MEWA RAM Vs. DEO PRAKASH MINOR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS appeal raises rather an interesting question though, on a careful examination, it is clear that the decision of the learned single Judge was right and that the points raised have no substance. There was a decree obtained by one Chheda Lal against Muktal for unpaid purchase money by enforcement of the unpaid purchaser's lien. This decree was in suit No. 47 of 1926. Muktal purchased a l/54th share in village Pohena from Chheda Lal on 16-2-1925, for Rs. 1,000/ -. He paid Rs. 450/- in cash but the balance had remained unpaid. It was for the balance that the decree xvas obtained on 28-1-1927. The decree was then put under execution and 1/54th share that had been purchased was sold by auction. For the balance remaining unpaid a personal decree under Order 34, Rule 6 was obtained on 22-6-1931. In between these dates on 9-3-1928, Muktal had made a gift of a 1/54th share (not the share that he had purchased from Chheda Lal) to his daughter's son, Murari Lal. The fact that the 1/54th share gifted was other than the 1/54th share purchased from Chheda Lal was specifically mentioned in the gift-deed. Murari Lal, instead of getting his name mutated over that 1/54th share, got his name mutated over the whole of the l/27th share i. e. , the 1/54th that Muktal had purchased from Chheda Lal and the 1/54th that Muktal owned from before and which he had gifted to Murari Lal. Muktal then died and Chheda Lal, in execution of his decree, attached the l/54th share in the hands of Murari Lal on the allegation that the gift-deed executed by Muktal in favour of Murari lal was a fictitious document. Murari Lal filed objections under Order 21, Rule 58, Civil P. C. , when the property was attached, but those objections were dismissed on 29-7-1937, on the ground that the gift-deed was a fictitious document. Murari Lal did not file any suit within one year, as required under Order 21, Rule 63 and the order under Order 21, Rule 58 thus became final. But somehow the decree-holder did nothing further and did not proceed to sell up the property. Murari Lal died in 1941. He was succeeded by bis son, Deo Prakasfa, who continued to remain in possession of the entire 1/27th share. Deo Prakash filed suit No. 149 of 1942 in the revenue Court claiming profits of the 1/27th share and Chheda Lal was impleaded in the suit as a defendant as he was the owner of another share in the village. Chheda Lal filed an objection that he was the owner by purchase of a 1/54 share in execution of a decree against Muktal in May, 1929, and that as regards the other 1/54 share the gift-deed executed by Muktal in favour of Murari Lal was fictitious. An issue was remitted to the civil Court on the question of title and the civil Court held in favour of Deo Prakash that he was the owner of l/27th share in the property. On the finding having been returned to the revenue court, that Court decreed Deo Prakash's suit.

(2.) THE original decree-holder Chheda Lal having died in the meantime, his sons, Mewa Ram and another, on 27-2-1944, put the decree under Order 34, Rule 6 in suit No. 47 of 1920 in execution and attached the decree in suit No. 149 of 1942. Various objections were raised. The trial Court decided against Deo Prakash. The lower appellate Court on appeal held that the decision in suit No. 149 of 1942 that the deed of gift was a valid document and Deo Prakash was the owner of 1/27th share operated as 'res judicata'. A new plea was raised before it that Murari Lal, as a universal donee, was liable to pay the decretal amount. On the question, whether Murari Lal was or was not a universal donee, an issue was remitted and the trial Court held that he was not a universal donee. After the finding was returned, however, the lower Court, which was by that time presided over by another officer, came to the conclusion that the decree in suit No. 149 of 1942 was not 'res judicata', that the gift-deed was fictitious and that Murari Lal was a universal donee inasmuch as though he had not got the entire property under the deed of gift dated 9-3-1928, he must have got the rest of the property of Muktal under some oral gift.

(3.) ON a second appeal to this Court, a learned single Judge of this Court set aside the order of the lower appellate Court and allowed the appeal of Deo Prakash. He held that Murari Lal was not a universal donee, that the decree in unit No. 149 of 1942 operated as 'res judicata' and the question, therefore, could not be gone into whether the gift-deed was or was not a fictitious document.