When the extent of property and share of parties is in dispute, a bare suit for permanent injunction is not maintainable without seeking declaration of title. In injunction suits, reference to title is limited only to test possession with semblance of right and cannot substitute a declaratory adjudication of title. Disputes between co-sharers or joint family members regarding extent of property necessarily require declaration of title. Failure of courts below to examine maintainability of injunction suit in the presence of title dispute gives rise to substantial questions of law under Section 100 CPC. Improper appreciation of evidence by courts below itself constitutes a substantial question of law warranting admission of second appeal.

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Civil Procedure Code, 1908 — Section 100 — Second Appeal — Admission stage

Substantial question of law — Maintainability of suit for permanent injunction — Dispute relating to title and extent — Appreciation of evidence — Appeal admitted.

Where the appellant contended that:

(i) parties are in possession of different extents pursuant to an earlier partition decree and subsequent settlement by elders,
(ii) extent of property is seriously disputed, and
(iii) courts below decreed the suit for bare injunction without considering necessity of declaration of title,

the High Court held that substantial questions of law arise warranting admission of the second appeal.
(Paras 1–6)

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Suit for Permanent Injunction — Title dispute — Maintainability

Mere injunction suit — When not maintainable — Declaration of title necessary.

When dispute exists regarding:

• extent of property,
• respective shares of parties, and
• title arising from alleged joint family arrangement,

a mere suit for permanent injunction is not maintainable, and the plaintiff ought to seek declaration of title.
(Paras 2–4)

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Injunction simpliciter — Possession — Semblance of right

In a suit for permanent injunction, reference to title is permissible only to examine whether the plaintiff is in possession with semblance of right and not as an outright trespasser or encroacher.
Any party seeking adjudication of title must necessarily file a suit for declaration of title.
(Para 3)

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Joint family property — Dispute between co-sharers

Where plaintiff and defendant are step-brothers claiming enjoyment of joint family properties, and the defendant disputes the extent of plaintiff’s share, a suit for injunction alone without declaration of title is legally not maintainable.
(Para 4)

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Appreciation of evidence — Question of law

Whether the courts below properly appreciated the oral and documentary evidence on record constitutes a substantial question of law in the facts of the case.
(Para 5)

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Second Appeal — Admission

In view of the substantial questions of law arising from:

• maintainability of injunction suit,
• dispute regarding title and extent, and
• appreciation of evidence,

the Second Appeal was admitted.
(Paras 6–7)

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RATIO DECIDENDI

1. When the extent of property and share of parties is in dispute, a bare suit for permanent injunction is not maintainable without seeking declaration of title.

2. In injunction suits, reference to title is limited only to test possession with semblance of right and cannot substitute a declaratory adjudication of title.

3. Disputes between co-sharers or joint family members regarding extent of property necessarily require declaration of title.

4. Failure of courts below to examine maintainability of injunction suit in the presence of title dispute gives rise to substantial questions of law under Section 100 CPC.

5. Improper appreciation of evidence by courts below itself constitutes a substantial question of law warranting admission of second appeal.