MADHUSUDAN RAY Vs. JOGENDRA KAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is an appeal by , defendant 1 who is aggrieved by the decision of the learned Subordinate Judge by which he reversed the decision of the learned Munsif and decreed the suit of the plaintiff. The facts are these. Kapil Sahoo was a recorded tenant with respect to a holding of 1.68 acres carrying a rental of Rs. 5- 5-0 per annum in Mouja Dalang. On 24 September 1928, he sold .17 acres out of this holding to the landlord, defendant 1, and parted with possession in favour of the Jandlord. On 22 February, 1937, after the death of Kapil his widow as mother and guardian of her son, defendant 2, sold the remaining 1.51 acres of land to the plaintiff for a sum of Rs. 200. In the sale deed the rental which was shown as payable for this land was not the rental of the whole of the holding but the proportionate rental which was payable for 1.51 acres. This holding which now consisted of 1.51 acres only fell into arrears. The landlord, defendant 1, instituted a suit for rent not against the plaintiff but against the original tenant or rather against the minor son of the original tenant through his natural guardian, the mother-the landlord refused to recognise the transfer for reasons which are wholly irrelevant. In that suit notices and summonses were issued both to the minor and to his guardian and were properly served. On the date fixed, nobody appeared on behalf of the defendant and a decree was passed ex parte on 3 January 1938. In execution of that decree the holding was sold on 25 February and the sale was confirmed on 29 March 1938, the landlord himself becoming the auction- purchaser. The plaintiff having been dispossessed instituted a suit giving rise to this appeal on 10 June 1938 for recovery of possession after a declaration that the decree of 3 January 1938 was not a rent decree, and secondly that the decree was void and of no effect because defendant 2, a minor, was not represented in the manner required by law the defect pointed out being that there was no formal order appointing the mother of the minor as the guardian to act for the defendant and to represent him in that action.

(2.) The trial Court held that the decree was a rent decree because by the arrangement between the recorded tenant and the 16 annas landlord, the original holding was split up into two, one having merged in the superior right of the landlord and the remaining 1.51 acres becoming the separate tenancy with a rental of Rs. 4-4-0. He also held that the suit was not fraudulent or collusive. The learned Munsif also came to the conclusion that although it was true that there was an absence of a formal order appointing the mother as the guardian, but this was a mere irregularity; on the other hand the minor was being described as being represented by his mother guardian and the Court accepted that position and ordered the issue of summonses to her representing the minor defendant thereby sanctioning her appointment as the guardian. He also held that the minor had no defence whatsoever because he had parted with the property in favour of the plaintiff, the mother had no adverse interest against the minor and no prejudice whatsoever was caused to the interest of the minor by the non-appearance of the guardian. Accordingly he dismissed the suit. In appeal the learned Subordinate Judge has come to the conclusion that the decree was a rent decree and the claim was founded on just dues, but he disagreed with the learned Munsif and held that the decree was a nullity inasmuch as the proposed guardian never consented to act as the guardian of the minor. Accordingly he set aside the decision of the learned Munsif and decreed the plaintiff's suit. Hence the second appeal to this Court.

(3.) A large number of cases were cited before us by Mr. P. C. Chatterjee who appears on , behalf of the appellant and by Mr. L. K. Das Gupta who appears on behalf of the respondents. But I am satisfied that in this case we must follow the decision given by the Division Bench of this Court in Satdeo Narain V/s. Ramayan Tewari A.I.R. 1923 Pat. 242 where it has been held that when a minor is properly a party to a suit, that is to say, if he is represented on the record by a guardian not disqualified from acting, the jurisdiction of the Court to try and determine the cause as against the minor is complete and cannot be ousted on proof that the Court did not follow the appropriate procedure for the appointment of the guardian as laid down in Order 32, Civil P. C. In this case it is found that the minor was represented in the record by the mother who was not disqualified from acting. There is no regular order appointing the mother as the guardian, but the very fact that the Court issued notices to the mother and the guardian shows that the Court did not see any objection to appoint the mother as guardian. If the minor had any defence to make or had suffered the slightest prejudice the matter would have been different and the decree could have been set aside at the instance of the minor. It is to be noticed that the minor in this case is not asking that the decree should be set aside. He is not the, plaintiff in the action. Mr. Das Gupta on the other hand relied very strongly upon three or four cases which must be noticed. Rashidunnisa V/s. Muhammad Ismail Khan (09) 31 All. 572. Their Lordships held that the minor was never a party to the suit because her sister Ulfannissa was a married woman and therefore was disqualified by the provisions of the Code from being appointed as guardian in the suit, and Maula Dad Khan's interest was adverse to that of the minor. It will be noticed that in that case also the suit was instituted on behalf of the minor to set aside the decree and the sale which had taken place in execution thereof. The appellant in the ex parte decree was described "under the guardianship of her sister" who by the order of the Court was appointed guardian ad litem. This case would have been of help to Mr. Das Gupta if the mother was wholly disqualified to act as the guardian of the minor in this case and if his interest was neglected. The next case relied on is the case in Chhattra Kumari Debi V/s. Radha Mohan A.I.R. 1922 Pat. 291. In that case Jwala Prasad J. after considering a large number of cases observed at page 454 that a mere irregularity in the appointment of a guardian ad litem will not render the decree obtained against the minor null and void, unless the interest of the minor has suffered by reason of such an irregularity.