Holding

The Senior Subordinate Judge validly exercised power under Section 148 CPC to extend the time for depositing the Rs 100 shortfall, and the High Court had no jurisdiction to interfere with that order under Section 115 CPC.

Summary

The Senior Subordinate Judge decreed a pre-emption suit in favour of Johri Singh, directing payment of Rs 41,082 less Zare‑Panjum (i.e., 4/5 of the amount) by 31‑Dec‑1975. The decree‑holder deposited the calculated sum but later discovered a shortfall of Rs 100 due to an arithmetic error. He applied for condonation of delay and permission to pay the balance; the judge, invoking Section 148 CPC and the maxim *actus curiae neminem gravabit*, allowed a ten‑day extension. The High Court, in revision under Section 115 CPC, set aside that order, holding that the decree‑holder himself filed the application and no court error existed. The Supreme Court held that the judge validly exercised discretionary power under Section 148 CPC to extend time for a small inadvertent shortfall and that the High Court lacked jurisdiction to interfere under Section 115 CPC. It also clarified that filing an appeal does not suspend a pre‑emption decree, only a stay order can.

Issues considered

Whether a shortfall in payment of the decretal amount caused by an inadvertent arithmetic mistake can be condoned by extending time under Section 148 CPC.
Whether the High Court could set aside the Senior Subordinate Judge's order under Section 115 CPC.
Whether the filing of an appeal automatically suspends the operation of a pre‑emption decree.
Whether a stay order passed by an appellate court can suspend a pre‑emption decree.

Legislation cited

Code of Civil Procedure, 1898s. 115, s. 148, s. Order 20 Rule 14(1)

Subjects

pre-emption decreeSection 148 CPCSection 115 CPCstay ordercondonation of delayactus curiae neminem gravabitOrder 20 Rule 14appellate jurisdictionshortfall deposit

Judgment

JOHRI SINGH A
v.
SUKH PAL SINGH & ORS.

SEPTEMBER 4, 1989

[N.D. OJHA AND K.N. SAIKIA, JJ.] B

Code of Civil Procedure, 1898: Section 148 and Order 20 rule
14--Mere filing of appeal does not suspend pre-emption decree-Only a
stay order by appellate court can suspend it in the manner ordered
therein-Non deposit of full decretal amount due to inadvertent
.> arithmatical mistake whether time can be extended.
c
The appellant's claim to pre-emption was decreed by the Senior
Subordinate Judge in his favour. The pre-emption decree specified
31.12.1975 as the day on or before which the purchase money was to b~
paid into Court. But the exact amount to be paid was not specified; it
only said Rs.41,082 "less the amount of Zare-Panjum" which the D
parties admit to be I/5th. Thus only 4/Sth of the amount was to be paid.
Subsequently it was reported by the office that the amount deposited

-
fell short of the decretal amount by Rs.100. Thereupon, the appellant
decree-holder filed an application praying for condonation of delay and
for permission to deposit the balance of Rs.100 stating that there was an
inadvertent arithmatical mistake on his part, as also on the part of the E
Court officials. The Senior Subordinate Judge applying the maxim
"Actus curiae neminem gravabit" condoned the delay holding that the
mistake of the decree-holder was shared by the Court. The High Court,
however, allowed the respondent's review petition filed under section
115 CPC., and held that the decree-holder himself filed the application
I
annexing the challan mentioning the amount and as such there was uo F
mistake on the part of any Court officials.

Before this Court it was inter alia contended on behalf of the
appellant that the Senior Subordinate Judge having exercised power
within his jurisdiction under s. 148 CPC in extending the time to deposit
the deficit amount of Rs.100, the revisional court mis-directed itself in G
holding that the court officials were not at fault in not pointing out the
shortfall while permitting the deposit of the decretal amount.

On behalf of the respondents it was contended that the challan
having been prepared by the decree-holder himself, there was no mis-
- takflm the part of any Court-official in accepting short deposit, and _the R ·
17
18 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1989] Supp. 1 S.C.R.

A High Court rightly held that the appellant's suit stood dismissed
because of non-deposit of the decretal amount within time, and there-
after there was no question of extension of any time for depositing the
same.

Allowing the appeal, this Court,
B
HELD: (1) There is no doubt that where the Court decrees a
claim to pre-emption and the entire purchase money payable has not
been paid and there is no order from any court to justify or excuse
non-payment, the suit shall be dismissed under order XX Rule 14(1)
CPC. l22H]

(2) While mere filing of an appeal does not suspend a pre-emption
decree of the trial Judge a stay order passed by the appellate court may
suspend it in the manner ordered therein. [28B]

Naguba Appa v. Namdev, AIR (1954) SC 50 and Dattaray v.
IJ) Shaikh Mahboob Shaikh Ali, [1969] 2 SCR 514, referred to.

(3) One could distinguish the cases of non'deposit of the whole _of
the purchase money within the fixed time where there was no stay order
granted by the appellate Court from the cases of non-deposit of the
decretal amount consequent upon a stay order granted by .the appellate
E Court. [30G]

(4) In the first category of above cases the prov1s1ons of
0.20 r.14(1) would be strictly applicable, the provision being manda-
tory. ]30GJ

II' Naguba App.fl v. Namdev, AIR (1954) SC 50, referred to.

(5) In the second category of above cases, it would be necessary
to examine the nature and effect of the stay order on the deemed
disposal of the suit and also to see whether a fresh period is fixed
thereby. [30H]
G.
Dattaraya v. Shaikh Mahboob Shaikh Ali, [1969) 2 SCR 514 and
Sulleh Singh v. Sohan Lal, [1976] 1SCR598, referred to.

(6) In the third category of cases, namely, non-deposit of only a
relatively small fraction of the purchase money due to inadvertent mis-
M .take whether _of not caused by any action of the Court, the Court has
JOHRI SINGH v. S.P. SINGH 19
" the discretion nnder section 148 CPC to extend the time even though the
time fixed has already expired provided it is satisfied that the mistake is
A
bona fide and was not indicative of negligence or inaction. [31A-Bl

Jogdhayan v. Babu Ram & Ors., [1983] 1SCR844, referred to.

(7) The Court will extend the time when it finds that the mistake B
was the result of, or induced by, an action of the co_urt applying the
maxini 'actus curiae nominem gravabit'-an act of the court shall pre-
Ji1dice no man. While it would be necessary to consider the facts of the
.• case to determine whether the inadvertent mistake was due to any ac-
lion of the Court, it would he appropriate to find that the ultimate
permission to deposit the challaned amount is that of the court. [3 !B-C I ·
c
Jang Singh v. Brijlal & Ors., [1964] 2 SCR 145 and Labh Singh v.
Hardayal, [1977] 79 Punjab Law Reporter 417, referred to.

(8) In the instant case, inadvertent error crept in arithmatical
calculation. The deficit of Rs.100 was a very small. fraction of the total D
payable amount which was paid very much within the rixed time, and
- there was no reason, except for the w.istake, as to why he would not
have paid this Rs.100 also '!ithin time. The appellants' application with
the challan annexed was allowed b)l Court officials without pointing out
the mistake. The amount was deposited and even possession of the
property was delivered to the appellant. [31D-E] E

(9) There seems to be no manner of doubt that the Senior Sub-
ordinate Jndge had jurisdiction to extend the time under section 148
CPC on sufficient cause being made out. [32D I

Gobardhan Singh v. Barsati, [1972] A.L.J. 16'l; Mahanth· Ram F
.• Das v. Ganga Das, [1961] 3 SCR 763 and Ganesh Prasad Sah Kesari v .
Lakshmi Narayan Gupta, [1985] 3 SCC 53, referred to.

(IO) Section 115 CPC applies to matter of jurisdiction alone, the
irregular exercise or non-exercise of it or the jllegal assumption of it.
The High Court had therefore jurisdiction to interfere with the order of G
the Senior Subordinate Judge only..:....(i) if .the said Judge had no juris-
diction to make the order· it has made, and (ii) had acted in breach of
any provision of law or committed any error of procedure which was
material and may have affected the ultiniaie decision. The first condi-
tion precedent to enable the High Conrt to exercise its revisional juris-
:>- diction under section 115 CPC was lacking. Likewise, nothing has been H
20 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1989] Supp. 1 S.C.R.

A brought out on the basis of which it could be said that the discretion
exercised by the Senior Subordinate Judge was in breach of any provi-
sion of law or that he committed any error of procedure which was
material and may have effected the ultimate decision. That being so, the
High Court had no power to interfere with the order of the Senior
Subordinate Judge, however profoundly it may have differed from the
B
conclusion of that Judge on questions of fact or law. [32A; C; 33D-E]

Keshardeo Chamria v. Radha Kissen Chamria & Ors., [195~]
SCR 136, referred to.

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No. 1376
C of 1977.

From the Judgment and Order dated 26.5.77 of the Punjab and
Haryana High Court in Civil Revision No. 125/77.

D Ashok Sen, S.C. Manchanda, Mrs. Urmila Kapoor, Ms. S.
J anani and Ms. Meenakshi for the Appellant.

E.C. Aggarwala, Miss Purnima Bhatt, V.K. Pandita, A.V. P.alla, -
and Atul Sharma for the Respondents.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
E
SAIKIA, J. This appeal by special leave is from the Judgment of
the High Court of Punjab and Haryana allowing the revision petition,
setting aside the order of the Senior Subordinate Judge and dismissing
the application of the d.ecree-hcilder praying for permission to deposit
the balance amount of the pre-emption de~ree.
fl
On 21.9.1975 the Court of the Senior Subordinate Judge decreed
a claim to pre-emption in favour of the appellant and against the
respondents subject to the deposit of the purchase-money being
Rs.41,082 less the amount of 'Zare-Panjum' on or before 31.12 . 1975
failing which his suit would stand dismissed. The appellant by applica-
q tion d:jted 22.11.1975, annexing a treasury challan, obtained permis-
sion to deposit 4/5th of the purchase-money am;:iunting to Rs.33582
and the amount was deposited on 28.11.1975, although the last date·
for depositing the amount was 31.12.1975. On 4.12.1975 he filed an
execution petition for being delivered possession of the land and the
possession was actually delivered on 29.1.1976.
Iii
JOHRI SINGH v. S.P. SINGH ISAIKIA, J.] 21

It appears, on 21.1.1976 the office reported that the amount
deposited fell short of the decretal amount by Rs.100. Thereupon two A
separate applications were filed by the respondents-judgment-debtors
• and the appellants-decree-holder. The former in their application
prayed that the latter having not complied with the condition of the
decree, he having deposited Rs.100 Jess, the decree was a nullity and
the suii'stood dismissed, and hence, the land be restored to them. The B
appellant decree-holder in his application prayed. for condonation of
the delay and for permission to deposit the balance of Rs.100 stating
that there was an inadvertent arithmatical mistake on his part as also
..
on the part of the Court officials. The learned Senior Subordinate
Judge applying the maxim "Actus curiae neminem gravabit and rely-
ing on Jang Singh v. Brijlal & Ors., [1964] 2 SCR 145 (AIR 1966'SC
1631) and holding that the mistake of the decree-holder was shared by c
the Court, condoned the delay and allowed 10 days' time to deposit the
balance of Rs.100, failing which the suit should stand dismissed. The
respondents having moved in revision therefrom under s. 115 CPC, the
High Court by the impugned Judgment, holding that the decree-holder
himself filed the application annexing the challan mentioning th~_ D
amount and as such there was no mistake on the part of any Court
officials; and applying Labh Singh v. Hardayal & Anr., [1977] 79
Punjab Law Reporter 417, allowed the revision petition, set aside the
order of the Senior Subordinate Judge and dismissed the appellant
decree-holder's application for condonation and permission to deposit
the balance of Rs.100. Hence this appeal. E
Mr. A.K. Sen, the learned counsel for the appellant submits that
the Senior Subordinate Judge having exercised power within his
jurisdiction under s. 148 CPC in exending the time to deposit the
deficit amount of Rs.100, the revisional court mis-directed itself in
holding that the court officials were not at fault in not pointing out the f
• shortfall while permitting the deposit of the decretal amount; and it
erred in setting aside the order extending time. Counsel further sub-
mits that the decree-holder having already obtained the warrant of
possession and thereby taken actual delivery of possession, the decree
was already executed and the same having not been questioned, the
revision.petition was liable to be dismissed as infructuous. G

Mr. E.C. Aggarwala, the learned counsel for the respondent
while not disputing that if power under s. 148 CPC was exercised by
the Senior Subordinate Judge in extending the time the order could
not have been interfered with in revision, submits that the challan
:~
having been_prepared by the_ decree-holder himself, there was no mis- H
22 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1989] Supp. 1 S.C.R.

take on the part of any court officials in accepting short deposit, and
the High Court rightly held that the appellant's suit stood dismissed
because of non-deposit of the decretal amount within time; and there-
fore there was no question of extension of any time for depositing the •
same.

a The precise question to be decided in this appeal, therefore, is
whether on the facts and in the circumstances of the case of pre-
emption decree, the -amount deposited within time by the decree-
holder having fallen short of the decretal amount by Rs. lOO·owing to
inadvertent' ,afithmatlcal mistake, the court could extend the time to
deposit that deficit amount exercising powers under s. 148 CPC in view
of the provision in Order XX Rule 14(1) CPC; and if so, whether the
c High Court erred in interfering with that order in revision under s. 115
CPC.

Order XX Rule 14(1) provides:

O "Where the Court decrees a claim to pre-emption in
respect of a particular sale of property and the purchase-
money has not been paid into court, the decree shall-

(a) specify a day on or before which the purchase money
shall be so paid, and (b) direct that on payment into court
R of such purchase-money, together with the costs (if any)
decreed 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 accrued from the date of such payment,
but that, if the :p.urchase-mimey and the costs (if any) are
Ji not so paid, the suit:\shall be dismissed with costs."

In the instant case pre-emption decree specified 31.12.1975 'as
the day on or before -which the purchase money was to be paid into
Court. But the exact amount to be paid was not specified; it only said
Rs.41,082 "less the amount of Zare-Panjum" which the parties admit
G to be l/5th. Thus only 4/5 of the amount was to be paid. However,
parties do not dispute that the amount deposited fell short -of the
decretal amount by Rs.100.

From the above provision there is no doubt that where the,entire
purchase money payable has not been paid ·and there is no order from
_1:1 . any court to justify or excuse non-payme_nt, th~, suit shall be dismissed
JOHR! SINGH v. S.P. SINGH [SAIK!A, J.I 23

with costs. This shall be done by virtue of the above provision. But
when the decree-holder deposits into court what he believes to be the A
entire purchase money but due to inadvertent mistake what is
deposited falls short of the decretal amount by a small fraction thereof
and the party within such time after the mistake is pointed out or
realised, as would not prove wilful default or negligence on his part,
pays the deficit amount into the court with its permission, should the B
same result follow?

This Court in Naguba Appa v. Namdev, AIR 1964 SC 50, has
held that mere filing of an appeal does not suspend the pre-emption
' decree of the trial Judge and unless that decree is altered in any
manner by the Court of appeal, the pre-emptor is bound to comply
with its directions, and has upheld the finding that the pre-emption suit c
stood dismissed by the reason of his default in not depositing the
pre-emption price within the time fixed in the trial court's decree and
that the dismissal of the suit is as a result of the mandatory provisions
of Order 20 Rule l4 and not by reason of any decision of the Court.
·There the pre-emption money was not deposited withiri the fixed time. D
The pre-emptor thereafter made an application to the Court for
I
,.., depositing the amount without disclosing that the time fixed had
expired. The application was allowed; but the defendant applied to the
Court for disposal of the suit pointing out that the time fixed for
deposit had expired. The trial Judge held that the pre-emption money.
not having been paid within the time fixed in the decree the suit stood E
dismissed. This decision was held to be correct. It was a case of non-
deposit of the whole of the purchase money and not of any fraction
thereof.

In Jang Singh v. Brijlal and Ors., (supra) the pre-emption decree
on compromise was passed in favour of Jang Singh and he was directed F
to deposit Rs.5951 less Rs.1000 already deposited by him, by May l,
1958, and failing to do so punctually his suit would stand dismissed
with costs. On January 6, 1958 Jang Singh made an application to the
trial court for making the deposit of the balance of the amount of the
decree. The clerk of the Court, which was also the executing Court,
prepared a challan in duplicate and handed it over with the application G
to Jang Singh so that the amount might be deposited in the Bank. In
the challan (and in the order passed on the application, so it was
alleged) Rs.4950 were mentioned instead of Rs.4951 and it was'
deposited. In May, 1958, he applied for and received an order for
possession of the land and the Naib Nazir reported that the entire
amount was deposited in Court. Bahia Singh (the vendee) then H

\
24 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [ 1989] Supp. l S.C.R.

A applied on May 25, 1958, to the Court for payment to him of the
amount lying in deposit and it was reported by the Naid Nazir on that
application that Jang Singh had not deposited the correct amount and
the deposit was short by one rupee. Bhola Singh applied to the Court
for dismissal of Jang Singh's suit and for recall of all the orders made in
Jang Singh"s favour. The trial court allowed that application and also
B ordered reversal of its earlier orders and directed that the possession
of the land be restored to him. On appeal, the District Judge, holding
that Jang Singh having approached the Court with an application
intending to make the deposit the Court and its clerk made a mistake
by ordering him to make the deposit of an amount which was less by
one rupee. Jang Singh was excused inasmuch as the responsibility was
shared by the Court and it ac.cordingly held that the deposit made was
C a sufficient compliance with the terms of the decree and accordingly
allowed the appeal setting aside the trial court's order dismissing the
suit. On appeal by Bhola Singh the High Court took the view that the
decree was not complied with and that under the law the time fixed in
the decree for payment of the decretal amount in pre-emption case
D could not be extended by the Court and that the finding that the short
deposit was due to the act of the Court was not supported by evidence
and accordingly allowed the appeal, set aside the decision of the Dis-
trict Judge and restored that of the trial court. On appeal by Jang
Singh this Court found that the application whereupon the Court
directed the deposit of Rs.4950 remained untraced. However, it was
E · quite clear that the challan was prepared under the Court's direction
and the duplicate challan prepared by the Court as well as the one
presented to the Bank had been produced in the case and they showed
the lesser amount. That challan was admittedly prepared by the
Execution Clerk and it was also an admitted fact that Jang Singh was
an illiterate person. The amount was deposited promptly relying upon
F the Court's Officers. The Execution Clerk had deposed to the; proce~
dure which was usually followed and he had pointed out that first there
was a report by the Ahlmed about the amount in deposit and then "n
order was made by rhe Court on the application before the challan was
prepared. It was, therefore, quite clear that if there was an error the
Court and its officers largely contributed to· it. This Court, observed:

"It is no doubt true that a litigant must be vigilant and take
care but where a litigant goes to Court and asks for the
assistance of the Court so that his obligations under a
decree might be fulfilled by him strictly, it is incumbent on
the Court, if it does not leave the litigant to his own
H devices, to ensure that the correct information is furnished.
JOHRI SINGH v. S.P. SINGH [SAIKIA, J.l 25

If the Court in supplying the information makes a mistake
A
the responsibility of the litigant, though it docs not alto-
£ether cease, is at least shared by the Court. If the litigant
acts on the faith of that information the Courts cannot hold
him responsible for a mistake which it itself caused. There
is no higher principle for the guidance of the Court than the
one that no act of Courts should harm a litigant and it is the B
bounden duty of Courts to see that if a person is harmed by
a mistake of the Court he should be restored to the position
he would have occupied but for that mistake. This is aptly
summed up in the maxim:
"Actus curiae neminem gravabit."

In the facts of that case it was held that an error was committed
c
by the Court which the Court must undo and which could not be
undone by shifting the blame on Jang Singh, who was expected to rely
upon the Court and its officers and to act in accordance with their
directions. It was also observed that he deposited the amount
promptly and a wrong belief was induced in his mind by the action of D
the Court that all he had to pay was stated in the challan. The appeal
. ,,., was accordingly allowed, the High Court's order was set aside and the
appellant was ordered to deposit Re. 1 within one month from the date
of receipt of the record in the trial court. It shou Id be noted _that in the
facts and circumstances of a case of non-deposit of a fraction of the
purchase money extension of time to deposit the balance was granted E
by this Court. It cannot therefore be said that on failure to deposit a
minute fraction of the amount by the fixed date owing to wrong belief
induced by Court officials the suit must be taken to have stood dismis-
sed. No doubt this was so because of the maxim actus curiae neminen1
gravabit but there is no reason why the same result should not follow
on similar justifiable grounds. F

While mere filing of an appeal does not suspend a pre-emption
decree, a stay order passed by an appellate court may suspend it in the
manner ordered therein. In Dattaraya v. Shaikh Mahboob Shaikh Ali,
[ 1969] 2 SCR 514, the pre-emption decree in favour of the appellant
was passed with the direction to pay the consideration of Rs.5,000 G
within 6 months from the date of the decree and in case of default the
suit 'was to be deemed to have been dismissed. The decree was con-
firmed in respondent's appeal to the District Court on January 28,
1955. The amount was deposited within the time fixed, but was subse-
quently withdrawn by him under orders of the Court. While dismissing
the appeal, the District Court directed the appellant to re-deposit the H
26 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [ 1989] Supp. 1 S.C.R.

sum of Rs.5,000 on or before April 30, 1955 and directed the respon-
A
dent on such deposit to deliver the possession of the properties and on
failure t.o deposit the suit should stand dismissed with costs. During the
pendency of the respondent's Second Appeal in the High Court the
respondent prayed for stay of execution of the decree. On March 23,
1955 the High Courtpassed a stay order which was received by the trial
B court on April 19, 1955 . The appellant deposited the purchase price on
May 2, 1955, that is, 3 days after the date fixed, filing an application
stating that he could not deposit this within time as he fell ill. The
respondent's SecondAppeal was dismissed on October 6, 1960 and the
pre-emption decree in favour of the appellant was confirmed, and he
obtained an order of possession. The respondent having applied to the
Executing Court for restitution of the properties on the ground that
the appellant !)ad defaulted in depositing the purchase money by the
date fixed by the lower appellate court's decree, i.e. April 30, 1955,
the appellant contended that he would get by necessary implication a
fresh starting point for depositing the purchase money from the date of
the High Court's decree. The Executing Court rejected the claim of
DI the respondent for restitution and this decision was affirmed by the
District Court. But the High Court in appeal took the view that there
was default on the part of the appellant in depositing the amount and,
therefore, the appellant's suit , stood dismissed automatically. While
allowing the appeal therefrom this Court held:

R "The decree framed under 0.20, r. 14 Civil Procedure Code
requires reciprocal rights and obligations between the
parties: The Rule says that on payment into Court of the
purchase money the defendant shall deliver possession of
the property to the plaintiff. The decree holder therefore
deposits the purchase money with the expectation that in
F return the possession of the property would be delivered to
him. It is therefore clear that a decree in terms of 0.20,
r. 14; Civil Procedure Code imposes obligations on both
sides and they are so conditioned that performance by one
is conditional on performance by the other. To put it diffe-
rently, the obligations are reciprocal and are inter-linked,
G so that they cannot be .separated. If the defendants by
obtaining the stay order from the High Court relieve
themselves of the obligation to deliver possession of the
properties the plaintiff-decree holder must also be deemed
thereby to be relieved of the necessity of depositing the
I money so long as the stay order continues. We are accord-
H ingly of the opinion that the order of stay dated March 23,
JOHRI SINGH v. S.P. SINGH [SAIKIA, J.) 27

1955 must be construed as an order staying the whole pro- A
cedure of sale including delivery of possession as well as
payment of price. The effect of the stay order therefore in
the present case is to enlarge the time for payment till the
decision of the appeal."

This Court was further of the opinion that the effect of the High B
Court's order dated October 6, 1960 dismissing the second appeal was
to give by necessary implication a fresh starting point for depositing
the amount from the date of the High Court's decree .. The decree. of
the High Court was dated Octotier 6, 1960 and the appellant could
have deposited the amount immediately after this date. But the appel-
lant had deposited the amount on May 2, 1955, lortg before the date of C
High Court's decree and there was n.o default on the part of the appel-
lant in fulfilling the terms of the High Court's decree. It was accord-
ingly held that a decree of the High Court in second appeal should be
construed in that case as affording by implication a fresh starting point
to the plaintiff for making payment into the Court. In Sulleh Singh v,
Sohan Lal, [ 1976] 1 SCR 598, reiterating what was held in Naguba D
App a v. N amdev, (supra) and Dattaraya v. Shaikh Mahboob Shaikh Ali,
(supra). The trial court directed respondents Sohan Lal and Nathi to
deposit Rs.6,300 and Rs.5,670 respectively on or before !st April,
1969 less li5th of the pre-emption amount already deposited by them.
Sohan Lal's decree was for possession by pre-emption in respect of
Killa Nos. 14; l, 17 and 18/l of Rectangle 37. The plaintiffs aggrieved E
by that order filed an appeal contending that the decree should have
been passed for the whole of the lar.d because the respc~dent Sohan
Lal was. also a tenant of Killa No. 24 of Rectangle 37 under them. On
l9th July, i969, the Additional District Judge passed a decree for
possession by pre-emption in favour of respondent· Sohan Lal in re-
spect of Killa No. 24 of Rectangle 3 7 also on payment of Rs.9, 100 and F
he was also directed to deposit this amount on or before 20th August,
1969. The decree in favour of Nathi was maintained without change.
The appellants filed an appeal to the High Court contending that
respondents did. not deposit the decre\al amount by 1st April, 1969 as
directed by the trial court and, therefore, the suit was liable to be
dismissed under Order 20 Rule 14 of the CPC and the High Court G
allowed the appeal against Nathi and dismissed the appeal against
Sohan Lal holding that since the .lower appellate Court granted Sohan
Lal decree for one more Killa and directed that the amount would be
Rs.9, 100 to be deposited on or before 20th August, 1969, the respon-
dent was to comply with the appellate decree and not the decree of the
trial court. This Court upheld the appellant's contention that the lower H
28 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1989] Supp. I S.C.R.

A appellate court was wrong in extending the time for payment because
the failure of the plaintiffs-respondents to deposit the amount in terms
of the trial court's decree would result in pre-emptors' suit standing
dismissed by reason of default in not depositing pre-emption price. It
was only if the plaintiffs-respondents had paid the decretal amount
within the time granted by the trial court or if the plaintiffs-respon-
' B dents had obtained another order from the lower appellate Court
granting any order of stay that the lower appellate ·oourt might have
considered the passing of appropriate order in favour of pre-emptors.

A Full Bench of the Pun jab and Haryana High Court in Labh
Singh & Anr. v. Hardayal and Anr., (supra) held on the facts of that
C case as no prayer was made by the appellant to the Court for verifica-
tion of the pre-emption amount and the amount which was to be
deposited, was mentioned in the application along with th.e challan in
duplicate and the amount so mentioned w1\s odered to be deposited, it
was not the responsibility of the Court to verify from the record and to
direct the pre-emptor to deposit the amount as mentioned in· the
D decree. It was a different matter if a litigant sought the assistance of
the Court and while giving such assistance, because of the mistake of
the Court, less amount was deposited. The Court 61Jserved that a
litigant may not be allowed to suffer for the mistake of the Court but it
could not be held that it was the duty of the Court in every case to
verify the actual amount mentioned in every decree to be deposited. In
. E that case appellant Labh Singh obtained pre-emption decree on May
27, 1971 and a direction to pay Rs.28,881.50 less I/5th pre-emption
amount already deposited by 10th July, 1971 and the appellant
deposited Rs.23,481.50 on 7th July, 1971. Obviously there was short
payment of Rs.200. The vendees filed an appeal against the decree on
7th June, 1971 and prayed for stay of dispossession during the
F pendency of the appeal, which was allowed on 8th June, 1971 by the
first appellate Court but that appeal was dismissed on 18th August,
1972 whereafter the appellant filed application for execution of the
pre·emption decree and was put in possession of the land on 2nd
December, 1971 and when the vendees were to withdraw the amount
they found the shortage of Rs.200 and applied for restitution of posses-
G sion of the land which was allowed by the Executing Court on 15th
June, 1974 and the same order was affirmed by the first appellate
Court on 10th January, i975. The appeal therefrom having been refer-
red to full Bench which held as above. The Full Bench distinguished
Dattaraya decision observing that in a given case if the Appellate
Court while deciding the appeal extends the time for depositing the
H pre-emption money no exception could be taken if the amount was
JOHRI SINGH v. S.P. SINGH [SAIKIA, J.l 29

thus deposited by the time extended but no such order admittedly was A
passed in that case nor the amount had been deposited till the date of
the judgment. It also distinguished the decision in Jang Singh v. Brijlal
& Ors., (supra), on the facts that the clerk of the Court made a mis-
take in making a report and consequently the pre-emption amount
deposited by the plaintiff was less by rupee one.
B
Jogdhayan v. Babu Ram & Ors., [ i983] l SCR 844, also is a case
of failure to deposit a fraction of the decretal amount. The appellant
obtained a pre-emption decree and deposited a sum of Rs. l5,500 at
} the purchase price and Rs. lOO as the registration charges and other
expenses of the deed. The respondents' appeal therefrom was dismis-
sed by the Additional District Judge with the modification directing
the appellant to deposit a sum of Rs. l836.25 more in the trial court for c
payment to the vendee within 15.4. l967; in case of failure the suit
would stand dismissed. On 14.4. 1967 the appellant deposited Rs. 1836
only instead of Rs.1836.25. He, however, made good the short deposit
of 25 paise on 28. JO. 1968 with the permission of the Court averring
that the omission to deposit 25 paise was due to bona fide mistake. The D
vendee's appeal was dismissed by the High Court with a direction to
the appellant to deposit within 3 months time a further sum of Rs.500
for the _improvements made to the land and the appellant deposited
that sum within time. Before the Executing Court the respondent:
vendee filed the application under Order 20 Rule 14(1)(b) contending
that the short deposit of 25 paise within 15.4.1967 amounted to E
deemed dismissal of the suit itself and that the default could not be
condoned. The Executing Court having overruled the objections, the
Judgment debtor's appeal therefrom was accepted by the Additional
District Judge holding that Order 20 Rule J4(1)(b) CPC was manda-
tory and the short deposit was not due to bona fide mistake and hence
the default could not be condoned. The appellant's second execution F
.. appeal before the High Court was dismissed on the ground of limita-
tion. On appeal by special leave, this Court held that the admitted
position was that the appellant deposited the entire amount of pur-
chase money together with the costs decreed against him, less 25 paise
within the time fixed by the Court and 25 paise too was deposited but
beyond time. The Executing Court held that the short deposit of 25 G
paise was due to the bona fide mistake while the executing appellate
Court held that it was not due to any bona fide mistake, but it was a
default and thereby the executing appellate Court deprived the
decree-holder of the legitimate fruits of the decree he obtained in all
the Courts. The finding of the first executing appellate Court that the
non-deposit could not be due to any bona fide mistake, was absolutely H
30 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1989] Supp. I S.C.R.

A untenable for the reason that while the appellant had deposited in total
Rs.17 ,936.00 from time to time as directed by the Courts, there was
absolutely no reason as to why they would not have deposited 25 paise
unless it was due to a mistake. This was pre-eminently a case in which
the first execution appellate Court ought to have exercised its dis- ·
cretionary powers under Section 148 CPC and accepted the delayed
B
deposit of 25 paise, as was done by the original Executing Court. The
appeal was accordingly allowed, the Orders of the High Court as well
as the first execution appellate Court were set aside and the Order of
the original executing Court was restored.

In Jogdhayan v. Babu Ram & Ors., (supra) !his Court consi-
C dered the provision of S, 148 CPC qua 0.20 r. 14 CPC and held that the
appellate Court could have exercised the power as was done by· the
lower Court.

S. 148 deals with enlargement of time and provides:
D "Where any period is fixed or granted by the Court for the
doing of any act prescribed or allowed by this Code, the
Court may, in its discretion, from time to time, enlarge such
period, even though the period originaJ.ly fixed or granted
may have expired."

This section empowers the Court to extend the time fixed by it
even after the expiry of the period originally fixed. It by implication
allows the Court to enlarge the time before the time originally fixed.
The use of the word 'may' shows that the power is discretionary, and
. the Court is, therefore, entitled to take into account the conduct of the
party praying for such extension.
F
From the above decisions one could distinguish the cases of non-
deposit of the whole of the purchase money within the fixed time
where there was no stay order granted by the appellate Court from the
cases of non-deposit of the decretal amount consequent upon a stay
order granted by the appellate Court. In the first category of above
G cases the provisions of 0.20 r. 14( 1) would be strictly applicable, the
provision being mandatory as was held in Naguba's case (supra). In the
second category of above cases, it would be necessary to examine the
nature and effect of the stay order on the deemed disposal of the suit
and also to see whether a fresh period is fixed thereby as were the cases
H · in Duttaraya (supra) and Jogdhayan (supra).
JOHRI SINGH v. S.P. SINGH ISAIKIA, J.] 31

In the third category of cases, namely, non-deposit of only a
A
relatively small fraction of the purchase money due to inadvertent
mistake whether or not caused by any action of the Court, the Court
has the discretion under Section 148 CPC to extend the time even
though the time fixed has already expired provided it is satisfied that
the mistake is bona fide and was not indicative of negligence or inac-
tion as was the case in Jogdhayan, (supra). The Court will extend the B
time when it finds that the mistake was the result of, or induced by, an
action of the Court applying the maxim 'actus curiae neminem gravabi(
an act of the Court shall prejudice no man; as was the case in Jang·
Singh (supra). While it would be necessary to consider the facts of the
case to determine whether the inadvertent mistake was due to any
action of the Court it would be appropriate to find that the ultimate
permission to deposit the challaned amount is that of the Court. c

Proceeding as above, in the instant case we find that the decree
did not quantify the purchase money having only said "Rs.41,082 less
·the amount of 'Zare-Panjum"'. Of course, 'certum est quad cerium
redd( potest'-that is certain which can be rendered certain. The D
amount of 'Zare-Panjum' was not specified. Parties do not controvert
that it was 1/5th. But the amount was not calculated by the Court
itself. Inadvertent error crept in arithmetical calculation. The deficit of
Rs.100 was a very small fraction of the total payable amount of
Rs.33,682 which was paid very much within the fixed time, and there
was no reason, except for the mistake, as to why he would not have E
paid this Rs.100 also within time. The appellants' application with the
challan annexed was allowed by Court officials without pointing out
the mistake. The amount was deposited and even possession of the
property was delivered to the appellant. The Senior Subordinate
Judge allowed the application made by the appellant in exercise of the
discretion vested in him apparently Oil the view that sufficient cause F
had been made out for non-deposit of Rs.100. This order, however, as
seen above, was set aside by the High Court in a civil revision under
section 115 C.P.C.

The question which comes in the forefront is whether any case
was made out for interference by the High Court in its revisional G
jurisdiction under section 115 CPC with the order of the Senior Subor-
dinate Judge. The scope of section 115 CPC has been the subject-
matter of a catena of decisions of this Court and the law by now is so
well-settled that we do not find it necessary to make any detailed
reference of those cases. We find it sufficient to refer to the leading
~- case on the point in Keshardeo Chamria v. Radha Kissen Chamria and H
A
32 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1989] Supp. 1 S.C.R.

Others, [ 1953] SCR page 136 where it was held that Section 115 CPC
.
applies to matters of jurisdiction alone, the irregular exercise or non-
exercise of it or the illegal assumption of it, and if a subordinate court
had jurisidiction to make the order it has made and has not acted in
breach of any provision of law or committed any error of procedure
which is material and may have affected the ultimate decision, the
B
High Court has no power. to interfere, however profoundly it may
differ from the conclusions of that court on questions of fact or law.

Consequently, the High Court had jurisdiction to interfere with
the order of the Senior Subordinate Judge only (i) if the said Judge had
no jurisdiction to make the order it has made, and (ii) had acted in
C breach of any provision of law or committed any error of procedure
which was material and may have affected the ultimate decision. If
neither of these conditions was met the High Court had no power to
interfere, however profoundly it may have differed from the conclu-
sion of the Senior Subordinate Judge on questions of fact or law.
0 Coming to the question as to whether the. Senior Subordinate Judge
had jurisdiction to make the order made by him it may be pointed out
that section 148 CPC, as seen above, conferred ample jurisdiction on
him in this regard. Apart from the cases cited above in support of the ,_
proposition we may refer to a Full Bench decision of the Allahabad
High Court succinctly laying down the law on the point in Gobardhan
Singh v. Barsati, [1972] A.L.J. page 169. Relying on a decision of this
E Court in Mahanth Ram Das v. Ganga Das, [1961] 3 SCR page 763 it
was held:
i
" "Even in cases where an order is made by the Court for
doing a thing within a particular time and the order further
provides that the application, suit or appeal shall stand
F dismissed if the thing is not done within the time fixed, the
Court has jurisdiction, if sufficient cause is made out, to
extend the time even when the application for extension of
time is made after the expiry of the time fixed. It is not the
application for grant of further time, whether made before
or after the expiry of the time granted, which confers
G jurisdiction on the Court. The Court possesses the jurisdic-
tion under Sec. 148 CPC to enlarge the time and the appli-
cation merely invokes that jurisdiction."

In Ganesh Prasad Sah Kesari and An_other v. Lakshmi Narayan
Gupta, [ 1985] 3 SCC page 53 it was held:
H

I.
.JOHRI SINGH v. S.P. SINGH [SAIKIA, J.] 33

" ..... where the court fixes a time to do a thing, the court A
always retains the power to extend the time for doing so.
Section 148 of the Code of Civil Procedure provides that
where any period is fixed or granted by the court for the
doing of any act prescribed or allowed by the Code, the
court may, in its discretion, from time to time, enlarge such
period, even though the period originally fixed or granted
B
may have expired. The principle of this section must
govern in not whittling down the discretion conferred on
the court."
I
In this view of the matter there seems to be no manner of doubt
that the Senior Subordinate Judge had jurisdiction to extend the time c
under section 148 CPC on sufficient cause being made out. The first
condition precedent to enable the High Court to exercise its revisional
jurisdiction under section 115 CPC was, therefore, lacking. Likewise,
nothing has been brought to our notice on the basis of which it could
be said that the discretion exercised by the Senior Subordinate Judge
was in breach of any provision of law or that he committed any error of D
procedure which was material and may have affected the ultimate
decision. That being so, the High Court had no power to interfere with
the order of the Senior Subordinate Judge, however, profoundly it
may have differed from the conclusions of that Judge on questions of
fact or law.
E
On the facts and circumstances of the case we feel justified in
allowing this appeal, setting aside the impugned judgment of the High
Court, and in restoring that of the Senior Subordinate Judge allowing
10 days time to deposit the balance of Rs.100 exercising power under
S. 148 CPC on facts of the case. If the amount has not already been
deposited, it shall be deposited within 30 days from today and the F
respondents shall withdraw the same according to law. The appeal is
accordingly allowed, but under the facts and circumstances of the case,
without any order as to costs.

R.S.S. Appeal allowed.

'