UGRAMADHAB JOSHI v. ASSISTANT REGISTRAR, COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES
1983-11-15
G.B.PATNAIK, P.K.MOHANTI
body1983
DigiLaw.ai
JUDGMENT : G.B. Patnaik, J. - Petitioner who had mortgaged his lands over plot no. 66, 89 and 90 in holding no. 5 of mauza Tengnabasa of Nawapara sub division in the district of Kalahandi in favour of Nawapara Co-operative Land Development Bank Limited (opposite party no. 3) and had obtained a loan of Rs. 10,000/- from the said Bank has filed this writ petition to quash the sale of his aforesaid lands in favour of opposite parties 4 and 5 and confirmation of the said sale on the ground that the sale is without jurisdiction. 2. According to the petitioner, the Sale Officer having been authorised by the Bank (opposite party no. 3) in exercise of powers conferred under section 91 of the Co-operative Societies Act (hereinafter referred to as the 'Act ) has sold the property without complying with the provisions of section 91(2)(a)(ii) of the Act, inasmuch as two adult members of the family of the petitioner, namely, Abhoy Sankar Joshi and Radharaman Joshi who had admittedly an interest in the property mortgaged, were not noticed as required under sub-section (2)(a)(ii) of section 91 of the Act. The sale in question is, therefore, without jurisdiction and a nullity. It was further contended that under Rule 141 of the Orissa Co-operative Societies Rules (hereinafter referred to as the 'Rules), it was incumbent upon the authority, namely, the Sale Officer, to give notice in writing to all persons referred to in sub-section (2) of section 91 of the Act indicating that the property in question was going to be sold by public auction and a copy of the proclamation of sale must be delivered to all the persons as referred to in sub-section (2) of section 91 of the Act. But in this case, the sale proclamation was not delivered to the two adult members, namely Abhoy Sankar and Radharaman. That apart certain other irregularities in the conduct of sale were also pointed out. But in view of our findings given below on the two contentions raised above, it is not necessary for us to elaborate on other submissions of the learned counsel for the petitioner. 3. Mr.
That apart certain other irregularities in the conduct of sale were also pointed out. But in view of our findings given below on the two contentions raised above, it is not necessary for us to elaborate on other submissions of the learned counsel for the petitioner. 3. Mr. P.V. Ramdas appearing for the opposite parties 4 and 5 contended before us that the mortgage in question having been made by the karta of a joint family, notice on the mortgagor would be a substantial compliance of the requirements of subsection (2) of section 91 of the Act and the sale could not be held to be void merely because some other persons having interest in the land were not noticed. Similarly, he contended that non-service of a copy of the proclamation on some members of the family would not constitute a contravention of Rule 141 of the Rules since the father who is the karta of the family received a copy of the proclamation. It was also contended by the learned counsel that the petitioner who admittedly received the notice had no locus standi to make a grievance on the ground that some other sons were not noticed duly. 4. The property in question is admittedly a joint family property which had been mortgaged in favour of the Land Development Bank and, therefore, all the sons of the mortgagor who was the karta of the family had definite interest in the property mortgaged. There is no denial in the counter affidavit filed either by the purchasers or by the Assistant Registrar who is the principal Sale Officer under the Act to the assertion made in the Writ petition that no notice as required under sub-section (2) of section 91 of the Act had been served on the two adult members of the family. The question to be considered is whether non-service of notice on the two adult members of the family who had a definite interest in the property mortgaged would vitiate the sale in question or not. A perusal of the provisions of section 91 will mike it clear that the power of sale conferred under sub-section (1) of section 91 can be exercised only when the requirements of sub-section (2) are complied with.
A perusal of the provisions of section 91 will mike it clear that the power of sale conferred under sub-section (1) of section 91 can be exercised only when the requirements of sub-section (2) are complied with. The language used in sub section (2), "No such power shall be exercised unless and until...." indicates that the power conferred under sub-section (1) is dependant upon the compliance of the provisions of sub-section (2). It is not possible for us to accept the contention of Mr. Ramdas that once the property is mortgaged by the karta of the family, provisions of sub-section (2)(a)(ii) of section 91 are not required to be complied with. On the pleadings of the parties and on the materials on record, the conclusion is irresistible that requirements of section 91 (2)(a)(ii) of the Act had not been complied with in this case, inasmuch as two members of the family who had an interest in the property were not noticed as required under the said provision. In that view of the matter, exercise of power by the Bank under section 91 is wholly vitiated and the sale in exercise of the said power is a nullity. There can be no doubt that when a statute confers a power subject to certain conditions, if the power is exercised without compliance of those conditions, then the exercise of power becomes vitiated. Therefore, we hold that the sale in question is void and does not confer any right on the purchasers. 5. Similarly, we find from a perusal of Rule 141 that it is incumbent upon the concerned officer to give notice in writing along with a copy of the proclamation of sale to all persons referred to in sub-section (2) of section 91 of the Act. This requirement is also peremptory in nature and has been violated in this case, inasmuch as the sale proclamation has not been given to some of the members of the family who are persons within the ambit of sub-section (2) of section 91 of the Act. Consequently the sale is a vitiated on that score. 6. We accordingly quash the sale and all subsequent orders including the confirmation and delivery of possession of the land in question and hold that opposite parties 4 and 5 do not derive any title on the basis of the void sale.
Consequently the sale is a vitiated on that score. 6. We accordingly quash the sale and all subsequent orders including the confirmation and delivery of possession of the land in question and hold that opposite parties 4 and 5 do not derive any title on the basis of the void sale. In the result the proceedings in Annexures, 5, 5/1, 6, 6/1, and 6/2 of the writ petition ate quashed. We may, however, indicate that it is open for the competent authority to re-auction the property after complying with all the requirements of law as indicated above. The writ petition is accordingly allowed, but in the circumstances, there will be no order for costs. P.K. Mohanti, J. - I agree. Final Result : Allowed