Delhi High Court
SULTAN SINGH
Lakha Singh - Appellant
Versus
Som Nath - Respondent
F.A.O. No.248 of 1981
Decided On : 12/09/1981
INJUNCTION - RESTRAINING DECREE HOLDER FROM EXECUTING DECREE FOR POSSESSION - O.39 Rr.1 AND 2 OF THE CIVIL P.C. - WHETHER EXECUTION OF DECREE FOR POSSESSION AMOUNTS TO THREAT TO DISPOSSESS OR CAUSE INJURY - INHERENT POWER OF COURT - PRINCIPLES FOR GRANT OF TEMPORARY INJUNCTION.
Fact of the Case:
Plaintiff filed a suit for declaration that the agreement to sell dated 9th March, 1981 between the appellant and the respondent was valid and binding and for an injunction restraining the appellant from executing the decree for possession obtained by him. The trial court granted a temporary injunction restraining the appellant from taking possession of the suit property.
Finding of the Court:
The court held that execution of a decree for possession does not amount to a threat to dispossess or cause injury within the meaning of Rule 1(c) of Order 39 of the Code. The court also held that the plaintiff was not entitled to retain possession in view of the decree passed by the trial court and confirmed by the High Court. The court further held that the trial court had not correctly appreciated the principles for the grant of temporary injunction.
Issues: 1. Whether execution of a decree for possession amounts to a threat to dispossess or cause injury within the meaning of Rule 1(c) of Order 39 of the Code? 2. Whether the court should exercise its inherent power in restraining the appellant from executing the decree for possession?
Ratio Decidendi: 1. The court held that execution of a decree for possession does not amount to a threat to dispossess or cause injury within the meaning of Rule 1(c) of Order 39 of the Code because the expression of an intention to take possession by lawful means does not amount to a threat to dispossess or cause injury. 2. The court held that the trial court should not have exercised its inherent power in restraining the appellant from executing the decree for possession because the plaintiff was not entitled to retain possession in view of the decree passed by the trial court and confirmed by the High Court.
Final Decision: The appeal was accepted and the order of restraining the appellant from executing his decree for possession was set aside. The application for the grant of temporary injunction was dismissed.
JUDGEMENT : - This first appeal is directed against the judgement and order of the Additional District Judge dated 25th August 1981 restraining the appellant-defendant from taking possession of Plot No.65-A, Hansapuri, Rampur, Main Road, Tri Nagar, Delhi in execution of the decree passed in his favour against the respondent/plaintiff and another in suit No.450 of 1977 by Shri Shiv Charan, Sub-Judge, Delhi on 25th October 1979. Learned counsel for the appellant, submits that the impugned order could not have been issued against the appellant under O.39 Rr.1 and 2 of the Civil P.C. as the said provisions were not applicable and that even under inherent powers the trial court ought not to have exercised discretion in favour of the plaintiff.
2. Briefly the facts are that the appellant is the owner of the plot of land in suit. He let out the same to one Ravi Dutt in 1972 in terms of a rent note. Ravi Dutt, tenant sublet, assigned or otherwise parted with the possession of the plot to Som Nath, respondent. A notice of eviction was served upon the tenant terminating his tenancy. In 1977 the appellant filed a suit for possession against his tenant Ravi Dutt as well as sub-tenant Som Nath respondent. Tha suit was resisted but a decree for possession was passed by the trial court on 25th April 1979 which was confirmed by the Additional District Judge and this Court.
3. The appellant decree-holder on 2nd November 1979 took out execution for obtaining possession but he was resisted by the respondent. He applied for police aid for obtaining possession which was sanctioned on 23rd January 1981. Arrangement was being made to provide police aid but before it could be arranged the respondent on 28th March 1981 filed the suit for declaration, that the agreement to sell dated 9th March, 1981 between the appellant and the respondent way valid and binding and for an injunction restraining the appellant from executing the said decree for possession obtained by him. He also made an application for the grant of a temporary injunction out of which this first appeal has arisen. The appellant in the written statement took various objections including the objections that the suit for declaration and injunction was not maintainable. The plaintiff then sought leave to amend the plaint and prayed for the additional, relief of a decree for specific performance of the said agreement to sell. The amendment was allowed.
4. The plaintiff in the amended plaint alleges that he has been in actual physical possession of the suit plot that the appellant is the landlord who let out the same to him at a monthly rent of, Rs. 100/- in 1974, that in 1977 the appellant in collusion with Ravi Dutt Sharma filed a suit for ejectment wherein a decree for possession was passed by the trial court which was confirmed by the Additional District Judge and the High Court. He further alleges that during the pendency of the execution negotiation between the appellant and the respondent started through the intervention of some respectable person of the locality whereby the appellant showed his willingness to sell the plot in question to him. The respondent alleges that thus the appellant agreed to sell the plot of land in consideration of Rs. 65000/- in terms of the agreement to sell dated 9th March 1981, that a sum of Rs. 15000/-, Rs. 10000/- by cash and Rs. 5000/- by cheque was paid as earnest money and by way of part payment of the sale consideration, that the payment was acknowledged by means of a separate receipt dated 9th March, 1981, that the appellant also swore an affidavit deposing that he had entered into the agreement to sell with the respondent and had allowed him to continue to reside and use the aforesaid plot.
5. An ex parte injunction as mentioned above was granted on 28th March 1981 which was later on confirmed by the impugned order. The appellant submits that no agreement to sell was ever entered into or executed by him and no money was ever paid, that no cheq
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