Mrs. Janki
Vashdeo Bhojwani & Anr Vs. The Indusind Bank Limited & Ors [2004] Insc
88 (10 February 2004)
S.N.
Variava & H.K. Sema. Variava, J.
This
Appeal is against the judgment of the Debt Recovery Appellate Tribunal dated 23rd April, 2003.
Briefly
stated the facts are as follows:
The
1st Appellant is the wife of the 5th Respondent. The 2nd Appellant is the wife
of 2nd Respondent. The 1st Respondent Bank had given loan facilities to the 6th
and 7th Respondents which are concerns run by Respondents 2 to 5. The loans
were to the extent of approximately Rs.22 crores in one case and Rs.3.75 crores
in the other. Respondents 2 to 5 were also guarantors of the loan facilities.
Some of the properties belonging to these parties had been mortgaged to the
Bank.
It is
claimed that by an Indenture of Sale dated 5th September, 1991, the Appellants and Respondents 2
to 5 had purchased Plot No. 38, Koregaon Park, Pune - 411 00. It is claimed that
on 12th December, 1991, an Agreement of Co-ownership was
executed whereunder a HUF (of these parties) was also made a co-owner in
respect of the said plot of land. It is claimed that after purchase of the plot
of land, a building was got constructed on the plot of land and that Appellants
and Respondents 2 to 5 resided in that building.
On 3rd October, 2000 the 1st Respondent-Bank filed,
against the 7th Respondent and the 2nd Respondent, OA No. 159-P/2001 before the
Debt Recovery Tribunal for recovery of a sum of approximately Rs.3.86 crores.
On 25th October, the 1st Respondent-Bank filed, against the Respondents 2 to 6
and one M/s. Progressive Land Development Corporation, OA No. 160-P/2001 for
recovery of a sum of approximately Rs.27.5 crores. It must be mentioned that
M/s.
Progressive
Land Development Corporation is a partnership firm of which the Appellants are,
along with others, partners.
On 11th December, 2000, the Debt Recovery Tribunal passed
an order of injunction in an application made in OA No.160-P/2001. One of the
properties of which the Respondents and the aforesaid partnership firm were
restrained from alienating was the 38, Koregaon Park property.
On 13th September, 2001, in OA No. 159-P/2001, a decree was
passed in favour of the 1st Respondent-Bank by the Debt Recovery Tribunal, Pune.
In the decree the property at 38, Koregaon Park, Pune was shown as one of the
mortgaged properties.
On the
same day a Recovery Certificate was also issued by the Debt Recovery Tribunal.
In pursuance of that Recovery Certificate all the mortgaged properties were
attached on 8th November,
2001. The property at
38, Koregaon Park, Pune was one of the properties which was attached.
Pursuant to the attachments, a public notice was published in the Times of
India of 25th January,
2002 intimating that
properties of the 2nd Respondent had been attached. The Appellants claim that
they came to know of this attachment only because of this advertisement. This
averment is impossible to believe. It is clear that they were aware of the
proceedings against their husbands and family concerned.
The Appellants
filed objections before the Recovery Officer against the attachment of the
residential property. On 16th
April, 2002, the
Recovery Officer rejected the objections of the Appellants on the ground that
he could not go beyond the decree.
On 17th April, 2002 the Debt Recovery Tribunal also
passed a decree and issued a Recovery Certificate in OA No. 160-P/2001.
On 30th April, 2002, the Appellants filed Appeal No. 2
of 2002 before the Presiding Officer, Debt Recovery Tribunal challenging the
attachment and proposed sale of property at 38, Koregaon Park, Pune on the ground that they were
co-owners in the property and that they were not debtors of the 1st
Respondent-Bank. They also claimed that they had never stood as guarantors and
that this property was not mortgaged to the 1st Respondent-Bank.
On 7th May, 2002 a public notice was published
intimating auction sale of the 38, Koregaon Park, Pune property. The public notice
proceeded on the footing that this property belonged to the 2nd Respondent
only.
On 22nd May, 2002, the 1st Respondent-Bank made an
application in OA No. 160-P/2001 for attachment of this property on the ground
that this was also mortgaged to them. This was allowed without hearing the
Appellants.
The
Appellants moved the Recovery Officer on 24th May, 2002 contending that the property could
not have been attached in execution of the decree in OA No.160-P/2001 as the
property had never been mortgaged to the 1st Respondent-Bank. The Appellant
also claimed that they were not debtors of this Bank and had not given any
guarantee. The Recovery Officer rejected this application on the same day.
The
property at 38, Koregaon Park, Pune was put up for sale on 7th June, 2002 with a reserve price of Rs.6.85 crores. No bids were
received and the property could not be sold.
On 14th June, 2002, the Debt Recovery Tribunal
dismissed Appeal No. 2 of 2002 inter alia on the ground that after the passing
of the injunction the Appellants were well aware of the proceedings and that
they had not objected to one of the co-sharers dealing with the property. The
Debt Recovery Tribunal therefore proceeded on the footing that the property
stood mortgaged to the 1st Respondent-Bank.
On 21st June, 2002, Appeal No. 245 of 2002 was filed
by the Appellant before the Debt Recovery Appellate Tribunal.
On 2nd July, 2002, the undivided share of Respondents
2,3,4 and 5 in 38, Koregaon Park, Pune was attached in pursuance of the Recovery Certificate
in OA No.160-P/2001.
In
spite of the attachment in OA No.160-P/2001 being only in respect of shares in
respect of Respondents 2, 3, 4 and 5 a proclamation for sale and a public
notice was issued in respect of the entire property at 38, Koregaon Park, Pune.
The property was auctioned on 22nd January, 2003. On this occasion the only bidder was the 1st Respondent-Bank who
purchased the property at a price of Rs.3.33 crores.
On 24th February, 2003 the Debt Recovery Appellate
Tribunal dismissed the Appeal filed by the Appellants. The Order proceeds on
the footing that the property has been mortgaged to the 1st Respondent-Bank.
The order also proceeds on the footing that this property belonged to 2nd
Respondent only. It is also held that even if the Appellants were co-owners by
virtue of Rule 68 of the IInd Schedule to the Income Tax Act, the co-owners
could bid at the auction and the sale proceeds could be apportioned among the
co- owners. The Appeal was accordingly dismissed.
The
Appellants filed a Writ Petition which has also been dismissed by the impugned
order.
It is
now admitted that the property at 38, Koregaon Park, Pune was never mortgaged to the
1st Respondent-Bank. It is admitted that Appellants are not debtors and that
they had not given any guarantees. Of course the Respondents 2 to 5 have stood
as guarantors. Respondent Nos. 2 to 5 are also debtors. To the extent that they
are owners of the property their share in the property could be sold in
execution of the decree.
It is
also admitted that the Appellants were neither debtors nor guarantors. It was
however claimed that they were partners in the firm of M/s. Progressive Land
Development Corporation who had mortgaged some property to the Bank. However it
was admitted that the property which was mortgaged by this firm was not the
property at 38, Koregaon Park, Pune.
As it is
admitted that the Appellants were neither debtors nor guarantors and that the
property at 38, Koregaon Park, Pune was not mortgaged in favour of the 1st
Respondent-Bank, the authorities below and the High Court were wrong in not
first deciding whether or not the Appellants have any share in the property at
38, Koregaon Park, Pune.
If the
Appellants have a share then their share could not have been attached and sold
in execution of the decree against the other parties.
Further
if this was a residential premises, as claimed, then the provision of Section
44 of the Transfer of Property Act would apply.
The
1st Respondent-Bank could not have taken possession without first applying for
partition.
In our
view, it is essential, before any further orders, can be passed to first decide
whether or not the Appellants have a share in this property. We therefore remit
the matter back to the Debt Recovery Tribunal to record a finding whether or
not on the date the decrees were passed, the Appellants were co-owners of the
property at 38, Koregaon Park, Pune and if so, to what extent. In so deciding the Debt
Recovery Tribunal will undoubtedly ascertain whether the Appellants had any
independent source of income and whether they had contributed for purchase of
this property from their own independent income. The Debt Recovery Tribunal
will also decide whether this property was the residence of the Appellants at
the time possession was taken. The Debt Recovery Tribunal shall permit the
parties to lead evidence, both oral and documentary. It must be clarified that
the burden of proving that the Appellants have a share in the property will be
on the Appellants. The Debt Recovery Tribunal shall then forward its decision
to this Court within a period of six months from today.
The
Appeal is adjourned for a period of six months. Part Heard.
In the
meantime this property to be kept locked by the 1st Respondent- Bank.
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