Allahbad High Court
J.S.TRIVEDI
Bhagwati Prasad Hajela - Appellant
Versus
Bishambhar Nath Singh Kapoor - Respondent
Decided On : 04/24/1972
Commissioner - Delivery of Possession - The court has the power to appoint a Commissioner for delivery of possession, and the appointment of a Commissioner for delivery of possession was perfectly justified.
Fact of the Case:
The decree-holder applied for delivery of possession through a Commissioner, which was granted by the Additional Civil Judge. The order was challenged in revision, contending that the executing court was not competent to effect delivery of possession through a Commissioner.
Finding of the Court:
The court held that the executing court had jurisdiction to direct delivery of possession through a Commissioner, as the power to deliver possession through its officers is indicated in Order 21, Rule 35, C.P.C. The appointment of a Commissioner for delivery of possession was perfectly justified.
Issues: The question involved was whether delivery of possession could be effected through a Vakil Commissioner, and whether the executing court had jurisdiction to direct delivery of possession through a Commissioner.
Ratio Decidendi: The executing court has the jurisdiction to direct delivery of possession through a Commissioner, as the power to deliver possession through its officers is indicated in Order 21, Rule 35, C.P.C.
Final Decision: The revisions were dismissed with costs, as the appointment of a Commissioner for delivery of possession was found to be perfectly justified.
2. The question involved in this revision is whether delivery of possession could be effected through a Vakil Commissioner. The learned counsel for the applicant has contended that the power and jurisdiction of the court to issue commission is limited to purposes enumerated in Sections 75 to 78 of C.P.C. His further contention is that Section 141 of the Civil Procedure Code being limited to suits even power to appoint Commissioner given under Section 75 and Order 26, C.P.C. will not be available to executing court.
3. Section 141 mentions that the procedure provided in the Code of Civil Procedure in regard to suit shall be followed as far as could be made applicable in all proceedings in any court of civil jurisdiction. Proceedings in any court of civil jurisdiction refer only to original matters and do not include proceedings in execution vide Dokku Bhushayya v. Katragadda Ram Krishanayya, AIR 1962 SC 1886.
4. The question, therefore, is whether irrespective of Section 76 and Order 26, C.P.C. the executing court had jurisdiction to direct delivery of possession through a Commissioner. Order 21 deals with the procedure for execution of decrees and orders. Order 21, Rule 35, C.P.C. authorises the Court to deliver possession of immovable property. Sub-clause 3 of Order 21, Rule 35, C.P.C. reads as under:
"Where possession of any building or enclosure is to be delivered and the person in possession, being bound by the decree, does not afford free access, the Court, through its officers, may, after giving reasonable warning and facility to any woman not appearing in public according to the customs of the country to withdraw, remove or open any lock or bolt or break open any door or do any other act necessary for putting the decree-holder in possession."
This sub-clause is indicative of the fact that the executing court is competent to effect delivery of possession through its officers. An Advocate is not an officer of the Court till he is appointed a Commissioner and once he is appointed a Commissioner he becomes an officer of the Court as long as his authority to act as a Commissioner continues. Order 21, Rule 105, C.P.C as amended by this Court is also pointer of the fact that a Commissioner can be appointed for special reasons. It reads as under:
"Every attachment of movable property under Rule 43, of negotiable instrument under Rule 51, and of immovable property under Rule 54, shall be made through a civil court Amin or bailiff, unless special reasons render it necessary that any other agency should be employed, in which case those reasons shall be stated in the handwriting of the presiding Judge himself in the order for attachment."
If, therefore, the attachment could be effected through an officer of the court there is no justification why the delivery of possession which is dependant on the passing of the decree cannot be effected through a Commissioner. There is nothing in the General Rules (Civil) or in the Code of Civil Procedure to the contrary. Reliance has been placed by the applicant on the AIR 1961 SC 218 wherein it was laid down:
"Court has no inherent powers under Section 151 to appoin
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