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1962 DIGILAW 66 (GUJ)

BALUBHAI DAHYABHAI SHROFF v. GOVINDBHAI DAYALBHAI

1962-05-01

V.B.RAJU

body1962
V. B. RAJU, J. ( 1 ) THE opponent filed a Darkhast for the possession of half the share of the property which he had purchased in the execution of a money decree. But subsequently he gave another application for the possession of the whole share in the property namely Survey No. 97 on the ground that he was entitled to possession of the other half also by reason of a private sale by the co-sharer. The learned Judge rejected the contention of the judgment-debtors and ordered that warrant for possession for whole of the disputed property Survey No. 97 should be issued. In revision this order is challenged. ( 2 ) IN my opinion the learned Judge below has acted beyond the jurisdiction vested in him. Under Order 21 Rule 97 and Rule 98 Civil Procedure Code the executing Court can order the delivery of possession of immoveable property in execution proceedings if the decree is for possession of the immoveable property or if the property had been purchased in execution of a decree. The order directing possession can only relate to such immoveable property that is immoveable property to which the decree relates or to immoveable property which had been purchased in execution of a decree. In the instant case admittedly what was purchased in execution was only half share in the property. The executing Court can order possession with respect to this half share only and not with respect to the remaining half share. The rights with regard to the remaining half share will have to be determined by proper legal proceedings. The question relating to such remaining half share cannot be considered in execution even if it is contended by the decree holder or by the purchaser that the remaining half share has been also purchased by him at private sale subsequent to the date of the decree or subsequent to the date of purchase in execution. The rights with respect to the purchase of property at a private sale cannot be the subject matter of the execution proceedings. The learned Judge was therefore clearly wrong in exercising jurisdiction which was not vested in him in regard to the property purchased at private sale. The rights with respect to the purchase of property at a private sale cannot be the subject matter of the execution proceedings. The learned Judge was therefore clearly wrong in exercising jurisdiction which was not vested in him in regard to the property purchased at private sale. ( 3 ) IT is however contended by the learned counsel for the opponent relying on Sarvi Begum v Taj Begum I. L. R. 36 Allahabad 181 that a judgment debtor cannot resist a warrant for possession. This principle can apply only if the warrant is restricted to the property referred to in Order 21 Rule (97 C. P. Code. In other words if the warrant is for possession in respect of the property to which the decree for possession of immoveable property relates or if it is the property purchased in execution of a decree. If the warrant relates to the property purchased at private sale anybody can resist the giving of possession by a Court in execution proceedings relating to other property. ( 4 ) LASTLY it is contended that an appeal lies to the District Court under sec. 47 of the Code of Civil Procedure and that therefore a revision application is not complete. . Sec. 115 Civil Procedure Code reads as follows:the High Court may call for the record of any case which has been decided by any Court subordinate to such High Court and in which no appeal lies there and if such subordinate Court appears (a) to have failed to exercise a jurisdiction not vested in it by law or (b) to have failed to exercise a jurisdiction so vested. or (c) to have acted in the exercise of its jurisdiction illegally or with material irregularity the High Court may make such order in the case as it thinks fit. ( 5 ) REVISION under this section lies when a case has been decided by any Court subordinate to a High Court and in which no appeal lies thereto. This view find support in Niaf Ahmed v. Phul Kunwar I. L. R. 54 Allahabad 428 and Shashi Kanta v. Nasirabad Loan Office Co. A. I. R. 1936 Calcutta 786 It is also contended that as there is an alternative remedy open this Court should not exercise its revisional powers. This view find support in Niaf Ahmed v. Phul Kunwar I. L. R. 54 Allahabad 428 and Shashi Kanta v. Nasirabad Loan Office Co. A. I. R. 1936 Calcutta 786 It is also contended that as there is an alternative remedy open this Court should not exercise its revisional powers. But as observed in Lila v. Mahange I. L. R. 54 Allahabad 183 it cannot be laid down as a general proposition that the High Court has no power to interfere in revision when another remedy is open. Each case must be considered on its own merits. With great respect I agree with the following observations of the Allahabad High Court in the above case at p. 186:-SECTION 115 is no doubt discretionary and therefore it is open to the High Court to decline to interfere in particular cases. As a matter of practice it may be conceded that ordinarily the High Court would not interfere if another convenient remedy is open to an applicant particularly when that remedy is by way of appeal to a lower Court. But it cannot be laid down as a general proposition that the High Court has no power of interference at all or should not interfere where there is another remedy by way of a separate suit open to the applicant. The remedy by way of a separate suit would involve a protracted litigation through several courts and is not always a convenient remedy when more effective and speedy remedy is available. There is no justification for restricting the power conferred upon the High Court under sec. 115 by laying down that no revisions should be entertained when a remedy by suit lies. Each case must be considered on its own merits and if the court below has acted without jurisdiction or with material irregularity and the applicant has been seriously prejudiced and interference is called for in the interests of justice there is no reason why we should drive the applicant to a more circuitous remedy by way of a separate suit. ( 6 ) I therefore allow the revision application and reverse the order of the lower Court ordering a warrant for possession of the whole disputed property. No order as to costs. Application allowed .