PATNA HIGH COURT
Imam and K.Sahai JJ.
Kaviraj Basudevanand
Versus
Raghubir Saran Rastogi
Appeal From Original Order No. 347 of 1953 ;
Decided On : JANUARY 18, 1954
MORTGAGE - EXECUTION OF DECREE - SUCCESSION CERTIFICATE - LIMITATION - ELECTION - AMENDMENT OF DECREE - RES JUDICATA - [SEC. 47, 214, INDIAN SUCCESSION ACT; ORDER 34, RULE 5, CIVIL P. C.; ARTICLE 182, LIMITATION ACT]
Fact of the Case:
A mortgage decree was passed in favor of the plaintiff, Brijraj Saran Rastogi, who was later found to be a benamidar of Ramsaran Das Kashyap. After Brijraj Saran's death, his father, Raghubir Saran Rastogi, filed an execution petition to enforce the decree. The appellant, Kaviraj Basudevanand, who had purchased a share in the mortgaged property, objected to the execution, raising various objections, including the lack of a succession certificate, limitation, and the need for an election between pursuing the compensation money or the other properties.
Finding of the Court:
1. The execution of the decree did not require a succession certificate as it was a final mortgage decree for sale of the mortgaged properties and not a decree for payment of a debt. 2. The limitation period for execution of the decree started from the date of the final disposal of the first appeal, which was within three years of the present execution. 3. The respondent was not required to file a petition declaring his election to proceed against the compensation money as there was no such direction in the judgment passed by the court. 4. The failure to mention the date of amendment of the final mortgage decree in the execution petition was not fatal as the prayer in the petition was in accordance with the amended decree.
Issues: 1. Whether a succession certificate was required for the execution of the mortgage decree. 2. Whether the execution of the decree was barred by limitation. 3. Whether the respondent was required to make an election between pursuing the compensation money or the other properties. 4. Whether the failure to mention the date of amendment of the final mortgage decree in the execution petition was fatal.
Ratio Decidendi: 1. A final mortgage decree for sale of the mortgaged properties is not a decree for payment of a debt, and therefore, does not require a succession certificate for its execution. 2. The limitation period for execution of a decree starts from the date of the final disposal of the first appeal. 3. A direction to make an election between pursuing the compensation money or the other properties must be explicit and cannot be inferred from a general observation in a judgment. 4. The failure to mention the date of amendment of the final mortgage decree in the execution petition is not fatal if the prayer in the petition is in accordance with the amended decree.
Final Decision: The appeal was dismissed with costs.
Kamla Sahai, J.
1. This appeal by Kaviraj Basudevanand, the objector, is directed against an order dated 6-10-1953 of the Subordinate Judge of Hazaribagh, dismissing his objections under Sec. 47, Civil P. C., in Miscellaneous Judicial Case No. 30 of 1953.
2. The litigation out of which this appeal arises has rather a long history. It will be necessary to mention some of the facts in order to understand the points which arise for decision.
3. Upendra Nath Banerji and his son Dhirendra Nath Banerji executed a mortgage bond on 5-8-1938 in favour of the Chota Nagpur Banking Association, Limited, to secure a sum of Rs. 40,000, Properties in Gaya district as well as Hazaribagh District were given in security. The properties of Hazaribagh District which were mortgaged consisted of 3 annas 3 pice share in Mahal Gaddi Masnodih, tauzi No. 32. There were 33 villages in this Mahal. On 13-6-1939, Dhirendra Nath Banerji gave a lease of his share in Mahal Gaddi Masnodili to Shyamal Ram Surekha. On 15-2-1943, the Chota Nagpur Banking Association, Limited, instituted Mortgage. Suit No. 1 of 1943 in the Court of the Subordinate Judge of Hazaribagh to enforce their mortgage. Upendra Nath Banerji and Dhirendra Nath Banerji were the first two defendants in that suit. Shyamal Ram Surekha was implcaded as defendant 3 on the ground that he had taken lease of some of the mortgaged properties and Narahari Gir was impleaded as defendant 4 on the ground that Dhirendra Nath Banerji had executed a deed on 22-4-1942, whereby he had acknowledged that he was merely a Benamidar for Narahari Gir with regard to the share of Gaddi Masnodih in question. On 11-8-1943, a compromise petition was filed in the suit. This compromise was effected between the plaintiff bank and defendants 1, 2 and 4 and it was agreed between these parties that the mortgagee would be entitled to sell all the mortgaged properties in case the instalments fixed by the compromise were not paid. Shyamal Ram Surekha, defendant 3, filed a written statement and pleaded that his lease was binding upon the plaintiff and that, in any case, the plaintiff should be ordered, in the first instance, to sell the Gaya properties in enforcement of his mortgage. Thus, the contest between the plaintiff and Shyamal Ram Surekha continued. On 6-4-1944, Brijraj Saran Rastogi was substituted as plaintiff in the suit as an assignee of the Banks interests in the mortgage.
4. In the meantime, four villages comprised jn Gaddi Masnodih had been acquired in accordance with the provisions of Rule 75A, Defence of India Rules. On 31-5-1944, an award was made in the land acquisition proceeding, fixing the amount of compensation for acquisition of those four villages at Rs. 4,60,000. An appeal against the arbitrators award was subsequently dismissed by this Court. On 24-7-1944, the Subordinate Judge decreed Mortgage Suit No, 1 of 1943 against defendants 1, 2 and 4 on compromise and against defendant 3 (Shyamal Ram Surekha) on contest. Shyamal Ram Surekha then filed First Appeal No. 215 of 1944 in this Court against that decree. On 26-1-1946, the final mortgage decree was prepared in the Subordinate Judges Court in Mortgage Suit No. 1 of 1943. On 16-2-1948, First Appeal No. 215 of 1944 was dismissed by this Court but an observation was made as follows ;
"It is, therefore, made clear that the decree-holder will proceed in the first instance to execute his decree by obtaining an order from the executing court that the entire compensation money which is in the hands of the Government and which is available to the mortgagor and to Narahari Gir and Shyamal Ram Surekha should be paid to him to the extent of his decretal dues. If, however, the . decree-holder fails to obtain this amount within the period of six months from the date the execution starts the decree-holder will be at liberty to execute the decree by selling any of the properties given in security under the mortgage bond in the order he likes."
The compensation m
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.