In Brief
A partition suit involving 11 co-owners of a Chandigarh property, pending for two decades, raised the question of whether co-sharers in possession must render accounts for the property during partition proceedings. The Supreme Court held that co-sharers must render accounts and pay assessed rent for portions in their possession—whether self-occupied, used for business, or rented out—and that purchasers of shares during the suit are equally liable. The court set aside the High Court's blanket exemption for two co-sharers (16% ownership) and directed the trial court to determine actual possession versus entitlement and expedite final decree proceedings within nine months.
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.