Order XXI Rule 26 C.P.C deals with powers of the Executing
Court to grant stay of all further proceedings upon showing
sufficient cause, subject to clauses 2 & 3 of the same provision.
Even according to the allegations made in the petition, affidavit
filed along with petition, an allegation is made that, he filed a
petition for condoning delay in filing a petition to set-aside the
exparte decree along with a petition to set-aside the exparte decree
before the Principal Senior Civil Judge, Kurnool. A copy of the
petition is placed before this Court during hearing and the
petitioner filed I.A.No.929 of 2014 to condone delay of 126 days in
filing the written statement. But, it was not known whether the
petitioner filed I.A.No.929 of 2014 before filing I.A.No.1084 of 2017
i.e. to set-aside the exparte decree. But, the present petition was
filed certainly after filing petitions in I.A.No.929 of 2014 and
I.A.No.1084 of 2017. Therefore, the allegations made in the
petition that the petitioner filed petitions to set-aside exparte order
along with the petition to condone delay of 126 days is to be
accepted. However, Order XXI Rule 26 C.P.C has no application to
the present facts of the case, since these petitions were not filed in
the Executing Court to file petition under Section 151 C.P.C in
original Court to grant stay of all further proceedings. but,
imposition of such condition to grant stay of execution proceedings
is in accordance with law, since this Court can impose such
MSM,J
CRP.No.1688 of 2018 4
condition. But, if it is an order while setting aside the exparte
decree under Order IX Rule 13 C.P.C, the principle laid down inGMG Engineering Industries and others v. ISSA Green Power
Solution and others (referred supra), will come in the way and
such order cannot be sustained, since the order is under Order IX
Rule 13 C.P.C. But, when it is an order under Order XXI C.P.C, it
cannot be set-aside, as the Trial Court concluded that it is just and
necessary to impose such condition. Therefore, the order passed by
the Trial Court cannot be interfered with, while exercising power
under Article 227 of the Constitution of India, subject to order in
I.A.No.929 of 2014 and I.A.No.1084 of 2017. However, this order
will not come in the way of disposing the petition filed under Order
IX Rule 13 C.P.C and Section 5 of Limitation Act.
In view of the law laid down by the Apex Court in the cases of
N. Balakrishnan Vs. M. Krishnamurthy (supra) and GMG
Engineering Industries and others Vs. ISSA Green
Power Solution and others (supra), I find that the
appellants have made out sufficient cause to allow the appeal.
Accordingly, the impugned order is set aside and the appeal
is allowed. Delay in filing the application to set aside the ex-
parte decree is condoned and the order dated 8/12/1999
dismissing the suit and the impugned order dated 21/12/1999
are set aside. Appellants are further directed to deposit the
cost of Rs. 3000/- which is to be paid to the defendants. The
trial Court will make all endeavour to conclude the trial of the
suit as expeditiously as possible within a period of six months
from the date of submission of the certified copy of the order.
Certified copy as per rules.