Decree in suit for partition of property or separate possession of a share therein
Full Text
Where the Court passes a decree for the partition of property or for the separate possession of a share therein, then,—
(1) if and in so far as the decree relates to an estate assessed to the payment of revenue to the Government, the decree shall declare the rights of the several parties interested in the property, but shall direct such partition or separation to be made by the Collector, or any gazetted subordinate of the Collector deputed by him in this behalf, in accordance with such declaration and with the provisions of section 54;
(2) if and in so far as such decree relates to any other immovable property or to movable property, the Court may, if the partition or separation cannot be conveniently made without further inquiry, pass a preliminary decree declaring the rights of the several parties interested in the property and giving such further directions as may be required.
Plain English Summary
Governs partition decrees: directing agricultural revenue-paying estates to be partitioned by the District Collector under Section 54, while urban, residential, and movable properties are partitioned via a preliminary decree declaring shares followed by final decree proceedings.
Key Legal Elements
- Sub-rule (1) - Revenue Estates (Agricultural Land): Civil court declares shares -> Transmits decree to Collector under Section 54 CPC for physical metes-and-bounds partition.
- Sub-rule (2) - Non-Revenue & Urban Immovables: Civil court retains total jurisdiction; passes preliminary decree declaring shares -> Court Commissioner appointed under Order XXVI Rule 13 -> Final Decree on stamp paper.
- No Limitation for Final Decree: Preliminary decree remains pending until final decree is drawn.
- Suo Motu Court Duty: Court is bound to draw final decree without driving parties to fresh litigation.
Practical Note
Partition Litigation Landmark Principles: 1. Landmark Rulings - Shub Karan Bubna v. Sita Saran Bubna (2009) 9 SCC 689 & Kattukandi Edathil Krishnan (2022) SCC OnLine SC 737: The Supreme Court held that in a partition suit, a preliminary decree merely declares the rights/shares. There is NO limitation period for applying for a final decree. The trial court should suo motu initiate final decree proceedings immediately after the preliminary decree becomes final. 2. Non-Partitionable Property - The Partition Act, 1893: If a residential house cannot be partitioned by metes and bounds, apply under Section 2 of the Partition Act for public auction or inter-se bidding between co-sharers under Section 3.
हिंदी पाठ
जहां न्यायालय संपत्ति के विभाजन (Partition) या उसमें किसी अंश के पृथक कब्जे के लिए डिक्री पारित करता है, वहां—
(1) यदि और जहां तक डिक्री सरकार को राजस्व देने वाली संपदा (Revenue-paying estate) से संबंधित है, डिक्री संपत्ति में हितबद्ध कई पक्षकारों के अधिकारों की घोषणा करेगी, किन्तु ऐसा विभाजन कलेक्टर (Collector) अथवा उसके द्वारा प्रतिनियुक्त किसी राजपत्रित अधीनस्थ अधिकारी द्वारा ऐसी घोषणा और धारा 54 के उपबंधों के अनुसार किए जाने का निदेश देगी;
(2) यदि और जहां तक ऐसी डिक्री किसी अन्य स्थावर संपत्ति या जंगम संपत्ति से संबंधित है, न्यायालय, यदि अतिरिक्त जांच के बिना विभाजन सुगमता से नहीं किया जा सकता, संपत्ति में हितबद्ध पक्षकारों के अधिकारों की घोषणा करने वाली और ऐसे अतिरिक्त निदेश देने वाली, जैसे अपेक्षित हों, एक प्रारंभिक डिक्री (Preliminary Decree) पारित कर सकेगा।