Holding

There is no presumption that a business carried out in a tenanted premises is a joint Hindu family business; the tenancy was an individual right, and the Karta could surrender it, rendering the High Court’s order unsustainable.

Summary

Kiran Devi claimed that she was the rightful tenant of a hotel premises, asserting that the tenancy belonged to a joint Hindu family and that the Karta could not surrender it without the consent of other coparceners. The Patna High Court held that the tenancy was a joint family business, barred the Wakf Board from accepting the surrender, and ordered the appellant to be dispossessed. The Supreme Court examined whether rent receipts and a ration card could create a presumption of joint Hindu family property, whether a Karta could surrender tenancy unilaterally, and the proper jurisdiction of the High Court under Articles 226/227 and the Wakf Act. It held that no such presumption exists for a business carried out in a tenanted premise; the tenancy was an individual right that could be surrendered by the Karta, and the High Court’s order was unsustainable. Consequently, the appeal was allowed, the High Court judgment set aside, and the Wakf Tribunal’s order restored.

Issues considered

The tenancy in the premises can be presumed to be joint Hindu family property based on rent payments and a ration card.
Whether a Karta of a joint Hindu family can surrender tenancy without the consent of other coparceners.
Whether the Patna High Court had jurisdiction to entertain the petition under Article 226/227 or solely under the Wakf Act.
The validity of the surrender letter and its effect on the tenancy.
Whether the Wakf Tribunal had jurisdiction to decide the suit.

Legislation cited

Transfer of Property Acts. 152
Wakf Act, 1995s. 83(9), s. 85, s. 85A

Subjects

Hindu joint familyPresumption of joint family propertyWakf ActTenancyKartaArticle 226Article 227JurisdictionSurrender of tenancyRation card

Judgment

86 [2021]
SUPREME COURT 7 S.C.R. 86
REPORTS [2021] 7 S.C.R.

A KIRAN DEVI
v.
THE BIHAR STATE SUNNI WAKF BOARD & ORS.
(Civil Appeal No. 6149 of 2015)
B APRIL 05, 2021
[ASHOK BHUSHAN, S. ABDUL NAZEER AND
HEMANT GUPTA, JJ.]
Hindu Law: Hindu joint family property – Presumption of –
Held: There can be presumption of Hindu joint family property if
C
the property has been acquired by the male member or if the same
has been treated as joint Hindu family – However, no such
presumption is attached to a business activity carried out by an
individual in a tenanted premise – Even if a male member had taken
premises on rent, he is tenant in his individual capacity and not as
D Karta of Hindu Undivided Family in the absence of any evidence
that Karta was doing the business for and on behalf of Joint Hindu
Family – Hindu Joint Hindu Family cannot be presumed to be in
existence only on the basis of Ration Card and payment of rent
unless there is evidence that the funds of joint Hindu Family were
invested in the business in the tenanted premises – On facts, High
E
Court held that the payment of rent or the Ration Card proves that
the tenant was carrying business as a Joint Hindu Family Business,
and also rejected the surrender of tenancy – Facts would show that
it was the contract of tenancy which was inherited by the grandfather
of the plaintiff who later surrendered it in favour of the Wakf Board
F – Even if the great grandfather was maintaining the family out of
the income generated from the hotel business, that itself would not
make the other family members as coparceners in the hotel business
– Tenancy was an individual right vested with the grandfather of
the plaintiff who was competent to surrender it to the landlord –
Thus, the order by the High Court that the tenant in the premises
G
was representing a joint Hindu family and that the Karta was not
competent to surrender the legacy rights in favour of Wakf Board
and consequently the induction of the appellant as a tenant by the
Wakf Board was illegal and thus, issuance of direction to dispossess
the appellant from the suit premises and to handover the vacant
H possession to the plaintiff, is not sustainable and set aside, and that
86
KIRAN DEVI v. THE BIHAR STATE SUNNI WAKF BOARD 87

of the Wakf Tribunal is restored – Wakf Act, 1995 – ss. 85, 85A, A
83(9).
Constitution of India: Arts. 226 and 227 – Writ petition –
Petition u/Art. 227 filed against an order of the Wakf Tribunal before
the High Court – Petition titled as writ petition – Jurisdiction of
High Court – Held: Nomenclature of the title of the petition filed B
before the High Court is immaterial – It is wholly immaterial that it is
titled as a writ petition – Petition styled as one u/Art. 226 would not
bar the High Court to exercise jurisdiction under the Act and/or u/
Art. 227 – In certain High Courts, petition u/Art. 227 is titled as writ
petition and in certain other High Courts as revision petition or as
miscellaneous petition – On facts, keeping in view the nature of the C
order passed in the light of proviso to sub-section (9) of s. 83 of the
Act, the High Court exercised jurisdiction only under the Act, which
was restricted to only examine the correctness, legality or propriety
of the findings recorded by the Wakf Tribunal – Wakf Act, 1995 –
ss. 85, 85A, 83(9). D
Allowing the appeal, the Court
HELD: 1.1 The plaintiff had invoked the jurisdiction of the
Civil Court in the year 1996. It is the Wakf Board and the appellant
who then filed an application for transfer of the suit to the Wakf
Tribunal. Though, in terms of Ramesh Gobindram’s case, the Wakf E
Tribunal could not grant declaration as claimed by the plaintiff,
but such objection cannot be permitted to be raised either by the
Wakf Board or by the appellant as the order was passed by the
Civil Court at their instance and was also upheld by the High
Court. Such order has thus, attained finality inter-parties. The F
parties cannot be permitted to approbate and reprobate in the
same breath. The order that the Wakf Tribunal has the jurisdiction
cannot be permitted to be disputed as the parties had accepted
the order of the civil court and went to trial before the Tribunal. It
is not a situation where plaintiff has invoked the jurisdiction of
the Wakf Tribunal. [Para 13][97-F-H; 98A-B] G
1.2 It is not conferment of jurisdiction by the plaintiff
voluntarily but by virtue of a judicial order which has now attained
finality between parties. The suit was accordingly decided by the

H
88 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2021] 7 S.C.R.

A Waqf Tribunal. It is not open to the appellant to raise the objection
that the Waqf Tribunal had no jurisdiction to entertain the suit in
the facts of the instant case. [Para 14][98-C-D]
Ramesh Gobindram (Dead) through LRs. v. Sugra
Humayun Mirza Wakf (2010) 8 SCC 726:[2010] 10 SCR
B 945 – referred to.
1.3 A perusal of the proviso to sub-section (9) of Section 83
of the Wakf Act, 1995 shows that it confers power on the High
Court to call for and examine the records relating to any dispute,
question or other matter which has been determined by the
C Tribunal for the purpose of satisfying itself as to the correctness,
legality or propriety of such determination. In fact, the statutory
provision is acceptance of the principle that the jurisdiction of
the High Court under Article 226 or 227 of the Constitution of
India cannot be curtailed in terms of L. Chandra Kumar v. Union
of India & Ors. [Para 18][99-F-H]
D
Sadhana Lodh v. National Insurance Co. Ltd. & Anr.
(2003) 3 SCC 524:[2003] 1 SCR 567 – distinguished.
L. Chandra Kumar v. Union of India & Ors. (1997) 3
SCC 261:[1997] 2 SCR 1186; Md. Wasiur Rahman &
E Anr v. The State of Bihar & Ors. CWJC No. 14622 of
2017 dt. 25.04.2018; Radhey Shyam & Anr. v. Chhabi
Nath & Ors. (2015) 5 SCC 423: [2015] 3 SCR 197;
Surya Dev Rai v. Ram Chander Rai & Ors. (2003) 6
SCC 675:[2003] 2 Suppl. SCR 290 – referred to

F 1.4 When a petition is filed against an order of the Wakf
Tribunal before the High Court, the High Court exercises the
jurisdiction under Article 227 of the Constitution of India.
Therefore, it is wholly immaterial that the petition was titled as a
writ petition. It may be noticed that in certain High Courts, petition
under Article 227 is titled as writ petition, in certain other High
G Courts as revision petition and in certain others as a miscellaneous
petition. However, keeping in view the nature of the order passed,
more particularly in the light of proviso to sub-section (9) of Section
83 of the Act, the High Court exercised jurisdiction only under
the Act. The jurisdiction of the High Court is restricted to only
H
KIRAN DEVI v. THE BIHAR STATE SUNNI WAKF BOARD 89

examine the correctness, legality or propriety of the findings A
recorded by the Wakf Tribunal. The High Court in exercise of
the jurisdiction conferred under proviso to sub-section (9) of
Section 83 of the Act does not act as the appellate court.
Nomenclature of the title of the petition filed before the High
Court is immaterial. Therefore, the petition styled as one under
B
Article 226 would not bar the High Court to exercise jurisdiction
under the Act and/or under Article 227 of the Constitution. The
nomenclature of the proceedings as a petition under Article 226
or a petition under Article 227 is wholly inconsequential and
immaterial. [Para 20, 21 and 23][101-D-G; 103-B]
Pepsi Foods Ltd. & Anr. v. Special Judicial Magistrate C
& Ors. (1998) 5 SCC 749: [1997] 5 Suppl. SCR 12 –
relied on.
Municipal Corporation of the City of Ahmedabad v. Ben
Hiraben Manilal (1983) 2 SCC 422: [1983] 2 SCR 676
– referred to. D

1.5 The plaintiff has pleaded that when father of the plaintiff
joined service, the shop was being run through the servants and
that the plaintiff began to run the hotel since 1988. Thereafter,
the disputes cropped up over the management and accounting of
the income and the hotel was closed for many years. The High E
Court held that the existence of joint family is established from
the Ration Card issued on 2.4.1949 and from the payment of rent
for the period 1947-1955 that the premises were let out to joint
family. The High Court also rejected the surrender of tenancy on
the ground that it was without the consent of other co-parceners. F
Thus, even if a male member had taken premises on rent, he is
tenant in his individual capacity and not as Karta of Hindu
Undivided Family in the absence of any evidence that Karta was
doing the business for and on behalf of Joint Hindu Family. The
High Court has presumed the existence of the joint family of which
brother of great grand father of plaintiff was said to be the Karta G
from perusal of the Ration Card issued on 2.12.1949. The Hindu
Joint Hindu Family cannot be presumed to be in existence only
on the basis of Ration Card unless there is evidence that the

H
90 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2021] 7 S.C.R.

A funds of joint Hindu Family were invested in the business in the
tenanted premises. Thus, the High Court committed a basic error
of law and fact that the payment of rent or the Ration Card proves
that the tenant was carrying business as a Joint Hindu Family
Business. There can be presumption of Hindu joint family property
if the property has been acquired by the male member or if the
B
same has been treated as joint Hindu family. But no such
presumption is attached to a business activity carried out by an
individual in a tenanted premise. [Para 27-29 and 31][104-E;
G-H; 105-A; 106-C-D; 107-F-G]
1.6 A perusal of the facts on record would show that it was a
C contract of tenancy entered upon by great grandfather of the
plaintiff. Even if the great grandfather was maintaining the family
out of the income generated from the hotel business, that itself
would not make the other family members as coparceners in the
hotel business. It was the contract of tenancy which was inherited
D by the grandfather of the plaintiff who later surrendered it in favour
of the Wakf Board. The tenancy was an individual right vested
with the grandfather of the plaintiff who was competent to
surrender it to the landlord. The High Court erred in law by holding
that since the grandfather was a tenant, the tenancy is a joint family
asset. The contract of tenancy is an independent contract than
E the joint Hindu family business. [Para 32][107-G-H; 108-A-B]
1.7 The evidence produced by the plaintiff is payment of
rent by either brother of great grandfather of plaintiff or by the
grandfather of the plaintiff. Such payment of rent is not indicative
of the fact that the hotel business was by the joint Hindu family.
F Thus, mere payment of rent by great grandfather or by the grand-
father of the plaintiff raises no presumption that it was a joint
Hindu family business. The High Court has clearly erred in law to
hold so without any legal or factual basis. [Para 33 and 35]
[108-B-C; 110-A-B]
G 1.8 Even if nephew of the plaintifff is considered to be
representing the joint Hindu family while carrying out hotel
business in the tenanted premises, the question as to the act Karta
to surrender of tenancy was for the benefit of the joint Hindu
family. [Para 36][110-B-C]
H
KIRAN DEVI v. THE BIHAR STATE SUNNI WAKF BOARD 91

Hindu Law by Mulla 22nd Edition – referred to. A
1.9 The plaintiff pleaded that the hotel was closed for several
years, thus, the liability to pay monthly rent continued to accrue
upon karta-nephew of the plaintiff. The High Court found that the
letter of surrender was not reliable or tenable. The executor of
the surrender letter has admitted such surrender letter in the B
written statement and while appearing as a witness as DW-5. The
Mutawalli has also accepted the surrender letter in the written
statement and while appearing in the witness box as DW-10.
Merely for the reason that signatures in the translated copy do
not tally with the Urdu copy is not sufficient to hold the surrender
C
letter as unreliable as the translation can be incorrect but the
correctness of the document has not been disputed by the
executor or by the acceptor. The said document could not have
been said to be unreliable on the basis of the statement of the
plaintiff who is not a party to such transaction. It is one thing to
say that the document is unreliable and another to say that the D
document does not bind the plaintiff. There is no hesitation to
hold that the document was validly proved and accepted by the
Wakf Board. Thus, the act of surrender of tenancy was for the
benefit of the Joint Hindu family. [Para 37][111-B, C-E]
1.10 The order of the High Court is not sustainable for the E
reasons recorded and is set aside and that of the Wakf Tribunal is
restored. [Para 38][111-F]
Punjab Wakf Board v. Sham Singh Harike (2019) 4 SCC
698 : [2019] 2 SCR 61; Chandavarkar Sita Ratna Rao
v. Ashalata S. Guram (1986) 4 SCC 447: [1986] 3 SCR F
866 ; Ganpat Ladha v. Sashikant Vishnu Shinde (1978)
2 SCC 573 : [1978] 3 SCR 198 ; Ram Awalamb &
Ors. v. Jata Shankar & Ors. AIR 1969 All. 526;
Commissioner of Income Tax, Madhya Pradesh v. Sir
Hukamchand Mannalal & Co (1970) 2 SCC 352 :
G
[1971] 1 SCR 646; P.K.P.S. Pichappa Chettiar & Ors.
v. Chockalingam Pillai & Ors. AIR 1934 Privy Council
192; G. Narayana Raju (Dead) by his Legal

H
92 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2021] 7 S.C.R.

A Representative v. G. Chamaraju & Ors. AIR 1968 SC
1276 : [1968] SCR 464; P.S. Sairam & Anr. v. P.S. Rama
Rao Pissey & Ors. (2004) 11 SCC 320:[2004] 2 SCR
98 – referred to.
Case Law Reference
B [2019] 2 SCR 61 referred to Para 9(1)
[2003] 1 SCR 567 referred to Para 9(2)
[1986] 3 SCR 866 referred to Para 9(3)
[1978] 3 SCR 198 referred to Para 9(3)
C
AIR 1969 All. 526 referred to Para 12
[1971] 1 SCR 646 referred to Para 12
[2010] 10 SCR 945 referred to Para 13
[1997] 2 SCR 1186 referred to Para 18
D
[2015] 3 SCR 197 referred to Para 19
[2003] 2 Suppl. SCR 290 referred to Para 19
[1983] 2 SCR 676 referred to Para 21
[1997] 5 Suppl. SCR 12 relied on Para 22
E
AIR 1934 Privy Council 192 referred to Para 33
[1968] SCR 464 referred to Para 33
[2004] 2 SCR 98 referred to Para 34
F CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No. 6149 of
2015.
From the Judgment and Order dated 06.02.2013 of the High Court
of Judicature at Patna in CWJC No. 1894/2012.
Shantanu Sagar, Prabhat Ranjan, Jeewesh Prakash, Ms. Divya
G Mishra, Anil Kumar, Advs. for the Appellant.
Subhro Sanyal, Adv. for the Respondents.

H
KIRAN DEVI v. THE BIHAR STATE SUNNI WAKF BOARD 93

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by A
HEMANT GUPTA, J.
1. The challenge in the present appeal is to an order passed by the
High Court of Judicature at Patna dated 6.2.2013 whereby a writ petition
filed by respondent No. 41 herein was allowed, holding that the tenant in
the premises in question was representing a joint Hindu family and that B
the Karta was not competent to surrender the tenancy rights in favour of
respondent No. 1-The Bihar State Sunni Wakf Board2 and consequently
the induction of the appellant as a tenant by the Wakf Board was illegal.
Accordingly, a direction was issued to dispossess the appellant from the
suit premises and to handover the vacant possession to the plaintiff.
C
2. The plaintiff had filed a suit for declaration before the competent
civil court stating that he is a tenant in the suit premises and is entitled to
continue in the suit premises as a tenant on payment of monthly rent.
The basis of such declaration was that Ram Sharan Ram, the great
grandfather of the plaintiff, predeceased his brother Ram Sewak Ram
who died issueless and his widow predeceased him. Ram Sewak Ram D
was carrying out joint family business of hotel in the premises of the
Wakf Board. Due to advanced age, he handed over the possession of
the hotel business to his nephew Devendra Prasad Sinha, the grandfather
of the plaintiff. The grandfather of the plaintiff succeeded to the tenancy
as member of the joint Hindu family. After his death, defendant Nos. 1 to
3 succeeded to tenancy as members of the Joint Hindu Family. The shop E
was being run by Surendra Kumar, son of Devendra Prasad Sinha, when
the grandfather of the plaintiff fell ill. Surendra Kumar, the father of the
plaintiff started paying rent to the Wakf Board. However, Surendra Kumar
later joined service and the hotel was being run through the servants.
The plaintiff had started running the hotel since 1988. On account of
disputes over the management, the hotel was closed and it remain closed F
for several years. It is the plaintiff who wanted to resume the hotel business
in the premises in question and thus communicated with the Wakf Board
to continue the hereditary tenancy of the shop as Karta in his name.
3. The cause of action was stated to arise on 21.3.1996, when the
plaintiff’s grandfather along with others broke the lock of the suit premises G
and removed the belongings available in the shop. The father of the plaintiff
went to the Police for lodging of the report but they refused to register
the case. A complaint was subsequently filed in the court of Chief Judicial
1
Hereinafter referred to as the ‘plaintiff
2
Hereinafter referred to as the ‘Wakf Board’ H
94 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2021] 7 S.C.R.

A Magistrate, Patna, which is stated to be pending. Later, the plaint was
amended and the present appellant was impleaded as defendant No. 5
alleging that the lease in her favour by the Wakf Board is forged, fabricated,
anti-dated and collusive paper.
4. The Wakf Board in its written statement asserted that Md.
B Salimuddin was the duly appointed Mutawalli of the Janki Bibi Wakf
Estate No. 465B and the appellant is a tenant duly inducted by the
Management Committee. It was also pleaded that the defendants had no
knowledge that Ram Sewak Ram was carrying any business of hotel but
that Devendra Prasad Sinha was a tenant in the suit premises who had
surrendered his tenancy rights in favour of Md. Salimuddin through a
C written letter dated 31.5.1996 and thereafter handed over vacant
possession of the premises. Subsequently, the appellant had been inducted
as a tenant on a monthly rent of Rs.600/- on 5.6.1996. This was also
indicated in the written statement filed by the appellant herein. In a
separate written statement filed on behalf of defendant Nos. 1 and 2, it
D was asserted that defendant No. 1 was making payment of rent to the
landlord i.e. Mutawalli of the Wakf and that he had surrendered the shop
premises on 31.5.1996 to the landlord/Mutawalli of the Wakf as he was
unable to continue the business due to old age. It was denied that the
plaintiff and his father went to lodge FIR on account of opening of the
locks by defendant No. 1. It was asserted that the plaintiff had no occasion
E of claiming the shop on 21.3.1996 as the said shop was never in his
possession nor under his lock and key.
5. The appellant and the Wakf Board filed applications before the
Civil Court for transfer of the suit for adjudication by the Wakf Tribunal
in terms of provisions of Section 85 and 85A of the Wakf Act, 19953. The
F suit was thus transferred by the learned Munsif on 4.2.2009. Such order
of transfer of the suit to the Tribunal was challenged by the plaintiff by
way of a revision petition before the Patna High Court. Such revision
was found to be frivolous and dismissed on 19.5.1999 with cost of
Rs.3,000/-.
G 6. The parties went to trial on the following issues before the Wakf
Tribunal:
“(i) Whether Devendra Prasad was running a joint family business?
(ii) Whether Devendra Prasad as Karta of joint family business
has got authority to surrender the joint family business?
H 3
For short, the ‘Act’
KIRAN DEVI v. THE BIHAR STATE SUNNI WAKF BOARD 95
[HEMANT GUPTA, J.]

(iii) Whether Devendra Prasad surrendered joint family business A
or premises of joint family business?
(iv) Whether the plaintiff is entitled to any other relief?”
7. Devendra Prasad Sinha (defendant No. 1) appeared as DW-5
whereas Dilip Kumar (defendant No. 2) appeared as DW-14 before the
Wakf Tribunal. The said witnesses supported their stand that the tenancy B
was surrendered on 31.5.1996. The learned Tribunal held that defendant
No. 1 was running a hotel business and had later surrendered the shop to
Mutawalli. The writing on paper to surrender the possession was admitted
by the witness. It was also observed that there was no oral or
documentary evidence that Devendra Prasad Sinha had surrendered the C
premises where he was running joint family business. The Tribunal noted
that the plaintiff did not even suggest that Devendra Prasad was managing
a joint family business and thus in the absence of such suggestion it was
difficult or rather impossible to believe that Devendra Prasad was
managing a joint family business. Consequently, the suit was dismissed.
D
8. The High Court in a writ petition against the said order held that
the suit premises were let out to Ram Sewak Ram who carried out joint
family hotel business in the said premises until his death in January, 1960.
Thereafter, defendant No. 1 became the Karta and succeeded to joint
family business including the suit premises. It was observed that he could
not have surrendered the tenancy in favour of Mutawalli on 31.5.1996 E
without the consent of other members of the joint family. Consequently,
the judgment of the Tribunal was set aside and also a direction was
issued to dispossess the appellant from the suit premises and to handover
the vacant possession of the suit premises to the plaintiff.
9. Learned counsel for the appellant has raised the following F
arguments:
(1) That the Tribunal had no jurisdiction to entertain the suit filed
by the plaintiff in view of the judgment of this Court in Ramesh
Gobindram (Dead) through LRs. v. Sugra Humayun
Mirza Wakf4. After the aforesaid Judgment, the Wakf Act G
was amended by Central Act No. 27 of 2013. This Court
recently in Punjab Wakf Board v. Sham Singh Harike5

4
(2010) 8 SCC 726
5
(2019) 4 SCC 698 H
96 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2021] 7 S.C.R.

A has considered the amendment in the Act, wherein, the
proceedings instituted prior to the amendment were to continue
as per the unamended provisions of the Act. Therefore, a
suit for declaration of the plaintiff as a tenant was not
maintainable before the Wakf Tribunal as there was no
estoppel against the statute and that the consent would not
B
confer jurisdiction on the Wakf Tribunal, which it did not have
in view of the judgments referred.
(2) The order of the Wakf Tribunal could not be challenged by
way of writ petition before the High Court under Article 226
of the Constitution of India as only a revision in terms of
C proviso to sub-section (9) of Section 83 of the Act could be
preferred. Learned counsel for the appellant relies on judgment
reported as Sadhana Lodh v. National Insurance Co. Ltd.
& Anr.6 and of Patna High Court in Md. Wasiur Rahman
& Anr v. The State of Bihar & Ors.7.
D (3) The High Court could not have reappreciated facts in a petition
under Article 227 of the Constitution. The High Court has
illegally set aside findings of fact recorded by the Wakf
Tribunal. The reliance was placed on Chandavarkar Sita
Ratna Rao v. Ashalata S. Guram8. It was also argued that
E in petition under Article 226 or 227 of the Constitution, no
interference is permitted in tenancy matter. Reference was
made to Ganpat Ladha v. Sashikant Vishnu Shinde9 to
support the said contention.
(4) The surrender of possession of the tenanted premises by
F defendant No. 1 was not of a business of joint Hindu family
but of the tenancy which was not been carried out for large
number of years even as admitted by the plaintiff.
(5) Even if it was assumed that defendant No. 1 was a Karta of
the joint Hindu family, he had the right to surrender the tenancy
G without the consent of the other coparceners as such
surrender was for the benefit of the family inter-alia for the
6
(2003) 3 SCC 524
7
CWJC No. 14622 of 2017 dt. 25.04.2018
8
(1986) 4 SCC 447
9
H (1978) 2 SCC 573
KIRAN DEVI v. THE BIHAR STATE SUNNI WAKF BOARD 97
[HEMANT GUPTA, J.]

reason that no business was carried out for the last many A
years.
10. On the other hand, Mr. Sanyal, learned counsel for the plaintiff
argued that the nomenclature as to whether the jurisdiction of the High
Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India is invoked or the
jurisdiction in terms of the proviso to sub-section (9) of Section 83 of the B
Act is invoked, is immaterial as the jurisdiction in either case is that of the
High Court. The nomenclature in exercise of the jurisdiction does not
render the order passed by the High Court to be illegal or unwarranted or
beyond jurisdiction. Reference was made to Pepsi Foods Ltd. & Anr. v.
Special Judicial Magistrate & Ors.10.
C
11. It was further argued that Ram Sewak Ram was inducted as
a tenant and therefore, the plaintiff has a right by birth in the tenancy
which could not be surrendered by the then Karta, defendant No. 1 without
the consent of the other coparceners. Since the possession was delivered
to the appellant as a consequence of illegal surrender of tenancy rights,
therefore, the order of the High Court is just and proper. D
12. Mr. Sanyal referred to Full Bench judgment of the Allahabad
High Court reported as Ram Awalamb & Ors. v. Jata Shankar &
Ors.11 to contend that the personal law of Hindus regarding the devolution
of joint Hindu family property is applicable to tenanted property also.
Reference was also made to a judgment of this Court reported as E
Commissioner of Income Tax, Madhya Pradesh v. Sir Hukamchand
Mannalal & Co.12 that members of Hindu Undivided Family can enter
into contract with a stranger.
13. We have heard learned counsel for the parties and find that it
is not open to the appellant at this stage to dispute the question that the F
suit filed before the learned Munsif could not have been transferred to
the Wakf Tribunal. The plaintiff had invoked the jurisdiction of the Civil
Court in the year 1996. It is the Wakf Board and the appellant who then
filed an application for transfer of the suit to the Wakf Tribunal. Though,
in terms of Ramesh Gobindram, the Wakf Tribunal could not grant
declaration as claimed by the plaintiff, but such objection cannot be G
permitted to be raised either by the Wakf Board or by the appellant as
the order was passed by the Civil Court at their instance and was also
10
(1998) 5 SCC 749
11
AIR 1969 All. 526
12
(1970) 2 SCC 352 H
98 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2021] 7 S.C.R.

A upheld by the High Court. Such order has thus attained finality inter-
parties. The parties cannot be permitted to approbate and reprobate in
the same breath. The order that the Wakf Tribunal has the jurisdiction
cannot be permitted to be disputed as the parties had accepted the order
of the civil court and went to trial before the Tribunal. It is not a situation
where plaintiff has invoked the jurisdiction of the Wakf Tribunal.
B
14. The argument raised by the learned counsel for the appellant
that there was no estoppel against the statute as consent could not confer
jurisdiction upon the Authority which did not originally have jurisdiction.
Hence, it was submitted that the decision of the Tribunal was without
jurisdiction. It is to be noted that the plaintiff had filed proceedings before
C
the Civil Court itself but the same was objected to by the appellant as
well as by the Waqf Board. Thus, it is not conferment of jurisdiction by
the plaintiff voluntarily but by virtue of a judicial order which has now
attained finality between parties. The suit was accordingly decided by
the Waqf Tribunal. We do not find that it is open to the appellant to raise
D the objection that the Waqf Tribunal had no jurisdiction to entertain the
suit in the facts of the present case. Therefore, we do not find any merit
in the first argument raised by the learned counsel for the appellant.
15. To appreciate the second argument, the relevant provisions of
Section 83 and sub-section (9) of Section 83 of the Act are extracted
E below:
“83. Constitution of Tribunals, etc. – (1) The State Government
shall, by notification in the Official Gazette, constitute as many
Tribunals as it may think fit, for the determination of any dispute,
question or other matter relating to a waqf or waqf property, eviction
F of a tenant or determination of rights and obligations of the lessor
and the lessee of such property, under this Act and define the local
limits and jurisdiction of such Tribunals.
xx xx xx
(9) No appeal shall lie against any decision or order whether
G interim or otherwise, given or made by the Tribunal:
Provided that a High Court may, on its own motion or on the
application of the Board or any person aggrieved, call for and
examine the records relating to any dispute, question or other matter
which has been determined by the Tribunal for the purpose of
H
KIRAN DEVI v. THE BIHAR STATE SUNNI WAKF BOARD 99
[HEMANT GUPTA, J.]

satisfying itself as to the correctness, legality or propriety of such A
determination and may confirm, reverse or modify such
determination or pass such other order as it may think fit.”
16. The judgments referred to by the appellant in Sadhana Lodh
and of Patna High Court in Md. Wasiur Rahman are not applicable to
the facts of the present appeal. Sadhana Lodh is a judgment wherein B
an award of the Motor Accident Claim Tribunal was challenged by way
of a Writ Petition. This Court held that the Writ Petition was not
maintainable when an alternative remedy is provided under a statute.
Therefore, the said judgment deals with availability of the writ jurisdiction
in view of the remedy of appeal provided. In the present case, the statute
provides for a remedy under proviso of sub-section (9) of Section 83 of C
the Act against an order passed by the Wakf Tribunal. Such remedy is
before the High Court alone.
17. The judgment in Md. Wasiur Rahman arises out of the fact
where the order of the Waqf Tribunal was challenged by way of a Writ
Petition. An objection was raised before the writ court that there was an D
alternative statutory remedy available, therefore, the Writ Petition was
not maintainable. The learned Single Judge held that a petition under
Article 226/227 of the Constitution of India was not maintainable but
liberty was given to the petitioners to invoke the jurisdiction in terms of
proviso to sub-section (9) of Section 83 of the Act. The said judgment E
does not show that any argument was raised that a petition under Article
226/227 of the Constitution of India could be treated as a petition in
terms of proviso to sub-section (9) of Section 83 of the Act. Therefore,
such judgment is also not relevant for the question arising for consideration
in the present appeal.
F
18. A perusal of the proviso to sub-section (9) of Section 83 of the
Act shows that it confers power on the High Court to call for and examine
the records relating to any dispute, question or other matter which has
been determined by the Tribunal for the purpose of satisfying itself as to
the correctness, legality or propriety of such determination. In fact, the
statutory provision is acceptance of the principle that the jurisdiction of G
the High Court under Article 226 or 227 of the Constitution of India
cannot be curtailed in terms of L. Chandra Kumar v. Union of India
& Ors.13. The relevant extract reads thus:
13
(1997) 3 SCC 261
H
100 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2021] 7 S.C.R.

A “90. We may first address the issue of exclusion of the power of
judicial review of the High Courts. We have already held that in
respect of the power of judicial review, the jurisdiction of the High
Courts under Articles 226/227 cannot wholly be excluded. …. On
the other hand, to hold that all such decisions will be subject to the
jurisdiction of the High Courts under Articles 226/227 of the
B
Constitution before a Division Bench of the High Court within
whose territorial jurisdiction the Tribunal concerned falls will serve
two purposes. While saving the power of judicial review of legislative
action vested in the High Courts under Articles 226/227 of the
Constitution, it will ensure that frivolous claims are filtered out
C through the process of adjudication in the Tribunal. The High Court
will also have the benefit of a reasoned decision on merits which
will be of use to it in finally deciding the matter.
91. …We have already emphasised the necessity for ensuring
that the High Courts are able to exercise judicial superintendence
D over the decisions of the Tribunals under Article 227 of the
Constitution. In R.K. Jain case [(1993) 4 SCC 119 : 1993 SCC
(L&S) 1128 : (1993) 25 ATC 464] , after taking note of these
facts, it was suggested that the possibility of an appeal from the
Tribunal on questions of law to a Division Bench of a High Court
within whose territorial jurisdiction the Tribunal falls, be pursued.
E It appears that no follow-up action has been taken pursuant to the
suggestion. Such a measure would have improved matters
considerably. Having regard to both the aforestated contentions,
we hold that all decisions of Tribunals, whether created pursuant
to Article 323-A or Article 323-B of the Constitution, will be subject
F to the High Court’s writ jurisdiction under Articles 226/227 of the
Constitution, before a Division Bench of the High Court within
whose territorial jurisdiction the particular Tribunal falls.”
19. A three Judge Bench in a judgment reported as Radhey Shyam
& Anr. v. Chhabi Nath & Ors.14 held that the observations in para 25 of
the judgment in Surya Dev Rai v. Ram Chander Rai & Ors.15 to be
G
not good law. In Surya Dev Rai, it was held that the order of Civil Court
could be challenged in a petition under Article 226 and that the distinction
between Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India stood almost
obliterated. This Court in Radhey Shyam held:
14
(2015) 5 SCC 423
H 15
(2003) 6 SCC 675
KIRAN DEVI v. THE BIHAR STATE SUNNI WAKF BOARD 101
[HEMANT GUPTA, J.]

“27. … we are of the view that judicial orders of civil courts are A
not amenable to a writ of certiorari under Article 226. We are also
in agreement with the view [Radhey Shyam v. Chhabi Nath,
(2009) 5 SCC 616] of the referring Bench that a writ of mandamus
does not lie against a private person not discharging any public
duty. Scope of Article 227 is different from Article 226.
B
xxx xxx xxx
29. Accordingly, we answer the question referred as follows:
29.1.Judicial orders of the civil court are not amenable to writ
jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution.
29.2. Jurisdiction under Article 227 is distinct from jurisdiction under C
Article 226.
29.3. Contrary view in Surya Dev Rai [Surya Dev Rai v. Ram
Chander Rai, (2003) 6 SCC 675] is overruled.”
20. Therefore, when a petition is filed against an order of the Wakf
Tribunal before the High Court, the High Court exercises the jurisdiction D
under Article 227 of the Constitution of India. Therefore, it is wholly
immaterial that the petition was titled as a writ petition. It may be noticed
that in certain High Courts, petition under Article 227 is titled as writ
petition, in certain other High Courts as revision petition and in certain
others as a miscellaneous petition. However, keeping in view the nature E
of the order passed, more particularly in the light of proviso to sub-section
(9) of Section 83 of the Act, the High Court exercised jurisdiction only
under the Act. The jurisdiction of the High Court is restricted to only
examine the correctness, legality or propriety of the findings recorded by
the Wakf Tribunal. The High Court in exercise of the jurisdiction conferred
under proviso to sub-section (9) of Section 83 of the Act does not act as F
the appellate court.
21. We find merit in the argument raised by Mr. Sanyal that the
nomenclature of the title of the petition filed before the High Court is
immaterial. In Municipal Corporation of the City of Ahmedabad v.
Ben Hiraben Manilal16, this Court held that wrong reference to the G
power under which an action was taken by the Government would not
per se vitiate the action, if the same could be justified under some other
power whereby the Government could lawfully do that act. The Court
held as under:
16
(1983) 2 SCC 422 H
102 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2021] 7 S.C.R.

A “5. ….It is well settled that the exercise of a power, if there is
indeed a power, will be referable to a jurisdiction, when the validity
of the exercise of that power is in issue, which confers validity
upon it and not to a jurisdiction under which it would be nugatory,
though the section was not referred, and a different or a wrong
section of different provisions was mentioned. See in this connection
B
the observations in Pitamber Vajirshet v. Dhondu Navlapa [ILR
(1888) 12 Bom 486, 489] . See in this connection also the
observations of this Court in the case of L. Hazari Mal
Kuthiala v. ITO, Special Circle, Ambala Cantt. [AIR 1961 SC
200 : (1961) 1 SCR 892 : (1961) 41 ITR 12, 16 : (1961) 1 SCJ 617]
C This point has again been reiterated by this Court in the case
of Hukumchand Mills Ltd. v. State of M.P. [AIR 1964 SC 1329
: (1964) 6 SCR 857 : (1964) 52 ITR 583 : (1964) 1 SCJ 561] where
it was observed that it was well settled that a wrong reference to
the power under which action was taken by the Government would
not per se vitiate that action if it could be justified under some
D
other power under which Government could lawfully do that act.
See also the observations of the Supreme Court in the case of Nani
Gopal Biswas v. Municipality of Howrah [AIR 1958 SC 141 :
1958 SCR 774, 779 : 1958 SCJ 297 : 1958 Cri LJ 271].”
22. Later, in Pepsi Foods Ltd., this Court held that nomenclature
E under which the petition is filed is not quite relevant and it does not debar
the Court from exercising its jurisdiction which otherwise it possesses. If
the Court finds that the appellants could not invoke its jurisdiction under
Article 226, the Court can certainly treat the petition as one under Article
227 or Section 482 of the Code. This Court held as under:
F “26. Nomenclature under which petition is filed is not quite relevant
and that does not debar the court from exercising its jurisdiction
which otherwise it possesses unless there is special procedure
prescribed which procedure is mandatory. If in a case like the
present one the court finds that the appellants could not invoke its
G jurisdiction under Article 226, the court can certainly treat the
petition as one under Article 227 or Section 482 of the Code. It
may not however, be lost sight of that provisions exist in the Code
of revision and appeal but some time for immediate relief Section
482 of the Code or Article 227 may have to be resorted to for
correcting some grave errors that might be committed by the
H subordinate courts. The present petition though filed in the High
KIRAN DEVI v. THE BIHAR STATE SUNNI WAKF BOARD 103
[HEMANT GUPTA, J.]

Court as one under Articles 226 and 227 could well be treated A
under Article 227 of the Constitution.”
23. Therefore, the petition styled as one under Article 226 would
not bar the High Court to exercise jurisdiction under the Act and/or under
Article 227 of the Constitution. The jurisdiction of the High Court to
examine the correctness, legality and propriety of determination of any B
dispute by the Tribunal is reserved with the High Court. The nomenclature
of the proceedings as a petition under Article 226 or a petition under
Article 227 is wholly inconsequential and immaterial.
24. The judgment referred to by Mr. Sanyal in Sir Hukamchand
Mannalal & Co. that a member of an HUF is competent to enter into a C
contract with stranger does not support the argument raised. It has been
held that if a member of the HUF enters into contract with a stranger, he
does so in his individual capacity. It was held as under:
“5. The Indian Contract Act imposes no disability upon members
of a Hindu undivided family in the matter of entering into a contract D
inter se or with a stranger. A member of a Hindu undivided family
has the same liberty of contract as any other individual: it is
restricted only in the manner and to the extent provided by the
Indian Contract Act. Partnership is under Section 4 of the
Partnership Act the relation between persons who have agreed to
share the profits of a business carried on by all or any of them E
acting for all: if such a relation exists, it will not be invalid merely
because two or more of the persons who have so agreed are
members of a Hindu undivided family. …….”
25. This Court has quoted with the approval of the judgment reported
as P.K.P.S. Pichappa Chettiar & Ors. v. Chockalingam Pillai & Ors.17 F
wherein it has been held that when a manager of a joint family enters
into a partnership, that would not ipso facto makes the other member of
his family as partners. The Court held as under:
“In their Lordships’ opinion, the law in respect of the matter now
under consideration is correctly stated in Mayne’s Hindu Law (9th G
Edn.) at page 398, as follows:
“Where a managing member of a joint family enters into a
partnership with a stranger the other members of the family do
not ‘ipso facto become partners in the business so as to clothe
17
AIR 1934 Privy Council 192 H
104 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2021] 7 S.C.R.

A them with all the rights and obligations of a partner as defined
by the Indian Contract Act. In such a case the family as a unit
does not become a partner, but only such of its members as in
fact enter into a contractual relation with the stranger: the
partnership will be governed by the Act.”
B In this passage reference is made to the Indian Contract Act, which
would be applicable to the facts of this case. It is to be noted that
the sections referring to partnership in the said Act have been
repealed and are now embodied in the Indian Partnership Act,
1932. Even assuming, therefore, that Virappa was the manager of
his joint Hindu family in 1908, his entering into partnership with the
C Chetties in that year would not “ipso facto” make the other
members of his family partners …”
26. The next question is as to whether Shri Devendra Prasad Sinha
was running the joint family business and/or whether the act of surrender
of possession was that of a joint Hindu family business or only of surrender
D of tenancy; or that as a Karta, surrender of tenancy was for the benefit
of the joint Hindu family.
27. The plaintiff has pleaded that when father of the plaintiff joined
service, the shop was being run through the servants and that the plaintiff
began to run the hotel since 1988. Thereafter, the disputes cropped up
E over the management and accounting of the income and the hotel was
closed for many years. The plaintiff has pleaded as under:
“4. That when the grandfather of the plaintiff fell ill the shop was
being looked after and began to run by his eldest son Surendra
Kumar and Surendra Kumar began to pay rent to Waqf Board
F under receipt granted to him in the name of Devendra Prasad
Sinha, which are all with Surendra Kumar, later when Surendra
Kumar joined the Service the shop is bring run through the servant
but later on the Hotel began to run by the plaintiff since 1988 and
thereafter dispute cropped up over the management and accounting
G of income and as such the Hotel became closed and remained
closed for several years.”
28. The High Court held that the existence of joint family is
established from the Ration Card issued on 2.4.1949 and from the
payment of rent for the period 1947–1955 that the premises were let out
to joint family. The High Court also rejected the surrender of tenancy on
H
KIRAN DEVI v. THE BIHAR STATE SUNNI WAKF BOARD 105
[HEMANT GUPTA, J.]

the ground that it was without the consent of other coparceners. It was A
held as under:
“37. …After death of Ram Sharan Ram, Ram Sewak Ram became
the Karta of the joint Hindu family of which defendant No. 1, his
three sons Surendra Kumar, father of the plaintiff, Dilip Kumar,
Defendant No. 2, Suresh Kumar, plaintiff and his three brothers B
were the members. Existence of the joint family of which Ram
Sewak Ram was the Karta is established from perusal of the Ration
Card issued under the order of the Government by the Secretary
to the Government, Exhibit-9/A dated 2.12.1949. After death of
Ram Sharan Ram, Ram Sewak Ram having become Karta of the
joint family managed the affairs of the joint family including the C
hotel business in the suit premises let out to the joint family by the
Mutawalli of the Wakf Estate which owned the suit premises as is
evident from perusal of 46 rent receipts (Exhibits-8 to 8/45) granted
by the Bihar State Sunni Wakf Board through Mutawalli Md.
Suleman for the period 1947-1955 indicating payment of rent for D
the suit premises by the tenant Ram Sewak Ram.
xxx xxx xxx
43. Rent receipts, Water Board receipt and electricity bill receipt
aforesaid obtained by Defendant No. 1 are subsequent to the death
of the original tenant i.e. Karta of the joint family Ram Sewak
E
Ram from whom Defendant No. 1 succeeded to the tenancy along
with the other coparceners of the joint family. On the basis of the
subsequent receipts it cannot be said that the tenancy is created
only in favour of Defendant No. 1 ignoring the other descendants/
successors of Ram Sewak Ram. Reference in this connection is
also required to be made to the statement of Defendant No. 4 F
who examined himself as D.W. 2 paragraph 24 wherein he has
categorically stated that in the Wakf Board there is no Kirayanama
executed in favour of Devendra Babu, Defendant No. 1.
44. The case set out by the defendants regarding surrender letter
dated 31.5.96 is also fit to be rejected as after the death of Ram
G
Sewak Ram, the Karta of the Hindu undivided family, Defendant
No. 1 became the Karta of the Hindu undivided family and as per
the tenets of Hindu Law Defendant No. 1 was not entitled to
surrender the tenanted premises without the consent of the other
coparceners of the Hindu undivided family….
H
106 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2021] 7 S.C.R.

A 45. In view of my findings above, there is no difficulty in concluding
that the suit premises was let out to Ram Sewak Ram who carried
joint family hotel business in the said premises until his death i.e. in
January, 1960 whereafter Defendant No. 1 became the Karta of
the family and succeeded to the joint family business including the
suit premises along with his sons and grandsons constituting the
B
joint family, as such, without the consent of the other members of
the joint family could not have surrendered the tenancy in favour
of Mutawalli of the Wakf Estate through the so-called surrender
letter dated 31.5.1996.”
29. Thus, even if a male member had taken premises on rent, he is
C tenant in his individual capacity and not as Karta of Hindu Undivided
Family in the absence of any evidence that Karta was doing the business
for and on behalf of Joint Hindu Family. The High Court has presumed
the existence of the joint family of which Ram Sewak Ram was said to
be the Karta from perusal of the Ration Card issued on 2.12.1949. The
D Hindu Joint Hindu Family cannot be presumed to be in existence only on
the basis of Ration Card unless there is evidence that the funds of joint
Hindu Family were invested in the business in the tenanted premises.
30. The Allahabad High Court in Ram Awalamb held that notions
of Hindu law, or Mohamedan law, or any other personal law cannot be
E imported into the rights created by the U.P. Zamindari Abolition and Land
Reforms Act. The Court held as under:
“8. Hindu joint families have existed from times immemorial and
they exist even now. However, it is by no means necessary that
every Hindu Joint family should be possessed of joint family
F property also. Where any property is ancestral or it is acquired by
all the members of a joint Hindu family or after having been acquired
by one member of the joint family only it is thrown in the common
stock it is regarded to be joint family property or coparcenary
property. Until partition takes place, or only one member of the
family is left, without having any male issue, the coparcenary
G property remains with the family and upon the death of any one
member only his interest devolves on the surviving coparceners.
The Karta or manager of the family alone has the right to transfer
the property either for legal necessity or for the benefit of the
estate.
H xx xx xx
KIRAN DEVI v. THE BIHAR STATE SUNNI WAKF BOARD 107
[HEMANT GUPTA, J.]

45. Our conclusions can, therefore, be briefly summarised as A
follows:—
(1) Where members of a joint Hindu family hold bhumidhari rights
in any holding, they hold the same as tenants in common and not
as joint tenants. The notions of Hindu law cannot be invoked to
determine that status. B
(2) Where in certain class of tenancies, such as permanent tenure
holders, the interest of a tenant was both heritable and transferable
in a limited sense and such a tenancy could, prior to the
enforcement of the Act, be described as joint family property or
coparcenary property, the position changed after Act 1 of 1951 C
came into force. Thereafter the interest of each bhumidhar, being
heritable only according to the order of succession provided in the
Act and transferable without any restriction other than mentioned
in the Act itself, must be deemed to be a separate unit.
(3) Each member of a joint Hindu family must be considered to be D
a separate unit for the exercise of the right of transfer and also for
the purposes of devolution of bhumidhari interest of the deceased
member.
(4) The right of transfer of each member of the joint Hindu family
of his interest in bhumidhari land is controlled only by Sec. 152 of E
the Act and by no other restriction. The provisions of Hindu law
relating to restriction on transfer of coparcenary land, e.g., existence
of legal necessity, do not apply.”
31. We thus find that the High Court has committed a basic error
of law and fact that the payment of rent or the Ration Card proves that F
the tenant was carrying business as a Joint Hindu Family Business. There
can be presumption of Hindu joint family property if the property has
been acquired by the male member or if the same has been treated as
joint Hindu family. But no such presumption is attached to a business
activity carried out by an individual in a tenanted premise.
G
32. A perusal of the facts on record would show that it was a
contract of tenancy entered upon by great grandfather of the plaintiff.
Even if the great grandfather was maintaining the family out of the income
generated from the hotel business, that itself would not make the other
family members as coparceners in the hotel business. It was the contract
of tenancy which was inherited by the grandfather of the plaintiff who H
108 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2021] 7 S.C.R.

A later surrendered it in favour of the Wakf Board. The tenancy was an
individual right vested with the grandfather of the plaintiff who was
competent to surrender it to the landlord. The High Court has clearly
erred in law by holding that since the grandfather was a tenant, the tenancy
is a joint family asset. The contract of tenancy is an independent contract
than the joint Hindu family business.
B
33. In fact, the evidence produced by the plaintiff is payment of
rent by either Ram Sewak Ram or by the grandfather of the plaintiff.
Such payment of rent is not indicative of the fact that the hotel business
was by the joint Hindu family. This Court in a judgment reported as G.
Narayana Raju (Dead) by his Legal Representative v. G. Chamaraju
C & Ors.18, held that there is no presumption under Hindu Law that business
standing in the name of any member of the joint family is a joint business
even if that member is the manager of the joint family, unless it could be
shown that the business in the hands of the coparcener grew up with the
assistance of the joint family property or joint family funds or that the
D earnings of the business were blended with the joint family estate. This
Court held as under:
“3. … It is well established that there is no presumption under
Hindu Law that business standing in the name of any member of
the joint family is a joint business even if that member is the manager
E of the joint family. Unless it could be shown that the business in
the hands of the coparcener grew up with the assistance of the
joint family property or joint family funds or that the earnings of
the business were blended with the joint family estate, the business
remains free and separate. …….

F
xxx xxx xxx
6. … It is a well-established doctrine of Hindu Law that property
which was originally self-acquired may become joint property if it
has been voluntarily thrown by the coparcener into joint stock
G with the intention of abandoning all separate claims upon it. The
doctrine has been repeatedly recognised by the Judicial Committee
(See Hurpurshad v. Sheo Dayal, (1876) 3 Ind App 259 (PC) and
Lal Bahadur v. Kanhaia Lal, (1907) 34 Ind App 65 (PC). But the
question whether the coparcener has done so or not is entirely a
H 18
AIR 1968 SC 1276
KIRAN DEVI v. THE BIHAR STATE SUNNI WAKF BOARD 109
[HEMANT GUPTA, J.]

question of fact to be decided in the light of all the circumstances A
of the case. It must be established that there was a clear intention
on the part of the coparcener to waive his separate rights and
such an intention will not be inferred merely from acts which may
have been done from kindness or affection (See the decision in
Lala Muddun Gopal v. Khikhindu Koer, (1891) 18 Ind App 9 (PC).
B
For instance, in Naina Pillai v. Daivanai Ammal, AIR 1936 Madras
177 where in a series of documents self-acquired property was
described and dealt with as ancestral joint family property was not
sufficient but an intention of the coparcener must be shown to
waive his claims with full knowledge of his right to it as his separate
property. The important point to keep in mind is that the separate C
property of a Hindu coparcener ceases to be his separate
property and acquires the characteristics of his joint family
or ancestral property, not by mere act of physical mixing with
his joint family or ancestral property, but by his own volition
and intention, by his waiving or surrendering his special right
D
in it as separate property. A man’s intention can be discovered
only from his words or from his acts and conduct. When his intention
with regard to his separate property is not expressed in words, we
must seek for it in his acts and conduct. But it is the intention that
we must seek in every case, the acts and conduct being no more
than evidence of the intention. …” (Emphasis Supplied) E
34. This Court in a judgment reported as P.S. Sairam & Anr. v.
P.S. Rama Rao Pissey & Ors.19 following the above said judgment held
that so far as immovable property is concerned, there would be a
presumption that the same belongs to joint family, provided it is proved
that the joint family had sufficient nucleus at the time of its acquisition, F
but no such presumption can be applied to a business. It was held as
under:
“7. Crucial question in the present appeal is as to whether business
which was conducted by defendant No. 1 was his separate
business or it belonged to joint family, consisting of himself and his G
sons. It is well settled that so far as immovable property is
concerned, in case the same stands in the name of individual
member, there would be a presumption that the same belongs to
joint family, provided it is proved that the joint family had sufficient
19
(2004) 11 SCC 320 H
110 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2021] 7 S.C.R.

A nucleus at the time of its acquisition, but no such presumption can
be applied to business……………”
35. Thus, mere payment of rent by great grandfather or by the
grandfather of the plaintiff raises no presumption that it was a joint Hindu
family business. The High Court has clearly erred in law to hold so without
B any legal or factual basis.
36. Even if Devendra Prasad Sinha is considered to be representing
the joint Hindu family while carrying out hotel business in the tenanted
premises, the question as to the act Karta to surrender of tenancy was
for the benefit of the joint Hindu family. The powers of Karta of a Joint
C Hindu Family have been described in 22nd Edition of Hindu Law by Mulla
(para 240) inter alia to the following effect:
“Alienation by manager of coparcenary property for legal
necessity. – (1) The power of the manager of a joint Hindu family
to alienate the joint family property is analogous to that of a manager
D for an infant heir, as defined by the Judicial Committee.
(2) The manager of a joint Hindu family has the power to alienate
for value, joint family property, so as to bind the interest of both
adult and minor coparceners in the property, provided that the
alienation is made for legal necessity, or for the benefit of the
E estate. A manager (not being the father) can alienate even the
share of a minor coparcener to satisfy an antecedent debt of the
minor’s father (or grandfather) when there is no other reasonable
course open to him (Dharmaraj Singh v. Chandrasekhar Rao, (1942)
Nag 214). It is not necessary to validate the alienation that the
express consent of the adult members should have been obtained.
F
In Suraj Bunsi Koer v. Sheo Proshad, (1879) 6 IA 88, p. 101, the
Judicial Committee stated that it was not clearly settled whether
where an alienation is made by a manager for a legal necessity,
but without the express consent of the adult coparceners, the
alienation is binding on them. However, in later decisions of the
G same tribunal, the view taken is that if legal necessity is established,
the express consent of the adult coparceners is not necessary
(Sahu Ram v. Bhup Singh, AIR 1917 PC 61). As to alienation by
manager for joint family business.
Where any such transaction has been entered into for legal necessity
H by a manager, it would be deemed to be on behalf of the family
KIRAN DEVI v. THE BIHAR STATE SUNNI WAKF BOARD 111
[HEMANT GUPTA, J.]

and would bind it. The position is not worsened by the fact that a A
junior member joins the transaction and the joining by him is abortive
by reason of his minority (Radha Krishnadas v. Kaluram, AIR
1967 SC 574).”
37. The pleaded stand of the Plaintiff is that the hotel was closed
for several years. Therefore, the liability to pay monthly rent continued B
to accrue upon karta - Devendra Prasad Sinha. The question is as to
whether, in these circumstances, on account of cessation of activities of
running of the hotel, the act of the surrender of tenancy is in fact for the
benefit of the joint family. The learned High Court found that the letter of
surrender was not reliable or tenable. The executor of the surrender
letter has admitted such surrender letter in the written statement and C
while appearing as a witness as DW-5. The Mutawalli Md. Salimuddin
has also accepted the surrender letter in the written statement and while
appearing in the witness box as DW-10. Merely for the reason that
signatures in the translated copy do not tally with the Urdu copy is not
sufficient to hold the surrender letter as unreliable as the translation can D
be incorrect but the correctness of the document in has not been disputed
by the executor or by the acceptor. The said document could not have
been said to be unreliable on the basis of the statement of the plaintiff
who is not a party to such transaction. It is one thing to say that the
document is unreliable and another to say that the document does not
bind the plaintiff. We have no hesitation to hold that the document was E
validly proved and accepted by the Wakf Board. Therefore, the act of
surrender of tenancy was for the benefit of the Joint Hindu family.
38. We thus hold that the order of the High Court is not sustainable
for the reasons recorded above. Consequently, the present appeal is
allowed. The order of the High Court is set aside and that of the Wakf F
Tribunal is restored with no order as to costs.

Nidhi Jain Appeal allowed.

G

H