Registered Property Title Prevails over Oral Family Settlement Claims: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court dismissed appeals claiming joint ownership of a residential property based on an alleged oral family settlement, holding that a registered conveyance deed confers decisive title.

The Court said vague assertions of joint family funds, without documentary proof, cannot override registered title documents.

It observed that although a family settlement may be oral, its existence and implementation must be proved by cogent evidence, which was absent in this case.

The Court also rejected the plea of fiduciary capacity under the Benami Act and held that permissive possession cannot mature into ownership or adverse possession.

[Sandeep Sethi & Anr. v. Rajinder Kumar Sethi (Deceased) Through LRs]