Mention everything -all inside the property document
If you are buying property include everything that is physically available:
A retired IPS officer, who served as DGP and concluded his meritorious service about a decade ago, had an interesting experience with a land deal.
About 25 years ago, he purchased a 3-acre plot in a fertile region near a river for approximately Rs 2 lakhs, envisioning a serene getaway amidst lush greenery post retirement.
However, things took a turn when the seller, a villager, sent a notice claiming he had only sold the land, not the palm trees within it - likely orchestrated by someone eyeing the trees for toddy production.
The officer refused to entertain this notion or pay extra for the trees, leading to a court battle that spanned a decade.
The lower court ruled in favor of the Officer.
The villager had the nerve to approach the officer in person after hearing the verdict and told him that he had sold the land for a very low amount by mistake and requested an X amount of money.
The officer refused and rightly so.
The villager appealed to the High Court, which ultimately dismissed the review petition considering the merits of the case.
Further the judge saw the name of the IPS officer who had received the President's medal for his Meritorious Service; Also noticing the officer's wife’s name as the buyer of the property.
This story was shared by the High Court judge at a book launch event about the IPS officer a couple of months ago which was attended by distinguished IPS officers and dignitaries.
I was also there in the book release function since the DGP happens to be my good friend for many years and had invited me!
Two key takeaways from this story are:
- The Power of Patience: The officer's commitment to following the rules and not leveraging his power for personal gain is truly admirable.
- Due Diligence in Land Deals: Ensure that all aspects of the property, including trees and water sources, are explicitly mentioned in the sale documents to avoid future disputes.
On a lighter note, when buying land, remember to account for everything - the land, trees, water, and even the occasional curious cow!