1971 Supreme(Kar) 224
Karnataka High Court
ALLISAHEB MASUMSAHEB ALAS - Appellant
Versus
BABU LAXMAN CHAMBAR - Respondent
Decided On : 07-27-71
R.S.A. : 406 of 1969
G.D.Shirgurkar, S.L.Benadikar
The main legal point established in the judgment is the interpretation of jurisdictional provisions under the Mysore Civil Courts Act and the CPC, specifically regarding the competence of the District Court to withdraw and try or dispose of appeals against decrees passed by the Munsiff.
Headnote:
Jurisdiction - Mysore Civil Courts Act - S. 20, S. 24 CPC - The court discussed the jurisdictional issue arising from the withdrawal of an appeal by the District Court to its file and the disposal of the said appeal. The court interpreted the relevant provisions of the Mysore Civil Courts Act and the CPC to determine the jurisdiction of the District Court in hearing appeals against decrees passed by the Munsiff.
Fact of the Case:
The plaintiff filed a suit for possession of the suit land, originally framed for permanent injunction, seeking eviction on the ground of dispossession during the pendency of the suit. The defendants claimed to be tenants of the suit land under a lease deed from 1944.
Finding of the Court:
The Munsiff decreed the plaintiff's suit, which was affirmed in appeal by the District Judge. The defendants appealed the jurisdiction of the District Court in hearing the appeal.
Issues: Jurisdiction of the District Court in hearing appeals against decrees passed by the Munsiff.
Ratio Decidendi: The court interpreted S. 20 of the Mysore Civil Courts Act and S. 24 of the CPC to determine the jurisdiction of the District Court in hearing appeals against decrees passed by the Munsiff. It held that the District Court was competent to withdraw and try or dispose of the appeal as the Court of the Civil Judge was subordinate to it.
Final Decision: The appeal was dismissed, and the court held that the withdrawal of the appeal by the District Court from the file of the Civil Judge was legal and proper.
( 2 ) THE learned Munsiff after considering the evidence on record decreed the plaintiff's suit. The said decree has been affirmed in appeal by the learned District Judge Though the appeal was filed by the defendants in the Court of the Civil Judee at Biiapur, the same was subsequently withdrawn to the District Court at Bijapur in exercise of the powers conferred on the District Court under S. 24 CPC , to be hereinafter referred to as the C. P. Code.
( 3 ) SRI G. D. Shirgurkar, the learned Counsel for the appellants firstly contended that the decree passed by the learned District Judge is without jurisdiction. He submitted that as the decree was passed by the learned Munsiff on the 28th of February 1966, after the coming into force of the Mysore Civil Courts Act, 1964, it is only the Court of the Civil judee that was competent to entertain and dispose of the appeal in view of S. 20 of the Mysore Civil Courts Act. It was therefore urged that though the defendants preferred their apoeal before a proper forum, the withdrawal of the appeal by the District Court to its file and the disposal of the said appeal is without jurisdiction. It is clear from the opening paragraph of the judgment of the learned Dist. Judge that he has withdrawn the appeal to his Court from the Court of the Civil Judge where the appeal was pending as there was not sufficient work for his Court. Though the provision of law under which the learned District Judge withdrew the appeal to his file has not been stated, it is clear that the same must have been done in exercise of the powers vested in the District Court under Section 24 of the CPC. Sri Shirgurkar relied upon the provisions of s. 20 of the Mysore Civil Courts Act, 1964, which reads as follows :"20. Appeals from Munsiff. Appeals from the decree and orders passed by a Munsiff in original suits and proceedings of a civil nature shall when such appeals are allowed by law, lie to the court of the Civil Judge. "it cannot be d sputed in view of S. 20 of the Mysore Civil Courts Act that an appeal against the decree passed by the learned Munsiff lies to they court of the Civil Judg'e, Sri Shirgurkar urged that the withdrawal off the appeal by the District Court to its file is without jurisdiction. His submission is tha the power under S. 24 of the CPC can be exercised only consistent with the provisions of the Mysore Civil Courts Act and not in contravention pf tje same. It was urged that an appeal against the decree passed by the Court of the Munsiff lies only to the Court of the Civil judge under S. 20 of the Mys