RAJESWARI AMMA AND ANR.versusJOSEPH AND ANR.
- Citation
- 1995 INSC 19
- Decided
- 10 January 1995
- Disposal
- Appeal(s) allowed
Holding
Since the order in favour of the unimpleaded respondent had become final and the decree concerned an undivided property, the decree is inseparable and the High Court could not set aside the executing court's order against the other respondents.
Summary
The legal representatives of the deceased filed an execution petition that was granted by the District Munsif, directing delivery of possession of an undivided property to three decree‑holders. In the subsequent revision before the Madras High Court, only two of the three decree‑holders were impleaded, and the order in favour of the third, Neelamma Pillai, became final. The High Court set aside the execution order against the two impleaded respondents. The appellants contended that because the decree concerned the same undivided property and the order in favour of the unimpleaded party was final, the decree was inseparable and the High Court could not reverse the executing court’s order. The Supreme Court held that the order against the unimpleaded respondent was final, making the decree inseparable, and therefore the High Court’s reversal was unsustainable. Although the issue was not raised before the High Court, the Court allowed it to be raised as a pure question of law under Article 136. The appeal was allowed and no costs were awarded.
Issues considered
- Whether an execution petition against a party not impleaded, whose order has become final, can be set aside in a later execution proceeding concerning the same undivided property.
- Whether a pure question of law not raised before the High Court may be raised before the Supreme Court under Article 136 of the Constitution.
Legislation cited
- Code of Civil Procedures. 36
- Constitution of Indias. 136
Subjects
Judgment
RAJESWARI AMMA AND ANR. A
v.
JOSEPH AND ANR.
i<
JANUARY 10, 1995
[K. RAMASWAMY AND SUJATA V. MANOHAR, JJ.] B
Code of Civil Procedure-Section 36-Execution Petition--One respon-
dent not impleaded as party-Execution Petition in respect of the same un-
-+
divided property not executable against others.
Constitution of India-Article 136-Appeal by Special Leave-Pure
c
question of law-Not raised before High Court-Could be allowed to be raised
in Supreme Court.
Execution petition filed by the legal representatives of deceased was
allowed by the District Munsif. In the revision one of the legal repre- D
sentatives was not impleaded as a party and, therefore, the order directing
... A-
delivery of possession in her favour became final. The High Court allowed
the revision filed by the respondent.
In the appeal, it was contended that since the order in favour of the
party not impleaded had become final and the execution petition was with E
respect to the same undivided property between the decree holders, thl!
High Court could not have set aside the order as against the appellants.
Allowing the appeal, this Court
HELD : Since the Order in favour of the party not impleaded had F
become final and the execution petition was in respect of the same un-
divided property, the decree was inseparable and the order of the High
Court is unsustainable. No doubt, this contention was not raised before
the High Court but being a question of law, it is open to be raised and can
be considered as the order is one of inseparable. Since the order against G
the party not impleaded had attained finality, the High Court was not right
in reversing the order of the executing Court as against two respondents.
•
"' CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal No. 695 of
[164-F-G]
1986. H
163
164 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1995] 1 S.C.R.
A From the Judgment and Order dated 1.7.85 of the Madras High
Court in C.R.P. No. 2747 of 1982.
G. Vishwanatha Iyer, Ms. Anjani Aiyagari, N. Sridhar and K. Ram
Kumar for the Appellants.
*
B Dr. Francis Julian and R. Mohan for the Respondents.
The following Order of the Court was delivered :
Admittedly, the Execution petition was filed by Rajeshwari Amma,
Sukumara Pillai and Neelamma Pillai, the legal representatives of the
C deceased Kolappa Pillai. After the Execution Petition was ordered by the
Court of District Munsif at Kuzhithurai in E.P. No. 274/81 in O.S. No. 14/61
dated August 12, 1981, the respondents carried it in revision to the High
Court. Therein only the deceased Kolappa Pillai, Rajeswari Amma and
Sukumara Pillai were impleaded as respondents omitting Neelamma Pillai.
D In other words, the order of the Executing Court directing delivery of
possession which was executed and possession taken in favour of the three
persons was challenged against only two persons. The order in favour of
3rd person, namely, Neelamma Pillai became final. The Execution Petition
being of the same property which is undivided between the decree-holders,
E the question emerges whether the High Court was right in allowing <:;.R.P.
No. 2747/82 by order dated July 1, 1985 as against the unimpleaded
respondent and whether that order also comes in aid to the appellants. On
going through the record we find that there is some force in the arguments
of Sri G. Viswanatha Iyer, the learned Senior counsel for the appellants.
Since the order of delivery of possession in favour of the decree-holders is
F common and ins~parable and since it has become final as against Neelam-
ma, the High Court was not right in setting aside the order as against the
appellants. No doubt, as rightly pointed out by the learned counsel for the
respondents that this contention was not raised before the High Court. But
being a question of law, it is open to be raised and can be considered as
G the order is one of inseparable. Since the order against Neelamma had
attained finality, we think that the High Court was not right in reversing
the order of the executing Court as against two respondents. The appeal
is accordingly allowed. No costs.
A.G. Appeal allowed. •
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