SupremeToday Landscape Ad
Back
Next
Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation
Listen Audio Icon Pause Audio Icon
judgment-img

1994 Supreme(Ker) 14

Judges : L.MANOHARAN
Sasidharan - Appellant
Versus
K.C.T.S.S.Sangam - Respondent
Case No : C.R.P.No. 851 of 1993
Decided On : 01/14/1994
Advocates Appeared :
C.S. Narayanan For Petitioner T.R.G. Worrier (Sr. advocate) & R. Ramadas For Respondents

The main legal point established in the judgment is the interpretation of S.60(1) of the Civil Procedure Code regarding the attachment of salary and the exemptions for allowances and deductions.

Headnote:

Attachment of Salary - Civil Procedure Code - S.60(1) - Summary: The court discussed the provisions of S.60(1) of the Civil Procedure Code regarding the attachment of salary. It considered the exemptions for allowances and deductions such as D.A., C.C.A., H.R.A., G.P.F., F.B.S., and LIC. The court interpreted the provisions and held that only a certain portion of the salary was attachable, excluding the exempted allowances and deductions. The court also referred to previous decisions to support its interpretation. The revision was allowed in part, reducing the amount to be attached from the salary of the revision petitioner.

Fact of the Case:

The decree holder sought attachment of the salary of the revision petitioner. The revision petitioner challenged the order of attachment, arguing that certain portions of the salary were not attachable.

Finding of the Court:

The court analyzed the provisions of S.60(1) of the Civil Procedure Code and interpreted the exemptions for allowances and deductions. It held that only a certain portion of the salary was attachable, excluding the exempted allowances and deductions. The court allowed the revision in part, reducing the amount to be attached from the salary of the revision petitioner.

Issues: The main issue was the determination of the attachable portion of the salary, considering the exemptions for allowances and deductions under S.60(1) of the Civil Procedure Code.

Ratio Decidendi: The court interpreted the provisions of S.60(1) of the Civil Procedure Code and held that only a certain portion of the salary was attachable, excluding the exempted allowances and deductions.

Final Decision: The revision was allowed in part, reducing the amount to be attached from the salary of the revision petitioner.

Judgment :-

Second judgment debtor in O.S.97 of 1988 of the Additional Sub Court, North Paravur is the revision petitioner. Decree holder/first respondent filed E.A. 254 of 1991 in which he sought attachment of the salary of the revision petitioner. By the impugned order. the lower court ordered attachment of Rs. 500/-per month from the salary of the second judgment debtor and Rs. 400/- per month from the salary of the 3rd judgment debtor. As noticed, the 2nd judgment debtor/revision petitioner challenges the said order of attachment of his salary.

2. According to the learned counsel for the revision petitioner, there is no attachable portion in the salary of the revision petitioner. He produced salary certificate of the revision petitioner. The same is as follows:

The total salary of the revision petitioner is Rs. 2787/-., According to the revision petitioner, D.A., C.C.A., H.R.A. and deductions towards G.P.F., FBS and LIC are to be excluded from the salary for deciding the attachable portion.

3. The proviso to S.60(1) C.P.C. enumerates the properties that are not liable for attachment. As per clause (1) allowances forming part of the emoluments notified by the government in the official gazette to be exempt from attachment is not attachable. It is not disputed that the Government has notified that D.A., CCA. and H.R.A. are exempt from attachment. Therefore, the said amount must be excluded in deciding the attachable portion of the salary. The dispute centres on the deductions.

4. Learned counsel for the revision petitioner would contend that the deductions towards GPF, FBS and LIC are also to be excluded in considering the attachable portion of the salary of the judgment debtor. The decree holder would maintain that the same cannot be excluded from attachment. It is contended by the learned counsel for the revision petitioner that as per clause (k) of the proviso to S.60(1) CPC deductions to be made towards Provident Fund has to be excluded. The bare reading of the said clause itself would show that the amount in deposit towards Provident Fund is not attachable. Once the deduction has gone in Provident Fund amount, that amount so collected cannot be attached, but clause (k) of the proviso docs not state that deductions to be made are exempt from attachment. This mailer came up for consideration in the decision in KousalyaDevi v. Praveen Bankers (1979 KLT 932). In that this court held:

"An agreement by the petitioner to contribute a specified sum or a request by her to deduct any specified sum from her salary towards provident Fund will not by itself make that sum a compulsory deposit in any fund to which the Provident Fund Act applies. Only after the contribution goes into the fund exemption under clause (k) is available".

The decision in Slier Behudoor v, Pasiipalliy Upadhyaya (1972 KLT 974) was referred to in the said decision. This decision was followed in George v. St. George Chilly Fund (1980 KLT 558). Therefore, the claim that the subscription towards Provident Fund must be excluded cannot be accepted.

5.. The exemption next claimed is with respect to the amount deducted towards F.B.S. The claim is based on clause (gg) of the proviso to S.60(1) CPC. The said clause reads:

"(gg) all moneys payable to the beneficiaries under the Family Benefit Scheme for the employees of the Government of Kerala".

The other exemption claimed is with respect to deductions made towards LIC. Reliance was made on clause (kb) of the proviso to S.60(1) CPC. The same reads:

"(kb) all moneys payable under a policy of insurance on the life of the judgment debtor".

As regards deduction towards LJC this court in the decision in Peetliambaran v, Sanku (1986 KLT 9) held that the same cannot be exempted in considering the attachable portion of the salary of the judgment debtor. The decision in Federal Bank Ltd. v. Indiradevi Kunjamma (AIR 1986 Bombay 101) relied on by the petitioner cannot support his contentions. It is not held therein that deduction towards L

Click Here to Read the rest of this document
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Judicial Analysis

AI

SupremeToday Portrait Ad
supreme today icon
logo-black

An indispensable Tool for Legal Professionals, Endorsed by Various High Court and Judicial Officers

Please visit our Training & Support
Center or Contact Us for assistance

qr

Scan Me!

India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!

For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :

whatsapp-icon Back to top