M SUBRAMANIA AIYAR Vs. VAITHINATHA AIYAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) It is admitted that the decree under execution was passed after the death of the defendant and before his legal representatives were impleaded. It is argued firstly that this did not effect its validity, and secondly that the decree passed is not void but must be set aside in separate proceedings for that purpose, before it can be treated as a nullity.

(2.) Goda Coopooramier v. Soondrammal (1910) I.L.R., 33 Mad., 167 is relied on. But it deals with exceptional circumstances and the case of a plaintiff; and it is not clear that the decision would have been the same, if a decree against a defendant had been in question. On the other hand in Janardhan v. Ramchandra (1902) I.L.R., 26 Bom., 317, Radha Prasad Singh v. Lal Sahab Rai (1891) I.L.R., 13 All., 53, and Imdad Ali v. Jagan Lal (1895) I.L.R., 17 All., 478, the two last mentioned cases relating to decrees against defendant, it was held that the decrees were nullities. Authority is therefore against the petitioner s contention on this point, and, the decree under execution being null and void, proceedings to avoid it are unnecessary.

(3.) It is argued next that the respondents could not take objection to the decree in execution proceedings. But their objection wag to the jurisdiction of the Court to pass it, It was therefore rightly considered and allowed.