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2015 Supreme(Mad) 880

HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
K. KALYANASUNDARAM, J.
Sudha @ S. Brinda & Others – Appellant
Versus
M. Sankaran & Another – Respondent
C.R.P. (NPD) No. 4521 of 2014 & M.P. No. 1 of 2014
Decided On : 16-02-2015

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Petitioners:P. Veena Suresh, Advocate.
For the Respondents:R1, R. Agilesh, Advocate.

Headnote:

Civil Procedure Code - Section 47 - Order 21 - Rule 97 - Execution of sale deed - Dispossessed of immovable property - Delivery of possession - First respondent herein had instituted suit against second respondent for specific performance - After contest suit was decreed - Appeal filed by second respondent was dismissed and same was confirmed by Honourable Supreme Court - Based on decree first respondent laid an execution petition for execution of sale deed - Court itself had executed sale deed in favor of first respondent – Thereafter first respondent filed seeking delivery of possession - In execution petition judgment debtor filed under Section 47 of Code of Civil Procedure - Executing Court dismissed application which was confirmed by this Court – Subsequently petitioners filed under Order 21 Rule 97 and Section 151 of Code of Civil Procedure contending that judgment debtor has share in suit property and remaining share belongs to them – Held, Per contra counsel for respondents submitted that defendant has admitted that suit property is self acquired property and after he lost his case present petitioners are initiating frivolous litigation contending that suit property is a joint family property - Counsel has further submitted that second respondent judgment debtor has purchased property on his own and petitioners cannot claim any right over suit property - It is seen that first respondent has filed execution petition seeking delivery of possession of suit property - In execution proceedings petitioners have filed application under Order 21 Rule 97 and Section 151 of Code of Civil Procedure obstructing execution of decree - Supreme Court has repeatedly held that if an application is filed under Order 21 Rule 97 of Code of Civil Procedure Executing Court has to adjudicate rights of parties - It is settled law that even application filed by third parties has to be adjudicated by Executing Court - However in present case on hand after dismissing application filed by judgment debtor under Section 47 of Code of Civil Procedure Executing Court has ordered delivery of possession - Petitioners filed In view of judgment of Supreme Court Executing Court has to adjudicate application filed under Order 21 Rule 97 of Code of Civil Procedure before ordering delivery of possession of suit property - Petitioners filed seeking stay of all further proceedings till finality is reached - It is represented that suit was filed for partition and separate possession - In court view Executing Court has rightly dismissed application holding that application was filed only to drag on proceedings – Hence court do not find any merit in this Civil Revision Petition - Civil Revision Petition is dismissed

Judgment :-

1. This Civil Revision Petition is directed against the order dated 14.10.2014 passed in R.E.A.No.37 of 2014 in R.E.P.No.181 of 2013 in O.S.No.87 of 2007 by the learned II Additional District Judge, Salem.

2. The first respondent herein had instituted the suit in O.S.No.87 of 2007 against the second respondent for specific performance. After contest, the suit was decreed. The appeal filed by the second respondent was dismissed and the same was confirmed by the Honourable Supreme Court. Based on the decree, the first respondent laid an execution petition for execution of the sale deed. The Court itself had executed the sale deed in favour of the first respondent.

3. Thereafter, the first respondent filed R.E.P.No.181 of 2013 seeking delivery of possession. In the execution petition, the judgment debtor filed R.E.A.No.3 of 2013 under Section 47 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The Executing Court dismissed the application which was confirmed by this Court in C.R.P.(NPD) Nos.2184 and 2185 of 2014 dated 04.08.2014.

4. Subsequently, the petitioners filed R.E.A.No.20 of 2014 under Order 21 Rule 97 and Section 151 of the Code of Civil Procedure contending that the judgment debtor has 1/4th share in the suit property and the remaining 3/4th share belongs to them.

5. When the said application is pending, the petitioners filed R.E.A.No.37 of 2014 under Order 21 Rule 29 and Section 151 of the Code of Civil Procedure seeking stay of the execution petition. The Executing Court dismissed the application on 14.10.2014. Aggrieved by the order, the present Civil Revision Petition is filed.

6. Ms.P.Veena Suresh, learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that the petitioners have claimed 3/4th share in the suit property and when the application filed under Order 21 Rule 97 and Section 151 of the Code of Civil Procedure is pending adjudication, the Executing Court cannot proceed with the execution of the decree.

7. The learned counsel for the petitioners has relied on the judgment of the Supreme Court in SHREENATH AND ANOTHER VS. RAJESH AND OTHERS [1998 (4) SCC 543] wherein the Supreme Court has held as follows:

“15. Rule 100 of the old law, as referred in the aforesaid Full Bench decision of the Madhya Pradesh High Court is a situation different from what is covered by Rule 97. Under Rule 100 (old law) and Order 99, the new law covers cases where persons other than the judgment – debtor is dispossessed of immovable property by the decree – holder, of course, such cases are also covered to be decided by the executing court. But this will not defeat the right of such a person to get his objection decided under Rule 97 which is a stage prior to his dispossession or a case where he is in possession. In other words, when such person is in possession the adjudication to be under Rule 97 and in case dispossessed adjudication to be under Rule 100 (old law) and Rule 99 under the new law. Thus a person holding possession of an immovable property on his own right can object in the execution proceeding under Order 21 Rule 97. One has not to wait for his dispossession to enable him to participate in the execution proceedings. This shows that such a person can object and get adjudication when he is sought to be dispossessed by the decree – holder. For all the aforesaid reasons, we do not find the Full Bench in Usha Jain correctly decided the law.”

8. Per contra, Mr.R.Agilesh, learned counsel for the respondents submitted that the defendant has admitted that the suit property is the self acquired property and after he lost his case, the present petitioners are initiating frivolous litigation contending that the suit property is a joint family property. The learned counsel has further submitted that the second respondent judgment debtor has purchased the property on his own and the petitioners cannot claim any right over the suit property.

9. It is seen that the first respondent has filed the execution petition seeking delivery of possession of the suit p




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