Whether there is presumption that business standing in name of any member of joint family is joint family business?

THERE IS NO PRESUMPTION THAT A BUSINESS STANDING IN THE NAME OF ANY MEMBER OF THE JOINT FAMILY IS A JOINT FAMILY BUSINESS.

46. It is also settled law that there is no presumption that a business standing in the name of any member of the joint family is a joint family business. The Supreme Court in P.S. Sairam & Am. Vs. P.S. Rama Rao Pissey & Ors. MANU/SC/0085/2004 : (2004) 11 SCC 320 has held as under:-

"7. Crucial question in the present appeal is as to whether business which was conducted by defendant No. 1 was his separate business or it belonged to joint family, consisting of himself and his sons. It is well settled that so far as immovable property is concerned, in case the same stands in the name of individual member, there would be a presumption that the same belongs to joint family, provided it is proved that the joint family had sufficient nucleus at the time of its acquisition, but no such presumption can be applied to business. Reference in this connection may be made to a decision of this Court in the case of G. Narayana Raju v. G. Chamaraju: MANU/SC/0113/1968 : AIR 1968 SC 1276 wherein in a suit for partition defence was taken that business of Ambika Stores was separate business of defendant as the business did not grow out of joint family funds or at least by efforts of members of joint family which was accepted by the trial court as well as the High Court. When the matter was brought to this Court in appeal, upholding the judgment of the High Court, the Court observed thus at page 466:- (AIR p. 1278, para 3)

"It is well established that there is no presumption under Hindu Law that a business standing in the name of any member of the joint family is a joint family business even if that member is the manager of the joint family. Unless it could be shown that the business in the hands of the coparcener grew up with the assistance of the joint family property or joint family funds or that the earnings of the business were blended with the joint family estate, the business remains free and separate."

(emphasis supplied)

IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI

CS (OS) 2223/2013, 

Decided On: 04.02.2019

Aarshiya Gulati  Vs.  Kuldeep Singh Gulati and Ors.

Hon'ble Judges/Coram:

Manmohan, J.

Citation: AIR 2019(NOC) 577 Del
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