Courts Supreme Court
Supreme Court: Defendant Not Required To Testify For Admitted Document
The case concerns a dispute over property possession where the appellant claimed ownership and the respondent claimed tenancy based on revenue records.
The core issue was whether the respondent, as a defendant relying on an admitted document, was required to enter the witness box to prove their case.
Who it concerns: Appellant: Punnuram; Respondent: Laturia Ram (deceased) through Legal Heirs; Bench: Justice M.M. Sundresh and Justice Prasanna B. Varale.
What the court decided
- Dismissed the appeal filed by the appellant.
- Held that a defendant need not enter the witness box to prove an admitted document (revenue entry) unless asserting a new fact.
- Noted that the appellant, as plaintiff, bears the burden of proving their case.
- Granted liberty to the appellant to initiate fresh proceedings regarding title, stating the current proceedings will not hinder such new actions.
- Disposed of any pending applications.
Also in the document
- The Court noted that the revenue records indicated the respondent was a tenant from 1965 onwards.
- The Court observed that the revenue officers were not made parties or examined in the proceedings.
- The Court clarified that the title of the appellant was not in dispute because the respondent's plea was one of tenancy.
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The original document
Supreme Court of India — orders & judgments
Court order · 7 Sep 2026
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