IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY BENCH AT GOA
Bharat P. Deshpande, J.
Ratnabai Raikar & Ors. – Appellants
Versus
Joao Fernandes & Ors. – Respondents
Civil Revision Application No. 8 of 2016
Decided On : 09-01-2023
Jurisdictional Error - Execution Proceedings - Section 47 of CPC, Order 21 Rule 97 to Rule 101 - The court discussed the provisions of Section 47 of CPC and Order 21 Rule 97 to Rule 101, emphasizing the duty of the Executing Court to entertain and decide questions arising out of execution proceedings. The court highlighted the liberal construction of Section 47 and the applicability of the provisions to disputes between parties and persons resisting possession. The judgment emphasized the need for the Executing Court to conduct an inquiry into the title of the Applicants' claim over the property, as provided under the mentioned provisions.
Fact of the Case:
The Applicants challenged the rejection of their application under Order 21 Rule 97 CPC, objecting to the inclusion of their property in a sale deed executed during execution proceedings. They claimed ownership and possession of the property, which was erroneously included in the sale deed.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the Executing Court committed a jurisdictional error by rejecting the application solely on the ground that the execution proceedings were closed. It emphasized the duty of the Executing Court to entertain and decide questions arising out of execution proceedings, as provided under Section 47 of CPC and Order 21 Rule 97 to Rule 101.
Issues: The main issue was whether the Executing Court was justified in rejecting the application solely on the ground that the execution proceedings were closed.
Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the duty of the Executing Court does not end with the closure of execution proceedings and emphasized the need for the Executing Court to conduct an inquiry into the title of the Applicants' claim over the property, as provided under Section 47 of CPC and Order 21 Rule 97 to Rule 101.
Final Decision: The impugned order was quashed and set aside, and the application was restored to the file of the Executing Court for a decision on its own merit and in accordance with the law.
JUDGMENT
Bharat P. Deshpande, J. - By way of present revision application, the Applicants are challenging the order dated 22.01.2016 passed by the learned Civil Judge, Senior Division, Panaji in Civil Misc. Application No.4/2016 thereby rejecting the application filed by the Applicants under Order 21 Rule 97 CPC in Execution Application No. 24/2004. The learned Executing Court dismissed said application on the ground that execution proceedings have been disposed of and therefore, the application is not maintainable.
2. Heard learned Senior Counsel Mr Nitin Sardessai along with Advocate Mr. Shivam Fadte for the Applicants, learned Counsel Mr Ashwin D. Bhobe with Ms A. Kuvelkar for Respondent No.15. No one appeared on behalf of L.Rs. of Respondent No.1 though duly served by way of publication.
3. Mr Nitin Sardessai submitted that impugned order is bad in law as the learned Executing Court committed jurisdictional error by rejecting application only on the ground that the execution proceedings are disposed of. He submitted that Applicants filed objections to the execution of decree in Execution Application No. 24/2004 under Order 21 Rule 97 CPC thereby objecting to alleged ownership and possession of Respondent No.1 therein and consequently seeking cancellation of sale deed dated 02.12.2006 to the extent of property bearing Survey No.238/1 which was executed under Order 21 Rule 34 of CPC in favour of Respondent No.1 being the Decree Holder in Special Civil Suit No.110/1984. Respondent No.1 allegedly entered into agreement for sale on 20.12.1965 with Srimatibai Vinaeca Anvekar for a price of ?28,000/- for purchase of property known as 'DEULIM' OR 'CAPEACHI MOLOI' or 'DAGINACHI MOLOI' situated at Morombi-O-Grande at Merces, bearing Land Registration No. 17307 and Matriz No. 109. Respondent No.1, in order to enforce specific performance of such agreement, filed Special Civil Suit No.110/1984 against late Srimatibai Vinaeca Anvekar and her legal heirs. No specific details including boundaries of the suit property were mentioned in the plaint. The said suit was dismissed on 02.02.2000 holding that the said suit is time barred. Accordingly, Respondent No.1 challenged the said Judgment and Decree of the Civil Court by preferring Regular Civil Appeal No.36/2000. Learned District Judge vide his Judgment and Decree dated 25.05.2004 allowed the said appeal and the suit. It was held that Respondent No.1 is entitled to purchase the said property from the vendors and accordingly directed to specifically perform their part within 60 days. Respondent No.1 then filed execution proceedings before the learned Civil Court under Order 21 Rule 34. Vide order dated 28.11.2006, the learned Executing Court allowed the application and directed the Officer of the Court to execute the sale deed in favour of Respondent No.1. Accordingly, Respondent No.1 deposited remaining balance amount and thereafter, Officer of the Civil Court was pleased to execute and register sale deed in favour of Respondent No.1 dated 02.12.2006. In the sale deed, for the first time, apart from land registration and matriz records, the survey number of the property was mentioned as Survey No.236 admeasuring an area of 9075 sq. mts., Survey No.237 admeasuring an area of 4336 sq. mts. and Survey No.238 admeasuring an area of 17993 sq. mts.
4. It is the contention of the Applicants that such survey numbers along with the areas are erroneously mentioned in the sale deeds thereby enlarging the scope of the decree and travelling beyond the decree.
5. On the basis of such sale deed dated 02.12.2006, Respondent No.1 filed mutation application in respect of Survey Nos.236/1, 237/1 and 238/1 which was allowed vide order dated 27.02.2008. Thereafter, Respondent No.1 filed partition proceedings before the Deputy Collector, North Goa on the basis of mutation and in order to dispossess the Applicants and the other Respondents Nos.7 to 15 from the suit property. The Deputy Collector issued summons to th
Harnandrai Badridas vs. Debidutt Bhagwati Prasad and Others (1973) 2 SCC 467
Minati Ghosh vs. Lakshmi Narayan Sarkar and Ors. AIR 2004 CAL 74
Shreenath and Another vs. Rajesh and Others (1998) 4 SCC 543
The duty of the Executing Court to entertain and decide questions arising out of execution proceedings, as provided under Section 47 of CPC and Order 21 Rule 97 to Rule 101.
The executing court is competent to consider all questions raised by the persons offering obstruction against execution of the decree and pass appropriate order, which is to be treated as a decree. T....
The court reinforced that obstruction claims in execution proceedings must be heard to uphold rights, ensuring adherence to natural justice principles.
The Appellate Court's failure to consider evidence of independent title and the lack of a mandatory injunction for removal of structures rendered the decree in-executable.
A third party claiming under a judgment debtor cannot file an application under Order XXI Rule 97; they must file under Rule 99 instead.
Rule 97 read with Rule 101 of Order 21 post amendment wherein the executing court has to determine under Rule 101 Order 21 of the Code that the question raised has legally arisen between the parties ....
The executing court has jurisdiction to enforce decrees, including injunctions, and can act against violations by judgment debtors.
A transferee of a judgment debtor cannot invoke Order XXI Rule 99 for re-delivery, as their rights must be independent of the judgment debtor's rights.
Login now and unlock free premium legal research
Login to SupremeToday AI and access free legal analysis, AI highlights, and smart tools.
Login
now!
India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!
Copyright © 2023 Vikas Info Solution Pvt Ltd. All Rights Reserved.