An order passed under Section 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act is enforceable in an execution proceeding under Section 28A of the Act, and the execution proceeding is within limitation if it is initiated within twelve years of the date of passing of the order.

JUDGMENT :

K.P. Mohapatra, J. - This revision is directed against the order passed by the learned Subordinate Judge, Parlakhemundi on 15.12.1980 in M. J. C. No. 39 of 1979 refusing to execute an order dated 29.11.1972 u/s 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act (hereinafter referred to as the 'Act') passed in favour of the petitioner in Original Suit No. 1 of 1973 in which she prayed for a decree for judicial separation.

2. The facts not disputed are stated in brief. The petitioner is the legally married wife of opposite party No. 1. She instituted Original Suit No. 1 of 1973 in the Court of the Subordinate Judge, Parlakhemundi, praying for judicial separation u/s 10 of the Act on the grounds of cruelty and adultery between opposite parties Nos. land 2. During the pendency of the suit, she filed a petition under Sac. 24 of the Act registered as M. J. C, No. 46 of 1973 for pendents lite maintenance and expenses of the suit. By order dated 29. 11. 1972 the Court below granted pendentelite maintenance at the rate of Rs. 20/-per month and expenses of a sum of Rs. 100/- in her favour. As opposite party No. 1 did not make any payment in obedience to the said order, the petitioner levied execution in Execution Proceeding No. 2 of 1979 with a prayer for realisation of the arrear dues amounting to Rs. 1560/-by attachment, of the salary of opposite party No. 1. In the said execution proceeding, opposite party No. 1 filed an objection u/s 47 of the C. P. C, registered as M. J. C. No. 39 of 1979 inter alia contending therein that the order dated 29. 11 1972 was not executable because Original Suit No. 1 of 1973, in which the said order u/s 24 of the Act was passed, was no longer pending. The matter came up for hearing before the Court below' who, as already referred to above, refused to execute the order - after making the, following observation ;

"It transpires from the record that the decree holder obtained a decree from this Court for an interim maintenance of Rs.20/-p. m., from the judgment-debtor-O. P. from 2. 11. 19.97 u/s. 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act and at the rate of Rs.l00/- towards her litigation expenses in M. J. C. No. 46/73 u/s. 24 of the Hindu Marriage Act as an interim maintenance. Against the said order, the judgment-debtor-O. P. preferred an appeal. But subsequently he did not press for the said appeal. Hence it was dismissed as not pressed. At present the judgment-debtor-O. P. did not press for the decree. Now the decree-holder-petitioner has agitated the matter after a long lapse of five years and, slept, over the matter. Therefore, the present execution' petition which was filed after so many years is not maintainable since, the decree-holder-petitioner slept over the matter."

3. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner contended that an order passed u/s 24 was enforceable in an execution proceeding u/s 28A of the Act. The order was enforced within 12 years of the date of passing thereof and accordingly the execution proceeding was within limitation under Art, 136 of the Limitation Act. Therefore, the learned Subordinate Judge committed a serious illegality in refusing to execute the order,. The contention has force.

4. On 29. 1972 in M. J. C. No. 46 of 1973, arising out of Original Suit No: 1 of 1973 between the parties an order was passed in favour of the petitioner and, against opposite party No. 1 for payment of 'pendente lite maintenance at the rate of Rs. 20/- per month and a sum of Rs. 100/- as expenses of the proceeding. In order to enforce the aforesaid order, the petitioner initiated Execution Proceeding No. 2 of 1979 on 25. 1.1979 praying for recovery of arrear dues amounting to Rs. 1560/- by attachment of the permissible extent of the salary of opposite party No. 1. In the original Act there was no provision for enforcement of decrees and orders made in any proceeding thereunder. Therefore, Section 28A was introduced by Act No. 68 of 1976 so as to provide a forum for enforcement of decrees and orders made under the A