Andhra Pradesh High Court
Judges : A.VENKATRAMA REDDY, V.NEELADRI RAO
Lanka Suryaprakash Rao - Appellant
Versus
Gadigatla Venkaramanna Chowdary - Respondent
Decided On : 10-01-92
ATTACHMENT - MONEY DECREE - ATTACHMENT OF AMOUNT IN DEPOSIT - APPROPRIATION OF AMOUNT IN DEPOSIT IN FAVOUR OF DECREE HOLDER - EFFECT OF - ATTACHMENT BY ANOTHER DECREE HOLDER - VALIDITY - O. 21, R. 52, C. P. C.
Fact of the Case:
The plaintiff filed a suit for partition against his father, the defendant. A decree for Rs. 3,513.00 towards decree costs was passed in favor of the defendant against the plaintiff in the said suit. The defendant filed an execution petition for execution of the decree and prayed for attachment of the immovable properties and for sale of the same. The attachment was effected. The plaintiff deposited the decretal amount of Rs. 3,513.00 on 16-10-85 without prejudice to his contentions. The defendant filed an application praying for issuance of a cheque for the said amount. The court allowed the application on condition that the defendant furnishes third party security. The defendant furnished the security bond on 18-12-1985. The revision petitioners filed a suit against the plaintiff for recovery of some amount and obtained a decree. They filed an execution petition under O. 21, Rule 52 C. P. C. praying for attachment of the amount of Rs. 3,513.00 deposited by the plaintiff in the execution petition filed by the defendant. The attachment was effected. The defendant prayed for issuance of a cheque in pursuance of the order dated 9-12-1985 in the application filed by him. The court observed that it would be considered after issuance of the notice to the revision petitioners. After notice was given to them, they filed an application praying for issuance of a cheque for Rs. 3,513.00 in their favor or in the alternative it was prayed that the same should be distributed amongst them and the defendant by way of ratable. The court dismissed the application and ordered issuance of a cheque.
Finding of the Court:
The court held that the amount of Rs. 3,513.00 in deposit in the execution petition filed by the defendant belonged to him and hence he is entitled to the same on the security being furnished as ordered on 9-12-1985. As such the revision petitioners are not entitled for the same. They are also not entitled to the rateables.
Issues: Whether the amount of Rs. 3,513.00 in deposit in the execution petition filed by the defendant belonged to him or the plaintiff?
Ratio Decidendi: The court relied on the judgment of the Supreme Court in Kotak and Co. v. State of U. P. (AIR 1987 SC 738) and held that as soon as an order for rateable distribution is made, the amount ordered to be distributed will cease to be the property of the judgment-debtor. The court further held that the order dated 9-12-1985 passed by the court in the application filed by the defendant was a final order and not a tentative order and hence the principle enunciated in Kotak and Co. v. State of U. P. (AIR 1987 SC 738) is applicable to the facts of the case.
Final Decision: The court dismissed the revision petition.
( 1 ) THIS Civil Revision Petition was posted before the Bench in view of the reference made by Sri G. Rama-nujulu Naidu, J. 1 A. The facts which have given rise to this Civil Revision Petition are as under: The 2nd respondent herein filed O. S. No. 57/83, Sub-Court, Tanuku, a suit for partition as against his father, who is R-1 herein. That suit ended in a compromise. A decree for Rs. 3,513. 00towards decree costs was passed in favour of R-1 herein as against R-2 in the said suit. R-1 herein filed E. P. No. 54/85 on 9-10-85 for execution of the said decree. He prayed for attachment of the immoveable properties and for sale of the same. The attachment was effected on 11-10-1985. R-2 herein raised some objections in the said execution petition. But he deposited the decretal amount of Rs. 3,513. 00 on 16-10-85 without prejudice to his contentions. On 28-10-85 R-l herein filed E. A. No. 282/85 praying for issual of a cheque for the said amount. On 9-12-1985 the learned Subordinate Judge passed the following order in the said E. A. No. 282/85: "no further arguments advanced. The matters that took place before the decree can be probed at appropriate time. Now since the decree is on record the petitioner is entitled to the amount. Hence I allow the application on condition that the petitioner furnishes the third party security. For furnishing third party security -- 16-12-85". R-1 herein get the security bond filed on 18-12-1985 and on 30-12-85 objections to security bond were filed.
( 2 ) THE revision petitioners herein filed O. S. No. 431 / 84 on the file of the court of the District Munsif, Tanuku against R-2 herein for recovery of some amount. That suit was decreed on 14-3-85. They filed E. P. No. 201/85 on 27-12-85 under 0. 21, Rule 52 C. P. C. praying for attachment of the amount of Rs. 3,513. 00 deposited by R-2 herein in E. P. 54/85 in O. S. No. 57/83, Sub-Court, Tanuku that attachment was effected on 3-1-86.
( 3 ) AFTER the security bond was accepted R-1 herein prayed for issual of a cheque in pursuance of the order D/-9-12-85 in E. A. No. 282/85. In view of the attachment which was effected in pursuance of the notice issued in E. P. No. 201/85 the learned Subordinate Judge observed on 3-4-86 that it would be considered after issual of the notice to the revision petitioners herein. After notice was given to them they filed E. A. No. 183/87 in E. P. 54/85 praying for issual of a cheque for Rs. 3,513. 00 i. e. the amount attached, in their favour or in the alternative it was prayed that the same should be distributed amongst them and R-1 herein by way of ratable. On 21-7-87 the learned Subordinate Judge dismissed E. A. No. 183/87 and ordered issual of a cheque. This civil revision petition was directed against the orders in E. A. Nos. 282/ 85, 183/87, 170/86 and 171/86.
( 4 ) WHEN this civil revision petition had come up before G. Ramanujulu Naidu, J. it was contended for the revision petitioners that the impugned order is not in consonance with the judgment of this court reported in B. Thripurasundaramma v. State, AIR 1984 Andh Pra 305. But R-1 relied upon decision of Supreme Court reported in Kotak and Co. v. State of U. P. , AIR 1987 SC 738 stating that the learned Subordinate Judge rightly held that the amount in deposit belonged to R-1 herein and as it ceased to be the amount of R-2, the attachment is not valid. The question that had fallen for consideration before the Supreme Court in Kotak and Co. v. State of U. P. (supra) is as to whether the amount in deposit can be held as appropriated in favour of the creditors after the order determining ratable was passed or whether it continued to be the amount of the Judgment-debtor. The Supreme Court referred to the judgment reported in Official Receiver of Tanjore v. M. R. Venkatarama Iyer, AIR 1922 Mad 31; Murli Tahilram v. T. Asoomal and Co. , AIR 1955 Cal 423; Basanta Kumar Bhatta-charjee v. Panchu Gopaldutta, AIR 1956 Cal 23; Income-tax Officer, Ward C.
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