M/S.
Marshall Sons & Co.(I) Ltd. Vs. M/S.Sahi Oretrans (P) Ltd. & ANR [1999]
INSC 13 (29 January 1999)
G.B.Pattanaik,
M.B.Shah
DER
Leave granted.
This
appeal has been filed under the following circumstances. The present appellant
had obtained a decree for eviction in Rent Suit No. 594/5333 of 1962 as early
as on 16th June, 1969. The suit was filed against (i)
M/s.
United
Artists Corporation (Original Defendant No. 1), (ii) The Western India Theaters
Ltd. (iii) M/s. Halda Engineering Co., and (iv) Anti Friction Bearing
Corporation Limited (Original Defendant Nos. 2,3 and 4 respectively) for
obtaining vacant possession of the said premises on the ground that original
defendant No. 1 had failed to pay rent for a period of six months and for
unlawful subletting the premises. The trial court decreed the suit against
defendant No.1. On appeal being Appeal No. 534 of 1969, the decree against
original defendant No. 1 was confirmed and the decree of dismissal against
defendant Nos. 2 to 4 was also confirmed. Against that order appellant
preferred Writ Petition No. 1695 of 1979 before the High Court. The High Court
confirmed the decree against the original defendant No. 1 and the order passed
by the trial court dismissing the suit against them was also reversed by passing
a decree against original defendants 2, 3 and 4.
Against
that judgment and decree M/s. Halda Engineering Company filed special leave
petition before this Court.
That
petition was dismissed on 4th May, 1984 with a direction that decree shall not
be executed on or before 31st December, 1984 on condition that petitioner shall
file an undertaking on the terms stated therein. For some reason or other the
said decree has not been executed until and application was filed under Order
XXI Rule 22 of the C.P.C.
and in
that application the Court passed an order on 9.9.1991 for execution of the
decree and for delivery of possession. The present respondent obstructed the
delivery of possession on the ground that he was in possession of the property.
Pending
Obstruction Application, respondent filed Declaratory Suit being R.A.D. Suit
No. 2152 of 1991 in the Court of Small Causes at Bombay for a declaration of his tenancy rights by contending that
there was a tenant of the premises since 1973 through M/s. Halda Engineering
Company.
In the
said suit, the present appellant (judgment creditor) appeared and indicated the
fact that how the decree for eviction granted in his favour had not been
executed and prayed that possession should be delivered to him immediately and
also respondent should be directed to deposit mesne profits from 1.1.1984 till
30.6.1996 at the prevailing market rent. The trial court did not accept the
prayer for handing over possession, but directed the respondent who is the
plaintiff in the suit, that he should pay at the rate of Rs.443.93 p. per month
for the said period as mesne profit. The appellant carried the matter to the
High Court unsuccessfully. Against that order, the present appeal is filed by
special leave. When this matter was pending before this Court, parties took
several adjournments to get the matter amicably settled. However till today the
matter has not been amicably settled.
From
the narration of the facts, though it appears to us, prima facie, that a decree
in favour of the appellant is not being executed for some reason or the other,
we do not think it proper at this stage to direct the respondent to deliver the
possession to the appellant since the suit filed by the respondent is still
pending. It is true that proceedings are dragged for a long time on one count
or the other and on occasion become highly technical accompanied by unending
prolixity, at every stage providing a legal trap to the unwary. Because of the
delay unscrupulous parties to the proceedings take undue advantage and person
who is in wrongful possession draws delight in delay in disposal of the cases
by taking undue advantage of procedural complications. It is also known fact
that after obtaining a decree for possession of immovable property, its
execution takes long time. In such a situation for protecting the interest of
judgment creditor, it is necessary to pass appropriate orders so that
reasonable mesne profit which may be equivalent to the market rent is paid by a
person who is holding over the property. In appropriate cases, Court may
appoint Receiver and direct the person who is holding over the property to act
as an agent of the Receiver with a direction to deposit the royalty amount
fixed by the Receiver or pass such other order which may meet the interest of
justice. This may prevent further injury to the plaintiff in whose favour
decree is passed and to protect the property including further alienation.
In the
present case, suit was filed in November, 1962 on the ground as stated above
including the ground that there was unlawful subletting. The High Court has
decreed the suit on that ground. Special Leave Petition filed by M/s. Halda
Engineering Co. has dismissed. Now, it is the contention of the respondent that
they got possession of the property admeasuring 2500 sq. ft. from M/s. Halda
Engineering Co. in or about 1973 and thereafter in 1978 entered into a
partnership agreement with M/s.Halda Engineering Co.
Having
considered the relevant submissions of the parties including the submissions
with regard to market rent and without expressing any opinion on the merits of
the contentions of the parties in the pending suit, we think it appropriate to
dispose of this matter with the following directions:
(1)
That the suit in question be disposed of as expeditiously as possible,
preferably within one year from today; (2) The respondents are directed to pay
the mesne profits/compensation at the rate of Rs.10/- per sq. ft. from 1984
till today and at the rate of Rs.20/- from today till the disposal of the suit.
While making this payment, the payments already made shall be adjusted. So far
as the arrears are concerned, it be paid in 12 equal monthly instalments.
The
appeal is disposed of accordingly. No order as to costs.
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