IN THE HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
J.J. Munir, J.
Sam Higginbottom Institute Of Agriculture Technology And Science - Revisionist
Versus
Ms Acurite Contractors Engineers – Opposite Party
CIVIL REVISION No. -5 of 2024
Decided On : 27-08-2024
(A) Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 - Section 47 and Section 151 - Execution of decree - The revision challenges the rejection of objections by the judgment debtor regarding the validity of a memorandum of understanding and the jurisdiction of the executing court. The court emphasized that objections under Section 47 are limited and cannot substitute an appeal. (Paras 10, 11, 13)
(B) Jurisdiction - The executing court cannot review the merits of the trial court's judgment; objections must relate to execution, discharge, or satisfaction of the decree. (Paras 10, 13)
Facts of the case:
The decree holder was awarded a works contract, and the judgment debtor failed to pay the balance amount as per the memorandum of understanding. The trial court decreed the suit, leading to the judgment debtor's objections in execution proceedings.
Findings of Court:
The court upheld the trial court's order, stating that the objections raised were not valid under Section 47.
Issues: The main issues were the validity of the memorandum of understanding and the jurisdiction of the executing court.
Ratio Decidendi: The court ruled that objections under Section 47 are limited and cannot reopen the merits of the case; the executing court cannot review the trial court's judgment.
Result: Revision dismissed.
JUDGMENT :
J.J. Munir, J.
1. This revision is directed against an order passed by the learned Civil Judge (Sr. Div.), F.T.C., Prayagraj dated 27. 09.2023 in Misc. Case No.8 of 2020, rejecting the judgment debtor's objection under Section 47 read with Section 151 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (for short, 'the Code'), seeking to set aside the decree dated 21.02.2018 passed in Original Suit No.1014 of 2012.
2. The facts giving rise to this revision are these:
Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Naini, Allahabad (formerly the Allahabad Agricultural Institute Deemed University) awarded a works contract for some construction work to be done on their premises to M/s. Acurite Contractors & Engineers, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, a partnership firm. The former shall hereinafter be called 'the judgment debtor' and the latter 'the decree holder'. For the purpose of giving effect to their covenants carried in the works contract, the decree holder and the judgment debtor signed a memorandum of understanding dated 19.12.2006, where both parties agreed that the total value of the work, to be executed under the contract by the decree holder, would be Rs.26,32,72,391/-. It was also covenanted that after deducting the moneys already paid to the decree holder in liquidation of the running bills, balance would be paid by the judgment debtor to the decree holder in three equal installments. Original Suit No.1014 of 2012 was instituted by the decree holder against the judgment debtor with a case that after deducting the money paid by the judgment debtor, the judgment debtor was obliged, according to the terms settled under the memorandum of understanding dated 19.12.2006, to pay the decree holder the balance of a sum of Rs.4,96,00,751/-, besides interest at the rate of 12% per annum w.e.f. 19.08.2009, which the judgment debtor did not. The judgment debtor, in answer to the summons for appearance, entered appearance, and, later on, in answer to the summons for judgment, applied for leave to defend. The Trial Judge by his order dated 25.07.2013 granted unconditional leave. A written statement was filed by the judgment debtor in compliance with the said order. The order of the Trial Court dated 25.07.2013, granting unconditional leave to the judgment debtor, was impugned by the decree holder vide Civil Revision No.380 of 2013, preferred to this Court. The said revision was allowed in part vide judgment and order dated 23.09.2014, modifying the leave and making it conditional upon:
3. This order was challenged by the judgment debtor preferring a petition for special leave to appeal to the Supreme Court. The special leave petition was dismissed by their Lordships vide order dated 15.12.2014. The time to deposit 50% of the total sum of money claimed by the decree holder was extended by two weeks from the date of the order passed by the Supreme Court. While the special leave petition was pending before the Supreme Court, an application was made on 10.11.2014 by the judgment debtor before the Trial Judge, praying that the judgment debtor be granted opportunity to cross-examine the decree holder's witnesses and liberty to address the Court on legal issues. This application was rejected by the order dated 10.11.2014 passed by the Trial Judge. The said order was challenged by means of Civil Revision No.14 of 2015 carried before this Court. This Court by judgment and order dated 11.07.2016 allowed the revision in part, by which the sole relief that was granted was that the application made to the Trial Court stands allowed to the extent that the judgment debtor would have liberty to raise a question about the jurisdiction of the Court to try the suit as o
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