HIGH COURT OF CALCUTTA
P. B. Mukharji
OFFICIAL TRUSTEE OF WEST BENGAL - Appellant
Versus
MONMOTHONATH SADHUKHAN - Respondent
Civil Suit 496 Of 1946
Decided On : JUNE 5, 1952
ORDER 21 RULE 97 - EXECUTION OF DECREE - OBSTRUCTION - LIMITATION - CONTINUITY OF RESISTANCE - SAME PERSON OR CHARACTER - FRESH WRITS FOR POSSESSION - EACH OBSTRUCTION OR RESISTANCE GIVES INDEPENDENT TERMINUS A QUO FOR APPLICATION UNDER ORDER 21 RULE 97 - OBSTRUCTION BY SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST OR PERSON CLAIMING THROUGH PREVIOUS OBSTRUCTOR NOT SAME OBSTRUCTION OR CONTINUOUS WITH PREVIOUS OBSTRUCTION - OBSTRUCTION WITHOUT JUST CAUSE - DECREE-HOLDER ENTITLED TO AVAIL AS FRESH STARTING POINT FOR LIMITATION EVERY TIME THE RESISTOR OBSTRUCTS THE SHERIFF'S WRIT FOR POSSESSION.
Fact of the Case:
The Official Trustee of West Bengal applied for an enquiry and investigation regarding resistance and obstruction offered by Abdul Sukkur Moham-mad Osman Khan, Akhtar Hossain Khan and Abdul Jalil when the applicant wanted the Sheriff to execute his decree for possession of premises No. 17, 17/1 and 17/1/1 Kashi Nath Mallick Lane,. Calcutta. The application was made under Order 21, Rule 97, C. P. C. The respondents appeared and used their affidavits in opposition to this application.
Finding of the Court:
The Court held that the application was not barred by limitation as each obstruction or resistance to a writ for possession gives an independent terminus a quo for an application under Order 21 Rule 97. The Court also held that the obstruction by the respondents was without any just cause and that they were acting at the instigation of the judgment-debtor.
Issues: 1. Whether the application was barred by limitation? 2. Whether the obstruction by the respondents was without any just cause?
Ratio Decidendi: 1. The Court held that the application was not barred by limitation as each obstruction or resistance to a writ for possession gives an independent terminus a quo for an application under Order 21 Rule 97. The Court relied on the decision in 'Baranagore Jute Factory Co. Ltd. v. Raj Kumar Roy' (13 Cal WN 724) and distinguished the decision in 'Mukunda Bapu v. Tanu Saku' (AIR 1933 Bom 457 (FB)). 2. The Court held that the obstruction by the respondents was without any just cause as they were acting at the instigation of the judgment-debtor.
Final Decision: The Court ordered the Sheriff to put the petitioner in vacant possession of the premises in suit by removing the respondents and if they continue such obstruction, by committing the respondents to civil prison. The respondents were also ordered to pay the costs of the application.
( 1 ) IN this application the Official Trustee of West Bengal asks for an enquiry and investigation regarding resistance and obstruction offered by (1) Abdul Sukkur Moham-mad Osman Khan, (2) Akhtar Hossain Khan and (3) Abdul Jalil when the applicant wanted the Sheriff to execute his decree for possession of premises No. 17, 17/1 and 17/1/1 Kashi Nath Mallick Lane,. Calcutta. The application is made under Order 21, Rule 97, C. P. C. The respondents have appeared and used their affidavits in opposition to this application.
( 2 ) BEFORE discussing the points of opposition, it will be necessary to state briefly the material and relevant facts.
( 3 ) THIS suit was instituted by the Official Trustee on 15-3-1946 against the defendant for the recovery of possession of the said premises which had been let out to the defendant whose tenancy was later determined by notice to quit. The defendant contested that suit. But after some proceedings a decree for ejectment was made on 18-12-1946 in favour of the plaintiff Official Trustee. By that decree the defendant was ordered and directed to deliver quiet possession of the said premises to the Official Trustee. An appeal was preferred by the defendant and during the pendency of the appeal the defendant applied and obtained stay of execution of the decree for possession. The defendant also gave an undertaking to the Court of Appeal to deliver vacant possession if the appeal went against him, so that the Official Trustee would not have to adopt execution proceedings. The appeal was dismissed with costs on 8-4-1948. In spite of the dismissal of the appeal, and in spite of that undertaking, the defendant, however, failed to vacate the premises and give delivery of possession to the Official Trustee, It is alleged in the petition that the defendant avoided proceedings in contempt for breach at his undertaking by residing outside the jurisdiction of this Court. The Official Trustee thereafter started execution proceedings early in July, 1949 when the defendant made another application making the case that he was not liable to be ejected because he was a ticca tenant under the Calcutta Ticca Tenancy Act, Thereafter an issue was directed to be) tried as to whether the defendant was a ticca tenant or not. That proceeding also went against the defendant, and by an order of Banerjee J. dated 2-2-1950 the defendant's application to be declared a tenant was dismissed with costs,
( 4 ) THEN started the stage of execution and the difficulties still persist although more than 6 years have elapsed since the filing of the suit. The Official Trustee obtained an order directing the Sheriff to put him into possession. When the Sheriff went to give delivery of possession, he was resisted by some individuals and he reported on 5-7-1950 about such resistance. The Sheriff's report of 5-7-1950 which is annexed to the petition of the Official Trustee filed in this Court on 7-9-1950 discloses the following facts as will appear from the relevant extract which I am quoting from the report :"the defendant was not present but his representatives were there. Besides the defendant there were other sub-tenants coming through him, viz. , (1) Sri Ramdeo Burrrian, carrying on business with empty oil drums, (2) A. S. M. Akhtar Khan alias Akhtar H. Khan carrying on business in wooden goods such as planks, boxes etc. , (3) Sri Jaisukhlal Doshi carrying on business as photographers, 4. Sheik Rajia carrying on business as musical suppliers, and (5) Sheik Aggar carrying on business in lorries. The above five sub-tenants stated, that they pay rents to the defendant and some of them produced rent receipts and they stated that they were 'not bound by this order and they were not made parties to the suit and they refused to make over possession to the plaintiff or the Sheriff and, therefore, resisted the Sheriff from doing so. "upon this the Official Trustee made a similar application as the present one for investiga
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