1999 (1) JLJ 102
S.K. Dubey, J.
Bisundas Manikpuri v. Mangaldas
Civil Revision No. 633 of 1993; against the order passed by Shri Bajpai,
First Additional Judge to the Court of District Judge, Durg in Misc. Judicial
Case No. 2-B of 1990; Decided on 6. 8.1998.
(2) Civil P.C., 1908 -- O. 37 R. 4 -- application for setting aside exparte decree -- limitation is 3 years under Art. 137 of Limitation Act, 1963. AIR 1958 Born. 10, AIR 1977 J & K 30 and AIR 1995 Raj. 16 relied on. [Para 5
(3) Limitation Act, 1963 -- Art. 137 -- application under O.37 R. 4 CPC --limitation is 3 years. AIR 1958 Born. 10, AIR 1977 J & K 30 and AIR 1995 Raj. 16 relied on. [Para 5
(4) Words and Phrases -- expression ‘special circumstances -- not synonymous with ‘sufficient cause‘. [Para 6
(5) Words and Phrases -- word ‘special‘ -- means, of a particular kind, for a particular purpose, not general, a special key, etc. "Oxford Large Print Dictionary page 783 relied on. [Para 6
(6) Words and Phrases -- word "circumstance" -- means "any of the conditions or facts connected with an event, person or action, etc‘‘. Oxford Large Print Dictionary, page 143 relied on. [Para 6
(7) Civil P.C, 1908 -- O. 37 R. 4. -- provisions under -- apply not only to ex-parte decree but also where defendant has sufficient cause for non-appearance. AIR 1989 Raj. 132 relied on. [para 7
(8) Civil P.C., 1908 -- O. 37 R. 4 -- previously leave to defend granted on condition to deposit admitted amount -- amount could not be deposited due to poverty -- decretal amount of ex-parte decree deposited – ex-parte decree should be set aside. 1987 (II) MPWN 154 relied on. [Para 8
¼1½ flfoy izfØ;k lafgrk] 1908 && vk- 37 fu- 4 && mica/k && ,di{kh; fMØh ikfjr gksus ds i‘pkr~ ykxw gksrk gSA ¿ iSjk 5À ¼2½ flfoy izfØ;k lafgrk] 1908 && vk- 37 fu- 4 && mica/k && ,di{kh; fMØh vikLr fd, tkus ds fy, vkosnu && ifjlhek vf/kfu;e] 1963 ds vuq- 137 ds v/khu ifjlhek 3 o"kZ gSA , vkb vkj 1958 cacbZ 10] , vkb vkj 1977 tEew vkSj d‘ehj 30 rFkk , vkb vkj 1955 jktLFkku 16 voyafcrA ¿ iSjk 5À ¼3½ ifjlhek vf/kfu;e] 1963 && vuq- 137 && fl- iz- la- ds vk- 37 fu- 4 ds v/khu vkosnu && ifjlhek 3 o"kZ gSA , vkb vkj 1985 cacbZ 10] , vkb vkj 1977 tEew vkSj d‘ehj 30 rFkk , vkb vkj 1955 jktLFkku 16 voyafcrA ¿ iSjk 7À ¼4½ ‘‘kCn vkSj okD; && vfHkO;fDr && **fo‘ks"k ifjfLFkfr;k¡** && i;kZIr dkj.k** dh lekukFkZd ugha gSA ¿ iSjk 6À ¼5½ ‘‘kCn vkSj okD; && ‘‘kCn && **fo‘ks"k** && vFkZ gS fdlh fof‘k"V izdkj dk] fdlh fof‘k"V iz;kstu ds fy,] lkekU; ugha] dksbZ fo‘ks"k Hkko% vkfnA vkDlQksMZ yktZ fizaV fMD‘kujh] i`"B 783 voyafcrA ¿ iSjk 6À ¼6½ ‘‘kCn vkSj okD; && ‘‘kCn && **ifjfLFkfr** && vFkZ gS fdlh ?kVuk] O;fDr ?kVuk dkjokbZ ls lac) ifjfLFkfr;k¡ vFkok rF;**] vkfnA vkDlQksMZ yktZ fiazV fMD‘kujh] i`"B 143 voyafcrA ¿ iSjk 6À ¼7½ flfoy izfØ;k lafgrk] 1908 && vk- 37 fu- 4 && mica/k && dsoy ,di{kh; fMØh dh gh ykxw ugha gksrs vfirq ogk¡ Hkh tgk¡ izfroknh dks vuqilatkfr ds fy, i;kZIr dkj.k gksA , vkb vkj 1989 jktLFkku 132 voyafcrA ¿ iSjk 7À ¼8½ flfoy izfØ;k lafgrk] 1908 && vk- 37 fu- 4 && iwoZ esa izfrokn dh btktr Loh—r jde fuf{kIr fd, tkus dh ‘krZ ij iznÙk && jde] xjhch ds dkj.k fuf{kIr ugha dh tk ldh && ,di{kh; fMØh dk fMØh dk /ku fuf{kIr && ,di{kh; fMØh vikLr dh tkuk pkfg,A 1987 ¼2½ e-iz- ohDyh uksV~l 154 voyafcrA ¿ iSjk 8À
1. This is a defendant's revision against the order dated 4.10.1993, passed in MJC No.2-B/90 by First Additional District Judge, Durg.
2. Facts giving rise to this revision are thus :-
The non-applicant instituted a suit under Order 37 CPC for recovery of a sum of Rs.37,000/- against the applicant. The applicant after the service of summons applied within ten days under Order 37 Rule 3(5) by affidavit to grant leave to defend. The applicant averred that he is a labourer who took loan of Rs. 7000/ from the non-applicant but it could not be paid by him. However, the non-applicant/plaintiff interpolated the bond by adding numerical figure of "3" before "7" so as to make the amount of loan as of Rs. 37,000/-. Similarly, the words were also interpolated in the writing so as to show that the applicant had taken Rs. 37,000/- and not Rs. 7000/-. The trial Court granted leave to defend conditionally on deposit of Rs. 7000/- in accordance with the second proviso to sub-rule (5) of Rule 3 of Order 37. The applicant could not deposit the said amount of Rs. 7000/- within time fixed and made an application that he be permitted to furnish bank guarantee instead of deposit 'of cash amount. The said application was not pursued hence was dismissed. On failure of deposit of Rs. 7000/- and after hearing the non-applicant an ex-parte judgment under Order 37, Rule 3(6)(b) CPC was passed in favour of the non-applicant. When the decree was put in execution, the applicant raised objections against the excitability of the decree on various grounds. The objections so raised were rejected by the order dated 25.9.90 passed in' MJ.C. No. 24/90. Aggrieved of the said order the applicant preferred a Civil Revision No. 533 of 1990 before this Court which was dismissed on 9.3.1992 with observation that if the right of the applicant to apply under Order, 37, Rule 4 CPC survives, the applicant, if so advised, may move the Court below under Order 37, Rule 4 CPC or under any other provisions of law. If such an application is made, that shall be decided by the Court below in accordance with law. After the order of this Court, the applicant filed an application under Order 37, Rule 4 read with Section 151 CPC before the Trial Court on 1.5.1992. The non-applicant after notice contested the said application. The trial Court after enquiry held that the application is not maintainable as the applicant earlier applied for leave to furnish bank guarantee instead of deposit the admitted amount in cash, and as no 'special circumstances' for setting aside the ex-parte decree were found the trial Court dismissed the application.
3. Shri Manindra Shrivastava, learned counsel for the applicant submitted that the application was maintainable as it was filed within the period of three years. In Rule 4 of Order 37 no period of limitation is prescribed, therefore the application was governed by Article 137 of the Limitation Act. 1963 Counsel cited P.N. Films Ltd. and another v. Overseas Films Corporation Ltd. (AIR 1958 Bombay 10). Subhash Raina v. Suraj Prakash (AIR 1977 J.&.K. 30) and' Surya Prakash v. Mohd Jameel Khan (AIR 1995 Rajasthan 16). It was submitted that the trial Court misconstrued the earlier application as application under Order 37 Rule 4 CPC which was not, as by that time ex-parte judgment and decree was not passed. The trial Court for minor inconsistencies in the evidence found that no 'special circumstances' as contemplated under Rule 4 of Order 37, have been established. It was submitted that the applicant is a labourer, while raising a Chimni he received crush injuries on 22.9.1989 and remained under treatment upto 10.10.1989. Because of the injury suffered he could not go to attend his work. When he recovered from the injury he filed objections before the Executing Court which were rejected. The applicant deposited Rs. 7000/- on 9.1.1991 pursuant to order passed in Civil Revision No. 533/90 on 11.12.1990. Thereafter, as the property of the applicant bein
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