1. What is the period of limitation prescribed for filling an execution application? and (2) whether a decree passed by a court having no pecuniary jurisdiction, be held to be nullity which cannot be executed under Order XXI C.P C., are the two important questions required to be adjusted in this appeal which have arisen in the following circumstances :

The respondent-decree-holder obtained an exparte decree in arbitration proceedings after the award filed by the arbitrator was made a rule of the Court by the trial court of sub Judge, Udhampur, on 29-1-74. While passing the decree in terms of the award, it was held that the judgment debtor would be the owner of vehicle No. JKA/1815 and the plaintiff-decree holder entitled to the receipt of Rs. 5,000 in lump sum alongwith interest at the rate of 6 per cent per annum with effect from 12.12,1969 till the whole amount was paid. While filing application for execution of the decree in the executing court, the respondent-decree-holder claimed a sum of Rs. 5,000 in terms of the decree and Rs. 3,100 on account of interest awarded, total being Rs. 8,100/-. It was contended on behalf of the judgment-debtor that as the decree was passed on 29.1 1974 and the application for execution was filed on 28.4.1980 admittedly after 3 years, same could not be executed and that the application was barred by time. It was further contended that the decree was nullity because the Court passing it had no pecuniary jurisdiction. The decree-holder contended that as the appeal filed against the decree of the trial court remained pending upto 31.8.1977, it cannot be said that the application filed by the decree-holder was barred by time as the period allegedly spent in litigation could not be computed for the purposes of limitation. The objections raised were rejected both by the executing court and the appellate court below vide the orders impugned in this appeal.

I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the record.

It is now well settled proposition of law that the executing court is bound by the terms of the decree and cannot go beyond its scope and determine any objection raised by the judgment-debtor during execution proceedings. The only exception is that where a decree is found to be nullity, the executing court is not under a legal obligation to execute it. Similarly an application filed after the period of limitation for execution of the decree, may not be executable. It is also acknowledged that the jurisdiction of a civil court to try a suits is of three kinds, viz: (i) jurisdiction with reference to the nature of the suit, (ii) pecuniary jurisdiction, and (iii) territorial jurisdiction. Where the Court has jurisdiction to try a suit it has the jurisdiction to decide every question arising in the suit and its decree. Similarly where any law sets out the jurisdiction of the Court in general terms and does not particularise the remedies or processes whereby that jurisdiction may be exercised then the conferment of jurisdiction includes the authority to issue such direction or process as is necessary to enforce it. However, where a suit or proceeding is instituted in a court having no jurisdiction to try it, defect is fatal one and cannot be cured by subsequent transfer to a court having jurisdiction to try the said cause. The question of pecuniary jurisdiction of a court cannot be raised on h ground of erroneous valuation in a subsequent suit challenging the decision of a court, under Sec. 6 CPC. The pecuniary jurisdiction is determined which provides that "save in so far as is otherwise expressly provided, nothing contained in the C. P. C. shall operate to give any court jurisdiction over suits the amount or value of the subject matter of which exceeds the pecuniary jurisdiction of its ordinary jurisdiction". It was held by a Full Bench of the Patna High Court in Shyam Nandan Sahay and ors. v. Dhanpati Kuer and Ors (AIR 1960 Patna 244) that, "distinction is required to be drawn between

Click Here to Read the rest of this document