PUNJAB & HARYANA HIGH COURT
D.V.Sehgal, J.
Pushpmala Jain
Versus
Bank Of Baroda
Civil Revision No. 2002 of 1987,
Decided On : OCTOBER 26, 1988
EXECUTION OF DECREE - ATTACHMENT BEFORE JUDGMENT - OBJECTION TO ATTACHMENT - LIMITATION - PERIOD OF LIMITATION STARTS FROM THE DATE OF DECREE AND NOT FROM THE DATE OF ATTACHMENT BEFORE JUDGMENT - PROPERTY EXEMPT FROM ATTACHMENT - SECOND FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN DISPUTE IS EXEMPT FROM ATTACHMENT UNDER SEC.60(1)(CCC) OF THE CODE AND THE SAME CANNOT BE SOLD IN EXECUTION OF THE DECREE.
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner filed an objection petition during the pendency of the execution proceedings claiming that the property in dispute is a residential house situated in Sarai Mohalla, Rohtak, and she and her sons are putting up their residence in the said house. She is a widow having no other source of income. She, therefore, claimed that the property being a residential house was exempt from attachment.
Finding of the Court:
The court held that the period of limitation for filing objections under Sec.47 of the Code would start from the date of the decree of the Appellate Court, i.e. 23-7-1984. The limitation could not start from the date or attachment before judgment, as till the decree was passed no objection under Sec.47 of the Code could be filed. The court also held that the second floor of the building in dispute is exempt from attachment under Sec.60(1)(ccc) of the Code and the same cannot be sold in execution of the decree.
Issues: 1. Whether the period of limitation for filing objections under Sec.47 of the Code starts from the date of the decree of the Appellate Court or from the date of attachment before judgment? 2. Whether the second floor of the building in dispute is exempt from attachment under Sec.60(1)(ccc) of the Code?
Ratio Decidendi: 1. The provisions of Sec.47 of the Code can be invoked only after a decree is passed. Adjudication of any dispute between the parties during the period proceeding the decree would be a dispute during the pendency of the suit and would not come within the ambit of Sec.47 of the Code. 2. The evidence on the record clearly brings out that the ground floor and the first floor of the building besides a shop forming part of the building are on rent with tenants. In view of a Full Bench judgment of this Court in Ude Bhan V/s. Kapoor Chand (1966) 68 Pun LR 591 : (AIR 1967 Punj 53), the portion of the building which is let out cannot be considered in occupation of the petitioner as a residential house within the meaning of Sec.60(1)(cec) of the Civil P.C. (for short the Code ).
Final Decision: The revision petition was allowed and the second floor of the building in dispute was held to be exempt from attachment under Sec.60(1)(ccc) of the Code and the same cannot be sold in execution of the decree.
1. This revision petition is directed against the order dt.16-5-1987 passed by the learned Senior Sub Judge, Rohtak, in the course of execution of a decree dt.5-1-1983 passed by the trial Court, which was affirmed in appeal by the learned District Judge on 23-7-1984. The execution of the said decree was sought by the Bank of Baroda respondent I claiming a sum of Rs. 10,91,280.00 from the judgment debtors. It is not in dispute that during the pendency of the suit, the property of the objector-petitioner was attached before judgment by the trial Court in the year 1979.
2. The petitioner filed the instant objection petition during the pendency - of the execution proceedings in the year 1984 claiming that the property in dispute is a residential house situated in Sarai Mohalla, Rohtak, She and her sons are putting up their residence in the said house. She is a widow having no other source of income. She, therefore, claimed that the property being a residential house was exempt from attachment. This objection petition has, however, been dismissed by the learned Executing Court vide the impugned order.
3. It is not in dispute that the evidence on the record clearly brings out that the ground floor and the first floor of the building besides a shop forming part of the building are on rent with tenants. In fact, the Bank decree-holder, respondent 1, is the tenant on the ground and the first floors while one room in the shape of a Baithak is being used as a shop by another tenant. In view of a Full Bench judgment of this Court in Ude Bhan V/s. Kapoor Chand (1966) 68 Pun LR 591 : (AIR 1967 Punj 53), the portion of the building which is let out cannot be considered in occupation of the petitioner as a residential house within the meaning of Sec.60(1)(cec) of the Civil P.C. (for short the Code ). So far as this legal position is concerned there can hardly be any dispute.
4. The learned counsel for the petitioner contends that as regards the remaining property which consists of the second floor, the Executing Court has erred in exercise of its jurisdiction while dismissing her objection petition. Her objections have been dismissed on two scores. Firstly, that these had been filed long after the expiry of the period of limitation prescribed by Art.137 of the Limitation Act, 1963. Secondly, that the petitioner has not been able to prove that she along with her children is residing on the second floor of the building which is not let out to tenants.
5. Mr. Ashok Bhan, the learned Senior Advocate, appearing on behalf of the petitioner, submits that the period of limitation for filing the objections under Sec.47 of the Code would start from the date of the decree of the Appellate Court, i.e. 23-7-1984. The limitation could not start from the date or attachment before judgment, as till the decree was passed no objection under Sec.47 of the Code could be filed. I find force in this submission. The order of attachment before judgment under O.XXXVIII, R.5 of the Code is aimed at securing the interests of the plaintiff in case the suit is ultimately decreed in his favour. Sec.47 of the Code provides that all questions arising between the parties to the suit in which the decree was passed, or their representatives, and relating to the execution, discharge or satisfaction of the decree, shall be determined by the Court executing the decree and not by a separate suit. Thus, the provisions of Sec.47 of the Code can be invoked only after a decree is passed. Adjudication of any dispute between the parties during the period proceeding the decree would be a dispute during the pendency of the suit and would not come within the ambit of Sec.47 of the Code.
6. O.XXXVIII, R.11 of the Code, provides that where property is under attachment before judgment and a decree is subsequently passed in favour of the plaintiff, it shall not be necessary upon an application for execution of such decree to apply for a reattachment of the property. A bare reading of t
Login now and unlock free premium legal research
Login to SupremeToday AI and access free legal analysis, AI highlights, and smart tools.
Login
now!
India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!
Copyright © 2023 Vikas Info Solution Pvt Ltd. All Rights Reserved.