High Court of KeralaSingle JudgeWrit Petition disposed; No costs.

Hashim v. Abdul Jabbar Salim

Case / Petition Number:WP(C).No. 25563 of 2006(R)

Case Details & Bench

Court
High Court of Kerala
Hon'ble Judges
  • PIUS C.KURIAKOSE
Judgment Date
2007-07-12
Court Decision / Holding
The Writ Petition is disposed of as above. The respondent is permitted to identify any purchaser for a portion of his property within three months of the judgment copy being produced before the execution court. If a purchaser is identified, the respondent shall file a sale application supported by the agreement; the court will grant leave to sell the property to that purchaser so that the entire balance decree debt is paid to the decree holder. If no purchaser is identified or no such application is filed within the period, the execution court shall sale the entire property originally proposed under Ext.P6 to recover the decree debt. Ext.P12 stands set aside. The court will ensure that the entire decree debt is paid within six months of receiving a copy of this judgment. If necessary for a sale of the entire property, the trial court shall redetermine the property value after hearing both sides.
Final Disposition
Writ Petition disposed; No costs.

Parties to the Case

Appellants / Petitioners

  • HASHIM, s/o Abdul Rahiman, Anvar Manzil, Karavaram, Puthussery Mukku P.O., Kallambalam, Thiruvananthapuram

Respondents

  • ABDUL JABBAR SALIM

Legal Representation & Advocates

Counsels for Petitioners

  • • Sri. G. Sudheer

Counsels for Respondents

  • • Advocate Imtiaz Mohammed

Case Synopsis & Summary

This writ petition challenges an execution court order directing sale of a portion of the judgment-debtor's property to meet a decree debt exceeding Rs. 10 lakhs. The petitioner-decree-holder argues that the attached property comprises 10.5 cents with a building; the decree debt can be realized by selling only a suitable portion. The executing court, relying on a Division Bench of this court in Reji John v. Bhaskaran Nair and Balakrishnan v. Malaiyandi Konar (and Rule 64 of Order XXI read with Rule 66(2)(a)), held that the court must ensure sale of only the portion necessary to fetch the decree debt, with the possibility of selling the entire property if partial sale cannot satisfy the debt. An Ext.P6 order previously directed sale of 3.5 cents excluding the building, with further valuation and planning. The petitioner contends that the respondent obstructed entry, hindering compliance with Ext.P12, and petitions this court for relief. The High Court accepts the affidavit on service, endorses the need for compliance, and issues fresh directions: the respondent may identify a purchaser for any portion within three months; if no purchaser is identified or no leave is sought, the entire property may be sold; Ext.P12 is set aside; the entire debt must be paid within six months; the court may readjust value if sale of the entire property is necessary.

Provisions of Law Cited

Rule 64 of Order XXIRule 66(2)(a)

Submissions & Arguments

Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners

The petitioner-decree-holder submits that the attached property comprises 10.5 cents with a building and argues that, in view of Ext.P6 and Ext.P12, only a portion of the property should be sold to realize the decree debt. He contends that the execution court must ensure sale of the minimum necessary area and that the right to sell the entire property should be exercised only if partial sale cannot satisfy the debt. The petitioner has repeatedly sought compliance with Ext.P12 but faces obstruction from the respondent, who allegedly blocks access to the premises and prevents surveys. The writ petition seeks a declaration that service is valid and requests directions to facilitate partial sale or, if required, sale of the whole property, with timely payment of the decree debt and possible revaluation if the entire property is sold.

Contentions of Respondents

The respondent contends that the division of the property is necessary and that the court should adhere to Ext.P6 to sell a portion of the land (excluding the building) to recover the decree debt. He asserts that the obstruction to entry is a tactical impediment to compliance with Ext.P12, and that the court should not compel broader sale beyond what is necessary. He relies on prior orders and valuations to argue that partial sale suffices and that any sale beyond the identified portion would overreach the decree debtor’s rights.

Cited Precedents (2)

Case NameCitationTreatmentExplanation
Reji John v. Bhaskaran Nair1998(2) KLT 640PositiveCited by the court to support reading Rule 64 of Order XXI with Rule 66(2)(a) and the principle that only the necessary portion of property should be sold to fetch the decree debt.
Balakrishnan v. Malaiyandi Konar2006(1) KLT 926PositiveCited to justify the approach of reading Rule 64 in conjunction with Rule 66(2)(a) for selective sale; relied upon in Ext.P6 context.

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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 PIUS C.KURIAKOSE** **THURSDAY, THE 12TH JULY 2007 / 21ST ASHADHA 1929** **WP(C).No. 25563 of 2006(R)** **--------------------------** **(E.P.NO.207/03 IN OS.233/1999 DATED 15/09/06 of PRL.SUB COURT,TRIVANDRUM)** **.................................................** **PETITIONER:** **-------------------** **HASHIM, S/O. ABDUL RAHIMAN, ANVAR MANZIL, KARAVARAM, PUTHUSSERY MUKKU P.O., KALLAMBALAM, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.** **BY ADV. SRI.G.SUDHEER** **RESPONDENT:** **------------------------** **ABDUL JABBAR SALIM, POST BOX NO.43012, ABUDABI, U.A.E., FROM TC.48/638(1) (MRWA NO.40) VALIYAPALLI ROAD, MANACAUD, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.** **BY** **THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 12/07/2007, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:** ## **WPC.NO.25563/2006 R** ## **APPENDIX** ## **PETITIONER'S EXHIBITS:** **EXT.P1: COPY OF E.P.NO.207/2003 IN O.S.NO.233/1999 OF THE PRINCIPAL SUB COURT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM DTD. 20/08/2003. EXT.P2: COPY OF OBJECTION IN O.S.NO.233/1999 FILED BY THE J.D. DTD. 3/08/2004. EXT.P3: COPY OF VALUATION CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY THE TAHSILDAR, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM DTD. 2/02/2005. EXT.P4: COPY OF VALUATION CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY CIVIL ENGINEER, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. EXT.P5; COPY OF ORDER DTD. 30/03/2005 IN E.P.NO.207/03 IN O.S.233/1999 OF THE PRINCIPAL SUB JUDGE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. EXT.P6: COPY OF JUDGMENT DTD. 8/06/2006 IN WP(C) NO.16411 OF 2005 (D) OF THIS HONOURABLE HIGH COURT OF KERALA. EXT.P7: COPY OF VALUATION REPORT ON IMMOVABLE PROPERTIES DTD. 10/06/2006 ISSUED BY CHIEF ENGINEER FORT DEPARTMENT (RETD.). EXT.P8; COPY OF PETITIONER WITH AFFIDAVIT DTD. 25/08/2006 IN E.P.NO.207/2003 IN O.S.NO.233/1999. EXT.P9; COPY OF STATEMENT OF OBJECTION SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER IN E.A.NO.1098/06 IN E.P.NO.207/2003 IN O.S.NO.233/1999. EXT.P10: COPY OF AFFIDAVIT FILED BY THE PETITIONER IN E.P.NO.207/2003 IN O.S.NO.233/1999 DTD. 31/08/2006. EXT.P11: COPY OF AFFIDAVIT FILED BY THE PETITIONER IN E.P.NO. 207/2003 IN O.S.NO.233/1999 DTD. 1/09/2006. EXT.P12: COPY OF ORDER IN E.P.NO.207/2003 IN O.S.NO.233/1999 DTD. 15/09/2006 PASSED BY THE PRINCIPAL SUB JUDGE, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.** **/TRUE COPY/** _Kss_ ## **PIUS C. KURIAKOSE,J.** **- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -** W.P.(C) No.25563 of 2006 **- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -** Dated: 12[th] July, 2007 ## **JUDGMENT** An affidavit has been filed by Mr.K.S.Gopinathan Nair, counsel who appeared before the execution court on behalf of the petitioner. The facts stated in the affidavit are quite convincing. I accept the affidavit and declare that service of notice to the respondent is sufficient. 2. The residential property of the judgment-debtor having a total extent of 10.5 cents together with residential building was attached and attempted to be sold by the petitioner-decree-holder for recovery of decree debt which comes to above Rs.10 lakhs. The respondent-judgment-debtor contended that the property is situated in Manacaud and considering the market value of the property it will suffice if a portion of the property is sold. That contention did not in the first instance find favour with the execution court. The respondent therefore approached this court which passed Ext.P6 judgment. Under Ext.P6 this court relied on the judgment of the Division Bench of this court in **Reji John v. Bhaskaran Nair** (1998(2) KLT 640) and also that the judgment of the Supreme Court in **Balakrishnan v. Malaiyandi Konar** (2006(1) KLT 926) and ruled that Rule 64 of W.P.C.No.25563/06 - 2 - Order XXI is to be read with Rule 66(2)(a) and that the execution court has got a duty to ensure that only such portion of the property as is necessary for fetching the decree debt alone need be sold. Accordingly, it was directed that the execution court shall make an attempt to sell four cents of property excluding the building for realisation of the decree debt. This court said further that if the sale proceeds is not sufficient to satisfy the entire decree debt, then the entire property can be sold. Ext.P6 significantly has become final. Pursuant to Ext.P6 the execution court relying on an affidavit submitted by the respondent stating that it will be possible to separate 5.062 cents of land from the building situated on his property, considered a valuation report submitted by the Tahsildar and determined the market value of the property at Rs.3 lakhs per cent and accordingly found that it will suffice if 3 ½ cents excluding the building is sold for satisfying the decree debt. Accordingly, the petitioner-decree-holder was directed to obtain a sketch from the Village Officer in respect of the aforesaid 3.50 cents of land with the help of a private surveyor and file a report and plan. The above order is Ext.P12. 3. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that several W.P.C.No.25563/06 - 3 - sincere endeavours were made by the petitioner to comply with Ext.P12. But every time the endeavours were defeated by the respondent who would close down the gate of the premises and prevent the petitioner and the private surveyor from entering into the premises for complying with the directions under Ext.P12. Learned counsel complains that when this aspect was brought to the notice of the learned Subordinate Judge, the learned Subordinate Judge insisted on compliance with Ext.P12 and stated that unless Ext.P12 is complied with strictly the execution petition itself will be dismissed. The difficulties experienced by the petitioner in the matter of serving the respondent with notice of this Writ Petition demonstrates the genuineness of the petitioner's grievance to a considerable extent. As already indicated Ext.P6 has attained finality and if it is not possible to sell a portion of the property, it will be open to the petitioner to sell the whole property. After all the prominent ground on which the proposed sale is resisted by the respondent is that a portion of the property will suffice and it is not necessary to sell the whole property. I am of the view that the said ground can be taken note of and the Writ Petition can be disposed of by issuing the following directions: The respondent is permitted to identify any purchaser of his W.P.C.No.25563/06 - 4 - choice for purchasing any portion of his property within three months of the petitioner producing a copy of this judgment before the execution court. The petitioner is also permitted to send copy of the judgment by registered post acknowledgement due to Advocate Imtiaz Mohammed who appears for the respondent before the execution court even now. If the respondent identifies such a purchaser he will produce copy of the agreement before the execution court and seek leave of the court for selling the property to the prospective purchaser on the basis of the above agreement. The court below will consider that application and pass appropriate orders so as to ensure that the entire balance decree debt is paid by the prospective purchaser to the petitioner to the credit of the decree debt. If the respondent does not identify such a purchaser and fails to file any application for leave before the court below within the aforesaid period, there will be a direction to the execution court to sell the entire property originally proposed by the petitioner(as already permitted by this court under Ext.P6) for recovery of the decree debt. Ext.P12 will stand set aside in view of the above directions. At any rate the court below will ensure that the entire decree debt is paid off by the petitioner within six months of receiving W.P.C.No.25563/06 - 5 - copy of this judgment. If it becomes necessary for the court below to conduct sale of the entire property the court below will redetermine the value of the property before final orders on sale are passed after hearing the decree-holder and the judgment-debtor. The Writ Petition is disposed of as above. No costs. srd ## **PIUS C.KURIAKOSE, JUDGE**