Enforcement of decree against legal representative
Full Text
(1) Where a decree is passed against a party as the legal representative of a deceased person, and the decree is for the payment of money out of the property of the deceased, it may be executed by the attachment and sale of any such property.
(2) Where no such property remains in the possession of the judgment-debtor and he fails to satisfy the Court that he has duly applied such property of the deceased as is proved to have come into his possession, the decree may be executed against the judgment-debtor to the extent of the property in respect of which he has failed so to satisfy the Court in the same manner as if the decree had been against him personally.
Plain English Summary
Section 52 governs the execution of decrees passed directly against legal representatives for debts of a deceased person. While execution is primarily restricted to the deceased's estate, the legal representative becomes personally liable to the extent of any assets proved to have come into their hands which they cannot prove were duly applied to discharge the deceased's lawful liabilities.
Key Legal Elements
- Decree Against Legal Representative: Incurred for obligations of a deceased person payable out of the estate.
- Primary In Rem Execution: Satisfied primarily from attachment and sale of the deceased's property.
- Conversion to In Personam Liability (Sec 52(2)): Personal execution permitted if heir fails to account for assets proved to have entered their hands.
- Fiduciary Accountability: Embodies the doctrine of devastavit holding representatives personally answerable for misapplied assets.
Practical Note
Section 50 vs Section 52 Distinction & Personal Liability Conversion: (1) Scope: Section 50 applies when a decree was passed against the debtor during their lifetime and they die post-decree; Section 52 applies when the suit was originally instituted against the defendant in their capacity as a legal representative. (2) Conversion to Personal Liability: Under sub-section (2), once the decree-holder proves that assets came into the heir's hands, the burden shifts to the heir to account for proper administration. Failure to account renders the legal representative personally liable, allowing attachment of their personal assets.
हिंदी पाठ
(1) जहां किसी मृतक व्यक्ति के विधिक प्रतिनिधि के रूप में किसी पक्षकार के विरुद्ध डिक्री पारित की गई है, और वह डिक्री मृतक की संपत्ति में से धन के संदाय के लिए है, वहां वह ऐसी किसी संपत्ति की कुर्की और विक्रय द्वारा निष्पादित की जा सकेगी।
(2) जहां ऐसी कोई संपत्ति निर्णीत-ऋणी (देनदार) के कब्जे में नहीं रह गई है और वह न्यायालय का यह समाधान करने में असफल रहता है कि उसने मृतक की ऐसी संपत्ति का, जिसका उसके कब्जे में आना साबित हो चुका है, सम्यक् रूप से उपयोजन (व्यय) कर दिया है, वहां वह डिक्री उस संपत्ति के विस्तार तक, जिसके संबंध में वह न्यायालय का ऐसा समाधान करने में असफल रहा है, निर्णीत-ऋणी के विरुद्ध उसी रीति से निष्पादित की जा सकेगी मानो डिक्री उसके विरुद्ध व्यक्तिगत रूप से पारित की गई थी।