Judgement 1 Law. Rep. 66 Ind. App. 84 ( 1938- 1939) Oudh Commercial Bank, Limited V. Thakurain Bind Basni Kuer 12 Appeal (No. 60 of 1937) from a decree of the Chief Court of Oudh (August 13, 1934), which reversed an order of the Subordinate Judge of Fyzabad (November 26, 1932). In a mortgage suit the Subordinate Judge of Mohanlalganj made a final decree for sale on January 22, 1916. He allowed further interest on the sum awarded at 4 per cent. On the application of the judgment-creditor on September 7, 1916, the decree was transferred to the Subordinate Judge of Fyzabad for execution. On July 3, 1917, an application for sale was made to the Subordinate Judge of Fyzabad and the decree was sent to the Collector for execution. The Court of Wards, who then had charge of the debtors estate, in consideration of time being allowed for payment, agreed to pay interest at 6½ per cent., and made some payments on that footing. In September, 1917, the estate was released by the Court of Wards to the debtor and in December, 1917, the debtor repudiated the action of the Court of Wards and raised objections to the execution of the decree. The objections were dismissed by the Subordinate Judge. Against his order an appeal was taken to the Chief Court by the debtor. The Chief Court held that the interest could not be increased beyond the original 4 per cent, and, with this modification, dismissed the objections. Both parties appealed to the Privy Council and the debtor obtained a stay of execution pending the disposal of the appeal on condition that he would pay interest at 6½ per cent, and that the creditor would withdraw his appeal. The creditor withdrew his appeal and the debtors appeal was dismissed by Order in Council in May, 1921, which was amended by Order in Council on May 25, 1922, to give effect to the agreement to pay 6½ per cent, interest. On January 16, 1922, the creditor applied to the Subordinate Judge at Fyzabad to restore and continue the execution proceedings and the decree was again sent to the Collector for execution. A further stay till July, 1922, was obtained by the debtor. In October, 1922, some of the properties were sold in execution. On January 16, 1922, the creditor applied to the Subordinate Judge at Fyzabad to restore and continue the execution proceedings and the decree was again sent to the Collector for execution. A further stay till July, 1922, was obtained by the debtor. In October, 1922, some of the properties were sold in execution. In November, 1922, the sale was by agreement cancelled on the debtors undertaking to make certain payments towards the discharge of the debt by October, 1923. These payments were made. In the meanwhile, the Subordinate Judge of Fyzabad, having learnt from the Collector that payments were being made under the decree, consigned the execution proceedings to the record and returned the papers to Mohanlanganj without notice to the parties. On April 3, 1924, another agreement was made under which the interest was increased to 8 per cent, and half the amount due was to be paid by April 1, 1925, and the balance by April 1, 1926. Some payments were made under this agreement. On March 9, 1927, a final agreement was come to for the payment of the balance and was embodied in a petition to compromise which was sent to and recorded by the Sub ordinate Judge of Mohanlanganj as an adjustment of the decree under Order xxi., r. 2, of the Code of Civil Procedure. Under this agreement the debt was to be discharged by annual payments with interest at 8 per cent, and the sale proceedings were to remain in abeyance. Several payments were made under this agreement and were recorded by the Court. 1 Law. Rep. 66 Ind. App. 84 ( 1938- 1939) Oudh Commercial Bank, Limited V. Thakurain Bind Basni Kuer 13 On March 24, 1930, the debtor being then in default, an application was made to re-transfer the decree to Fyzabad for execution and the decree was transferred. On April 19, 1931, the creditor applied to the Subordinate Judge at Fyzabad for execution in respect of the balance then due. On this application, which is the one now in question, the Subordinate Judge held that the application was a fresh application within the meaning of s. 48 of the Code, but that the creditor was entitled under Sch. On April 19, 1931, the creditor applied to the Subordinate Judge at Fyzabad for execution in respect of the balance then due. On this application, which is the one now in question, the Subordinate Judge held that the application was a fresh application within the meaning of s. 48 of the Code, but that the creditor was entitled under Sch. III., r. 11, sub-r. 2, to an allowance of time which would bring him within the limitation of twelve years from the date of the decree in 1916, and he allowed this application. On appeal by the debtor, the Chief Court, reversing the order of the Subordinate Judge, held that the creditor could not treat any date but January 22, 1916, as the date of decree, that the creditor was not entitled to any allowance of time and the application was time-barred under s. 48 of the Code and, in any event would not be entitled to interest at more than 6 1/2 per cent. 1938. Dec. 1, 2, 5, 6 and 8. Sir Herbert Cunliffe K.C. and Wallach for the appellant. The date from which the twelve years would run under s. 48 of the Code of Civil Procedure is not the date of the original decree, January 22, 1916, but the date of the Order in Council, May 25, 1922, or the amendment by the Chief Court, August 29, 1919. The respondents objection to the execution of the decree was an attack on the decree itself. The dismissal of the objection was a confirmation of the decree and time would run from the confirmation, for execution would be suspended till it was determined whether the decree was bad or not. The Privy Council did in fact alter the decree by varying the interest and so did the Chief Court. In each case a new decree was thus made which was to be executed. [Reference was made to the following cases Baldeo Shukul v. Syed Yusuf (( 1921) 60 I. C. 318.) ; Mahomed Mahdi v. Mohini Kanta (( 1907) I. L. R. 34 Cal. In each case a new decree was thus made which was to be executed. [Reference was made to the following cases Baldeo Shukul v. Syed Yusuf (( 1921) 60 I. C. 318.) ; Mahomed Mahdi v. Mohini Kanta (( 1907) I. L. R. 34 Cal. 874.) ; Joward Hussain v. Gendani Singh (( 1926) L. R. 53 I. A. 197.); Shiba Durga Debi v. Gopi Mohan Saha and Others (( 1915) 23 C. L. J. 573.) ; Raja Bhup Indar Bahadur Singh v. Bijai Bahadur Singh (( 1900) L. R. 27 I. A. 209.) ; S. M. Hashim v. J. A. Martin (( 1926) I. L. R. 4 Rang. 562.) ; Haji Ashfag Husain v. Lala Gauri Sahai (( 1910) L. R. 38 I. A. 37.); Kristnama Chariar v. Mangammal (( 1902) I. L. R. 26 Mad. 91.); Faqir Chand v. Kundan Singh (( 1932) I. L. R. 54 All. 622.); Thakur Prasad v. Fakirullah (( 1895) L. R. 22 I. A. 44.) ; Hridaymohan Sanyal v. Khagendranath (( 1929) 57 Cal. 789.); Kartik Chandra Mukherji v. Bata Krishna Ray (I. L. R. ( 1937) 2 Cal-373.); Palaniappa Chettiar v. Raja Visvanatha Vijaya Kumar a Bangaru Tirumalai (( 1908) 18 M. L. J. 548.) ; Raghunatha Prosad v. Kashi Prosad (( 1911) 15 C. L. J. 678.) ; Narotam Das v. Narain Das (( 1926) 99 I. C. 204.), and Chitalis Code of Civil Procedure, Notes under s. 48.] An amendment corrects the form or a slip in the drawing up of a decree and differs from an alteration which goes to substance and makes a new and different decree. If the effect of the Order in Council is not to make a new decree, then the application now in question was not a fresh application within the meaning of the section but one for revival or restoration of the application of July 3, 1917, which was suspended by the reason of appeals and other proceedings. The Subordinate Judge was against me on this point. The Chief Court did not deal with it. It is necessary to see what was done on the original application. [All the proceedings which followed the application were referred to.] On the facts, I submit that it is clear that the original application of January 17, 1922, was nver disposed of. The Subordinate Judge was against me on this point. The Chief Court did not deal with it. It is necessary to see what was done on the original application. [All the proceedings which followed the application were referred to.] On the facts, I submit that it is clear that the original application of January 17, 1922, was nver disposed of. The consignment of the execution proceedings to the record by the Subordinate Judge of Fyzabad while proceedings were still pending before the Collector was made under a misunder 1 Law. Rep. 66 Ind. App. 84 ( 1938- 1939) Oudh Commercial Bank, Limited V. Thakurain Bind Basni Kuer standing and his order is ineffective and cannot be treated as a final disposal of that application. Every subsequent application was an application to renew or continue pro ceedings under the original application which still remained pending. I further submit that the debtor is estopped from raising any objections. The payments on account and acknowledgments in writing bring the case within ss. 19 and 20 of the Limitation Act. The agreement of March 9, 1927, was acknowledged and acted on. That binds the respondent and prevents limitation Kartik Chandra Mukherji v. Bata Krishna Ray. (( 1937) I. L. R. 2 Cal. 373) If the decree of January 22, 1916, is to be taken as the starting point for limitations, I submit that in calculating the period of twelve years, the periods during which the Bank was deprived of the power to pursue its remedies by reason of the suspension of execution by order of the Court or by the proceedings before the Collector should be deducted. While the matter is before the Collector under Sch. III; of the Code, it is not open to any creditor to proceed against the property. Wallach followed. Assuming there is no continuity, the compromise in 1927 which was recorded would be a new decree, giving a new starting point for limitation Hridaymohan Sanyal v. Khagendranath (( 1929) I. L. R. 57 Cal. 789.), the facts of which were similar to the facts here. Reference was also made to Deenandra Mallik v. Pradyumna Kumar Mallik (( 1934) I. L. R. 62 Cal. 789.), the facts of which were similar to the facts here. Reference was also made to Deenandra Mallik v. Pradyumna Kumar Mallik (( 1934) I. L. R. 62 Cal. 28, 44.), which was reversed by the Privy Council on appeal in Pradyumna Kumar Mallick v. Kumar Dinendra Mullick (( 1937) L. R. 64 I. A. 302.) ; Ganga Bishun Marwari v. Raghunath Prasad (( 1930) I. L. R. 10 Pat. 173.) ; Sadasiva Pillai v. Ramalinga Pillai (( 1875) 2 I.A. 219.) ; Pisani v. Attorney-General for Gibralter (( 1874) L. R. 5 P.C. 516.) ; and the Notes in 27 Calcutta Weekly Notes, p. xliii. There is an essential difference between Faqir Chand v. Kundan Singh (( 1932) I. L. R. 54 All. 622.) and the case here. Here the original Court made a detailed order embodying the compromise. East India Co. v. Oditchurn Paul (( 1849) 5 M. I. A. 43, p. 70.) referred to. On the question whether the time the execution was in the hands of the Collector should be excluded, I submit it should be, because during that period the decree-holder was prevented from taking steps to enforce his decree. Sch. III., r. 11, sub-r. 2, would operate to prevent the Court from making any further order for execution, and under r. 11, sub-r. 3, the period during which the execution of the decree is affected by the provisions of this rule should be excluded in calculating the period of limitation. J. P. Eddy K.C., Rashid and Krishna Menon for the respondent. Regard should be had to the policy of the Limitation Act and s. 48 of the Code of Civil Procedure. [Reference was made to Rustomjis Limitation Act, 5th ed., vol. t, p. 9, and to the Limitation Act, s. 3, and Arts. 175,182 and 183.] Sect/48 of the Code of Civil Procedure provides an absolute bar, subject to the exception therein mentioned. Here there had been four applications September 7, 1916, July 3, 1917, January 16, 1922, and March 19, 1931. [The applications were compared.] We submit that time runs from the date of the original decree and not from the date of the Order in Council. The increase of interest to 6 1/2 per cent, in the amended Order in Council has no effect on the decree. The decree was never amended. It could not be amended. [The applications were compared.] We submit that time runs from the date of the original decree and not from the date of the Order in Council. The increase of interest to 6 1/2 per cent, in the amended Order in Council has no effect on the decree. The decree was never amended. It could not be amended. The payment of interest at 6 1/2 per cent, rests on agreement after the decree and cannot affect the decree. There is no difference, on the authorities, between amendment on account of a clerical error and a substantial alteration. On a breach of the terms of the compromise, the decree-holders were at liberty to enforce the original 1 Law. Rep. 66 Ind. App. 84 ( 1938- 1939) Oudh Commercial Bank, Limited V. Thakurain Bind Basni Kuer 15 decree in respect of the principal sum with interest at 6 1/2 per cent. The original decree could have been enforced after the Order in Council, the Order of May 5, 1922, was merely a supplemental order. Proceedings were consigned to the record by reason of the compromise. The decree which the decree-holders were seeking to enforce on March 24, 1930, was the decree as modified by the compromise and not the Order in Council. [Reference was made to Hasan Shah v. Sheo Prasad (( 1893) I. L. R. 15 All. 121.), and to Rustomjis Limitation Act, vol. ii., p. 1776.] Before 1908 Art. 182, sub-art. 4, of the Limitation Act did not specify the nature of the amendment and must be held to have included an amendment under s. 152 of the Code of Civil Procedure as well as variations. The Order in Council was not a sub stantive order for the payment of any money or the delivery of any property as contemplated in s. 48 of the Code. It was merely an order increasing the interest. Krityanand Singh v. Prithy Chand Lal Chaudhury (( 1932) L. R. 60 I. A. 43.) was referred to. The application on March 19, 1931, does not seek to revive the application of July 3, 1917. The reference in it to the Privy Council shows that it is in no sense a renewal. Reference was made to the following cases Sreenath Chakravarti v. Priyanath Bandspadhyay (( 1930) I. L. R. 58 Cal. 832.) ; Ram Sarup v. Dasrath Tiwari (( 1911) I. L. R. 33 All. The reference in it to the Privy Council shows that it is in no sense a renewal. Reference was made to the following cases Sreenath Chakravarti v. Priyanath Bandspadhyay (( 1930) I. L. R. 58 Cal. 832.) ; Ram Sarup v. Dasrath Tiwari (( 1911) I. L. R. 33 All. 517, 519.) ; Ramana Reddi v. Babu Redi (( 1912) I. L. R. 37 Mad. 186.) ; Prem Nath Tiwari v. Chatarpal Man Tiwari (( 1915) I. L. R. 37 All. 638.) ; Subbarayan v. Natarajan (( 1922) I. L. R. 45 Mad. 785.); and Phoolbas Koonwur v. Lalla Jageshur Sahoy (( 1876) I. L. R. 1 Cal. 226.). It is contended that the respondent is estopped from raising objections to the execution of the decree. Estoppel is denned in s. 115 of the Indian Evidence Act. Estoppel has no application to the operation of the statute of limitation. Rustomji, vol. i., p. 23. Ishan Chunder Bannerjee v. Juggut Chunder Das (( 1869) 13 W. R. 44.) referred to. Whatever agreements, compromise, acknowledgments or other arrangements, have been made, the application for execution must be made within twelve years of the date of the decree. If the application is not made within that period the decree-holder loses his rights Sitharama Chetty v. Krishnaswamy Chetty (( 1913) I. L. R. 38 Mad. 374.) and Gobardhan Das v. Dau Dayal. (( 1932) I. L. R. 54 All. 573.) Neither the acts nor statements of the judgment-debtor can affect the limitation imposed by the section Ganga Bishun Marwari v. Raghitnath Prasad (( 1930) I. L. R. 10 Pat.) and Sadasiva Pillai v. Ramalinga Pillai. (( 1875) L. R. 2 I. A. 219.) The exclusion of time provided for in Sch. III. of the Code has reference to the Limitation Act and not to s. 48 of the Code. The section in the Act would also prevail over the schedule where the schedule is repugnant to the section Maxwell on Interpretations of Statutes, 8th ed., p. 140. An application is none the less a fresh application if it is an application to continue the proceedings. Here the case is stronger, as the later application is very different from the first. There may be a supplementary decree which can be executed independently, but that is not the case here where there is merely an increase of interest. An application is none the less a fresh application if it is an application to continue the proceedings. Here the case is stronger, as the later application is very different from the first. There may be a supplementary decree which can be executed independently, but that is not the case here where there is merely an increase of interest. On the question whether an amendment gives a fresh starting point, the following cases were cited Faqir Chand v. Kundan Singh (( 1932) I. L. R. 54 All. 622.) ; Gobardhan Das v. Dau Dayal (( 1932) I. L. R. 54 All. 573.) and Ram Chandar v. Jai Mai. (( 1922) 20 A. L. J. 640.) Rashid followed. 1 Law. Rep. 66 Ind. App. 84 ( 1938- 1939) Oudh Commercial Bank, Limited V. Thakurain Bind Basni Kuer 16 Sir Herbert Cunliffe K.C. replied. Whether the original decree was varied or supplemented may be tested by taking a case where interest has been reduced from 6 to 4 per cent. The argument of the respondent suggests that it is still the original decree that must be executed. 1939-Jan-27- The judgment of their Lordships was delivered by Sir George Rankin. This is a decree-holders appeal. It is brought by the Oudh Commercial Bank, Ld., Fyzabad, against an order of the Chief Court of Oudh, dated August 14, 1934, dismissing an application for the execution of a final decree for sale passed on January 22, 1916, by the Subordinate Judge, Mohanlalganj, Lucknow. The respondents are the representatives of Babu Narindra Bahadur Singh (herein called the " judgment-debtor"), who died in 1936 while the present appeal was pending. He was the grantor of a mortgage to the appellants dated September 2, 1894, for Rs. 2,35,000 at 8 per cent, per annum over a large number of ancestral properties including both proprietary (khatn) and under-proprietary (pukhtadari) villages. To enforce this mortgage a suit was brought against him by the appellants in 1911 and a preliminary decree for sale obtained on October 31, 1912, from the Subordinate Judge. On appeal to the Judicial Commissioners Court this preliminary decree was on June 15, 1915, varied, so as to fix the amount outstanding on the mortgage at Rs. 7,96,763, carrying interest at 4 per cent, from July 3, 1915. On appeal to the Judicial Commissioners Court this preliminary decree was on June 15, 1915, varied, so as to fix the amount outstanding on the mortgage at Rs. 7,96,763, carrying interest at 4 per cent, from July 3, 1915. Very soon thereafter the Court of Wards, by order of the Government, assumed management of the judgment-debtors estate, which was not released till September 29, 1917. Accordingly, the Deputy Commissioner of Fyzabad, as manager for the Court of Wards, became the defendant in the mortgage suit and the final decree for sale was passed against him (January 22, 1916). It fixed the amount then due at Rs. 8,14,470 with future interest at 4 per cent, on Rs. 7,96,763. The proceedings in execution of this decree have been protracted, but apart from the application which has now been brought before their Lordships, consist of an application to the Court which passed the decree (Mohanlalganj) to transfer it for execution to the Subordinate Judge at Fyzabad (September 7, 1916) ; an application to the Fyzabad Court for an order for sale of all the mortgaged property (July 3, 1917); and «an application of January 16, 1922, asking that the previous proceedings, which had been much interfered with by stay of execution and otherwise, should be restored and continued notwithstanding that the Revenue Court and the Court of the Subordinate Judge had " consigned it to "records." This last application was granted by order of the Subordinate Judge dated January 17, 1922. It appears that, when in 1916-17 the appellants were proceeding to enforce their decree for sale, the Court of Wards made a bargain with them for time in which to pay off the mortgage debt gradually, the rate of interest to be increased from 4 per cent, to 6 1/2 per cent. Sufficient payments had been made under this arrangement to meet this interest and to repay a certain amount of the principal moneys ue on the decree when the judgment-debtor recovered the management of his own affairs in September, 1917, and repudiated the action of the Court of Wards, maintaining that its intervention in his affairs had been wholly illegal. Sufficient payments had been made under this arrangement to meet this interest and to repay a certain amount of the principal moneys ue on the decree when the judgment-debtor recovered the management of his own affairs in September, 1917, and repudiated the action of the Court of Wards, maintaining that its intervention in his affairs had been wholly illegal. In December, 1917, he carried in objections to the appellants execution proceedings, maintaining (1.) that the final decree for sale was not binding upon him as the Deputy Commissioner did not represent him ; (2.) that the Court of Wards had no right to agree to pay interest at a higher rate than the 4 per cent, mentioned in that decree. The Subordinate Judge dismissed these objections (May 17, 1918) on appeal the Court of the Judicial Commissioner dismissed the first but gave effect to the second, holding that all payments made by the Court of Wards should be credited in reduction of the decretal dues on the footing of interest at 4 per cent. only. To their decree of December 16, 1918, a statement of account was annexed showing the amount outstanding as at that date for which execution could proceed. This sum should have been entered as Rs. 7,65,898, but by an error in calculation it was entered as Rs. 6,70,610 ; this error was 1 Law. Rep. 66 Ind. App. 84 ( 1938- 1939) Oudh Commercial Bank, Limited V. Thakurain Bind Basni Kuer put right on an application under s. 152, C. P. C, by order of the Judicial Commissioners Court dated August 29, 1918. Both parties obtained a certificate enabling them to appeal to His Majesty in Council from this decree of December 16, 1918. On February 9, 1920, by Order in Council on the judgment-debtors petition, a stay was granted until the determination of the appeal; upon the terms (a) that the judgment-debtor would pay interest at 6½ per cent, in lieu of 4 per cent, from September 7, 1916, until realization, and (b) that the present appellants appeal should be withdrawn. On February 9, 1920, by Order in Council on the judgment-debtors petition, a stay was granted until the determination of the appeal; upon the terms (a) that the judgment-debtor would pay interest at 6½ per cent, in lieu of 4 per cent, from September 7, 1916, until realization, and (b) that the present appellants appeal should be withdrawn. The judgment-debtors appeal to His Majesty was dismissed in May, 1921, but, the Order in Council not having been so drawn as to give effect to the undertaking to pay increased interest, another Order in Council was passed on May 25, 1922, amending the previous Order in Council by directing that this provision for increased interest be added to the decree of the Court of the Judicial Commissioner dated December 16, 1918. This direction was not formally com municated to the Fyzabad Court (under Order xlv., C. P. C.) till November, 1922, and in the meanwhile execution had been stayed from January to July, 1922, by an injunction obtained by the judgment-debtor in a separate suit attacking the legality of the action of the Court of Wards. These were the causes which had rendered ineffectual until 1922 the application for execution made by the appellants to the Subordinate Judge at Fyzabad in July, 1917, and which account for their application of January 16, 1922, to restore and continue the execution proceedings, and for the order granting this application. The circumstance that the appellants when applying for transfer of the decree, for an order for sale, and for an order to continue, did so on each occasion upon a tabular statement (Order xxi., r. 10, C. P. C), hardly conceals the fact that so far they had made one application for execution of the final decree and one only. As the property comprised in the mortgage was ancestral, execution proceedings had to be transferred to the Collector, and Sch. III., C. P. C, applied to them (ss. 68, 69, C. P. C). After the order of the Subordinate Judge in 1922, the judgment-debtors under-proprietary rights in certain villages were sold by the Revenue Court in October, 1922, but on November 18, 1922, the sales were cancelled by agreement, the judgment-debtor agreeing to pay certain sums by October, 1923. These he paid. 68, 69, C. P. C). After the order of the Subordinate Judge in 1922, the judgment-debtors under-proprietary rights in certain villages were sold by the Revenue Court in October, 1922, but on November 18, 1922, the sales were cancelled by agreement, the judgment-debtor agreeing to pay certain sums by October, 1923. These he paid. Another agreement was made on April 3, 1924, by which half of the amount then due should be paid by April 1, 1925, and the balance by April 1, 1926, interest after March, 1924, being increased from 6| to 8 per cent, per annum, to be paid half-yearly and with half-yearly rests. As a term of this agreement, half of the proprietary and all the under-proprietary villages were released from the mortgage to enable the judgment-debtor to raise the money necessary to make the promised payments. This agreement was not fully carried out, but time was given to the judgment-debtor who made several payments in 1926. On March 9, 1927, a final agreement was made by the parties. This final agreement was embodied in a petition of compromise which fixed the amount then due at about 3 1/2 lacs of rupees and arranged for payment of principal by annual sums of Rs. 50,000 and of interest at 8 per cent, per annum half-yearly with a liability for compound interest in case of default "The proceedings for auction sale shall remain in abeyance "in case the fixed instalments be paid regularly. In case any "instalment or part of any instalment or amount of interest "or part of interest be not paid at the appointed time, then "the decree-holders will be competent to immediately take "out execution in respect of their entire demand and recover "their entire demand from that property which the decree-" holders have not released from the liability of their demand "by auction sale in accordance with the terms of this compromise." On March 14, 1927, the Sales Officer at Fyzabad sent the compromise petition to the Fyzabad Court in order that it might be forwarded to the Court which was competent to amend the decree of January 22, 1916, in accordance with the new arrangement for compound interest at 8 per 1 Law. Rep. 66 Ind. App. 84 ( 1938- 1939) Oudh Commercial Bank, Limited V. Thakurain Bind Basni Kuer 18 cent. Rep. 66 Ind. App. 84 ( 1938- 1939) Oudh Commercial Bank, Limited V. Thakurain Bind Basni Kuer 18 cent. What provision of the Civil Procedure Code was thought to authorize such an " amendment " of a decree does not appear ; but the Sales Officer and the parties expected, it would seem, to receive through the Fyzabad Court an " amended decree." In fact, as we now know, though execution proceedings had been actively proceeding before the Sales Officer at Fyzabad from 1923 to 1927, the Subordinate Judge at Fyzabad had in October, 1923, consigned the execution case to records and returned the papers to the Court at Mohanlalganj. This he had done, apparently, without notice to the decree-holders, and as a result of correspondence with the Deputy-Commissioner, in view of the fact that the judgment-debtor had been carrying out the terms of the arrangement of November, 1922, cancelling the judicial sales of October, 1922. In these circumstances the Fyzabad Court on March 21, 1927, sent the compromise petition to the Court at Mohanlalganj and the Subordinate Judge of the latter Court recorded the substance of it in the appropriate register as an adjustment under Order xxi., r. 2, C. P. C, this being the only action upon the compromise which he had any authority under the Code to take. No amended decree was ever brought into existence and the Sales Officers reminders to the Fyzabad Court did not result in his getting any such document; but in 1927 and down to 1930 the judgment-debtor made various payments under the compromise arrangement which were recorded in the Court at Mohanlalganj. He was, however, in default when on March 24, 1930, the appellants applied on a tabular statement to the Mohanlalganj Court to transfer the decree back to Fyzabad for execution. Despite the objection of the judgment-debtor that his default had not made the total sum immediately payable, a transfer certificate was issued for Rs. 2,14,287, and on March 19, 1931, the appellants filed another application under Order xxi., r. 10, at Fyzabad. In this they asked that the balance due under the compromise— Rs. Despite the objection of the judgment-debtor that his default had not made the total sum immediately payable, a transfer certificate was issued for Rs. 2,14,287, and on March 19, 1931, the appellants filed another application under Order xxi., r. 10, at Fyzabad. In this they asked that the balance due under the compromise— Rs. 2,10,985—should be realized by the sale of certain proprietary villages which had not been released from the mortgage, reciting that the arrangement in case of default had been that " the sale proceedings would be resumed according to "the papers." The main question before their Lordships is whether this application of the appellants is barred by s. 48 of the Civil Procedure Code as being more than twelve years from the date of the final decree for sale (January 22, 1916). The learned Subordinate Judge on November 26, 1932, held that the application was a fresh application within the meaning of that section, but that the appellants were entitled under clause 3 of r. 11 of Sch. III. of the Code to an allowance of time which was sufficient to bring them within twelve years from 1916. The Chief Court (August 14, 1934) considered that the appellants were not entitled to any allowance of time under this clause, that they could not be allowed to treat any other date than January 22, 1916, as the date of the decree and that ss. 19 and 20 of the Limitation Act did not apply to the period limited by s. 48 of the Code. They also held that the appellants could not in any case have execution for any higher rate of interest than 6| per cent. From their decision dismissing the appellants1 application for execution the present appeal has been brought to His Majesty in Council. In view of the great difference of judicial opinion disclosed by the decisions of High Courts in India as to the effect in execution cases of bargains for time or other compromises, a number of matters have been discussed by learned counsel on both sides. But the first matter for consideration under s. 48 of the Code is whether or not the appellants application for sale is a " fresh application " or is to be regarded as merely ancillary to or incidental to the prosecution or continuation of the application of 1917 which had been reinstated in 1922. But the first matter for consideration under s. 48 of the Code is whether or not the appellants application for sale is a " fresh application " or is to be regarded as merely ancillary to or incidental to the prosecution or continuation of the application of 1917 which had been reinstated in 1922. The appellants proceeded by way of tabular statement under Order xxi., r. 11, both on March 24, 1930, when asking for transfer of the decree to Fyzabad, and also on March 19, 1931, when asking for an order for sale, but one of these tabular statements was unnecessary in any view. They seem always to have approached the Court in this particular manner even when in 1922 they were expressly asking for continuation of proceedings previously brought. And they adopted the same course on March 19, 1931, though their prayer was that the sale proceedings which had been depending at the date of the compromise of 1927 should be 1 Law. Rep. 66 Ind. App. 84 ( 1938- 1939) Oudh Commercial Bank, Limited V. Thakurain Bind Basni Kuer 19 resumed or taken up according to the papers already prepared in the Revenue Court. The learned Subordinate Judge considered that the application should be regarded as a fresh application because the property sought to be sold was not the whole taluqa but only half of the proprietary villages, because interest was to be realized at 8 per cent., and because the appellants had applied afresh to the Court which passed the decree and had obtained in 1930 a transfer back to Fyzabad. The learned judges of the Chief Court do not discuss this question in their judgment and it may be that it was not argued before them. But though the procedure adopted by the appellants tells against them on this point, it is very necessary, if their rights under their decree are to depend upon it, to examine closely the position in which they were placed by thecompromise of 1927. In their Lordships opinion the recording of the payments made there under by the Court at Mohanlalganj and the application to that Court for a retransfer of the decree to Fyzabad were consequential upon and are attributable to the circumstance that the execution Court at Fyzabad had acted as though the execution in that Court were at an end. In their Lordships opinion the recording of the payments made there under by the Court at Mohanlalganj and the application to that Court for a retransfer of the decree to Fyzabad were consequential upon and are attributable to the circumstance that the execution Court at Fyzabad had acted as though the execution in that Court were at an end. In September, 1923, the Subordinate Judge had written to the Deputy Commissioner asking what had happened in this execution case and had been told that 5 lacs had been paid, that the parties were coming to an agreement, that the matter would not be settled for at least two years and that there was no need for him to keep the file pending any longer. Accordingly the case was by order of October 6, 1923, consigned to records as partly satisfied and a sum of 5 lacs credited. From the judgment of the Subordinate Judge we learn that the papers were returned to Mohanlalganj. Nevertheless for four years sale proceedings had actively continued before the revenue authorities at Fyzabad in the sense that bargains for time had been made, recorded, partly carried out, and renewed while the necessary steps for carrying out the sale were being from time to time adjourned. In 1924 a compromise had been recorded by the Subordinate Judge and a number of properties released by his order of April 5, 1924. The compromise of 1927 was made upon the footing that there was a subsisting execution proceeding in the Fyzabad Court under which action could be taken for sale at any moment, and in respect of which postponement of sale could be made conditional upon the judgment-debtor carrying out the terms agreed. The fact that the parties or their advisers or the officials of the Revenue Court desired to have an amended decree from whatever Court was competent to give it, resulted in the Subordinate Judge at Fyzabad taking action in continuation of what he had done in October, 1923, which unexpectedly ended the execution case at Fyzabad and involved a retransfer of the decree by the Court at Mohanlalganj. " This Court” says the Subordinate Judge, "had sent the papers back to the original Court and so "forwarded the compromise also.” No doubt the learned judge was much puzzled as to the proper course to take on receiving the request to obtain an amended decree. " This Court” says the Subordinate Judge, "had sent the papers back to the original Court and so "forwarded the compromise also.” No doubt the learned judge was much puzzled as to the proper course to take on receiving the request to obtain an amended decree. Their Lordships appreciate his difficulty, but in the circumstances they cannot think it right to regard the appellants application as a fresh application in the sense of s. 48 of the Code merely by reason of the steps which they thought it necessary to take to undo the action of the Court at Fyzabad in terminating the execution case contrary to the intention of the parties. Nor do they consider that the claim of interest at 8 per cent, (agreed to in 1924 for the first time and acted on thereafter by the parties in their protracted negotiations) made the application a fresh application as distinct from one to continue the previous proceedings as contemplated by the compromise of March, 1927. Nor did the fact that only part of the original properties remained bound by the security and saleable under the decree. It was on the contrary an application to revive the previous proceedings on the footing that they had not terminated. The question of the character of the application has to be decided upon the circumstances of each case, and in the present case the bargain of the parties is a circumstance of great importance, as is the fact that the Fyzabad Court acted by inadvertence contrary thereto. The substance of the matter must prevail over the form of the application, which in their Lordships opinion is not a fresh application as contemplated by s. 48. This conclusion renders it unnecessary that their Lordships should examine other contentions of the 1 Law. Rep. 66 Ind. App. 84 ( 1938- 1939) Oudh Commercial Bank, Limited V. Thakurain Bind Basni Kuer 20 parties, save the contention upheld by the Chief Court that in any event interest cannot be recovered in execution of the decree of January 22, 1916, at more than 6-| per cent. It is said that there is no order of any Court for more than 6 1/2 per cent. The agreement for 8 per cent, was first made in 1924. It is said that there is no order of any Court for more than 6 1/2 per cent. The agreement for 8 per cent, was first made in 1924. It was made with the knowledge of the Sales Officer and approval of the Deputy Commissioner and a large number of villages were released from the mortgage as part of that bargain. The bargain was referred to in the petition of the appellants to the Subordinate Judge at Fyzabad filed in 1924 under Order xxi., r. 2, though the term as to interest was not expressly mentioned. An order was obtained from him directing the release of the villages from sale. So, too, in 1927 the amount due under the decree was fixed by agreement of the parties upon a calculation of 8 per cent, for part of the time, and further time was given to the judgment-debtor upon that footing from 1927 to 1930. The decree in the present case was a final decree for sale, and, as is now recognized by r. 10 of Order xxxiv., the mortgage account has to be carried down to the time of actual payment, in order to get a final adjustment of the amount to be paid. All costs, charges and expenses properly incurred by the mortgagee up to that time have to come into the account. Yet, if the Chief Courts view be right, the executing Court is wholly without jurisdiction to include even by agreement interest payable under an arrangement whereby the mortgaged property has been saved from a forced sale under the decree. The authority relied upon by the learned judges of the Chief Court is Gobardhan Das v. Dau Dayal (( 1932) I. L. R. 54 All. 573.), and the principle invoked is that the original decree cannot be altered or varied by the parties even with the sanction of the Court, and that in any case mere consent of the parties cannot confer such a jurisdiction on the executing Court. This line of reasoning is not without support from other decisions of Indian High Courts, though authority and practice to the contrary is also to be found. On this difficult and important question their Lordships are not in agreement with the view taken by the Chief Court. This line of reasoning is not without support from other decisions of Indian High Courts, though authority and practice to the contrary is also to be found. On this difficult and important question their Lordships are not in agreement with the view taken by the Chief Court. They do not consider that it takes sufficient account of the facts that the Code contains no general restriction of the parties liberty of contract with reference to their rights and obligations under the decree, and that, if they do contract upon terms which have reference to and affect the execution, discharge or satisfaction of the decree, the provisions of s. 47 involve that questions relating to such terms may fall to be determined by the executing Court. " Amendment,” or alteration of the decree, whether under s. 152 or by review is a different matter under the Code. No doubt an adjustment, if not recorded under Order xxi., r. 2, cannot be recognized by any Court executing the decree. The compromise of 1927, however, was recorded it was an adjustment, even if it was something more, and it contained the terms upon which the adjustment was agreed to. It was not an attempt to bring under the decree a liability extraneous to the mortgage or the mortgage suit cf. Pradyumna Kumar Mullick v. Kumar Dinendra Mullick. (( 1937) L. R. 64 I. A. 302,308.) Their Lordships see nothing in the Code requiring them to hold that, had the judgment-debtor paid the agreed instalments punctually, the appellants, after 1927, could have executed the decree for the whole sum outstanding contrary to the terms of the compromise. Nor do they think it reasonable that such a compromise, if enforced by the executing Court, should not be enforced as a whole. They are not prepared to regard a fair and ordinary bargain for time in consideration of a reasonable rate of interest as an attempt to give jurisdiction to a Court to amend or vary the decree. Such a bargain has its effect upon the parties rights under the decree, and the executing Court under s. 47 has jurisdiction to ascertain its legal effect and to order accordingly. Such a bargain has its effect upon the parties rights under the decree, and the executing Court under s. 47 has jurisdiction to ascertain its legal effect and to order accordingly. It may or may not be that any and every bargain which would interfere with the right of the decree-holder to have execution according to the tenor of the decree comes under the term " adjustment " on that their Lordships do not pronounce. Nor will they here consider what consequences would flow from a finding that a particular bargain for time was not an adjustment. In the absence of express statutory authority it is not possible in their Lordships view to regard Order xx., r. 10, as excluding any possibility of the parties coming to a valid agreement for time to which the Court under s. 47 will have regard. The rule does pot apply to all decrees ; but only to decrees for the payment of money in so far as they are of that character. The purpose of providing a limitation of six months for such applications to the Court which passed the decree is not altogether plain and the 1 Law. Rep. 66 Ind. App. 84 ( 1938- 1939) Oudh Commercial Bank, Limited V. Thakurain Bind Basni Kuer 21 objects may be more than one ; but this provision, like the rule itself, affords no sufficient ground for holding that the Code makes parties wholly incompetent to come to an arrangement for time enforceable in execution proceedings. Such bargains may take different forms and it is not possible to pre-judge the individual case. If it appears to the Court, acting under s. 47, that the true effect of the agreement was to discharge the decree forthwith in consideration of certain promises by the debtor, then no doubt the Court will not have occasion to enforce the agreement in execution proceedings, but will leave the creditor to bring a separate suit upon the contract. If, on the other hand, the agreement is intended to govern the liability of the debtor under the decree and to have effect upon the time or manner of its enforcement, it is a matter to be dealt with under s. 47. If, on the other hand, the agreement is intended to govern the liability of the debtor under the decree and to have effect upon the time or manner of its enforcement, it is a matter to be dealt with under s. 47. In such a case to say that the creditor may perhaps have a separate suit is to misread the Code, which by requiring all such matters to be dealt with in execution discloses a broader view of the scope and functions of an executing Court. Their Lordships are in agreement with the statement in the case of Gobardhan Das (( 1932) I. L. R. 54 All. 573, 585.) that "in numerous cases a compromise between the "decree-holder and the judgment-debtor entered into in the "course of execution proceedings, which was duly recorded, has "been enforced " and they are not of opinion that the practice, which is both widespread and inveterate, is contrary to the, Code. They are of opinion that in the present case the compromise can and should be enforced in these execution proceedings. They will humbly advise His Majesty that this appeal should be allowed, the decree of the Chief Court set aside and the order of the Subordinate Judge dated November 26, 1932, restored. The respondents must pay the costs of the appellants in the Chief Court and of this appeal in addition, the appellants will have liberty to add these costs, if unpaid, to their security.