BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT

DATED: 23.01.2018

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE A.M.BASHEER AHAMED

C.M.A(MD)No.1238 of 2017

P.Muthusay : Appellant / Petitioner

Vs.

NIL : Respondent / Respondent

PRAYER: Appeal is filed under Section 47 of the Guardian and Wards Act,
against the fair and decreetal order, dated 24.10.2017 passed in
G.W.O.P.No.11 of 2017 on the file of the Principal District Judge of Karur.

!For Petitioner : Mr.M.P.Senthil

^For Respondent:

:ORDER

This Civil Miscellaneous Appeal has been filed praying to set
aside the fair and decreetal order, dated 24.10.2017 passed in G.W.O.P.No.11
of 2017, by the learned Principal District Judge, Karur.

2. The petitioner herein is the father and natural guardian of
his two minor sons viz., Sivasubramanian born on 12.06.2000 and Sundaramurty
born on 11.12.2002, thorough his wife Ponmani. The property in Survey
No.796/1A to an extent of Hectares 0.42.0 (Acre 1.04) with a well, 2HP Motor
Pump Set and its Service Connection No.59, and also a terrace house and a
tiled house with a Service Connection No.26 is one of the 33 items of
property, which was settled by the grandfather of the said minors appointing
their father / petitioner, as guardian, under a registered Settlement Deed,
dated 25.11.2017, marked as Ex.P3. Birth Certificate of the said minor sons
/ petitioners are marked as Ex.P1 and P3 respectively. The said Settlement
Deed was acted upon and the petitioner in his capacity as the guardian of the
minor son is in enjoyment of the property. Since the petitioner is now
facing financial crisis and is unable to meet the educational expenses, the
petitioner has proposed to lease out an extent of 2550 Square Meters of
vacant land specified with boundaries to one Katturaja of Muthampatti
Village for a monthly rent which will be utilized for the benefit of the
minor sons. Hence, the petitioners filed an application under the
provisions of the Guardians and Wards Act, 1819 in G.W.O.P.No.11 of 2017,
seeking permission to lease out 2550 square meters of vacant land with
specified boundaries in Survey No.796/1A.

3. The learned Principal District Judge, Karur, dismissed the
said application after hearing in his order dated 24.10.2017 stating that
much extent of land has been settled in favour of minor sons under Ex.P3,
Settlement Deed and the petitioner could raise income engaging in
agricultural to meet meager amount of Rs.1000/- per month towards the
educational expenses of the minors and if the lease is created, it will bind
the minors for a long time and it will be difficult for them to get back the
land and the alleged requirements of the petitioner does not seems to be a
bonafide one. Aggrieved by the order of dismissal, the petitioner has
preferred the present Civil Miscellaneous Appeal before this Court, to set
aside the impugned order.

4. Perused the materials on record. Heard and considered the
arguments advanced by the counsel for the appellant.

5. Admittedly, the property to be leased out by the petitioner
belongs to minor sons of the petitioner. The minor sons are under the care
and custody of the petitioner. The petitioner is the natural guardian as
well as appointed as guardian in Ex.P3 Settlement Deed itself. The
petitioner entered a lease agreement on behalf of his minor sons, as
guardian, with one Katturaja for a period of 29 years and 11 months and the
lessee has agreed to pay the monthly rent of Rs.7500/- at first instance and
after the five years, the rent would be Rs.12500/-, and after five years the
rent would be Rs.17,500/- and after the five years, the monthly rent would be
Rs.22,500/-. The rent would be enhanced at the rate of Rs.5000/- for every
years. Only 2550 Square Meters land alone is to be leased out, which is a
vacant land.

6. The purpose for which the land in question is proposed to be
leased out is for a business of the lessee and an affidavit is also filed by
the petitioner before this Court that the lessee is ready to deposit a sum of
Rs.5,00,000/-, to the credit of G.W.O.P.No.11 of 2017 before the trial Court,
which could be invested for the benefit of the minors. The petitioner has
also agreed in his undertaking affidavit that the permission is restricted
till the attainment of majority of the minors and the minors, after attaining
majority, could ratify the lease now granted. Even express lease could be
entered thereafter.

7. This Court is also of the view that the proposed lease on the
basis of the undertaking affidavit of the petitioner and the lease agreement
is intended for the benefit of the minors and also would definitely be in the
interest of the minors. No one can assume that the same shall not be
beneficiary to the minors and there is no scope for holding that the proposed
lease by the petitioner with one Kattturaja would be detrimental to the
interest of the minors. The minors are bound to derive more benefits. The
counsel for the petitioner has not chosen to file in respect of educational
expenses incurred by minors’ education.

8. Considering the above facts and circumstances of the case and
also the proposed lease agreement and the undertaking affidavit filed by the
petitioner before this Court, this Court is inclined to set aside the
impugned order passed by the learned Principal District Judge, Karur.

9. In the result, this Civil Miscellaneous Appeal is allowed and
the impugned order, dated 24.10.2017 passed in G.W.O.P.No.11 of 2017, by the
learned Principal District Judge, Karur, is set aside. This Court grants
permission to the petitioner for the proposed lease with one Katturaja S/o.
Mookkan, residing at Muthampati, Pothuravuthanpatti Post, Krishnarayapuram
Taluk, Karur District (Aadhar No.9578 0190 8683] on the following
conditions:-

i. A sum of Rs.5,00,000/- (Rupees Five Lakh Only) should be
deposited by the lessee to the credit of G.W.O.P.No.11 of 2017, on the file
of the Principal District Court, Karur, within a period of 10 days from the
date of receipt of a copy of this order.

ii. Upon such deposit, copy of the registered lease deed
attested by the petitioner and the lessee should be filed into the said Court
within the above stipulated period.

iii. The trial Court should invest the amount of Rs.5,00,000/-
and its interest in a Nationalized Bank for the benefit of the minor sons for
a period of two years at the first instance and thereafter renewed for every
one year, until further orders from this Court.

iv. After attainment of majority of the minors, the ratification
of release deed should be obtained from the sons, who attained the majority
and the copy of the ratification deed or fresh lease deed should be filed
before the said trial Court and

v. If the appellant / petitioner fails to comply the conditions

(i) and (ii) within the stipulated time, the aforesaid permission would be
deemed to be revoked

To

1.The Principal District Judge,
Karur.

2.The Record Keeper,
Vernacular Section
Madurai Bench of Madras High Court.

Madurai.

.