N.C.Mukherji, J. - (1.) This is an appeal against judgment and decree dated 31st of May 1974 passed by Sri S. K. Chatterjee, Additional District Judge, 10th Court, Alipore, in Title Appeal No. 134 of 1973 affirming those of Sri H. Banerjee, Munsif, 3rd Court, Alipore, passed in Title Suit No. 209 of 1966 on 31st of May 1972.
(2.) The respondent filed a suit for recovery of possession, mandatory injunction and for damages against the appellant on the ground that licence granted to the defendant in respect of the suit land had been revoked. The defendant contested the suit claiming to be a tenant in respect of the suit land being a part of 44, S. R. Das Road and measuring about 7 cottas. The suit was decreed and the decree was confirmed by the appellate court A second appeal was filed by the defendant being S. A. 9 of 1970. This Court agreed with the concurrent findings of the courts below that the defendant was a licensee and his licence had been validly terminated. As regards damages for the unauthorised occupation of the suit land this Court found that there was no sufficient material on record to decide whether the sum of Rs. 10/- per diem as decreed by the courts below was a reasonable amount of compensation or not As such this question was left open. His Lordship agreed with the courts below that the defendant was liable to pay damages but the determination of the rate of damages payable by the defendant was relegated to the proceeding under Order 20. Rule 12 of the Civil P. C. This Court directed : "The trial court while deciding the amount of damages which the plaintiff may be entitled to recover will also record finding as regards the rate of damages payable by the defendant on the evidence already on record and on further evidence if adduced by the parties. I accordingly dismiss this appeal and affirm the judgment and decree of the lower appellate court subject to the modification that the plaintiff would get a decree for damages since 15th May 1966 till he recovers possession of the suit land but the rate of damages and the quantum of the same would be decided by the trial court in the subsequent proceeding on payment of proper court-fees". After remand the trial court held that the plaintiff is entitled to recover mesne profits at the rate of Rs. 10/- per diem from 15-5-1966 till recovery of possession. It was also ordered that the plaintiff would get mesne profits at the aforesaid rate from 1-6-1972 till the recovery of possession on payment of additional court-fees. The order was passed by the learned Munsif on 31-5-1972. The learned appellate court affirmed the decision of the trial court and the cross-objection filed by the plaintiff with regard to costs was allowed. Being aggrieved, the defendant has come up to this Court.
(3.) Mr. Rabindranath Mitter, learned Advocate appearing on behalf of the appellant, in the first place, submits that the court below overlooked the provisions of Order 20, Rule 12 and were wrong in allowing the plaintiff mesne profits from the date of the institution of the suit till the recovery of possession. Order 20. Rule 12 of the Code reads as follows :-- "(1) Where a suit is for the recovery of possession of immovable property and for rent or mesne profits, the Court may pass a decree- (a) for the possession of the property; (b) for the rent or mesne profits which have accrued on the property during a period prior to the institution of the suit or directing an inquiry as to such rent or mesne profits; (c) directing an inquiry as to rent or mesne profits from the institution of the suit until- (i) the delivery of possession to the decree-holder, (ii) the relinquishment of possession by the judgment-debtor with notice to the decree-holder through the Court, or (iii) the expiration of three years from the date of the decree, whichever event first occurs. (2) Where an inquiry is directed under Clause (b) or Clause (c), a final decree in respect of the rent or mesne profits shall be passed in accordance with the result of such inquiry". Mr. Mitter draws our attention to Clause (c) of Order 20, Rule 12 which provides that "the Court may pass a decree directing an inquiry as to rent or mesne profits from the institution of the suit until the delivery of possession or the relinquishment of Possession by the judgment-debtor or the expiration of three years from the date of the decree whichever event first occurs", and that being so, in a case where the plaintiff has not yet recovered possession he cannot get a decree for mesne profits beyond three years from the passing of the decree. Mr. Mitter, however, concedes that the decree passed by the trial court was merged with the decree of this Court. This Court passed the decree on June 21, 1971. Therefore the plaintiff is entitled to set mesne profits from 15-5-1966 up to 21-6-1974 and not beyond that The courts below were wrong in passing a decree for mesne profits from 1-6-1972 till the recovery of possession. In support of his contention Mr. Mitter first refers to a, (Bhagwant Vinayak v. Radhakisan Gangabisan). In this case his Lordship had to consider the provisions of Order 20, Rule 12 and it was held that "when a decree is passed for payment of mesne profits until delivery of possession, there is always an implied term in the decree that mesne profits are not to be awarded for a period of more than three years in any case". In coming to such conclusion his Lordship relied on (1900) ILR 27 Gal 951 : 27 Ind App 110 (PC), (Girish Chunder Lahiri y. Shoshi Shikhareswar Roy). In this case it was held by the Judicial Committee that "the expression 'mesne profits' in a decree include interest thereon but may not be allowed for any time later than three years from date of decree." Mr. Mitter also relies on (1900) 27 Ind App 209 (PC), (Raja Bhup Indar Bahadur Singh v. Bijai Bahadur Singh). In this case: a decree in ejectment dated November 12, 1887 declared the plaintiff entitled to future mesne profits, and was eventually affirmed by the Queen in Council on May 11, 1895. It was held "that mesne profits were recoverable upto May 11, 1895 and for a further period not exceeding three years until recovery of possession".;