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Radhey Shyam v. Nanak Ram

Allahabad High Court
May 8, 1968
Smart Summary (Beta)

Structured Summary of the Opinion (R. Prasad, J.)

Factual and Procedural Background

This is a defendant's second appeal against the judgment of the II Additional Civil Judge, Agra which confirmed the decree of the trial court and decreed the plaintiff's suit for damages (mesne profits) in the sum of Rs. 1,598/-. The plaintiff-respondent, Shri Nanak Ram, alleged that he had constituted a joint Hindu family with his father Mangoo Mal (who died on 28 September 1959) and that he became the karta and manager thereafter. The defendant-appellant, Shri Radhey Shiam, was alleged to be the tenant of the disputed property at Rawat Para, Agra, paying monthly rent.

The plaintiff alleged that his father had earlier determined the tenancy and had filed suit No. 756 of 1952 (Munsif, Agra) for recovery of rent and ejectment and for pendente lite and future mesne profits. That trial decree (13 August 1954) granted arrears of rent only for two months (September and October 1952) and dismissed ejectment; an appeal (Civil Appeal No. 226 of 1954) before the Judge, Small Causes, Agra, was decided on 16 January 1957 in favour of the plaintiff's father as regards ejectment. Pursuant to that appellate decree the plaintiff took possession on 25 July 1958. The present suit sought damages/use and occupation from 1 November 1952 to 25 July 1958 (amounts barred by limitation were given up).

The defendant contested the suit on multiple grounds (including challenge to the joint family status, succession certificate requirement, limitation, res judicata under Section 11 C.P.C., jurisdiction and maintainability). The trial court held the suit maintainable, not barred by limitation or by the cited procedural provisions, and decreed the plaintiff's claim. On appeal the lower appellate court limited the contest to two points pressed by the defendant-appellant there: (1) that a major portion of the claim was time-barred and that Article 109 of the Indian Limitation Act applied; and (2) that the suit was barred by res judicata (Section 11 C.P.C.). The lower appellate court held that Article 120 (residuary) applied (not Article 109), that the claim was within time, and that res judicata did not bar the suit; it dismissed the appeal with costs. The defendant filed the instant second appeal in this Court, pressing substantially the same two points.

Legal Issues Presented

  1. Whether Article 109 of the Indian Limitation Act applies to the plaintiff's claim for mesne profits/damages, or whether Article 120 (residuary) is the applicable provision.
  2. Whether the plaintiff's claim for mesne profits/damages is barred by res judicata (Section 11, Code of Civil Procedure) or by abandonment because the earlier appeal was confined to ejectment and not to mesne profits.

Arguments of the Parties

Defendant-Appellant's Arguments

  • Article 109 of the Indian Limitation Act applies to the suit for mesne profits and therefore the plaintiff's claim is time-barred (limitation).
  • The earlier trial court decree in the prior litigation was silent (or negative) regarding mesne profits; a relief not expressly granted must be deemed refused — therefore the claim for pendente lite and future mesne profits was effectively dismissed and is thus barred by res judicata or by abandonment (since the later appeal confined itself to ejectment only).
  • The defendant should not be liable to pay interest on any amount recoverable.
  • At trial the defendant had also contested (inter alia) that the plaintiff did not constitute a joint Hindu family, that the property was self-acquired, and that the suit was incompetent for want of a succession certificate; however these points were not pressed in the later appellate proceedings.

Plaintiff-Respondent's Arguments

  • Article 109 applies only when the defendant has actually "received" profits wrongfully from some other person; "received" cannot be equated with "accrued" or "arisen" — thus Article 109 is not applicable where the wrongdoer remains in possession and the profits are not shown to have been received from another person.
  • The cause of action for future mesne profits accrues only after the relevant period has run; a plaintiff cannot claim a future cause of action as an accrued right at the date of institution of the earlier suit except under the discretionary jurisdiction of Order XX, Rule 12 C.P.C.; the omission in an earlier suit to inquire into or grant mesne profits does not necessarily operate as res judicata to bar a later suit for those sums.
  • On the facts, the present claim is a suit for damages for breach of statutory duty after determination of a lease (citing Transfer of Property Act provisions) and thus is governed by the residuary Article (Article 120) rather than Article 109.

Table of Precedents Cited

Precedent Rule or Principle Cited For Application by the Court
Ram Charan Sahu v. Goga, A.I.R. 1927 All. 446 That the starting point for a suit for mesne profits is the date when profits are received; limitation runs from receipt and is not suspended until adjudication. The court noted the principle but distinguished the present question; it held that those decisions did not resolve whether "received" includes profits that merely accrued when the defendant remains in possession.
Kunwar Mohammad Ubaid-Ullah Khan v. Kunwar Muhammad Abdul Jalil Khan, A.I.R. 1937 All. 481 Same principle as above regarding limitation starting from receipt of mesne profits. Referred to as authority for the proposition that limitation commences on receipt; the court treated the principle as not dispositive of the present issue.
Mian Feroz Shah v. Mohammad Akabar Khan, A.I.R. 1939 P.C. 178 Earlier Privy Council authority indicating reluctance to depart from decisions treating Art. 109 as applicable to mesne profits. The court observed that the Privy Council's reasoning did not assist resolution of the present question about the meaning of "received" and thus declined to derive support from it.
I.L. Janakirama Iyer v. Nilkanta Iyer, A.I.R. 1962 S.C. 633 Observations about adjustment of equities when a decision affects rights of multiple parties (discussed in relation to mesne profits). The court quoted a relevant observation from the case but used it only to illustrate principles of equitable adjustment; it did not change the court's analysis of Article 109 versus Article 120.
Fateh Chand v. Balkishan Dass, A.I.R. 1963 S.C. 1405 Decisions bearing on related limitation or title questions (cited by appellant). The court stated it failed to appreciate the relevance of that decision to the specific question before it and did not derive assistance from it.
Colqulioun v. Brooks, 1888 XXI Q.B.D. 52 Distinction between words "received" and "arising or accruing" in income-tax context; "arising or accruing" viewed as right to receive, distinct from "received". The court accepted the cited observation to support the position that "received" is distinguishable from "accrued" and therefore Art. 109's language should not be equated with accrual in all contexts.
Commissioner Income-tax, Bombay v. Ahmedabhai Umrabhai & Co., 1950 I.T.R. 472 Authority discussing difference between "received" and "accrued/arisen". The court relied on the reasoning to support the proposition that "received" denotes a different stage than "accrued" and thus Article 109's "received" cannot be read as covering simple accrual.
Rogers Pyatt Shellac & Co. v. Secretary of State for India, I.L.R. 52 Cal. 1 p.30 Discussion on etymological distinction between "accrues" and "arises" and their contrast with "received". The court cited the case as part of the line of authority distinguishing "received" from "accrued".
Partab Narain v. Ramdhan Das, A.I.R. 1946 All. 447 Held that a suit to recover compensation for use and occupation from an ex-tenant who remains in possession after determination of tenancy is governed by residuary Article 120. The court endorsed this view as correctly applicable to similar factual situations and used it in support of applying Article 120 here.
Mt. Sukhdei v. Lachhmi Narain, A.I.R. 1947 All. 31 Similar statement that residuary Article 120 applies to claims by landlords against ex-tenants remaining in possession. The court cited the case as additional support for applying Article 120 in the present facts.
Bhagwati Prasad v. Chandramaul, A.I.R. 1966 S.C. 735 Observation that where ejectment is allowed, a decree should normally include direction for payment of future mesne profits or damages. The appellant relied on this decision to argue that a decree granting ejectment must carry mesne profits; the court noted the Supreme Court's observation but also observed that the observation was not a ruling on procedural code provisions and did not decide the res judicata point in the appellant's favour.
Parsotam Ram v. Mangal Ram, A.I.R. 1932 All. 45 Held that omission in an earlier suit to direct inquiry into mesne profits does not operate as res judicata against a later suit for those sums. The court relied on this Division Bench precedent to support the conclusion that the present claim is not barred by res judicata simply because the earlier decree did not adjudicate mesne profits.
Ramdayal v. Madan Mohan Lal, 21 I.L.R. All. 425 (1899) Full Bench ruling that failure to adjudicate on mesne profits in former suit is not a bar to subsequent suit for mesne profits. Cited as authority for the proposition that omission in earlier suit does not constitute res judicata on mesne profits; relied upon to sustain the plaintiff's right to sue subsequently.
Gopal Krishna Pillai v. Meenakshi Ayal, 1967 A.L.J. 239 Distinction: past mesne profits give rise to an existing cause of action on institution of suit; future mesne profits do not and can only be claimed under Order XX, Rule 12, C.P.C. Cited to support the principle that future mesne profits constitute a separate cause of action unless the court exercises the discretionary power under Order XX, Rule 12.
Muhammad Ishaq Khan v. Muhammad Rustam Ali Khan, XL I.L.R. All. 292 Division Bench view that a subsequent suit for mesne profits (where an earlier decree was silent) is not barred by res judicata. Used to reinforce the conclusion that res judicata did not bar the plaintiff's claim in this case.
B. Ram Karan Singh v. Nakchhed Ahir, A.I.R. 1931 All. 429 Held that mesne profits accruing after institution of a previous suit constitute a different cause of action and are not barred by Order II, Rule 2 C.P.C.; Order XX, Rule 12 is directory and not mandatory. Cited to support that future mesne profits are a distinct cause of action and that failure to join such claim in an earlier suit does not necessarily preclude a later suit.

Court's Reasoning and Analysis

The court proceeded in a step-wise manner:

  1. It first examined whether Article 109 of the Indian Limitation Act applied. The court observed that "mesne profits" is encompassed by the expression "profits" because Sec. 2(12) of the Code of Civil Procedure defines "mesne profits" as profits actually received or which might with ordinary care have been received by the person in wrongful possession, together with interest (excluding profit due to improvements).
  2. The critical interpretive question was the meaning of the word "received" in Article 109 (appearing twice in that Article) — whether "received" should be read synonymously with "accrued" or "arisen". The court reviewed authorities that discuss the difference between "received" and "accrued/arisen" (including Colqulioun v. Brooks and subsequent Indian authority on the terminology).
  3. After considering the arguments and relevant decisions, the court concluded that Article 109 requires that the defendant must have actually "received" profits in respect of the plaintiff's property wrongfully and from somebody else; Article 109 is concerned with profits received by the defendant (for example, where the defendant has received profits from some third person). Where the defendant himself remains in possession and has not "received" profits from another person, Article 109 does not apply.
  4. On the facts of the present case — where the defendant continued in possession and there was no allegaton that he had received profits from any other person — Article 109 was held not to apply. In the absence of any other Article being suggested by the parties, the court held that the residuary Article 120 applied to the plaintiff's claim.
  5. The court also considered whether the claim was properly characterized as mesne profits or as damages. Relying on provisions of the Transfer of Property Act (Sec. 109(q) and Sec. 108(h) as cited in the opinion), the court found force in the submission that the present suit was a suit for damages for breach of statutory duty on the part of a lessee remaining in possession after determination of the lease; this reasoning supported the application of Article 120.
  6. On the res judicata point, the court accepted the legal proposition (from Section 11 explanation (v)) that where a decree is silent with regard to a particular relief, that relief must be deemed refused. The court acknowledged that in the earlier trial the court had given findings that militated against a mesne profits claim (by finding no illegal subletting, no ejectment, etc.). Nevertheless, the court surveyed a line of authority (Parsotam Ram v. Mangal Ram, Ramdayal v. Madan Mohan Lal, B. Ram Karan Singh v. Nakchhed Ahir, Muhammad Ishaq Khan v. Muhammad Rustam Ali Khan and others) holding that an omission by a court in a former suit to direct an inquiry under Order XX, Rule 12, or to adjudicate on mesne profits, does not necessarily operate as res judicata to bar a subsequent suit for mesne profits accruing later.
  7. Applying those authorities, the court concluded that the plaintiff's claim for the period sued for here could not be said to be extinguished by res judicata merely because the earlier decree had been silent or because the plaintiff's earlier appeal had been confined to ejectment.
  8. On the submission regarding interest, the court noted that the defendant had given up that contention before the lower appellate court; because the point had been abandoned below, the court refused to permit the defendant to revive that argument in the second appeal.

Holding and Implications

SECOND APPEAL DISMISSED WITH COSTS

Direct effect on the parties:

  • The decree of the trial court, as affirmed by the lower appellate court, stands and the plaintiff's suit for damages/mesne profits is sustained for the amount (subject to the findings of the courts below and limitation adjustments acknowledged in the pleadings).
  • The defendant-appellant's contentions that Article 109 governs the suit and that the claim is barred by res judicata were rejected by this Court on the grounds set out above; the defendant may not now raise the question of interest which was abandoned below.

Broader legal implications:

The court reaffirmed the interpretive position (on the facts presented) that Article 109 is directed to situations where the defendant has actually "received" profits wrongfully (and not merely where profits have "accrued" by virtue of possession), and that where Article 109 is inapposite the residuary Article 120 applies. The court also followed precedent holding that omission by a court in earlier proceedings to adjudicate on mesne profits does not automatically create a bar of res judicata against a subsequent claim for mesne profits which accrued after the earlier proceedings. The opinion does not purport to lay down a novel rule of law beyond applying and reconciling existing authorities to the facts before the Court.


End of summary derived exclusively from the provided opinion.

Show all summary ...

R. Prasad, J.:— This second appeal has come up for hearing before us as a result of an order of a learned Single Judge of this Court requiring the second appeal to be referred to a larger Bench for disposal.

2. This is a defendant's second appeal, against the judgment of the II Additional Civil Judge, Agra confirming the decree of the trial court and decreeing plaintiff's suit for damages.

3. The plaintiff-respondent Shri Nanak Ram filed the suit giving rise to this second appeal for recovery of Rs. 1598/- as arrears of mesne profits or damages for use and occupation, with the allegation that he constituted a joint Hindu family with his father Mangoo Mal, who died on 28th September, 1959. Thereafter, the plaintiff became the manager and karta of joint Hindu family constituted by himself and his sons. Shri Radhey Shiam, defendant-appellant was said to be the tenant of the property in suit situate at Rawat Para, Agra on a monthly rent of Rs. 27/8/-. It was alleged that the father of the plaintiff had determined the tenancy of the defendant and had also filed suit No. 756 of 1952 in the court of Munsif, Agra for recovery of rent and for ejectment as well as for pendente lite and future mesne profits. That suit was decreed on 13th August, 1954 but only for the recovery of arrears of rent for two months, namely, September and October, 1952. The suit was dismissed as regards the relief of ejectment. It was not indicated whether the suit for recovery of mesne profit and damages was decreed or dismissed. Against that decree the plaintiff's father filed an appeal which was registered as Civil Appeal No. 226 of 1954 and was decided by Judge Small causes, Agra on 16th January, 1957. The learned Judge decreed the plaintiff's suit for ejectment also. In pursuance of the decree of the appellate court, plaintiff took possession of the suit property from the defendant on 25th July, 1958. It was then alleged that as the defendant had remained in possession of the property till 25th July, 1958, he was liable to pay damages for use and occupation from 1st November, 1952 upto 25th July, 1958. Such amount as was said to have become barred by time was given up and suit was filed for recovery of the amount which was not barred by time.

4. This suit was contested by the defendant on the grounds inter alia that the plaintiff did not constitute a joint Hindu family with his father Mangoo Mal and the property was self-acquired property of the latter. Suit was incompetent for want of succession certificate. Plaintiff's father had filed appeal No. 226 of 1954, referred to before, in respect of relief of ejectment only and not in respect of his claim for pendente lite and future mesne profits. This being so, the plaintiff must be deemed to have abandoned that part of his claim, and consequently, the instant suit was barred by Order XXIII, Rule 1 and Order 11, Rule 2, C.P.C A second appeal was said to have been filed against the judgment of the first appellate court and that was still pending. The claim of the plaintiff was said to be barred by limitation. Plaintiff was not entitled to claim any interest and further that plaintiff's suit was barred by Sec. 11, Code of Civil Procedure. It was also alleged that the suit as framed was not maintainable and the court had no jurisdiction to entertain the same.

5. The trial court found that it was not necessary for the plaintiff to obtain any succession certificate; that the suit was not barred by Order XXIII, Rule 1 of the Code of Civil Procedure or Order II, Rule 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure. Nor was the suit barred by Sec. 47 or Sec. 11, Code of Civil Procedure. The claim of the plaintiff was found to be within time and also that the court had jurisdiction to entertain the suit. On such findings the trial court decreed the plaintiff's suit.

6. Before the lower appellate court, as it appears from the order of the learned Judge the learned counsel for the defendant-appellant did not challenge the findings of the learned trial court in so far as the questions of succession certificate, Order XXIII, Rule 1 and Order II, Rule 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure were concerned. It was also not pressed that the suit was barred by Sec. 47 of the Code of Civil Procedure. Nor were the questions of jurisdiction or interests pressed. It was also stated before the lower appellate court that the second appeal from the earlier suit referred to above, had been dismissed by this Court. Only two points were pressed before the lower appellate court. The first point was that a major portion of the claim was barred by time and the second point pressed was, that the suit was barred by Sec. 11 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

7. The lower appellate court came to the conclusion that the suit was governed by Art. 120 of the Indian Limitation Act and not by Art. 109 of the Indian Limitation Act. This being so, the plaintiff's claim was found to be within time. On the other point, the lower appellate court came to the conclusion that the suit of the plaintiff was not barred by res judicata. The lower appellate court accordingly dismissed the appeal with costs.

8. Aggrieved by the decisions of the courts below, the defendant-appellant has filed the instant second appeal in this court.

9. The two points that were pressed before the lower appellate court have again been pressed before us. In the first place, it has been contended that the claim of the plaintiff is barred by law of limitation and the Article that applied to the suit, was not Art. 120 but Art. 109 of the Indian Limitation Act. It has not been urged that any Article of the Indian Limitation Act other than Art. 109 applied to the present case. We have, therefore, to examine whether Art. 109 of the Indian Limitation Act is applicable to the facts of the present case, and in case, we come to the conclusion that Art. 109 does not apply, then in the absence of any other suggestion, the residuary Art. 120 of the Indian Limitation Act must be held to apply. Art. 109 is quoted below:—

“109 For the profits of immovable property belonging to the plaintiff which had been wrongfully received by the defendant. Three years. When the profits are received.”

10. The expression “mesne profits” has been defined in Sec. 2, clause 12 of the Code of Civil Procedure which is as follows:—

“mesne profits of property” means those profits which the person in wrongful possession of such property actually received or might with ordinary have received therefrom, together with interest on such profits but shall not include profit due to improvement made by the person in wrongful possession.”

11. There is, therefore, no difficulty in coming to the conclusion that the expression “profit” used in Art. 109 of the Indian Limitation Act includes mesne profits as defined by Sec. 2(12) of the Code of Civil Procedure. The only question which arises is as to what is the implication of the expression “received” used twice in Art. 109 of the Indian Limitation Act. On the facts of the present case, it is clear that the defendant-appellant is not alleged to have received any profit in respect of the property in suit from anybody else. The defendant himself continued to enjoy the property and consequently there was no occasion for receiving any profit from anybody else. Is the word “received” in Art. 109 to be read as synonym to the word “accrued”? If the expression “received” in Art. 109 of the Indian Limitation Act also includes “accrual” of profits then certainly Art. 109 would be the appropriate Art, to apply to the present case. On the other hand if it is not so, then it is equally clear that Art. 109 of the Indian Limitation Act would not be applicable. After hearing the learned counsel for the parties, and considering the decisions relied upon by them, to which we shall refer hereinafter, we have come to the conclusion that, for the application of Art. 109, it is necessary that the defendant should have received profits in respect of property belonging to the plaintiff from somebody else and wrongfully. If that be so, then the time for filing suit would be three years from the time when profits were received. We have already pointed out that is not so on the facts of the present case. In our view, therefore, Art. 109 of the Indian Limitation Act would not apply and in the absence of any other suggestion, Art. 120 of the Indian Limitation Act must be applied to the facts of the present case.

12. Learned counsel for the appellant has referred to the decision in the case of Ram Charan Sahu v. Goga A.I.R 1927 All. 446. and to another decision in the case of Kunwar Mohammad Ubaid-Ullah Khan v. Kunwar Muhammad Abdul Jalil Khan A.I.R 1937 All. 481.. The principles laid down in those two cases are that even where a claim to mesne profit is in dispute, the starting point for a suit for mesne profit would be the date when the profits are received and that limitation cannot start, instead, from the date of adjudication of the rights between the parties. The period of limitation could not be deemed to be suspended till the adjudication of the rights of the parties. The question before us as indicated above is a different one. The principle laid down by the Privy Council in the case of Mian Feroz Shah v. Mohammad Akabar Khan A.I.R 1939 P.C 178., which has also been relied upon by the learned counsel for the appellant is that it was not prudent to depart from a long series of decision to the effect that Art. 109 applied to a claim for mesne profit. It was also observed that it was not necessary in that case before the Privy Council to regard the language of the Article as limiting its applications to claim to such profits as have been actually received and require recourse to some other Article to be had where part of the sums claimed are claimed on the ground of wilful default. According to their Lordships of the Privy Council that question did not arise in the case before them. In our opinion, therefore, no assistance can be taken from that decision, in answering the question that has arisen before us.

13. The learned counsel then referred to the case of I.L Janakirama Iyer v. Nilkanta Iyer A.I.R 1962 S.C 633.. The relevant observation made in that case is quoted hereunder:—

“Normally there is no doubt that a successful-plaintiff would be entitled to mesne profits for three years and not more; but in the present case we are dealing with a claim made by the plaintiffs on behalf of the trust and the decision in their favour has rendered it necessary to adjust equities between the trust and the respective alienees, alienations in whose favour have been set aside as invited…….”

14. We have already indicated our view earlier that the expression “profits” used in Art. 109 of the Indian Limitation Act also includes “mesne profits”. The learned counsel for the appellant has also referred to the case of Fateh Chand appellant v. Balkishan Dass Respondent A.I.R 1963 S.C 1405.. We have failed to appreciate the relevancy of that decision to the question we are called upon to consider in the present case.

15. The learned counsel for the respondent has urged that the actual receiving of profits is condition precedent to the application of Art. 109 of the Indian Limitation Act to a case. According to the learned counsel, the expression “accrued” cannot be equated with the expression “received”. The learned counsel for the respondent has placed before us the case of Colqulioun v. Brooks 1888 XXI Q.B.D 52.. That was a case which had arisen out of income-tax matter. The precise observation relied upon by the learned counsel made in that case is as follows:—

“In the first place, I would observe that the tax is in respect of ‘profits or gains arising or accruing.’ I cannot read those words as meaning ‘received by’. If the enactment were limited to profits and gains ‘received by the person to be charged, that limitation would apply as much, to all Her Majesty's subjects as to foreigners residing in this country ……….. I think, therefore, that the words ‘arising or accruing’ are general words descriptive of a right to receive profits.”

16. Next the learned counsel for the respondent relied on the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Commissioner Income-tax, Bombay v. Ahmedabhai Umrabhai & Co., Bombay 1950 I.T.R 472.. In that case also, the implication of the word “received” as distinguished from the implication of the word “accrued” or the word “arisen” was considered. In that case reference was made to the case of Rogers Pyatt Shellac and Company v. Secretary of State for India I.L.R 52 Cal. 1 p. 30., and it was noticed that in the last mentioned case, it was pointed out by Mukherjea, J. that etymologically the word “accrues” connotes the idea of a growth, addition or increase by way of accession or advantage, while the word “arises” suggests the idea of growth or accumulation with a tangible shape so as to be receivable. The two expressions denoted almost the same idea and the difference only lies in the fact that one was more appropriate than the other when applied to particular cases. It was then observed that it was clear that the words “accrues” or “arises” were used in contradistinction to the word “received” and both the earlier words represent a stage anterior to the point of time when the income become receivable. That decision is an authority for the proposition that the implication of the expression “received” is different from the implication of the words “accrued” or “arising”. The view taken by Hon'ble Pathak, J. sitting singly in the case of Partab Narain v. Ramdhan Das A.I.R 1946 All. 447. to the effect that a suit to recover compensation for use and occupation from an ex-tenant who remains in possession after the determination of the tenancy without the consent of the landlord is governed by residuary Art. 120 Indian Limitation Act is therefore the correct view. To the same effect is the view taken by Hon'ble Yorke, J. in the case of Mt. Sukhdei v. Lachhmi Narain A.I.R 1947 All. 31.. Both the learned Judges in the respective cases came to the conclusion that on such facts, the appropriate Article which could be applied is Art. 120 of the Indian Limitation Act.

17. It has also been urged that the claim of the plaintiff in the instant suit is not one for mesne profit but for damages. We find force in such submission of the learned counsel for the respondent. Sec. 109(q) of the Transfer of Property Act provides that on the determination of the lease, the lessee is bound to put the lessor in possession of the property. It is also relevant to note that Sec. 108, clause (h) provides that the lessee may even after the determination of the lease remove at any time whilst he is in possession of the property leased but not afterwards, all things which he has attached to the earth: provided he leaves the property in the state in which he received it. It is the breach of this statutory duty which has resulted in damages to the plaintiff and the present suit is a suit for the recovery of such damages.

18. On the above basis, we are of the opinion that Art. 109 of the Indian Limitation Act does not apply to the present case and the view of law taken by the courts below is, therefore, correct.

19. The other submission made by the learned counsel for the appellant is that inasmuch as in the earlier litigation between the parties, to which we have already made a reference earlier, the learned trial court did not indicate whether it was dismissing or decreeing the plaintiff's suit for mesne profit, pendente lite and future. The submission of the learned counsel for the appellant is that a relief not expressly, granted must be deemed to have been refused. It is, therefore, urged that the result of the trial court decision in the earlier litigation was that the claim for pendente lite and future mesne profit stood dismissed. We agree with the learned counsel for the appellant. If a decree is silent with regard to a particular relief, that relief must be deemed to have been refused, as is obvious from the provisions of Sec. 11 explanation (v) of the Code of Civil Procedure. Apart from such consideration, it is also clear in this case that the trial court in the earlier suit gave a finding that the plaintiff in that suit was not entitled to mesne profit. As the trial court in that case had taken the view that there was no illegal subletting by the defendant, the defendant was not liable to be ejected and the tenancy could not be terminated. If the tenancy did not terminate, no question of allowing any mesne profit to the plaintiff could arise. It has also been submitted by the learned counsel for the appellant that against the decree of the trial court in the earlier litigation, although the plaintiff filed an appeal before the lower appellate court, yet his appeal was confined to the relief of ejectment only. No relief in respect of mesne profit was claimed in that appeal. On that basis, it has been urged that the plaintiff must be deemed to have submitted to the implied decision of the trial court in that case with regard to the claim of mesne profit and further that the result of omitting to file an appeal for recovery of mesne profits also should be deemed to be abandonment of that part of the claim by the plaintiff. Learned counsel for the appellant relied on the Supreme Court decision in Bhagwati Prasad v. Chandramaul A.I.R 1966 S.C 735.. According to the learned counsel for the appellant that decision lays down the proposition that where ejectment of the defendant has been allowed, it becomes the duty of the court to pass a decree for mesne profits, pendente lite and future and such a decree must be passed. The observation made in that case relied upon by the learned counsel for the appellant is as hereunder:—

“But we do not see how the High court's decree in relation to future mesne profits can be sustained. Once it is held that the plaintiff is entitled to eject the defendant, it follows that from the date of the decree granting the relief of ejectment to the plaintiff, the defendant who remains in possession of the property despite the decree, must pay mesne profits or damages for use and occupation of the said property until it is delivered to the plaintiff. A decree for ejectment in such a case must be accompanied by a direction for payment of the future mesne profits or damages.”

20. It is clear that their Lordships of the Supreme Court were not laying down any proposition regarding the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure. It may be noticed that the words used by the Supreme Court are that “a decree for ejectment in such a case must be accompanied by a direction for payment of future mesne profit for damages.” On the facts of that case, the view taken by the Supreme Court was that it was necessary to pass a decree in respect of future mesne profits or damages also. In head-note “b” of that case, a mention of Order XX, Rule 12 of the Code of Civil Procedure has been made although it is conspicuous to note that their Lordships were not considering that provision at all.

21. As against the above submission of the learned counsel for the appellant, the learned counsel for the respondent has urged that as a matter of general rule, a suit can be filed only in respect of a cause of action which had already accrued and not in respect of a cause of action which may accrue after the filing of the suit. The cause of action for recovery of pendente lite and future mesne profits had not accrued on the date that the earlier suit was filed. No sum had fallen due to the plaintiff in respect of future period, and consequently, no relief in respect of mesne profits for the period after the institution of the suit could be claimed as a matter of right. It is only by virtue of Order XX, Rule 12 of the Code of Civil Procedure that the court could under certain circumstances grant a decree for pendente lite and future mesne profit or damages. In case the court decides to grant a decree for pendente lite and future mesne profit or damages, it is open to the court to direct an enquiry to be made with regard to the rate and amount of the same. The omission of the court in not making an enquiry as required by Order XX, Rule 12 of the Code of Civil Procedure and in not granting a decree for pendente lite and future mesne profits or damages could not result in creating a bar of res judicata against the claim for such mesne profits or damages, after they had fallen due to the plaintiff. Learned counsel for the respondent has relied on the case of Parsotam Ram v. Mangal Ram A.I.R 1932 All. 45.. That case was decided by a Division Bench of this Court. In that case, the claim of the plaintiff to damages or mesne profit was denied on the ground that in a former suit, mesne profits were not granted, to the plaintiff. The Division Bench noticed that although in the former suit, there was an issue to the effect whether the plaintiffs were entitled to damages and if so how much in the order passed in that suit, no relief with regard to mesne profits was granted. After noticing that, the Division Bench proceeded to observe as follows:—

“Now what the court might have done in suit No. 17 of 1923 was to direct an inquiry into the amount of mesne profits under O. 20, R. 12. But it did not do so. The question therefore is: Does the omission of the Court to direct such an inquiry act as res judicata against the plaintiffs in the present suit? This question is answered by authority as there is a Full Bench ruling of this Court reported in Ramdayal v. Madan Mohan Lal 21 I.L.R All. 425 1899. in which it was held in a similar case that there is no bar by res judicata against a plaintiff bringing a subsequent suit for mesne profits where the Court in the former suit has failed to adjudicate on that relief. Accordingly, we consider that the plaintiffs are entitled to mesne profits so far as not barred by limitation.”

22. In the case of Gopal Krishna Pillai v. Meenakshi Ayal 1967 A.L.J 239., the Supreme Court took the view that with regard to past mesne profits the plaintiff has an existing cause of action on the date of the institution of suit, but with regard to future mesne profit, the plaintiff has no cause of action on the date of institution of suit and it is not possible for him to plead that cause of action or to value it or to pay court fee thereon at the time of the institution of the suit. It was also observed that the plaintiff could obtain relief in respect of the future cause of action only in a suit to which the provisions of Order XX, Rule 12 of the Code of Civil Procedure applied. In suits to which the provisions of Order XX, Rule 12 of the Code of Civil Procedure applied, the court has a discretionary power to pass a decree directing an inquiry into the future mesne profit and the court may further grant this general relief though it is not specifically asked for in the plaint.

23. In the case of Muhammad Ishaq Khan v. Muhammad Rustam Ali Khan XL I.L.R All. 292. a Division Bench of this Court constituted by Hon'ble Sir Henry Richards, C.J and Hon'ble Pramada Charan Banerji, J. the view taken was that such a suit is not barred by res judicata. In that case the plaintiff had sued earlier for possession of immovable property and mesne profit up to the date of the suit and also for mesne profits, pendente lite and future. In that earlier case, the court gave a decree for mesne profits upto the date of the suit but the decree was silent as to mesne profits, pendente lite or future. It was held that subsequent suit for mesne profits for that period was not barred by res judicata.

24. In the case of B. Ram Karan Singh v. Nakchhed Ahir A.I.R 1931 All. 429., a Special Bench consisting of Hon'ble Sulaiman, Acting, C.J, Hon'ble Sen and Hon'ble Niamatullah, J. it was held that a claim for mesne profits, accruing subsequent to the institution oldie previous suit, is a claim based on a different cause of action and is not barred by the provisions of O. 2, Rule 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure. It was further held that although no doubt under Order XX, Rule 12, C.P.C a court may pass a decree directing an enquiry into future mesne profits, the provision is only directory and not mandatory giving the court direction to pass a preliminary decree for mesne profits and does not compel a plaintiff to unite the claim for future mesne profits in a suit for recovery of possession to immovable property.

25. For all the above reasons, we are of the opinion that the claim of the plaintiff cannot be said to be barred by res judicata.

26. The last submission of the learned counsel for the appellant was with regard to interest. According to the learned counsel, the defendant-appellant was not liable to pay any interest on the amount that may be found to be recoverable by the plaintiff. From the judgment of the lower appellate court, however, we find that this contention was given up before that court by the defendant-appellant. The question of interest is a question of fact or at least a mixed question of fact and law. If the point was given up by the defendant-appellant before the lower appellate court we see no justification in permitting him to go back on his statement and to urge that point before us in second appeal.

27. No other question has been urged before us in this second appeal.

28. The second appeal is dismissed with costs.

Appeal dismissed.