CHOUTHI PRASAD GUPTA Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is an appeal on a certificate granted by the Assam High Court and arises in the following circumstances. The appellant had obtained a money decree against Thakur Prosad Jayaswal and others in 1947. As the decree remained unsatisfied it was transferred from Calcutta to Gauhati for execution. On May 2, 1953 an application was made for execution in the Court at Gauhati by attachment under O. XXI, R. 46 of the Code of Civil Procedure of certain movable property of the judgment-debtors which was said to be in the possession of the Sub-Divisional Officer, Military Engineering Service, Pandu. Consequently an order was issued under O. XXI, R. 46 (1) (c) (iii) prohibiting the Sub-Divisional Officer from parting with the property of the judgment-debtors. It may be mentioned that the Sub-Divisional Officer is subordinate to the Garrison Engineer, Shillong. Though certain applications were put in on behalf of the Sub-Divisional Officer before the Court, it was only on February 1, 1954 that the Acting Garrison Engineer Shillong stated before the Court that the movable property in question (i.e. 41 R.S. joists) had been sold and delivered as far back as November 22, 1951 to Messrs. Ghunilal-Kanhaiyalal of Palasbari This objection was considered by the execution Court and it held on September 25, 1954 that this belated statement that the property in question had been sold as far back as November 22, 1951 could not be believed. The execution Court, therefore, dismissed the objection and ordered execution to proceed.

(2.) Thereafter orders were issued for the production of the joists but they were not produced. Thereupon the appellant applied that the Union of India should be considered to be the principal judgment-debtor and execution should be levied against the Union of India. The Union of India objected to this and on April 21, 1956 the objection of the Union of India was dismissed and the execution Court held that the Union of India be treated as the principal judgment-debtor and be made liable to the extent of the proceeds of the attached joists. Later on the same day, a further legal argument was raised on behalf of the Union of India co the effect that as there was no surety, bond the Union of India could not be treated as the principal judgment-debtor. This objection was heard and finally the Court ordered on April 28, 1956 that even though there was no surety bond executed on behalf of the Union of India it was liable as a surety Thereupon the Union of India appealed to the High Court Against the order of April 28, 1956.

(3.) The High Court allowed the appeal and set aside the order of the execution Court holding that no action could be taken against the Union of India under S. 145 of the Code of Civil Procedure upon which the execution Court had apparently relied. Thereupon the appellant asked for and obtained a certificate from the High Court, and that is how the matter has come before us.