• Land issue dispute

PLEASE I am in need!!!
Hey! My name is Amaar and I am a permanent resident of Jammu & Kashmir, Srinagar. We have a land of 5716sqfts with two side entrance and a single house of the front entrance. The whole plot was on my father’s Elder uncle name (A) who had no son or daughter and my grandfather (B) and his younger brother (C) use to live with him. After my grand father’s marriage when my father was born the elder brother (A) of my grandfather on whose name was the land he gave my grandfather 1350sqft land from the whole land to make a house behind the existing house verbally without any documentation. Then after the marriage of my grandfather’s younger brother (C), (A) Gave him (C) 810sqft land on the other entrance of the land verbally without any documentation. So the whole plot with two entrances have two houses and our house of my grandfather was in the center of the two houses the whole plot was marked with a common pathway from front to back keeping my grandfather’s (B) house in the center or we can say at the back. Then in 2003 the (A) who had no son gave 2900sqft to his younger brother (C) with a gift deed and my grandfather was unaware of it. Then in 2007 the (A) elder brother of my grandfather died. Then in 2023 we got to know about the gift deed. I am living in my grandfather’s house but the land is still on his elder brother’s name (A). So 2900sqft in on my grandfather’s younger brother’s name. The house i am living in has 1350sqft land and the remaining 1466sqft is the common pathway of 4ft width and length of 361aprox. So back in 2014by a connection of my friends i made a new document of my land as abadi deh land as my grandfather(B)was in the possession of the land 1350sqft from 70 years. I got a proper sale deed on my wife’s name the proper revenue documents. Its been 10years now i have the documents. Also the land documents of these 1350sqft land was originally in the ownership name of my grandfather’s eleder brother’s name (A) but they were never found he never gave it to anyone no one knows where are they. We tried finding then in revenue but were never found. Also my grandfather was never given any land from it as all they have was this land to live on.

SO I HAVE 2 QUESTIONS:
1) is my ownership (wife name documents) legal?
2) can i claim the direct pathway excess to the two gates because i have to walk around their two houses to get the excess to the main road. There is some land vacant which was gifted by (A) to (C)
Asked 1 year ago in Property Law
Religion: Muslim

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16 Answers

Your wife does not have clear and marketable title 

 

if there is no other access to your house you can claim easementary right of necessity 

Ajay Sethi
Advocate, Mumbai
99877 Answers
8150 Consultations

1. Since you have purchased the land by a registered sale deed in the name of your wife, she becomes the owner of the property besides the revenue records are also transferred to her name hence her title is established.

2. Even otherwise the pathway had been used by your vendor all through the time till he sold the property to your wife.

Thus your wife can continue to enjoy the easement rights which was enjoyed by her predecessor, i.e., your grandfather, hence you can continue to use the pathway as a right.

T Kalaiselvan
Advocate, Vellore
90079 Answers
2501 Consultations

1. You talk to them about your difficulties for road access and request them to remove the obstruction by demolishing the wall, if they don't respond or comply then you can adopt legal steps by filing a suit for easement rights and mandatory injunction for the relief of ingress and egress through the pathway and for demolition of the boundary wall through court. 

2. You can talk to them and enter into a registered memorandum of understanding in this regard or create a registered exchange deed jointly executed by both to avoid future legal hassles. 

T Kalaiselvan
Advocate, Vellore
90079 Answers
2501 Consultations

File suit for declaration that you are absolute owner of 260 sq land and to set aside gift deed executed by A in favour of C 

 

then you can always reach a settlement by filing consent terms in court 

Ajay Sethi
Advocate, Mumbai
99877 Answers
8150 Consultations

  1. Ownership of 1350 sq. ft. Land (on Wife's Name):


    • Legal Validity: Your wife’s sale deed for the 1350 sq. ft. plot (abadi deh land) is valid as per revenue laws, provided:

      • The sale deed was executed by the rightful possessor of the land.
      • The document is properly registered with the revenue department.

  2. Claim Over 260 sq. ft. Pathway:


    • For Possession:

      • File a suit for possession in the civil court based on your sale deed.
      • Highlight the encroachment by (C) and prove ownership of the 260 sq. ft. using your documents and site revenue map.


    • Right of Easement:

      • Alternatively, claim a right of easement for the pathway if it is essential for accessing your house.

  3. Exchange of Common Pathway:

    • Since (C) is unwilling to negotiate, you can file a suit for partition or adjustment to:

      • Exchange the common pathway land with your rightful 260 sq. ft. (requires court approval).
      • Present both deeds and maps as evidence to justify the fairness of your request.

  4. Action Plan:


    • Step 1: File a complaint with local revenue authorities to demarcate your 260 sq. ft. land and resolve boundary disputes.

    • Step 2: File a civil suit for possession or an easement claim in the district court if the revenue department does not act.

  5. Legal Considerations:

    • The original documents of (A) are missing, but possession and historical use support your claim.
    • The court will consider fairness and practicality for granting access to the main road.

For detailed, personalized advice, consider a phone consultancy.
Hope you find the information helpful. You are free to contact me for further discussion. If you could spare two minutes to write a review, it would be really grateful and very happy to read it.

Thank you.
Shubham Goyal

Shubham Goyal
Advocate, Delhi
2136 Answers
16 Consultations

first of all it would be better if there was some map or drawing of the land with the structures to understand your query better

in my view your title is not perfect and clear

there is no paper work so it will be very difficult

also the sale deed which you does not have the original owner or his heirs as vendors

however you can plead hiba or oral gift which is permissible in Muslim

however for that you will have to seek a declaration from Court by filing a declaratory suit

for the access road also you will have to file a suit if the matter is not being resolved amicably 

Yusuf Rampurawala
Advocate, Mumbai
7904 Answers
79 Consultations

Dear Client,Your facts state that title to the 1350 sqft plot appears well-established in your name, as you have been in possession for over 10 years and your family has been occupying the land for 70 years. Long-standing possession will give you more leeway under adverse possession laws. But, for the sake of prevention and for the sake of clearness of record, it would be well-advised to get the mutation of the land done in the name of your wife. The pathway of 260 sqft has been demarcated as a separate pathway in the revenue map but it has been obstructed by the boundary wall of (C). You can bring a suit for declaration and injunction to recover it. This would contain evidence of ownership, which means a sale deed and revenue map, along with further assertion of your rights over your property as pertaining to easement. You could then further propose that the settlement be made out-of-court wherein your right over the common pathway shall be traded in for an exclusive right to hold possession over the 260 sqft of land; hence, it shall satisfy the need on both sides. You would engage a local property lawyer who files all the necessary suits and pleads a hard legal case. Once filed, such actions will help to put forward your rights and gain lawful direct access to your property.

Hope that this helps you to solve your problem.

Anik Miu
Advocate, Bangalore
11023 Answers
125 Consultations

You can file suit to set aside gift deed 

 

affidavit can help your case 

Ajay Sethi
Advocate, Mumbai
99877 Answers
8150 Consultations

Dear Client, You would be able to challenge the gift deed made between A and C; it will depend a lot upon the legal grounds for the same. For instance, one can always make the argument for fraud, undue influence, coercion, or violation of your grandfather B's rights as a legal heir. Since the deed is stamped properly, registered and witnessed, anything to the contrary makes it quite credible legally. Provided that you can prove that your grandfather had a valid interest in the property or that the deed was executed by him without free will, the Court will entertain your challenge. As a general rule, it is very hard to break a gift deed or hiba, unless there is a specific ground of revocation such as fraud or want of free consent. You may try to argue that the 2002 affidavit by A to intend to share out part of the property to the other cousin represents a repugnant intention, but it cannot be automatically said to vitiate the deed of gift. Considering that your primary interest is to get a personal pathway for privacy and access, it would be in your best interest to try to arrive at an amicable settlement with C for an easement or right of way. If the negotiations break down, you can apply for legal remedy under the provisions of easement laws to create a pathway without, necessarily, annulling the deed.

Hope you find this answer beneficial for resolving the dispute. 

 

Anik Miu
Advocate, Bangalore
11023 Answers
125 Consultations

1. You can challenge the gift deed only when it is produced before court and the opponent is relying upon it, you can then claim it's validity because it was not acted upon till this date and it is barred by limitation.

2. If the gift deed was not accepted or acted upon then, you can challenge it when produced.

3. What do you mean by breaking the gift deed and what is the contents of affidavit and how it is authentic?

4. You can file the suit accordingly.

T Kalaiselvan
Advocate, Vellore
90079 Answers
2501 Consultations

  1. Can You Challenge the Gift Deed?

    • Yes, you can challenge the gift deed if:

      • You can prove that your grandfather (B) had rights to a share in the property, which were ignored during the execution of the gift deed.
      • The deed is fraudulent or made under undue influence.
      • A valid legal interest of your grandfather or your family is affected by the gift.

    • However, since the deed is stamped, registered, and witnessed, the burden of proof lies heavily on you.

  2. Can the Gift Deed Be Broken (Hiba)?

    • A gift deed (Hiba) can be revoked in certain cases, such as:

      • Fraud, coercion, or undue influence during its execution.
      • If the donor retained rights to revoke the gift.

    • If none of these conditions apply, breaking the deed may not be straightforward.

  3. Can the 2002 Affidavit Help?

    • The affidavit can be used to:

      • Highlight inconsistencies or favoritism in the gift deed.
      • Argue that (A) intended to distribute land to other family members, including your grandfather.
      • It may not nullify the gift deed directly but can strengthen your case for claiming a pathway or another equitable solution.

  4. How to Secure the Pathway Without Breaking the Gift Deed?

    • File a suit for easement rights or partition adjustment:

      • Claim a right to access the pathway as it is essential for reaching your property.
      • Propose to exchange part of your common land for the 260 sq. ft. blocked by (C).

    • Present your case for privacy and practicality while respecting the existing gift deed.

Action Plan

  1. Attempt Negotiation:

    • Even if (C) refuses, document your efforts to resolve the matter amicably.

  2. File a Civil Suit:

    • File for possession or easement rights over the pathway based on necessity and fairness.
    • Use the affidavit, sale deed, and revenue maps as supporting evidence.

  3. Focus on Pathway Resolution:

    • Avoid challenging the entire gift deed unless absolutely necessary. Courts may prefer equitable solutions (like granting access) over overturning a registered document.

For detailed, personalized advice, consider a phone consultancy. Hope you find the information helpful. You are free to contact me for further discussion. If you could spare two minutes of your time to write a review, it would be greatly appreciated and bring immense happiness to read it. Thank you.

Shubham Goyal.

Shubham Goyal
Advocate, Delhi
2136 Answers
16 Consultations

Yes it’s legal you can take the entry if not allowed filing suit in civil court is only way 

Prashant Nayak
Advocate, Mumbai
34590 Answers
249 Consultations

If you want proper permission then you may have to comply with the rules and regulations in this regard. 

You may first apply for the same,  if on inspection by the authorities find the said deviation then you may look for paying penalty for regularising the illegal deviation. 

T Kalaiselvan
Advocate, Vellore
90079 Answers
2501 Consultations

Consult a local architect

 

make an application to the municipal corporation for construction of building on your plot.

 

You have to meet the fire safety guidelines.

Ajay Sethi
Advocate, Mumbai
99877 Answers
8150 Consultations

Hello Amaar,

Dealing with property and land disputes involving multiple parties and unclear historical transactions can be complex. Based on your description, here are some suggestions and legal avenues you could consider:

  1. Challenge the Gift Deed: Since the gift deed was made without your grandfather’s involvement and it impacts his (and by extension your) rights, you may challenge it in court if you can prove any legal grounds such as:

    • Undue influence or fraud.
    • The existence of a verbal agreement that provided rights to your grandfather.
    • Any rights that might have been traditionally recognized among the family members despite not being documented.

  2. Easement Rights: Given the situation with the pathway, you can file for easement rights. Easement rights would allow you legal access through the pathway that has been historically used to access your property. If the common pathway is crucial for access to your house and there's documented or undisputed use over a long period, the court might grant you this right.

  3. Partition or Adjustment: If the direct negotiation is not feasible due to the other party’s unwillingness to cooperate, a legal suit for partition or an adjustment of the land might be necessary. You can propose in court that the existing common pathway be legally designated, or swapped for a portion of your land that provides direct access to the main gate, aligning with practical usage and historical access patterns.

  4. Using the 2002 Affidavit: This affidavit can serve to demonstrate the intent of (A) regarding the land distribution among family members. It may not directly challenge the gift deed but could support your claim to an equitable solution, such as securing the necessary pathway.

  5. Legal Proceedings: Initiate legal proceedings focusing on:

    • Demonstrating the necessity and historical precedent for the pathway.
    • Proposing a practical and fair reorganization of land use that respects legal documents but also historical family arrangements.

To move forward legally, it would be advisable to consult with a lawyer who specializes in property law. The lawyer can help you gather all necessary documents, such as the sale deed, the gift deed, the 2002 affidavit, and any other evidence of verbal agreements or long-standing family arrangements. They can then represent you in negotiations or in court to resolve these issues.

For detailed, personalized advice, consider a phone consultancy. Hope you find the information helpful. You are free to contact me for further discussion. If you could spare two minutes of your time to write a review, it would be greatly appreciated and bring immense happiness to read it. Thank you. Shubham Goyal.

Shubham Goyal
Advocate, Delhi
2136 Answers
16 Consultations

You need to apply for the same in the available regulations no other way. Take permission only if mandatorily required 

Prashant Nayak
Advocate, Mumbai
34590 Answers
249 Consultations

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