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1971 Supreme(Pat) 173

PATNA HIGH COURT
S.Sarwar Ali, J.
Devi Kant Mishra
Versus
Shri Kant Pathak
Appeal From Original Order No. 78 of 1969 ;
Decided On : DECEMBER 21, 1971

The date of the decree is the date of the judgment, and not the date of drawing up of the decree.

Headnote:

EXECUTION OF DECREE - LIMITATION - DATE OF DECREE - COMPROMISE DECREE ALLOTTING SPECIFIC PROPERTIES - DATE OF DECREE IS DATE OF JUDGMENT AND NOT DATE OF DRAWING UP OF DECREE - EXECUTION PETITION BARRED BY LIMITATION - CONSTRUCTIVE RES JUDICATA - ORDER PASSED IN COMPLIANCE OF HIGH COURT ORDER IN STAY MATTER - NOT AN IMPLIED ADJUDICATION ON EXECUTABILITY OF DECREE.

Fact of the Case:

A compromise decree was passed in a partition suit on 15th January, 1946, allotting specific properties to the parties. The final decree was drawn up on 28th August, 1965. Execution petition was filed on 14th December, 1965. The judgment-debtor objected to the executability of the decree on the ground of limitation.

Finding of the Court:

The date of the decree is the date of the judgment, i.e., 15th January, 1946, and not the date of drawing up of the decree, i.e., 28th August, 1965. The execution petition was, therefore, barred by limitation.

Issues: 1. Whether the execution petition was barred by limitation? 2. Whether the objection to the executability of the decree was barred by the principles of constructive res judicata?

Ratio Decidendi: 1. The date of the decree is the date of the judgment, and not the date of drawing up of the decree. 2. The order passed by the executing Court on receipt of the High Court order in the stay matter was not an implied adjudication on the executability of the decree.

Final Decision: The miscellaneous appeal was dismissed.

Judgment

S.Sarwar Ali, J.

1. This miscellaneous appeal is directed against the order of the 1st Subordinate Judge, Arrah, allowing miscellaneous case No. 105 of 1968. By this order the learned Subordinate Judge held that the execution case, being execution case No. 170 of 1965, was barred by time.

2. The relevant facts may be stated. Title suit No. 25 of 1944 was filed for partition of the suit properties by the appellants who were plaintiffs in the suit. On 15th January, 1946 a compromise decree was passed. This compromise decree not only defined the shares of the parties but on the basis of the compromise petition made allotment of specific properties to the different parties. No further step appears to have been taken for a long time. On 27th July, 1965 defendant No. 6 filed an application for preparation of the final decree. Non-judicial stamp was filed on 14th August, 1965. On 28th August, 1965 the final decree was signed. The final decree gives the date of decree as 15th January, 1946. Execution case No. 1.70 of 1965 was filed on 14th December, 1965 by the plaintiffs. Notice under Order XXI, Rule 22 of the Code of Civil Procedure was served. Shrikant Pathak appeared and filed a petition praying for stay of the execution case till the disposal of miscellaneous case No. 71 of 1965. This miscellaneous case was filed by Shrikant Pathak and others under Order IX, Rule 13 of the Code of Civil Procedure for setting aside what was termed as ex parte decree. The application for stay was rejected on 15th September, 1966. On the rejection of this application, an application was filed praying for time in order to bring stay order from the High Court. On the same date the decree-holders filed an application praying for an order for issue of delivery of possession. The learned Subordinate Judge directed that an affidavit should be filed by the judgment-debtor stating that he is moving the High Court for stay. Subsequently he granted time in order to enable the judgment-debtor to obtain order of stay from the High Court. On 12th October, 1966 an order of interim stay passed by the High Court in First Appeal No. 407 of 1965 was received. This order stayed the execution case, except in respect of cost. The learned Subordinate Judge, therefore, ordered the execution proceeding to be stayed. The matter remained pending for a long time. The final order of the High Court dated 22nd August, 1968 passed in the aforesaid First appeal was received by the learned Subordinate Judge on 26th August, 1968 which was not the date fixed in the execution case. On that date, i.e., 26th August, 1968 the following order was passed:

"Copy of order No. 33 dated 22nd August, 1968 passed in F.A. No. 407/65 received today from the Hon ble High Court, Patna, under Memo No. 7432 dated 23rd August, 1968 vacating the stay order of the execution case put up. The order staying the entire execution case is vacated subject to this condition that no delivery of possession of the house mentioned in the order will be given. The execution, case will proceed with regard to agricultural lands and cost. Decree-holder to take further steps by the date fixed. Inform."

On the next date which was the date fixed in the execution case, the Court below directed the decree-holders to comply with the order quoted above by 19th September, 1968 which was extended later to 14th November, 1968. On 14th November, 1968 the decree-holders filed the process fee only. The Court, therefore, directed them to file other requisites on 26th November, 1968 and adjourned the case for that date for further orders. On 16th November, 1968 an objection under Sec. 47 of the Code of Civil Procedure was filed by Devikant Mishra and others objecting to the executability of the decree on the ground of limitation giving rise to Misc. Case 105 of 1968. After hearing the parties, the Court below, as already mentioned, has allowed this miscellaneous case. The plaintiffs have, therefore, filed this miscellaneous app







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