High CourtSingle Judge2008-04-04Appeal dismissed.

Seenivasan v. Peter Jebaraj & Anr.

Case / Petition Number:Civil Appeal No. 854 of 2001

Neutral Citation:[2008] 5 S.C.R. 1185

Case Details & Bench

Court: High Court
Hon'ble Judges: Dr. Arijit Pasayat
P. Sathasivam
Judgment Date: 2008-04-04
Court Decision / Holding: Appeal dismissed.
Final Disposition: Appeal dismissed.

Parties to the Case

Appellants / Petitioners

Seenivasan

Respondents

Peter Jebaraj
Anr.

Legal Representation & Advocates

Counsels for Petitioners

• V. Prabhakar
• Ramjee Prasad
• Revathy Raghavan

Counsels for Respondents

• Shashi M. Kapila
• Rishi Malhotra

Case Synopsis & Summary

Seenivasan v. Peter Jebaraj & Anr. arises from a dispute over title to a property and a pending suit for declaration of title and injunction. The material sequence begins with a sale agreement between Shahul Hameed and Arunachalam (father of the appellant) and subsequent transfers including a sale to Saraswathi Ammal who was later impleaded in the original suit for specific performance. An ex parte decree was passed in the suit in 1985, and over the years subsequent transfers from Saraswathi Ammal to other persons culminated in the present respondents obtaining title via successive purchases. The High Court held that Order 1 Rule 10(4)/(5) CPC applies to impleadment proceedings and that Saraswathi Ammal acquired absolute title upon sale to the later purchasers; therefore, the subsequent transferees were deemed to have title and the plaintiff’s challenge to those transfers failed. The appellant argued that the impleadment itself should be treated as operative from the date of filing, which would affect the validity of those later transfers, and that Section 52 of the Transfer of Property Act warranted careful consideration. The Supreme Court clarified that the essential trigger is service of summons—the impleaded defendant’s proceedings commence from service—and that the provisions of the Limitation Act (Section 21) govern the deeming date, without diluting the effect of service. It affirmed the High Court’s view, distinguishing contrary authorities where applicable, and upheld the decision allowing the title in the hands of the later transferees to stand. The appeal was dismissed with no costs.

Provisions of Law Cited

Code of Civil Procedure, 1908Order 1 Rule 10(4)/(5)Limitation Act, 1963 (Section 21)Indian Limitation Act, 1877 (Section 22)Transfer of Property Act, 1882 (Section 52)

Legal Doctrines & Maxims

Lis pendens
Deeming provision under Order 1 Rule 10(5)

Submissions & Arguments

Contentions of Appellants / Petitioners

Seenivasan contended that once Saraswathi Ammal was allowed to be impleaded as a defendant, the order became operative from the date of its filing, and therefore the subsequent sale by Saraswathi Ammal to Anna Pushpam Ammal and Lalitha Ammal did not convey title to the plaintiffs. He argued that Order 1 Rule 10(4)/(5) clearly provides that impleadment affects begin from service of summons, and that the provisions of the Indian Limitation Act (Section 21) should govern the deeming date without diluting the effect of service. He also stressed the relevance of Section 52 of the Transfer of Property Act in transfers pending a suit. The appellant urged that the High Court erred in treating the impleaded party’s sale as creating absolute title for all subsequent transferees and sought reversal on the grounds of lis pendens and impleadment timing.

Contentions of Respondents

The respondents urged that Order 1 Rule 10(4)/(5) governs the procedure in impleader and that Saraswathi Ammal had obtained and transmitted title to her vendees, making the subsequent transfers valid as against the plaintiff. They contended that the ex parte decree remained in force and that the later transferees were not parties to the suit; Section 52 of the Transfer of Property Act was not available to defeat the title acquired through the chain of transfers. They relied on the High Court’s interpretation that the title vests in the later transferees and that the plaint amendments and service of summons established the proper beginning of proceedings against the added defendant, thereby upholding the decree and dismissing the appeal.

Cited Precedents (4)

Case Name	Citation	Treatment	Explanation
Ourga Prasad & Anr. v. Deep Chand & Ors.	AIR 1954 SC 75	Positive	Cited and relied upon for the principle that the title may pass to a transferee and that reconveyance to the vendor is not always required; the current decision endorses the underlying principle in line with Ourga Prasad.
Ramprasad Dagaduram v. Vijaykumar Motilal Hirakhanwala & Ors.	(1967) 2 SCJ 805	Distinguished	The court notes reliance on this case but distinguishes it as it concerned a plaintiff’s case, not applicable to the present dispute over impleadment and title transfer.
Kali Charan v. Janak Dea	A.I.R. 1932 All. 694	Mentioned Only	Cited as an example of a possible reconstruction approach but not adopted in the present decision; used to illustrate alternative remedies but not followed here.
Kafiladdin v. Samiraddin	A.I.R. 1931 Cal. 67	Positive	Used to support the practice of directing specific performance and having subsequent transferees join in the conveyance, aligning with the English practice and the decision’s approach.

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Extracted Judgment Text

Exact text extracted from official judgment records.

[2008] 5 S.C.R. 1185 A _t-_ ## SEENIVASAN _v._ PETER JEBARAJ & ANR. (Civil Appeal No. 854 of 2001) APRIL 4, 2008 B [DR. ARIJIT PASAYAT AND P. SATHASIVAM, JJ.] _Code of Civil Procedure, 1908:_ 0. _1 R. 10_ - _Person added as defendant_ - _Date of effect of impleadment_ - _Held: Is the date of service of summons_ -[c ] _Transfer of Property Act- s.52- Limitation Act, 1963_ - _s.21._ The original owner of the suit property entered into sale agreement with one 'A' who was father of the appellant. However, he sold the property to 'SA'. 'A' filed D suit against the original owner for specific performance of sale. An application was filed to implead 'SA' as defendant. 'SA' sold the property to respondent's father under two sale deeds. On 16.4.1984, an application for impleading E 'SA' was allowed. The plaint was amended showing 'SA' as defendant. Thereafter, an _ex-parte_ decree was passed. ~ The respondent's father sold the property to the respondents. Executing Court executed sale deed in F favour of 'A'. 'SA' filed application for condoning the delay for setting aside _ex parte_ decree which was dismissed. Appeal and revision thereagainst were also dismissed. On 12.12.1994, respondents filed suit for declaration of title and injunction which was decrel'!d. High Court upheld the same on the ground that Order 1 Rule 10 CPC is[G ] applicable to proceeding of this nature and that 'SA' had got absolute title when sale was made by her and therefore subsequent transferees too had absolute title and that on the date when the ex-parte decree was passed, 'SA' did 1185 H [2008] 5 S.C.R. SUPREME COURT REPORTS 1186 ## A not have any right to the property. In appeal to this Court, appellant contended that once the application for bringing 'SA' as party was allowed, the same became operative from the date of its filing and therefore, the sale by 'SA' to respondent 2 and 3 did not B convey any title; and that the effect of s.52 of the Transfer of Property Act 1882, has also to be noted. ## Dismissing the appeal, the Court HELD : 1.1. The crucial expression in Order 1 Rule C 10 CPC is "only on the service of the summons". It is abundantly clear that if any defendant is impleaded subsequently proceedings as against him shall be deemed to have begun only from the date of service of summons. Same of course, is subject to the provisions D of s.22 of the Indian Limitation Act, 1877. [Para 6] [1189-E-F] -1 1.2. In sub-rule (5), words "Indian Limitation Act, 1877" are substituted by Legislature as "Limitation Act, E 1963" and "Section 22" by "Section 21 ". Said provision does not in any way dilute the significance of the expression "shall be deemed to have begun only on the service of the summons". Order 1, Rule 10(5) statutorily specifies the date on which the impleadment takes effect. Order 1 Rule 10(5) is a deeming provision. [Paras 7, 9] F [1189-G; 1191-A-B] _Durga Prasad_ & _Anr. v. Deep Chand_ & Ors. AIR 1954 SC 75 and _Ramprasad Dagaduram v. Vijaykumar Motila/_ - _Hirakhanwala_ & Ors. 1967 (2) SCJ 805 relied on. G CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal No. 854 of 2001. From the Judgment and Order dated 3. ·1.2000 of the High Court of Judicature at Madras in S.A. No. 1805/1999 H V. Prabhakar, Ramjee Prasad and Revathy Raghavan for 1187 -\ A r # SEENIVASAN _v._ PETER JEBARAJ & ANR. [DR. ARIJIT PASAYAT, J.] the Appellant. Shashi M. Kapila and Rishi Malhotra for the Respondents. The Judgment of the Court was delivered by **.DR. ARIJIT PASAYAT, J.** 1, Challenge in this appeal is to . the judgment of a learned Single Judge of the Madras High Court in Second Appeal filed by the respondent No.1. B 2. Background facts in a nutshell are as follows: _i_ On 12.2.1978 an agreement for sale was entered into between one Shahul Hameed and Arunchalam (father of the[c ] appellant). On 26.5.1978 Shahul Hameed sold the property to one Saraswathi Ammal who was not a party to the proceedings. On 3.2.1981 aforesaid Arunachalam instituted suit No.OS 528 of .1981 against Shahul Hameed for specific performance. Initially Saraswathi Ammal was not a party. On 13.7.1983 an D application (I.A. No. 830 of 1983) was filed to implead Saraswathi Ammal as defendant. On 28.1.1984 Saraswathi Am ma I sold the property to Anna Pushpam Ammal and Lalitha Ammal under two sale deeds. I.A. No. 830 of 1983 to implead Saraswathi Ammal was allowed on 16.4. i 984. On 17 .9.1984 E plaint was amended showing Saraswathi Am ma I as defendant. An ex-parte decree was passed in OS No: 528 of 1981 on 11.7.1985. On 30.12.1985 Anna Pushpam Ammal sold the property to the respondent No.1. On 8.8.1986 Lalitha Ammal sold the property to respondent No.2. On 10.11.1987 Execution F Petition was filed to execute the decree in the aforesaid OS No. 528 of 1981. On 11.1.1988, the Executing Court executed sale deed in favour of Arunachalam. On 23.3.1988 I.A. No. 640 of 1988 was filed by Saraswathi Am ma I to condone the delay in seeking to set aside ex pa rte decree in the suit. On 21. 7 .1989 G the said I.A. was dismissed as not pressed. On 29.7.1989 a second application was filed i.e. I.A. 987 of 1989 to set aside the ex parte decree. On 20.6.1990, the same was dismissed on merit. On 12.10.1992 Appeal (CMA 3 of 1991) filed by Saraswathi Ammal was dismissed. On 7.11.1994 Revision ; Petition i.e. CRP No. 3139 of 1994 was dismissed. On H (2008] 5 S.C.R. SUPREME COURT REPORTS 1188 A 12.1.2.1994 the suit O.S. No. 673 of 1994 was filed by the respondents for declaration of title and injunction. The same was decreed on 26.4.1996. An appeal filed by the appellant (AS 23 of 1999) was allowed on 24.9.1999. By the impugned judgment dated 3.1.2000 second appeal filed by the B • respondents was allowed. The High Court held that to a proceeding of this nature Order I Rule 10 (4&5) applied and held that Saraswathi Am ma I had got absolute title when sale to Anna Pushpam Ammal was made to plaintiffs' vendors under Exhibit A2 and A7 who in terms sold the same to the plaintiffs. C The subsequent transferees Anna Pushpam Ammal and Lalitha Ammal are not parties to the suit and the title vests with them and the plaintiffs also got absolute title. On the date when the ex-parte decree was passed, Saraswathi Ammal did not have any right to the property. It was also held that Exh.A2 &A7 were not hit by the principles of lis pendens and Saraswathi Ammal D was also able to convey the title to the vendors of the plaintiffs. 3. Learned counsel for the appellant submitted that once the application for bringing Saraswathi Ammal as party was allowed, the same became operative from the date of its filing E and therefore, the sale by Saraswathi Ammal to Anna Pushpam Ammal and Lalitha Ammal under Ex. A2 to A7 did not convey any title. It was also submitted that the effect of Section 52 of the Transfer of Property Act 1882, (in short the 'Act') has also to be noted. F 4. Learned counsel for the respondents on the other hand supported the order of the High Court. 5. The Order 1 Rule 10 (so far as relevant) and Section 52 of the Act read as follows: G **Order 1 Rule 10(4)/(5)** - **(4) Where defendant added, plaint to be amended-** When a defendant is added, the plaint shall, unless court otherwise directs, be amended in such manner as may be necessary and amended copies of the summons and of the plaint shall be served on the H SEENIVASAN _v._ PETER JEBARAJ & ANR. 1189 [DR. ARIJIT PASAYAT, J.] new defendant and if the court thinks fit, on the original defendant. A - (5) Subject to the provisions of the Indian Limitation Act, 1877 (15 of 1877). Section 22, the proceedings as against any person added as defendant shall be deemed to have begun only on the service of the summons." 8 ## Section **52 of the Act** "Sec.52. During the pendency in any court having authority within the limits of India excluding the State of Jammu and C Kashmir or established beyond such limits by the central Government, of any suit or proceedings which is not collusive and in which any right of immovable property is directly and specifically in question, the pro~erty cannot be transferred or otherwise dealt with by any party to the D suit or proceeding so as to affect the rights of any other party thereto under any decree or orders which may be made therein except under the authority of the court and on such terms as it may impose." 6. The crucial expression in Order 1 Rule 10 is "only on the service of the summons". It is abundantly clear that if any defendant is impleaded subsequently proceedings as against him shall be deemed to have begun only from the date of services of summons. Same of course is subject to the provisions of Section 22 of the Indian Limitation Act, 1877 (in short 'Limitation Act'). E F 7. In sub-rule (5), words "Indian Limitation Act, 1877" are substituted by Legislature as "Limitation Act, 1963" and "Section 22" by "Section 21". Said provision does not in any way dilute G the significance of the expression "shall be deemed to have begun only on the service of the summons". 8. In _Ourga Prasad_ & _Anr v. Deep Chand_ & _Ors._ (AIR 1954 SC 75) it was held as follows: H [2008] 5 S.C.R. SUPREME COURT REPORTS 1190 8 c D E F G A "First, we reach the position that the title to the property has validly passed from the vendor and the resides in the subsequent transferee. The sale to him is not void but only voidable at the option of the earlier "contractor". As the title no longer rests in the vendor it would be illogical from a convincing point of view to compel him to convey to the plaintiff unless steps are taken to re vest the title in him either by cancellation of the subsequent sale or by reconveyance from the subsequent purchaser to him. We do not know of any case in which a reconveyance to the vendor was ordered but Sulaiman C.J. adopted the other course in Kali Charan v. Janak Dea (A.l.R. 1932 All. 694.). He directed cancellation of the subsequent sale and conveyance to the plaintiff by the vendor in accordance with the contract of sale of which the plaintiff sought specific performance. But though this sounds logical the objection to it is that it might bring in its train complication between the vendor and the subsequent purchaser. There may be covenants in the deed between them which it would be inequitable to disturb by cancellation of their deed. Accordingly, we do not think that is a desirable solution. ## )()()()()()( In our opinion, the proper form of decree is to direct specific performance of the contract between the vendor and the plaintiff and direct the subsequent transferee to join in the conveyance so as to pass on the title which resides in him to the plaintiff. He does not join in any special covenants made between the plaintiff and his vendor; all he does is to pass on his title to the plaintiff. This was the course followed by the Calcutta High Court in Kafiladdin v. Samiraddin (A.1.R. 1931 Cal. 67.), and appears to be the English practice. See Fry on Specific Performance, 6th edition, page 90, paragraph 207; also Potter v. Sanders (67 E.R. 1057.). We direct accordingly." H 9. Above being the position, the High Court was right in its SEENIVASAN _v._ PETER JEBARAJ & ANR. [DR. ARIJIT PASAYAT, J.] 1191 c view. Though strong reliance was placed on a decision of this A Court in _Ramprasad Dagaduram v. Vijaykumar Motilal Hirakhanwala_ & _Ors._ [1967 (2) SCJ 805]. the same has no application because that related to a case of plaintiff. In the instant case, it relates to the defendant and Order 1, Rule 10(5) statutorily specifies the date on which the impleadment takes B effect. Order 1 Rule 10(5) is a deeming provision. 10. That being so, the High Court's impugned judgment suffers from no infirmity to warrant interference. 11. Appeal is dismissed with no order as to costs. D.G. Appeal dismissed.