Ellis Stella Beaumont v. English Motor Car Co

Ellis Stella Beaumont v. English Motor Car Co

(High Court Of Judicature At Calcutta)

CALCUTTA HIGH COURT | 17-12-1937

Ameer Ali, J.The judgment-debtor has shown cause under the amended clauses of Section 51, Civil P.C., 1908. I am satisfied that the defendant did make a fraudulent concealment or transfer of his property, or a portion of it, and committed an act of bad [faith by making a hypothecation which he has referred to in his affidavit. He has stated in evidence that he hypothecated the plaintiffs car along with other peoples cars which were left with him either for sale or for custody to a third party. He brought a suit against the third party and states that he abandoned it. In point of fact it appears that certain of these cars are with him. He states that they were released or exempted. It looks as if the whole transaction of hypothecation had been fictitious. That is my view. If not, he has made a fictitious settlement. He got the cars back. In my opinion the conduct of the defendant comes u/s 51, proviso, Sub-section (a) (ii) of the CPC as amended [This was added by Section 2 of the Civil P.C. (Amending) Act (21 of 1936)]. Having regard to the fact that he got the cars back which he says he has, although he says they do not belong to him, none of them belong to him. I think the inference to be drawn is that he has the means to pay this small decree.

2. I doubt whether strictly the judgment-debtor comes within Clause (c). It is true that on his own statement the car was left with him. The car was with him and he disposed of it fraudulently. That does not appear to bring him within Clause (c) as the decree was simply for the price of the car. It was however a dishonest conduct and taken with the other circumstances it has led me to the conclusion that I have come on the other parts of the section. There will be an order for his committal.

Advocate List
Bench
  • HON'BLE JUSTICE Ameer Ali, J
Eq Citations
  • 42 CWN 507
  • AIR 1938 CAL 448
  • LQ/CalHC/1937/293
Head Note

Civil Procedure Code, 1908 — S. 51(a)(ii) — Committal proceedings — Hypothecation of plaintiff's car along with other people's cars which were left with defendant either for sale or for custody to a third party — Abandonment of suit against third party and statement that cars were released or exempted — Conduct of defendant held to come within S. 51(a)(ii) — Inference to be drawn is that he has means to pay the small decree — Doubt whether defendant strictly comes within S. 51(c) — Order for committal passed — Debt and Financial Laws — Debt suits — Civil Procedure Code, 1908, S. 51(a)(ii)