Holding

A final decree, even if it includes a declaratory relief, must be executed strictly as per its terms; the judgment debtor must prove the decree is a nullity, and the executing court cannot go beyond the decree.

Summary

Haryana Vidyut Parishan Nigam Limited (the corporation) owned two thermal power plants; employees at its Faridabad plant sued for higher pay scales, seeking a declaration of entitlement and a mandatory injunction to pay the higher salaries with interest, invoking the principle of equal pay. The trial court, relying on the Anil Kapoor case, granted a decree of declaration and mandatory injunction but denied interest, and the decree became final after the corporation's appeals were dismissed. The corporation filed an objection to the execution petition under Section 47 of the CPC, contending that a declaratory decree does not entitle the decree‑holder to arrears of pay. The executing court rejected the objection and the corporation appealed to the Supreme Court. The Court held that a decree must be confined to the reliefs granted, and once a decree attains finality the executing court must enforce it strictly; the judgment debtor bears the burden of showing the decree is ex facie a nullity, and the Court cannot use Article 142 to alter the decree. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed and the decree was ordered to be executed as passed.

Issues considered

Whether a decree that includes both a declaration and a mandatory injunction for payment of higher pay scales is executable despite the corporation's objection under Section 47 CPC.
Whether the judgment debtor must demonstrate that the decree is ex facie a nullity to succeed in a Section 47 objection.
Whether the Supreme Court can invoke Article 142 to modify or refuse execution of a final decree.

Legislation cited

Code of Civil Procedure, 1908s. 47

Subjects

declaration decreemandatory injunctionexecution of decreeSection 47 CPCfinality of decreeequal payinterest on arrearsArticle 142civil procedureemployee remuneration

Judgment

[2009) 8 S.C.R. 937

HARYANA VIDYUT PARSARAN NIGAM LIMITED & ANR. A
v.
GULSHAN LAL & ORS.
(Civil Appeal No. 3306 of 2009)
MAY 6, 2009
B
[S.B. SINHA AND DR. MUKUNDAKAM SHARMA, JJ.]
A
Civil Procedure Code, 1908 - s.47 - Suit praying for
decree of declaration in regard to entitlement to receive higher
pay scales and a decree of mandatory injunction directing c
release/payment of higher pay scales with interest from due
date - Decreed by Civil Court - Execution petition moved by
decree-holder- Objection to, by judgment-debtor - Held: On
-> facts, the decree-holder legally would not have been entitled
to the reliefs prayed for by it - However, as the decree passed D
has attained finality, the Executing Court is directed to
execute the decree strictly in terms thereof.

Appellant-Board has two thermal power plants, one
at Faridabad and the other at Panipat. Respondents were
E
employees at the Faridabad plant. Inter alia on the
~ premise that employees similarly situated and working at
; the Panipat plant were receiving higher salary, they filed
suit praying for a decree of declaration in regard to their
entitlement to receive higher pay scales and a decree of
F
mandatory injunction directing release/payment of higher
pay scales in their favour with interest from the due date.

The Trial Court decreed the suit on basis of the
judgment and decree passed in Anil Kapoor case which
... ,)j
was then pending in second appeal before the High G
Court. The said second appeal was ultimately dismissed
and the Special Leave Petition filed thereagainst was also
dismissed. Subsequently, appellant filed appeal against
the decree passed in the suit filed by respondents, which
937 H
938 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2009] 8 S.C.R.

.-4·'
A was dismissed on the ground of delay. Revision petition
filed thereagainst was also dismissed. The decree
passed in the suit filed by respondents attained finality.
An execution petition in respect of the decree was filed.
Appellant filed objection contending that a mere
B declaratory relief having been passed in favour of the
respondents-decree holder, they were not entitled to
arrears of pay. The objection petition was dismissed by
r_
the Executing Court. Revision petition filed thereagainst
was dismissed by the High Court. Hence the present
c appeal.
Dismissing the appeal, the Court

HELD: 1. A decree should ordinarily be confined to
the prayer made in the plaint. The respondents not only ~-
D prayed for a declaration in regard to their entitlement to
receive a higher scale of pay but also for a decree of
mandatory injunction in their favour directing them to
release/pay the said higher scales of pay. They had also
prayed for grant of interest on the aforementioned
E amount. The entitlement of the plaintiffs-respondents to
receive the emoluments in the scales of pay mentioned
therein and the date from which they had been working .\
was specified. The Trial Judge in no uncertain terms held ...
that no interest shall be payable thereupon. Denial of
F payment of interest is significant and the same leads to
the conclusion that the court was conscious of the fact
that not only plaintiffs-respondents were entitled to a
declaration but also to a mandatory injunction. [Paras 14,
15 and 16) [945-D-G]
G State of M.P. v Mangi/al Sharma, (1998) 2 SCC 510, ~-
distinguished.

UP. State Road Transport Corporation vs Assistant
Commnr. of Police (Traffic) Delhi 2009 (2) SCALE 526,
H referred to.
HARYANA VIDYUT PARSARAN NIGAM LIMITED & 939
ANR. v. GULSHAN LAL & ORS.

2.1. For the purpose of allowing an objection filed on A
behalf of a judgment debtor under Section 47 CPC, it was
incumbent on him to show that the decree was ex facie
nullity. For the said purpose, the court is precluded from
making an indepth scrutiny as regards the entitlement of
the plaintiff with reference to not only his claim made in B
the plaint but also the defence set up by the judgment-
debtor. As the judgment of the Trial Court could not have
been reopened, the correctness thereof could not have
been put to question. Also an Executing Court cannot go
behind the decree. If on a fair interpretation of the c
judgment, order and decree passed by a court having
appropriate jurisdiction in that behalf, the reliefs sought
for by the plaintiff appear to have been granted, there is
no reason as to why the Executing Court shall deprive
-> him from obtaining the fruits of the decree. [Para 20] [948- D
E-H; 949~A]

2.2. It is also not a case where this Court can
exercise its jurisdiction under Article 142 of the
Constitution to mould an order. The decree passed by
the Trial Court has attained finality. Whether rightly or E
wrongly, the judgment of the Trial Judge has been
. affirmed by this court. It is one thing to say that no right
;
having crystalised in favour of a party to the lis, this Court
can mould the relief appropriately, but it is another thing
to say that despite the decree being found to be an F
executable one, this Court will refuse to direct execution
thereof. Though, on facts, the respondents legally would
not have been entitled to the reliefs prayed for by them,
however, as a decree has been passed, the Executing
Court shall execute the decree strictly in terms thereof. G
-;J [Paras 21 and 22) [949-C-F]

Deepa Bhargave v. Mahesh Bhargava 2008 (16) SCALE
305, relied on.

Bhawar/al Bhandari v. Universal Heavy Mechanical H
940 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2009] 8 S.C.R.

_.•
A Lifting Enterprises (1999) 1 SCC 558, referred to.

Case Law Reference:
2009 (2) SCALE 526 referred to Para 16

B (1998) 2 sec 510 distinguished Para 18
(1999) 1 sec 558 referred to Para 19 )"
'
2008 (16) SCALE 305 relied on Para 20

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal No.
C 3306 of 2009.

From the Judgment & Order dated 1.2.2006 of the High
Court of Punjab & Haryana at Chandigarh in Civil Revis'ion No.
5260 of 2005.
D
WITH

C.A. No. 3307, 3308, 3309, 3310 of 2009.

Paramjit Singh Patwalia, Salman Khurshid, Neeraj Kumar,
E Jain, Sandeep Chaturvedi (for Ugra Shankar Prasad), Arunabh
Chowdhury, Aman Preet Singh Rahi, Arijit Bhaumik (for Ruby
Singh Ahuja), Rishi Malhotra, Prem Malhotra for the Appearing
parties.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
F
S.B. SINHA, J. 1. Leave granted.

2. Interpretation of a judgment of Civil Judge, Faridabad
in Civil Suit No. 180 of 1999 dated 17-11-2000 is in question
G in these appeals.

3. Respondents are employees of the appellant-Board, a
successor of Haryana State Electricity Board constituted and
incorporated under Section 5 and 12 of the Electricity (Supply)
Act, 1948. Respondents were employees of a Thermal Power
H
HARYANA VIDYUT PARSARAN NIGAM LIMITED & 941
ANR. v. GULSHAN LAL & ORS. [S.B. SINHA, J.J
}
Plant at Faridabad. Indisputably the appellant has another A
.,. Thermal Power Plant at Panipat.

Inter alia on the premise that the employees similarly
situated and working at Panipat, Thermal Power Plant were
receiving a higher salary, the aforementioned suit was filed
B
praying inter alia for the following reliefs :

"' "(a) a decree of declaration in favour of plaintiffs and
against the defendants, declaring the plaintiffs entitled to
receive the said higher pay scale of Rs.1400-2600/- w.e.f.
' 24.10.1991, and of Rs.5000-150-8000 w.e.f. 1.1.1996 c
.. alongwith interest @ 18% p.a. from the date of due till
actual payment, -as given to their co-employees as
mentioned in para No. 2 above of the plaint, on the basis
- ).
of principle of 'equal pay for equal work,;
D
(b} a decree of mandatory injunction in favour of plaintiff
and against the defendants, directing the defendants to
release/pay to the plaintiffs the said higher pay scales of
Rs. 1400-2600/- w.e.f. 24.10.1991 and of Rs. 5000-150-
80001· w.e.f. 1.1.96 alongwith interest@ 18% p.a. from the
E
date of due till actual payment, forthwith;"
+ 4. The issues which were framed in the aforementioned
;
suit in terms of the pleadings of the parties were as under :

"(1) Whether the plaintiffs are entitled to receive the pay F
scales of Rs. 1400-2600 w.e.f. 24.10.1991 and of Rs.
5000 to 8000/- w.e.f. 1.1.1996 alongwith interest at the
rate of 18% from the defendants?

(2) If issue No. 1 is proved, whether the plaintiffs are
entitled for mandatory injunction as prayed for?" G
,;--:#

The learned Trial Judge while determining the said issue
Nos. 1 and 2, relying or on the basis of a Judgment and decree
passed in the case of Anil Kapoor vs. Haryana State Electricity
-~
Board being RSA No. 800 of 1992 which was then pending in H
942 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2009] 8 S.C.R.

A second appeal before the High Court of Haryana held as under:

"The plaintiffs are entitled to get the benefit as ordered by
the Hon'ble High Court and which would be subject to the
decision of RSA No.800/1992. The plaintiffs have proved
-
the legal notice served by them through counsel which is
B
placed on record as Ex. P1, as admitted by DW1 in his
cross examination, but no reply was given by the
defendants."

It was directed :
•
c
"For the reasons recorded above, issues No. 1 and 2 are
decided in favour of the plaintiffs to the effect that the .~

plaintiffs are entitled to receive pay scale of Rs. 1400-2600
w.e.f. 24.10.1991 and Rs.5000-8000 w.e.f. 1.1.1996
>( •
D subject to decision of RSA No.800/1992."

On the aforementioned iindings, the following relief was
granted:

"In sequel of my aforesaid discussion on the aforesaid
E issues, the suit of the plaintiffs for declaration and
mandatory injunction succeeds and the same is hereby
decreed to the effect that the plaintiffs are entitled to .+
receive the pay scale of Rs.1400-2600 w.e.f.24.10.1991 " ·'
and Rs.5000-8000 w.e.f. 1.1.1996. However, the plaintiffs
F are not entitled to any intereEt as claimed. Keeping in view
of circumstances of the case, both the parties are left to
bear their own costs. Decree-sheet be prepared
accordingly and file be consigned to the record room."

5. Indisputably the said decree has attained finality as the
G same has been upheld upto this court.

6. An execution petition was filed.
~-
-
Appellants herein filed an objection to the said execution
petition raising a contention that a mere declaratory relief having
H
HARYANA VIDYUT PARSARAN NIGAM LIMITED & 943
ANR. v. GULSHAN LAL & ORS. [S.B. SINHA, J.]
l
- been passed in the favour of the decree holder, they were not A
entitled to the arrears of pay, stating :

"In view of the judgment dated 9.10.2001 of Hon'ble High
Court in RSA-800/92, the present D.Hs are not entitled for
any relief and in case they are paid the arrears it will further B
multiply the litigation as their pay scale shall become higher
,f than their functional cadre post and will adversely effect the
entire policy of various categories of staff of the erstwhile
Board now Corporation.

The said objection petition was dismissed by a reason of c
an Order dated 23-08-2005 passed by the learned Executing
..., Court upon considering the findings of the Trial Court in the suit,
stating :
I.
"It is apparent from the bare reading of the aforesaid D
findings that the grarit of pay scales of Rs.1400-2600/-
w.e.f. 24.10.1991 and Rs.5000-8000 w.e.f. 1.1.1996 was
subject to the decision of RSA No.800/1992. It is not
disputed that the said RSA titled as Haryana State
Electricity Board vs. Anil Kapoor and others, was disposed
E
of along with civil writ petition No. 1632 of 1999 titled as
i Anil Kapoor and others Vs. Haryana Power Generation
; Corporation and the Hon'ble Punjab and Haryana High
\.
Court vide judgment dated 9.10.2001 allowed the said writ
petition and dismissed appeal no.800 of 1992. Aggrieved
F
against the aforesaid judgment dated 9.10.2001, the JD
had preferred a Special Leave Petition No. 14609-14610/
2002 in the Hon'ble Supreme Court which was also
dismissed on that 20.1.2003. Learned counsel for the JD
- has failed to bring on record the fact that the judgment and
decree dated 17 .11.2000 was ever challenged in any G
...--;It
competent court of law, wherein the same was set aside
or the operation of the said judgment was ever stayed.
Hence, the judgment and decree dated 17.11.2000 must
be held to have attained finality. Moreover, JD has not
claimed any lack of jurisdiction or legal infirmity making the H
944 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2009] 8 S.C.R.

'
~
A judgment in question to be unexecutable."
~
7. A revision application was filed thereagainst which by
reason the impugned judgment has been dismissed by a
learned Single Judge of the High Court.
B 8. Mr. Jain, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the
appellants would submit that a mere declaratory decree having
been passed, the execution petition was not maintainable. •
In any event, the learned counsel urged, no arrears of pay
c could have been granted for a period of more than three years.

9. Ms. lndu Malhotra, learned senior counsel appearing on
behalf of the respondents, on the other hand, would support the ...-
impugned judgment. ',,

D 10. Indisputably, respondents herein in terms of judgment "
of the Punjab and Haryana Higr. Court passed in RSA No.800
of 1992 titled as Haryana State Electricity Board Vs. Anil
Kapoor and Ors. were said to be similarly situated and were
granted the following higher grade/pay scales:
E
(a) Rs.950-20-1150/25-1500 w.e.f. 1.1.1986

(b) Rs.1200-30-1560/40-2040 w.e.f.1.5.1990 +
"
(c) Rs.1400-2600 w.e.f.24.10.1991
F
(d} Rs.5000-150-8000 w.e.f.1.1.1996.

11. Learned Subordinate Judge decreed the said suit inter
alia holding that it was admitted that the respondents had been
getting lesser pay as compared to other co-employees and thus
G on the basis of the principle of equal pay for equal work and
being senior to the other employees cannot be deprived of the ""- '~

scales of pay allowed to their juniors.

12. It was furthermore directed that plaintiffs-respondents
H were entitled to derive the benefit as ordered by the High Court
HARYANA VIDYUT PARSARAN NIGAM LIMITED & 945
ANR. v. GULSHAN LAL & ORS. [S.B. SINHA, J.]
~ which would be subject to the decision of RSA No.800of1992. A-· .
... Indisputably RSA No. 88 of 1992 was dismissed by the High
Court by a Judgment and Order dated 9-10-2001 and Special
Leave Petition preferred thereagainst had also been
dismissed.
B
13. We may notice that a first appeal preferred against the
original judgment and decree passed in the suit filed by the
A
respondent was filed by the appellant only on 24-03-2005 which
was dismissed on the ground of delay. A civil revision
application filed thereagainst had also been dismissed.
c
14. Concededly the decree passed by the civil court has
attained finality. The only question which arises for
consideration is as to whether having regard to the nature of
the decree passed, it is executable.
- )•
D
A decree, as is well-known, should ordinarily be confined
to the prayer made in the plaint. We have noticed hereinbefore,
that the respondents herein not only prayed for a declaration
in regard to their entitlement to receive a higher scale of pay
but also for a decree of mandatory injunction in their favour E
directing them to release/pay the said higher scales of pay.
They had prayed for grant of interest on the aforementioned
t amount.
;

15. The entitlement of the plaintiffs-respondents to receive
the emoluments in the scales of pay mentioned therein and the F
date from which they had been working was specified.

16. The learned Judge in no uncertain terms held that no
interest shall be payable thereupon. Denial of payment of
interest, in our opinion, is significant and the same leads to the G
~-:-.J
conclusion that the court was conscious of the fact that not only
plaintiffs-respondents were entitled to a declaration but also to
a mandatory injunction.

But for the purpose of construction of a judgment, it must
be read as a whole. The issues framed in that behalf assumes H
946 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2009] 8 S.C.R.

A great significance. We have noticed, hereinbefore, that both the
~
issues framed by the learned Trial Judge had correlation with
the reliefs claimed for. ,.,
In U.P. State Road Transport Corporation v. Assistant
Commnr. Of Police (Traffic) Delhi ['21109 (2) SCALE 526], this
B
Court held:

"A decision is an authority, it is trite, for which it decides t,
and not what can logically be deduced therefrom. This
wholesome principle is equally applicable in the matter of
c construction of a judgment. A judgment is not to be
construed as a statute. It must be construed upon reading
the same as a whole. For the said purpose, the attending
circumstances may also be taken into consideration."

D 17. Thus, when a reliHf had been granted upon taking into "Jo( ...
consideration not only th€) declaratory relief prayed for but also
the relief for mandatory injunction, we are of the opinion, that
the learned trial judge and consequently the High Court were
correct in their views.
E 18. Furthermore it is beyond any doubt or dispute that the
decree was passed having regard to the decision of the court
in Anil Kapoor's case. In the said case, Anil Kapoor not only
t
filed the suit but also filed a writ petition. ~

F Once the decisiion in Anil Kapoor's case was followed that
not only they would be entitled to scale of pay but also the other
reliefs prayed for by them, there cannot be any doubt
whatsoever that having regard to the fact that Anil Kapoor and
various other persons being junior to the plaintiffs having been
G held to be entitled to a relief, respondents were also held to
be entitled to the same relief.
"- .... ~

This court furthermore in State of MP. v. Mangilal Sharma
[(1998) 2 sec 51 OJ categorically held as under :

H "6. A declaratory decree merely declares the right of the
HARYANA VIDYUT PARSARAN NIGAM LIMITED & 947
ANR. v. GULSHAN LAL & ORS. [S.B. SINHA, J.]

~
'· decree holder vis-a-vis the judgment debtor and does not A
in terms direct the judgment-debtor to do or refrain from
-I< doing any particular act or thing. Since in the present case
decree does not direct reinstatement or payment of
arrears of salary the executing court could not issue any
process for the purpose as that would be going outside B
or beyond the decree. Respondent as a decree holder
was free to seek his remedy for arrears of salary in the
,. ·'1 suit for declaration. The executing court has no jurisdiction
to direct payment of salary or grant any other
consequential relief which does not flow directly and c
necessarily from the declaratory decree. It is not that if in
a suit for declaration where the plaintiff is able to seek
further relief he must seek that relief though he may not be
in need of that further relief. In the present suit the plaintiff
while seeking relief of declaration would certainly have
,.. _,)( D
asked for other reliefs like the reinstatement, arrears of
sala'ry and consequential benefits. He was however,
satisfied with a relief of declaration knowing that the
Government would honour the decree and would reinstate
him. We will therefore assume that the suit for mere
E
declaration filed by the respondent-plaintiff was
maintainable, as the question of maintainability of the suit
is not in issue before us."
i
>
.... However in that case as the decree for reinstatement and
back wages had not been granted, the court opined that the F
Executing Court cannot grant a further relief. Herein, however,
as noticed, the respondents not only had prayed for a
1 declaratory decree but also decree for mandatory injunction.
i 19. Mr. Jain has relied upon a decision of this Court in
t G
\ Bhawarlal Bhandari v. Universal Heavy Mechanical Lifting
_:..-...,,l- Enterprises [(1999) 1 SCC 558]. Therein the decree was
passed by a court lacking inherent jurisdiction and in that
situation this court considered as to whether a decree passed
by a court wholly without jurisdiction would be a nullity to hold:
H
948 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2009) 8 S.C.R.

A "10. The aforesaid decision of this Court squarely applies ~
'
to the facts of the present case. This is not a case in which
the award decree on the face of it was shown to be without
jurisdiction. Even if the decree was passed beyond the
-
period of limitation, it would be an error of law or at the
B highest a wrong decision which can be corrected in
appellate proceedings and not by the executing court
which was bound by such decree. It is not the case of the ~

respondent that the Court which passed the decree was
lacking inherent jurisdiction to pass such a decree. This
c becomes all the more so when the respondent did not think
it fit to file objection against the award which was sought
to be made rule of the court."

It is on that premise the question which has been raised
by Mr. Jain that the court could not have passed a decree for
D back wages for a period of more than three years assumes >'., •

importance. Whether by reason of the decree the respondents
would be getting some amount by way of backwages for a
period of more than three years would depend upon the facts
of each case. It would also depend upon the date on which the
E cause of action of suit arose.

20. As indicated hereinbefore, for the purpose of allowing
an objection filed on behalf of a judgment debtor under Section t
47 of the Code of Civil Procedure, it was incumbent on him to ..
F show that the decree was ex facie nullity. For the said purpose,
the court is precluded from making an indepth scrutiny as
regards the entitlement of the plaintiff with reference to not only
his claim made in the plaint but also the defence set up by the
judgment - debtor. As the judgment of the Trial Court could not
have been reopened, the correctness thereof could not have
G been put to question.
4c--
It is also well-known that an Executing Court cannot go
behind the decree. If on a fair interpretation of the judgment,
Order and decree passed by a court having appropriate
H jurisdiction in that behalf, the reliefs sought for by the plaintiff .,...
HARYANA VIDYUT PARSARAN NIGAM LIMITED & 949
ANR. v. ·GULSHAN LAL & ORS. [S.B. SINHA, J.]

appear to have been granted, there is no reason as to why the A
Executing Court shall deprive him from obtaining the fruits of
the decree.

In Deepa Bhargava v. Mahesh Bhargava [2008 (16)
SCALE 305], this Court held as under:
B
"11 ... An executing court, it is well known, cannot go behind
. '/
the decree. It has no jurisdiction to modify a decree. It must
execute the decree as it is. A default clause contained in
a compromise decree even otherwise would not be
considered to be penal in nature so as to attract the' c
provisions of Section 74 of the Indian Contract Act."

21. It is also not a case where this Court can exercise its
jurisdiction under Article 142 of the Constitution of India to
mould an order. The decree passed by the learned Trial Court
')•. D
has attained finality. Whether rightly or wrongly, the judgment
.... of the learned Trial Judge has been affirmed by this Court. It is
one thing to say that no right having crystalised in favour of a
party to the lis, this Court can mould the relief appropriately, but
it is another thing to say that despite the decree being found
to be an executabie one, this Court will refuse to direct E
execution thereof.
'+ 22. We are not oblivious of the fact that the respondents
>
legally would not have been entitled to the reliefs prayed for by
them. However, as a decree has been passed, we do not intend F
to go behind the same. The Executing Court shall, it goes
without saying, execute the decree strictly in terms thereof.

23. For the reasons aforementioned, there is no merit in
this case. The appeal is dismissed. However, in the facts and
G
circumstances of the case, there shall be no order as to costs.
''
' ... ,,.
~
B.B.B. Appeal dismissed.