JUDGMENT

SEN, J.:— This appeal by special leave is directed against the order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court dated 14th August, 1968 upholding an order of the trial Court dated 23rd May, 1967 striking out the defence of the defendant under O. XI, R. 21 read with S. 151 of the Civil P.C., 1908 and directing that the defendant cannot be permitted to cross-examine the plaintiffs witnesses.

2. The suit out of which this appeal arises was brought by the respondent Trilok Nath Mahajan, as plaintiff, against the appellant-defendant M/s. Babbar Sewing Machine Co., on 9th March, 1966 for recovery of a certain sum alleged to be due to M/s. Chitra Multipurpose Co-operative Society (Jogyana) Ltd., Ludhiana which remained unpaid towards the price of sewing machine sold on credit from time to time, claiming to be an assignee under a deed dated 27th April, 1965. The transaction sued upon was of the year 1959, and the suit was obviously barred by limitation. The plaintiff, however, pleaded that the defendant had acknowledged his liability by his letter dated 8th March, 1963 forwarding cheque No. 01194 dated 7th March, 1963 for Rs. 50/- drawn on the Punjab National Bank Ltd., Yamunanagar. The defendent disputed the plaintiffs claim and pleaded, inter alia, that he does not owe anything to the said society and as such the suit was not maintainable; that there was no privity of contract between the parties nor does any relationship of a creditor and debtor exist between them. He further pleaded that the suit was barred by limitation. He also pleaded that the trial court had no jurisdiction to try the suit.

3. On 11th November, 1966, the plaintiff moved on application under O. XI, Rr. 14 and 18 for production and inspection of the following documents:

(a) Cash book, day book and ledger for the year 1-4-1959 to 31-3-1960 and 1-4-1960 to 31-3-1961.

(b) Cash book and ledger for the years 1-4-1961 to 31-3-1966.

(c) All the original bills issued in favour of the defendant by M/s. Chitra Multipurpose Co-operative Society Joggana Ltd., including Bill No. 22 dated 13-5-1960, Bill No. 43 dated 2-8-1960. Bill No. 49 dated 14-9-1960, Bill No. 53 dated 26-9- 1960.

(d) Original letters written by the plaintiff to the defendant and letters addressed by M/s. Chitra Multipurpose Co-operative Society Jogyana Ltd., to defendant.

(e) Counterfoils of cheque book in use on 7-3-1963.

(f) The original cheque No. 01194 dated 7-3-1963.

(g) Bank pass book from 1-4-1962 to 31-3-1964 with counterfoils of the cheque books with which the respondent (T. N. Mahajan) firm had an account.

Despite objection by the defendant, the trial court by its order dated 11th January, 1967, directed their production on 30th January, 1967 holding that they were relevant for the determination of the controversy between the parties.

4. On 3oth January, 1967, when the suit came up for hearing, the court adjourned the suit to 7th February, 1967,for production of the documents. In compliance with the courts order, on 7th February, 1967, the defendant produced all the documents in his possession viz., account books for the years 1959-60 to 1965-66 but he was permitted by the trial court to take back the account books as they were required to be produced before the Income-tax Officer, Yamunanagar on that day, with the direction that he should produce the same on 23rd Feb., 1967. On 23rd February, 1967 the defendant appeared in the court with his books but the trial Judge directed him to produce them on 16th March, 1967 and in the meanwhile allow their inspection to the plaintiff with three days notice. The defendant accordingly sent a letter dated 25th February, 1967 asking the plaintiff to take inspection of the account books on 27th February, 1967. On 28th Feb., 1967, the plaintiff made an application that the defendant had not produced the documents for inspection but this was apparently wrong, as is evident from the registered notice dated 1st March, 1967, sent by the defendant to the following effec