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2004 Supreme(Bom) 520

IN THE HIGH COURT OF BOMBAY
Mohta Anoop V., J.
L. T. Finance Limited .... Plaintiffs.
Versus
T. Jagadishwara Rao another.... Defendants.
Chamber Summons No. 46 of 2003 in Execution Application No. 15 of 2003 in Arbitration No. 269 of 2001, decided on 5-4-2004.
Advocates appeared :
Ms. Shakuntala Joshi, for plaintiffs.
Judgment

Headnote:Civil Procedure Code, 1908 - Order XXI, Rule 41(3) - Detention - Scope of power there- under. - Where there is no accusation by the petitioner against advocate of respondent having given the advise carelessly and/or that advocate lacked bona fide in giving such advise. In case in hand power under Order XXI, Rule 41, CPC can well be exercised. Direction issued to pass appropriate warrant in accordance with law.

MOHTA ANOOP V., J.:---Heard Ms. Shakuntala Joshi for the plaintiffs.

2. This Chamber Summons has been taken out by the plaintiffs against the defendants. The basic prayer which is insisted during this hearing is based on Order 21, Rule 41(3) of (C.P.C.).

The earlier orders which were passed in this Chamber Summons are relevant for the relief as prayed. By order dated 3rd June, 2003, the Chamber Judge has passed the following order:

"After hearing the learned Counsel for the applicant/claimant and on going through the affidavit, in my opinion, it would be appropriate to grant prayer (d) at this stage. The defendants are, accordingly, directed to file an affidavit stating the particulars of his properties as provided under Order 21, Rule 41 of C.P.C. within three weeks from today."

3. By order dated 15th July, 2003, it was specifically observed; that the defendant unable to take effective steps in spite of the order of this Court dated 3rd July, 2003. Therefore, show cause notice to the defendants No. 1 and 2 were made returnable after 4 weeks. By order dated 1st September, 2003, Hamdast was also allowed to the show cause notice.

4. On 25th November, 2003, this Court, after considering the order passed on 15th July, 2003, allowed the substitute service upon the defendants, by publishing the notices in newspapers. By order dated 9th February, 2004 the order of substituted service was modified and allowed the plaintiffs to publish the show cause notice in other newspapers. The plaintiffs have accordingly, published notice in three news papers in Warangal in Andhra Pradesh as directed. This publication was made on 24th February, 2004.

5. Plaintiffs have filed affidavit of service dated 8th March, 2004, stating that the show cause notices were duly published in two news papers i.e. Times of India (Hyderabad) and Vartha Warangal (main issue) and thereby contended that services and publication of the show cause notices were completed.

6. Considering the above facts and background, in my opinion, this is a fit case, where Order 21, Rule 41(3) of C.P.C. is required to be invoked. The basic provision is reproduced as under:

"Examination of judgment debtor as to his property.—(1) Where a decree is for the payment of money the decree-holder may apply to the Court for an order that--

(a) the judgment debtor, or

(b) (where the judgment-debtor is a Corporation), any officer thereof or

(c) any other person,

be orally examined as to whether any or what debts are owing to the judgment-debtor and whether the judgment debtor has any and what other property or means of satisfying the decree; and the Court may make an order for the attendance and examination of such judgment-debtor, or officer or other person, and for the production of any books or documents.

(2) Where a decree for the payment of money has remained unsatisfied for a period of thirty days, the Court may, on the application of the decree-holder and without prejudice to its power under sub-rule (1), by order require the judgment debtor or where the judgment debtor is a Corporation, any officer thereof, to make an affidavit stating the particulars of the assets of the judgment-debtor.

(3) In case of disobedience of any order made under sub-rule (2), the Court making the order, or any Court to which the proceeding is transferred, may direct that the person disobeying the order be detained in the civil prison for a term not exceeding three months unless before the expiry of such term the Court directs his release."

7. The above provisions made it very clear that, if case is made out, the Court has sufficient power to invoke the provisions of Order 21, Rule 41(3). This is a fit case, where such steps should be taken to meet the ends of justice.

8. It was pointed out, that this Court has also passed such order in other matter bearing Chamber Summons No. 1300 of 2003.

9. Even otherwise, in view of the facts referred above and averments made in the affidavit in support of the Chamber Summons, I am granting r









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