Section 107 in The Tripura Co-operative Societies Rules, 1976
107. Procedure for attachment and sale of property under Section 155.
(1)A creditor holding a decree requiring the revisions of Section 155 to be applied, or society to which-(a)any amount is due under a decree or order of a civil court obtained by the society;(b)any amount is due under a decision, award or order of the Registrar, Arbitrator, Liquidator or Tribunal;(c)any sum is awarded by way of courts under the act;(d)any amount is due under a certificate granted by the Registrar to the assets of the society;(e)any amount is due under a certificate granted by the Registrar under sub-section (11) or (12) of Section 104 or under sub-section (1) of Section 137 together with interest, if any, due on such amount or sum and the costs of process by the attachment and sale or by sale without attachment of the property of person against whom such decree, decision, award or order has been obtained or passed,shall apply to the recovery officer within whose jurisdiction the debtor resides or the property of the debtor is situated. In the case of a society, a copy of the resolution of the committee of the society authorising any of its members to make and sign the application on its behalf, shall accompany the application.(2)Every such application shall be made in the form specified by the Registrar and shall be signed by the applicant and shall be accompanied by deposit of such amount, if any, as may be specified by the Registrar to cover the cost of process. The scales for such cost of process shall be fixed by the Registrar from time to time, by a general or special order under such scales, the fee for issuing any notice shall not exceed Rs. 2 and the daily allowance to be paid to any person serving any notice shall not exceed Rs. 5 per day, and the deposit for other costs of process shall not exceed the expenditure likely to be incurred for recovering the amount. The applicant may indicate whether he wishes to proceed against the immovable property mortgaged to the applicant or other immovable property or to secure the attachment of movable property.(3)On receipt of such applications, or when the Registrar is proceeding under Rule 85 the Recovery Officer shall verify the correctness and genuineness of the particulars set forth in the application with the records, if any, in the office of the Registrar and prepare a demand notice in writing in duplicate in the form specified by Registrar setting forth the name of the defaulter and the amount due and forward it to the State Officer.(4)Unless the applicant has expressed a desire that proceedings should be taken in a particular order as laid down in sub-rule (2), execution shall ordinarily be taken in the following manner:(i)movable property of the defaulter shall be first proceeded against, but this shall not preclude the immovable property being proceeded against simultaneously in case of necessity;(ii)if there is no movable property, or if the sale proceeds of the movable property or properties attached and sold are insufficient to meet in full the demand of the applicant, the immovable property mortgaged to the applicant, or other immovable property belonging to the defaulter may be proceeded against.(5)In the seizure and sale of movable property the following rules shall be observed:(a)The Sale Officer shall, after giving prior notice to the applicant, proceed to the village where the defaulter resides or the property to be distrained is situated and serve a demand notice upon the defaulter if he is present. If the amount due together with the expenses be not at once paid, the Sale Officer shall make the distress and shall immediately deliver to the defaulter a list of inventory of the property distrained and an intimation of place and day and hour at which the distrained property will be brought to sale if the amounts due are not previously discharged. If the defaulter is absent, the Sale Officer shall serve the demand notice on some adult male member of his family, or on his authorised agent, or when such service cannot be effected, shall affix a copy of the demand notice on some conspicuous part of his residence. He shall then proceed to make the distress and shall fix the list of the property attached on the usual place of residence of the defaulter endorsing thereon the place where the property may be lodged or kept and an intimation of the place, day and hour of sale.(b)After the distress is made, the Sale Officer may arrange for the custody of the property, attached with the applicant or otherwise. If the Sale Officer requires the applicant to undertake the custody of the property, he shall be bound to do so and any loss incurred owing to his negligence shall be made good by the applicant. If the attached property is live stock, applicant shall be responsible for providing the necessary food therefor. The Sale Officer may, at the instance of the defaulter or any person claiming an interest in such property leave it in the village or place where it was attached, in charge of such defaulter, or such person, if he enters into a bond in the form specified by the Registrar with one or more sufficient sureties for the production of the property when called for.(c)The distress shall be made after sunrise and before sunset and not at any other time.(d)The distress levied shall not be excessive, that is to say, the property distrained shall, as nearly as possible, be proportionate to the sum due by the defaulter together with interest and all expenses incidental to the distraint, detention and sale.(e)If crops or ungathered products of the land belonging to a defaulter are attached, the Sale Officer may cause them to be sold when fit for reaping or gathering, or at his option may cause them to be reaped or gathered in due season and stored in proper place until sold. In the latter case the expense of reaping or gathering and storing such crops or products shall be defrayed by the owner upon his redeeming the property or from the proceeds of the sale in the event of its being sold.(f)The Sale Officer shall not work the bullocks or cattle, or make use of the goods or effects distrained, and he shall provide the necessary food for the cattle or livestock, the expense attending which shall be defrayed by the owner upon his redeeming the property or from the proceeds of the sale in the event of its being sold.(g)It shall be lawful for the Sale Officer to force open any stable, cow house, granary godown out-house or other building and he may also enter any dwelling house, the outer door of which may be open and may break open the door of any room in such dwelling house for the purpose of attaching property belonging to a defaulter and lodged therein; provided always that it shall not be lawful for the Sale Officer to break open or enter apartment in such dwelling house appropriated for the Zenana or residence of women except as hereinafter provided.(h)Where the Sale Office may have reason to believe that the property of a defaulter is lodged within a dwelling house the outer door of which may be shut or within any apartments appropriated to women which, by custom or usages, are considered private, the Sale Officer shall report the fact to the Officer-in-charge of the nearest police station. On such report the Officer-in-charge of the said station shall send a Police Other to, the spot in the presence of whom the Sale Officer may force open the outer door of such dwelling house or break open the door of any room within the house except the room appropriated by women. The Sale Officer may also, in the presence of a Police Officer after due notice given for the removal of women within a Zenana (residence of women) and after furnishing means for their removal in a suitable manner if they be women of rank, who according to the custom or usage cannot appear in public, enter the Zenana apartments for the purpose of distraining the defaulter's property, if any, deposited therein but such property, if found, shall be immediately removed from such apartments after which they shall be left fee to the former occupants.(i)The Sale Officer shall, on the day previous to and on the day of sale, cause proclamation of time and place of the intended sale to be made by beat of drum in the village in which the defaulter resides and in such other place or places as the Sale Officer may consider necessary to give the publicity to the sale. No sale shall take place until after the expiration of the period of fifteen days from the date on which the sale notice has been served or affixed in the manner laid down in Clause (a):Provided that, where the property seized is subject to speedy and natural decay, or where the expenses of keeping it in custody is likely to exceed its value, the Sale Officer may sell it, at any time, before the expiry of the said period of fifteen days, unless the amount due is sooner paid.(j)At the appointed time, the property shall be put in one or more lots, as the Sale Officer may consider advisable, and shall be disposed of to the highest bidder:Provided that, it shall be open to the Sale Officer to decline to accept the highest bid where the price offered appears to be unduly low or for other adequate reasons:Provided further that the Recovery Officer or the Sale Officer may, in his discretion, adjourn the sale to a specified day and hour recording his reasons for such adjournment. Where a sale is so adjourned for a longer period than seven days, a fresh proclamation under Clause (i) shall be made unless the defaulter consents to waive it.(k)The property sold shall be paid for in cash at the time of sale or as soon thereafter as the Sale Officer shall appoint, and the purchaser shall not be permitted to carry away any part of the property until he pays for it in full. Where the purchaser fails in payment of the purchase money, the property shall be resold.(l)Where the proceeds from the sale of the property exceeds the amount due from the debtor, the excess amount after deducting the interest and the expenses of process and other charges, shall be paid to the defaulter.(m)Where, prior to the day fixed for sale, the defaulter or any person acting on his behalf or any person claiming an interest in the property attached, pays the full amount due including interest, batta and other costs incurred in attaching the property, the Sale Officer, shall cancel the order of attachment and release the property forthwith.(n)The movable properties exempted from attachment by the proviso to Section 60 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, shall not be liable to attachment or sale under these rules.(6)Where the movable property to be attached is the salary or allowance or wages of a Public Officer or a railway servant or a servant of a local authority or a firm or a company, the Recovery Officer may, on receiving a report from the Sale Officer, order that the amount shall, subject to the provision of Section 60 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, be withheld from such salary or allowance or wages either in one payment or by monthly instalments as the Recovery Officer may direct and upon receipt of the order, the officer or other person whose duty it is to disburse such salary or allowance or wages shall withhold and remit to the Sale Officer, the amount due under the order or the monthly instalment, as the case may be.(7)(i)Where the property to be attached consist of the share or interest of the defaulter in movable property belonging to him and another as co-owners, the attachment shall be made by a notice to the defaulter, prohibiting him from transferring the share or interest or charging it in any way.(ii)Where the property to be attached is a negotiable instrument not deposited in Court, nor in the custody of a Public Officer, the attachment shall be made by actual seizure and the instrument shall be brought to the office of the Recovery Officer ordering the attachment and be held subject to his further orders.(iii)Where the property to be attached is in the custody of any Court or Public Officer, the attachment may be made by a notice to such Court or officer requesting that such property and any interest or dividend becoming payable thereon may be held subject to the further demands of the Recovery Officer issuing the notice:Provided that, where such property is in the custody of a court or Recovery Officer of another district, any question of title or priority arising between the applicant and any other person not being the defaulter claiming to or interested in such property by virtue of any assignment, attachment or otherwise shall be left to be determined by such court or Recovery Officer.(8)(i)Where the property to be attached is a decree either for the payment of money or for sale in enforcement of a mortgage or change, the attachment shall be made, if the decree sought to be attached was passed by the Registrar or by any person to whom a dispute was transferred by the Registrar under Section 95, by a nominee or board of nominees then by the order of the Registrar.(ii)Where the Registrar makes an order under Clause (i), he shall on the application of the applicant who has attached the decree, proceed to execute the attached decree and apply the net proceeds in satisfaction of the decree sought to be executed.(iii)The holder of a decree sought to be executed by the attachment of another decree of the nature specified in Clause (i) shall be deemed to be the representative of the holder of the attached decree and to be entitled to execute such attached decree in any manner for the holder thereof.(iv)Where the property to be attached in execution of a decree is a decree other than a decree of the nature referred to in Clause (i), the attachment shall be made by the issue of a notice by the Recovery Officer to the holder of such decree, prohibiting him from transferring or charging the same in any way.(v)The holder of a decree attached under this sub-rule shall give the Recovery Officer executing the decree such information and aid as may reasonably be required.(vi)On the application of the holder of a decree sought to be executed by the attachment of another decree, the Recovery Officer making an order of attachment under this sub-rule shall give notice of such order to the judgement-debtor bound by the decree attached; and no payment or adjustment of the attached decree made by the judgement-debtor in contravention of such order after receipt of the notice thereof, either through the Recovery Officer or otherwise, shall be recognised so long as the attachment remains in force.(9)Where the movable property to be attached is-(a)a debt due to the defaulter in question,(b)a share in the capital of a corporation or a deposit invested therein, or(c)other movable property not in the possession of the defaulter, except property deposited in, or in the custody of, any Civil Court,the attachment shall be made by a written order signed by the Recovery Officer prohibiting-(i)in the case of a debt, the creditor from recovering the debt and the debtor from making payment thereof;(ii)in the case of a share or deposit, the person in whose name the share or the deposit may be standing from transferring the share or deposit, or receiving and dividend or interest thereon; and(iii)in the case of any other movable property, the person in possession of it, from giving it over to the defaulter.A copy of such order shall be sent, in the case of the debt, to the debtor, in the case of the share or deposit, to the proper officer of the corporation; and in the case of any other movable property, to the person in possession of such property. As soon as the debt referred to in Clause (a) or the deposit referred to in Clause (b) matures, the Recovery Officer may direct the person concerned to pay the amount to him. Where the share is not withdrawal, the Recovery Officer shall arrange for its sale through a broker. Where the share is withdrawable, its value shall be paid to the Recovery Officer or to the party referred to in Clause (c). The person concerned shall place it in the hands of the Recovery Officer as it becomes deliverable to the debtor.(10)Immovable property shall not be sold in execution of a decree unless such property has been previously attached:Provided that where the decree has been obtained on the basis of a mortgage of such property it shall not be necessary to attach it.(11)In the attachment and sale or sale without attachment of immovable property, the following rules shall be observed:(a)The application presented under sub-rule (2), hall contain a description of the immovable property to be proceeded against, sufficient for its identification and in case such property can be identified by boundaries or numbers in a record of settlement or survey, the specification of such boundaries or numbers and the specification of the defaulter's share or interest in such property to the best of the belief of the applicant and so far as he has been able to ascertain it.(b)The demand notice issue by the Recovery Officer, under sub-rule (3) shall contain the name of the defaulter, the amount due including the expenses, if any, and the batta to be paid to the person who shall serve the demand notice, the time allowed for payment and in case of non-payment, the particulars of the properties to be attached and sold or to be sold without attachment, as the case may be. After receiving the demand notice, the Sale Officer shall serve or cause to be served a copy of the demand notice upon the defaulter or upon some adult male member of his family at his usual place of residence, or upon his authorised agent or if such personal service is not possible, shall affix a copy thereof on some conspicuous part of the immovable property about to be attached and sold or sold without attachment, as the case may be:Provided that, where the Recovery Officer is satisfied that a defaulter with intent to defeat or delay the execution proceeding against him is about to dispose of the whole or any part of his property, the demand notice issued by the Recovery Officer under sub-rule (3), shall not allow any time to the defaulter for payment of the amount due by him and the property of the defaulter shall be attached forthwith.(c)If the defaulter fails to pay the amount specified in the demand notice within the time allowed, the Sale Officer shall proceed to attach and sell, or sell without attachment, as the case may be, the immovable property noted in the application for execution in the following manner.(d)Where attachment is required before sale, the Sale Officer shall, if possible, cause a notice of attachment to be served on the defaulter personally. Where personal service is not possible, the notice shall be affixed in some conspicuous part of the defaulter's last known residence, if any. The fact of attachment shall also be proclaimed by beat of drum or other customary mode at some place on, or adjacent to, such property and at such other place or places as the Recovery Officer may consider necessary to give due publicity to the sale. The attachment notice shall set forth that, unless the amount due with interest and expenses be paid within the date therein mentioned, the property will be brought to sale. A copy shall be sent to the applicant. Where the Sale Officer so directs, the attachment shall also be notified by public proclamation in the official Gazette.(e)Proclamation of sale shall be published by affixing a notice in the office of the Recovery Officer and the Tehsil office at least thirty days before the date fixed for sale and also by beat of drum in the village (on two consecutive days previous to the date of sale and on the day of sale prior to the commencement of the sale). Such proclamation shall, where attachment is required before sale, be made after the attachment has been effected. Notice shall also be given to the applicant and the defaulter. The proclamation shall state the time and place of sale and specify as fairly and accurately as possible-(i)the property to be sold;(ii)any encumbrance to which the property is liable;(iii)the amount for the recovery of which sale is ordered; and(iv)any other matter which the Sale Officer considers material for a purchaser to know in order to judge the nature and value of the property.(f)Where any immovable property is sold under these rules, the sale shall be subject to the prior encumbrances on the property, if any. The applicant shall, when the amount for the realisation of which the sale is held exceeds Rs.100 furnish to the Sale Officer within such time as may be fixed by him or by the Recovery Officer an encumbrance certificate from the registration department for the period of not less than twelve years prior to the date of attachment of the property sought to be sold, or in cases falling under the proviso to sub-R (10), prior to the date of the application for execution. The time for production of the encumbrance certificate may be extended at the discretion of the Sale Officer or the Recovery Officer, as the case may be. The sale shall be by public auction to the highest bidder:Provided that, it shall be open to the Sale Officer to decline to accept the highest bid where the price offered appears to be unduly low or for other adequate reasons:Provided further that the Recovery Officer or the Sale Officer may, in his discretion, adjourn the sale to a specified day and hour, recording his reasons for such adjournment. Where a sale is so adjourned for a longer period than seven days, a fresh proclamation under Clause (e) shall be made, unless the defaulter consents to waive it.The sale shall be held after the expiry of not less than thirty days calculated from the date on which notice of the proclamation was affixed in the office of the Recovery Officer. The time had place of sale shall be fixed by the Recovery Officer and the place of sale shall be the village where the property to be sold is situated or such adjoining prominent place of public resort as may be fixed by the Recovery Officer:Provided that, in case where an encumbrance certificate is not obtainable owing to the destruction of he connected records, an affidavit from a Magistrate in regard to the encumbrances known to him supported by a certificate from the Registration Department that the encumbrance certificate cannot be granted owing to the destruction of the connected records, shall be accepted in place of an encumbrance certificate.(g)A sum of money equal to 15 per cent of the price of the immovable property shall be deposited by the purchaser in the hands of the Sale Officer at the time of the purchase, and in default of such deposit, the property shall forthwith be resold:Provided that, where the applicant is the purchaser and is entitled to set-off the purchase money under Clause (k), the Sale Officer shall dispense with the requirements of this clause.(h)The remainder of the purchase money and the amount required for the general stamp for the sale certificate shall be paid within fifteen days from the date of sale:Provided that the time for payment of the cost of stamp may, for good and sufficient reasons be extended at the discretion of the Recovery Officer up to thirty days from the date of sale:Provided further that in calculating the amount to be paid under this clause, the purchaser shall have the advantage of any set-off to which he may be entitled under Clause (k).(i)In default of payment within the period mentioned in the last preceding clause, the deposit may, if the Recovery Officer thinks fit, after defraying the expenses of the sale, be forfeited to the State Government and the defaulting purchaser shall forfeit all claims to the property or to any part of the sum for which it may subsequently be sold.(j)Every resale of immovable property in default of payment of the amounts mentioned in Clause (h) within the period allowed for such payment, shall be made, after the issue of a fresh proclamation in the manner and for the period herein before prescribed for the sale.(k)Where an application purchases the property, the purchase money and the amount due on the decree shall be set-off against one another, and the Sale Officer shall enter up satisfaction of the decree in whole or in part accordingly.(12)Where prior to the date fixed for a sale, the defaulter or any person acting on his behalf or any person claiming an interest in the property sought to be sold tenders payment of the full amount due, together with interest, batta and other expenses incurred in bringing the property to sale, including the expenses of attachment, if any, the Sale Officer shall forthwith release the property after conceding, where the property has been attached, the order of attachment.(13)(i)Where immovable property has been sold by the Sale Officer, any person either owning such property or holding any interest therein by virtue of a title acquired before such sale, may apply to have the sale set aside on his depositing with the Recovery Officer-(a)for payment to the purchaser a sum equal to 5 per cent of the purchase money, and(b)for payment to the applicant, the amount of arrears specified in the proclamation of sale as that for the recovery of which the sale was ordered together with interest thereon and the expenses of attachment, if any, and sale and other costs due in respect of such amount, less amount which may since the date of such proclamation have been received by the applicant.(ii)If such deposit and application are made within thirty days from the date of sale, the Recovery Officer shall pass an order setting aside the sale or shall repay to the purchaser, the purchase money so far as it has been deposited, together with the 5 per cent deposit by he applicant:Provided that, if more persons than one have made deposit and application under this sub-rule, the application of the first depositor to the officer authorised to set aside, shall be accepted.(iii)If a person applies under sub-rule (14) to set aside the sale of immovable property, he shall not be entitled to make an application under this sub-rule.(14)(i)At any time within thirty days from the date of the sale of immovable property, the applicant or any other person entitled to share in a rateable distribution of the assets or whose interests are affected by the sale, may apply to the Recovery Officer to set aside the sale on the ground of a material irregularity or mistake or fraud in publishing or conducting it:Provided that no sale shall be set aside on the ground of irregularity or fraud unless the Recovery Officer is satisfied that the applicant has sustained substantial injury by reason of such irregularity, mistake or fraud.(ii)If the application is allowed, the Recovery Officer shall set aside the sale and may direct a fresh one.(iii)On the expiration of thirty days from the date of sale, if no application to have the sale set aside is made or if such application has been made and rejected, the Recovery Officer shall make an order confirming the sale:Provided that, if he has reason to believe that the sale ought to be set aside notwithstanding that no such application has been made or on grounds other than those alleged in any application which has been made and rejected, he may, after recording his reasons in writing, set aside the sale.(iv)Whenever the sale of any immovable property is not so confirmed or is set aside, the deposit or the purchase money, as the case may be, shall be returned to the purchaser.(v)After the confirmation of any such sale, the Recovery Officer shall grant a certificate of sale bearing his seal and signature to the purchaser, and such certificate shall state the property sold and the name of the purchaser.(15)It shall be lawful for the Sale Officer to sell the whole or any portion of the immovable property of a defaulter in discharge of money due:Provided that so far as may be practicable, no larger section or portion of immovable property shall be sold than that may be sufficient to discharge the amount due with interest and expenses of attachment, if any, and sale.(16)Where the costs and charges incurred in connection with attachment and sale of immovable property or the attachment and sale or sale without attachment of immovable property under this rule, exceeds the amount of the cost deposited by the applicant, such excess shall be deducted from the sale proceeds of the property sold or the moneys paid by the defaulter, as the case may be, and the balance shall be made available to the applicant.(17)Every person making a payment towards any money due for the recovery of which application has been made under this rule shall be entitled to a receipt for the amount signed by the Sale Officer or other officer empowered by the Recovery Officer in that behalf. Such receipt shall state the name of the person making the payment and the subject matter in respect of which the payment is made.(18)(a)Where any claim is preferred to, or airy objection is made to the attachment of, any property attached under this rule on the ground that such property is not liable to such attachment, the Sale Officer shall investigate the claim or objection and dispose it of on merits:Provided that no such investigation shall be made when the Sale Officer considers that the claim or objection is frivolous.(b)Where the property to which the claim or objection relates has been authorised for sale, the Sale Officer may postpone the sale pending the investigation of the claim or objection.(c)Where a claim or an objection is preferred to the party against whom an order is made may institute a suit to establish the right which he claims to the property in dispute, but subject to the result of such suit, if any, the order shall be final.(19)(i)Any deficiency of price which may arise on a re-sale held under Clause (j) of sub-rule (11) by reason of the purchaser's defaulter and all expenses attending such re-sale shall be certified by the Sale Officer to the Recovery Officer, and shall, at the instance of either the applicant or the defaulter, be recoverable from the defaulting purchaser under the provisions of this rule. The costs, if any, incidental to such recovery shall also be borne by the defaulting purchaser.(ii)Where the property may, on the second sale, sell for a higher price than at the first sale, the defaulting purchaser at the first sale, shall have no claim to the difference or increase.(20)Where any property has been attached in execution of decree but by reason of the applicant's default the Recovery Officer is unable to proceed further with the application for execution, he shall either dismiss the application or for any sufficient reason adjourn the proceedings to a future date. Upon the dismissal of such application, the attachment shall cease.(21)Where assets are held by the Sale Officer and before the receipt of such assets, demand notices in pursuance of application for execution of decree against the same defaulter have been received from more than one applicants and the applicants have not obtained satisfaction, the assets, after deducting the cost of realisation, shall be rateably distributed by the Sale Officer among all such applicants in the manner provided in Section 73 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.(22)Where a defaulter dies before the decree has been fully satisfied, an application under sub-rule (1), may be made against the legal representative of the deceased and thereupon all the provisions of this rule shall, save as otherwise provided in this sub-rule, apply as if such legal representative were the defaulter. Where the decree is executed against such legal representative, he shall be liable only lo the extent of the property of the deceased which has come to his hand and has not been duly disposed of; and for the purpose of ascertaining such liability, the Recovery Officer executing the decree may, of his own motion or on the application of the applicant, compel such legal representative to produce such accounts as he thinks fit.
