STATE BANK OF INDIA Vs. RAM KUMAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) A suit for recovery filed by the plaintiff petitioner was decreed by the trial court for a sum of Rs. 79,108.90 against the defendants together with costs, and interest at the rate of 12-1/2 per annum from the date of filing of the suit i.e. 25.11.1985 till the date of the decree and future interest at the same rate from the date of decree till realisation of the decreetal amount. The petitioner-bank sought execution of the decree by filing an execution application. Before the executing court, learned counsel for the judgment-debtors made a submission that despite the decree that future interest was to be charged at the rate of 6% per annum. The above submission was made on the strength of the judgment of this Court in Srichand v. Central Bank of India, (1988-1)93 P.L.R. 473 on which a strong reliance was placed. Learned executing court accepted the submission, reduced the rate of interest payable by the judgment debtors to 6% from 12-1/2% per annum as was originally granted by the trial court, by its order dated 1.10.1988 and this is how the plaintiff has filed the present revision petition against the above order of the executing court.

(2.) Learned Counsel for the petitioner submitted that the impugned order is illegal as the executing court could not go behind the decree and Was bound to execute the same as it is. According to the learned counsel, the order under revision reserves to be set aside. Learned counsel for the respondents, on the other hand sought to justify the impugned order.

(3.) After hearing learned counsel for the parties and perusing the impugned order, I am of the opinion that the contention of the learned counsel for the petitioner has merit. Trial Court passed a decree for the recovery of Rs. 79,108.90 paise with interest at the rate of 12-1/2% per annum from the date of filing of the suit i.e. 25.11.1985 till the date of decree and future interest at the same rate from the date of decree till realisation of the decretal amount. It is not in dispute that the decree has attained finality. Plaintiff-appellant took out execution wherein an objection was raised by the judgment debtors to the effect that despite the decree, granting interest at the rate of 12-1/2% per annum the executing court could reduce the rate of interest to 6%. The executing court accepted the objection and reduced the rate of interest as noticed above. This in my view was not open to the executing court to do in view of a judicial pronouncement in M/s Shree Bharat Laxmi Wool Store and Ors. v. Punjab National Bank and Anr., (1982)84 P.L.R. 472. this view is further supported by Code of Civil Procedure (Amendment) Act, 1976, wherein Under Section 34 it is provided that in case of commervial transactions, the contractual rate of interest should be allowed.