ADVERSE POSSESSION In Saroop Singh v. Banto & Ors. [(2005) S!! ""0#$ !

o%rt h&'( ) In t&r*s o+ Arti,'& -5 th& starting point o+ 'i*itation (o&s not ,o**&n,& +ro* th& (at& .h&n th& right o+ o.n&rship aris&s to th& p'ainti++ /%t ,o**&n,&s +ro* th& (at& th& (&+&n(ant s poss&ssion /&,o*&s a(v&rs&. Ani*%s possi(&n(i is on& o+ th& ingr&(i&nts o+ a(v&rs& poss&ssion. 0n'&ss th& p&rson poss&ssing th& 'an( has a r&1%isit& ani*%s th& p&rio( +or pr&s,ription (o&s not ,o**&n,&. As in th& instant ,as&$ th& app&''ant ,at&gori,a''2 stat&s that his poss&ssion is not a(v&rs& as that o+ tr%& o.n&r$ th& 'ogi,a' ,oro''ar2 is that h& (i( not hav& th& r&1%isit& ani*%s. 3. An4anappa & Ors. v. So*a'ingappa & Anr. [(200-) 5 S!! 550#$ stating ) 6It is .&''7r&,ognis&( proposition in 'a. that *&r& poss&ssion ho.&v&r 'ong (o&s not n&,&ssari'2 *&an that it is a(v&rs& to th& tr%& o.n&r. A(v&rs& poss&ssion r&a''2 *&ans th& hosti'& poss&ssion .hi,h is &8pr&ss'2 or i*p'i&('2 in (&nia' o+ tit'& o+ th& tr%& o.n&r an( in or(&r to ,onstit%t& a(v&rs& poss&ssion th& poss&ssion prov&( *%st /& a(&1%at& in ,ontin%it2$ in p%/'i,it2 an( in &8t&nt so as to sho. that it is a(v&rs& to th& tr%& o.n&r. 3h& ,'assi,a' r&1%ir&*&nts o+ a,1%isition o+ tit'& /2 a(v&rs& poss&ssion ar& that s%,h poss&ssion in (&nia' o+ th& tr%& o.n&r9s tit'& *%st /& p&a,&+%'$ op&n an( ,ontin%o%s. 3h& poss&ssion *%st /& op&n an( hosti'& &no%gh to /& ,apa/'& o+ /&ing :no.n /2 th& parti&s int&r&st&( in th& prop&rt2$ tho%gh it is not n&,&ssar2 that th&r& sho%'( /& &vi(&n,& o+ th& a(v&rs& poss&ssor a,t%a''2 in+or*ing th& r&a' o.n&r o+ th& +or*&r s hosti'& a,tion.; <&t r&,&nt'2$ in P.3. =%ni,hi::anna R&((2 & Ors. v. R&va**a & Ors. [(2005) - S!! 5>#$ !o%rt noti,&( th& r&,&nt (&v&'op*&nt

o+ 'a. in oth&r 4%ris(i,tion in th& ,ont&8t o+ prop&rt2 as a h%*an right to opin& ) 63h&r&+or&$ it .i'' hav& to /& :&pt in *in( th& ,o%rts aro%n( th& .or'( ar& ta:ing an %n:in( vi&. to.ar(s stat%t&s o+ 'i*itation ov&rri(ing prop&rt2 rights.; =. D%rai v. =%th% & Ors. [(2005) " S!! ??@#$ noti,&( th& ,hang&s /ro%ght a/o%t /2 Ai*itation A,t$ ?>-"$ vis7a7vis$ o'( Ai*itation A,t$ ho'(ing ) 63h& ,hang& in th& position in 'a. as r&gar(s th& /%r(&n o+ proo+ as .as o/taining in th& Ai*itation A,t$ ?>0 vis7a7vis th& Ai*itation A,t$ ?>-" is &vi(&nt. Bh&r&as in t&r*s o+ Arti,'&s ?@2 an( ?@@ o+ th& o'( Ai*itation A,t$ th& p'ainti++ .as /o%n( to prov& his tit'& as a'so poss&ssion .ithin t.&'v& 2&ars pr&,&(ing th& (at& o+ instit%tion o+ th& s%it %n(&r th& Ai*itation A,t$ ?>-"$ on,& th& p'ainti++ prov&s his tit'&$ th& /%r(&n shi+ts to th& (&+&n(ant to &sta/'ish that h& has p&r+&,t&( his tit'& /2 a(v&rs& poss&ssion.; AIR 200 S! "@- Anna:i'i vs A. V&(ana2aga* & Ors !'ai* /2 a(v&rs& poss&ssion has t.o &'&*&nts ) (?) th& poss&ssion o+ th& (&+&n(ant sho%'( /&,o*& a(v&rs& to th& p'ainti++C an( (2) th& (&+&n(ant *%st ,ontin%& to r&*ain in poss&ssion +or a p&rio( o+ ?2 2&ars th&r&a+t&r. Ani*%s possi(&n(i as is .&'' :no.n is a r&1%isit& ingr&(i&nt o+ a(v&rs& poss&ssion. It is no. a .&'' s&tt'&( prin,ip'& o+ 'a. that *&r& poss&ssion o+ th& 'an( .o%'( not rip&n into poss&ssor2 tit'& +or th& sai( p%rpos&. Poss&ssor *%st hav& ani*%s possi(&n(i an( ho'( th& 'an( a(v&rs& to th& tit'& o+ th& tr%& o.n&r. Dor th& sai( p%rpos&$ not on'2 ani*%s possi(&n(i *%st /& sho.n to &8ist$ /%t th& sa*& *%st /& sho.n to &8ist at th& ,o**&n,&*&nt o+ th& poss&ssion. E& *%st ,ontin%& in sai( ,apa,it2 +or th& p&rio( pr&s,ri/&( %n(&r th& Ai*itation A,t. =&r& 'ong poss&ssion +or a p&rio( o+ *or& than

?2 2&ars .itho%t an2thing *or& (o not rip&n into a tit'&. AIR 2005 S! ?55" P.3. =%ni,hi::anna R&((2 & Ors VS R&va**a an( Ors !EARA!3ERIFING ADVERSE POSSESSION A(v&rs& poss&ssion in on& s&ns& is /as&( on th& th&or2 or pr&s%*ption that th& o.n&r has a/an(on&( th& prop&rt2 to th& a(v&rs& poss&ssor or on th& a,1%i&s,&n,& o+ th& o.n&r to th& hosti'& a,ts an( ,'ai*s o+ th& p&rson in poss&ssion. It +o''o.s that so%n( 1%a'iti&s o+ a t2pi,a' a(v&rs& poss&ssion 'i& in it /&ing op&n$ ,ontin%o%s an( hosti'&. A(v&rs& Poss&ssion is a right .hi,h ,o*&s into p'a2 not 4%st /&,a%s& so*&on& 'os&s high right to r&,'ai* th& prop&rt2 o%t o+ ,ontin%o%s an( .i''+%' n&g'&,t /%t a'so on a,,o%nt o+ poss&ssorHs positiv& int&nt to (isposs&ss. 3h&r&+or&$ it is i*portant to ta:& into a,,o%nt /&+or& stripping so*&/o(2 o+ his 'a.+%' tit'&$ .h&th&r th&r& is an a(v&rs& poss&ssor .orth2 an( &8hi/iting *or& %rg&nt an( g&n%in& (&sir& to (isposs&ss an( st&p into th& sho&s o+ th& pap&r o.n&r o+ th& prop&rt2. E++i,a,2 o+ a(v&rs& poss&ssion 'a. in *ost 4%ris(i,tions (&p&n( on strong 'i*itation stat%t&s /2 op&ration o+ .hi,h right to a,,&ss th& ,o%rt &8pir&s thro%gh &++'%8ion o+ ti*&. As against rights o+ th& pap&r7o.n&r$ in th& ,ont&8t o+ a(v&rs& poss&ssion$ th&r& &vo'v&s a s&t o+ ,o*p&ting rights in +avo%r o+ th& a(v&rs& poss&ssor .ho has$ +or a 'ong p&rio( o+ ti*&$ ,ar&( +or th& 'an($ (&v&'op&( it$ as against th& o.n&r o+ th& prop&rt2 .ho has ignor&( th& prop&rt2. =o(&rn stat%t&s o+ 'i*itation op&rat&$ as a r%'&$ not on'2 to ,%t o++ on&Hs right to /ring an a,tion +or th& r&,ov&r2 o+ prop&rt2 that has /&&n in th& a(v&rs& poss&ssion o+ anoth&r +or a sp&,i+i&( ti*&$ /%t a'so to v&st th& poss&ssor .ith

tit'&. 3h& int&ntion o+ s%,h stat%t&s is not to p%nish on& .ho n&g'&,ts to ass&rt rights$ /%t to prot&,t thos& .ho hav& *aintain&( th& poss&ssion o+ prop&rt2 +or th& ti*& sp&,i+i&( /2 th& stat%t& %n(&r ,'ai* o+ right or ,o'or o+ tit'&. In si*i'ar ,ir,%*stan,&s$ in th& ,as& o+ 3ha:%r Iishan Singh ((&a() v. Arvin( I%*ar [(?>>@) - S!! 5>?# S%pr&*& ,o%rt h&'() JAs r&gar(s a(v&rs& poss&ssion$ it .as not (isp%t&( &v&n /2 th& tria' ,o%rt that th& app&''ant &nt&r&( into poss&ssion ov&r th& 'an( in (isp%t& %n(&r a 'i,&n,& +ro* th& r&spon(&nt +or p%rpos&s o+ /ri,:7:i'n. 3h& poss&ssion th%s initia''2 /&ing p&r*issiv&$ th& /%r(&n .as h&av2 on th& app&''ant to &sta/'ish that it /&,a*& a(v&rs&. A poss&ssion o+ a ,o7o.n&r or o+ a 'i,&n,&& or o+ an ag&nt or a p&r*issiv& poss&ssion to /&,o*& a(v&rs& *%st /& &sta/'ish&( /2 ,og&nt an( ,onvin,ing &vi(&n,& to sho. hosti'& ani*%s an( poss&ssion a(v&rs& to th& :no.'&(g& o+ r&a' o.n&r. =&r& poss&ssion +or ho.so&v&r '&ngth o+ ti*& (o&s not r&s%'t in ,onv&rting th& p&r*issi/'& poss&ssion into a(v&rs& poss&ssion. Apart +ro* it$ th& App&''at& !o%rt has gon& into (&tai' an( a+t&r ,onsi(&ring th& &vi(&n,& on r&,or( +o%n( it as a +a,t that th& poss&ssion o+ th& app&''ant .as not a(v&rs&.J A p&a,&+%'$ op&n an( ,ontin%o%s poss&ssion as &ngrav&( in th& *a8i* n&, vi$ n&, ,'a*$ n&, pr&,ario has /&&n noti,&( /2 S%pr&*& !o%rt in Iarnata:a Boar( o+ Ba:+ v. Gov&rn*&nt o+ In(ia an( Oth&rs [(200@) ?0 S!! 55># in th& +o''o.ing t&r*s) JPh2si,a' +a,t o+ &8,'%siv& poss&ssion an( th& ani*%s possi(&n(i to ho'( as o.n&r in &8,'%sion to th& a,t%a' o.n&r ar& th& *ost i*portant +a,tors that ar& to /& a,,o%nt&( in ,as&s o+ this nat%r&. P'&a o+ a(v&rs& poss&ssion is not a p%r& 1%&stion o+ 'a. /%t a /'&n(&( on& o+ +a,t an( 'a.. 3h&r&+or&$ a p&rson .ho

,'ai*s a(v&rs& poss&ssion sho%'( sho.) (a) on .hat (at& h& ,a*& into poss&ssion$ (/) .hat .as th& nat%r& o+ his poss&ssion$ (,) .h&th&r th& +a,t%* o+ poss&ssion .as :no.n to th& oth&r part2$ (() ho. 'ong his poss&ssion has ,ontin%&($ an( (&) his poss&ssion .as op&n an( %n(ist%r/&(. A p&rson p'&a(ing a(v&rs& poss&ssion has no &1%iti&s in his +avo%r. Sin,& h& is tr2ing to (&+&at th& rights o+ th& tr%& o.n&r$ it is +or hi* to ,'&ar'2 p'&a( an( &sta/'ish a'' +a,ts n&,&ssar2 to &sta/'ish his a(v&rs& poss&ssionJ In Narn& Ra*a =%rth2 v. Rav%'a So*as%n(ara* an( Oth&rs [(2005) - S!! -?@#$ S%pr&*& !o%rt h&'() JEo.&v&r$ in ,as&s .h&r& th& 1%&stion o+ 'i*itation is a *i8&( 1%&stion o+ +a,t an( 'a. an( th& s%it (o&s not app&ar to /& /arr&( /2 'i*itation on th& +a,& o+ it$ th&n th& +a,ts n&,&ssar2 to prov& 'i*itation *%st /& p'&a(&($ an iss%& rais&( an( th&n prov&(. In this ,as& th& 1%&stion o+ 'i*itation is intri,at&'2 'in:&( .ith th& 1%&stion .h&th&r th& agr&&*&nt to s&'' .as &nt&r&( into on /&ha'+ o+ a'' an( .h&th&r poss&ssion .as on /&ha'+ o+ a''. It is a'so 'in:&( .ith th& p'&a o+ a(v&rs& poss&ssion. On,& on +a,ts it has /&&n +o%n( that th& p%r,has& .as on /&ha'+ o+ a'' an( that th& poss&ssion .as on /&ha'+ o+ a''$ th&n$ in th& a/s&n,& o+ an2 op&n$ hosti'& an( ov&rt a,t$ th&r& ,an /& no a(v&rs& poss&ssion an( th& s%it .o%'( a'so not /& /arr&( /2 'i*itation. 3h& on'2 hosti'& a,t .hi,h ,o%'( /& sho.n .as th& a(v&rtis&*&nt iss%&( in ?> >. 3h& s%it +i'&( a'*ost i**&(iat&'2 th&r&a+t&r.J In Iarnata:a Ba:+ Boar($ th& 'a. .as stat&($ th%s) JIn th& &2& o+ 'a.$ an o.n&r .o%'( /& (&&*&( to /& in poss&ssion o+ a

prop&rt2 so 'ong as th&r& is no intr%sion. Non7%s& o+ th& prop&rt2 /2 th& o.n&r &v&n +or a 'ong ti*& .onHt a++&,t his tit'&. B%t th& position .i'' /& a't&r&( .h&n anoth&r p&rson ta:&s poss&ssion o+ th& prop&rt2 an( ass&rts a right ov&r it. A(v&rs& poss&ssion is a hosti'& poss&ssion /2 ,'&ar'2 ass&rting hosti'& tit'& in (&nia' o+ th& tit'& o+ tr%& o.n&r. It is a .&''7 s&tt'&( prin,ip'& that a part2 ,'ai*ing a(v&rs& poss&ssion *%st prov& that his poss&ssion is Hn&, vi$ n&, ,'a*$ n&, pr&,arioH$ that is$ p&a,&+%'$ op&n an( ,ontin%o%s. 3h& poss&ssion *%st /& a(&1%at& in ,ontin%it2$ in p%/'i,it2 an( in &8t&nt to sho. that th&ir poss&ssion is a(v&rs& to th& tr%& o.n&r. It *%st start .ith a .rong+%' (isposition o+ th& right+%' o.n&r an( /& a,t%a'$ visi/'&$ &8,'%siv&$ hosti'& an( ,ontin%&( ov&r th& stat%tor2 p&rio(. Ph2si,a' +a,t o+ &8,'%siv& poss&ssion an( th& ani*%s possi(&n(i to ho'( as o.n&r in &8,'%sion to th& a,t%a' o.n&r ar& th& *ost i*portant +a,tors that ar& to /& a,,o%nt&( in ,as&s o+ this nat%r&. P'&a o+ a(v&rs& poss&ssion is not a p%r& 1%&stion o+ 'a. /%t a /'&n(&( on& o+ +a,t an( 'a.. 3h&r&+or&$ a p&rson .ho ,'ai*s a(v&rs& poss&ssion sho%'( sho. (a) on .hat (at& h& ,a*& into poss&ssion$ (/) .hat .as th& nat%r& o+ his poss&ssion$ (,) .h&th&r th& +a,t%* o+ poss&ssion .as :no.n to th& oth&r part2$ (() ho. 'ong his poss&ssion has ,ontin%&($ an( (&) his poss&ssion .as op&n an( %n(ist%r/&(. A p&rson p'&a(ing a(v&rs& poss&ssion has no &1%iti&s in his +avo%r. Sin,& h& is tr2ing to (&+&at th& rights o+ tr%& o.n&r$ it is +or hi* to ,'&ar'2 p'&a( an( &sta/'ish a'' +a,ts n&,&ssar2 to &sta/'ish his a(v&rs& poss&ssion.J An o/s&rvation has /&&n *a(& in this r&gar( in S.=. Iari* v. =st. Bi/i Sa:ina [AIR ?>-@ S! ?25@#) JA(v&rs& poss&ssion *%st /& a(&1%at& in ,ontin%it2$ in p%/'i,it2 an( &8t&nt an( a p'&a

is r&1%ir&( at th& '&ast to sho. .h&n poss&ssion /&,o*&s a(v&rs& so that th& starting point o+ 'i*itation against th& part2 a++&,t&( ,an /& +o%n(. 3h&r& is no &vi(&n,& h&r& .h&n poss&ssion /&,a*& a(v&rs&$ i+ it at a'' (i($ an( a *&r& s%gg&stion in th& r&'i&+ ,'a%s& that th&r& .as an %nint&rr%pt&( poss&ssion +or Js&v&ra' ?2 2&arsJ or that th& p'ainti++ ha( a,1%ir&( Jan a/so'%t& tit'&J .as not &no%gh to rais& s%,h a p'&a. Aong poss&ssion is not n&,&ssari'2 a(v&rs& poss&ssion an( th& pra2&r ,'a%s& is not a s%/stit%t& +or a p'&a.J An4anappa an( Oth&rs v. So*a'ingappa an( Anoth&r [(200-) 5 S!! 550#$ .h&r&in it .as opin&( ) J3h& Eigh !o%rt has &rr&( in ho'(ing that &v&n i+ th& (&+&n(ants ,'ai* a(v&rs& poss&ssion$ th&2 (o not hav& to prov& .ho is th& tr%& o.n&r an( &v&n i+ th&2 ha( /&'i&v&( that th& Gov&rn*&nt .as th& tr%& o.n&r an( not th& p'ainti++s$ th& sa*& .as in,ons&1%&ntia'. O/vio%s'2$ th& r&1%ir&*&nts o+ proving a(v&rs& poss&ssion hav& not /&&n &sta/'ish&(. I+ th& (&+&n(ants ar& not s%r& .ho is th& tr%& o.n&r th& 1%&stion o+ th&ir /&ing in hosti'& poss&ssion an( th& 1%&stion o+ (&n2ing tit'& o+ th& tr%& o.n&r (o not aris&. A/ov& /&ing th& position th& Eigh !o%rtHs 4%(g*&nt is ,'&ar'2 %ns%staina/'&J !hatti Ionati Rao & Ors. vs Pa''& V&n:ata S%//a Rao on 5 D&,&*/&r$ 20?0 B&n,h) K0S3I!E EARKI3 SINGE BEDI$ K0S3I!E !EANDRA=A0AI IR. PRASAD In th& ,as& o+ 3. An4anappa v. So*a'ingappa (200-) 5 S!! 550$ it has /&&n h&'( that *&r& poss&ssion ho.&v&r 'ong (o&s not n&,&ssari'2 *&an that it is a(v&rs& to th& tr%& o.n&r an( th& ,'assi,a' r&1%ir&*&nt o+ a,1%isition o+ tit'& /2 a(v&rs& poss&ssion is that s%,h poss&ssions ar& in (&nia' o+ th& tr%& o.n&rHs tit'&. R&'&vant passag& o+ th& a+or&sai( 4%(g*&nt r&a(s

as +o''o.s ) J20. It is .&''7r&,ognis&( proposition in 'a. that *&r& poss&ssion ho.&v&r 'ong (o&s not n&,&ssari'2 *&an that it is a(v&rs& to th& tr%& o.n&r. A(v&rs& poss&ssion r&a''2 *&ans th& hosti'& poss&ssion .hi,h is &8pr&ss'2 or i*p'i&('2 in (&nia' o+ tit'& o+ th& tr%& o.n&r an( in or(&r to ,onstit%t& a(v&rs& poss&ssion th& poss&ssion prov&( *%st /& a(&1%at& in ,ontin%it2$ in p%/'i,it2 an( in &8t&nt so as to sho. that it is a(v&rs& to th& tr%& o.n&r. 3h& ,'assi,a' r&1%ir&*&nts o+ a,1%isition o+ tit'& /2 a(v&rs& poss&ssion ar& that s%,h poss&ssion in (&nia' o+ th& tr%& o.n&rHs tit'& *%st /& p&a,&+%'$ op&n an( ,ontin%o%s. 3h& poss&ssion *%st /& op&n an( hosti'& &no%gh to /& ,apa/'& o+ /&ing :no.n /2 th& parti&s int&r&st&( in th& prop&rt2$ tho%gh it is not n&,&ssar2 that th&r& sho%'( /& &vi(&n,& o+ th& a(v&rs& poss&ssor a,t%a''2 in+or*ing th& r&a' o.n&r o+ th& +or*&rHs hosti'& a,tion.J Bhat +a,ts ar& r&1%ir&( to prov& a(v&rs& poss&ssion hav& s%,,in,t'2 /&&n &n%n,iat&( /2 this !o%rt in th& ,as& o+ Iarnata:a Boar( o+ Ba:+ vs. Gov&rn*&nt o+ In(ia an( Ors. (200@) ?0 S!! 55>. It has a'so /&&n o/s&rv&( that a p&rson p'&a(ing a(v&rs& poss&ssion has no &1%iti&s in his +avo%r an( sin,& s%,h a p&rson is tr2ing to (&+&at th& rights o+ th& tr%& o.n&r$ it is +or hi* to ,'&ar'2 p'&a( an( &sta/'ish n&,&ssar2 +a,ts to &sta/'ish his a(v&rs& poss&ssion. Paragraph ?? o+ th& 4%(g*&nt .hi,h is r&'&vant +or th& p%rpos& r&a(s as +o''o.s ) J??. In th& &2& o+ th& 'a.$ an o.n&r .o%'( /& (&&*&( to /& in poss&ssion o+ a prop&rt2 so 'ong as th&r& is no intr%sion. Non7 %s& o+ th& prop&rt2 /2 th& o.n&r &v&n +or a 'ong ti*& .onHt a++&,t his tit'&. B%t th& position .i'' /& a't&r&( .h&n anoth&r p&rson ta:&s poss&ssion o+ th& prop&rt2 an( ass&rts a right ov&r it. A(v&rs& poss&ssion is a hosti'& poss&ssion /2 ,'&ar'2 ass&rting

hosti'& tit'& in (&nia' o+ th& tit'& o+ th& tr%& o.n&r. It is a .&''7 s&tt'&( prin,ip'& that a part2 ,'ai*ing a(v&rs& poss&ssion *%st prov& that his poss&ssion is Jn&, vi$ n&, ,'a*$ n&, pr&,arioJ$ that is$ p&a,&+%'$ op&n an( ,ontin%o%s. 3h& poss&ssion *%st /& a(&1%at& in ,ontin%it2$ in p%/'i,it2 an( in &8t&nt to sho. that th&ir poss&ssion is a(v&rs& to th& tr%& o.n&r. It *%st start .ith a .rong+%' (isposition o+ th& right+%' o.n&r an( /& a,t%a'$ visi/'&$ &8,'%siv&$ hosti'& an( ,ontin%&( ov&r th& stat%tor2 p&rio(. Ph2si,a' +a,t o+ &8,'%siv& poss&ssion an( th& ani*%s possi(&n(i to ho'( as o.n&r in &8,'%sion to th& a,t%a' o.n&r ar& th& *ost i*portant +a,tors that ar& to /& a,,o%nt&( in ,as&s o+ this nat%r&. P'&a o+ a(v&rs& poss&ssion is not a p%r& 1%&stion o+ 'a. /%t a /'&n(&( on& o+ +a,t an( 'a.. 3h&r&+or&$ a p&rson .ho ,'ai*s a(v&rs& poss&ssion sho%'( sho.) (a) on .hat (at& h& ,a*& into poss&ssion$ (/) .hat .as th& nat%r& o+ his poss&ssion$ (,) .h&th&r th& +a,t%* o+ poss&ssion .as :no.n to th& oth&r part2$ (() ho. 'ong his poss&ssion has ,ontin%&($ an( (&) his poss&ssion .as op&n an( %n(ist%r/&(. A p&rson p'&a(ing a(v&rs& poss&ssion has no &1%iti&s in his +avo%r. Sin,& h& is tr2ing to (&+&at th& rights o+ th& tr%& o.n&r$ it is +or hi* to ,'&ar'2 p'&a( an( &sta/'ish a'' +a,ts n&,&ssar2 to &sta/'ish his a(v&rs& poss&ssion. In vi&. o+ th& s&v&ra' a%thoriti&s o+ this !o%rt$ +&. .h&r&o+ hav& /&&n r&+&rr&( a/ov&$ .hat ,an sa+&'2 /& sai( that *&r& poss&ssion ho.&v&r 'ong (o&s not n&,&ssari'2 *&an that it is a(v&rs& to th& tr%& o.n&r. It *&ans hosti'& poss&ssion .hi,h is &8pr&ss'2 or i*p'i&('2 in (&nia' o+ th& tit'& o+ th& tr%& o.n&r an( in or(&r to ,onstit%t& a(v&rs& poss&ssion th& poss&ssion *%st /& a(&1%at& in ,ontin%it2$ in p%/'i,it2 an( in &8t&nt so as to sho.

that it is a(v&rs& to th& tr%& o.n&r. 3h& poss&ssion *%st /& op&n an( hosti'& &no%gh so that it is :no.n /2 th& parti&s int&r&st&( in th& prop&rt2. 3h& p'ainti++ is /o%n( to prov& his tit'& as a'so poss&ssion .ithin ?2 2&ars an( on,& th& p'ainti++ prov&s his tit'&$ th& /%r(&n shi+ts on th& (&+&n(ant to &sta/'ish that h& has p&r+&,t&( his tit'& /2 a(v&rs& poss&ssion. !'ai* /2 a(v&rs& poss&ssion has t.o /asi, &'&*&nts i.&. th& poss&ssion o+ th& (&+&n(ant sho%'( /& a(v&rs& to th& p'ainti++ an( th& (&+&n(ant *%st ,ontin%& to r&*ain in poss&ssion +or a p&rio( o+ ?2 2&ars th&r&a+t&r. Ani*%s possi(&n(i as is .&'' :no.n a r&1%isit& ingr&(i&nt o+ a(v&rs& poss&ssion. =&r& poss&ssion (o&s not rip&n into poss&ssor2 tit'& %nti' poss&ssor ho'(s prop&rt2 a(v&rs& to th& tit'& o+ th& tr%& o.n&r +or th& sai( p%rpos&. 3h& p&rson .ho ,'ai*s a(v&rs& poss&ssion is r&1%ir&( to &sta/'ish th& (at& on .hi,h h& ,a*& in poss&ssion$ nat%r& o+ poss&ssion$ th& +a,t%* o+ poss&ssion$ :no.'&(g& to th& tr%& o.n&r$ (%ration o+ poss&ssion an( poss&ssion .as op&n an( %n(ist%r/&(. A p&rson p'&a(ing a(v&rs& poss&ssion has no &1%iti&s in his +avo%r as h& is tr2ing to (&+&at th& rights o+ th& tr%& o.n&r an($ h&n,&$ it is +or hi* to ,'&ar'2 p'&a( an( &sta/'ish a'' +a,ts n&,&ssar2 to &sta/'ish a(v&rs& poss&ssion. 3h& ,o%rts a'.a2s ta:& %n:in( vi&. to.ar(s stat%t&s o+ 'i*itation ov&rri(ing prop&rt2 rights. P'&a o+ a(v&rs& poss&ssion is not a p%r& 1%&stion o+ 'a. /%t a /'&n(&( on& o+ +a,t an( 'a.. In a ,as& /&+or& S%pr&*& !o%rt Vi(2a D&vi vs Pr&* Pra:ash AIR ?>>5 S! ?5 >$ B2 r&+&rring to +o''o.ing ,itations th& point is ,'ari+i&( 6In Iar/a'i B&g%* Vs. =oh( Sa2&&( (AIR ?> ? S! 55)$ it .as h&'( that a ,o7shar&r in poss&ssion o+ th& prop&rt2 .o%'( /& a ,onstr%,tiv& tr%st&& on /&ha'+ o+ oth&r ,o7shar&r .ho

is not in poss&ssion an( th& right o+ s%,h ,o7shar&r .o%'( /& (&&*&( to /& prot&,t&( /2 th& tr%st&& ,o7shar&r. !&rtain o/s&rvations o+ th& Priv2 !o%n,i' in !o&ra Vs. App%ha*2 (AIR ?>?@ P! 2@"$ 2@572@-) *a2 /& 1%ot&( /&'o.)7 JEnt&ring into poss&ssion an( having a 'a.+%' tit'& to &nt&r$ h& ,o%'( not (iv&st hi*s&'+ o+ that tit'& /2 pr&t&n(ing that h& ha( no tit'& as a''. Eis tit'& *%st hav& &ns%r&( +or th& /&n&+it o+ his ,o7propri&tors. 3h& prin,ip'& r&,ognis&( /2 Boo($ V.!. in 3ho*as Vs. 3ho*as (? 5-) 25 AK !h ?5> (?-?)) ??0 RR ?05 ho'(s goo() LPoss&ssion is n&v&r ,onsi(&r&( a(v&rs& i+ it ,an /& r&+&rr&( to a 'a.+%' tit'&H..... Eis poss&ssion .as$ in 'a.$ th& poss&ssion o+ his ,o7 o.n&rs. It .as not possi/'& +or hi* to p%t an &n( to that poss&ssion /2 an2 s&,r&t int&ntion in his *in(. Nothing short o+ o%st&r or so*&thing &1%iva'&nt to o%st&r ,o%'( /ring a/o%t that r&s%'t.J