High Court Of Orissa
K. C. JAGADEB ROY
RAGHU BHOI - Appellant
Versus
PARESWAR BHOI - Respondent
CIV. REVN. 1021 Of 1989
Decided On : 10/04/1991
PARTITION SUIT - DELIVERY OF POSSESSION - NOTICE TO JUDGMENT-DEBTORS - SYMBOLICAL POSSESSION - ACTUAL DELIVERY OF POSSESSION - O. 21, R. 22, 23, 35 (1) OF THE CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE, 1908.
Fact of the Case:
In a partition suit, the plaintiffs obtained a decree for partition and the final decree was passed allotting specific portions of land to the plaintiffs and defendants. The plaintiffs filed an execution case for delivery of possession of the land allotted to them. The defendants objected to the delivery of possession, claiming that they were not given proper notice and that the possession delivered was only symbolical and not actual.
Finding of the Court:
The court held that notice to the judgment-debtors was not mandatory in this case as the decree was for delivery of specific portions of land and the defendants had no interest in the property allotted to the plaintiffs. The court also held that symbolical possession delivered to the plaintiffs amounted to actual delivery of possession as against the judgment-debtors, and that the decree-holder was not entitled to a fresh delivery of possession.
Issues: 1. Whether notice to the judgment-debtors was necessary before delivery of possession? 2. Whether symbolical possession delivered to the plaintiffs amounted to actual delivery of possession?
Ratio Decidendi: 1. Order 21, Rule 22 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 provides for the issuance of notice to the judgment-debtors before execution of a decree. However, this notice is not mandatory in all cases. In the present case, the decree was for delivery of specific portions of land and the defendants had no interest in the property allotted to the plaintiffs. Therefore, notice to the defendants was not necessary. 2. Order 21, Rule 35 (1) of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 provides for the delivery of actual possession to the decree-holder. However, symbolical possession may be delivered in cases where the judgment-debtor is not in actual possession of the property. In the present case, the defendants were not in actual possession of the land allotted to the plaintiffs. Therefore, symbolical possession delivered to the plaintiffs amounted to actual delivery of possession.
Final Decision: The court dismissed the defendants' objection to the delivery of possession and held that the decree-holder was not entitled to a fresh delivery of possession.
K. C. JAGADEB ROY, J.
( 1 ) THIS revision has been filed by the defendants Nos. 1, 2 and 4 who were the judgment-debtors Nos. 1, 2 and 4 respectively in Execution Case No. 2/85 in the Court of the Munsif, Kuchinda, against the order dated 2-11-1989 passed in the said execution case rejecting their objection to the alleged delivery of possession in favour of the decreeholder-plaintiffs.
( 2 ) THE short facts of the case are stated as follows:- the plaintiffs Opposite Parties Nos. 1 and 2 (of the Civil Revision) obtained a decree for partition in Title Suit No. 7 of 1971 on 23-8-1982. The final decree passed in the partition suit has not been challenged in a first appeal by any party and has become final wherein the plaintiffs were allotted Ac. 3. 85 dec. of land whereas the defendants were allotted Ac. 3. 87 dec. of land. The properties were divided by the Civil Court Commissioner during the final decree proceeding and allotment sheet show that the plaintiffs were allotted land as per Schedule I of the Commissioner's report and the defendants were allotted lands as per Schedule II of the Commissioner's report which formed part of the decree. Since the parties were entitled to part plots in the final decree proceeding the lands were delineated and the sketch map was also attached for the purpose which formed part of the decree. Therefore, there was no dispute regarding the identity of the land that was to be delivered to each party.
( 3 ) AT the instance of the plaintiff-decreeholders, the execution case was initiated in the Court of the Munsif, Kuchinda and on 30-5-89 the possession was delivered to the plaintiffs as has been reported by the process-server who was entrusted with the duty of executing the writ of delivery of possession. The judgment-debtors, namely, defendants Nos. 1, 2 and 4 have filed their objection thereafter alleging that actual possession was not delivered to the plaintiffs, no survey knowing Commissioner was deputed to demarcate the land allotted to the plaintiffs and defendants-judgment-debtors were not given any notice regarding delivery of possession and prayed for fresh and actual delivery of possession and prayed for maintaining the status quo of the land till then. In the impugned order dated 2-11-1989 the executing Court turned down the objection of the judgment-debtors on the ground that the symbolical delivery of possession amounts to physical delivery of possession and since there was delivery of possession to the decreeholder, no further direction may be given for a fresh delivery of possession. During hearing of this revision, it is argued on behalf of the judgment-debtor-petitioners that since most of the plots were part plots, the defendants were entitled to notice. It was further contended on their behalf that the judgment-debtors were actually in possession in respect of which possession was to be delivered to the decree-holder and since there was no actual physical delivery of possession they still continue to be in possession of the land and that will not amount to the delivery of possession within the meaning of O. 21, R. 35 (1) of the Code of Civil Procedure and unless actual delivery of possession is delivered by sending a survey knowing Commissioner who may measure andd demarcate the land, there is possibility of future litigations between the parties. The Court, therefore, had not acted properly and acted illegally in rejecting the prayer of the present petitioners. Coming to the first point regarding notice to the petitioners judgment-debtors) by the process-server who went to effect the writ of delivery of possession, the law is absolutely clear on the point. Order 21, R. 22 of the C. P. C. enjoins upon the executing Court to issue notice to the persons against whom the execution is applied for requiring him to show cause against the execution of the decree against him when the execution is intended to be done in one of the three circumstances as envisaged in that rule. This not
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