- Bookmark
- Share
- CaseIQ
Arunachellam v. Arunachellam And Ors.
Structured Summary of the Provided Opinion
Factual and Procedural Background
The appellant was the purchaser at a court sale held in execution of the decree in Original Suit No. 44 of 1879 in the Subordinate Court at Madura. The properties sold were described as belonging to the first respondent and to the ninth defendant (the father of the second respondent), and the appellant was the highest bidder when the properties were knocked down to him on 28 July 1882.
Respondents Nos. 1 and 2 (the eighth and tenth minor defendants) applied under Section 311, Code of Civil Procedure, to set aside the sale on account of alleged irregularities. The Subordinate Judge disallowed that objection, confirmed the sale under Section 312, issued a certificate under Section 316 and placed the appellant in possession under Section 318 on 15 October 1882.
The respondents appealed to the High Court under Section 588. On 16 October 1883 the High Court held the sale irregular, reversed the Subordinate Judge's Section 312 order and set aside the sale. Representatives of respondents Nos. 1 and 2 were put back in possession on 26 February 1885.
The appellant obtained leave to appeal to the Judicial Committee (Privy Council). The High Court (13 April 1885) admitted the appeal and ordered respondents Nos. 1 and 2, by their guardians, to furnish security for redelivery of the properties without waste and for mesne profits in the event the High Court's order was reversed. Security was furnished (Rs. 10,000 and Rs. 5,000 on 2 Nov 1885 and 20 Feb 1886). Meanwhile, creditors of respondents Nos. 1 and 2 attached the villages and the Subordinate Judge appointed a receiver; from October 1885 the receiver held the villages and remitted collections to the Subordinate Court for satisfaction of those creditors' decrees.
The Judicial Committee heard the appeal on 27 June 1888 and decided to reverse the High Court, affirm the Subordinate Judge's original order, and directed respondents to pay the appellant's costs throughout. Her Majesty in Council gave effect to that judgment by order dated 29 June 1888; the High Court transmitted that order to the Subordinate Court on 14 August 1888 for execution. The Subordinate Judge restored possession to the appellant on 25 August 1888 pursuant to that order.
The appellant sought mesne profits from 26 February 1885 (the date respondents were put back in possession) to the end of fasli 1297 (30 June 1888), and sought to recover them by execution not only against respondents Nos. 1 and 2 (by attachment of the sale amount deposited in Court) but also against their sureties (respondents Nos. 3–11) by attachment of properties offered as security.
The Subordinate Judge held that the appellant was entitled to recover mesne profits from respondents Nos. 1 and 2, and fixed the amount at Rs. 17,965, but held that the appellant could not proceed against the sureties summarily or by execution and that the remedy against them was by a regular suit. Execution was permitted against respondents Nos. 1 and 2 for the amount, and the appellant's application against the sureties was dismissed. Both the appellant and respondents Nos. 1 and 2 objected; six questions were argued before the appellate court (two by respondents Nos. 1 and 2; four by the appellant).
Legal Issues Presented
- Whether an appeal lies from the order made by the Subordinate Judge in execution of the order of Her Majesty in Council.
- Whether the order of Her Majesty in Council (restoring the Subordinate Judge's order) included a direction for payment of mesne profits and restitution to the appellant, i.e., whether mesne profits fell within the purview of the Privy Council's order.
- Whether the appellant could proceed by execution summarily against the sureties (respondents Nos. 3–11) for mesne profits awarded by way of restitution, or whether the remedy against sureties was limited to a regular suit.
- Whether interest is payable on the mesne profits from the end of each relevant fasli to the date of payment, and at what rate.
- Whether the salary and establishment expenses of the receiver (appointed at the instance of the respondents' creditors) should be debited against the appellant in calculating recoverable mesne profits.
- Whether the Subordinate Judge was correct in disallowing the difference between average income for fasli 1297 and the amount actually claimed by the appellant.
Arguments of the Parties
Respondents Nos. 1 and 2 — Principal Arguments
- No appeal lies from the Subordinate Judge's order made in enforcement of the Privy Council's order; the enforcement can be effected only under Section 610, and an order in execution of a decree is not appealable (para 3).
- The Privy Council's order did not direct payment of mesne profits; it formally restored the Subordinate Judge's order confirming the sale and did not specifically award mesne profits. The Subordinate Judge wrongly construed that order to include mesne profits and restitution. Further, the placement of the appellant in possession was made under Section 318 and there was no appeal to the Privy Council from an order under that Section (para 4).
Appellant — Principal Arguments
- The Privy Council's order restoring the Subordinate Judge's order should be construed to include every benefit fairly and reasonably consequential upon that restoration, including restitution and mesne profits; the Judicial Committee's approach in Rodger v. The Comptoir D'Escompte de Paris was relied on (para 4).
- The sureties' liability should be enforceable under execution because Section 253 of the Code of Civil Procedure (providing for execution against sureties in certain circumstances) should be read into Section 610 by the words "in the manner and according to the rules applicable to the execution of its original decrees" (para 6). The appellant relied on the interpretation that Section 253 forms part of Section 610 and on the practical operation of execution rules.
- Interest should be awarded on mesne profits: Section 211 defines "mesne profits" to include interest, and earlier authorities (Jaswant Singh v. Dip Singh; Ram Sahai v. The Bank of Bengal; Rodger v. Comptoir D'Escompte) support awarding interest on refunds or sums ordered because a decree was reversed on appeal (para 7).
- The salary and establishment of the receiver should not be charged against the appellant because the receiver was appointed for the benefit of the respondents' creditors and not at the appellant's instance; it would be unjust for the appellant to bear charges consequent on acts by the respondents and their creditors (para 8).
- The Subordinate Judge's disallowance of the difference between average income for fasli 1297 and the amount claimed should be reviewed only to the extent that the award cannot exceed what the appellant actually claimed (para 9).
Table of Precedents Cited
| Precedent | Rule or Principle Cited For | Application by the Court |
|---|---|---|
| Rodger v. The Comptoir D'Escompte de Paris, L.R., 3 P.C. 465 | The principle that an order restoring a prior decision should be construed to continue every benefit fairly and reasonably consequential upon that restoration (supporting restitution and related benefits). | The Court relied on this authority to hold that Her Majesty's order restoring the Subordinate Judge's order included consequential benefits such as restitution and mesne profits (para 4 and para 7). |
| Bans Bahadur Singh v. Mughla Begam, I.L.R., 2 All., 604 | Considered whether the general words in Section 610 incorporate Section 253; majority held Section 253 was included, while two judges dissented. | The Court described this decision as part of the conflicting authorities that led to the later statutory amendment; the case was used to explain the context and reasoning regarding whether Section 253 should be read into Section 610 (para 6). |
| Radha Pershad Singh v. Phuljuri Koer, I.L.R., 12 Cal., 404 | Divisional Bench opinion that the general words in Section 610 did not include Section 253 (i.e., supported the dissenting view in the Allahabad case). | The Court cited this decision as representing the contrary view among High Courts, reinforcing the existence of a conflict of opinion relevant to the interpretation of Section 610 (para 6). |
| Venkapa Naik v. Baslingapa, I.L.R., 12 Bom., 411 | Considered effect of similar words (in Section 583) and agreed with the majority view of the Allahabad High Court that the general words incorporated Section 253. | Used to demonstrate that some High Courts agreed with the majority in Allahabad, forming part of the landscape of conflicting authorities relevant to the amendment and interpretation of Section 610 (para 6). |
| Thirumalai v. Ramayyar, I.L.R., 13 Mad., 1 | Considered similar language and sided with the majority of the Allahabad High Court on incorporating execution rules; one of the relevant High Court decisions. | Noted as one of the decisions (though passed close in time) relating to whether Section 253 should be treated as incorporated—part of the conflict of opinion considered by the Court in construing the amended Section 610 (para 6). |
| Hough v. Windus, L.R., 12 Q.B.D. 228 | Principles on statutory interpretation, specifically about how use of a special phrase may indicate legislative intention. | The Court relied on this authority to support the conclusion that the amendment to Section 610 (inserting "in so far as the order awards costs") manifested a deliberate legislative distinction and should be respected in interpretation (para 6). |
| Jaswant Singh v. Dip Singh, I.L.R., 7 All., 432 | Authority for the proposition that refunds following reversal of a decree are ordinarily directed to be made with interest. | Relied on in awarding interest on mesne profits where money or benefits are restored following reversal on appeal (para 7). |
| Ram Sahai v. The Bank of Bengal, I.L.R., 8 All., 262 | Also supports the rule that refunds following reversal of a decree generally carry interest. | Relied on alongside Jaswant Singh and Rodger to justify awarding interest on mesne profits (para 7). |
| Hurro Doorga Choudhrani v. Maharani Surut Soondari Debi, L.R., 9 I.A., 1 | Authority on whether interest can be awarded where interest was disallowed by the decree; relied upon by the Subordinate Judge to disallow interest. | The Court distinguished this authority as not in point because that case turned on the decree disallowing interest; the appellate Court held it did not bar awarding interest here (para 7). |
| Chaku Modan Isana v. Dullabk Dwarka, 9 Bom. H.C.R., 7 | Held that the cases contemplated in Section 211 form an exception to the common law rule about interest; decided with reference to Section 196, Act VIII of 1859. | The Court observed this authority as not directly in point for the present facts but as authority for the proposition that Section 211's treatment of mesne profits is an exception to the common law rule (para 7). |
Court's Reasoning and Analysis
The Court proceeded sequentially through the objections and contentions raised by the respondents and by the appellant. The analysis adhered closely to the wording of the Privy Council's order, the relevant statutory provisions, earlier authorities and the legislative amendment history.
On respondents' contention that no appeal lies (para 3):
The Court rejected the contention that no appeal lies. It observed that the order in question was made in enforcement of the Privy Council's order and that Section 610 makes rules applicable to execution of original decrees applicable to enforcement of that order. Since any party aggrieved by an order made in execution of a decree of the Subordinate Judge is entitled to appeal, the objection that no appeal lies was unsustainable.
On whether the Privy Council's order included mesne profits and restitution (para 4):
The Court construed the formal pronouncement of Her Majesty in Council—restoring the Subordinate Judge's order and directing conformity by all Courts and parties—to include every benefit fairly and reasonably consequential upon the restored order. The reasoning was:
- The Subordinate Judge's restored order was a confirmation of sale under provisions (Sections 314, 316 and 318) that operate together: Section 314 (confirming sale/title), Section 316 (statutory certificate as title-deed), and Section 318 (delivery/possession).
- Given that Sections 316 and 318 peremptorily direct the issue of certificate and delivery of possession when a sale is confirmed, restoring the Subordinate Judge's order must be read to include the consequences that flowed from those Sections—i.e., restitution (possession) and attendant benefits like mesne profits.
- The Court relied on Rodger v. Comptoir D'Escompte to support the construction that consequential benefits are included in a restored order (para 4).
- The Court also noted that when the High Court had set aside the sale earlier the respondents had claimed to dispossess the appellant who had been placed in possession under Section 318; that conduct reinforced the view that restitution was within the scope of the Privy Council's restoration.
On this basis, the Court dismissed the particular objection to the inclusion of mesne profits in the Privy Council's order (para 5).
On the appellant's contention re: sureties and Section 253/Section 610 (para 6):
The appellant argued Section 253 should be read into Section 610 by the general words “in the manner and according to the rules applicable to the execution of its original decrees.” The Court examined the amendment to Section 610 (Act VII of 1888, Section 58) which inserted the qualifying words: “in so far as the order awards costs to the respondent, it may be executed against a surety therefor to the extent to which he has rendered himself liable, in the same manner as it may be executed against the appellant.”
The Court reasoned that this amendment substituted the qualifying phrase “in so far as the order awards costs to the respondent” for the broader language in Section 253 (“the decree may be executed”), suggesting a legislative intent to limit incorporation of Section 253 to cases concerning costs only. The Court would not treat the amendment as mere surplusage; it regarded the amendment as deliberate and meaningful.
The Court reviewed the conflicting High Court authorities (the majority and dissent in Bans Bahadur Singh; the Calcutta Divisional Bench in Radha Pershad Singh; the Bombay and Madras decisions) and concluded the amendment was made with reference to that conflict. The legislative change indicated a distinction between costs and other decretal orders as regards execution against sureties. Applying the rule of interpretation cited in Hough v. Windus, the Court concluded that the Subordinate Judge was correct in refusing the appellant's application to proceed summarily against the sureties for mesne profits—those sureties were not parties to the Privy Council order and, absent statutory provision (other than for costs), the remedy against them was by a regular suit (para 6).
On interest claimed on mesne profits (para 7):
The Court noted Section 211 defines “mesne profits” as including interest on such profits. The Court further observed an established practice that sums ordered to be refunded after reversal of a decree are ordinarily refunded with interest. The Court cited Jaswant Singh v. Dip Singh, Ram Sahai v. The Bank of Bengal and Rodger v. Comptoir D'Escompte to support that principle.
The Court distinguished the Subordinate Judge's reliance on Hurro Doorga Choudhrani (which disallowed interest because interest was disallowed by the decree itself) and on Chaku Modan Isana (which addressed a different statutory provision). Concluding that interest should be awarded, the Court directed that interest at 6% per annum be awarded on mesne profits for each fasli from the end of that fasli to the date of payment, and ordered variation of the Subordinate Judge's order accordingly (para 7).
On receiver's salary and establishment charges (para 8):
The Court analyzed whether the salary and expenses of the receiver (appointed at the instance of respondents' creditors) should be charged against the appellant in computing recoverable mesne profits. It observed the receiver was appointed for the benefit of those creditors and not at the appellant's request. Under Section 211 the defendants should not be charged with more than what they actually received. The appointment of a receiver would have been unnecessary but for the action of respondents and their judgment-creditors. The Court found it unjust that the appellant, who was dispossessed and later restored, should bear charges consequent on the respondents' acts and creditors' proceedings. Accordingly the Court allowed the objection and ordered amendment of the Subordinate Judge's order to exclude those receiver salary/establishment charges as payable by the appellant (para 8).
On the difference between average income for fasli 1297 and the amount claimed (para 9):
The Subordinate Judge had disallowed the difference because the amount exceeded what the appellant actually claimed. The appellate Court took the agreement (on which the Subordinate Judge acted) to be subject to the rule that no award should exceed the appellant's claimed amount, and the Court disallowed the appellant's objection to that aspect (i.e., it did not upset the Subordinate Judge on that point) (para 9).
Conclusion of the analysis and orders for costs (para 10):
The Court amended the Subordinate Judge's order as indicated above (award of interest; exclusion of receiver's salary/establishment charges from appellant's recoverable sum; refusal to permit summary execution against sureties) and confirmed it in other respects. Costs were ordered to be borne proportionately by the appellant and respondents Nos. 1 and 2; the other respondents (including sureties) were entitled to their costs, as many sets as there were separate pleaders (para 10).
Holding and Implications
The appellate court amended the Subordinate Judge's order in part and confirmed it in other respects.
Core holdings:
- The Privy Council's order restoring the Subordinate Judge's order was construed to include restitution and consequential benefits (including mesne profits) flowing from the confirmed sale and the consequent statutory provisions (Sections 314, 316 and 318); accordingly the appellant was entitled to restitution and mesne profits (paras 4–5).
- The Subordinate Judge was right to refuse the appellant's application to proceed summarily by execution against the sureties (respondents Nos. 3–11) for mesne profits: the sureties were not parties to the Privy Council's order and the amended Section 610 (Act VII of 1888) limits execution against sureties to orders awarding costs; absent a special statutory provision the remedy against sureties is a regular suit (para 6).
- The appellant was entitled to mesne profits in the amount found by the Subordinate Judge (Rs. 17,965), and interest was to be awarded on those mesne profits at 6% per annum for each relevant fasli from the end of that fasli to the date of payment (para 7).
- The salary and establishment expenses of the receiver (appointed at the instance of respondents' creditors) should not be debited against the appellant in calculating recoverable mesne profits (para 8).
- The Subordinate Judge's disallowance of the excess between average income for fasli 1297 and the amount claimed was affirmed to the extent that no award should exceed what was actually claimed (para 9).
Practical implications and consequences for the parties:
- The appellant may execute the Subordinate Judge's order against respondents Nos. 1 and 2 for the mesne profits (Rs. 17,965 as assessed), with interest at 6% per annum from the ends of the respective faslis until payment (paras 2 and 7).
- The appellant may not proceed summarily by execution against the sureties (respondents Nos. 3–11) for mesne profits; the proper remedy against those sureties is a regular suit (para 6).
- The appellant is relieved from bearing the salary and establishment costs of the receiver; those charges are not to be debited against the appellant's recovery (para 8).
- Costs are apportioned: the appellant and respondents Nos. 1 and 2 will pay costs proportionately; the other respondents are entitled to their costs (with as many sets as there are separate pleaders) (para 10).
- No general rule of law broader than the application of the statutes and the authorities discussed is laid down; the Court's rulings are grounded on statutory construction (especially the meaning and amendment of Section 610), on the statutory definition of mesne profits (Section 211) and on established authorities about restitution and interest (paras 6–7).
This summary is prepared strictly from the content of the provided opinion. No facts or legal conclusions beyond those present in the opinion have been added.
1. This is an appeal from an order made by the Subordinate Judge of Madura with reference to the order of Her Majesty in Council, dated the 29th June 1888. The appellant is the purchaser at the Court sale held in execution of the decree in Original Suit No. 44 of 1879 on the file of the Subordinate Court and Respondents Nos. 1 and 2 are the eighth and tenth minor defendants in that suit. The properties, which the appellant purchased, were put up to sale as belonging to first respondent and to the ninth defendant, the father of the second respondent, and knocked down to the appellant, as the highest bidder, on 28th July 1882. An application was afterwards made, on behalf of the respondents, under Section 311 of the Code of Civil Procedure, to set aside the sale on account of certain irregularities, but the Subordinate Judge disallowed their objection. He then passed an order confirming the sale under Section 312, granted a certificate to the appellant under Section 316, and placed him in possession of the properties purchased under Section 318 on the 15th October 1882. From the order confirming the sale, Respondents Nos. 1 and 2 appealed to the High Court under Section 588, and, on the 16th October 1883, the High Court considered that the sale was irregular and reversing the order of the Subordinate Judge, made under Section 312, set aside the side. The representatives of the first and second respondents applied to be put back in possession, and, on the 26th February 1885, the Subordinate fudge replaced the properties sold in their possession. Meanwhile, the appellant applied for leave to appeal to the Privy Council, and, on the 13th April 1885, the High Court admitted his appeal and ordered that respondents Nos. 1 and 2, by their guardians, should furnish security for redelivery without waste of the properties sold to the appellant and for mesne profits if its order, setting aside the sale, should be reversed by the Privy Council. Pursuant to that order, security was furnished for Rs. 10,000 and Rs. 5,000 on 2nd November 1885 and 20th February 1886. Meanwhile, several creditors, who had obtained decrees against respondents Nos. 1 and 2, attached the villages, which were put up to sale in July 1882, and, on their application, the Subordinate Judge appointed a receiver. From October 1885 the receiver held the villages on behalf of the decree-holders, and the collections, which he remitted to the Subordinate Court from time to time, were applied in satisfaction of their decrees. On the 27th June 1888, the Judicial Committee heard the appeal from the order of the High Court, and held that that order should be reversed, that the order of the Subordinate Judge should be affirmed, and that the respondents should pay the appellant's costs throughout.
2. On the 29th June 1888, Her Majesty in Council passed an order in accordance with the judgment of the Judicial Committee, and, on the 14th August 1888, the High Court transmitted that order to the Subordinate Court for execution. The appellant then applied to be put back in possession of the villages purchased by him on the ground that he was entitled to restitution and the Subordinate Judge restored possession to him on the 25th August 1888. The appellant then claimed mesne profits from the 26th February 1885, when respondents Nos. 1 and 2 were put back in possession with reference to the order of the High Court to the end of fasli 1297 or 30th June 1888. He sought to recover them in execution proceedings not only from respondents Nos. 1 and 2 by attachment of the sale amount deposited in Court, but also from their sureties by attachment of properties offered as security. The respondents resisted the application and the several questions raised by them for decision are set forth by the Subordinate Judge in paragraph 25 of his order. The Subordinate Judge held that the appellant was entitled to recover mesne profits from respondents Nos. 1 and 2 by application for restitution and found that the amount payable for such mesne profits was Rs. 17,965. But he was of opinion that the appellant was not entitled to proceed against the sureties, respondents Nos. 3 to 11, summarily or by way of execution and that his remedy against them was by a regular suit. Accordingly, he permitted execution against respondents Nos. 1 and 2 for the amount mentioned above, and dismissed the appellant's application so far as it related to enforcement of liability of the sureties, respondents Nos. 3 to 11. In the view which the Subordinate Judge took of the case, as against the sureties, he did not consider it necessary to determine the fifth and sixth questions mentioned in paragraph 25 as arising upon their contention. To this order, both the appellant and respondents Nos. 1 and 2 object and six questions are argued before us, two for the latter and four for the former, the other questions not being pressed upon us.
3. It is urged for respondents Nos. 1 and 2 that no appeal lies from the order made by the Subordinate Judge. The order in question was made in enforcement of the order of Her Majesty in Council and it can only be made under Section 610 of the Code of Civil Procedure, which renders the rules applicable to execution of original, decrees also applicable to enforcement of that order. Any party aggrieved by an order made in execution of a decree of the Subordinate Judge is entitled to appeal, and the objection is, therefore, one which cannot be supported.
4. The next contention is that the Subordinate Judge has misconstrued the order of Her Majesty in Council, that it did not direct payment of mesne profits, and that such payment was not within its purview. It is also urged that the Subordinate Judge placed the appellant in possession under Section 318 and that there was no appeal to the Privy Council from the order made under that Section. The formal order of Her Majesty in Council declares that the appeal was allowed, that the order of the High Court was reversed, and that the order of the Subordinate Judge was confirmed, and directs the several Courts and all parties concerned to conform to it. The true construction is not simply that the relief awarded in terms by the order restored should be continued to the appellant from the date of it, but also that every benefit fairly and reasonably consequential upon it should likewise be continued to him. That was the construction put by the Judicial Committee upon a similar order in Rodger v. The Comptoir D Escompte de Paris L.R., 3 P.C. 465 It is true that the order, which the High Court set aside on appeal, and which the Privy Council restored, was the one made by the Subordinate Judge, confirming the sale to the appellant under Section 314 and that it said nothing further than that the sale was confirmed. But Sections 316 and 318 which are peremptory directed what relief or benefit should be conferred upon him when an order confirming the sale was made; and the former ordered the issue of a certificate as a title-deed and the latter, the delivery of the property purchased. The three Sections 314, 316 and 318 are, when read together, related to each other, the first as declaring that the purchaser has a valid title, the second as directing that statutory evidence of such title be furnished to him, and the third as giving effect to the sale by transfer of possession without the intervention of a regular suit. The declaration, therefore, that the order of the Subordinate Judge is restored includes a direction necessary to continue to the appellant the consequential benefit which the appellant had secured under Section 318 when the High Court set aside the order of the Subordinate Judge. This is also apparent from the respondent's action when the High Court set aside the sale under Section 314, and he claimed under that order to dispossess the appellant who had been placed in possession under Section 318, and to be put back in possession though there had been no appeal to the High Court from the order made under that Section. We are of opinion that a benefit by way of restitution is clearly within the purview of the direction embodied in Her Majesty's order in Council. It does not appear that this objection was taken when the High Court transmitted Her Majesty's order for execution to the Subordinate Court.
5. No other objection contained in the memorandum of objections is pressed and we dismiss it with costs.
6. Passing on to the objections taken by the appellant, the first and the main contention is that the Subordinate Judge erred in holding that the sureties could not be proceeded against except by a regular suit in respect of mesne profits to which he is entitled by way of restitution. The sureties being no parties to the order made by Her Majesty in Council, their liability could only be enforced on general principles by a regular suit in the absence of a special statutory direction on the subject. This is conceded, but our attention is drawn to Section 253 of the Code of Civil Procedure and to the words in Section 610, "in the manner and according to the rules applicable to the execution of its original decrees," and it is argued that Section 253 ought to be read as part of Section 610. It might be so if there was no special provision inconsistent with such contention in Section 610 as amended by Act VII of 1888, Section 58. That Section provides that "in so far as the order awards costs to the respondent, it may be executed against a surety therefor to the extent to which he has rendered himself liable, in the same manner as it may be executed against the appellant." On comparing it with Section 253, it is apparent that the words, "in so far as the order awards costs to the respondent" are substituted for the words in Section 253, "the decree may be executed." The intention it suggests is to make the rule contained in Section 253 part of Section 610 only so far as the order of Privy Council awards costs to the respondent. On the view that the rule embodied in Section 253 was intended to be included by the words, "according to the rules, applicable to the execution of its original decrees" there is no necessity for the amendment; nor is it sensible. It is suggested that we may treat it as surplusage or as introduced by way of illustration, but we cannot accede to this suggestion without departing from the recognised rules of interpretation. There is reason to think that the amendment was made with reference to a conflict of opinion on the subject between the different High Courts. In Bans Bahadur Singh v. Mughla Begam I.L.R., 2 All., 604 which was decided in January 1880, the question whether the general words in Section 610 "according to the rules applicable to execution of its original decrees" include the rule contained in Section 253, was considered by the Full Bench of the Allahabad High Court. The majority of the Court held that it did, but two of the learned Judges dissented from that opinion. In that case there were two references and one of them related to a surety-bond which secured the costs of the Privy Council, whilst the other covered the whole decree appealed against including the decretal amount and the costs. The learned Chief Justice, who delivered the judgment of the majority of the Court, observed that the legal question was the same in both and must be answered in the same way. The answer was that all the rules applicable to execution of original decrees including Section 253 were made part of Section 610, the ground of decision being that sureties were intended to be placed on the same footing with defendants, and that there was no reason why a distinction should be made between persons who became sureties in the Original Court before decree and those who became such in the Appellate Court before the appellate decree. The dissenting Judges, however, held that the liability of a surety rested on his bond and not on the decree, and that Section 253, which introduced a rule of substantive law among the rules of procedure, was limited to the class of sureties mentioned therein, and could not be extended to sureties who became such when an appeal was preferred to the Privy Council, and that the general words in Section 610, "rules applicable to execution of original decrees," referred only to rules of procedure and did not include a rule of substantive law embodied in Section 253. In Radha Pershad Singh v. Phuljuri Koer I.L.R., 12 Cal., 404 the same question was considered by a Divisional Bench of the High Court at Calcutta with reference to an application for execution against a surety in respect of costs awarded by the Privy Council, and the learned Judges, who decided that case, concurred in the opinion of the dissenting Judges in the Allahabad case. The effect of similar words used in Section 583 was considered by Divisional Benches of the High Courts at Bombay and at Madras in Venkapa Naik v. Baslingapa I.L.R., 12 Bom., 411 and Thirumalai v. Ramayyar I.L.R., 13 Mad., 1 and the Judges who decided those cases agreed with the majority of the Allahabad High Court. All these decisions had been passed except Thirumalai v. Ramayyar I.L.R., 13 Mad., 1 before the amendment was introduced, and, though Section 610 was amended, Section 583 was not similarly amended. The amendment was apparently made with reference to the conflict of opinion between the High Courts at Allahabad and Calcutta, and the insertion of the words, "in so far as the order awards costs," to the respondent becomes significant when it is remembered that the majority of the Judges of the High Court at Allahabad held that the whole order, whether it related to costs or the decretal amount, might be enforced against the surety in execution. It is clear, therefore, that the amendment contemplated a distinction between the order as to costs and the other orders and declared that the surety might be proceeded against in respect of the former, implying thereby that but for the amendment, Section 253 should not be treated as incorporated with Section 610 by the general words, "according to the rules applicable to the execution of original decrees." Having regard to the circumstances in which the amendment was made and to the principles on which the use of a special phrase may be held to evidence no special intention on the part of the Legislature as laid down in Hough v. Windus L.R., 12 Q.B.D., 228 we are of opinion that the order of the Subordinate Judge is right so far as it refused the appellant's application to proceed against the sureties in execution in respect of their liability for mesne profits.
7. The second question argued in support of this appeal relates to interest claimed on mesne profits from the end of the fasli on which they became due to the date of payment. The expression "mesne profits" is explained in Section 211 as including interest on such profits and the respondents Nos. 1 and 2 are ordered to pay mesne profits to the appellant, on the ground that such payment is consequential on the order of the Privy Council. Again, whenever money paid on account of a decree since reversed on appeal is ordered to be refunded, the refund is ordinarily directed to be made with interest. Jaswant Singh v. Dip Singh I.L.R., 7 All., 432 Ram Sahai v. The Bank of Bengal I.L.R., 8 All. 262 and Rodger v. The Comptoir D'Escompte de Paris L.R., 3 P.C., 465 The case of Hurro Doorga Choudhrani v. Maharani Surut Soondari Debi L.R., 9 I.A., 1 on which the Subordinate Judge relies is not in point, the ground of decision being that interest was disallowed by the decree and that in execution the Court is not at liberty to amend it. Nor is Chaku Modan Isana v. Dullabk Dwarka 9 Bom. H.C.R., 7 in point, for it is only an authority for the proposition that the cases contemplated in Section 211 form an exception to the common law rule about interest and it was decided with reference to Section 196, Act VIII of 1859, which did not define mesne profits as including interest. We think that interest at 6 per cent per annum should be awarded on the mesne profits for each fasli from the end of that fasli to the date of payment and that the order of the Subordinate Judge should be varied accordingly.
8. The third objection argued relates to the order of the Subordinate Judge so far as it debits against the appellant the salary of the receiver and his establishment. The receiver was appointed certainly not for the appellant's benefit, or at his request, but at the instance of the first and second respondents' creditors and for their benefit. The Subordinate Judge considered that, under Section 211, the defendants should not be charged with anything more than what they had actually received. But for the intervention of the first and second respondents, judgment-creditors, it is clear that the appointment of a receiver would have been unnecessary, and it does not appear just that the appellant, who was dispossessed by the respondents Nos. 1 and 2, should bear a charge consequent on their act and not shown to be necessary in the ordinary course of prudent management. This objection must, we think, also be allowed and the order appealed against amended.
9. The only other objection taken on appeal relates to the difference between the average income for fasli 1297 and the amount claimed by the appellant. The Subordinate Judge disallowed the difference, because it was in excess of the amount actually claimed by the appellant. We must take the agreement on which the Subordinate Judge acted to have been made subject to the rule that no more than what the appellant himself claimed was to be awarded to him. We disallow this objection.
10. The order of the Subordinate Judge will be amended to the extent indicated above and confirmed in other respects. Costs will be paid proportionately by appellant and first and second respondents, but the other respondents are entitled to their costs, as many sets as there are separate pleaders.
Alert