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Official Citation: 2024 SCMR 1984
Court / Jurisdiction: Supreme Court of Pakistan
Year of Decision: 2024
Decision Date: 2024-08-19
Parties: Bashir Ahmed (deceased) through his L.Rs., etc vs Nazir Ahmad, etc
Ruling Summary: This decision was rendered by the Supreme Court of Pakistan on 2024-08-19, officially reported as 2024 SCMR 1984. In this matter between Bashir Ahmed (deceased) through his L.Rs., etc and Nazir Ahmad, etc, the court adjudicated key questions of statutory construction, procedural regularity, and legal precedent under Pakistani law.
Core Holding: The honorable bench evaluated governing statutory provisions and judicial authorities to establish the rights of the parties, delivering the binding reasoning set out below.
Case cited as 2024 SCMR 1984
Court Name: Supreme Court of Pakistan Judge(s): Shahid Waheed, Munib Akhtar Title: Bashir Ahmed (deceased) through his L.Rs., etc vs Nazir Ahmad, etc Case No.: Civil Appeal No.197-L of 2019 And CMA Nos.3759 & 5618 of 2022 Date of Judgment:2024-08-19 Reported As: 2024 SCP 275, 2024 SCMR 1984, PLJ 2024 SC 845 Result: Application Allowed
JUDGMENT
JUDGMENT SHAHID WAHEED, J. The appellants in this direct appeal are the legal heirs of one of the defendants, namely defendant No.2 who, though succeeded up to the first Appellate Court but, could not secure approval of a decree issued in their favour from the Revision Court. This case, therefore, necessitates a comprehensive review of both the facts and the law. This is essential not only due to the disparity in reasoning between the Revision Court and the first Appellate Court but also because it sheds light on the concerning aspects of our society. 2. It is a well-established fact that family serves as the fundamental building block of our society, and despite advancements in various aspects of our lives, many business entrepreneurs still continue to uphold the tradition of living in a joint family setting, where the ownership of assets is often unclear. This social structure plays a pivotal role in their accomplishments. However, it is disheartening that such joint families frequently encounter internal conflicts and disagreements, ultimately leading to their disintegration. These disputes often culminate in legal battles, leaving a lingering bitterness among the family members involved. The case at hand is a poignant example of such a situation, where one brother thinks that the family is like a sponge in his hands, to be squeezed for his own benefit. With this lead-in note, we now move on to the details of the dispute, which calls for our decision. 3. This direct appeal involves a dispute among brothers. Nazir Ahmad, the plaintiff, had three brothers: Muhammad Sharif, Bashir Ahmad (Defendant No.2), and Abdul Rashid (Defendant No.3). Abdul Rashid's daughter, Bilqees Akhtar, was arrayed as defendant No.1 in the suit. It is important to note that Muhammad Sharif was not included in the suit. The brothers jointly and severally owned
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properties which included: (i) commercial land measuring 46 marlas, situated at Pasrur Road, Daska (Madina Industries), (ii) two commercial plots, 10 marlas each, situated at College Road, near Tank Water Supply No.2, Daska, (iii) two shops comprising land measuring 15 marlas, situated at College Road, Daska, (iv) one plot measuring 1 kanal, situated at College Road, Daska, (v) agricultural land measuring 53 kanals and 17 marlas, situated at Jamke Cheema, Daska, (vi) one plot measuring 12 marlas, situated at Jinnah Road, Gujranwala, and (vi) a house measuring 111/2 marlas at Zahid Colony, Gujranwala. A feud giving rise to this appeal relates to agricultural land measuring 53 kanals, 17 marlas at Jamke Cheema, Daska. This land was in the name of Nazir Ahmad, the plaintiff, who, in respect of it, constituted his brother Abdul Rashid (Defendant No.3) as his general attorney by a registered power of attorney, dated 15th of August, 2002 (Ex.D.9). Based on that authority, Abdul Rashid, firstly, sold 2 kanals land jointly to Bilqees Akhtar (Defendant No.1) and Bashir Ahmad (Defendant No.2) by mutation No.4766 dated 13th of November, 2002 (Ex.P.4), and then on 29th of April, 2003, sold the remaining 51 kanals, 17 marlas jointly to his daughter Bilqees Akhtar and brother Bashir Ahmad by a registered sale deed (Ex.P.3). 4. On 10th of May 2003, Nazir Ahmad, the plaintiff, instituted a suit for declaration, cancellation of documents, and possession along with perpetual injunction, contending therein that he was the owner of 53 kanals, 17 marlas land, situated in village Jamke Cheema, Daska, and that he constituted Abdul Rashid (Defendant No.3), his brother as his general attorney to look after his affairs as well as the land held by him, employing a registered power of attorney (Ex.D.9). However, he revoked the same by a deed registered on the 5th of May, 2003 (Ex.P1). He alleged that his general attorney misused his authority and abused his trust by executing a sale deed dated 29th of April, 2003 (Ex.P.3) in favour of Bashir Ahmad (Defendant No.2, now in this appeal, his legal heirs are representing him as the appellants) and Bilqees Akhtar (Defendant No.1) regarding land measuring 51 kanals, 17 marlas. Likewise, a mutation No.4766 dated 13th of November, 2002 (Ex.P.4) regarding 2 kanals of land was also attested by him in the name of the persons described above. He prayed that the above sale deed and the mutation be declared to have been executed and attested in excess of the authority conferred on the general authority and, as such, ineffective upon his rights. 5. The appellants' predecessor, Bashir Ahmed (Defendant No.2) and other defendants denied the claims set up in the plaint by submitting a joint written statement. They emphasized that the power of attorney (Ex.D.9) resulted from a family settlement by which the brothers agreed to divide the family properties among themselves. In paragraph 2 of the written statement, the scheme of how the properties stated above were to be divided among the brothers was described in the following words: i. Abdul Rashid: Land measuring 53 kanals and 17 marlas, situated at Jamke Cheema, Tehsil Daska, and plot measuring 7-marlas situated at Gali Sargodian College Road, Daska. ii. Muhammad Sharif: One commercial plot measuring 10-marlas, situated at Karkhana Rustam Road, College Road, Daska, and vacant plot measuring 121/2 marlas in Gali Sargodian, Water Tank No.2, College Road, Daska. iii. Bashir Ahmed: Plot measuring 12-marlas, situated at Jinnah Road Gujranwala, commercial plot measuring 10 marlas adjacent to house, and a house measuring 7-marlas situated at Gali Sargodian, College Road, Daska. iv. Nazir Ahmed: Commercial area measuring 2-kanals and 6-marlas (46 marlas) situated at Pasrur Road, Daska, where "Madina Industries" is running along with a house measuring 15-marlas, situated at Gali Sargodian, College Road, Daska. It was further maintained in paragraph 3 of the written statement that according to the scheme of the partition of properties, each brother was given the general power of attorney deed of the other brothers. In this way, Abdul Rashid (Defendant No.3) was given registered general power of
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attorney deed dated 20th of March, 2002 (Ex.D.9). It was also pointed out that Bashir Ahmed (Defendant No.2) had also executed a general power of attorney (Ex.D.6) in favour of Nazir Ahmed, the plaintiff. Based on this, Nazir Ahmed transferred the land owned by Bashir Ahmed to his sons. In essence, their plea was that this was a case of quid pro quo. 6. The first question on facts emanating from the parties' pleadings for determination was whether any family settlement embodied a scheme or the arrangement regarding the division of properties. A perusal of the record indicates that after the plaintiff presented his affirmative evidence, Bashir Ahmed (Defendant No.2) and Bilqees Akhtar (Defendant No.1) jointly filed an application with the Trial Court. They claimed that a scheme for partition of properties was documented in a memorandum dated 23rd of November, 2000, which the plaintiff and his brothers signed as an acknowledgement and the original memorandum was in the plaintiff's possession. They requested the Trial Court to direct the plaintiff to produce original memorandum dated 23rd of November, 2000, containing the scheme for properties partition, or alternatively to allow them to produce it as secondary evidence. The plaintiff contested this application. The Trial Court dismissed the application on 22nd of May, 2006, finding no merit in it. The revision of this order was sought. The Revision Court, on careful consideration of the affirmative evidence led by the plaintiff, revised the Trial Court's order on 5th of October, 2006, stating that the execution of the memorandum was proved and allowed it to be placed on record. This revisional judgment was not further assailed; thus, it became final. Given the situation, there is no need to reassess the evidence because the above revisional judgment, which has become final, is sufficient to conclude that a settlement to divide the family properties, as claimed by the defendants in their written statement, was reached among the brothers, and that was recorded in the memorandum dated 23rd of November, 2000 (Ex.D.1). Be it noted that this memorandum/document merely stated the nature of arrangement arrived at as regards the division of properties; it did not effect a partition. 7. Now, it becomes necessary to investigate one more question on facts. How did the brothers give effect to the arrangement among them regarding the division of properties? This takes us to the deposition made by the plaintiff (P.W.1) in his cross-examination. He admitted during cross- examination that his brothers had granted him power of attorney for their properties. He also admitted that three different deeds of power of attorney were executed in his name. He clarified that the first power of attorney concerned the land behind Madina Industry, given by his two brothers, Muhammad Sharif and Bashir Ahmad. The second power of attorney pertained to Muhammad Sharif's house located in Gali Sargodian. The third power of attorney was related to Bashir Ahmad's 7-Marla house on College Road. Furthermore, the plaintiff acknowledged during cross-examination that, using the aforementioned power of attorney, he had gifted his sons the 27 Marla land of Madina Industry and transferred the College Road house to his wife. The above statement, when read with the documents tendered by the defendants in evidence, shows that the mode of distribution of the properties was the same as the defendants had disclosed in their written statement. A perusal of the evidence suggests that the defendants submitted three deeds of power of attorney. The first deed (Ex.D.2) was executed by Muhammad Sharif in favour of the plaintiff regarding 71/2 Marlas of land. The second deed (Ex.D.3) was executed by Muhammad Sharif and Bashir Ahmad (Defendant No.2) in favour of the plaintiff regarding 2-Kanals of land. The third deed (EX.D.6) was executed by Bashir Ahmad (Defendant No.2) in favour of the plaintiff regarding 7-Marlas of land. The evidence further suggests that the plaintiff then executed a gift deed of 8-Marlas using a power of attorney (Ex.D.3) in favour of his sons Muhammad Qaisar, Muhammad Mehmood-ul-Hasan, and Muhammad Faiz-ul-Hassan. He also executed a registered sale deed of 7-Marlas using a power of attorney (Ex.D.6) in favour of his son Muhammad Faiz-ul- Hassan. Moreover, the plaintiff executed a gift deed of land measuring 19 marlas (Ex.D.7) in favour of his sons Muhammad Qaisar Nazir, Muhammad Mehmood-ul-Hassan, and Muhammad Faiz-ul-
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Hassan using a power of attorney (Ex.D.3) issued by Muhammad Sharif and Bashir Ahmad (Defendant No.2). Lastly, the plaintiff executed a sale deed (Ex.D.8) using a power of attorney (Ex.D.2) issued by Muhammad Sharif, and transferred the land measuring 7-Marlas to his wife, Mst. Razia. From the above appreciation of evidence, it stands established that four brothers had joint properties and a partition took place between them. The brothers gave each other general power of attorney to formalize the partition. The plaintiff then alienated the land to his sons and wife, which he had obtained through the partition from joint properties based on the general power of attorney in his favour on behalf of his brothers. Similarly, Abdul Rashid (Defendant No.3) acted upon the general power of attorney (Ex.D.9) in his favour on behalf of the plaintiff and alienated the land measuring 53 kanals and 17 marlas to defendants No.1 and 2, which he had obtained from joint properties through the partition. So, the scheme of partitioning joint properties amongst brothers was proved, as stated in the written statement. 8. This brings us to the stage of examining the last question on facts whether the plaintiff had revoked the power of attorney (Ex.D.9) in favour of Abdul Rashid (Defendant No.3) and, therefore, the sale deed dated 29th of April, 2003 (Ex.P.3), and mutation No.4766 dated 13th of November, 2002 (Ex.P.4) in favour of Bilquees Akhtar (Defendant No.1) and Bashir Ahmad (Defendant No.2) were illegal. It was claimed in the plaint that during the last ten days of March, 2003, in the presence of Muhammad Asghar (P.W.2) and Shahid Ali (P.W.3), the plaintiff had verbally told Abdul Rashid (Defendant No.3) that he had cancelled his power of attorney (Ex.D.9), so it could not be used; subsequently, on legal advice, the revocation deed was drawn on 29th of April, 2003, but the stamp vendor recorded this fact in his register on 30th of April, 2003; and finally, it was registered with the Sub-Registrar on 5th of May, 2003. Mere, this assertion is sufficient to hold that mutation No.4766 (Exh.P.4) was valid because it was sanctioned much before the alleged revocation of power of attorney. Now, we need to determine whether the sale deed dated 29th of April, 2003 (Exh.P.3) could be declared illegal, based on the facts pleaded in the plaint. We do not hold the view that the revocation deed (Exh.P.1) was signed on 29th of April, 2003, and came into effect from that date, and thus, the sale deed (Exh.P.3) based on the revoked power of attorney (EXh.D.9) was illegal. This is for two reasons. Firstly, the revocation deed (Ex.P.1) shows that on 30th of April, 2003, the plaintiff had purchased its stamp paper, but the writing upon it contained the date of 29th of April, 2003. This solitary fact is sufficient to infer that the revocation deed (Ex.P.1) was not scribed on 29th of April, 2003. It appears that due to this discrepancy, the plaintiff, in his plaint, stated that the stamp paper was purchased on 29th of April, 2003, but the vendor entered it in his register at Serial No.7040 on 30th of April, 2003. This position is unacceptable because it does not appeal to the mind of any prudent man. Secondly, on 29th of April, 2003, both the plaintiff and Abdul Rashid (Defendant No.3) were present at the Sub-Registrar's office to produce documents for registration. The plaintiff presented a sale deed (Ex.D.5) using the power of attorney given by his brother, Bashir Ahmed (Defendant No.2), while Abdul Rashid (Defendant No.3) presented the sale deed (Ex.D.3). If the plaintiff had revoked the power of attorney in March, 2003, he could have made a written request to the Sub-Registrar to not register the sale deed (Ex.D.3) by stating the revocation, but he did not. Given the state of affairs, the plaintiff's claim of revoking the power of attorney before the registration of the sale deed (Ex.P.3) was not plausible, and the testimonies of Muhammad Asghar (P.W.2) and Shahid Ali (P.W.3) were also not credible. Therefore, the sale deed (Ex.P.3) could not be considered illegal based on these circumstances. 9. It is important to note that our determination of factual questions aligns with the findings of the District Courts, which were based on the probable conclusions drawn from the preponderance of evidence presented by the parties to the suit. However, in its revisional jurisdiction, the High Court did not take into account the exposition of facts. Instead, it reversed the decrees in favour of the defendants, and upheld the plaintiff's claim because it found that the defendants had not
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complied with certain legal requirements. It is, therefore, essential to assess the points that prevailed with the High Court. 10. Before delving into the points on which the High Court revised the concurrent findings of its subordinate courts, it is imperative to discuss the general impact and significance of family settlement. A family settlement involves members of the same family striving to resolve their differences and disputes to achieve lasting resolution. Through these arrangements, family members aim to bring about harmony and goodwill, settling conflicting claims or disputed titles to promote peace within the family. Courts recognise the special significance of family arrangements and uphold them when made in good faith. This principle has been developed by courts over a long period of time to discourage litigation driven by greed, particularly in cases involving the distribution of family estates, such as the one being considered here. In this context, we may refer to some earlier case law. 11. The oldest case on the subject that comes to our hands dates back almost three hundred years, which is the case of Stapilton (1739).[1] In this case, Philip Stapilton, the father, in order to prevent disputes and ill consequences between his two sons, drafted an agreement to divide his real estate between them. The dispute in the case was that Stapilton's elder son, Henry, was a bastard and, thus, not a legal heir to the estate. The defendant, being the only legitimate son, claimed the right to all his father's estate. The Court held that the purpose behind this agreement was to save the family honour, preserve harmony and affection amongst family members and thus, resting upon grounds which would not have been considered satisfactory if the transaction had occurred between mere strangers, but because the agreement was entered into to save the honour of the family, and was a reasonable one, a court of equity should, if it is possible, decree a performance of it. It further observed that a court should be glad to lay hold of any just ground to carry the agreement into execution and establish the peace of a family giving effect to the agreement. 12. The second case is that of Gordon (1821),[2] where Lord Eldon observed that when family agreements have been fairly entered into, without concealment or imposition upon either side, with no suppression of what is true, or suggestion of what is false, then, although the parties may have greatly misunderstood their situation and mistaken their rights, a Court of Equity will not disturb the quiet, which is the consequence of that agreement. 13. Coming to the third case of Khunni Lal (1911),[3] their Lordships of the Privy Council, considering a compromise entered into between certain members of a family by which they had settled their disputes and divided the family property, quoted with approval certain observations in Mewa Koonwer[4] wherein the learned Judges had said that the true character of the transaction appeared to us to have been a settlement between the several members of the family of their disputes, each one relinquishing all claim in respect of all property in dispute other than that falling to his share, and recognising the right of the others, as they had previously asserted it to the portion allotted to them respectively. It was in this light, rather than as conferring a new distinct title on each other, that the parties themselves seem to have regarded the arrangement, and it is the duty of the Courts to uphold and give full effect to such an arrangement. And so, through equity, a family settlement was cured and given full effect. 14. The fourth case that we need to look at is of Mahomed Musa (1915),[5] where the Privy Council pointed out in a case of family settlement that although the compromise and the decree taken together were considered to be defective or inchoate as elements making up a final and validly concluded settlement for the extinction of the equity of redemption, the actings and the conduct of the parties founded upon the performance or part performance of such an agreement were sufficient to cure all defects; for equity will support a transaction clothed imperfectly in those legal forms to which finality attaches after the bargain has been acted upon.
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15. The fifth case that we may refer to here is of Musammat Hardei (1919),[6] where the Privy Council held that the plaintiff was bound by her family agreement and did not allow her to repudiate it because a long period of time which had elapsed since it was made, nor to impeach the sale, which was made upon the faith of it. 16. The sixth case that we would like to mention is of Martin Cashin (1938).[7] In this case their Lordships of the Privy Council observed that a parent can be generous to a son, or legitimate children to an illegitimate one, or a son to a mother upon the occasion of a family arrangement without its being proper or possible in equity merely on that ground to suggest that the arrangement is an unfair one and ought to be set aside. It would indeed be strange if an agreement entered into by parties of full contracting capacity could be set aside in equity because, regarded from the standpoint of the family, it was generous as well as just. 17. The decision of the Indian Supreme Court is also an important reference to consider in this context. In Tek Bahadur Bhujil[8] (1966), it was pointed out that a family arrangement could be arrived at even orally and registration would be required only if it was reduced into writing. It was also held that a document which was no more than a memorandum of what had been agreed to did not require registration. The Indian Supreme Court had observed thus, "Family arrangement as such can be arrived at orally. Its terms may be recorded in writing as a memorandum of what had been agreed upon between the parties. The memorandum need not be prepared for the purpose of being used as a document on which future title of the parties be founded. It is usually prepared as a record of what had been agreed upon so that there be no hazy notions about it in future. It is only when the parties reduce the family arrangement in writing with the purpose of using that writing as proof of what they had arranged and, where the arrangement is brought about by the document as such, that the document would require registration as it is then that it would be a document of title declaring for future what rights in what properties the parties possess." 18. The next reference is to a case of this Court. In Atta Hussain Khan (1979)[9], it was held that a document that embodies a bona fide settlement whereby a person agrees to surrender his rights for the preservation of peace, amity and harmony between the members of the family amounts to a family settlement arrived between the members for a lawful consideration, and is fully binding on them. 19. We would now refer to another case of this Court. In Anwar Khan (2004)[10], it was argued that since the family arrangement was not registered, it could not be relied upon, nor could it be produced as evidence in Court. This Court concluded that if the parties were not interested in partition of property on permanent transfer basis, they could not be forced or compelled to do so as it depended upon their whims and wishes to distribute the property in any manner as may be deemed fit and proper, being their personal and family affair. In such an eventuality, the question of registration of such agreement, did not arise. The Court relied upon the case of Jahanzeb[11] to reach this conclusion. 20. The last case that we may refer to is of Allah Dad[12] (2005), where one of the questions before this Court was whether an unregistered family settlement was admissible in evidence. The Court observed that the object behind the family settlement is always to settle existing or future property disputes amongst the family members, create goodwill, and avoid future disputes between the successors-in-interest. The bona fide transaction of family settlement would be binding on the parties and if the settlement by the conduct of the parties, is capable of receiving constant recognition for a long time, the right to assert under the agreement must not be subsequently allowed to be impeached, and Courts may not reject the family settlement on technical grounds. 21. On this subject, we found the relevant insights in section 132 of "Commentaries on Equity Jurisprudence".[13] To better understand the effect and value of the family settlement, it would be helpful to read it here in extenso. It says: "There are cases of family compromise, where, upon
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principles of policy, for the honour or peace of families, the doctrine sustaining compromises has been carried further. And it has been truly remarked, that in such family arrangements the Court of Chancery has administered an equity, which is not applied to agreements generally. Such compromises, fairly and reasonably made, to save the honour of a family, as in case of suspected illegitimacy, to prevent family disputes and family forfeitures, are upheld with a strong hand; and are binding, when in cases between mere strangers the like agreements would not be enforced. Thus, it has been said, that if, on the death of a person, seised in…
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