Equivalent Citation: AIR1968SC1087, [1968]3SCR158
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
Decided On: 09.02.1968
Appellants: Moti Lal Banker
Vs.
Respondent: Mahraj Kumar Mahmood Hasan Khan
Hon'ble Judges: R.S. Bachawat and V. Bhargava, JJ.
Civil – alteration of decree by compromise – Order 21 Rule 2 and Order 20 Rule 11 of Code of Civil
Procedure, 1908 - application for execution filed by appellant in Court of Civil Judge resulting in
compromise – not to execute decree for two months – interest paid on decretal amount –
compromise confirmed by executing Court – appeal to High Court – observed that no compromise
can be entered to pay higher rate of interest – appellant preferred appeal – Supreme Court
decided parties can enter in compromise with reference to their rights and obligations under
decree – held, reasonable rate of interest in compromise is not alteration of decree.
Bachawat, J.
1. The appellant instituted a suit in the Court of the Civil Judge, Mohanlalganj, Lucknow against the
respondent and his brother, Amir Anil Khan, claiming a decree for Rs. 41,500. The suit ended in a
compromise. On March 24, 1953, the suit was decreed in terms of the compromise. Under the decree,
Amir Ali Khan was liable to pay Rs. 16,500 within a year. He discharged his liability by paying this
amount. The decree directed the respondent to pay within six months Rs. 22,500 carrying interest at 6 per
cent per annum. The respondent failed to pay the decretal amount. On May 23, 1954, the appellant took
out execution for Rs. 24,150 and attached Iqbal Manzil. The application for execution was filed in the
Court of the Civil Judge, Mohanlalganj, Lucknow. The execution proceedings ended in a compromise.
The appellant agreed not to execute the decree for two months. The respondent agreed to pay within two
months Rs. 24,150 with interest at 1 per cent per month until realisation. In default of payment, the
appellant was authorised to realise the amount due under the compromise in execution proceedings. The
parties agreed that in the meantime Iqbal Manzil would continue to remain attached. The executing Court
recorded the compromise. On February 18, 1955, the appellant filed the present execution application for
realisation of Rs. 24,150 and interest thereon at 1 per cent per month. The respondent filed objections
under s. 47 of the Code of Civil Procedure giving rise of Miscellaneous Case No. 79 of 1955. One of the
objections was that the appellant could not realise interest at 1 per cent per month in execution of the
decree. The objections were dismissed by the executing Court. The respondent filed an appeal against
this order. At the hearing of the appeal, a Division Bench of the High Court referred to a Full Bench the
question whether it was open to the parties in execution proceedings to enter into a compromise
postponing the execution of the decree on condition of paying enhanced interest. At the hearing of the
reference, a Full Bench of the High Court reframed the question. The question as reframed by the Full
Court was : "Is a compromise entered in a proceeding for execution of a decree by which the judgment-
debtor undertakes to pay interest at a rate higher than the decree rate of interest, enforceable in a
proceeding for execution of the decree ?" The Full Bench by a majority judgment reported in Md. Hasan
Khan v. Motilal MANU/UP/0001/1961 : AIR1961All1 answered the question in the negative. The
matter came up for final hearing before a Division Bench. The Bench gave effect to the Full Bench ruling
and held that the compromise dated May 29, 1954 could not be enforced in execution proceedings. In
other respects, the Bench confirmed the order of the Civil Judge dismissing the objections and dismissed
the appeal. It is from this order that this appeal has been filed by the appellant after obtaining special
leave. The sole question in this appeal is whether the compromise of May 29, 1954 is enforceable in
execution proceedings.
2. It is open to the parties to enter into a compromise with reference to their rights and obligations under a
decree. There is nothing in the Code of Civil Procedure which prevents the parties from entering into such
a compromise. If the compromise amounts to an adjustment of the decree, it must be recorded under O.
21, r. 2 and if not so recorded, it cannot be recognised by any Court executing the decree. The
compromise of May 29, 1954 was so recorded within the prescribed period of limitation. The compromise
was a fair bargain to postpone the execution of the decree on payment of reasonable interest. The terms
of the compromise related to the execution of the decree. The executing Court has power to determine all
questions arising between the parties to the suit relating to the execution of the decree and to give
appropriate relief on such determination. Exclusive power to determine such questions is given to the
executing Court by s. 47 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The executing Court can determine all questions
relating to the agreement postponing the execution of the decree and the incidental term as to payment of
the higher rate of interest. The agreement to pay the higher interest enforceable in execution of the
decree, see The Oudh Commercial Bank, Ltd. v. Thakurain Bind Basni Kuer [[1939] I.R. 66 : 84 I.A.100].
On the question whether the agreement to pay interest at a rate higher than the rate provided in the
decree can be enforced in execution proceedings there was a conflict of judicial opinion. The Privy
Council decision settled the law on this point. There were also earlier decisions which held that execution
could issue both for the sum decreed and for the interest promised, see Sreeshteedhur Shaha v.
Woomeshnath Roy [[1866] 5 W.R. 1.] and Lakshmana v. Sukiya Bai [ I.L.R. [1884] 7 Mad. 400.].
3. The jurisdiction of the executing Court to enforce such a compromise is not taken away by O. 23, r. 4 of
the Code of Civil Procedure. The effect of O. 23, r. 4 is that O. 23, r. 3 does not apply to execution
proceedings. Independently of O. 23, r. 3, the provisions of O. 21, r. 2 and s. 47 enable the executing
Court to record and enforce such a compromise in execution proceedings. Nor does O. 20, r. 11(2) affect
this power of the executing Court. Order 20, r. 11 enables the Court passing the decree to order
postponement of the payment of the decretal amount on such terms as to the payment of interest as it
thinks fit on the application of the judgment-debtor and with the consent of the decree-holder. It does not
affect the power of the executing Court under s. 47 and O. 21, r. 2.
4. Nor does O. 20, r. 3 affect the power of the executing Court to record and enforce the compromise.
Order 20, r. 3 provides that a judgment once signed cannot afterwards be amended or altered save as
provided by s. 152 or on review. The decree is drawn up in accordance with the judgment. The parties
cannot by an agreement confer upon the Court the power to amend the decree in contravention of O. 20,
r. 3 or the power to enforce the amended decree. See Pradyumna Kumar Mullick v. Dinendra Mullick
MANU/PR/0104/1937. Order 20, r. 3 should be read with O. 20, r. 11 which shows that after the
passing of the decree the Court may order that payment of the amount decreed shall be postponed or
shall be made by installments on such terms as to payment of interest as it thinks fit. The two provisions
read together show that a direction for postponement of payment of the decretal amount upon the term
that the judgment-debtor should pay a reasonable rate of interest is not an alteration of or addition to the
decree. We are of the opinion that the compromise of May 29, 1954 as to payment of interest can be
enforced in execution proceedings.
5. The compromise is enforceable in execution proceedings on another ground. The decree was passed
on March 24, 1953 by the Court of the Civil Judge, Mohanlalganj, Lucknow. Execution proceedings were
started in the same Court. As the Court which passed the decree it had the power to pass an order under
O. 20, r. 11 in terms of the compromise of May, 29, 1954 directing postponement of the execution of the
decree on the term that the judgment-debtor would pay interest at the rate of 1 per cent per month until
realisation. The prescribed period of limitation under Art. 175 of the Indian Limitation Act, 1908 for an
application for payment of the decretal amount by installments was six months from the date of the
decree. The compromise petition did not ask for payment of the decretal amount by installments. It asked
for postponement of the execution of the decree for two months. Article 175 did not apply to the petition.
Even if Art. 175 applied to the petition, the order passed on the petition is binding on the parties until it is
set aside and may be enforced in execution proceedings, see Monmohan v. Khalishkhali Co-operative
Bank [1937] 41 C.W.N. 480..
6. In the result, the appeal is allowed with cost, and it is declared that the compromise of May 29, 1954
can be enforced in the execution proceedings.
7. Appeal allowed.
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