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Supreme Court of India

REHAN AHMED (D) THR. LRS.versusAKHTAR UN NISA (D) THR. LRS.

Citation
2024 INSC 329
Decided
22 April 2024
Disposal
Appeal(s) allowed

Holding

The Supreme Court held that the decree is executable, the compromise complied with Order XXIII Rule 3, and the objections under Section 47 CPC are not maintainable, setting aside the High Court’s decision.

Summary

The plaintiff Rehan Ahmed sued Ghulam Mohiuddin (Defendant No.1) and his brother Saeeduddin (Defendant No.2) for specific performance of a 1967 agreement to sell a house and shops in Jaipur. While the suit was pending, the parties entered into a compromise in 1978, which was later verified by the trial court and a decree was passed on 9 May 1979. After the decree, the plaintiff sought execution, but Defendant No.1 raised objections under Section 47 CPC, which the executing court dismissed. The objections were later revived by Akhtar Un Nisa, wife of Defendant No.2, who claimed the decree was a nullity because the property was jointly owned and the compromise lacked Defendant No.2’s signature. The Rajasthan High Court set aside the executing court’s order, declaring the decree void. The Supreme Court held that the property belonged solely to Defendant No.1, the compromise complied with Order XXIII Rule 3, and the High Court’s reasoning was erroneous; consequently, the objections under Section 47 CPC were not maintainable. The appeal was allowed, restoring the executing court’s order and rejecting the objections.

Issues considered

  • The decree passed in the suit is executable or a nullity.
  • Whether the compromise decree is valid despite the absence of Defendant No.2’s signature.
  • Whether the trial court complied with Order XXIII Rule 3 of the CPC in verifying the compromise.
  • Whether objections under Section 47 CPC filed by the legal heirs of Defendant No.2 are maintainable.
  • Whether the suit property was jointly owned by Defendants No.1 and No.2.

Legislation cited

Subjects

ObjectionsExecution of agreement to sellSale deedSuit for specific performanceCompromiseSection 47 CPCOrder XXIII Rule 3Decree execution

Judgment

                 [2024] 4 S.C.R. 694 : 2024 INSC 329

                      Rehan Ahmed (D) Thr. Lrs.
                                  v.
                      Akhtar Un Nisa (D) Thr. Lrs.
                      (Civil Appeal No. 5218 of 2024)
                                 22 April 2024
           [Vikram Nath* and Satish Chandra Sharma, JJ.]

                           Issue for Consideration
       Matter pertains to the correctness of the order passed by the High
       Court allowing the objections u/s. 47 CPC filed by the respondent
       no. 1, setting aside the order passed by the Executing Court and
       holding that the decree passed by the trial court in the suit was
       inexecutable and a nullity.

                                  Headnotes
       Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 – s. 47 – Questions to be
       determined by the Court executing decree – Objections u/s. 47
       – Property originally owned by defendant No.1 – Execution of
       agreement to sell the property by the brother of defendant No.1-
       defendant No.2 and also the power of attorney of defendant
       No.1, for himself and for the principal defendant No.1 with the
       plaintiff – Pursuant thereto, the vendor not executing the sale
       deed – Suit for specific performance by the plaintiff against
       defendant no.1 and no.2 – During pendency, the parties entered
       into a compromise and the suit was decreed – Execution
       petition by the plaintiff – Objections by the defendant no. 1 –
       Objections dismissed and in the meantime the defendant no. 1
       died – Thereafter, order dismissing the objections challenged
       by the son of defendant no. 2, and legal heir of defendant No.
       1 claiming rights under a sale executed by defendant no 1,
       which was dismissed – Special Leave Petition thereagainst also
       dismissed – However, new round of objections u/s. 47 initiated
       by respondent no. 1-wife of defendant no. 2 – Dismissed by
       the executing court – In revision petition, the High Court set
       aside the order passed by the Executing Court and held that
       the decree passed by the trial court was inexecutable and a
       nullity – Correctness:
       Held: High Court erred in setting aside the Executing Court’s
       order and in declaring the trial court’s decree void – High Court’s
* Author
[2024] 4 S.C.R.                                                             695

       Rehan Ahmed (D) Thr. Lrs. v. Akhtar Un Nisa (D) Thr. Lrs.


     reasoning rests on the erroneous assumption that the property
     was jointly owned by defendants No. 1 and No. 2, and that the
     absence of defendant No. 2’s signature on the compromise
     invalidated the decree – However, defendant No. 2 consistently
     acknowledged that he had no ownership rights over the property –
     Compromise, signed by defendant No. 1 and the plaintiff and later
     verified by defendant No. 2 through an application, substantiates
     that defendant No. 1 was the sole owner – These facts were
     upheld by the High Court and this Court in previous proceedings
     – Defendant no. 2 had limited rights of being in possession of the
     third floor of suit property – Due to the said reasons, the plaintiff
     and defendant no. 1 were the only necessary parties needed
     for the compromise – High Court also incorrectly held that the
     provisions of Ord. XXIII, r. 3 were not adhered to, whereas the trial
     court correctly recorded and verified the compromise, fulfilling the
     requirements of Ord. XXIII, r. 3 – Recording of the compromise and
     the consequent decree, although appearing procedurally delayed,
     adhered to the process required under CPC – Furthermore, the
     High Court overlooked the fact that legal heir of defendant No
     2, had previously objected to the execution proceedings, which
     was dismissed – Subsequent appeals before the High Court,
     including a Special Leave Petition were also dismissed – Thus,
     similar objections by respondent No. 1, in her capacity as one
     of the legal heirs of defendant No. 2 would not be maintainable
     and would amount to abuse of process of law – Executing Court
     rightly rejected the objections u/s. 47 filed by the respondent no.
     1 – Impugned judgment of the High Court is set aside and that
     of the executing court is restored – Ord. XXIII, r. 3.

                                List of Acts
     Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.

                             List of Keywords
     Objections; Execution of agreement to sell; Sale deed; Suit for
     specific performance; Compromise.

                            Case Arising From
     CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No. 5218 of 2024
     From the Judgment and Order dated 21.03.2014 of the High Court of
     Judicature for Rajasthan at Jaipur in SBCRP No. 95 of 2007
696                                                          [2024] 4 S.C.R.

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                          Appearances for Parties
       Puneet Jain, Ms. Christi Jain, Ms. Pratibha Jain, Advs. for the
       Appellants.
       Anuj Bhandari, Gaurav Jain, Rajat Gupta, Mrs. Disha Bhandari, Mrs.
       Anjali Doshi, Ms. Preetika Dwivedi, Abhisek Mohanty, Advs. for the
       Respondents.

                  Judgment / Order of the Supreme Court

                                  Judgment
       Vikram Nath, J.
       Leave granted.
2.     This appeal, by the Decree Holder, assails the correctness of the
       judgment and order dated 21.03.2014 passed by the Rajasthan
       High Court, Jaipur Bench at Jaipur in S.B. Civil Revision Petition
       No.95/2007, Smt. Akhtar Un Nisa vs. Rehan Ahmed, whereby the
       revision filed under Section 115 of the Code of Civil Procedure,
       19081 challenging the order of the Executing Court dated 03.05.2007
       rejecting the objections under Section 47 CPC, has been allowed.
       The order impugned therein passed by the Executing Court was set
       aside and it was held that the decree dated 09.05.1979 passed by
       the Trial Court in Suit No.13/72 was inexecutable and a nullity and
       accordingly, the objections under Section 47 CPC, were allowed.
3.     The factual matrix giving rise to the present appeal is as follows:
       3.1 The dispute relates to property being Municipal Nos.52-57,
           Maniharon Ka Rasta, Jaipur which was originally owned by
           Ghulam Mohiuddin (Defendant No.1). An agreement to Sell
           dated 04.10.1967 was executed for sale of the suit property
           by Saeeduddin – Defendant No.2 (brother of Defendant No.1)
           and also the power of attorney of Defendant No.1, for himself
           and for the principal Defendant No.1.
       3.2 Pursuant to the aforesaid agreement to sell, as the vendor
           was not executing the sale deed, the appellant (plaintiff)
           instituted a Civil Suit for specific performance registered as Suit


1    CPC
[2024] 4 S.C.R.                                                       697

       Rehan Ahmed (D) Thr. Lrs. v. Akhtar Un Nisa (D) Thr. Lrs.


           No.13/72 impleading Ghulam Mohiuddin as Defendant no.1 and
           Saeeduddin as Defendant No.2. During the pendency of the
           Suit, the parties entered into a compromise dated 11.05.1978
           and presented the same before the Trial Court, a copy of which
           is filed as Annexure P-4. The terms of the Compromise Deed
           are briefly set out below:
                “ANNEXURE P-4
                IN THE COURT OF ADDL. DIST. JUDGE, CLASS-1,
                JAIPUR CITY, JAIPUR
                IN THE MATTER OF:
                Rehan Ahmad S/o. Sh. Sultan Ahmad, aged about
                22 years, Caste Muslim, R/o. Chaukadi Modikhana,
                Rasta, Maniharan, H. No. 57, Jaipur-3
                ... Plaintiff
                VERSUS
                1.    Gulam Mohiuddin Khan, aged about 58 years
                      S/o. Sh. Badiuddin Khan, Caste Muslimn, R/o.
                      Mohalla Kamnagran, Badayun (U.P)
                2.    Saiduddin Khan aged about 52 years S/o. Sh.
                      Badiuddin Khan, Caste Muslim, R/o. House of
                      Abdulramham Khan, Gali Aatishbazi Rampur
                      (U.P)
                ...Defendants
                3.    Ahsan Ahmad S/o. Sh. Sultan Ahmad aged
                      about 32 years, Caste Muslim, R/o. Chaukadi
                      Modikhana, Rasta Maniharan, H.No. 57, Jaipur-3
                ...Pro forma Defendant
                Suit for specific performance of the contract
                regarding house and shop situated at Modikhana,
                Rasta Maniharan, Jaipur
                000
                Most respectfully showeth:
                In the above civil suit, a compromise has been
                arrived at between the parties on under mentioned
698                                              [2024] 4 S.C.R.

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       conditions, therefore, the suit may be decreed as per
       the compromise.
       1.   That, plaintiff and defendant No.3 executed
            an agreement for sale with the real brother
            and general power of attorney of Def. No.2
            named Saiduddin Khan on 4.10.1967 in writing
            in respect to houses and shops No. 52 to 57,
            situated at Circle No.1, Chaukadi Modikhana,
            Jaipur, whose full description is given under,
            for a sale consideration of Rs.40,000/- in his
            own capacity and in the capacity of general
            power of attorney of Def. No.1, which was not
            accepted earlier by the defendant No.1 and 2,
            but now the Def. No.1 admits that agreement
            for sale was executed on 4.10.1967 on behalf
            of Def. No.2 in his own capacity and on behalf
            and consent of Def. No.1.
       2.   That, Def. No.1 also admits that a sum of Rs.
            10,000/- out of entire agreed sale consideration
            was received in respect to the disputed property
            on 4.10.1967 and a sum of Rs.1,000/- was
            received on 1.1.69 and Rs.500/- on 22.1.69
            i.e. a total of Rs.11,500/- was received by def.
            No. 2 on behalf of Def No. 1 which is liable to
            be adjusted from the total consideration of the
            property, but the plaintiff and defendant No.3
            have alleged to spent Rs.6,500/- in the repairing
            of house etc, which amount shall not be adjusted
            from the sale consideration because all these
            repairing and construction was done after the
            above agreement by the plaintiff and Def. No.3.
            besides this, the Def. No.1 has received Rs.
            1500/- on 17.10.88, and Rs.1000/- on 24.10.77
            and Rs.1000/- on 11.11.77 from the plaintiff
            towards the cost of this property.
       3.   That, the Def. No.1 shall get executed and
            registered sale-deed of the above described
            houses and shops in favor of plaintiff Rehan
            Ahmad till 1.7.1978 and shall receive remaining
[2024] 4 S.C.R.                                                            699

       Rehan Ahmed (D) Thr. Lrs. v. Akhtar Un Nisa (D) Thr. Lrs.


                     sale consideration amount of Rs.25,000/ -. If the
                     Def. No. 1 fails to execute sale deed in this period
                     then the plaintiff Rehan Ahmad shall be entitled
                     to get the sale-deed executed and registered
                     in his favor through the Court. Entire cost of
                     registry would be borne equally by the plaintiff
                     Rehan Ahmad and Def. No.1 Gulam Mohiuddin.
                     In this respect when the Def. No.1 will ask for
                     half cost for this from the plaintiff Rehan Ahmed
                     then the plaintiff Rehan Ahmad shall pay the
                     same taking receipt from him and because of
                     this the Def. No.1 shall not be entitled to get the
                     period agreed for registry extended. The def.
                     No.1 has received today the half cost of registry
                     i.e. Rs.1,000/- from the plaintiff Rehan Ahmad.
                     Complete responsibility to receive N.O.C. shall
                     be of the Def. No.1.
                4.   That, Def. No.2 is residing in the third floor of
                     disputed property which would be got vacated
                     by defendant No.1 and the physical possession
                     will be given to the plaintiff Rehan Ahmed prior to
                     registration, and shall get the rent notes executed
                     by the tenants who are presently occupying the
                     disputed property in favour of Rehan Ahmed.
                5.   That, pro forma defendant No.3 has relinquished
                     his entire right in respect to the disputed
                     property in favor of plaintiff Rehan Ahmad on
                     28.6.1977 through a deed of Relinquishment,
                     which was. ordered by the court on 28.09.1977.
                     Therefore, pro forma defendant no.3 shall have
                     no connection now with this sale.
                6.   That, the. def. No.2 Saiduddin Khan, himself
                     has admitted that he did not have right to sell
                     or to execute agreement for sale of the disputed
                     property, but now, the defendant No.1, who is the
                     real owner of this disputed property, admits this
                     agreement, therefore, now there is no hindrance
                     in passing decree.
700                                               [2024] 4 S.C.R.

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       7.   That, cost of this suit shall be borne by the
            parties respectively.
       DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY
       Pucca House comprising of three storeys and One
       chauk including entire internal houses of three storevs
       and five shops outside, out of which two shops are
       situated towards south of Sadar Darwaja and three
       shops are situated towards north of Sadar Darwaja
       along with staircase adjoining the shops towards
       the north on which Municipal No, written on the pole
       of House is 54/1 and Municipal Number of shops
       situated towards south are 52 and 53 and Municipal
       Number of shops situated towards north are 55, 56
       and 57, Circle 1 and no number is assigned to the
       staircase i.e. entire property including house and
       shops having municipal number 52 to 57, Circle
       No.1 and boundaries of these houses and shops
       are as under:

       In East:     Rasta Maniharan Government.
       In west:     House of Sindhi in between which
                    littered Government street is situated.
       In north:    Temple of Digambar Jain
       In south:    House and shops of Tirthdas
                    Shyamiani.
       Therefore, it is prayed that compromise be verified and
       decree be passed in accordance with the compromise.
       Applicants
       Rehan Ahmad, Plaintiff
       Rehan (in English)
       Gulam Mohiuddin Khan, Def. No.1
       sd.Ghulam mohiuddin khan (in English)
       Both Parties
       Jaipur:
       Date: 11.5.78”
[2024] 4 S.C.R.                                                           701

       Rehan Ahmed (D) Thr. Lrs. v. Akhtar Un Nisa (D) Thr. Lrs.


4.   In paragraph No.1 of the Compromise Deed, it is mentioned that
     Defendant No.1, although had earlier not accepted the Agreement
     to Sell, now admits that the Agreement to Sell dated 04.10.1967
     was executed by Saeeduddin–Defendant No.2, not only in his own
     capacity but also on behalf of Defendant No.1 as Power of Attorney
     holder. Paragraph No.2 mentions the details of the amount received
     by the Defendant under the Agreement to Sell as advance until the
     time the compromise was arrived at. It would be relevant to mention
     that the total sale consideration was Rs.40,000/- out of which as per
     paragraph No.2 of the Compromise Deed, Rs.15,000/- had already
     been received by the Defendants. Paragraph No.3 mentions that
     the Defendant No.1 will get the Sale Deed executed and registered
     in favour of the Plaintiff till 01.07.1978 after receiving Rs.25,000/- of
     the remaining sale consideration. It, however, mentioned that if the
     Defendant No.1 does not execute the Sale Deed till 01.07.1978,
     the Plaintiff would be entitled to get the Sale Deed executed and
     registered in his favour through the Court. The cost of registration
     would be borne equally by the Plaintiff and Defendant No.1. It was
     further mentioned that Defendant No.1 had also received half of the
     cost of registration from the Plaintiff and furthermore, the responsibility
     to receive the NOC would be of Defendant No.1. Paragraph No.4
     mentions that Saeeduddin–Defendant No.2 was residing on the third
     floor of the suit property which Defendant No.1-Ghulam Mohiuddin
     would get vacated and ensure that physical possession is delivered
     to the Plaintiff-Rehan Ahmed prior to registration. Further, the rent
     notes executed by the tenants who are presently occupying the
     suit property, would be executed by the tenants in favour of Rehan
     Ahmed. One Ahsan Ahmed has been impleaded as proforma
     defendant in respect of whom it was stated in paragraph No.5 of the
     Compromise Deed that he had relinquished his entire right to the
     property in favour of the Plaintiff–Rehan Ahmed through a Deed of
     Relinquishment dated 28.06.1977 which was accepted by the Court
     vide order dated 28.09.1977. In paragraph No.6 it was stated that
     Defendant No.2-Saeeduddin admitted that he did not have the right
     to sell or execute the Agreement to Sell but now Defendant No.1,
     who was the real owner of the suit property, admits this agreement.
     Therefore, there is no hindrance in passing the compromise decree.
     The property was also described in the Compromise Deed to be a
     pacca house comprising of three stories and one chauk including
     the entire internal houses of the three storeys and five shops
702                                                         [2024] 4 S.C.R.

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       outside along with the staircase adjoining the shops. The house was
       numbered as 54/1 in the municipal records, whereas the five shops
       were numbered as 52, 53, 55, 56 and 57. Thus the entire property
       in question including the house of the five shops having municipal
       numbers 52 to 57 (except 54), Circle No.1.
5.     The Addl.District & Sessions Judge, Court No.1, Jaipur City, Jaipur
       proceeded with the compromise and required the same to be duly
       verified for which due time was granted to the parties. On 09.05.1979,
       initially the suit was dismissed in the absence of the Plaintiff.
       However, on the same date, upon an application being filed, the
       case was again taken up on board. The Trial Court recorded that
       Rehan Ahmed and that Mohiuddin (Defendant No.1) had executed
       the compromise. The Plaintiff (Rehan Ahmed) further stated that he
       does not want to pursue any proceedings against Saeeduddin and
       also Ahsan Ahmed-Defendant Nos.2 and 3, as such the suit was
       dismissed against Saeeduddin and Ahsan Ahmed. It was decreed
       against Ghulam Mohiuddin as per the compromise. Accordingly, a
       decree was drawn. As per the decree, when the defendant did not
       execute the Sale Deed, the Plaintiff -Decree holder initiated the
       proceedings for execution. In the execution proceedings Defendant
       No.1 Ghulam Mohiuddin filed objections stating that the Plaintiff had
       not paid the balance sale consideration, and had allowed substantial
       time to pass for about six to seven years, during which time the
       value of the property had doubled and as such the decree could not
       be executed now on account of the default of the Plaintiff-Decree
       holder. These objections were dismissed by the Executing Court
       by a detailed order dated 09.12.1998 on the findings that before
       the registration of the Sale Deed, Defendant No.1 was required to
       fulfil his obligations which included getting the third floor vacated,
       getting the NOC and also getting the rent deeds transferred in the
       name of the Plaintiff. As such there was no default on the part of the
       Plaintiff. In the meantime, the Defendant No.1 Mohiuddin died. The
       order dated 09.12.1998 was challenged by one General Tariq, s/o.
       Defendant No.2- Saeeduddin and legal heir of Defendant No.1 Gulam
       Mohiuddin, claiming rights under a sale executed by Defendant No.1
       Mohiuddin by way of S.B.Civil Revision Petition No.55 of 1999. The
       said revision came to be dismissed by the High Court vide order
       dated 02.06.2006. General Tariq preferred a Special Leave Petition
       before this Court registered as S.L.P.(C) No.12463 of 2006, which
[2024] 4 S.C.R.                                                           703

           Rehan Ahmed (D) Thr. Lrs. v. Akhtar Un Nisa (D) Thr. Lrs.


     came to be dismissed by this Court vide order dated 11.08.2006.
     With the dismissal of the Special Leave Petition the innings of the
     objections under Section 47 CPC filed by the Judgment-debtor –
     Defendant No.1 Mohiuddin came to an end. General Tariq, s/o.
     Defendant no.2- Saeeduddin did not carry the matter any further by
     way of review or otherwise before this court. However, a new round of
     objections under Section 47 CPC came to be initiated by respondent
     no.1 – Akhtar Un Nisa, wife of Defendant No.2-Saeeduddin and the
     mother of General Tariq. The objections by respondent No.1 Akhtar
     Un Nisa are to the following effect:
     I.      The decree dated 09.05.1979 is without jurisdiction and a nullity;
     II.     The property in the suit was a joint property of Ghulam Mohiuddin
             and Saeeduddin– Defendants No. 1 and 2 respectively;
     III.    The suit having been filed as against both the brothers, the
             compromise deed could not have been arrived at between the
             Plaintiff and Defendant No.1 alone;
     IV.     The Trial Court could not have accepted the settlement/
             compromise between the Plaintiff and Defendant No.1 regarding
             Defendant No.2 vacating the third story of the house in question
             and the rent notes being transferred in favour of the plaintiff.
     V.      Since there was no decree against Saeeduddin, as such Decree
             holder could not have any right of getting possession of the
             portion of the property which was admittedly in possession of
             Saeeduddin and owner. Further, the tenants of Saeeduddin in
             the disputed property were tenants of the applicant-objector
             Akhtar Un Nisa-respondent no.1.
6.   The Executing Court, vide judgment and order dated 03.05.2007,
     dismissed the objections under Section 47 CPC filed by Smt.Akhtar
     Un Nisa.
7.   Aggrieved by the same, Smt.Akhtar Un Nisa preferred a revision
     before the High Court which has since been allowed by the impugned
     order giving rise to the present appeal.
8.   After careful consideration of the arguments presented by both
     sides, this Court believes that the High Court erred in setting aside
     the Executing Court’s order dated 09.12.1998 and in declaring
     the Trial Court’s decree dated 09.05.1979 void. The High Court’s
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       decision appears to be based on several incorrect assumptions and
       observations.
9.     The core of the High Court’s reasoning rests on the erroneous
       assumption that the property was jointly owned by Defendants No.
       1 and No. 2, and that the absence of Defendant No. 2’s signature on
       the compromise dated 11.05.1978 invalidated the decree. However,
       Defendant No. 2 has consistently acknowledged that he had no
       ownership rights over the property. In his written statement to the
       Trial Court in Suit No. 13/72, he explicitly stated that the property
       belonged solely to Defendant No. 1. This was further supported by a
       family arrangement dated 17.09.1976 and reinforced in Paragraph 6
       of the compromise deed. The compromise, signed by Defendant No.
       1 and the plaintiff and later verified by Defendant No. 2 through an
       application dated 14.05.1979, substantiates that Defendant No. 1 was
       the sole owner. These facts were upheld by the High Court and this
       Court in previous proceedings. During the challenge to the execution
       proceedings filed by General Tarik before the High Court, the High
       Court vide order dated 11.8.2006 had also recorded the finding that
       Defendant no.2 did not have ownership rights over the suit property
       which fact was also upheld by this Court. Defendant no. 2 had limited
       rights of being in possession of the third floor of suit property. Due
       to the aforesaid reasons, the Plaintiff and Defendant no. 1 were the
       only necessary parties needed for the compromise dated 11.05.1978
       as Defendant no.1 was the sole owner of the suit property.
10. The High Court also incorrectly held that the provisions of Order
    XXIII, Rule 3 of the CPC were not adhered to, claiming that the
    Trial Court failed to properly verify the compromise. It is essential
    to clarify that the compromise was indeed reached on 11.05.1978,
    with its verification delayed due to various adjournments caused
    by the absence or illness of Defendant No.1 and other procedural
    delays. On 09.05.1979, a fresh compromise application containing
    identical terms was submitted and duly signed by both parties due to
    the original being misplaced. The Trial Court then correctly recorded
    and verified this compromise, fulfilling the requirements of Order
    XXIII, Rule 3 of the CPC.
11. It must be made clear that the compromise between the Plaintiff
    and Defendant no. 1 was arrived on 11.05.1978 and it was only the
    procedural requirements of Order XXIII Rule 3 of verifying and the
[2024] 4 S.C.R.                                                         705

       Rehan Ahmed (D) Thr. Lrs. v. Akhtar Un Nisa (D) Thr. Lrs.


     compromise before the Court which were eventually completed on
     09.05.1979. A perusal of the record of proceedings before the Trial
     Court reveals that verification of the terms of the compromise was
     attempted on 11.05.1978 but was not possible as Defendant No.1
     was not present. Moreover, on subsequent dates being 11.5.1978,
     24.07.1978, 31.01.1979 and 20.03.1979, either due to the illness of
     Defendant no.1 or due to the Presiding Officer not being present,
     there were various adjournments before the Trial Court. Finally, on
     09.05.1979, Gulam Mohiuddin appeared before the Court and the
     parties submitted a fresh compromise application was filed because
     the earlier compromise application submitted on 11-05-1978 was not
     traceable on the record of the Court containing the same terms and
     conditions as in the compromise application earlier filed on 11.05.1978.
     The said application was also duly signed by both the parties. On
     the basis of the said compromise presented on 09.05.1979, the Trial
     Court took the compromise application on record, verified the fresh
     compromise application fulfilling all the terms and conditions of Order
     XXIII Rule 3 CPC. The terms and conditions of the compromise
     were read over to the parties and were accepted by them and the
     signatures of the parities were taken on the compromise application
     by the Court and thereafter the Court recorded its satisfaction on the
     compromise application, which is on the record of the Trial Court. The
     decree dated 09.05.1979 was passed based on this compromise.
12. As far as the terms of the compromise are concerned, which have
    also been questioned by the High Court, the agreement stipulated
    that Defendant No. 1 was to execute and register the sale deed in
    favor of the plaintiff by 01.07.1978, after receiving balance payment of
    Rs 25,000/-. The decree’s execution was contingent upon Defendant
    No. 1 fulfilling conditions such as obtaining the NOC and ensuring
    Defendant No. 2 vacating the portion of the property in question in
    his possession. The recording of the compromise and the consequent
    decree on 09.05.1979, although appearing procedurally delayed,
    adhered to the process required under CPC.
13. Furthermore, the High Court overlooked the fact that General Tarik,
    legal heir of Defendant No. 2, had previously objected to the execution
    proceedings, which was dismissed on 09.12.1988. Subsequent
    appeals before the High Court, including a Special Leave Petition
    to this Court, were also dismissed. Therefore, similar objections by
    Respondent No. 1, Smt. Akhtar Un Nisa, in her capacity as one of
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       the legal heirs of Defendant No. 2 would not be maintainable and
       would amount to abuse of process of law.
14. In light of the reasons recorded above, this Court finds merit in the
    appellant-plaintiff’s argument and holds that the Executing Court had
    rightly rejected the objections under Section 47 CPC filed by Smt.
    Akhtar Un Nisa vide order 03.05.2007.
15. Accordingly, the appeal is allowed. The impugned judgement of
    the High Court is set aside, and the Executing Court’s order dated
    03.05.2007 is restored and the objections of Respondent no.1 under
    Section 47 of the CPC stand rejected.
16. There shall, however, be no order as to costs.


       Headnotes prepared by: Nidhi Jain               Result of the case:
                                                         Appeal allowed.


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