HIGH COURT OF CALCUTTA
DAS GUPTA, GUHA RAY
RANJIT KUMAR BANERJEE - Appellant
Versus
GOUR HARI MUKHERJI - Respondent
Civil Rule 1993 Of 1954
Decided On : MARCH 15, 1956
TRANSFER OF EXECUTION PROCEEDINGS - SECTION 24, CIVIL PROCEDURE CODE - INTERPRETATION - EXECUTION PROCEEDINGS NOT COVERED BY THE TERM "SUIT OR OTHER PROCEEDING" - TRANSFER NOT PERMITTED.
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner obtained two separate decrees for ejectment and executed them in two different courts. He applied to the District Judge of Howrah to transfer the execution proceedings to one of the courts, but the application was refused.
Finding of the Court:
The court held that execution proceedings cannot be transferred under Section 24 of the Civil Procedure Code (CPC) because they do not fall within the term "suit or other proceeding."
Issues: Whether execution proceedings can be transferred under Section 24 of the CPC.
Ratio Decidendi: The court relied on the decision of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in 'thakur Pershad v. Fakir Ullah' (1895) 22 Ind App 44, which held that execution proceedings do not fall within the term "other proceedings" as used in Section 647 of the old CPC (corresponding to Section 141 of the present CPC). The court also noted that the Calcutta High Court had consistently held that execution proceedings cannot be transferred under the general provisions of the CPC permitting transfer of proceedings or suits.
Final Decision: The court discharged the rule and refused to order the transfer of the execution proceedings.
( 1 ) THIS Rule was directed against the order of the learned District Judge of Howrah, refusing an application made by the present petitioner, who has obtained two separate decrees for ejectment and has put them into execution in. two different Courts, for transferring the same to one of these Courts.
( 2 ) IT appears to us that whatever might have been said on the merits, the position in law is that such a transfer cannot be allowed under Section 24, Civil P. C. The relevant provisions of Section 24, Civil P. C. arc that the High Court or the District Court may withdraw any suit, appeal or other proceeding pending in any Court tubordinate to it and transfer the same for trial to any Court subordinate to it and competent to try or dispose of the same. The question is whether an execution proceeding is within the words "suit or other proceeding. " In several other High Courts, the view has been taken that an execution proceeding is really a part of a suit and consequently an execution proceeding can be transferred under S. 24, Civil P. C. (Vide 'muhammad Habib Ullah v. Tikam Chand', 47 All 57: (AIR 1925 All 276 (2) ) (A ). It appears, however, that no notice was taken in these cases of the decision in 'thakur Pershad v. Fakir Ullah', 22 Ind App 44 (B), where the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council decided that Section 373 of the old Code which refers to withdrawal of suits did not apply to execution proceedings. It is important to note that in the above decision, the Judicial Committee considered the further question whether execution proceedings fell within the words, "other proceedings" as used in the old Section 647, corresponding to the present Section 141, Civil P. C. They answered the question In the negative and observed "that the proceedings spoken of in E. 647 include original matters in the nature of suits such as proceedings in probstes, guardianships, and so forth, and do not include executions. " they pointed out further that the explanation added by Act 6 of 1892 that nothing in Section 647 will apply to execution proceedings added nothing to the law. If the words, "other proceedings" appearing in Section 647 of the old Code of Civil Procedure be interpreted in view of the Privy Council decision to exclude execution proceedings, it is difficult to see how the words occurring in Section 24 of the present Code can be interpreted to include execution proceedings. I think that we are bound, on the authority of 'thakur Pershad's case (B)', to hold that Section 24, Civil P. C. , does not apply to execution proceedings.
( 3 ) IT is important to note in this connection that this Court has all along taken the view that execution proceedings cannot be transferred under the general provisions in the Code permitting transfer of proceedings or suits. In Act 25 of 1837, Section 8 provided that"it shall be competent to either of the Courts. of Sudder Dewanny Adawlat. . . . . . . . to authorise the Judge of any Zilla or City Court, subordinate to such Court of Sadar Dewanny Adawlut, to transfer to a Principal Sudder Ameen any Civil Proceedings, whether miscellaneous or summary which may be pending at the time when such order is issued. . . . . . . . . . . . and all proceedings transferred shall be disposed of by the said Principal Sudder Ameen. . . . . . . . . . . . "in 'kedarnath Mahata v. Bungshee Dhur Roy', 17 WR 45 (C), Glover J. , had to consider whether under this section, the District Judge could transfer execution cases from his own Court to the Court of the Subordinate Judge, and held that the section gave no authority to the District Judge to transfer execution cases.
( 4 ) IN Act 8 of 1859 the Code of Civil Proce dure which became law on 22-3-1859, there was a provision in Section 6 that"the Sudder Court may order that the cognizance of any suit or appeal which may be insti tuted in any Court subordinate to such Sudder Court, shall be transferred to any other Court subordinate to its authority. .
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