- 1 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2304-DB RFA No. 100091 of 2018 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, DHARWAD BENCH DATED THIS THE 30TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2025 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SREENIVAS HARISH KUMAR AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE T. G. SHIVASHANKARE GOWDA REGULAR FIRST APPEAL NO. 100091 OF 2018 (PAR/POS) BETWEEN: 1. BHIMAGOUDA S/O RUDRAGOUDA PATIL (SINCE DECEASED ON 20.06.2021 RESPONDENT NO.8 TO 14 ARE THE LR'S OF APPELLANT NO.1) (AMENDMENT CARRIED OUT AS PER ORDER DATED 01.12.2021) 2. CHAMPABAI W/O BHIMAGOUDA PATIL AGED 63 YEARS OCC AGRICULTURE AND HOUSEHOLD R/O MELAVANKI TALUK GOKAK DIST. BELAGAVI - 591 218 …APPELLANTS (BY SRI.SHRIHARSH A. NEELOPANT, ADV. VIDE ORDER DATED 01.12.2021 R8 TO R14 ARE LRS. OF DECEASED A1) AND: 1. KUMARI PREETI D/O RAMAGOUDA PATIL AGED ABOUT 19 YEARS OCC.STUDENT, R/O MELAVANKI GOKAK TALUK, BELAGAVI DIST - 5912 218 2. KUMAR BASAVARAJ S/O RAMAGOUDA PATIL AGED 17 YEARS, OCC. STUDENT R/O MELAVANKI GOKAK TALUK, BELAGAVI DIST - 591 218 Digitally signed by MALA K N Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2304-DB RFA No. 100091 of 2018 3. KUMARI LAXMI D/O RAMAGOUDA PATIL AGED ABOUT 15 YEARS OCC.STUDENT, R/O MELAVANKI GOKAK TALUK, BELAGAVI DIST - 5912 218 4. KUMARI KEERTI D/O RAMAGOUDA PATIL AGED ABOUT 13 YEARS OCC.STUDENT, R/O MELAVANKI GOKAK TALUK, BELAGAVI DIST - 5912 218 5. MAHADEVI W/O RAMAGOUDA PATIL AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS OCC.HOUSEHOLD WORK, R/O MELAVANKI GOKAK TALUK, BELAGAVI DIST - 5912 218 6. BASAVVA W/O BABASAHEB PATIL AGED ABOUT 70 YEARS OCC.AGRICULTURE & HOUSEHOLD WORK R/O MUGOLKODA TALUK RAIBAG BELAGAVI DIST 7. VIJAYMALA @ JAYASHREE W/O SIDDAGOUDA PATIL AGED 51 YEARS OCC.AGRICULTURE & HOUSEHOLD WORK R/O MUGALI TALUK CHIKKUDI BELAGAVI DIST - 591 226 8. RUDRAGOUDA S/O BHIMAGOUDA PATIL AGED 47 YEARS OCC. AGRICULURE R/O MELAVANKI GOKAK TALUK, BELAGAVI DIST - 591 218 9. KASHIBAI W/O ADHRUSHAGOUDA PATIL AGED 43 YEARS OCC.AGRICULTURE & HOUSEHOLD WORK, R/O NANDESHWARM TALUK ATHANI, DIST BELAGAVI - 591 218 10. BASAVARAJ S/O BHIMAGOUDA PATIL AGED 40 YEARS - 3 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2304-DB RFA No. 100091 of 2018 OCC.AGRICULTURE R/O MELAVNKI TALUK GOKAK DIST BELAGAVI - 591 218 11. MALLIKARJUN S/O. BHIMAGOUDA PATIL AGE: 35 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O. MELAVANKI, TQ: GOKAK DIST: BELAGAVI - 591 218 12. SHANTABAI W/O. BHIMAGOUDA PATIL AGE:52 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE & HOUSEHOLD WORK R/O. MELAVANKI, TQ: GOKAK DIST: BELAGAVI - 591 218 13. MAHADEVI W/O. CHANNABASAPPA DHAWALESHWAR AGE: 52 YEARS OCC: AGRICULTURE & HOUSEHOLD WORK R/O. MUDALAGI, TQ: GOKAK DIST: BELAGAVI - 591 218 14. HANAMANTGOUDA S/O. BHIMAGOUDA PATIL AGE: 45 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O. MELAVANKI, TQ: GOKAK DIST: BELAGAVI - 591 218 15. JAYASHREE W/O. BASAVARAJ B PATIL AGE: 40 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE & HOUSEHOLD WORK R/O. URABHINAHATTI, TQ: GOKAK DIST: BELAGAVI - 591 307 16. APPUGOUDA W/O. BHIMAGOUDA PATIL AGE: 37 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O. MELAVANKI, TQ: GOKAK DIST: BELAGAVI - 591 218 SINCE RESPONDENT NOS.2,3,4 ARE MINORS HENCE, REP.BY THEIR MOTHER/GUARDIAN RESPONDENT NO.5 HEREIN … RESPONDENTS (BY SRI.S.BASAVARAJ, SR.COUNSEL FOR SRI.HARSHAWARDHAN M. PATIL, ADV. FOR R6; VIDE ORDER DATED 30.09.2020, NOTICE TO R1 TO R5 AND R7 TO R16 IS DISPENSED WITH) - 4 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2304-DB RFA No. 100091 of 2018 THIS RFA IS FILED UNDER SECTION 96 OF CPC, AGAINST THE JUDGMENT AND DECREE DATED 07.03.2018 PASSED IN O.S. NO.258/2013 ON THE FILE OF THE II-ADDITIONAL SENIOR CIVIL JUDGE, GOKAK, DECREERING THE SUIT FILED FOR PARTITION AND SEPARATE POSSESSION. THIS APPEAL, PERTAINING TO DHARWAD BENCH, HAVING BEEN HEARD AND RESERVED ON 08.01.2025, COMING ON FOR PRONOUNCEMENT THIS DAY THROUGH VIDEO CONFERENCE AT BENGALURU BENCH, JUDGMENT WAS DELIVERED THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SREENIVAS HARISH KUMAR AND HON'BLE MR JUSTICE T.G. SHIVASHANKARE GOWDA CAV JUDGMENT (PER: HON'BLE MR JUSTICE SHIVASHANKARE GOWDA) In this appeal, defendant Nos.1 and 2 have challenged the judgment and decree dated 07.03.2018 passed in O.S.No.258/2013 by the II Additional Senior Civil Judge and JMFC, Gokak, decreeing the suit of plaintiff No.6 by declaring that she is entitled to half share in the suit schedule properties. 2. Respondent Nos.1 to 6 were plaintiff Nos.1 to 6 and respondent Nos.7 to 16 were defendant Nos.3 to 13 before the Trial Court. For the sake of convenience, - 5 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2304-DB RFA No. 100091 of 2018 the rank of the parties shall be referred to as they stood before the Trial Court. 3. Facts of the case in brief are that, originally plaintiff Nos.1 to 5 filed the suit claiming 1/12th share in the suit properties on the ground that the suit properties are the ancestral joint family properties of them and the defendants as there is no partition in the family and they are entitled to share. 3.1. Defendant Nos.1 and 2 contested the suit by filing the written statement. It is their case that the propositus Rudragouda died on 07.10.1955 leaving behind his first wife Akkavva and second wife Channavva. Defendant No.1 is the son of Akkavva. The second wife Channavva had no issues. Plaintiff No.6, who was initially arrayed as defendant No.8 in the suit, was not the daughter of Basavva. The propositus Rudragouda was working as a Police Patil (village head), during the said period, he traced an orphan - 6 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2304-DB RFA No. 100091 of 2018 child at Melavanki village. In spite of his best efforts, he could not trace out the parents of the said child. Hence, he brought that child to his house and fostered her, who is none other than plaintiff No.6, the original defendant No.8. For the better future of plaintiff No.6, the propositus Rudragouda got entered his name as her father, wherein plaintiff No.6, taking undue advantage of the said entries, is claiming to be the biological daughter, but she is not entitled to any share in the suit schedule properties. 4. During the pendency of the suit, there was a inter se compromise between plaintiff Nos.1 to 5 and defendant No.1, they filed a memo seeking withdrawal of the suit. Plaintiff No.6 who was defendant No.8 filed an application seeking transposition of herself as plaintiff. The memo seeking withdrawal of the suit was rejected. As per the order dated 11.02.2014, defendant No.8 was permitted to transpose herself as - 7 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2304-DB RFA No. 100091 of 2018 plaintiff No.6. Accordingly, the suit is now between plaintiff No.6 and the defendants. 5. After transposition of defendant No.8 as plaintiff No.6 by way of amendment, para-5(a) was inserted in the plaint contending that suit properties are ancestral joint family properties, that during the lifetime of her father, she was in joint possession and enjoyment of the suit properties. There was no partition by metes and bounds during the lifetime of her father or even after his death. Defendant Nos.1 and 2, in active collusion with others in order to defeat her claim got transferred some of the properties in their names by creating vardi without her consent and knowledge. It will not create any right in their favour, she is entitled to her legitimate share and in addition to the plaint schedule, she also added 6 items of the open space and house properties situated at Melavanki as 'B' schedule property. - 8 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2304-DB RFA No. 100091 of 2018 6. In reply to this pleading, defendant No.1 pleaded that, he being the sole son of propositus Rudragouda, who died intestate, acquired all the properties of his father and became the absolute owner. He married defendant No.2/Champabai as first wife and also married defendant No.9/Shantabai as the second wife. Defendant Nos.3 to 7 are his children born to the first wife, defendant Nos.10 to 13 and one Ramagouda are the children born to the second wife, defendant No.9 and plaintiff Nos.1 to 4 are the children born to his son deceased Ramagouda. He admits that item Nos.1 to 7 of the plaint schedule are the joint family properties and as per the advice of the elders, plaintiff Nos.1 to 5 withdrew the suit. After withdrawal, defendant No.8 transposed herself as plaintiff No.6, but she being the fostered daughter of propositus Rudragouda, she has no legal right to seek partition and her claim is required to be rejected. - 9 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2304-DB RFA No. 100091 of 2018 7. Defendant Nos.3 to 7 and 9 to 13 were placed ex-parte before the Trial Court. 8. The Trial Court framed the following issues: "(i) Whether the transposed plaintiff No.6 (defendant No.8) proves that she is the daughter of propositus Rudragouda as alleged? (ii) Whether the transposed plaintiff No.6 is entitled for 1/2 share in the suit properties as alleged? (iii) Whether the transposed plaintiff No.6 is entitled for the relief of partition as prayed? (iv) What order or decree?" 9. Before the Trial Court, plaintiff No.6 examined herself as PW.1 and exhibited 23 documents as Exs.P1 to 23 and defendant got examined himself as DW.1 and exhibited 3 documents as Exs.D1 to 3. 10. After hearing both sides, the Trial Court recorded positive findings in respect of issue Nos.1 to 3 and ultimately decreed the suit declaring that plaintiff No.6 is entitled to half share, defendant Nos.1, 3 to 7 together are entitled to half share in the suit - 10 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2304-DB RFA No. 100091 of 2018 properties. Aggrieved by the same, defendant Nos.1 and 2 have filed this appeal on various grounds. 11. We have heard the arguments of Sri.Shriharsh A. Neelopant, learned counsel for defendant Nos.1 and 2 and Sri. Basavaraju, learned Senior Counsel for Sri. Ramesh I. Zirali, learned counsel for plaintiff No.6. 12. It is contended by the learned Counsel for defendant Nos.1 and 2 that plaintiff No.6 is not biological daughter of propositus Rudragouda and Channavva, she is only a fostered daughter and she has no right to seek partition. It is also contended that propositus Rudragouda died prior to 1955 and as per The Hindu Women's Rights To Property Act, 1937 (for short, 'Act 1937'), plaintiff No.6 is not entitled to any share. Plaintiff No.6 has not proved her biological relationship with the defendants and defendant No.1 being the sole legal heir, is entitled to the entire property as he can exercise right of reversion in - 11 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2304-DB RFA No. 100091 of 2018 respect of property of Channavva, who had only a limited right. 13. Per contra, learned counsel for plaintiff No.6 contended that the plaintiff has placed evidence in proof of biological relationship. Even if Channavva is considered as the second wife, plaintiff No.6 was born on 24.08.1955, the two wives of Rudragouda acquire equal right in the suit schedule properties after demise of Rudragouda. Channavva died in the year 2010 and in view of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 (for short, 'Act 1956'), her limited right enlarged into absolute right. Plaintiff No.6 being the daughter is entitled to succeed to the properties of her mother Channavva. Defendant No.1 and plaintiff No.6 being the son and the daughter of the propositus Rudragouda, are entitled to equal share in the suit properties. The Trial Court, accordingly decreed the suit and he supported the impugned judgment. - 12 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2304-DB RFA No. 100091 of 2018 14. We have given our anxious consideration to the arguments addressed on behalf of both parties and perused the material on record. 15. The points that arise for our consideration are: (i) Whether the finding of Trial Court that plaintiff No.6 / defendant No.8 is the biological daughter of propositus Rudragouda, is correct? (ii) Has the Trial Court correctly held that plaintiff No.6/defendant No.8 is entitled to half share? (iii) What Order? Reg.Point No.(i): 16. The claim of plaintiff No.6 / defendant No.8 is that she is the biological daughter of the propositus Rudragouda to his second wife Channavva, but defendant Nos.1 and 2 have denied that she is the biological daughter and assert that she is only a fostered daughter. In order to establish the biological relationship, the plaintiff in the witness box has asserted that she is the daughter of propositus - 13 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2304-DB RFA No. 100091 of 2018 Rudragouda. To prove the same, she produced the school records and Birth Certificate issued by the Government Primary School, Melavanki as per Ex.P13, her birth certificate as per Ex.P14 and the order of the Assistant Commissioner, Bylahongala in No.RTA.AP- 260/14-15 dated 16.09.2016 as per Ex.P23. The plaintiff has been cross-examined on the said documents, wherein the name of plaintiff No.6 is referred to as Basavva Rudragouda Patil. In the school records and also in the Birth Certificate, the name of her father is referred as Rudragouda @ Appugouda Bheemagouda Patil, much has been argued on the genuineness of this document referring to the date of issuance in the year 2018 and also non-examination of its author. These documents have evidentiary value as the 1st defendant himself admitted that his father has left his name to plaintiff No.6 in the school records. Now the burden is on him to rebut it. No evidence was made available on his behalf to support his contention. - 14 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2304-DB RFA No. 100091 of 2018 17. In Thirnmakku and others -vs- Bandlu Rangappa and others1, Co-ordinate Bench of this Court held that when the recitals of a document with reference to relationship is entered into, such recitals cannot be treated as substantive evidence unless evidence is placed about source of such information. As we notice from the pleadings and evidence of defendant No.1, who admits that his father has lent his name to plaintiff No.6 as natural father, reverse burden is on him to explain such source. In the absence of such reverse evidence, plaintiff cannot be asked to prove her biological relationship. Hence, law laid down in the above case is not applicable to the facts of this case. 18. We have given our anxious consideration to the cross-examination of plaintiff No.6. We do not find any substance which dislodges her from claiming that she is the biological daughter of propositus Rudragouda. Undisputedly, propositus was a Police 1 (1977) 1 KarLJ 206 - 15 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2304-DB RFA No. 100091 of 2018 Patil of the Melavanki Taluk, till his death. It has been suggested to plaintiff No.6 that she was not the biological daughter and she was only the fostered daughter. Neither she denies nor admits it. Such suggestion did not bring it as admission that she is a fostered daughter. We have to consider the evidence in its entirety with reference to pleadings. 19. There is no dispute that the propositus Rudragouda had two wives. One is Akkawwa, the first wife and Channavva, the second wife. In the argument it has been addressed that both are natural sisters. During the pendency of the appeal, an application was filed on behalf of plaintiff No.6 that she is ready to subject herself for DNA examination and the said application was allowed, the DNA Centre, Dharwad was requested to give DNA profile of the plaintiff and the defendants and the blood samples were also drawn. The DNA report is also received indicating that Rudragouda, defendant No.4 and defendant No.7 are - 16 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2304-DB RFA No. 100091 of 2018 the biological brothers. But the relationship of plaintiff No.6 with these persons was not established for want of 'X' chromosomal STR profile, none of the female members of the family came forward to give blood samples for DNA profile. The DNA examination technically failed and it will have no assistance for plaintiff No.6 to establish the same. But DNA report is not against plaintiff No.6. In a civil suit, the proof of documents and the evidence has to be appreciated within the ambit of the available evidence on the test of prepondence of probability. As we have noticed from the evidence of the plaintiff, we do not find any material to discard her evidence that she is the biological daughter of Channavva and original propositus Rudragouda. 20. We have also carefully evaluated the evidence of defendant No.1. Though he reiterates his written statement, during the course of his cross- examination, it is brought out that he has no record to show that plaintiff No.6 was an Orphan, fostered by his - 17 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2304-DB RFA No. 100091 of 2018 father. He admits in the cross-examination that in the school records, the father's name of plaintiff No.6 is entered as Rudragouda. When such being the case, the argument with regard to Exs.P13 and 14 is to be answered in such a way that at an undisputed point of time, father of plaintiff No.6 was recognized as Rudragouda, who is the propositus. Therefore, we do not find any reason to accept that plaintiff No.6 is the fostered daughter. In the absence of any evidence to show that plaintiff No.6 is the fostered daughter and she is not the natural daughter of Rudragouda, on the basis of evidence on record we are constrained to hold that plaintiff No.6 is the biological daughter of propositus Rudragouda and Channavva. Hence, we answer point No.(i) accordingly. Reg.Point No.(ii): 21. In view of our findings on point No.(i), plaintiff No.6 is to be treated as the biological daughter of Channavva and Rudragouda. There is no dispute that Channavva is the second wife of Rudragouda. - 18 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2304-DB RFA No. 100091 of 2018 Rudragouda died on 07.10.1955. Plaintiff No.6 was born on 24.08.1955, thereby she is the daughter of second wife. Partition was opened for her in the year 1955. As the suit properties belong to joint family, as rightly argued by Sri.Shriharsh Neelopant, 'Act 1937' is not applicable. 'Act 1937' is applicable only to the separate property of the propositus Rudragouda. Prior to 1956, wives were entitled to limited right which is called 'life estate'. By virtue of Act 1956, their limited right becomes absolute right, thereby the limited right of Channavva became her absolute right post 1956 as she died subsequent to 1956. 22. The defendants want to rely upon the mutation as per Ex.D1 and Form No.7 filed by Channavva to the Land Tribunal, Gokak as per Ex.D2 and Form No.10 issued as per Ex.D3. Referring to the recitals made in the said documents, it is argued that defendant No.1 is the only son of the propositus Rudragouda and when Channavva filed Form No.7 to - 19 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2304-DB RFA No. 100091 of 2018 the Land Tribunal, she mentioned the details of family members as herself and there was no reference to plaintiff No.6. Even in the Form No.10, the name of Channavva has been entered to an extent of 1/4th share in the suit properties. These documents will not come to the aid of the defendants to dislodge plaintiff No.6. Suit properties being the joint family properties enjoyed by the first wife Akkawwa and second wife Channavva, thereby they became the joint family properties and their right has to be determined according to Section 8 of the Act 1956. 23. The argument of the learned counsel for the defendants that upon the death of Channavva, the properties of Channavva reverted back to the family of Rudragouda cannot be accepted as Basavva being the natural daughter of Channavva succeeded to the share of Channavva. 24. Since the parties belong to Bombay- Karnataka area, succession opened on 17.09.1955. - 20 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2304-DB RFA No. 100091 of 2018 Right of the plaintiff No.6 was crystallized only after death of her mother, which was subsequent to 1956. The two wives of Rudragouda take one share each and Bhimagouda/defendant No.1 would get one share. Plaintiff No.6 being the female member was not a member of coparcenery. The two wives took half share jointly. Out of said half share, the share of Channavva was 1/4th, and that of Akkavva was also 1/4th. 1/4th share of Akkavva is succeeded by her children, thereby defendant No.1 gets 1/2 + 1/4th i.e. 3/4th share and Basavva/plaintiff No.6 takes 1/4th share of her mother. We are not persuaded to accept argument of learned counsel for defendant No.1 that plaintiff No.6 is not entitled to share under the Act 1956. Accordingly, we answer point No.(ii). Reg.Point No.(iii): 25. From the foregoing discussion, the judgment of the trial Court is required to be modified and hence the following: - 21 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2304-DB RFA No. 100091 of 2018 ORDER (i) The appeal is partly allowed. (ii) The impugned judgment and decree passed by the Trial Court is modified declaring that plaintiff No.6 is entitled to 1/4th share in the suit schedule properties by metes and bounds. Decree shall be drawn accordingly. Sd/- (SREENIVAS HARISH KUMAR) JUDGE Sd/- (T. G. SHIVASHANKARE GOWDA) JUDGE MKM/List No.: 19 Sl No.: 1