High Court of KeralaSingle JudgeDisposed of with directions to appoint Commissi...

CRP No. 374 of 2013, Kerala High Court

Case / Petition Number:CRP No. 374 of 2013

Case Details & Bench

Court
High Court of Kerala
Hon'ble Judges
  • K. T. Sankaran
Judgment Date
2015-02-11
Court Decision / Holding
The Civil Revision Petition is disposed of as above. The court directs the appointment of a Commissioner to supervise the construction of the wall separating B schedule from A schedule at the decree holder’s cost, with the wall to be constructed leaving 1 meter from the boundary lines of the B schedule property, and with the Commissioner ensuring that the local public’s worship and use of the B schedule property are not hindered.
Final Disposition
Disposed of with directions to appoint Commissioner and limit construction with 1-meter margin; ensure public rights are preserved.

Parties to the Case

Appellants / Petitioners

  • Rajan
  • Kunhiraman
  • Suresh
  • Babu
  • Sathyan
  • Manoj Kumar
  • Girish Kumar
  • Vineeth Kumar
  • Sunil Kumar
  • Sreenivasan
  • Rasanth
  • K.P. Babu
  • Poolakool Babu

Respondents

  • Nadakkal Moosa
  • M.K. Gopalan

Legal Representation & Advocates

Counsels for Petitioners

  • • Smt. S.A. Sherly

Counsels for Respondents

  • • Sri. P.B. Krishnan
  • • Smt. Geetha P. Menon
  • • Sri. N. Ajith
  • • Sri. P.B. Subramanyan

Case Synopsis & Summary

This Kerala High Court Civil Revision Petition challenges an order of the Munsiff's Court, Perambra, that appointed an Advocate Commissioner to supervise the construction of a compound wall separating the plaint B schedule property from the remaining portion of the plaint A schedule property, at the cost and expense of the decree holder. The original suit O.S. No. 43 of 1998, filed by Kunhayissa Umma and others against M.K. Gopalan, sought an injunction restraining trespass on the plaint A schedule property; the plaint B schedule is a public kavu used by local worshippers. The decree holder, Nadakkal Moosa, alleged violation of the decree and filed execution proceedings, culminating in E.P. No. 97/2007 and E.A. No. 89/2011, which led to the appointment of a Commissioner to supervise the construction of the wall between A and B schedules. The revision petitioners were not eo nomine parties to the suit; the court below ordered boundary-wall construction, prompting this challenge. The judgment cites James v. Mathew to support that a decree for prohibitory injunction enforceable against persons sued in a representative capacity can bind non-named parties under Rule 32 of Order XXI. The Kerala High Court upholds the decree’s protective effect on the decree holder while ensuring the interests of the B schedule (public worship) are not infringed, directing the Commissioner to maintain a 1-meter margin from B schedule boundaries and safeguard public use. The Civil Revision Petition is disposed of as above.

Provisions of Law Cited

Rule 8 of Order I, CPCRule 32 of Order XXI, CPCOrder IOrder XXI

Legal Doctrines & Maxims

  • Decree binding on persons not named in the suit when they benefit from or are represented in the action under Rule 32 of Order XXI.
  • Represented capacity enforcement: a decree for injunction can bind beneficiaries or those in representation if the law contemplates it (as discussed in James v. Mathew).

Submissions & Arguments

Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners

The revision petitioners contend they were not eo nomine parties to O.S. No. 43 of 1998 and therefore the lower court lacked jurisdiction to appoint a Commissioner to supervise construction on the plaint property as described, since the boundary dispute over B schedule had not been adjudicated. They argue the decree should not operate to bind non-parties and seek to restrict any construction that may encroach on B schedule. They urge that if a wall is to be built, it should respect a reasonable margin from B schedule to avoid prejudice to the public worship and prevent any unjust enrichment to decree holders. They rely on James v. Mathew to justify enforceability of representative decrees under Order XXI Rule 32 against those not expressly named.

Contentions of Respondents

The decree holder maintains that the decree in O.S. No. 43 of 1998 binds the defendant in a representative capacity and the executing court’s appointment of a Commissioner was proper to safeguard the decree holder’s title and the injunction. The B schedule is a public kavu used for worship; the court should ensure construction does not impede public rights and that the decree is effectively enforceable. The revision petitioners are bound by the decree, and the court’s order should be maintained to protect the decree holder’s interests while balancing public use.

Cited Precedents (1)

Case NameCitationTreatmentExplanation
James v. Mathew2012(4) KLT 666PositiveThe court cites James v. Mathew to support that a decree for prohibitory injunction against defendants sued in a representative capacity can be enforced against persons not named as parties under Rule 32 of Order XXI, thereby justifying that the revision petitioners—though not eo nomine parties—are bound by the decree.

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Extracted Judgment Text

Exact text extracted from official judgment records.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT: THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.T.SANKARAN WEDNESDAY, THE 11TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2015/22ND MAGHA, 1936 ## CRP.No. 374 of 2013 () ----------------------ORDER DATED 9.4.2013 IN E.A.NO.89/2011 IN E.P.NO.97/2007 IN O.S.NO.43/1998 ON THE FILE OF THE MUNSIFF COURT, PERAMBRA. ## REVISION PETITIONER(S): RESPONDENTS ------------------------------------ -------------------- 1. RAJAN, S/O.KANDAN VANIYATHUR HOUSE, AVALA AMSOM KUTTOTH DESOM, KUTTOTH POST KOYILANDI TALUK, KOZHIKODE. 2. KUNHIRAMAN, S/O.KANDAN VANIYATHUR HOUSE, AVALA AMSOM KUTTOTH DESOM, KUTTOTH POST KOYILANDI TALUK, KOZHIKODE. 3. SURESH, S/O.KANDAN VANIYATHUR HOUSE AVALA AMSOM, KUTTOTH DESOM KUTTOTH POST, KOYILANDI TALUK KOZHIKODE. 4. BABU, S/O.KANDAN VANIYATHUR HOUSE AVALA AMSOM, KUTTOTH DESOM KUTTOTH POST, KOYILANDI TALUK KOZHIKODE. 5. SATHYAN, S/O.ARUTHAN MEEKAVAUMMAL HOUSE AVALA AMSOM, KUTTOTH DESOM KUTTOTH POST, KOYILANDI TALUK KOZHIKODE. 6. MANOJ KUMAR, S/O.ARUTHAN MEEKAVUMMAL HOUSE AVALA AMSOM, KUTTOTH DESOM KUTTOTH POST, KOYILANDI TALUK KOZHIKODE. 7. GIRISH KUMAR, S/O.BALAKRISHNAN KAVULLAKANDI HOUSE, AVALA AMSOM KUTTOTH DESOM, KUTTOTH POST KOYILANDI TALUK, KOZHIKODE. CRP NO.374/2013 8. VINEETH KUMAR, S/O.KUMARAN KAVULLAKANDI HOUSE, AVALA AMSOM KUTTOTH DESOM, KUTTOTH POST KOYILANDI TALUK, KOZHIKODE. 9. SUNIL KUMAR, S/O.KUMARAN KAVULLAKANDI HOUSE, AVALA AMSOM KUTTOTH DESOM, KUTTOTH POST KOYILANDI TALUK, KOZHIKODE. 10. SREENIVASAN, S/O.VELLAN MANJARIKUZHICHALIL HOUSE AVALA AMSOM, KUTTOTH DESOM KUTTOTH POST, KOYILANDI TALUK KOZHIKODE. 11. RASANTH, S/O.RAGHAVAN ALLAKOTTU HOUSE, AVALA AMSOM KUTTOTH DESOM, KUTTOTH POST KOYILANDI TALUK, KOZHIKODE. 12. K.P.BABU, S/O.POLIYAN KIZHAKKEPERUVANTHI HOUSE AVALA AMSOM, KUTTOTH DESOM KUTTOTH POST, KOYILANDI TALUK KOZHIKODE. 13. POOLAKOOL BABU, S/O.ARUYAN POOLAKOOL HOUSE, AVALA AMSOM KUTTOTH DESOM, KUTTOTH POST KOYILANDI TALUK, KOZHIKODE. BY ADV. SMT.S.A.SHERLY ## RESPONDENT(S): DECREE HOLDER/DEFENDANT ----------------------------------------------------------------- 1. NADAKKAL MOOSA, S/O.MOIDEEN KAVULLAKANDI PARAMBU AVALA AMSOM, KUTTOTH DESOM KUTTOTH POST, KOYILANDI TALUK, KOZHIKODE. 2. M.K.GOPALAN, S/O.THAYYAN - 52 YEARS, MANCHERRYKUZHICHALIL VEEDU AVALA AMSOM, KUTTOTH DESOM KOYILANDI TALUK, KOZHIKODE. - R1 BY ADV. SRI.P.B.KRISHNAN R1 BY ADV. SMT.GEETHA P.MENON R1 BY ADV. SRI.N.AJITH R1 BY ADV. SRI.P.B.SUBRAMANYAN THIS CIVIL REVISION PETITION HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 11-02-2015, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY PASSED THE FOLLOWING: ## **K.T.SANKARAN, J.** -------------------------------------- C.R.P.No.374 of 2013 -------------------------------------Dated this the 11[th] day of February, 2015 ## _**O R D E R**_ Respondents 2 to 14 in E.A.No.89 of 2011 in E.P.No.97 of 2007 in O.S.No.43 of 1998 on the file of the court of the Munsiff of Perambra, are the revision petitioners. By the order impugned, the court below appointed a Commissioner to supervise the construction of the compound wall separating the plaint B schedule property from the remaining portion of the plaint A schedule property at the cost and expenses of the decree holder. 2. The revision petitioners were not eo nomine parties to O.S.No.43 of 1998. The suit was filed by Kunhayissa Umma and four others against M.K.Gopalan. The first C.R.P.No.374/2013 2 respondent Nadakkal Moosa was the second plaintiff in the suit. The suit was filed for injunction restraining the defendant from trespassing upon the plaint A schedule property. According to the plaintiffs, the plaint A schedule property belonged to them. The plaint B schedule is admittedly a 'kavu' which is being used by the local public. The plaintiffs also alleged that the defendant in the suit acting as the President of Kshethra Samrakshana Samithi was trying to trespass upon the plaint A schedule property. The suit was filed against the defendant in a representative capacity under Rule 8 of Order I. The trial court decreed the suit as per the judgment and decree dated 30[th] October, 1999. 3. Alleging that the defendant and certain others violated the decree and filled up a trench constructed by the plaintiffs for putting up a compound wall, E.P.No.97 of 2007 C.R.P.No.374/2013 3 was filed by the second plaintiff under Rule 32 of Order 21 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The executing court appointed a Commissioner to find out whether the acts alleged were done in the property. The Commissioner reported in favour of the decree holders. The Commissioner's reports and plans available in the suit were marked before the executing court as well. The second- plaintiff/decree holder filed E.A.No.89 of 2011 to appoint an Advocate Commissioner to supervise the construction of compound wall separating the plaint B schedule property from the remaining portion of the A schedule property at the cost and expenses of the decree holder. The decree holder expressed his view that he does not wish to see that the respondents in the E.P. are punished and that he only wants to see that his property was protected. The court below considered the evidence on record in detail and held that the request made by the second decree holder to appoint a C.R.P.No.374/2013 4 Commissioner for the purpose mentioned in E.A.No.89 of 2011 is just and reasonable. Accordingly, a Commissioner was appointed to supervise the construction of the compound wall separating B schedule property from the remaining A schedule property at the cost and expenses of the decree holder. That order is challenged in this revision. 4. It is not in dispute that a decree was passed as stated by the decree holder. The learned counsel for the petitioners pointed out that the Kshethrasamrakshana Samithi filed O.S.No.89 of 2009 on the file of the Munsiff's Court, Perambra against the plaintiffs in O.S.No.43 of 1998 as well as the defendant in O.S.No.43 of 1998 for an injunction restraining the defendants from trespassing upon the plaint schedule property shown therein, under the guise of the decree in O.S.No.43 of 1998. The schedule to the plaint in O.S.No.89 of C.R.P.No.374/2013 5 2009 shows that the extent of property is 54 cents. The suit was filed by the Secretary of the Kshethrasamrakshana Samithi, who is none other than the first petitioner in this revision. On a perusal of the plaint in O.S.No.89 of 2009, it would appear that the plaintiff therein has a contention that the decree in O.S.No.43 of 1998 was obtained by misrepresentation. The learned counsel appearing for the first respondent submitted that O.S.No.89 of 2009 was dismissed for default on 10.3.2014. 5. In **James v. Mathew (2012(4) KLT 666)** , a learned Single Judge of this Court held that a decree for prohibitory injunction obtained against defendants who were sued in a representative capacity in enforceable under Rule 32 of Order XXI against persons who were not eo nomine parties to the suit, but for whose benefit also the suit was defended. C.R.P.No.374/2013 6 6. Even a decree for prohibitory injunction can be enforced for the purpose of compelling the judgment debtors to obey the decree and to protect the interests of the decree holder. In the present case, the decree clearly provides that the decree holder is the title holder of the plaint A schedule property and an injunction was granted in respect of that property against the defendant who was sued in a representative capacity. The revision petitioners, though not eo nomine parties to the suit, are claiming the same rights as claimed by the defendant in the suit. The revision petitioners are bound by the decree. The court below did not think it fit to take any coercive action against the petitioners and the decree holder but thought it fit to see that the interests of the decree holder are protected and he is not prevented from constructing a compound wall separating the plaint A and B schedule property. It cannot be said that the view taken by the court below is without C.R.P.No.374/2013 7 jurisdiction or otherwise illegal. 7. The plaint B schedule property is admittedly not in the possession of the plaintiff. The plaintiff also concedes the right of the local public for the worship in the B schedule property. It is not decided in the case and it was not an issue in the suit as to whom the four boundaries of the plaint B schedule belong. Therefore, the court below was not justified in permitting the decree holder to construct the compound wall just on the boundary line of the B schedule property to separate it from the A schedule property. Faced with the situation, the learned counsel appearing for the first respondent/decree holder submitted that the decree holder may be permitted to construct the compound wall leaving 1 mtr. away from the boundaries of the plaint B schedule property. This submission is recorded. If the boundary wall is constructed leaving 1 mtr. on the sides C.R.P.No.374/2013 8 from the boundary line of the B schedule property, the local public would not be affected and the decree holder would not make any undue gain. The Commissioner while inspecting the property and supervising the construction of the compound wall will ensure that the compound wall is constructed leaving 1 mtr. from the boundary lines of the plaint B schedule property. The Commissioner shall also ensure that the user of the plaint B schedule property by the local people of the locality is not hindered in any manner by the construction of the compound wall. The Civil Revision Petition is disposed of as above. **K.T.SANKARAN JUDGE** csl