Roll No.

843
CASE ANALYSIS
Madan Mohan Singh and Ors.
Vs.
Rajnikant and Anr.
AIR 2! SC 2"33
(In the partial fulfillment of the monthly assessment in the subject of Property Law)
S#$%itt&d $'( S#$%itt&d to(
Reeya Singh Mr. Rohan Thomas
Semester IX
th
Faculty of Law
B.P.Sc., LLB (ons.! Pro"erty Law
National La) *ni+&rsit', -odh.#r
S#%%&r S&ssion
/-#l'0No+&%$&r 2!41
2h& $ri&3 3a4ts o3 th& 4as& ar& that 0
#han$ra %eo Singh was recor$e$ as the &hate$ar of 'hata (os. )*+, ,-., /), an$ ,, of
0illage Bho1a"ur an$ 'hata (o. -/ of 0illage 'anshari. The res"on$ents in a""eal, Ra1ni
'ant an$ 2n1ani 'umar claime$ themsel3es to 4e the sons of sai$ #han$ra %eo Singh an$
file$ o41ections un$er Section 52(-! of 6.P. #onsoli$ation of ol$ings 2ct, /5+7
(hereinafter referre$ to as 8#onsoli$ation 2ct9! an$ they as&e$ for inclusion of their names
as his heirs.
2nother o41ection was file$ 4y the a""ellants in the $is"ute$ &hata su4mitting that the
sai$ res"on$ents ha$ no right or interest in the suit lan$, not 4eing the sons of late #han$ra
%eo Singh an$ the a""ellants were his only legal heirs.
The #onsoli$ation :fficer ha3ing frame$ large num4er of issues an$ ha3ing "ro3i$e$ full
o""ortunity of hearing to 4oth the "arties to lea$ e3i$ence an$ ma&e su4missions, "asse$
an or$er $ate$ *.//.-..., allowing the o41ections file$ 4y the res"on$ents an$ further
$irecting to recor$ their names.
Being aggrie3e$, the a""ellants "referre$ the a""eal 4efore the Settlement :fficer which
ha$ 4een $ismisse$ 3i$e 1u$gment an$ or$er $ate$ /,.-.-../. Being aggrie3e$, the
a""ellants "referre$ Re3ision (o. 5+* un$er Section )* of the #onsoli$ation 2ct which
also stoo$ $ismisse$ 3i$e 1u$gment an$ or$er $ate$ /+.7.-..7.
The a""ellants further agitate$ the issue, challenging the sai$ 1u$gments an$ or$ers 4y
filing ;rit Petition (o. /577)<-..7 which has also 4een $ismisse$ 3i$e 1u$gment an$
or$er $ate$ /).*.-..7. ence, this a""eal.
Iss#& $&3or& th& 4o#rt 5
=. ;hether 2 li3e in relationshi" if continue$ for a longtime 4e terme$ as >wal& in an$
wal&out> relationshi" an$ there is "resum"tion of marriage un$er Section //) of ?3i$ence
2ct.
=. ;hether chil$ren 4orn from long li3e in relationshi", where "arents starte$ li3ing as
hus4an$ an$ wife than gi3ing rise to "resum"tion of marriage, :n failure to re4ute such
"resum"tion, inclusion of names of such chil$ren as heir of 'hate$ar 4e "ro"er.
Cont&ntion o3 th& .arti&s 5
A..&llant6s 4ont&ntion(
#han$ra %eo Singh, father of the a""ellants remaine$ in @ail as a Free$om Fighter
from /5)+A)B. There is nothing on recor$ to show that a""ellants9 father got marrie$
with the mother of the res"on$ents Smt. Sha&untala in accor$ance with law. 2t the
most she coul$ 4e concu4ine of #han$ra %eo Singh an$ 4eing illegitimate chil$ren,
the res"on$ents ha3e no right to inherit any share in the suit lan$.
the res"on$ents were 4orn "rior to ha3ing starte$ li3eAinArelationshi" 4etween
#han$ra %eo Singh an$ sai$ Smt. Sha&untala as is e3i$ent from the School Register
an$ School lea3ing certificate which are a$missi4le un$er Section 7+ of the In$ian
?3i$ence 2ct, /*B- "ro$uce$ 4y the a""ellants 4efore the statutory authorities as well
as 4efore the igh #ourt an$ this #ourt. The sai$ $ocuments ha$ not 4een "ro"erly
a""reciate$ 4y any of the authorities.
The fin$ings of facts recor$e$ 4y the statutory authorities are "er3erse 4eing contrary
to e3i$ence on recor$ "ro$uce$ 4y the a""ellants Fin$ings so recor$e$, are "er3erse,
4eing contrary to the e3i$ence on recor$.
Res"on$entCs contentionD
Three statutory authorities un$er the #onsoli$ation 2ct ha3e recor$e$ the concurrent
fin$ing of fact that #han$ra %eo Singh an$ Smt. Sha&untala were li3ing together for a
long time. Their relationshi" as hus4an$ an$ wife ha$ 4een acce"te$ 4y the Society as
well as the family mem4ers.
In many official $ocuments, name of #han$ra %eo Singh has 4een shown as the father
of the res"on$ents. Both the res"on$ents were 4orn out of their relationshi".
-#dg&%&nt 0
In fact, statutory authorities un$er the #onsoli$ation 2ct ha3e 4een conferre$ "owers of
the #i3il #ourt to a$1u$icate u"on any matter of title or right to inherit the "ro"erty etc.
There are concurrent fin$ings of facts recor$e$ 4y three authorities un$er the
#onsoli$ation 2ct which are as followsD
(I! #han$ra %eo Singh was ha3ing relationshi" with Smt. Sha&untala for long timeE
(II! 2fter the $eath of his wife Son4arsa in /5)+, #han$ra %eo Singh ha$ li3eAinA
relationshi" with Smt. Sha&untala an$ starte$ li3ing as hus4an$ an$ wifeE
(III! Their relationshi" continue$ till the $eath of #han$ra %eo Singh on 7/./-./5B5
an$ therefore, they li3e$ together as hus4an$ an$ wife for a long "erio$E
(I0! The res"on$ents an$ other four $aughters were 4orn out of this relationshi"
4etween #han$ra %eo Singh an$ Smt. Sha&untalaE an$
(0! Their relationshi" as hus4an$ an$ wife ha$ 4een acce"te$ not only 4y the Society
4ut also 4y the family mem4ers.
The aforesai$ concurrent fin$ings of facts recor$e$ 4y the authorities un$er the #onsoli$ation
2ct ha3e 4een affirme$ 4y the igh #ourt though without ha3ing fullAfle$ge$ a""reciation of
e3i$ence. The igh #ourt reache$ the conclusion that fin$ings of facts recor$e$ 4y three
courts 4elow $i$ not reFuire reAa""reciation of e3i$ence an$ further that no interference was
reFuire$ with same in eGercise of writ 1uris$iction.
The $ocuments so "lace$ on recor$ which are so hea3ily relie$ 4y learne$ Senio consel
are 4asically School Lea3ing #ertificates, School Registers, 0oter Lists an$ other
$ocuments "re"are$ 4y the authorise$ "ersons in eGercise of their official $uty. 2nneGure
PA/ is the co"y of ?lectoral Rolls for Legislati3e 2ssem4ly of the three consecuti3e
elections.
The entries are 3ery rele3ant to $etermine the contro3ersy regar$ing the $ate of 4irth of
the res"on$ents an$ other family mem4ers. 2s "er the first $ocument in 2nneG.PA/ ,Smt.
Sha&untala shoul$ ha3e 4een 4orn in /5)/ as she was 7) years of age in /5B+. 2s "er the
-n$ list she shoul$ ha3e 4een 4orn in /5)7 as she was 7, years of age in /5B5.
Imme$iately, after one year in /5*. she 4ecame )/ years of age an$ accor$ing to this
$ocument she shoul$ ha3e 4een 4orn in /575.
There is so much inconsistency that these $ocuments cannot 4e rea$ together for the reason
that in /5B5 if Smt. Sha&untala was 7, years of age, in /5*. she ha$ 4een shown )/ years of
age. So, after eG"iry of one year, her age ha$ gone u" 4y + years.
2nneGure PA7 has 4een file$ as the co"y of the re"ort "re"are$ 4y the Tahsil$ar in 3iew of
the or$er "asse$ 4y the com"etent court $ate$ 7/.B./5*). 2ccor$ing to that 2sha %e3i,
$aughter of Smt. Sha&untala an$ sister of res"on$ents was 4orn on B.B./5+/. Therefore, if
Smt. Sha&untala as "er the first $ocument was 4orn in /5)/, Fuestion of gi3ing 4irth to
2sha coul$ not arise at the age of /. years. If we go 4y the secon$ $ocument of /5B5, Smt.
Sha&untala was 4orn in /5)7 an$ she coul$ not ha3e gi3en 4irth to 2sha in /5+/ at the age
of * years. 2ccor$ing to the thir$ $ocument, Smt. Sha&untala was )/ years of age in /5*..
So, at the time of 4irth of 2sha, Smt. Sha&untala was /- years of age. Same is the "osition
in res"ect of Sa3itri, another $aughter of Smt. Sha&untala. 2s "er 2nneGure PA), School
Lea3ing #ertificate, her $ate of 4irth has 4een recor$e$ as /.5./5)5. If this $ocument is
ta&en to 4e true an$ age of Smt. Shan&utala is ta&en from 2nneG.PA/, we will ha3e to
recor$ a fin$ing of fact that Smt. Sha&untala ga3e 4irth to Sa3itri at the age of , years.
The most material e3i$ence (2nneG. PA*! su4mitte$ 4y the a""ellants in res"ect of age of
Ra1ni 'ant, res"on$ent (o. /. The sai$ $ocument is a #ertificate for "racticing 6nani
me$icine an$ therein his $ate of 4irth has 4een shown as /+.B./5).. If this $ocument is
ta&en to 4e true an$ com"are$ with the $ocument containe$ in 2nneGure PA/ wherein Smt.
Sha&untala ha$ 4een shown 7) years of age in /5B+ an$ 7, years of age in /5B5, it
4ecomes arithmetically clear that Smt. Sha&untala ha$ gi3en 4irth to him e3en "rior to her
own 4irth.
The aforesai$ $ocuments "lace$ on recor$ 4y the a""ellants an$ so hea3ily relie$ u"on 4y
them, if ta&en into consi$eration, they woul$ sim"ly lea$ not only to im"ro4a4ilities an$
im"ossi4ilities 4ut a4sur$ity also. It is most unfortunate that none of the courts 4elow ha$
analyse$ these $ocuments in this manner while ta&ing them into consi$eration.
In State of Bihar an$ :rs. 3. Ra$ha 'rishna Singh an$ :rs. D 2IR /5*7 S# ,*), this #ourt
$ealt with a similar contention an$ hel$ as un$erD
2$missi4ility of a $ocument is one thing an$ its "ro4ati3e 3alue Fuite another A these
two as"ects cannot 4e com4ine$. 2 $ocument may 4e a$missi4le an$ yet may not
carry any con3iction an$ weight of its "ro4ati3e 3alue may 4e nil....
;here a re"ort is gi3en 4y a res"onsi4le officer, which is 4ase$ on e3i$ence of
witnesses an$ $ocuments an$ has >a statutory fla3orH in that it is gi3en not merely 4y
an a$ministrati3e officer 4ut un$er the authority of a Statute, its "ro4ati3e 3alue
woul$ in$ee$ 4e 3ery high so as to 4e entitle$ to great weight.
The "ro4ati3e 3alue of $ocuments which, howe3er ancient they may 4e, $o not
$isclose sources of their information or ha3e not achie3e$ sufficient notoriety is
"recious little.
Therefore, a $ocument may 4e a$missi4le, 4ut as to whether the entry containe$ therein has
any "ro4ati3e 3alue may still 4e reFuire$ to 4e eGamine$ in the facts an$ circumstances of a
"articular case.
/

So far as the entries ma$e in the official recor$ 4y an official or "erson authorise$ in
"erformance of official $uties are concerne$, they may 4e a$missi4le un$er Section 7+ of
the ?3i$ence 2ct
-
4ut the court has a right to eGamine their "ro4ati3e 3alue. The
authenticity of the entries woul$ $e"en$ on whose information such entries stoo$ recor$e$
an$ what was his source of information. The entry in School Register<School Lea3ing
#ertificate reFuire to 4e "ro3e$ in accor$ance with law an$ the stan$ar$ of "roof reFuire$
in such cases remaine$ the same as in any other ci3il or criminal cases.
For $etermining the age of a "erson, the 4est e3i$ence is of his<her "arents, if it is
su""orte$ 4y unim"eacha4le $ocuments. In case the $ate of 4irth $e"icte$ in the school
register<certificate stan$s 4elie$ 4y the unim"eacha4le e3i$ence of relia4le "ersons an$
contem"oraneous $ocuments li&e the $ate of 4irth register of the Munici"al #or"oration,
Io3ernment os"ital<(ursing ome etc, the entry in the school register is to 4e
$iscar$e$.
7

1
Ram Prasad Sharma v. State of Bihar AIR 1970 SC 326, Harpa Si!"h a!d A!r. v. State of
HP AIR 19#1 SC 361, Ba$oo Pasi v. State of %har&ha!d a!d A!r. '200#( SCC 133, Ram S)resh
Si!"h v. Pra$hat Si!"h a!d A!r '2009( 6 SCC 6#1
2
Sa!te!a *itra v. State of +est Be!"a AIR 1999 SC 1,#7
3
-ish!) v. State of *aharashtra '2006( 1 SCC 2#3, Satpa Si!"h v. State of Har.a!a %/ 2010
'7( SC ,00
If a "erson wants to rely on a "articular $ate of 4irth an$ wants to "ress a $ocument in
ser3ice, he has to "ro3e its authenticity in terms of Section 7-(+! or Sections +., +/,
+5, ,. an$ ,/, etc. of the ?3i$ence 2ct 4y eGamining the "erson ha3ing s"ecial means of
&nowle$ge, authenticity of $ate, time etc. mentione$ therein.
)

In S.7.S. 8alas#$ra%an'a% +. S#r#tta'an 9 Andali 7ada'a4hi and Ors.
:
, this #ourt
hel$ that if man an$ woman are li3ing un$er the same roof an$ coha4iting for a num4er of
years, there will 4e a "resum"tion un$er Section //) of the ?3i$ence 2ct, that they li3e as
hus4an$ an$ wife an$ the chil$ren 4orn to them will not 4e illegitimate.
The courts ha3e consistently hel$ that the law "resumes in fa3our of marriage an$ against
concu4inage, when a man an$ woman ha3e coha4ite$ continuously for a num4er of years.
owe3er, such "resum"tion can 4e re4utte$ 4y lea$ing unim"eacha4le e3i$ence.
,

In 3iew of the a4o3e, the &in$ of material "lace$ 4y the a""ellants on recor$ cannot 4e
terme$ enough to $is4elie3e the claim of the res"on$ents. The fin$ings of facts recor$e$
4y the courts 4elow cannot 4e $istur4e$ on this material. If all the a""ellantCs $ocuments
are acce"te$, they woul$ sim"ly lea$ not only to im"ro4a4ilities an$ im"ossi4ilities 4ut
a4sur$ity also. The li3eAinA relationshi" if continue$ for such a long time, cannot 4e
terme$ in as >wal& in an$ wal& out> relationshi" an$ there is a "resum"tion of marriage
4etween them which the a""ellants faile$ to re4ut.
;&4ision D The a""eal is $ismisse$. (o cost.
Ratio ;&4id&ndiD "Courts shall not pass orders without proper analysis of documents, placed
before them in correct perspective."
0
1pdesh 2)mar a!d ors. -. Prithvi Si!"h a!d ors. '2001( 2 SCC ,20, State of P)!3a$ -.
*ohi!der Si!"h AIR 200, SC 1#6#
,
AIR 1992 SC 7,6
6
Ra!"a!ath Parmesh4ar Pa!ditrao *ai v. 5&!ath 6a3a!a! 2)&ar!i '1996( 7 SCC 6#1,
So$ha H.mavathi 8evi v. Setti 6a!"adhara S4am. a!d ors. '200,( 9 SCC 200