Holding

An order of temporary injunction under Order 39 does not automatically revive on restoration of a suit, and the time during which the decree holder was precluded from execution may be excluded from the limitation period for executing the decree.

Summary

In a partition suit, a decree granted recovery of certain items to a defendant. Another defendant filed a suit challenging the decree, and the court issued a temporary injunction under Order 39 restraining execution of the decree. The suit was dismissed for default, later restored, and finally dismissed on merits. The decree holder filed an execution petition, which the executing court held was timely because the period during which the injunction prevented execution (June 1969 to March 1975) could be excluded from the 12‑year limitation period. The Supreme Court examined whether an interlocutory injunction automatically revives on restoration of a suit and whether the time barred by such an order can be excluded for limitation purposes. By a majority, the Court held that an order of temporary injunction under Order 39 does not revive automatically on restoration, and the decree holder may exclude the period of preclusion when computing the limitation period, leading to dismissal of the appeal.

Issues considered

Whether an order of temporary injunction passed under Order 39 of the CPC is automatically revived upon restoration of a suit dismissed for default.
Whether the period during which the decree holder was barred from executing the decree by such an injunction can be excluded from the limitation period for execution of the decree.

Legislation cited

Code of Civil Procedure, 1908s. 151, s. 38, s. 39, s. 40, s. 51, s. 9, s. 94
Limitation Act, 1963

Subjects

temporary injunctioninterlocutory orderrestoration of suitlimitation periodexecution of decreeCPC Order 38CPC Order 39ancillary proceedingssupplemental proceedingsSection 94 CPCSection 151 CPC

Judgment

A VARE.ED JACOB
v.
SOSAMMA GEEV ARGHESE AND ORS.

APRIL 21, 2004

B [V.N. KHARE, CJ., S.B. SINHA AND S.H. KAPADIA, JJ.]

Code of Civil Procedure, 1908; Orders 21, 38, 39 and 40; Sections 94
and 151: Suit/or partition-Decreed by MunsiffCourt in favour of one of the
C defendants granting recovery of certain items-Challenged by another
defendant by filing a suit against decree holder-Issuance of temporary
injunction by the Court-Suit dismissed for default-Restoration of suit-
Suit finally dismissed on merit-Appeal dismissed by the first Appellate Court
and Second appeal dismissed by High Court-Execution Petition-Expiry of
limitation period-Executing Court held since the decree holder was precluded
D from executing the decree in time by filing a suit, time elapsed in the
proceeding of the Court could be excluded wiiile computing limitation period
for the purpose of execution of the decree-Affirmed by the High Court.

Held Per majority:

E Depending upon the circumstances of the case, different set of-rules
have been applied to grant interim relief-The rules of temporary injunction
under Order 39 cannot be equated with the rules of attachment before
judgment under Order 38-Facts and circumstances of the case fall under
Order 39 and not under Order 38-Hence, the decree holder was entitled to
F exclude the time elapsed in disposing of the suit for computing the period
of limitation for the purpose of execution of the decree.

Held, Per minority:

An Order of temporary injunction could be merged with a decree of
G permanent injunction and it would be effective even when a decree is passed-
However, it does not entail its revival upon restoration of a suit which was
dismissed for default-Supplemental proceeding could be taken recourse to
only when the interest ofjustice is required to be sub-served-A construction ·
which preserves the rights of the parties pending adjudication must be
allowed to operate vis-a-vis privilege conferred upon a plaintiff to obiain an
If 534
V AREED JACOB v. SOSAMMA GEEV ARGHESE 535
interlocutory order which loses its force on dismissal of the suit-It would A
not revive unless expressly directed by the Court on restoration of the suit.

Limitation Act:

Jurisdiction of the Court-A suit/proceeding, if barred by limitation,
culminates into a right to the non-suitor which could be curtailed only by B
express terms of a statute-It ousts the jurisdiction of the Court to entertain
the same.

Incidental proceedings vis-a-vis supplemental proceedings-Distinction
between in the context of revival of interlocutory order on restoration of the
suit-Discussed C
In a suit for partition the MunsifT Court has granted recovery of certain
items in the final decree in favour of one of the defendants. Another defendant
filed a suit against the decree holder. The Court passed an order of temporary
injunction restraining the decree holder from executing the decree. Later, D
the suit was dismissed by the Court for default. The suit was restored to file;
it was ultimately dismissed on merits. First Appellate Court and thereafter
High Court dismissed the appeals filed before them. The decree holder filed
the Execution Petition. The Judgment debtor objected on the ground that it
was barred by limitation as it was not filed within 12 years from the date of
the decree. The Executing Court held that the Execution Petition was filed E
within time since the decree holder was precluded from executing the decree
for the period from 25th June, 1969 to 21st March, 1975, when the suit filed
by the judgment debtor came to be finally dismissed on merits. The judgment
was affirmed by the High Court. Hence the present appeal.

It was contended by the appellant that during pendency of the suit filed F
by him against the decree-holder, there was an order of temporary injunction
restricting execution of the decree but with the dismissal of the suit for default,
the order of temporary injunction came to an end and it did not revive even on
restoration of the suit and consequently nothing prevented the decree holder
from executing the decree. G
Respondents (decree-holder) submitted that an ancillary order passed
in a suit which was dismissed for default stood automatically revived on its
restoration and so he was entitled to exclude the period during which the suit
filed against execution of the decree was finally disposed of, for the purpose
of computation of limitation period in executing the decree. H
536 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2004] SUPP. 1 S.C.R.

A Dismissing ttie appeal, the Court.

HELD: Per V.N. Khare, CJ/ (for himselfand Kapadia, J.):

1.1. The Court in exercise of its power under Section 94 CPC could
grant interim relief only if the circumstances of the case fall under the rules.
B Therefore, when a matter comes before the Court, the Court has to examine
the facts of each case and ascertain whether the ingredients of Section 9~
read with the rules in an Order are satisfied and accordingly grant appropriate
relief. It is only in cases where circumstances do not fall under any of the
rules prescribed that the Court can invoke its inherent power under Section
151 CPC. Accordingly, the Courts have to grant relief of attachment before
C judgment, if the circumstances fall under Order 38 CPC. Similarly, Courts
will grant temporary injunction if the case satisfies Order 39. So depending
on the circumstances falling in the prescribed rules, the power of the Court
to grant specified relie~s would vary. Therefore, each set of rules prescribed
are distinct and different from the other, and therefore, one cannot equate
D rules of temporary injunction with rules of attachment before judgment
although all are broadly termed as interlocutory orders. [544-H; 545-A-B-C)

Manohar Lal Chopra v. Rai Bahadur Rao Raja Seth Hirala/, A~ (1962)
SC 527 and Mis. Ram Chand & Sons Sugar Mills Pvt. Ltd v. Kanhyalal
· Bhargave, AIR (1966) SC 1899, referred to.
E
Jagjit.Singh Khanna v. Dr. Rakhal Das Mullick, AIR (1988) Calcutta
95, referred to. ·

1.2. The Court if satisfied that the defendant is likely to defeat th~ decree
in future as and when it. is passed, then the Court shall grant attachment
F before judgment even before final adjudication of the Claim of the plaintiffs,
hence it is an extraordinary relief being given under Order J8 rule 1 CPC to
the plaintiff by the Court. However, under Order 39 rule 9 CPC the Court
shall order withdrawal of attachment when the suit is dismissed.- Therefore,
rule 9 makes it mandatory for the (:ourt to lift the attachment at the time of
G the dismissal of the suit. Attachment is a part of execution process. It is
granted to protect the decree. The scheme of Order 38 is different from Order
39 or Order 40. Hence, one cannot compare attachment under Order 38 with
power of the Court to grant temporary injunction under Order 39 as
interlocutory orders. Similarly, Order 21, Ru~e 57 indicates the duty on the
Courts to order whether the attachment shalt'continue or cease on the
H dismissal of the execution suit The facts of the present case are appropriately
·~
I
VAREED JACOB v. SOSAMMA GEEV ARGHESE 537
covered by the provisions of Order 39 and not Order 38. In the facts and A
circumstances of the case, the decree hol~er was entitled to exclude the period
of 5 years 8 months and 26 days between 25th June, 1969 and 21st March,
1975 in computing the period oflimitation for execution of the decree.
(546-B-C-D-E; 547-H; 548-A)

Shiva v. Sharnappa, AIR (1968) Mysore 238; Saranatha Ayyangar v. B
Muthiah Moopanar and Ors., AIR (1934) Madras 49; Bankim Chandra v.
Chandi Prasad, AIR (1956) Patna 271 and Nandipati Rami Reddi v. Nandipati
Padma Reddy, AIR (1978) A.P. 30, approved.

Abdul Hamid v. Karim Bux and Ors., AIR (1973) Allahabad 67; Raj
Chandra Gupta v. Ramesh Kishore, AIR (1965) Allahabad 546 and Nagar C
Mahapalika v. Ved Prakash, AIR (1976) All.264, held not applicable.

Nancy John Lyndon v. Prabhati Lal Chowdhury, (19871 4 SCC 78,
referred to.

Per S.B. S(nha, J. (dissenting): D

I.I. A Court or a Tribunal entitled to adjudicate upon an issue arising
in a tis between the parties has the requisite jurisdiction to pass orders which
are incidental thereto so as to enable it to effectively .adjudicate the same.
Such a power of a Court or a Tribunal to do all things necessary to effectively E
adjudicate upon the lis need not be specifically conferred by the statute; such
power being ancillary to the power of the Court is adjunct to the Court's/
Tribunal's power of adjudication. (548-F-G)

1.2. The Code of Civil Procedure uses different expressions in relation
to incidental proceedings and supplemental proceedings. An order passed in F
the incidental proceedings will have a direct bearing on the result of the suit.
Such proceedings which are in aid of the final proceedings cannot be held to
be at par with supplemental proceedings which may not have anything to do
with the ultimate result of the suit. A supplemental proceeding is initiated
with a view to prevent the ends of justice from being defeated. It. may not be
taken recourse to as a routine matter but only when an exigency arises G
therefor. The orders passed in the supplemental proceedings may some time
cause hardships to the other side and, thus, are required to be taken recourse
to when a situation arises therefor and not otherwise. Incidental proceedings
are, however, taken recourse to in aid of the ultimate dec~ion of the suit which
would mean that any order passed in terms thereof, subject to the rules H
538 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2004) SUPP. I S.C.R.

A prescribed therefor, would have a bearing on the merit of the matter. Whenever
an order is passed by the Court in exercise of its ancillary pQwer or in the·
incidental proceedings, the same may re~ive on revival of the suit. But so far
as supplemental proceedings are concerned, the Court may have to pass a
fresh order. The orders passed in supplemental proceedings may have to be
B treated distinctly as opposed to an order which i~ ancillary in nature or which·
has been passed in the incidental proceedings. (548-H; 549-B-C-D-E; HI

1.3. An order of attachment passed under Order 38 CPC would be
operative even after the decree is passed. Such an order can be taken benefit
of by the decree holder even after a deeree is passed. The Code of Civil
C Proc_edure lays down two different schemes, one in relation to the ancillary
orders which would aid and supplement the decisions arrived at in the main
appeal and the other one which may not have to do anything therewith; An
order of attachment before judgment does not entail a_n automatic revival upon·
restoration of a suit which is dismissed for default and for that purpose an
order of injunction would be treated at par with an order of attachment before
D judgment. [549-G; 550-D; 554-A]

Bankim Chandra and Ors. v. Chandi Prasad, AIR (1956) Patna 271,
approved.

Ganesh Prasad<Sah Kesari and Anr. v. Lakshmi Narayan Gupta, [19S5l
E 3 sec 53, referred to.

Tavvala Veeraswamy v. Pulim Ramanna and Ors., AIR (1935) Madras.
365; Shivaraya and Ors. v. Sharnappa and Ors., AIR (1968) ·Mysore 283;
Smt. Radhey Bai v. Smt. Savitri Sharma (1975) RLR 234; Kishan Lal v. Smt.
Kam/a Devi Sharma, (1979) RLW 369; Ulahannan Chacko v~ Mathai (1986)
p KLT 301; Abdul Hamid v. Karim Bux and Ors., AIR (1973) All 67 and
Chunni Kuar v. Dwarka Prasad, (1887) All WN 297, referred to.

1.4. The Parliament consciously used two different expressions
'incidental proceedings' and 'supplemental proceedings' which obviously would
carry two different meanings.. The expression 'ancillary' means aiding,
G auxiliary; subordinate; attendant upon; that which aids or promotes a
proceeding regarded as the principle. The expression 'supplementary
proceeding' on t~e other hand would mean a separate proceeding in an original
action, in which the Court where the action is pending is called upon t~
exercise its jurisdiction in the interest of justice. (556-B-C)

H Gangappa v. Boregowda, AIR (1955) Mysore 91; Nagar Mahapalika,
VAREED JACOB v. SOSAMMA GEEV ARGHESE 539
Lucknow v; Ved Prakash, (1976) All 264; Kanchan Bai v. Ketsidas and Ors., A
AIR (1991) Raj.94 and Ranjit Singh v. Sardar Ranjan Sinha, AIR (1981) Patna
102, referred ·to.

1.5. The effect of an order passed under different provisions of Section
94 of the Code of Civil Procedure would be different. They have been so
legislated keeping in view different exigencies of'circumstances, however, the B
power thereunder has· to be exercised in the interest of justice. The statutory
scheme therefor is that supplemental proceeding should be taken recourse
to only when the interest of justice is required to be sub-served, although the
interlocutory order may not have anything to do with the ultimate decision of
the Court. (556-E-Fl C
1.6. There exists a distinction between ancillary orders which are
required to be passed by the Court in aid of or supplemental to the ultimate
decision of the Court; as contradistinguished to an order passed under Part
VI of the Code of Civil Procedure in terms whereof an order is passed in
favour of a party in the lis which may not have a bearing on the ultimate result D
of the suit An interlocutory order passed in a suit may not also have anything
to do with the relief prayed for by the plaintiff. An order which has been
obtained by the defendant may not revive on restoration of the suit.
Supplementary proceedings envisage that such a power must be specially
conferred upon the Court which are required to be passed in the interest of
justice irrespective of the fact as to whether the same would ultimately have E
any bearing on the reliefs claimed in the suit or not In absence of any statutory
provisions such a power cannot be exercised whereas a power which is
ancillary or incidental, can always be exercised by the Court in aid of and
supplemental to the final order that may be passed. Furthermore, a jurisdiction
expressly conferred by a statute and an inherent power, subject to just F
exceptions, must be treated differently. (558-F-G-H; 559-A)

2.1. In the instant <:ase, this Court is not concerned with the question
as to whether substantive changes have been made in Order 38 Rule 5 by
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 vis-a-vis Code of Civil Procedure, 1859. The
question is as to whether the power of the Court to pass an order of attachment G
before judgment is an ancillary power or a supplemental power. The provisions
of Order 38 and Order 39 have been equated by the Court presumably not on
the ground that they provide for different interlocutory reliefs but having
regard to the nature of the proceedings vis-a-vis the reliefs which can
ultimately be granted. It would also not be correct to hold that the attachment H
540 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2004) SUPP. I S.C.R.

A proceooing is in effect and substance different from an order ofinjunction on
the ground that the former is a part of execution process. The very nature of
an order of attachment entails that in the event of dismissal of suit, the order
comes to an end. Such a provision has l!Cen made by the legislature by way of
abundant caution. (557-C-D-E-Fl . . .

B 2.2. A suit or a proceeding which is barred by limitation would oust the
jurisdiction of the Court to entertain the same. When a procfeding is barred
by limitation, it ·culminates in a right to the non-suitor. Such a right can be
curtailed only by expr<SS terms of a statute. A statute may furtheiino"' provide
for extension of a period oflimitation in certain situation. The Code of Civil .
C Procedure is silent as to the effect of revival of the interlocutory order on
restoration of a suiL This case demonstrates as to how a person for no fault
on his part would suffer prejudice when such a right is being taken away.
Such a pro~ision which would confer furlsdiciion of a Court to enter".ain a
l'roeffiling which it otherwise would not have in terms of the Limitation Act,
1963, should b~ sirictly construed. (S58-0:.El . ' .. . . .
. ,•
D
· 2.3. A construction which preserves the rights of the parties pending
adjudication must be allowed to operate vis-a-vis the privilege conferred ui>on . ·
a plaintiff to obtain an interlocutory order which loses i~ force by dismissal
of suit and, thus, may not revive, unless expressly directed, on restoration of
the suiL The interim order of injunction did not revive on restoration of the
E suit: The Courts, however, would be well-advised keeping in view the .
controversy to specifically pass an order when the suit is dismissed for default
stating when interlocutory orders are vacated and on restoration of the suit,
ifthe Court intends to revive such interlocutory orders, an exp.ress order to
that effect should be passed. (558-C; 559-B-CI ·
F ' .
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal No. 2634 of2004.

From the Judgment and Order dated 25. 7.200 I of the Kerala High Court
in C.R.P. No.2003 ofl998·B. . . ..

Fiiztin An~ and F.M._S. Anam for the Appell..;.!.
G
P.
.
Krishnamurthy,
,,··
M.T.
'
George
. and
'
Silly Sebastian for the Respondents.
. - - .. '

The following Judgm'erits/Order ~f the Court was delivered by
V.N. KHARE, CJ. AND KAPADIA,J. Leave granted ..
H
V AREED JACOB v. SOSAMMA GEEV ARGHESE (KHARE, CJ.) 541

Suit No. 33211122 (NE) was a suit for partition filed in the Munsiff Court; A
Kottarakara, in which final decree was passed ·on 21st May, 1964. Under the
decree, defendant No. 6 (since deceased) was granted recovery of items I 0-
16. Defendant No.6 died after the decree. The· third defendant in the said Suit
No. 33211122 (NE) in tum filed suit No.209 of1969 on 25th June, 1969 against
defendant no.6 (decree holder) and others for setting 'aside the decree dated B
21st May, 1964 in SuitNo.33211122 (NE). On 25th June, 1969, the Court pasSed
an order of temporary injunction restraining the decree holder from executing
the decree dated 21st May, 1964 in SuitNo.33211122 (NE). On 2nd Apri~ 1973,
. Suit No.209 of 1969 filed by the third defendant was dismissed for default.
Thereafter application was moved for restoration of Suit No.209 of 1969 and
that Su.it was ultimately restored to file on 20th December, 1974. However, C
ultimately on merits, suit Nos. 209of1969 was dismissed on 21st March, 1975:
The above facts show that the decree holder ·was prevented from executing
the decree dated 21st May, 1964 in Suit No.33211122 (NE). during the period
25th June, 1969 up to 21st March, 1975 when Suit No.209 oft969 was pending
and ultimately dismissed on merits. Further, against the dismissal of the Suit
No.209of1969 the matter was taken in appeal before the first Appellate.Court D ·
which also dismissed the appeal of the plaintiff in Suit No.209 of 1969. Being
aggrieved, the plaintiff in Suit No.209/69 carried the matter in appeal before
the High Court, which appeal was finally dismissed oA ltth June, 1979. In
other words, the decree in Suit No.33211122 (NE) could not be executed during
the period 25th June, 1969 up to 11th July, 1979. On 18th March, 1981; E
Execution Petition was filed and the decree dated 25th June, 1964 in Suit
No.33211122 (NE) was put in execution to which the judgment debtor (the
petitioner herein) objected on the ground that the Execution Petition was
as
barred by limitation, it was not filed within 12 years from the date of the
decree i.e. 21st May; 1964. The Executing Court as also the High Court in
revision held thai the decree holder in Suit No.33211122 (NE) was precluded F
from executfug the decree during the period 25th Jurie, 1969 to 21st Marth,
1975, when the S~ii No.209 of 1969 filed by the judgnient debior came to be·
finally dismissed on merits and if that· period was excluded, the EXecution
Petition was well within time. Being aggrieved by the d~cision'of the High
Court dated 2Sth July 2001, in Civil Revision Petition (CRP) No.2003of1998 G
(B), the judgment debtor has come by way of special leave· petition under
Articie 136 of the Constitution of India. . ·

··Mr. Fazlin Anam, learned counsel appearing on bi:half of the judgment
debtor (petitioner) contended that the suit filed by the judgment debtor being·
Suit No209of1969 was dismissed for default on 2nd April:J 973. That during H
542 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2004) SUPP. I S.C.R.

A the pendency of Suit No.209of1969, there was an order of temporary injunction
dated 25th June, 1969, but with the dismissal of the Suit for default on 2nd
April, 1973 the order of temporary injunction dated 25th June, 1969 came to
an end that order did not revive even after restoration of Suit No.209of1969
on 20th December, 1974, and consequently nothing prevented the decree
holder from executing the decree dated 21st May, 1964, after the restoration
B of the suit. In this connection, learned counsel placed reliance on the judgment
of Allahabad High Court in the case of Raj Chander Gupta v. Ramesh
Kishore reported in AIR 1965 Allahabad 546 in which it has been held that
with the dismissal of the suit, either on.merit or for default, the attachment
before judgment comes to an.end even if the suit is restored subsequently
C the order of attachment before judgment will not revive automatically. In
deciding the matter the Allahabad High Court placed reliance on its earlier
judgment in the case of Ram Chand v. Pitam Mal reported in ( 1888) ILR .10
All. 506.

Per contra Mr. P. Krishanmurithy, learned senior ~o.unsel appearing on
D behalf of the decree holder-respondent contended that on the restoration of
the suit dismissed for default all an~illary orders passed therein stood
automatically revived. He, therefore, contended that in the present case when
the dismissed Suit No.209 of 1969 came to be restored on 20th December~
1974, the order of temporary injunction dated 25th June, 1969 stood reviv~~
E and consequently, the decree holder could not have executed the decree an~,
therefore, he was entitled to exclude the period between 25th June, 1969 to
21st March, 1975 (when the suit was dismissed on merits) in computation of
the period of limitation of 12 years for the purposes of executing the decree
dated 21st May, 1964, which was finally put in execution on 18th Mar~h: 1981
after the judgment debtor had exhausted all his remedies by way of the
F appeals. In this connection reliance was place~ on the judgment of the
Madras High Ccurt in the case of Tavvala Veeraswami v. Pulim Ramanna
reported in AIR (1935) Mad. 365 (F.B.)/Reliance was alsQ placed on the
judgment of the Patna High Court in the case of Bankim Chandra v. Chandi
Prasad~ported in AIR (1956) Patna 271. Similarly, reliance was placed on the
judgment of the Andhra Pradesh High Court in the case of Nandipati Rami
G Reddi v. Nandipati Padma Reddy reported in AIR (1978) A.P. 30 in which it
has been laid down that when the dismissed suit is restored, the interim
orders and their operation during the period of interregnum are revived and
the plaintiff must be restored to the position in which he was situated when
the Court dismissed the suit for default any consequently all interlocutory
H orders passed before the order of dismissal would also revive along with the
VAREED JACOB v. SOSAMMA GEEV ARGHESE [KHARE, CJ.] 543
when the order of dismissal is set aside and the suit is restored, unless the A
Court expressly or by implication excludes the operation of interlocutory
orders during the period between the dismissal and the restoration.

In view of the afore-stated arguments, the point which arise for
determination is : whether there is automatic revival of interlocutory orders
with the restoration of the suit unless the circumstances occurring during the B
interregnum or the orders passed by the court speak to the contrary?

Analysis of the provisions of the CPC 1908

Civil Procedure Code 1908 applies to all proceedings in Courts in Civil
Jurisdiction, subject to any special or local law or any special jurisdiction C
under any other law for the time being in force. The main feature of the Code
is its division into two parts. The main body of the Code consists of sections
which create jurisdiction while the rules indicate the manner in which the
jurisdiction has to be exercised.

Section 9 states that the Courts shall have the jurisdiction to try all suits D
of civil nature except suit which are expressly or impliedly barred. Section 9
falls in Part-I CPC which deals with suits in general. Part-II deals with execution.
Part-II CPC covers sections 51 to 64. Under Section 51 CPC, subject to
limitations and conditions as may be prescribed, the Court may order execution
of the decree by delivery of any property specifically decreed; by attachment E
and sale; by arrest and detention; by appointment of receiver or in such a
manner as the nature of the relief granted may require. Therefore, attachment
is a part of execution process [see Mahadeo Dubey v. Bhola Nath Dichit
reported in (1883) ILR 5 All. page 86 (F.B.)] Part-III CPC deals with incidental
proceedings like power of the Court to issue commission, letter of request,
etc. Part VI· CPC deals with incidental proceedings which cover section 94 F
which inter a/ia empowers to Court to pass interim orders depending upon
the circumstances prescribed by the rules.

In the case of Manohar Lal Chopra v. Rai Bahadur Rao Raja Seth
· Hiralal reported in AIR (1962) SC 527, it has been held that the effect of the G
expression "if so prescribed" in Section 94 CPC is to prescribe the
circumstances in which courts can exercise or grant a particular relief and
ordinarily the Court is not to use its inherent powers to make the necessary
orders in the interest of justice, but to see whether the circumstances of the
case come within the prescribed rule. Therefore, in case where the plaintiff
seeks temporary injunction courts have to ascertain whether the facts of the H
544 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2004) SUPP. 1 S.C.R.

A case fall under Order 39. That it is in the incidence of exercise of power of
the Court to issue temporary injunction that Section 94 has a role to play and
that Section 94, however does not take away the right of the Court to exercise
its inherent power. In the same judgment, Section 151 CPC is also analysed.
The Apex Court in the same judgment has held that inherent power has not
B been conferred upon the Court by Section 151 CPC. It is a power inherent in
the Court by virtue of its duty to do justice between the parties before it. That
Section 151 merely recognizes the existence of the inherent power of the
Court, therefore, even if in a given case circumstances do not fall within Order
39 CPC, the Courts have inherent jurisdiction to issue temporary injunction
if the Court is of the opinion that interest of justice requires issue of such
C interim injunction.

In the case of Mis Ram Chand & Sons Sugar Mills Pvt. Ltd v.
Kanhayalal Bhargava reported in AIR (1966) SC 1899, it has been held by
this Court that the inherent power of the Court under Section 151 CPC is in
addition ·to and complimentary to the power expressly conferred under CPC,
D but that power will not be exercised in conflict with any of the powers
expressly or by implication conferred by other provisions of CPC. If there is
express provision covering a particular topic, then Section 151 CPC cannot
be applied. Therefore, Section 151 CPC recognizes inherent power of the
Court by virtue of its duty to do justice and which inherent power is in
E addition to and complementary to powers conferred under CPC, expressly or
by implication.

In the <.:ase of Jagjit Singh Khanna v. Dr. Rakhal Das Mullick reported
in AIR (1988) Calcutta 95 it has been held that a temporary injunction may
be granted· under· Section 94© only if a case satisfies Order 39 Rules 1 and
p Rule 2. It is not correct to say that the Court has two powers, one to grant
temporary injunction under Section 94© and the other under Order 39 Rules
l and 2. That Section 94© CPC shows that the Court may grant a temporary
injunction thereunder, only if it is so prescribed by Rule l and 2 of Order 39.
The Court can. also grant temporary injunction in exercise of its inherent
powers under Section 151, but in that case, it does not grant temporary
G injunction under any of the powers conferred by CPC, but under powers
inherent in the constitution of the Court, which is saved by Section 151 CPC.

The above discussion shows that the source of power of the Court to
grant interim relief is under Section 94. However, exercise of that power can
H only be done if the circumstances of the case fa~l under the rules. Therefore,
VAREED JACOB v. SOSAMMA GEEVARGHESE [KHARE, CJ.] 545
when a matter comes before the Court, the Court has to examine the facts of A
each case and ascertain whether the ·ingredients of Section 94 read with the
rules in an Order are satisfied and accordingly grant an appropriate relief. It
is only in cases where. circumstances do not fall under any of the rules
prescribed that the Court can invoke its inherent power under Section 151
CPC. Accordingly, the courts have to grant relief of attachment before judgment, B
if the circumstances fall under Order 38 CPC. Similarly, courts will gran~
temporary injunction if the case satisfies Order 39. So depending on th~
circumstanc~s falling in the prescribed rules, the power of the court to grant
specified reliefs would vary. The~efore, each set of rules prescribed are distinct.
and different from the other and therefore, one cannot equate rules of temporary
injunction with rules of attachment before judgment although all are broadly C
termed as interlocutory orders.

Analysis of the judgments cited before us :

In the case of Abdul Hamid v. Karim Bux and Ors., reported in AIR
(1973) Allahabad 67, it has been held that on the dismissal of the suit in D
default, attachment before judgment automatically ceases and does not revive
on the restoration of the suit. In coming to this conclusion, the Allahabad
High Court placed reliance on the earlier judgment of the Allahabad High
Court in the case of Ram Chandv. Pitam Mal, (1888) ILR IO All. 506.

Similarly, in the case of Raj Chandra Gupta v. Ramesh Kishore, reported E
in AIR (1965) Allahabad 546, it has been held that on the dismissal of the suit
either on merit or for default attachment before judgment shall cease and it
shall not revive automatically on restoration of the suit. Here, also reliance
has been placed by the Allahabad High Court on the earlier judgment in the
case of Ram Chand v. Pitam Mal (supra).
F
In the case of Nagar Mahapa/ika v. Ved Prakash, reported in AIR
(1976) All 264, the same view has been taken in that matter. In that matter it
was held that interim injunction came to an end on dismissal of the suit for
default and it would not automatically revive on res_toration. Here also reliance
has been placed by the Allahabad High Court on its earlier judgment in the G
case of Ram Chand v: Pitam Mal (supra). However, this is the only judgment
which has equated order of temporary injunction with attachment before
judgment as interlocutory order without considering provisions of Order 38
Rule 9 and Rule 11.

H
546 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2004] SUPP. l S.C.R.

A. At the outset, we may point out that the case of Ram Chand v. Pitam
Mal (supra) was under the provisions of earlier Civil Procedure Code of 1859.
In this case we are concerned with the Civil Procedure Code of 1908, which
has made substantial chances with regard to the attachment before judgment:
Under Order 38, Rule l an extraordinary relief is given to the plaintiff, namely,
in appropriate cases where the court finds a strong prima facie case in favour
B of the plaintiff and ifthe Court is satisfied that the defendant is likely to defeat
the decree in future as and when it is passed, then the Court shall grant
attachment before judgment even before final adjudication of the claim of the
plaintiffs, hence it is an extraordinary relief given to the plaintiff by the Court.
However,.under Order 38 rule 9 the court shall order withdrawal of attachment
C when the suit is dismissed. Therefore, rule 9 makes it mandatory for the court
to lift the attachment at the time of the dismissal of the suit. Such a provision
is not there under Order 39 or under Order 40. This has not been noticed by
the Allahabad High Court in the case of Nagar Mahapalika v. Ved Prakash,
(supra). All the earlier judgments of the Allahabad High Court related to Order
38 and not to Order 39. Moreover as stated above, attachment is a part of
D execution process. It is granted to protect the decree. Under Order 38 Rule
I I it is further provided that when the suit is decreed the courts will continue
attachment before judgment and the plaintiff is not required to re-apply for
a~achment. The scheme of Order 38 is different from Order 39 or Order 40.
Hence, we cannot compare attachment under Order 38 with power of the court
E to grant temporary injunction under Order 39 as interlocutory orders. Similarly,
Order 21, Rule 57 indicates the duty on the courts to order whether the
attachment shall continue or cease on the dismissal of the execution suit.

The facts of the present case and the controversy in this case is
covered by the provisions of Order 39 and not Order 38.
F
In the case of Shiva v. Shamappa, reported in AIR (1968) Mysore 238,
it has been held that the question whether the restoration of the suit revives
ancillary orders passed before the dismissal of the suit depends upon· the
terms in which the order of dismissal is passed and the ~crms in which the
suit is restored. If the Court dismisses the suit for default, without any
G reference to the ancillary orders passed earlier, then the interim order shall
revive as and when the suit is restored. However, if the Court dismisses the
suit specifically vacating the ancillary orders, then restoration will not revive
such ancillary orders. This was a case under Order 39. '

In the case of Saranatha Ayyangar v. Muthiah Moopanar and Ors.,
H
VAREED JACOB v. SOSAMMA GEEVARGHESE [KHARE, CJ.] 547
reported in AIR (1934) Madras 49, it has been held that on restoration of the A
suit dismissed for default all interlocutory matters shall stand restored, unless
the order of restoration says to the contrary. That as the matter of general
rule on restoration of the suit dismissed for default, all interlocutory orders
shall stand revived unless during the interregnum between the dismissal. of
the suit and restoration, there is any alienation in favour of the third party. B
A similar view has been taken by the Patna High Court in the case .of
Bankim Chandra v. Chandi Prasad, reported in AIR (1956) Patna 271 in
which it has been held that orders of stay pending disposal of the suit are
ancillary orders and they are all meant to supplement the ultimate decision
arrived at in the main suit and, therefore, when the suit, dismissed for default, C
is restored by the order of the Court all ancillary orders passed in the suit
shall revive, unless there is any other factor on record or in the order of
dismissal to show to the contrary. This was also a matter under Order 39.

In the case of Nandipati Rami Reddi v. Nandipati Padma Reddy
(supra) it has been held by the Division Bench of the Andhra Pradesh High D
Court that when the suit is restored, all interlocutory orders and their operation
during the period between dismissal of the suit for default and restoration
shall stand revived. That once the dismissal is set aside the plaintiff must be
restored to the position in which he was situated, when the Court dismissed
the suit for default. Therefore, it follows that interlocutory orders which have
been passed before the dismissal would stand revived along with the suit E
when the dismissal is set aside and this suit is restored unless the Court
expressly or by implication excludes the operation of interlocutory orders
passed during the period between dismissal of the suit and the reston. ion.

In the case of Nancy John Lyndon v. Prabhati Lal Chowdhury, reported
in [1987] 4 sec 78, it has been held that in view of Order 2nd Rule 57 Rule F
57 CPC it is clear that with the dismissal of the title execution suit for default,
the attachment levied earlier ceased. However, it has been further held that
when the dismissal was set aside and the suit was restored, the effect of
restoring the suit was to restore the position prevalent till the dismissal of the
suit or before dismissal of the title execution suit. We repeat that judgment . G
was under Order 21 Rule 57 whose scheme is similar to Order 38 Rule 11 and
Rule I IA CPC and therefore, we cannot put all interlocutory orders on the
same basis .

.For all the afore-stated reasons, the decree holder in this case was
entitled to exclude the period of 5 years 8 months and 26 days between 25th H
548 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2004] SUPP. I S.C.R.

A June, 1969 and 21st March, 1975 in computing the period of limitation for
execution of the decree.

For afore-stated reasons the appeal is dismissed. No costs.

S.B. SINHA, J. Leave granted.
B
The short question involved in this appeal which arises out of a judgment
and order dated 27.7.2001 in C.R.P. No. 2003 of 1998-B passed by the High
Court of Kerala at Emakulam is as to whether on restoration of a suit an order
of injunction passed is automatically revived or not.

C An order of injunction can be passed under Order 39, Rules I and 2 of
the Code of Civil Procedure. Such an order can also be passed by the Court
in exercise of its inherent jurisdiction in the event the prayer for grant of
injunction does not fall within the scope of Section 94 of the Code of Civil
Procedure read with Order 39, Rules I and 2 thereof.

D An order· of injunction can be granted by the Court only when there
exists any power therefor. In Morgan Stanley Mutual Fund v. Kartick Das,
(1994] 4 SCC 225 this Court has held that having regard to the scheme of the
Consumer Protection Act, ·the consumer courts do not have any power to
issue injunction. The jurisdiction to issue an order of injunction, appointment
E of a r~ceiver or to pass an order of attachment before attachment would,
therefore, depend upon the scheme of the statute and the powers conferred
on the Court thereby. This may be one of the factors which is required to be
taken into consideration for making a distinction between a supplemental
proceedings and incidental proceedings.

F A court or a tribunal entitled to adjudicate upon an issue arising in a
tis between the parties has the requisite jurisdiction to pass orders which are
incidental thereto so as to enable it to effectively adjudicate the. same. Such
a power of a Court or a Tribunal to do all things necessary to effectively
adjudicate upon the lis need not, in other words, be specifically conferred by
the statute; such power being ancillary to the power of the court. It is adjunct
G to the court's/tribunal's power of adjudication.

The Code of Civil Procedure uses different expressions in relation to
incidental proceedings and supplemental proceedings. Incidental proceedings
are referred to in· Part Ill of the Code of Civil Procedure whereas Supplemental
H Proceedings are referred to in Part VI thereof.
VAREED JACOB v. SOSAMMA GEEVARGHESE [SINHA, J.] 549
Is there any difference between the two types of proceedings? A
A distinction is to be borne in mind keeping in view the fact that the
incidental proceedings are in aid to the final proceedings. In other words an
order passed in the incidental proceedings will have a direct bearing on th~
result of the suit. Such proceedings which are in aid of the final proceedings
cannot, thus, be held to be at par with supplemental proceedings which may B
not have anything to do with the ultimate result of the suit.

Such a supplemental proceeding is initiated with a view to prevent the
ends of justice from being defeated. The supplemental proceedings may not
be taken recourse to as a routine matter but only when an exigency arises C
therefor. The orders passed in the supplemental proceedings may some time
cause hardships to the other side and, thus, are required to be taken recourse
to when a situation arises therefor and not otherwise. There are well-defined
parameters laid down by the Court from time to time as regards the applicability
of the supplemental proceedings.
D
Incidental proceedings are, however, taken recourse to in aid of the
ultimate decision of the suit which would mean that any order passed in terms
thereof, subject to the rules prescribed therefor, would have a bearing on the
merit of the matter. Any order passed in aid of the suit are ancillary powers.
Whenever an order is passed by the Court in exercise of its ancillary power
or in the incidental proceedings, the same may revive on reviv~I of the suit. E
But so far as supplemental proceedings are concerned, the Court may have
to pass a fresh order.

An order to furnish security to produce any property belonging to a
defendant and to place the same at the disposal of the Court or order the
attachment of any property as also grant of a temporary injunction or F
appointment of a receiver are supplemental in nature. The effect of such order
may be felt even after decree is passed. An order of attachment passed under
Order 38 of the Code of Civil Procedure would be operative even after the
decree is passed. Such an order of attachment passed under Order 38 can be
taken benefit of by the decree holder even after a decree is passed. An order G· .
of temporary injunction passed in a suit either may merge with a decree of
permanent injunction or may have an effect even if a decree is passed, as,
for example, for the purpose of determination as regard the status of the
parties violating the order of injunction or the right of a transferee whom have
purchased the property in disobedience of the order of injunction. The orders
passed in supplemental proceedings may have to be treated distinctly as H
550 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2004) SUPP. l S.C.R.

A opposed to an order which is ancillary in nature or which has been passed
in the incidental proceedings.

The question must, therefore, be considered having regard to the
aforementioned legal principles in mind. We may at this juncture notice .those
decisions wherein it has been held that the interlocutory order is automatically
B revived on restoration of suits.

In Bankim Chandra and Ors. v. Chandi Prasad, AIR (1956) Patna 271
the Court was concerned with the revival of an order of stay. It was held,
having regard to the scheme of law lairl down in the Code of Civil Procedure
C that interlocutory orders like one of 'stay' are nothing but ancillary orders and
they are all meant to aid and supplement the ultimate decision arrived at in
the main suit or appeal. Even ir. such a situation when there is any other
factor on the record or in the order passed to show to the contrary even·an
order of stay shall not automatically revive. This decision, therefore, is.an
authority for the proposition that the Code of Civil Procedure lays down two
D different schemes, one in relation to the ancillary orders which would aid and
supplement the decisions arrived at in the main appeal and the one which may
not have to do anything therewith.

In Tavvala Veeraswamy v. Pulim Ramanna and Ors., AIR (1935) Madras
365 a Full Bench of the Madras High Court held that even an order of
E attachment b~fore judgment would automatically revive on restoration of a
suit. In that case, Beesley, CJ speaking for the Full Bench, however, erroneously
proceeded on the basis that an order of attachment is also an ancillary order
and in that view of the matter held :

" .. .It does not seem to me reasonable that the plaintiff in a suit who
F has got an attachment before judgment should have again, after the
restoration of the suit after its dismissal for default, to apply to the
Court for a fresh attachment and that having done so the defendant
should have to apply to raise the attachment by producing a surety
or sureties. The common sense view of the matter is that all ancillary
orders should be restored on the suit's re~toration without any further
G
orders."

The question as to whether an order of attachment is a supplemental
order or not was not at all considered therein.

H In Shivaraya and Ors. v. Sharnappa and Ors., AIR (1968) Mysore 283,
VAREED JACOB v. SOSAMMA GEEVARGHESE [SINHA, J.] 551
a learned Single Judge followed Bankim Chandra and Ors., (supra) and A
Tavvala Veeraswamy (supra) which considered such interlocutory orders to
have been passed in exercise of the Court's ancillary powers.

In Ganesh Prasad Sah Kesari and Anr. v. Lakshmi Narayan Gupta,
[1985] 3 SCC 53, this Court was concerned with a case as regard the power.
of the court to extend the time for depositing rent by the defendant. Interpreting . B
Section I IA ofBihar Buildings (Lease, Rent and Eviction) Control Act, 1947,
it was held that the Court had such power; differing with the view of the High
Court as regard interpretation of such a provision as directory in stead and
in place of being mandatory.

However, an observation had been made that the Learned Trial Judge C
did grant relief to the tenant by refusing to strike off the defence on an
erroneous view that the direction did not revive after setting aside of the ex
parte order. The said observation is obiter in nature and in any event, no
detailed discussions as regard the nature of the power of the Court under
Section 148 of the Code of Civil Procedure had been made. The jurisdiction D
of the court under Section 148 of the Code of Civil Procedure is an ancillary
power and not a supplementary one.

In Smt. Radhey Bai v. Smt. Savitri Sharma, (1975) RLR 234, Delhi High
Court was concerned with an ancillary power of a court as would appear from
the following observations : E
"7 .. .It is, therefore, obvious that on setting the dismissal aside, the
court has to appoint a day for proceeding with the suit and not for
trying the suit de novo. This indicates that the further proceedings
in the suit have to start from the stage and point where they were
pending before the suit was dismissed and there is no requirement of F
law that upon such restoration the entire proceedings must be reached
again. Consequently on the restoration of a dismissed suit, all the
previous proceedings and the interim orders revive and do not require
a fresh order to give them vigour."

. In Kishan Lal v. Smt. Kam/a Devi Sharma, (I 979) RL W 369, the Court G
while again dealing with a rent control matter held that when an order has
been passed under Sub-Section (3) of Section 13 of the Act as existed at the
relevant time, no fresh order is required to be passed.

In Ulahannan Chacko v. Mathai ( 1986) KLT 30 I the Collrt was concerned H
552 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2004) SUPP. 1 S.C.R.

A with an application for amendment of plaint in relation whereto a contention
was raised that the said application could not have been brought into life as
the appeal was dismissed holding :
-
" ... When restoration of the suit or appeal is allowed, the parties are
to be restored to the same position in which they were situated when
B the court dismissed the suit or appeal. Then on restoring the appeal
dismissed for default, the ancillary matters disposed of in consequence
of such dismissal must also get restored and the consequential orders
passed on dismissal of the suit or appeal should automatically get
vacated."
c In Abdul Hamidv. Karim Bux and Ors., AIR (1973) All 67, a Full Bench
of the Allahabad High Court noticing a large number of decisions including
some Qf which have been referred to hereinbefore held :

"17. The language of Order 38, R.9 no doubt is capable of both the
interpretations. ~mt the well-recognised rule of interpretation is that
D where the language is capable of two interpretations and where the
section of the Act has received a judicial construction and the said
constructio!l has long been acted on without any alteration in the
statute, the interpretation so recognised and acted on is to be accepted
on the principle of stare decisis because it is the general maxim that·
E even a point of law has been settled by decision it forms a precedent
which is not afterwards to be departed from. The latter part of the rule
which requires that the attachment shall be removed when the suit is
dismissed is either directory or mandatory. If it is directory the
·attachment is removed automatically in spite of no order of the Court.
If it is mandatory, then the duty of the Court is to pass an order and
F a party cannot be penalised where the consequences for the dismissal
appear to be the withdrawal of the attachment before judgment. The
Lower appellate Court in these circumstances was right in upholding
respondent No. l's claim based on the transfer in his favour and
rejecting the plaintiff-appellant's contentions."
G The question before us, however, had received the attention of the
Court as would appear from a long line of decisioris.

In Chunni Kuar v. Dwarka Prasad, (1887) All WN 297, it was held:

"That temporary injunction came to an end on the passing of the
H
VAREED JACOB v. SOSAMMA GEEVARGHESE [SINHA, J.] 553
decree, and nothing has happened to revive or keep alive the order A
for the temporary injunction. Dwarka Prasad was not left without his
remedy. He might have applied to this Court for an injunction pending
the determination of his appeal. No such application has been made
to this Court, and therefore, I am of opinion that Musammat Chunni
Kuar was and is entitled to have the money paid out of Court to her B
and to have this appeal allowed with Costs. The view I take is fortified
by the judgment in Sheikh Moheeooddeen v. Sheikh Ahmed Hossein,
(14 W.R 384)"

As far back in 1887, the Allahabad High Court while considering the
provisions of Sections 311 of the Old Code of Civil Procedure which is in pari C
materia with Order 38 Rule 5 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 and
referring to Chunni Kuar v. Dwarka Prasad, (1887) All WN 297 noticed a
contention which is in the following terms :

"On the other hand, Mr. Colvin relies upon the last part of s.488 to
show that an attachment before judgment comes to an end "when the D
suit is dismissed;" and the learned counsel also lays stress upon the
provisions of s. 490, and argues that the words of that section
contemplate that it is only when a decree is given in favour of the
plaintiff that re-attachment in execution of such decree is dispensed
with, implying that such attachment is necessary where the suit ended
in dismissal of the plaintiffs claim. For this contention the learned E
counsel also relies upon the ruling of the learned Chief Justice in
Chunni Kuar v. Dwarka Prasad where it was held that a temporary
injunction under s. 492, notwithstanding the use of the phrase "till
further orders," comes to an end on the termination of the suit in
which such injunction was passed, although no express order had F
been made by the Court withdrawing or setting aside such injunction."

Mahmood, J. agreeing with the said contention observed :

"I am of opinion that this contention is sound, and that the case last
cited, though relating to temporary injunction, proceeds upon a G
principle analogous to attachments before judgment, both being ad
interim proceedings which naturally cease to have any force as soon
as the suit itself, in respect of which they were taken, comes to a
close. In other words, an attachment before judgment under s.488, like
a temporary injunction under s.492, becomes functus officio as soon
as the suit terminates." H
554 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2004) SUPP. I S.C.R.

A This decision, therefore, is an authority for two propositions, namely,
(i) an order of attachment before judgment does not entail an automatic
revival upon restoration of a suit which is dismissed for default; and (ii) for
that purpose an order of injunction would be treated at par with an order of
attachment before judgment.

B In Gangappa v. Boregowda, AIR ( 1955) Mysore 91, a Full Bench of the
Madras High Court by referring such proceeding as a supplemental proceeding
required for grant of extraordinary relief as contra-distinguished from an
ancillary order which is granted in the aid of a proceeding, held :

"IO. An attachment before judgment is in the nature of an interlocutory
c order. It is an extra ordinary relief granted to a plaintiff even before
his claim is adjudicated upon and found to be true and if a suit is
dismissed either for default or on its merits by the trial Court and the
attachment before judgment has therefore to cease, he can certainly
have not as much grievance as a person who has obtained a decree
D and· attached property of the judgment-debtor whose attach property
has been questioned and decided in summary proceedings and which
are made expressly subject to a decision in a regular suit. Moreover,
it cannot also be urged that all interlocutory orders like say those
passed on applications for temporary injunction the operation of
which would have to cease on the dismissal of a suit, would
E automatically be revived or can be deemed to be in force without any
further orders by an appellate court or by the same Court after the suit
is dismissed. To hold so would lead to obvious and real difficulties.
It is not also as though the plaintiff in such a case has no remedy.
He could always apply to the same Court if a suit which has been
F dismissed for default is restored to file or to an appellate court which
has also ample powers to grant an order of attachment before judgment
under the provisions of S. I 07(2), Civil P.C. In any event the possibility
of hardship cannot warrant the ignoring of the express provisions of
0.38, R.9 by which it is specifically laid down that an attachment
before judgment shall cease by the dismissal of a suit."
.G
It will, therefore, be seen that the Court has in that case also equated
the order of injunction with an order of attachment.

Yet again in Nagar Mahapalika, Lucknow v. Ved Prakash, AIR (1976)
All 264 it was held :
H
VAREED JACOB v. SOSAMMA GEEVARGHESE [SINHA, J.] 555
"4. As long ago as 1887 a question of similar nature arose for A
consideration before this Court in Chunni Kuar v. Dwarka Prasad,
(1887 All WN 297). It was observed therein that an attachment before
judgment like a temporary injunction becomesfunctus officio as soon
as the suit terminates. Again, a question pertaining to attachment
before judgment came up for consideration before this Court in Ram B
Chandv. Pitam Mal, (1888) ILR 10 All 506. Relying on Chunni Kuar'
case (supra) that principle was reiterated with approval. The other
High Courts also considered this question in a number of cases.
· Finally, the question was raised in Abdul Hamid v. Karim Bux before
this Court as to whether on the dismissal of a suit in default in
attachment before judgment automatically lapsed and a fresh attachment C
was necessary on the restoration of the suit, or whether on the
restoration of the suit the attachment previously made is revived or
is survived. This question was referred to a Full Bench of the Court.
The majority view was that on the dismissal of suit in default the
attachment before judgment automatically ceases and a fresh attachment D
is necessary on the restoration of the suit." ·

In Kanchan Bai v. Ketsidas and Ors., AIR (1991) Raj. 94, it was held:

"6. The only question for consideration in this application is whether
on the setting aside of the order of rejection of the plaint and its
remand by the appellate court, the temporary injunction issued by the E
trial Court stood revived? It is well settled law that interlocutory
orders which are meant to aid and supplement the ultimate decision
arrived at in the main suit or appeal would be ancillary order and such
order would stand revived automatically on the restoration of the suit.
Orders granting temporary injunction do not aid and supplement the F
ultimate decision of the suits. As such they cannot be said to be
ancillary orders."

In Ranjit Singh v. Dr. Sarda Ranjan Prasad Sinha, AIR (1981) Patna
102 following Bankim Chandra (supra), the Patna High Court holding that an
order striking off of tenant's defence for non deposit of rent automatically G
revived, L.M. Sharma, J. (as learned Chief Justice of India then was), however,
noticed that by restoration of the suit, the order dated 13.1.1978 whereby an
order directing to deposit the arrears of rent did not revive, stated the law
thus : ·

"The order in regard to striking off the defence is vitally different from H
556 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2004] SUPP. 1 S.C.R.

A the order directing the arrears of rent to be deposited. I, therefore,
hold that in the present case, the order dated 6.2.1979 revived
automatically on the restoration of the suit and·the view taken by the
court below is correct."

The Parliament consciously used two different expressions 'incidental
B proceedings' and 'supplemental proceedings' which obviously would cany
two different meanings.

The expression 'ancillary' means aiding, auxiliary; subordinate; attendant
upon; that which aids or promotes a· proceeding regarded as the principal.

C The expression 'supplementary proceeding' on the other hand, would
mean a separate proceeding in an original action, in which the court where
the action is pending is called upon to exercise its jurisdiction in the interest
of justice.

The expression 'incidental' may mean differently in different contexts..
D While dealing with a procedural law, it may mean proceedings which are
procedural in nature but when it is used in relation to an agreement or the
delegated legislation, it may mean something more; but the distinction between
an incidental proceeding and a supplemental proceeding being. obvious cannot
be ignored.
E
Indisputably, the effect of an order passed under different provisions
of Section 94 of the Code of Civil Procedure would be different. They have
been so legislated keeping in view different exigencies of circumstances but
it must not be forgotten that the power thereunder is to be exercised in the
interest of justice. The statutory scheme therefor is that supplemental
F proceeding should be taken recourse to only when the interest of justice is
required to be sub-served, although the interlocutory order may not have
anything to do with the ultimate decision of the court.

. The consequences of an order of attachment before judgment as also,
an order of injunction can be grave. By reason of such an order, a right of
G a party to the lis may be affected or remained under animated suspension. By
reason of an interlocutory order whether in terms of Order 38, Order 39 or
Order 40, a person's right to transfer a property may remain suspended as a
result whereof he may suffer grave injury. When the suit is dismissed for
default, he may exercise his right. If it is to be held that on restoration of the
H suit the. order of attachment before judgment or an order, an injunction is
. VAREED JACOB v. SOSAMMA GEEVARGHESE [SINHA, J.] 557

automatically revived, as a result whereof the status of the parties would be A
in the same position as on the date of passing of the initial interlocutory order,
they may be proceeded with for violation of the order of injunction or an order
of attachment before judgment. The right of subsequent purchaser may also
be affected. By reason of taking recourse to a supplemental proceedings, the
rights of the parties and in some cases the right of even a third party cannot B
be allowed to be taken away.

In this case, this Court is not concerned with the question as to whether
substantive changes have been made in Order 38 Rule 5 by Code of Civil
Procedure, 1908 vis-a-vis Code of Civil Procedure, 1859. The question is as
to whether the power of the court to pass an order of attachment before C
judgment is an ancillary power or a supplemental power. The provisions of
( Order 38 and Order 39 have been equated by the court presumably not on
the ground that they provide for different interlocutory reliefs but having
regard to the nature of the proceedings vis-a-vis the reliefs which can ultimately
be granted. It would also not be correct to hold that the attachment proceeding
is in effect and substance different from an order of injunction on the ground D
that the former is a part of execution process.

The provisions of Order 38 Rule 9 of the Code of Civil Procedure, in my
considered opinion, are not of much importance. The rule confers an
independent and substantive statutory right on a defendant to bring it to the
notice of the court that he is in a position to furnish security to meet the claim E
of the plaintiff and as such an order of attachment need not continue. The
order of attachment also comes to an end in terms of the aforementioned
provision when the suit is dismis~ed. The very nature of an order of attachment
entails that in the event of dismissal of suit, the order co.mes to an end. Such
a provision has been made by the legislature by way of abundant caution. F
Although it is of not much importance but we may notice that there exists
a conflict of opinion as regard consequences of an order of attachment upon
reversal of a judgment of dismissal of suit in appeal, namely, as to whether
in the event the suit is decreed by the appellate court, an order of attachment
would automatically be restored or not.
G
It is also of some importance that there exists a view that an order of
dismissal of a suit does not render an order of attachment void ab it;iitio as
a sale of property under order of attachment would be invalid even after the
date of such sale and the order of attachment is withdrawn.

A converse case may arise when the property is sold after the suit is H
558 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2004) SUPP. l S.C.R.
.... ...
A dismissed for default and before the same is restored. Is it possible to take I

a view that upon restoration of suit the sale of property under attachment
before judgment becomes invalid? The answer to the said question must be
rendered in the negative. By taking recourse to the interpretation of the
provisions of the statute, the court cannot say that although such a sale shall
B be valid but the order of attachment shall revive. Such a conclusion by reason
of a judge-made law may be an illogical one.

A construction which preserves the rights of the parties pending
adjudication must be allowed to operate vis-a-vis the privilege conferred upon
a plaintiff to obtain an interlocutory order which loses its force by dismissal
C of suit and, thus, may not revive; unless expressly directed, on restoration of
the suit.
)
A suit or a proceeding which is barred by limitation. would oust the
jurisdiction of the court to entertain the same. When a proceeding is barred
by limitation, it culminates in a right to the non-suitor. Such a right can be
D curtailed only by express terms of a statute. A statute may furthermore
provide for extension of a period of limitation in certain situation. The Code
of Civil Procedure is silent as to the effect of revival of the interlocutory order
on restoration of a suit. This case demonstrates as to how a person for no
fault on his part would suffer prejudice when such a right is being taken away.

E
Such a provision which would confer jurisdiction of a coui:t to entertain a
proceeding which it otherwise would not have in terms of the Limitation Act,
1963, in my opinion, should be strictly construed.
!
.,
From the decisions rendered by different High Courts, therefore, the law
that emerges is that there exists a distinction between ancillary orders which
are required to be passed by the court in aid of or supplemental to the ultimate
decision of the Court; as contradistinguished to an order passed under Part
VI of the Code of Civil Procedure in terms whereof an order is passed in
favour of a party to the !is which may not have a bearing on the ultimate result
of the suit. An interlocutory order passed in a suit may not also have
anything to do with the relief prayed for by the plaintiff. An order for
G injunction or appoint!llent of receiver can be passed even at the instance of
the defendant. An order which has been obtained by the defendant may not
revive on restoration of the suit. Supplementary proceedings, thus, envisage
that such a power must be specially conferred upon the Court which are
required to be passed in the interest of justice irrespective of the fact as to
whether the same would ultimately have any bearing on the reliefs claimed
H
VAREED JACOB v. SOSAMMA GEEVARGHESE [SINHA, J.] 559
in the suit or not. In absence of any statutory provisions such a power cannot A
be exercised whereas a power which is ancillary or incidental, can always be
exercised by the Court in aid of and supplemental to the final order that may
be passed. Furthermore, a jurisdiction expressly conferred by a statute artd
an inherent power, subject to just exceptions, must be treated differently.

I am, therefore, of the opinion that the interim order of injunction did B
not revive on restoration of the suit. The Courts, however, would be well-
advised keeping in view the controversy to specifically pass an order whert
the suit is dismissed for default stating when interlocutory orders are vacated
and on restoration of the suit, if the court intends to revive such interlocutory
orders, an express order to that effect should be passed. C
I respectfully dissent with the opinion of Hon'ble the Chief Justice of
India.

I will, therefore, set aside the impugned order and allow the appeal. No
costs.
D
ORDER

In view of the majority opinion delivered by Hon'ble the Chief Justice,
on behalf of Himself and Hon'ble Mr. Justice S.H. Kapadia, the appeal is
dismissed after granting leave. No. costs. E
S.K.S. Appeal dismissed.