As per case facts, the plaintiffs/respondents filed suits for recovery of rent arrears against the defendant/petitioner, alleging a landlord-tenant relationship and prolonged non-payment. The defendant contested these claims, denying the ...
2026:HHC:9646
IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH SHIMLA
CMPMO Nos. 173/2023 & 238/2025
Decided on: 20.3.2026
Decided on: 31.03.2026
1. CMPMO No. 173/2023
Surender Kumar …..Petitioner
Versus
Pankaj Bansal & anr. …Respondents
2. CMPMO No. 238/2025
Surender Kumar …..Petitioner
Versus
Pankaj Bansal & anr. …Respondents
______________________________________________________________
Coram:
The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Romesh Verma, Judge.
Whether approved for reporting?
1
Yes
For the Petitioner(s): Mr. Aditya Thakur, Advocate.
For the Respondents: Mr. Vipin Pandit, Advocate.
Romesh Verma, Judge
Since common question of law and facts are involved
in these petitions (CMPMO Nos. 173/2023 & 238/2025),
1
Whether reporters of the local papers may be allowed to see the judgment? Yes.
2
therefore, they were taken up together for hearing and are being
disposed of by common judgment. However, to maintain clarity,
facts of CMPMO No. 173/2023 are taken into consideration in
detail at first.
CMPMO No. 173/2023
2 By medium of CMPMO No. 173/2023, the
petitioner/defendant, has laid challenge to the order dated
24.2.2023, as passed by the learned Civil Judge, Court No. II,
Solan, District Solan, whereby an application filed by the
plaintiffs/respondents under the provisions of Order 38 Rule 5
read with Section 151 CPC, in Civil Suit No. 37/2018, has been
allowed and the defendant/petitioner has been directed to
furnish security to the amount of Rs.8,73,183/- on or before
25.3.2023, failing which the share of defendant/petitioner in
his building, at ground floor, shop No. 3, situated at Mauja
Jawahar Park Solan will be attached.
3 The plaintiffs/respondents filed a suit (Civil Suit No.
37/2018) against the defendant/petitioner for recovery of Rs.
8,73,183/- as arrears of rent and interest thereupon upto
28.2.2018 and further future interest @ 12% p.a. on arrears of
rent till full and final payment. It was averred in the plaint that
plaintiff No.2, Maya Bansal, is owner of a building known as
Pooja Emporium. Plaintiff No.1 Pankaj Bansal, being attorney of
3
plaintiff No.2, inducted the defendant/petitioner as tenant in a
shop, situated in Pooja Emporium building, as has been
highlighted with pink colour in site plan, in the year 2000 at
monthly rental of Rs.12,000/-, which was statutorily increased
w.e.f. 28.6.2005 to Rs.13,200/-, w.e.f. 28.6.2010 to Rs.14,520/-,
w.e.f. 28.6.2013 to Rs.15,972/- and thereafter w.e.f.28.6.2016 to
Rs.17,569/-. It was submitted in the plaint that the defendant/
petitioner has purchased another shop at Circular Road Solan,
Near Modgil Ashram and shifted his business to said shop in the
month of July, 2012. The shop in question has been sub-let by
the defendant/petitioner to Raj Rani without implied consent of
the plaintiffs/respondents, qua which, rent petition has also
been filed.
4 It was averred that the defendant/petitioner has not
paid monthly rent for the last more than 6 years. Though rent
was demanded from the defendant/petitioner, however he
disclosed that he has shifted his business and intended to
purchase the shop and for that negotiations were going on, thus,
assurance was given to the plaintiffs/respondents that he would
make the payment of rent very soon and promised to vacate the
shop occupied by him as a tenant under the
plaintiffs/respondents. Therefore, in these circumstances, the
plaintiff filed suit against the defendant/petitioner, as aforesaid.
4
5 The defendant/ petitioner contested and resisted the
plaint by raising preliminary objections qua maintainability,
cause of action, suit being bad for want of better particulars,
suppression of material facts, valuation etc. On merits, stand
was taken by the defendant/respondent that he is not tenant of
the plaintiffs/respondents and the story, as projected by the
plaintiffs/respondents is incorrect. It was averred that the
plaintiffs never let out any premises to him in their building
known as Pooja Emporium. There is no relationship of landlord
and tenant between the plaintiffs and defendant in any manner.
Therefore, plea of the plaintiffs qua subletting of the premises to
Ms. Raj Rani is wrong and baseless. It was averred that Raj Rani
is mother of the defendant, but the defendant has nothing to do
with the suit premises.
6 Precisely, defence was taken by the
defendant/petitioner that there is a building known as Pooja
Emporium belonging to the plaintiffs on one side and the other
side of this building, there is a building belonging to the
government i.e. DRDA, wherein milk booth of Society is located.
Both these buildings join together and as a result of which, a
space has come up under the projections of these two buildings,
total area of which space comes out to 6.50 sq. mts. in all. The
entire space, which has been left by two side owners of the
5
building as set back area, is in the occupation and possession of
Ms. Raj Rani, wife of Sh. Manohar Lal, ever since year 1999
onwards and the said space is known as ‘Raj Dupatta Centre, as
on date. The wooden door was also installed/fixed by Ms. Raj
Rani on the entrance of the said space from the road side known
as The Mall, Solan. She has also raised pucca platform in front
of the said space. The possession of Raj Rani is actual,
peaceful, physical and without any interference from the
plaintiffs or DRDA authority or M.C. Solan ever since the year
1999 onwards. It was prayed that neither the plaintiffs nor the
DRDA nor the government of H.P. nor M.C. Solan have any right,
title or interest in and over the space in question in any manner
whatsoever nor they ever objected to the possession of Raj Rani
till date. It was further averred that the suit is to harass and
humiliate the defendant unnecessarily. All the averments as
made in the plaint were refuted and the defendant prayed for
dismissal of the suit being baseless and without any substance.
7 After filing of the written statement, during the
pendency of the suit, the plaintiffs/respondents filed an
application under Order 38 Rule 5 of CPC with a prayer that the
defendant/petitioner may be called upon to furnish bank
guarantee in the sum of Rs. 15 lac and on his failure to do so,
properties owned by the defendant/petitioner may be ordered to
6
be attached being at the disposal of the Court. It was averred in
the application that the plaintiffs/respondents have filed a suit
No. 37/ 2018 for recovery of an amount of Rs.8,73,183/- along
with future interest. The defendant/respondent had been
openly proclaiming that the amount to be recovered from him on
account of arrears of rent would not be paid by him and he
would drag the litigation to defeat the rights of the
plaintiffs/respondents. It was submitted that the
defendant/petitioner is owner of one flat, which is a part of
building, situated on land comprised in Khasra No. 4359/41,
93/821, at Mauja Ser Solan and has mortgaged the same with
Baghat Urban Cooperative Bank, Solan for an amount of
RS.25,00,000/-. He is also owner of 3/4
th share in the said flat,
on account of death of his mother Raj Rani. It was further
averred that the defendant/petitioner is also owner of portion in
a building i.e. ground floor, shop No.3, situated at Mauja
Jawahar Park, Solan and this shop has also been mortgaged
with Baghat Urban Cooperative Bank, Solan.
8 The defendant/petitioner has been openely
proclaiming that he would not pay the loan amount. Intention
of the defendant/petitioner not to pay the amount of arrears of
rent is clear from the public notice published in Punjab Kesari,
daily Hindi newspaper on 18.11.2022 under the SARFESI Act
7
has been published qua one of the properties owned by the
defendant/petitioner. The second property has also been
mortgaged and non-payment of the mortgage amount to the
same Bank clearly establishes the intention of the
defendant/petitioner to defeat the judgment and decree that may
be passed in favour of the plaintiffs/respondents or in alternate
to obstruct or delay execution of decree to be passed against
him.
9 The plaintiffs/respondents filed the said application
on 22.11.2022. On the next date, i.e. 23.11.2022 an application
under Section 151 CPC for early hearing was filed by the
plaintiffs/respondents on the ground that the
plaintiffs/respondents have reasonable apprehension that the
defendant/petitioner may take steps within a week, which may
cause loss and injury to them and would frustrate very purpose
of filing of the suit. The said application for early hearing came
up for consideration before the learned trial court on
23.11.2022, on which date, the same was allowed.
10 The defendant/petitioner filed a detailed reply to the
application under Order 38 Rule 5 CPC on 18.1.2023 by refuting
all the averments as made in the application. The averments as
made in the written statement were reiterated and relationship of
landlord and tenant between the parties was specifically denied.
8
It was averred in the reply that defendant/petitioner is going to
settle dispute with the Bank, on the basis of which public notice
has been published. It was averred that the mother of the
defendant/petitioner died on 6.2.2022 due to prolonged illness
and he had to invest most part of his earning on her treatment,
thus he could not repay the loan amount owing to which
proceedings under the SARFAESI Act were initiated against the
defendant/petitioner and now the dispute is likely to be settled
by him with the Bank very shorty. It was further averred that the
defendant/petitioner has established business at Solan city and
there is no occasion for him to leave the settled business and flee
from the jurisdiction of the Courts at Solan.
11 The plaintiffs/respondents filed rejoinder to the reply
as filed by the defendant/petitioner to the application for
attachment of the property, reiterating therein contents of the
application and denying the stand of the defendant/petitioner in
toto.
12 The learned trial court vide order dated 24.2.2023
allowed the application filed by the plaintiffs/respondents under
Order 38 Rule 5 CPC, whereby the defendant/petitioner was
directed to furnish security to the amount of Rs.8,73,183/- on
or before 25.3.2023, failing which the share of
9
defendant/petitioner in his building at ground floor, shop No.3
situated at Mauja Jawhar Park, Solan, will be attached.
CMPMO No. 238/2025
13 Now as regards facts of CMPMO No. 238/2025, this
petition arises out of order dated 2.12.2024, as passed by the
learned Civil Judge, Court No. I, Solan, District Solan, whereby
an application filed by the plaintiffs/respondents under the
provisions of Order 38 Rule 5 read with Section 151 CPC in
Civil Suit No. 62/2021, has been allowed and the
defendant/petitioner has been directed to furnish security to the
amount of Rs.8,00,000/- on or before 20.2.2025, failing which
the share of defendant/petitioner in his building at ground floor
shop No. 3, situated at Mauja Jawahar Park Solan will be
attached.
14 It would be noticed that the plaintiffs/respondents
filed a suit (Civil Suit No. 62/2021) against the
defendant/petitioner for recovery of Rs. 7, 88, 322/- as arrears of
rent and interest thereupon w.e.f. 1.3.2018 to 28.2.2021 and
further future interest @ 12% p.a. on arrears of rent till full and
final payment with regard to the same property as involved in
Civil Suit No. 37/2018 i.e. a shop, situated in Pooja Emporium
building, wherein, apart from taking averments as contained in
Civil Suit No. 37/2018 and having been discussed at length
10
while dealing with facts of CMPMO No. 173/2023, it was averred
that the defendant/petitioner has not stood by his promise to
vacate the suit premises and even did not pay rent for last 9
years prior to the period of 28.2.2018 qua which earlier suit is
pending in the competent court of law and after filing earlier civil
suit for recovery, again period of approximately 3 years is going
to pass, therefore, the defendant/petitioner in addition to
amount as claimed in C.S. No. 37/2018, is liable to pay the
following amount:-
i) Arrears of rent w.e.f. 1.3.2018 to 28.6.2019 i.e. 16
months @ Rs.17,569/- p.m. = Rs.2,81,104/-.
ii) Interest on above mentioned amount @ 12% upto
June, 2019 i.e. Rs. 23,893/-.
iii) Interest w.e.f July, 2019 to 28.2.2021 on arrears of
Rs. 2,81,104/- i.e. Rs. 56,220/-.
iv) Arrears of rent w.e.f. 28.6.2019 to 28.2.2021 i.e.
20 months @ Rs.19,326/- i.e. Rs.3,86, 250/-.
v) Interest on the above mentioned amount for 20
months as per Urban Rent Control Act = Rs.40,585/-
Total amount = Rs. 7,88,322/-
15 The defendant/ petitioner while contesting Civil Suit
No. 62/2021 reiterated the same and similar averments as were
taken in Civil Suit No.37/2018 and denied the case of the
plaintiffs/respondents in toto. Thereafter, the
plaintiffs/respondents filed an application under Order 38 Rule 5
11
of CPC with a prayer that the defendant/petitioner may be
called upon to furnish bank guarantee in the sum of Rs. 15 lac
and on his failure to do so, properties owned by the
defendant/petitioner may be ordered to be attached being at the
disposal of the Court, which application came to be allowed vide
order dated 2.12.2024, directing defendant/petitioner to furnish
security to the amount of Rs.8,00,000/- on or before 20.2.2025,
failing which the share of defendant/petitioner in his building
at ground floor shop No. 3, situated at Mauja Jawahar Park
Solan will be attached.
16 Feeling aggrieved by the impugned orders, as passed
by the learned courts below on 24.2.2023 and 2.12.2024, the
defendant/petitioner has approached this Court by filing instant
petitions.
17 It is contended by Mr. Aditya Thakur, learned counsel
appearing for the defendant/petitioner that the impugned orders
as passed by the learned courts below are erroneous and not
sustainable in the eyes of law. He has further submitted that
the courts below have not appreciated the true import of Order
38 Rule 5 CPC and have wrongly directed the
defendant/petitioner to furnish securities in both the cases. It is
contended that provisions of Order 38 Rule 5 CPD have not
12
been followed by the court below and the impugned orders have
been passed in a routine manner.
18 On the other hand, Mr. Vipin Pandit, learned counsel
appearing for the plaintiffs/respondents has defended the
impugned orders. He has submitted that the courts below have
rightly passed the impugned orders after appreciating the entire
factual matrix of the case and taking into consideration the legal
provisions of Order 38 Rule 5 CPC. He has further
submitted that the impugned orders are not required to be
disturbed or interfered with in view of the judgments passed by
the Hon’ble Supreme Court in various cases dealing with the
same issue.
19 I have heard the learned counsel for the parties and
have also gone through the case file.
20 Admittedly, the plaintiffs/respondents in both the
cases have filed suits for recovery of arrears of rent from the
defendant/petitioner. In CMPMO No. 173/2023, the
plaintiffs/respondents have claimed recovery of Rs.8,73,183/-
and interest accrued thereupon upto 28.2.2018 along with
further future interest @ 12% per annum till full and final
payment, whereas in CMPMO No. 238/2025, they have claimed
recovery of Rs.7,88,322/- and interest accrued thereupon upto
13
w.e.f. 1.3.2018 to 28.2.2021 along with further future interest @
12% per annum till full and final payment.
21 The defence of the defendant/petitioner in both the
cases is that there is no relationship of landlord and tenant inter
se the parties to the lis.
22 Mr. Vipin Pandit, Advocate, in order to make out a
case for grant of relief under the provisions of Order 38 Rule 5
CPC has taken this Court to the copy of the agreement, which
has been filed with the reply to the instant petition as Annexure
R-1, at page 120 of the paper book of CMPMO No. 173/2023. It
has been spelt out in the agreement that the agreement is made
on 29.6.2000 between Surender Kumar, son of Manohar Lal, as
tenant and Pankaj Bansal, son late Sh. C. K. Poddar, as
landlord. It has been incorporated in the agreement that
plaintiff/respondent No.1 Pankaj Bansal has rented out one
shop in Pooja Emporium building i.e. a shop, situated between
DRDA shop, Pooja Emporium Shop on front, the Mall and on
back side building of Usha Aggarwal, at monthly rental of
Rs.12,000/-. It has also been spelt out that possession of the
shop has been handed over to the tenant and that the tenant
undertakes to make payment of rent regularly, not to cause any
damage to the premises or to sublet the same to anyone else.
14
Perusal of the agreement further reveals that the agreement has
been signed by the parties and the witnesses thereto.
23 Mr. Vipan Pandit, Advocate, submits that this
agreement prima facie show the jural relationship between the
parties as landlord and tenant. It is contended by him that
story as projected by the defendant/petitioner that neither he is
tenant under the plaintiffs/respondents nor he has got any
concern to the premises in question or that he is not liable to pay
rent stands falsified on the strength of the aforesaid agreement.
The agreement is specific, unambiguous and clear and it prima
facie shows that the plaintiffs/respondents have rented out a
shop in question to the defendant/petitioner.
24 It would be apposite here to reproduce provisions of
Order 38 Rule 5 CPC, which read as under:-
“5. Where defendant may be called upon to furnish
security for production of property.—
(1) Where, at any stage of a suit, the Court is satisfied,
by affidavit or otherwise, that the defendant, with
intent to obstruct or delay the execution of any decree
that may be passed against him,—
(a) is about to dispose of the whole or any part of his
property, or
(b) is about to remove the whole or any part of his
property from the local limits of the jurisdiction of the
Court, the Court may direct the defendant, within a
15
time to be fixed by it, either to furnish security, in such
sum as may be specified in the order, to produce and
place at the disposal of the Court, when required, the
said property or the value of the same, or such portion
thereof as may be sufficient to satisfy the decree, or to
appear and show cause why he should not furnish
security.
(2) The plaintiff shall, unless the Court otherwise
directs, specify the property required to be attached
and the estimated value thereof.
(3) The Court may also in the order direct the
conditional attachment of the whole or any portion of
the property so specified.
[(4) If an order of attachment is made without
complying with the provisions of sub-rule (1) of this
rule, such attachment shall be void.”
25 The aforesaid provisions envisage that if the Court is
satisfied that the defendant with an intent to obstruct or delay
execution of the any decree that may be passed against him – is
about to dispose of the whole or any part of his property or is
about to remove the whole or any part of his property from the
local limits of the jurisdiction of the Court, the Court can direct
the defendant either to furnish security, in such sum as may be
specified by the order, to produce and place at the disposal of
the Court or to appear and show cause why he should not
furnish security. Further it has been stipulated that the plaintiff
16
shall, unless the Court otherwise directs, specify the property
required to be attached and the estimated value thereof.
26 The Hon’ble Supreme Court in Raman Tech and
Process Engg Co. vs. Solanki Traders, SC C 2008 (2) 302
has held that the object of order 38 rule 5 CPC is to prevent any
defendant from defeating the realization of the decree that may
ultimately be passed in favour of the plaintiff, either by
attempting to dispose of, or remove from the jurisdiction of the
court, his movables. The Scheme of Order 38 and the use of the
words ‘to obstruct or delay the execution of any decree that may
be passed against him’ in Rule 5 make it clear that before
exercising the power under the said Rule, the court should be
satisfied that there is a reasonable chance of a decree being
passed in the suit against the defendant. The court should be
satisfied that the plaintiff has a prima facie case. If the
averments in the plaint and the documents produced in support
of it, do not satisfy the court about the existence of a prima facie
case, the court will not go to the next stage of examining whether
the interest of the plaintiff should be protected by exercising
power under Order 38 Rule 5 CPC. It is well-settled proposition
of law that merely having a just or valid claim or a prima facie
case, will not entitle the plaintiff to an order of attachment before
judgment, unless he also establishes that the defendant is
17
attempting to remove or dispose of his assets with the intention
of defeating the decree that may be passed. Equally well settled
is the position that even where the defendant is removing or
disposing his assets, an attachment before judgment will not be
issued, if the plaintiff is not able to satisfy that he has a prima
facie case.
27 The Hon’ble Supreme Court in M/s Radha Krishan
Industries vs. State of Himachal Pradesh, AIR 2021 SC
2114 has held as follows:
“30. The decision of this Court in Raman Tech Process Engg
Co and Anr v Solanki Traders was concerned with the
power of a civil court under Order 38 Rule 5 of the CPC to
order an attachment before judgment. In that case,
proceedings had been instituted by the respondent, for the
recovery of moneys due for the supply of material to the
appellant. The plaintiff moved an application under Order
38 Rule 5, for a direction to the defendants to furnish
security for the suit claim and if they failed to do so, for
attachment before judgment. This Court described the
power of attachment before judgment in the following terms:
“5. The power under Order 38, Rule 5 Civil Procedure Code is
a drastic and extraordinary power. Such power should not be
exercised mechanically or merely for the asking. It should be
used sparingly and strictly in accordance with the Rule. The
purpose of Order 38, Rule 5 not to convert an unsecured debt
into a secured debt. Any attempt by a plaintiff to utilize the
provisions of Order 38 Rule 5 as a leverage for coercing the
defendant to settle the suit claim should be discouraged.
18
Instances are not wanting where bloated and doubtful claims
are realized by unscrupulous plaintiffs, by obtaining orders
of attachment before judgment and forcing the defendants
for out of court settlements, under threat of attachment.
6. A defendant is not debarred from dealing with his property
merely because a suit is filed or about to be filed against him.
Shifting of business from one premises to another premises
or removal of machinery to another premises by itself is not a
ground for granting attachment before judgment. A plaintiff
should show, prima facie, that his claim is bona fide and
valid and also satisfy the court that the defendant is about to
remove or dispose of the whole or part of his property, with
the intention of obstructing or delaying the execution of any
decree that may be passed against him, before power is
exercised under Order 38, Rule 5 CPC. Courts should also
keep in view the principles relating to grant of attachment
before judgment [internal citation omitted].”
28 In the present case, learned counsel for the
plaintiffs/respondents have taken this Court to the pleadings
and the documents, which clearly reveal that the
plaintiffs/respondents have got prima facie case in their favour
and the averments as made in the plaint reveal that they are
owners of the suit property and the same was rented out to the
defendant/petitioner on monthly rental of Rs.12,000/-. It has
been mentioned in the plaint that the defendant/ petitioner has
purchased another shop in the month of July, 2012 at Circular
Road Solan, Near Modgil Ashram and when the defendant was
asked to pay outstanding arrears of rent, he assured the
19
plaintiffs/respondents to repay the said amount very shortly,
however nothing was done by him as per the promise made by
him. The averments as made in the plaint coupled with copy of
the agreement makes out prima facie case in favour of the
plaintiffs/respondents for grant of relief as sought for in
application under Order 38 Rule 5 CPC.
29 The defendant/petitioner in the written statements as
well as reply to the applications filed by the
plaintiffs/respondents under Order 38 Rule 5 CPC has tried to
project that the plaintiffs/respondents are strangers and the
suits have been filed by them to harass him. It is the case of the
defendant/petitioner that neither there is any relationship of
landlord and tenant between the parties nor he is to pay any
kind of arrears of rent towards the plaintiffs. However, the
agreement placed on record falsifies defence of the
defendant/petitioner for the determination of the application
under Order 38 Rule 5 CPC. Apart from that, the plaintiffs have
been able to make out the case that the defendant/petitioner is
attempting to remove or dispose his assets with an intention to
defeat the decree that may be passed in their favour and against
him.
30 The plaintiffs/respondents filed applications under
Order 38 Rule 5 CPC on 22.11.2022 and immediately, on the
20
next date i.e. 23.11.2022, an application for early hearing was
filed by them on the ground that in case the same is not
allowed, very purpose of filing of the suit(s) would be frustrated.
31 The said application was allowed by the learned trial
court vide order dated 23.11.2022. The defendant/petitioner
filed reply to the application under Order 38 Rule 5 CPC on
18.1.2023.
32 Learned counsel for the plaintiffs/respondents has
argued that as per the averments made in the applications filed
under Order 38 Rule 5 CPC, the defendant is owner of one flat,
being a part of building, situated on land comprised in Khasra
No. 4359/41, 93/821, at Mauja Ser Solan and has mortgaged
the same with Baghat Urban Cooperative Bank, Solan for an
amount of Rs.25,00,000/-. The defendant is also owner of 3/4
th
share in the said flat, on account of death of his mother Raj
Rani. He is also owner of portion in a building i.e. ground floor
shop No.3, situated at Mauja Jawahar Park, Solan and this shop
has also been mortgaged with Baghat Urban Cooperative Bank,
Solan. The plaintiffs/respondents have averred that a public
notice was issued on 18.11.2022 in Punjab Kesari, daily Hindi
newspaper under the SARFAESI Act qua one of the properties
owned by the defendant/petitioner, which clearly establishes
intention of the defendant/petitioner to defeat the decree that
21
may be passed in favour of the plaintiffs/respondents or in
alternate to obstruct or delay execution of decree to be passed
against him.
33 In the reply to the applications, though specifically
said averments have not been denied by the
defendant/petitioner, however stand has been taken that he is
shortly going to settle dispute with the Bank, on the basis of
which public notice has been published.
34 Most important document, which has been placed on
record by the plaintiffs/respondents to make out a case for
passing an order and allowing applications under Order 38 Rule
5 CPC is copy of the sale deed, dated 10.2.2023 (Annexure R-7)
executed by the defendant/petitioner qua his share along with
his father, Manohar Lal.
35 The plaintiffs/respondents filed application under
Order 38 Rule 5 CPC on 22.11.2022 in both suits and during the
pendency of the said applications, and before passing of the
impugned orders, the defendant/petitioner sold his share in Flat
No.102, owned by him along with father on 10.2.2023. It shows
that intention of the defendant/petitioner clearly and
unambiguously is to defeat the decree that may be passed
against him.
22
36 Perusal of the said sale deed reveals that cheque
bearing No.633194 amounting to Rs. 24 lacs was paid on
27.12.2022 i.e. immediately after filing of the applications for
attachment of the properties. The demand draft amounting to
Rs.13 lac was paid on 10.2.2023 to the defendant that is before
passing of the impugned orders and during the pendency of the
applications. This document proves the case of the
plaintiffs/respondents and falsifies the defence as made by the
defendant in reply to the applications filed under Order 38 Rule
5 CPC.
37 Though, learned counsel for the petitioner has
vehemently argued that there is nothing on record to show that
his client is removing or disposing of his assets before passing
the decree, however copy of the sale deed clinches entire
controversy which shows intention of the defendant/petitioner
to be clear and unambiguous. The plaintiffs have been able to
establish prima facie case that the defendant in order to
frustrate the decree that may be passed has disposed of his
assets.
38 The learned Courts below have rightly passed the
impugned orders, whereby the defendant has been directed to
furnish security to the amount of Rs.8,73,183/- in CMPMO No.
173/2023 and Rs.8,00,000/- in CMPMO No. 238/2025. The
23
Court below have legally appreciated the controversy in
question and have rightly passed the impugned order and this
Court find no illegality or infirmity in the same.
39 The petitioner has approached this Court by invoking
jurisdiction under Article 227 of the Constitution of India and the
Hon’ble Supreme Court has categorically held that the High
Court will not act as court of appeal while exercising power
under Article 227 of the Constitution of India while adjudicating
the claim and order which has been passed by the court below.
40 In Garment Craft vs. Prakash Chand Goel, 2022
(4) SCC 181, the Hon’ble Supreme Court has held as under:
“15. Having heard the counsel for the parties, we are
clearly of the view that the impugned order is contrary to
law and cannot be sustained for several reasons, but
primarily for deviation from the limited jurisdiction exercised
by the High Court under Article 227 of the Constitution of
India. The High Court exercising supervisory jurisdiction
does not act as a court of first appeal to re-appreciate,
reweigh the evidence or facts upon which the determination
under challenge is based. Supervisory jurisdiction is not to
correct every error of fact or even a legal flaw when the final
finding is justified or can be supported. The High Court is
not to substitute its own decision on facts and conclusion,
for that of the inferior court or tribunal. The jurisdiction
exercised is in the nature of correctional jurisdiction to set
right grave dereliction of duty or flagrant abuse, violation of
fundamental principles of law or justice. The power
24
under Article 227 is exercised sparingly in appropriate
cases, like when there is no evidence at all to justify, or the
finding is so perverse that no reasonable person can
possibly come to such a conclusion that the court or tribunal
has come to. It is axiomatic that such discretionary relief
must be exercised to ensure there is no miscarriage of
justice.
16. Explaining the scope of jurisdiction under Article 227,
this Court in Estralla Rubber v. Dass Estate (P) Ltd. has
observed:-
6. The scope and ambit of exercise of power and jurisdiction
by a High Court under Article 227 of the Constitution of
India is examined and explained in a number of decisions
of this Court. The exercise of power under this article
involves a duty on the High Court to keep inferior courts
and tribunals within the bounds of their authority and to
see that they do the duty expected or required of them in a
legal manner. The High Court is not vested with any
unlimited prerogative to correct all kinds of hardship or
wrong decisions made within the limits of the jurisdiction of
the subordinate courts or tribunals. Exercise of this power
and interfering with the orders of the courts or tribunals is
restricted to cases of serious dereliction of duty and flagrant
violation of fundamental principles of law or justice, where
if the High Court does not interfere, a grave injustice
remains uncorrected. It is also well settled that the High
Court while acting under this article cannot exercise its
power as an appellate court or substitute its own judgment
in place of that of the subordinate court to correct an error,
which is not apparent on the face of the record. The High
Court can set aside or ignore the findings of facts of an
inferior court or tribunal, if there is no evidence at all to
justify or the finding is so perverse, that no reasonable
25
person can possibly come to such a conclusion, which the
court or tribunal has come to.”
41 It has been held that the power under Article 227 is
exercised sparingly in appropriate cases, like when there is no
evidence at all to justify, or the finding is so perverse that no
reasonable person can possibly come to such a conclusion that
the court or tribunal has come to. It has been held that
supervisory jurisdiction is not to correct every error of fact or
even a legal flaw, when the final finding is justified or can be
supported. The High Court is not to substitute its own decision
on facts and conclusion, for that of the inferior court or tribunal.
42 This Court is of the considered opinion that there is
no merit in the petitions and the impugned orders as passed by
the courts below are legal, valid and sustainable.
43 In view of aforesaid discussions and for the reasons
stated hereinabove, the instant petitions being devoid of any
merit are dismissed, so also the pending application (s), if any,
leaving the parties to bear their own costs.
44 Before parting, it is made clear that any observation
made here-in-above shall not be taken as an expression of
opinion on the merits of the main cases and the same shall be
26
adjudicated upon uninfluenced by any observation made here-
in-above, which are only for the purpose of the instant petitions.
(Romesh Verma)
31.03.2026 Judge
(pankaj)
Legal Notes
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