2004 PLP 515 (SCMR)
DOST MUHAMMAD and others‑‑‑Petitioners Versus GHAUS MUHAMMAD through Legal Heirs and others‑‑‑Respondents
| Citation | 2004 PLP 515 (SCMR) |
| Forum / Court | Supreme Court of Pakistan |
| Bench Members | Munir A. Sheikh and Khalil‑ur‑Rehman Ramday, JJ |
| Parties | DOST MUHAMMAD and others‑‑‑Petitioners Versus GHAUS MUHAMMAD through Legal Heirs and others‑‑‑Respondents |
Q1: What are the key laws and sections cited in 2004 PLP 515 (SCMR)?
This judgment primarily cites: statutory provisions as referenced in Pakistani case law index.
Q2: Which judicial bench decided the case 2004 PLP 515 (SCMR)?
The case was heard and decided by the Supreme Court of Pakistan bench comprising: Munir A. Sheikh and Khalil‑ur‑Rehman Ramday, JJ.
Q3: What is the official citation format for this judgment on Pakistan Law Portal?
Cite this legal precedent as: 2004 PLP 515 (SCMR) (DOST MUHAMMAD and others‑‑‑Petitioners Versus GHAUS MUHAMMAD through Legal Heirs and others‑‑‑Respondents). Read the full summary and cross-referenced laws free on Pakistan Law Portal.
Representation
- Raja Mehmood Akhtar,' Advocate Supreme Court and Mehmudul Islam for Petitioners.
- Date of hearing: 27th May, 2003.
Headnotes / Summary
(On appeal from the judgment dated 16‑5‑2000 of the Lahore High Court passed in Civil Revision No. 1918 of 1983). (a) Arbitration Act (X of 1940)‑‑‑ ‑‑‑‑Ss.17 & 21‑‑‑Constitution of Pakistan (1973), Art.185(3)‑‑‑Award made rule of Court‑‑‑Father (defendant) transferred suit‑land by way of family settlement to all his heirs from both wives‑‑‑Some children (plaintiffs) later on claiming suit‑land to have been gifted to them by father (defendant) filed against him suit, wherein they obtained award, which was made rule of Court with, consent of father‑‑‑Courts below in a subsequent suit filed by other heirs refused to give effect to such award‑‑‑Validity‑‑‑Other heirs were neither made party in previous suit, wherein arbitration had taken place nor they had been even heard before making award rule of Court‑‑‑If father, as had been found by Courts below, had already transferred suit‑land by way of family settlement to his heirs from both wives, then he had ceased to be owner thereof‑‑ Proceedings in previous suit appeared to be not bona fide, but collusive‑‑‑Alleged gift if any, made by father, had been proved, would no effect upon previous disposal on basis of which, parties had become owners of suit‑land‑‑‑Supreme Court dismissed petition and refused leave to appeal. (b) Transfer of Property Act (IV of 1882)‑‑ ‑‑ ‑‑Ss.1 & 54‑‑‑Registration Act (XVI of 1908), Ss.17 & 49‑‑ Agricultural land situated in areas in Punjab not falling within municipal limits‑‑‑Oral sale or disposal of such land by way of family settlement without registered deed‑‑‑Validity‑‑‑Provision of S.54 of Transfer of Property Act, 1882 not made applicable to such areas in Punjab‑‑‑Disposal of such land in such manner would not be open to any legal objection.
Judgment & Decree
MUNIR A. SHEIKH, J.‑‑‑This petition is directed against the judgment dated 16‑5‑2000 of the Lahore High Court through which revision petition filed by the petitioners has been dismissed.
2. Hafiz Muhammad Hussain, deceased predecessor‑in‑interest of the parties was the owner of the land in dispute who during his life time transferred the same to the children from his two wives in specific share which according to Mohammedan Law would have inherited by them. The present petitioners appear to have filed a suit against Hafiz Muhammad Hussain, their father alleging that he had gifted the land in its entirety to them which dispute was referred to the arbitration of Nazar Muhammad who delivered award and the present petitioners were declared to be owners on the basis of the said alleged gift. Hafiz Muhammad Hussain made statement before the Court where the said suit in which reference was made to arbitration was pending that he had no objection if the said award was made rule of the Court upon which the said Court passed order accordingly on 25‑7‑1978.
3. Learned counsel for the petitioners attempted to argue that in view of the said award having been made rule of the Court, the petitioners should have been declared as owners of the land in the present proceedings.
4. Learned counsel when questioned admitted that the respondents were neither made party in the said previous suit in which arbitration took place nor they were even otherwise heard before the award was made rule of the Court. If Hafiz Muhammad Hussain as has been found by the Courts below had already transferred the property by way of family settlement to his heirs from both the wives, he ceased to be the owner thereof, therefore, any gift allegedly made by him even if has been proved would be of no effect upon the previous disposal on the basis of which the parties had become the owners of the disputed land apart from the fact that the proceedings in the said suit in which arbitration was made appear to be not bona fide but collusive.
5. Learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that Hafiz Muhammad Hussain by way of family settlement could not orally transfer the land to his heirs from the two wives except through document which should have been registered under the Registration Act. When questioned, he admitted that the land in dispute is agricultural and is not situated within the limits of Municipal Committee or Town Committee and the provisions of Transfer of Property Act requiring sale of immovable property of the value of. Rs.100 to be made through written sale‑deed duly registered had not been made applicable to such areas in Punjab which are not within the municipal limits regarding disposal of agricultural land, therefore, disposal of the same by way of family settlement by Hafiz Muhammad Hussain was not open to any legal objection.
6. The judgments impugned in this petition of the Courts below do not suffer from any illegality, therefore, this petition has no merits which is accordingly dismissed and leave refused. S.A.K./D‑41/S Leave refused.