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2017 Supreme(Cal) 640

IN THE HIGH COURT OF CALCUTTA
ASHIS KUMAR CHAKRABORTY, J.
Bholanath Jaiswal - Petitioner
Versus
Urmila Devi Jaiswal and Ors. - Opposite Parties
C.O. No. 3056 of 2016
Decided On : 15-03-2017

Advocates Appeared:
For the Petitioner: Mr. Prabal Mukherjee, Mr. Sukanta Chakraborty
For the Opposite Parties : Mr. Aniruddha Chatterjee, Mr. Kushal Chatterjee

The main legal principle established is that the saving clause in Section 27 of the Act of 2001 preserves the jurisdiction of the Civil Court to execute eviction decrees passed under the Act of 1981, despite the repeal of the Act of 1981 by the Act of 2001.

Headnote:

Thika Tenancy - Jurisdiction of Civil Court - West Bengal Thika Tenancy (Acquisition and Regulation) Act, 2001, Section 8(3), Section 11(6), Section 21 - The court discussed the provisions of the Act of 2001 and the Act of 1981, highlighting the jurisdiction of the Civil Court to execute an eviction decree and the powers vested with the Controller under the Act of 2001. The court emphasized the saving clause in Section 27 of the Act of 2001, which preserved the jurisdiction of the Civil Court to execute the eviction decree passed under the Act of 1981.

Fact of the Case:

The thika tenants filed an ejectment suit in 2002, obtained a decree for eviction in 2009, and initiated execution proceedings in 2013. The defendant challenged the jurisdiction of the Civil Court to execute the eviction decree based on the provisions of the Act of 2001.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the jurisdiction of the Civil Court to execute the eviction decree under the Act of 1981 was preserved despite the repeal of the Act of 1981 by the Act of 2001. The court held that the saving clause in Section 27 of the Act of 2001 allowed the Civil Court to retain jurisdiction for executing the eviction decree.

Issues: The main issue was whether the Civil Court lacked jurisdiction to execute an eviction decree passed under the Act of 1981 before November 2010, in light of the provisions of the Act of 2001.

Ratio Decidendi: The court's decision was based on the interpretation of the provisions of the Act of 2001, particularly Section 27, and the application of the saving clause to preserve the jurisdiction of the Civil Court to execute the eviction decree.

Final Decision: The revisional application challenging the jurisdiction of the Civil Court to execute the eviction decree was rejected, and the court affirmed the jurisdiction of the Civil Court to carry out the execution.

JUDGMENT :

Ashis Kumar Chakraborty, J.

The revisional application, at the instance of the defendant judgment debtor no. 7 in the ejectment suit, is directed against the order no. 53 dated May 17, 2016 passed by the learned Judge, 6th Bench, Presidency Small Cause Court, Calcutta in connection with Miscellaneous Case No. 146 of 2013, arising out of Ejectment Execution Case No. 24 of 2013, in connection with Ejectment Suit No. 528 of 2002.

2. The short point of law raised in the revisional application is whether in view of Section 8(3) and Section 11(6) of the West Bengal Thika Tenancy (Acquisition and Regulation) Act, 2001, (hereinafter referred to as "the Act of 2001"), read with Section 21 thereof, the Civil Court lacks the jurisdiction to execute an ejectment decree passed by it under Kolkata Thika and other Tenancies and Lands (Acquisition and Regulation) Act, 1981 (hereinafter referred to as "the Act of 1981") before November 2010.

3. The facts, in short are that in the year 2002 the opposite party nos. 1 to 7 claiming themselves as thika tenants, filed the ejectment suit before the learned Judge, 6th Bench, Presidency Small Cause Court, Calcutta claiming a decree for recovery of possession of the suit property by evicting the proforma opposite party nos. 1 to 9 and the present petitioner, the defendant no. 7 in the suit. The ejectment suit was contested by the defendants, issues were framed and the parties adduced their respective evidence before the learned trial Judge. By a judgment dated April 24, 2009 the learned trial Judge held that the plaintiffs opposite party nos. 1 to 7, as the thika tenants of the suit property, are entitled to file the ejectment suit and decreed the suit. Against the said judgment and decree for eviction passed by the learned trial Judge the defendants preferred an appeal, being Title Appeal No. 21 of 2009 before and the same was dismissed on merit. The defendants judgment debtors, however, did not deliver vacant possession of the suit property to the plaintiffs opposite party nos. 1 to 7. In the year 2013, the plaintiffs opposite party nos. 1 to 7, the decree holders filed the Execution Case No. 24 of 2013 before the learned executing Court, that is, the learned Court below and a writ of possession was issued directing the bailiff of the Court to recover possession of the suit property by evicting the defendants judgement debtors. However, judgment debtors, including the present petitioner resisted the Court bail if to execute the decree. Therefore, the present opposite party nos. 1 to 7, as the decree holders filed an application before the learned Court below praying for, police help to the bailiff for execution of the eviction decree. During the pendency of the said application, the present petitioner filed an application under section 151 of the Code of Civil Procedure praying for, dismissal of the execution case. In her said application the petitioner alleged that in view of the amendment of the Act 2001, in the year 2010, particularly Sections 8(3) and Section 11(6) thereof, the bar of Section 21 of the Act comes into play and the Civil Court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain the execution case filed by the plaintiffs decree holders and it is Thika Controller with whom the jurisdiction vests to execute an eviction decree obtained by a thika tenant. By order dated May 17, 2016 the learned Court below held that as per the provisions in Section 27 of the Act of 2001 the contention raised on behalf of the petitioner challenging the jurisdiction of the Civil Court to execute the aforementioned eviction decree is not tenable and rejected the application filed by the petitioner. It is the said order dated May 17, 2016 which has been assailed by the petitioner in this revisional application.

4. Mr. Prabal Mukherjee, learned Senior Advocate appearing for the petitioner submitted that in view of the enactment of the Act of 2001, with effect from March 01, 2003 the Act of 2001 stood repealed. Accordi









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