The court retains jurisdiction to examine a judgment-debtor even after a decree is transmitted for execution to another court.

1. A decree was passed in Suit No. 775 of 1980 in favour of the plaintiff, Grindlays Bank Ltd. on the 2nd March, 1981 for Rs.36,02,511.67 P. with interest at the rate of 15% per annum from the 1st August, 1980 till realisation against the defendants Ramacast Limited, a limited company, Shew Prosad Nopany and Bimal Kumar Nopany, two Directors of the company, in their capacity as guarantors.

2. On an application of the plaintiff, the said decree was transmitted to the District Court, Alipore for execution in respect of a property belonging to Shew Prosad Nopany, the defendant No.2 situated within the jurisdiction of the said District Court. The said execution proceeding is still pending. On the 28th February, 1984 the plaintiff after the transmission of the said decree filed another Tabular Statement in this Court praying for examination of Shew Prosad Nopany and Bimal Kumar Nopany two of the judgment - debtors in this Court under O.21, R.41 of the Code of Civil Procedure .

3. The said application was opposed and was ultimately disposed of by a judgment and order dated the 12th September, 1984. The prayer of the plaintiff for examination of the judgment - debtors was allowed. The present appeal is against the said judgment and order.

4. It is the case of the appellants, the two judgment - debtors, is, inter alia, that under Chapter XVII, R.4 of the Original Side Rules of this Court, execution of a decree is stayed automatically when the decree is sent to another Court for execution unless there is a direction to the contrary by the Master or the Registrar or the Judge. It is contended that the transmission of the decree in the case before us was unconditional and, therefore, further execution cannot be proceeded with in this Court. It is contended further that the Tabular Statement for examination of the judgment - debtors has been filed under the provisions of O.21 of the Code of Civil Procedure which lay down various modes of execution and matters relating to execution. The application for examination of judgment - debtors would come under the mischief of R.4 of Chapter XVII of the Original Side Rules and no order could have been passed on such an application.

5. The case of the plaintiff - Bank is, inter alia, that an application for examination of the judgment - debtors is not an application for execution but an application in aid of execution. The object is to ascertain from the judgment - debtors particulars of their properties and assets on which execution can thereafter be levied. This Court having passed the decree, it is contended, retains seisin over the decree and that the stay contemplated by R.4 of Chapter XVII of the Original Side Rules can be varied or vacated at any time by this Court.

6. Learned Counsel for the parties drew our attention to the relevant statutory provisions and cited the following decisions which are noted and considered hereinafter :
Original Side Rules
"R.4 of Chapter XVII - Where a decree is sent to another Court for execution, stay of execution will be entered in the proceedings in this Court, unless the Judge, Registrar or Master shall, on such terms as he thinks fit, otherwise direct."
  Code of Civil Procedure
" Order XXI R.26 (1) - The Court to which a decree has been sent for execution shall, upon sufficient cause being shown, stay the execution of such decree for a reasonable time, to enable the judgment - debtor to apply to the Court by which the decree was passed, or to any Court having appellate jurisdiction in respect of the decree or the execution thereof, for an order to stay execution, or for any other order relating to the decree or execution which might have been made by such Court of first inst