IN THE HIGH COURT OF BOMBAY
(D.D. Sinha, J.)
SHAILESH s/o SUDHIR JOGLEKAR - Appellant
V.
NIRMAL KUMAR s/o GULZARILAL JAIN - Respondent
Advocates appeared
For applicant: V. V. Bhangde
None for respondent.
Provincial Small Cause Courts Act, 1887 - Section 17(1), Proviso - Civil Procedure Code, Order IX, Rule 13 - Setting aside ex parte decree - Procedure prescribed in proviso to Section 17(1) is mandatory - Application for setting aside ex parte decree must be accompanied by a deposit in the Court of the amount due under the decree if not deposited earlier. - The procedure prescribed in the proviso to sub-section (1) of Section 17 of the Provincial Small Cause Courts Act is mandatory in nature and therefore application for setting aside ex parte decree must be accompanied by a deposit in the Court of the amount due under the decree if not deposited earlier. Similarly, the application for dispensation can be filed at any time up to the time of presentation of application for setting aside ex parte decree and is not maintainable thereafter. In the instant case it is not in dispute that the ex parte decree was passed on 28.9.1991. The same was also executed and the applicant also took possession of the suit premises on 11.7.1992. The non-applicant for the first time made an application under Order IX, Rule 13, Civil Procedure Code for setting aside ex parte decree on 12.8.1992. It is not in dispute that either on 12.8.1992 or prior to that, the non- applicant has not deposited in the Court the amount due under ex parte decree dated 28.9.1991 nor any application was filed seeking permission to furnish security for the said amount under the decree. In such contingency, the application moved by the non-applicant for setting aside ex parte decree as per the procedure enumerated in proviso to sub-section (1) of Section 17 of the Act is not maintainable. 2002 (1) Scale 87 - Relied.
2. Civil Revision Application is directed against the judgment and order dated 26th February, 1999, passed by the Additional Chief Judge, Small Cause Court, Nagpur, whereby the application moved by the Respondent/non - applicant under Order 9, Rule 13 and under section 144 of Code of Civil Procedure is allowed and ex parte decree passed in Civil Suit No. 558/91 was set aside. Similarly, against the appellate order dated 12 - 6 - 2001 passed by the Additional District Judge, Nagpur, whereby the appeal filed by the applicant came to be dismissed.
2 - A. Mr. Bhangde, learned counsel for the applicant has submitted that the applicant is the original landlord and the non - applicant was the tenant in the suit premises i.e. shop block No.3, bearing House No. 293 situated at West High Court Road, Dharampeth, Nagpur. The applicant/landlord on 5 - 12 - 1990 filed application before the Rent Controller under Clause 13(3)(iii) and (v) of the C. P. and Berar Letting of Houses and Rent Control Order, 1949. On the basis of the said application, the case was registered as Revenue Case No. 726 - A/71 (2)/90 - 91.
3. The counsel for the petitioner has further contended that on 15 - 1 - 1991 the Rent Controller granted permission under abovereferred clause of the Rent Control Order and therefore, on 24 - 4 - 1991 the applicant/landlord issued quit notice to the non - applicant. Since the non - applicant refused to vacate the premises in question, the applicant on 27 - 6 - 1991 filed a Civil Suit No. 558/91 in the Small Causes Court, Nagpur, against the non - applicant for ejectment, possession and damages along with mesne profit. On 24 - 7 - 1991 the applicant served non - applicant by registered post with A.D. notice regarding filing of civil suit. The said notice was refused by the non - applicant and therefore, on 14 - 81991 the case was ordered to be proceeded ex parte. On 28 - 9 - 1991 Civil Suit No. 558/91 was decreed ex parte. The non - applicant was ordered to pay Rs. 216/ - as damages by way of occupation charges with effect from 1 - 6 - 1991 to 26 - 7 - 1991. Learned counsel for the petitioner further contended that on 11 - 7 - 1992 the decree was executed and the applicant took possession of the suit premises through Court bailiff by breaking open the locks. On 12 - 8 - 1992 the non - applicant filed an application for setting aside ex parte decree, which was registered as M.J.C. No. 31/92. The applicant on 20 - 10 - 1992 filed reply to the said application wherein preliminary objection about the maintainability of M.J.C. 31/92 was raised on the ground of non - compliance of proviso to section 17(1) of the Provincial Small Cause Courts Act, 1887, by the non - applicant. The learned counsel for the applicant further contended that the issue in this regard is concluded by the decision of the Supreme Court reported in 2002 (1) SCALE 87, Kedamath V. Mohan Lal Kesarwari and ors.
4. Learned counsel for the applicant has submitted that both the Courts without taking into consideration the procedure prescribed and scheme stipulated in proviso to sub - section (1) of section 17 of the Act passed the impugned orders and therefore, the same are de hors of the provisions of law and cannot be sustained in law.
5. I have given anxious thoughts to the contentions canvassed by the learned counsel for the applicant and perused the provisions of section 17 of the Act as well as judgment of the Apex Court relied on and cited by the learned counsel for the petitioner.
6. Before I consider the revision application on merits, I propose to deal with the procedure and scheme stipulated in section 17 of the Provincial Small Cause Courts Act, 1887. Section 17 of the Act reads thus -
17. (1) The procedure prescribed in the Code of Civil Proce
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