Andhra Pradesh High Court
Judges : ALLADI KUPPUSWAMI, GOPALRAO EKBOLE
Mantrala Rajagopalam - Appellant
Versus
Vemuri Venkata Subbba Rao - Respondent
Decided On : 04-11-69
LIMITATION ACT - SECTION 182 - APPEAL - EXECUTION OF DECREE - PART OF DECREE - FINAL DECREE - SAVING OF LIMITATION - TWO DECREES PASSED IN A SUIT - APPEAL AGAINST ONE DECREE - WHETHER SAVES LIMITATION FOR EXECUTION OF OTHER DECREE.
Fact of the Case:
In a suit for possession of land and mesne profits, two decrees were passed: a preliminary decree declaring the plaintiff's entitlement to a one-third share in the suit property and directing partition and delivery of possession, and a decree for mesne profits. The 3rd defendant appealed against the preliminary decree, and the plaintiff filed a memorandum of cross-objections. The High Court allowed the appeal and dismissed the cross-objections. The plaintiff filed a second appeal, which was allowed, and the preliminary decree was restored. The plaintiff then filed two applications in the trial court: one for partition and allotment of two shares to him, and the other for ascertainment of mesne profits. The 3rd defendant filed an application to set aside the ex-parte decree passed for mesne profits, which was dismissed. The 3rd defendant filed a second appeal against the final decree allotting two one-third shares to the plaintiff, which was dismissed. The plaintiff filed an execution petition for the decree of mesne profits, which was dismissed as time-barred. The plaintiff filed an appeal, which was allowed by the Subordinate Judge. The 3rd defendant filed a second appeal.
Finding of the Court:
The court held that the case is governed by Article 182(2) of the Limitation Act, and the period of limitation would therefore commence from the date of the final decree or order of the Appellate Court, or the withdrawal of the appeal. The court found therefore the E. A. within limitation and allowed the appeal.
Issues: Whether an appeal against one decree in a suit saves limitation for execution of another decree from which no appeal was filed under Article 182(2) of the Indian Limitation Act, 1908.
Ratio Decidendi: The court held that where two distinct decrees are passed in a suit and an appeal is preferred against only one of them, it can be said that it is an appeal against a portion of the decree in a suit and the final decree in such appeal would save limitation for execution of the other decree from which no appeal was filed under Article 182(2) of the Indian Limitation Act, 1908. The court reasoned that the word "decree" in Article 182(2) should be interpreted broadly to include not only an appeal against the whole of such decree but also an appeal in respect of a part of such a decree. The court further held that the two decrees passed in the suit, although appearing to be separate, should be considered as one for the purpose of Article 182(2) since they arose out of the same suit and were complimentary to each other.
Final Decision: The court allowed the appeal, set aside the judgment and decree of the learned Judge and restored that of the Subordinate Judges Court, Machilipatnanm, given in A. S. No. 12 of 1961 on 29-3-1963.
( 1 ) THE question which has to be answered in this Letters Patent Appeal, is, where tow distinct decrees are passed in a suit and an appeal is preferred against only one of them, can it be said that it is an appeal against a portion of the decree in a suit and the final decree in such appeal would save limitation for execution of the other decree from which no appeal was filed under Article 182 (2) of the Indian Limitation Act, 1908.
( 2 ) THE facts which give rise to this problem may briefly be stated. The appellant filed O. S. No. 476 of 1944 for possession of about 1 acre and 60 cents of land and in the alternative for partition of the same into three equal shares and for separate possession of one such share. The 1st defendant in the suit is the plaintiffs father and the 2nd defendant is his only brother. The 3rd defendant obtained a sale deed D/- 14-6-1944 from the 1st defendant for a consideration of Rupees 1500/ -. The plaintiff contended that the sale was not binding on him.
( 3 ) ON 31-3-1947, a preliminary decree was passed by the trial Court declaring that the plaintiff is entitled to a one-third share in the suit property. it directed the appointment of a Commissioner to partition of the properties into three equal shares and for delivery of possession of one such share to the plaintiff. it further ordered that the plaintiff was entitled to mesne profits calculated at 3 bags on his share from defendants 1 to 3. It also direct that the future mesne profits would be determined on a separate application.
( 4 ) THE 3rd defendant carried the matter in appeal to the Subordinate Judges Court. Machilipatanm. The plaintiff filed a memorandum of cross-objections. The learned Subordinate Judge held that the property sold to the 3rd defendant was the self-acquired property of the father of the 1st defendant. He therefore allowed the appeal and dismissed the memorandum of cross-objections. The plaintiff then filed Second Appeal No. 1572 of 1949 in the High Court. The High Court allowed the Appeal on 1-7-1955 and restored the decree of the trial Court. The preliminary decree passed by the trial Court was thus finally upheld.
( 5 ) AFTER the second appeal was disposed of the plaintiff filed tow applications in the trial Court I. A. No. 2532 of 1955 was filed to partition the property according to the preliminary decree and to allot two shares to the plaintiff on the ground that he became entitled to the 2nd defendants share as the 2nd defendant, the plaintiffs mother as well as the 1st defendant, had died during the pendency of the second appeal.
( 6 ) THE second application was I. A. No. 2320 of 1955 for the ascertainment of mesne profits of the two third share belonging to the plaintiff. Since the 3rd defendant was set ex parte, the decree for mesne profits was passed in favour of the plaintiff on 2-1-1956.
( 7 ) THE 3rd defendant filed an application to set aside the said ex-parte decree passed for mesne profits. it was, however, dismissed. C. R. P. No. 1372 of 1956 filed against that order refusing to set asiee the ex-parte decree was also dismissed by the High Court on 26-9-1958.
( 8 ) IN the meanwhile I. A. No. 2532 of 1955 was allowed and a final decree allotting two one-third shares to the plaintiff on 23-2-1956 was passed. The 3rd defendant filed. A. S. No. 65 of 1956 in the Subordinate Judges Court. Machilf patnam challenging this final decree. The appeal was however dismissed on 21-3-1957. Second Appeal No. 992 of 1957 was then filed by the 3rd defendant in the High Court. manoher Pershad J. dismissed the said second appeal on 15-2-1961.
( 9 ) THE decree-holder appellant filed E. a. No. 12424 of 1960 asking the Court to transmit the decree for mesne profits to the District Munisfs Court. Afanigadda for execution alleging that the judgment debtors properties which he intends to sell are situated within the jurisdiction of the Avanigaddda Court. On an objection regarding limitation raised by the jud
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