MALHAR NARAYAN PRABHU Vs. VISHNU SONU GAVADA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The facts in this second appeal are as follows. The second defendant obtained a decree in the, Kudal Court in Sawantwadi against five persons, the plaintiff, his two brothers Gopal and Govind, and his two sisters-in-law Ramabai and Baibai. It would appear from the Roznama in that suit that the plaintiff was not served with the summons Gopal and Govind alone defended the suit, in which a decree was passed awarding a certain sum of money against. the five defendants The appeal against that decision was unsuccessful. Thereafter the decree was transferred to the Malvan Court in British territory for execution. The decree was sent to the Collector, who attached the properties in suit and put them up for sale. The first defendant purchased the property at the auction. The sale was confirmed and possession was given on December 20, 1916.

(2.) The plaintiff filed this suit in 1918 for a declaration that the decree was void and unenforceable against him and that, therefore, the sale of his interest was void. In the plaint the plaintiff put his share as one-fifth, and that of his brothers and sisters-in-law four-fifths. He claimed that he had purchased the interests of his brothers and his sisters-in-law, but that has been found as a fact to be incorrect by the Subordinate Judge of Malvan, who awarded the plaintiff possession and injunction with regard to one third of the property sold by the Collector. The auction-purchaser, defendant No. 1, appealed, but the appeal was dismissed on the ground that the original decree was void as against the plaintiff and that the auction-purchaser should have known the law with regard to the nullity of a decree passed by a foreign Court against a person in absentem.

(3.) Now undoubtedly the decree as it stood of the Sawantwadi Court was not binding on the plaintiff, and as far as he was concerned, he could treat it as a nullity. When the decree was transferred to the Malvan Court for execution, and in execution it was sought to sell his property, he could have contended that there was no decree which could be executed against him, and that undoubtedly would have prevented his property being sold in execution. But it has been found as a fact that the plaintiff accepted the notice of the Collector with regard to the sale in execution of his property. He appeared before the Mamlatdar and made a statement and said he was ready to pay what way due from him under the decree. Therefore to all appearances he submitted to the decree of the foreign Court, and that was perfectly competent for him to do. There was no necessity for him, if he wished to accept the decree, to raise an objection to its execution.