Karnataka High Court
Sri.L.C.Krishnaiah vs Sri.Krishna Joshi on 25 July, 2025
-1- NC: 2025:KHC:28456 W.P. No.54203/2017 HC-KAR IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 25TH DAY OF JULY, 2025 BEFORE R THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VIJAYKUMAR A. PATIL WRIT PETITION NO.54203/2017 (GM-CPC) BETWEEN: SRI. L.C. KRISHNAIAH SINCE DEAD BY HIS LRS. 1. SMT. N. SUMANGALA W/O LATE L.C. KRISHNAIAH Digitally signed AGED ABOUT 63 YEARS. by RUPA V Location: High 2. SRI. K.V. GOPAL Court of W/O LATE L.C. KRISHNAIAH karnataka AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS. 3. SRI. K.C.B. GOWDA S/O LATE L.C. KRISHNAIAH AGED ABOUT 37 YEARS. ALL ARE R/AT MANTANAKURCHI VILLAGE KASABA HOBLI, NELAMANGALA TALUK BNAGALORE RURAL DISTRICT-562130. ...PETITIONERS (BY SRI. T. SESHAGIRI RAO, ADV.,) AND: 1. SRI. KRISHNA JOSHI S/O LATE NARAYANA JOSHI AGED ABOUT 56 YEARS RESIDING AT D.NO.84/B "SRIVATHSA", 2ND MAIN ROAD GKW LAYOUT, BENGALURU-560040. 2. SMT. SUCHETHA RAJANNA D/O L.C. KRISHNAIAH -2- NC: 2025:KHC:28456 W.P. No.54203/2017 HC-KAR AGED ABOUT 49 YEARS R/AT. SAMRUDDHI NILAYA FARM HOUSE, BYRAPURA ROAD KAKOLU, KAKOLU POST HESARAGHATTA HOBLI YELAHANKA, BENGALURU-560089. 3. SMT. DEVIKA .K D/O L.C. KRISHNAIAH AGED ABOUT 48 YEARS R/AT. NO.76, 2ND 'A' CROSS DEFENCE COLONY NAGASANDRA POST, BAGALA GUNTE BENGALURU-560073. 4. SMT. KASTURI .K D/O L.C. KRISHNAIAH AGED ABOUT 47 YEARS R/AT. NO.36, SHIVA KRUPA 6TH MAIN, 7TH CROSS MALLESWARAM, BENGALURU-560003. ...RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. RAMACHANDRA G. BHAT, ADV.,) THIS W.P. IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF CERTIORARI OR ANY OTHER WRIT OR ORDER FOR QUASHING THE ORDER DATED 31.8.2017 ONE PASSED BY THE II ADDL. SR.CIVIL JUDGE, BANGALORE RURAL DISTRICT ON AN APPLICATION FILED BY THE PETITIONERS HEREIN UNDER SEC. 28(1) OF THE SPECIFIC RELIEF ACT IN O.S.259/2001 ON THE FILE OF ITS COURT FOUND AT ANNEX-X TO THE WRIT PETITION AND FURTHER PASS APPROPRIATE ORDER TO ALLOW THE SAID APPLICATION & ETC. THIS PETITION HAVING BEEN HEARD AND RESERVED ON 23.07.2025, COMING ON FOR PRONOUNCEMENT OF ORDER, THIS DAY, THE COURT MADE THE FOLLOWING: -3- NC: 2025:KHC:28456 W.P. No.54203/2017 HC-KAR CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VIJAYKUMAR A. PATIL CAV ORDER This writ petition is filed challenging the order dated 31.08.2017 passed by the II Additional Senior Civil Judge, Bengaluru, on an application filed under Section 28(1) of the Specific Relief Act, 1963, in O.S.No.259/2001. 2. Heard. 3. Sri.T.Seshagiri Rao, learned counsel for the petitioners makes the following submissions: (1) The respondent-plaintiff filed a suit for specific performance of the agreements of sale dated 28.03.1999 and 27.11.2000. The petitioner-defendant conceded the prayer for passing of the decree. The defendant filed a memo to decree the suit by directing the plaintiff to get the sale deed executed within thirty days by paying the balance sale consideration. The suit came to be decreed conditionally by directing the defendant to execute the registered sale deed in respect of the suit schedule property after receiving the balance amount of sale consideration as per the agreements within two months from the date of decree. -4- NC: 2025:KHC:28456 W.P. No.54203/2017 HC-KAR (2) The plaintiff could not come forward to pay the balance sale consideration as per the decree and did not get the sale deed registered. The defendant issued a legal notice on 02.09.2004 calling upon the plaintiff to perform his obligation as per the decree. The plaintiff sent an untenable reply stating that within two months of getting the copy of the decree he would get the sale deed executed. The defendant sent another notice on 04.11.2004 stating that the plaintiff, with a sole intention to go behind the agreements and also the terms of the decree, issued the reply notice and the defendant is not liable to execute the sale deed since the plaintiff inspite of the specific offer did not complete the sale transaction within the stipulated time and the defendant is at liberty to deal with the property in favour of anyone of his choice. The plaintiff sent a reply to the said notice with untenable grounds and sent a notice dated 20.01.2005 stating that the arm twisting activities and threat of deploying muscle power, etc. would not work to the advantage of the defendant. (3) The plaintiff filed an execution petition in Ex. case No.17/2005 along with an affidavit of the plaintiff narrating incorrect facts. It is submitted that the defendant filed -5- NC: 2025:KHC:28456 W.P. No.54203/2017 HC-KAR objections to the execution petition on 15.09.2005 stating that the decree being a conditional one and due to non-performance of the condition by the plaintiff-decree holder, the decree is not executable. The Trial Court, vide order dated 11.03.2010 rejected the objections of the petitioners-judgment debtors. The petitioners filed a miscellaneous appeal challenging the order dated 11.03.2010. It is further submitted that in the interregnum, considering the observations of the Trial Court, the petitioners filed an application under Section 28(1) of the Act, seeking to rescind the judgment and decree dated 25.08.2004 in O.S.No.259/2001. The Trial Court, under the impugned order rejected the said application. It is also submitted that in the interregnum, the plaintiff-decree holder without seeking any extension of time, filed a memo to deposit the balance sale consideration before the Executing Court. The Executing Court accepted the said memo. (4) It is contended that the plaintiff ought to have paid the balance sale consideration within the time stipulated in the decree and ought to have got the sale deed executed. He deposited the sum before the Executing Court after a period of one year eight months. The defendant sent first notice on -6- NC: 2025:KHC:28456 W.P. No.54203/2017 HC-KAR 02.09.2004 and within a period of two months from the said date, the plaintiff ought to have paid the balance sale consideration and got the sale deed executed. The plaintiff has indulged in untenable replies to the notice and deposited some amounts in the Execution Court and the said amount is not the entire balance of sale consideration. It is further contended that till date, the plaintiff has not filed any application seeking for extension of time in the suit and any deposit made suo motu in the execution proceedings does not amount to extension of time in the decree. (5) It is also contended that the decree drawn by the Court is based on the compromise and the decree is a conditional one and based on the judgment which was available with the plaintiff, he ought to have come forward and deposited the balance sale consideration. However, an untenable stand is taken that only the decree was drawn, he would pay the balance sale consideration. It is submitted that the decree in the suit came to be drawn on 24.09.2004 and even from that date the respondent ought to have paid the balance sale consideration within two months. However, he suo motu deposits the same in the execution proceedings that too when -7- NC: 2025:KHC:28456 W.P. No.54203/2017 HC-KAR the defendant has objected to the execution proceedings on the ground that the conditional decree is not enforceable. (6) It is further submitted that the objections filed by the defendant in the execution proceedings amounts to rescission of contract for sale as provided under Section 28(1) of the Act. It is also submitted that if the decree is a conditional one, the Court cannot extend the time at the request of the decree holder, however it can rescind the contract at the request of the judgment debtor if the conditions are not fulfilled. In this case, the respondent-decree holder had not filed any application seeking for extension of time and unless extension is sought and granted, there cannot be any sanctity for the deposit made by the respondent-decree holder in the Execution Court. It is contended that the Trial Court, under the impugned order rejected the application of the defendant mainly on the ground that the application is filed beyond the period of limitation. It is further contended that no time is stipulated in Section 28 of the Act for rescission for sale of immovable property. It is also contended that the decree in question is only a preliminary decree and the proceedings would come to an end only after the execution of the sale deed -8- NC: 2025:KHC:28456 W.P. No.54203/2017 HC-KAR and delivery of possession in favour of the purchaser is completed and from that date, the limitation is required to be considered. However, the Trial Court, under the impugned order applied Article 59 of the Limitation Act, 1963, and held that the application is filed beyond a period of three years. In support of his contentions, he has placed reliance on the following judgments: 1. RADHEY SHYAM & ORS. Vs. HARENDRA PAL RATHI1 2. BAKHTAWAR SINGH Vs. MST. INDER KAUR2 3. PREM JEEVAN Vs. K.S. VENKATA RAMAN & ANR.3 4. LAJPAT RAI MEHTA Vs. SECRETARY TO THE GOVT. OF PUNJAB, DEPARTMENT OF IRRIGATION AND POWER, CHANDIGARH4 4. Per contra, Sri.Ramachandra G. Bhat, learned counsel for the respondent-plaintiff supports the impugned order of the Execution Court and submits that the judgment is dated 25.08.2004 and on the said day, the defendant was not alive as he died on 19.08.2004 and as per the agreement of sale dated 28.03.1999, the extent is shown as 3 acres 34 guntas. However, there was a dispute with regard to 19 guntas 1 AIR 2015 ALL 180 2 (2014) 1 RLW 544 (Raj) 3 (2017) 11 SCC 57 4 (2009) 3 SCC 260 -9- NC: 2025:KHC:28456 W.P. No.54203/2017 HC-KAR and a request was made to conduct the survey but no survey was carried out. Hence, it was not known as to what was the extent of land available for execution of sale deed free from dispute and such information was not provided in the notices issued by the defendant to the plaintiff. Hence, the plaintiff was waiting for the dispute relating to 19 guntas of land to be resolved and survey to be carried out. However, the defendant could not complete the survey work and only in the year 2011, the survey was completed. Hence, there cannot be any default on the part of the plaintiff in not paying the balance sale consideration and not getting the sale deed executed. It is submitted that the plaintiff has sought permission to deposit the balance sale consideration in the Execution Court which was allowed and thereafter, the plaintiff deposited the balance amount to the extent of 3 acres 15 guntas only, as the title in respect of 19 guntas was in dispute. It is further submitted that the defendant did not come forward within 60 days to execute the sale deed as no survey was conducted and the initial burden is on the defendant that the property was ready for execution of sale deed and the same was not discharged. Hence, the question of plaintiff seeking any extension of time - 10 - NC: 2025:KHC:28456 W.P. No.54203/2017 HC-KAR would not arise. It is also submitted that the condition stipulated in the decree is that the execution of the sale deed is as per the agreements of sale and until the dispute is resolved with regard to the extent referred in the agreements of sale, the time stipulated in the decree would not run against the plaintiff. It is contended that till the notice was issued, the plaintiff was not aware as to who were the legal heirs of the defendant and who would execute the sale deed. Hence, it was difficult for him to make the payment to the legal heirs and to what extent and the petitioners have not produced the particulars of the legal heirs or the succession certificate to the respondent-plaintiff and if they would have produced the same, the plaintiff would have taken steps to pay the balance amount and would have sought for registration of the sale deed. Due to the delay of the petitioners, the respondent-plaintiff cannot be held liable for not complying the conditions of the decree. It is further contended that the respondent-plaintiff filed a memo seeking permission to deposit the amount and the said memo is not opposed by the petitioners and the order passed on such memo has attained finality. It is also contended that after deposit of the amount, the petitioners filed an application for - 11 - NC: 2025:KHC:28456 W.P. No.54203/2017 HC-KAR rescission, beyond the period of limitation, which has been rightly rejected by the Trial Court. It is submitted that till the application for rescission of contract is filed, the decree in question was enforceable and it was a valid decree and the respondent has deposited the balance amount before the Execution Court before the application for rescission of the contract. The rescission application was filed by the petitioners only after the respondent deposited the amount and the same was accepted by the Execution Court. In view of the same, the application for rescission was not maintainable. It is further submitted that the application for rescission ought to have been filed before filing of the memo by the respondents and before any amount is deposited before the Execution Court. In support of his contentions, he placed reliance on the following decisions: 1. RAMANKUTTY GUPTAN VS, AVARA5 2. SARDAR MOHAR SINGH VS. MANGILAL @ MANGTYA6 3. CHITHAMBARAN PONNAPPAN VS. VISWAMBARAN AND ANR.7 4. KUMAR DHIRENDRA MULLICK AND ORS. VS. TIVOLI PARK APARTMENTS (P) LTD.8 5 (1994) 2 SCC 642 6 (1997) 9 SCC 217 7 AIR 2001 KERALA 205 - 12 - NC: 2025:KHC:28456 W.P. No.54203/2017 HC-KAR 5. S.K.GUPTA AND ORS. Vs. KULDIP SINGH AND ORS.9 6. ASHOK K KHURANA Vs. M/s. STEELMAN INDUSTRIES AND ANR.10 5. I have heard the arguments of the learned counsel for the petitioners, learned counsel for the respondent and perused the material available on record. I have given my anxious consideration to the submissions advanced on both the sides. 6. The parties are referred to as per their rankings in the suit. The respondent is the plaintiff and the petitioner is the defendant. 7. The pleading and material on record indicate that the plaintiff filed O.S.No.259/2001 for the relief of specific performance of the agreements of sale dated 28.03.1999 and 27.11.2000. The subject matter of the suit was a land measuring 3 acres 34 guntas in Sy.No.170 of Mantanakurchi Village, Kasaba Hobli, Nelamangala Taluk, Bangalore Rural District or 3 acres 15 guntas of the same land. The defendant 8 (2005) 9 SCC 262 9 AIR 2011 DELHI 54 10 AIR 2000 DELHI 336 - 13 - NC: 2025:KHC:28456 W.P. No.54203/2017 HC-KAR filed a written statement. The prayer in the written statement reads as under: "Wherefore, the defendant humbly prays that this Hon'ble Court be pleased to dismiss the suit one presented by the plaintiff with exemplary cost in case the plaintiff failed to purchase the property within thirty days from the date of placing written statement on record........" 8. The defendant also filed a memo dated 16.07.2004 which indicates that as on the date of the memo, survey dispute as alleged in the plaint was settled and there was no legal impediment for the plaintiff to get the sale deed executed and a direction was sought to the plaintiff to get the sale deed executed within 30 days from the date of placing the memo on record, otherwise the defendant would forfeit the advance amount received from the plaintiff under the agreement of sale. 9. The Trial Court considered the written statement as well as the memo and passed the judgment on 25.08.2004 which reads as under: "Suit of the plaintiff is decreed. The defendant shall execute the registered sale deed in respect of the suit property after receiving balance amount of sale consideration payable to the defendant as per the terms - 14 - NC: 2025:KHC:28456 W.P. No.54203/2017 HC-KAR of the agreement. The sale deed shall be executed and registered by both the parties within two months from the date of the decree. In case if the defendants fail to execute the registered sale deed within that period, the plaintiff is at liberty to apply to the Court and get appointed a court commissioner for execution and registration of the sale deed after depositing balance amount of sale consideration." 10. The aforesaid judgment indicates that the suit of the plaintiff was decreed, the defendant was directed to execute the registered sale deed after receiving the balance amount of the sale consideration as per the terms of agreement within two months from the date of decree. In case, if the defendant failed to execute the registered sale deed, the plaintiff has liberty to apply to the Court and get the sale deed executed after depositing the balance sale consideration. 11. The defendant died on 19.08.2004 and the legal heirs of the defendant got issued legal notice dated 02.09.2004 to the plaintiff indicating that the legal heirs of the defendant are ready and willing to execute the sale deed after receiving the balance sale consideration and requested to inform as to where and when they have to meet the plaintiff for completion - 15 - NC: 2025:KHC:28456 W.P. No.54203/2017 HC-KAR of the sale transaction and for execution of the registered sale deed in order to complete their obligation as per the judgment dated 25.08.2004. The plaintiff's counsel sent a reply dated 17.09.2004 informing that upon going through the judgment and within two months after getting the copy of the decree, the plaintiff would get the sale deed executed in his favour. The defendants got issued another notice on 4.11.2004 to the plaintiff informing that the plaintiff, with a sole intention to go behind the agreement and also the terms of the decree got issued reply notice stating that he still wants to look into the judgment and decree passed by the Court. Hence, the defendants informed that they are not liable to execute the sale deed since the plaintiff inspite of specific offer made by the legal heirs of the deceased, did not complete the sale transaction. As such, the defendants are at liberty to deal with the property in favour of anybody of their choice. The plaintiff sent a notice dated 27.11.2004 informing that the plaintiff has applied for the certified copy of the decree and the plaintiff is ready to scrupulously follow the terms of the decree and get the property in question registered and as on that date, neither the office of the Court had drawn the decree nor was it signed - 16 - NC: 2025:KHC:28456 W.P. No.54203/2017 HC-KAR by the learned Civil Judge. The decree at Annexure-N indicates that the said decree was drawn and signed by the learned Civil Judge on 24.09.2004. Hence, the assertion of the plaintiff in the notice dated 27.11.2004 that the decree was not drawn is factually incorrect. The plaintiff got issued another notice dated 20.01.2005 stating that he has been furnished with the certified copy of the decree and are wiling to get the sale deed registered. 12. The plaintiff filed an execution petition in Ex.P.No.17/2005 on 08.02.2005 seeking prayer to the defendants-judgment debtors to execute the sale deed in favour of plaintiff-decree holder. Along with the execution petition, the plaintiff filed an affidavit. The affidavit indicates that the plaintiff was ready for the registration of the sale deed within the period and also ready to pay the balance sale consideration but the judgment debtors were not ready to execute the sale deed in favour of the plaintiff. Further, the judgment debtors have not challenged the order dated 25.08.2004 till now. The order sheet in Ex.P.No.17/2005 indicates that the plaintiff-decree holder filed a memo wherein - 17 - NC: 2025:KHC:28456 W.P. No.54203/2017 HC-KAR he seeks permission to deposit the balance sale consideration of Rs.2,16,000/-. The Execution Court, on 29.06.2006 permitted the decree holder to deposit Rs.2,16,000/- and ordered to issue RO to the said amount. On 07.07.2006, the decree holder filed a memo along with a document for having deposited the amount. 13. The defendants-judgment debtors filed objections on 15.09.2005 in Ex.P.No.17/2005 contending that the plaintiff-decree holder was supposed to have paid the balance sale consideration within two months as per the conditional judgment and decree and should have got the sale deed registered. Hence, the agreements stood revoked by virtue of the judgment dated 25.08.2004 passed in O.S.No.259/2001 and the judgment being a conditional judgment, the decree holder is estopped from contending contrary to the same in the execution petition and the decree is not executable. The Execution Court, vide order dated 11.03.2010 rejected the objections holding that the Execution Court cannot go beyond the decree and cannot interpret the same in negative terms. The said order was assailed by the petitioners in - 18 - NC: 2025:KHC:28456 W.P. No.54203/2017 HC-KAR M.A.No.28/2010 which is pending consideration. In the meanwhile, the petitioners filed an application under Section 28(1) of the Act seeking for rescinding the judgment and decree dated 25.08.2004 and the agreement of sale dated 28.03.1999 which came to be rejected by the Trial Court under the impugned order. 14. The Allahabad High Court in the case of RADHEY SHYAM AND OTHERS, referred supra at paragraphs 17 and 18 held as under: "17. So far as the objection under section 47, C.P.C. filed by the defendants is concerned, the petitioners/judgment debtors had objected to the execution of the decree on the ground that the balance sale consideration was not paid by the decree holder. The decree for specific performance is a preliminary decree. The Court passing the decree did not cease to have power after decreeing the suit for specific performance rather final decree is to be passed only after the conditions of the preliminary decree have been complied with. The time specified in the decree for specific performance of the conditions of the decree has to be adhered to. In case of failure to deposit the money, the Court has power to extend the time on the application of the decree holder. - 19 - NC: 2025:KHC:28456 W.P. No.54203/2017 HC-KAR 18. The decree holder did not file any application seeking extension of time. On the other hand, in the objection-under section 47, C.P.C., the judgment debtor had pleaded that the final decree could not be passed as the decree holder did not pay the balance sale consideration in compliance of the preliminary decree. The Executing Court had adopted correct approach of law in looking into the facts that whether the decree for specific performance can be executed by giving extension of time to the decree holder to deposit the balance sale consideration. In its discretion, it has refused to accept the deposits made beyond the period of four years, without any explanation of delay by the decree holder. The Revisional Court ought not to have interfered in the matter in its limited jurisdiction. This Court, therefore, is of the opinion that the impugned judgment and orders dated 24.2.1996 and 30.9.2008 cannot be sustained and are accordingly set aside. The order of the Executing Court dated 9.5.2002 in Execution Case No. 61 of 1996 is upheld. The writ petition is allowed. The Execution application is consigned to record." 15. In the aforesaid decision, it was held that the decree for specific performance is a preliminary decree. The Court passing the decree did not cease to have the power after decreeing a suit for specific performance rather final decree is to be passed only after the conditions of the preliminary decree - 20 - NC: 2025:KHC:28456 W.P. No.54203/2017 HC-KAR have been complied with, and the conditions of the decree has to be adhered to and the decree holder shall seek extension of time to deposit the balance sale consideration and the Trial Court, in its discretion has to refuse or accept the deposit beyond the period. 16. In the case of BAKHTAWAR SINGH referred supra, the Rajasthan High Court at paragraphs 17, 18, 20 and 21 held as under: "17. This case is clearly distinguishable inasmuch as such a proposition cannot be applied to the facts of the present case. Filing of application under Section 28 of the Act by the defendant is in the circumstances where the plaintiff fails to deposit the money as directed in the decree. Here the plaintiff has filed only an application under Section 148 C.P.C. for extension of time, which has been refused upon a contest by the defendant and while dismissing the said application under Section 148 C.P.C., the Court also invoked the Section 28 of the Act to rescind the agreement in question itself without any separate and specific application by the vendor - defendant Mst. Inder Kaur. There was no need for any separate application on behalf of the defendant to move any such application, since the plaintiff only claimed extension of time as a matter of right under Section 148 C.P.C. having not led any evidence in support of basis for such extension, therefore, even if the contract was not - 21 - NC: 2025:KHC:28456 W.P. No.54203/2017 HC-KAR rescinded, the learned trial court could very well refuse the execution of the decree in question holding it to be a in executable decree. 18. The other case relied upon by the learned counsel for the petitioner, Mr. Hemant Dutt in the case of D.V. Paul v. Manisha Lalwani, (2010) 8 SCC 546 is only about exercise of discretion under Section 148 C.P.C. and the Hon'ble Apex Court in para 26 clarified that such a provision is only discretionary and is intended to be exercised to meet the ends of justice. In para 32 of the judgment, the Hon'ble Apex Court has clearly observed that the power to fix time for doing of an act must carry with it the power to extend such period, depending upon whether the party in default makes out a case to the satisfaction of the Court who has fixed the time. In the present case, the learned Counsel below has only refused the said application and such rejection cannot be said to be perverse in any manner requiring interference by this Court under Article 227 of the Constitution of India. 20. On the other hand, in the case of V.S. Palanichamy Chettiar Firm v. C. Alagappan reported in (1999) 4 SCC 702 relied upon by the learned counsel for the respondents Mr. V.K. Agarwal, the Hon'ble Apex Court in para 17 held that the provisions to grant specific performance of an agreement are quite stringent. Equitable considerations come into play and the Court has to see all the attendant circumstances including if the vendee has conducted himself in a reasonable manner under the contract of sale. The Apex Court held that the - 22 - NC: 2025:KHC:28456 W.P. No.54203/2017 HC-KAR court cannot as a matter of course, allow extension of time for making payment of balance amount of consideration in terms of a decree after 5 years of passing of the decree by the trial Court and 3 years of its confirmation by the appellate Court. Therefore, the Hon'ble Supreme Court rejected the application of the plaintiff and upheld the contention of the defendant that the decree was in executable after long lapse of 5 years. Para 17 of the said judgment as appearing in the head- note of the SCC is extracted below for ready reference: "Provisions to grant specific performance of an agreement are quite stringent. Equitable considerations come into play. Court has to see all the attendant circumstances including if the vendee has conducted himself in a reasonable manner under the contract of sale. That being the position of law for filing the suit for specific performance, can the court as a matter of course allow extension of time for making payment of balance amount of consideration in terms of a decree after 5 years of passing of the decree by the trial Court and 3 years of its confirmation by the appellate Court? It is not the case of the respondent-decree holder that on account of any fault on the part of the vendor- judgment-debtor, the amount could not be deposited as per the decree. That being the position, if now time is granted, that would be going beyond the period of limitation prescribed for filing of the suit for specific performance of the agreement though this provision may not be strictly applicable. It is nevertheless an important circumstance to be considered by the Court. That apart, no explanation whatsoever is coming from the decree-holder-respondents as to why they did not pay the balance amount of consideration as per the decree except what the High Court itself though fit to comment which is certainly not borne out from the record. Equity demands that discretion be not exercised in favour of the decree holder- - 23 - NC: 2025:KHC:28456 W.P. No.54203/2017 HC-KAR respondents and no extension of time be granted to them to comply with the decree." 21. The said judgment is clearly on all fours with the present case and this Court is of the clear opinion that learned Executing Court below was justified in refusing the execution of decree of specific performance rejecting the application filed under Section 148 C.P.C. and 3 and ½ years of the decree without any reason and without any evidence. The learned trial Court, rightly found no justification for execution of decree after 7 years of decree dtd. 16.8.2003 and the learned court below was justified in invoking Section 28 of the Act and rescind the Agreement itself." [Emphasis supplied] 17. In the case of PREM JEEVAN, referred supra, the Hon'ble Supreme Court at paragraphs 8 to 12 held as under: "8. Reference to Order 20 Rule 12-A CPC shows that in every decree of specific performance of a contract, the court has to specify the period within which the payment has to be made. In the present case, the said period was two months from the date of the decree. 9. In absence of the said time being extended, the decree-holder could execute the decree only by making the payment of the decretal amount to the judgment- debtor or making the deposit in the court in terms of the said decree. In the present case, neither the said deposit was made within the stipulated time nor extension of time was sought or granted and also no explanation has been - 24 - NC: 2025:KHC:28456 W.P. No.54203/2017 HC-KAR furnished for the delay in the making of the deposit. No doubt, as contended by the learned counsel for the decree-holders, relying on the judgment of this Court in Ramankutty Guptan v. Avara [Ramankutty Guptan v. Avara, (1994) 2 SCC 642] , in an appropriate case the court which passed the decree could extend the time as envisaged in the Specific Relief Act, 1963. In the present case no such steps have been taken by the decree-holders. 10. In the above circumstances, the contention advanced on behalf of the decree-holders, respondents herein, that unless the judgment-debtor seeks rescission of the contract in terms of Section 28 of the Specific Relief Act, the decree remains executable in spite of expiry of the period for deposit, with the only obligation on the part of the decree-holders to pay interest, cannot be accepted. 11. Section 28 of the Specific Relief Act is as follows: "28. Rescission in certain circumstances of contracts for the sale or lease of immovable property, the specific performance of which has been decreed.--(1) Where in any suit a decree for specific performance of a contract for the sale or lease of immovable property has been made and the purchaser or lessee does not, within the period allowed by the decree or such further period as the court may allow, pay the purchase money or other sum which the court has ordered him to pay, the vendor or lessor may apply in the same suit in which the decree is made, to have the contract rescinded and on such application the court may, by order, rescind the contract either so far as regards the party in default or altogether, as the justice of the case may require. - 25 - NC: 2025:KHC:28456 W.P. No.54203/2017 HC-KAR (2) Where a contract is rescinded under sub- section (1), the court-- (a) shall direct the purchaser or the lessee, if he has obtained possession of the property under the contract, to restore such possession to the vendor or lessor, and (b) may direct payment to the vendor or lessor of all the rents and profits which have accrued in respect of the property from the date on which possession was so obtained by the purchaser or lessee until restoration of possession to the vendor or lessor, and, if the justice of the case so requires, the refund of any sum paid by the vendee or lessee as earnest money or deposit in connection with the contract. (3) If the purchaser or lessee pays the purchase money or other sum which he is ordered to pay under the decree within the period referred to in sub-section (1), the court may, on application made in the same suit, award the purchaser or lessee such further relief as he may be entitled to, including in appropriate cases all or any of the following reliefs, namely-- (a) the execution of a proper conveyance or lease by the vendor or lessor; (b) the delivery of possession, or partition and separate possession, of the property on the execution of such conveyance or lease. (4) No separate suit in respect of any relief which may be claimed under this section shall lie at the instance of a vendor, purchaser, lessor or lessee, as the case may be. (5) The costs of any proceedings under this section shall be in the discretion of the court." 12. There is no doubt that the above provision permits the judgment-debtor to seek rescission of a contract and also permits extension of time by the court but merely because rescission of contract is not sought by the - 26 - NC: 2025:KHC:28456 W.P. No.54203/2017 HC-KAR judgment-debtor, does not automatically result in extension of time." [Emphasis supplied] 18. In the aforesaid decision, the Hon'ble Supreme Court held that Section 28 of the Act permits the party to the contract to seek extension of time and merely because the rescission of contract is not sought by one party, it does not automatically result in the extension of time. 19. The Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of RAMANKUTTY GUPTAN referred supra, at paragraphs 8 and 9 held as under: "8. Section 37 CPC enumerates that: "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 *** Therefore, it is clear that the decree of the appellate court would be construed to be the decree passed by the court of first instance. It is settled law that an appeal is a continuation of the suit. Therefore, when a decree for specific performance has been dismissed by the trial court, but decreed by the appellate court, it should be - 27 - NC: 2025:KHC:28456 W.P. No.54203/2017 HC-KAR construed to be in the same suit. When the decree specifies the time for performance of the conditions of the decree, on its failure to deposit the money, Section 28(1) itself gives power to the court to extend the time on such terms as the court may allow to pay the purchase money or other sum which the court has ordered him to pay. In K. Kalpana Saraswathi v. P.S.S. Somasundaram Chettiar [(1980) 1 SCC 630 : (1980) 2 SCR 293] this Court held that on an oral prayer made by the counsel for the plaintiff for permission to deposit the entire amount as directed by the trial court this Court directed the appellant to deposit the amount within six months from that date together with interest and other conditions mentioned therein. An application for extension of time for payment of balance consideration may be filed even in the court of first instance or in the appellate court in the same suit as the decree of the trial court stands merged with that of the appellate court which decree is under execution. It is to be seen that the procedure is the handmaid for justice and unless the procedure touches upon jurisdictional issue, it should be moulded to subserve substantial justice. Therefore technicalities would not stand in the way to subserve substantive justice. Take a case where the decree is transferred for execution to a transferee executing court, then certainly the transferee court is not the original court and execution court is not the "same court" within the meaning of Section 28 of the Act. But when an application has been made in the court in which the original suit was filed and the execution is being proceeded with, then - 28 - NC: 2025:KHC:28456 W.P. No.54203/2017 HC-KAR certainly an application under Section 28 is maintainable in the same court. 9. The question then emerges is whether it should be on the original side or execution side. Section indicates that it should be "in the same suit". It would obviously mean in the suit itself and not in the execution proceedings. It is equally settled law that after passing the decree for specific performance, the court does not cease to have any jurisdiction. The court retains control over the decree even after the decree has been passed. It was open to the court to exercise the power under Section 28(1) of the Act either for extension of time or for rescinding the contract as claimed for. Since the execution application has been filed in the same court in which the original suit was filed, namely the court of first instance, instead of treating the application on the execution side, it should have as well been numbered as an interlocutory application on the original side and disposed of according to law. In this view, we feel that the judgment of the Bombay High Court laid down the law correctly and that of the Andhra Pradesh High Court is not correct. The High Court, therefore, is not right in dismissing the application treating it to be on execution side, instead of transferring it on the original side for dealing with it according to law." - 29 - NC: 2025:KHC:28456 W.P. No.54203/2017 HC-KAR 20. In the case of SARDAR MOHAR SINGH referred supra, the Hon'ble Supreme Court at paragraph 4 held as under: "4. From the language of sub-section (1) of Section 28, it could be seen that the court does not lose its jurisdiction after the grant of the decree for specific performance nor it becomes functus officio. The very fact that Section 28 itself gives power to grant order of rescission of the decree would indicate that till the sale deed is executed in execution of the decree, the trial court retains its power and jurisdiction to deal with the decree of specific performance. It would also be clear that the court has power to enlarge the time in favour of the judgment-debtor to pay the amount or to perform the conditions mentioned in the decree for specific performance, in spite of an application for rescission of the decree having been filed by the judgment-debtor and rejected. In other words, the court has the discretion to extend time for compliance of the conditional decree as mentioned in the decree for specific performance. It is true that the respondent has not given satisfactory explanation of every day's delay. It is not, unlike Section 5 of the Limitation Act, an application for condonation of delay. It is one for extension of time. Under these circumstances, the executing court as well as the High Court had exercised discretion and extended the time to comply with the conditional decree. Accordingly, we do not find any valid and justifiable reason to interfere with the order passed by the High Court confirming the order - 30 - NC: 2025:KHC:28456 W.P. No.54203/2017 HC-KAR of the executing court when in particular, the High Court has further enhanced a sum of Rs 16,000 to compensate the petitioner for loss of enjoyment of the money. The said amount is given to the respondent in a sum of Rs 16,000 rightly for the reason that parties contracted for non-performance of the contract. They quantified the damages at Rs 2000 for 8 years. The Court has given Rs 16,000 obviously in terms of the contract." 21. The Kerala High Court in the case of CHITHAMBARAN PONNAPPAN referred supra at paragraph 6 observed as under: "6. What remains to be considered is whether a written application is necessary for extension of time. Here is a case where, even in the decree the Court below allowed the decree-holder time to make the deposit. Mere failure on the part of the decree-holder to deposit the amount does not render the decree ineffective or release the judgment-debtor from the decree ineffective or release the judgment-debtor from his liability to satisfy the decree. It is only when there is wilful default on the part of the decree-holder to make the deposit, that the Court would be justified in refusing extension of time. There is no such wilful default evident in the present case and as such the Court below has the authority and power, under Section 148 of the C.P.C. to extend the time and to proceed with the execution albeit the deposit was belated. That there exists power on the part of the execution Court to extend the time even without application is clear - 31 - NC: 2025:KHC:28456 W.P. No.54203/2017 HC-KAR from the decision in K. Kalpana Saraswathi v. P.S.S.S. Chettiar (AIR 1980 SC 512) also." 22. The Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of KUMAR DHIRENDRA MULLICK AND ORS. referred supra at paragraphs 27 to 32 held as under: "27. In the case of Hungerford Investment Trust Ltd. v. Haridas Mundhra [(1972) 3 SCC 684] it has been held that when the court passes the decree for specific performance, the contract between the parties is not extinguished. That the decree for specific performance is in the nature of preliminary decree and the suit is deemed to be pending even after the decree. Hence, the court retains control over the entire matter even after the decree. Since the court retains control over the matter, despite the decree, it is open to the court to order rescission of the agreement, when it is found that the decree-holder is not ready and willing to abide by his obligations under the decree. 28. In the case of M. Sakuntala Devi v. V. Sakuntala [AIR 1978 AP 337] it has been held that though Section 28 does not confer power on the court to extend time, it recognises its power to do so in cases of default in payment. 29. In the case of K. Kalpana Saraswathi v. P.S.S. Somasundaram Chettiar [(1980) 1 SCC 630 : AIR 1980 SC 512] it has been held as follows: (SCC p. 633, para 4) - 32 - NC: 2025:KHC:28456 W.P. No.54203/2017 HC-KAR "4. It is perfectly open to the court in control of a suit for specific performance to extend the time for deposit, and this Court may do so even now to enable the plaintiff to get the advantage of the agreement to sell in her favour. The disentitling circumstances relied upon by the defendant- respondent are offset by the false pleas raised in the course of the suit by him and rightly negatived. Nor are we convinced that the application for consideration and extension of time cannot be read, as in substance it is, as a petition for more time to deposit. Even so, specific performance is an equitable relief and he who seeks equity can be put on terms to ensure that equity is done to the opposite party even while granting the relief. The final end of law is justice, and so the means to it too should be informed by equity. That is why he who seeks equity shall do equity. Here, the assignment of the mortgage is not a guileless discharge of the vendor's debt as implied in the agreement to sell but a disingenuous disguise to arm herself with a mortgage decree to swallow up the property in case the specific performance litigation misfires. To sterilise this decree is necessary equity to which the appellant must submit herself before she can enjoy the fruits of specific performance." 30. In the case of Sardar Mohar Singh v. Mangilal [(1997) 9 SCC 217] it has been held that Section 28(1) postulates that the court does not lose its jurisdiction after the grant of the decree for specific performance nor it becomes functus officio. Section 28 gives power to grant order of rescission of the agreement which itself indicates that till the sale deed is executed, the trial court retains its power and jurisdiction to deal with the decree of specific performance. Therefore, it was held, the court has the power to enlarge the time in favour of the judgment-debtor [Ed. : In Sardar Mohar - 33 - NC: 2025:KHC:28456 W.P. No.54203/2017 HC-KAR Singh case on failure of the defendant seller to perform his part of the contract, the trial court passed a decree for specific performance directing him to execute the sale deed or in the alternative to refund the earnest money and also pay damages. Thereupon he (judgment-debtor in the decree for specific performance) viz. the vendor filed applications to rescind the decree in execution and sought extension of time to refund the earnest money and pay the damages. The peculiar situation of a judgment-debtor praying for extension of time to "pay" seems to have arisen in Sardar Mohar Singh case due to the fact that the trial court had granted the decree of specific performance against the judgment-debtor only conditionally, that is, the decree would be enforced only if he failed to refund the earnest money and pay the damages to the decree-holder in the time specified. In light of such a decree having been passed against him, the judgment-debtor in Sardar Mohar Singh case, both sought for a rescission of the said (conditional) decree for specific performance and sought for extension of time to refund ("pay") the earnest money and the damages. Both the executing court and the High Court having allowed both his applications, that is for rescission and for extension of time for making the refund, the question before the Supreme Court in Sardar Mohar Singh case was whether the courts below had the power to grant the extension of time to the judgment-debtor in respect of the refund and payment of damages, which it answered in the affirmative, in the terms quoted in this judgment. Ordinarily, however, and as obtaining in this - 34 - NC: 2025:KHC:28456 W.P. No.54203/2017 HC-KAR case as well, it is the purchaser-decree-holder who would be before the court seeking an extension of time to pay (the remainder of) the consideration amount so as to execute the decree of specific performance, in the face of the vendor-judgment-debtor's attempt to have the contract rescinded. Interestingly, the above conditional decree of specific performance may be viewed as a conditional decree for rescission, inasmuch as if the judgment-debtor made the refund of earnest money and payment of damages on time then the contract would be rescinded. On the other hand if he did not make the said refund and payment on time, then the contract would be enforced and a sale deed would have to be executed.] to pay the amount or to perform the conditions mentioned in the decree for specific performance, despite the application for rescission of the agreement/decree. 31. In the case of Vaiyapuri Reddy v. Sivalinga Reddiar [(1970) 1 MLJ 92] it has been held that since the court has, under Section 28, the power to extend the period in cases where it has already fixed a period of deposit, it should be deemed to have the power to either fix a period or grant a fresh period to deposit, particularly in cases where no such period is fixed by the decree. In that case, the Court found that there were laches on the part of the plaintiff in depositing the amount and yet the Court gave thirty days' time to the plaintiff to deposit the amount on the application made by the defendants for rescission of the contract. - 35 - NC: 2025:KHC:28456 W.P. No.54203/2017 HC-KAR 32. In the case of Ouseph v. Devassy [AIR 2001 Ker 104 : (2001) 1 KLJ 59] the decree was silent as to the date by which the decree-holder was to pay the balance of the price. Possession was with the decree-holder. The purchaser deposited the balance before filing of the petition for rescission of the agreement but after expiry of the period fixed by the decree. The decree-holder applied for condonation of the delay. The same was granted. In doing so, the Court observed that Section 28 enables the court to extend the time which by itself implies that mere failure to deposit the balance need not result in the rescission of the contract. On facts, it was found that the decree was silent as to the date by which the decree- holder was to deposit the balance of the sale consideration. On facts, it was found that the decree- holder was in possession for 18 years. On facts, it was found that the vendor did not take any steps to get the balance of the sale consideration. That the vendor failed to seek rescission for 18 years. In the circumstances, the Court allowed the decree-holder condonation of delay in depositing the balance consideration." 23. Keeping in mind the enunciation of law laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court and the other High Courts, I am of the considered view that the Trial Court has committed a grave error in rejecting the application filed by the petitioners under Section 28(1) of the Act. The judgment in O.S.No.259/2001 is dated 25.08.2004 wherein two months' time was granted to the - 36 - NC: 2025:KHC:28456 W.P. No.54203/2017 HC-KAR plaintiff to pay the balance sale consideration and get the sale deed executed. The plaintiff did not pay the balance sale consideration within the stipulated time and did not get the sale deed executed despite the defendants issuing legal notice dated 02.09.2004. On 02.09.2004, the defendants have expressed their willingness to execute the registered sale deed in favour of the plaintiff. The plaintiff, in his reply contended that he would get the decree and thereafter, perform his part of obligation as per the judgment dated 25.08.2004. The records indicate that the decree is drawn and signed by the learned Judge on 24.09.2004 and from the said date, the plaintiff failed to comply his part of obligation as per the judgment within the stipulated time of two months. 24. The plaintiff filed an execution petition on 08.02.2005 falsely contending that he was ready and willing to get the sale deed registered by paying the balance amount. The affidavit filed along with the execution proceedings is nothing but false assertion of readiness and willingness. Nothing had prevented the plaintiff to send a Cheque / Demand Draft to the defendants if he was ready and willing when the - 37 - NC: 2025:KHC:28456 W.P. No.54203/2017 HC-KAR first notice was issued by the defendants on 02.09.2004 and later also. Even at the time of filing of the execution petition, the plaintiff has not deposited the balance amount which clearly demonstrates the intent of the plaintiff. The order sheet of the Execution Court clearly indicates that nearly after 1 year 4 months of filing of the execution petition, the plaintiff files a memo seeking permission to deposit the amount of Rs.2,16,000/-. On the said date, the defendants had already filed objections in the execution proceedings contending that the judgment and decree is unenforceable beyond the period stipulated in the judgment and decree in the absence of any extension of time sought by the plaintiff. The objections filed by the defendants in the execution proceedings clearly indicates that the defendants intended to rescind the agreement of sale in question and in categorical terms, stated that there is willful refusal on the part of the plaintiff in paying the balance sale consideration and getting the sale deed registered. 25. In my considered view, the objections filed by the defendants dated 15.09.2005 is required to be considered as a - 38 - NC: 2025:KHC:28456 W.P. No.54203/2017 HC-KAR prayer for rescinding the contract before the Court. However, the Execution Court, rejected the objections by recording an incorrect finding that the original defendant has died on 19.08.2004 and a dead person cannot execute the sale deed and the legal heirs of the original defendant can execute the sale deed only after getting the title in their names by succession. In my considered view, the approach of the Court is perverse and contrary to the settled principle of law. The succession opens immediately after the death of the original defendant and the legal heirs become the owners of the property and the very same legal heirs have issued notices to the plaintiff on 02.09.2004 and 04.11.2004 expressing their readiness and willingness to execute the sale deed and requested the plaintiff to pay the balance sale consideration. 26. The Execution Court further committed an error in coming to the conclusion that the plaintiff has deposited the balance sale consideration of Rs.2,16,000/- in the execution proceedings and therefore, the Execution Court has extended the time to the decree holder to deposit the balance sale consideration. The said order of the Execution Court is beyond - 39 - NC: 2025:KHC:28456 W.P. No.54203/2017 HC-KAR its order dated 29.06.2006. The Execution Court has only permitted the decree holder to deposit the amount. It is admitted fact that the plaintiff-decree holder has not sought any extension of time by filing an application in the original proceedings or before the Execution Court rather he has voluntarily filed a memo seeking permission to deposit the amount and the said memo has been accepted by the Execution Court which cannot be construed as extension of time under Section 28 of the Act. I am saying so for the reason that the amount sought to be deposited by the plaintiff was on 29.06.2006 as whereas he was required to deposit within 60 days from 25.08.2004 i.e. two months from the date of judgment or from the date of decree i.e. 24.09.2004 from the said date to two months i.e. 23.12.2004. However, he filed a memo after a period of more than 1 year 8 months and there is no explanation whatsoever for the delay in the memo and there is no prayer seeking for extension of time provided in the judgment dated 25.08.2004. Hence, I am of the considered view that the part sale consideration deposited by the petitioners is not as per the judgment and decree passed in the aforesaid suit. - 40 - NC: 2025:KHC:28456 W.P. No.54203/2017 HC-KAR 27. The defendants have seriously disputed the quantum of amount deposited by the plaintiff in the Execution Court and the learned counsel for the defendants has also admitted that the balance sale consideration of Rs.2,16,000/- is towards the extent of 3 acres 15 guntas and not to the full extent. The records indicate that there is no dispute with regard to 19 guntas as orally contended by the learned counsel for the plaintiff. None of the reply notices sent by the plaintiff indicate that there is a dispute with regard to 19 guntas as argued by the learned counsel for the plaintiff. Hence, on this count also, I am of the considered view that the deposit made by the plaintiff-decree holder in the execution proceedings is not the entire balance sale consideration as per the agreement of sale in question. In the absence of any extension of time for deposit of the amount and mere deposit of some part amount in the execution proceedings by the plaintiff-decree holder amounts to willful refusal to perform his part of the obligation as per the judgment and decree in O.S.No.259/2001. Hence, the judgment and decree is unenforceable and the defendants - 41 - NC: 2025:KHC:28456 W.P. No.54203/2017 HC-KAR have categorically sought for rescinding the contract by way of objections in the execution proceedings. 28. Learned counsel for the defendants-petitioners have contended that as an abundant caution, they have filed an application under Section 28 of the Act in a rural Court at Bengaluru though the execution proceedings are transferred to Nelamangala Court. The Trial Court rejected the application filed by the petitioners under Section 28(1) of the Act, solely on the ground that the application is filed beyond the period of limitation. In my considered view, the approach of the Trial Court is perverse and contrary to the settled principles of law. The Hon'ble Supreme Court in the aforesaid decision has categorically held that the decree for specific performance is only a preliminary decree and in the instant case, no final decree is passed. The passing of the final decree in the case of specific performance would be only after executing the sale deed and delivery of possession to the decree holder by the defendants-judgment debtors or by the process of the Court. Hence, in my considered view, applying Article 59 of the Limitation Act to the case on hand is perverse and incorrect. - 42 - NC: 2025:KHC:28456 W.P. No.54203/2017 HC-KAR Article 59 of the Limitation Act provides 3 year period of limitation to cancel or set aside an instrument or a decree or for rescission of contract. In the case on hand, the execution proceedings are pending which is a continuation of the suit proceedings and the preliminary decree of specific performance has not attained finality by executing the sale deed and delivery of possession in favour of the decree holder. Hence, the question of limitation would not arise and the impugned order is liable to be set aside. 29. The chronology of events referred supra clearly demonstrates that the original defendant was in need of money in the year 2001. Hence, conceded by filing a memo for passing of the decree for specific performance. However, the plaintiff by willful refusal and conduct defeated the intent of the defendant. The material on record makes it very clear that without any justifiable reason, the plaintiff dodged the payment of balance sale consideration. Wrong doers cannot be allowed to make profit of their own wrongs. A party may not derive an advantage from its own unlawful acts. 'Nullus Commodum Capere Potest de injuria sua propria'. The aforesaid latin - 43 - NC: 2025:KHC:28456 W.P. No.54203/2017 HC-KAR maxim indicates that a person who manipulates the process, frustrates the legal rights of others, should not be permitted to take advantage of his wrong or manipulation. In the case on hand, the plaintiff has manipulated the process by defeating the right to enjoy the property by the defendant from 2001 to this day by indulging in the litigation. If the plaintiff was honest in his approach, he would have deposited the balance amount immediately atleast after the drawing of the decree or after issuing of the first notice. The deposit of some amount before the Execution Court without seeking any extension in O.S.No.259/2001 is an abuse of process of law and amounts to willful refusal to comply the judgment and decree of the Trial Court in O.S.No.259/2001. 30. Having come to the aforesaid conclusion, I am of the considered view that the agreements of sale in question are required to be rescinded and considering the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case, I am of the considered view that the plaintiff is entitled for the refund of advance sale consideration paid to the original defendant along with interest and also the - 44 - NC: 2025:KHC:28456 W.P. No.54203/2017 HC-KAR plaintiff-decree holder is entitled to seek refund of amount deposited by him in the Execution Court. 31. The contention of the respondents that the conditional decree is enforceable till the order of rescinding contract is passed, has no merit. The conditional decree would become inoperative once the conditions are not fulfilled within the time stipulated or time extended by the Court under Section 28 of the Act. In the instant case, after the period stipulated in the conditional decree, the conditional decree becomes inoperative unless the said condition is modified by extension of time by the Court. In the case on hand, the plaintiff has not made any application for seeking extension of time till day. Hence, the decree becomes unenforceable under the law. 32. For the aforementioned reasons, I proceed to pass the following: ORDER
(i) The writ petition is allowed.
(ii) The impugned order dated 31.08.2017 passed by the
II Additional Senior Civil Judge, Bengaluru, on an application
– 45 –
NC: 2025:KHC:28456
W.P. No.54203/2017
HC-KAR
filed by the petitioner-defendant under Section 28(1) of the
Act, in O.S.No.259/2001 is set aside.
(iii) The application filed by the petitioners under
Section 28(1) of the Act is allowed, the agreements of sale
entered into between the plaintiff and the original defendant
dated 28.03.1999 and 27.11.2000 are rescinded.
(iv) The petitioners-defendants are directed to refund the
advance sale consideration received under the aforesaid
agreements of sale from the plaintiff along with interest at the
rate of 8% p.a. from the date of receipt till the payment is
made within a period of four months from today.
(v) The respondent-plaintiff-decree holder is permitted to
withdraw the amount in deposit before the Execution Court.
No order as to costs.
33. In view of the disposal of the petition, the pending
interlocutory application does not survive for consideration and
is accordingly disposed of.
Sd/-
(VIJAYKUMAR A. PATIL)
JUDGE
RV
List No.: 1 Sl No.: 1