HIGH COURT OF BOMBAY
RAJADHYAKSHA, VYAS, JJ.
Valchand Gulabchand Shah
Versus
Manekbai Hirachand Shah
Letters Patent Appeal No.44 of 1950 from judgment of Shah, J., in First Appeal No.284 of 1949.
Decided On : 08-02-1952
Whether the payment to one of the several joint decree-holders does or does not amount to a discharge of that decree-holders share in the decree with the effect that the remaining joint decree-holders can proceed to execute the decree only in respect of their own share therein.
Fact of the Case:
One Hirachand Gulabchand and his son Manoranjan filed a suit against Hirachands two brothers, Shivial Gulabchand and Walchand Gulabchand for an account of certain property which they alleged had been entrusted to the two defendants for management. During the pendency of the suit, Hirachand, plaintiff 1, died and his widow Manekbai and his minorson Chandrashekhar were brought on record as his heirs and legal representatives and they were impleaded as plaintiffs 1A and IB to the suit. Chandrashekhar being a minor was represented by his mother Manekbai as his next friend. During the course of the suit the parties referred their dispute to arbitration. The arbitrator made an award and a decree in terms of the award was passed on August 1, 1945. Under that decree, the defendants were asked to deliver possession of shares worth about Rs.13,842, certain ornaments mentioned in Schs.B and C worth Rs.13,574 and Rs.18,550 respectively, certain silverware worth about Rs.150 and carts and bullocks worth about Rs.1,800 to the plaintiffs. In the alternative they were awarded a sum of Rs.27,044. In addition to this, the defendants were asked to render accounts of the money-lending business to the plaintiffs and to pay a sum of Rs.10,000.
Finding of the Court:
The essence of the matter is that the decree sought to be executed is a joint decree and has to be executed as such. If the shares of the decree-holders are apparent on the face of the decree either expressly or by necessary implication, it is not strictly speaking a joint decree. In such a case, as Mr. Justice Shah has pointed out, each decree-holder can take out execution in respect of his own share. But where the shares of the respective decree-holders are not apparent on the face of the decree, either expressly or by necessary implication, the decree which is sought to be executed is a joint decree, and the judgment-debtors must render satisfaction to the whole body of the decree-holders.
Issues: Whether the payment to one of the several joint decree-holders does or does not amount to a discharge of that decree-holders share in the decree with the effect that the remaining joint decree-holders can proceed to execute the decree only in respect of their own share therein.
Ratio Decidendi: Where the shares of the respective decree-holders are not apparent on the face of the decree, either expressly or by necessary implication, the decree which is sought to be executed is a joint decree, and the judgment-debtors must render satisfaction to the whole body of the decree-holders.
Final Decision: The result, therefore, is that we confirm the order of Mr. Justice Shah in First Appeal No.284 of 1949 and dismiss this Letters Patent appeal with costs.
RAJADHYAKSHA, J. :- This is an appeal under the Letters Patent from a decision of Mr. Justice Shah in First Appeal No.284 of 1949 which confirmed the order of the Civil Judge, Senior Division, Sholapur, in Darkhast No.883 of 1946.
2. One Hirachand Gulabchand and his son Manoranjan filed a suit against Hirachands two brothers, Shivial Gulabchand and Walchand Gulabchand for an account of certain property which they alleged had been entrusted to the two defendants for management. During the pendency of the suit, Hirachand, plaintiff 1, died and his widow Manekbai and his minorson Chandrashekhar were brought on record as his heirs and legal representatives and they were impleaded as plaintiffs 1A and IB to the suit. Chandrashekhar being a minor was represented by his mother Manekbai as his next friend. During the course of the suit the parties referred their dispute to arbitration. The arbitrator made an award and a decree in terms of the award was passed on August 1, 1945. Under that decree, the defendants were asked to deliver possession of shares worth about Rs.13,842, certain ornaments mentioned in Schs.B and C worth Rs.13,574 and Rs.18,550 respectively, certain silverware worth about Rs.150 and carts and bullocks worth about Rs.1,800 to the plaintiffs. In the alternative they were awarded a sum of Rs.27,044. In addition to this, the defendants were asked to render accounts of the money-lending business to the plaintiffs and to pay a sum of Rs.10,000.
Manoranjan, plaintiff 2, was the step-son of Manekbai and it appeared that after the death of his father, plaintiff 1, there were disputes between Manekbai and Manoranjan. Some of these disputes took the form of proceedings in criminal Courts. Manoranjan then admittedly started living with his uncle Walchand, defendant 2, and appeared to be supporting the defendants case. The defendants having failed to satisfy the decree, Manekbai filed a Darkhast No.883 of 1946 in the Court of the Civil Judge, Senior Division, Sholapur, to execute the decree on behalf of herself and her minor son Chandrashekhar. As the decree was a joint decree, the darkhast application came to be filed under the provisions of O.21, R.15, which enables one or more of the decree-holders to apply for execution of the whole decree for the benefit of all decree-holders. After an order of attachment was issued by the executing Court, defendant 2, Walchand, appeared before the Court and contended (1) that the darkhast filed by Manekbai was not maintainable, inasmuch as plaintiff 2 Manoranjan had not joined in the filing of the darkhast, (2) that the ornaments mentioned in Schs. B and C had, before the date of the darkhast, been already handed over to Manekbai and Manoranjan, (3) that Rs.10,000 had been paid to Manoranjan at the time of his marriage, and (4) that the decree-holders had agreed to take one land belonging to the defendants situated at Scregaon in satisfaction of the decree to the extent of Rs.25,000.
3. Both the executing Court and Mr. Justice Shah have held that the darkhast was maintainable, and that the agreement to take one land belonging to the defendants situated at Soregaon in satisfaction of the decree to the extent of Rs.25,000 had not been proved; and these points have not been disputed before us. With regard to the ornaments mentioned in Sch.C, both the executing Court and Mr. Justice Shah have come to the conclusion that they were meant exclusively for Manoranjan and that therefore the decree must be deemed to have been satisfied pro tanto by the delivery of those ornaments to Manoranjan. As regards the cash payment of Rs.10,000, which were admittedly received by Manoranjan, plaintiff 2, the executing Court held that the payment was made under an authority from Manekbai plaintiff 1A, and gave credit in respect of that payment to all the decree-holders.
Mr. Justice Shah, however, took the view that the payment did not bind Chandrashekhar, minor plaintiff IB, and he therefore allowed execu
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