Andhra Pradesh High Court
Judges : G.BIKSHAPATHY
M.Venkata Ramudu - Appellant
Versus
B.Bayapa Reddy - Respondent
Decided On : 03-03-99
Permanent injunction - Interlocutory application for appointment of Commissioner for noting down the physical features of suit - Schedule property relating to existence of alleged stone wall and pipe line - Commissioner was appointed ex parte by lower Court Commissioner did not give any notice to him and he submitted report ex parte without giving an opportunity to petitioner - When an objection was raised before lower Court same was rejected and therefore he submits that order of appointment of commissioner was illegal - On other hand Counsel for respondent submits that petitioner was not available when notice was sought to be served by Commissioner and that service of notice was effected on brother of petitioner - Service may be made on any adult member of family whether male or female who is residing with him - "Taking clue from this provision service of notice on brother of petitioner cannot be found fault with as petitioner could not explain as to under what circumstances he was not available in house - Held, Court have to hold that service of notice on brother of petitioner was proper service - Appointment of Commissioner is not being seriously challenged in this petition - But only grievance is that Commissioner has not given proper notice - Court considered respective contentions and order of Court below - There is no dispute that Commissioner was appointed ex parte and as per order of lower Court a notice was served on brother of petitioner and it is also noted by lower Court that son of petitioner was present during inspection - court do not find any merit in this Civil revision Petition - But however Counsel for petitioner now submits that lower Court has given a chance to reappoint Commissioner again at cost of petitioner Having reconciled petitioner submits that he is prepared to deposit remuneration of Commissioner and that Commissioner may be directed to execute warrant afresh after giving opportunity to petitioner and also respondent herein - Learned Counsel for respondent fairly concedes that in such an even he has no objection - Revision petition disposed of
( 1 ) THIS Civil Revision Petition is filed against the orders of the learned Junior civil Judge, Tadpatri in I. A. No. 124 of 1998 in O. S. No. 63 of 1998 dated 16-11-1998.
( 2 ) THE petitioner is the defendant. The plaintiff filed O. S. No. 63 of 1998 for permanent injunction. He also filed an interlocutory application for appointment of Commissioner for noting down the physical features of the suit-schedule property relating to the existence of the alleged stone wall and the pipe line.
( 3 ) IT is the case of the petitioner that after the Commissioner was appointed ex parte by the lower Court, the Commissioner did not give any notice to him and he submitted the report ex parte without giving an opportunity to the petitioner. When an objection was raised before the lower Court, the same was rejected and, therefore, he submits that the order of appointment of commissioner was illegal. On the other hand, learned Counsel for the respondent submits that the petitioner was not available when the notice was sought to be served by the Commissioner and that service of notice was effected on the brother of the petitioner. Moreover, during the inspection process the son of the petitioner was also present and, therefore, it would not be appropriate for the petitioner to contend that no proper notice was issued to him. Hence, the Civil Revision Petition is liable to be dismissed.
( 4 ) I have considered the respective contentions and the order of the Court below. There is no dispute that the Commissioner was appointed ex parte and as per the order of the lower Court, a notice was served on the brother of the petitioner and it is also noted by the lower Court that the son of the petitioner was present during the inspection. For consideration as to the mode and method of service of notice, this Court has to only rely on the process of service as contained in Order V as no separate rules were set out with regard to the notice to be issued by the Commissioner for executing the warrant. Under rule 15 of Order V it is stated -"where in any suit the defendant is absent from his residence at the time when the service of summons is sought to be effected on him at his residence and there is no likelihood of his being found at the residence within a reasonable time and he has no agent empowered to accept service of summons on his behalf, service may be made on any adult member of the family, whether male or female, who is residing with him. "taking clue from this provision, the service of notice on the brother of the petitioner cannot be found fault with as the petitioner could not explain as to under what circumstances he was not available in the house. Therefore, i have to hold that the service of notice on the brother of the petitioner was proper service. The appointment of Commissioner is not being seriously challenged in this petition. But, the only grievance is that the Commissioner has not given proper notice. It cannot be held that the service of notice was not proper for the simple reason that the petitioner was not available at his residence. It is always open for the Commissioner to serve the notice on the members of his family. In fact, that is what has been done in the instant case.
( 5 ) UNDER the above circumstances, I do not find any merit in this Civil revision Petition. But, however, learned Counsel for the petitioner now submits that the lower Court has given a chance to reappoint the Commissioner again at the cost of the petitioner, Having reconciled, the petitioner submits that he is prepared to deposit the remuneration of the Commissioner and that the Commissioner may be directed to execute the warrant afresh after giving opportunity to the petitioner and also the respondent herein. Learned Counsel for the respondent fairly concedes that in such an event, he has no objection. However, if there is any variation between the earlier report and the later report, the Court has to consider the same and pass approp
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