4-1991 in favour of Muhammad Hamad OHah Usmani, then how after short span of time, k was transferred to petitioners against a consideration of Rs, 1,75,000, Rs.1,50,000, Rs.5,00,000. The petitioners were required to be careful in ascertaining the correct title of their vendor. They did not examine the title of Muhammad Hamad Ullah Usman and consulted the record vis-a-vis, the general power of attorney. They failed to inquire the plaintiff, before entering into sale. Suit-land, ^according to their own showing have been sold to Muhammad Hamad Ullah Usmani for a consideration of Rs.2,20,000 and within 6 months was sold to revision petitioner for a total sum of Rs.8,25,000 which clearly render proof that, they were not bona fide purchaser for consideration, and were fully aware of the defective title of defendant No.2. The petitioners cannot claim better title than that possessed by their vendor. Learned counsel for the petitioners have failed to point out as to what issues were required to be framed arising out of the controversy, yet it is suffice to say that parties were alive to the controversy, raised and produced their evidence in their possession, thus, cannot turn round at this stage to claim that correct issues were not framed. Even if some issues were not correctly frarhed or happily worded when evidence has come On record on the controversy, no prejudice is caused. Reference can be had to Mehr Din (represented by his legal- heirs) v. Dr. Bashir Ahmad Khan and 2 others (1985 SCMR1).

12-A. Learned counsel has failed to point out misreading or non-reading of evidence. Concurrent findings recorded by learned Courts below, after appraisal of evidence do not call for interference and the same is, thus, declined.

13. For what has been discussed above, there is no force in this civil revision, which is dismissed.

Cited by 1 case

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