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1994 Supreme(Ker) 49

Judges : T.L.VISWANATHA IYER,P.KRISHNAMOORTHY
Sreekumaran Nair - Appellant
Versus
Velayudhan Nair - Respondent
Case No : S.A.No. 541 of 1985
Decided On : 02/03/1994
Advocates Appeared :
S. Subramani & M. Balagovindan For Appellant Hamn-Al-Rasheed, T.K. Abraham, V.N. Achutha Kunip & M.S. Radhakrishnan Nair For Respondents

The main legal point established in the judgment is that the position of a party redeeming a mortgaged property and the corresponding suit for recovery of their share by other co-owners or co-mortgagors are subject to the specified period of limitation, and the court's decision was based on the application of the relevant provisions of the Limitation Act and the Transfer of Property Act.

Headnote:

Limitation - Redemption Suit - O.XXI R.15 CPC - The court discussed the applicability of O.XXI R.15 CPC in determining the period of limitation for a redemption suit and held that the suit was barred by limitation as it was filed beyond the prescribed period. The court also considered the position of a junior member redeeming a tarwad property and concluded that the suit for recovery of their share in the property by the other co-owners or co-mortgagors must be filed within the specified period of limitation.

Fact of the Case:

The suit involved a dispute over the redemption and recovery of a mortgaged property by the 4th defendant, who obtained possession of the property in execution of a redemption decree. The trial court held the suit barred by limitation, but the lower appellate court reversed the finding. The appellant, 13th defendant, challenged the lower appellate court's decree in this appeal.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the suit was barred by limitation as it was filed beyond the prescribed period for redemption of the original mortgage and more than 12 years after the 4th defendant obtained possession of the property. The court also held that the position of the 4th defendant was that of a co-mortgagor redeeming the property, and the suit for recovery of their share by the other co-owners or co-mortgagors was subject to the specified period of limitation.

Issues: The key issues before the court were: 1) Whether the redemption decree executed by the 4th defendant could be equated to the position of a redeeming co-mortgagor for determining the period of limitation for the suit; 2) Whether the redemption by a junior member of the tarwad could be said to be on behalf of the tarwad; and 3) Whether there was an acknowledgment in the assignment deed executed by the 4th defendant in favor of the 13th defendant.

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the suit was barred by limitation as it was filed beyond the prescribed period for redemption of the original mortgage and more than 12 years after the 4th defendant obtained possession of the property. The court also concluded that the position of the 4th defendant was that of a co-mortgagor redeeming the property, and the suit for recovery of their share by the other co-owners or co-mortgagors was subject to the specified period of limitation.

Final Decision: The court set aside the judgment and decree of the lower appellate court and restored the decree of the trial court, thereby dismissing the suit. The parties were directed to bear their own costs in the appeal.

Judgment :-

Krishnamoorthy J.

This Second Appeal was referred by one of us (Krishnamoorthy, J.) as an important question of limitation arises in this appeal. The question of limitation will depend upon the question as to whether one of the decree-holders in a redemption suit with executes a decree by virtue of the provisions contained in O.XXI R.15 of the Code of Civil Procedure can be equated to a redeeming co-mortgagor who redeems property de hors a decree. A learned Single Judge of this Court in S.A.No. 844 of 1979 has held that in such eases the position is the same. The matter was referred to a Bench as the learned Single Judge had his own reservations in the matter at that lime.

2. The 13th defendant in a suit for partition is the appellant. B. Schedule property forms part of A schedule. A schedule property belonged to the tarwad to plaintiffs 1 to 7 and defendants 1, 4 and 8 and others. It was outstanding on a mortgage from 1066 M.E., renewed in 1077 ME and again in 1092 ME. To redeem that mortgage the present 'plaintiffs 2 and 4 and defendants 1 and 4 and others filed O.S.No. 1274 of 1121 before ».! the Munsiff s Court, Trivandrum. A decree for redemption and recovery was passed 11 on payment of 700 fanams as mortgage amount and Rs. 538 and 7 anas as value of improvements on behalf of the tarwad. In the meanwhile, there was a suit for partition in the tarwad which was O.S.314 of 1124 before the Munsiffs Court, Trivandrum. The equity of redemption over the plaint schedule property was item No.3 in that suit. Defendants 13 and 15 in the suit were allotted specific plots. It is also alleged in the plaint that defendants 1 to 12 were allotted a plot of 311/2 cents. The present plaintiffs 1, 2 and 4 were defendants 4 to 7 in O.S.314 of 1124 and present defendants, 1, 4 and 8 being defendants 8,10 and 9 in that suit. The present defendants 14 and 16 are the children of the 12th defendant in that suit. Ext. Al is the decree in that case; the preliminary decree being on 24-10-1949 and the final decree being on 9-11-1953. The present 1st defendant, and her children filed O.S.No. 176 of 1963 before the Munsiff's Court, Padmanabhapuram for partition of their joint properties. The present plaint schedule property was C-schedule in that suit. By a decree dated 3-8-1967 it was held that the equity of redemption was divided in O.S.314 of 1124 and it was further held that 20 members of the sub-tarwad are each entitled to 11/240 shares in the equity of redemption. 11/240 shares of late P.K. Madhavan Nair devolved on defendants 17 to 20. In the meantime, in execution of the redemption decree in O.S.No. 1274 of 1121, the present 4th defendant (10th plaintiff in that suit) applied for execution on behalf of the decree-holders and got delivery of the plaint schedule properly on 13-9-1963. The 41h defendant transferred her right in the property to the 13th defendant under a sale deed Ext. A4 dated 16-11-1968. The present 4th defendant has to be deemed to be in possession on behalf of the sharers as also the 13th defendant who is an alienee of the 4th defendant. Plaintiff arc entitled to get partition of their share in the plaint B schedule property. Plaintiffs are also prepared to pay the proportionate amount payable to the 41h defendant or her assignee towards the redemption price deposited for getting-delivery in the redemption decree in O.S.No. 1274 of 1121. Tentatively the plaintiffs have fixed their share of the amount at Rs. 6,000/- which they are prepared to deposit. Plaintiffs are also entitled to settlement of accounts. It is further alleged in the plaint that there is no limitation for the suit as the delivery was taken on behalf of all the sharers. So also, 4th defendant has acknowledged the mortgage under Ext. A4 sale deed dated 16-11-1978 and the suit within 12 years of that dale is not barred by limitation. On these allegations the present suit is filed for partition and recovery of their share, on 17-11-1980, on their paying th































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