Saleha Begum v. Mehmood Yar Khan

Supreme Court of India · 18 Feb 2009
Markandey Katju; B. Sudershan Reddy
CIVIL APPEAL NOS.14724-14726 OF 1996
civil appeal_allowed Significant

AI Summary

The Supreme Court held that a second appeal requires a substantial question of law and restored the Trial and First Appellate Court decrees declaring the appellant owner, setting aside the High Court's jurisdictional dismissal.

Full Text
Translation output
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL NOS.14724-14726 OF 1996
Saleha Begum ...Appellant(s)
VERSUS
Mehmood Yar Khan and Ors. ...Respondent(s)
Heard Ms. Indu Malhotra, learned senior counsel, instructed by Ms. Madhu Moolchandani, learned advocate for the appellant.
None appears for the respondents although notice has been served.
The appellant filed a suit against the respondents for declaration of ownership and consequential relief of possession was also claimed. Both the Trial
Court as well as the First Appellate Court found that the appellant is the owner of the property in dispute. When the matter went up to the High Court, without even framing any question of law, it held that the civil court did not have jurisdiction as the matter was covered by the Hyderabad Houses (Rent, Eviction and Lease) Control
Act, 1954.
In our opinion, there was no substantial question of law which warranted entertainment of the second appeal by the High Court. In fact, the High Court did not even say that ....2/-
- 2 - there was any substantial question of law in the second appeal. In the circumstances, we set aside the impugned judgement of the High Court and restore the decree and judgements of the Trial Court and the First Appellate Court.
The civil appeals are, accordingly, allowed.
No order as to costs. ......................J.
[MARKANDEY KATJU] ......................J.
[B. SUDERSHAN REDDY]
New Delhi, February 18, 2009.
JUDGMENT