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2012 Supreme(Pat) 61

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
MUNGESHWAR SAHOO, J.
Girija Devi - Petitioner
Versus
Lallan Singh & Ors. - Respondents
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.18122 of 2011
Decided on: 12.01.2012

The central legal point established is that the court's jurisdiction to appoint a Pleader Commissioner is limited to matters within the subject matter of the suit, and any action beyond this scope may result in a failure of justice.

Headnote:

Article 227 - Execution of Final Decree - The court set aside the order appointing a Pleader Commissioner for local investigation and submission of a report, as it was found to be beyond the jurisdiction of the court and resulted in a failure of justice.

Fact of the Case:

The plaintiff filed an execution case for the final decree, and the defendant respondents filed an application for the appointment of a Pleader Commissioner, which was allowed by the court. The plaintiff argued that the properties delivered to them were not the subject matter of the suit and that the court had no jurisdiction to execute the decree.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the properties delivered to the petitioner were not the subject matter of the suit, and the appointment of a Pleader Commissioner by the court was beyond its jurisdiction, resulting in a failure of justice.

Issues: Jurisdiction of the court to appoint a Pleader Commissioner, locus standi of the respondents to challenge the delivery of possession, and the introduction of a new fact by the defendant respondents.

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the appointment of a Pleader Commissioner was beyond the jurisdiction of the court and resulted in a failure of justice, as the properties delivered to the petitioner were not the subject matter of the suit.

Final Decision: The impugned order appointing the Pleader Commissioner was set aside, and the writ application was allowed in favor of the petitioner.

ORDER

Heard the learned counsel Mr. Mahesh Narayan Parvat appearing on behalf of the petitioner and the learned counsel Mr. Janardan Prasad appearing on behalf of the respondents.

2. This application has been filed by the plaintiff decree holder petitioner under Article 227 of the Constitution of India against the order dated 12.6.2008 passed by sub Judge-5th, Chapra in Execution Case No. 1 of 2004, whereby the learned court below allowed the application filed by the judgment debtor respondents for appointment of a Pleader Commissioner for the purpose of local investigation and submission of the report.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that partition suit was filed and in the said suit prayer was made for declaration certain deeds of transfer as illegal and not binding on the plaintiff. The said suit was decreed. The defendant respondents filed title appeal before the first appellate court which is still pending. In the meantime, final decree proceeding was conducted and ultimately after appointment and submission of report of Pleader Commissioner the final decree was sealed and signed. According to the learned counsel for the petitioner no appeal has been filed against the final decree. It is settled law that the final decree is executable and not the preliminary decree. To execute the final decree the plaintiff petitioner filed Execution Case No. 1 of 2004. In this execution case the present defendant respondents filed an application for appointment of Pleader Commissioner which has been allowed. According to the learned counsel for the petitioner in the execution case earlier Pleader Commissioner was appointed and delivery of possession according to the final decree was affected and possession of the property to the extent of the share of the petitioner was delivered to the petitioner. Thereafter the application has been filed by the defendant. The learned counsel further submitted that unless the previous Pleader Commissioner’s report is set aside the court could not have appointed the second Pleader Commissioner and moreover according to the defendants those properties which were delivered to the petitioner is not the subject matter of the partition suit, the executing court has no jurisdiction to execute the decree.

4. On the contrary, the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the respondents submitted that the properties which have been delivered to the present petitioner were not the subject matter of the suit and the Pleader Commissioner if appointed it will not affect the right, title, interest of the present petitioner and therefore, he has not locus standi to challenge the order passed by the court below or that the order in supervisory jurisdiction cannot be interfered with.

5. It is admitted that the delivery of possession has already been affected. If the submission of the learned counsel for the respondents is accepted that the properties which have been delivered to the petitioners are not the subject matter of the suit then the present respondents have no locus standi to challenge the delivery of possession and moreover the present respondents have not filed any appeal against the final decree. The property is of the third person according to the respondents but the said person is not coming before the court. The defendant respondents who are the judgment debtor are filing the application and on their application the learned court below has appointed the Pleader Commissioner and thereby he is trying to investigate a new fact which is being introduced by the defendant respondents.

In such view of the matter, in my opinion, the learned court below has exercised the jurisdiction in the manner not permitted by law and thereby occasioned a failure of justice. Therefore, impugned order is set aside and the writ application is allowed.

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