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2019 Supreme(Ori) 208

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA, CUTTACK
A.K. RATH, J.
Kuntala Beura and Another - Appellant
Versus
Baikuntha Bhol - Respondent
Civil Miscellaneous Petition No. 386 of 2019
Decided On : 01-05-2019

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
N.N. Mohapatra, Adv.

Once a decree for perpetual injunction and mandatory injunction has become final, the judgment debtor is required to obey the decree, and any attempt to circumvent the injunction is not permitted.

Headnote:

Execution Case - Recovery of Possession - Order 21 Rule 32 C.P.C. - Jai Dayal and others v. Lal Garg and another (1997) AIR SC 3765, Gopal Barik v. Bhima Barik and another (1993 1 OLR 139)

Fact of the Case:

The petition challenges the order directing the petitioners to deliver vacant possession of land to the plaintiff after a suit for permanent injunction was decreed in favor of the plaintiff.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the executing court was within its jurisdiction to direct recovery of possession as the defendants failed to establish their possession of the suit land.

Issues: The main issue was whether the executing court had the authority to direct recovery of possession in a suit for permanent injunction.

Ratio Decidendi: The court relied on the case of Jai Dayal and others v. Lal Garg and another, where it was held that once a decree for perpetual injunction and mandatory injunction has become final, the judgment debtor is required to obey the decree, and any attempt to circumvent the injunction is not permitted.

Final Decision: The petition was dismissed as the impugned order did not suffer from any illegality or infirmity warranting interference of the court under Article 227 of the Constitution of India.

JUDGMENT :

A.K. RATH, J.

1. This petition challenges the order dated 21.3.2018 passed by the learned Civil Judge (Junior Division), 1st Court, Cuttack in Execution Case No.15 of 2015, whereby and whereunder, learned executing court directed the J.Drs.- petitioners to deliver the vacant possession of Ac.0.02 dec. of land to the D.Hr. by removing the encroachment.

2. The plaintiff-opposite party instituted C.S.No.311 of 2013 for permanent injunction and recovery of possession in the event he is dispossessed during pendency of the suit. Learned trial court held that the plaintiff has not adduced any evidence that defendant nos.1, 2 and 4 have failed to establish that they are in possession of the suit land. The plaintiff is not entitled to recovery of possession. Held so, it decreed the suit on 8.5.2014.

3. Thereafter the D.Hr levied Execution Case No.15 of 2015. A petition was filed by the D.Hr for recovery of possession of Ac.0.02 dec. of land out of Ac.0.12 dec. of land appertaining to khata no.481 plot no.787 which is a part of the suit land. It is stated that after decree dated 8.5.2014, the J.Drs. have forcibly encroached upon an area Ac.0.02 dec. of land towards west of the suit plot no.787 on 21.1.2015. Learned executing court allowed the petition and directed the J.Drs. to deliver the vacant possession.

4. Heard Mr.N.N.Mohapatra, learned counsel for the petitioners.

5. Mr.Mohapatra, learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the suit was filed for permanent injunction. In a suit for permanent injunction, no recovery of possession can be made. Learned executing court cannot go behind the decree. He further submits that by the time the decree was passed, J.Drs. had taken over possession of the suit land and constructed the house.

6. In Jai Dayal and others v. Lal Garg and another, (1997) AIR SC 3765, the appellant had filed the Suit No.1023/61 against the respondent for perpetual injunction and also for mandatory injunction restraining him from blocking passage of 5ft. between the house of the appellant and that of respondents and for removal of the obstruction. The suit was decreed. The decree was confirmed by the appellate court. When the appellants filed an application for execution under Order 21, Rule 32 C.P.C., the respondent had removed the obstruction and, consequently, the execution case was struck out. The order was upheld by the appellate court. Subsequently, a shop was constructed. The same had completely blockage the passage. Thereafter the appellant again filed an execution petition under Order 21, Rule 32 C.P.C. The executing court had directed to remove the obstruction. On appeal, the learned Additional District Judge confirmed the same. In the second appeal, the learned Single Judge reversed the decree and remitted the matter back. Thereafter, the petitioner approached the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court held that once the decree of perpetual injunction and mandatory injunction has become final, the J.Dr. is required to obey the decree. In whatever form he obstructs, it is liable to removal for violation and the natural consequence is the execution proceedings under Order 21, Rule 32 C.P.C. It would be no defence for the respondent to plead that he has not obstructed the passage etc. or that, a part of the property in which the present shop was constructed was not a part of the property in the original suit. If a J.Dr. has suffered the decree, no attempt to circumvent the perpetual injunction and mandatory injunction, can be permitted. The D.Hr. cannot be pushed to another round of litigation. In the second suit, the same will amount to encouraging the persons to take the law into their own hands and drive the decree-holder to another suit. It can never be facilitated to circumvent the law and relegate the party for tardy process of the civil action.

7. In Gopal Barik v. Bhima Barik and another, 1993 1 OLR 139, the plaintiff instituted the suit for declaration of title, confirmation of possession and recove

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