SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
N.D. OJHA AND K.N. SAIKIA, JJ.
Johri Singh, Appellant
Versus
Sukh Pal Singh and others, Respondents.
Civil Appeal No. 1376 of 1977
Decided on 4-9-1989.
- as held in the case of Johri Singh v. Sukh Pal Singh, AIR 1989 SC 2073, for non-deposit of only a relatively small fraction of the purchase money due to inadvertent mistake whether or not caused by any action of the Court, the Court has the discretion under Section 148, CPC to extend the time even though the time fixed has already expired provided it is satisfied that the mistake is bonafide and was not indicative of negligence or inaction. The Court will extend the time when it finds that the mistake was the result of, or induced by, an action of the Court applying the maxim ‘actus curiae neminern gravabit’ an act of the Court shall prejudice no man. The Court has jurisdiction to extend the time under Section 148 CPC on sufficient cause being made out. But the condition precedent to exercise its revisional jurisdiction under Section 115, CPC was lacking. The provisions of Section 148 CPC qua Order 20 Rule 14, CPC were considered in the case of Jogdhayan v. Babu Ram, AIR 1983 SC 57, where in it was held that the provisions of Order 20 Rule 14(1) are mandatory and where the short deposit is not due to bona fide mistake, the default could not be condoned, but the appellate Court could have exercised the power as was done by the lower Court and Section 148 deals with enlargement of time.
JUDGMENT
SAIKIA, J. :— This appeal by special leave is from the judgment of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana allowing the revision petition, setting aside the order of the Senior Subordinate Judge and dismissing the application of the decree-holder praying for permission to deposit the balance amount of the pre-emption decree.
2. On 21-9-1975 the Court of the Senior Subordinate Judge decreed a claim to pre-emption in favour of the appellant and against the respondents subject to the deposit of the purchase-money being Rs. 41,082/- less the amount of Zare-Panjum on or before 31-12-1975 failing which his suit would stand dismissed. The appellant by application dated 22-11-1975, annexing a treasury challan, obtained permission to deposit 4/5th of the purchase-money amounting to Rs. 33582/-and the amount was deposited on 28-11-1975, although the last date for depositing the amount was 31-12-1975. On 4-12-1975 he filed an execution petition for being delivered possession of the land and the possession was actually delivered on 29-1-1976.
3. It appears, on 21-1-1976 the office reported that the amount deposited fell short of the decretal amount by Rs. 100/-. Thereupon two separate applications were filed by the respondents-judgment-debtors and the appellant- decree-holder. The former in their application prayed that the latter having not complied with the condition of the decree, he having deposited Rs. 100/-less, the decree was a nullity and the suit stood dismissed, and hence, the land be restored to them. The appellant-decree-holder in his application prayed for condonation of the delay and for permission to deposit the balance of Rs. 100/-stating that there was an inadvertent arithmetical mistake on his part as also on the part of the Court officials. The learned Senior Subordinate Judge applying the maxim "Actus curiae neminem gravabit and relying on Jang Singh v. Brijlal, (1964) 2 SCR 145 : AIR 1966 SC 1631 and holding that the mistake of the decree-holder was shared by the Court, condoned the delay and allowed 10 days time to deposit the balance of Rs. 100/- failing which the suit should stand dismissed. The respondents having moved in revision therefrom under S. 115, CPC, the High Court by the impugned judgment, holding that the decree-holder himself filed the application annexing the challan mentioning the amount and as such there was no mistake on the part of any Court officials, and applying Labh Singh v. Hardayal, (1977) 79 Pun LR 417 allowed the revision petition, set aside the order of the Senior Subordinate Judge and dismissed the appellant-decree-holders application for condonation and permission to deposit the balance of Rs. 100/. Hence this appeal.
4. Mr. A. K. Sen, the learned counsel for the appellant submits that the Senior Subordinate Judge having exercised power within his jurisdiction under S. 148, CPC in extending the time to deposit the deficit amount of Rs. 100/-, the revisional court misdirected itself in holding that the court officials were not at fault in not pointing out the shortfall while permitting the deposit of the decretal amount; and it erred in setting aside the order extending time. Counsel further submits that the decree-holder having already obtained the warrant of possession and thereby taken actual delivery of possession, the decree was already executed and the same having not been questioned, the revision petition was liable to be dismissed as infructuous.
5. Mr. E. C. Aggarwala, the learned counsel for the respondent while not disputing that if power under S. 148, CPC was exercised by the Senior Subordinate Judge in extending the time the order could not have been interfered with in revision, submits that the challan having been prepared by the decree-holder himself, there was no mistake on the part of any court officials in accepting short deposit, and the High Court rightly held that the appellants suit stood dismissed because of non-deposit of the decretal amount within time; and the
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