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1997 Supreme(P&H) 810

PUNJAB & HARYANA HIGH COURT
G.C.Garg, J.
Diwan Singh
Versus
Om Prakash
Civil Revision No. 2897 of 1996,
Decided On : MAY 12, 1997

The period during which the appeal remained pending does not deserve to be excluded for computing the period of limitation for executing a decree.

Headnote:

Limitation - Execution of Decree - The court held that the period during which the appeal remained pending does not deserve to be excluded for computing the period of limitation for executing a decree, as the mere filing of appeal without any stay granted by the appellate Court cannot enlarge the period of limitation for execution of the decree. The judgment in Bharat Nidhi Ltd. v. Sehgal Bros. and Ors. (1979)81 P.L.R. 317 was cited, which concluded that the limitation for execution of a decree is 12 years and starts running from the date the decree becomes enforceable, with the period during which execution remains stayed or decree is declared unenforceable being excluded from the 12-year period as provided under Article 136 of the Limitation Act.

Fact of the Case:

The decree holder filed an execution application for a decree passed on 18.5.1982, which was dismissed by the executing Court on the grounds of being barred by limitation.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the execution application was filed beyond the period of limitation and the objections raised by the judgment debtor were rightly sustained by the executing Court.

Issues: The issue was whether the period during which the appeal remained pending should be excluded for computing the period of limitation for executing a decree.

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the period during which the appeal remained pending does not deserve to be excluded for computing the period of limitation for executing a decree.

Final Decision: The revision was dismissed as the execution application was filed beyond the period of limitation and the objections raised by the judgment debtor were rightly sustained by the executing Court.

Judgement Key Points

Certainly. Here are the key points derived from the provided legal document:

  • The court held that the period during which an appeal remains pending does not count towards the limitation period for executing a decree, unless a stay is granted by the appellate court [judgement_subject][judgement_act_referred] (!) .
  • The limitation period for executing a decree is 12 years, starting from the date the decree becomes enforceable. Periods during which execution is stayed or the decree is declared unenforceable are excluded from this limitation period [judgement_subject][judgement_act_referred] (!) .
  • In the case discussed, the execution application was filed beyond the 12-year limitation period, leading to its dismissal on the grounds of being barred by limitation (!) .
  • Filing an appeal alone does not extend or pause the limitation period for execution unless the appellate court grants a stay of execution [judgement_subject] (!) .
  • The court emphasized that the mere filing of an appeal does not constitute a stay and therefore does not toll the limitation period for executing a decree [judgement_subject] (!) .
  • The judgment confirmed that the limitation period begins from the date the decree becomes enforceable, and any stay during appellate proceedings does not automatically extend this period unless explicitly granted [judgement_subject] (!) .
  • The revision was dismissed because the execution application was filed after the expiration of the limitation period, and the objections raised by the judgment debtor were rightly upheld by the executing court (!) .

Let me know if you need a summary or analysis based on these points.


Judgment

G.C.Garg, J.

1. This revision is directed against the order dated 13.3.1996 of the executing Court. Decree in this case was passed on 18.5.1982. Appeal there against was dismissed by the first appellate Court on 11.9.1982 and the second appeal being RSA 343 of 1983 was dismissed by this Court on 10.8.1983. Thereafter execution application was filed on 24.12.1994. Judgment-debtor filed objection petition raising an objection that the execution application was barred by time and therefore, the same was liable to be dismissed. The objection raised by the judgment debtor found favour with the executing Court which by its order dated 13.3.1996, accepted the objections and consequently dismissed the execution application being barred by limitation. This is how the decree holder has filed the present revision.

2. Upon notice of motion, the judgment debtor has put in appearance.

3. There is no dispute between the parties that execution of a decree is covered by the provisions of Article 136 of the Limitation Act. The said article provides a period of 12 years for execution of a decree. Undisputedly, the decree sought to be executed was passed on 18.5.1982 and the execution of this decree was sought by moving execution application on 24.12.1994 It is again an undisputed fact that execution of the decree passed by the trial Court was not stayed even for a day either by the first appellate Court or by the second appellate Court.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner placing strong reliance on Karan Singh and Ors. v. Bhagwan Singh (dead) by LRs and Ors., (1996-2)113 P.L.R. 321 (S.C.) and Ramji Lal and Ors. etc. v. Ghisa Ram etc., 1996 P.L.J. 191 (S.C.) submitted that the period during which the appeal remained pending, deserves to be excluded for computing the period of limitation as the appeal is continuation of the suit and, therefore, when the appeal is pending against a decree, the whole case becomes sub judice and the period of limitation will start from the order/decree passed by the final Court. This contention of the learned counsel, in my view, has no merit. As already observed, the period of limitation for executing a decree is 12 years and this period gels enlarged only lo the extent during which the execution of the decree is stayed by the Court in the first appeal or the second appeal. Mere filing of appeal against the judgment and decree in the absence of any stay granted by the appellate Court cannot enlarge the period of limitation for execution of the decree. The two judgments relied upon by Mr. Hooda, learned counsel for the petitioner have no application whatsoever to the facts of the present case. In the above two matters dispute before the Supreme Court related to a claim in a pre-emption suit and the apex Court was considering the effect of the amendment made in the provisions of Section 15 of the Pre-emption Act by Haryana Act No. 10 of 1995. It was in that situation held that in a pending appeal against the decree, the whole matter became sub judice and the right of preemption should be available to the preemptor at all stages including the final stage.

5. In Bharat Nidhi Ltd. v. Sehgal Bros. and Ors., (1979)81 P.L.R. 317, this Court after elaborately discussing the matter came to the conclusion that limitation for execution of a decree is 12 years and this period starts running from the date the decree becomes enforceable and the period during which execution remains stayed or decree is declared by Court to be unenforceable, such time is excluded from the period of 12 years as provided under Article 136 of the Limitation Act. The controversy raised in this revision is squarely covered by the judgment in Bharat Nidhi Ltd.s case (supra), against the petitioner. Thus following the view in the above mentioned case, I find no merit in this revision and the same is consequently dismissed as the execution application in the present case was filed by the decree holder beyond the period of limitation and the object

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