IN THE HIGH COURT OF MARAS
Idumba Parayan
Versus
Pethi Reddi
Decided On : 8 October, 1919
Execution - Partition Decree - Redemption
Fact of the Case:
The plaintiffs sought to set aside certain alienations in favor of strangers and obtain possession of the property. They failed to pay the stipulated amount within the specified time and subsequently applied for possession after paying into Court the ordered amount.
Finding of the Court:
The District Munsif reversed his own order and ordered the plaintiffs to restore possession to the alienees, which was confirmed by the lower appellate Court. The Court held that the application for extension of time should have been granted by the District Munsif.
Issues: The main issue was whether the plaintiffs were entitled to further extension of time for payment and to recover possession of the property.
Ratio Decidendi: The Court found that the lower courts had jurisdiction and were not precluded from extending the period for payment, as the decree appeared to be one for redemption. It cited legal provisions under Order 34 Rule 8 and relevant case law to support its decision.
Final Decision: The Court set aside the orders of both lower courts and dismissed the petition for redelivery of the property made by the defendants. Each party was ordered to bear their own costs.
1. The application for execution arose out of a partition decree. Some of the members of the family sued their coparceners for partition and sought to set aside certain alienations in favour of strangers. The decree gave the plaintiffs their share : The Court found, that the alienation impeached was binding upon the members of the family to the extent of about Rs. 800 and odd and directed that the plaintiffs do obtain possession of the property in the possession of the alienees after paying a sum of Rs. 400 and odd. in terms and in effect, this portion of the decree was one for redemption. The final decree does not however say that in case the money is not paid within the time fixed viz., 10-7-1916 the suit for possession of the property shall stand dismissed. Nor does it say that the right to recover possession on subsequent payment is barred to the plaintiffs. The plaintiffs did not pay the amount within the time stipulated. They subsequently applied for possession of the property after paying into Court the amount which was ordered to be paid. The Courts below have held that as the money was not paid within the time fixed the plaintiffs are not entitled to any further extension of time, and that they are not entitled to recover possession of the property.
2. In the first instance on payment of the money by the plaintiffs, they were put in possession. On an application made by the alienees to cancel that order for possession on the ground that the money was not paid in time, the District Munsif reversed his own order and ordered the plaintiffs to restore possession to the alienees. That order has been confirmed by the lower appellate Court. It is against it that this Civil Miscellaneous Appeal has been presented.
3. In our opinion, the application for extension of time ought to have been granted by the District Munsif. He quotes a large number of authorities beginning with Ratna-swami Kone v. Sundara Kone I.L.R. 31 Mad. 28 and says that he has no power to extend the time. What these decisions have laid down is that by the mere fact of confirmation of the decree by the appellate Court, further time is not ipso facto given for payment of the money. They are not authorities for the position that the Munsif has no jurisdiction to extend time. Under Order 34 Rule 8 last clause, the Court may upon good cause shown and upon such terms as it thinks fit, from time to time postpone the day fixed for payment. In Het Singh v. Tika Ram I.L.R. 34 All. 388 where the decree directed that if money was not paid within a particular time, the suit should stand dismissed, the learned Judges held that as there was no bar to redemption, time should be extended and that the decree did not work itself out. If we turn to the earlier portion of Order 34 Rule 8, it is clear that until the defendant obtains an order debarring plaintiff from seeking redemption, the right to apply for further extension of time is not lost,. In the picturesque language of Kekewich, J., in Coilinson v. Jefferey (1896) 1 Ch. 644 by the lapse of time fixed for payment, the action is not dead but is in a comotose condition; it will become dead only when an order is obtained under Order 34 Rule 8 debarring plaintiff from redeeming. Till then it is alive and is capable of being revised. Under the last sentence of Order 34 Rule 8, courts have power to extend time for payment. We are therefore of opinion that the lower courts had jurisdiction and were not precluded, by the fact that the money was not paid within the time limited from extending the period for payment-There is one decision of this Court which on the face of it appears to be conclusive of the arguments advanced by the learned vakil for the appellants. In Moidin Kuppa v. Punnuswami Pillai (1914) 1 L.W. 882 reference was made to Sections 148 and 151 of the Civil Procedure Code and it was pointed out that these sections have no bearing in regard to applications for extension of time under mortgage decree. We are
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