IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADRAS
Venkataramana Rao, J.
Pallipurayil Asan Kutti
Versus
Mukkolakkal Koyyaman Kutti
Decided On : 18.11.1936
Order 21, Rule 89 - Setting aside sale of immovable property - Order 21, Rule 89 - Summary of Acts and Sections: The court discussed the interpretation of Order 21, Rule 89 of the Civil Procedure Code and the definition of 'proceeding' under Section 153 of the Civil Procedure Code. The key legal provisions were the requirements for setting aside a sale and the definition of 'proceeding' under the Civil Procedure Code. The court's decision was influenced by the interpretation of these provisions and the discretion of the District Munsif to allow the petitioner to amend the application.
Fact of the Case:
The Civil Revision Petition arose from an application to set aside a sale of immovable property under Order 21, Rule 89, Civil Procedure Code. The sale was held on November 29, 1932, and the third defendant, a mortgagee, applied to set aside the sale after depositing the required amount in the taluk treasury.
Finding of the Court:
The District Munsif allowed the amendment and set aside the sale, but the District Subordinate Judge reversed the order, stating that the memo filed was not capable of amendment and there was no proper application under Order 21, Rule 89. The High Court reversed the District Judge's order and restored that of the District Munsif, directing the petitioner to pay the respondent's costs.
Issues: The main issue was whether the application for challan or the memo filed could be treated as applications for setting aside the sale under Order 21, Rule 89, Civil Procedure Code.
Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the application for challan or the memo filed could be considered as a proceeding within the meaning of Section 153 of the Civil Procedure Code, and it was within the discretion of the District Munsif to allow the petitioner to amend the application.
Final Decision: The High Court reversed the District Judge's order and restored that of the District Munsif, directing the petitioner to pay the respondent's costs and stating that the respondent would not be accountable for any mesne profits up to the date of delivery.
Venkataramana Rao, J.
1. This Civil Revision Petition arises out of an application made to set aside a sale of immovable property under Order 21, Rule 89, Civil Procedure Code. The sale was held on the 29th November, 1932. The property belonged to the first defendant who made no application to set aside the sale. It was purchased by the assignee decree-holder. The third defendant in the suit who is a mortgagee put in an application I.A. No. 616of 1932 on the 16th December, 1932, praying that a challan may be issued depositing in the Taluk treasury the amount mentioned in the said application.... In the application the purpose for which the challan was applied, the amount of the decree poundage-fee, the percentage of purchase money required for setting aside the sale under Order 21, Rule 89, the name of the purchaser and the fact of sale are all mentioned. The challan was accordingly issued, money was deposited and a receipt obtained from the treasury. The said receipt was filed in Court on the 21st December, 1932, with an application on behalf of the third defendant by his pleader. The application which was styled a memorandum ran thus:
The receipt obtained in the matter of the deposit into Kurumbranad taluk treasury the sum of Rs. 385-14-6 comprising the decree amount in the above suit, poundage fee and percentage of purchase money (auction profit).
2. But there was no formal prayer to set aside the sale or any independent application made to do so. On the 4th January, 1933, an application was made to set aside the sale. In the affidavit he alleged the fact of his applying for the challan and also the application filed by him along with the receipt into Court. Paragraphs 7 and 8 of the said petition are important and they are as follows:
7. The application for challan on the 16th December, 1932, the memorandum filed on the 21st along with the receipt for the deposit of the money are only for the purpose of getting the sale set aside. The above applications should be also taken for an application to set aside the sale.
8. If the Court should consider for any reason that it could not grant relief as per the application filed herewith for setting aside the sale, the sale should be set aside on the strength of the application for challan and the memorandum and I am prepared to pay the necessary court-fee therefor.
3. It will thus be seen that apart from his independent prayer to set aside the sale he requested the Court to treat the application for challan and the memorandum filed on the 21st December, 1933, as applications to set aside the sale. On objection taken by the decree-holder that the application was barred by limitation lie filed an application to amend the memorandum filed by him on the 21st December, 1933, with the receipt for the money deposited by adding a prayer thus:
It is prayed that the sale in the above suit may be set aside.
4. This amendment was allowed by the learned District Munsiff and he set aside the sale. On appeal the learned District Subordinate Judge of North Malabar reversed the order of the District Munsiff holding that a memo, cannot be called a proceeding within the meaning of Section 153, Civil Procedure Code, and it was not capable of amendment and there was no proper application under Order 21, Rule 89, Civil Procedure Code. It is against this order the present Civil Revision Petition has been filed. There is a conflict of view in this Court whether an application for challan or an application accompanying the receipt for the money deposited could by itself be treated as applications for setting aside the sale. In an unreported decision C.R.P. No. 106 of 1912 Sankaran Nair, J., was of opinion that an application for deposit of money may be treated as an application to set aside a sale. In Venkatasubba Rao v. Narayana Rao (1921) 15 L.W. 450, Krishnan, J., took a different view. He says that a lodgment schedule filed in Court along with the money as required by Rule 3 of the Civil Rules of Prac
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