SupremeToday Landscape Ad
Back
Next
Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation
Listen Audio Icon Pause Audio Icon
judgment-img

1970 Supreme(AP) 114

Andhra Pradesh High Court
Judges : ALLADI KUPPUSWAMI, C.V.RAMULU
Ravi Lakshmaiah - Appellant
Versus
Nagamothu Lakshmi - Respondent
Decided On : 04-21-70

The court has the power to appoint a receiver in an application for an injunction, if it considers it just and convenient, even in the absence of an application for the appointment of a receiver by any of the parties.

Headnote:

RECEIVERSHIP - APPOINTMENT - INJUNCTION APPLICATION - POWER OF COURT - C. P. C., ORDER 39, RULE 1 AND ORDER 40, RULE 1 - INTERPRETATION.

Fact of the Case:

The appellant, claiming to be the legatee under a registered will, filed an application to implead himself as a party and continue the suit for partition and separate possession of the suit property. The second defendant, one of the widows of the deceased, filed an application for an injunction to restrain the appellant from interfering with her possession of the suit house. The appellant filed an application to vacate the interim injunction granted to the second defendant.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the second defendant was not in possession of the northern portion of the house, and the appellant was also not in possession. The court considered it just and convenient to appoint a receiver for the northern portion of the house.

Issues: 1. Whether a court can appoint a receiver in an application for an injunction? 2. Whether the circumstances of the case justified the appointment of a receiver?

Ratio Decidendi: 1. The court held that Order 39, Rule 1 and Order 40, Rule 1 of the Code of Civil Procedure empower the court to appoint a receiver in an application for an injunction, if it considers it just and convenient. 2. The court found that the property was in medio, with no one in possession, and there was a scramble for possession between the second defendant and the appellant. The court held that it was just and convenient to appoint a receiver to prevent a scramble and preserve the property until the rights of the parties were ascertained.

Final Decision: The court dismissed the appeal and upheld the appointment of the receiver.

KUPPUSWAMI, J.

( 1 ) THE appellant herein is the sisters son of the plaintiff in O. S. No. 66 1966 Sub-Court, Vijayawada. The plaintiff in that suit filed the suit for partion and separate possession suit for partion and separate possession of her 1/2 share in the suit schedule properties which belonged to her sons Venkatramaiah who died on the 30/12/1963. The two defendants to the suit are his widows. The first defendant supported the plaintiff. but the second defendant contend that she was entitled to the whole property of their deceased husband under an unregistered will executed by him on 28-12-1963. The plaintiff stating that she was residing in a portion of the houses belonging to Venkatarmaiah applied for an injunction in I. A. No. 391 of 1969 restoring the second defendant from interfering with her possession. On a undertaking given by the second defendant that she had no objection to the plaintiff being in possession of the northern portion of the house till the suit was disposed of the application for injunction was ordered accordingly and the plaintiff remained in possession of that portion. She died on the 3/03/1969. The appellant herein claiming that the plaintiffs entire property had been bequeathed to him under a registered will dated 5-2-66 filed I. A. 992 of 1969 to implead him as a party and continue the suit. When this application was called on 20-3-69 the second defendants advocate appeared and took notice and prayed for time for filling counter. The petition was accordingly posted to 25/04/1969. Meanwhile on 10-4-69 the second defendant filed I. A. no. 1194 of 1969 to restrain the appellant herein from interfering with her possession of the suit house which is item 4 of the plaint A schedule. Interim injunction was granted on 11-4-69. The appellant thereupon filed I. A. 1284 of 1969 to vacate the said interim injunction.

( 2 ) THE court below came to the conclusion that the second defendant was not in possession of the northern portion of the house, as the plaintiff was admittedly in possession of that portion in view of the undertaking given by the second defendant in the prior I. A. and there was no proof that the second defendant subsequently got into possession of that portion. It also came to the conclusion that the appellant was not in possession of the said portion. In the circumstances of the case in considered it just and convenient to appoint a receiver for the northern portion of the house. The court below therefore vacated the interim injunction order but appointed Sri S. R. Das, as receiver to take possession of the northern portion of the suit house. The receiver was directed to submit a report as to the feasibility of its being given on rent. This appeal is against the said order and is preferred by the respondent in I. A. No. 1194 of 1969.

( 3 ) THE main contention urged on behalf of the appellant is that having held that the applicant was not in possession of the northern portion of the house the court below should have merely vacated the interim injunction. It erred ion appointing a receiver. It was submitted that in the absence of any application for the appointment of a receiver. a receiver cannot be appointed in an application for an injunction.

( 4 ) IN support of this contention, reliance was placed upon a decision in Narayana Dossju v. Madras H. R. E. Board. AIR 1951 Mad 706. In that case the plaintiff who was in possession applied for an injunction restraining the defendant from interfering with his possession. It was held that where the plaintiff seeks the assistance of the court to restrain the defendant by an injunction from interfering with his possession and enjoyment of certain properties it is not open to the court to dispossess the plaintiff who was admittedly in possession of the properties by appointing a receiver without an application being made by the defendant to that effect. We do not consider this decision as an authority for the proposition that in no case can be r






Click Here to Read the rest of this document
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Judicial Analysis

AI

SupremeToday Portrait Ad
supreme today icon
logo-black

An indispensable Tool for Legal Professionals, Endorsed by Various High Court and Judicial Officers

Please visit our Training & Support
Center or Contact Us for assistance

qr

Scan Me!

India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!

For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :

whatsapp-icon Back to top