2005 Supreme(MP) 58

2005(2) JLJ 135
S.K. Gangele, J.
Gordhan Singh v. Abdulji Alamji and Co.
Second Appeal No. 160 of 1989; against the judgment and decree of Shri CM. Mathur, District Judge, Mandsaur, passed in Civil Appeal No. 10A of 1988, reversing the judgment and decree of Civil Judge Class I, Mandsaur, passed in Civil Suit No, 38-A of 1987;
Decided on 11.1.2005.

Headnote:(1) Civil P.C., 1908--S. 47 -- plaintiff entitled to possession of suit property in previous execution case but did not claim the same -cannot file fresh suit as the same is barred.

       The plaintiff filed a suit for eviction against the defendant respondent for delivery of possession of the land bearing S.No. 418/2 total area 0.218 acre situated at village Bandhikedi, Tahsil Mandsaur. It was pleaded by the plaintiff that one Khumansingh S/o Himmatsingh executed an agreement dated 22.7.1964 for sale of the land 0.218 acre situated at S.No. 418/2. When he did not perform his part of the agreement, the plaintiff filed the suit against Khumansingh, which was registered as Civil Suit No. 37-A/66 and decreed in favour of the plaintiff by judgment and decree dated 17.7.1970. On 24.11.1977, Himmatsingh, heir of Khumansingh, executed a sale deed in favour of plaintiff because Khumansingh had died. It is further pleaded that on 7.1.1978, the defendant illegally took possession of a plot of the aforesaid land measuring 84 ft. x 39 ft. and constructed a shop. [Para 2

       It was pleaded by the defendant that .... the suit is not maintainable because earlier the plaintiff filed an execution proceeding of the decree obtained in Civil Suit No. 37-A11966 and he had withdrawn the said execution proceedings, hence as per provisions of section 47 of the Code of Civil Procedure, the suit is not maintainable. [Para 3

       The trial Court ... held that the plaintiff is not barred by filing this suit on the basis of estoppel and also on the basis of the provisions of section 47 of the Civil Procedure Code because the plaintiff filed execution proceedings of a decree passed in earlier Civil Suit No. 37-A/66, which was withdrawn subsequently, and decreed the suit with regard to delivery of possession of the suit property. [Para 4

       Against the aforesaid judgment and decree, the defendant filed an appeal. The learned appeal Judge has held that the plaintiff got the suit property in pursuance to a decree passed in Civil Suit No. 37-N66. In that appeal, it was argued by the appellant that in execution proceedings of the judgment and decree of Case No.37-A/1966 the present respondent moved an application restraining the execution and submitted that the plaintiff could file a separate suit, hence the defendant is barred on the principle of estoppel challenging the maintainability of the suit. .... And further held that because the plaintiff had withdrawn the execution proceedings filed by him under section 47 of the CPC with regard to execution of the decree of the subsequent suit for possession, present suit is not maintainable because the relief of possession was available to the plaintiff in the execution proceedings. [Para 5

       The main point for determination for this Court is "Whether the defendant is estopped from challenging the maintainability of the present suit, and the suit is not maintainable on the basis of provisions of section 47 of the Civil Procedure Code ?" [Para 13

       Held: The plaintiff himself did not press the relief available to him, in such circumstances, in the opinion of this Court, the second suit filed by the plaintiff for possession is not maintainable. AIR 1973 SC 2423 and AIR 2001 SC 2552 followed. AIR 1964 MP 124 distinguished. [Paras 22 to 25

       (2) Evidence Act, 1872 -- S. 115 -- estoppel -- application filed for restraining execution of decree by plaintiff -- submitted that plaintiff could file separate suit -- is estopped from challenging maintainability of suit on ground of non-execution of decree in earlier suit.

       The plaintiff had a right to get possession in the execution proceeding which he had initiated in pursuance of the decree granted to him in Civil Suit No. 37-A/66 but he himself did not press that relief. In the aforesaid circumstances it cannot be said that the respondent-defendant was estopped raising the objections with regard to maintainability of the suit, on the basis of the principle of estoppel. (2003) 2 SCC 355 followed. [Paras 19 & 21

       (3) Specific Relief Act, 1963-- S. 10 -- Transfer of Property Act, 1882 -- S. 55 -- Civil P.c., 1908 -- O. 21 Rr. 32 and 34 -- suit decreed for specific performance to execute sale deed -- executing Court may also order delivery of possession -- it is an inherent power of the executing Court. AIR 1963 MP 186 and 1983 JLJ 422 relied on. [Paras 15 & 16

       (4) Transfer of Property Act, 1882 -- S. 52 -- Specific Relief Act, 1963 -- S. 10 -- transfer of suit property during pendency of suit -suit for specific performance decreed -- decree-holder can obtain possession from transferee.

       The relief of possession was available to the plaintiff at the time of execution of the decree and that relief can also be obtained against the defendant who purchased the suit property during the pendency of the suit proceedings and he became the predecessor pendente lite. AIR 1971 MP 109 relied on. (2001) 10 SCC 715 followed. [Paras 17 & 18

       (5) Precedent -- decision is authority for which it is decided d`reliance cannot be placed without discussing factual position of the precedent -- a single significant detail may alter the entire aspect. (2003) 2 SCC 111, (2003) 3 SCC 553 and (2002) 3 SCC 496 followed. [Paras 27, 28 and 29

       ¼1½ flfoy çfØ;k lafgrk] 1908& &/kkjk 47&oknh] iwfoZd fu"iknu ekeys esa okn laifÙk ds dCts dk gdnkj fdarq mlus mldk nkok ugha fd;k& &uk okn Qkby ugha dj ldrk D;ksafd og oftZr gSA

       oknh us xzke cM+h [ksM+h] rglhy eanlhj esa vofLFkr losZ Ø-418@2 dh dqy {ks=Qy 0-218 ,dM+ Hkwfe dCtk lkSaius ds fy, çfroknh&çR;FkhZ ds fo#) [kkyh djus dk okn Qkby fd;kA ;g vfHkopu fd;k x;k fd [kqekuflag iq= fgEerflag us losZ Ø-418@2 ij vofLFkr 0-218 ,dM+ Hkwfe ds foØ; ds fy, djkj fnukad 22-7-1964 fu"ikfnr fd;kA tc mlus djkj ds vius Hkkx dk ikyu ugha fd;k] oknh us [kqekuflag ds fo#) okn Qkby fd;k tks flfoy okn Ø-37&,@66 dh Hkk¡fr jftLVj gqvk vkSj fu.kZ; rFkk fMØh fnukad 17-7-1970 }kjk oknh ds i{k esa fMØh gqvkA D;kasfd [kqekufalag dh e`R;q gks xbZ Fkh] 24-11-1997 dks [kqekuflag ds okfjl fgEerflag us oknh ds i{k esa foØ; foys[k fu"ikfnr fd;kA ;g vfHkopu vkSj fd;k x;k gS fd 7-1-1978 dks çfroknh us iwoksZDr Hkwfe ds 84 QqV x 39 QqV eki ds IykV ij voS/k :i ls dCtk dj fy;k vkSj ,d nqdku dk fuekZ.k dj fy;kA ¼iSjk 2½

       çfroknh dh vksj ls ;g vfHkdFku fd;k x;k fd okn pykus ;ksX; ugha gS D;ksafd iwoZ esa oknh us flfoy okn Ø-37&,@1966 esa vfHkçkIr fMØh dh dk;Zokgh Qkby dh mlus mDr fu"iknu dk;Zokgh okil ys yh Fkh] vr% flfoy çfØ;k lafgrk dh /kkjk 47 ds mica/kksa ds vuqlkj okn pykus ;ksX; ugha gSA ¼iSjk 3½

       fopkj.k U;k;ky; us vfHkfu/kkZfjr fd;k fd foca/k ds vk/kkj ij vkSj flfoy çfØ;k lafgrk dh /kkjk 47 ds mica/kksa ds vk/kkj ij Hkh oknh }kjk ;g okn Qkby fd;k tkuk oftZr ugha gS D;ksafd oknh us iwoZrj flfoy okn Ø-37&,@66 esa ikfjr fMØh ds fu"iknu dh dk;Zokgh Qkby dh Fkh tks ckn esa okil ys yh xbZ Fkh( vkSj oknxr laifÙk ds dCts ds ckjs esa okn fMØh dj fn;kA ¼iSjk 4½

       iwoksZDr fu.kZ; vkSj fMØh ds fo#) çfroknh us vihy Qkby dhA fo}ku vihy U;k;k/kh‘k us vfHkfu/kkZfjr fd;k gS fd oknh us okn&laifÙk flfoy okn Ø-37&,@66 esa ikfjr fMØh ds ikyu esa çkIr dh FkhA ml vihy esa vihykFkhZ }kjk ;g cgl dh xbZ Fkh fd ekeyk Ø-37&,@1966 dh fu"iknu dk;Zokgh esa çLrqr çR;FkhZ us fu"iknu vo#) djus dk vkosnu fd;k vkSj fuosnu fd;k fd oknh i`Fkd okn Qkby dj ldrk Fkk] vr% çfroknh foca/k ds fl)kar ij] okn pyus ;ksX; gksus ij vk{ksi djus ls oftZr gSA---d`rFkk ;g vkSj Hkh vfHkfu/kkZfjr fd;k fd D;ksafd oknh us dCts ds fy, i‘pkrorhZ okn dh fMØh ds fu"iknu ds laca/k esa mlds }kjk flfoy çfØ;k lafgrk dh /kkjk 47 ds v/khu Qkby dh xbZ fu"iknu dk;ZOkkgh okil ys yh Fkh] çLrqr okn pykus ;ksX; ugha gS D;ksafd fu"iknu dk;Zokgh esa oknh dks dCts ds vuqrks"k miyC/k FkkA ¼iSjk 5½

       bl U;k;ky; }kjk vo/kkj.k dk eq[; ç‘u gS fd ^^D;k çfroknh çLrqr okn ds pyus ;ksX; gksus ij vk{ksi djus ls focaf/kr gS vkSj flfoy çfØ;k lafgrk dh /kkjk 47 ds mica/kksa ds vk/kkj ij pykus ;ksX; ugha gS\** ¼iSjk 13½

       vfHkfu/kkZfjr % oknh us mldks miyC/k vuqrks"k ij Lo;a cy ugha fn;k] ,slh ifjfLFkfr esa bl U;k;ky; dh jk; esa oknh }kjk dCts ds fy, Qkby fd;k x;k nwljk okn ekU; fd, tkus ;ksX; ugha gSA , vkb vkj 1973 ,l lh 2423 rFkk , vkb vkj 2001 ,l lh 2552 vuqlfjrA , vkb vkj 1964 e-ç- 124 çHksfnrA ¼iSjk 22 ls 25½

       ¼2½ lk{; vf/kfu;e] 1872& &/kkjk 115&foca/k&fMØh dk fu"iknu vo#) fd, tkus ds fy, oknh }kjk vkosnu Qkby& fuosnu fd;k x;k fd oknh i`Fkd okn Qkby dj ldrk gS&iwoZrj okn esa fMØh ds vfu"iknu ds vk/kkj ij okn pyus ;ksX; gksus ij vk{ksi djus ls focaf/kr gSA

       fu"iknu dk;Zokgh esa tks mlus flfoy okn Ø- 37&,@66 esa flfoy U;k;ky; }kjk ikfjr fMØh ds vuqlj.k esa çkjaHk dh Fkh] oknh dks dCtk çkIr djus dk vf/kdkj Fkk] fdarq mlus Lo;a ml vuqrks"k ij cy ugha fn;kA iwoksZDr ifjfLFkfr;ksa esa ;g ugha dgk tk ldrk fd okn pyus ;ksX; gksus ds ckjs esa çR;FkhZ&çfroknh foca/k ds fl)kar ds vk/kkj ij okn pyus ;ksX; gksus ds ckjs esa vkifRrÙk djus ls focaf/kr FkkA ¼2003½2 ,l lh lh 355 voyafcrA ¼iSjk 19 ,oa 21½

       ¼3½ fofufnZ"V vuqrks"k vf/kfu;e] 1963& &/kkjk 10&laifÙk varj.k vf/kfu;e] 1882&/kkjk 55& &flfoy çfØ;k lafgrk] 1908& &vk-21 fu-32 rFkk 34&foØ; foys[k fu"ikfnr fd, tkus ds fofufnZ"V fd, tkus ds fofufnZ"V ikyu ds fy, okn fMØh fd;k x;k& &fu"iknu U;k;ky; dCtk lkSais tkus dk vkns‘k Hkh ns ldrk gS&;g fu"iknu U;k;ky; dh varfuZfgr ‘kfDr gSA , vkb vkj 1963 e-ç- 186 rFkk 1983 ts ,y ts 422 voyafcrA ¼iSjk 15 ,oa 16½

       ¼4½ laifÙk varj.k vf/kfu;e] 1882& &/kkjk 52&fofufnZ"V vuqrks"k vf/kfu;e] 1963&/kkjk 10& &okn ds yacu dky esa laifÙk dk varj.k&fofufnZ"V ikyu ds fy, okn esa fMØh&fMØh /kkjd] varfjrh ls dCtk vfHkçkIr dj ldrk gSA

       fMØh ds fu"iknu ds le; oknh dks dCts dk vuqrks"k miyC/k Fkk vkSj og vuqrks"k çfroknh ds fo#) Hkh vfHkçkIr fd;k tk ldrk gS ftlus okn ds yacu dky esa laifÙk Ø; dh vksj og okndkyhu iwokZf/kdkjh gks x;kA , vkb vkj 1971 e-ç- 109 voyafcrA ¼2001½ 10 ,l lh lh 715 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 17 ,oa 18½

       ¼5½ iwoZ U;k;& &fu.kZ] mlds fy, çkf/kdkj gS ftlds fy, og fu.khZr fd;k x;k gS&iwoZ U;k; dh rkfF;d fLFkfr ij fopkj fd, fcuk voyac ugha fy;k tk ldrk& &,dy egRoiw.kZ C;kSjs ls laiw.kZ vofLFkfr ifjofrZr gks ldrh gSA ¼2003½2 ,l lh lh 111] ¼2003½3 ,l lh lh 553 rFkk ¼2002½3 ,l lh lh 496 vuqlfjrA ¼iSjk 27] 28 ,oa 29½