RAJASTHAN HIGH COURT
B.R.Arora, J.
Amar Chand and ors. - Appellant
Versus
Gram Panchayat and ors - Respondent
S.B. Civil Second Appeal No. 153 of 1974.
Decided On : 25-11-1992
ABATEMENT OF APPEAL - DEATH OF RESPONDENT - LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES NOT BROUGHT ON RECORD - DECREE PASSED AGAINST DEAD PERSON - NULLITY - INHERENT POWERS OF COURT UNDER SECTION 151 CIVIL PROCEDURE CODE - SETTING ASIDE OF DECREE.
Fact of the Case:
Plaintiffs filed a suit for specific performance of a contract against the Gram Panchayat, a third party, and the Collector. The trial court dismissed the suit, and the plaintiffs appealed. The High Court allowed the appeal and decreed the suit in favor of the plaintiffs. However, one of the respondents, Moti, had died during the pendency of the appeal, and no application was made to bring his legal representatives on record.
Finding of the Court:
The High Court held that the decree passed against the deceased respondent was a nullity and deserved to be quashed and set aside. The Court also held that the entire appeal stood abated against all the respondents as the decree for specific performance was dependent on the decree of possession over the plot in question, which could not be taken from the legal representatives of the deceased respondent.
Issues: 1. Whether the decree passed against a deceased person is a nullity? 2. Whether the entire appeal stands abated against all the respondents due to the abatement of the appeal against one of the respondents?
Ratio Decidendi: 1. A decree or order passed against a dead person is a nullity as no relief can be granted against a dead person. 2. The decree of specific performance in absence of the decree of possession will be ineffective and cannot be successfully executed. The result of the abatement of the appeal against the respondent Moti is, therefore, that the possession of the plot in question cannot be taken from the legal representatives of deceased Moti and the decree of specific performance cannot be effectively executed. The necessary corollary of the same is that the whole appeal, filed by the plaintiff-appellants, stands abated against all the defendant-respondents.
Final Decision: The High Court allowed the application under Section 151 Civil Procedure Code filed by the defendants, dismissed the appeal, and set aside the decree and judgment dated February 20, 1988, passed by the Hon'ble Single Judge of this Court as it already stood abated quo all the respondent-defendants.
"The plaintiffs shall deposit the balance of Rs. 985/- in the Court of Munsif, Sanchore, within one month from today. On such deposit being made, the Gram Panchayat, Sanchore, shall execute the sale-deed in favour of the plaintiffs in respect of the land in question. The expenses relating to sale shall be born by the plaintiffs. The plaintiffs shall, also, be entitled to the possession of the land in question which is in occupation of defendant No. 2. A decree for possession in respect of the land in question is, also, passed in favour of the plaintiffs and against the Gram Panchayat, Sanchore, as well as defendant No. 2 Moti."
After the disposal of the appeal, an application under Order 22 Rule 4 read with Section 151 Civil Procedure Code was moved by Mafat Lal - the legal representative of deceased Moti on April 8, 1980 to the effect that Moti Lal died on December 19, 1977, and the appeal, therefore, stands abated against the deceased defendant Moti as no application for impleading his legal representatives as party was made. During the pendency of this application, Mafat Lal, also, died on June 9, 1992, and, therefore, an application under Order 22 Rule 3 Civil Procedure Code was moved on behalf of the legal representatives of deceased Mafat Lal for substituting their names in place of Mafat Lal. The legal representatives of deceased Moti Lal, namely, Smt. Naju and Ors., also, filed an application under Order 47 Rules 1 and 2 Civil Procedure Code for reviewing the judgment dated February 20, 1986, passed by Hon'ble the Single Judge of this Court in the appeal. Both the applications filed by the legal representatives of the deceased Moti Lal and Mafat Lal were contested by the plaintiff-appellants.
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