HIGH COURT OF CALCUTTA
P. N. MUKHERJEE, RENUPADA MUKHERJEE
MANINDRA NATH BISWAS - Appellant
Versus
RADHASYAM BISWAS - Respondent
A. F. O. O. 218 Of 1952
Decided On : MAY 21, 1953
EXECUTION OF DECREE - AMENDMENT OF EXECUTION PETITION - POWER OF COURT - CHARGE DECREE - ENFORCEABILITY IN EXECUTION - CONSTRUCTION OF SOLENAMA.
Fact of the Case:
The plaintiff-decree-holder obtained a decree against the defendant-appellant for a sum of Rs. 57,376/- upon a Solenama filed in the suit. The Solenama provided for payment of the dues in several instalments and also provided that in case of default, the plaintiff would be entitled to realise his entire dues by immediate execution. The plaintiff applied for execution of the decree and obtained an order for interim conditional attachment of the defendant's bills and security deposits. The plaintiff later applied for amendment of the execution petition to include a prayer for sale of the charged properties for the realisation of his dues. The defendant objected to the amendment and the court allowed the amendment.
Finding of the Court:
The court held that the plaintiff was entitled to amend the execution petition and that the order for sale of the charged properties was valid. The court held that the Solenama created a charge decree and that the charge was enforceable in execution. The court also held that the defendant could not object to the amendment of the execution petition as he had not been prejudiced by the amendment.
Issues: 1. Whether the court had the power to allow the amendment of the execution petition? 2. Whether the Solenama created a charge decree? 3. Whether the charge was enforceable in execution?
Ratio Decidendi: 1. The court has the power to allow the amendment of an execution petition under Section 151 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908. The power to amend is discretionary and should be exercised liberally in favour of the decree-holder, unless there is a question of limitation or the decree-holder has been guilty of gross negligence. 2. A Solenama which provides for payment of the dues in several instalments and also provides that in case of default, the plaintiff would be entitled to realise his entire dues by immediate execution, creates a charge decree. 3. A charge created by a decree is enforceable in execution and the decree-holder is not required to file a fresh suit for its enforcement.
Final Decision: The appeal was dismissed.
( 1 ) ON 19-12-1950 the plaintiff Respondent Radha Shyam Biswas obtained a decree (including claim and costs) in Money Suit No. 15 of 1950 of the Court of the Subordinate Judge at Krishnagar against the Defendant Appellant Monindra Nath Biswas for a sum of Rs. 57,376/- upon a Solenama filed in the suit on 5-12-1950. Under the Solenama, the Respondent's dues were payable in several instalments extending up to April 1952 and the mode and manner of payment of these instalments were also clearly specified therein. It was also distinctly provided in the said Solenama that in case of any default on the part of the defendant Monindra Nath Biswas in the carrying out of the terms thereof the Plaintiff Radha Shyam Biswas would be entitled to realise his entire dues or the then, outstanding balance thereof by immediate execution. The Solenama further expressly provided in paragraphs 5 and 6 thereof as follows:"5. If the defendant violates any of the terms out of all the terms mentioned before or if he does not make payment according to the terms the plaintiff will be entitled to move against the defendant and to realise the unpaid decretal amount by attachment of the money payable from the defendants' bills or his earnest money or his moveable and immovable properties according to his rights. 6. As a consideration for the plaintiffs allowing the defendant to pay the decretal amount in instalments the defendant keeps the immoveable properties mentioned in the Schedule and owned and possessed by him charged by way of security for payment of the decretal dues. "and then followed the "schedule of list of the properties" - which were charged.
( 2 ) ON 8th March 1951, the plaintiff-decree-holder applied for execution of the decree and realisation of his dues by attachment of certain bills and security deposits of the judgment-debtor lying with the Government in its various departments upon the allegation that the said judgment-debtor had fraudulently violated the terms of the Solenama or compromise, referred to in the preceding paragraph. The Court ordered interim conditional attachment of the bills and security deposits and directed issue of notice to the judgment-debtor to show cause against the same. The notice was duly served but no objection was filed by the judgment-debtor and the execution proceeded for some time. In the course of the proceedings, it was discovered that one of the Items of security deposits attached was already under attachment at the instance of some other decree-holders of the self-same judgment-debtor and, accordingly, the Respondent applied for rateable distribution in regard to the same and eventually received a sum of Rs. 7,583/4/6 on such rateable distribution in part satisfaction of his decretal dues. As to the other items attached there was prolonged correspondence between the Court and the different Government Departments concerned and it appeared plain that the said moneys would not be available in the near future and that even upon realisation, they would not be sufficient to satisfy even a moiety of the decree-holder's dues. In such circumstances, the decree-holder applied on 27th March 1952 for amendment of his execution petition by incorporating therein a prayer for sale of the charged properties for the realisation of his dues and for including in the said execution petition a schedule of the said charged properties for that purpose. This prayer for amendment of the execution petition was allowed and the petition of amendment was directed to be treated as a part of the original petition of execution with a further order of issue of notice on the judgment-debtor under Order 21 Rule 22 C. P. C. presumably with a view to give opportunity to the judgment-debtor to object to the decree-holder's prayer for amendment of the execution petition, as set out above, before any further steps were taken upon the same. Apparently, therefore, the Court's order allowing the decree-holder's prayer fo
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.