SABAPATHI PILLAI Vs. CHOCKALINGA PILLAI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is an appeal against the order of the Subordinate Judge of Mayavaram in execution of a decree for sale in a mortgage suit. The appellant in this court was the 2nd defendant in the suit. He was a co-parcener of the 1st defendant, the mortgagor, and was consequently impleaded as a party. The decree directed the 1st defendant to pay a sum of Rs. 39291-15-0 with interest from the date of plaint and Rs. 1844-6-0 for the plaintiff s costs, and it directed the 1st defendant s half share in the mortgaged property to be sold in case of default in payment. It also provided that if the net proceeds of the sale were found insufficient to pay the amount due to the plaintiff the balance should be recovered from him personally. So far as the 2nd defendant was concerned the decree stated " It is further ordered that the 2nd defendant also be liable for the plaintiff s costs of the suit (1844-6-0)." The respondent got the 1st defendant s share of the property sold in execution. The sale proceeds which amounted to Rs. 41,500 were insufficient to discharge the whole of the mortgage debt and interest and costs. The plaintiff then put in the present application for execution against the 2nd defendant to recover the costs of the suit. He stated that he credited the amount of Rs. 41,500 realised by the sale of the hypotheca towards the decree amount and interest and that he was entitled to recover the costs from the 2nd defendant under the terms of the decree. The 2nd defendant contended, first, that the execution of the decree as against him was barred by limitation, and secondly, that the sale proceeds should be first applied towards the interest on the mortgage amount and the costs of the suit, and the balance alone towards the principal amount and that the plaintiff was not entitled to any relief against him as the amount realized by the sale had discharged the costs of the suit due to the plaintiff. The Subordinate Judge disallowed the latter contention. No reference is made in his judgment to the plea of limitation. It appears that the decree of the Original Court was confirmed in appeal within less than three years before the present application for execution. Apparently, the objection as to limitation was not pressed. It has been urged before us by the learned vakil for the appellant, apparently, in ignorance of the date on which the appellate decree was passed. We disallow the contention.

(2.) The principal question for decision in this appeal is whether, as contended by the appellant, the costs due to the plaintiff must be held to have been discharged by the proceeds of the sale of the hypotheca. Mr. K. Srinivasa Aiyangar the learned Vakil for the respondent, contends that the decree-holder was not under any obligation towards the appellant to appropriate the sale-proceeds towards the costs, and that, as the decree expressly held the appellant liable for the costs, he is entitled to recover them from him. The appellant refers to Order 34 Rule 13 C. P. C, and contends that, even if the rule is not in terms applicable to the case, the principle embodied in it should be applied. The respondent contends that Rule 13 is applicable only to cases when a sale is directed under the preceding Rule 12.

(3.) That rule provides that " where any property the sale of which is directed under this order is subject to a prior mortgage, the Court may with the consent of the prior mortgagee, direct that the property be sold free from the same, giving to such prior mortgagee the same interest in the proceeds of the sale as he had in the property sold." Rule 13 enacts " Such proceeds shall be brought into Court and applied as follows." The question is whether the expression "such proceeds" means the proceeds of any sale which is directed under Order 34, or the proceeds of a sale directed under Rule 12 of that order only to be held free of a prior mortgage. The language of Rule 13 favors the latter contention, for the application of the sale proceeds is directed to be as follows. First, in payment of all expenses incident to the sale or property incurred in any attempted sale; secondly, in payment of whatever is due to the prior mortgagee on account of the prior mortgage, and of costs, properly incurred in connection therewith; thirdly, in payment of all interest due on account of the mortgage in consequence whereof the sale was directed, and of the costs of the suit in which the decree directing the sale was made; fourthly, in payment of the principal money due on account of that mortgage; and lastly, the residue (if any) shall be paid to the person proving himself to be interested in the property sold, or if there are more such persons than one, then to such persons according to their respective interests therein or upon their joint receipt." The second clause directing the application of the proceeds, in the second place, towards the payment of whatever is due to the prior mortgagee, apparently refers to a prior mortgage free of which the property is ordered to be sold under Rule 12. It is, therefore, reasonable to construe Rule ] 3 as in terms applicable only to cases where a sale is ordered under Rule 12 free of a prior mortgage. There is no other rule laid down in the C.P.C. or elsewhere as to whether the proceeds of a sale held for the discharge of a mortgage, should be first appropriated in payment of interest and the costs of the suit, and only afterwards to the principal. Section 73 of the code, in laying down the rule applicable to the application of the proceeds of a sale directed by a decree for the discharge of an incumbrance, provides that the proceeds should be applied first in defraying the expenses of the sale, secondly in discharging the amounts due under the decree; thirdly, in discharging the interest and principal monies due on subsequent incumbrances (if any) &c.