5_In Favour of _Adverse Possession Case Study

Posted on February 11, 2026February 18, 2026 by Admin

Below are 5 high-scoring CASE STUDIES where the plea of ADVERSE POSSESSION SUCCEEDS, each supported by clear Supreme Court authority.

These are rare but examiners’ favourite because candidates often wrongly reject adverse possession in all cases.

🧪 CASE STUDY 1: Open Hostile Possession with Knowledge of Owner

Facts

B forcibly entered A’s vacant land in 1990.
B constructed a house, fenced the land, paid municipal tax, and asserted ownership openly.
A lived nearby and raised no objection for 20 years.
In 2015, A filed a suit for possession.

Issue

Whether B perfected title by adverse possession?

Held

✅ Yes

Case Law

📌 Karnataka Board of Wakf v. Govt. of India
(2004) 10 SCC 779

Where possession is open, hostile, continuous, and to the knowledge of the owner for the statutory period, adverse possession is established.

Result

Suit barred by limitation.

🧪 CASE STUDY 2: Hostile Possession After Expiry of Lease

Facts

B was a lessee under A till 1995.
After lease expiry, B expressly denied A’s title, stopped paying rent, and mutated his name.
A took no steps for 15 years.

Issue

Whether tenant’s possession became adverse?

Held

✅ Yes

Case Law

📌 Saroop Singh v. Banto
(2005) 8 SCC 330

Once permissive possession is openly repudiated and the owner remains inactive, limitation begins to run.

Result

Adverse possession perfected.

🧪 CASE STUDY 3: Ouster of Co-Owner Established

Facts

A and B are co-owners.
B exclusively possessed the property, sold parts, constructed buildings, and openly denied A’s rights.
A remained silent for 30 years.

Issue

Whether ouster proved?

Held

✅ Yes

Case Law

📌 P. Lakshmi Reddy v. L. Lakshmi Reddy
AIR 1957 SC 314

Continuous hostile acts inconsistent with joint ownership constitute ouster.

Result

Adverse possession succeeds.

🧪 CASE STUDY 4: Government Land – Continuous Hostile Occupation

Facts

B occupied government land, built a permanent structure, paid property tax, and ran a shop.
Municipality issued notices but never evicted B for 35 years.

Issue

Can adverse possession lie against the State?

Held

✅ Yes (exceptional cases)

Case Law

📌 State of Haryana v. Mukesh Kumar
(2011) 10 SCC 404 (Doctrine recognised, though criticised)

Adverse possession can operate against the State if all legal requirements are satisfied.

Result

Title perfected.

🧪 CASE STUDY 5: Sale Deed Void but Possession Hostile

Facts

B purchased land from a person having no title (void sale).
B entered possession under claim of ownership, fenced land, cultivated openly.
True owner A took no action for 12+ years.

Issue

Whether void transaction can lead to adverse possession?

Held

✅ Yes

Case Law

📌 Nair Service Society v. K.C. Alexander
AIR 1968 SC 1165

Possession under colour of title, even if defective, can mature into ownership if hostile and continuous.

Result

Adverse possession established.

🏆 EXAMINER-READY CONCLUSION LINE

“Where possession is hostile from inception or becomes hostile by clear repudiation, is continuous, open, and to the knowledge of the true owner for the statutory period, the law of limitation extinguishes the owner’s title and perfects ownership by adverse possession.”