1998 Supreme(AP) 215
Andhra Pradesh High Court
Judges : V.BHASKARA RAO
V.Subbarmma - Appellant
Versus
Koniki Chengama Naidu - Respondent
Decided On : 03-25-98
Headnote:
Limitation Act – Article 127 – Civil Procedure Code, 1908 – Order 21 Rule 91, Rule 90, Section 47 – Issue of Land – Execution of the decree – Judgment-debtors in EP No. 334 of 1990 have filed this revision petition challenging the order in EA No. 246 of 1994 on the file of First Additional District Munsif, Tirupati, on the ground that though the EP schedule property has been sold in execution of the decree, the sale was confirmed and the sale certificate was issued and full satisfaction of the decree was recorded, the lower Court erroneously held that the decree-holder was entitled to recover the E. P. amount – Held, Conspectus of the catena of decisions on the subject is that the scope and ambit of Section 47 CPC is very wide whereas the scope of Order XXI Rule 90 CPC is limited to the extent of any material irregularity or fraud in publishing or conducting the sale – Court therefore, hold that the petition filed by the respondents/decree holders under Section 47 CPC is in order, inasmuch as the ground on which they are seeking remedy is not one of irregularity or fraud in publishing or conducting the sale – As regards larger Bench decision cited supra, it is the exception carved out therein by the larger Bench that is applicable to this case – Court have held that further enquiry as to the genuineness or otherwise of the claim of Venkatarama Naidu is called for in this matter – Court have also held that it is necessary to see whether Venkatarama Naidu is in actual possession of the said land or not – Matter is fit to be remanded to the lower Court by setting aside the impugned order – Civil Revision Petition Allowed
( 1 ) THE judgment-debtors in EP No. 334 of 1990 have filed this revision petition challenging the order in EA No. 246 of 1994 on the file of First Additional District Munsif, Tirupati, dated 10-4-1996 on the ground that though the EP schedule property has been sold in execution of the decree, the sale was confirmed and the sale certificate was issued and full satisfaction of the decree was recorded, the lower Court erroneously held that the decree-holder was entitled to recover the E. P. amount.
( 2 ) THE facts and circumstances leading to this revision petition in brief are :the respondent - decree-holder No. 1 obtained a decree on 7-9-1989 against late V. Srinivasulu Naidu, husband of revision petitioner No. 1 and father of other revision petitioners and subsequently, he filed EP No. 334 of 1990 for recovery of the amount. An extent of Ac. 0. 05 cents in S. No. 142/6 belonging to him was brought to sale for a sum of Rs. 9,000. 00 and the same was knocked down in favour of the respondent - decree-holder No. 1. The said sale has been confirmed and sale certificate was also issued and then respondent No. 1 filed EA No. 636 of 1993 for taking delivery of possession of the said property. When the Amin went to the land one Venkatarama Naidu filed a petition stating that he had already purchased the said property on 17-1-1984 from late V. Srinivasulu Naidu. The respondents had no knowledge of the above transaction as the same did not find place in the encumbrance certificate which was obtained by them before seeking sale of the said property. The revision-petitioners paid the balance of the decree amount over and above the amount realised from the Court auction, and the respondents filed full satisfaction memo under a bona fide belief that the auction was knocked down in their favour. Thus, the revision-petitioners intentionally suppressed the above fact and allowed the sale to go on. The decree is, therefore, not fully satisfied and hence the respondents are entitled to the balance amount of Rs. 9,000. 00 with interest at 6% till the date of realisation alongwith poundage and sale certificate fee of Rs. 450. 00.
( 3 ) THE revision petitioner No. 2 filed a counter while the other revision-petitioners filed memo admitting that a decree was obtained by the respondents against Srinivasulu Naidu on 7-9-1989, that EP was filed against the revision petitioners who succeeded to the estate of late Srinivasulu Naidu, that an extent of Ac. 0. 05 cents in S. No. 142/6 was brought to sale and Rs. 9,000. 00 was realised from the Court auction which was knocked down in favour of the respondent No. 1 and after the sale the revision-petitioners have paid the balance of the decretal amount and thereafter the respondent also filed full satisfaction memo. The revision-petitioners denied the remaining allegations that they suppressed that the property was sold by late Srinivasulu Naidu to Venkatarama Naidu and on the other hand, it is asserted that their father did not sell the said land to Venkatarama Naidu and that it is a vacant site and it is not in possession of Venkatarama Naidu. It is further stated that the petition under Section 47 CPC is not maintainable since the sale was confirmed and full satisfaction of decree was recorded and the appropriate provision for setting aside a sale is Order 21 Rule 91 of CPC and that the same should have been filed within thirty days from the date of sale under Article 127 of the Limitation Act.
( 4 ) DURING the enquiry, the petitioners got Exs. A1 and A2, sale deeds dated 24-12-1983 and 17-1-1984 in favour of Venkatarama Naidu executed by Srinivasulu Naidu marked on their behalf and the revision petitioner No. 5 who is son of Srinivasulu Naidu examined himself as RW1.
( 5 ) THE learned Munsif considered the above material and rival contentions and held that the vacant site measuring Ac. 0. 05 cents in S. No. 142/6, which is the subject-matter of Court auction, was sold by no other than la