Indian Easements Act, 1882
33. Suit for disturbance of easement
The owner of any interest in the dominant heritage, or the
occupier of such heritage, may institute a suit for compensation for the
disturbance of the easement or of any right accessory thereto:
PROVIDED that the disturbance has actually caused
substantial damage to the plaintiff.
Explanation I: The doing of any act likely to injure
the plaintiff by affecting the evidence of the easement, or by materially
diminishing the value of the dominant heritage, is substantial damage within
the meaning of this section and section 34.
Explanation II: Where the easement disturbed is a right
to the free passage of light passing to the openings in a house, no damage is
substantial within the meaning of this section unless it falls within the first
Explanation, or interferes materially with the physical comfort of the
plaintiff, or prevents him from carrying on his accustomed business in the
dominant heritage as beneficially as he had done previous to instituting the suit.
Explanation III: Where the easement disturbed is a right
to the free passage of air to the opening in a house, damage is substantial
within the meaning of this section, if it interferes materially with the
physical comfort of the plaintiff, though it is not injurious to his health.
Illustrations
(a) A places a permanent obstruction in a path over which B, as
tenant of C’s house, has a right of way. This is substantial damage to C, for
it may affect the evidence of his reversionary right to the easement.
(b) A, as owner of a house, has a right to walk along one side
of B's house. B builds a verandah overhanging the way about ten feet from the
ground, and so as not to occasion any inconvenience to foot passengers using
the way. This is not substantial damage to A.