PATNA HIGH COURT
V.Ramaswami and B.P.Jamuar JJ.
Kartar Singh
Versus
Ramkumar Bhagat
Supreme Court Appeal No. 47 of 1952 ;
Decided On : MARCH 05, 1953
CIVIL PROCEDURE CODE, 1908 - SECTION 110 - APPEAL TO SUPREME COURT - VALUE OF SUBJECT MATTER IN DISPUTE - DETERMINATION - PAYMENT OF MONEY - SATISFACTION OF DECREE - DISPUTE AS TO PAYMENT - VALUE OF SUBJECT MATTER IN DISPUTE FOR PURPOSES OF APPEAL TO SUPREME COURT IS AMOUNT IN DISPUTE AND NOT AMOUNT OF DECREE.
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner, Sardar Kartar Singh, sought leave to appeal to the Supreme Court against a judgment of the High Court reversing an order of the Subordinate Judge dismissing an execution case on the ground that the decree had been satisfied. The petitioner claimed that he had paid a sum of Rs. 8000 to the decree-holder, while the decree-holder alleged that the petition of satisfaction was forged.
Finding of the Court:
The Supreme Court held that the value of the subject matter in dispute for purposes of appeal to the Supreme Court was the amount in dispute, which was Rs. 8000, and not the amount of the decree, which was Rs. 13,382. The Court found that the petitioner was affected only to the extent of Rs. 8000 by the order of the High Court, and therefore the case did not fall within Article 133(1)(a) of the Constitution, which provides for appeals to the Supreme Court in cases where the value of the subject matter in dispute is Rs. 10,000 or more.
Issues: 1. Whether the value of the subject matter in dispute for purposes of appeal to the Supreme Court is the amount in dispute or the amount of the decree? 2. Whether the present case falls within Article 133(1)(a) of the Constitution, which provides for appeals to the Supreme Court in cases where the value of the subject matter in dispute is Rs. 10,000 or more?
Ratio Decidendi: The Supreme Court held that the value of the subject matter in dispute for purposes of appeal to the Supreme Court is the amount in dispute, and not the amount of the decree. The Court found that the petitioner was affected only to the extent of Rs. 8000 by the order of the High Court, and therefore the case did not fall within Article 133(1)(a) of the Constitution.
Final Decision: The Supreme Court dismissed the petitioner's application for leave to appeal.
1. This application is presented on behalf of Sardar Kartar Singh for leave to appeal to Supreme Court against the judgment and decree of a Bench of this High Court dated 17-4-1952 in F. A. 100 of 1950.
2. The opposite party No. 1 had obtained a decree for a sum of Rs. 13,382/13/1 with interest against the opposite party No. 2. There was an appeal preferred to the High Court but the appeal was dismissed on 15-3-1949. On 20-12-1949 opposite party No. 1 applied for execution of the decree in the court of the Special Subordinate Judge of Ranchi. In para 5 of the execution petition the opposite party No. 1 mentioned that there was a sum of Rs. 8000 which was kept in deposit with the Garnishee Sardar Kartar Singh for being paid to opposite party No. 1. Objections were filed to the execution case by various persons. On 5-3-1949 the petitioner filed an objection on the ground that he had paid a sum of Rs. 8000 to the opposite party No. 2 and so he was not liable to pay the amount over again to opposite party No. 1. Later on, on 23-4-1949 an application was filed in the executing court to the effect that opposite party No. 1, viz., the decree-holder, had received a sum of Rs. 8000 from the garnishee and the balance of the amount viz., a sum cf Rs. 5,382. from the opposite party No. 2. The application was Signed by one Sahdeo Prasad, agent of the opposite party No. 1, and by Mr. A.K. Banerji, an Advocate.
In the application it was prayed on behalf of opposite party No. 1 that the execution case should be dismissed on full satisfaction, Accordingly the learned Subordinate Judge dismissed the execution case. Five days later, opposite party No. 1 filed an application before the Subordinate Judge alleging that fraud had been practised by Sahdeo Prasad and the petition of satisfaction was forged and did not bear the signature of opposite party No. 1. An enquiry was made into the matter by the learned Subordinate Judge who held that the decree was really satisfied and there was no reason for restoring the execution case. Against this order opposite party No. 1 filed an appeal to the High Court and on 17-4-1952 the High Court allowed the appeal and reversed the order of the Subordinate Judge. Against this judgment, leave is at present sought for appeal to the Supreme Court.
3. In the course of argument Mr. B. C. De said that in the present case the petitioner would have a right of appeal under Article 133 (1)(a) of the Constitution even if the value of the subject-matter in dispute was Rs. 13.382 in the court of first instance and still in dispute in appeal in Supreme Court. The argument is based upon the circumstance that the execution case was instituted on 20-12-1948 long before the Constitution of India was promulgated. It was argued that the case would be governed by the valuation mentioned in Sec.110, Civil P. C. In support of his contention, Mr. De relied upon a decision of the Bombay High Court in -- Dajisaheb V/s. Shankarrao. AIR 1952 Bom 303 (A") in which it was held that in all matters where there was a right of appeal under Sec.110, Civil P. C., that right continued in respect of all cases filed prior to the coming into force of the Constitution and there was nothing in Article 133 by which the litigant is deprived of that right. It is not necessary for us in the case to pronounce an opinion on the correctness of this argument for we are satisfied alter a consideration of the particular facts in the present case, that the value of the object-matter in dispute so far as the petitioner is concerned was Rs. 8000 in the court of first instance and also at present in dispute in appeal.
4. It is true that the decree was for a Sum of Rs. 13,382 which was being executed in the court of the Special Subordinate Judge. But the case of the petitioner was that he had paid a sum of Rs. 8000 to the opposite party No. 1 and the judgment-debtor, viz., opposite party No. 2, had paid a sum of Rs. 5,382 to the decree-holder. The petition of s
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