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Supreme Court of India

SWAMY ATMANANDAversusSWAMI BODHANANDA AND ORS.

Citation
2005 INSC 206
Decided
13 April 2005
Disposal
Appeal(s) allowed

Holding

A decree passed by a civil court must be executed in accordance with the Code of Civil Procedure, and a writ petition is not the appropriate remedy for its enforcement.

Summary

The appellant, Swamy Atmananda, challenged a Madras High Court order that had granted a writ of mandamus under Article 226 directing the respondents to assist in taking over management of certain institutions in accordance with a decree of a civil court. The High Court had allowed the writ petition, treating it as an appropriate remedy to enforce the civil decree. On appeal, the Court examined whether a civil decree must be executed under the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, and whether a writ petition is the correct mechanism for such enforcement. It held that execution of a civil decree is governed exclusively by the CPC and that a writ of mandamus is not the appropriate remedy for enforcing the decree. Consequently, the appellate court set aside the High Court's judgment and allowed the appeal. The decree, however, remains enforceable by the first respondent in accordance with the law.

Issues considered

  • Whether a writ of mandamus under Article 226 is an appropriate remedy to enforce a decree passed by a civil court.
  • Whether execution of a civil decree must be carried out strictly under the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.

Legislation cited

Subjects

writ of mandamusArticle 226execution of decreeCode of Civil Procedurecivil appellate jurisdictionappropriate remedy

Judgment

A                         SWAMY ATMANANDA
                                 v.
                                                                                    -
                                                                                    .,..._
                                                                                    1



                      SWAMI BODHANANDA AND ORS.

                                 APRIL 13, 2005

B                      [B.P. SINGH AND S.B. SINHA, JJ.]


          Constitution of India, 1950-Article 226-Writ of mandamus seeking
    directions in view of decree passed by the Civil Court-Propriety of-Held:
C   Decree passed by the Civil Court is to be executed in terms of the provisions
    ofCode ofCivil Procedure-Hence, Writ Petition is not the appropriate remedy
    -Code of Civil Procedure, I 908.

         The writ petition was filed for issuance of a writ of or in the nature
    of mandamus directing the Respondents to give all assistance to the
D   Appellant in taking over management of the institutions specified therein,
    as per decree passed by Civil Court. The petition was allowed by High
    Court. Hence the present appeal.

         Allowing the appeal, the Court

E         Held : A decree passed by the Civil Court must be executed in terms
    of the provisions contained in the Code of Civil Procedure. The writ
    petition is not the appropriate remedy therefor. In that view of the matter,
    the impugned judgment cannot be sustained. It, however, goes without
    saying that the First Respondent shall be entitled to execute the decree in
    ac.cordance with law. (579-C-D)
F
         CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No. 3058 of2000.

         From the Judgment and Order dated 13.10.99 of the Madras High
    Court in W.P. No. 15089 of 1998.

G         K. Sukumaran, K. Ramamoorthy, L.N. Rao, Dr. A. Francis Julian, Sumit
    Kumar, for Mis. Arputham Aruna & Co. M.A. Chinnasamy, Mrs. N. Shobha,
    Sriram Thalapathy, N.K. Arulmuruganandham, Vikas Mehta, Ms. Indu
    Malhotra, Ms. Mamata Choudhary, P. Nedu Chezian, C. Paramashivam, R.
    Ayyam Perumal, Sewa Ram, S. Vallinayagam, Satya Mitra Garg with them

H                                       578
                SWAMY ATMANANDA "·SWAMI BODHANANDA [S.B. SINHA, .I.]          579
     for the appearing parties.                                                      A
            The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

           S.B. SINHA, J. This appeal is directed against the judgment and order
     dated 13.10.1999 passed by a Division Bench of the Madras High Court in
     Writ Petition No.15089 of 1998 whereby and whereunder the writ petition         B

--   filed by Swami Bodhananda had been allowed. The said writ petition was
     filed for issuance of a writ of or in the nature of mandamus directing the
     Respondents therein to give all assistance to the Appellant in taking over
     management of the institutions specified therein. The said writ p~tition was
     filed having regard to the judgment of the Civil Court.
                                                                                     c
           A decree passed by the Civil Court must be executed in terms of the
     provisions contained in the Code of Civil Procedure. The writ petition is not
     the appropriate remedy therefor. In that view of the matter, the impugned
     judgment cannot be sustained, which is set aside accordingly. The Appeal is
     allowed. It, however, goes without saying that the First Respondent herein      D
     shall be entitled to execute the decree in accordance with law.

     D.G.                                                        Appeal allowed.


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