S K MOHIDEEN KADIRSHAW MARAIKAR Vs. OFFICIAL RECEIVER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The first question in this case relates to an order passed by an Official Receiver upon the claim of a creditor of an insolvent to rank as a secured creditor under an hypothecation bond which was disputed by another creditor. The Official Receiver received oral and documentary evidence and held that the bond was supported by consideration and was not fraudulent. His suocessor-in-office seeks to impeach the transaction notwithstanding this decision.

(2.) By virtue of Section 52 of the Provincial Insolvency Act, 1907, and rules of this Court made thereunder, an Official Receiver has power (6) to frame Schedules and to admit or to reject proofs of creditors, and (f) to hear and to determine any unopposed or ex parts application. Section 24(1) directs the Court to frame a schedule of creditors and the debts proved by them, and Section 25 prescribes the ordinary procedure for proof of debts. Under these provisions all persons alleging themselves to be creditors are required to produce evidence of the amount and particulars of their debts, which may: be upon affidavits containing certain particulars and the Court, by order, determines the persons who have proved themselves to be creditors and the amount of their debts, and then frames the schedule.

(3.) Section 24(3) then provides for an application by a creditor after the schedule has been framed that his name may be entered therein, and Section 26 provides that the Court may expunge an entry in the schedule or reduce the amount of a debt upon the application of a Receiver or, in certain 1 cases, of a creditor or the debtor; and both provisions contemplate a judicial inquiry. Having regard to these express provisions for a judicial enquiry upon the rectification of the schedule when framed, and to the absence of any such provision in relation to the framing of the schedule in the first instance, we think that the latter operation is intended, at least in general, to be an ex parte determination by the Court upon the evidence furnished by the alleged creditors. If this, construction be correct and the sections and rules already mentioned be read together, it is clear that the power delegated to the Official Receiver is to frame the schedule after an ex parte examination of the evidence tendered by the alleged creditors and that he does not decide judicially or finally upon contested claims.