Karnataka High Court
B.S.Vishwanath - Appellant
Versus
Chandikaben J.Mehta - Respondent
Decided On : 07-31-89
R.F.A. : 393 of 1989
Mortgage - Redemption of Property - Order 12, Rule 6 C. P. C. - [Mortgage] - [Redemption of Property] - [Order 12, Rule 6 C. P. C.] - The court discussed the provisions of Order 12, Rule 6 C. P. C. and its jurisdiction to pass a decree based on the admission made by the appellant regarding the mortgage deed. The court considered the admission of the mortgage transaction and the disputed title of the respondents to the property, and concluded that the admission must be complete and sufficient to pass a partial decree. The court also highlighted the legal principle that a mortgagee cannot impeach the title of the mortgagor to the mortgaged property, and the purchaser of the property from the mortgagor must prove the purchase if disputed.
Fact of the Case:
The house property subject to a decree for redemption belonged to Nanjamma, mortgaged to the appellant. The respondents claimed to have purchased the property from Nanjamma and filed a suit for redemption. The appellant admitted the mortgage transaction but disputed the respondents' title to the property.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the admission of the mortgage transaction was not sufficient to pass a partial decree under Order 12, Rule 6 C. P. C. as the title of the respondents to the property was disputed. The court directed the lower court to dispose of the case expeditiously, particularly to decide whether the respondents have purchased the suit property.
Issues: Dispute over respondents' title to the property, jurisdiction to pass a decree under Order 12, Rule 6 C. P. C., and the need to expedite the case due to the deposit of the mortgage money by the respondents.
Ratio Decidendi: The admission must be complete and sufficient to pass a partial decree. A mortgagee cannot impeach the title of the mortgagor to the mortgaged property, and the purchaser of the property from the mortgagor must prove the purchase if disputed.
Final Decision: The appeal was allowed, the order under Order 12, Rule 6 C. P. C. was set aside, and the lower court was directed to dispose of the case expeditiously.
( 1 ) THIS appeal is presented by the appellant/defendant against an order for partial decree made by the Xth Additional City civil Judge, Bangalore in a suit filed by respondents 1 to 3.
( 2 ) THE facts of the case are these : the house property which is the subject matter, for a decree for redemption belonged to one Nanjamma. She had mortgaged the said property in favour of the appellant, by a Registered Mortgage deed dated 22-7-74. The period of mortgage was 10 years. The amount borrowed was rs. 21,500/ -. After the period of mortgage was over said Nanjamma filed O. S. No. 3189/87 seeking redemption of the mortgaged property. Thereafter, according to the respondents, she sold the property in their favour by registered sale deed dated 11-12-1987 and withdrew the suit. After purchasing the house property the respondents/plaintiffs filed the suit for redemption on 7-4-1988. On 1 st August, 1988, and they also deposited the mortgage money of Rs. 21,500. 00 in the Court. Though the defendant/appellant had been served with the notice in the suit, they did not appear before the Court in the circumstances, the appellant/defendant was placed exparte and on behalf of plaintiffs/respondents the third tespondent was examined as P. W. 1 on 23-1-1989. Thereafter the appellant appeared and made an application to permit him to file the written statement and to contest the case and his prayer was granted. He then filed his written statement. In the written statement, the appellant admitted the mortgage transaction and also admitted that the mortgage was for a sum of rs 21. 500/- and the period of mortgage was 10 years. The appellant, however, stated that he was entitled to receive some more amount, which is said to have been advanced by him to Nanjamma and he also claimed to receive the money equal to tax paid to the Corporation and also the amount spent on improvement of the property. But the fact remains, the appellant/defendant did admit the mortgage transaction and according to the mortgage deed, the period of mortgage was 10 years and the amount of mortgage was Rs. 21,500/- and therefore, as the period of mortgage had come to an end, the mortgagor was entitled to seek redemption of the property on depositing a sum of Rs. 21. 500/-which is the only amount due under the mortgage deed. But the appellant/defendant took a specific plea in the written statement that the respondents have not purchased the property from Nanjamma and they had not become the owner of the property.
( 3 ) IN the circumstances, on the basis of the plaint and the written statement, the following issues were framed by Court below ; -1. Do the plaintiffs prove their title to the suit schedule property ?2. Do the plaintiffs prove that they have purchased the suit schedule property subject to the encumbrance of mortgage by their vendor under the usufructuary mortgage deed dated 22-7-1974 for Rs. 21,500/- and entitled for redemption of the same ?3. Do the plaintiffs prove that they are entitled for possession of suit schedule property ?4 ). Do the plaintiffs prove that the defendant attempted to encumber or otherwise part with possession of their property ?5. Whether the defendant proves that he paid Rs. 31,500/- to Nanjamma under the mortgage Deed dated 22-7-1974 ? 6. Whether the defendant proves that he has got the charge over the suit property for another Rs. 5. 000/- to Nanjamma and another Rs. 5. 000/- to hemanna ?7. Whether the defendant proves that he has spent Rs. 7,000/- for the preservation of the suit property and entitled for the said amount with 21% per annum interest ?8. Whether the defendant proves the suit is bad for non-joinder of necessary parties?9. What reliefs and what order ?"
( 4 ) THOUGH targe number of issues have been framed the real issues were only two, namely (i) whether the respondents had purchased the property from nanjamma through a registered sale deed and had thereby acquired title and interest to the propety and (ii) wheth
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