2000 INSC 1115
Gautam Paul
Vs
Debi Rani Paul & others
Civil Appeal No. 5942 of 2000
(V.N. Khare and S.N. Variava, JJ.)
17.10.2000
JUDGMENT
S.N. Variava, J.:- Leave granted.
This Appeal is against an Order dated 11th September, 1998 passed by the High Court of Calcutta.
Briefly stated the facts are as follows:
One Dr. Jonoranjan Paul was the owner of the premises No. 14-C, Sambhu Lane, Calcutta-14. This
three-storied building is hereinafter referred to as suit property. The said Dr. Jonoranjan Paul had six
sons, namely, Satish, Kiron Biren, Nitratan, Nirmal and Bimol. During his life time the said
Jonoranjan Paul had sold the suit property to one Dr. Troilukya Nath Ghosh. After the death of dr.
Troilukya Nath Ghosh the suit property went to his heirs. The heirs executed a Gift Deed dated 2nd
June, 1947. By this they gifted the suit property to Nilratan, Paul, Nirode Baran Paul and Birnol
Chandra Paul. As stated above, Nilratan Paul and Birnol Chandra Paul were two sons of Jonoranjan
Paul. Nirode Baran Paul was the son of Kiron Chandra Paul.
Nilratan Paul's share went to his son Eejoy Ratan Paul. On 25th February, 1957 Bejoy Ratan Paul
sold his share in the property to Nirode Baran Paul. Even though Bijoy Ratan Paul sold his share to
Nirode Baran Paul he continued to stay in one room in the premises. By a Deed of Partition
executed on 25th June, 1957 Birnol Chandra Paul took property at 14 S.B. Lane. The suit property
came to Nirode Baran Paul.
Nirode Baran Paul died on 7th February 1965. On his death his mother Naras Nandini Paul, his wife
Debi Rani Paul and his daughter Radha Rani Paul each got a 1/3rd share in the property. The 1/3rd
share of mother Naras Nandini Paul went to her sons Banwari Lal Paul, Barld Baron Paul and
daughter Bibhuti Paul. They each got a 1/9th share. It is thus that Bibhuti Paul got a 1/9th share in
the suit property. The 1/9th share of Banwari Lal Paul went to his son Sujit Paul and three daughters
Gita, Chabi and Rubi. They each got a 1/36th share in the suit property.
The appellant is the son of Bejoy Ratan Paul. As stated above, even though Bejoy had sold his share
to Nirode, he continued to occupy one room in the suit property. After the death of his father
Appellant continued to stay in that room. On 3rd December, 1988 Appellant purchased the 1/9th
share of Bibhuti Paul in the suit property. He then also occupied the room which had earlier been
occupied by Bibhuti Paul.
Debi Rani Paul and Radha Rani Paul (wife and daughter of Nirode) filed Suit No.4 of 1989 against
Bibhuti Paul (Defendant No.1) Gautam Paul (Defendant No.2), Sujit, Gita, Chabi and Rubi
(Defendants 3 to 6 respectively). The suit was for partition of the suit property. In this suiit a
declaration was also sought that the sale by Bibhabati Paul in favour of Goutam Pal was illegal and
void and not binding on the Plaintiffs. In this suit an application was made under Section 4 of the
Partition Act. The Plaintiffs sought to buy over the share of Bibhuti Paul, which had been sold to
Goutam Paul.
On 27th August 1992 the Trial Court passed a preliminary decree for partition. It was declared that
the Plaintiffs had 7/9th share in this property. It also held that Goutam Paul had 1/9th share in the
property. The Trial Court kept the proceedings under Section 4 of the Partition Act pending, to be
decided later on after recording evidence.
Being aggrieved, by their application under Section 4 of the Partition Act not having been decided,
the Plaintiffs (i.e. Respondents 1 and 2 herein) filed a First Appeal, which was ultimately numbered
as 152 of 1993. This Appeal was allowed by the impugned judgment dated 11th September, 1998.
By this judgment the preliminary decree for partition has been upheld. It has also been held that
Respondents 1 and 2 are entitled to pre erupt under Section 4 of the Partition Act. It is held that the
Appellant (herein) is not a member of the family. It is held that, as the sale is to a person who was
not a member of the family, Respondent Nos. 1 and 2 were entitled to purchase over the share which
had been sold to the Appellant.
Mr. S.B. Sanyal submitted that Kiron Chandra Paul and Nilratan Paul were two sons of Jonoranjan
Paul. He submitted that they belonged to one family. He pointed out that Respondents (1 and 2)
were the wife and daughter of Nirode Baran Paul (who was the son of Kiron Chandra Paul) whereas
the Appellant was the grand son of Nilratan Paul. He submitted that Section 4 contemplates a sale to
an absolute outsider, who has no connection with the family. He submitted that a sale to as member
of the family cannot be pre-empted under Section 4.
Mr. Sanyal relied upon the case of Ghantesher Ghosh vs. Madan Mohan Ghosh and Others reported
in (1996) 11 S.C.C. 4476. In this case it has been held that before Section 4 can be invoked the
following conditions must be fulfilled viz.:
(1) A co-owner having undivided share in the family dwelling house should effect transfer of his
undivided interest therein;
(2) The transferee of such undivided interest of the co-owner should be an outsider or stranger to the
family;
(3) Such transferee must sue for partition and separate possession of the undivided share transferred
to him by the co-owner concerned;
(4) As against such a claim of the stranger transferee, any member of the family having undivided
share in the dwelling house should put forward his claim of pre-emption by undertaking to buy out
the share of such transferee; and
(5) While accepting such a claim for pre-emption by the existing co-owner of the dwelling house
belonging to the undivided family, the court should make a valuation of the transferred share
belonging to the stranger transferee and make the claimant co-owner pay the value of the share of
the transferee so as to enable the claimant co-owner to purchaser by way of pre-emption the said
transferred share of the stranger transferee in the dwelling house belonging to the undivided family
so that the stranger transferee can have no more claim left for partition and separate possession of
his share in the dwelling house and accordingly can be effectively denied entry in any part of such
family dwelling house.
It is also held that Section 4 has been enacted for the purpose of insulating the domestic peace of
members of undivided family occupying a common dwelling house from the encroachment of a
stranger transferee of the share of one undivided co-owner as the remaining co-owners are presumed
to follow similar trraditions and mode of life and to be accustomed to identical likes and dislikes
and identical family traditions. It is held that the scheme seeks to protect the family members from
the onslaught on their peaceful joint family life by stranger-outsider to the family who may be
having different outlook and mode of life including food habits and other social and religious
customs. It is held that enty of such outsider in the joint family dwelling house is likely to create
unnecessary disturbances not germane to the peace and tranquility not only of the occupants of the
dwelling house but also of neighbours residing in the locality. It is held that keeping these objects in
view the right flowing from Section 4 cannot be restricted in its operation only up to the final decree
for partition. It is held that crystallization of share may take place but separation and partition take
place only by actual division by metes and bounds and delivery of possession of respective shares to
the respective shareholders. It is held that this can be achieved only at the stage of execution of the
final decree. It is held that only after execution, separation and partition the court would become
functus officio. It is held that the provisions of Section 4 would, therefore, be available at all stages
of the litigation till the litigation reaches its terminus by means of full and final discharge and
satisfaction of the final decree for partition. It is held that if a stranger transferee enters the arena of
contest at any stage and seeks to get his share separated he can be said to be suing for partition and
separate possession within the meaning of Section 4. It has been held that such a transferee may
come on the scene prior to the final decree or he may come on the arena of contest even in
execution proceedings as a transferee of the decretal right. It is held that in either eventuality it
would be said that such a stranger is suing for partition.
Mr. Sanyal also relied upon the case of Kshirode Chunder Ghosal vs. Saroda Prosad Mitra, reported
in XII Calcutta Law Journal 526. In this case it is held:
"The term "family" is not defined in the Partition Act, and we do not think that it would be possible
or desirable to frame a comprehensive formula or exhaustive definition to indicate all that is easily
understood by the term "family". As was well observed by Kindersley. V.C. in Green vs. Marsden,
(1953) 1 Drewry 646 (651), 61 E.R. 598, the world "family" is, in itself, a word of a most loose and
flexible description. It is, in fact, as Wickens V.C. said in Burt v. Hellyar, (372) L.R. 14 Eq. 160, a
popular and not a technical expression, and its meaning is often controlled by the context. As is
pointed out in the Oxford Dictionary, Vol. IV, page 55, although the term "family" is sometimes
used to include those descended or claiming descent from a common ancestor, it has, very often a
much wider import; it is often used to indicate a body of persons formed by those who are merely
connected by blood or affinity, it is sometimes used to include even a body of persons who live in
the house or under one head. In the case of Wilson v. Cochran, (1869) 31 Texas 677, 98 Am. Dec.
553, the matter was put clearly and concisely as follows: "The term family embraces a collective
body of persons living together in one house or within the curtilage. In legal phrase, this is the
generic description of a `family'. It embraces a house-hold comprised of parents or children or other
relatives or domestic servants, in short, every collective body of persons living together within the
same curtilage, subsisting in common, and directing their attention to a common object, the
promotion of their mutual interests and social happings. This is the most popular acceptation of the
word". The description herein suggested may, perhaps, be deemed, in some respects, too wide. But
one thing is, in our opinion, beyond dispute. The word "family", as used in the Partition Act, ought
to be given a liberal and comprehensive meaning, and it does include a group of persons related in
blood, who live in one house or under one head or management. There is nothing in the Partition
Act, to support the suggestion that the term "family" was intended to be used in a very narrow and
restricted sense, namely, a body of persons who can trace their descent from a common ancestor".
Mr. Sanyal also relied upon the case of Paluni Del vs. Rathi Mallick and Ors., reported in AIR 1965
Orissa 111. In this case the question was whether a married daughter, who was residing with her
husband at some other place, could be said to be a member of the family. It was held that the world
`family' as used in the Partition Act must be given a liberal and comprehensive meaning and should
include a group of persons related in blood, who live in one house or under one head or
management. It is held that there is nothing in Partition Act to support the suggestion that the terms
"family" was intended to be used in a very narrow and restricted sense, namely, a body of persons
who trace their descent from a common ancestor. It was held that it is not necessary that the terms
"dwelling house" belonging to an undivided family should include a house where a group of persons
related by blood live and that it was not necessary that they should descend from a common
ancestor or should constantly reside in the dwelling house or that they should be joint in mess so
long as the members of the family have not abandoned their intention to reside in it.
Relying on the above authorities Mr. Sanyal submitted that the common ancestor was Jonoranjan
Paul. He submitted that from the beginning the Appellant has been residing in the suit property
alongwith his father Bejoy Ratan Paul. He submitted that the Appellant was residing in the suit
property as a member of the family. He submitted that Respondent Nos. 1 & 2 were also members
of the same family. He submitted that under these circumstances it could not be said that the
Appellant was a stranger or outsider. He submitted that, therefore, the High Court was wrong in
holding that the Appellant was not a member of the family. He submitted that the impugned
judgment was required to be set aside on this ground.
Mr. Sanyal further submitted that in any event Appellant had at no stage "sued for partition". He
submitted that as the Appellant had not sued for partition Section 4 could not be invoked. He
submitted. He submitted that, even on this count, the High Court was wrong in allowing the
Plaintiff to pre-empt by purchasing the share of the Appellant.
As against this Mr. Gupta submitted that Section 4 can be invoked if a share in the dwelling house
belonging to an undivided family has been transferred to a person who is not a member of such
family. He submitted that admittedly this dwelling house belonged to members of the family of
Nirode Baron Paul. He submitted that it was admitted that Bejoy Ratan Paul had sold his share to
Nirode Baron Paul. He submitted that a sale to a person who was not a member of the family of
Nirode Baron Paul would be a sale to a person who was not a member of such family. He submitted
that Section 4 would thus become applicable. He submitted that the High Court had correctly held
that the Appellant could not be considered a member of such family.
Mr. Gupta admitted that the Appellant had not filed any suit for partition. He submitted that it was
not necessary that the outsider or a stranger should actually file a suit for partition. He submitted
that in any suit for partition, whether filed by the outsider or by a member of the family, there would
be partition and then a division by metes and bounds. He submitted that each share would become
entitled to receive possession of his share. He submitted that in aa suit for partition, the position of
all parties is inter-changeable. He submitted that a separate allotment can be claimed by any party in
respective of whether he was Plaintiff or Defendant. He submitted that if a stranger is a Defendant,
in a suit for partition, then irrespective of whether he asks for a separate allotment or not, any co-
sharer can claim a right for pre-emption under Section 4 of the Partition Act.
In support of his submission he relied upon the authority of Special Bench of the Calcutta High
Court in Siba Prosad Bhattacharyya and others vs. Bibhuti Bhusan Bhattacharjee and another,
reported in AIR 1989 Calcutta 35. He points out that this authority has upheld the consistent view of
the Calcutta High Court. In this case it has been held that Section 4 must be liberally construed in
favour of the co-sharers of an undivided family dwelling house. It has been held that the co-sharer
has a a right to buy the share of the stranger irrespective of the fact that the stranger is a Plaintiff or
Defendant. It has been held that in a partition suit the parties are interchangeable. It is held that in a
suit for partition it makes no difference whether a party is Plaintiff or Defendant. It is held that a
party, whether a Plaintiff or Defendant, can claim a share in the dwelling house. It has been held
that the expression "to use" would include not only "to prosecute" but also "to defend". It is also
held as follows:
"The object of Section 4 is to prevent the disintegration of the family dwelling house by prevention
to introduce stranger therein. The stranger is adequately compensated by the market value of the
property purchased so that dwelling house of the family be preserved. So that dwelling house of the
family be preserved. The view that it must be strictly construed and that until and unless the stranger
either sues for partition as a plaintiff or asks for separate allotment as defendant (sic) be accepted
then the whole object of Section 4 would be frustrated. In a suit for partition parties are
interchangeable. The defendant can, at any time before the decree for partition is finally passed, ask
for separate allotment. The right under Section 4 is available to the co-sharer as soon as a
preliminary decree is passed. The defendant may frustrate the right of the co-sharer to buy out the
share by not asking for separate allotment up to the last moment. The possibility cannot be ruled out
that after the co-sharer's right of pre-emption u/s. 4 is rejected on the ground that the defendant has
not asked for separate allotment, the defendant could ask for separate allotment. In this way if the
view of Netal Dass's case be accepted great injustice will be caused to the co-sharer of an undivided
family dwelling house".
It must be mentioned that in the above mentioned case it was noted that a similar view was also
taken in the cases reported in AIR 1937 Nag 4, AIR 1950 Pat 317 & AIR 1971 Orissa 127. It was
also noted that a contrary view has been taken in the cases reported in AIR 1957 All 356, AIR 1922
Bom 121 and AIR 1950 Mad 214.
Mr. Gupta submitted that the Calcutta High Court has consistently taken this view. He points out
that the impugned judgment is by the Calcutta High Court. He submitts that it thus could not be said
that there was any error in the judgment.
Mr. Gupta also relied upon the Ghantesher Ghosh case (supra). He submitted that this case also lays
down that Section 4 operates at all stages of the litigation even up to the execution proceedings. He
submitted that in Ghantesher Ghosh's case a decree had already been passed. Thereafter a stranger
purchaser applied for execution of that decree. He points out that this Court held that even though it
was in execution the provisions of Section 4 would apply. He submitted that in every partition suit
there is a bound to be a division of the property by metes and bounds and a separation of the shares.
He submitted that the object of Section 4 is to ensure that no outsider comes to a dwelling house
even though the outsider is merely a Defendant in the suit. He submitted that if a contrary view is
taken then on a partition the outsider is bound to get a share and take possession of that share. He
submitted that that would defeat the laaudable object of Section 4. He submitted that object would
be achieved only if the other co-sharers are entitled to pre-empt and purchase over the share of the
stranger, so long as the stranger is a party to the suit for partition.
We have heard the parties and considered the rival submissions. In this Appeal the main questions
which arise for consideration are -
(a) Whether the Appellant could be said to be a member of the family within the meaning of Section
4 of the Partition Act? and
(b) Whether in the absence of the transferee suing for partition a shareholder can invoke Section 4
and buy over such share?
For a consideration of these questions it would be appropriate to set out, at this stage, Section 4 of
the Partition Act. Section 4 reads as follows:
"4. Partition suit by transferee of share in dwelling - house. (1) Where a share of a dwelling-house
belonging to an undivided family has been transferred to a person who is not a member of such
family such transferee sues for partition, the court shall, if any member of the family being a
shareholder shall undertake to buy the share of such transferee, make a valuation of such share in
such manner as it thinks fit and direct the sale of such share to such shareholder, and may give all
necessary and proper directions in that behalf (emphasis supplied)
(2) If in any case described in sub-section (1) two or more members of the family being such
shareholders severally underake to buy such share, the court shall follow the procedure prescribed
by sub-section (2) of the last foregoing section". A mere perusal of this Section shows that for its
applicability the conditions as set out in Ghantesher Ghosh case (Supra) have to be fulfilled.
Let us now consider whether the sale to the Appellant by Bibhuti Paul can be said to be a sale to an
outsider or a stranger to the family. Undoubtedly, Section 4 should be given a liberal interpretation.
However giving a liberal interpretation does not mean that the wordings of the Section and the clear
interpretation thereof be ignored. The relevant wordings are "dwelling-house belonging to an
undivided family". Thus it must be a dwelling house belonging to an undivided family. The further
requirement is that the transfer must be to a person who is not a member of "such family". The
words "such family" necessarily refers to the undivided family to whom the dwelling house belongs.
In this case the undivided family is not the undivided family of Jonoranjan Paul. Admittedly the
undivided family which owns the dwelling house is the undivided family of Nirode Baron Paul. It is
not Appellant's case that he is a member of the undivided family of Nirode Baron Paul. In the cases
relied upon by Mr Sanyal the persons concerned were members of the family to whom the dwelling
house belonged. In this case the Appellant, not being a member of the family of Nirode Baron Paul
cannot be said to be a member of the undivided family to whom the dwelling house belongs. Merely
because he is related by blood through ancestor i.e. Jonoranjan Paul does not make him a member of
the family within the meaning of the term as used in Section 4. To that extent the High Court was
right in coming to the conclusion that the sale was not to a member of the family.
The next question is whether it can be said that the Appellant had sued for partition. Undoubtedly
the decisions of the Calcutta High Court in Bhattacharyya case (supra) and the cases reported in
AIR (1937) Nag 4, AIR (1950) Pat 37 and AIR (1971) Orissa 127, support the interpretation sought
to be placed on Section 4 by Mr. Gupta. However, as noted above there is a conflict of opinion
between the various High Courts on this point. The cases reported in AIR (1957) All 356, AIR
(1922) Bom. 121 and AIR (1950) Mad 214 take a contrary view. In our view for reasons set out
hereinafter the opinion held by the Calcutta, Patna and Orissa High Courts is not correct and cannot
be sustained. It must be mentioned that this Court has in the case of Babu Laal v/s Habinoor Khan
reported in AIR (2000) 5 SCC 662 already considered the correctness of the view taken in AIR
1971 Orissa 127. As set out above the Orissa High Court took the same view as the Calcutta High
Court. This Court held as follows in respect of the view taken by the Orissa High Court:
"If the ratio of the aforesaid decision is held to take the view that a stranger-purchaser who does not
move for partition of the joint property against the remaining co-owners either as a plaintiff nor
even as successor of the decree-holder seeks execution of the partition decree can still be subjected
to Section 4 of the Partition Act proceedings, then the said view would directly conflict with the
decision of this Court in Gantesher Ghosh case aand to that extent it must be treated to be
overruled".
We are in agreement with this opinion.
There is no law which provides that co-sharer must only sell his/her share to another co-sharer. Thus
strangers/outsiders can purchase shares even in a dwelling house. Section 44 of the Transfer of
Property Act provides that the transferee of a share of a dwelling house, if he/she is not a member of
that family, gets no right to joint possession or common enjoyment of the house. Section 44
adequately protects the family members against intrusion by an outsider into the dwelling house.
The only manner in which an outsider can get possession is to use for possession and claim
separation of his share. In that case Section 4 of the Partition Act comes into play. Except for
Section 4 of the Partition Act there is no other law which provides a right to a co-sharer to purchaser
the share sold to an ousider. Thus before the right of pre-emption, under Section 4, is exercised the
conditions laid down therein have to be complied with. As seen above one of the conditions is that
the outsider must sue for partition. Section 4 does not provide the co-sharer a right to pre-empt
where the stranger/outsider does nothing after purchasing the share. In other words, Section 4 is not
giving a right to a co-sharer to pre-empt and purchaser the share sold to an outsider anytime he/she
wants. Thus even though a liberal interpretation may be given, the interpretation cannot be one
which gives a right which the Legislatures clearly did not intend to confer. The Legislature was
aware that in a Suit for Partition the stranger/outsider, who has purchased a share, would have to be
made a party. The Legislature was aware that in a Suit for Partition the parties are inter-changeable.
The Legislature was aware that a Partition Suit would result in a decree for Partition and in most
cases a division by metes and bounds. The Legislature was aware that on an actual division, like all
other co-sharers, the stranger/outsider would also get possession of his share. Yet the Legislature did
not provide that the right for pre-emption could be exercised "in any Suit for Partition". The
Legislature only provided for such right when the "transferee sues for partition'. The intention of
the Legislature is clear. There had to be initiation of proceedings or the making of a claim to
partition by the stranger/outsider. This could be by way of initiating a proceeding for partition or
even claiming partition in execution. However, a mere assertion of a claim to a share without
demanding separation and possession (by the outsider) is not enough to give to the other co-sharers
a right of pre-emption. There is a difference between a mere assertion that he has a share and a
climing for possession of that share. So long as the stranger/purchaser does not seek actual division
and possession, either in the suit or in execution proceedings, it cannot be said that he has sued for
partition. The interpretation given by the Calcutta, Patna, Nagpur and Orissa High Courts would
result in nullifying the express provisions of Section 4, which only gives a right when the transferee
sues for partition. If that interpretation were to be accepted than in lal cases, where there has been a
sale of a share to an outsider, a co-sharer could simply file a suit for partition and then claim a right
to purchase over that share. Thus even though the outsider may have, at no stage, asked for partition
and for the delivery of the share to him, he would be forced to sell his share. It would give to a co-
sharer a right to pre-empt and purchase whenever he/she so desired by the simple expedient of filing
a Suit for Partition. This was not the intent or purpose of Section 4. Thus the view taken by
Calcutta, Patna, Nagpur and Orissa High Courts, in the aforementioned cases, cannot be said to be
good law.
In this case we have seen the written statement and the additional written statement filed by the
Appellants. We have also seen the evidence given by the Appellants. At no stage has the Appellant
asked for partition or demanded possession of his share. All that he has claimed, which he was
bound to and entitled to is, that he has a 1/9th share in the property. Under these circumstances, the
High Court was wrong in allowing the Respondents 1 and 2 to exercise a right of pre-emption under
Section 4 of the Partition Act. In this case, the condition of a transferee suing for partition had not
been fulfilled.
In this view of the matter the impugned judgment requires to be and is set aside. The decree of the
Trial Court dated 27th August, 1992 is restored except that the application under Section 4 shall
now stand dismissed as being premature. Respondents 1 and 2 are at liberty to apply to the Trial
Court, if they so desire, for a final decree of partition. We however clarify that if at any stage the
Appellant applies for partition and for separation and possession of his share Respondents 1 and 2
and /or any other co-sharer will still be entitled to move under Section 4 of the Partition Act.
The Appeal stands disposed off accordingly. There will be no order as to costs.