High Court of Judicature at Madras
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S.S. SUBRAMANI
M.A.Raja
Versus
S.Vedhantham Pillai and others
C.R.P. No. 3316 and 3696 of 1999 and C.M.P. No. 18678 of 1999 & C.M.P. No. 20755 of 1999
Decided On : 06-12-1999
EXECUTION OF DECREE - MANDATORY INJUNCTION - LIMITATION - DECREE FOR MANDATORY INJUNCTION AND PROHIBITORY INJUNCTION - EXECUTION OF DECREE FOR PROHIBITORY INJUNCTION - ARTICLE 136 OF LIMITATION ACT APPLIES - NO PERIOD OF LIMITATION.
Fact of the Case:
Petitioner challenged the order of the executing court overruling his contention that the decree for mandatory injunction was barred by time. The decree directed the petitioner to demolish and remove the building constructed by him in the suit property obstructing the entrance to the plaintiff's building within three months from the date of the decree.
Finding of the Court:
The court held that the decree was not only for mandatory injunction but also for prohibitory injunction. Therefore, Article 136 of the Limitation Act applied, and there was no period of limitation for executing the decree for prohibitory injunction.
Issues: Whether the execution of a decree for mandatory injunction is barred by limitation.
Ratio Decidendi: The court relied on Section 37(2) of the Specific Relief Act, which states that a perpetual injunction can only be granted by a decree made at the hearing and upon the merits of the suit, and the defendant is thereby perpetually enjoined from the assertion of a right or from the commission of an act which would be contrary to the rights of the plaintiff. The court held that the continued existence of the building would be contrary to the rights of the plaintiff and that the plaintiff was entitled to execute the decree as if it was a decree for perpetual injunction.
Final Decision: The court dismissed the revision petition and confirmed the order of the executing court.
1. This revision petition arises in execution in O.S. No. 422 of 1981 on the file of District Munsif Court, Mettur.
2. First respondent herein has obtained a decree, which reads thus,
"(i) That the defendants and their men be and are, hereby permanently restrained by a permanent injunction from a ny manner interfering with the peaceful possession and enjoyment of the suit property by the plaintiff.
(ii) that the defendants be and are hereby directed by a mandatory injunction to demolish and remove the building constructed by them in the suit property in S. No. 2/A/2 obstructing the entrance marked as A in Ex.C2 Commis-sionersplan attached herewith to the building of the plaintiff within aperiod of 3 months from this date.
(iii) that in default of such removal by the defendant within 3 months stated in decree in plan is at liberty to take appropriate steps for such removal"
The decree is dated 30.8.1981. Decree holder filed E.P.200 of 1986 to execute the decree, by appointment of Commissioner and to remove obstruction. Petitioner took a contention that the decree is one for mandatory Injunction and since the execution petition was filed beyond three years. It is barred by time. The Objection was overruled by executing Court.
3. Against the order Petitioner filed C.M.A. No. 27 of 1997 on the file of Subordinate Court. Sankari. The appeal itself was not maintainable being an order of execution. Appellate court held that the appeal Is not maintainable but at the same time discussed the evidence and dismissed the appeal on merits. The same is challenged in C.R.P. No. 3316 of 1999.
4. Petitioner also filed another revision against the order in execution petition rendered by executing court with an application to condone the delay of 757 days In filing the revision. In the application to condone delay it Is said that by mistake, the appeal was taken before Sub Judge and appeal is pending for more than two years and the pendency of appeal is taken as a ground to excuse the delay in filing revision.
5. Since respondent also entered appearance by filing caveat, I heard the revision itself on merits at the admission stage.
6. Learned counsel for petitioner submit that when lower appellate court held that appeal is not maintainable it has no jurisdiction to decide the matter on merits. I feel the said contention is only to be accepted. As per the amendment Act 104 of l976 to Code of Civil Procedure an order in execution is not appealable. Filing appeal before appellate court was therefore not correct and when the right of appeal is taken away by statute, appellate court also should not have entertained the same. Having rightly held that it has no jurisdiction, it should not have gone into the merits of the case. To what extent the impugned in C.R.P. No. 3316 of 1999 requires interference.
7. By setting aside the order, appellant is not going to get any relief unless main order in execution is also challenged. That is why petitioner has filed another revision petition against the application with an application to condone the delay. Main reason that is stated in the revision is pendency of C.M.A. No. 59 of 1999 before lower appellate Court. Under Section 14 of the Limitation Act, pendency of a proceeding before a court having no jurisdiction is sufficient cause for condoning delay.
8. Counsel for respondent, was also heard on the delay petition and what, he insisted was that revision petition itself may be heard on merits. He also did not dispute the correctness of legal position placed by counsel for appellant. I also find that sufficient cases is made out for condoning delay. Hence C.M.P. No. 19325 of 1999 in C.R.P.S.R. No. 88891 of 1999 was allowed and the office was directed to number the revision petition and the same is numbered as C.R.P. No. 3696 of 1999.
9. I have already extracted the decree which is sought to be executed in this case. Only question that requires consideration is whether execution applic
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