Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
Bare Act
Section
Short title.
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
1.Short title.-
(1) This Act may be cited as he Code of Civil
Procedure, 1908.
(2) Commencement and extent. It shall come into force on the first day of
January, 1909.
{Subs. by Act 2 of 1951, s.2, for the former clause (3) which had been subs. by
the A.O.1950.} [(3) It extends to the whole of India except-
(a) the Tribal Areas in the State of Assam;
(b) save as hereinafter provided, the Scheduled Areas in the State of Madras;
(c) the State of Jammu and Kashmir; and
(d) the State of Manipur:
Provided that sections 36 to 43 and Order XXXIV
in the First Schedule shall extend also to the Amindivi Islands {Ins.by the
Madras A.O.1954.Amended in the U.P.by U.P.Act 24 of 1954.Amended in Assam by
Assam Act 8 of 1953.} [in the State of Madras] and the East Godavari, West
Godavari and Visakhapatnam Agencies in the {Subs, by the Madras A.O.1954 for
" State of Madras ".} [State of Andhra], and section 48 shall extend
also to the said Agencies.]
Section
Definitions.
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
2.Definitions.-
In this Act, unless there is anything
repugnant in the subject or context,-
(1) " Code " includes rules:
(2) " decree " means the formal expression of an adjudication which,
so far as regards the Court expressing it, conclusively determines the rights
of the parties with regard to all or any of the matters in controversy in the
suit and may be either preliminary or final. It shall be deemed to include
the rejection of a plaint and the determination of any question within section
47 or section 144, but shall not include-
(a) any adjudication
from which an appeal lies as an appeal from an order, or
(b) any order of dismissal for default.
Explanation.- A decree is
preliminary when further proceedings have to be taken before the suit can be completely
disposed of. It is final when such adjudication completely disposes of the
suit. It may be partly preliminary and partly final:
(3) " decree-holder" means any person in whose favor a decree has
been passed or an order capable of execution has been made:
(4) "district" means the local limits of the jurisdiction of a
principal Civil Court of original jurisdiction (hereinafter called a
"District Court "), and includes the local limits of the ordinary
original civil jurisdiction of a High Court:
{Subs. by Act 2 of 1951, s.4.} [(5) "foreign Court" means a Court
situate outside India and rot established or continued by the authority of the
Central Government: ]
(6) " foreign judgment " means the judgment of a foreign Court:
(7) "Government Pleader" includes any officer appointed by the State
Government to perform all or any of the functions expressly imposed by this
Code on the Government Pleader and also any pleader acting under the directions
of the Government Pleader:
{Ins.by s.4, ibid.} [(7A) " High Court ", in relation to the Andaman
and Nicobar Islands, means the High Court in Calcutta:
(7B) "India", except in sections 1, 29, 43, 44, {Ins.by Act 42 of
1953, s.4 and Sch.III.} [44A,] 78, 79, 32, 83 and 87A, means the territory of
India excluding the State of Jammu and Kashmir: ]
(8) "Judge" means the presiding officer of a Civil Court:
(9) " judgment " means the statement given by the Judge of the
grounds of a decree or order:
(10) " judgment-debtor " means any person against whom a decree has
been passed or an order capable of execution has been made:
(11) " legal representative " means a person who in law represents
the estate of a deceased person, and includes any person who intermeddles with
the estate of the deceased and where a party sues or is sued in a
representative character the person on whom the estate devolves on the death of
the party so suing or sued :
(12) " mesne profits " of property means those profits which the
person in wrongful possession of such property actually received or might with
ordinary diligence have received there from, together with interest on such
profits, but shall not include profits due to improvements made by the person
in wrongful possession:
(13) "movable property" includes growing crops:
(14) " order " means the formal expression of any decision of a Civil
Court which is not a decree:
(15) "pleader" means any person entitled to appear and plead for
another in Court, and includes an advocate, a vakil and an attorney of a High
Court:
(16) " prescribed " means prescribed by rules:
(17) " public officer " means a person falling under any of the
following descriptions, namely:-
(a) every Judge;
(b) every member of the Indian Civil Service;
(c) every commissioned or gazetted officer in the military {Subs. by Act 35 of
1934, s.2 and Sch., for " or naval ".} [naval or air] forces of
{Subs. by the A.O.1950 for "His Majesty".} [the Union] {The words
" including His Majesty's Indian Marine Service " rep.by Act 35 of
1934, s.2.} while serving under the Government;
(d) every officer of a Court of Justice whose duty it is, as such officer, to
investigate or report on any matter of law or fact, or to make, authenticate or
keep any document, or to take charge or dispose of any property, or to execute
any judicial process, or to administer any oath, or to interpret, or to
preserve order, in the Court, and every person especially authorized by a Court
of Justice to perform any of such duties;
(e) every person who holds any office by virtue of which he is empowered to
place or keep any person in confinement;
(f) every officer of the Government whose duty it is, as such officer, to
prevent offences, to give information of offences, to bring offenders to
justice, or to protect the public health, safety or convenience;
(g) every officer whose duty it is, as such officer, to take, receive, keep or
expend any property on behalf of the Government, or to make any survey,
assessment or contract on behalf of the Government, or to execute any
revenue-process, or to investigate, or to report on, any matter affecting the
pecuniary interests of the Government or to make, authenticate or keep any
document relating to the pecuniary interests of the Government, or to prevent
the infraction of any law for the protection of the pecuniary interests of the
Government; and
(h) every officer in the service or pay of the Government, or remunerated by
fees or commission for the performance of any public duty:
(18) " rules " means rules and forms
contained in the First Schedule or made under section 122 or section 125:
(19) " share in a corporation "
shall be deemed to include stock, debenture stock, debentures or bonds: and
(20) " signed ", save in the case of a judgment or decree, includes
stamped.
{Cl.(21) which was ins.by the A.O.1950, rep.by Act 2 of 1951, s.4.}
Section
Section
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
3.
Subordination of Courts.-
For
the purposes of this Code, the District Court is subordinate to the High Court,
and every Civil Court of a grade inferior to that of a District Court and every
Court of Small Causes is subordinate to the High Court and District Court.
Section
Savings.
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
4.Savings.-
(1)
In the absence of any specific provision to the contrary, nothing in this Code
shall be deemed to limit or otherwise affect any special or local law now in
force or any special Jurisdiction or power conferred, or any special form of
procedure prescribed, by or under any other law for the time being in force.
(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the proposition
contained in sub-section (1), nothing in this Code shall be deemed to limit or
otherwise affect any remedy which a landholder or landlord may have under any
law for the time being in force for the recovery of rent of agricultural land
from the produce of such land.
Section
Application of the Code to Revenue Courts.
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
5.Application of the Code to Revenue Courts.-
(1)
Where any Revenue Courts are governed by the provisions of this Code in those
matters of procedure upon which any special enactment applicable to them is
silent, the State Government {The words " with the previous sanction of
the G.G.in C." rep. by Act.38 of 1920, s.2 and Sch.I, Pt.I.} may, by
notification in the Official Gazette, declare that any portions of those
provisions which are not expressly made applicable by this Code shall not apply
to those Courts, or shall only apply to them with such modifications as the
State Government {The words "with the sanction aforesaid" rep. by s.2
ancl Sch.I, Pt.I, ibid.} may prescribe.
(2) "Revenue Court" in sub-section (1) means a Court having
jurisdiction under any local law to entertain suits or other proceedings
relating to the rent, revenue or profits of land used for agricultural
purposes, but does not include a Civil Court having original jurisdiction under
this Code to try such suits or proceedings as being suits or proceedings of a
civil nature.
Section
Pecuniary jurisdiction.
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
6.Pecuniary jurisdiction.-
Save
in so far as is otherwise expressly provided, nothing herein contained shall
operate to give any Court jurisdiction over suits the amount or value of the
subject-matter of which exceeds the pecuniary limits (if any) of its ordinary
jurisdiction.
Section
Provincial Small Cause Courts.
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
7.Provincial Small Cause Courts.-
The
following provisions shall not extend to Courts constituted under the
Provincial Small Cause Courts Act, 1887, {Ins.by Act 4 of 1941, s.2 and
Sch.III.} [or under the Berar Small Cause Courts Law, 1905], or to Courts
exercising the jurisdiction of a Court of Small Causes {Subs., ibid., for
" under that Act ".} [under the said Act or Law], {Ins.by Act 2 of
1951, s.5.} [or to Courts in Part B States exercising a corresponding jurisdiction]
that is to say,-
(a) so much of the body of the Code as relates to-
(i) suits excepted from the cognizance of a Court of Small Causes;
(ii) the execution of decrees in such suits;
(iii) the execution of decrees against immovable property; and
(b) the following sections, that is to say-
section 9,
sections 91 and 92,
sections 94 and 95 {Subs. by Act 1 of 1926, s.3, for "so far as they
relate to injunctions and interlocutory orders".} [so far as they
authorise or relate to-
(i) orders for the attachment of immovable property,
(ii) injunctions,
(iii) the appointment of a receiver of immovable property, or
(iv) the interlocutory orders referred to in clause (e) of section 94], and
sections 96 to 112 and 115.
Section
Presidency
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
8.Presidency
Small Cause Courts.-
Save
as provided in sections 24, 38 to 41, 75, clauses (a), (b) and (c), 76, 77 and
155 to 158, and by the Presidency Small Cause Courts Act, 1882, 15 of 1882 the
provisions in the body of this Code shall not extend to any suit or proceeding
in any Court of Small Causes established in the towns of Calcutta, Madras and
Bombay:
{Ins.by Act 1 of 1914, s.2.} [Provided that-
(1) the High Courts of Judicature at Fort William, Madras and Bombay, as the
case may be, may from time to time, by notification in the Official Gazette,
direct{For instance of such direction, see Calcutta Gazette, 1910, Pt.I, p
814.} that any such provisions not inconsistent with the express provisions of
the Presidency Small Cause Courts Act, 1882,15 of 1882 and with such
modifications and adaptations as may be specified in the notification, shall
extend to suits or proceedings or any class of suits or proceedings in such
Court;
(2) all rules heretofore made by any of the said High Courts under section 9 of
the Presidency Small Cause Courts Act, 1882,15 of 1882 shall be deemed to have
been validly made.]
Section
Courts to try all civil suits unless barred.
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
9.Courts to try all civil suits unless barred.-
The
Courts shall (subject to the provisions herein contained) have jurisdiction to
try all suits of a civil nature excepting suits of which their cognizance is
either expressly or impliedly barred.
Explanation.-A suit in which the right to property or to an office is
contested is a suit of a civil nature, notwithstanding that such right may
depend entirely on the decision of questions as to religious rites or
ceremonies.
Section
Stay of suit.
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
10.Stay of suit.-
No
Court shall proceed with the trial of any suit in which the matter in issue is
also directly and substantially in issue in a previously instituted suit
between the same parties, or between parties under whom they or any of them
claim litigating under the same title where such suit is pending in the same or
any other Court in {Subs. by Act 2 of 1951, s.3, for "the States".}
[India] having jurisdiction to grant the relief claimed, or in any Court beyond
the limits of {Subs. by Act 2 of 1951, s.3, for "the States".}
[India] established or continued by {Subs. by the A.O.1937 for "the G.G.in
C ".} [the Central Government {The words "or the Crown
Representative" rep. by the A.O.1948.}] and having like jurisdiction, or
before {Subs. by the A.O.1950 for "His Majesty Council".} [the
Supreme Court].
Explanation.-The pendency of a suit in a foreign Court does not preclude
the Courts in {Subs. by Act 2 of 1951, s.3, for "the States".}
[India] from trying a suit founded on the same cause of action.
Section
Res judicata.
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
11.Res judicata.-
No
Court shall try any suit or issue in which the matter directly and
substantially in issue has been directly and substantially in issue in a former
suit between the same parties, or between parties under whom they or any of
them claim, litigating under the same title, in a Court competent to try such
subsequent suit or the suit in which such issue has been subsequently raised'
and has been heard and finally decided by such Court.
Explanation I.-The expression " former suit " shall denote a
suit which has been decided prior to the suit in question whether or not it was
instituted prior thereto.
Explanation II.-For the purposes of this section, the competence of a
Court shall be determined irrespective of any provisions as to a right of
appeal from the decision of such Court.
Explanation III.-The matter above referred to must in the former suit
have been alleged by one party and either denied or admitted, expressly or
impliedly, by the other.
Explanation IV.-Any matter which might and ought to have been made
ground of defence or attack in such former suit shall be deemed to have been a
matter directly and substantially in issue in such suit.
Explanation V.-Any relief claimed in the plaint, which is not expressly
granted by the decree, shall, for the purposes of this section, be deemed to
have been refused.
Explanation VI.-Where persons litigate bona fide in respect of a public
right or of a private right claimed in common for themselves and others, all
persons interested in such right shall, for the purposes of this section, be
deemed to claim under the persons so litigating.
Section
Bar to further suit.
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
12.Bar to further suit.-
Where
a plaintiff is precluded by rules from instituting a further suit in respect of
any particular cause of action, he shall not be entitled to institute a suit in
respect of such cause of action in any Court to which this Code applies.
Section
When
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
13.When
foreign judgment not conclusive.-
A
foreign judgment shall be conclusive as to any matter thereby directly
adjudicated upon between the same parties or between parties under whom they or
any of them claim litigating under the same title except-
(a) where it has not been pronounced by a Court of competent jurisdiction;
(b) where it has not been given on the merits of the case;
(c) where it appears on the face of the proceedings to be founded on an
incorrect view of international law or a refusal to recognise the law of {Subs.
by Act 2 of 1951, s.3, for "the States".} [India] in cases in which
such law is applicable;
(d) where the proceedings in which the judgment was obtained are opposed to
natural justice;
(e) where it has been obtained by fraud;
(f) where it sustains a claim founded on a breach of any law in force in {Subs.
by Act 2 of 1951, s.3, for "the States".} [India].
Section
Presumption as to foreign judgments.
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
14.Presumption as to foreign judgments.-
The
Court shall presume, upon the production of any document purporting to be a
certified copy of a foreign judgment' that such judgment was pronounced by a
Court of competent jurisdiction, unless the contrary appears on the record; but
such presumption may be displaced by proving want of jurisdiction.
Section
Court in which suits to be instituted.
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
15.Court in which suits to be instituted.-
Every
suit shall be instituted in the Court of the lowest grade competent to try it.
Section
Suits to be instituted where subject matter situate.
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
16.Suits to be instituted where subject matter situate.-
Subject
to the pecuniary or other limitations prescribed by any law, suits-
(a) for the recovery of immovable property with or without rent or profits,
(b) for the partition of immovable property,
(c) for foreclosure, sale or redemption in the case of a mortgage of or charge
upon immovable property,
(d) for the determination of any other right to or interest in immovable
property,
(e) for compensation for wrong to immovable property,
(f) for the recovery of movable property actually under distraint or
attachment, shall be instituted in the Court within the local limits of whose
jurisdiction the property is situate:
Provided that a suit to obtain relief respecting, or compensation for
wrong to, immovable property held by or on behalf of the defendant may, where
the relief sought can be entirely obtained through his personal obedience, be
instituted either in the Court within the local limits of whose jurisdiction
the property is situate, or in the Court within the local limits of whose
jurisdiction the defendant actually and voluntarily resides, or carries on
business, or personally works for gain.
Explanation.-In this section " property " means property
situate in {Subs. by Act 2 of 1951, s.3, for "the States".} [India].
Section
Suits for immovable property situate within jurisdiction of different
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
17.Suits for immovable property situate within jurisdiction of different
Courts.-
Where a suit is to obtain relief respecting, or compensation for wrong
to, immovable property situate within the jurisdiction of different Courts, the
suit may be instituted in any Court within the local limits of whose
jurisdiction any portion of the property is situate:
Provided
that, in respect of the value of the
subject-matter of the suit, the entire claim is cognizable by such Court.
Section
Place of
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
18.Place of
institution of suit where local limits of jurisdiction of Courts are
uncertain.-
(1) Where it is
alleged to be uncertain within the local limits of the jurisdiction of which of
two or more Courts any immovable property is situate, any one of those Courts
may, if satisfied that there is ground for the alleged uncertainty, record a
statement to that effect, and thereupon proceed to entertain and dispose of any
suit relating to that property, and its decree in the suit shall have the same
effect as the property were situate within the local limits of its
jurisdiction:
Provided that the suit is one with respect to which the Court competent as
regards the nature and value of the suit to exercise jurisdiction.
(2) Where a statement has
not been recorded under sub-section (1), and an objection is taken before an
Appellate or Revisional Court at a decree or order in a suit relating to such
property was made by a Court not having jurisdiction where the property is
situate, the Appellate or Revisional Court shall not allow the objection unless
in its opinion there was, at the time of the institution of the suit no
reasonable ground for uncertainty as to the Court having jurisdiction with
respect thereto and there has been a consequent failure of Justice.
Section
Suits for
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
19.Suits for
compensation for wrongs to person or movables.-
Where a suit is for
compensation for wrong done to the person or to movable property, if the wrong
was done within the local limits of the jurisdiction of one Court and the defendant
resides, or carries on business or personally works for gain, within the local
limits of the jurisdiction of another Court, the suit may be instituted at the
option of the plaintiff in either of the said Courts.
Illustrations
(a) A, residing in Delhi, beats B in Calcutta.B may sue A either in Calcutta or
in Delhi.
(b) A, residing in
Delhi, publishes in Calcutta statements defamatory of B.B may sue A either in
Calcutta or in Delhi.
Section
Other suits to be
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
20.Other suits to be
instituted where defendants reside or cause of action arises.-
Subject to the
limitations aforesaid, every suit shall be instituted in a Court within the
local limits of whose jurisdiction-
(a) the defendant, or
each of the defendants where there are more than one, at the time of the
commencement of the suit, actually and voluntarily resides, or carries on
business, or personally works for gain; or
(b) any of the
defendants, where there are more than one, at the time of the commencement of
the suit, actually and voluntarily resides, or carries on business, or
personally works for gain, provided that in such case either the leave of the
Court is given, or the defendants who do not reside, or carry on business, or
personally work for gain, as aforesaid, acquiesce in such institution; or
(c) the cause of
action, wholly or in part, arises.
Explanation I.- Where a person has a permanent dwelling at one place and also a
temporary residence at another place, he shall be deemed to reside at both
places in respect of any cause of action arising at the place where he has such
temporary residence.
Explanation II.- A corporation shall be deemed to carry on business at its sole or
principal office in {Subs. by Act 2 of 1951, s.3, for "the States".}
[India] or, in respect of any cause of action arising at any place where it has
also a subordinate office, at such place.
Illustrations
(a) A is a tradesman in Calcutta.B carries on business in Delhi.B, by his agent
in Calcutta, buys goods of A and requests A to deliver them to the East Indian
Railway Company. A delivers the goods accordingly in Calcutta. A may sue B for
the price of the goods either in Calcutta, where the cause of action has
arisen, or in Delhi, where B carries on business.
(b) A resides at
Simla, B at Calcutta and C at Delhi. A, B and C being together at Benares, B
and C make a joint promissory note payable on demand and deliver it to A.A may
sue B and C at Benares, where the cause of action arose. He may also sue them
at Calcutta, where B resides, or at Delhi. There C resides; but in each of
these cases, if the non-resident defendant objects, the suit cannot proceed
without the leave of the Court.
Section
Objections to
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
21.Objections to
jurisdiction.-
No objection as to the
place of suing shall be allowed by any Appellate or Revisional Court unless
such objection was taken in the Court of first instance at the earliest
possible opportunity and in all cases where issues are settled at or before
such settlement, and unless there has been a consequent failure of justice.
Section
Power to transfer
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
22.Power to transfer
suits which may be instituted in more than one Court.-
Where a suit may be
instituted in any one of two or more Courts and is instituted in one of such
Courts, any defendant, after notice to the other parties, may, at the earliest
possible opportunity and in all cases where issues are settled at or before
such settlement, apply to have the suit transferred to another Court, and the
Court to which such application is made, after considering the objections of
the other parties (if any), shall determine in which of the several Courts
having jurisdiction the suit shall proceed.
Section
To what Court
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
23.To what Court
application lies.-
(1) Where the several
Courts having jurisdiction are subordinate to the same Appellate Court, an
application under section 22 shall be made to the Appellate Court.
(2) Where such Courts
are subordinate to different Appellate Courts but to the same High Court, the
application shall be made to the said High Court.
(3) Where such Courts
are subordinate to different High Courts, the application shall be made to the
High Court within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the Court in which the
suit is brought is situate.
Section
General power of
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
24.General power of
transfer and withdrawal.-
(1) On the application
of any of the parties and after notice to the parties and after hearing such of
them as desired to be heard, or of its own motion without such notice, the High
Court or the District Court may at any stage-
(a)
transfer any suit, appeal or other proceeding pending before it for trial or
disposal to any Court subordinate to it and competent to try or dispose of the
same, or
(b)
withdraw any suit, appeal or other proceeding pending in any Court subordinate
to it, and
(i) try or dispose of the same; or
(ii)
transfer the same for trial or disposal to any Court subordinate to it and competent
to try or dispose of the same; or
(iii)
retransfer the same for trial or disposal to the Court from which it was
withdrawn.
(2) Where any suit or
proceeding has been transferred or withdrawn under sub-section (1), the Court
which thereafter tries such suit may, subject to any special directions in the
case of an order of transfer, either retry it or proceed from the point at
which it was transferred or withdrawn.
(3) For the purposes
of this section, Courts of Additional and Assistant Judges shall be deemed to
be subordinate to the District Court.
(4) The Court trying
any suit transferred or withdrawn under this section from a Court of Small
Causes shall, for the purposes of such suit, be deemed to be a Court of Small
Causes.
Section
Power of State Government
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
25.Power of State Government
to transfer suits.-
(1) Where any party to
a suit, appeal or other proceeding pending in a High Court presided over by a
single Judge objects to its being heard by him and the Judge is satisfied that
there are reasonable grounds for the objection, he shall make a report to the {
Subs. by the A.O.1937 for "G.G.in C." } [State Government], {Subs.
ibid., for "who".} [which] may, by notification in the Official
Gazette transfer such suit, appeal or proceeding to any other High Court:
{Ins., ibid.} [Provided
that no suit, appeal or proceeding shall be transferred to a High Court without
the consent of the State Government of the State in which that High Court has
its principal seat.]
(2) The law applicable
to any suit, appeal or proceeding so transferred shall be the law which the
Court in which the suit, appeal or proceeding was originally instituted ought to
have applied to such case
Section
Institution of
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
26.Institution of
suits.-
Every suit shall be instituted
by the presentation of a plaint or in such other manner as may be prescribed.
Section
Summons to
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
27.Summons to
defendants.-
Where a suit has been
duly instituted, a summons may be s issued to the defendant to appear and
answer the claim and may be served in manner prescribed.
Section
Service of summons
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
28.Service of summons
where defendant resides in another State.-
(1) A summons may be
sent for service in another State to such Court and in such manner as may be
prescribed by rules in force in that State.
(2) The Court to which
such summons is sent shall, upon receipt thereof, proceed as if it had been
issued by such Court and shall then return the summons to the Court of issue
together with the record (if any) of its proceedings with regard thereto.
{ Subs. by Act 2 of
1951, s.6.} [
Section
Service of foreign summonses. Summonses and other
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
29. Service of foreign summonses. Summonses and other
processes issued by-
(a) any Civil or Revenue Court established in any part of India
to which the provisions of this Code do not extend, or
(b) any Civil or Revenue Court established or continued by the
authority of the Central Government outside India, or
(c) any other Civil or Revenue Court outside India to which the
Central Government has, by notification in the Official Gazette, declared the
provisions of this section to apply, may be sent to the Courts in the
territories to which this Code extends, and served as if they were summonses
issued by such Courts.]
Section
Power to order discovery and the like. Subject to such
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
30. Power to order discovery and the like. Subject to such
conditions and limitations as may be prescribed, the Court may, at any time,
either of its own motion or on the application of any party,-
(a) make such orders as may be necessary or reasonable in all
matters relating to the delivery and answering of interrogatories, the
admission of documents and facts, and the discovery, inspection, production,
impounding and return of documents or other material objects producible as
evidence;
(b) issue summonses to persons whose attendance is required
either to give evidence or to produce documents or such other objects as
aforesaid;
(c) order any fact to be proved by affidavit.
Section
Summons to witness.
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
31. Summons to witness.-
The provisions in sections 27, 28 and 29 shall apply to
summonses to give evidence or to produce documents or other material objects.
Section
Penalty for default.
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
32. Penalty for default.-
The Court may compel the attendance of any person to whom a
summons has been issued under section 30 and for that purpose may-
(a) issue a warrant for his arrest;
(b) attach and sell his property;
(c) impose a fine upon him not exceeding five hundred rupees;
(d) order him to furnish security for his appearance and in
default commit him to the civil prison.
Section
Judgment and decree.
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
33. Judgment and decree.-
The Court, after the case has been heard, shall pronounce
judgment, and on such judgment a decree shall follow.
Section
Interest.
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
34.Interest.-
(1) Where and in so far as a decree is for the payment of money,
the Court may, in the decree, order interest at such rate as the Court deems
reasonable to be paid on the principal sum adjudged, from the date of the suit
to the date of the decree, in addition to any interest adjudged on such
principal sum for any period prior to the institution of the suit, with further
interest at such rate as the Court deems reasonable on the aggregate sum so
adjudged, from the date of the decree to the date of payment, or to such
earlier date as the Court thinks fit.
(2) Where such a decree is silent with respect to the payment of
further interest on such aggregate sum as aforesaid from the date of the decree
to the date of payment or other earlier date, the Court shall be deemed to have
refused such interest, and a separate suit therefor shall not lie.
Section
Costs.
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
35.Costs.-
(1) Subject to such conditions and limitations as may be
prescribed, and to the provisions of any law for the time being in force, the
costs of and incident to all suits shall be in the discretion of the Court, and
the Court shall have full power to determine by whom or out of what property
and to what extent such costs are to be paid, and to give all necessary
directions for the purposes aforesaid. The fact that the Court has no
jurisdiction to try the suit shall be no bar to the exercise of such powers.
(2) Where the Court directs that any costs shall not follow the
event, the Court shall state its reasons in writing.
(3) The Court may give interest on costs at any rate not
exceeding six per cent. per annum, and such interest shall be added to the
costs and shall be recoverable as such.
{S.35A was ins.by s.2 of the Civil Procedure (Amendment) Act,
1922 (9 of 1922), which, under section 1 (2) thereof, may be brought into force
in any Province by the Provincial Government on any specified date. It has been
so brought into force in Bombay, Bengal, U.P., Punjab, Bihar.C.P., Assam,
Orissa and Madras.} [35A.Compensatory costs in respect of false or vexatious
claims or defenses.- (1) If in any suit or other proceeding, not being an
appeal, any party objects to the claim or defense on the ground that the claim
or defense or any part of it is, as against the objector, false or vexatious to
the knowledge of the party by whom it has been put forward, and if thereafter,
as against the objector, such claim or defense is disallowed, abandoned or
withdrawn in whole or in part, the Court, if the objection has been taken at
the earliest opportunity and if it is satisfied of the justice thereof, may,
after recording its reasons for holding such claim or defense to be false or
vexatious, make an order for the payment to the objector by the party by whom
such claim or defense has been put forward, of costs by way of compensation.
(2) No Court shall make any such order for the payment of an
amount exceeding one thousand rupees or exceeding the limits of its pecuniary
jurisdiction, whichever amount is less:
Provided that where the pecuniary limits of the
jurisdiction of any Court exercising the jurisdiction of a Court of Small
Causes under the Provincial Small Cause Courts Act, 1887 9 of 1887 { Ins.by Act
2 of 1951, s.7.} [or under a corresponding law in force in a Part B State] and
not being a Court constituted { Subs., ibid., for " under that Act
".} [under such Act or law], are less than two hundred and fifty rupees,
the High Court may empower such Court to award as costs under this section any
amount not exceeding two hundred and fifty rupees and not exceeding those
limits by more than one hundred rupees:
Provided , further, that the High Court may limit the
amount which any Court or class of Courts is empowered to award as costs under
this section.
(3) No person against whom an order has been made under this
section shall, by reason thereof, be exempted from any criminal liability in
respect of any claim or defense made by him.
(4) The amount of any compensation awarded under this section in
respect of a false or vexatious claim or defense shall be taken into account in
any subsequent suit for damages or compensation in respect of such claim or
defense.]
Section
Application to orders.
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
36.Application to orders.-
The provisions of this Code relating to the execution of decrees
shall, so far as they are applicable, be deemed to apply to the execution of
orders. Application to orders.
Section
Definition of Court which passed a decree.
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
37. Definition of Court which passed a decree.-
The expression "Court which passed a decree, " or
words to that effect, shall, in relation to the execution of decrees unless
there is anything repugnant in the subject or context be deemed to include.
(a) where the decree to be executed has been passed in the
exercise of appellate jurisdiction the Court of first instance, and
(b) where the Court of first instance has ceased to exist or to
have jurisdiction to execute it the Court which if the suit wherein the decree
was passed was instituted at the time of making the application for the
execution of the decree would have jurisdiction to try such suit.
Section
Court by which decree may be executed.
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
38. Court by which decree may be executed.-
A decree may be executed either by the Court which passed it, or
by the Court to which it is sent for execution.
Section
Transfer of decree.
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
39. Transfer of decree.-
(1) The Court which passed a decree may, on the application of
the decree-holder, send it for execution to another Court,-
(a) if the person against whom the decree is
passed actually and voluntarily resides or carries on business, or personally
works for gain, within the local limits of the jurisdiction of such other
Court, or
(b) if such person has not property within the
local limits of the jurisdiction of the Court which passed the decree
sufficient to satisfy such decree and has property within the local limits of
the jurisdiction of such other Court, or
(c) if the decree directs the sale or delivery
of immovable property situate outside the local limits of the jurisdiction of
the Court which passed it, or
(d) if the Court which passed the decree
considers for any other reason, which it shall record in writing, that the decree
should be executed by such other Court.
(2) The Court which passed a decree may of its own motion send
it for execution to any subordinate Court of competent jurisdiction.
Section
Transfer of decree to Court in another State .
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
40. Transfer of decree to Court in another State .-
Where a decree is sent for execution in another State, it shall
be sent to such Court and executed in such manner as may be prescribed by rules
in force in that State.
Section
Result of execution-proceedings to be certified .
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
41. Result of execution-proceedings to be certified .-
The Court to which a decree is sent for execution shall certify
to the Court which passed it the fact of such execution or where the former
Court fails to execute the ame the circumstances attending such failure.
Section
Powers of Court in executing transferred decree .
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
42. Powers of Court in executing transferred decree .-
The Court executing a decree sent to it shall have the same
powers in execution such decree as if it had been passed by itself. All persons
disobeying or obstructing the execution of the decree shall be punishable by
such Court in the same manner as if it had passed the decree. And its order in
execution such decree shall be subject to the same rules in respect of appeal
as if the decree had been passed by itself.
Section
Execution of decrees passed by Civil Courts in places
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
43. Execution of decrees passed by Civil Courts in places
to which this Code does not extend.-
Any decree passed by any Civil Court established in any part of
India to which the provisions of this Code do not extend or by any Court
established or continued by the authority of the Central Government outside
India, may if it cannot be executed within the jurisdiction of the Court by
which it was passed, be executed in the manner herein provided within the
jurisdiction of any Court in the territories to which this Code extends.]
Section
Execution of decrees passed by Revenue Courts in
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
44. Execution of decrees passed by Revenue Courts in
places to which this Code does not extend.-
The State Government may, by notification in the Official
Gazette declare that the decrees of any Revenue Court in any part of India to
which the provisions of this Code do not extend, or any class of such decrees,
may be executed in the State as if they had been passed by Courts in that
State.]
Section
Execution of decrees outside India.
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
45.Execution of decrees outside India.-
So much of the foregoing section of this Part as empowers a
Court to sent a decree for execution to another Court shall be construed as
empowering a Court in any State to send a decree for execution to any Court
established {The words "or continued" rep.by the A.O.1948.} by the
authority of the Central Government {Subs. by the A.O.1950 for "in any
Indian State".} [outside India] to which the State Government has by
notification in the Official Gazette declared this section to apply.]
Section
Precepts.
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
46.Precepts.-
(1) Upon the application of the decree-holder the Court which
passed the decree may, whenever it thinks fir, issue a precept to any other
Court which would be competent to execute such decree attach any property
belonging to the judgment-debtor and specified in the precept.
(2) The Court to which a precept is sent shall proceed to attach
the property in the manner prescribed in regard to the attachment of property
in execution of a decree :
Provided that no attachment under a precept shall
continue for more than two months unless the period of attachment is extended
by an order of the Court which passed the decree or unless before the
determination of such attachment the decree has been transferred to the Court
by which the attachment has been made and the decree-holder has applied for an
order for the sale of the such property.
Section
Questions to be determined by the Court executing
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
47.Questions to be determined by the Court executing
decree.-
(1) All question arising between the parties to the suit in
which the decree was passed, or their representatives, and relating to the
execution, discharge or satisfaction of the decree, shall be determined by the
Court executing the decree and not by a separate suit.
(2) The Court may, subject to any objection as to limitation or
jurisdiction, treat a proceeding under this section as a suit or a suit as a
proceeding and may, if necessary, order payment of any additional court-fees.
(3) Where a question arises as to whether any person is or is
not the representative of a party, such question shall, for the purposes of this
section, be determined by the Court.
Explanation.---- For the purposes of this section, a plaintiff
whose suit has been dismissed and a defendant against whom a suit has been
dismissed, are parties to the suit.
Section
Execution barred in certain cases .
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
48.Execution barred in certain cases .-
(1) Where an application to execute a decree not being a decree
shall be made, no order for the execution of the same decree shall be made upon
any fresh application presented after the expiration of twelve{ For certain
purposes in parts of U.P., read "six"-vide the U.P.Regulation of
Agricultural Credit Act, 1940 (U.P 14 of 1940), s.9.} years from-
(a) the date of the decree sought to be
executed, or,
(b) where the decree or any subsequent order
directs any payment of money or the delivery of any property to be made at a
certain date or at recurring periods, the date of the default in making the
payment or delivery in respect of which the applicant seeks to execute the
decree.
(2) Nothing in this section shall be deemed.-
(a) to preclude the Court from ordering the
execution of a decree upon an application presented after the expiration of the
said term of twelve years, where the judgment-debtor has, by fraud or force,
prevented the execution of the decree at some time within twelve y ears
immediately before the date of the application ; or
(b) to limit or otherwise affect the operation
of article {Subs, by Act 34 of 1940, s.3, for "180 of the Second Schedule
to the Indian Limitation Act, 1877".} [183 of the First Schedule to the
Indian Limitation Act, 1908].9 of 1908.
Section
Transferee.
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
49.Transferee.-
Every transferee of a decree shall hold the same subject to the
equities (if any) which the judgment-debtor might have enforced against the
original decree-holder.
Transferee.
Section
Legal representative.
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
50.Legal representative.-
(1) Where a judgment-debtor dies before the decree has been
fully satisfied the holder of the decree may apply to the Court which passed it
to execute the same against the legal representative of the deceased.
(2) Where the decree is executed against such legal
representative, he shall be liable only to the extent of the property of the
deceased which has come to his hands and has not been duly disposed of ; and
for the purpose of ascertaining such liability, the Court executing the decree
may, of its own motion or on the application of the decree-holder, compel such
legal representative to produce such accounts as it thinks fit.
Section
Powers of Court to enforce execution.
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
51.Powers of Court to enforce execution.-
Subject to such conditions and limitations as may be prescribed
the Court may, on the application of the decree-holder, order execution of the
decree-
(a) by delivery of any property specifically decreed ;
(b) by attachment and sale or by sale without attachment of any
property ;
(c) by arrest and detention in prison ;
(d) by appointing a receiver ; or
(e) in such other manner as the nature of the relief granted may
require :
{194.Ins.by Act 21 of 1936, s.2.} [Provided that, where the
decree is for the payment of money, execution by detention in prison shall not
be ordered unless, after giving the judgment-debtor an opportunity of showing
cause why he should not be committed to prison, the Court for reasons recorded
in writing, is satisfied-
(a) that the judgment-debtor, with the object or effect of
obstructing or delaying the execution of the decree,-
(i) is likely to abscond or leave the local
limits of the jurisdiction of the Court, or
(ii) has, after the institution of the suit in
which the decree was passed, dishonestly transferred concealed, or removed any
part of his property, or committed any other act of bad faith in relation to
his property, or
(b) that the judgment-debtor has, or has had since the date of
the decree, the means to pay the amount of the decree or some substantial part
thereof and refuses or neglects or has refused or neglected to pay the same, or
(c) that the decree is for a sum for which the judgment-debtor
was bound in fiduciary capacity to account.
Explanation.---- In the calculation of the means of the
judgment-debtor for the purposes of clause (b), there shall be left out of
account any property which, by or under any law or custom having the force of
law for the time being in force, is exempt from attachment in execution of the decree.]
Section
Enforcement of decree against legal representative.
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
52.Enforcement of decree against legal representative.-
(1) Where a decree is passed against a party as the legal
representative of a deceased person, and the decree is for the payment of money
out of the property if the deceased, it may be executed by the attachment and
sale of any such property.
(2) Where no such property remains in the possession of the
judgment-debtor and he fails to satisfy the Court that he has duly applied such
property of the deceased as is proved to have come into his possession, the
decree may be executed against the judgment-debtor to the extent of the
property in respect of which he has failed so to satisfy the Court in the same
manner as if the decree had been against him personally.
Section
Liability of ancestral property.
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
53.Liability of ancestral property.-
For the purposes of section 50 and section 52, property in the
hands of a son or other descendant which is liable under Hindu law for the
payment of the debt of a deceased ancestor, in respect of which a decree which
has come to the hands of the son or other descendant as his legal
representative.
Section
Partition of estate or separation of share.
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
54.Partition of estate or separation of share.-
Where the decree is for the partition of an undivided estate
assessed to the payment of revenue to the Government, or for the separate
possession of a share of such an estate, the partition of the estate or the
separation of the share shall be made by the Collector or any gazetted
subordinate of the Collector deputed by him in this behalf, in accordance with
the law (if any) for the time being in force relating to the partition, or the
separate possession of shares, of such estates.
Section
Arrest and detention.
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
55.Arrest and detention.-
(1) A judgment-debtor may be arrested in execution of a decree
at any hour and on any day, and shall, as soon as practicable, be brought before
the Court, and his detention may be in the civil prison of the district in
which the Court ordering the detention is situate, or where such civil prison
does not afford suitable accommodation, in any other place which the State
Government may appoint for the detention of persons ordered by the Courts of
such district to be detained.
Provided , firstly, that, for the purpose of making an
arrest under this section, no dwelling no dwelling-house shall be entered after
sunset and before sunrise:
Provided , secondly, that no outer door of a
dwelling-house shall be broken open unless such dwelling-house is in the
occupancy of the judgment-debtor and he refuses or in any way prevents access
thereto, but when the officer authorized to make the arrest has duly gained
access to any dwelling-house, he may break open the door of any room is which
he has reason to believe the judgment-debtor is to be found:
Provided , thirdly, that, if the room is in the actual
occupancy of a woman who is not the judgment-debtor and who according to the
customs of the country does not appear in public, the officer authorized to
make the arrest shall give notice to her that she is at liberty to withdraw,
and, after allowing a reasonable time for her to withdraw, and, after allowing
a reasonable time for her to withdraw and giving her reasonable facility for
withdrawing, any enter the room for the purpose of making the arrest:
Provided , fourthly, that, where the decree in execution
of which a judgment-debtor is arrested, is a decree for the payment of money
and the judgment-debtor pays the amount of the decree and the costs of the
arrest to the officer arresting him such officer shall at once release him.
(2) The State Government may, by notification in the Official
Gazette, declare that any person or class of persons whose arrest might be
attended with danger or inconvenience to the public shall not be liable to
arrest in execution of a decree otherwise than in accordance with such
procedure as may be prescribed by the State Government in this behalf.
(3) Where a judgment-debtor is arrested in execution of a decree
for the payment of money and brought before the Court, the Court shall inform
him that he may apply to be declared an insolvent, and that he {Subs. by Act 3
of 1921, s.2, for "will be discharged".} [may be discharged] if he
has not committed any act of bad faith regarding the subject of the application
and if he complies with the provisions of the law of insolvency for the time
being in force.
(4) Where a judgment-debtor expresses his intention to apply to
be declared an insolvent and furnishes security, to the satisfaction of the
Court, that he will within one month so apply, and that he will appear, when
called upon, in any proceeding upon the application or upon the decree in
execution of which he was arrested, the Court { Subs. by s.2, ibid., for
"shall release".} [may release] him from arrest, and, if he fails so
to apply and to appear, the Court may either direct the security to be realized
or commit him to the civil prison in execution of the decree.
Section
Prohibition of arrest or detention of women in
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
56.Prohibition of arrest or detention of women in
execution of decree for money.-
Notwithstanding anything in this Part, the Court shall not order
the arrest or detention in the civil prison of a woman in execution of a decree
for the payment of money.
Section
Subsistence allowance .
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
57.Subsistence allowance .-
The State Government may fix scales, graduated according to
rank, race and nationality, of monthly allowances payable for the subsistence of
judgment-debtors.
Section
Detention and release.
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
58.Detention and release.-
(1) Every person detained in the civil prison in execution of a
decree shall be so detained, -
(a) where the decree is for the payment of a
sum of money exceeding fifty rupees, for a period of six months, and,
(b) in any other case for a period of six
weeks:
Provided that he shall be released from such detention
before the expiration of the said period of six months or six weeks, as the
case may be,-
(i) on the amount mentioned in the warrant for his detention
being paid to the officer in charge of the civil prison, or
(ii) on the decree against him being otherwise fully satisfied,
or
(iii) on the request of the person on whose application he has
been so detained, or
(iv) on the omission by the person, on whose application he has
been so detained, to pay subsistence-allowance:
Provided , also, that he shall not be released from
such detention under clause (ii) or clause (iii), without the order of the
Court.
(2) A judgment-debtor released from detention under this section
shall not merely by reason of his release be discharged from his debt but he
shall not be liable to be re-arrested under the decree in execution of which he
was detained in the civil prison.
Section
Release on ground of illness.
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
59.Release on ground of illness.-
(1) At any time after a warrant for the arrest of a
judgment-Release debtor has been issued the Court may cancel it on the ground
of his of serious illness.
(2) Where a judgment-debtor has been arrested, the Court may
release him if, in its opinion, he is not in a fit state of health to be
detained in the civil prison.
(3) Where a judgment-debtor has been committed to the civil
prison, he may be released there from-
(a) by the State Government, on the ground of
the existence of any infectious or contagious disease, or
(b) by the committing Court, or any Court to
which that Court is subordinate, on the ground of his suffering from any
serious illness.
(4) A judgment-debtor released under this section may be
rearrested, but the period of his detention in the civil prison shall not in
the aggregate exceed that prescribed by section 58.
ATTACHMENT
{For amendments to s.60, in its application to East Punjab, see the Punjab
Relief of Indebtedness Act 1934 (Pun.7 of 1934), s.35, as amended by Pun. Acts
12 of 1940 and 6 of 1942.}
Section
Applies], {Ins.by Act 35 of 1934, s.2 and Sch.} [or of persons other than commissioned
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
60.
Property liable to attachment and sale in execution of decree.-
The
following property is liable to attachment and sale in execution of a decree,
namely, lands, houses or other buildings, goods, in money, bank-notes, cheques,
bills of exchange, hundis, promissory notes, Government securities, bonds or
other securities for money, debts, shares in a corporation and, save as
hereinafter mentioned, all other saleable property, movable or immovable,
belonging to the judgment-debtor, or over which, or the profits of which, he
has a disposing power which he may exercise for his own benefit, whether the
same be held in the name of the judgment-debtor or by another person in trust
for him or on his behalf:
Provided that the following particulars shall not be liable to such attachment
or sale, namely:-
(a) the necessary
wearing-apparel, cooking vessels, beds and bedding of the judgment-debtor, his
wife and children, and such personal ornaments as, in accordance with religious
usage, cannot be parted with by any woman;
(b) tools of artisans,
and, where the judgment-debtor is an agriculturist, his implements of husbandry
and such cattle and seed-grain as may, in the opinion of the Court, be
necessary to enable him to earn his livelihood as such, and such portion of
agricultural produce or of any c]ass of agricultural produce as may have been
declared to be free from liability under the provisions of the next following
section;
(c) houses and other
buildings (with the materials and the sites thereof and the land immediately
appurtenant thereto and necessary for their enjoyment) belonging to an
agriculturist and occupied by him;
(d) books of account,
(e) a mere right to
sue for damages;
(f) any right of
personal service;
(g) stipends and gratuities
allowed to pensioners of the Government, or payable out of any service family
pension fund {For such a notification, see Gazette of India, 1909, Pt.I, p.5.}
notified in the Official Gazette by {Subs. by the A.O.1937 for " the
G.G.in C." } [the Central Government or the State Government] in this
behalf, and political pensions;
{Subs. by Act 9 of
1937, s.2, for the former clauses (h) and (i).The amendments made by that
section have no effect in respect of any proceedings arising out of a suit
instituted before 1st June, 1937: see ibid., s.3.} [(h) the wages of labourers
and domestic servants, whether payable in money or kind; {The words " and
salary, to the extent of the first hundred rupees and one-half the remainder of
such salary " rep by Act 5 of 1943, s.2.}
{Subs. by s.2, ibid.,
for the former clause and proviso.} [(i) salary to the extent of the first
hundred rupees and one-half the remainder:
Provided that where such salary is the salary of a servant of the Government or a
servant of a railway company or local authority, and the whole or any part of
the portion of such salary liable to attachment has been under attachment,
whether continuously or intermittently for a total period of twenty-four
months, such portion shall be exempt from attachment until the expiry of a
further period of twelve months and, where such attachment has been made in
execution of one and the same decree, shall be finally exempt from attachment
in execution of that decree ;]].
(j) the pay and
allowances of persons to whom the {Subs. by the A.O.1937 for "Indian
Articles of War apply,'.} [{Subs. by Act 2 of 1951, s.10, for "Indian Army
Act, 1911, or the Burma Army Act ".} [Army Act, 1950 ] 46 of
1950.applies], {Ins.by Act 35 of 1934, s.2 and Sch.} [or of persons other than commissioned
officers to whom {The words "the Naval Discipline Act as modified
try" omitted by the A.O.1950.} the Indian Navy (Discipline) Act, 1934, 34
of 1934.applies];
(k) all compulsory
deposits and other sums in or derived from any fund to which the Provident
Funds Act, {" Subs. by Act 9 of 1937, s.2, for "1897" } [1925],
19 of 1925.For the time being applies in so far as they are declared by the
said Act not to be liable to attachment;
{Subs. by Act 9 of
1937, s.2, for the original clause. See also footnote 3 on preceding page.}
[(l) any allowance forming part of the emoluments of any {Subs. by Act 5 of
1943, s.2, for "public officer".} [servant of the Government] or of
any servant of a railway company or local authority which the {Subs. by the
A.O.1933 for "G.G.in C."} [appropriate Government] may by
notification in the Official Gazette declare to be exempt from attachment, and
any subsistence grant or allowance made to {Subs. by Act 5 of 1943, s.2, for
"any such officer or servant".} [any such servant] while under
suspension ;]
(m) an expectancy of
succession by survivorship or other merely contingent or possible right or
interest;
(n) a right to future
maintenance;
(o) any allowance
declared by {Subs. by the A.O.1937 for "any law passed under the Indian
Councils Act 1861 and 1992'.} [any Indian law] to be exempt from liability to
attachment-or sale in execution of decree; and
(p) where the
judgment-debtor is a person liable for the payment of land-revenue, any movable
property which, under any law for the time being applicable to him, is exempt
from sale for the recovery of an arrear of such revenue.
{The original
Explanation was renumbered Explanation 1 by Act 9 of 1937.s.2.} [Explanation
1].-The particulars mentioned in clauses (g), (h), (i), (j), (1) and (o) are
exempt from attachment or sale whether before or after they are actually
payable, {Ins.by s.2, ibid. See also footnote 3 on preceding page.} [and in the
case of salary other than salary of a {Subs. by Act 5 of 1943, s.2, for
"public officer".} [servant of the Government] or a servant of a
railway company or local authority the attachable portion thereof is exempt
from attachment until it is actually payable].
{Ins.by s.2, ibid. See
also footnote 3 on preceding page.} [Explanation 2.-In clauses (h) and (i),
"salary" means the total monthly emoluments, excluding any allowance
declared exempt from attachment under the provisions of clause (1), derived by
a person from his employment whether on duty or on leave.]
{Ins.by the A.O.1937.}
[Explanation ,3.-In clause
(l) appropriate
Government" means-
(i)
as respects any {Subs. by Act 5 of 1943, s.2, for "public officer".}
[person] in the service of the Central Government, or any servant of {Subs. by
the A.O.1950 for "a Federal Railway".} [a Railway Administration] or
of a cantonment authority or of the port authority of a major port, the Central
Government.
{C1.(ii)
rep. by the A.O.1948.}
(iii)
as respects any other {Subs. by Act 5 of 1943, s.2, for "public
officer".} [servant of the Government] or a servant of any other {The
words "railway or" omitted by the A.O.1950.}local authority, the
State Government.]
(2) Nothing in this
section shall be deemed-
{The letter and
brackets "(a)", the word "or" and cl.(b) rep. by Act 10 of
1914, s.3, and Sch.II.} to exempt houses and other buildings (with the
materials and the sites thereof and the lands immediately appurtenant thereto
and necessary for their enjoyment) from attachment or sale in execution of
decrees for rent of any such house, building, site or land.{The letter and
brackets "(a)", the word "or" and cl.(b) rep. by Act 10 of
1914, s.3, and Sch.II.}
{The letter and
brackets "(a)", the word "or" and cl.(b) rep. by Act 10 of
1914, s.3, and Sch.II.}
Section
Partial exemption of
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
61.Partial exemption of
agricultural produce.-
The State Government
{The words "with the previous sanction of the G.G.in C." rep. by Act
,8 of 1920.s.2 and Sch., Pt.I.} may, by general or special order published in
the Official Gazette, declare that such portion of agricultural produce, or of
any class of agricultural produce, as may appear to the State Government to be
necessary for the purpose of providing until the next harvest for the due
cultivation of the land and for the support of the judgment-debtor and his
family, shall, in the case of all agriculturists or of any class of
agriculturists, be exempted from liability to attachment or sale in execution
of a decree.
Section
Seizure of property
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
62.Seizure of property
in dwelling house.-
(1) No person
executing any process under this Code directing or authorizing seizure of
movable property shall enter any dwelling house after sunset and before
sunrise.
(2) No outer door of a
dwelling-house shall be broken open unless such dwelling-house is in the
occupancy of the judgment-debtor and he refuses or in any way prevents access
thereto, but when the person executing any such process has duly gained access
to any dwelling-house, he may break open the door of any room in which he has
reason to believe any such property to be.
(3) Where a room in a
dwelling-house is in the actual occupancy of a woman who, according to the
customs of the country, does not appear in public, the person executing the
process shall give notice to such woman that she is at liberty to withdraw;
and, after allowing reasonable time for her to withdraw and giving her
reasonable facility for withdrawing, he may enter such room for the purpose of
seizing the property, using at the same time every precaution, consistent with
these provisions, to prevent its clandestine removal.
Section
Property attached
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
63.Property attached
in execution of decrees of several Courts.-
(1) Where property not
in the custody of any Court is under attachment in execution of decrees of more
Courts than one, the Court which shall receive or realize such property and
shall determine any claim thereto and any objection to the attachment thereof
shall be the Court of highest grade, or, where there is no difference in grade
between such Courts, the Court under whose decree the property was first
attached.
(2) Nothing in this
section shall be deemed to invalidate any proceeding taken by a Court executing
one of such decrees.
Section
Private alienation
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
64.Private alienation
of property after attachment to be void.-
Where an attachment
has been made, any private transfer or delivery of the property attached or of
any interest therein and any payment to the judgment-debtor of any debt,
dividend or other be monies contrary to such attachment, shall be void as
against all claims enforceable under the attachment.
Explanation- For the purposes of this section, claims enforceable under an attachment
include claims for the rateable distribution of assets.
Section
Purchasers title.
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
65.Purchasers title.-
Where immovable
property is sold in execution of a decree and such sale has become absolute,
the property shall be deemed to have vested in the purchaser from the time when
the property is sold and not from the time when the sale becomes absolute.
Section
Suit against
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
66.Suit against
purchaser not maintainable on ground of purchase being on behalf of plaintiff.-
(1) No suit shall be maintained
against any person claiming title under a purchase certified by the Court in
such manner as may be prescribed on the ground that the purchase was made on
behalf of the plaintiff or on behalf of some one through whom the plaintiff
claims.
(2) Nothing in this section shall bar a suit to obtain a declaration that the name of any purchaser certified as aforesaid was inserted in the certificate fraudulently or without the consent of the real purchaser, or interfere with the right of a third person to proceed against that property, though ostensibly sold to the certified purchaser, on the ground that it is liable to satisfy a claim of such third person against the real owner.
Section
Power for State
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
67.Power for State
Government to make rules as to sales of land in execution of decrees for
payment of money.-
{The original s.67 was
renumbered as sub-section (1) of that section by Act 1 of 1914, s.3.} [(1)] The
State Government {The words " with the previous sanction of the G.G.in
C." rep. by Ac 38 of 1920, s.2 and Sch.I, Pt.I.} may, by notification in
the Official Gazette, make rules for any local area imposing conditions in
respect of the sale of any class of interests in land in execution of decrees
for the payment of money, where such interests are so uncertain or undetermined
as, in the opinion of the State Government, to make it impossible to fix their
value.
{Ins.by Act 1 of 1914,
s.3.} [(2) When on the date on which this Code came into operation in any local
area, any special rules as to sale of land in execution of decrees were in
force therein, the State Government may, by notification in the Official
Gazette, declare such rules to be in force, or may, {The words " with the
previous sanction of the G.G.in C." rep. by Ac 38 of 1920, s.2 and Sch.I,
Pt.I.} by a like notification, modify the same.
Every notification
issued in the exercise of the powers conferred by this sub-section shall set
out the rules so continued or modified.]
Section
Power to prescribe
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
68.Power to prescribe
rules for transferring to Collector execution of certain decrees.-
The State Government
may {The words " with the previous sanction of the G.G.in C." rep. by
Ac 38 of 1920, s.2 and Sch.I, Pt.I.} declare, by notification in the Official Gazette,
that in any local area the execution of decrees in cases in which a Court has
ordered any immovable property to be sold, or the execution of any particular
kind of such decrees, or the execution of decrees ordering the sale of any
particular kind of or interest in, immovable property, shall be transferred to
the Collector.
Power to prescribe
rules for transferring to Collector execution of certain decrees.
Section
Provisions of Third
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
69.Provisions of Third
Schedule to apply.-
The provisions set
forth in the Third Schedule shall apply to all cases in which the execution of
a decree has been transferred under the last preceding section.
Section
Rules of
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
70.Rules of
procedure.-
(1) The State
Government may make rules consistent with the aforesaid provisions-
(a)
for the transmission of the decree from the Court to the Collector, and for
regulating the procedure of the Collector and his subordinates in executing the
same, and for retransmitting the decree from the Collector to the Court;
(b)
conferring upon the Collector or any gazetted subordinate of the Collector all
or any of the powers which the Court might exercise in the execution of the
decree if the execution thereof had not been transferred to the Collector;
(c)
providing for orders made by the Collector or any gazetted subordinate of the
Collector, or orders made on appeal with respect to such orders, being subject
to appeal to, and revision by, superior revenue-authorities as nearly as may be
as the orders made by the Court, or orders made on appeal with respect to such
orders, would be subject to appeal to, and revision by, Appellate or Revisional
Courts under this Code or other law for the time being in force if the decree
had not been transferred to the Collector.
(2) Jurisdiction of
Civil Courts barred.- A power conferred by rules made under sub-section (1)
upon the Collector or any gazetted subordinate of the Collector, or upon any
appellate or revisional authority, shall not be exercisable by the Court or by
any Court in exercise of any appellate or revisional jurisdiction which it has
with respect to decrees or orders of the Court.
Section
Collector deemed to
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
71.Collector deemed to
be acting judicially.-
In executing a decree
transferred to the Collector under section 68 the Collector and his
subordinates shall be deemed to be acting judicially.
Section
Where Court may
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
72.Where Court may
authorize Collector to stay public sale of land.-
(1) Where in any local
area in which no declaration under section 68 is in force the property attached
consists of land or of a share in land, and the Collector represents to the
Court that the public sale of the land or share is objectionable and that
satisfaction of the decree may be made within a reasonable period by a
temporary alienation of the land or share, the Court may authorize the
Collector to provide for such satisfaction in the manner recommended by him
instead of proceeding to a sale of the land or share.
(2) In every such case
the provisions of sections 69 to 71 and of any rules made in pursuance thereof
shall apply so far as they are applicable.
Section
Proceeds of execution-sale
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
73.Proceeds of execution-sale
to be rateably distributed among decree-holders.-
(1) Where assets are
held by a Court and more persons than one have, before the receipt of such
assets, made application to the Court for the execution of decrees for the
payment of money passed against the same judgment-debtor and have not obtained
satisfaction thereof, the assets, after deducting the costs of realization,
shall be rateably distributed among all such persons:
Provided as follows: -
(a) where any property
is sold subject to a mortgage or charge, the mortgagee or incumbrancer shall
not be entitled to share in any surplus arising from such sale;
(b) where any property
liable to be sold in execution of a decree is subject to a mortgage or charge,
the Court may, with the consent of the mortgagee or incumbrancer, order that
the property be sold free from the mortgage or charge, giving to the mortgagee
or incumbrancer the same interest in the proceeds of the sale as he had in the
property sold;
(c) where any
immovable property is sold in execution of a decree ordering its sale for the
discharge of an incumbrance thereon, the proceeds of sale shall be applied-
first,
in defraying the expenses of the sale;
secondly,
in discharging the amount due under the decree;
thirdly,
in discharging the interest and principal monies due on subsequent incumbrances
(if any); and
fourthly,
rateably among the holders of decrees for the payment of money against the
judgment-debtor, who have, prior to the sale of the property, applied to the
Court which passed the decree ordering such sale for execution of such decrees,
and have not obtained satisfaction thereof.
(2) Where all or any
of the assets liable to be rateably distributed under this section are paid to
a person not entitled to receive the same, any person so entitled may sue such
person to compel him to refund the assets.
(3) Nothing in this
section affects any right of the Government.
Section
Resistance to
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
74.Resistance to
execution.-
Where the Court is satisfied
that the holder of a decree for the possession of immovable property or that
the purchaser of immovable property sold in execution of a decree has been
resisted or obstructed in obtaining possession of the property by the judgment
debtor or some person on his behalf and that such resistance or obstruction was
without any just cause, the Court may, at the instance of the decree-holder or
purchaser, order the judgment-debtor or such other person to be detained in the
civil prison for a term which may extend to thirty days and may further direct
that the decree-holder or purchaser be put into possession of the property.
Section
Power of Court to issue commissions.
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
75.Power of Court to issue commissions.-
Subject to such conditions
and limitations as may be prescribed, the Court may issue a commission-
(a) to examine any
person;
(b) to make a local
investigation;
(c) to examine or
adjust accounts; or
(d) to make a partition.
Section
Commission to
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
76.Commission to
another Court
(1) A commission for
the examination of any person may be issued to any Court (not being a High
Court) situate in a State other than the State in which the Court of issue is
situate and having jurisdiction in the place in which the person to be examined
resides.
(2) Every Court
receiving a commission for the examination of any person under sub-section (1)
shall examine him or cause him to be examined pursuant thereto, and the
commission, when it has been duly executed, shall be returned together with the
evidence taken under it to the Court from which it was issued, unless the order
for issuing the commission has otherwise directed, in which case the commission
shall be returned in terms of such order.
Section
Letter of request.
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
77.Letter of request.-
In lieu of issuing a
commission the Court may issue a letter to examine a witness residing at any
place not within {Subs. by Act 2 of 1951, s.3, for "the States".}
[India].
{Subs. by s.11, ibid.,
for the former section.} [78.Commissions issued by foreign Courts.- Subject to
such conditions and limitations as may be prescribed, the provisions as to the
execution and return of commissions for the examination of witnesses shall
apply to commissions issued by or at the instance of-
(a) Courts situate in
any part of India to which the provisions of this Code do not extend; or
(b) Courts established
or continued by the authority of the Central Government outside India; or
(c) Courts of any
State or country outside India.]
