GAUHATI HIGH COURT
Manisana, J.
Messrs Movie Enterprises -Appellant
Versus
Chitra Pratisthan (Assam) -Respondent
Civil Revision No. 155 of 1986
Decided On : 19-09-1986
Attachment - Money Suit - The court set aside a composite order under O. 38, R. 5, CPC and O. 39, R. 7, CPC, emphasizing that the scope, object, and applicability of the two provisions are different and they should be dealt with separately.
Fact of the Case:
The plaintiff filed an application for attachment before judgment of grant-in-aid amounts and another petition for detention, preservation, or withholding of the same amount. The learned Judge disposed of the two petitions by a composite order.
Finding of the Court:
The court set aside the composite order and sent the case back to the lower court to dispose of the matters separately.
Issues: The issue was whether a composite order under O. 38, R. 5, CPC and O. 39, R. 7, CPC can be passed.
Ratio Decidendi: The scope, object, and applicability of O. 38, R. 5, CPC and O. 39, R. 7, CPC are different, and therefore, a composite order cannot be passed.
Final Decision: The impugned order was set aside, and the case was sent back to the lower court to dispose of the matters separately.
2. In Money Suit No. 55 of 1986, the plaintiff has filed an application dated 1.4.1986 (petition No. 2080) under O. 38, R. 5, CPC for attachment before judgment of the grant-in-aid amounts lying with the Director of Cultural Affairs, Gauhati. The letter dated 3.5.1986 from the Director of Cultural Affairs, Assam addressed to M/S. Chitra Pratisthan (defendant) shows that the Government have sanctioned an amount of Rs. 1,31,300/-. When the proceeding under O. 38, R. 5, CPC was about to be concluded the plaintiff filed another petition dated 24.5.1986 (petition No. 3302) under O. 39, R. 7, CPC, inter alia for an order to release the said sum of Rs. 1,31, 300/- in favour of the plaintiff, or for an order for detention, preservation and/or withholding the said amount. The learned Judge disposed of the two petitions by a composite order dated 13.6.1986 which is impugned in this petition.
3. The order under O.38, R. 5, CPC is appealable under 0.43, R. 1(q), CPC which provides that an appeal shall lie from an order under Rule 2, Rule 3 or Rule 6 of Order 38. O. 33, R.1(q) provides that an appeal shall lie from an order under Rule 1, Rule 2, Rule 2A, Rule 4 or Rule 10 of Order 39. Therefore, an order under O. 39, R. 7, CPC is not appealable. The object of the provisions of O. 38, R. 5, CPC for arrest and attachment before judgment is to prevent an attempt on the part of the defendant to defeat the realization of the decree that may be passed against him. The object of O. 39, R. 7, CPC for detention, preservation or inspection of the subject matter of the suit, etc. is mainly for the security of the subject matter of the suit. In Padam Sen vs. State of Uttar Pradesh, AIR 1969 SC 218, the Supreme Court has held that the provisions of O. 38, R. 5, CPC are to prevent a decree that may be passed being rendered infructuous. O. 39, R. 7, CPC empowers the Court, on the application of any party to suit, to make an order for detention, preservation or inspection of any property which is the subject matter of the suit, or as to which any question may arise therein. In this view of the matter, the scope, object and applicability of O. 38, R. 5, CPC are different from those of O. 39, R. 7, CPC.
4. In view of the above discussions, a composite order under O. 38, R. 5, CPC and O. 39, R. 7, CPC cannot be passed. The matters are to be dealt separately. However, the effect of an order in one case may be relevant for consideration in the other case.
For the foregoing reasons, the impugned order dated 13.6. 1986 passed by the learned Assistant District Judge (I), Gauhati is set aside and the case is sent back to the learned Assistant District Judge (1) to dispose of the matters separately in the light of the said observations. Accordingly, the petition is allowed. The office shall send back the record to the Court below immediately. I hope and trust that the learned judge shall dispose of the matters expeditiously. No costs.
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