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2025 Supreme(Ker) 2453

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
M.A.ABDUL HAKHIM
Devaki Amma D/o Karthiayani Amma – Appellant
Versus
M.K. Divakaran S/o Kuttan Kakki – Respondent


Advocates Appeared:
For the Appellants : K.V. Jayachandran, Raju V. Mathew
For the Respondents: V.J. Ruby, M.K. Sucheendran, Nisha Jeevan, Savitha Ganapathiyatan, Bijimon C. Cherian, P.P. Stella

Judgement Key Points
  • The appellants challenged an order allowing a Review Petition that set aside a prior dismissal of C.M.A. No.6/2010, which had held the appeal against an Execution Court order under Order 21 Rule 35 CPC unmaintainable. (!) [1][2]
  • Original suit O.S.No.562/1957 was decreed for cancellation of document and recovery of possession; appeal A.S.No.170/1967 dismissed after impleading legal heirs.[2]
  • Execution Petition E.P.No.367/1981 filed without impleading all legal heirs; one heir impleaded later, another (M.K. Divakaran) filed E.A.No.579/2009 for objections (allowed) and then E.A.No.591/2009 under Order 21 Rule 97 CPC claiming non-impleadment and independent right, which was dismissed on 03.11.2009.[2]
  • C.M.A.No.6/2010 against E.A.No.591/2009 dismissal was dismissed on 27.02.2013 as unmaintainable; Review Petition R.P.No.1/2013 allowed on 04.04.2015, directing re-registration as Regular Appeal under Section 96 CPC.[1][2]
  • Preliminary objection on appellants' subsisting interest rejected, as respondents' counter claimed sale deed was sham and no evidence produced to disprove interest.[4]
  • No error apparent on face of record in C.M.A. order dismissing appeal for lack of maintainability; review unsustainable.[5][16]
  • E.A.No.591/2009, though filed under Order 21 Rule 97, treated as under Order 21 Rule 99 CPC for third-party resistance; initial enquiry under Order 21 Rule 35(1) determined obstructer bound by decree, no full trial under Order 21 Rule 101 needed.[10]
  • Execution Court found petitioner (legal heir) bound by decree, no independent claim, late objection mala fide; order thus under Order 21 Rule 35 CPC, not a deemed decree under Rule 103.[10]
  • Orders under Order 21 Rule 35 not decrees; only specific orders under Rule 58(4) or 103 appealable as decrees.[11]
  • Even if under Section 47 CPC, post-1977 amendment, excluded from decree definition under Section 2(2); not appealable under Section 96 or 104.[12][13][14]
  • Not under Order 21 Rule 58, as no attachment involved in possession decree.[15]
  • Review reliance on prior rulings misplaced; no error apparent; C.M.A. not to be re-registered as Regular Appeal.[16]
  • Appeal allowed, Review Petition order set aside, C.M.A. dismissal restored; respondents' rights to challenge E.A. in other proceedings left open.[17]

Table of Content
1. factual background of case and previous proceedings. (Para 1 , 2)
2. arguments regarding subsisting interest and appealability. (Para 4 , 5 , 6)
3. analysis of maintainability of appeal. (Para 10 , 11)
4. conclusions on error and review judge's decision. (Para 16)
5. final order and its implications. (Para 17)

JUDGMENT :

M.A. ABDUL HAKHIM, J.

1. The appellants are the respondents in Review Petition No.1/2013 in C.M.A.No.6/2010 on the files of the Third Additional District Court, Ernakulam. As per the impugned order dated 04.04.2015, the District Court allowed the Review Petition setting aside its Order dated 27.02.2013 in C.M.A.No.6/2010 in which it is held that the C.M.A. is not maintainable and further directed to close the C.M.A and re-register the C.M.A. as Regular Appeal under Section 96 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

2. The short facts necessary for the disposal of this Appeal alone are stated: O.S.No.562/1957 was filed for the cancellation of a document and recovery of possession of the plaint schedule property. The said suit was decreed. The defendants filed an Appeal before the Appellate Court as A.S.No.170/1967. During the pendency of the Appeal, the defenda

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