Judges : GEORGE VADAKKEL
MAMMOO - Appellant
Versus
KRISHNAN - Respondent
Case No : C.R.P. No. 2524 of 1977
Decided On : 02/21/1978
Advocates Appeared :
M.P. Balagopalan Nambiar; T.S. Venkiteswara Iyer; For Petitioner T.L. Viswanatha Iyer; For Respondents
Police Aid - Execution of Order for Eviction - Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act, 1965 - S.14, S.151 Civil P. C. - Inherent Powers of Court - Order for Police Aid - Conditions and Limitations - Right to Insist on Police Aid - Delivery of Property - Obstruction by Third Party - Warrant for Delivery - Recall of Warrant
Fact of the Case:
The landlord sought execution of an order for eviction of a tenant. The Amin returned the warrant for delivery without effecting delivery due to obstruction by the tenant's sister. The landlord filed an application for a warrant for delivery with police aid. The lower court ordered issue of warrant for delivery with Police aid, which was again obstructed by the tenant's brother. The revision petitioners filed an application for recalling the warrant, which was dismissed by the lower court.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the execution court has the power to direct police aid to effect delivery of possession of property, subject to limitations. The court also held that the decree holder cannot claim police aid as a matter of right, and the court can exercise this power only when it is 'absolutely necessary'. The court emphasized the need for the court to be satisfied that the obstructor is a person bound by the decree before issuing another warrant for delivery.
Issues: The issues considered by the court included the power of the execution court to seek police aid, the limitations on exercising such power, and the right of the decree holder to insist on police aid. The court also addressed the procedure for recalling a warrant for delivery and the necessity for the court to be satisfied of a strong prima facie case that the obstructor is bound by the decree before issuing another warrant.
Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the execution court has the power to seek police aid to effect delivery of possession of property, but this power can only be exercised when it is 'absolutely necessary' and not as a matter of right for the decree holder. The court emphasized the need for the court to be satisfied that the obstructor is a person bound by the decree before issuing another warrant for delivery.
Final Decision: The Civil Revision Petition was allowed to the extent that the lower court was directed to dispose of the application for recalling the warrant, keeping the warrant issued in abeyance until the disposal of the application.
1. The 1st respondent herein, landlord of a building, took out execution of an order passed by the Rent Control Court for eviction of the 2nd respondent from that building. It is common case before me that though the lower court on 8 3 1977 ordered issue of warrant for delivery of the building and warrant was issued, the Amin returned the same without effecting delivery on account of obstruction caused by the 1st revision petitioner and bis brother. Thereafter, on 18 71977, the 1st respondent filed an application for ordering issue of warrant for delivery of the building with the help of the Police-it is his case that during 29-3-1977 to 10-7-1977 execution stood stayed by the order of the Sub-Court, Badagara, in I. A. No. 634 of 1977 in CMA. No. 19 of 1977 preferred against dismissal of an application for temporary injunction, 1. A. No. 1181 of 1976 in O S.137 of 1976 on the file of the lower court instituted by the sister of the 2nd respondent. The lower court ordered issue of warrant for delivery of the building with Police aid. The Amin returned the warrant so issued again reporting obstruction by the 1st revision petitioner. The revision petitioners filed an application for recalling the aforesaid warrant. The lower court dismissed the same by the order under revision.
2. The points for consideration are as to whether the execution court has power to direct police aid to effect delivery of possession of property, and if it has, what is its nature, and what are the limitations, if any, thereon Before examining these questions it is necessary to advert to a preliminary objection raised on behalf of the 1st respondent that this CRP. is not competent. The submission is that under the proviso to S.14 of the Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act, 1965, (for brevity, the Act) an order passed in execution is not appealable and is revisable by the court to which appeals ordinarily He against the decisions of the Munsiff executing the order for eviction. It is not disputed, and rightly so, that the Munsiff executes an order passed under the Act not as a persona designata, but as one filling the office of Munsiff. If so the order under revision is a non appealable order passed by a Munsiff 's Court and is revisable by this Court. At the most what could be said is that it is improper to rush to this Court invoking its revisional jurisdiction before the revisional jurisdiction conferred by the proviso on the court to which appeals ordinarily lie from the decisions of the Munsiff 's Court, is invoked.
3. The Code does not by any of the provisions therein expressly confer power on the Court to seek the aid of the Police force whose duty and function it is, in the language employed by Lord Denning M. R. in R v. Metropolitan Police Commissioner (1968) 1 All E. R.763, 'to enforce the law of the land' not'as the servant of anyone, save of the law itself. The learned Master of the Roles pointed out:
"The responsibility for law enforcement lies on him (Police Commissioner). He is answerable to the law and to the law alone."
If there is a break down of law and order or there is likelihood thereof, or, there is breath of peace or such a situation is apprehended, irrespective of the source of information as regards it, the Police force has to be on the watch, making itself readily and easily available to restore law and order and to prevent breach of peace. That being so, when a Court issues a warrant for delivery of property to the Amin in exercise of its power to complete and carry into effect its decision, the Court should and ought to be able to inform the Police of any likelihood of breach of peace and violence it legitimately apprehends at the instance of the person bound by the decision, and to requisition Police aid to execute the decree peaceably. The police will have to give due respect to such a requisition as one coming from a court of law and should comply with the directions given by the Court. This power the Court exercis
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