Lort-Williams, J.@mdashIn this case there was a preliminary decree for partition made on 29th July 1921, in which the shares of the parties were
declared in certain premises No. 18, Shampukur Street, Calcutta, and it was ordered that a partition be made of the said premises into eight equal
parts or shares, and the commissioners was ordered, if he found that the premises could be conveniently and reasonably partitioned by metes and
bounds, to make such division, with power to him to award compensation in money by way of equalizing the partition. It was further ordered that,
in the event of the commissioner finding that the premises could not be conveniently and reasonably partitioned by metes and bounds, he was to
report to the Court. It was further ordered that the expenses of the commission of partition were to be borne by the parties in proportion to the
value of their respective shares. In the plaint, it was alleged that the plaintiff had made certain improvements and additions to these premises, and
that it had been agreed between the parties that the costs of such improvements should be borna partly by the defendants.
2. The commissioner heard evidence, and the defendants tried hard to prove that it would be convenient and reasonable to partition this house by
metes and bounds: but the commissioner eventually came to the conclusion that it would be impossible to divide the premises in any manner which
would be convenient to the parties and this finding he has reported to the Court. The plaintiff now asks that the premises may be sold, and that the
sale proceeds may be divided between the parties, but he contends that from the total price to be received for the premises there ought first to be
deducted the present value of the said improvements. He contends that a sum of Rs. 5,000 was expended by the plaintiff''s predecessors for
improvements and additions to the premises and that their present value is Rs. 2,805. His contention is based upon the argument that the price,
which may be obtained for the premises, will be enhanced to the extent of the present value of the improvements, and therefore that this amount
ought to be deducted from the price obtained, before a division is made between the parties He further contends that, as the whole of the expenses
before the commissioner were caused by the contentions of the defendants which have failed, these costs ought not to be taken out of the corpus
of the estate. It is contended by the defendant that this question of the improvements cannot now be considered, that such matters must be
considered at the time when the preliminary decree is made, and must be provided for in the decree, and directions given to the commissioner to
take such improvements into consideration.
3. I have no doubt that argument is correct in a case where partition by metes and bounds has been directed, and the shares declared, and that
partition has been made. Further, I am of opinion that in a case where it is possible to divide a house by metes and bounds, and it is contended by
one of the parties that he has spent money upon improvements or additions, it is not lawful to direct that the other parties should make
compensation in money to the party making the improvements, in order to equalise the burden. It is true that an equity has been created in favour
of the party who has made the improvements, but in such a case, the only way to recognize his equity is for the commissioner, if this be possible to
allot to him that portion of the premises upon which the improvements and additions have been made. If that cannot fairly be done, then the party
making the improvements must lose the value of his equity.
4. No such difficulty arises in a case such as this, where it has been found impossible to divide the premises by metes and bounds. Nor do I think
that this question of the improvements has yet been considered by the Court in the light of the position which has now arisen. It may have been,
and probably was considered, in anticipation of the commissioner being able to divide the property by metes and bounds. As I understand the
decree, if the commissioner found that it was impossible to make such a division, then he was directed to report that matter to the Court, and the
Court could then deal with the matter again and from a new standpoint, except that the shares have already been declared, and that declaration
cannot be interfered with. If it can be shown that the price which may be obtained for these premises has not been increased by the amount of the
present value of the improvements, or by any amount in respect of the improvements, then the total received will have to be divided according to
the shares already declared. If, on the other hand, it can be shown that the total price to be received has been enhanced by the money expended
upon the improvements, then that sum must first be deducted, before the value of the premises so far as the other parties are concerned, can be
ascertained. I agree with the contention of the defendant, that the questions whether such improvements were made at all, as to their present value,
and as to whether any agreement was come to between the parties, or whether the defendants acquiesced in the making of such improvements in
such a way that they are bound by acquiescence, are all points which ought to be decided in the first place by the Court, and ought not to be
referred to the commissioner, or to any officer of the Court to ascertain.
5. Before therefore I can finally deal with this matter, I must hear, if it be necessary, evidence on these points. This motion therefore will be
adjourned to Wednesday fortnight to hear this evidence, unless the parties can agree about these facts, in which case no further inquiry may be
necessary, and the case may be mentioned to me again. The costs referred to in the plaint are clearly costs of the commission and are provided for
in the preliminary decree.