The cognate
bench of this Court in SUNDRA BAI's case supra
has held that the fundamental consideration
should be that the decree holder is not to be
deprived of the fruits of the decree except for good
reasons. The decree must be allowed to be
executed and unless an extraordinary case is
made out, no stay should be granted. Mere
satisfaction of the precondition stipulated in Order
21 Rule 29 CPC would not be a ground for the
executing court to stay execution of the decree
until the pending suit has been decided. The
possibility of the judgment debtor filing frivolous
suits to stall the execution of the decree would not
be ruled out. Stay of execution of decree would
8
not be proper in the facts and circumstances of
the case as it would result in deprival of the right
accrued to the decree holder to enjoy the fruits of
the decree passed in R.A.No.77/2001 confirmed by
this Court. For the aforesaid reasons, this Court
finds it appropriate to quash the order impugned
allowing the writ petition. Hence, the following
order:
So far the case law cited on behalf of the petitioner in the matter
of Smt Sundra Bai (supra) is concerned, it is suffice to say that in that case
it was held that in pendency of the civil suit against the decree at the
instance of the judgment debtor, the power to stay the execution
proceedings should be invoked by the executing court in judicial manner
and not in the arbitrary manner and only in exceptional circumstances and,
ultimately, such petition filed by the judgment debtor was dismissed by the
Karnataka High Court. Hence the case law cited on behalf of the petitioner
is not helping to the petitioner.
The learned Single Judge of this Court following
the aforesaid judgement of the Supreme Court in the
case of Smt Sundra bai and others v. Smt Sonubai
reported in 2004(5) Kar. L.J. 619 has observed as
under;
11. This Court in Ashok Shamanna's case (supra) and
Sundra Bai's case (supra) has held that for invocation of
Order XXI Rule 29 of CPC, both requirements should be met
namely pendency of both proceedings before same Court and
between same parties. That apart, it is also held that power
under Order XXI Rule 29 of CPC is discretionary and on mere
satisfaction of above condition, only in exceptional
circumstances, where interest of justice required. However,
impugned order is passed merely recording finding about
pendency of two proceedings before same Court, which would
not meet requirement of law.
Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner/
judgment debtor no.1 submits that the legal provision was
wrongly stated in the application filed by judgment debtor
no.1 and that the petitioner's Advocate had also remained
absent before the Court when the application was
considered. Hence, he seeks leave to withdraw the writ
petition with liberty to the petitioner to file an application
under Order 21 Rule 29 of CPC before the Executing Court
in Ex.No.94/2016. In the interest of justice, leave and
liberty sought for is granted. If an application is filed by the
petitioner under Order 21 Rule 29 of CPC within a week
from today, the Executing Court shall consider the same in
the light of the law laid down by this Court in Smt. Sundra
Bai and Others vs Smt. Sonubai [ILR 2004 KAR 1558] and
without being influenced by the order dated 23.07.2018
impugned herein.
3. In my opinion, having regard to the facts of the
case, there is no ground for stay of the execution
proceeding. The application for stay is filed only to drag
on the execution proceeding. The impugned order is in
conformity with the law laid down by this Court in
Sundra Bai & Others vs. Smt. Sonubai [(2004) 2 KCCR
1305]. The writ petition is accordingly dismissed. The
Executing Court is directed to dispose of the aforesaid
execution proceeding in Ex.No.13/2012 expeditiously
by strictly avoiding unnecessary adjournments in the
matter.