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2023 Supreme(Bom) 1924

IN THE HIGH COURT OF BOMBAY
Bharat P. Deshpande, J.
Communidade of Margao - Appellant
Versus
Jairam Babusso Sirodcar - Respondent
Writ Petition No. 441 of 2021
Decided On : 09-02-2023

Advocates appeared:
Sudin Usgaonkar, Advocate, Pooja Naik, Advocate, S. Usgaonkar, Advocate, Deepak Gaonkar, Advocate, Shailesh Redkar, Advocate, K. Desai, Advocate

IMPORTANT POINT
The primary legal principle established is that a decree for restoration of possession, which includes the removal of illegal structures, is subject to a 12-year limitation period under Article 136 of the Limitation Act, rather than the shorter period for mandatory injunctions.

Headnote:

LIMITATION - Execution Proceedings - Limitation Act, Article 135, Article 136 - The court interpreted Article 136 of the Limitation Act as applicable to the case, allowing a 12-year limitation period for restoration of possession, rather than the 3-year period under Article 135 for mandatory injunctions. This interpretation was pivotal in overturning the lower court's dismissal of the execution proceedings, which had incorrectly classified the decree as solely for mandatory injunction.

Fact of the Case:

The petitioner challenged an order from the Executing Court that dismissed execution proceedings for restoration of possession of land, claiming they were filed beyond the limitation period. The petitioner argued that the decree included restoration of possession, not just a mandatory injunction.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the Executing Court misinterpreted the decree, which primarily sought restoration of possession. It concluded that Article 136 of the Limitation Act applied, allowing for a 12-year limitation period, thus reinstating the execution proceedings.

Issues: Whether the execution proceedings were maintainable given the limitation period and the nature of the decree as a mandatory injunction versus restoration of possession.

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the main relief sought in the suit was restoration of possession, which attracted a longer limitation period under Article 136 of the Limitation Act, contrary to the lower court's reliance on Article 135.

Final Decision: The writ petition was allowed, the impugned order was quashed, and the execution proceedings were restored to the Executing Court.

JUDGMENT/ORDER

1. Heard Mr. Sudin Usgaonkar, learned Senior Counsel with Mr. Pooja Naik and Ms. S. Usgaonkar, learned Counsel for the petitioner, Mr. Deepak Gaonkar, learned Counsel for respondent Nos.1 to 5 and Mr. Shailesh Redkar with Ms. K. Desai, learned Counsel for Respondent Nos.6 to 7.

2. Rule. Rule is returnable forthwith with the consent of the learned Counsel for the parties. Matter is taken up for final disposal.

3. The petitioner is challenging the impugned order passed by the learned Executing Court dtd. 24/01/2019 below Exhibit-14 in Regular Execution Application No.95/2016/F whereby preliminary objections raised by the judgment debtor to the maintainability of the execution proceedings have been up held and execution proceedings have be dismissed as filed beyond the period of limitation.

4. Learned Senior Counsel Shri Usgaonkar appearing for the petitioner would submit that the suit filed by the petitioner was for restoration of possession of the suit land by demolishing the illegal structure erected by the decree holder. The suit was decreed as per the Judgment dtd. 17/10/2021 in Regular Civil Suit No. 248 of 1975.

5. The petitioner then filed execution proceedings before the trial Court wherein judgment debtor raised objection claiming that the decree is only for grant of mandatory injunction and since execution proceedings filed beyond the period of three years, the same are barred by limitation.

6. The learned Senior Counsel would submit that the Executing Court has completely misconstrued the decree and arrived at an incorrect conclusion. Article 136 of the Limitation Act is attracted and not Article 135 as the decree is combined for restoration of possession by demolishing the illegal structures. He therefore submits that the order impugned in the present petition is perverse and illegal and therefore needs to be quashed and set aside.

7. Per contra, learned Counsel Shri Gaonkar would submit that the decree passed by the learned trial Court has to be considered as the document for the purpose of executing the decree which is for demolition of illegal structures. He would submit that unless illegal structures are demolished, the restoration of possession of the suit land is not permissible.

8. Mr. Gaonkar has placed reliance in the case of Maheboob Sahab through L.R.s v/s. Shivrajappas/o. Maharudrappa Wadje in Writ Petition No.9281 of 2014 decided by the learned Single Judge sitting at Aurangabad Bench.

9. Rival contentions fall for the consideration.

10. The petitioner is the original plaintiff who filed the suit bearing No. 248 of 1975 wherein following relief is claimed in prayer clause:

    "Free and vacant possession of the suit land by ordering the Defendants to remove the construction and plantation from the same."

11. Vide a judgment dtd. 17/10/2011 the learned Civil Court decreed the said suit by passing the following order:

    "ORDER

 The suit stands decreed. The defendants are hereby directed to remove and demolish the illegal construction situated in the said plot. Decree to be drawn accordingly."

12. Accordingly a decree was drawn which reads thus:

    "This is a suit for Eviction filed by Plaintiff against the Defendants and prayed as under:- "Free and vacant possession of the suit land by ordering the Defendants to remove the construction and plantation from the same" The suit coming on this 17th day of October 2011 for final disposal before Shri C. Fernandes, Civil Judge Senior Division at Margao, in the presence of Learned Advocate Shri E. Correia for the plaintiff and none present for defendants; it is ordered that the suit stands decreed. The defendants are hereby directed to remove and demolish the illegal construction situated in the said plot."

13. The petitioner then approached the trial Court by filing the Execution Application No.95/2016/F. The mode by which assistance of the Court is required which found in paragraph 10 of the application which reads thus:

    10. Mode of which the Assistance of the Court is R

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