TONGA LAW REPORTS

[1974-1980] Tonga LR 15

FAKATAVA 

v 

KOLOAMATANGI AND FAKATAVA

Supreme Court
Roberts CJ
Civil Case 425/1973
27 March 1974
land - estoppel as defence to claim for possession 
Estoppel - defence to claim for possession of land

The first defendant built a house on the land held by the plaintiff with the knowledge and acquiescence of the plaintiff. Later, after the parties quarrelled, the plaintiff brought proceedings for possession of the land.
HELD
Dismissing the plaintiffs claim:
That the plaintiff, having acquiesced in the building of the house on his land by the first defendant, was estopped from asserting his right to possession of the land occupied by the house.
Roberts CJ
Judgment
I rule that this case, which arose from tenure of Land and sub-division, is properly within the jurisdiction of the Land Court in so far as it relates to tenure or sub-division. In so far as this relates to the house, 1/3 rd of which has been built on plaintiffs land, I hold that as Plaintiff did nothing to stop 1st Defendant from building this house i.e. he took no legal action in the way of injunction, he allowed by implication the house to be built. A quarrel has since arisen. As the house cannot be moved without being virtually destroyed - being a stone house - any order I might make would cause underserved loss to the 1st Defendant. He is however, protected by the Law of estoppel. In relation to the claim of plaintiff with regard to the House, therefore, I give judgment for Defendants.
With costs and lawyers fees of $20.