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2020 Supreme(Kar) 1889

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT DHARWAD BENCH
H.B. Prabhakara Sastry, J.
Dr.Mallikarjun S/o Veerbhadrayya Lutimath and ors. – Petitioners
Versus
Smt.Sunanda, D/o. Shankar Rao Pandit and ors. – Respondents
Civil Revision Petition No.1004 OF 2010
Decided On : 05-10-2020

Advocate Appeared:
For the Petitioner:Sri S.C.Hiremath, Advocate, And Sri S.B.Hebballi, Advocate
For the Respondent:Sri S.H.Mittalkod and Sri V.M.Sheelavant, Advocates, Sri Mallikarjunswamy B.Hiremath

Headnote:

Specific Relief Act, 1963 - Section 28(1) - Urban Ceiling Authority under Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976 - Seeking to rescind contract - Agreement to Sell - Present petitioner, since deceased, being represented by his legal representatives, as a plaintiff, had instituted a suit in the Court against the original defendants daughter of respondent son of respondent for specific performance of an Agreement to Sell with respect to an immovable property - Suit came to be decreed by judgment and decree of trial Court - Whether impugned order passed by trial Court deserves any interference at hands of this Court – Held, no doubt, for enforcement of a decree, he has got a limitation period of twelve years, but, it does not mean that, for such a long period i.e., till expiry of limitation period, he need not offer judgment debtors balance payment of amount so that they can perform their part of promise which was simultaneous under decree - Admittedly, same has not been done - Furthermore, even according to both parties, obtaining of certificate from Urban Land Ceiling authority also came to be frustrated, because, pertinently, Urban Land Ceiling Act ceased to be in operation - Thus, when condition for performing certain acts was applicable to both parties, it has to be exercised simultaneously - Decree holder without discharging his part of obligation under the decretal terms cannot expect other side alone to perform their promise - Thus, since trial Court has rightly appreciating these facts, allowed application filed by the respondents 1 and 2 (defendant Nos.1 and 2) and ordered for rescinding the contract, court do not find any reason to interfere in it - Civil Revision Petition is dismissed.

ORDER :

The present petitioner, since deceased, being represented by his legal representatives, as a plaintiff, had instituted a suit in O.S.No.644/1989, in the Court of Prl.Civil Judge (Jr.Dn.) & Prl.J.M.F.C., Dharwad, (hereinafter for brevity referred to as ‘trial Court’), against the original defendants by name Smt.Sunanda, daughter of Shankar Rao Pandit (respondent No.1 herein) and Sri Shankar Rao, son of Venkatesh Pandit (respondent No.2 herein), for specific performance of an Agreement to Sell dated 24.4.1981, with respect to an immovable property. The suit came to be decreed by the judgment and decree of the trial Court on 20.2.1998. The respondent Nos.3 and 4 herein filed RA.No.41/1998 before the learned Civil Judge (Sr.Dn.), Dharwad, and later the same came to be transferred to learned II Addl.District Judge, Dharwad and renumbered as R.A.No.129/2003, which appeal came to be dismissed. Against which, they preferred an appeal in R.S.A.No.968/2004, which also came to be dismissed. The decree holder filed an Execution Petition in E.P.No.84/2006 on 3.11.2006. An application was filed for appointment of a Court Commissioner on 31.3.2008. In the meantime, the respondents 1 and 2 filed an application i.e., IA.No.III in O.S.No.644/1989 under Section 28(1) of the Specific Relief Act, 1963, seeking to rescind the contract dated 24.4.1981, inter alia contending that the decree holder has not paid the purchase money (remaining balance sale consideration of a sum of Rs10,000/-) within the time allowed by the Court.

The decree holder denied the allegations made in the said application contending that there was no specific time limit fixed for the payment of the balance sale consideration and that the Execution Petition was filed within the limitation period. However, the trial Court after hearing both side, by its order dated 21.10.2009, allowed I.A.No.III filed by the applicants and ordered that the Agreement to Sell dated 24.4.1981 has stood rescinded due to the fault of the plaintiff and thereby the judgment and decree dated 20.2.1998 has stood annulled. It also directed the judgment debtors 1 and 2 to return the earnest money of Rs5,000/-with interest at the rate of 6% per annum from the date of the suit till the date of decree. The defendants 1 and 2 were directed to deposit the said amount in the Court within one month from the date of the order. It is challenging the said order of the trial Court allowing IA.No.III, which was filed by present respondents 1 and 2, the decree holder/plaintiff has preferred this Revision Petition.

2. The respondents are being represented by their respective learned counsels. The notice against respondent Nos.3 to 6 is dispensed with vide Court order dated 8.11.2010.

3. Heard the arguments of learned counsel from both side.

4. The only point that arise for my consideration is:

    “Whether the impugned order passed by the trial Court deserves any interference at the hands of this Court?”

5. Learned counsel for the revision petitioner in his argument vehemently submitted that when the decree under consideration did not specifically mention that the plaintiff ought to have deposited the amount irrespective of the respondents’/decree holder’s performing their part of the promise, the act of the trial Court in allowing IA.No.III filed under Section 28(1) of Specific Relief Act was uncalled for.

6. Learned counsel for respondent Nos.1 and 2 in his argument submitted that a reading of the operative portion of the decree makes it very clear that the decree holder ought to have paid or deposited the balance sale consideration, however, he for no valid reason had filed the Execution Petition after more than eight years, as such, the trial Court has rightly allowed the application.

7. The operative portion of the judgment passed in O.S.No.644/1989 reads as below :

    “The suit of the plaintiff is decreed.

It is further ordered and decreed that the plaintiff is entitled to a relief of specific performance and also possessi

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