Case: State Bank Of India Vs. M/S. Indexport

YOGESHWAR DAYAL J. 1. Special leave granted. 2. This appeal is directed against the judgment of the High Court of Delhi dated 23rd May, 1990, whereby the High Court was pleased to dismiss the revision petition filed by the appellant-bank against the judgment of the Additional District Judge, Delhi, dated 5th May, 1989, whereby the Additional District Judge, Delhi, relying upon the decision of this court in Union Bank of India v. Manku Narayana 1987 (62) CC 1, dismissed the Execution Application No. 39 of 1985 against respondent No. 4 (judgment-debtor-guarantor). 3. The question involved in, the appeal really is whether the said decision is correct, In Manku Narayanas case 1987 (62) CC 1, this court took the view that : "The decree in execution is a composite decree, personally against the defendants including the respondent and also against the mortgaged property. We do not pause to consider whether the two portions of the decree are severable or not. We are of the view that since a portion of the decreed amount is covered by the mortgage the decree-holder-bank has to proceed against the mortgaged property first and then proceed against the guarantor. Since the High Court was not told that such steps were taken, we do not think we will be justified in holding that the High Court was in error in making the direction which is under challenge before us." 4. Before we go into the question of the correctness or otherwise of the aforesaid decision, a few facts of the present case may be noticed. The appellant, one of the nationalised banks, is a decree-holder. Indexport Registered, respondent No. 1, is a partnership firm. Shri Janesh war Kumar Jain, respondent No. 2, was a partner of respondent No. 1 along with one Shri Ajay Kishan Mehta (since deceased and now represented by his mother, Smt. Savitri Devi, respondent No. 3). Shri Ram Kishan, respondent No. 4, is the guarantor. The appellant-bank had granted to respondent No. 1 a packing credit facility to the extent of Rs. 1, 00, 000 and respondent No. 4 had executed a deed of guarantee in favour of the appellant-bank. Shri Ajay Kishan Mehta, having died prior to the filing of the suit, Smt. Savitri Devi was impleaded in place of her deceased son as his legal representative. As a security, respondent No. 2 had also created an equitable mortgage of his shop situated in Rori Bazar, Sirsa, Haryana, in favour of the appellant.The appellant was obliged to file a suit against the respondents for a money decree for Rs. 33, 705.22. The appellant also prayed for a preliminary decree against respondent No. 2 with a direction that if he commits default in payment, a final decree be passed against him with permission to the appellant to apply for a personal decree against him for any deficiency after the sale of the mortgaged property. The suit was contested by the respondents. In paragraph 12 of its judgment, while deciding issue No. 7 relating to the relief, the learned trial court observed as under: "12. In view of my findings recorded above, the present suit succeeds and decreeing the same, I hereby pass a decree in favour of the plaintiff for recovery of Rs. 33, 705.22 with costs. The defendants shall pay future interest at the rate of 7 per cent. per annum (as agreed in the letter Ex. PAPW 5/4) from the date of the institution of the suit till its realisation. The plaintiff-bank shall also be entitled to the amount by way of sale of the shop in case the decretal amount is not paid within a period of three months from today, the decree in question will also be deemed to be a personal decree against all the defendants, but, however, the decree will be executable against defendant, No. 3 qua the estate inherited by her from Ajay Kishan Mehta. Decree-sheet be prepared and the file be consigned to the record room." 5. On an application of the appellant-bank the execution of the decree was transferred to Delhi and on notice being issued by the court of the Additional District Judge, Delhi, guarantor-respondent No. 4 filed objections. The main objection was that no steps were taken against the mortgaged property, i.e., the shop, and no action by way of execution could be taken for proceeding against the guarantor till the mortgaged shop is sold and it is only if the realisation from the sale of the shop is deficient that the balance could be recovered from the judgment-debtors personally.The Additional District Judge, Delhi, following the decision of this court in Union Bank of India v. Manku Narayana 1987 (62) CC 1, took the view that it is a composite decree, personally against the principal debtor and the guarantor and also against the mortgaged property of defendant No. 2, and, therefore, since it is a composite decree and the mortgaged property is also involved, the decree-holder should have proceeded first against the mortgaged shop and since it has not done so, the execution application against the objector (guarantor) does not lie. The decree-holder challenged this decision dated May 5, 1989, by way of a revision petition before the High Court and the High Court also, following the decision of this court in Manku Narayanas case 1987 (62) CC 1, dismissed the revision petition and it is against this decision that the present appeal arises.6. It will be noticed that the loan was taken by the firm, namely, respondent No. 1, which consisted of Sh. Jhaneshwar Kumar Jain, respondent No. 2 (defendant No. 2) and Sh. Ajay Kishan Mehta (since deceased). Respondent No. 2 (defendant No. 2) had created an equitable mortgage of his shop and respondent No. 4, who is the father of late Sh. Ajay Kishan Mehta stood guarantor for the loan to respondent No. 1. The very wording of the decree quoted above show that it is a personal decree against all the defendants/judgment-debtors. Respondent No. 4 was defendant No. 4 and so it is a money decree against defendant No. 4 as well. It is also a mortgage decree against the mortgagor, namely, defendant No. 2 only. The decree specifically mentions that a money decree is being passed for recovery of Rs. 33, 705.22 with costs and the defendants shall pay interest at 7 per cent. per annum from the date of the institution of the suit till its realisation. There is also a decree passed in favour of the bank entitling it to sell the shop in case the decretal amount is not paid within three months from the date of the decree and the decree specifically mentions that it will be deemed to be a personal decree against all the defendants (respondents). Only qua defendant No. 3 it can be executed only to the extent the mother inherited the estate of her son, Shri Ajay Kishan Mehta. It is thus clear from the decree that it is a money decree against all the defendants (respondents) and a mortgage decree only against defendant No. 2 (respondent No. 2) so fat as the shop is concerned. The decree does not put any fetter on the right of the decree-holder to execute it against any party, whether as a money decree or as a mortgage decree. The execution of the money decree is not made dependent on first applying for execution of the mortgage decree. The choice is left entirely to the decree-holder. The question arises whether a decree which is framed as a composite decree, as a matter of law, must be executed against the mortgaged property first or can a money decree, which covers the whole or a part of the decretal amount covering mortgage decree can be executed earlier. There is nothing in law which provides such a composite decree to be first executed only against the property. It will be noticed that there is no preliminary mortgage decree either. It is a final mortgage decree for sale of the shop after three months. The decree is not in the prescribed Form No. 5 of Appendix D to the Code of Civil Procedure. 7. In Bank of Bihar Ltd. v. Damodar Prasad 1969 (39) CC 133 (SC), the facts were that the plaintiff-bank lent money to Damodar Prasad, defendant No. 1, on the guarantee of Paras Nath Sinha, defendant No. 2. On the date of the suit Damodar Prasad was indebted to the bank for Rs. 11, 723.55 on account of principal and Rs. 2, 769.37 on account of interest. In spite of demands neither the principal debtor nor the guarantor paid the dues. The plaintiff-bank then filed a suit claiming a decree for the amount due. The trial court decreed the suit against both the defendants but while passing the decree the trial court directed that the plaintiff-bank shall be at liberty to enforce its dues against defendant No. 2 only after having exhausted its remedies against defendant No. 1. The plaintiff went in appeal challenging the legality and propriety of this direction. The High Court dismissed the appeal, whereupon on certificate, the matter came before this court. Bachawat J., speaking for the court, held that the direction must be set aside. It was observed that : "It is the duty of the surety to pay the decretal amount. On such payment, he will be subrogated to the rights of the creditor under section 140 of the Indian Contract Act, and he may then recover the amount from the principal. The very object of the guarantee is defeated if the creditor is asked to postpone his remedies against the surety. In the present case the creditor is a banking company. A guarantee is a collateral security usually taken by a banker. The security will become useless, if his rights against the surety can be so easily cut down." The court further held that such directions are neither justified under Order 20, rule 11(1), or under the inherent powers of the court under section 151 of the Code of Civil Procedure to direct postponement of the execution of the decree.In the present case before us, the decree does not postpone the execution. The decree is simultaneous and it is jointly and severally against all the defendants including the guarantor. It is the right of the decree-holder to proceed with it in the way be likes. 8. Section 128 of the Indian Contract Act itself provides that "the liability of the surety is co-extensive with that of the principal debtor, unless it is otherwise provided by the contract". In Pollock and Mulla on Indian Contract and Specific Relief Acts, tenth edition, page 728, it, is observed thus: "Co-extensive.--Suretys liability is co-extensive with that of the principal debtor.A suretys liability to pay the debt is not removed, by reason of the creditors omission to sue the principal debtor. The creditor is not bound to exhaust his remedy, against the principal before suing the surety, and a suit may be maintained against the surety though the principal has not been sued." In Chitty on Contracts, 24th edition, volume 2, at page 1031, paragraph 4831, it is stated as under : "Prima facie the surety may be proceeded against without demand against him, and without first proceeding against the principal-debtor." In Halsburys Laws of England, fourth edition, para, 159, at page 87, it has been observed that "it is not, necessary for the creditor, before proceeding against the surety, to request the principal debtor pay, or to sue him although solvent, unless this is expressly stipulated for." 9. In Hukumchand Insurance Co. Ltd. v. Bank of Baroda, 1977 AIR(Kar) 204, a Division Bench of the High Court of Karnataka had occasion to consider the question of liability of the surety, vis-a-vis, the principal debtor. Venkatachaliah J. (as his Lordship then was) observed : "The question as to the liability of the surety, its extent and the manner of its enforcement have to be decided on first principles as to the nature and incidents of suretyship. The liability of a principal debtor and the liability of a surety which is co-extensive with that of the former are really separate liabilities, although arising out of the same transaction. Notwithstanding the fact that they may stem from the same transaction, the two liabilities are distinct. The liability of the surety does not also, in all cases, arise simultaneously." It will be noticed that the guarantor alone could have been sued, without even suing the principal debtor, so long as the creditor satisfies the court that the principal debtor is in default. 10. In Jagannath Ganeshram Agamala v. Shivnarayan Bhagirath 1941 (11) CC 11 (Bom), a Division Bench of the Bombay High Court (Kania and Wassoodew JJ.) held that the liability of the surety is co-extensive, but is not in the alternative. Both the principal debtor and the surety are liable at the same time to the creditors. In Muthuvelappa Goundan v. Palaniapa Chettiar [1937] Mad WR 373, the facts were that the plaint combined two claims, one against defendants Nos. 1 to 3 and their children on the basis of a promissory note, exhibit A, executed by defendants Nos. 1 to 3 and one Kasiappa, deceased, on 29th August, 1931, and the other a claim against Kasiappas sons (defendants Nos. 4 and 5) not merely on the promissory note but also on a security bond, exhibit B, executed by Kasiappa on 17th April, 1932, in respect of the amount due under exhibit A. The suit was decreed. An appeal was filed by defendants Nos. 1 to 3 against certain directions contained in the decree of the lower court as to the manner in which the decree was to be executed. The Subordinate judge had to consider the contention put forward on behalf of Kasiappas sons that the properties covered by exhibit B should be sold only, after the plaintiff had exhausted his remedies against defendants Nos. 1 to 3 and their family properties. Defendants Nos. 1 to 3 contended to the contrary. The trial court directed that the plaintiff should bring the secured properties to sale after exhausting the personal remedy against the defendants, meaning the remedy personally against defendants Nos. 1 to 3, and, also the remedy against the family property of all the defendants. An appeal was filed by defendants Nos. 1 to 3 before the High Court. It was contended on behalf of the appellants that the lower court should have directed the plaintiff to proceed in the first instance against the security properties and only after they had been sold, should the plaintiff have been permitted to proceed against the appellants personally. This contention was sought to be supported before the High Court by the analogy of a decree to be passed in mortgage suits. It was pleaded that the provisions of section 68 of the Transfer of Property Act should be applied as the remedy in respect of a charge is governed by it. It was also urged on behalf of the appellants that on a true construction of section 68, the course contended for by him would be the proper course. This contention of the appellants was negatived by the High Court. The High Court observed that this could apply only as between the mortgagor and the mortgagee and the appellants had nothing whatever to do with the security bond. The relationship of the appellants was not that of a mortgagor at all, and, therefore, section 68 could not be invoked.It will be noticed that in the present case no appeal was filed by the guarantor against the passing of the decree and the decree has become final. 11. The decree for money is a simple decree against the judgment-debtors including the guarantor and in no way subject to the execution of the mortgage decree against judgment-debtor No. 2. If on principle a guarantor could be sued without even suing the principal debtor there is no reason, even if the decretal amount is covered by the mortgage decree, to force the decree-holder to proceed against the mortgaged property first and then to proceed against the guarantor. It appears that the above-quoted observations in Union Bank of India v. Manku Narayana 1987 (62) CC 1, are not based on any established principle of law and/or reasons, and in fact, are contrary to law. It, of course, depends on the facts of each case how the composite decree is drawn up. But if the composite decree is a decree which is both a personal decree as well as a mortgage decree, without any limitation on its execution, the decree-holder, in principle, cannot be forced to first exhaust the remedy by way of execution of the mortgage decree alone and told that only if the amount recovered is insufficient, he can be permitted to take recourse to the execution of the personal decree. For a simple mortgage decree as prescribed in Form No. 5 of Appendix D to the Code Civil Procedure, it could be so because the degree provides like that It is only when the sum realised on sale of the mortgaged property is insufficient that the judgment-debtor can be proceeded against personally. But the observations of the court in Union Bank of India v. Manku Narayana 1987 (62) CC 1, that even if the two portions of the decree are severable and merely because a portion of the decretal amount is covered by the mortgage decree, the decree-holder per force has to proceed against the mortgaged property first" are not based on any principle of law. With all due respect to the learned judges, in the light of the observations made by us earlier, we are constrained to observe that Manku Narayanas case [l987] 1987 (62) CC 1 was tot correctly decided.Mr. Batra on behalf of the respondent/guarantor submitted that since the plaintiff/decree-holder chose to file the suit at Sirsa only because of the fact that the mortgage property is situated there, he should take recourse to the execution of the mortgage decree alone in the first instance. It will be noticed that we are dealing with the matter at the execution stage and are not concerned with the correctness or otherwise of the decree under execution. Therefore, this submission of learned counsel has got no basis. Learned counsel for the guarantor then brought to our notice the following decisions : 12. Raja Raghunandan Prasad Singh v. Raja Kirtyanand Singh Bahadur, 1932 AIR(PC) 131. This case has no application to the present case as it dealt with the construction of the surety bond furnished during appeal in a decree passed in a mortgage suit. 13. State of Madhya Pradesh v. Kaluram, 1967 AIR(SC) 1105. This again has no relevance as it relates to the question when the security gets discharged. 14. Bank of Bihar v. State of Bihar 1971 (41) CC 591 (SC). This was a case of pledge of goods and, therefore, has no relevance to the facts of the present case. 15. Loonkaran Sethia v. Ivan E. John 1977 (1) SCR 853. This again was a case relating to dissolution of partnership and for rendition of accounts. 16. State Bank of Saurashtra v. Chitranjan Rangnath Raja 1981 (51) CC 618 (SC). It will be noticed that in this case the plea was taken in the suit and the matter was not relating to the execution, of the decree. 17. State Bank of India v. Saksaria Sugar Mills Ltd. 1986 (59) CC 861 (SC). In this case, even when the sugar mills Were taken over, it was held that the banks rights as secured creditors and their remedies were not affected.Deep Chand v. Punjab National Bank, I 1990 BC 50. This case again related to the interpretation of the decree and has no relevance to the facts of the present case. 18. Kumar Sudhendu Narain Deb v. Mrs. Renuka Biswas 1991 (4) JT 320 ; 1992 (1) SCC 206. This again has no application to the question posed before us. 19. The guarantor in the present suit never took any plea to the effect that his liability is only contingent if the remedies against the principal debtors fail to satisfy the dues of the decree-holder. If such a plea had been taken and the court trying the suit had considered the plea and given any finding in favour of the guarantor, then it would have been a different position. But, in the present case, on the face of the decree, which has become final, the court cannot construe it otherwise than according its tenor. No executing court can go beyond the decree. All such pleas as to the rights which the guarantor had, had to be taken during trial and not after the decree while execution is being levied. 20.

Decision reasoning: 1[ds]The decree for money is a simple decree against the judgment-debtors including the guarantor and in no way subject to the execution of the mortgage decree against judgment-debtor No. 2. If on principle a guarantor could be sued without even suing the principal debtor there is no reason, even if the decretal amount is covered by the mortgage decree, to force the decree-holder to proceed against the mortgaged property first and then to proceed against the guarantor. It appears that the above-quoted observations in Union Bank of India v. Manku Narayana 1987 (62) CC 1, are not based on any established principle of law and/or reasons, and in fact, are contrary to law. It, of course, depends on the facts of each case how the composite decree is drawn up. But if the composite decree is a decree which is both a personal decree as well as a mortgage decree, without any limitation on its execution, the decree-holder, in principle, cannot be forced to first exhaust the remedy by way of execution of the mortgage decree alone and told that only if the amount recovered is insufficient, he can be permitted to take recourse to the execution of the personal decree. For a simple mortgage decree as prescribed in Form No. 5 of Appendix D to the Code Civil Procedure, it could be so because the degree provides like that It is only when the sum realised on sale of the mortgaged property is insufficient that the judgment-debtor can be proceeded against personally. But the observations of the court in Union Bank of India v. Manku Narayana 1987 (62) CC 1, that even if the two portions of the decree are severable and merely because a portion of the decretal amount is covered by the mortgage decree, the decree-holder per force has to proceed against the mortgaged property first" are not based on any principle of law. With all due respect to the learned judges, in the light of the observations made by us earlier, we are constrained to observe that Manku Narayanas case [l987] 1987 (62) CC 1 was tot correctlywill be noticed that we are dealing with the matter at the execution stage and are not concerned with the correctness or otherwise of the decree under execution. Therefore, this submission of learned counsel has got noof Madhya Pradesh v. Kaluram, 1967 AIR(SC) 1105. This again has no relevance as it relates to the question when the security getsof Bihar v. State of Bihar 1971 (41) CC 591 (SC). This was a case of pledge of goods and, therefore, has no relevance to the facts of the presentSethia v. Ivan E. John 1977 (1) SCR 853. This again was a case relating to dissolution of partnership and for rendition ofBank of Saurashtra v. Chitranjan Rangnath Raja 1981 (51) CC 618 (SC). It will be noticed that in this case the plea was taken in the suit and the matter was not relating to the execution, of theBank of India v. Saksaria Sugar Mills Ltd. 1986 (59) CC 861 (SC). In this case, even when the sugar mills Were taken over, it was held that the banks rights as secured creditors and their remedies were not affected.Deep Chand v. Punjab National Bank, I 1990 BC 50. This case again related to the interpretation of the decree and has no relevance to the facts of the presentSudhendu Narain Deb v. Mrs. Renuka Biswas 1991 (4) JT 320 ; 1992 (1) SCC 206. This again has no application to the question posed beforeguarantor in the present suit never took any plea to the effect that his liability is only contingent if the remedies against the principal debtors fail to satisfy the dues of the decree-holder. If such a plea had been taken and the court trying the suit had considered the plea and given any finding in favour of the guarantor, then it would have been a different position. But, in the present case, on the face of the decree, which has become final, the court cannot construe it otherwise than according its tenor. No executing court can go beyond the decree. All such pleas as to the rights which the guarantor had, had to be taken during trial and not after the decree while execution is being levied.