Anis Begum v. Mhd Istafa

8/11/2019 Anis Begum v. Mhd Istafa

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Equivalent Citation: AIR1933All634, (1933) 2 AWR 764, (1933)ILR 55All743

Appellants: Mt. Anis Begam and Ors.

Vs.

Respondent: Malik Muhammad Istafa Wali Khan

!"#ME$%

&ulaiman' C..

1. This is a deendants! appeal a"isin# o$t o a s$it o" "estit$tion o %on&$#al "i#hts. The plainti alle#edthat the pa"ties 'e"e a""ied in 193 and deendant 1 'as sent to the plainti!s ho$se in *%to+e" 1926,

and +e#an to lie 'ith hi as his 'ie and #ae +i"th to a da$#hte"- +$t that a+o$t t'o ea"s a#o the othe"

deendants too/ he" a'a "o the plainti!s ho$se to thei" o'n ho$se o" a 'ee/ $nde" the p"ete0t o

attendin# a %e"eon- that, 'hen ate" the e0pi" o the 'ee/, the plainti, 'ent to +"in# his 'ie, the

deendants ade e0%$ses and $ltiatel "e$sed to send he", altho$#h the sent the plainti!s da$#hte" to

the plainti!s ho$se. e a%%o"din#l p"aed that the deendant sho$ld +e o"de"ed to %oe to the plainti!s

ho$se and that a pe"pet$al in&$n%tion sho$ld +e #"anted a#ainst the othe" deendants "o inte"e"in# 'ithdeendant is "et$"nin# to the plainti!s ho$se.

2. eendant 1 in he" '"itten stateent asse"ted that the plainti +e%ae io"al and %ont"a%ted illi%it

%onne%tion 'ith one t. i+ia 'ho 'as /ept in the sae ho$se and at he" insti#ation the plainti +e#an

to ill t"eat the deendant and $ltiatel t$"ned he" o$t o his ho$se. he did not adit the pa"a#"aph

%ontainin# the alle#ation that the da$#hte" 'as sent to the plainti!s ho$se ate"'a"ds. he pleaded that

'hen the plainti ne#le%ted he" and did not pa he" do'e" de+t, she 'as o+li#ed to ile. a s$it to "e%oe"

Rs. 15, as he" p"opt do'e" and that the plainti!s s$it 'as iled + 'a o "epl to he" s$it. he

pleaded that so lon# as the plainti does not pa the p"opt do'e" d$e to the deendant, he is not

%opetent to aintain the s$it, and she also $"#ed that the s$it sho$ld +e disissed on the #"o$nd o the

plainti!s %"$el a%ts in illt"eatin# he" and in %ont"a%tin# illi%it %onne%tion 'ith t. i+ia, and that the

deendant!s "e$sal to #o to his ho$se is th"o$#h ea" o lie and hono$". he aditted that she 'as stain#a'a "o the plainti!s ho$se at he" o'n instan%e and no othe" deendant is e0e"%isin# an inl$en%e

oe" he". The othe" deendants denied that the 'e"e in an 'a p"eentin# the deendant "o #oin# to

the plainti!s ho$se. The lea"ned $+o"dinate $d#e "aed o$" iss$es: (1) As to 'hethe" the plainti had

+een #$ilt o %"$elt to'a"ds the deendant (2) Whethe" an p"opt do'e" 'as d$e to the deendant,and i so, %an the plainti #et a de%"ee 'itho$t pain# it (3) Whethe" the plainti has an %a$se o a%tion

a#ainst the othe" deendants and (4) As to 'hat "elie 'as the plainti entitled and a#ainst 'ho e

de%ided all the iss$es in ao$" o the plainti and a#ainst the deendants and de%"eed the %lai.

3. All the deendants hae a%%o"din#l appealed. It a +e he"e stated that the s$it o" do'e" +"o$#ht +

the deendant a#ainst the plainti s$%%eeded in the 8o$"t +elo' and the plainti, in spite o the %ontest,

o+tained a de%"ee o" Rs. 15, 'hi%h de%"ee has +e%oe inal. Th$s neithe" the ao$nt o the do'e"

de+t d$e to the deendant no" the a%t that it has not +een paid is no' in $estion.

4. The lea"ned. $+o"dinate $d#e, "elin# e" p"ope"l on %e"tain "epo"ted "$lin#s o this 8o$"t, has

held that ate" the %ons$ation o he" a""ia#e, the deendant!s "i#ht to "esist the %lai o" "estit$tion o

%on&$#al "i#hts 'as dest"oed. indin# that le#al %"$elt 'as not esta+lished, he has de%"eed the s$it. e

does not appea" to hae %onside"ed 'hethe" apa"t "o le#al %"$elt the"e a"e an %i"%$stan%es

&$stiin# the passin# o a de%"ee %onditional on the paent o the do'e" de+t. I p"opose to %onside" i"sto all the $estion 'hethe" $nde" the ahoedan la' the "i#ht o a 'ie to insist on the paent o the

p"opt po"tion o he" do'e" s$+sists een ate" %ons$ation o a""ia#e. The leadin# %ase o this 8o$"t

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is $ndo$+tedl that o A+d$l ;adi" . alia (1


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distin%tion o the "i#ht o the 'ie 'hose p"opt do'e" "eains $npaid to "esist "estit$tion o %on&$#al,

"i#hts een ate" %ons$ation. This &$d#ent has +een "ee""ed to + ". Aee" Ali as 'ell as i"

Roland Wilson in thei" lea"ned t"eatises. These a$tho"ities 'e"e s$+se$entl in%o"po"ated in the

&$d#ent o an *$dh =en%h in Wa&id Ali ;han . a/ha'at Ali ;han (1912) 15 I8 127. *n pp. 1447 o

the *$dh 8ases soe o the te0ts hae +een "ep"od$%ed to sho' that een in the %ase o a die"en%e, theopinion o Ia A+$ ania is to +e p"ee""ed. * %o$"se, the"e is no s$%h #ene"al "$le eithe". As a atte"

o a%t, the"e does not appea" to +e an i0ed "$le: see I"an Ali . =ha#'ant ;isho"e

A@DEDE272E192< : AIR1929All1


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+een dis%a"ded + those o s$+se$ent pe"iods. The p"ope" %o$"se $ndo$+tedl is to a+ide + the opinions

'hi%h hae +een adhe"ed to in the %oenta"ies 'hi%h a"e o "e%o#nised a$tho"it in India and not to

de%ide the point on an #ene"al "$le o inte"p"etation +ased on the a&o"it o otes o the an%ient &$"ists.

Thei" Lo"dships o the "i 8o$n%il in the %ase o A#ha ohaad aa" =indani . ;oolso =ee

+ee (1i 'o$ld then +e "ee to %hoose 'hi%hee" o the t'o

opinions appea"s to hi to +e the so$nde" and +ette" adapted to the %onditions and needs o the ties.(Ate" "ee""in# to the o"i#inal a$tho"ities, i>., the an%ient te0ts, %oenta"ies and +oo/s 'hi%h p"ee"

the opinion o the dis%iples, the &$d#ent p"o%eeded). This +ein# the state o the a$tho"ities the $estion

is 'hethe" the o+ite" di%t$ o ahood, ., 'hi%h has +een a%%epted + so an othe" i#h 8o$"ts is to

+e ollo'ed.

12. ad I +een sittin# as a $d#e in the ties o the Hast India 8opan, I i#ht then possi+l hae +een

in%lined to p"ee" the opinion o Ia A+$ ania, +e%a$se, altho$#h a %onli%t ens$ed ate"'a"ds no

einent %oentato" e0p"essl dissented "o that ie'. =$t i anothe" $d#e had +een p"epa"ed to ta/e

the %ont"a" ie', I 'o$ld not hae +een in a position to sa that he 'as ne%essa"il '"on#. The t'o

%onside"ations 'hi%h i#ht 'ell &$sti the a%%eptan%e o the ie' o the dis%iples in India, a"e: i"st, that

o'in# to the p"ealent p"a%ti%e, the ao$nts o do'e" i0ed in this %o$nt" a"e oten $nd$l hi#h and

+eond the eans o the h$s+and. To allo' to the 'ie the "i#ht o "e$sin# to lie 'ith, he" h$s+and,een ate" %ons$ation, so lon# as an pa"t o the p"opt do'e" "eains $npaid 'o$ld, in an %ases,

'he"e the h$s+and and 'ie $a""el, ao$nt to an a+sol$te option o the 'ie to "e$se to lie 'ith, he"

h$s+and and et deand a aintenan%e allo'an%e. This 'o$ld dislo%ate doesti% lie. e%ondl, as 'ill

+e sho'n he"einate", $nde" the An#loahoedan La' as adiniste"ed in this %o$nt" a s$it o"

"estit$tion o %on&$#al "i#hts, tho$#h +"o$#ht o" the eno"%eent o a "i#ht $nde" the ahoedan La', is

in the nat$"e o a s$it o" spe%ii% pe"o"an%e, and the"e is a%%o"din#l a %e"tain ao$nt o dis%"etion in

the 8o$"ts o &$sti%e 'hi%h %an ipose a %ondition o p"eio$s paent o the do'e" de+t, o", at an "ate,

a po"tion o it, in the de%"ee. And no' the position is still st"on#e". o" nea"l 4 ea"s the o+se"ation o

ahood, ., een tho$#h an o+ite" di%t$, has +een a%%epted in this 8o$"t, and indeed, it has +een

ollo'ed + all the othe" i#h 8o$"ts e0%eptin# *$dli. ;$nhi . oidin (1


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tho$#h not "epo"ted, on the ass$ption that the ie' o the dis%iples is to +e p"ee""ed. When the la' has

+een inte"p"eted in a pa"ti%$la" 'a, it a 'ell +e that in soe %ases the la' #oe"nin# the "i#hts o the

pa"ties to a a""ia#e 'as iplied as a pa"t o the te"s o the %ont"a%t o a""ia#e.

13. @o do$+t, in *$dh, a =en%h o that 8o$"t has ta/en a %ont"a" ie', +$t the *$dh 8o$"t 'as not

+o$nd to ollo' the opinion e0p"essed + the $ll =en%h o this 8o$"t- and $"the", in *$dh., the

dii%$lt o a 'ie insistin# on the p"eio$s paent o an $n"easona+l hi#h do'e", 'hi%h is +eond theeans o he" h$s+and, does not at all a"ise, o" $nde" e%tion 5, *$dh La's A%t, the 8o$"ts o *$dh hae

po'e" to "ed$%e the ao$nt o the do'e" de+t i it is ?e0%essie 'ith "ee"en%e to the eans o he"

h$s+and,? tho$#h in a%t a#"eed $pon. It also appea"s that the a$tho"ities pla%ed +eo"e the *$dh. 8o$"t'e"e those $oted in the &$d#ent o a$li ai Dllah and 'e"e all one 'a. The a$tho"ities in s$ppo"t

o the %ont"a" ie' 'e"e appa"entl not %ited +eo"e the. @o" is it %lea" that the ee%t o the point

hain# +een let open in the late" %oenta"ies 'as p$t p"oinentl +eo"e the lea"ned $d#es. It is t"$e

that in the othe" i#h 8o$"ts the $estion has not +een "ee0ained in the li#ht o the o"i#inal a$tho"ities,

+$t the o+se"ation o ahood, ., has +een sipl ollo'ed. It is also t"$e that a =en%h o the 8al%$tta

i#h 8o$"t in aid$nnissa =i+i!s %ase (1


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It is one thin# to sa that s$%h a deen%e a +e set $p $nde" a %e"tain %ondition - it is a totall die"ent

thin# to sa that $ntil the do'e" 'as paid no %a$se o a%tion %o$ld a%%"$e to the plainti. The paent o

do'e" not +ein# a %ondition p"e%edent to the estin# o the "i#ht o %oha+itation, a s$it o" "est$tion o

%on&$#al "i#hts 'hethe" + the h$s+and o" + the 'ie, 'o$ld +e aintaina+le $pon "e$sal + the othe" to

%oha+it 'ith hi o" he"- and in the %ase o a s$it + the h$s+and, the deen%e o paent o do'e" %o$ld,at its +est, ope"ate in odii%ation o the de%"ee o" "estit$tion o %on&$#al "i#hts + "ende"in# the

eno"%eent o it %onditional $pon paent o so $%h o the do'e" as a +e "e#a"ded to +e p"opt.

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The deendant had %ontested the plain"i!s %lai o" do'e", and in spite o he" %ontest the plainti

o+tained a de%"ee 'hi%h has no' +e%oe inal. (4) The p"esent s$it 'as instit$ted ate" the instit$tion o

the s$it o" do'e", and i the deendant is %opelled to #o to lie in the plainti!s ho$se she a ind it

e" dii%$lt to "ealise he" de%"ee o" do'e" 'hi%h 'o$ld in that eent +e%oe $tile. (5) The plainti

had "eained $iet and did not s$e o" "estit$tion o %on&$#al "i#hts till the %lai o" do'e" had +eenade in 8o$"t and the"e is #"o$nd o" app"ehendin# that the s$it is + 'a o n$lliin# the de%"ee o"

do'e". As a atte" o a%t, the de%"ee o" do'e" 'as atta%hed + the plainti in e0e%$tion o his de%"eeo" "estit$tion o %on&$#al "i#hts 'hen the deendant "e$sed to o+e the de%"ee. (6) The %ond$%t o the

plainti as dis%losed + the indin# on the ne0t point a/es it ai" and &$st that he sho$ld +e %alled $pon

to pa the do'e" de+t +eo"e he has possession o his 'ie. The ne0t $estion is 'hethe" the deendant

s$%%eeded in esta+lishin# le#al %"$elt 'hi%h 'o$ld disentitle the plainti "o %laiin# "estit$tion o

%on&$#al "i#hts. That $estion is one o a%t and depends ainl on o"al eiden%e.

21. The lea"ned $+o"dinate $d#e 'ho hea"d the 'itnesses has "e%o"ded a %lea" indin# a#ainst the

deendant. It has to +e %on%eded that the $+o"dinate $d#e 'as in a +ette" position to &$d#e 'hethe" the

stateents o the 'itnesses 'e"e %"edi+le, +e%a$se he 'as in a position to a"/ thei" deeano$" 'hi%h

'e, 'ho hae to #o + the '"itten eiden%e onl, a"e not. I 'o$ld a%%o"din#l +e ost "el$%tant to ta/e a

ie' %ont"a" to that held + the $+o"dinate $d#e, +$t as it is not onl a e"e $estion o a "i#ht to

p"ope"t +$t o %opellin# the deendant to #o and lie 'ith he" h$s+and a#ainst he" 'ill, 'hen the"ea possi+l +e an app"ehension o dan#e" to he" lie o" pe"son, it is o$" d$t to e0aine the eiden%e

a"esh, and satis o$"seles that the indin# o the 8o$"t +elo' is %o""e%t. The points to 'hi%h the lea"ned

$+o"dinate $d#e has not atta%hed d$e 'ei#ht o" 'hi%h he has alto#ethe" oe"loo/ed a"e the ollo'in#:

(a) When the $estion is o the h$s+and!s %"$el, t"eatent to'a"ds his 'ie, eiden%e o a la"#e n$+e" o

'itnesses %annot +e e0pe%ted to +e o"th%oin#, and $%h 'ill depend on the stateent o the 'ie

%o""o+o"ated + the %i"%$stantial eiden%e, pa"ti%$la"l 'hen the %"$elt is alle#ed to hae ta/en pla%e

inside the ho$se o he" h$s+and. (+) In the '"itten stateent the deendant had ade spe%ii% alle#ations

as "e#a"ds the /eepin# o t. i+ia as a ist"ess inside the ho$se and he" o'n Illt"eatent + he"

h$s+and. This #ae s$i%ient oppo"t$nit to the h$s+and to p"od$%e "e+$ttin# eiden%e. (%) Altho$#h thelea"ned $d#e has held that the deendant has ailed to p"oe an le#al %"$elt a#ainst he"- the positie

indin# "e%o"ded + hi onl ao$nts to. sain# that she has t"ied to e0a##e"ate he" alle#ations +e%a$se

he" do'e" 'as not paid. (Ate" dis%$ssin# the eiden%e and the %i"%$stan%es o the %ase, the &$d#entp"o%eeded). I hae no hesitation in holdin# that the h$s+and is+ehaed in this 'a: that he /ept a

ist"ess in his ho$se alon# 'ith his 'ie and %a$sed ental pain to he" in %onse$en%e and that he $st

hae, 'hen $a""els ens$ed, t"eated his 'ie %"$ell- and that as the $a""els 'e"e not and %o$ld not +e

pat%hed $p, so lon# as t. i+ia "eained in the ho$se, deendant 1 had "easona+le app"ehension o

in&$" to he" pe"son. I thin/ that the 'ie is $ll &$stiied in: "e$sin# to #o and lie 'ith he" h$s+and so

lon# as the"e is no $nde"ta/in# not to /eep an ist"ess in his ho$se- she %an #o to lie 'ith hi onl i a

sepa"ate ho$se is #ien to he". $"the" I thin/ that in o"de" to p"ote%t he" saet it is ne%essa" that she

sho$ld hae the option o /eepin# one eale se"ant and one ale se"ant, a%%o"din# to he" %hoi%e, in

the ho$se, ". ;h'a&a on +ehal o the h$s+and a#"ees to the last entioned %onditions. (Ate"

%onside"in# the eiden%e a#ainst deendants, 2 to 5 and holdin# it to +e nil, the &$d#ent %on%l$ded). I

'o$ld a%%o"din#l allo' the appeal, in pa"t, and ipose %onditions on the de%"ee o" the "estit$tion o

%on&$#al "i#hts.

%hom' .

22. I %on%$".

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Anis Begum v. Mhd Istafa

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