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1990 Supreme(Mad) 36

High Court of Judicature at Madras
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE A. ABDUL HADI
N. Palaniappan - Appellant
Versus
G. Pandurangan - Respondents
C. R. P. No. 443 of 1986
Decided On : 09 January 1990

Appearing Advocates:M. N. Padmanabhan, S. M. Abdul Wahab, Advocates.

The amendments to Order 21, Rules 97 to 106 of the Civil Procedure Code made in 1976 broadened the scope of the enquiry to include all questions arising between the parties and relevant to the adjudication of the application, including questions as to the title of such parties in the property.

Headnote:

EXECUTION OF EVICTION ORDER - RENT CONTROL ACT - ORDER 21, RULES 97 TO 106, CIVIL PROCEDURE CODE - AMENDMENTS IN 1976 - SCOPE OF ENQUIRY BROADENED - ALL QUESTIONS INCLUDING QUESTIONS AS TO TITLE TO BE DECIDED BY EXECUTING COURT - NO SEPARATE SUIT - DEEMING PROVISION AS TO JURISDICTION.

Fact of the Case:

The petitioner filed an execution petition for the execution of an eviction order obtained in rent control proceedings against two tenants. The respondent, who was independently in possession of the building, obstructed the delivery warrant ordered by the execution Court. The petitioner filed an E.A. for removal of obstruction, which was dismissed by both the Courts below on the ground that the respondent was not claiming title to the property on behalf of the judgment-debtors.

Finding of the Court:

The Court held that the Courts below erred in not taking note of the amendments made to Order 21, Rules 97 to 106 of the Civil Procedure Code in 1976. The amendments broadened the scope of the enquiry to include all questions arising between the parties and relevant to the adjudication of the application, including questions as to the title of such parties in the property.

Issues: Whether the Courts below erred in dismissing the execution application without considering the amendments to Order 21, Rules 97 to 106 of the Civil Procedure Code made in 1976.

Ratio Decidendi: The Court held that the amendments to Order 21, Rules 97 to 106 of the Civil Procedure Code made in 1976 broadened the scope of the enquiry to include all questions arising between the parties and relevant to the adjudication of the application, including questions as to the title of such parties in the property. Therefore, the Courts below erred in dismissing the execution application without considering the said amendments.

Final Decision: The Court set aside the orders of both the Courts below and remanded the matter back to the trial Court for a proper disposal in the light of the amended provisions of the Civil Procedure Code.

Judgment :-

This Civil Revision Petition arises out of the dismissal of the rent control E.A. No. 45 of 1981 (in E.P. No. 25 of 1981) for removal of the obstruction. The main execution petition execution of the eviction order obtained in the rent control proceeding against two tenants, after the said eviction order has been confirmed by the superior Court. Since there was obstruction by the respondent to the delivery warrant ordered by the execution Court, the landlordpetitioner filed the above said E.A. for removal of obstruction. But the said E.A. was dismissed and the subsequent appeal R.C.A. No. 56 of 1982 on the file of Sub-Court, Cuddalore was also dismissed and hence he has filed this Civil Revision Petition.

2. The ground, on which both the Courts below dismissed the execution application is that the respondent herein is independently in possession of the building in question for a long time even before the petitioner filed R.C.O. No. 29 of 1977 and he is not claiming title to the property on behalf of the judgment-debtors. So holding, the lower appellate Court held that the remedy for the petitioner is only to sue for possession against the respondent.

3. It is clear that the Courts below in deciding this execution application, have not taken note of the amendments in the Civil Procedure Code made in this regard in the year 1976. Prior to the amendment the position was as follows: Under Order 21, Rule 97, the enquiry by the executing Court in an execution application for removal of obstruction was a summary one, concerned only with the question of present possession of the obstructor and under Rule 98 thereof if the resistance was by the judgment-debtor or some other person at his instigation, the Court had to direct that the applicant be put in possession; but under Rule 99 thereof, if the resistance was occasioned by a person other than the judgment-debtor, claiming in good faith to be in possession of the suit property on his own account or on account of a person other than the judgment-debtor, the Court would have to dismiss the application; Rule 100 thereof enabled a person, other than the judgment-debtor, if dispossessed either by a decree-holder or by a purchaser at a Court auction sale, to apply to Court complaining of the said dispossession and Rule 101 if the Court found that such applicant was in possession on his own account or on account of some person other than the judgment-debtor, it could direct that the applicant be put in possession. Such an order was conclusive as between the parties, except when a party, other than the judgment-debtor against whom the order was passed, under R.103, institutes a suit to establish his right to the possession claimed by him. Subject to the result of such a suit, the order was conclusive.

4. But, the amendment Act of 1976, though retained sub-rule (1) of R.97, substituted a new sub-rule (2) in the plAcc of earlier sub-rule (2) and introduced new Rr. 98 to 106. These amendments are in conformity with the legislative policy of entrusting the determination of all questions including questions as to the title of the concerned party by the executing Court. The main feature of the amendments made by 1976 Act is that all questions including the question as to the right, title or interest in the property.arising between the parties to the proceeding under R.97 or R.99 must be determined by the executing Court and not left to be decided by way of separate suit. To ensure this, the earlier R.103 has been omitted and a new R.103 has been enacted providing that the order passed under these Rules shall have the same force and shall be subject to the same conditions as to an appeal as if it were a decree. Consistent with these changes in the nature of the enquiry and the order passed therein, sub-rule (2) of R.97 has been amended by substituting the words "to adjudicate" for the words "for investigating". O.21, R.101, C.P.C., after the said 1976 amendment runs as follows:

"All question







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