25/08/2024
لے پالک بچہ حقیقی شمار ہوگا جب تک لکھوانے والا باپ اس کو خود چیلنج نہ کر دے دیگر کوئی رشتہ دار اس کو چیلنج نہیں کر سکتا
PLD 2019 S.C 449
July 9, 2021admincase laws, citation
Legitimacy of Adopted child can be challenged only by Father and not by his siblings.
P L D 2019 Supreme Court 449
Present: Mushir Alam and Qazi Faez Isa, JJ
Mst. LAILA QAYYUM—Petitioner/Applicant
Versus
FAWAD QAYUM and others—Respondents
Civil Petition No.4876 of 2018 and Civil Miscellaneous Application
No.11213 of 2018.
(On appeal against the judgment dated 5-10-2018 of the Peshawar High
Coiurt, Mingora Bench (Dar-ul-Qaza), Swat, passed in W.P. No.215-M of
2017).
(a) Specific Relief Act (I of 1877)—
—-S. 42—Suit for declaration—Maintainability—Legal character of
plaintiff—Scope—Dispute over paternity—Plaintiff filed suit seeking
directions that the defendant-lady was not his real sister but was
adopted by his parents; and that the defendant had no right to his
parent’s legacy—Held, that court could make a declaration in a suit in
favour of a person who was entitled to any legal character or to any
right, as to any property, which another was denying—Defendant had
not denied either plaintiff’s legal character or his right to any
property—Instead plaintiff alleged that defendant was not his father’s
daughter and therefore not his heir and not entitled to inherit the
properties left behind by him—Plaintiff sought a negative declaration
and one which had nothing to do with his own legal character—To
challenge another’s adoption or legitimacy of birth did not assert the
plaintiff’s own legal character—Suit filed by plaintiff was dismissed by
the Supreme Court
Deokali Koer v. Kedar Nath ILR 39 Cal. 704, 709; Khanchand v.
Jacobabad Municipality AIR 1946 Sindh 98; Abdur Rahman Bhuiya v.
Commission of Narayanganj Manicipality PLD 1959 Dacca 5; Abdur
Rahman Mobashir v. Amir Ali Shah PLD 1978 Lah. 113; Rehmatullah
Khan v. Government of Pakistan 2003 SCMR 50 and Daw Pone v. Ma
Hnin May AIR 1941 Rangoon 220, 221 ref
(b) Specific Relief Act (I of 1877)—
—-S. 42—Suit for declaration—Maintainability—Dispute over paternity
— Person could bring a (declaratory) suit to assert that he/she was
someone’s child if his/her legal character was denied.
Abdul Karim v. Sarraya Begum AIR 1945 Lah. 266 ref.
(c) Specific Relief Act (I of 1877)—
S. 39—Suit for cancellation of documents—Maintainability—
Requirement of ‘serious injury’ to plaintiff—Dispute over paternity—
Plaintiff filed suit seeking directions that the defendant-lady was not
his real sister but was adopted by his parents; and that all documents
showing the defendant to be the daughter of his parents be cancelled
to such extent—Held, that plaintiff sought cancellation of documents
which were not shown to cause him any serious injury—Since the
essential condition of causing him serious injury, mentioned in S. 39 of
the Specific Relief Act, 1877 was not met, therefore plaintiff’s suit
seeking cancellation of the documents was not maintainable—Suit
filed by plaintiff was dismissed by the Supreme Court.
(d) Qanun-e-Shahadat (10 of 1984)—
—-Art. 128—Specific Relief Act (I of 1877), S. 42—Suit for declaration—
Dispute over paternity—Bar of Art. 128 of Qanun-e-Shahadat, 1984—
Scope—Plaintiff filed a declaratory suit seeking directions that the
defendant-lady was not his real sister but was adopted by his parents–
-Maintainability—Suit was barred by Art.128 of the Qanun-e-Shahadat,
1984—Only a putative father, within the time prescribed in Art.128,
may challenge the paternity of a child—Father of the parties had never
challenged defendant’s paternity—Article 128 of the Qanun-e-
Shahadat, 1984 did not permit a putative brother to challenge his
sister’s paternity—Suit filed by plaintiff was dismissed by the Supreme
Court.
Ghazala Tehsin Zohra v.Ghulam Dastagir Khan PLD 2015 SC 327 ref.
(e) Constitution of Pakistan—
—-Art. 14—Liberty, dignity and privacy of a person—Scope—Dispute over
paternity—DNA test, conducting of—Constitutionality and legality—Plaintiff filed
a suit seeking directions that the defendant-lady was not his real sister but was
adopted by his parents—During pendency of suit plaintiff also filed an application
for conducting DNA test of the defendant to determine that she was not his real
sister—Said application was allowed by the High Court—Held, that a free lady
could not be compelled to give a sample for DNA testing as it would violate her
liberty—If a sample was forcibly taken from the defendant in the present case to
determine her paternity it would violate her liberty, dignity and privacy which
Art.14 of the Constitution guaranteed to a free person—If the proposed DNA
testing was done it would neither confirm nor negate defendant’s paternity—Same
was also true for the plaintiff and those of his siblings whom he acknowledged—
Father of the parties died sixteen years ago and his DNA could now only be
accessed if his body was disinterred from the grave and a sample taken from his
remains—Plaintiff’s suit however was premised on the assumption that he was the
son of his father, then, on the basis of such assumption, he denied defendant’s
paternity—Plaintiff’s assertion that a certain person was his father was equally
assumptive to the defendant asserting this—Suit filed by plaintiff was dismissed by
the Supreme Court.
Salman Akram Raja v Government of Punjab 2013 SCMR 203 ref.
Muhammad Shahid Sahil v State PLD 2015 FSC 215 and B. P. Jena v Convenor
Secretary, Orissa State Commission for Women (AIR 2010 Supreme Court 2851)
distinguished.
Muhammad Ikhlaque Awan, Advocate Supreme Court and Syed Rifaqat Hussain
Shah, Advocate-on-Record for Petitioner/Appellant.
Faisal Khan, Advocate Supreme Court for Respondents Nos.1 to 5.
Shaukat Hayat, Senior Clerk for Respondent No.6.
Mujahid Khan, Law Officer for Respondent No.10.
Date of hearing: 14th February, 2019.
JUDGMENT
Qazi Faez Isa, J. Fawad Qayum (respondent No. 1, “Fawad”) filed a suit against
Mst. Laila Qayum (“Laila”), alleging that Laila was “an abandoned infant in a local
hospital” and was adopted by his father, late Abdul Qayum, and mother, Nasreen
Begum, in the year 1996 and was brought up as their own daughter. The fact of
adoption was however concealed from Laila and she was made to believe that she
is the (real) daughter of Abdul Qayum and Nasreen Begum, Fawad further alleged.
In his suit Fawad sought two declarations; firstly, that Laila was not the real
daughter of Abdul Qayum and Nasreen Begum and, secondly, that Laila has no
right to their “legacy”. He also prayed that the documents showing Laila to be the
daughter of Abdul Qayum be cancelled to such extent. These documents were
issued by the Government Girls School, Saidu Sharif, Swat, the Government Girls
Degree College, Saidu Sharif, the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education,
Saidu Sharif, Swat, the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Swat and the National
Database and Registration Authority (“NADRA”) (respectively arrayed as
defendants Nos. 6 to 10 in the suit). The suit was filed on 19th June, 2015 when
Laila was nineteen years old. Laila filed her written statement and denied Fawad’s
allegations.
The suit was pending when Fawad filed an application (“the application”)
seeking a deoxyribonucleic acid (“DNA”) test to be conducted and Laila’s DNA be
compared with that of Fawad’s, the DNA of his siblings (defendants Nos. 3 to 5 in
the suit) and with that of his mother (Nasreen Begum) to determine whether Laila is
the daughter of Abdul Qayum. The application did not, as per procedural
requirement, cite any provision of law whereunder it was submitted. The learned
Trial Judge allowed the application on 9th February, 2017. However, his order was
set aside by the learned Appellate Court Judge vide judgment dated 15th March,
2017, which was challenged by Fawad in a writ petition before the Peshawar High
Court, Mingora Bench (Dar-ul-Qaza), Peshawar. The High Court set aside the
judgment of the Appellate Court and restored the order of the Trial Court, which
had directed that the DNA test be carried out.
Mr. Muhammad Ikhlaque Awan, the learned counsel representing Laila, states
that Laila was brought up by Abdul Qayum and Nasreen Begum as their daughter
and all records, including those prepared on the basis of information provided by
Abdul Qayum and Nasreen Begum, show Laila to be Abdul Qayum’s daughter. He
challenged Fawad’s locus standi to question Laila’s paternity and contends that the
suit filed by him was not maintainable under sections 39 and 42 of the Specific
Relief Act, 1877. He also refers to Article 128 of the Qanun-e-Shahadat Order,
1984 and the cases of Ghazala Tehsin Zohra v Ghulam Dastagir Khan
1 and Salman
Akram Raja v Government of Punjab
2 and submits that the same were not followed
for contrived reasons by the learned Judge of the High Court. Concluding his
submissions the learned counsel states that it is no longer possible to take Abdul
Qayum’s DNA for comparison with Laila’s, therefore her paternity cannot be
challenged.
On the other hand Mr. Faisal Khan, the learned counsel representing the
respondents Nos. 1 to 5, supports the impugned Judgment and states that Fawad’s
claim was supported by Nasreen Begum, who was initially arrayed as defendant
No. 2 but was later transposed as plaintiff No. 2 in the suit. Therefore, a case for
conducting DNA tests was made out. Learned Mr. Khan relies upon the cases of
Muhammad Shahid Sahil v. State
3 and B. P. Jena v. Convenor Secretary, Orissa
State Commission for Women
4 Mr. Khan informs us (in response to our queries)
that Abdul Qayum and Nasreen Begum were married in the year 1969 and their
marriage continued till Abdul Qayum died on 25th December, 2002, when Laila
was six years old. Laila was then brought up by Nasreen Begum who continued to
show Laila as the daughter of Abdul Qayum.
The Law Officer of NADRA states that NADRA, as per their applicable
procedure, verified the matriculation certificate / secondary school certificate of
Laila, which was issued long before the filing of the suit. The said certificate
showed Laila as Abdul Qayum’s daughter therefore she was issued with a
computerized national identity card (“CNIC”). The CNIC showed her to be the
daughter of Abdul Qayum and complied with the Family Registration Certification
of Abdul Qayum.
We have heard the learned counsel for the parties, examined sections 39 and
42 of the Specific Relief Act, Article 128 of the Qanun-e-Shahadat Order, the
judgments they have referred to and the documents on record.
First of all we need to consider whether Fawad had the requisite legal
character to seek the abovementioned declarations and seek the cancellation of the
said documents. A declaratory suit is filed under section 42 of the Specific Relief
Act, 1877, reproduced hereunder:
Discretion of Court as to declaration of status or right.
Any person entitled to any legal character or to any right as to any property, may
institute a suit against any person denying, or interested to deny, his title to
such character or right and the Court may in its discretion make therein a
declaration that he is so entitled, and the plaintiff need not in such suit ask
for any further relief:
Bar to such declaration. Provided that no Court shall make any such declaration
where the plaintiff, being able to seek further relief that mere declaration of
title omits to do so.
Explanation. A trustee of property is a “person interested to deny” a title adverse
to the title of some one who is not in existence, and for whom, if in
existence, he would be a trustee.A court can make a declaration in a suit in favour of a person who is entitled
to any legal character or to any right, as to any property, which another is denying.Laila has not denied either Fawad’s legal character or his right to any property.
Instead Fawad alleges that Laila is not Abdul Qayum’s daughter and therefore not
his heir and not entitled to inherit the properties left behind by him (the prayer
however only refers to “legacy”). Fawad seeks a negative declaration and one
which has nothing to do with Fawad’s own legal character. To consider whether
such declarations can be sought under section 42 of the Specific Relief Act it would
be appropriate to review the case law.
In the case of Deokali Koer v Kedar Nath
5 Lawrence Jenkins, CJ, writing
over a hundred years ago said that not every kind of declaration can be sought
under section 42 of the Specific Relief Act and that the Courts needed to be vigilant
in entertaining all manner of suits:
The section does not sanction every form of declaration, but only a declaration
that the plaintiff is “entitled to any legal character or to any right as to any
property;” it is the disregard of this that accounts for the multiform and, at
times, eccentric declarations which find a place in Indian plaints.
If the Courts were astute – as I think they should be – to see that the plaints
presented conformed to the terms of section 42, the difficulties that are to be
found in this class of cases, would no longer arise. Nor would plaintiffs be
unduly hampered if the provisions of section 42 were enforced, for it would
be easy to frame a declaration in such terms as would comply with the
provisions of the section where the claim was one within its policy.
6
In Khanchand v Jacobabad Municipality
7 a division bench of the Sindh Chief
Court, consisting of Davis, CJ and Thadani, J, reiterated what Lawrence Jenkins,
CJ had said in Deokali Koer about the scope of section 42 of the Specific Relief
Act. The suit had sought a declaration that a certain person had ceased to be the
Chief Officer of a Municipality was dismissed, which decision was upheld by the
Chief Court.
In the case of Abdur Rahman Bhuiya v. Commission of Narayanganj
Municipality
8
the High Court of East Pakistan (Dacca), consisting of Rahman and
Murshad, JJ, also endorsed the views of Lawrence Jenkins, CJ. A suit, which had
sought a declaration that from a particular date the defendants could not continue as
Commissioners of the Municipality and all their acts, including demanding taxes
from the plaintiffs were illegal, was held not to be maintainable under section 42 of
the Specific Relief Act.
In the case of Abdur Rahman Mobashir v Amir Ali Shah
9 Aftab Hussain, J
10
identified the type of declarations which could be sought with regard to one’s legal
character and those which could not:
Section 42 of the Specific Relief Act applies only to a case where a person
files a suit claiming entitlement to any legal character or to any right to
property which entitlement is denied by the defendants or in denying which
the defendants are interested. It cannot apply to a case where the plaintiffs
do not allege their entitlement to any legal character or any right to property
or its denial by the defendants. As a necessary corollary it cannot apply to a
case where only the entitlement to legal character or the property of the
defendants is denied by the plaintiffs.
11
A number of cases from the courts of the sub-continent were considered which
led the learned Judges of the Lahore Court to observe and determine, that:
It is clear from these authorities that section 42 would be attracted to a case
in which the plaintiff approaches the Court for the safeguard of his right to
legal character or property but where right to his own legal character or
property is not involved, the suit is not maintainable. The suit must be one
which must bring benefit to him in regard to these two rights. No suit
involving any other right, hypothetical or abstract would be competent
under that section. The Court will not therefore entertain suits in which no
benefit accrues to the plaintiff or where the plaintiff sets up merely an
abstract right to satisfy his ego or satisfy his grudge against another person.
Section 42 cannot be invoked in matters of mere sentiments which have no
concern with the vindication of the plaintiff’s title to status and property.
12
… Section 42 of the Specific Relief Act deals with legal right as well as the
threat or invasion to it by a person having corresponding duty not to invade
it but to respect it. It would, therefore, apply only to a case where a plaintiff
sues for declaration of his own legal right whether to property or legal
character provided it is invaded or threatened with invasion by the
defendant. It does not deal with the negation of the defendant’s rights.
Consequently, a declaration that the defendant has no right to do something
which does not infringe upon any legal right to property or legal character of
a plaintiff cannot be given under section 42. The cause of action under this
section should, therefore, be a threat of injury to the plaintiff’s own right or
removal of cloud cast on his own title. It does not allow the plaintiff to come
to the Court to show his hostility only to what the defendant considers his
own right and which action does not cast any cloud upon the plaintiff’s own
title.
13
With regard to seeking a negative declaration the Court observed that this could
only be done if there was, “some threatened injury or infringement of the plaintiff’s
right”:
I agree with the argument of the learned counsel for the respondents that
even negative declaration can be given Salim Ullah Beg v. Mst. Makin
Begum (1), Sughran v. Rehmat Ali (2), Amina Begum v. Ghulam Nabi (3)
and U Arzeina v. Ma Kyin Shwe and another (4), but such declaration must
also be one affecting some threatened injury or infringement of the
plaintiff’s right. This type of negative declaration can be granted on the
principle that what can be done directly can also be justified if done
indirectly.
14
In the case of Rehmatullah Khan v. Government of Pakistan
15 Sardar
Muhammad Raza Khan, J writing for a three-member Bench of this Court, held
that, a suit filed on the basis of an application submitted to the Government seeking
a declaration that the plaintiff was entitled to the installation of a petrol pump was
not maintainable:
The permission by Pakistan State Oil to Gul Nawaz Khan to sell their petrol in
his filling station, if at all granted, would have constituted a license which
even if granted could have been withdrawn at any time. Seen from any
angle, no vested right was created by filing an application or even by
submission of a feasibility report. In the event of non-creation of any vested
right, no relief can be sought under section 42 of the Specific Relief Act. In
the circumstances, the petitioners were rightly non-suited by the two Courts
below.
16
To challenge another’s adoption or legitimacy of birth does not assert the
plaintff ‘s own legal character. In the case of Daw Pone v. Ma Hnin May
17
the
Court
18 upheld the dismissal of a suit which sought “a declaration that the
defendant was not the keittima daughter [a particular kind of adoptee] of her and
her late husband”. The Court held, that:
Looking at S. 42, Specific Relief Act, it applies only in cases in which a person
entitled to some legal character or to any right as to any property brings a
suit against a person denying or interested to deny his title to such character
or right, and the relief to be given there-under is purely discretionary.
Nobody has never denied that Daw Pone is entitled to any legal character or
right as to property that I can see. But she is bringing a suit for a declaration
to establish a negative case, for, some time or other, I suppose, the defendant
has claimed to be her keittima daughter. The learned District Judge
dismissed that suit, apparently upon the merits and taking the view that the
defendant was the keittima daughter of the plaintiff.
19
However, a person can bring a suit to assert that he/she is someone’s child if
his/her legal character is denied. In Daw Pone v Ma Hnin May the Court had
preserved the adoptee’s right to claim such legal character:
If at any time she desires to make a claim that she is the keittima daughter of
Daw Pone, that is a matter for her and her legal advisers, and we desire to
say nothing which may be put forward in defence of it. Ma Hnin May has
been brought here to appear in answer to this appeal and we think she ought
to have her costs, two gold mohurs, for her appearance; and the appeal is
dismissed.
20
A Full Bench of the Lahore High Court in the case of Abdul Karim v Sarraya
Begum21 held that the suit claiming the plaintiff to be the legitimate daughter of
Abdul Karim (defendant) was maintainable even though the plaintiff had no present
interest in the property of the defendant:
…the declaration of the legitimacy of a child of a muslim governed by the
Mahomedan law certainly does not confer on such child any present interest
in the property held by the father. It, however, does confer on the child the
right to succeed to the father in case the latter predeceases the child and dies
intestate. Even in case of testacy the child will have the right to succeed to
his or her legal share in the estate left by him except to the extent of onethird. During his or her minority the child has a legal right to be maintained
by the father. He or she may have a right of pre-emption in respect of any
sale of agricultural land made by the father. The declaration of legitimacy
thus carries with itself very important legal incidents and it cannot be
seriously contended that a declaration of legitimacy does not amount to a
declaration of a legal character.
22
Fawad also seeks the cancellation of documents which show Abdul Qayum
to be Laila’s father. A suit seeking cancellation of documents is filed under section
39 of the Specific Relief Act, reproduced hereunder:
When cancellation may be ordered.
Any person against whom a written instrument is void or voidable, who has
reasonable apprehension that such instrument, if left outstanding, may cause
him serious injury, may sue to have it adjudged void or voidable; and the
Court may, in its discretion, so adjudge it and order it to be delivered up and
cancelled.
If the instrument has been registered under the Registration Act, the Court shall
also send a copy of its decree to the officer in whose office the instrument
has been so registered; and such officer shall note on the copy of the
instrument contained in his books the fact of its cancellation.
The documents, the cancellation of which Fawad seeks are not shown to cause
him serious injury. Since the essential condition of causing him serious injury,
mentioned in section 39 of the Specific Relief Act, is not met therefore Fawad’s suit
seeking cancellation of the said documents is also not maintainable.
The suit was also barred by Article 128 of the Qanun-e-Shahadat Order.
Only a putative father, within the time prescribed in Article 128, may challenge the
paternity of a child.
Birth during marriage conclusive proof of legitimacy.
(1) The fact that any person was born during the continuance of a valid marriage
between his mother and any man and not earlier than the expiration of six
lunar months from the date of the marriage, or within two years after its
dissolution, the mother remaining unmarried, shall be conclusive proof that
he is the legitimate child of that man, unless-
(a) the husband had refused, or refuses, to own the child; or
(b) the child was born after the expiration of six lunar months from the date on
which the woman had accepted that the period of iddat had come to an end.
(2) Nothing contained in clause (1) shall apply to a non-Muslim if it is
inconsistent with his faith.
Abdul Qayum (the father) had not challenged Laila’s paternity. Article 128 does
not permit a putative brother (Fawad) to challenge his sister’s paternity.
In the case of Ghazala Tehsin Zohra
23
the putative father was not allowed to
challenge the paternity of the child after the period mentioned in Article 128 had
expired. This Court reiterated that a child born within the period mentioned in
Article 128, “shall constitute conclusive proof of his legitimacy”. The learned
Judge observed, and we agree, that:
It is for the honour of and dignity of women and innocent children as also the
value placed on the institution of the family, that women and blameless
children have been granted legal protection and a defence against scurrilous
stigmatization.
24
Jawwad S. Khawaja, J further explained that Article 128, “is couched in
language which is protective of societal cohesion and the values of the
community”
25
Learned Mr. Awan is also right in referring to the case of Salman Akram
Raja wherein it was held that a free lady cannot be compelled to give a sample for
DNA testing as it would violate her liberty. If a sample is forcibly taken from Laila
to determine her paternity it would violate her liberty, dignity and privacy which
Article 14 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan (“the
Constitution”) guarantees to a free person. The cases of Muhammad Shahid Sahil
and B. P. Jena referred to by learned Mr. Faisal Khan, who represents Fawad, are
distinguishable and are also not applicable to the present case. In the case of
Muhammad Shahid Sahil the DNA of a ra**st was sought by the victim to compare
it with the DNA of the child born as a consequence of the r**e. And in the case of
B. P. Jena the Indian Supreme Court considered section 112 of the Evidence Act.
Section 112 of the Evidence Act was the precursor of Article 128 of the Qanun-eShahadat Order, however, the wording of the two provisions is materially different.
In any case, the Supreme Court of India observed that, “In a matter where paternity
of a child is in issue before the court, the use of DNA is an extremely delicate and
sensitive aspect”
26 and that:
DNA in a matter relating to paternity of a child should not be directed by the
court as a matter of course or in routine manner, whenever such a request is
made. The court has to consider diverse aspects including presumption
under Section 112 of the Evidence Act; pros and cons of such order and the
test of ’eminent need’ whether it is not possible for the court to reach the
truth without use of such test.
27
There is yet another reason why a DNA test should not be allowed. If the
proposed DNA testing is done it would neither confirm nor negate Laila’s paternity.
The same also holds true for Fawad and those of his siblings whom he
acknowledges. Abdul Qayum died sixteen years ago and his DNA can now be
accessed if his body is disinterred from the grave and a sample taken from his
remains. Fawad’s suit however is premised on the assumption that he is the son of
Abdul Qayum, then, on the basis of this assumption, he denies Laila’s paternity.
Fawad’s assertion that Abdul Qayum is his father is equally assumptive to Laila
asserting this.
Fawad sought to deprive Laila of her identity and of her inheritance. The
Court cannot legally make the declarations the plaintiff seeks nor can it order the
cancellation of the documents. The suit filed by Fawad cannot be decreed. To keep
such a suit pending only harasses the petitioner further and may deprive her of her
inheritance. Already a lot of court time has been taken up to attend to this frivolous
suit. Therefore, we invoke our ancillary powers, granted to us under Article 187 of
the Constitution, as it is necessary for doing complete justice, and exercising such
powers dismiss the suit pending before the Senior Civil Judge Gulkada, Swat. We
also award costs throughout, to be paid by the respondent No. 1 to the petitioner.
Copy of this judgment be sent to the Trial Court. Copy be also sent to the Registrar,
Peshawar High Court, for placing it before the learned Judge who had passed the
impugned Judgment.
Accordingly, we set aside the impugned judgment, convert this petition into
an appeal and allow the same in the aforesaid terms. C. M. A. No. 11213/2018
stands disposed of as being infructuous.
