KRISHNA UDAYAN Vs. CHINNA PILLAI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This petition arises out of an application for setting aside an order passed ex parte on a reference (L.A.C. No. 7 of 1945) under Section 30 of the Land Acquisition Act. The petitioner and the respondent were claimants in respect of the amount awarded and the reference made in that connection to the Sub-ordinate Judge of Salem under Section 30, stood posted to the 24 of August, 1945, when the respondent filed his statement. The proceedings were then adjourned to 19th September, 1945. On that day, the respondent was absent and an adjournment asked for on his behalf was granted till 2nd October, 1945, on condition that he paid Rs. 4 to the petitioner as costs for the day. But on 2nd October, 1945, the respondent was again absent and his vakil reported No, instructions. The day costs was not paid. The petitioner then proved his claim and an order was passed in his favour, the Court holding that he was entitled to the amount in dispute. The respondent thereupon filed a petition under Order 9, Rule 13 of the Code of Civil Procedure to set aside the order passed in favour of the petitioner. The Subordinate Judge dismissed this petition taking the view that the order disposing of the reference under Section 30 of the Land Acquisition Act was one on merits and fell under Order 17, Rule 3, Civil Procedure Code in view of the fact that the respondent who had been asked to pay the day costs committed default. He appears to have regarded the direction regarding day costs as a condition pre- cedent. On appeal by the respondent the learned District Judge held that the Order in L.A.C. No. 7 of 1945 was an order passed ex parte coming within Rule 2 of Order 17, Civil Procedure Code. He therefore remanded the application for disposal on the merits as the learned Subordinate Judge had not considered the question whether the respondent had sufficient cause for his non-appearance on the 2nd October. It is against this order of remand that this Civil Revision Petition has been filed.

(2.) It is contended on behalf of the petitioner that in respect of proceedings under Section 30 of the Land Acquisition Act the only remedy open to a claimant is to treat the order against him as part of the award and appeal under Section 54 of the Land Acquisition Act to this Court, and that Order 9, Rule 13, Civil Procedure Code does not apply to such proceedings. This contention cannot be accepted in view of the decision of a Bench of this Court in Chikkanna V/s. Perumal . There, it was held that a Subordinate Judge appointed by the Provincial Government under Section 3 (d) of the Land Acquisition Act to decide a dispute referred under Section 30 of the Act is a Civil Court and that the decision therein is a decree and an appeal lies from such decision as an appeal against a decree. It is there observed that in the light of the Privy Council decision in Ramachandra Rao V/s. Ramachandra Rao (1922) 43 M.L.J. 78 : I.L.R. 45 Mad. 320 : L.R. 49 I.A. 129 (P.C.) an order determining a reference under Section 30 is to be regarded as a decree and not as an award. In this view the order of the Subordinate Judge passed on 2nd October, 1945, is a decree, and consequently Order 9, Rule 13, Civil Procedure Code which empowers the Court to set aside a decree passed ex parte does apply. I therefore consider that the application before the learned Subordinate Judge for setting aside this order was competent.

(3.) It is then argued that even if Order 9, Rule 13, Civil Procedure Code applies it does not follow that Order 43, Rule 1 (d) Civil Procedure Code under which orders under Rule 13 of Order 9 rejecting an application for setting aside an ex parte decree are appealable, is applicable as the right of appeal is a creature of the statute and there is no provision in the Land Acquisition Act conferring such a right on a claimant. In support of this contention reliance is placed on the decision of a Bench of this Court in Suryanarayanamurthi V/s. Satyanarayanamurthi where in respect of an application under the Madras Agriculturists Relief Act it was held that although Section 19-A Sub-section (8) of that Act made the provisions of Order 9, Rule 13 applicable to proceedings under the Act it could not attract the right of appeal conferred under Order 43, Rule 1 (d) Civil Procedure Code. But this decision in my opinion does not apply to the facts of the present case. There, two provisions were considered with regard to the appealability of an order declining to set aside an ex parte order passed under Act IV of 1938 : one was Section 141 of the Civil P. C. and the other Sub-section (8) of Section 19-A of the Agriculturists Relief Act and it was observed that it was difficult to see how either of these provisions which only made the procedural provisions of the Code applicable to proceedings under the Act should attract the substantive right of appeal. Section 141 of the Civil P. C. makes the procedure provided in the Code in regard to suits applicable as far as it can be made applicable to all pro-ceedings in any Court of Civil Jurisdiction. Similarly, Sub-section (8) of Section 19-A of the Agriculturists Relief Act is to the effect that the procedure laid down in the Civil Procedure Code for the trial of a suit shall as far as may be, apply to applications under that section. But Section 53 of the Land Acquisition Act which governs the present case is not as restrictive as either of the abovementioned provisions. Section 53 is in these words: Save in so far as they may be inconsistent with anything contained in this Act the provisions of the Civil P. C. shall apply to all proceedings before the Court under this Act.