Source: https://lawtimesjournal.in/judgement-decree-order-cavet/
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 23:04:37+00:00

Document:
In this legal world, judgment given by any court followed by its decree play an important role to define the scope and limitations of any individual. Daily various judgments are pronounced and decree following it took place in the courts of our country. Various civil cases are also being disposed off each working day. These judgments are important as they act as precedents for future declarations, so it is very necessary that they stick to the judicial reasoning without bringing their own discretionary power blindly. After so many judgments and backing it up with the decree also, certain issues do arises which tends to confuse us. Civil Procedure Code, 1908 has been drafted very nicely but then also certain loopholes are there providing leeway for the creeping of unnecessary elements. As no law seems to perfect for us but then also effort should be made to take them somewhere close to the shell of perfectness.
A judgment in the court of small causes may contain only point b) and c). Sketchy orders which are not self contained and cannot be appreciated by an appellate or revisional court without examining all the records are, therefore, unsatisfactory and cannot be said to be a judgment in that sense.
As the Supreme Court in Balraj Taneja v. Sunil Madan, a judge cannot merely say “suit decreed” or “suit dismissed”. The whole process of reasoning has to be set out for deciding the case one way or the other. Even the Small Causes Courts judgments must be intelligible and must show that the judge has applied his mind. The judgment need not, however, be a decision on all the issues in a case. Thus, an order deciding a preliminary issue in a case, e.g. constitutional validity of a statute is a judgment.
Conversely, an order passed by the Central Administrative Tribunal cannot be said to be a judgment, even it has been described as such. Similarly the meaning of the term ‘judgment’ under the Letters Patent is wider than the definition of ‘judgment’ under the CPC.
After the hearing has been completed, the court shall pronounce the judgment in open court, either at once or at some future day, after giving due notice to the parties or their pleaders. Once the hearing is over there should not be a break between the reservation and pronouncement of judgment.
Before the Amendment Act 1976, no time limit was provided between hearing of arguments and delivery of the judgment. There was a persistent demand all over India for imposing a time limit for the delivery of the judgment after the conclusion of the hearing of the case.
Accordingly, it is provided that if a judgment isn’t pronounced at once then it must be delivered within 30 days from the conclusion of the hearing. Where however it is not practicable to do so due to exceptional and extraordinary circumstances, it may be pronounced within 60 days. Due notice of the day fixed for the pronouncement of the judgment shall be given to the parties or their pleaders. The judge need not read out the whole judgment and it would be sufficient only if the final order is pronounced. The judgment must be dated and signed by the judge. Rule 2 enables a judge to pronounce a judgment which is written but not pronounced by his predecessor.
A reference in this connection can be made to the case of Anil Rai v. State of Bihar in which after arguments of the counsel were over but the judgment was reserved by the High Court which was pronounced after 2 years. The action was strongly deprecated by the Supreme Court.
The court was conscious that for High Court no particular period was prescribed for pronouncement of judgment, but the judgment must be pronounced expeditiously.
Moreover, the judgment must be based on the grounds and points in the pleadings and not outside the case put forward by the parties in their pleadings. On one hand the court should record findings on all the points raised by the parties and on the other hand, it should not decide any question which doesn’t arise from the pleadings of the parties or is unnecessary.
Where the judgment is pronounced, copies of the judgment shall be made available to the parties immediately after the pronouncement of the judgment for preferring an appeal on payment of such charges as may be specified in the rule made by the High Court.
(1) Judgments of a court of small causes need not contain more than the points for determination and the decision thereon.
(2) Judgments of other courts—Judgments of other courts shall contain a concise statement of the case, the points for determination, the decision thereon, and the reasons for such decision.
In suits in which issues have been framed, the court must record its findings with each separate issue with reasons. Recording of reasons in support of judgement may or may not be considered to be one of the principles of natural justice, but it can’t be denied that the recording of reasons in support of a decision is certainly one of the visible safeguards against possible injustice and arbitrariness and affords protection to the person adversely affected.
A judgment may be a self contained document from which it should appear as to what the facts of the case were and what was the controversy which was tried to be settled by the court and in what manner. The process of reasoning by which the court came to a particular conclusion and decreed or dismissed the suit should certainly be reflected in the judgment.
Judgment is a statement given by a judge on the grounds of a decree or order. It is not necessary for a judge to give a statement in a decree though it is necessary in a judgment.
It is not necessary that there should be a formal expression of the order in the judgment, though it is desirable to do so. Rule 6 order 20 states that last paragraph of the judgment should state precisely the relief granted.
A judgment contemplates a stage prior to the passing of a decree or an order and after the pronouncement of the judgment, a decree shall follow.
Section 2(14) defines order as “order” means the formal expression of any decision of a Civil Court which is not a decree. Thus the adjudication of the court which is not a decree is an order. As a general rule, an order of a court is founded on objective considerations and as such the judicial order must contain a discussion of the question at issue and the reasons which prevailed with the court which led to the passing of the order.
It cannot be both. There are some common elements in both of them.
– Both are formal expressions of a decision.
1. A decree can only be passed in a suit which commenced by presentation of a plaint. An order may originate from a suit by presentation of a plaint or may arise from a proceeding commenced by a petition or application.
2. A decree is an adjudication conclusively determining the rights of the parties with regard to all or any of the matters in controversy. An order on the other hand, may or may not finally determine such rights.
A decree may be preliminary or final or partly preliminary and partly final, but there can’t be a preliminary order.
1. Except in certain suits, where two decrees, one preliminary and other final are passed, in every suit there can be only one decree; but in the case of a suit or a proceeding, a number of orders may be passed.
2. Every decree is appealable, unless otherwise expressly provided, but every order is not appealable. Only those orders are appealable as specified in this Code.
3. A Second Appeal lies to the High Court on certain grounds from the decree passed in the First Appeal. Thus there may be two appeals; while no Second Appeal lies in case of Appealable Orders.
Decree means the formal expression of an adjudication which, so far as regards the court expressing it, conclusively determines the rights of the parties with regard to all or any of the matters in controversy in the suit and may be either preliminary or final.
b) any order of dismissal for default.
The adjudication must have determined the rights of the parties with regard to all or any of the matters in controversy in the suit.
Such adjudication must be conclusive.
A preliminary decree is that decree which decides the rights of the parties, with regard to all or any of the matters in controversy in suit but does not completely dispose of suit. It declares the rights and liabilities of the parties leaving the actual result to be worked out in further proceeding.
Explanation: appended to Section 2(2) states that a decree is preliminary when further proceeding have to be taken before the suit can be completely disposed of. Thus, preliminary decree is passed in those cases where proceeding in a suit are to be carried out in two stages, First when rights of Parties are adjudicated thereafter, in Second stage those rights are implemented.
A final decree is one which completely disposes of the suit and finally settle all questions in controversy between parties and nothing further remains to be decided thereafter.
Explanation: attach to the definition of decree under Section 2(2) clearly states that a decree is final when the adjudication completely disposes of the suit.
A decree may be partly preliminary and partly final. The issue of a decree being partly preliminary and partly final arises when the Court decides two question by the same decree. Thus, in a suit for possession of immovable property with Mesne Profits, if the Court passes a decree of possession of immoveable property in favour of plaintiff and directs an enquiry into the mesne profits, then the former part of decree is final while latter part is preliminary decree because the final decree for relief of mesne profits can be drawn only after enquiry.
(b) Any order for dismissal for default.
Explanation – A decree is preliminary when further proceedings have to be taken before the suit can be completely disposed of. It is final when such adjudications completely disposes of the suit. It may be partly preliminary and partly final.
The adjudications of a court may be divided into two classes: either Decree or Order. It means the adjudications, which are not decree, are orders and vice versa.
Adjudication means: judicial determinations of the matters in disputes. So, if a suit is dismissed for default of appearance of parties, or an appeal for want of prosecution etc. it cannot be considered as adjudication as court has not determined the matter in controversy judicially.
Court: is a place where justice is administered. To be a court, the person constituting it must have been entrusted with judicial functions. Hence, a decision by an administrator on administrative nature cannot be considered as a decision by the court. Thus an order passed by an officer who is not a decree .
Suit: The word suit is not defined anywhere in the code. However, Privy Council have defined it in Hansraj Gupta V. Official Liquidators of the Dehra Dun-Mussoorie Electric Tramways Co. Ltd “As per the definitions given in this case, the word ‘suit’ generally means and apart from some other context must be taken to mean, a civil proceeding instituted by the presentation of a Plaint”.
Thus, if a proceeding does not start by presenting a plaint, rather by other means; say by making an application or otherwise, then it cannot be considered as a suit and hence adjudication so done by the court will not be termed as a decree.
Now, if it so, the problem may be faced when any adjudication take place on any matter presented in front of the court by making an application, especially under the Indian Succession Act, the Hindu Marriage Act, the Land Acquisition Act, the arbitration Act, etc. And hence, the legislature to treat the adjudication of the court in the above mentioned act as decree has given the status of this adjudication as ‘Statutory Decree’.
Therefore, a proceeding which does not commence with a plaint and which is not treated as a suit under any other act (means statutory suit), cannot be said to be a suit under the Code and the decision given therein cannot be said to be a decree under sec-2(2) of the Code. Thus, as observed in Diwan Bros. V. Central Bank of India, a decision of a tribunal, even though described as ‘decree’ under the Act, is a decree passed by a tribunal and not by a court covered by Sec-2(2).
The Code requires passing of decree in all suits. A decree is thus an essential part of the ultimate outcome of the suit. Decree is an indispensible requisite. An appeal lies against a decree and not against a judgment. Without a decree an appeal cannot be “put in motion”. A decree is therefore an absolute necessity.
A decree should be drawn up within 15 days from the date of the judgment. If a decree is not drawn up, an appeal can be preferred without filing a copy of the decree.
A decree should be in the form as prescribed by Appendix D to the (First) Schedule with necessary variations.
– In suit for recovery of immovable property, the decree shall contain a description of such property sufficient to identify it, e.g. boundaries, survey numbers etc.
– A decree for delivery of movable property must state the amount of money to be paid as an alternative if the delivery of isn’t made.
– In a decree for payment of money, the court may order that the payment of decretal amount shall be postponed or shall be made by installments with or without interest.
3. Final decree in respect of rent or mesne profits in accordance with the result of such inquiry.
– Where a decree for the specific performance of contract for the sale or lease of immovable property orders that the purchase money or other sum be paid by the purchaser or lessee, it shall specify the period within which the payment shall be made.
– Where a suit is for an account of any property and for its due administration under the decree of the Court, the Court shall, before passing the final decree, pass a preliminary decree ordering such accounts and inquiries to be taken and made, and giving such other directions as it thinks fit.
– In the administration by the Court of the property of any deceased person, if such property proves to be insufficient for the payment in full of his debts and liabilities, the same rules shall be observed as to the respective rights of secured and unsecured creditors and as to debts and liabilities provable, and as to the valuation of annuities and future and contingent liabilities respectively, as may be in force for the time being, within the local limits of the Court in which the administration suit, is pending with respect to the estates of persons adjudged or declared insolvent, and all persons who in any such case would be entitled to be paid out of such property, may come in under the preliminary decree, and make such claims against the same as they may respectively be entitled to by virtue of this Code.
2. direct that on payment into Court of such purchase-money, together with the costs (if any) decrees against the plaintiff, on or before the day referred to in clause (a), the defendant shall deliver possession of the property to the plaintiff, whose title thereto shall be deemed to have accused from the date of such payment, but that, if the purchase-money and the costs (if any) are not so paid, the suit shall be dismissed with costs.
Where the Court has adjudicated upon rival claims to pre-emption, the decree shall direct,— 85 (a) if and in so far as the claims decreed are equal in degree, that the claim of each pre-emptor complying with the provisions of sub-rule (1) shall take effect in respect of a proportionate share of the property including any proportionate share in respect of which the claim of any pre-emptor failing to comply with the said provisions would but for such default, have taken effect; and (b) if and in so far as the claims decreed are different in degree, that the claim of the inferior pre-emption shall not take effect unless and until the superior pre-emptor has failed to comply with the said provisions.
– Where a suit is for the dissolution of partnership, or the taking of partnership accounts, the Court, before passing a final decree, may pass a preliminary decree declaring the proportionate shares of the parties, fixing the day on which the partnership shall stand dissolved or be deemed to have been dissolved, and directing such accounts to be taken, and other acts to be done.
– In a suit for an account of pecuniary transactions between a principal and an agent, and in any other suit not herein before provided for, where it is necessary, in order to ascertain the amount of money due to or from any party, that an account should be taken, the Court shall, before passing its final decree, pass preliminary decree directing such accounts to be taken. The court can give special directions regarding mode of taking accounts.
1. The estate is assessed to the payment of revenue to the government, the decree shall declare the rights of several parties interested in the property but shall direct partition or separation to be made by the Collector (section 54).
2. In other cases of immovable property, if the partition or separation cannot conveniently be made without further inquiry, the court may pass a preliminary decree declaring the rights of the parties and giving necessary directions and thereafter a final decree shall be passed.
A decree where the defendant has been allowed a set off or counter claim against the claim of the plaintiff shall state what amount is due to the plaintiff and what amount is due to the defendant.
The tern “caveat” has not been defined anywhere in the Code. The word (caveat) has been derived from the Latin word which means “beware”. In other words, a caveat is a caution or a warning given by a party to the court not to take any action or to grant any relief to the applicant without notice or intimation being given to the party lodging the caveat and interested in appearing and objecting to such relief.
1. Where an application is expected to be made, or has been made, in a suit or proceedings instituted, or about to be instituted, in a Court, any person claiming a right to appear before the Court on the hearing of such application may lodge a caveat in respect thereof.
2. Where a caveat has been lodged under sub-section (1), the person by whom the caveat has been lodged (hereinafter referred to as the caveator) shall serve a notice of the caveat by registered post, acknowledgement due, on the person by whom the application has been or is expected to be, made, under sub-section (1).
3. Where, after a caveat has been lodged under sub-section (1), any application is filed in any suit or proceeding, the Court, shall serve a notice of the application on the caveator.
4. Where a notice of any caveat has been served on the applicant, he shall forthwith furnish the caveator at the caveator’s expense, with a copy of the application made by him and also with copies of any paper or document which has been, or may be, filed by him in support of the application.
5. Where a caveat has been lodged under sub-section (1), such caveat shall not remain in force after the expiry of ninety days from the date on which it was lodged unless the application referred to in sub-section (1) has been made before the expiry of the said period.
May lodge a caveat thereof. It is substantive in a nature.
2. When caveat may be lodged?
Normally a caveat may be lodged after the judgment is pronounced or order is passed. In exceptional cases, a caveat may be filed even before pronouncement of the judgment or passing of an order.
3. When caveat doesn’t lie?
The section cannot be construed to mean and provide that even in cases where the Code doesn’t contemplate notice, it can be claimed by lodging a caveat. Such a construction would be inconsistent with the object underlying section 148-A.
No form of caveat has been provided for in this Code. A caveat may be filed in the form of a petition wherein the caveator has to specify the nature of the application which is expected to be made or has made and also his right to appear before the court at the hearing of such application.
When a caveat is lodged, the court will serve a notice of an application on the caveator. The section obliges the applicant who has been served with a caveat to furnish the caveator, at the caveator’s expense, a copy of the application along with the copies of papers and documents submitted by him in support of his application.
This clause is directive in nature. The person by whom the Caveat has been lodged is called a Caveator. He shall, serve a notice of the Caveat by registered post, acknowledgement due on the person by whom the application has been made on the person by whom the application is expected to be made.
After a Caveat has been lodged under Clause 1, if any application is filed in any suit or proceeding, the Court shall serve a notice of the application on the Caveator. This clause is mandatory in nature.
It is directive in nature and says that, where a notice of any Caveat has been served on the applicant, he shall furnish, at the expense of the Caveator, a copy of the application made by him. Copies of any paper or document which has been filed by him in support of his application. Copies of any paper or document which may be filed by him in support of his application.
The life of the petition is 90 days, from the date on which it was lodged. The only exception is, if the application already exists, or has been made before the said period, the clause ceases to exist.
All the above five ingredients are vital to a Caveat petition all the above are to be followed austerely.
The object of this section is to safeguard the interest of the Caveator, who is ready to face the suit or proceedings which is expected to be instituted by his opponent, affording an opportunity to be heard, before an ex-parte order is made. Also, to avoid multiplicity of proceedings, so as to save the costs and conveniences of the Courts.
The Scope of the section was laid down in various cases. In the case of Nirmal Chandra Dutta vs Girindra Narayan Roy And Ors the Court had said that any party affected by an interim order can file a Caveat petition. Also, in the case of Kattil Vayalil Parkkum Koiloth v. Mannil Paadikayil Kadeesa Umma, the court opined that a person who is a total stranger to a proceeding cannot lodge a caveat.
Section 2(2) of the Code of Civil Procedure defines Decree as- the formal expression of an adjudication which, so far as regards the court expressing it, conclusively determines the rights of the parties with regard to all or any of the matters in controversy in the suit and may be either preliminary or final.
2. What are the essentials of a decree?
c) The adjudication must have determined the rights of the parties with regard to all or any of the matters in controversy in the suit.
d) Such adjudication must be conclusive.
3. Differentiate between preliminary and final decree.
A preliminary decree is that decree which decides the rights of the parties, with regard to all or any of the matters in controversy in suit but does not completely dispose of suit.
Whereas, a final decree is one which completely disposes of the suit and finally settle all questions in controversy between parties and nothing further remains to be decided thereafter.
4. Define how the judgment of a Court is the final analysis of the entire case; while the formal expression thereof is clothed into a different legal document under section 2(2) C.P.C. Trace the difference between the two and also why scheme of code has placed both of them under different pedestal.
Judgment as contemplated under section 2(9) is a statement given by a judge on the grounds of a decree or order. However, It is not necessary for a judge to give a statement in a decree under section 2(2) though it is necessary in a judgment.
What is the difference between a judgment and decree?
5. Define caveat? Discuss its scope.
Section 148 A provides the provision relating to Cavet application.
6. Who can lodge a caveat?
– May lodge a caveat thereof. It is substantive in a nature.
7. When does the caveat lie and when it does not?
WHEN IT DOES NOT LIE- The section cannot be construed to mean and provide that even in cases where the Code doesn’t contemplate notice, it can be claimed by lodging a caveat. Such a construction would be inconsistent with the object underlying section 148-A.
8. Discuss the rights and duties of a Caveator?
9. Discuss the role of the court after a caveat is lodged?
 Deep Chand V. Land Acquisition Officer, AIR 1994 SC 1901.

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