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1940 Supreme(Cal) 172

CALCUTTA HIGH COURT
Mohamed Akram, J., Mohamad Akram, J., B.K. Mukherjea, J.
Abhoy Charan Malo & Anr. - Appellant
Versus
Harendra Chandra Mandal & Ors. - Respondent
Decided On : 15-04-1940

The main legal point established in the judgment is the interpretation of the terms of a mortgage bond to determine the nature of the mortgage and the rights of the parties involved.

Headnote:

Usufructuary Mortgage - Restoration of Possession - The court held that the mortgage in question was a usufructuary mortgage, and the mortgagors were entitled to restoration of possession under section 26-G(5) of the Ben. Ten. Act. The court interpreted the terms of the mortgage bond and concluded that there was no personal covenant to pay the money, and the term fixed in the deed did not import any personal liability. The court also referred to previous judgments to support its interpretation of the mortgage terms.

Fact of the Case:

The mortgagors applied for restoration of possession of the mortgaged property under section 26-G(5) of the Ben. Ten. Act, claiming that the consideration of the mortgage was extinguished after 15 years from the date of registration of the instrument. The trial court granted the application, which was appealed by the mortgagee.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the mortgage in question was a usufructuary mortgage and that the mortgagors were entitled to restoration of possession under section 26-G(5) of the Ben. Ten. Act. The court held that there was no personal covenant to pay the money, and the term fixed in the deed did not import any personal liability.

Issues: The main issue was whether the mortgagors were entitled to restoration of possession of the mortgaged property under section 26-G(5) of the Ben. Ten. Act, based on the extinguishment of the mortgage consideration after 15 years.

Ratio Decidendi: The court interpreted the terms of the mortgage bond and concluded that there was no personal covenant to pay the money, and the term fixed in the deed did not import any personal liability. The court also referred to previous judgments to support its interpretation of the mortgage terms.

Final Decision: The court upheld the decision of the trial court and dismissed the appeal, holding that the mortgagors were entitled to restoration of possession of the mortgaged property under section 26-G(5) of the Ben. Ten. Act.

JUDGMENT

B.K. Mukherjea, J. - This rule was obtained by the mortgagees petitioners, against an order made by the Munsif, Third Court, Munshiganj, in a proceeding u/s 26-G(5), Ben. Ten. Act. The opposite, parties were mortgagors under an allege usufructuary mortgage bond executed in, the year 1914. They presented an application for restoration of possession of the mortgaged property u/s 26-G(5), Ben. Ten. Act, on the ground that more than 15 years had elapsed from the date of the registration of the instrument and consequently the consideration of the mortgage was extinguished. The trial Court granted the prayer and allowed the application. The mortgagee preferred an appeal before the District Judge of Dacca which was dismissed. It is not disputed before us that the appeal was incompetent and we have been asked to revise the order of the Munsif in exercise of our revisional powers. Mr. Guha who appears in support of the rule has contended before us that the mortgage in this ease could not rank as a usufructuary mortgage in law and as such the mortgagors were not entitled to have She properties restored to them u/s 26-G(5).

2. The document has been placed before us in its entirety. It recites that the mortgagors took an advance of Rs. 400 from the mortgagees and as a security for the advance, executed a mortgage bond and gave Sup possession of the scheduled properties to the mortgagees. The mortgagees were to enjoy the usufruct in lieu of interest. The mortgagors undertook to take back the property on payment of the principal sum in the month of Pous 1323 B.S. In case they could not redeem the properties at the stipulated period the mortgagees would go on enjoying the properties till the money was paid. The further stipulation was that if it was subsequently disclosed that the mortgagors had already mortgaged the properties to other persons or if before payment of the mortgage money it was again mortgaged to some other person or the mortgagors surrendered the lands in favour of the landlords, then the mortgagees could institute a suit for the recovery of the mortgage money and in that case they would be entitled to recover all these sums together with costs by sale of the mortgaged properties. On a consideration of the document as a whole, we are of opinion that the document did create a usufructuary mortgage. There is no personal covenant to pay the money and the term or wadah fixed in the deed does not in our opinion import any personal liability.

3. As we have held in Civil Revn, Khoaj Jamadar Vs. Abdul Sobhan Khan Jalkadar Khan, AIR 1940 Cal 426 the fixing of a wadah or term of this description does not alter the character of the mortgage. The provision, to quote the words of the learned Judges in Luchmeshar Singh v. Dookh Mochan Jha (1897) 24 Cal. 677 was merely a proviso for redemption. It laid down the minimum time within which the mortgagor could redeem. That such a term is quite proper in a usufructuary mortgage bond is clear from the provision of Section 62(b), T.P. Act. There is no provision in the deed that on the expiry of the due date the mortgagee would be able to demand the money. On the other hand it is expressly provided that in default of redemption the mortgagees will hold the property and go on enjoying the same till the mortgagor was in a position to pay the money. The other stipulation which gives the mortgagee a right to sue for the mortgage money and to sell the mortgaged property in the case of disclosure of any encumbrance on the property is in the nature of indemnity clause as has been held by a Division Bench of this Court in Panchanan Mandal and Another Vs. Sashi Bhusan Pradhan and Others, AIR 1940 Cal 281 . This takes effect only on the happening of a certain contingency, when the basis of the arrangement upon which the parties proceeded is disturbed or upset. In our opinion the view taken by the Court below is right and the rule must be discharged. We make no order as to costs.

Mohamed Akram, J.

4. I a

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