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Citation Codes
Equivalent Citations
citation codes
Case Number
Judges
  • Parker
  • Viscount Sumner
Acts
  • Civil Procedure Code Ordinance No. 31 of 1907. 8. Section 3 of that Code
  • SECTION 133 CIVIL PROCEDURE CODE
  • Section 169, of the Civil Procedure Code,
  • Section 22 of the Limitation
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Cites
Cited by
Citation Codes
Equivalent Citations
citation codes
Case Number
Judges
  • Parker
  • Viscount Sumner
Acts
  • Civil Procedure Code Ordinance No. 31 of 1907. 8. Section 3 of that Code
  • SECTION 133 CIVIL PROCEDURE CODE
  • Section 169, of the Civil Procedure Code,
  • Section 22 of the Limitation
See more information ...
Smart Summary

Structured Summary of the Provided Opinion

Factual and Procedural Background

The testator, S. A. Supramanian Chetty, a native of and domiciled in British India, carried on a money-lending business in Singapore (Straits Settlements) in co-partnership with the respondent. He died on 11 November 1904, leaving a will appointing S. R. M. Ramasamy Chetty and another as executors. Caveats were entered against proving the will. In August 1907 S. R. M. Ramasamy Chetty (his co-executor having renounced probate) presented a petition in the Court of the District Judge of Madura propounding the will; probate was ultimately ordered by the High Court of Judicature at Madras and granted on 10 March 1912. An appeal from the High Court's order had been dismissed by His Majesty in Council.

Meanwhile, on 7 March 1910 letters of administration pendente lite to the testator's estate situate within the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the Straits Settlements were granted to P. L. M. A. V. Meyappa Chetty, the attorney for the testator's widow. On 25 October 1911 the administrator pendente lite instituted the present suit seeking a declaration that the partnership was dissolved by the testator's death and for partnership accounts.

The central procedural contest concerned whether that suit was barred by limitation under Section 4 of the Straits Settlements Limitation Ordinance No. 6 of 1896. A further contested issue related to the effect of subsequent substitution of parties under Section 22 of the Limitation Ordinance after probate and letters of administration with the will annexed were obtained and an order was made on 14 April 1913 substituting the appellant as plaintiff.

Legal Issues Presented

  1. Whether the suit instituted on 25 October 1911 was barred by Section 4 of the Straits Settlements Limitation Ordinance No. 6 of 1896 and the Second Schedule (three years limitation for an account and a share of the profits of a dissolved partnership), given that dissolution occurred on the testator's death.
  2. Whether Section 17, Sub-section 1 of the Limitation Ordinance required that, where the person who would have had the right to sue died before the right accrued, the period of limitation be computed from the time when there is a legal personal representative capable of instituting the suit (and thus whether the relevant date was the grant of administration pendente lite on 7 March 1910).
  3. What is the effect of Section 22 of the Limitation Ordinance when, after institution of a suit, a new plaintiff is substituted or added—specifically whether substitution on 14 April 1913 meant the suit should be deemed, as regards the appellant, to have been instituted on that later date.

Arguments of the Parties

Administrator / Original Plaintiff's Arguments

  • Relying on Section 17, Sub-section 1 of the Limitation Ordinance, it was contended that where a person who would have had a right to sue dies before the right accrues, the period of limitation is to be computed from the time when there is a legal personal representative capable of instituting the suit.
  • On this basis the administrator argued there was no legal representative capable of instituting this suit until the appointment of an administrator pendente lite on 7 March 1910, and so the three-year period of limitation should be computed from that date (potentially rendering the suit within time).

Appellant's Arguments (on Substitution)

  • After the grant of probate by the Court of the District Judge at Madura the letters of administration pendente lite were cancelled and letters of administration with the will annexed were granted to the appellant. An order of 14 April 1913 struck out the original plaintiff and substituted the appellant as plaintiff.
  • The appellant contended that, under Section 22 of the Limitation Ordinance, the suit as regards the appellant should be deemed to have been instituted when he was made a party (i.e., 14 April 1913), and that on that date the action was barred.

Table of Precedents Cited

Precedent Rule or Principle Cited For Application by the Court
Thompson v. Reynolds (1827) 3 C. & P. 123 Authority supporting the principle that an executor derives title from the will and that personalty and rights of action vest in the executor on death, enabling him to institute actions before proving the will. The court cited it (with Woolley v. Clark and Comyn's Digest) to support the proposition that an executor can institute suit before probate, whereas an administrator derives title solely from grant and cannot sue before grant.
Woolley v. Clark (1322) 5 B & Ald. 744- Also cited in relation to the settled law on executors' rights to sue before probate and the distinction between executors and administrators. Used alongside Thompson v. Reynolds to demonstrate the established rule that executors are capable of instituting actions without prior probate being obtained.
Robinson v. Palmer [1901] 2 I. R. 489 Illustrates English practice that probate may be granted of the will of a person domiciled abroad upon proof that it is valid according to the law of the domicile and that there are assets within the jurisdiction. The court relied on this authority (and the English practice) to hold that the testator's will could have been proved in the Straits Settlements because it was valid at the domicile (proved in Madura) and there were local assets.
Knox v. Gye (1872) L.R. 5 H. L. 656 Shows that under English limitation rules time runs from accrual of cause of action and that where a cause of action arises in favour of the estate at or after death, time will begin to run immediately if there is an executor even though probate has not been obtained. The court used this to illustrate the principle likely intended by Section 17, Sub-section 1 of the Ordinance and to illuminate when limitation begins to run where an executor exists.
Murray v. East India Co. (1821) 5 B. & Ald. 204 Demonstrates that where there is no executor time will run only from the actual grant of letters of administration. The court contrasted this with Knox v. Gye to explain the intended effect of Section 17: if an executor exists time runs from death; if not, from grant of administration.

Court's Reasoning and Analysis

The court proceeded in a step-by-step legal analysis strictly following the materials in the opinion:

  1. The starting point was Section 4 of the Straits Settlements Limitation Ordinance No. 6 of 1896 together with the Second Schedule: a suit for an account and a share of profits of a dissolved partnership carries a three-year limitation period computed from the date of dissolution (here, the testator's death). It was not disputed that, absent contrary provisions, time had run prior to institution of the suit.
  2. The administrator relied on Section 17(1) of the Ordinance, which provides that where a person who would have a right to sue dies before the right accrues, the period of limitation shall be computed from the time when there is a legal personal representative of the deceased capable of instituting the suit. The administrator argued that no such representative existed until the grant of administration pendente lite on 7 March 1910.
  3. The Lordships assumed, without deciding, that the suit would have been one the testator could have instituted if living, but rejected the administrator's contention. They articulated the established legal distinction between executors and administrators: an executor's title and authority derive from the will and personal property and rights of action vest in him on the testator's death such that he can institute actions in the character of executor before proving the will; an administrator derives title solely under his grant and cannot institute as administrator before getting the grant.
  4. The Board interpreted "legal representative" in Section 17(1) to include an executor who was legally capable of instituting a suit. However, they read "capable of instituting a suit" to mean capable of instituting a suit in which a decree might be obtained. That condition requires that the will under which the executor claims be capable of probate within the Straits Settlements.
  5. Applying Civil Procedure Code Ordinance No. 31 of 1907, in particular section 3 (which adopts English practice where no local provision applies), the Board held that the English practice permits probate of a will of a person domiciled abroad if it is valid according to the law of domicile and there are assets within the jurisdiction. The court observed that the testator's will had been proved in Madura (showing validity per domicile) and there were assets locally situate in the Straits Settlements, so the will could have been proved there.
  6. The Board also dealt with the fact that one co-executor had renounced probate before August 1907; consequently S. R. M. Ramasamy Chetty was sole executor from August 1907 and capable of instituting proceedings. Therefore the three-year period had in any case elapsed before the suit was instituted on 25 October 1911.
  7. On the second question concerning Section 22 of the Limitation Ordinance (substitution of parties), their Lordships analysed the scope of Section 22 and contrasted it with rules in the Civil Procedure Code. They held Section 22 was intended to deal with suits defective because the proper person to sue was not before the Court (and point to Section 133 of the Civil Procedure Code as the route to add or substitute proper parties). They considered that cases involving change or devolution of interest (not initial improper constitution) fall under Section 169 of the Civil Procedure Code and should be remedied by orders to carry on proceedings rather than by treating the suit as newly instituted as to the substituted party.
  8. The Board concluded that the form of the April 14, 1913 order (which substituted the appellant) should properly have been an order under section 169. They would not allow the respondent to escape liability by taking advantage of the form of the order. On the underlying facts, the Court found that substitution did not alter the limitation result.

Holding and Implications

Holding: The Board advised that the appeal should be DISMISSED WITH COSTS.

Implications:

  • Direct effect on the parties: The appeal was dismissed and costs were awarded against the appellant. The conclusion in the opinion is that time under the Limitation Ordinance had elapsed prior to institution of the suit because an executor (capable of obtaining a decree) existed from the testator's death (or at least from August 1907 when the co-executor renounced), and substitution under Section 22 did not operate so as to treat the suit as instituted as to the appellant on 14 April 1913 for the purpose of limitation.
  • Broader precedent: The opinion contains interpretations of Sections 17 and 22 of the Limitation Ordinance as read with the Civil Procedure Code and applies established authorities on the distinction between executors and administrators and on probate of wills domiciled abroad. The opinion does not purport to set a novel legal precedent beyond applying these principles to the facts; its effect is to resolve the limitation and substitution questions in this case and to clarify the proper use of Civil Procedure Code provisions (Sections 133 and 169) when adding or substituting parties or dealing with devolution of interest.

Note: This summary has been prepared exclusively from the text of the provided opinion. No information not contained in that opinion has been added.

Show full summary ...

    S.M.K.R. Meyappa Chetty v. S.N. Supramanian Chetty

    1. The facts of this case are not in dispute. S. A. Supramanian Chetty, a native of and domiciled in British India ( hereinafter referred to as "the testator"), carried on for some' years prior to his death a money-lending business in Singapore in the Straits Settlements in co-partnership with the respondent. He died on November 11, 1904, having by his will appointed S. K. M. Ramasamy Chetty and another to be his executors. Caveats were entered against the proof of this will, and in August, 1907, S. R. M. Ramasamy Chetty (his co-executor having renounced probate) presented a petition in the Court of the District Judge of Madura in the Madras Presidency, propounding the will in solemn form. Ultimately, after protracted litigation, the High Court of Judicature at Madras ordered the District Judge at Madura to grant probate of the will to S. R. M. Ramasamy Chetty, and such probate was on March 10, 1912, granted accordingly. An appeal from the order of the High Court of Judicature in Madras had recently been dismissed by His Majesty in Council.

    2. Meanwhile, on March 7, 1910, letters of administration pendente lite to the estate of the testator situate within the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the Straits Settlements, were granted by that Court to P. L. M. A. V. Meyappa Chetty, the attorney of the testator's widow, and on October 25, 1911, the administrator pendente lite instituted the present suit, asking for a declaration that the partnership existing between the testator and the defendant had been dissolved by the testator's death, and for the usual partnership accounts. The first question their Lordships have to decide is whether this suit was at the date of its institution barred by Section 4 of the Straits Settlements Ordinance No. 6 of 1896, being' an Ordinance to amend the law relating to the limitation of suits.

    3. Section 4 of this Ordinance provides that (subject to the provisions contained in Sections 5 to 25 thereof inclusive) every suit instituted after the period of limitation prescribed therefor by the Second Schedule thereto shall be dismissed, provided that limitation had been set up as a defence. The period prescribed by the Second Schedule in the case of a suit for an account and a share of the profits of a dissolved partnership is three years from the date of the dissolution. The date of dissolution was in the present case the testator's death; and unless there is something to the contrary contained in Sections 5 to 25 of the Ordinance, it is not disputed that time had run prier to the institution of the present suit.

    5. Reliance is, however, placed on g. 17, Sub-section i, of the Ordinance, which provides that when a person who would, if he 'were living, have a right to institute a suit or make an application dies before the right accrues, the period of limitation shall be computed from the time when there is a legal personal representative of the deceased capable of instituting or making such suit or application. It is contended that there was no legal representative of the testator capable of instituting this suit until the appointment on March 7, 1910, of an administrator pendente lite, and that therefore the period of limitation must be computed from March 7, 1910.

    6. Assuming, but without deciding, that this is to be deemed to be a suit which the testator would, if he were living, have a right to institute, the Lordships have come to the conclusion that this contention cannot be upheld. It is quite clear that an executor derives his title and authority from the will of his testator and not from any grant of probate. 1 he personal property of the testator, including all rights of action, vests in him upon the testator's death, and the consequence is that he can institute an action in the character of executor before he proves the will. He cannot, it is true, obtain a decree before probate, but this is not because his title depends on probate, but because the production of probate is the only way in which by the rules of the Court, he is allowed to prove his title. An administrator, on the other hand, derives title solely under his grant, and cannot, therefore, institute an action as administrator before he gets his grant. The law on the point is well settled : see Comyn's Digest " Administration," B. 9 and 10; Thompson v. Reynolds; (1827) 3 C. & P. 123 Woolley v. Clark (1322) 5 B & Ald. 744-

    7. It would seem, therefore, that an executor is not only the legal representative of his testator, but capable of instituting a suit within the meaning of Section 17, Sub-section I of the Ordinance in question. There is nothing in the Ordinance to confine " legal representative" to a person to whom the Court has actually made a grant. But, in their Lordships' opinion, the words "capable of instituting a suit" mean capable of instituting a suit in which a decree might be obtained. The will under which the executor claims must therefore be capable of probate; otherwise the action must fail. It has to be determined, therefore, whether the testator's will was in the present case capable of probate in the Straits Settlements. This question depends on the Civil Procedure Code Ordinance No. 31 of 1907.

    8. Section 3 of that Code provides that where no other prevision is made by the Code or any law in force for the time being, the procedure and practice for the time in force in the Supreme Court of Judicature in England shall, as near as may be, followed and adopted. There is nothing in the Code or in any law in force in the Straits Settlements precluding the Supreme Court of the Straits Settlements from granting probate of the will of a person wherever domiciled. The English practice is therefore applicable, According to English practice probate may be granted of the will of a person domiciled abroad upon proof that it is a valid will according to the law of the domicile, and that there are assets within the jurisdiction. It is not necessary that it should be first proved in the Courts of the domicil : see Jarman on Wills, 6th ed,, Vol. I, p. 7, and Robinson v. Palmer [1901] 2 I. R. 489. It follows that the testator's will could have been proved in the Straits Settlements (1) because it was valid according to the law of the testator's domicil, as shown by its admission to probate in the Court of the District Judge at Madura; and (2) because there were assets of the testator locally situate in the Straits Settlements.

    9. There was a good deal of discussion before their Lordships' Board as to what would have been the result had the English Statutes of Limitation been applicable. This discussion, though perhaps not strictly relevant, was useful as illustrating the principles which ought to guide the Court and throwing light on the meaning of the Ordinances of the Straits Settlements. For the purpose of the English Statutes of Limitation time runs from the accruer of the cause of action, but a cause of action does not accrue unless there be some one who can institute the action. In the case of a cause of action arising in favour of the estate of a deceased person at or after his death time will at once begin to run, if there be an executor, even though probate has not been obtained : Knox v. Gye (1872) L.R. 5 H. L. 656; but if there be no executor, time will run only from the actual grant of letters of administration : Murray v. East India Co. (1821) 5 B. & Ald. 204 It is, in their Lordships' opinion, probable that 17, Sub-section I, of the Ordinance in question was intended to apply this rule. A good deal was also said as to what would be the effect if the executor who might have instituted proceedings subsequently renounced probate, Their Lordships at first thought that this might be important for the purposes of the present case because it is doubtful whether one of two joint executors can properly institute proceedings on behalf of their estate. On reference, however, to the record on the appeal from the order of the High Court of Judicature at Madras directing probate to be granted, it appears that S. R. M. Ramasamy Chetty's co-executor renounced probate at some time before August, 1907. Since August, 1907, S. R. M. Ramasamy Chetty was therefore sole executor and capable of instituting the action. The three years prescribed by the Ordinance must therefore in any case have elapsed before the suit was instituted.

    10. The second question argued before their Lordships turns upon the effect of Section 22 of the Limitation Ordinance. That section provides that when after the institution of a suit a new plaintiff is substituted or added, the suit shall as regards him be deemed to have been instituted when he was so made a party; provided that when a plaintiff dies, and the suit is continued by his legal representative, it shall as regards him be deemed to have been instituted when it was instituted by the deceased plaintiff. It appears that after the grant of probate by the Court of the District Judge at Madura the letters of administration pendente lite granted to the original plaintiff in this suit were cancelled, and in lieu thereof letters of administration with the will annexed were granted by the Supreme Court of the Straits Settlements to the appellant as attorney for the proving executor. Subsequently, on April 14 1913, an order was made in the suit striking out the original plaintiff and substituting the appellant as plaintiff. It is contended that, as regards the appellant, the suit therefore must, under Section 22 of the Ordinance, be deemed to have been instituted on April 14, 1913, at which date the action was barred, even if it was not barred when the action was instituted by the original plaintiff. Having regard to their Lordships' decision on the first question, it is not, strictly speaking, necessary to decide this point. In view however, of its importance in practice it may be desirable to deal with it.

    11. Their Lordships are of opinion that Section 22 contemplates cases in which a suit is defective by reason of the person or one of the persons in whom the right of suit is vested not being before the Court. Section 133 of the Civil Procedure Code provides against the defect of a suit on this ground and enables the proper party to be added or substituted- If A is the right person to sue, it would be clearly wrong to allow him, for the sake of avoiding the Limitation Ordinance to take advantage of a suit improperly instituted by B,. Their Lordships do not think that Section 22 of the Ordinance has any application to cases in which the suit was originally properly constituted as to parties but has become defective because there has been a change or devolution of interest. Such cases do not fall within Section 13?, but within Section 169, of the Civil Procedure Code, and the proper remedy is by way of an order to carry on proceedings and not of an order adding or substituting parties. The proviso to Section 22 of the Ordinance may have been inserted per cautelam, and cannot be relied on as controlling the operative words. The difficulty really arises cut of the form of the order of April 14, 1913. What was required was an order under section 169 of the code, and if the order was competent it was competent under this section only. Their Lordships do not think that the respondent could have taken advantage of the form of order to escape a liability to which he would have been subject if the order had been made in proper form.

    12. Under the circumstances their Lordships will humbly advise His Majesty that the appeal should be dismissed with costs.

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    Comments

    S.M.K.R. Meyappa Chetty v. S.N. Supramanian Chetty
    (Mar 2, 1916)