Holding

A decree passed against a predecessor‑in‑interest without impleading the successor‑in‑interest is not void ab initio; Section 47 objection is unavailable, and leave under Order 22 Rule 10 may be sought by the plaintiff or any interested party, not only by the devolved person.

Summary

The appellant, D.P. Singh, sued Jai Prakash University and others for a declaration that an order terminating his services was illegal. The suit was decreed ex parte against the college's governing body, which later became a constituent unit of the university, but the university was not impleaded. In execution, the university raised an objection under Section 47 CPC, claiming the decree was void because of the devolution of interest under Order 22 Rule 10. The Supreme Court held that a decree passed against a predecessor‑in‑interest without impleading the successor is not a nullity; it can be challenged only by a proper suit, not by a Section 47 objection. The Court also clarified that an application for leave under Order 22 Rule 10 may be filed by the plaintiff or any interested party, not solely by the person on whom interest has devolved. Consequently, the High Court’s order allowing the objection was set aside and the execution order was restored.

Issues considered

Whether a decree passed against a predecessor‑in‑interest without impleading the successor‑in‑interest, where interest has devolved during pendency, is a nullity and can be executed against the successor.
Whether an application for leave under Order 22 Rule 10 of the CPC must be filed exclusively by the person on whom interest has devolved.

Legislation cited

Code of Civil Procedure, 1908s. 100, s. 115, s. 47
Constitution of Indias. 136
Order 22 of the CPCs. Rule 10

Subjects

Section 47 CPCOrder 22 Rule 10devolution of interestdecree executionnullitycivil procedureleave of courtsuccessor-in-interestex parte decree

Judgment

DHURANDHAR PRASAD SINGH A
--'< v.
JAI PRAKASH UNIVERSITY AND ORS.

JULY 24, 2001

[G.B. PATTANAIK AND B.N. AGRAWAL, JJ.) B

Code of Civil Procedure, 1908:

Section 47-Exercise of powers under-Scope and ambit of-Held:
Decree can be set aside if the same is void ab initio and a nullity-But decree c
passed without impleading a party is not void ab initio so as to entail its
dismissal-Such a decree has to be challenged by filing a properly constituted
suit.

Order 22 Rule I 0-Pendency of suit-Devolution of interest during-
Leave to continue suit-Held: Initial duty lies upon the plaintiff to seek leave D
to continue suit-But the person upon whom interest has devolved, or any
...__}, person interested, may also apply for such a leave so that his interest may
be properly represented.
The appellant-plaintiff filed a suit for declaration that the order passed
by respondent No. 3 (defendant No. 2) terminating the services of the appellant E
was illegal. The suit was decreed ex parte. In the execution application filed
by the appellant, the respondent-University raised an objection under Section
47 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 on the ground that during pendency
of the suit the college in question became the consituent unit of the
respondent-University which was not impleaded as a party in the suit and,
therefore, the ex parte decree was not executable. The executing court
F
rejected the application. However, High Court allowed the revision. Hence
this appeal.
i '
On behalf of the appellant it was contended that as the college was
taken over by the respondent-University it was a case of devolution of interest
G
-. during pendency of the suit within the meaning of Order 22 Rule 10 CPC;
that the respondent-University did not take any steps to seek leave to continue
' -'( the suit under Order 22 Rule 10; and, therefore, the ex parte decree was
executable.

On behalf of the respondent-University it was contended that it was the
1129
H
-+
I

1130 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2001] 3 S.C.R.

A duty of the appellant-plaintiff who was prosecuting the suit for bringing the
University on record under Order 22 Rule 10 for effective relief.

The following questions arose before this Court :-

1. Whether in a case of devolution of interest during the pendency of
B a suit as postulated under Order 22 Rule 10 of the Code of Civil Procedure,
1908, decree passed against the predecessor-in-interest without bringing
the successor-in-interest on the record would make the decree a nullity and
the same can be executed against such a person who was not impleaded as
a party?

C, 2. Whether an application under Order 22 Rule 10 seeking leave of
the Court is required under law to be filed by that person alone upon whom
interest has devolved during the pendency of the suit and by nobody else?

Allowing the appeal, the Court

D HELD : 1. The exercise of powers under Section 47 of the Code of Civil
Procedure, 1908 is microscopic and lies in a very narrow inspection hole.
Thus, it is plain that executing Court can allow objection under Section 47
of the Code to the executability of the decree if it is found that the same is
void ab initio and a nullity, apart from the ground that the decree is not
capable of execution under the law either because the same was passed in
E ignorance of such a provision of law or the law was promulgated making a
decree inexecutable after its passing. In the case on hand, the decree was
passed against the College which was defendant without seeking leave of the
Court to continue the suit against the University upon whom the interest of
the original defendant devolved and impleading it. Such an omission would
F not make the decree void ab initio so as to invoke the application of Section
47 of the Code and entail dismissal of execution. The validity or otherwise
of a decree may be challenged by filing a properly constituted suit or taking
any other remedy available under the law on the ground that the' original
defendan~ absented himself from the proceeding of the suit after appearance
as it had not longer any interest in the subject of dispute or ·did not purposely
G take interest in the proceeding or colluded with the adversary or any other
ground permissible under the law. (1143-E-H]

Moti Lal v. Karab-ud-Din, (1898) 25 Cal. 179; Prannath v. Rookea
Begum, (1851-59) 7 MIA 323; Smt. Saila Bala Dassi v. Smt. Nirmala Sundari
Dassi, AIR (1958) SC 394; Rikhu Dev, Che/a Bawa Harjug Dass v. Som Dass.
H AIR (1975) SC 2159; Kiran Singh v. Chaman Pa"swan, AIR (1954) SC 340;
D.P. SINGH v. JAi PRAKASH UNIV. AND ORS. 1131

/ttyavira Mathai v. Varkey Varkey, AIR (1964) SC 907; Vasudev Dhanjibhai A
__.i._ Modi v. Rajabhai Abdul RPhman. AIR (1970) SC 1475; Everest Coal Company
(P) Ltd v. State of Bihar, (1978J 1 SCC 12; Haji Sk. Subhan v. Madhorao,
AIR (1962) SC 1230 and Vidhya Sagar v. Smt. Sudesh Kumari, AIR (1975)
SC 2295, referred to.

Durayappah v. Fernando, (1967) 2 All ER 152; In re McC. (A minor) B
(1985) 1 AC 528 and Director of Public Prosecutions v. Head, (1959) AC
83 and R. v. Paddington Valuation Officer, (1965) 2 All ER 836, referred to.

De Smith, Woolf and Jowell: Judicial Review of Administrative Action,
5th Edn. para 5-044 and Clive Lewis : Judicial Remedies in Public law, p.
131, referred to. c
2.2. The plain language of Order 22 Rule 10 CPC does not suggest
that leave can be sought by that person alone upon whom the interest has
devolved. It simply says that the suit may be continued by the person upon
whom such an interest has devolved and this applies in a case where the
interest of the plaintiff has devolved. Likewise, in a case where interest of D
defendant has devolved, the suit may be continued against such a person upon
whom interest has devolved, but in either eventuality, for continuance of the
suit against the persons upon whom the interest has devolved during the
pendency of the suit, leave of the court has to be obtained. If it is laid down
that leave can be obtained by that person alone upon whom ii:iterest of a party E
to the suit has devolved during the pendency, then there may be preposterious
results as such a party might not be knowing about the litigation and
consequently not feasible for him to apply for leave and ifa duty is cast upon
him then in such an eventuality he would be bound by the decree even in
-~- cases of failure to apply for leave. As a rule of prudence, initial duty lies upon
the plaintiff to apply for leave in case the factum of devolution was within his F
knowledge or with due diligence could have been known by him. The person
upon whom the interest has devolved may also apply for such a leave so that
his interest may be properly represented as the original party, if it ceased
to have an interest in the subject-matter of dispute by virtue of devolution of
interest upon another person, may not take interest therein, in ordinary G
course, whic~ is but natural, or by colluding with the other side. The prayer
for leave can be made not only by the person upon whom interest has
devolved, but also by the plaintiff or any other party or person interested.
(1144-D-G; 1145-Cl

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No. 4481 of H
1132 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2001] 3 S.C.R.

A 2001.
From the Judgment and Order dated 22.7.99 of the Patna High Court in
C.R. No. 98 of 1998.

P.S. Misra, S. Chandra Shekhar, Vishnu Shanna and Rajesh Prasad Singh
B for the Appellant.

Raju Ramachandran, Rudreshwar Singh, Tapesh Singh, Shishir Pinakri
and R.P. Wadhwani for the Respondents.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
c
B.N. AGRAWAL, J. Leave granted.
I

In this appeal decree 'holder-appellant has challenged the judgment
rendered by Patna High Court whereby revision application has been allowed,
D order·passed by the executing Court, rejecting objection under Section 47 of
the Code of Civil Procedure (hereinafter referred to as the 'Code') to the
executability of decree passed in title suit No .. 115 of 1977, set aside and
objection allowed.

Plaintiff-appellant filed suit for a declaration that order dated 11th October,
E 1977, passed by defendant No. 2 (respondent No. 3) who was Secretary of
Governing Body, Ganga Singh College, terminating the services of plaintiff,
was illegal. According to the case of the plaintiff disclosed in the plaint, he
was iippointed as Routine-cum-Examination Clerk in the said college, which
was affiliated to Bihar University, by Principal of the College on 8.1.1977
which was subsequently approved by the ad hoc Governing Body. After
F constitution of the regular Governin_g Body, defendant No.2 passed an order
terminating the services of plaintiff in contravention of Statutes of Bihar
University which necessitated filing of the present suit. In the said suit, the
Governing Body of the College in question which. was defendant No. I
entered appearance but no written statement was filed and the defendant
G, absented itself and the suit was fixed for exparte hearing which was decreed
exparte and the defendants were permanently restrained from giving effect to
the order of termination. As the judgment debtors refused to comply the
directions contained in the decree, the appellant levied execution. In the said
execution case, an objection under Section 47 of the Code was filed on behalf
of Principal of the Coilege as well as the Bihar University objecting to the
H executability of the decree on grounds, inter alia; that during the pendency
f
D.P. SINGH v. JAi PRAKASH UNIV. AND ORS. (AGRAWAL,J.] 1133

of the suit on 1st October, 1980, the College in question became the constituent A
unit of the Bihar University and the erstwhile Governing Body ceased to exist
;._ but the University was not impleaded party in the suit and consequently the
decree was not executable against it inasmuch as the exparte decree was
obtained against the erstwhile management by suppressing this fact. As
subsequently during the pendency of the execution case, Jai Prakash B
University was formed and the college in question thereupon became a
constituent unit of the said University, the same also filed similar objection
to the executability of the decree.

The executing court allowed the objection and thereafter when the
matter was taken to the High Court in revision, the case was remanded to the C
executing Court to dispose of the objection afresh after giving opportunity
of adducing evidence to the parties. After remand the parties adduced evidence
in support of their respective cases and the executing Court by its order dated
22nd September, 1997 rejected objection under Section 47 of the Code, against
which order when a revision was preferred before the High Court, the same
was allowed, order passed by the executing Court was set aside and objection D
under Section 47 of the Code was allowed. Hence, this appeal by Special
Leave.

Mr. Prabha Shanker Mishra, learned Senior Counsel appearing on behalf
of the appellant in support of the appeal submitted that although the college E
in question was taken over by the Bihar University as its constituent unit with
all its assets and liabilities and thereby it was a case of devolution of interest
during the pendency of the suit within the meaning of Order 22 Rule 10 of
the Code, the High Court was not justified in holding that the decree cannot
be executed against the University on the ground that it was not made party
in the suit inasmuch the decree could have been passed against the erstwhile F
management and the University was bound by it as no step whatsoever was
taken by the University to intervene in the matter by seeking leave to continue
which alone was entitled for the same. Learned counsel for the Respondent-
University, on the other hand, submitted that under Order 22 Rule 10 of the
Code, it was duty of the plaintiff who was prosecuting the suit to ensure by G
seeking leave of the Court, that effective relief is granted to him by bringing
the University on record which was a necessary party. It has been further
submitted that decree passed agaiiist the previous management which has
ceased to exist is akin to a decree passed against a dead person without
bringing his legal representatives on the record, which is a nullity. Thus, in
view of the rival submissions, the following questions arise for our H
1134 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [200 I ]3 S.C.R.

A consideration:-
1. Whether in a case of devolution of interest during the pendency
of a suit as postulated. under Order 22 Rule I 0 ~f the C~de,
decree passed against the p~edecessor-in-interest without
bringing the successor-in-interest on the record would make the
B decree nullity and the same can be. executed against such a
person who was not impleaded as party?

2. Whether application under Order 22 Rule I 0 seeking leave of the
Court is required under law to be filed by that person alone upon
whom interest has devolved during the pendency of the suit and
c· by nobody else?

In order to appreciate the points involved, it would be necessary to

D
refer to the provisions of Order 22 of the Code, Rules 3 and 4 whereof
prescribe procedure in case of devolution of interest on, ~e death of a party
to a suit. Under these Rules, if a party dies and right _to sue survives, the
Court on an application made in that behalf is required to substitute legal
-
representatives of the deceased party for proceeding with a suit but if such
an application is not filed within the time prescribed by law, the suit shall
abate so far as the deceased party is concerned. Rule 7 deals with the case
of creation of an interest in a husband on marriage and Rule 8 deals with the
E case of assignment on the insolvency of a plaintiff. Rule I 0 provides for cases
of assignment, creation and devolution of interest during the pendency of a
suit other than those referred to in the foregoing Rules and is based on the
principle that the trial of a suit cannot be brought to an end merely because
the interest of a party in the subject matter of suit is devolved upon another
during its pendency but such a suit may be continued with the leave of the
F Court by or against the person upon whom such interest has devolved. But,
if no such a step is taken, the suit may be continued with the original party
and the person upon whom the interest has devolved will be bound by and
can have the benefit of the decree, as the case may be, unless it is shown
in a properly constituted proceeding that the original party being~ho longer
G interested in the proceeding did not vigoroµsly prosecute .or cOiluded with
the adversary resulting in decision adverse to the party upon whom interest
had devolved. The Legislature while enacting Rules 3, 4 and I 0 has made
clear-cut distinction. In cases covered by Rules 3 and 4, if right to sue
survives and no application for bringing legal representatives of a deceased
party is filed within the time prescribed, there is automatic abatement of the
H suit and procedure has been prescribed for setting aside abatement under
D.P. SINGH v. JAi PRAKASH UNIV. AND ORS. (AGRAWAL, J.] 1135
Rule 9 on the grounds postulated therein. In cases covered by Rule 10, the A
Legislature has not prescribed any such procedure in the event of failure to
__.., apply for leave of the court to continue the proceeding by or against the
person upon whom interest has devolved during the pendency of a suit
which shows that the Legislature was conscious of this eventuality and yet
has not prescribed that failure would entail dismissal of the suit as it was
intended that the proceeding would continue by or against the original party B
although he ceased to have any interest in the subject of dispute in the event·
of failure to apply for leave to continue by or against the person upon whom
the interest has devolved for bringing him on the record.

Under Rule 10, Order 22 of the Code, when there has been a devolution c
of interest during the pendency of a suit, the suit may, by leave of the Court,
be continued by or against persons upon whom such interest has devolved
and this entitles, the person who has acquired an interest in the subject matter
of the litigation by an assignment or creation or devolution of interest pendente
lite or suitor or any other person interested, to apply to the Court for leave
to continue the suit. But it does not follow that it is obligatory upon them D
to do so. If a party does not ask for leave, he takes the obvious risk that the
suit may not be properly conducted by the plaintiff on record, and yet, as
.,._.\ pointed out by their Lordships of the Judicial Committee in Mo ti Lal v.
Karab-ud-Din, (1898) 25 Cal.179, he will be bound by the result of the
litigation even though he is not represented at the hearing unless it is shown E
that the litigation was not properly conducted by the original party or he
colluded with the adversary. It is also plain that if the person who has
acquired an interest by devolution, obtains leave to carry on the suit, the suit
in his hands is not a new suit, for, as Lord Kingsdown of the Judicial
Committee said in Prannath v. Rookea Begum, (1851-59) 7 M.l.A. 323, a cause
,--.. of action is not prolonged by mere transfer of the title. It is the old suit carried F
on at his instance and he is bound by all proceedings up to the stage when
he obtains leave to carry on the proceedings.

The effect of failure to seek leave or bring on record the person upon
whom the interest has devolved during the pendency of the suit was subject
G
matter of consideration before this Court in various decisions. In the case of
Smt. Saila Bala Dassi v. Smt. Nirmala Sundari Dassi and another, AIR (1958)
Supreme Court 394, T.L.Venkatarama Aiyar, J. speaking for himself and on
behalf of S.R. Das, CJ. and A.K. Sarkar and Vivian Bose, JJ. laid down the
~
law that if a suit is pending when the transfer in favour of a party was made,
that would not affect the result when no application had been made to be H
1136 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [200 I] 3 S.C.R.

A brought on the record in the original court during the pendency of the suit.

In the case of Rikhu Dev, Che/a Bawa Harjug Dass v. Som Dass
(deceased) through his Che/a Shiama Dass, AIR (1975) Supreme Court 2159,
while considering the effect of devolution of interest within the meaning of
Order 22 Rule 10 of the Code, on the trial of a suit during its pendency, this
B Court has laid down the law· at page· 2160 which runs thus:-

"This rule is based on the principle that trial of a suit cannot be
brought to an end merely.because the interest of a party in the subject
matter of the suit has devolved upon another during the pendency of
the suit but that suit may be continued against the person acquiring
c the interest with the leave of the Court. ~hen a suit is brought by
or against a person in a representative capacity and there is a
devolution of the interest of the representative, the rule that has to
be applied is Order 22, Rule 10 and not Rule 3 or 4, whether the
devolution takes place as a consequence of death or for any other
D reason. Order 22, Rule 10, is not confined to devolution of interest of
a party by death; it also applies if the head of the mutt or manager
of the temple resigns his office or is removed from office. In such a
case the successor to the head of the mutt or to the manager of the
temple _may be substituted as a party under this rule."

E In the case of Kiran Singh and others v. Chaman Paswan and others,
AIR (1954) S.C.340, question was raised, when decree passed by a Court is .
nullity and whether execution of such a decree can be resisted at the execution
stage which would obviously mean by taking ap objection under Section 47
of the Code. Venkatararna Ayyar, J. speaking for himself and on behalf of B.K.
F Mukherjea, Vivian Bose, Ghulam Hasan, JJ., observed at page 352 thus:

"It is a fundamental principle well-established that a decree passed by
a Court without jurisdiction is a nullity, & that its invalidity could be
set up whenever and wherever it is sought to be enforced or relied
upon, even at the stage of execution and even in collateral
G proceedings."

In the case of lttyavira Mathai v. Varkey Varkey and another, AIR
(1964) S.C. 907, the question which fell for consideration before this Court was
if a Court, having jurisdiction over the parties to the suit and subject matter
thereof passes a decree in a suit which was barred by time, such a decree
H would come within the realm of nullity and the Court answered the question
D.P. SINGH v. JAi PRAKASH UNIV. AND ORS. [AGRAWAL, J.) 1137

.,_ . in the negative holding that such a decree cannot be treated to be nullity but A
• _...
at the highest be treated to be an illegal decree. While laying down the law,
the Court stated at page 910 thus:-

"If the suit was barred by time and yet, the court decreed it, the court
would be committing an illegality and therefore the aggrieved party
would be entitled to have the decree set aside by preferring an appeal B
against it. But it is well settled that a court having jurisdiction over
the subject matter of the suit and over the parties thereto, though
bound to decide right may decide wrong; and that even though it
decided wrong it would not be doing something which it had ~o
jurisdiction to do. It had the jurisdiction over the subject matter and
it had the jurisdiction over the party and, therefore, merely because
c
it made an error in deciding a vital issue in the suit, it cannot be said
that it has acted beyond its jurisdiction. As has often been said,
courts have jurisdiction to decide right or to decide wrong and even
though they decide wrong; the decrees rendered by them cannot be
treated as nullities." D

... ~
Again, in the case of Vasudev Dhanjibhai Modi v. Rajabhai Abdul
Rehman and others, AIR (1970) SC 1475, the Court was considering scope of
objection under Section 4 7 of the Code in relation to the executability of a
decree and it was laid down that only such a decree can be subject matter
of objection which is nullity and not a decree which is erroneous either in law E
or on facts. J.C. Shah, J. speaking for himself and on behalf of K.S. Hegde
and A.N. Grover, JJ., laid down the law at pages 1476-77 which runs thus:-

"A Court executing a decree cannot go behind the decree between the
....., parties or their representatives; it must take the decree according to
its tenor, and cannot entertain any objection that the decree was
F
incorrect in law or on facts. Until it is set aside by an appropriate
proceeding in appeal or revision, a decree even if it be erroneous is
still binding between the parties.

When a decree which is a nullity, for instance, where it is passed
without bringing the legal representatives on the.record of a person
G
who was dead at the date of the decree, or against a ruling prince
without a certificate, is sought to be executed an objection in that
-\ behalf may be raised in a proceeding for execution. Again, when the
decree is made by a Court which has no inherent jurisdiction to make
it, objection as to its validity may be raised in an execution proceeding H
_,
... .....
1138 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2001] 3 S.C.R.

if the objection appears on the face of the record: where the objection
as to the jurisdiction of the Court to pass the decree does not appear
on the face of the record and requires examination of the questions
raised and decided at the trial or which could have been but have not
been raised, the executing Court will have no jurisdiction to entertain
an objection as to the validity of the decree even on the ground of
B absence of jurisdiction."

In the case of Everest Coal Company (P) ltd. v. State of Bihar and
others, [1978] 1 SCC 12, this Court held that leave for suing the receiver can
be granted even, after filing of the suit and held that the infirmity of not
C obtaining the leave does not bear upon the jurisdiction of the trial court or .,
the cause of altion but it is peripheral. It also held that if a suit prosecuted
without such leave culminates in a decree, the same is liable to be set aside.
These observations do not mean that the decree is nullity. On the other hand,
the observation of the Court at page 15 that "any litigative disturbance of the
Court's possession without its permission amounts to contempt of its authority;
D and the wages of contempt of Court in this jurisdiction may well be voidability
0£: the whole proceeding" would lend support tC? the view. and such decree
is voidable but not void. ·

In the case of Haji Sk.Subhan v. f'v!adhorao, AIR (1962) S.C. 1230, the
, E question which fell for consi~eration of this Court was as to whether an
executing Court can refuse to execute a decree on the ground that the same
has become inexecutable on account of the change in law in Madhya Pradesh
by promulgation of M.P. Abolition of Proprietary Rights (Estates, Mahals,
Alienated Lands) Act, 1950 and a decree was passed in ignorance of the
same. While answering the question in the affirmative, the Gourt observed at
F page 1287 thus:-

"The contention that the Executing Court cannot question .the decree
and has to execute it as-it stands, is correct, but this principle has no
operation in the facts of the present case. The objection of the
appellant is not with respect to the invalidity of the decree or with
G respect to the decree being wrong. His objection is based on the I
effect of the provisions of the Act which has deprived the respondent
of his proprietary rights, including the right to recover possession
over the land in suit and under whose provisions the respondent has
obtained the right to remain in possession of it. In these circumstances,
H we are of opinion that the executing Court can refuse to execute the
D.P. SINGH v. JAi PRAKASH UNIV. AND ORS. [AGRA WAL, J.] 1139

decree holding that it has become inexecutable on account of the A
change in law and its effect."

In the case of Vidya Sagar v. Smt. Sudesh Kumari and others, AIR
(1975) S.C. 2295, an objection was taken under Section 47 of the Code to the
effect that decree passed was incapable of execution after passing of U.P.
Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1950 and the objection was B
allowed by the High Court and when the matter was brought to this Court,
the order was upheld holding that decree was incapable of execution by
subsequent promulgation of legislation. by State Legislature.

The expressions 'void and voidable' have been subject matter of
consideration before English Courts times without number. In the case of C
Durayappah v. Fernando and others, (1967) 2 All England Law Reports 152,
the dissolution of municipal council by the minister was challenged. Question
had arisen before the Privy Council as to whether a third party could challenge
such a decision. It was held that if the decision was complete nullity, it could
be challenged by anyone, anywhere. The Court observed at page 158 thus:- D

"The answer must depend essentially on whether the order of the
Minister was a complete nullity or whether it was an order void~ble
only at the election of the council. If the former, it must follow that
the council is still in office and that, if any councillor, ratepayer or
other person having a legitimate interest in the conduct of the council E
likes to take the point, they are entitled to ask the court to declare that
the council is still the duly elected council with all the powers and
duties conferred on it by the Municipal Ordinance."

In the case of In re McC. (A minor) (1985) 1 Appeal Cases 528, the
,,-- House of L<?rds followed the dictum of Lord Coke in the Marshalsea Case F
quoting a passage from the said judgment which was rendered in 1613 where •
it was laid down that where the whole proceeding is coram non judice which
means void ab initio, the action will lie without any regard to the precept or
process. The Court laid down at page 536 thus:-

"Consider two extremes of a very wide spectrum. Jurisdiction meant G
one thing to Lord Coke in 1613 when he said in the Marshalsea Case
(1613) 10 Co. Rep. 68b, at p.76a:
"when a court has jurisdiction of the cause, and, proceeds
inverso ordine or erroneously, there the party who sues, or the
officer or minister of the court who executes the precept or H

(
1140 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2001] 3 S.C.R.

A process of the court, no action lies against them. But when the
court has not jurisdiction of the cause, there the whole
proceeding is coram non judice, and actions will lie against them
-
without ,any regard of the precept or process."

The Court of the Marshalsea in that case acted without jurisdiction
B because, its jurisdiction being limited to members of tlie King's
household, it entertained a suit between two citizens neither of who~
was a member of the King's ·household. Ari~ing out of tho~'e
proceedings a party arrested ~by process of the Marshalsea' could
maintain an action for false imprisonment against, inter alios, 'the
c Marshal who directed the execution of the process.' This is but an
early and perhaps the most quoted example of the application of a
principle' illustrated by m~y later cases where th.e question whether
a .court or other tribunal of limited jurisdiction has acted with~:mt
jurisdiction (coram non judice) can be d~termined by considering
whether at the outset of the proceedings that court had jurisdiction
D to entertain the proceedings at all. So much is implicit in the Lord
Coke's phrase "jurisdiction of the cause"."

In another decision, in the case of Director of Public Prosecutions v.
Head, (1959) Appeal Cases 83, House of Lotds was considering validity of
E an ordet passed by Secretary· of the State iri appeal preferred against judgment
of acquittal passed in a criminal case. The Court .of Criminal Appeal quashed
the conviction on the ground that the aforesaid order of Secretary was null
and void and while upholding the decis'ion of the Court of Criminal Appeal,
the House of Lords observed at page 111 thus:-

F "This contention seems to me to raise the whole question of void or
voidable: for if the original order was void, it would in law be a nullity.
There would be no need for an order to qu.ash it. It would be
automatically null and void without more ado. The continuation orders
" .
would be nullities too, because you cannot continue a nullit}r. The
G licence to Miss Henderson would be a nullity. So would all the
dealings with her property under Section 64 of the Act of 1913. None
of the orders would be admissible in evidence. The Secretary of State
would, I fancy, be liable in damages for all of the 10 years during
which she_ was unlawfully detained, since it could all be said to flow
from his negligent act; see section 16 of the Mental Treatment Act,
1930.

)-
D.P. SINGH v. JAi PRAKASH UNIV. AND ORS. [AGRA WAL, J.) 1141

But if the origiQal order was only voidable, then it would not be A
automatically void. Something would have to be done to avoid it.
There would have to be an application to the High Court for certiorari
to quash it."

This question was examined by Court of Appeal in the case of R. v.
- Paddington Valuation Officer and another, Exparte Peachey Property B
Corporation, Ltd., (1965) 2 All England Law Reports 836 where the valuation
list was challenged on the ground that the same was void altogether. On these
facts, Lord Denning, M.R. laid down the law observing at page 841 thus:-

"It is necessary to distinguish between two kinds of invalidity. The C
one kind is where the invalidity is so grave that the list is a nullity
altogether. In which case there is no need for an order to quash it. It
is automatically null and void without more ado. The other kind is
when the invalidity does not make the list void altogether, but only
voidable. In that case it stands unless and until it is set aside. In the
present case the valuation list is not, and never has been, a nullity. D
At most the first respondent-acting within his jurisdiction-exercised
that jurisdiction erroneously. That makes the list vpidable and not
. ~ void. It remains good until it is set aside."

De Smith, Woolf and Jowell in their treatise Judicial Review of
Administrative Action, Fifth Edition, paragraph 5-044, has summarised the E
concept of void and voidable as follows:

"Behind the simple dichotomy of void and voidable acts (invalid and
valid until declared to be inv~lid} lurk terminological and conceptual
problems of excruciating complexity. The problems arose from the F
premise that if an act, order or decision is ultra vires in the sense of
outsjde jurisdictio~, it was said to be invalid, or null and void. If it
is intra vires it was, of course, valid. If it is flawed by an error
perpetrated within the area of authority or jurisdiction, it was usually
said to be voidable; that is, valid till set aside on appeal or in the past
quashed by certiorari for error of law on the face of the record." G
Clive Lewis in his works Judicial Remedies in Public Law at page 131
has explained the expressions "void and voidable" as follows:-
·. "A challenge to the validity of an act may be by direct action or by
way of collateral or indirect challenge. A direct action is one where H
1142 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2001] 3 S.C.R.

A the principal purpose of the action is to establish the invalidity. This
will usually be by way of an application for judicial review or by use
· of any statutory mechanism for appeal or review. Collateral challenges
arise when the invalidity is raised in the course of some other
proceedings, the purpose of which is not to establish invalidity but
where questions of validity become relevant."

Thus the expressions 'void and voidable' have been subject matter of
consideration on innumerable occasions by courts. The expression 'void' has
several facets. One type of void acts, transactions, decrees are those which
are wholly without jurisdiction, ab initio void and for avoiding the same no
C declaration is necessary, law does not take any notice of the same and it can
be disregarded in collateral proceeding or otherwise. The other type of void
act, e.g., may be transaction against a minor without being represented by a
next friend. Such a transaction is good transacti~n against the whole world.
So far the minor is concerned, if he decides to avoid the same and succeeds
in avoiding it by taking recourse to appropriate proceeding the transaction
D becomes void from the very beginning. Another type of void act may be
which is not a nullity but for avoiding the same a declaration has to be made.
Voidable act is that which is a good act unless avoided, e.g., if a suit is filed
for a declaration that a document is fraudulent and/or forged and fabricated,
it is voidable as apparent state of a~fairs is real state of affairs and a party
E who alleges otherwise is obliged to prove it. If it is proved that the document
is forged and fabricated and a declaration to that effect is given a transaction
becomes void from the very beginning. There may be a voidable transaction
which is required to be set aside and the same is avoided from the day it is
so set aside and not any day prior to it. In cases, where legal effect of a
document cannot be taken away without setting aside the same, it cannot be
F treated to be void but would be obviously voidable.

. Under Section 47 of the ,~ode, all questions arising between the parties
to' the suit in which the decree was passed or their representatives relating
to the execution, dis@arge or satisfaction of decree have got to be determined
G by the court executing the decree and not by ·a separate suit. The powers of
Court under Section 4 7 are quite different and much narrower than its powers
of appeal, revision or review. A first appellate Court is not only entitled but
obliged under law to go into the questions·of facts as well like trial court apart
from questions of law. Powers of second appellate Court under different
statutes like Section 100 of the Code, as it stood' before its amendment by
H Central Act 104 of 1976 with effect from 1.2.1977, could be exercised only on
D.P. SINGH v. JAi PRAKASH UNIV. AND ORS. [AGRAWAL, J.] 1143
_.... questions of law. Powers under statutes which are akin to Section 100 of the A
,.., Code, as amended and substituted by the aforesaid Central Act, have been
further narrowed down as now in such an appeal only substantial question
of law can be considered. The powers of this Court under Article 136 of the
Constitution of India, should not be exercised simply because substantial
question of law arises in a case, but there is further requirement that such
question must be of general public importance and it requires decision of this
B
Court. Powers of revision under Section 115 of the Code cannot be exercised
merely because the order suffers from legal infirmity or substantial question
of law arises, but such an error must suffer with the vice of error of jurisdiction.
.... Of course, the revisional powers exercisable under the Code of Criminal
Procedure and likewise in similar statutes stand on entirely different footing c
and much wider as there the court can go into correctness, legality or propriety
of the order and regularity of proceeding of inferior court. It does not mean
that in each and every case the revisional court is obliged to consider
question of facts as well like a first appellate Court, but the court has
discretion to consider the same in appropriate cases wt;:never it ~s found
expedient and not in each and every case. Discretion, . , doubtedly, means D
judicial discretion and not whim, caprice or fancy of a Judge. Powers of review
.~ cannot be invoked unless it is shown that there is error apparent on the face
of the record in the order sought to be reviewed.

The exercise of powers under Section 47 of the Code is microscopic and
E
lies in a very narrow inspection hole. Thus it is plain that executing Court can
allow objection under Section 4 7 of the Code to the executability of the decree
if it is found that the same is void ab initio and nullity, apart from the ground
that decree is not capable of execution under law either because the same was
,,..-.. passed in ignorance of such a provision of law or the law was promulgated
making a decree inexecutable after its passing. In the case on hand, the decree F
was passed against the governing body of the College which was defendant
without seeking leave of the Court to continue the suit against the University
upon whom the interest of the original defendant devolved and impleading
it . Such an omission would not make the decree void ab initio so as to
invoke application of Section 47 of the Code and entail dismissal of execution.
G
The validity or otherwise of a decree may be challenged by filing a properly
constituted suit or taking any other remedy available under law on the ground
-{ that original defendant absented himself from the proceeding of the suit after
appearance as it had no longer any interest in the subject of dispute or did
not purposely take interest in the proceeding or colluded with the adversary
or any other ground permissible under law. H
1144 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2001] 3 S.C.R.

A Now we proceed to consider the second question posed, but before .........
doing so, for better appreciation of the point involved, it woult:i be appropriate ;..._
to refer to the provisions of Order 22 Rule 10 of the Code which runs thus:-

"10. Procedure in case of assignment before final order in suit.-{ l)
In other cases of an assignment, creation or devolution of any interest
B 4uring the pendency of a suit, the suit may, by leave of the Court, be
continued by or against the person to or upon· whom such interest
has come or devolved.

(2) the attachment of a decree pending an appeal therefrom shall be -
c deemed to be an interest entitling the person who procured such
attachment to the benefit of sub-rule (1)."
----
Plain language of Rule I 0 referred to above does not suggest that leave
can be sought by that person alone up?n whom 'the interest has devolved.
It simply says that the suit may be continued by the pers~n upon whom such
D an interest has devolved and this applies in a case where the interest of
plaintiff has devolved. Likewise, in a case where interest of defendant has
devolved, the suit may be continue4 against such a person upon who~ _,_
interest .has .devolved, but in. . either
. eventuality,. for continuance
.
of the suit
against the persons upon whom the interest has devolved during the pendency
of the suit, leave of ~e court. has to be obtained. If it is laid down that leave
E
can be obtained by that person alone upon whom interest of party to the suit
has devolved d1!fing its pendency, then the.re may be preposterous results as
such a party might not be knowing about the litigation and consequently not
feasible for him to apply, for leave and if a duty is cast upon him then in such
an eventuaHty he would be ~ound ·by the decree even in cases of failure to
F apply for leave. As a rule of: prud,ence, initial duty lies upon the plaintiff to
apply .for leave in case the ~actum of devolut~on was within his knowledge
or. with due diligence could h~ve b~en known by him. The person upon whom
the mterest has devoived may also apply for such a leave so that his interest
may be properly represented as the original party, if it ceased to have an
interest in the subject matter of dispute by vi~e of devolution of interest
G upon another person, may not ta~e _interest therei~, in ordinary cours~, which
is but natiiral, or by colluding with the other side. If the submission of Shri
Mishra is accepted, a pa,rty upon whom interest has devolved, upo~ h~s
';-
failure tO apply for leave, would he deprived from challenging correctness of
th~ decree by filing a properlY. cQnstituted suit on the ground that the original
H party 'having lost interest in the subject of dispute: did no~ properiy prosecute
D.P. SINGH v. JAi PRAKASH UNIV. AND ORS. [AGRAWAL, J.) 1145
or defend the litigation or, in doing so, collud.e·d with the adversary. Any other A
party, in our view, may also seek leave as,_,for example, where plaintiff filed
a suit for partition and during its pendency he gifted away his undivided
interest in the Mitakshara Coparcenary in favour of the contesting defendant,
in that event the contesting defendant upon whom the interest of the original
plaintiff has devolved has no cause of action to prosecute the suit, but if B
there is any other co-sharer who is supporting the plaintiff, may have a cause
of action to continue with the suit by getting himself transposed to the
category of plaintiff as it is well settled that in a partition suit every defendant
is plaintiff, provided he has cause of action for seeking partition. Thus, we
do not find any substance in this submission of learned counsel appearing
on behalf of the appellant and hold that prayer for leave can be made not only C
. by the person upon whom interest has devolved, but also by the plaintiff or
any other party or person interested.

Thus, in view of the foregoing discussions, we have no difficulty in
holding that the High Court was not justified in allowing objection under
Section 47 of the Code. D
In the result, the appeal is. allowed, impugned order. passed by the High
Court is set aside and that by the executing Court restored. In the circumstances
of the case, we direct that the parties shall bear their own costs.

v.s.s. Appeal allowed. E