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

1968 Supreme(Ker) 163

Kerala High Court
K.SADASIVAN
Bhagavadas Krishnadas - Appellant
Versus
P.S.Soma Iyer - Respondent
Decided On : 08/19/1968

Advocates:
P.C. Balakrishna Menon, K.P. Radha krishna Menon, for Appellants; T.L. Viswanatha Iyer, for Respondent No. 1.

The main legal point established in the judgment is that under C.P.C. Section 65 and Indian Contract Act Section 70, a person lawfully occupying a property is bound to make compensation to the owner, regardless of the existence of an agreement.

Headnote:

Revenue Recovery Act - Compensation for Use and Occupation - C.P.C. Section 65, Indian Contract Act Section 70 - [DEFENDANTS] - [Compensation for Use and Occupation] - [C.P.C. Section 65, Indian Contract Act Section 70] - The court discussed the applicability of C.P.C. Section 65 and Indian Contract Act Section 70 in determining the entitlement to compensation for use and occupation under the Revenue Recovery Act. The interpretation of these provisions influenced the court's decision in confirming the decree for compensation for the plaintiff.

Fact of the Case:

The suit was for compensation for use and occupation of a property purchased by the plaintiff in revenue recovery proceedings. The defendants contested the claim, arguing that they were not liable for damages for the period before they were dispossessed.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the plaintiff was entitled to compensation for use and occupation under C.P.C. Section 65 and Indian Contract Act Section 70, despite the defendants' contention that they were allowed to occupy the property rent-free.

Issues: The main issue was whether the plaintiff was entitled to compensation for the period of use and occupation by the defendants, and whether there was an agreement exempting the defendants from paying rent or damages.

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that even in the absence of an agreement, the plaintiff was entitled to compensation for use and occupation under the relevant legal provisions.

Final Decision: The decree passed by the appellate Judge was confirmed, and the second appeal was dismissed with costs throughout.

JUDGMENT :- Defendants 1 and 2 are the appellants in the second appeal. The suit against them was for compensation for use and occupation. The plaint property belonged to one Krishnadas. For arrears of income tax due, the property was brought to sale in revenue recovery proceedings and purchased by the plaintiff on 15-5-1954. There were two buildings in the property, buildings bearing numbers 682 and 683 which were both occupied by the defendants. Till 30-11-54 that is, the date of confirmation of the sale the defendants were in possession and they were taking the usufructs from the property. On 30-11-54 they were dispossessed of the compound; but at the request of the defendants they were allowed to continue their residence in the buildings, on their agreeing to compensate the plaintiff for the loss of rent that he was likely to sustain thereby. On 21-10-1955 the defendants were dispossessed of the buildings also; but nothing was paid by them by way of damages for the period between 30-11-54 and 21-10-55 as was agreed to by them. Accordingly the suit was instituted for damages for the said period. The defendants contested the claim and stated that they got knowledge of the sale only on 1-12-54. Thereafter the income from the property was not taken by them. They are not liable for any amount by way of damages or otherwise to the plaintiff from 15-5-54 to 1-12-1954. After 1-12-54 they were in occupation of the buildings by permission from the plaintiff and there was no agreement to pay any amount by way of damages for use and occupation or on any other account. The learned Munsiff accepting the above contention of the defendants has dismissed the suit; but the decree was reversed in appeal by the learned subordinate Judge of Kozhikode. There a decree was granted to the plaintiff for Rs. 1674-54 np. with proportionate costs.

2. On behalf of the appellants it is contended that even though the revenue sale was held on 15-5-54 it was confirmed only on 30-11-54 and only from the latter date the plaintiff will be entitled to claim any damages from the defendants. Relying on O. 21, Rr. 95 and 96 of the C. P. C. it is contended for the appellants that the title of the plaintiff would become absolute only from the date on which the sale is confirmed. It is true that the purchaser's title becomes perfected and complete only on the issue of the sale certificate. But under Section 65 of the C. P. C. the property is to be deemed to have vested in the purchaser from the date of the sale. The purchaser, therefore, is entitled to the profits of the property from the date of sale. Section 65 reads :-

"Where immovable property is sold in execution of a decree and such sale has become absolute, the property shall be deemed to have vested in the purchaser from the time when the property is sold and not from the time when the sale becomes absolute."

3. So even though the property does not vest in the purchaser until the sale has become absolute, when it does vest in him it shall be deemed to have vested on the sale becoming absolute, from the time when it was sold. The vesting of the property is thus made to relate back to the date of sale (vide 1967-1 SCWR 863 : (AIR 1967 SC 608) and also AIR 1946 Pat 306), even when the sale is held by the Collector under rules framed by the local Government under Section 68 of the Code and the auction-purchaser is entitled to sue for profits from the date of the purchase. (Vide Mulla's C. P. C. 13th Edn. Vol. 1, p. 321). But according to the learned counsel for the appellants Section 65 C. P. C. is not applicable to the present case since sale in the present instance was under the Revenue Recovery Act. I do not think the C. P. C. is made expressly inapplicable to the sales under the Revenue Recovery Act; but all the same even under the Revenue Recovery Act it has to be presumed that the purchaser gets title to the property from the date of the sale. Section 43 of the Revenue Recovery Act is pertinent in this connec











Click Here to Read the rest of this document

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
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