Legal representative
Full Text
(1) Where a judgment-debtor dies before the decree has been fully satisfied, the holder of the decree may apply to the Court which passed it to execute the same against the legal representative of the deceased.
(2) Where the decree is executed against such legal representative, he shall be liable only to the extent of the property of the deceased which has come to his hands and has not been duly disposed of; and, for the purpose of ascertaining such liability, the Court executing the decree may, of its own motion or on the application of the decree-holder, compel such legal representative to produce such accounts as it thinks fit.
Plain English Summary
Section 50 provides for the execution of a decree against the legal representatives of a deceased judgment-debtor, limiting their pecuniary liability strictly to the extent of the deceased's estate that came into their hands and has not been duly administered, and empowering the executing court to compel the production of accounts to determine asset devolution.
Key Legal Elements
- Post-Decree Death: Governs continuation of execution upon the judgment-debtor's demise prior to full satisfaction.
- Limited Estate Liability: Legal representative is liable strictly to the value of the inherited estate in their hands.
- Inquisitorial Accounting Powers: Executing court empowered to compel production of accounts to verify asset devolution (Sec 50(2)).
- Personal Immunity: Protects personal assets of the legal representative unless inherited property is misapplied (Sec 52).
Practical Note
Execution Against Legal Heirs & Limitation of Liability: (1) Forum: While sub-section (1) refers to the court which passed the decree, under Section 42(2)(b) the transferee executing court is equally competent to execute against legal representatives. (2) Mandatory Notice (Order XXI Rule 22): Issuance of a show-cause notice under Order XXI Rule 22(1)(b) to legal representatives is mandatory and jurisdictional; proceeding without notice renders execution sales void. (3) Limited Estate Liability: Legal heirs are NOT personally liable for the debts of the deceased; their liability is confined to inherited assets. (4) Accounting for Assets: Under Section 50(2) read with Section 52, if the heir fails to account for assets received, personal execution can issue up to that value.
हिंदी पाठ
(1) जहां निर्णीत-ऋणी (देनदार) की मृत्यु डिक्री के पूर्णतः तुष्ट (संतुष्ट) होने से पूर्व हो जाती है, वहां डिक्रीदार उसे पारित करने वाले न्यायालय से यह आवेदन कर सकेगा कि वह मृतक के विधिक प्रतिनिधि के विरुद्ध उसका निष्पादन करे।
(2) जहां कि डिक्री ऐसे विधिक प्रतिनिधि के विरुद्ध निष्पादित की जाती है, वहां वह मृतक की केवल उस संपत्ति के विस्तार तक ही दायी होगा जो उसके हाथ में आई है और सम्यक् रूप से व्ययित नहीं कर दी गई है; और ऐसे दायित्व का अभिनिश्चय करने के प्रयोजन के लिए निष्पादन करने वाला न्यायालय, अपनी स्वप्रेरणा से या डिक्रीदार के आवेदन पर, ऐसे विधिक प्रतिनिधि को ऐसे लेखे (खाते) पेश करने के लिए विवश कर सकेगा जैसे वह ठीक समझे।