2007 Supreme(P&H) 648
PUNJAB & HARYANA HIGH COURT
Vinod K.Sharma, J.
Bhupinder Kumar
Versus
Angrej Singh
Decided On : MARCH 23, 2007
The field of specific performance is governed by equity and discretion of the court, allowing the court to impose conditions to balance the equity between the parties.
Headnote:
specific performance - execution of decree - Specific Relief Act - Section 28, Civil Procedure Code - Order 21, Rule 12 C.P.C.
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner filed a suit for specific performance of an agreement to sell land. The trial court decreed the suit, directing the defendant to execute the sale deed on payment of the balance sale price. The petitioner failed to deposit the balance sale price within the stipulated period, leading to the defendant's application for recision of the agreement under Section 28 of the Specific Relief Act. The execution application filed by the petitioner was dismissed, and the petitioner appealed the decision.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the petitioner's failure to deposit the balance sale price within the stipulated period entitled the defendant to seek recision of the agreement under Section 28 of the Specific Relief Act. The court also noted that the field of specific performance is governed by equity and discretion of the court, and the court has the jurisdiction to impose conditions to balance the equity between the parties.
Issues: The issues involved the extension of time for depositing the balance sale price, the entitlement of the defendant to seek recision of the agreement, and the discretionary remedy of specific performance.
Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the petitioner's failure to deposit the balance sale price within the stipulated period entitled the defendant to seek recision of the agreement under Section 28 of the Specific Relief Act. The court also emphasized the equity and discretion of the court in the field of specific performance.
Final Decision: The court dismissed the revision petition, upholding the decision that the petitioner's failure to deposit the balance sale price entitled the defendant to seek recision of the agreement under Section 28 of the Specific Relief Act.
Vinod K.Sharma, J.
1. Present revision petition has been filed against an order passed by the learned Additional Civil Judge (Senior Division), Pehowa dismissing the application moved by the petitioner for execution of the decree of specific performance.
2. The petitioner had filed a suit for possession by way of specific performance of agreement to sell dated 20.11.1990 vide which respondent Judgment-debtor had agreed to sell land measuring 1 kanal 14 marlas situated within the revenue estate of Pehowa. The learned trial Court was pleased to decree the suit with costs and directions were issued to the defendant to get the sale deed executed and registered in favour of the decree-holder on payment of Rs. 3,850/-per marla less amount of Rs. 20,000/- already received by the defendant within a period of three months from the passing of the judgment. It was further directed that on the failure of the defendant Judgment-debtor to do so the plaintiff will be at liberty to get the sale-deed executed and registered through the court. The decree was passed on 13.10.1998.
3. As the defendant failed to get the sale-deed executed on receipt of balance payment, the petitioner decree-holder moved an application on 24.4.2001 for execution of the decree passed by the learned trial Court. The decree holder sought extension of time for deposit of the decretal amount where as the same was objected to by the judgment-debtor by seeking recision of the contract. The learned Executing Court framed two points for consideration viz:
1. Whether the time can be extended in favour of the decree-holder ?
2. If it can be extended then the Judgment -debtors objection regarding recision of contract is to be thrown away and if the time cannot be extended then the objections of the Judgment-debtor will prevail.
Learned counsel for the decree-holder claimed that it was on account of fault of the counsel that he was not made aware of the deposit and therefore, he should not be allowed to suffer on account of this. This contention was rejected for want of affidavit from his counsel or his clerk in this regard. It was further observed that even the decree-holder had failed to swear any affidavit in support of his contention. It was further claimed that the court did not lose power to extend the time after passing of the decree and further that the decree could be executed within 12 years from the date of its passing and therefore, the execution application was within time. The contention of the decree-holder further was that there was sufficient reason for the decree-holder not to deposit the money in time and further that even oral request for extension of time can be made. These Contentions raised by the learned Counsel for the decree-holder were not rejected by the learned trial Court. The contention that the decree could be executed within 12 years was rejected on the ground that there was no sufficient ground for extension of time. The other contentions were held to be not arising on the facts of the case and accordingly, the prayer of the Judgment Debtor for recision of contract under Section 28 of the Specific Relief Act (for short the Act) was allowed. The Decree Holder filed an appeal against the decision of the Executing Court and the same was dismissed being not maintainable.
4. The learned Counsel for the petitioner by placing reliance on the judgment of Calcutta High Court in the case of Tivoli Park Apartments Pvt. Ltd. V/s. Kumar Dhirendra Mullick 2000(1) R.C.R. (Civil) 440 (Calcutta) contended that as the Court had not fixed or allowed any period for depositing any money by the petitioner, therefore, Section 28 of the Act has no application in the present case. Learned Counsel for the petitioner thereafter placed reliance on the judgment of this Court in the case of Smt. Sarupi and Ors. V/s. Har Gian and Ors., to contend that in case of default on the part of the decree-holder to deposit the money Judgment-debtor is entitled to apply for rec