LAWS(KER)-1966-9-22

NARAYANAN NAMBOODIRIPAD Vs. THOMAKUTTY

Decided On September 14, 1966
NARAYANAN NAMBOODIRIPAD Appellant
V/S
THOMAKUTTY Respondents

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The decree holder auction purchaser is the revision petitioner. In execution of the decree the decree schedule properties were sold in court auction on 6-2-1961 and purchased by the decree holder for Rs. 154.37 in satisfaction of the decree. The court auction was confirmed on 10-3-1961. The respondents who are the judgment debtors filed an application on 20-3-1961 under S.47 and 151 and O.21 R.90, C.P.C. to set aside the court sale. The execution court held that in view of the omission to affix the proclamation of sale in the property sold and the omission to publish the same by beat of drum there was material irregularity and fraud in publishing and conducting the sale as a result of which the respondents sustained substantial injury. The learned Munsiff also took the view that the application to set aside the sale filed on 20-3-1961 was not barred by limitation as the respondents were entitled to the benefit of S.18 of the Limitation Act. The learned District Judge though concurred with the learned Munsiff in setting aside the sale took the view that the omission to affix the proclamation of sale on the property sold and the omission to publish the same by beat of drum is not a mere irregularity in the publication or conduct of the sale but would render the sale illegal or void and it is open to the judgment debtor to have the court sale declared illegal or void by an application filed under S.47, C.P.C. which will be governed by Art.181 of the Indian Limitation Act.

(2.) Both the lower courts have found that a copy of the proclamation was not affixed to a conspicuous part of the property and there was no publishing of the proclamation by beat of drum. O.21 R.67 of the Civil Procedure Code reads thus:

(3.) The point for decision therefore is whether the court sale which was held on 6-2-1961 is void or only voidable on account of the omission to proclaim the sale of property by beat of drum and to affix the proclamation in a conspicuous part