HIGH COURT OF ALLAHBAD
WALI ULLAH, J.
Khair Ullah
Versus
B. Jai Ram Singh
Ex.Second Appeal No.183 of 1950
Decided On : 03-03-1952
EXECUTION OF DECREE - LIMITATION - APPLICATION FOR EXECUTION - COURT COMPETENT TO EXECUTE - COURT WHICH PASSED THE DECREE - ABOLITION AND REVIVAL OF COURT - JURISDICTION - CIVIL PROCEDURE CODE (ACT V OF 1908), SS. 37, 38, 150.
Fact of the Case:
A decree for money was passed by the Additional Munsif's Court in 1936. The court was abolished in 1937 but was revived sometime later. The decree-holder filed several applications for execution of the decree, some of which were dismissed. The final application for execution was filed in 1948 in the Munsif's Court. The judgment debtor objected to the execution on the ground that the application was barred by limitation as the previous applications were not made in accordance with law since they were filed in the Additional Munsif's Court which had been abolished.
Finding of the Court:
The court held that the application for execution was not barred by limitation. It held that the Additional Munsif's Court which passed the decree was the proper court to entertain the application for execution, even though it had been abolished and revived in the meantime. The court relied on Sections 37, 38, and 150 of the Civil Procedure Code, which define the expression "the court which passed the decree" and provide for the execution of decrees by the court which passed it or by the court to which it is sent for execution.
Issues: Whether the application for execution of the decree was barred by limitation.
Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the application for execution was not barred by limitation because the Additional Munsif's Court which passed the decree was the proper court to entertain the application, even though it had been abolished and revived in the meantime. The court relied on Sections 37, 38, and 150 of the Civil Procedure Code, which define the expression "the court which passed the decree" and provide for the execution of decrees by the court which passed it or by the court to which it is sent for execution.
Final Decision: The court dismissed the appeal and granted leave to appeal to a Division Bench of the Court.
2. It appears that a decree for Rs.1486/-was passed on 7-10-1936, in favour of Suraj Prasad Singh, father of the respondents, against the appellant, Haji Khairullah. It was passed by the Court of the Additional Munsif. That Court appears to have been abolished soon after, namely, on 3-1-1937. It was, however, again revived after sometime and was in existence at the time when the first application for execution was made on 7-10-1939. That application was made to the Court of the Additional Munsif. Eventually, the application was dismissed for want of prosecution on 18-10-1939.
3. The next application for execution was made on 19-2-1943, which was dismissed on 30-3-1943. A third application for execution was made on 5-4-1943. It was dismissed on 25-5-1943. A fourth application for execution was made on 11-5-1946, and it was dismissed on 18-7-1946.
4. A fifth application for execution of the decree was made on 17-7-1943. It was made in the Court of the Munsif. It is this application which has given rise to the present appeal.
5. Objections were filed on behalf of the appellant to the execution of the decree. The main objection urged was that the application was barred by limitation inasmuch as the proceedings in connection with the first, second, third, and fourth applications for execution had not been validly taken. Reliance was placed on Art.182(5), Limitation Act. Under this provision, three years period of limitation is to be reckoned from the date of the final order passed on an application made in accordance with law to the proper court for execution.
6. The Courts below have dismissed the objection and have held that the application was made within time.
7-8. Learned counsel for the appellant has contended that the application is barred by time. His argument is that the Additional Munsifs Court which passed the decree on 7-10-1936 having been abolished and its business having been transferred to the Munsifs Court, it was the Munsifs Court alone which was competent to execute the decree. That being the position the four previous applications for execution of the decree filed in the Court of the Additional Munsif were not in accordance with law and consequently did not save limitation.
9. In support of his contention, learned counsel has relied upon the decision in - Maqbul Ahmad v. Pateshri Partab Narain Singh, AIR 1929 All 677 and in the case of - Mt. Champi Bai v. Peary Lal, AIR 1938 All 116.
10. On the other hand, learned counsel for the respondents has relied on the case of - Bibi Khodaijatul Kobra v. Harihar Missar, AIR 1926 Pat. 209. This is the ruling on which both the Courts below have also relied. It seems to me quite clear that in the present case, the Courts below have taken a correct view of the law.
11. Learned counsel for the appellant has invited my attention to Ss.37, 38 and 150, Civil P.C. Section 37 defines the expression "the Court which passed the decree". Section 38 declares that a decree may be executed either by the Court which passed it or by the Court to which it is sent for execution. The expression, "the Court which passed it" necessarily refers back to S.37 where the expression has been explained. Section 37(b) deals with a case where the Court of first instance has ceased to exist or to have jurisdiction to execute the decree. In such an event, the Court which, if the suit wherein the decree was passed was instituted at the time of making the application for the execution of the decree, would have jurisdiction to try such suit. In the present case, on the dates when the first four applications for execution of the decree were made, the Court of the Additional Munsif was in existence. Further that Court on that date would have jurisdiction to entertain the suit if the suit wherein the decree was passed was to be instituted on that date. It follows, therefore, that at the 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.